Jun 30, 2026 · 21 min · 11 segments
In this episode I talk about when we as coaches discover that keen young player who is passionate about the game. I discuss the importance of looking at the big picture and seeing it as a 10 year…
Rick WillsmoreHost
But one of the common questions you get from people at a gathering is, so you got any up and coming stars? Because I guess you've got people basing this around watching the Australian Open, watching Wimbledon, Davis Cup, Fed Cup.
They're seeing it from a position that tennis is you're producing the next Hewitt, the next I was gonna say Kyrgios, it's always a tough example.
Dimino, you know, whoever it might be, the next Ash Barty, really great example.
And so it's gonna be a common question, are you producing the next champion? And as coaches, especially at a club level, We sort of are interested in producing the next champion, but we're really busy coaching the year three kid whose, you know, whose elbow goes funny on his forehand and, you know, and likes to whack the ball over the fence when no one's watching.
So we get busy with participation kids and maybe an adult beginner class and and then a private lesson and you know they're not all going to be passionate kids who genuinely have a pathway to become great players.
They'll probably go to a private lesson or you'll suggest a private lesson to them early to get the most out of their ability.
And I think at its core, it's why I coach is by finding these little individual players and seeing that as a 10 year picture.
What you've got to be careful of is you don't want to prioritize them over the next person.
But one of the common questions you get from people at a gathering is, so you got any up and coming stars? Because I guess you've got people basing this around watching the Australian Open, watching Wimbledon, Davis Cup, Fed Cup.
They're seeing it from a position that tennis is you're producing the next Hewitt, the next I was gonna say Kyrgios, it's always a tough example.
Dimino, you know, whoever it might be, the next Ash Barty, really great example.
And so it's gonna be a common question, are you producing the next champion? And as coaches, especially at a club level, We sort of are interested in producing the next champion, but we're really busy coaching the year three kid whose, you know, whose elbow goes funny on his forehand and, you know, and likes to whack the ball over the fence when no one's watching.
So we get busy with participation kids and maybe an adult beginner class and and then a private lesson and you know they're not all going to be passionate kids who genuinely have a pathway to become great players.
They'll probably go to a private lesson or you'll suggest a private lesson to them early to get the most out of their ability.
And I think at its core, it's why I coach is by finding these little individual players and seeing that as a 10 year picture.
What you've got to be careful of is you don't want to prioritize them over the next person.
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