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“Free” Athletic College Scholarship?

Posted on March 30, 2025 by in Maximizing Tennis Potential

Updated Edition of How to Attract A College Athletic Scholarship – Click Here

The following post is an excerpt from the newly updated How to Attract a College Athletic Scholarship.

The Hidden Costs of “Free” Athletic College Scholarship

For many parents and athletes, the dream of securing a college athletic scholarship feels like the ultimate reward—years of hard work culminating in the chance to attend college “for free.” However, this perception is often far from reality. Athletic scholarships are not free; they result from years of financial, emotional, and time-intensive investments. Families usually begin paying it forward long before the athlete reaches college. From specialized coaching to tournament travel, the costs of developing a world-class athlete can be staggering, requiring dedication and financial sacrifice.

The financial journey starts early, with parents often enrolling their children in youth sports programs to nurture their talent. The costs of lessons, equipment, and club memberships quickly add up. In modern tennis, for example, private lessons with a world-class coach can range from $100 to $200 an hour, and a competitive junior athlete will require multiple lessons weekly. In addition, the cost of clinics, academies, racquets, restringing, and proper footwear can easily surpass $50k annually. These investments are crucial to ensure the athlete stays competitive internationally.

Travel is another significant expense. Competing in regional, national, or international tournaments is essential for gaining exposure to college recruiters, but it comes with a hefty price tag. Flights, hotels, rental cars, and tournament entry fees can add up to tens of thousands of dollars annually. Some families relocate closer to tennis hotspots such as Southern California or South Florida, adding relocation costs. These sacrifices often go unspoken but form the backbone of the athlete’s ability to compete at the highest levels.

Finally, there are the hidden costs—mental health support, physical therapy for injuries, and the emotional toll of a high-stakes athletic journey. Parents and athletes alike endure stress, long hours, and uncertainty, hoping their investment will pay off. Even when an athletic scholarship is secured, the work doesn’t stop. College athletes face grueling schedules balancing academics and sports, often requiring additional parental financial support for equipment upgrades, travel, and supplemental training. While the scholarship might cover tuition, families may realize they’ve already spent the equivalent—or more—of a college education to get there. Far from being “free,” an athletic scholarship is a testament to years of dedication, financial planning, and sacrifice.

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Athletic Scholarship

Posted on March 24, 2025 by in Maximizing Tennis Potential

Updated Edition of How to Attract A College Athletic Scholarship – Click Here

The following post is an excerpt from the newly updated How to Attract a College Athletic Scholarship.

The Value of the Pursuit

The Investment in High-Performance Athletes and Life Skill Mastery

Raising a high-performance athlete requires a significant financial and emotional investment, but the return on that investment is invaluable in terms of life skill development. From early childhood, competitive athletes are immersed in environments that demand discipline, time management, resilience, and adaptability.

“It’s an investment in shaping a well-rounded individual with skills that reach far beyond the athletic arena.”

Frank Giampaolo

High-performance athletes learn time management skills that normal kids rarely match. Balancing academics, training, competitions, and personal time requires them to create structure and prioritize tasks effectively from an early age. This ability to juggle competing demands prepares them for high-pressure situations in their future careers, where deadlines, multitasking, and strategic planning are critical. These athletes grow up understanding the importance of preparation and consistency, habits that carry over into all aspects of their lives.

Perhaps most importantly, high-performance athletes develop resilience and emotional intelligence. The ups and downs of competition teach them how to handle failure, manage stress, and maintain focus under pressure. They learn to adapt to challenges, work collaboratively with coaches and teammates, and persevere through setbacks. These life skills, cultivated through years of hard work and financial investment, create individuals who are exceptional in sports and well-prepared to navigate life’s complexities with confidence and competence.

Why Top-Ranked Tennis Players Bypass Traditional Admissions

While academic excellence remains crucial, universities value athletes for the unique contributions they bring to campus culture, diversity, and prestige. Top-ranked tennis players possess qualities such as discipline, resilience, and leadership, which are often equally, if not more, compelling than a perfect GPA. Moreover, their athletic achievements open doors to recruitment opportunities that traditional academic performance alone cannot access.

“In the fiercely competitive landscape of university admissions, being a top-ranked tennis player provides an edge over even the highest-achieving academic students.”

Frank Giampaolo

Universities actively seek elite athletes because they enhance their athletic programs and reputation. A top tennis player can contribute to the success of a university’s tennis team, helping to secure championships, attract sponsorships, and boost the school’s visibility.

This dual focus on athletics and academics gives these athletes a massive advantage in admissions, as they fulfill the institution’s goal of creating a well-rounded and competitive student body.

“High-GPA students, while impressive, face a crowded field of equally qualified academic peers, making it harder, if not impossible, to stand out.”

Frank Giampaolo

Universities recognize that these “high performer” traits often translate into success beyond sports, making these athletes valuable on the court and as future alumni who bring pride to the institution.

Athletic recruitment bypasses the traditional admissions pathway, giving athletes access to opportunities unavailable to the general applicant pool. With their unique ability to combine athletic success and personal discipline, top-ranked tennis players often enjoy a competitive edge in securing spots at prestigious universities.

Why High-Performance College Athletes Make Exceptional Employees

Your child is honing a work ethic that few can match, forged under the pressure of balancing academics and athletics. Their discipline, time management, and ability to perform under stress are qualities that translate seamlessly into professional success. Employers seeking candidates who can handle challenges, adapt to new environments, and work collaboratively will find college athletes uniquely equipped.

“College athletes are among the most valuable recruits in the workforce because of the unique skill set they develop during years of rigorous competition.”

Frank Giampaolo

One of the defining traits of college athletes is their work ethic. To compete at the collegiate level, athletes dedicate countless hours to training, perfecting their craft, and maintaining peak physical and mental performance. They understand the importance of persistence, long-term goal-setting, and incremental progress, all essential for navigating the demands of tomorrow’s workplaces.

Problem-solving is another key strength college athletes bring to any business. Tennis is inherently unpredictable, requiring quick thinking, adaptability, and strategic decision-making in high-pressure situations.

Athletes are trained to analyze problems in real-time, devise solutions, and execute them effectively, whether facing drama on the court or a tough decision in the boardroom. Their ability to remain composed and resourceful when stakes are high makes them natural leaders and collaborators in any organization.

“This relentless drive doesn’t disappear when their athletic career ends—it becomes a cornerstone of their professional life.”

Frank Giampaolo

College athletes understand the value of communication, mutual support, and the collective effort needed to achieve a common goal. Additionally, their experience juggling demanding schedules instills a strong sense of responsibility and accountability, making them dependable employees who thrive under pressure. High-performance college athletes are not only valuable additions to any workplace but often emerge as standout leaders and problem-solvers in their fields.

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Athletic Scholarship- Buyers’ Versus Sellers’ Market

Posted on March 19, 2025 by in Maximizing Tennis Potential

Updated Edition of How to Attract A College Athletic Scholarship – Click Here

When addressing the college athletic scholarship process, the business analogy of the buyer versus seller’s market is easily understood. In the buyers’ market, the athlete has an advantage in the negotiations. In the sellers’ market, the college has an advantage in the negotiations. It is the parents’ job to commit to maximizing their athlete’s potential to earn a place in the money-saving buyer’s market.

WHAT IS A “BUYER’S” MARKET?

In the college athletic world, being in the “buyers” market means college coaches from prestigious universities nationwide will be begging your child to attend their schools. These athletes are not just athletes with possible potential but also proven winners.

These players and their parents have focused on developing the skills of a competitive champion from an early age. Assisting your child in building their physical, mental, and emotional toolsets early on their journey will ensure that coaches will sell you and your child on the merits of their athletic and academic programs, not the other way around.

TYPICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF AN ATHLETE IN THE BUYER’S MARKET

  • High National Ranking
  • High WTN Ranking
  • High UTR Ratings
  • Strong Moral Compass, Life Skills, and Character
  • World Class Athleticism
  • High GPA/SAT Scores

FUN FACT: On a personal note, my stepdaughter (Sarah Fansler) was ranked top in the nation and played the US Open by age 15. She won 10 USTA National Gold Balls and was awarded a full tennis scholarship at USC. Building a champion in her early teens saved us approximately $250,000 on her USC education.

If time is on your side, build it first, and they will come. Focus on developing a world-class athlete. If time is running out, college coaches will likely not be searching your child out; hence, your child will be in the “seller’ market. If so, the college search process begins now.

WHAT IS THE “SELLERS” MARKET?

In this situation, the seller’s market refers to “selling” your child’s possible athletic value to college coaches and the thousands of other talented but unproven athletes vying for the leftover scholarship funds. The word college coaches fear most is “potential.” To them, the potential is like Gold that has to be dug out of the ground. They don’t have time to excavate, clean, shape, and mold an athlete.

Please, let me be blunt: being in the seller’s market isn’t easy, as you will discover as you read through the following pages. Learning how to attract a college scholarship takes “big time” effort from both the athlete and their parents. Speaking of hard work, if you think “selling” your child’s unproven skills will be tough, that is nothing compared to writing those dreaded big checks for their education. So, I’ll repeat it, build a champion and they will come.

“BUILD IT FIRST…& THEY WILL COME”

Earning elite athletic status requires a devoted primary parent who plays an active CEO role in managing the athlete’s career. Have you ever wondered what an internet job post would look like if an athlete needed to hire a tennis parent? What would the post say? What is the job description of the person behind the curtain?

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UPDATED-How to Attract a College Athletic Scholarship

Posted on March 14, 2025 by in Maximizing Tennis Potential

Updated Edition Now Available– Click Here

How to Attract a College Athletic Scholarship was written to provide information to athletes and their parents on how to best earn a college tennis scholarship. Of course, not all schools offer athletic scholarships, but academic scholarships, grants, and financial aid are available at most universities. Scholarship or not, being a student-athlete is an incredible experience that offers invaluable life lessons and lifelong memories.

Over the past 30 plus years, I’ve witnessed a recurring theme of athletes and their parents waiting far too long before deciding to train efficiently. And then waiting years too long before beginning their college search process. Only to be disappointed and unprepared when the opportunity to play college ball is denied.

It is ideal that before the athlete’s college search begins, the athlete has been trained to utilize a customized plan that incorporates both the hardware (strokes and athleticism) and the software (mental and emotional) development of a high-performance athlete. College coaches search for well-rounded, successful athletes to enhance their teams.

Most elite tennis scholarships are tentatively reserved for successful junior athletes who have shown excellent results before entering high school. Likewise, these athletes have been actively researching college programs for years. Unfortunately, the opportunity to gain a top scholarship for athletes late to the game is slim.

The good news for the athletes without results but with great potential is that there are vast levels of college tennis opportunities available for serious athletes. This book will guide you through the process of securing the right fit for those fabulous college years.

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Unveiling Common Stressors

Posted on March 7, 2025 by in Maximizing Tennis Potential

Wiring Your Inner Dialog

The Art of Exceeding- Volume 1– Special New Release Price of Only $2.99
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Volume 2 Coming Soon! Wiring Your Inner Dialog

Unveiling Common Stressors

In competition, where pressure abound, stressors are a natural part of the landscape. Stressors are the triggers that evoke emotional and psychological responses within us, often affecting our inner dialog and subsequently influencing our performance on the court. Recognizing and understanding these stressors is a pivotal step in rewiring your inner dialog for success.

Identifying Stressors in Tennis

Stressors can emerge from various sources ranging from the pressure to perform in high-stakes matches to the expectations you place on yourself. Identifying these stressors is crucial, as it allows you to proactively address them and change their impact on your mindset. Let’s dive into these common blunders:

1. Perfectionism: One Mistake And I’ve Failed: This a common personality trait associated with striving to be flawless and often involves being critical of imperfections. Playing bold requires athletes to allow some mistakes. There’s a big difference between a good error (going for the correct shot and not executing) versus attempting the wrong shot for that same situation. 

2. Catastrophizing: Blowing Things Out of Proportion: Catastrophizing involves magnifying the potential consequences of a situation to an extreme degree. It’s the voice that whispers that a missed shot or a lost set will lead to disastrous outcomes. By identifying catastrophizing patterns, you can bring a more realistic perspective to your thought process and prevent unnecessary anxiety.

3. Magnifying: Amplifying Negativity: The magnifying stressor involves blowing up minor issues into major problems, magnifying the negative aspects of a situation while downplaying the positive. This skewed perception can hinder your ability to focus on the task at hand and derail your performance.

4. Polarizing: Black-and-White Thinking: Polarizing stressors manifest  when situations are seen as either all good or all bad, with no middle ground. This type of thinking can be particularly detrimental in tennis, as it leads to an inability to adapt to changes and see the positives even when you lose the point.

Harnessing Stressors: Understand that you can’t avoid stress in competition. It’s a natural byproduct of being judged. It’s your job to accept the situation with maturity and manage the moment. As soon as you feel outcome pressure, return to your between point relaxation response. The physiological change helps lower your heart rate, calms your breathing and allows you to stop and reset.

By dismantling these stressors, you’ll break their hold on your inner dialog. This sets the stage for a powerful transformation – one that paves the way for rewiring your mental landscape. 

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The Power of Rewiring Your Inner Dialogue

Posted on March 1, 2025 by in Maximizing Tennis Potential

Frank’s Newest Book Special Release Price of Only $2.99

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The Power of Rewiring Your Inner Dialogue

It’s time to buy into a comprehensive approach that encompasses the mental, emotional, and psychological dimensions of the game. At the core of this approach lies the power of rewiring your inner dialogue – a process that can ignite a cascade of positive changes, both on and off the court.

1 Challenge Negative Thoughts, Feelings and Behaviors

Thoughts, feelings and behaviors are all intertwine. These all impact each other. Every top athlete has unproductive moments. Their secret of success lies in their quick resetting routine. Top players don’t let their emotion get in the way of their performance.

2 Record Yourself to Better Understand Your Self-Talk

Typically, evidence is skewed when you know you’re being recorded. But even so, record yourself in practice matches with your cell phone by the back fence. Record conversations with your team of coaches and parents. By listening to your approach, it brings awareness to your dialogue. 

3 Refrain from Comparisons

Our insecurities arise when we view our peers rising above us in the UTR ratings and tournament victories. The reality is that comparing yourself to others doesn’t increase your status just your anxiety. It’s wise to only compare yourself to the athlete you were last week. Week in-week out, be better that person…and you’ll be just fine.

4 Habit Shifting and Habit Stacking

Habit shifting is the ability to identify problematic habits and make the appropriate changes. Once you stop negativity, and begin to adopt better choices, habit stacking works well because it builds new habits onto your new, current habits. An example: After a productive lesson, stay at the site for an additional 30 minutes and hit a basket of serves.

Everyone has an internal dialogue that runs all the time. The top-level athletes are more experienced at manipulating it. Most of us tend to focus on the past (‘What should have been’) and the future (‘What if?‘). By shifting your thoughts to present time awareness, you’ll be back in controlling what you can control.

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The Impact of Inner Dialogue

Posted on February 22, 2025 by in Maximizing Tennis Potential

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The Impact of Inner Dialogue

There exists a dimension of the game that extends beyond physical ability. The thoughts that swirl within your minds holds the power to shape your performance, influence your responses to challenges, and ultimately define you as high-performance tennis players.

1. Understanding the Inner Dialogue

Inner dialogue is the ongoing conversation we have with ourselves. It’s a continuous stream of thoughts, beliefs and speculations. Self-talk permeates every aspect of your life. 

2. The Performance Lens 

In the context of tennis, it’s the voice that speaks as we face a challenging opponent, or recover from a missed shot. These thoughts aren’t mere background noise; they are the lens through which we perceive our experiences, make decisions, and respond to the pressures of competition.

3. How Inner Dialog Affects Tennis Performance

Imagine stepping onto the court with two different inner dialogues. In one scenario, your inner dialog is filled with doubt, self-criticism, and anxiety. 

You might dwell on past mistakes, worry about the outcome, and question your abilities. In the other scenario, your inner dialogue is confident, positive, and focused. You embrace challenges, believe in your skills, and stay present in the moment.

4. It’s Time to Choose 

Which scenario do you think will yield better results? It’s evident that the quality of your inner dialogue significantly impacts your performance. Negative self-talk can lead to self-fulfilling prophecies, hindering your abilities and eroding your confidence. Positive and constructive self-talk, on the other hand, fuels determination, sharpens focus, and enhances resilience.

5 Shaping Your Mindset 

The journey to becoming a high-performance tennis player doesn’t solely involve refining physical techniques. It demands a deliberate effort to shape your inner dialogue. This process fosters a mental landscape that empowers you to navigate the complexities of competition with confidence and poise.

Rewiring your inner dialogue can positively impact your tennis career, your relationships and every aspect of your life. Prepare to embark on a transformative journey that goes beyond the boundaries of the court and into the realm of your mind – a journey that will equip you with the tools to rewrite the script of your tennis success.

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Tennis: Consistent Quality over Quantity

Posted on February 15, 2025 by in Maximizing Tennis Potential

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Consistent Quality over Quantity

 Quality should always take precedence over quantity when it comes to consistent development in tennis. In this chapter we will explore why prioritizing quality off-court training and practice sessions are essential for maintaining consistent growth and performance.

1 Efficient Practice Sessions

Efficient well-structured practice sessions that target specific “situational awareness” areas of improvement yield better results.

2 Purposeful Repetition

Mindless repetition without a focused objective can be counterproductive. Athletes should purposefully be working on specific aspects of their game.

3 Deliberate Practice

This requires continuously pushing beyond your comfort zone. It involves setting challenging tasks, receiving feedback, and making targeted adjustments to refine skills.

4 Mental Engagement

Developing a focused and present mindset is wise- eliminating distractions and dedicating full attention to each hour in the gym or on the court.

5 Match Simulations

It’s your job to ask to incorporate specific match simulations into your training. Replicate the pressure conditions and scenarios you’ll likely encounter during tournament play.

6 Minimize Vulnerabilities

Consistency requires being honest about your weaknesses and dedicating focused practice time to minimize vulnerabilities. Consistently targeting and improving weaknesses builds a well rounded competitor. 

7 Maximize Strengths

Arguably, even more important than minimizing weaknesses is maximizing strengths. Plan on dedicating time to improving your weapons. After all, the bigger the weapons, the simpler the strategy.

8 Monitoring Progress

Monitor weekly progress to track improvements and make necessary adjustments. Athletes should establish measurable goals and regularly assess their performance against these objectives.

9 The Mindset of Mastery

Achieving consistent improvement involves maintaining a passion for learning. Athletes who approach their development with this mindset are more likely to leave their old comfort zone and push into their mastery zone.

10 Patience and Long-Term Perspective

Recognizing that progress may not always be linear and that development stalls and progresses throughout the journey.

“By utilizing these consistent behaviors, you’ll reframe your inner belief and confidence.”

Frank Giampaolo

Maintaining a positive attitude and a mastery mindset to develop your skills consistently is in your new job description. After all, attitude is a choice.

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Tennis: Unleashing the Warrior 

Posted on February 7, 2025 by in Maximizing Tennis Potential

Frank’s New Release- The Art of Exceeding: Building High Performance Athletes
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THE ART OF EXCEEDING: VOLUME 2 RELEASING

Unleashing the Warrior 

“Athletes who conquers their inner demons are the mightiest warriors.”

The warrior within is like fire. Controlled fire can heat your home and cook your meals. However, uncontrolled fire can burn the house down. Trust the warrior within and  turn that fight into a force that serves you rather than destroying you.

1 Recognizing the Warrior 

The warrior within represents the innate desire to compete, the hunger for victory, and the fighting spirit within you. It’s the fuel that drives you to push through uncomfortable moments. However, if left unchecked, the warrior can become uncontrolled leading to impulsive decision making and erratic performance.

2 Embracing Controlled Aggression

Aggression is a double-edged sword in tennis. On one hand, controlled aggression can be a potent weapon, allowing you to take charge of the match, dictate play, and dominate opponents. On the other hand, uncontrolled aggression can lead to unforced errors, loss of focus, and emotional volatility. Learning to embrace and channel controlled aggression requires a delicate balance of intensity and composure.

3 Breath and Focus

Proper breathing is a powerful tool for centering and calming the warrior. Deep, intentional breathing helps maintain a state of focus and presence, allowing you to perform freely. By practicing mindful breathing techniques, you’ll find a sense of calm amid the storm of competition and make more clear headed decisions.

4 Playing to Strengths 

Understanding your strengths and applying them is a crucial aspect of channeling the warrior within. Identifying and capitalizing on your natural abilities, allows you to leverage those strengths and gain a competitive edge.

5 Embracing Challenges

Instead of shying away from difficult opponents or tough situations, the warrior embraces them as fun challenges and opportunities for improvement. Facing adversity head-on strengthens the warrior and cultivates mental resilience.

6 Finding Flow 

Flow is a state of optimal performance where you’re fully immersed in the match. Your actions effortlessly flowing and your minds completely absorbed in the present moment. Finding the flow state and not sabotaging it requires dancing with the angels not the devils. 

The devil wants to steal your peace of mind. A brave athlete looks the devil in the eye and tells him “NOT TODAY”. By knowing that no one you know works harder than you, you can stand your ground when the Devil’s at your door and not let them in. 

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Tennis-The Subconscious vs. Conscious Mind

Posted on February 1, 2025 by in Maximizing Tennis Potential

Frank’s New Release- The Art of Exceeding: Building High Performance Athletes
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THE ART OF EXCEEDING: VOLUME 2 RELEASING

The Subconscious vs. Conscious Mind

“If you don’t manage your subconscious mind, your opponent will manage it for you.”

Inside every athlete lies a formidable battle between the subconscious and conscious mind. The subconscious mind operates at an instinctive level, tapping into intuition and automatic responses, while the conscious mind is analytical, judgmental, and often interferes with the flow of performance. 

1 The Power of the Subconscious Mind

The subconscious mind is a vast reservoir of knowledge, skills, and experiences that have been absorbed and stored over time. It operates effortlessly, executing movements and making split-second decisions without conscious effort. Playing “in the zone” occurs when athletes access this subconscious state, allowing their instincts and intuition to guide their actions.

2 Flow and the Subconscious Mind

Flow is a state of optimal performance where athletes feel fully immersed in their actions, time seems to slow down, and their performance reaches an extraordinary level. Flow arises when the conscious mind takes a backseat, allowing the subconscious mind to take control. To achieve flow, athletes must learn to quiet the conscious mind and trust in their abilities.

3 Staying Present

The conscious mind often dwells on past mistakes or worries about future outcomes, pulling the player out of the present moment. By staying fully present, athletes can remain connected to their subconscious mind. Techniques such as mindfulness and deep breathing, can help redirect attention to the present moment and prevent the conscious mind from taking over.

4 Trusting Intuition

The subconscious mind has a remarkable ability to process information and make split second, correct decisions based on past training experiences. Trusting this intuitive guidance is crucial for allowing the subconscious mind to take the lead.

5 Letting Go of Judgment 

The conscious mind is prone to judgment, self-criticism, and over analysis of every action. This constant evaluation can disrupt the flow state and hinder performance. Let go of judgment by focusing on the process rather than the outcome. Being performance minded, you’ll free yourself from the constraints of the conscious mind.

6 Rituals and Routines

Rituals and routines can help athletes transition into a subconscious, autopilot frame of mind. Proper pre-performance rituals create a sense of familiarity and prepare the mind for entering the flow state. Between point resetting rituals help maintain focus and keep the conscious mind at bay.

7  Repetition Of Sets 

Consistent practice matches help ingrain competitive skills such as remaining in the subconscious mind. These “dress rehearsals “ free you from minimizing the interference caused by the conscious mind. 

The battle between the subconscious and conscious mind is ongoing. Cultivate a deep awareness of this internal struggle and make a conscious effort to quiet the conscious mind, allowing the wisdom of the subconscious to guide your performance.

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