welcome to my world the world of sport the world of tennis now sport has a
the world of tennis now sport has a
the world of tennis now sport has a wonderful way of bringing people
wonderful way of bringing people
wonderful way of bringing people together it can transcend boundaries of
together it can transcend boundaries of
together it can transcend boundaries of race and religion in a way like no other
race and religion in a way like no other
race and religion in a way like no other event on the planet most of the world
event on the planet most of the world
event on the planet most of the world stops in breathless anticipation for
stops in breathless anticipation for
stops in breathless anticipation for finals in major sporting events the
finals in major sporting events the
finals in major sporting events the soccer world cup the Masters in golf
soccer world cup the Masters in golf
soccer world cup the Masters in golf Wimbledon the Olympic Games the list
Wimbledon the Olympic Games the list
Wimbledon the Olympic Games the list goes on it is arguably the great unifier
goes on it is arguably the great unifier
goes on it is arguably the great unifier in the hearts and minds of millions of
in the hearts and minds of millions of
in the hearts and minds of millions of people it allows us to play have fun yet
people it allows us to play have fun yet
people it allows us to play have fun yet in a serious way now this is why I find
in a serious way now this is why I find
in a serious way now this is why I find the great sport of tennis so fascinating
the great sport of tennis so fascinating
the great sport of tennis so fascinating it’s a problem-solving game and the ball
it’s a problem-solving game and the ball
it’s a problem-solving game and the ball never bounces in the same way twice just
never bounces in the same way twice just
never bounces in the same way twice just as in life no two decisions are ever the
as in life no two decisions are ever the
as in life no two decisions are ever the same and when you’re in a singles match
same and when you’re in a singles match
same and when you’re in a singles match that you care deeply about and it’s 5-4
that you care deeply about and it’s 5-4
that you care deeply about and it’s 5-4 in that final set it’s often not the
in that final set it’s often not the
in that final set it’s often not the player with the prettier technique that
player with the prettier technique that
player with the prettier technique that wins but the person with the stronger
wins but the person with the stronger
wins but the person with the stronger character the biggest heart
character the biggest heart
character the biggest heart you are alone your character is exposed
you are alone your character is exposed
you are alone your character is exposed and ultimately you are defined by the
and ultimately you are defined by the
and ultimately you are defined by the results of your decisions and your
results of your decisions and your
results of your decisions and your actions it is theater on a grand scale
actions it is theater on a grand scale
actions it is theater on a grand scale in the words of William Shakespeare all
in the words of William Shakespeare all
in the words of William Shakespeare all the world’s a stage and all the men and
the world’s a stage and all the men and
the world’s a stage and all the men and women are merely players well on this
women are merely players well on this
women are merely players well on this world stage statistics tell us that
world stage statistics tell us that
world stage statistics tell us that females make up forty nine point six
females make up forty nine point six
females make up forty nine point six percent of the population yet in reality
percent of the population yet in reality
percent of the population yet in reality there are far fewer females contributing
there are far fewer females contributing
there are far fewer females contributing despite major advances in equal prize
despite major advances in equal prize
despite major advances in equal prize money in tennis for both males and
money in tennis for both males and
money in tennis for both males and females and the enormous efforts of
females and the enormous efforts of
females and the enormous efforts of Billie Jean King defeating Bobby Riggs
Billie Jean King defeating Bobby Riggs
Billie Jean King defeating Bobby Riggs in the battle of the sexes in 1973 the
in the battle of the sexes in 1973 the
in the battle of the sexes in 1973 the simple facts are
simple facts are
simple facts are here in the United States ESPN
here in the United States ESPN
here in the United States ESPN SportsCenter devotes only 5% of its
SportsCenter devotes only 5% of its
SportsCenter devotes only 5% of its coverage to women athletes in the United
coverage to women athletes in the United
coverage to women athletes in the United Kingdom women account for just 10% of
Kingdom women account for just 10% of
Kingdom women account for just 10% of sports journalists and in Australia
sports journalists and in Australia
sports journalists and in Australia there are only 19% of qualified female
there are only 19% of qualified female
there are only 19% of qualified female tennis coaches and would you believe
tennis coaches and would you believe
tennis coaches and would you believe there are more CEOs named John than
there are more CEOs named John than
there are more CEOs named John than there are female CEOs the scales of
there are female CEOs the scales of
there are female CEOs the scales of justice are clearly out of balance in
justice are clearly out of balance in
justice are clearly out of balance in relation to contributions of both males
relation to contributions of both males
relation to contributions of both males and females and interestingly in junior
and females and interestingly in junior
and females and interestingly in junior tennis 80% of unforced errors occur when
tennis 80% of unforced errors occur when
tennis 80% of unforced errors occur when you are off balance and the other
you are off balance and the other
you are off balance and the other revealing statistic in my home state is
revealing statistic in my home state is
revealing statistic in my home state is that one in every two Victorian female
that one in every two Victorian female
that one in every two Victorian female tennis players and no longer playing
tennis players and no longer playing
tennis players and no longer playing tennis by the time they reach the late
tennis by the time they reach the late
tennis by the time they reach the late teens the argument is clear we cannot
teens the argument is clear we cannot
teens the argument is clear we cannot reach our potential as individuals as
reach our potential as individuals as
reach our potential as individuals as societies unless we make use of the
societies unless we make use of the
societies unless we make use of the talents of all the fact that we are not
talents of all the fact that we are not
talents of all the fact that we are not making use of female energy is a massive
making use of female energy is a massive
making use of female energy is a massive loss in sport and a huge loss for women
loss in sport and a huge loss for women
loss in sport and a huge loss for women as leaders beyond tennis this energy is
as leaders beyond tennis this energy is
as leaders beyond tennis this energy is being repressed it is being imprisoned
being repressed it is being imprisoned
being repressed it is being imprisoned so what can we do about it
so what can we do about it
so what can we do about it well when I returned home from playing
well when I returned home from playing
well when I returned home from playing us college tennis with my degree in hand
us college tennis with my degree in hand
us college tennis with my degree in hand I wanted to become the best tennis coach
I wanted to become the best tennis coach
I wanted to become the best tennis coach that I could possibly be so what did I
that I could possibly be so what did I
that I could possibly be so what did I do
do
do I volunteered to coach at a Women’s
I volunteered to coach at a Women’s
I volunteered to coach at a Women’s youth detention center now you might be
youth detention center now you might be
youth detention center now you might be thinking that’s a little extreme okay
thinking that’s a little extreme okay
thinking that’s a little extreme okay but I grew up in a household that really
but I grew up in a household that really
but I grew up in a household that really encouraged stretching your comfort zone
encouraged stretching your comfort zone
encouraged stretching your comfort zone so on that morning I arrived early
so on that morning I arrived early
so on that morning I arrived early little bit nervous excited minor problem
little bit nervous excited minor problem
little bit nervous excited minor problem as I was walking through security right
as I was walking through security right
as I was walking through security right the guard found that I had one of these
the guard found that I had one of these
the guard found that I had one of these our footwork ladders in the bottom of my
our footwork ladders in the bottom of my
our footwork ladders in the bottom of my basket and you know despite
basket and you know despite
basket and you know despite I’m showing him all the benefits you
I’m showing him all the benefits you
I’m showing him all the benefits you know that you could do to be like quick
know that you could do to be like quick
know that you could do to be like quick on your toes and we’ll be fair to say
on your toes and we’ll be fair to say
on your toes and we’ll be fair to say probably not the best piece of equipment
probably not the best piece of equipment
probably not the best piece of equipment to be taking into a woman’s prison right
to be taking into a woman’s prison right
to be taking into a woman’s prison right so anyway what I did is um you know I
so anyway what I did is um you know I
so anyway what I did is um you know I proceeded to meticulously set up my
proceeded to meticulously set up my
proceeded to meticulously set up my indoor tennis court as per my lesson
indoor tennis court as per my lesson
indoor tennis court as per my lesson plan
plan
plan suddenly a dozen high-energy females
suddenly a dozen high-energy females
suddenly a dozen high-energy females walked into the room they picked up the
walked into the room they picked up the
walked into the room they picked up the racquets and they began smashing the
racquets and they began smashing the
racquets and they began smashing the balls in any and every direction it was
balls in any and every direction it was
balls in any and every direction it was complete chaos there were balls flying
complete chaos there were balls flying
complete chaos there were balls flying everywhere all of my senses were alert I
everywhere all of my senses were alert I
everywhere all of my senses were alert I had to listen with my eyes I had no
had to listen with my eyes I had no
had to listen with my eyes I had no choice and trust my instincts as I said
choice and trust my instincts as I said
choice and trust my instincts as I said what everybody pick up a racket which of
what everybody pick up a racket which of
what everybody pick up a racket which of course they already had and then I said
course they already had and then I said
course they already had and then I said I want you to hit the ball as hard as
I want you to hit the ball as hard as
I want you to hit the ball as hard as you can in any in every direction which
you can in any in every direction which
you can in any in every direction which of course they were already doing and
of course they were already doing and
of course they were already doing and then I just spent my time like trying to
then I just spent my time like trying to
then I just spent my time like trying to spread them out to avoid a major
spread them out to avoid a major
spread them out to avoid a major catastrophe or any injuries and then
catastrophe or any injuries and then
catastrophe or any injuries and then after about five minutes I said okay
after about five minutes I said okay
after about five minutes I said okay bring it in and to my amazement they did
bring it in and to my amazement they did
bring it in and to my amazement they did they were now ready to accept me because
they were now ready to accept me because
they were now ready to accept me because I had allowed them to express himself in
I had allowed them to express himself in
I had allowed them to express himself in the only way that they knew how this
the only way that they knew how this
the only way that they knew how this story is a great metaphor for the
story is a great metaphor for the
story is a great metaphor for the imprisoned female energy and its urgent
imprisoned female energy and its urgent
imprisoned female energy and its urgent need to express itself now I didn’t
need to express itself now I didn’t
need to express itself now I didn’t realize at the time just how valuable
realize at the time just how valuable
realize at the time just how valuable this lesson was as a young coach and in
this lesson was as a young coach and in
this lesson was as a young coach and in my quest for knowledge and growth I
my quest for knowledge and growth I
my quest for knowledge and growth I continued to put myself in unfamiliar
continued to put myself in unfamiliar
continued to put myself in unfamiliar situations asking myself the same
situations asking myself the same
situations asking myself the same question over and over again so what
question over and over again so what
question over and over again so what does make a great coach to me this is
does make a great coach to me this is
does make a great coach to me this is the Holy Grail question of coaching at
the Holy Grail question of coaching at
the Holy Grail question of coaching at the US Open a couple of years ago I put
the US Open a couple of years ago I put
the US Open a couple of years ago I put this question to one of the best players
this question to one of the best players
this question to one of the best players in the world
in the world
in the world Roger Federer
Roger Federer
Roger Federer he said someone who listens
he said someone who listens
he said someone who listens then I asked one of the best tennis
then I asked one of the best tennis
then I asked one of the best tennis coaches in the world in Judy Murray she
coaches in the world in Judy Murray she
coaches in the world in Judy Murray she said someone who listens and then
said someone who listens and then
said someone who listens and then earlier this year I asked Serena
earlier this year I asked Serena
earlier this year I asked Serena Williams’s coach Patrick Mouratoglou he
Williams’s coach Patrick Mouratoglou he
Williams’s coach Patrick Mouratoglou he said someone who listens correct and
said someone who listens correct and
said someone who listens correct and then he delved deeper and said you have
then he delved deeper and said you have
then he delved deeper and said you have to be able to hear what the player is
to be able to hear what the player is
to be able to hear what the player is thinking now this really validated my
thinking now this really validated my
thinking now this really validated my own thoughts feelings and experiences
own thoughts feelings and experiences
own thoughts feelings and experiences because when we listen really listen we
because when we listen really listen we
because when we listen really listen we start to engage we begin to understand
start to engage we begin to understand
start to engage we begin to understand the players map of the world the energy
the players map of the world the energy
the players map of the world the energy PS that is guiding them and this is
PS that is guiding them and this is
PS that is guiding them and this is particularly important when we’re
particularly important when we’re
particularly important when we’re dealing with female players because if
dealing with female players because if
dealing with female players because if you can chin into their wavelength or
you can chin into their wavelength or
you can chin into their wavelength or perhaps their Spotify playlist then you
perhaps their Spotify playlist then you
perhaps their Spotify playlist then you have hope of building authentic trusting
have hope of building authentic trusting
have hope of building authentic trusting relationships in fact listening is the
relationships in fact listening is the
relationships in fact listening is the tipping point
tipping point
tipping point so having tapped into this enormous
so having tapped into this enormous
so having tapped into this enormous reserve of energy we have a
reserve of energy we have a
reserve of energy we have a responsibility to harness its potential
responsibility to harness its potential
responsibility to harness its potential how do we do this
how do we do this
how do we do this what did great cultures do they use
what did great cultures do they use
what did great cultures do they use empowering language because language
empowering language because language
empowering language because language matters the words we choose the comments
matters the words we choose the comments
matters the words we choose the comments we make whether consciously or
we make whether consciously or
we make whether consciously or subconsciously impact the strength of
subconsciously impact the strength of
subconsciously impact the strength of the player’s private inner voice
the player’s private inner voice
the player’s private inner voice especially under pressure and it’s not
especially under pressure and it’s not
especially under pressure and it’s not surprising that in the teenage years we
surprising that in the teenage years we
surprising that in the teenage years we know from neuroscience that the brain is
know from neuroscience that the brain is
know from neuroscience that the brain is undergoing intense and inevitable change
consequently the teenage years are
consequently the teenage years are turbulent hypersensitive and emotionally
turbulent hypersensitive and emotionally
turbulent hypersensitive and emotionally demanding and in my experience as the
demanding and in my experience as the
demanding and in my experience as the Australian junior fed cup captain I
Australian junior fed cup captain I
Australian junior fed cup captain I would often ask my young female players
would often ask my young female players
would often ask my young female players who tell me what
who tell me what
who tell me what your strengths they would go straight to
your strengths they would go straight to
your strengths they would go straight to their perceived weaknesses struggled
their perceived weaknesses struggled
their perceived weaknesses struggled with articulated air strength or look to
with articulated air strength or look to
with articulated air strength or look to mom or dad or coach for the magic answer
mom or dad or coach for the magic answer
mom or dad or coach for the magic answer and unfortunately all too often I hear
and unfortunately all too often I hear
and unfortunately all too often I hear coaches focus on the past
coaches focus on the past
coaches focus on the past after a negative match or an experience
after a negative match or an experience
after a negative match or an experience and this serves only to reinforce
and this serves only to reinforce
and this serves only to reinforce habitual patterns of negative thoughts
habitual patterns of negative thoughts
habitual patterns of negative thoughts and I was guilty of this too when I was
and I was guilty of this too when I was
and I was guilty of this too when I was a young coach instead girls want praise
a young coach instead girls want praise
a young coach instead girls want praise where praise is due they want feedback
where praise is due they want feedback
where praise is due they want feedback where feedback is due and great coaches
where feedback is due and great coaches
where feedback is due and great coaches do this by observing the past focusing
do this by observing the past focusing
do this by observing the past focusing on asking a future based question
on asking a future based question
on asking a future based question returning to the present to deliver
returning to the present to deliver
returning to the present to deliver execute and repeat let me let me share a
execute and repeat let me let me share a
execute and repeat let me let me share a classic coaching example of this so
classic coaching example of this so
classic coaching example of this so where rattling in cross court and all of
where rattling in cross court and all of
where rattling in cross court and all of a sudden there’s an error as I try to
a sudden there’s an error as I try to
a sudden there’s an error as I try to change direction of the ball down the
change direction of the ball down the
change direction of the ball down the line now if you ask a past base question
line now if you ask a past base question
line now if you ask a past base question what happened there why’d you miss that
what happened there why’d you miss that
what happened there why’d you miss that ball she will give you a highly accurate
ball she will give you a highly accurate
ball she will give you a highly accurate list of everything that went wrong oh
list of everything that went wrong oh
list of everything that went wrong oh yeah well I made my decision later I
yeah well I made my decision later I
yeah well I made my decision later I shifted my head I was off balance and
shifted my head I was off balance and
shifted my head I was off balance and the list goes on however if you ask a
the list goes on however if you ask a
the list goes on however if you ask a future based question next time you had
future based question next time you had
future based question next time you had that same ball what are you going to do
that same ball what are you going to do
that same ball what are you going to do differently what other options are
differently what other options are
differently what other options are possible through repetition this will
possible through repetition this will
possible through repetition this will empower her private inner voice and
empower her private inner voice and
empower her private inner voice and really strengthen her with comments such
really strengthen her with comments such
really strengthen her with comments such as next time I’ll turn my shoulders next
as next time I’ll turn my shoulders next
as next time I’ll turn my shoulders next time I’ll be more on balance this serves
time I’ll be more on balance this serves
time I’ll be more on balance this serves to strengthen the private inner voice
to strengthen the private inner voice
to strengthen the private inner voice builds self-esteem allows for
builds self-esteem allows for
builds self-esteem allows for accountability and enables the student
accountability and enables the student
accountability and enables the student to find the strengths that live within
to find the strengths that live within
to find the strengths that live within you see the words we choose impact and
you see the words we choose impact and
you see the words we choose impact and mold the brains neuroplasticity they are
mold the brains neuroplasticity they are
mold the brains neuroplasticity they are critical in building new brain Maps
critical in building new brain Maps
critical in building new brain Maps especially in these teenage years and
especially in these teenage years and
especially in these teenage years and let me share a story to illustrate this
let me share a story to illustrate this
let me share a story to illustrate this so a student of the game comes to me and
so a student of the game comes to me and
so a student of the game comes to me and she says can you look at my serve I said
she says can you look at my serve I said
she says can you look at my serve I said sure it looks something like this okay
sure it looks something like this okay
sure it looks something like this okay I’ll show you that again
and she goes I know I know coach I know
and she goes I know I know coach I know what you’re going to say you’re going to
what you’re going to say you’re going to
what you’re going to say you’re going to tell me that I’ve got a hitch on my
tell me that I’ve got a hitch on my
tell me that I’ve got a hitch on my serve
serve
serve like I get stuck here right you’re gonna
like I get stuck here right you’re gonna
like I get stuck here right you’re gonna tell me that yeah many coaches have told
tell me that yeah many coaches have told
tell me that yeah many coaches have told me this before well first of all I
me this before well first of all I
me this before well first of all I thought well is that interesting years
thought well is that interesting years
thought well is that interesting years of that negative reinforcement and I
of that negative reinforcement and I
of that negative reinforcement and I just simply said what if you were to
just simply said what if you were to
just simply said what if you were to spread your wings what if you just let
spread your wings what if you just let
spread your wings what if you just let gravity do the work for you
gravity do the work for you
gravity do the work for you just like gravity do the work for you
just like gravity do the work for you
just like gravity do the work for you now little did I realize she had felt
now little did I realize she had felt
now little did I realize she had felt stuck in a number of areas of her life
stuck in a number of areas of her life
stuck in a number of areas of her life not necessarily related to tennis but it
not necessarily related to tennis but it
not necessarily related to tennis but it was only on her terms through repetition
was only on her terms through repetition
was only on her terms through repetition that she felt ready to let go all the
that she felt ready to let go all the
that she felt ready to let go all the coaching experience did was provide an
coaching experience did was provide an
coaching experience did was provide an environment to listen to engage through
environment to listen to engage through
environment to listen to engage through using empowering language that enabled
using empowering language that enabled
using empowering language that enabled the student to find the answers that
the student to find the answers that
the student to find the answers that live within herself we have a golden
live within herself we have a golden
live within herself we have a golden opportunity to begin to restore the
opportunity to begin to restore the
opportunity to begin to restore the balance it is time to remove the
balance it is time to remove the
balance it is time to remove the blindfold from Lady Justice so that we
blindfold from Lady Justice so that we
blindfold from Lady Justice so that we all might hear and see clearly a way
all might hear and see clearly a way
all might hear and see clearly a way forward I am in tennis I am a coach I
forward I am in tennis I am a coach I
forward I am in tennis I am a coach I might discover the next world champion
might discover the next world champion
might discover the next world champion or I might not but here’s what I do know
or I might not but here’s what I do know
or I might not but here’s what I do know if we can all play our part in creating
if we can all play our part in creating
if we can all play our part in creating opportunities to engage in empower women
opportunities to engage in empower women
opportunities to engage in empower women and young females then they will have
and young females then they will have
and young females then they will have the self belief that they can make a
the self belief that they can make a
the self belief that they can make a wonderful contribution on and off the
wonderful contribution on and off the
wonderful contribution on and off the court
court
court so I will leave you with this thought
so I will leave you with this thought
so I will leave you with this thought next time when dealing with young
next time when dealing with young
next time when dealing with young females in your life
females in your life
females in your life how would you unleash their imprisoned
how would you unleash their imprisoned
how would you unleash their imprisoned energy and harness their potential
energy and harness their potential
energy and harness their potential because the ball is in your court
”
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