Physically + Mentally + Emotionally Strong = Success
Oftentimes, the better athlete fails. Technique makes a tennis player, but training makes a competitor. The combination of finely developed technique, hitting a high volume of balls and working often with a trainer prepares one for the next level. When one is physically and technically prepared, focus can begin to be addressed.
A player begins to exhibit focus when they can consistently hit longer than needed, they experience less anxiety and have a higher level of self-confidence. The intangible it produces is a player who is calmer and ready to fight.
One doesn’t become strong overnight, nor does one hone their technique quickly. As physical and mental strength come together, competitive play with regularity is necessary. This can be as simple as four-game sets against many different opponents in a group setting. Match play for those competing at advanced levels is essential.
Match play is where the player starts to master emotions while under stress. Anger, crying, screaming and cursing are merely the symptoms that precede giving up. Giving up can be as obvious as not running a ball down, or as murky as overplaying shots to allow one’s opponent to win more expediently.
The player that does the work on technique, strength, flexibility and endurance—coupled with match play focused on managing emotions—believes at every juncture that they can win. This unwavering belief is what you want your child to believe both in tennis, and more importantly, in life.
