Former professional participant Annabel Taylor (nee Ellwood) displays on her tennis journey and shares her ardour for teaching.
Brisbane, Australia, 15 Could 2024 | Leigh Rogers
Annabel Taylor (then identified by her maiden title Ellwood) was as soon as Australia’s top-ranked lady, peaking at a career-high singles rating of world No.57 in 1997.
This adopted a profitable junior profession, the place she was a ladies’ singles finalist at each the Australian Open and the US Open in 1995.
The Canberra-born expertise was additionally a world-class doubles participant, attaining a career-high rating of world No.60 in 1997.
However on the age of 24, she known as time on her taking part in profession.
“There have been many causes,” she defined of why she made that call.
“The journey received to me, my rating had dropped and I didn’t really feel I had it in me anymore.
“I by no means went into tennis pondering it was going to be a profession, I simply wished to play.
“That additionally meant I used to be trying to see what else was on the market. I wished to get a level, I wished to see what life was like on the opposite aspect.”
Taylor achieved her dream to review, finishing a threat administration diploma. She later labored on the Australian Bureau of Statistics, specializing in social and kids research.
She additionally grew to become a mom, having two kids of her personal.
But all through these off-court adventures, tennis continued to play an vital half in Taylor’s life.
“I nonetheless wished to remain within the sport, so teaching was most likely the plain choice,” the 46-year-old stated. “I’ve been teaching on-and-off now longer than I performed.”
Annabel Taylor (pictured with microphone) shared recommendation throughout a Girls and Women’ breakfast on the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifier in Brisbane final month. Image: Tennis Australia
Following a stint at Tennis Australia’s Nationwide Tennis Academy in Brisbane, Taylor is now guiding Queensland’s most promising juniors as a Nationwide Growth Squad coach.
“I all the time love the expertise with the gamers, that’s what I get pleasure from probably the most,” she stated.
“I’m very conscious of the duty that you’ve as a coach, as a result of the gamers belief you, the dad and mom belief you and so they’ve spent some huge cash and time on this, so I all the time keep in mind that. I believe the care issue is essential.”
Not lengthy after Taylor retired, she recalled overhearing one other coach declare ‘you may lead a horse to water, however you may’t make it drink’ whereas speaking a couple of participant at a event.
“That actually stumped me,” stated the three-time Billie Jean King Cup consultant. “As a result of I believed ‘no, it’s your job as a coach to power them to drink. You’ve received to discover a method’. Generally you need to say ‘okay, in order that didn’t work, let’s do that’.”
This problem, in response to Taylor, is probably the most rewarding a part of the position.
“I just like the teaching aspect as a result of you may actually make a distinction, significantly the upper up you go,” she stated.
“I’ve completed plenty of work in participation the place it’s extra for enjoyable, and that’s rewarding in that it’s good enjoyable and you may get folks coming again, however I believe the place you may see that you simply’ve really made a distinction is when folks have made sacrifices as a result of they wish to be a tennis participant.
“You may give them an amazing alternative within the sport – and there are plenty of nice alternatives in tennis, significantly in Australia. That’s what’s so rewarding, exhibiting them that they’ll do this.”
On the similar time, Taylor is cautious to not place an excessive amount of strain on junior athletes and believes it will be important they discover the enjoyment within the sport too.
“I’ve actually observed how society has modified loads since I used to be taking part in,” she famous.
“We had been far more impartial. I really feel like now, and I may very well be improper and I hope I’m improper, however it appears plenty of households are placing their children into sport to change into knowledgeable participant. That’s not what sport is about. That, for me, is the largest change.
“The expectations are a lot increased. We didn’t have that in any respect. It was simply play and see the way you went and take no matter alternative you bought.
“Certain, it’s best to go for gold and intention for the highest, however there’s just one particular person up there.”
In a training journey that now spans greater than 20 years, Taylor has realized many classes. She believes probably the most worthwhile is to “observe your instincts”.
Taylor names Ken Richardson, who guided her throughout her taking part in profession after which mentored her when she began teaching in Sydney, as a serious affect.
She can also be grateful for her husband, David Taylor, who’s certainly one of Australia’s most esteemed high-performance coaches, for sharing his invaluable expertise.
“Asking for assistance is vital,” she acknowledged. “There are plenty of nice coaches in Australia, and everybody has received one thing totally different to supply.”
Learn extra in our Teaching Highlight collection:
> Brad Boynton: A neighborhood chief educating the subsequent era
> Alwyn Musumeci: A younger chief with massive goals
> Lara Walker: Proudly inspiring younger ladies
Discover your solution to play: Go to play.tennis.com.au to get out on court docket and have some enjoyable!
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