OFF: Should the WTA Tour Keep Testing On-Court Coaching?
Posted by Aaress Lawless on Jul 25, 2008 | Print |
The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour officially announced yesterday an indefinite suspension of on-court coaching during professional tennis matches.
Is this a good decision or should players be allowed a chance to communicate with their coaches? Tell us your opinion in today’s edition of Open Forum Friday!
Like the original concept, the decision to abolish on-court coaching will be met with mixed opinions by players and fans. I’ve not made it a secret my personal dislike of the system, as I have long felt that it threatened tennis’ status as an individual sport.
But what do you think? Do players benefit from having an opportunity to get advice during matches? Did having the coaches wear microphones add an additional level of drama to the match? Would you support on-court coaching if the Tour decided to bring it back next season?
Everyone, thank you for participating and have a great weekend!
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Alice | Jul 25, 2008 | Reply
Hi Aaress
One of my concerns about on court coaching, and also covert coaching, is that it may inhibit a players ability to develop initiative and to be able to adapt their own game during a match through the use of their own brain. In a broader sense I personally worry that hands-on ‘coaching’ may inhibit a players own sense of identity and independence from their coach.
Aaress Lawless | Jul 25, 2008 | Reply
Good point about initiative and the need to adapt your own game, Alice!
Steve Pouliot | Jul 25, 2008 | Reply
Let them have coaching. The coach can only do so much and in some cases, you have very young women playing in front of thousands of people and worldwide TV audiances. The pressure is enormous. Having to make the decisions of a normal teenager is tough enough, But this. I think these yong ladies have enough going through there brain. They’ve learned the basics including lots of initiative but it sure doesn’t hurt to remind them, pat them on the shoulder or remind them to eat and drink properly.
Alice | Jul 26, 2008 | Reply
But if that’s all coaches ever did Steve then that would be fine. However in some cases coaches become more like omnipresent mentors, undermining and retarding their player. Furthermore, when the role of coaching is combined with that of parent then it can potentially be incendiary.. Yuri Sharapov, Jim Pierce, Damir Dokic etc. When these dynamics are brought into the match environment it may intensify a players sense of loss of isolation rather than be of help.
I dont think it ever did Justine any good staring at Carlos, or for that matter Jelena.
Yes they are young women, they are not children. They dont need to be propped up anymore than a young male pro does. This is cultural.
The role of a coach should be to enable not disable. To empower, not render dependent. Perhaps a sign of a really good coach is one who puts themselves out of a job… if you follow.
It’s worth pointing out that I exempt Walter Bartoli from these criticisms. As a concerned fan I naturally question and worry about things sometimes, but I have a lot of trust and fondness for him. He’s different. An enigma. I think he’s a good guy. Not a bad guy. I like him. I admire him.
I also think the little nod and wink here or there is acceptable. Who needs.. an on court coach.
JimM | Jul 27, 2008 | Reply
I agree with Alice. It was the wrong solution to the problem. They should ban Coaches in the stands while play is in progress anyway.
At this years Wimbledon, I lost count of the times Jankovic looked at her coach to see if she should challenge a call. Even the BBC commented on it. If thats not cheating, I dont know what is.
pov | Jul 27, 2008 | Reply
Alice has some interesting thoughts but in a way one point she raised somewhat eats itself. Leaving out the parent situations - since these women are able to make decisions for themselves, they are well able to decide whether or not they want to have the on-court discussion. Added to that is that fact that a few minutes talk in-between sets isn’t going to replace having to self-direct. So although I favor not having it, in many ways I see it as a non-issue.