'On reflection, I wouldn't change a thing': Motivations linked to College tennis transfers

Wynee Warden Tennis Centre at Florida Southern College.

Transferring in college has become a controversial topic of discourse in the collegiate tennis world. But the question of transferring for a player is never an easy one.

So, how does a collegiate tennis player know it is time to hit the portal due to the coach, team, surroundings, or circumstances at their current program?

Any collegiate athletic program, but especially a collegiate tennis team, is essentially a puzzle. And while all the stars may align for a player as they sign their initial agreement, you can only know if the program is both the right fit for you and you for it, once you are living in the moment of being a player on the team. 

Regardless of whether the experience on court and in the classroom is positive or negative, there are a multitude of factors that can mean it's time to look for a different option.  

Coaching staff is a big factor. Each coach has their own distinct style, and when it comes to guiding a big group of players, a specific approach can make or break the relationship a player has not only with the team, but the sport itself. 

Unfortunately, certain coaches can cause distress across physical and mental health for a player in a variety of ways. This can include exclusion from training or playing time, inconsistent feedback and progression, or even simply a coaching approach that clashes with a player's game, temperament, and style. 

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Australian Florida Southern alum Laia Pasini found herself in this very position years ago. 

"Everything about my first university was a dream, except how my coach treated me," Pasini told The First Serve.

"Reluctantly, I entered the transfer portal. I went on to join an incredible team and have an amazing college career. I graduated as an All-American with many accomplishments, hugely thanks to such amazing coaches.

"It's funny, now looking back two years post-grad, the thing I feel most proud of is actually being brave enough to choose the scary option to transfer. Not the result of transferring, but the choice to. It formed a character and strength in me that I carry to this day, and on reflection, I wouldn't change a thing about my experience."

Is this a coach and coaching staff that I can progress with, that brings out the best in me, and sees me as not just a player, but a person as well? 

The team environment is another crucial part of the puzzle for any player. Whether it be down to the culture, the individual players, or the interactions and direction stemming from coaches, the team atmosphere can either push a player to their best or undermine their success and enjoyment within a program. 

Is this team environment allowing me to develop as a player and a person? 

Another important factor to consider is the level of play and opportunity. The diverse pool of talent sprawled across the NCAA Division I, II, III levels, the NAIA, and JUCO means that many players can simply outgrow their programs as they develop and progress throughout their collegiate careers, regardless of how great their experience is at their current institution. 

Any player could naturally want to experience a higher level of play, coupled with better opportunities to further progress into professional tennis. Transferring into a stronger program, conference, and environment can do just that for a player. Scholarships, financial benefits, and incentives are also a piece of the pie, and as a player gets better, it makes sense to look at transferring to attain these accommodations as well.  

Am I getting the very best out of my tennis, for now and the future here?

Another often overlooked question is, how does the classroom aspect affect my future? Different institutions offer a diverse selection of degrees and courses that affect the employment pathways you have access to in the future. Sometimes, an institution just does not have the career and educational course you are looking for, or the classes and degree options are not what you are passionate about. 

Young Australian collegiate tennis player Gloria Jovic recently found herself in this situation, which prompted her to enter the transfer portal after a successful first year at Menlo College. 

"I had a wonderful experience during my freshman year at my initial college, but the major I was completing wasn't truly fulfilling what I envisioned myself doing in the future in terms of employment," stated Jovic, speaking to The First Serve.

"I decided to enter the transfer portal because the academic side of being a student-athlete is also really important to me, and I needed to find a college that allowed me to study what I was actually passionate about."

Is what you are studying allowing you to strive to achieve your professional goals off the court? Could another institution perhaps offer what you are looking for in the classroom?  

It can also be a combination of factors that influence the decision to look for a change in scenery. 

For Swiss collegiate player Gian Durrer, this was the case. He recently decided to transfer from Georgia Gwinnett College after two successful seasons at the NAIA institution to NCAA Div I Stetson University, explaining that "the main reason for my transfer is simply to have a new experience".

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