Certainly, everyone likes to see improvement in their tennis game. But what can you do if you stop seeing improvement...? At first, when tennis is very new to a person then improvement seems to flow. Every time you go out to play, you get a little better. Invariably though, players will 'plateau'.
That's when it's time to 'dig in...' Setting a goal, or goals is the first step. Do you want to beat a particular person...? Hit a new shot...? Add spin, power, or placement to your arsenal..?
Make it your goal. Write it down. Tell someone about it. Perhaps you can find a practice partner and or a coach. Together, You can both make goals and pledge to help each other achieve them. Ultimately, it's going to come down to your individual practice habits and determination. If you don't practice very much at all, or you're practicing the wrong techniques, how can you realistically expect to improve...?
Think about this for a moment. How much do you really want to improve your tennis game...? How much are you willing to sacrifice to get better...? Are you willing to sweat...? Are you willing to put your ego on the shelf for awhile...? Are you willing to invest the time it takes to see improvement...? I'm afraid I'm getting a little bit philosophical here, but I think that things we value are worth a certain degree of sacrifice. How much do you value getting better in tennis...?
Just going out and hitting balls once a week may not be enough. If you want to achieve the highest level of your potential then You really need to become a student of the game. By being a student I mean read tennis instruction, watch televised and live matches, exercize, weight train, play practice sets, etcetera... And You have to have the discipline to do that day in and day out until the desired result is achieved.
Now, how can you define 'discipline'...? In this scenario I'd define discipline as the ability and willingness to perform certain actions and tasks regardless of one's personal feelings...!
You may not feel like working out or practicing today. You may be a little sore or distracted, maybe you have to make a choice between a tennis related activity or another activity. Discipline is choosing tennis over the movies. Discipline is going for a run on the day after you played a tough three set match (or two). Discipline is necessary to achieve goals. (And not necessarily tennis goals.) Discipline is necessary to have a successful life, Period. For me, that's what coaching tennis is all about. Helping a person develope life skills in a tennis setting.
Now, just because I'm a professional coach doesn't mean that I expect everyone to have this same attitude toward tennis. And it doesn't mean that I only want to work with highly motivated athletes who give their heart, mind, and soul to tennis. The fact is, I love working with the recreational player whose motivation to play is just exercize and fun. And I approach coaching the recreatioanal player a little differently. I want to make that disctinction because this tip is written primarily with the serious competitive player in mind.
Ask youself some tough questions. How would you rate your motivation and determination to improve your tennis...? How is your discipline?
If you'd like to discuss how to go about moving to the next level email me or post a question on this blog. I can be reached via email at coachsam@sbcglobal.net
Thanks, and I'll see you on the courts!
Coach Sam
.
Tuesday, November 02, 2004
Thursday, October 07, 2004
Emotional Management In Tennis
Tennis is a great outlet for a person to let off some steam. Indeed, any sort of exercise that stimulates the heart, gets the blood flowing and also engages the mind is a cut above the rest in my opinion. Tennis is very versatile in that it can be either social or competitive exercise. You just can't get the total package that will engage all the senses on an exercise bike or treadmill...!
Today I'd like to look at managing emotions in tennis. Specifically, anger management. Very few players raise the level of their game by getting angry. True, some former tennis stars like John McEnroe and Jimmy Conners seemed to get fired up and produce better results when they got angry, but that was the exception rather than the rule. Tennis History has far more good sports than bad ones. It's sad that the 'bad actors' get more attention.
Why not take a look at today's mens champion, Roger Federer. He is a perfect example of style and grace. (and not a bad backhand, either!) You won't see him lose his cool any time soon. But you're thinking it's easy to be cool when you're number one in the world.
What about me...? I just want to beat my neighbor or classmate. And it frustrates and makes me angry when I make stupid mistakes and don't achieve that goal. My advice is to first look at the big picture. Why am I getting angry? Is it something I can control or are external factors causing the anger? Does getting mad make me play better...? The fact is that getting angry often causes more problems and makes a difficult scenario worse. Recognizing this in a calm, sane moment is the first step towards changing the behavior.
You don't want to get mad for a couple of reasons. First of all, it makes you rush and play worse. Second, it gives your opponent a little lift emotionally when he or she knows that you're losing your cool. You don't want to give your opponent any extra advantage so let's take steps to deal with anger right here and now.
Coach Sam's 3 Simple Tips for Dealing with Anger:
1. Slow Things Down, Time heals all Wounds.
2. Practice Positive Self Comments when You make a mistake.
3. Let off steam by screaming into your towel.
The first two tips definitely work. The third tip may not work for you. (It works for me, though). Try it sometime. It's actually kinda fun to do and will keep you from getting a point penalty if an umpire is near by. It might also unnerve your opponent into thinking you are a ticking time bomb ready to go off because it's not a normal way to vent anger. It's also a little entertaining for the crowd if anyone is watching...
Today I'd like to look at managing emotions in tennis. Specifically, anger management. Very few players raise the level of their game by getting angry. True, some former tennis stars like John McEnroe and Jimmy Conners seemed to get fired up and produce better results when they got angry, but that was the exception rather than the rule. Tennis History has far more good sports than bad ones. It's sad that the 'bad actors' get more attention.
Why not take a look at today's mens champion, Roger Federer. He is a perfect example of style and grace. (and not a bad backhand, either!) You won't see him lose his cool any time soon. But you're thinking it's easy to be cool when you're number one in the world.
What about me...? I just want to beat my neighbor or classmate. And it frustrates and makes me angry when I make stupid mistakes and don't achieve that goal. My advice is to first look at the big picture. Why am I getting angry? Is it something I can control or are external factors causing the anger? Does getting mad make me play better...? The fact is that getting angry often causes more problems and makes a difficult scenario worse. Recognizing this in a calm, sane moment is the first step towards changing the behavior.
You don't want to get mad for a couple of reasons. First of all, it makes you rush and play worse. Second, it gives your opponent a little lift emotionally when he or she knows that you're losing your cool. You don't want to give your opponent any extra advantage so let's take steps to deal with anger right here and now.
Coach Sam's 3 Simple Tips for Dealing with Anger:
1. Slow Things Down, Time heals all Wounds.
2. Practice Positive Self Comments when You make a mistake.
3. Let off steam by screaming into your towel.
The first two tips definitely work. The third tip may not work for you. (It works for me, though). Try it sometime. It's actually kinda fun to do and will keep you from getting a point penalty if an umpire is near by. It might also unnerve your opponent into thinking you are a ticking time bomb ready to go off because it's not a normal way to vent anger. It's also a little entertaining for the crowd if anyone is watching...
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
Mental Preparation for Competition
Good players do more than just show up for a match. They prepare themselves mentally for the task at hand before they ever step on the court. They then go into the match with their toolbox of strokes and play within themselves the best they can, adjusting their strategy and tactics when necessary.
Try this next time you play a match: Take a few moments to mentally settle yourself before you step on the court. Start with at least 5 minutes of just good deep breathing. (The pros take considerably more time) Try to clear your mind of distractions. Then develop your game plan. Mentally rehearse a few winning shot combinations. See yourself playing well and executing finishing shots in your minds eye. Nothing fancy is necessary. In fact, the more simple the game plan, the better. Be sure to take into account your opponent's style of play as well as your own strengths and weaknesses. Then go out and play with a purpose. If results don't go your way then be prepared to change game plans if necessary.
Remember that a healthy attitude toward winning and losing is necessary in tennis. By applying a mental pre-game checklist you are increasing your chances for success.
Try this next time you play a match: Take a few moments to mentally settle yourself before you step on the court. Start with at least 5 minutes of just good deep breathing. (The pros take considerably more time) Try to clear your mind of distractions. Then develop your game plan. Mentally rehearse a few winning shot combinations. See yourself playing well and executing finishing shots in your minds eye. Nothing fancy is necessary. In fact, the more simple the game plan, the better. Be sure to take into account your opponent's style of play as well as your own strengths and weaknesses. Then go out and play with a purpose. If results don't go your way then be prepared to change game plans if necessary.
Remember that a healthy attitude toward winning and losing is necessary in tennis. By applying a mental pre-game checklist you are increasing your chances for success.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
