Malcolm Gladwell says it takes 10,000 hours to be proficient in any worthy arena. I don’t know how many, from childhood to my coaching career, were spent “watching the ball bounce.” A lot! All kinds of sports. Tennis, one of the latest found. And, as stated, my pivotal find was Jim Leighton. Mentor to many, myself included. He opened my eyes and I began to see things better. And I learned from all kinds of sources. Tennis on television, playing tennis, reading instruction books, watching other tennis players, DVDs, clinics (especially at the U.S. Open’s USTA clinics), coaches of tennis and other sports. Most came from watching my own players. Some positive information, some negatives that needed “coaching.” Next I have listed sources for some of these lessons. Lessons that win watches. The first is one that is unusual but I gotta tell you, we got a lot of points from badminton. “Chai” will tell you that!

Malcolm Gladwell’s book, David and Goliath, has an interesting

viewpoint regarding one’s choice of institutions for pursuing higher
education. He suggests being a big fish in a little pond yields better results
than the other way around. Being in the top third of your class breeds
esteem, whereas being in the lower third (albeit a third with fine students)
often discourages those who are always looking up at those who
outperform them.
I don’t remember a lot said at some 45 commencement speeches I
attended. One statement I do remember was that the best way to become
educated in America was in good small colleges. Gladwell further
acknowledges that even at some of our very best schools exceptions are
made. And often these exceptions are given to athletes. And while many
exceptions are given thinking we are doing them a favor, he suggests
maybe the results are not the outcomes we would want.
Having been involved in college athletics for some 40-plus years,
Gladwell makes one ask questions, because so many exceptions go to
athletes. Are we putting these youngsters into situations they cannot
function or feel positive in?
The real value of athletics lies in the lessons learned therein. Doesn’t the
student have to be capable of and willing to learn the lessons? Choosing
the right school seems critical to marginal students and athletes.

“Bullfight critics row on row,
Pack the vast arena full.
But there’s only one there who knows,
And he’s the one who fights the bull.”
From Michener’s “Mexico”

Coach Danny Colangelo, Men’s Tennis Barton College
P.O. Box 5000
Wilson, NC 27893
Dear Danny:
You asked for some advice on coaching at Barton College.
Here are some suggestions.

1. Be honest.
2. Be fair.
3. You are not a servant, but it is a service job.
4. “There are two kinds of people at a golf course: workers and
   players. All the players are looking for a job.” (Tennis coaching, too)
   –Gerald Wallace
5. “You can’t make chicken salad until you get the chicken.”
   –Buddy Bedgood
6. If you can’t get me and you don’t know the answer, call
   Russell Rawlings (at Barton, 399-6358). Do what he says.
7. “If you want to be a coach, there are two rules: Keep your records
   straight, and Don’t mess with the cheerleaders (or coeds or girl
   players)” –Bob Burton, Elon basketball, 1990.
8. Don’t play illegal players.
9. Learn the NCAA rulebook—not all the rules, but how to use the
   book. Ask Gary Hall or your compliance officer every time you have
   any questions.
10. People from eastern North Carolina have a built in “bull” detector.
    Don’t even try it.
11. Earl Boykin (“Country” at E. B. Sports) is my dear friend.
    Call him (291-5411). No one will look after the tennis center if you don’t.

12. You work for the athletics director and the president. Be a positive
    to those two important people.
13. Get the players in shape.
14. Don’t panic if something goes haywire.
15. Losing hurts bad enough. Don’t abuse your players. I always wait an
    hour after a match to make suggestions.
16. Sportsmanship should be high on your team and coaching
    priorities list.
17. Be careful in the van. Don’t schedule matches that dictate driving
    too much in any one stretch. Did you hear that? Re-read it!
18. Don’t be a “budget buster.” Al Rehm: “I don’t want any cheese. I just
    want to get out of the trap.” Find Al and Jean. They are looking
    for you.
19. Don’t forget how much you know about tennis. Use your
    intelligence, toughness, and “team first” knowledge. Be patient.
20. There are other teams and coaches at Barton. Their teams are
    important, too.
21. There’s a fine faculty across the campus. They affect your teams.
22. Tom Morris is an outstanding human being. He will be glad to help
    if you need him.
23. Tell the boys at Dick’s Hot Dog Stand hello. You’ve probably already
    been to Parker’s.
24. Barton is a fine school. Coaching is an opportunity to do a lot of
    people a lot of good. Remember what tennis did for you. Pay back
    your debts.
    Let’s start with these 25. Call me any time you need me. Your coach,
    Cc: Gary Hall, Director of Athletics, Russell Rawlings, Development Office,
    Dr. Jim Hemby, President

1. Your job is to prevent cheating on the line calls. (Limit worry on
   trivia, i.e., bathroom break time, singles net stick to the quarter inch,
   four balls or three, etc.). The trouble comes when cheaters cheat.
2. Think the philosophy of line calling is wrong with solo chair umpires.
   Referees tell me they are reluctant to overrule far line calls. Why?
   You are the only neutral person there! In a professional match, you
   are overruling a colleague. In college teams, the person you defer
   to is biased. Don’t be afraid of confrontation with players or coaches.
   The third overrule is powerful. Once you’ve corrected once or twice,
   the cheating stops. So what if they have to play close or even slightly
   out balls? That’s what the code says, anyway.
3. They cheat on the far line. Get someone on that line if you suspect it.
4. A note to coaches: Don’t complain about the refs. Don’t allow your
   players to complain or insult them. If you do, it will be like the
   teacher shortage, badgered to death until the refs finally quit. Then
   you’ve fired Donald and hired Daffy. Again, coaches, we are an
   extension of the referees. Back them. I constantly hear players who
   admire coaches for overruling or disciplining their own players.
5. Questions for the rule makers: When a court is next to a sidewalk
   and fence, how far back do the team members stand? Can they
   crowd right behind an entrance to the courts? Shouldn’t a coach
   stop that even before a referee? Who is really in charge of crowd control? What is permissible? How should violators be handled?  People are saying some nasty things to people in foreign languages.
   It is not all that unusual to interpret these words which, spoken in
   English, would be deplorable. Come on, Coach!Vic Braden says he can prove scientifically that players are the worst
   choice to call lines accurately (moving, bouncing, etc.) My contention
   is a referee knows pretty soon who is cheating. Should we have a rule
   to allow a solo chair to take over all line calls on a suspect side, or
   both sides? Believe me, it would be better than some that we are
   seeing. We can see, too!