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Why do some players take great pleasure in rushing the net and others don’t? Why can one child patiently enjoy a three hour “moonball-fest” while it drives others nuts? Why can some players stay in the moment and close out an easy lead while others seemingly find a way to let the opponent back into the match?

 

Welcome to Brain Types. One’s general psychological differences should be carefully considered when developing a player’s preferred playing style. If you haven’t talked to your child’s coach yet about “who your child is and how they are wired, you are making a powerful mistake and most likely wasting precious time and money.

 

PREFERRED INTELLIGENCE

 

On and off the court, people fall into one of the sixteen combinations of personality profiles. By identifying one’s preference of each dichotomy, a four sided profile is acquired. The profile is made up of four opposing personality characteristics. They include:

• Extraversion-Introversion
• Sensing-Intuition
• Thinking-Feeling
• Judging -Perceiving

Each person is born with a genetic predisposing to favor one dichotomy over another.

 

 

Note: Just as one’s genetic pre-disposition or nature is important, so is each individuals cultivation or how they were nurtured. On the tennis court, each player applies their dominant preference through match play competition. Keep in mind that exceptions shadow every rule.

The following is a possible scenario of how preferred intelligence may play out for a tennis player. Let’s see how one’s preferred intelligence may affect one’s on-court performance style, strengths and weaknesses.

 

Extraversion: Since extraverts draw energy from action, they generally prefer to makes things happen with a proactive style of play. They often enjoy the socialization and harmony of good doubles.

 

Introversion: Introverts draw their energy through quiet reflection. In many cases they feel comfortable behind the baseline in a counter-puncher role. Because they are energy conserving by nature, Introverts repeatedly hesitate when they have the opponent vulnerable and miss opportunities to gain an on court positioning advantage. Introverts commonly prefer the solitude of singles over doubles.

 

Sensing: Sensates make on court decisions based on concrete evidence. They enjoy details and facts. Sensates only rush the net after they have digested all the necessary data and have deemed it acceptable behavior to attack. Playing it safe is the logical protocol on court for a sensate.

 

Intuition: Intuitive players have a deeper level of trust for their hunches. They rely on their sixth sense or their gut instincts. Often an intuitive would say “I had a feeling they were choking so I attacked!”Intuitive players would be wise to apply intelligent between point rituals versus winging it.

 

Thinking: Thinkers are more detached from the emotional climate of the match. Systematic Logic wins over random shot selection choices. Being truthful is preferred over being tactful so thinkers generally have no problem with on court confrontations.

 

Feeling: Feelers express emotions easily on the tennis court. They frequently are heard verbalizing their feelings in match play. Feelers express empathy towards an opponent performing badly and in many cases is easy prey to the drama of a crafty opponent’s gamesmanship.

 

Judging: Judgers enjoy predictability, as well as routines and rituals. They repeatedly take satisfaction in running the same old boring winning patterns over and over again. They rely on percentage play performance to gain the upper hand.

 

Perceiving: Perceivers habitually enjoy the freedom to be spontaneous. On the doubles court, perceivers unknowingly surprise their partner as much as the opponents. Perceivers are comfortable adapting and applying a wide range of secondary shots and patterns. Since a perceivers mind is generally found in the future versus the present, they commonly have a hard time closing out leads.

 

So, who are you? More importantly, who is your child?

 

Parents, keep in mind that a ridged ISTJ parent with a freedom loving ENFP child will see the world differently and problem solve differently. These children aren’t being defiant; they are simply not wired like you. Better coaching and better parenting demands that we get into their world versus trying to change them into our way of thinking.

 

Interested in being a better tennis parent? Start by down loading The Tennis Parents Bible and receive your two FREE e-booklets “The Match Chart Collection”, and “How to Attract a College Tennis Scholarship”   Click Here

 

For more information on Brain Typing go to Jon Niednagel’s web site: www.Braintypes.com

 

Contact Frank for details regarding your child’s Customized Personal 25-page Evaluation session at: FGSA@earthlink.net, (949)933-8163