There are so many conversations about what makes a professional sports person.
Why do some rise to the top, while others fall by the wayside? Is there a special formula that makes a champion? How can I make it to the professional ranks of my chosen sport?
One of the major components of the majority of professional sports people is the ability to achieve a maximum effort level on a consistent basis and maintain that high level for long periods.
The tennis world is beginning to roar toward the French Open, the second Grand Slam of the year.
The French Open is not for the faint-hearted. It’s not for the under-prepared. It’s not for the make believers. The French Open is a gruelling two weeks on the red clay of Paris. Long rallies, gritty opponents, tiring matches and aching muscles are all in the mixing pot of clay court tennis.
Training to play at a consistently high level is a must for French Open competitors. The training sessions must be high intensity with a focus on strategic game plans designed to dismantle the most hardened opponents. Players expect to train hard. They expect to achieve.
This year is like no other over the past decade. Rafael Nadal has dominated, winning 10 of the last 11 French Opens. This year, Rafa has returned from injury as a less dominant force on his beloved clay courts. The door is ajar for history to be made and there are no less than six players knocking on the door in the men’s arena. Do you think these six players expect to achieve their dream? I think so. Djokovic can lay claim to the title of greatest player of all time if he wins the French. Andy Murray can steal another piece of the Grand Slam puzzle and become one of the greats. The mighty Roger Federer is always a threat, is in fantastic form on the clay and expects to win more majors. Tomas Berdych is in stellar form and is rock solid in the Grand Slam arena. Kei Nishikori is a player of the future and has been brilliant in the lead-up events. Our own Nick Kyrgios has beaten two of the greats so far in his young career and is in red hot form.
All the players mentioned above, including Rafa, are dominating the men’s tennis game at the moment. All have trained the house down over the past 12 months. All reports state they are hungry for greatness and are prepared to drive their bodies to the limit to achieve it. They maximise their training sessions. They train to play. They maintain a high level of physical and mental intensity in order to be the very best they can be. They expect to perform.
Our sessions at ITS have focused heavily around each player maximising their session. Every minute counts and the level produced for each and every moment will be the difference between being great and just being okay.
We are on the right track generally, but this mentality is not created overnight. The easiest option is to be lazy, to give just a little under best effort. It takes belief and assurance from all of us to help teach our young players to “expect to achieve”.
Players, parents, coaches, teachers and friends. We must all expect our players to give their best at all times, to maximise their sessions and to keep up the intensity level to see where it can take them. They must learn how to expect to do well. They must learn how to feel that being great is the norm. Giving their maximum effort must become routine.
Expect to be great. Let’s all see where it leads.
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