Welcome on my new homepage.
My career
Former Head coach of the German Tennis Federation (DTB) a. D.
Former instructor and advisor to the International Tennis Federation (ITF)
Former coach from Tennis Europe (European Tennis Association)
Former lecturer at the coaches Academy of the German Olympic Sports Federation (DOSB)
Former member of the coaching team of the Association of German Tennis Teachers (VDT)
Former member of the methodical committee of the Czech Tennis Association
Instructor of the highest coaching license level of the JTA (Japan Tennis Association)
Former coach and lecturer at the highest coaches license level of the CTA (Czech Tennis Association)
Cooperation with many foreign trade magazines
Main areas of responsibility
General and tennis specific training and movement science
Condition training
Biomechanics in tennis
Training physiology
Methodology
Didactics
Practical tennis top performance training with juniors and professional players
Private interests:
• Downhill skiing
• Golf
• Wander, hike
• Read
• Garden
• Family (not in this order)
I am pleased that you are visiting my website. I hope that my presence gives you the opportunity to express your wishes to me and to ask me your questions - see new page. You can also reach me through my email or phone. I would be happy to advise you professionally, help you and make my extensive experience in all areas of tennis available. Both my extensive studies in the last 50 years and my current new ideas and scientifically substantiated practical results of my theoretical work led and lead to rethinking in many areas of training theory.
I hope that these ideas will be widely recognized and helpful to coaches in both grassroots and professional sports and that tennis players of all categories will both make it easier for tennis players of all categories to learn this sport and allow for a much steeper increase in performance in competitive athletes. I hope that the theoretical and practical knowledge that is available today will give a boost just as we achieved in the German Tennis Federation in the 1980s and 1990s. For over ten years we were among the most successful tennis nation in the world, both among young people and adults. See below the poll of "Tennis Revue" 1/92.
(Formed by the Development Department of the ITF.)
„Richard Schönborn was more than 26 years a chief coach of the German Tennis Federation (DTB). He is a founder of the teaching committee of the DTB and co-founders of the sports-scientific advisory board of the DTB. He co-operated in the frame directives of the coach’s education of the DTB authoritatively. He was responsible for the highest coach’s education step of the DTB and is since 1975 a lecturer in the coach’s academy of the German Olympic Sports Association in Cologne, the highest coach’s education in the German sport. He was a founder and chairperson of the coach’s advisory board of the DTB.
As a member of the methodical commission of the CTA (Czech tennis association) he is one of the main instructors of the highest Czech coach’s licence (1) at the university in Olomouc. He is active as a main instructor with the education of the highest coaches licence of the JTA (Japan tennis association) in Tokyo.
He works on sports-scientific investigations in the kinematics, biomechanics. training apprenticeship, physiology, in new training methods, in the fitness training and coordination training, tactics and scientific investigations of the tennis sport. Because of his activity oriented to future he is called in Germany mentor of the DTB and recently also coach’s icon. Also his newest book breaks through conventional borders and shows new modern pointing ways in the tennis sport. For his work he has received in the past already a lot of international honour and honouring.
Thus he was honoured, for example, in 1995 by the ITF during the ninth coaches ITF World Wide Workshop in Spain with "Award in Recognition of Outstanding Contribution to International Coaching"
In 1994 he has received from the hands of the DTB president Dr. Claus Stauder a silver plate "in recognition of his 25-year-long engaged work as a coach of the DTB".
In 2001 Richard was honoured by the German Tennis Federation for his 32-year-long meritorious activity for the German tennis with the highest honorary coaches title of the DTB „Coach of 2001“. In the same year he has receive for his salaries for the world tennis from the hands of the ITF president Francesco Ricci Bitti the highest honouring the International Tennis Federation – the "Award for Services to the Game in Recognition of Long and Distinguished Service to the Game of Tennis"
In 2004 he has received from the hands of the president from Tennis Europe (former European tennis association) John James the highest honouring „European coach symposium Award“ for his long-standing merit for the European tennis and as one of the pioneers of the European symposia.
In 2009 he was honoured in Valencia in the anniversary celebration of the 20-year-old existence of the Registro Profesional de Tenis with the title "Internationally master professional" of the RPT. In the 1970s he was appointed to the elite international society "who is who" (people who achieve something special in their field).
He is of one of the leading and most recognized coach personalities in the practical ones as well as in the scientific work in the whole world. In the meantime, his foreign colleagues have lent him the name "the legend".
He was responsible for all areas in the practical and theoretical technical education in Germany in the most successful international era of the German tennis sport in the eighties and nineties, for new training methods in the education of the juniors, for the scientific education of the coaches in Europe. He was an initiator and member the first ITF Coach Committee and he works for the ITF in the whole world, in the meantime, in more than 115 countries with a series of seminars, work-shops and training camps.
Dr. Jim Loer, one of the world's leading experts in both sports and tennis science, wrote the following about my last book on November 1st, 2020: "The basic philosophy for progressive training in tennis - Movement theory in tennis - The importance of motor development" :
“Richard an amazing legacy you have created! Miss seeing you and witnessing your brilliant mind at work. You are a gift to the world of tennis science! To stay well and safe !!
Respectfully Jim"
All Canadian Sports Management Inc
"You should know that
I consider you one the greatest mentors I have had in my life. Your knowledge, your joy to share it and your commitment to excellence have been instrumental in my tennis and personal
development...which I still use to instill the greatness of our sport doing.
You are one of the great pioneers in the development of coaching. Our Canadian system has a lot of Richard Schonborn in it. Thanks for everything you do, thank you for what you have done for me, Canadian tennis and world tennis."
Thank you two as well as many others who keep writing to me for the words of appreciation. My motive for life is "I know that I know nothing", it is a statement of the Greek philosopher Socrates, this ingenious person certainly knew why he said that. I drew my knowledge drop by drop from the vast sea of knowledge of my valued colleagues around the world and the scientific literature available to me. I've always been hungry, I've always studied and that's what I do today.
I never expected any awards or honors for it, that happened in the course of time, but it was always a great honor for me. I was always curious to find something new and sometimes I have probably succeeded. I did wish for a single honor, but it was never given to me. I probably didn't deserve this either. Which that is will remain my secret until the end of my life.
The first European coach symposium in Paris
Richard has very successfully coached more than over 20 years alternately German teams with Davis Cup, Federation Cup, King Cup and all junior cups under 18, 16, 14 as well as Galea Cup.
3x Davis Cup photos against Argentina with former top players Clerc and Vilas in Buenos Aires
Federation Cup Team still with Helga Masthoff in the first half of the 70s
Federation Cup in Japan
Galea Cup winner against the favorite Czech Republic
Final of the European Junior Cup Jean Borotra with Boris Becker and Charlie Steeb (later Davis Cup winners), which we won.
Richard was a member of the Czechoslovakia Davis Cup Teams more than 10 years; he was a national champion of Czechoslovakia, the No. 1 on the ranking list and winner in 33 national and international tournaments in the 50s.
As an author he is famous for his numerous professional articles in different national and international magazines, in the official curricula of the DTB, he wrote numerous books which were published worldwide and he produced numerous videos. He continues to publish monthly technical articles for the largest Japanese tennis magazine "Tennismagazine" for years.
He was also responsible for the education of Boris Becker and Steffi Graf up to the 15th year and for many other top players of the DTB. He coach personally among other top players also Sylvia Hanika and Bettina Bunge till to the world top“.
The end of the compilation of the ITF supplemented by some photos from my albums.
Boris Becker was z. B. in his youth and junior years in the care of his excellent association trainer Boris Breskvar at the association level and by me at the national level of the DTB. We were close friends with B. Breskvar and we worked extremely well together. Breskvar was a top coach.
Boris Becker at the age of ten for the first time in our annual scientific examinations and talent tests at the University Clinic in Heidelberg. The identified problems were systematically addressed over the next 5 years through appropriate conditional, physiological and orthopedic measures and eliminated in the following years. Without these measures, he would never have achieved adult performance.
Beginning - The beginning of Boris Becker's long path to his later great career - as a nine-year-old during the very first training with me at the state performance center in Leimen. His excellent Baden regional trainer Boris Breskvar, standing with his back turned away. Unfortunately already died.
Boris Becker and 4 other youngsters, later world-class piers with me in one of the annual autumn fitness training camps in St. Anton.
B.B. with Udo Riglewski and selected young people in St. Anton in one of our ten-day fitness training camps in late autumn - we trained every year in all weathers.
B.B. at another training camp in St. Anton. In the yellow circle Charlie Steeb, later DC winner and in the blue circle Udo Riglewski, later world top player in doubles.
B.B. after his first victory in the DTB junior sighting tournament U 14.
Another fitness training camp in St. Anton this time partly with older players like Michael Westphal, Eva Pfaff, Bettina Bunge, Claudia Kohde-Kilsch, the tennis rackets are only for the photo, we never played tennis there, only every day in four to four three-hour units in all weathers outside as well as in the fitness hall. That was and is probably unique in world tennis to this day.
In the course of the last few decades I have written 20 specialist books in addition to a few hundred specialist articles in various national and international tennis magazines. The five last and most recent books listed below form a unit and are a comprehensive list of today's knowledge of modern tennis. The last book "The basic philosophy for progressive training in tennis - Movement theory in tennis - The importance of motor development" is a new direction of the current and especially the future direction of education and training due to the current scientific connections between the activity of the human brain and its influence on kinetics. "I libri sono di chi li legge" (Andrea de Carlo).
„Speed training for tennis“ in 1998 (Grosser, Kraft, Schönborn), Sportverlag Sindelfingen (also into English language at Meyer&Meyer Editor Aachen, in 2000)
„Advance Techniques for Competitive Tennis“ in 1998 (Schönborn), Meyer & Meyer publisher Aachen (also into English, Spanish, Japanese and Chinese language, 2000) „Tennis technique training“ in 2008 (Schönborn), Anew - revised new edition in German Meyer & Meyer publisher Aachen (also into Czech language)
„Performance tennis with children and youngsters“ in 2001 (Grosser, Schönborn), Meyer & Meyer publisher Aachen (also into English language), this book is reworked and is anew published in spring, 2008 under the new title „Training in the child tennis and youth tennis“
"Optimal Tennis Training -
The path to successful tennis from beginner to world top class“ in 2006 (Schönborn), Spitta publisher Balingen, Anew (also into Japanese and Czech language, English and Spanish version are prepared)
Journalistic work
Numerous professional articles in many national and international technical periodicals and magazines in Germany and in the whole world
Researches and investigations in cooperation with different home and foreign universities and institutes
Together with the Czech Tennis Association and the university in Olomouc we lead from 2007 extensive investigations of the junior world championships of the U14 in Prostejov. It is the first time that such investigations of the world-best juniors and female juniors take place. All teams and all players are analysed and compared to the professional tennis, then we will give recommendations what should change in the training in the junior tennis, perhaps, so that for the juniors later the entrance is made easier in the professional tennis.
Talk activity: In 2006 I have introduced worldwide education and advanced coach seminars, congresses, symposia up to now in more than 115 countries of the world. In narrow cooperation with Japan tennis association (JTA) I have carried out the first coach education at the highest level (S - licence) which was concluded then in October, 2007 by final examinations. Other years follow
Journalistic work
Numerous professional articles in many national and international technical periodicals and magazines in Germany and in the whole world
Talk activity:
Worldwide education and advanced training seminars, congresses, symposia up to now in more than 120 countries of the world
Practical training work:
ITF Travelling Academy, private trainings camps, talent checking, private performer’s checks, training consultation and training programmes for juniors and professionals, parental consultation and trainer's consultation
Beside many other national and above all international honouring and honour:
"Recognition of his 25-year-old engaged services as a coach" - DTB
"Award in Recognition of Outstanding Contribution to International coaching" - ITF
"Award for Services to the Game in Recognition of Long and Distinguished Service to the Game of Tennis" - ITF
“Coach of 2001“ for life salaries as a coach of the DTB
"European Coaches Symposium Award“ – Tennis Europe.
„Golden honorary needle of the VDT in recognition of the salaries around the Association of German Tennis Teacher VDT“
"Miembro Honoratio la Federation Colombiana de Tenis"
"Honorary Member of the Czech Professional Tennis Association"
"A Friend of the Israel Tennis Association by virtue of his generous contribution towards the development and advancement of Tennis in Israel"
"Honorary Member of the Tennis Federation of Indonesia"
"Internationally Master Professional" – RPT
Assessment of the world experts about our scientific work in the eighties and the enormous success of the German tennis sport during this time:
Interview of the "Tennis Revue" with world experts about our scientific work and its results in the 80th and 90th years:
Tennis Revue 1/1992
German tennis is a quality concept with a seal of approval worldwide. The following survey among the world's leading coaches proves this. A new quality term is causing a sensation in tennis: “Made in Germany”. While in Germany there are still complaints that German tennis coaches and teachers do not have a good name, the experts clearly favor what has been developed in Hanover and the state performance centers in recent years. True to the biblical motto that the prophet does not apply in one's own country, one repeatedly comes across the name Richard Schönborn in discussions with international trainers. The head coach of the German Tennis Federation has become a sought-after specialist in matters of education and training. It's not a coincidence. Richard Schönborn has made a name for himself in countless lectures at home and abroad. However, it should not be forgotten that the positive image of German tennis would not be so impressive without the successes of Steffi Graf and Boris Becker. So there are many other trainers involved as well. The survey was carried out on behalf of "TENNIS Revue" by experts who are above suspicion of being partisan in favor of German tennis. Carlos Salum works at Nick Bolletieri's tennis camps and Javier Campos works in the USA as a business advisor and for the UN as a simultaneous interpreter in seven languages. The survey was carried out on the occasion of the 7th ITF Trainer Workshop and the 18th ETA Trainer Symposium in Dublin and the USPTR Workshop in Hilton Head Island (both in October 1991).
Made in Germany
Frank van Fraayenhofen. National Coach of the Dutch
Tennis Association KNLTB, Director for coaching the KNLTB
How do you rate the German tennis school?
Frank van Faayenhofen: I think the good reputation of the German tennis school is mainly based on the achievements of Richard Schönborn. He was always ready to let others benefit from his findings. We discussed his methods around the world. He achieved a lot. I don't know if all trainers in Germany work according to his method. It always takes some time before a method can be put into practice. I think it would go too far to say: This is the German method, the German training system. Rather, it is the work of one man; it was thanks to Richard Schönborn and a few other people who were scientifically active. Many countries have benefited from their work. The Canadians have always paid special tribute to their achievements.
What do you think of the sports science findings?
Frank van Frayyenhofen: With the help of sports science, we learn to become more efficient and improve the quality of training. Many teenagers, parents and coaches thought it was better to train 20 hours a week than just 18. Many players would only need to train halfway to achieve the right quality. Thanks to sports science findings, we can improve the quality of training, but it is difficult to implement these findings in training programs.
Stan Smyth
Director for Coaching of the American Tennis Association USTA, former world class player (Wimbledon winner 1972, US Open winner 1971)
What do you think is particularly interesting about the German method? What is so special about that?
Stan Smith: I don't know, I've never seen her train, teach. I've only heard lectures from the German Richard Schönborn and what the players have reported about their experiences. But I find your method impressive.
Do you believe that the German method, which, as you know, is taught all over the world, has made a difference?
Stan Smith: I think there are some countries that are following the German example, especially when it comes to training. But what impresses me most is the scientific development in this country.
Pierre Lamarche Director of the Canadian National Squad, Captain of the Canadian Davis Cup and Federation Cup teams, director of coaching and
Sports Science from Tennis Canada.
What do you think of the German training programs over the past 20 years?
Pierre Lamarche: There has to be an explanation for the successes that Germany has celebrated in recent years. In this case, the explanation is obvious: a systematic support and training concept.
What importance do you attach to sports science?
Pierre Lamarche: There has to be an explanation for the successes Germany has been able to celebrate in recent years. In this case, the explanation is obvious: a systematic promotion and training concept.
What importance do you attach to sports science?
Pierre Lamarche: I think there was really something new in the field of support and training concepts that took physiological and psychological aspects into account. This is the only way to do justice to the players of tomorrow. No country can afford not to use this knowledge.
What were the Germans able to achieve worldwide with this concept?
Pierre Lamarche: Richard Schönborn was the pioneer in Canada for a systematic approach in the field of player development. Today we consider sport physiological and sport psychological aspects
.
Mark Cox. National Coach of the British Tennis Association LTA, former world class player.
Do you believe that the findings of sports science will find their way into the methodology of German tennis schools?
Mark Cox: Not only in the methodology of tennis schools, but in sports didactics in general. It is characteristic of tennis that you need mental strength and a well-trained body for this sport. The German school is a very tough school that demands a lot from the players. Tennis is combative, aggressive, you face someone who challenges you, it means confrontation. The positive thing about it is that you learn self-control, self-discipline, in short, how to deal with yourself. The psyche plays an important role, but the physique is no less important. The result of all of this is - today's tennis. With its speed, its strength. This is precisely why sports science became so important.
Dr. Jim Loehr. Director of USTA Sports Science, Tennis Psychologist.
What do you know about the German teaching method?
Dr. Jim Loehr: I think the Germans were groundbreaking. They were trend-setting in terms of preparation for training, the promotion of players, and the transfer of knowledge from sports science to tennis didactics. I don't think it's a coincidence that the Germans were leaders in tennis for so long. They owe this to their training methods, the pool of experiences their players have to rely on, the interplay of coaching experience and sport-scientific knowledge. You created the tennis of the future. You did the real pioneering work.
What do you think of the transfer of scientific knowledge to tennis didactics? How do you feel about your teaching method?
Dr. Jim Loehr: I think the biggest challenge for the German school was that the sports scientists were able to redefine performance and level and to demonstrate to the players how important it is to feel for differences in performance. That happened in the past and this thinking is becoming more and more prevalent. In my opinion, the German coaches are today the best trained coaches in the world. Your teaching system, your selection system is the best in the world and we in America have tried very hard to keep up in recent years.
Has the German method been able to make a difference worldwide?
Dr. Jim Loehr: Just think of the leading role played by German tennis, of players like Steffi Graf, Boris Becker, Michael Stich and other good players. All of this is no coincidence, these players could only exist because Germany has the right funding concepts, because Germany is preparing the ground for these talents. This achievement of the Germans should be recognized and applauded.
Dr. Jack Groppel. Director for Tennis and Sports Medicine at "Harry Hoppman international Tennis"
What do you think of the scientific premises of the German tennis school?
Jack Groppel: The Germans are known for having the best scientists. The German Tennis Federation is in the fortunate position to employ some top scientists who work on training concepts and, in cooperation with the coaches, try to put them into practice. So that they also benefit the German players.
What influence do you think this “tennis science” has on the game itself? Will something like "the" tennis player be created?
Jack Groppel: Without question, science is the foundation of the game. It doesn't work without them. If you want to learn how to play tennis, you have to deal with the basic principles of the sport. When it comes to mental strength, one has to master psychological principles; when it comes to tennis technique, one has to deal with biomechanical principles. When it comes to fitness, flexibility and strength training, you have to deal with physiological things.
Jack Groppel: Without question, science is the foundation of the game. It doesn't work without them. If you want to learn how to play tennis, you have to deal with the basic principles of the sport. When it comes to mental strength, one has to master psychological principles; when it comes to tennis technique, one has to deal with biomechanical principles. When it comes to fitness, flexibility and strength training, you have to deal with physiological things. Even when it comes to avoiding injuries or regenerating from injuries - all of these are topics of sports science. The Germans are unquestionably leaders in this area. The Germans and the Americans have probably dealt most intensively with the game with their sports science committees. My personal opinion is that the Germans are definitely leaders in this field. I learned a lot from the Germans and I hope that the Germans also learned from us.
Ivan Dusek. National Coach of the Czech Tennis Association CTA Director for Coaching of the CTA
What do you think of the Germans' method?
Ivan Dusek: I am convinced that it is very good. Especially in the field of youth development. The Germans have made use of our experience. Your system is based on ours, which is very good.
What importance do you attach to sports science?
Ivan Dusek: I think that sports science in Germany is at a very high level. But this is mainly due to the fact that the conditions for this are ideal in Germany. There is enough money there, the interest in scientific research is great, there is a social consensus. In addition, top tennis can no longer do without scientific research.
Dennis Collete Director of Coaching for Tennis Australia
What do you think of the Germans' method?
Dennis Collete: We're twenty or thirty years back. All tennis countries now recognize that the training system has two sides - one concerns the training of amateur athletes, the other the promotion of competitive athletes. Australia, as well as other countries, are now turning to this area, but Germany, which has long been a leader in this field, was lucky. At many tennis instructor conferences as well as at the last one in Dublin, Richard Schönborn revealed a lot of new information and so Germany has influenced the tennis schools in other countries such as Holland, Canada and Australia. We have adopted the concepts of the Germans.
What importance do you attach to sports science?
Dennis Collete: I think people now know that a world class player needs to be promoted with a long-term concept. A concept that is designed for ten years. Richard Schönborn has carried out research in sports science over a period of ten years. He is certainly one of the most important specialists in this field. The knowledge he has gained certainly also influences the methodology of other countries. I think people are seeing now that they can benefit from it. We in Australia will no longer neglect this area, we want to implement our system and we will use results from Richard Schönborn and scientists from all over the world.
Ron Wood. Director for USTA Funding Program
What do you think of the German tennis method?
Ron Wood: The Germans were among the first to translate the findings of sports science into practical player promotion programs. I think every country in the world is particularly impressed by the leadership role the Germans play, because Germany has been involved in sports science for much longer than other tennis countries. From a sports science standpoint, they have always looked for opportunities to try different methods. And they then transferred that to the promotion of players. With great success over the past five or six years, as you can see. Suddenly everyone wanted to know how they did it. And it turned out: her training program is really that good. The entire coaching community worldwide benefited from their findings. In the last five years we have realized: this is the right way to go - and other countries have followed suit. That’s really great. Tennis got a foundation and matured as a sport. Questions are asked, questions that want to be answered scientifically, that are scientifically founded.
Doug McCurdy; ITF Director for International Development.
What do you think of German tennis over the past ten years?
Dough McCurdy: German tennis has a long tradition - in terms of both the possibilities and the players and coaches. A lot has always been invested in tennis in Germany. For a long time, especially in men's tennis, there were no extraordinary results at world class level. And that was mainly because tennis was very lucrative in Germany. A German player, for example, was number ten in Germany better than number 40 in the world rankings. Players from the CSSR were motivated to perform in a completely different way - for them it was the opportunity to leave their country and earn some money. It is similar with Japan at the moment. The players there are very good technically, they are very disciplined, but they are more attracted to just making a good life for themselves. They play a little tennis now and then, advertise beer or other products. This was precisely the reason for the unsuccessful German players in the 70s. They were just too comfortable.
What do you think of the German training concepts, of the sports science findings of the Germans?
Doug McCurdy: In general, I cannot allow myself any opinion about the German concepts, I can only talk about Richard Schönborn, the head coach of the DTB. Richard Schönborn has probably carried out more modern research projects than sports scientists in other countries. His projects were always scientifically up to date, his projects were always geared towards practice. Many coaches have benefited from it. In this respect, one can speak of a leading role for the Germans. For example, I know that many of the methods used in Eastern European countries are based on sports science and that these have been very useful in practice. But a lot of it was researched 15, 20, 30, or 40 years ago and that is no longer appropriate today. The modern trends in training, what can be called interval training, are the results of research that has been done primarily in Germany. That is why one can say that Germany is the leading nation in tennis research and in coach training.
How do you rate the influence of Germans on other countries?
Doug McCurdy: Unfortunately, most of us have only been talking about the influence of Germans for five years since the phenomenon of Steffi Graf and Boris Becker existed and since the results were there. The foundations for this have already been laid over the past fifteen or twenty years. The only difference is that nobody recognized this work because it did not produce world-class players. Due to the international success of the Germans in the world rankings in recent years, one speaks today of their scientific methodology, which has been a model for twenty years.
Maria-Jose Pasqual Vice President of the Spanish Tennis Association RFET Director for Coaching of the RFET.
To what extent does the German method influence other countries?
Maria-Jose Pasqual: I can only speak for Europe. About 12 years ago we thought about different methods at our ETA symposia. But in a country like mine you don't make any money for research, for “experimenting”. But we had to really encourage players. That's why people like Richard Schönborn and his method were so important to us; he paved the way for us, so to speak. And not just us, everyone else too. Europe cannot claim this success for itself; it undoubtedly belongs to the Germans.
Tennis revue
“The work pays off. Satisfaction for effort and work”.
TR: You have read the results of our survey among your international colleagues. Are you surprised by what you have learned?
"Yes and no. That we enjoy a good international reputation is of course well known to me from the countless international seminars and symposia. But I would not have expected that the international experts surveyed would unanimously lift us onto the highest pedestal in this way. When I look back and think about what we have changed and moved in theory and practice in the last 15-20 years and that we were actually often the first to do so, then this recognition is a certain satisfaction for all the effort and work. I believe that the DTB can be proud of it ”.
TR: You have to be “flattered” that you are repeatedly called the “father of German tennis”, is that how you see it?
“There are many“ titles ”that have already been given to me - father, recently even grandfather of European tennis, chief ideologist, thought leader, legend, icon, etc. There is a certain amount of recognition behind it, but I don't think much of it. I'm the only one who has participated in all of the 18 ETA symposia since 1971 and seven previous ITF work chops, and has given all lectures and presented news. And so you are classified as a kind of “father” or “grandfather”, just the “old man”.
TR: You are in the public eye as a person, but the success of tennis teaching “will probably not have sprung from your head alone. Who has the greatest share in it?
Glad you brought that up. We have been in the fortunate position for about 15 years now that we have a sports science advisory board and a teaching committee. The members have changed in part during this time, but z. B. Prof. Gabler, Prof. Dr. Weber, Prof. Mester and others are excellent sports scientists who mainly come from tennis, understand this sport and help us tremendously. Without universities in the background, without students doing the countless legwork, we could never get this far. In addition there are Prof. Dr. Keul, who has achieved an incredible amount, and other excellent specialists from the sports science advisory board. I'm a wheel of this car. Nothing works today without teamwork. The Americans have also recognized this and formed a similar committee based on our example ”.
TR. What comes after the current stars?
“Barbara Rittner, Marketa Kochta, Meike Babel, Heike Rusch and other girls, Scott Gesner, Christian Tambue, Lars Reimann and a few more among the very young are in the starting blocks. I do not share the boundless optimism that some spread ”.
TR.You have a lifelong contract with the DTB. Do you regret today that you have committed yourself to the German Tennis Federation for such a long time?
“I didn't ask for the contract at the time. When I quit in 1971 after two years and started working again as an export salesman at Daimler Benz, the DTB brought me back after a long period of persuasion. This year I received three offers from abroad, one of which was really very tempting. For the time being, German tennis is still close to my heart. That's why I don't see any reason to change at the moment ”.
T.R. According to international experts, German tennis is a leader in education and teaching. Are you surprised?
“Not at all. For years we have won countless titles in junior championships. So, at some point, the work in this area had to pay off. This of course includes the work in the federal performance center in Hanover and in the state performance centers. The sporting development of Steffi Graf, Boris Becker, Michael Stich - to name only the outstanding ones, is the logical consequence of our work ”.
TR: Does it make sense if the training methods and scientific findings that are financed with a lot of money are made available to all other tennis associations?
“You definitely can't isolate yourself from the rest of the tennis world. Just as others now benefit from us, we have benefited from others in the earlier days, and perhaps one day there will still be situations in which we have to be grateful when others let us share in new knowledge ”.
TR: Do you think that the DTB's participation in the ITF committees also contributed to the DTB's positive image in the world?
“Several factors are certainly decisive for the positive image of the DTB. First and foremost, the top players determine this image with their successes and their appearance. And there is no doubt that our involvement in international committees has had a positive effect on this development ”.
TR. Under these circumstances, does the DTB have more weight than it does now?
“In the future, we should be careful to be represented in international committees according to our successes and our size. In the past, this was by no means always the case
Richard Schoenborn
Neben vielen weiteren nationalen und vor allem internationalen Auszeichnungen und Ehrungen:
"Anerkennung seiner 25-jährigen engagierten Dienste als Cheftrainer" - DTB
„Award in Recognition of Outstanding Contribution to International coaching” - ITF
"Award for Services to the Game in Recognition of Long and Distinquished Service to the Game of Tennis” - ITF
Vergoldetes Schwert von König von Oman Qabus bin Sa'id Al Sa'id für Verdienste im Tennis in Oman
“Trainer des Jahres 2001“ für Lebensverdienste als Cheftrainer des DTB
„European Coaches Symposium Award“ – Tennis Europe.
"Gold Medal from Oman Olympic Committee" - OOC
„Goldene Ehrennadel des VDT in Anerkennung der Verdienste um den Verband Deutscher Tennislehrer VDT e.V.“
„Miembro Honoratio la Federation Colombiana de Tenis”
“International Master Professional” – PTR
“Honorary Member of the Czech Professional Tennis Association”
“A Friend of the Israel Tennis Association by virtue of his generous contribution towards the development and advancement of Tennis in Israel”
“Honorary Member of the Tennis Federation of Indonesia”
"International Master Professional" - RPT
"Mitglied der elitären internationalen Gemeinschaft who is who"
"Ehrenmitglied des Tennis Training Center in Kashiva Japan"
Neben vielen weiteren nationalen und vor allem internationalen Auszeichnungen und Ehrungen:
"Anerkennung seiner 25-jährigen engagierten Dienste als Cheftrainer" - DTB
„Award in Recognition of Outstanding Contribution to International coaching” - ITF
"Award for Services to the Game in Recognition of Long and Distinquished Service to the Game of Tennis” - ITF
Vergoldetes Schwert von König von Oman Qabus bin Sa'id Al Sa'id für Verdienste im Tennis in Oman
“Trainer des Jahres 2001“ für Lebensverdienste als Cheftrainer des DTB
„European Coaches Symposium Award“ – Tennis Europe.
"Gold Medal from Oman Olympic Committee" - OOC
„Goldene Ehrennadel des VDT in Anerkennung der Verdienste um den Verband Deutscher Tennislehrer VDT e.V.“
„Miembro Honoratio la Federation Colombiana de Tenis”
“International Master Professional” – PTR
“Honorary Member of the Czech Professional Tennis Association”
“A Friend of the Israel Tennis Association by virtue of his generous contribution towards the development and advancement of Tennis in Israel”
“Honorary Member of the Tennis Federation of Indonesia”
"International Master Professional" - RPT
"Mitglied der elitären internationalen Gemeinschaft who is who"
"Ehrenmitglied des Tennis Training Center in Kashiva Japan"
Die oberen zwei Aussagen des griechischen Philosophen Sokrates waren immer die Ursache meines Hungers nach etwas neuen und das führte mich zu der wichtigsten Motivation meines Lebens - Neugier ! An meiner Heimbürowand hängt seit gut 50 Jahren schon recht vergilbt das Wort "Warum?". Das ewige suchen nach Antworten war unter anderen entscheidend für meine Ergebnisse und eventuelle Erfolge im Berufsleben. Wer nicht fragt, bekommt auch keine Antworten, wer nicht selber sucht findet nichts und wer nicht neugierig ist erfährt nichts. Fast alle Seminare auf der ganze Welt beginne ich mit einer einfachen Frage an die Anwesenden an - was ist die wichtigste Güte oder Eigenschaft eines erfolgreichen Trainers? Es werden hunderte Begriffe erwähnt die meistens auch stimmen und wichtig sind, es wird aber nie der Begriff Neugier genannt. Interessant, oder? Vor mehr als 50 Jahren habe ich ein Zitat von Albert Einstein gelesen - "Ich habe keine besondere Begabung, sondern ich bin nur leidenschaftlich neugierig". Das habe ich nie vergessen und mir "angeeignet".
Es ist für mich deswegen schwer zu begreifen, allerdings nach weit mehr als vierzigjährigen persönlichen Erfahrungen mit dem DTB ist es nicht ganz überraschend, dass einige Präsidien der letzten ca. 30 Jahre und einige unsere Trainernachfolger in der Spitze des DTB die enormen Anstrengungen, geistige, zeitliche und finanzielle Investitionen der siebziger, achtziger und neunziger Jahre gar nicht kennen und bewerten können, ja gar nicht als enormer nationaler und vor allem internationaler Erfolg des DTB verstehen und nicht hervorheben wollen. Warum hat man die damaligen erfolgreichen Methoden nicht weiterentwickelt entsprechend den heutigen Kenntnissen in der Sportwissenschaft? Wer war dafür die letzten 30 Jahre verantwortlich?? Wo bleibt eigentlich der DTB Stolz? Es wurde ja damals so viel geleistet! Steckt vielleicht Neid dahinter? Neid muss man sich erarbeiten, er ist eine spezielle Form der Anerkennung.
Eine ganze Generation von Experten, hochgradigen Wissenschaftlern, sehr engagierten und wissenden Trainern wurde einfach vergessen, vor allem aber danach nie mehr ersetzt. Die damaligen internationalen Erfolge waren ein Teamwork innerhalb der Wissenschaft, der Landesleistungszentren und dem Bundesleistungszentrum (BLZ) in Hannover und des Präsidium. Heute sind die zwei derzeitigen hervorragenden deutschen Spitzenathleten der letzten Jahre vor allem Produkte individueller privater Förderung und haben leider mit einem systematischen langfristigen Aufbau durch den DTB wenig zu tun. In der Jugend ist der DTB international schon Jahrzehntelang bedeutungslos, obwohl der DTB in den achtziger Jahren über fünf Jahre hinweg als die beste Jugendnation von European Tennis Assoziation ausgezeichnet wurde. Einen großen Silberteller von den fünf aus dem Jahr 1983 (Nations Cup 1st Prize) hat mir der DTB damals geschenkt und dieser hängt auf der Wand in meinem Arbeitszimmer (siehe ganz unten). Wo bewahrt wohl der DTB die restlichen vier? Ohne internationale Spitzenjugendliche gibt es später keine Spitzenspieler oder -Spielerinnen. Das gilt für alle Sportarten.
Man hat die ganzen Voraussetzungen und Grundlagen, die damals langfristig systematisch und vor allem wissenschaftlich im DTB aufgebaut wurden und aus denen die große Menge an deutschen Weltklassespielern hervorging, für die uns die ganze Tenniswelt beneidet und bewundert hat (siehe Tennis Revue 1/1992 - Podium, siehe oben im Start) zerstört. Nun wurde sogar das so erfolgreiche und damals weltbekannte DTB Bundesleistungszentrum (BLZ) in Hannover wegen Erfolgslosigkeit geschlossen, der Sportwissenschaftliche Beirat (damals ein deutsches Unikum im Welttennis) wurde aufgelöst! Das ist der Beweis von Kurzsichtigkeit. Es gab Perioden, in denen in den TOP 10 vier, in den TOP 20 weitere vier und in den TOP 50 die nächsten vier deutsche Damen gleichzeitig in der WTA Weltrangliste platziert waren. Von den Grand Slam, Davis Cup und Federation Cup Siegern und Siegerinnen gar nicht zu sprechen. Alle diese Spielerinnen und Spieler wurden ohne Ausnahme von der Kindheit an durch das damalige DTB Programm aufgebaut und gefördert. Dafür ist mein Keller im Haus voller Beweise.
Heute, im Jahr 2021 hat das erste Mal nach 60 Jahren (!!!) keine deutsche Spielerin die zweite Runde bei den French Open erreicht. Dabei wimmelt es im Feld an jeder Menge sehr junger und perfekt ausgebildeter Spielerinnen mit hoher Spielqualität aus der Ganzen Welt. Sollte man im DTB nicht nach den Gründen nachdenken, als immer wieder in den verschiedenen Reportagen als Ausreden gewisse "Verletzungen" deutscher Frauen in den Vordergrund zu stellen? Werden nur Deutsche verletzt und wenn ja warum wohl? Wo bleibt der 18 bis 23 jährige deutsche Nachwuchs in der Weltklasse? Die Geburt der hohen Qualität von heute musste vor 12 - 14 Jahren stattgefunden haben. Wer zu spät kommt den bestraft das Leben. Wer war eigentlich die letzten 20 -30 Jahre für die Ausbildung und ein hochqualitatives Training im DTB verantwortlich? Wo sind die Ergebnisse zu sehen?
"Je tiefer man in die Vergangenheit schaut, desto weiter sieht man in die Zukunft" hat einmal W. Churchill gesagt. Sicherlich wusste dieser kluge Mann was und warum er das sagte. Es würde wahrscheinlich auch dem DTB nicht schaden über diese weise Äußerung nachzudenken.
Der letzte Präsident Klaus Ulrich verstand wahrscheinlich nicht die hohen wissenschaftlichen und fachlichen Anforderungen, die heute gefordert sind, um ganz oben international mittschwimmen zu können. Wer gegen dem Strom schwimmt, schwimmt selten oben. Aber - "First thinks first" sagen die Engländer. Ein Präsident muss nicht unbedingt ein Experte in der Trainingslehre oder Bewegungslehre, Biomechanik oder Physiologie des Trainings sein, er hätte es aber Fachleuten überlassen sollen.
Z. B. Barbara Rittner, die ich sehr hoch schätze, könnte so ein Gremium (Wissenschaftlicher Beirat oder ähnlich) gründen und leiten. Sie hat in ihrer Jugendzeit den damaligen Aufstieg und die
damaligen Methoden ja persönlich erfolgreich miterlebt. Sie war ja danach Mitglied der siegreichen Federation Cup Mannschaft und hat anschließend die hochwertige DTB Trainerausbildung erfolgreich
durchlaufen. Dafür müsste sie aber vom DTB absolute Vollmacht, Vertrauen und finanzielle Ausstattung bekommen. Wahrscheinlich sieht sie aber die Aussichtslosigkeit so etwas
heutzutage im DTB auf die Beine stellen zu dürfen und widmet sich lieber nebenbei mit großen Erfolg dem sicherlich lukrativen kommentieren im Fernsehen. Sie macht das
zurückhaltend, bescheiden, sympatisch, mit viel Sachverstand und fachlich hervorragend. Chapeau! Es gibt dort Kollegen, die von ihr viel lernen könnten.
Was heute abgebaut wird ist in der Zukunft schwer aufzubauen oder sogar ganz neu gestallten. "Ther is no free lunch", irgendjemand muss dann die Rechnung zahlen.
Nur wer sich in Bewegung setzt und auf den Weg geschickt wird, kann Spuren hinterlassen! "Wer auf der Stelle tritt, kann nur Sauerkraut fabrizieren" sagte Peter Ustinov.
Ein alter jüdischer Witz ist hier angebracht: Im Zug jammert ein Mann an jede Haltestation. Da fragt ihm ein Sitznachbar was ihm fehlt, ob er ihm helfen kann. "Nein" sagt der Mann "ich sitze im falschen Zug, und mit jeder Station wird die Rückreise länger". Diesen Witz sollten sich einige DTB Verantwortlichen gut merken, obwohl dem DTB z. Z. wahrscheinlich nicht zum spaßen ist was zwar bedauerlich aber fürs Leben notwendig ist. „Deutscher Humor ist, wenn man trotzdem nicht lacht.“ – Sigismund von Radecki, Schriftsteller und Übersetzer
Vor allem - man will sich so etwas heute nicht eingestehen. Etwaige Empfehlungen für Veränderungen werden sofort als Nestbeschmutzung, negative oder sogar bösartige Kritik gesehen und man wird als Mensch und als wohl erfahrener, international geschätzter Experte ignoriert, viel mehr - man wird aus dem DTB einfach auf ewig gestrichen, gelöscht. Irgendein Dank oder Anerkennung? Fehlanzeige. In allen anderen Tennisverbänden der Welt absolut undenkbar. Das ist erniedrigend und respektlos.
„Wem die Macht in den Kopf steigt, der hat keinen“ (Anspielung an eine Ansage von Aristoteles Onassis). Jeder Mensch ist eben anders und manchen fehlt es ganz einfach an Anstand. William Faulkner hat einmal gesagt –" Intelligenz ist die Fähigkeit seine Umgebung zu akzeptieren". Kann scheinbar nicht jeder.
Solche Menschen tun mir leid. Es existiert ein kluger Hinweis von Albert Einstein: "Halte Dich von negativen Menschen fern. Sie haben ein Problem für
jede Lösung!". Ich befürchte, dass viele Bewohner dieser Welt mit solchen Mitmenschen zu tun haben.
Ich bin mit kurzer Zwischenperiode seit meinem 12. Lebensjahr über 75 Jahre im Tennissport tätig, zuerst fast 15 Jahre als Spieler und danach bis heute als Trainer. Diese Tätigkeit hat mir immer sehr viel Spaß gemacht auch wenn ich deswegen meinen lukrativen Job im Jahr 1971 in der Exportabteilung bei Daimler Benz in Stuttgart gekündigt und mein Hobby zum Beruf gewählt habe. War das ein Fehler? Wer weiß.
Ich hoffe dem Tennissport nicht nur im Rahmen des Deutschen Tennis Bundes, wo ich über 26 Jahre als Cheftrainer in der erfolgreichsten Periode des DTB tätig war, sondern weltweit in mehr als 130 Ländern, wenigstens ein Bisschen geholfen zu haben. Ich habe überall auf der Welt sehr viele Freunde gefunden und viel Unterstützung und Anerkennung erfahren. Den fantastischen Experten, die ich während meiner Tätigkeit kennen gelernt habe, die mir mein Wissen bereichert haben gilt mein großer Dank. Die ersten vier Präsidenten des DTB während der Ausübung meines Jobs haben meine Tätigkeit geschätzt und haben sowohl mir als auch dem einmaligen Sportwissenschaftlichen Beirat bei allen unseren Ideen und Unternehmen sehr geholfen und uns immer unterstützt. Es waren nicht nur sehr gute und erfolgreiche Präsidenten, sondern vor allem großartige Menschen. Das hat auch zu den großen Erfolgen in den 70. 80. und 90. Jahren geführt (siehe z. B. das Interview der Tenns Revue mit den Tennisexperten aus aller Welt).
Wenn man etwas im Leben
tut und erreichen will, dann muss man sich ein Ziel setzen. Warum sollte man es sonst tun? Wenn man ein Ziel hat, dann will man es auch erreichen, egal was auch immer man im Leben tut. Man
muss dafür aber den richtigen Weg suchen, finden und bestimmen. Ohne Weg kein Ziel und ohne Ziel kein Weg. Ohne Weg kann man auch keine Spuren hinterlassen. Seit Jahrtausenden profitiert die
Menschheit von den hinterlassenen Spuren der großen Geister und erfolgreichen Menschen der Vergangenheit. Wer nach seinem Abschied gar keine Spuren seiner Tätigkeit hinterlassen hat, hat
wahrscheinlich in seinem Leben keine Schritte zur Spurenbildung getan. Am Ende gilt nur - Erfolg oder Misserfolg. Halberfolg taugt nichts. Um allerdings einen Erfolg zu haben, muss man das
notwendige Fachwissen besitzen und die Voraussetzungen für die Tätigkeit schaffen. Und gerade das alles haben wir im DTB in den siebziger, achtziger und neunziger Jahren geschafft, wie die
damaligen internationalen Erfolge sowohl in der Jugend als auch im Profitennis dokumentieren und wie es die ganze Tenniswelt bis heute immer wieder anerkennend registriert hat. Ich werde weltweit
immer wieder gefragt was mit uns eigentlich los ist. Da könnte man allerhand erzählen. Ich schweige lieber.
Ich wünsche dem DTB, dass der neue Präsident Dietloff von Arnim die ganze Problematik ganz anders anpackt und den DTB auf die erfolgreiche Spur der Vergangenheit mit den derzeitigen Kenntnissen in der Wissenschaft, Möglichkeiten und Chancen zurück führt. W. Churchill hat einmal gesagt "Der Preiß der Größe heißt Verantwortung". Diese hat der neue Präsident nun übernommen und ich wünsche ihm vom ganzen Herzen sehr viel Erfolg und Glück dabei. Vor allem wünsche ich ihm Mut. "Nicht weil es schwer ist, wagen wir es nicht, sondern weil wir es nicht wagen. ist es schwer" (Seneca um 4 v. Chr. - 65 n.Chr.).
Current views and issues
I know I know nothing (Socrates)
"The wise man is always surrounded by those who are even better than he is”
(Sokrates)
I know I know nothing (Socrates)
The top two statements of the Greek philosopher Socrates was always the cause of my hunger for something new and that led me to the most important motivation of my life - curiosity! That was the cause of my hunger for something new and that led me to the most important motivation of my life - curiosity! The word "why" has been hanging on my home office wall for over 50 years. The constant search for answers was, among other things, decisive for my results and possible successes in professional life. If you don't ask, you won't get any answers, if you don't look for it yourself, you won't find anything and if you are not curious you will find out nothing at all. I start almost all sminars around the world with a simple question to those present - what is the most important quality of a successful coach? Hundreds of terms are mentioned, most of them are correct and important, but the term curiosity is never mentioned. Interesting, isn't it? More than 50 years ago I read a quote from Albert Einstein - "I have no special talent, I am just passionately curious". I have never forgotten that and "appropriated" it.
It is because of that for me difficult to understand, but after about forty years of personal experience with the German Tennis Feseration (DTB), it is not entirely surprising that some executive committees and some of our coaching successors at the top even made the enormous efforts, intellectual, time and financial investments of the seventies, eighties and nineties Can't rate it, or even understand it as an enormous national and above all international success of the DTB and don't want to highlight i t. So mutch has been done! Where is the DTB pride? So much has been done! Is it envy? You have to develop envy, it is a special form of recognition.
A whole generation of experts, high-level scientists, very committed and knowledgeable coaches were simply forgotten, but above all never replaced afterwards. The international successes at that time were teamwork within science, the state performance centers and the BLZ in Hanover. Today, the two current outstanding German top athletes are primarily products of individual private sponsorship and unfortunately have little to do with a systematic long-term development by the DTB.
In the youth field, the DTB has been meaningless internationally for decades, although the DTB was recognized as the best youth nation by the European Tennis Association for five years in the eighties. The DTB gave me a large silver plate from the five from 1983 (Nations Cup 1st Prize) and it hangs on the wall in my study (see below). Where does the DTB keep the remaining four? Do they still exist? Without top international youth there will be no top players later. It can't be that difficult to grasp, it applies to all sports.
All the prerequisites and foundations that were systematically and above all scientifically built up in the long term and from which the large number of German world class players emerged, for whom the whole tennis world envied us (see Tennis Revue 1/1992 - Podium), have been destroyed. Even the successful and world-famous DTB Bundesleistungszentrum (BLZ) in Hanover was closed, the sports science advisory board was dissolved! After I left the DTB highly qualified, recognized and capable successor as head coach has been found. That is a shame and the proof of myopia and technical incompetence and lack of perspective. . There were periods in which four in the TOP 10, four in the TOP 20 and the next four German women in the TOP 50 were simultaneously placed in the world rankings. Not to mention the Davis Cup and Federation Cup winners. All of these players, without exception, were built up and promoted by the DTB program from childhood.
Today, in 2021, for the first time in 60 years (!!!) no German female player reached the second round at the French Open. The field is teeming with a lot of very young and perfectly trained players with a high quality game from all over the world. Shouldn't one in the DTB think about the reasons, rather than repeatedly emphasizing certain "injuries" of German women as excuses in the various reports? Will only Germans be injured and if so, why? Where are the 18 to 23 year old offspring? The birth of the high quality must have happened 12-14 years ago. If you come too late, the dogs will bite. Who was actually responsible for the education and high-quality training in the DTB for the last 20-30 years?
"The deeper you look into the past, the further you see into the future," said Winston Churchill, and that wise man certainly knew why he said that. It would probably not hurt the DTB to think about this wise statement.
The last president Ulrich Klaus probably didn't understand at all the high scientific and professional requirements that are required today in order to be able to swim at the top internationally. Those who swim against the current rarely swim at the top. The English say "first things first". He should leave it to the experts. For example Barbara Rittner, whom I hold in high esteem, could found and lead such a committee (scientific advisory board or similar). In her youth she personally experienced the ascent and the methods of that time. To do this, however, the DTB would have to give her absolute authority, trust and financial resources. But she probably sees the hopelessness of getting something like this up and running in the DTB nowadays and, besides, dedicates herself with great success to the certainly lucrative commentary on television. She does it cautiously, modestly but professionally excellent in contrast to some other colleagues. Chapeau.
