When you’ve decided you’re going to go somewhere you either innately know how to get there (i.e. to the mall you’ve visited every week for the past 5 years) or if it’s somewhere you’re not as familiar with, you’ll most probably ask Google, Siri, Alexa or similar with the help of Maps. With step by step directions provided with additional options presented along the way (i.e. do you need to make a stop along the way), you’ll arrive at this ‘somewhere’ without much prior thought needed. Before Google, Siri and/or Alexa came along we had to rely on paper-form i.e. printed maps that were only accessible in larger books and then plan our journey before we left whilst stopping at a few key points along the way to check our location. Where am I going with this?
In order to plan for the future Google, Siri and Alexa (or similar) can be of some help. But you’re also going to need those printed maps that you’re going to either hand-craft yourself and/or use a map you’ve stumbled across and then personalise it to your destination of choice. Using this analogy, planning for the future becomes a lot more easy and streamlined with a little ingenuity. You see, planners will run rife over the Internet and Google, Siri and/or Alexa will point you in a relatively accurate direction. But there’s no one size fits all approach. That’s where you come in and get to make it your very own with your own success metrics.
If you’re set on heading towards a Top 10 tennis ranking, I am Your Tennis Coaching Guru points you in the right direction. It provides a blueprint of sorts to customise according to your needs providing the 7 Keys are kept front and centre alongside the near dozen books from AM8 International. Nine of these are specifically framed as a collection — The Complete Collection to guide players/athletes towards Championship success if all key metrics are adhered towards with streamlined progressions. However, it is absolutely fundamental that you take the time to frame The Complete Collection towards your given objective — your future in 1 month through to 12 month intervals upwards of 10 year timeframes — it’s entirely your decision.
The more time and effort you put into your planning, the greater the likelihood of your success complemented by the sheer planning and dedication to get towards your ‘somewhere’ — that destination of choice.
Although, there’s more than meets the eye. While you’re responsible for planning and putting the work in to get to your destination of your choice, it’s important to have those around you to also contribute and help play their part in The Long Game. Whether that is your parent and/or guardian that is responsible for getting you to and from practice and looking after all associated expenses, or your coach that is responsible for up-skilling and keeping pace with The 7 Keys to ensure optimal metrics are progressively implemented into your patterns of play on a rolling basis as you head towards your next peak performance — over and over again.
It is important to remember that it is a team effort. And if you don’t have the support of your parent and/or guardian and/or coach — keep looking and keep believing! How do I know? Because I’ve been in your shoes. And when I was, I was working at 14 to help fund my expenses and then by the time I reached 16-17 I was 100% funding my training. Yes, it was hard work. Yes, there were setbacks. Yes, I still received a full scholarship to play in the NCAA because I didn’t give up when 99% of my peers had called it a day. But even more? That’s why I’m here now. This is why AM8 International was built — to help alleviate some strain, to help you keep on The Pathway and to help you maintain course over The Long Game. We’re here to help you realise your true potential and I’ll keep on sharing to ensure you know you’re not alone and that a Top 10 tennis ranking is achievable and within sight.
To learn more about How to Plan for the Future: Guiding Tennis Players to Success, head on over to Beyond Top 10 Tennis and head to Episode 42. More? Catch up on our Tips over on TikTok, Twitter, Threads or Instagram for quick snippets to apply in your game, today.