Unstoppable 9-Yr-Old Tennis Prodigy!

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Comment by CoachV - William Vazquez on December 11, 2012 at 12:37pm

Wife at 2:40 says Mark is a great tennis player ( aka the dad ) and then he start coughing funny. and then she says i dont want you living through your daughter and he starts coughing again.... lol

Comment by Tim Prapong on December 11, 2012 at 12:36pm

I agree with Brad. That's what I felt seeing the video, that it captures the psychological dynamics. In the following internet article, a sports psychologist has already followed the Gabby Price story http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/eye-performance/201208/gabby-price-...:

"But in practicing so much, she has learned the hardest part of game is pushing herself hard enough to avoid losing. It's a pressure that sports psychologist Dr. Alan Goldberg believes isn't necessarily healthy at such a young age.

While the desire to play and to succeed may be genuine on Gabby's part, Goldberg says too often the pressure to perform goes deeper than winning on the court.

Especially among young athletes being groomed for greatness.

"The pressure from the adults causes a significant amount of damage to the kids and ultimately fuels the kid's burnout," Goldberg says in a phone interview from his office in Amherst, Mass. "Every kid is hard-wired to make their parents proud and not to disappoint them."

Goldberg says when dealing with young athletes blessed with so much talent, proper parenting becomes critical. Too often, he said, failure in an athletic endeavor leads children feeling like they are letting their parents down, which, in turn, leads to traps of the children feeling that they are not as lovable as they would be if they constantly won."

"You get a kid like that on the court and they get up to serve and there is a hell of a lot at stake besides the match," Goldberg says. "And 9 years old is too damn early for kids to be that focused on being that good, being the best.

"It's just too early."

Later in the same article:

Goldberg says the pain brought on failures -- on and off the court -- is often felt by athletes achieving too much, too quickly. It's a pain often felt most by children who are pegged as prodigies.

Ask Marc Price what he thinks of the term, and greatness again enters the equation.

"It means you're special and it means you're doing something that no one else has done," Price says. "That pulls a lot of weight in my mind."

Like with Capriati, Goldberg wonders if the pressure to be the best will ultimately lead Gabby to success or to experience some of the hardships Capriati went through along the way.

The key, Goldberg insists, is receiving proper life management because without balance and proper perspective, even genuinely pursuing goals can lead down a path of destruction.

"If she starts taking in that she's a prodigy and that everyone is depending on her to fulfill all these expectations, when she gets on the court, at some point, it's going to crush her," Goldberg says. "And if it doesn't, that's miraculous."

Goldberg says in rare occasions, young athletes have the kind of temperament that keeps them from being vulnerable to the kind of traps facing star athletes."------

All I'm saying let's not take a chance on a child's psychological health. I remember Capriati's troubles and I didn't see much sympathy from the public when she found herself at a low point. And I doubt the public response will be any different should the same result fall on Gabby Price. Unless you want to guarantee it. Then you'd better back it up with your wallet and time because that's alot of psychological counseling in later life.

Comment by CoachV - William Vazquez on December 11, 2012 at 12:09pm

Whoa my twitter just has blown UP with responses about this. I asked Mr. BG he said

Brad Gilbert ‏@bgtennisnation 

@TennisProCoachV don't like the screaming.

&

Brad Gilbert ‏@bgtennisnation

Impressive for 9: NINE being the operative word. Not sure I agree with Promo video at this age - that's just my opinion http://ning.it/S4PRRV

but also here are others comments on my twitter about this discussion.

peely5 ‏@peely5

@bgtennisnation bad sign that she's already grunting! They have to stop it at this age or it will remain a part of tennis

_________________________________

skip schwarzman ‏@skip1515

@bgtennisnation Considering the WTA's new stance on grunting, Macci should work to cut the Gabby Price grunt, as well. #kindasilly

 

Comment by CoachV - William Vazquez on December 11, 2012 at 10:52am

Dalli.... you dont know if the dad is qualified or not unless you know them?.... & how do you know from this 1 video if she not having a well rounded childhood.  I was a bit put off from the dads intensity too.... but after taking the time to think about it, the video shows 1 perspective. i just think its hard for americans to see a 9 Yo being treated as an adult tennis professional. but guess what, thats how you need to be treated if that is what you want to do, and this girl seems to want to do it.

so in other words, a spin on what you are saying is, the girl has the talent and the drive lets just short change her for the sake of her age.

Thanks Arianne kim, I think the coach will have that set up in place at the academy, which is a major component to any full tennis academy/school.

Comment by Arianne Kim on December 11, 2012 at 9:57am

I loved watching this talented young girl...at a certain level everyone has the strokes, foot work, mental strength, stamina.... But what sets a winner apart from the group.... You have to want it a little bit more than the rest. :)

At this level she seems to enjoy the game, has the support of her parents...she is in a good place but in the near future they should seek out a sports psychologist to add to the mix.....would give her that edge but also give her perspective.....

Comment by Mark Dalli on December 11, 2012 at 7:53am

Bottom line she is 9 years old. I have seen talented players fizzle due to the involvement of pushy parents. He isn't qualified to teach the girl. My years of experience makes me say if they really want the best for her to give her the opportunities and see what happens but life is more than Tennis. Help her become multi dimensional. The odds of her becoming a world class player are small, sorry but that is a fact. I suggest that they work on her becoming well rounded and not have all this over the top push, she is only 9. I hope she continues to love the game, if the father pushes her that love will not last. My experience tells me she needs a sports psychologist to help her separate tennis from the rest of her life. Dad and mom need a few sessions as well.

Comment by CoachV - William Vazquez on December 10, 2012 at 9:25pm

ok so she is beating up girls that are at least 3  years older than her. I have seen this before. But the thing is she wants to do it & She is doing it Well. the USTA for the Juniors has changed to be simulate to ITF to an extent. LIL BG Would not be allowed to play the +L1 or USTA NAtional Tournament because his Ranking or points are too low.  or has too many losses to weak players. and its invite only. the fact that she is invited and made it to the quarters is great....and special.  in the long run the players that are beating her in these tournaments will be the same girls 3 years ahead in the ITF and pro tour... she will gain tons of experience on trying to defeat these girls. so when she is 15 and the other girls are 18 she will have enough experience playing the girls ahead that she might become successful on tour.

Comment by Tim Prapong on December 10, 2012 at 3:53pm

Her latest two results (the rest can be seen at http://tennislink.usta.com/tournaments/draws/PlayerTournamentHistor...

+L1CourtSense at Bogota Racquet Club USTA National L5 FIC Start Date: 11/2/2012  End Date: 11/11/2012
Girls' 12 Singles (Draw Line - 25)
Q	(2) Andrea Cerdan d. GABRIELLA PRICE	6-4; 6-2
16	GABRIELLA PRICE d. (5) Samantha Lugtu	6-1; 6-2
32	GABRIELLA PRICE d. Dakota Fordham	6-1; 6-1
Consolation:
CQ	GABRIELLA PRICE d. (7) Alexa Goetz	7-5; 6-3

USTA Regional National Tournament at Centercourt Athletic Club Start Date: 10/27/2012  End Date: 10/29/2012
Girls' 12 Singles (Draw Line - 20)
Q	(3) Chelsea Williams d. (5) GABRIELLA PRICE	6-3; 6-4
16	(5) GABRIELLA PRICE d. Brigitte Wu	6-3; 6-2
32	(5) GABRIELLA PRICE d. Sophia Hatton	6-2; 6-1

Comment by Tim Prapong on December 10, 2012 at 3:29pm

Mac has a valid point and I agree with it. End of story. Not gonna argue non points, such as what student Mac has developed into a pro,  when his academy has been around for two years. Or if Mac would've done well in this era (not error) of tennis. I happen to think he'd do well, but this is not tennis history "what ifs".

The point I am making is from the video alone, I don't see a prodigy. I see a talented 9 year old. Is it possible to see she is pro material with 100% certainty? No one can say that with complete certainty. Should she have a well rounded life option? Mac and I will say yes to that. With that parental pressure and the moniker of "prodigy", the well rounded option is pretty close to being out the window, right? 

Comment by CoachV - William Vazquez on December 10, 2012 at 11:08am

John Isner grew up in a tennis town, NYC is not know for being a tennis town unless you have the cash.....like $100 or more for an hour of court time indoor season plus paying the pro. where as here in atlanta where john is from court time is mostly free.

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