Coaching For Life

Excerpt from MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW …

At first glance, Coaching For Life: A Guide to Playing, Thinking and Being the Best You Can Be looks like a how-to guide for living well; but it moves well beyond self-help as it combines an autobiography of coach and author Paul Annacone's life with a discussion of how the rules and methods of tennis apply outside of the sports world. Anecdotes of players and moves are thus paired with best practices firmly rooted in real-world encounters.

Paul Annacone adds anecdotes and his personal encounters to illustrate these points, immersing readers in his life experience as well as his methods:

"The variety of shots, slices and angles you see in a player like Roger is strategically important to his game. But not initially. Not even for him. The mechanics of tennis, the building blocks of skill, come first. Once those are understood, then it becomes easier to understand how to execute the arsenal of shots that are the signature of the skilled player. But how can we - in any endeavor - move forward in a direct and uncomplicated way?

“Well, to put it bluntly, the more variables we create for ourselves at the outset, the harder it is to execute our plan. Repetition and well-designed drills are the answer. Strategy? As I've been saying, it must come later. First the body needs to learn how to think on its own, and this can only happen when the primary skill-set - the tool box, so to say - is put in place. With proper physical mechanics, good habits grow and become basic reflexes. Once the body has memorized the drill, then the mind can add an overall strategic plan."

The result (the book itself) is thoroughly grounded in the sport but reaches out to athletes and general-interest readers alike, adding strong visuals to make it a top recommendation for sports and general-interest lifestyle collections alike.

Diane C. Donovan, Senior Reviewer
Donovan's Literary Services

“It’s great to see so many of the tools we used written down in this book, a great resource for anyone pursuing goals.” Pete Sampras

“When you achieve your goals, it makes all the hard work pay off. Paul was a master at constructing, managing and executing the process.” Roger Federer

“Paul Annacone has been blessed with talent and surrounded by it his entire life.”

Mary Carillo

“He was brilliant at ingraining good habits on the practice court …the need to trust your game and then executing that plan on the match court.” Tim Henman

“Paul’s philosophies, anecdotes, and wisdom are unparalleled … if you want a recipe to bring out the best in yourself, this book is for you.” Chris Evert

“Terrific book!” Tracy Austin

“This book is a wonderful resource for anyone who wants to reach their potential, both on and off the tennis court.” Lindsay Davenport