Bob Hanscom's Take On The Cleveland Classic
February 6, 2013
Raneem El Weleily
Photo courtesy of David Turben
In Bob Botti's DSR re-cap and analysis of the 2013 $50,000 Cleveland Classic five-game final between Nicol David and Raneem El Weleily, do his two quoted sentences: "Egyptian support to Weleily during the break" (after the first game), and "David sits alone between games" (after the second), remind us of the September 15th DSR story titled "The Empty Chair?" See: http://www.dailysquashreport.com/9_16_12_bob.htm.
The story had to do with what happened at the 2012 $70,000 Malaysian Open, where, for the first time in 43 matches, Nicol was defeated, this time by Raneem El Weleily in four games. That "Empty Chair," was one normally occupied by Nicol's full-time coach in Amsterdam for the last ten years, Liz Irving.
As Mr. Botti aptly put it, "David sits alone between games" Could this be...Déjà vu!
Well...on one hand...yes, Nicol was not receiving the normal (between games) coaching and support she would have normally been getting had Ms. Irving, teammate Wee Wern Low or good friend Samantha Teran been offering if sitting there in that "empty chair."
On the other hand, as Mr. Botti exclaimed, "Egyptian support to Weleily during the break," this may better explain the results of what happened in the match? Maybe not, maybe so - but if you as a player have ever been in this or like position or circumstance, (I have) you can readily understand and relate to how important it is to have (some) technical or strategic guidance - or if nothing more, moral support!
Most sports psychologists agree that communication (positive reinforcement) with the athlete between games is important and often means making one’s point (advice) clear to their athlete. Getting points across is essential to a players’ success. The coach’s capacity to transfer knowledge (information) may well affect the outcome of a single game or even a match.
Then, too, communication is a two-way street. Successful coaches can interpret feedback given them by their player - and use the feedback in making important and correct decisions.
In the case of the David/El Weleily Cleveland Classic finals, we have both sides of the coin, one player (and it doesn't matter what player) receiving advice and moral support between games, while the other player (Nicol David in this case) receiving no technical or moral support at all!
Could this just perhaps be a rational explanation of what "tipped the scales" of a match decided by only TWO of a total 86 points scored? Again, maybe not, maybe so. Let's not forget that we're dealing with two great world-class, talented, highly-trained and experienced athletes here.
However, let's also NOT forget that these two great players are only human, responding (positively or negatively) to the pressures of the moment. In the final analysis, it was that player receiving the (we think necessary) "support" who eventually became victorious!
Stay tuned for what will happen at the $70,000 KL Open in March!
February 6, 2013
Raneem El Weleily
Photo courtesy of David Turben
In Bob Botti's DSR re-cap and analysis of the 2013 $50,000 Cleveland Classic five-game final between Nicol David and Raneem El Weleily, do his two quoted sentences: "Egyptian support to Weleily during the break" (after the first game), and "David sits alone between games" (after the second), remind us of the September 15th DSR story titled "The Empty Chair?" See: http://www.dailysquashreport.com/9_16_12_bob.htm.
The story had to do with what happened at the 2012 $70,000 Malaysian Open, where, for the first time in 43 matches, Nicol was defeated, this time by Raneem El Weleily in four games. That "Empty Chair," was one normally occupied by Nicol's full-time coach in Amsterdam for the last ten years, Liz Irving.
As Mr. Botti aptly put it, "David sits alone between games" Could this be...Déjà vu!
Well...on one hand...yes, Nicol was not receiving the normal (between games) coaching and support she would have normally been getting had Ms. Irving, teammate Wee Wern Low or good friend Samantha Teran been offering if sitting there in that "empty chair."
On the other hand, as Mr. Botti exclaimed, "Egyptian support to Weleily during the break," this may better explain the results of what happened in the match? Maybe not, maybe so - but if you as a player have ever been in this or like position or circumstance, (I have) you can readily understand and relate to how important it is to have (some) technical or strategic guidance - or if nothing more, moral support!
Most sports psychologists agree that communication (positive reinforcement) with the athlete between games is important and often means making one’s point (advice) clear to their athlete. Getting points across is essential to a players’ success. The coach’s capacity to transfer knowledge (information) may well affect the outcome of a single game or even a match.
Then, too, communication is a two-way street. Successful coaches can interpret feedback given them by their player - and use the feedback in making important and correct decisions.
In the case of the David/El Weleily Cleveland Classic finals, we have both sides of the coin, one player (and it doesn't matter what player) receiving advice and moral support between games, while the other player (Nicol David in this case) receiving no technical or moral support at all!
Could this just perhaps be a rational explanation of what "tipped the scales" of a match decided by only TWO of a total 86 points scored? Again, maybe not, maybe so. Let's not forget that we're dealing with two great world-class, talented, highly-trained and experienced athletes here.
However, let's also NOT forget that these two great players are only human, responding (positively or negatively) to the pressures of the moment. In the final analysis, it was that player receiving the (we think necessary) "support" who eventually became victorious!
Stay tuned for what will happen at the $70,000 KL Open in March!
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