Many relationship magazines like to run columns with the format “What a member of one gender says and what the member of the other gender really hears.” This column delves into the topic of speaking with a college coach. What a prospective student-athlete says and what the coach really hears.

In the last issue of Long Island Tennis Magazine, we discussed three myths: (1) Going to a school that you would want to attend if you ever stopped playing tennis; (2) The importance of liking your coach during recruiting; and (3) Asking kids on the team about the coach and school is worthless.

Players spend their entire careers trying to get a good “read” on their opponents in an effort to better understand their strengths and weaknesses, and achieve success against them. However, getting a good “read” on a college coach is a totally different ballgame, one which, when achieved, can lead to success on the court, with them.

I used to get mocked from my friends about that all the time. I was fortunate enough to get admitted to a college (Stanford University) that rejected some of the smartest kids from my high school (Roslyn High School). I wasn’t a moron, but by my own admission, I didn’t have the standard academic profile Stanford usually looks for. I had earned a high enough national tennis ranking that the tennis team was very interested in having me attend and contribute to the Stanford program.

In this column, I wanted to share the thoughts and words of a current NCAA Division I player whose college tennis experience will surely provide you with food for thought and guidance on the importance of team dynamics.

Believe it or not, the path that leads to the selection of a college/university for your child, a choice which has the right balance between academics and tennis, actually begins during your child’s junior career. Simply put, the path your child paves in the juniors, starting with the number of times they practice, the number of tournaments they play in, the type of tournaments they play, and of course, the results they achieve, will usually dictate the type of school they will end up at if tennis is to be an important part of the mix. This is why it is imperative that parents have a good understanding of what they expect as early in the junior level as possible so that the right path can be chosen, step by step. This will save you much angst, many sleepless nights and possibly money when all is said and done.