Coaches Corner: Rocky Carson…Cool, Calm and Collected
By Fran Davis
December 2007
www.FranDavisRacquetball.com
Presented by HEAD/Penn
I have known Rocky for over 15 years and the one thing that has always stood out in my mind whether it was when he was playing Juniors, or when I was coaching him on the Adult National Team or as one of the top IRT Pros, is his “Cool, Calm Collected Attitude”. This in my opinion is one of his trade marks and has served him well. Often you see athletes get upset, rant and rave, lose it on the court, be totally pissed off….NOT Rocky. He is one of the most relaxed players out there. Don’t get me wrong if Rocky thinks the referee made a bad call he doesn’t lie down and just take it he’ll question the call, but he questions it in a very relaxed and non-threatening way and then lets it go. You heard the expression, “let it roll onto one shoulder off the other”…that is Rocky. He usually doesn’t get bothered by calls or his opponents antics…he generally chimes in with his opponent which sometimes even annoys his opponents. Rocky is very even-keeled, laid back, easy going, but very fierce and intense…in my opinion a GREAT combination.
Rocky is 28 years old and is at the pinnacle of his career. He has been playing racquetball “ever since he can remember…it was his babysitter” and has been playing pro since he was 19 years old.
Look at Rocky’s laundry list of accomplishments:
1-Junior Career:
a-Won every age group since he started playing…
Boys 10 & Under, 12 & Under, 14 & Under 2X, 16 & Under 2X, 18 & Under
b-A member of the Junior National Team for 4 years
2-Adult Amateur Career:
a-Indoor Career
National Singles Champion 2000, 2003, 2006
National Doubles Champion 2004, 2005, 2006
A member of the Adult National Team since 1997 except 2002
b-Outdoor Career
National Singles Champion 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007
National Doubles Champion 2007
3-Professional Career
US Open Champion 2007
Motorola World Champion 2007
Won 4 IRT Pro Stops
Let’s get up close and personal with an interview with Rocky himself:
Fran…You and I have known each other for a long time and I have coached
you while you were on the US Team. What was your experience?
Rocky... I always have thought allot of you and what you do for racquetball. Your
knowledge of the game may be the most of any teacher or coach I have ever worked with. You are great on just teaching the basic fundamentals to dissecting the pro game.
Fran…When did you get started?
Rocky... I started playing racquetball from the moment I can remember. My Dad played and I followed. In allot of ways the racquetball court was my babysitter when I was really young and swinging a racquet was what I loved.
Fran…Who is your mentor?
Rocky... My Dad is my mentor and my coach. I have had many top coaches that I
have worked with, but I try to have my Dad with me any opportunity that I can. He knows the game pretty well, but he really knows my game.
Fran…Why racquetball?
Rocky... I chose to pursue racquetball because I loved to play. I had opportunities
to pursue of sports avenues, but the passion I had for racquetball was too great not to follow my dream. I can honestly say the passion has only grown.
Fran…Did you know you were going to be a champion in the sport…as amateur or
as a Pro?
Rocky... As a kid all I knew was I was going to be a National Champ at my age, but
then Dad would get on me about the chance I had at maybe someday making a living playing a sport I love. Wow that gave me the motivation to want to practice that much more.
Fran…What about sponsorships?
Rocky... Most of my pro career I have battled to get a
a sponsor in which financially I felt like I was being given a good opportunity
to play racquetball for a living. Now having enforcement deals with Motorola/Verizon Wireless, Ektelon, Racquetball Warehouse, and One-shot I feel like this could be my future for many years to come, even after I finish playing professionally. Now I feel I can focus better than ever on just playing the game rather than just making a paycheck every time I leave for a tourney.
Fran…How do you train to maintain your competitive edge?
Rocky... My training process is different than any other pro in the game these days.
No matter what I try to live in the moment as it helps make the game more fun than ever, especially on those 2 to 3 hour matches. I JUST LEAVE IT ON THE COURT. I also train by playing more outdoor racquetball than playing indoors. I feel both games compliment each other very well…not to mention playing on Newport Beach under the sun is hard to consider a day of training.
Maintaining a competitive edge is tough when you’re always competing against the best in the world. One thing I like to do is train in the morning and play in the afternoon. My body is never totally fully recovered and it usually makes me focus that much harder.
Physically, I feel very gifted through the duration of a tourney, but as matches go on my body just like everyone else's gets beat down. The way I train I feel gives me that advantage in playing those matches I feel like I'm only at 75%. I also feel that my constant training all year round helps prevent injury as my body is now used to the physical pounding.
Fran…You have represented the US Team for many many years…tell us about
your experience and how it feels to represent your country.
Rocky... I have been a member of the U S Team I believe for 9
times now. This is by far the greatest honor as a player…wearing red, white ,and blue for my country gives me great pride and that feeling never gets old. Playing for my county gives me one of the greatest feelings in the world.
Fran…What does it feel like to win the Nationals and be a National Champion
many times over?
Rocky... I have 3 Outdoor National Singles, 3 Indoor National Singles and 3 Indoor
National Doubles titles and most recently 1 Outdoor National Doubles title.
Each one of those wins felt the best the first time. In singles the feeling is different than in doubles. I love the feeling of feeling like I'm on top of the
world after a win, but I can easily say a doubles victory is always special when you get to share that feeling with your doubles partner, which in indoors Jack Huzek and in outdoors Rob Hoff, both are great friends and I will never forget those moments.
Fran…What is your biggest Pro win?
Rocky...I have won 4 tour titles, but the greatest of all of these by far is the
2007 Motorola World Championship presented by Verizon Wireless. MOTOROLA and VERIZON WIRELESS are one of my main sponsors and to win one of their branded events was incredible for me.
Fran…Who has influenced you the most on and off the court?
Rocky... My Mom and Dad have been a great part in my racquetball career. They
have always been a great support, but they also have helped shape me as a person on and off the court. They have also thought me how lucky I am to be doing something I love to do for a living.
Fran…Can you make a living playing racquetball or do you have to do other
things to earn money?
\Rocky... Racquetball is what I do. It is how I make a living and I feel like as a pro
racquetball player I really do make a very good living.
Fran…What would you tell a junior player coming up?
Rocky...Have fun and enjoy your journey…you only live once so live in the now.
Fran…What motivates you?
Rocky...I am motivated by winning and being the best I can be…very simple.
In closing, I must say Rocky’s “Cool, Calm and Collected Attitude” has been working for him throughout his entire career, spanning over 20 years. His consistency level speaks for itself…27 Titles to his name…. VERY IMPRESSIVE.
Two Grand Slams already this season 2007/2008…the Motorola World Championships and the US OPEN. Just last season, 2006/2007, he finished ranked #3 on the IRT Tour with 7 semi-finals, 5 finals, and 1 win and this season alone with only 4 tournaments he has 1 win, 2 semi-finals and 1 finals.
Don’t let Rocky fool you even though he has that “California….Cool, Calm and Collected Attitude” he is one of the fiercest warrior’s I know and I know you can learn a thing or two from him…I DEFINITELY have.
Hope to see you at one of my camps for live personal instruction or the next best thing buy my video if you can’t make a camp at this time. Go to
www.FranDavisRacquetball.com for details on both the video and camps.
