Former World-Ranked WTA Player Tara Snyder Emphasizes Power of Positive Coaching

Tara Snyder of Wichita has seen the upper reaches of tennis success. As a former junior powerhouse and WTA-ranked player who’s squared off against some of the heaviest hitters in the sport, she’s seen and experienced how far tenacity and dedication–as well as positive coaching–can take someone.

Tara’s first experience playing tennis was with her brother, Darren, and her father, Darrel, who would later become her coach. Darrel was a former high-level player himself, and as Tara’s father, he was able to walk that fine line between being an effective coach while also being “Dad.” He knew Tara’s style of play, how she reacted emotionally to wins and losses, and what tweaks needed to be made to her game to overcome any errors. But during those teenage years, when many teenagers begin to balk at their parents’ guidance, Tara’s father let her work with other coaches to see if their coaching styles would be a better fit–and it turned out to be what she needed to take her game to the next level.

Working with a variety of coaches and playing against others with different skill sets can help mold you into a more complete player, as Tara found out. Because her father was able to see Tara the person and Tara the tennis player, and because he was able to take a step back and let his daughter thrive by working with other coaches who fit her needs at the time, it made a tremendous impact on Tara and how she now views the effect of positive coaching.

Now a coach herself, Tara makes it a point to invest in the lives of her players. As many junior athletes can attest, they are often seen as machines expected to work hard and play even harder, which can take a toll on one’s mental health. Tara believes, much as her father did, in treating the player as a person–asking about their day, about their social lives, how their family is doing, and simply spending quality time with them before and after practices and matches–helps them feel like they’re seen, heard, and cared about, both on and off the court. And for junior players finding their footing in a competitive sport like tennis, this is crucial for them. It helps them learn to approach situations with optimism, which is, in turn, a boon for good sportsmanship and improved mental well-being. 

That’s the power of positive coaching. Learn more about positive coaching from Tara and Darrel here.

What is positive coaching?

Positive coaching lives the mantra, “Practice what you preach.” For coaches, it’s easy to direct your players to not get down after a loss, practice good sportsmanship, and develop a healthy work/life balance. However, if you’re not doing those things yourself, your players will be the first to notice–and that can have a major effect on their performance and love of sport. Positive coaching encourages coaches to lead by example, provide positive reinforcement when needed, and motivate players to be the best they can be.

Tara and thousands of athletic coaches across the country have joined the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) to advocate for these positive coaching methods in youth sports. Per the PCA, positive coaching methods can lead to desirable outcomes for athletes and a greater chance they stick with their sport of choice:

“Encouraging athletes with positive reinforcement helps them hear and heed necessary corrections. With that winning combination of truthful, specific praise and constructive criticism, athletic performance improves and so do the chances that kids stick with sports longer and learn all the valuable life lessons inherently available through organized competition.”

The Positive Coaching Alliance hosts live group workshops and training sessions for coaches, parents, and athletes interested in bringing the power of positive reinforcement to their profession. 

To learn more about “The Power of Positive,” please visit https://positivecoach.org/the-power-of-positive/. 

Need a coach for your junior player?

The USTA believes in creating a positive and inclusive environment that inspires the next generation of tennis players. That’s why we’re proud to offer a way to find local coaches through Net Generation. All Net Generation coaches are Safe Play certified, so you can enjoy peace of mind knowing your child is in good hands. To learn more about Safe Play, please visit https://www.usta.com/en/home/safe-play.html#/safeplay.