Developing Independent Athletes
Developing Character
Developing Professional Networks
Parent Education Program
Jacqui Louder ‐ Psychologist
Develop Independent Athletes
Why?
• Increase self-esteem
• Develop resilience and independence
• Increase chances of success in tennis
and real world
How?
• Athlete responsible for certain aspects of their sport like having all of
their necessary equipment/gear each day at practice.
• Limit the amount of feedback you give during practice
• Not allowing them to look over at you constantly during competition
Tennis Australia ‐ Sports Parents Education Program What Makes An Independent Athlete?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Integrity
Sportsmanship
Leadership
Resilience
Areas of Athlete Development
1.Psychological Skills
2.Perceptual Motor Skills
3.Life Skills
4.Physical Skills
5.Inter-personal Relationship Skills
Tennis Australia ‐ Sports Parents Education Program What Makes An Independent Athlete?
Balyi’s Five Phases
1.FUNdamentals
2.Training to Train
3.Training to Compete
4.Training to Win
5.Retirement
Tennis Australia ‐ Sports Parents Education Program What Makes An Independent Athlete?
Developing Independence Athletes (12/Under)
1. Ban negative words:
• Can’t
• Never
• Hopeless
• Mistake (use the word miss
– less negativity associated)
2. Focus on what they are doing well
3. Stop critiquing
4. Make it safe to take risks
and learn new things
Tennis Australia ‐ Sports Parents Education Program What Makes An Independent Athlete?
Developing Independence Athletes (12/Under)
5. Promote reflection and
self-directed learning
6. Involve athletes in decision
making
7. Give athletes the responsibility
for quality training sessions
8. Goal setting between athlete
and coach
9. Make the athlete part of the
evaluation process
Tennis Australia ‐ Sports Parents Education Program Seven Tips for Developing Integrity
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Value integrity.
Talk about integrity.
Find an integrity mentor.
Seek feedback.
Examine your heart.
Be courageous.
Walk your talk
Helping Adolescents Develop Integrity
Step 1: Drawing a line
Step 2: Becoming Aware of Our Choices
Step 3: Accountability
Tennis Australia ‐ Sports Parents Education Program Questions of Integrity
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Do I believe this is the right course of action?
Am I being just, fair and considerate?
Would I want others to act the same way?
Is there someone I could talk to who would help me enlarge my perspective?
Is this the right Time, Intention, Person, Place and Style? (T.I.P.P.S.)
Could I make an adjustment that would prevent or alleviate harm?
How will I feel about myself afterwards?
Tennis Australia ‐ Sports Parents Education Program Signs of Integrity
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Open to feedback
Accepts personal responsibility
Balances one’s needs with the needs of others
Practices understanding and compassion
Seeks the advice of others
Tennis Australia ‐ Sports Parents Education Program Signs of Integrity
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9.
Respectful of views that are different
Acts with integrity even when it is inconvenient
Keeps agreements
Knows the difference between humor and hostility.
Tennis Australia ‐ Sports Parents Education Program Qualities of People with Integrity
1. Strength of character
2. Steadfast, resolute, having fibre
3. Walking the talk, doing what was promised
Tennis Australia ‐ Sports Parents Education Program Qualities of People with Integrity
4. Authentic, straightforward, what's on the inside is displayed on the outside
5. Open, honest and direct in their dealings with others
6. Clear and uncompromised values, and clarity about what's right and wrong
Tennis Australia ‐ Sports Parents Education Program Qualities of People with Integrity
7. Committed, with the courage of their convictions
8. Behaviours matched values (congruence)
9. Principled, honourable, fair, accountable and responsible
Tennis Australia ‐ Sports Parents Education Program Qualities of People with Integrity
10. Balanced, integrated, whole
11. Self aware and self-reflective
12. Mature and wise
Tennis Australia ‐ Sports Parents Education Program Positive Affects Which Are Inherently Rewarding
• Interest – excitement, having fun, being engaged
• Enjoyment – joy, happiness, contentment, satisfaction, relief.
• Neutral affect: which 'clears the decks' and demands we pay attention to
anything that might follow:
• Surprise - startle.
Tennis Australia ‐ Sports Parents Education Program Positive Affects Which Are Negative
• Negative affects, which are inherently punishing or 'toxic':
• Fear - terror
• Anger - rage
• Distress - anguish (a steady state caused when things have gone wrong and
stayed wrong, such as fatigue, overload, grief and long-term conflict)
• Disgust
• Shame - humiliation.
Tennis Australia ‐ Sports Parents Education Program Contributors To A Lack Of Integrity
• Insensitive to others
• Cold, aloof, arrogant
• Overly ambitious
• Lack of composure
• Over-managing
• Inability to think strategically
• Betrayal of trust
• Low detail orientation
• Over-dependence on an advocate/mentor
• Over-dependence on a single skill
• Key skill deficiencies.
Tennis Australia ‐ Sports Parents Education Program Reasons Why Players Must Adhere to High Standards of Behaviour
1. The behaviour of athletes is more closely observed than that of other
individuals – both at school / work / within the general community
2. Athletes are judged by the company they keep – this may mean disassociating
from others who are not adhering to high standards of behaviour
3. The misbehaviour of athletes is a media lightening rod – far more so than that
of non-athletes
Tennis Australia ‐ Sports Parents Education Program Reasons Why Players Must Adhere to High Standards of Behaviour
4. The misbehaviour of an athlete can have highly public and embarrassing, if not
devastating, consequences to the athlete’s personal reputation
5. The misbehaviour of an athlete can be a source of great public
embarrassment to an athlete’s family
Tennis Australia ‐ Sports Parents Education Program Reasons Why Players Must Adhere to High Standards of Behaviour
6. The misbehaviour of an athlete can have highly public and embarrassing, if not
devastating, consequences to the reputation of Tennis Australia, tennis as a
sport, coaches, and the athletes school
7. The misbehaviour of athlete’s can get coaches fired – whether they had
anything to do with the misbehaviour
Tennis Australia ‐ Sports Parents Education Program Reasons Why Players Must Adhere to High Standards of Behaviour
8. The overall character of the athlete is considered fair game by media
9. Rule violations and penalties imposed by a coach or organisation are also
considered fair game by the media
10. Considerate behaviour by athletes produces a generous amount of good will;
inconsiderate behaviour by an athlete produces a disproportionate amount of
ill will
Tennis Australia ‐ Sports Parents Education Program Leadership
Sixteen Leadership Goals for all players:
1.Follow team rules
2.Try to be the hardest worker on the
team
3.Try to be the most enthusiastic player
4.Try to be the best conditioned player
5.Observe and reflect on leadership
traits of experienced players and
coaches
6.Master the tactics
7.Care about your teammates; this
includes being supportive and not
backstabbing
8.Maintain your sense of balance when
adversity strikes
Tennis Australia ‐ Sports Parents Education Program Leadership
9. Put team goals ahead of personal goals
10.Inspire confidence by demonstrating
self-control
11.Try to be coachable
12.Try to energise others with your positive
approach
13.Learn to accept the coaches criticism
without taking it personally
14.Treat disappointment or losses as
feedback, followed by a quick return to
normal
15.Consistently adhere to high standards
of behaviour
16.Be a role model who demonstrates
respect toward all members of the squad
and tennis community.
Tennis Australia ‐ Sports Parents Education Program Leadership at Training
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Focus
Hard work
Hustle
Master your skills
Unselfishness
Enthusiasm
Optimism
Respectful treatment of others
Punctuality
Tennis Australia ‐ Sports Parents Education Program Resilience
1.
2.
3.
4.
Sportsmanship
Integrity
Leadership
Resilience
Tennis Australia ‐ Sports Parents Education Program Developing Professional Networks
Three types of contacts:
What you gain from networking:
1.Initial contacts: People
whom you directly know
2.Secondary contacts:
People who know people
who could help you
3.Key contacts: People
who could help you
• Better understanding of opportunities
• Information on the current sports market
• Advice and ideas
• Sponsors
• Information
• Referrals
• New friends
Tennis Australia ‐ Sports Parents Education Program