I watched a fantastic movie   last night called “Jig”, about the world Irish Step Dancing championships.  Mostly about juniors from ages 10 to 16 or so, it was inspiring to see what these young dancers go through to become the best at their chosen sport.

It reminded me of hearing Tracy Austin speak one time at a USPTA tennis conference.  She said her coach would have her hit down the line backhands into a one foot wide space just inside the sideline.  And do it until she was exhausted.  She was pursuing perfection….just as these dancers, in the pursuit of perfection, practice their moves time after time after time until they get it just right.  Tracy said she was grateful for that perfectionism when she was playing Chris Evert in the finals at Wimbledon!!

And the dancers didn’t just practice in the gym, but when they were walking down the street or sitting on a bus.  They focused 100% of their lives on achieving a goal – becoming No. 1 in the world.   How many tennis players have this kind of devotion?  Practice their strokes or footwork while walking down the street?

Filming your tennis is a small, but I think necessary, part of becoming a champion.  The rest is in wanting to excel, being willing to make those sacrifices.   Do you, or the person you coach, have the same determination as these Irish dancers?