Hello Folks.....
Hope all is well with you and your families! Especially those dealing with this recent storm. Please let us know if you need anything and I mean anything!
Over the next few weeks, I'm gunna try to get you up to speed on what has been going on with our girl and family. Truth being told, I had to step back and get the emotions out of my writings. So that, I may try to explain what was the end of Nat's pro career. Those emotions being fueled by outside influences who "thought" they knew what was going on and continued to comment negatively or even positively. Unfortunately, some jumping to unfair conclusions which added distress to an already stressful situation.
Because tennis is an individual sport, the mental game on and off the court is huge. Therefore, when a player is recovering from a devastating injury, they need support in many ways that are different then the "regular" person. Especially when that injury occurs a few weeks before a major, like the US Open. Because injury steals an athlete's confidence as to what their body will or will not do on the court. The athlete and those that support her, must help to ensure that the lack of confidence doesn't creep into other aspects of their game and life. Again, because tennis is a sport that is 80%+++ bout the mental disposition.
Someone who blindly tries to support an elite athlete, can do more harm then they will every know. Let me give some examples....when Natalie is out on the road and a friend continues to text, how they miss her and need her to come home. I'm sure you are thinking wow really Sherry....but YES! When a player's confidence is low, it doesn't take much for them to want the "comforts" of home. That friend may have the best of intentions, but the texting distractions feeds the negativity of being on the road. I mean if you are struggling with your health, being away from home, lack confidence, wanting a home cooked meal, wouldn't you like to go home and snuggle with soup and your blankie?
Blindly supporting a player is not helping a player. Unfortunately, those that do it, have the best of intentions but have no clue as to what it take to be a pro tennis player. Most of the time, those that blindly support say things like, "hey, just don't do it anymore". Unfortunately, that is not addressing what is going on with that top level player. That player has spent a lifetime to get to this point, to dismiss that dedication reflects the lack of knowledge one has about the person they blindly support.
Instead, I offer a couple of suggestions!
-Ask the athlete what they need to get back to the sport they love
-Don't ever support the easy way out, quitting
-Help remind the athlete that all top level athletes have setbacks and injuries
-Or stay completely out of it, take the athlete out for some fun and don't bring up their sport
-Try not to make the athlete feel like they are missing out cuz they chose their job...their sport
-Don't blindly support....better to say nothing then to comment on something you are not an expert at
Now, I climb off my soap box to talk about Natalie. Two years ago July, Nat broke her foot during a singles match in Canada. Being the crazy athlete that she is, she finished the match on that foot. Yes, she has a very high tolerance of pain, crazy high. Anyway..... By the time I arrived in Canada, Nat was on crutches. We had to find a Doc, in the USA and in Seattle. Within a day, we were in Seattle. Getting the heartbreaking news of the type of injury and lack of docs to repair it. Secondly, the reality that the US Open was 3 weeks away, she had a chance to play it for the first time....a dream! Needless to say, Natalie was an emotional wreck in the parking lot.
We spent the next couple hours driving back to Vancouver. During which time, Nat began to call the players she had lined up for doubles and mixed double for the Open, and her coach, family. It was an absolutely horrible couple of hours in that car! Of course, those on the other end of the receiver were awesome, sweet and very supportive. Supportive because they understood the complete realm of the situation.
If I could turn back time, I would go back to that drive in the car. When we were frantically making calls before losing phone service going into Canada. You are probably wondering why I would want to go back to a horrible afternoon. Because hind sight is 20/20....one of my first calls should have been to a sports physiologist! The mental devastation of that day and injury was more then one would have ever guessed. To discontinue a sport you gave a lifetime to due to fear, a travesty.
Fear of injury, fear of being hugely disappointed, a fear that you spend a year or more to "get it back" only to fail, a fear your "clock" is running, a fear you are too old.....once fear creeps in....that confidence thing plummets more......again ....wouldn't you like to go home and snuggle with your soup and blankie?
Now, don't get me wrong....not all of those examples applied to Nat....trying to make a point. When you blindly support a top athlete you MAY be doing more harm then good. Although your intentions may be very noble....stay out of the sports side unless you are directly involved in that sport. For there is more to it then meets the eye.
I'm going to jump to the present for a moment. Natalie's choice to stop playing professional tennis was not an easy one. She was struggling with it prior to her injury. Her degree choice and long term plans have always been to coach Division I tennis. So, she landed a job to do just that! Nat is very excited to announce that she is the new Assistant Ladies Tennis Coach at Gonzaga! She has a great boss, new apartment, new car, and new job....one very lucky and Blessed young lady!
Ok. I think this blog long enough ...a great start to getting you up to speed. Boy, do I have some stories for you! Love and Blessings......Sherry!
