Robert Lansdorp...in his own words.

[hockeyscout]

Mentioning his 8yr. old daughter as a non target for molestation is low. That's tw low.

Their are a lot of Bill Tilden, Joe Giuliano, Bob Hewitt, Peter Jeschke and Nathan McLain's out their in the tennis world masquerading as tennis coaches.

It's important don_budge realizes people like Bill Tilden aren't just interested in little boys, they will also chase after little girls.

Basically, their animals who will chase after whatever weak prey they can get their hands on.

My wife is pretty strict girl and she has some ground rules:

(1) Never allow a coach to yell or discipline our children.

(2) All coaches - mentor - teacher - instructor are to be seen as "special assistants and consultants" to us. If they are not comfortable with this role, than they'll need to find other clients. Those who are the best in their fields will understand our model.

(3) In terms of tennis, everyone's role is to make the athlete not need them. Hell, it applies to everything else as well. I take pride when my young one shows me she's independent!

(4) It's all about finding people who understand the team-work philosophy.

I will say this, my eight year old daughter is the most uncoachable tennis player in the world right now. And, I have set her up this way on purpose. She will not blindly do what anyone wants her to do. I've taught her to think for herself, do what is in her best interests, think long and hard about how recommendations can be implemented into her long term goals and press forward when she wants to press forward. Don't be rushed, and if someone rushes you, slow down, as development will happen when it happens.

I have a young man is a hitting partner with us named Dimmer, he is 25 and a smart businessman. He came to me and said, "You know, she does not listen to me, and she kind of wants to do what she wants to do. Everything is always a very long discussion and a big experimentation."

I said, "Well, great, she is just like you. That's why I picked you. You never listen to anyone either. When I tell you something, you don't buy into it. Dimmer takes one week to think it over. Don't tell me different because I know your dad, and I am close friends with your ex-coach who worked with you when you were 16 who said you were the most exasperating client he ever had! Yet, you drive a $75,000 car, own a restaurant, three squash courts, one tennis court and a kids playground. I am not sure why you work for me from Monday to Friday from 7 am to noon for $125 a week?"

Anyways he said to me: "The program here interests me A LOT. I have a four month old kid, hey you and I are buddies, and we have such a fun time! This makes sense. I have always run my own show and expected to be treated like an adult. Yes, I am difficult, however, the true mentors and great instructors knew how to handle me, make it work and as a result I fast tracked every process better than my peers who had more brains, we're better socialized, had better grades and we're viewed as good little boys and girls who did as they were told. Truth be told, they stagnated and I didn't. So, I get now why you send us for sushi 2-3 times a week and cancel our practices. I understand now I need to be more deliberate, let her make choices, empower her and make her see, and think about what it will be like for her and her countrymen when she is a world number one from Ukraine in 8 years."

So, don_budge, don't worry, we will get ourselves to the right people and the correct time, and incorporate them as required. We value team driven, and especially athlete driven dialogue.

And if tennis doesn't work out I am pretty sure I will have another Dimmer, a kid who has the tool set to succeed anywhere, anytime and any place. He might not know much about tennis, or have the best strokes, however, he's passionate, and that's more important than great early instruction according to many scientific research papers done by experts.

Dimmer also lives life well, manages his own great team, and has five hours a day when he can come on the court and be a kid. I hope my daughter isn't caught up in an adults world when she is 25, because childhood is something we should all have from ages 1 to 90 when we die.

don_budge, sorry for getting angry at you yesterday, hopefully my young one doesn't get her daddy's bad hockey temperament for the sake of men, woman and children everywhere on planet earth.

[don_budge]

Tennis ABC...Robert Lansdorp and Sveto Matovic

http://www.amazon.com/Tennis-ABC-My-First-Book/dp/1466442336

Tennis ABC: My First Tennis Book by Robert Lansdorp and Sveto Matovic...

"Tennis ABC book is emerged as the result of years of work of European and U.S. experts in the field of sport, especially tennis. This useful book is intended for young players-juniors and their parents. In addition to addressing the historical development of tennis game in 24 pictures "Tennis ABC", the book consists of three parts: A-awareness - where the children draw attention to basic hygiene rules, proper posture, as well as nutritional guidance for the youngsters. B-basic technique - presented young players how to hold their racket and proper technical execution of all strokes in tennis. C-conditioning - the third part of this beautiful book brings a number of dynamic and static stretching exercises and suggestions how to improve the physical qualities: speed, strength and endurance. The creation of "Tennis ABC" was done by co-authors: Robert Lansdorp, the most successful coach of young tennis players, who helped develop many young players and among the best known are: Pete Sampras, Tracy Austin, Lindsey Davenport and Maria Sharapova, prof. Aleksandar Marinkovic, a famous European track and field expert and Sveto Matovic, certified specialist in Competetive Player Development. Foreword for this book was written by Tracy Austin, famous tennis player, former number one, now very popular tennis commentator who has been on the NBC, USA Network and now the Tennis Channel."

This was the legitimate recommendation that I was making before the paranoia took over about Bill Tilden. I continue to try and assist my fellow tennis coaches, players and students in understanding and enhancing their education and study of the great game of tennis.

[hockeyscout]

http://www.amazon.com/Tennis-ABC-My-.../dp/1466442336

Tennis ABC: My First Tennis Book by Robert Lansdorp and Sveto Matovic...

"Tennis ABC book is emerged as the result of years of work of European and U.S. experts in the field of sport, especially tennis. This useful book is intended for young players-juniors and their parents. In addition to addressing the historical development of tennis game in 24 pictures "Tennis ABC", the book consists of three parts: A-awareness - where the children draw attention to basic hygiene rules, proper posture, as well as nutritional guidance for the youngsters. B-basic technique - presented young players how to hold their racket and proper technical execution of all strokes in tennis. C-conditioning - the third part of this beautiful book brings a number of dynamic and static stretching exercises and suggestions how to improve the physical qualities: speed, strength and endurance. The creation of "Tennis ABC" was done by co-authors: Robert Lansdorp, the most successful coach of young tennis players, who helped develop many young players and among the best known are: Pete Sampras, Tracy Austin, Lindsey Davenport and Maria Sharapova, prof. Aleksandar Marinkovic, a famous European track and field expert and Sveto Matovic, certified specialist in Competetive Player Development. Foreword for this book was written by Tracy Austin, famous tennis player, former number one, now very popular tennis commentator who has been on the NBC, USA Network and now the Tennis Channel."

Don, send me your address, I will buy that book for you, send it to you and in ten years you'll have the worlds best emerging from virtual obscurity from Northern Sweden. That book looks like a real game changer. You'd better get right on it because Robert Landsdorp probably shared a lot of secrets in that book that he failed to disclose to the readers of this site.

[gzhpcu]

don_budge, are you talking to me???

[hockeyscout]

Mentioning his 8yr. old daughter as a non target for molestation is low. That's tw low.

OK you guys if you have anything else to say make it private message or just go out in the backyard and talk to the universe.

Ok...you just don't get it do you? Some souls are not meant to be reasoned with. That was the last time. Good luck and goodbye.

An individual clearly just don't get it. Some souls are just not receptive to the reasoning of a senseless troll. It would have been nice if he would have just dropped it all together as John respectfully asked. I wish he'd just stop harassing me.

[stotty]

Be sure to read posts carefully so as to be sure not to get the wrong end of the stick. It's not the first time it's happened on the forum. It's easy to get paranoid if one takes the forum too seriously.

It's better to stick to tennis conversation and not branch off in to child molestation posts. That's just plain silly. It's a tennis forum after all.

There has been a storm in a teacup here which has blown up out of nowhere and out of nothing...other than misunderstanding. We all come at tennis differently and see life through different spectacles. It's important to remember that.

Don't reply to this post in two seconds. Don't shoot from the hip. Think about it for a day...or even two, then post a considered reply.

[hockeyscout]

Be sure to read posts carefully so as to be sure not to get the wrong end of the stick. It's not the first time it's happened on the forum. It's easy to get paranoid if one takes the forum too seriously. It's better to stick to tennis conversation and not branch off in to child molestation posts. That's just plain silly. It's a tennis forum after all. There has been a storm in a teacup here which has blown up out of nowhere and out of nothing...other than misunderstanding. We all come at tennis differently and see life through different spectacles. It's important to remember that. Don't reply to this post in two seconds. Don't shoot from the hip. Think about it for a day...or even two, then post a considered reply.

There were no misunderstandings and no one was being paranoid. The topic is done and over. No need to think about anything for two seconds, let alone two days. John asked us for it to stop and I will respectfully comply, so that is that.

Regards, ABCTennisdadwholovesbilltilden