#89: Chris Kachel - "Never be afraid to lose your job"
Emma Doyle first met Chris Kachel in 2004 when they were both team managers and coaches for the U18 Tennis Victorian State teams. Emma was a young coach wanting to learn as much as possible from Chris and her journey down this path continues. Here are some of the highlights from this episode:
1) Ken Rosewall told Chris when he came from Tamworth to Sydney to improve his tennis as a 15/16 year old:
"Training is like war, not against me, again the ball."
2) When Chris was orange boy for the 1974 Davis Cup team (Neale Fraser was the captain) he recalled that during match practice right before a tie, "Reputation means nothing - it comes down to who is playing best at that time."
3) "The player is not bigger than the game."
4) "Never be afraid to lose your job."
5) Richard Schonbron's 14 common characteristics of a champion impacted Chris's coaching when assessing players as they entered the AIS (Australian Institute of Sport). Note the top 5 in bold below have nothing to do with tennis.
- Fighting spirit
- Dedication to hard work in training
- High resistance to stress
- High motivation/determination
- Maximum concentration capacity
What does Chris think makes a great coach?
- Care-factor
- Knowledge
- Strong values and behaviour
Enjoy this episode on The Coaching Podcast, share it with a fellow coach and you can read Chris Kachel's bio below having spend the past 5 decades in the tennis coaching industry.
1973 – 1980 PLAYING CAREER – Highest ranking ATP singles 73 Doubles 19
10 YEARS 1981 – 1990 HEAD COACH CHRIS KACHEL TENNIS ACADEMY Melbourne
12 YEARS 1990 - 2002 HEAD COACH AUSTRALIAN INSTUITUTE OF SPORT
2000 - AWARDED AUSTRALIAN SPORTS MEDAL for service to the sport of tennis through the coaching and development of young talented tennis players.
2 YEARS 2002/03 – PRIVATE COACH ON THE WTA TOUR
3 YEARS 2003/2006 – TENNIS DIRECTOR MIDDLE YEARS TENNIS SCHOOL BOX HILL
2 YEARS 2008/09 - EMPLOYED BY THE CHINESE TENNIS ASSOCIATION working with female athletes in the National Team
2009 – TCAV COACH OF THE YEAR
ON GOING - CONDUCTING COACHING SEMINARS IN JAPAN FOR TENNIS TRAINING CENTRE TOKYO / GRASS COURT SAGA
2010 – / TENNIS AUSTRALIA, MANAGER DEVELOPMENT & ENVIRONMENT
- Heavily involved in the education of coaches across Australia through -
- High Performance coaching course
- High Performance Next Gen program
- Talent development – Liaise with Platinum coaches
- Mentoring staff /coaches
Chris has a 50year tennis legacy of playing, coaching and educating at the highest level.
He spent 8 years on the professional circuit with a career high ATP singles ranking of 73 and doubles 19. Chris was Head Coach of the Australian Institute of Sport for 12 years 1990 -2002. In 2000 he was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for service to the sport through coaching and the development of young talented tennis players. He coached for two years on the WTA tour before taking up a 2year position with the Chinese Tennis Association coaching female athletes in the National team.
In 2009 he was the TCAV Coach of the year. Chris is the current Tennis Australia Manager of Development & Environment and is heavily involved in the education of coaches through the High Performance Coaching Course, High Performance Next Gen Program, Talent Development Program – liaising with Platinum coaches and mentoring.
Two wins over Arthur Ashe – Wimbledon 1979 / NSW Open 1976
Doubles Grand Slams best results
Australian Open – Semifinal Wimbledon – Quarter final
US Open – Semifinal French Open – Round of 16
