Coaches Corner

The most fascinating example of 'momentum' I have ever seen was in a couple of tennis matches between Agassi and Sampras. It seemed like the momentum was I the balance for about 99% of the match. Sampras would win serve, Agassi would struggle a bit but win serve. And then there was a moment. Maybe at 30:30 and Sampras served a double fault. You could see Agassi knew this might be the only chance he had this set and the momentum was with him momentarily. He looked different. I get goosebumps just writing about it now. Somehow Agassi gets the next serve back into play and wins the rally and the game. Then the momentum went back into the balance for another 40 minutes with neither having an advantage.  Until Sampras would seize his tiny moment. Momentum = Team State Momentum is defined as: "Impetus of a non-physical process, such as an idea or a course of events."  To describe an intangible concept such as momentum in sport is difficult, but basically: ‘advantage’ that e

Questioning is important Developing a 'Beginner's Mind'  is important. Looking at problems without limiting possibilities is important. 'Self perceptions of expertise increase closed minded cognition.' Ok, makes sense. I've been fortunate to grow up in an environment where in my group of  critical friends  everything is always questioned, to the point where people have complained about the fact that we were always asking questions. On the other hand, if 'experts' have closed minds and they hear a theory for which they know reputable research refutes, the only possible solution for this is that they are closed minded, right? So, never trust an expert who disagrees with you, they have lost their beginner's mind? No, but having a questioning mind is important. Questioning is important Research is important. But if you question everything, when do you stop? You have to stop at some point. Don't you? A great (and very blunt) coach I used to work with