Coaches corner: March 25
This season, Texas men's tennis head coach Michael Center and Texas women's tennis head coach Jeff Moore, two of the top coaches in collegiate tennis, will take turns sharing a variety of tennis tips which are based on the training programs of both University of Texas tennis teams. Additionally, the coaches are eager to answer any specific questions you might have about your own game. If you have any questions for Coach Center or Coach Moore, feel free to submit them and check back with TexasSports.com for the coaches' response. Tim from Austin, Texas Tim - Motivating players on a day to day basis is one of the greatest challenges a coach undertakes. I try to make my players as accountable for their own actions as I can. I tell them often that it is their team - I am just the leader - and you will accomplish what you put into it. The way you perform in practice is the way you will perform in matches. If you are inconsistent on a day to day basis, you will be under pressure in a match. The thing that I have found is that you need internally motivated people in your program. Players that want to work and get better are easy to motivate. Players that don't love the game and look at practice as a chore will get worse. My job is to find internally motivated players and then make sure that my own energy level is always high. If I stay motivated, then they do so as well. If I have a player who does not want it, then motivating that player is nearly impossible. Look for players who want to play and remember to keep your intensity and energy level high and you will get a lot out of a player. Alberto Nuche from Laredo, Texas Alberto - There are many levels of college tennis available. I would have to assess your level, but yes you can still play college tennis if you did not play in the juniors. You may have to start at junior college or a smaller level school, but with some proactive searching I bet you can find an opportunity that will fit your skill level. Best of luck in your search!
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