Why Elite College Players Dont Make it in the Pros (Exclusive Interview with Lauren Embree)
Oct 10, 2024
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Former top-ranked tennis player Lauren Embree discusses the challenges athletes face on the road, the impact of stress and nutrition on performance, and transitioning from player to coach. She emphasizes the importance of support systems, effective coaching, and personalized nutrition for optimal health.
Effective coaching is vital at all levels of sport for athlete development.
The challenges of a tennis player's career progression are unique at each level.
Good coaching goes beyond technical skills to provide mentorship and support.
Nutrition plays a crucial role in an athlete's health, performance, and recovery.
Deep dives
Importance of Tennis Lifestyle
The podcast highlights the significance of an athlete's lifestyle, especially when it comes to travel, sleep, nutrition, and social connections. These aspects are crucial for maintaining performance levels. The discussion emphasizes how life on the road affects athletic performance and the need for good systems and support teams to manage these external factors.
Career Progression in Tennis
The podcast delves into the stages of a tennis player's career progression, from being an elite junior to an elite college player to making it to the professional ranks. The guest, Lauren Embry, shares her personal journey through these different levels, highlighting the unique experiences and challenges faced at each stage.
Impact of Coaching in Tennis
The podcast explores the role of coaching in tennis, particularly the influence of early coaching on a player's development and success. Lauren discusses her father's pivotal role in her tennis career and the impact of having supportive and influential coaches throughout her journey, emphasizing the importance of coaching beyond just technical skills.
Transition from Professional Tennis to Coaching
The podcast details Lauren's transition from professional tennis to coaching, focusing on her experiences coaching college teams. It highlights the adjustments from being a competitive player to becoming a mentor and leader for college athletes, stressing the importance of individualized coaching approaches and creating a positive team culture.
Factors to Consider in Coach Evaluation
The podcast provides insights into evaluating coaches for aspiring tennis players, emphasizing the significance of asking the right questions during the coach selection process. It suggests assessing coaching philosophies, team dynamics, cultural fit, and the overall coaching approach to ensure alignment with personal goals and preferences.
Importance of Surroundings on Performance
Being surrounded by individuals who push one to excel in sports can significantly impact one's own drive and progress. The influence of elite athletes and high-caliber coaches on performance motivation is highlighted, emphasizing the power of learning and drawing inspiration from those at the top of their respective fields.
Nutrition as a Key Factor in Health and Performance
The podcast delves into the critical role of nutrition in health and athletic performance, particularly emphasizing the importance of functional medicine and dietary adaptations. A personal journey of overcoming autoimmune diseases through dietary changes underscores the profound impact of nutrition on overall well-being and optimal functioning. The significance of individualized nutrition plans tailored to specific athlete requirements is highlighted, stressing the importance of understanding the body's response to different foods for optimal performance and recovery.
The aspects of life on the road often go overlooked by people pursuing their athletic peak.
To better understand the extent that these outside factors can impact performance, I brought in Lauren Embree. As a junior, Lauren was ranked Number 1 in every age division in the US. She is a two time NCAA Champion and 5 time All-American at Florida and was recently inducted into the 2023 Florida Hall of Fame, She left college ranked #1 in the country, and as a pro, she was ranked top 250 in the world.
She has played all around the world, and has a first person
understanding of the challenges on the road. Since retiring from professional tennis, she coached college tennis, and now has transitioned her focus to functional medicine and nutrition. All aimed at helping athletes create better systems for their health. In this episode we touch on what makes an effective coach at all levels, the challenges associated with going up each level of sport, and how diet and stress could be the biggest kryptonite or secret weapon for aspiring
athletes.
Lauren’s Links
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lembree888/
Website: https://www.embreewellness.org/
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Research:
- Praising effort over outcome - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6176062/
Affiliates:
Track your health data with Whoop. Get 1 month free - join.whoop.com/exponentialathlete
Fount FLyKitt - www.fount.bio (Use code "ATHLETEX" for 10% off)
Timestamps:
00:02:17 - How do sports change as you go up in level?
00:04:53 - The role of coaching
00:07:05 - How Parents Can Be Good Coaches
00:11:39 - Keeping Parenting and coaching separate
00:15:22 - What did Lauren Love about Tennis?
00:17:41 - Challenges of Life on the Tour
00:23:27 - Off Court Variables
00:30:09 - Walking Away From Professional tennis
00:31:56 - What got you there?
00:33:56 - What Would You Have Done Differently?
00:40:17 - Transition into coaching
00:46:26 - Coach in College Vs tennis Coach
00:49:58 - Biggest Surprise Athlete to Coach
00:53:01 - How Should You Evaluate Coaches
00:59:48 - Transitioning to Nutrition and Functional Medicine
01:05:46 - How Do Stress and Nutrition Impact Sports Outcomes
01:10:11 - what are athletes overlooking diet wise
01:12:56 - Role of the gut microbiome
01:16:44 - Favorite meal for athletes
01:18:37 - What is so important about protein?
01:20:50 - Hypothetical 1: Tennis Player vs football player
01:21:41 - Hypothetical 2: Designing a Program for a Tennis Player
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