Coach Corner: Linus Eriksson - "Focus on what you can control"
In our new article series, we dive into the world of tennis with coaches and players to uncover the secrets of the sport’s appeal and what it takes to win. Take note of the insights, and get out there and play!
Swedish Linus Eriksson, coach and author of Baslinjen media, shares his thoughts on the topic.
Why and how you got interested in coaching?
The honest answer is that I wasn’t interested at first. When I stopped playing myself after high school, I had no idea what my next step would be. It was precisely then that a club asked me if I wanted to coach there 25 hours a week, which I accepted, and that’s been my path ever since.
In the beginning I thought it was just okay, but the more I learned and the more I grew as a coach, the more fun I found it. I believe it’s incredibly important for new coaches to be noticed, and for older, more experienced coaches not only to educate and inspire but also to give younger coaches responsibility and let them test their own ideas. Sometimes you have to learn from your own mistakes, too.
What is good coaching?
Effective coaching means both inspiring a player to push their limits - physically and mentally. And guiding them to maximize their potential in every unique situation, regardless if it’s on or off the court.
In recent years I’ve come to realize just how incredibly hard it is to be, or become, a good coach. It’s a highly complex profession with so many factors at play in becoming an effective tennis coach.
The first few years of coaching were easier. I was sure I knew how things should be done and what the right and wrong ways to train were. But the more I’ve learned, the more I’ve understood how little I actually know. Being a mediocre coach is easy, being a truly good coach is extremely, extremely difficult.
Tennis is a game, how do you coach winning; can it be coached?
During a match, the tactics you share with a player, whether before or during play, can make the difference between winning and losing. On the practice court, “training to win”, means cultivating the qualities that lead to victory: tactical tools for overcoming different playing styles, technical skills to execute your game plan, and the mental grit to battle through adversity, because tennis is a sport where errors and setbacks are inevitable. Helping the player understand her “why” - why she plays tennis and strives to win matches. That may be the single most important aspect of coaching “winning.”
Three tips to win matches?
Fight and become the best at handling setbacks
Focus on what you can control: ”The next point is more important then your last mistake.”
Use your weapons whenever you can.