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...

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.