Talent Identification and Development in Tennis

Accurately identifying individuals at a young age who are most likely to excel in a given sport remains a pursuit for coaches, parents and national governing bodies worldwide. In a sport such as tennis, the financial investment needed to support a player’s development is substantial, although this is offset by the vast sums of money that are on offer for those few elite players who reach the very top of the game. As such, tennis can be considered to represent a high risk, high reward venture, where the value of being able to better identify those who are likely to ‘make it’ takes on extra emphasis. The debate surrounding the timeless ‘nature versus nurture’ conundrum rumbles on and shows no sign of abating. The relative contribution that deliberate practice (Starkes & Ericsson, 2003) as opposed to genetics (Tucker & Collins, 2011) play in the development of champions remains a contentious issue. Popular texts such as ‘Bounce’ (Syed, 2010) and communications intended specifically for tennis coaches (Roetert, Kovacs & Crespo, 2009) have served to engage a wider community in the debate. It is the intention of this short article to summarize the key points emerging from this body of work and to offer some guidance to coaches moving forward.

Expectancy effects in tennis: The impact of body language and playing record on impressions of a tennis player and ratings of performance

This study examined the impact that pre-event body language and knowledge of a performer’s playing record had on ratings of tennis performance. Participants (N = 123) were allocated to one of four experimental groups (good body language/bad body language vs. positive playing record/negative playing record) and viewed a live player warming up and completing a series of tennis shots. Information outlining the player’s recent win/loss record was coupled with body language condition during a period of warm-up footage. Likert-type scales were employed to record impressions of the player and judgements as to the quality of the play. ANCOVA revealed that the player was viewed more favourably having displayed positive as opposed to negative body language (p<.001). Participants presented with a positive playing record (p = .001) formed a more favourable impression and rated the players performance more positively (p = 0.001). The study corroborates and extends the findings of recent work incorporating live models in expectancy effects investigations.

[William] Laurentz, [André] Gobert [joueurs de tennis] : [photographie de presse] / [Agence Rol]

Référence bibliographique : Rol, 58754

Mme Pigueron [joueuse de tennis] : [photographie de presse] / [Agence Rol]

Référence bibliographique : Rol, 58311

[Roger] Danet [et] Lefébure [joueurs de tennis] : [photographie de presse] / [Agence Rol]

Référence bibliographique : Rol, 58312

Sabbagh [et Pierre] Hirsch [joueurs de tennis] : [photographie de presse] / [Agence Rol]

Référence bibliographique : Rol, 58313

d'Arsonval [professeur de tennis au Sporting club de Paris] : [photographie de presse] / [Agence Rol]

Référence bibliographique : Rol, 58314

[De gauche à droite] Lefébure, Mme Canivet, Mme Pigueron, [et Roger] Danet [joueurs et joueuses de tennis] : [photographie de presse] / [Agence Rol]

Référence bibliographique : Rol, 58315

Mme Billout [participante au championnat du monde de tennis à Saint-Cloud] : [photographie de presse] / [Agence Rol]

Référence bibliographique : Rol, 59416

Melle Fondarana [i. e. Isabel Fonrodona], M. [Manuel] Alonso [vainqueurs du double mixte au championnat du monde de tennis à Saint-Cloud] : [photographie de presse] / [Agence Rol]

Référence bibliographique : Rol, 59417

[Noel] Turnbull, [Percival May] Da[vson, joueurs de tennis participant au championnat du monde] : [photographie de presse] / [Agence Rol]

Référence bibliographique : Rol, 59418

Dodd [George], Winslow [Charles] [joueurs de tennis participant au championnat du monde à Saint-Cloud] : [photographie de presse] / [Agence Rol]

Référence bibliographique : Rol, 59419

Olivares [joueur de tennis participant au championnat du monde à Saint-Cloud, 24-05-1920] : [photographie de presse] / [Agence Rol]

Référence bibliographique : Rol, 59420

Mme Billout [participante au championnat du monde de tennis à Saint-Cloud] : [photographie de presse] / [Agence Rol]

Référence bibliographique : Rol, 59421