The Tennis Director 

Not one of your green youngsters this one,

wet behind the ears,

oh no, not he,

the once lithe, young body of twenty or so years

marked now by middle-age spread and dubious knees.

Physically unprepossessing without a doubt,

fitness not what it was,

victim of recurrent infections

and numerous operations

on those annoyingly painful, troublesome knees,

but execution and choice of shot mesmerizing;

years of experience honing his craft

at home and abroad in countless foreign countries,

a teacher par excellence,

able to explain in few words and wise

varying techniques and match-winning strategies,

assessing the pupil with expert eyes,

for effective coaching an essential,

yet a mystery to younger colleagues

who have learnt but one way

and teach from the book

whether suited to pupil or not,

though it’s clear to all

once you know the difference

and properly look.

A tiny detail here,

one word there,

and understanding and game start to transform,

for it begins to dawn

with ever increasing light

how mental attitudes affect shot selection

and the outcome of the fight,

and finally one comes to know

what “eye on the ball” actually means,

all so totally different

to what happened before

with the other “normal” pros

who coached by rote

and made lessons a bore.

And thus it shows once more

that appearances do indeed often deceive

and one mustn’t judge books by their cover or sleeve,

for if we do we shut out all kinds of possibilities

not thought of and wonderful,

which can lead us to paths

both surprising and joyful.
 

Copyright © 2008 Helena Harper

(from my book "Family and More - Enemies or Friends?")