Sports Psychology

This story first appeared in the November/December 2018 issue of Long Island Tennis Magazine. Click Here to see the full issue. The local tennis community has some of the sport’s finest facilities and some of the top coaches in the world. With this wealth of talent available, Long Island Tennis...Read more

To become a champion, you must have talent, fitness, good coaching, money, supportive parents, access to courts, discipline and patience. The sport psychologist is usually called upon when a player is having trouble with anxiety, anger, confidence, focus or pain tolerance. Any coach and athlete...Read more

In my first book, Tennis Inside the Zone: Mental Training Workouts for Champions , I wrote a chapter entitled, “OMG, I’m Nervous …What Do I Do?” At the time I wrote that chapter, that was the top question tennis players brought to me. But there is another question tennis players experience and...Read more

In the seventh year into my career coaching at the State University of New York at Oneonta, I have critically observed the trends of younger people between the ages of 17-22, both as a coach and classroom lecturer. This age (17-22) is classified as “Generation Z,” a generation that is digitally...Read more

While I don't follow social media often, even a quick check reveals the vast forum of exaggerated ego and business-directed self-promotion. Some tennis coaches participate in this and other methods of hype and it’s so bad that I sometimes feel like I live in a "Look at Me" world of hyperbole that...Read more

I remember it like it was yesterday, coaching the Zonals for the 16 & Under age group. The competition was fierce with top kids from the country. Inevitably, various issues came up before matches. For example, I received a late-night text from my number two player saying her friend, our number...Read more

One of a player’s greatest tools is confidence, yet very few know how to develop this state of mind. Most tennis matches are won or lost before the first serve is struck based upon who holds the most confidence. It’s true that practice, excellent ground strokes, a powerful serve, good coaching,...Read more

I have written several articles in the past about this topic and it is a recurring theme I often witness in the world of junior tennis. Therefore, I feel compelled to revisit the issue. I'll lead in this article by letting you know that I have two players coming to my men's collegiate tennis...Read more

There is ample proof that tennis players often have difficulty controlling their emotions. This even holds true for players who have obtained greatness. Roger Federer was prone to anger and temper tantrums until he reached the age of 20 and well into his professional career. McEnroe was famous for...Read more

Oftentimes, the most difficult opponent to face during a tennis match can be yourself. Tennis is one of the most challenging sports from a mental and emotional standpoint as you are often out there on court all by yourself. Long Island Tennis Magazine discussed a number of common scenarios with...Read more