It is a banner weekend on FiendAtCourt.com featuring signage I have come across at various tennis facilities. I derive great joy from those artifacts of local tennis culture. Today’s selection was spotted hanging on a fence at the Keist Park Tennis Center in Dallas.
It is a banner that resembles the United States Flag and displays the title “Compete Like a Champion.” It also lists seven characteristics of players who embody that spirit. Unlike yesterday’s sign, whose origin story is uncertain, I know exactly where this one came from. It is a list of the values of the USTA player development program written by Dr. Larry Lauer.
In this case, I don’t have to guess what each term means because the USTA has a published definition of each one.
- Engaged – full focus on what matters in the moment.
- Resilient – ability to bounce back and refocus after failure.
- Professional – demonstrates character and exhibits behaviors and attitudes of an athlete consistently prepared to practice and compete with full engagement.
- Respectful – acts in the way of appreciation, courteous to others, focused on the best in others, honors the rules of the game.
- Tough – endures periods of hardship and adversity in training and competition, accepts challenges, is fully motivated to succeed, embraces pressure, and is physically and emotionally strong.
- Determined – pushes through adversity and struggle and strives for success positively and productively.
- Confident – Unshakable self-belief in abilities and skills and expects to be successful.
This banner has many variations, and a reverse image search reveals that it is hanging at facilities all over the country. I anticipate that I am about to discover that it is at many other sites I frequent and that I somehow regularly overlook it in other settings.
These values are not just aspirational qualities for tennis players. They are also important traits for anyone navigating life’s challenges. Each characteristic transcends the tennis court and can be applied in our daily lives, work, and relationships. Maybe this is why people who grew up playing junior tennis frequently turn out to be highly successful in other aspects of their lives.
Seeing this banner at Keist Park Tennis Center reminds me of the universality of these principles. It serves as a visual cue and a daily prompt for all who pass by it. It encapsulates the mental and emotional fortitude required to compete and thrive, both on and off the court.
- USTA Player Development Training Development, hosted by A’s and Aces, viewed August 30, 2024.
