Anyone could tell you that Jeff Kamikow loves tennis. Before he got into print, digital marketing, and mobile ads, Jeff was an avid tennis player. In fact, he at one time was considering going professional. He played on the Division 1 level in college, but an Achilles heel injury took him out of the game before he could make strides on the professional level. Jeff Kamikow still plays with friends and family though. Before his career was cut short, he had several coaches and mentors who helped shape his game. If you are thinking about becoming a mentor, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
It's About the Kid, Not You: Consider why you're thinking about playing tennis in the first place. If you are doing it to relive your glory days, you might want to reconsider. Mentoring should always be about the kid first. If you are not doing it for him or her, you are doing it for the wrong reason.
Be an Active Listener: Part of being a good mentor is being a listener. You might hear about issues at school or at home, and it's your job to provide the child with a comfort zone to always be honest. Obviously, it will be about tennis, but sometimes you may have to provide advice on other matters as well.
Be Positive Always: Your job is not to yell at the child if he or she is not doing something right. While it can be beneficial to be stern sometime, say if he or she is always late, negative coaching might backfire. The child could become afraid of you or start to resist. Instead, show them what they are doing wrong and how to fix it. And when they do something right, be there to offer praise.
