Setting Goals and Self Discipline

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

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