THE 3AM THEORY

The Chimp Paradox: A Plain English Guide for Tennis Parents  Part 2 of a 6-part series By Paul Dale | The 3AM Method The Parent's Dilemma You're sitting courtside watching your child play. They're talented—you know they are. The technique is there. The fitness is there. You've invested in coaching, lessons, and training camps. But something happens in matches that doesn't happen in practice. A few unforced errors. A lost set. Then suddenly, you see it: the shoulders drop. The head goes down. The energy shifts. Your child stops playing tennis and starts playing not to lose. And no matter what happens in the next thirty minutes, something inside them has already conceded. You're confused. You're frustrated. And if you're honest, you're a little heartbroken—because you know your child can play better than this. So what's actually happening? The answer isn't what you think. Your child hasn't suddenly forgotten how to play. They haven...