We put thoughts into words to regulate emotions. Words are incidental in producing emotions; it’s the thoughts that they produce that matter. To control our thoughts and emotions, we should know that reactive thought regulation slows reaction time. Proactive thought regulation speeds reaction time. So to control emotions, we need to prepare before getting on…
It’s an implied truth in coaching, and an inferred truth by many parents, that a coach with great students must be a great coach. I admit that I use the marketing tactic of, “Who I coach and have coached”, because it is a powerful sell, but here’s a dirty little secret: “Great player results…
Three years ago, right before my annual High School Coaches Clinic I sat on the couch at my club and listened to Nick Bollettieri as he told me the first thing he does with a new student: “I say nothing. I just listen and observe.” I’ve followed this principle with new students my entire…
Our attitudes, outlooks and practices toward training, learning and competing shape who we are, who we become and, in large part, how successful we are. Below is a list of 20 pieces of advice worth considering, in no particular order. It’s never too late to learn what is always necessary to know, so this…
This article is partially excerpted from the forthcoming Secrets of Spanish Tennis Second Edition, coming soon in 2023! Vamos! I have recently been working hard to finish the Secrets of Spanish Tennis Second Edition and get the manuscript to my publisher. The original book was published in 2014 and a lot has changed in…
I know this sounds pretty crazy, but you should not be trying to think while you are playing a point in a tennis match. This idea goes against what our mind is telling us as well as what it is trying to do. We will usually have the tendency to try to work things…
Even though it’s rarely talked about, guilt is one of these hidden emotions that influences many athletes, whether they are amateurs or pros. Guilt is felt when a tennis player pities are weaker opponent, or when a player fails to win a match and chastises themselves with self-ridicule. If a player is guilty about…
The local tennis community boasts some of the top coaches in the world, and with this wealth of talent available, Long Island Tennis Magazine took the opportunity to pick the brains of some of these coaches. These coaches share their thoughts on a wide variety of tennis topics and issues, ranging from junior tennis…
Every year I receive numerous calls from college freshmen who seemingly out of the blue have lost their feel, instincts and confidence. Their mental game used to be reliable but now they are experiencing anxiousness, anger and an unstable attitude playing for their new team. They can’t believe what they are experiencing: some describe…
The split step is an essential tennis movement that is often misunderstood, poorly-performed and misapplied. With a little knowledge of WHY, WHEN and HOW to perform the split step, you will move quicker and faster, and have better balance on the tennis court. WHY do we need to Split Step? All movements have three…