Category: Tennis Tips
Published Date: Jun 10, 2006
Topic: Mental Training
By: Your Coach S.R

"It's Your Winning Attitude That Counts"
By World-Class Mental Strength Coach Dr. Glen McClellan

Your guide and your coach is the match that you watch in the TV of a pro play. It may be Federer or Hewitt. They are your coach. Whenever you watch their match play, observe their attitude during the match, their mannerisms, their emotional expressions, their non playing physical activity, their method of holding the racquet, their breathing system etc.

Chocking is a very common biological and psychological change that your body is undergoing during a match play. It is common for every player, including advanced players on tour and top in the world ranking list. Then what makes it different from your chocking and theirs is how each react to these changes?

Just watch how top class pros behave during crucial points. Do they show their anger frequently and throw their racquet and break it. Do they frequently quarrel with umpires, opponent and shout and show their anger at every mistake they commit. Never! Some players burst out and may be one or two times in a match.

Hence first control yourself, to control your opponent. Start practicing while playing in your court, not to show your emotions during loss of points, game or a match. Stay cool and the next stage of practicing is to use “CUE WORDS”.

Whenever you lose a point, just say to yourself “Never mind - Let me play my best game”
During crucial points, just say “One more point, fight hard to get it”
Frequently say to yourself “Play cool”

According to the requirement of your mental attitude form your own cue words and keep repeating them.

Coaching pros suggest you to practice, self-motivation, self-hypnotize etc. This practice is very essential for any sports person. Many achievements are done by repeatedly saying the cue words.

I have read about a peculiar habit of a top pro tennis player saying to himself “Nothing is impossible - you can do it - you can achieve - work hard to achieve” while jogging for twenty minutes.

This attitude has gone into his blood, nerve and veins and he achieved the same. Why not you try? We have a special mental preparedness programme for players like you. But you need to practice this for years to achieve. Do not expect result in two days or weeks. Can you? Will You?

Until Next Time, Have a Good Play!
Your Tennis Coach - S.Rajagopal