Today was an out of the ordinary day for a guy who coaches a highly competitive NCAA DII men’s tennis team. I actually had a day off in the middle of the week and during an exceptionally busy time. You see, we played Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. We then turn around and play Friday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, and throw in Thursday just for good measure. I felt like maybe a day without courts, practice, judging performance, or worrying about the depth of a forehand would be good for the guys. They have grinded and have shown so much heart, hustle, desire, and passion for the game and for the team that it just felt right to let them have a breather. Knowing when to let up and knowing when to push is such a shot in the dark. How hard and far can we push? It is widely known that the body can push further than the mind allows a lot of the time. We tell ourselves we are tired and, poof, we are tired. This dance we play in our mind is only exacerbated by the fact that I am not judging myself but eight players who have become fighters in each of their own right.
Although I have now been doing this for twelve years I am astonished that even when a team is relatively the same for a couple of years the heartbeat of the team can change as well as the emotional stature of the team. The guys don’t always see it because they are too close but from the fence lines it becomes apparent. This team is very different from their identity just last season. I preface this by saying I have no idea what our overall record will be, nor do I really care, but these guys are truly becoming competitive warriors. Their want to succeed is outweighing the pains they feel, the struggles they are going through, and the obstacles that have been put in their way. Players who played higher last year are filling out roles in different positions this year, there is very little selfishness which is bound to happen in such an individual sport, and these guys want to succeed. It pains them to not be successful. Really pains them to the point that the old quote, “I hate losing more than I enjoy winning” fits this team very well. Working on being their best is the goal for each of them and not just my mission. This makes things easier for me and harder in some aspects. I don’t have to push as hard but they push me to get more out of them. As I have said in the past, this is when the growth really occurs and the fun begins.
Tomorrow starts the second half of the hell week that actually takes in two weeks, but heck who is counting. Each match is another opportunity for every guy to push beyond his past limits and become what he wants to be as he moves forward. Of course, we all want to win and the joy is much more appealing than getting beat. The sad thing about that is that we learn so much when we are defeated. I truly believe that but I also believe that a hard-fought victory also teaches a player how hard they can push themselves to achieve a goal. What makes it more remarkable is when they do it again and again. Damn, I love competition.
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