Two important parts of any player’s road to success are correct development & progression.  Over and over again I have witnessed players training to be the next Peter Nicol or Anthony Ricketts.

Players being taught the ‘professional way’ to move, hold the racket, hit the ball… and unfortunately in a lot of cases, before they have acquired the main basic skills to enable them to develop correctly. 

While these top players represent the perfect role model to aspiring players, most players forget that these top players practice 5-6 hours daily on their skills and techniques and have spent hours practicing their basics before they progressed to a higher level of expertise. 

A player that is pushed too hard too early usually does not fulfil their true potential.
The same applies for players that move on to advanced techniques or exercises before being able to perform and control the necessary basics required to perform these advanced skills. 

At primary & junior school we acquire the basic knowledge we need for later success at college or university.
In sport this is no different.
All sports require an in-depth knowledge of the basics that help you perform at a later stage at a higher level.
How many times have you heard the expression ‘back to basics?’
If the basics are not in place you have nothing to go ‘back’ to! 

Important for the improving player is to be able to recognise their own level of expertise!
This is not as easy as it seems and occasionally players loose focus of their own ability and try to ‘run before they can walk’ usually resulting in frustrating results once the player realises that they have moved on too soon. 

As a player you should ask questions!
Ask why, how, when!
Your coach will be able to give you the answers.
An experienced coach has gone through the same learning process as a beginner, not only as a player but also as a coach.
He/she will have gathered knowledge from a wide range of sources and will know which knowledge to use for you, when to use this knowledge and (the easy part) how! 

Experienced players that have reached a high level of proficiency or an experienced coach can help the improving player stay on course.
While the experienced player will have been through the same learning process and be able to offer first hand advice, the coach will know the correct pedagogical teaching methods and know when and how to move on to more technical parts of the game.
Your coach will be able to explain not only when and how to move on but will also be able to explain to you why to move on (or in some cases why not). 

Each player will have their own ‘vision, goals or dreams’ and to be able to take a positive step towards these aims the correct guidance is essential. 

If you are seeking advice to improve ask someone that you know can help you!  

The road to success is sometimes a difficult road to follow!
Make sure you follow the correct signs.  

Or would you go to a chiropodist if you have toothache?