From Vic,

I feel lucky to have played a small part in the sports world. Looking for creative ways to help people play their chosen sport better, and sooner, has provided me with plenty of excitement and new knowledge. Though I still feel we're in the "Stone Ages" on many fronts, that will change because there are so many fine researchers generating new projects.

In addition, there is evidence that the many disciplines involved in understanding sport are beginning to cooperate on a much higher level. Sport surfaces childhood emotions and experiences faster than anything I know. Therefore, it is a major force in the understanding of human behavior and the development of wholesome character in each of us. Playing a sport should be one of the finest treasures known to mankind.

Unfortunately, the sports world has lost too many people because we lack the knowledge to find ways to keep them involved. While people are being introduced to a new sport, they should be laughing their guts out while learning. Those that learn this way are usually in sports for a lifetime.

Tennis Background & Professional Career

High School:
Monroe High School, Monroe, Michigan 1943-47

Vic won the Michigan State High School Singles Championship in grades 10,11 and 12. There were no Championships played in Vic’s Freshman year due to the second world war.

COLLEGE:
Vic played for Kalamazoo College, the home of the U.S. National Junior Championships.

Vic won the league singles championship and captained the team. Kalamazoo College has not lost a league championship in nearly six decades. In the Midwest College circles, he was ranked number two behind Tony Trabert.

PRO EXPERIENCE:
Vic turned pro immediately out of college. At that time, there were only a few tournaments for young pros. If one taught tennis, or played at any time for money, he/she was considered a pro and were no longer allowed to play in amateur tournaments. There were no open tournaments until 1968. The major pro event was the four man touring teams that included such players as Jack Kramer, Pancho Gonzales, Pancho Segura, Bobby Riggs, Tony Trabert, Lew Hoad, Ken Rosewall, etc.

Vic was invited to play three years in the world professional tennis championships. But as Vic explains it, there were only six good players and six donkeys and he was one of the donkeys.

Profile

Major Personal Goal:
-- To spend more quality time with my family.

Major Professional Goal:
-- To help each person maximize performance and enjoyment of his/her chosen sport in the shortest period of time.

Vocational Highlights:
-- Licensed psychologist (California), author, sports educator and researcher, cinematographer, videographer, sports, television commentator.

Education:
-- Kalamazoo College (Michigan, B.A.); Los Angeles State College, M.A.; Doctoral Studies, USC; additional graduate studies, University of Toledo and UCLA.

Television, Principal in Series:
-- Vic Braden's Tennis For the Future....13 shows, three years, PBS Network. Future Sport....13 shows, two years, ESPN...hosted with Dr. Gideon Ariel. Vic's Vacant Lot....26 shows, three years, ESPN...sports show for children. Vic Braden Children's Hospital Championships 1982-1998 Vic Braden's Sports Science Show (in production).

Books Authored (5 Sports Illustrated, Time/Warner, Little Brown Publisher):
1) Tennis for the Future
2) Teaching Children Tennis The Vic Braden Way
3) Quick Fixes
4) Mental Tennis
5) Laugh and Win At Doubles
6) Tennis 2000

Television Appearances:

-- NBC Today Show, ABC Good Morning America, CBS Good Morning, ABC Nightline, 20/20, NBC, CBS, ABC Evening News, Hollywood Squares

Television Commentating:
-- NBC, CBS, ESPN, PBS, and Prime Ticket Network.

Featured in Print Media:
-- Time Magazine, Sports Illustrated, People Magazine, New York Times.

Awards:
-- Contributing Most to Tennis in America (USTA); Orange County Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award (Sportswriter); Coach of the Year Award (USPTA).
Basic Sports Education Philosophy... My specific interest has always been sports research. I have a great curiosity about different learning styles. I truly feel each person has a genius to perform well in his/her chosen sport, but the problem is we coaches; we haven't learned how to access each person's genius in the shortest period of time. HOWEVER, I find that the coaching world is experimenting in many areas and is making great strides.