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Learning By Observing World Class Coaches

Posted on January 22, 2017 by in Choosing a Professional, Emotional Aptitude in Sports

The following post is an excerpt from Emotional Aptitude in Sports NOW available through most on-line retailers!  Click Here to Order

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Observing World Class Coaches

If you aren’t financially in a position to hire world class coaches, contact them and explain your circumstance. Ask them if you can stop by, sit and quietly observe them working with their high-performance athletes. Also, keep in mind that most top coaches have websites, newsletters and YouTube clips available at no cost.

As I said before, emotional aptitude stems from proper training. It’s the athlete’s job to seek out the best possible resources and then customize their very own training regiments. Around the world, I see too many talented athletes wasting far too much time in stagnant group training sessions with peers who are giving minimal effort.

Responsibility and accountability are what transform a good athlete into a champion. Change occurs when an athlete chooses to bring maximum effort to their customized training regimen. Up your organizational skills and you’ll truly enjoy the journey. More importantly, you’ll love the results!

Responsibility and Accountability Check List

For those “Do it yourself” types, the below checklist will assist you in maximizing athletic potential at a quicker rate.

  • Create Goals and Schedules

I recommend brainstorming and coming up with both short term and long term goals. With goals in mind, schedule daily, weekly and even yearly plans. Athletes who apply goals and schedules succeed because they know where they’re going.

  • Apply Consistent Smart Practice

To reinforce proper training, a deliberate customized developmental plan is critical. Training sessions should focus on what needs to be improved versus grooving what is comfortable. Specific goals need specific plans.

  • Hire a High I.Q. Teacher

Seek out the most qualified expert you can find who understands the emotional component. Athletes actually save time and money by hiring an expert. While the experienced teacher’s hourly rate may be higher, they’ll access your greatness ten times faster.

  • Utilize Video Analysis

It is important to understand that a large majority of competitive failures are a result of poor emotional aptitude, which is only brought to light through game day video replay. You have to learn why you lose before you can learn how to win.

  • Repetition of Protocols

Repetition of the same actions making it an automatic reflex. This may mean working on a specific physical, mental or emotional protocol for 30 minutes every day for a month. It’s not uncommon to have a two-year action plan while developing unnatural components.

  • Practice Doesn’t Make Perfect – Practice Makes Permanent

A common pitfall of intermediate athletes is grooving their flawed mechanics. This essentially is motor programming inefficient technique, which ultimately results in countless wasted hours of training with no improvement in sight.

  • Be Patient

Nurturing new skills require patience. Athletes should be reminded that it likely took years and years to develop their fundamental skill sets. Anything and everything that is new is often perceived as difficult before it becomes easy. Enjoy the process.

 

 

Maximizing Athletic Potential

Posted on January 17, 2017 by in Emotional Aptitude in Sports, Maximizing Tennis Potential

The following post is an excerpt from Emotional Aptitude in Sports NOW available through most on-line retailers!  Click Here to Order

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Studying Successful Role Models

A terrific solution to becoming more responsible is to observe athletes who successfully perform at a higher level. This could be accomplished live or via YouTube. Emulate their work ethic, their demeanor, their schedule and their training methodology.

Intermediate athletes will quickly see that the winners approach their development very differently. Here are the criteria I see around the globe with high achievers:

  • They don’t rely exclusively on group training. Most often, elite athletes customize their developmental plan and schedule time to focus on their own priorities.
  • They care desperately and strive for weekly improvement.
  • They organize their schedule, developing every component needed to excel.
  • Top athletes hire an entourage of coaching experts to assist them throughout their journey. It is common for an elite athlete to have a team of technical/mechanical coaches, fitness gurus, mental/emotional experts, nutritionists, and physiotherapists, as well as a logistical manager.
  • Top athletes place their sport above their social calendar.

 

While recreational hobbyist may still want to maximize their potential at the quickest rate, they may not choose to invest so heavily in their chosen sport.

Responsibility and Accountability

Posted on January 14, 2017 by in Emotional Aptitude in Sports

The following post is an excerpt from Emotional Aptitude in Sports NOW available through most on-line retailers!  Click Here to Order

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Responsibility and Accountability

 

In athletic competition, accountability is twofold.
It’s not only what we choose to do but what we choose not to do.

 

Coaching an athlete isn’t only about teaching the techniques of the sport. It also involves motivating athletes to drop their “conditions.”  These are their creative excuses for not training the way they should be training. It’s their escape mechanism. Competitors of all ages use the excuse of injury, time restraints or simple arrogance for not training properly. It’s their way of liberating themselves from responsibilities.

In our continuing observational study, I asked Evan and Jarrod about some of the creative excuses they’ve used for not training properly. Here’s what they came up with:

  • “I would go for my run today but it’s raining outside.”
  • “I would train but my friends are coming over tonight.”
  • “I can’t work out before school because there’s no time.”

Another common creative excuse is blaming others. Here’s what the twins have to say about the blame game:

  • “My teacher gave me too much homework this week and so I can’t train today.”
  • “It’s not my fault I can’t train, my trainer worked me too hard and now I’m injured.”
  • “I can’t play points again today after practice because I’m hanging out with my friends.”

 

SOLUTION #10: Stop Defending Old Bad Habits

When athletes stop avoiding the work and begin to rise to the occasion an emotional break through takes place and confidence is born. Daily accountability separates the dreamers from the doers. I’ve found that some athletes have to be trained to stop defending their old comfortable bad habits. If they’re still defending them, they have no motivation to quit them. It takes honesty and courage to walk away from self-destructive, unproductive behavior. What is stopping most of us from incredible success is the unwillingness to drop the old, bad habits.

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Life Skills Transcend Sports

Posted on January 9, 2017 by in Emotional Aptitude in Sports

The following post is an excerpt from Emotional Aptitude In Sports NOW available through most on-line retailers!  Click Here to Order

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Hardships in Sports Prepares you for the Real World

There is no success in high performance sport without hardships. Hardships are actually the lessons needed to prepare athletes for success in the real world.

 

Strength doesn’t come from winning, it comes from the battle.

 

A study published in The Journal of Personal & Social Psychology reported that individuals who experience normal adverse events have better overall mental health than individuals with no real history of misfortune. I’ve found this same scenario to be true with athletes. Many talented athletes who are coddled and pampered by parents and coaches in their youth have difficulty in handling adversity in their teens. These junior athletes are sheltered from the exact problem solving skills they need in order to thrive at the higher levels. This lack of resiliency is an especially important life skill needed for success. In a sense, resiliency is like a “psychological immune system” which aids athletes in coping with the hardships that come with competing at the higher levels of sports.

“What doesn’t Kill you… makes you stronger”

                                                         Friedrich Nietzsche

 

Coaches and parents of athletes should be fostering resiliency on a daily basis. I suggest that you re-visit your test scores in section one and customize your developmental pathway.

 

Life Skills Transcend Sports

Radio Blog Post with Frank Giampaolo

Posted on January 2, 2017 by in Emotional Aptitude in Sports, Emotional Tennis, Radio Blog Post

WISHING YOU A HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR!

 

Below is a New Radio Blog Post: Frank Giampaolo – Athlete Centered / Emotional Aptitude

Hosted by 720 Degree Coaching | Sports Podcasts

 

To Listen: CLICK HERE or paste the link below on your browser.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/usatenniscoach/2016/10/07/usatenniscoach-frank-giampaolo–athlete-centered-emotional-aptitude

To Order Frank’s Newest Book: Emotional Aptitude in Sports CLICK HERE 

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Improving Life Skills

Posted on December 28, 2016 by in Emotional Aptitude in Sports, Emotional Tennis

The following post is an excerpt from Emotional Aptitude In Sports NOW available through most on-line retailers!  Click Here to Order  ea-in-sports4a_final

 

YOUR VOICE IS YOUR CHOICE

It’s important to note that athletes need to be accountable for their mindset, attitude and outlook. If you feel you have a bit of a fixed mindset, listen and spot those negative voices. It takes effort and commitment to flip a fixed mindset with a new, proactive growth mindset. Congratulations are in order for those of you willing to improve your mindset.

Along the lines of mindsets, improving one’s life skills promotes a healthier, self-reliant individual. Life skills are universal stepping stones necessary to succeed in sports and life. At the heart of emotional aptitude is the ability to be self-reliant and self-disciplined, two of my favorite life skills.

 

SOLUTION # 3: Life Skills Assessment

Increase your emotional aptitude by improving the following life skills. For each of the following life skills, grade your level of competence 1 through 10. (The number “1” represents an extreme weakness and the number “10” represents an extreme strength.) Simply circle the number that best describes your comfort level.

Time Management: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

The time management life skill is the ability to use one’s time effectively or productively.  To become a more successful athlete, this would include organizing daily, weekly and monthly planners. This includes the scheduling and development of each of the four major components (technical, athletic, mental, and emotional) essential to compete at the higher levels.

Adaptability: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

The adaptability life skill is being able to adjust to different situations and conditions comfortably. To get the most from your physical talent, one must be open to change. Adapting is emotional intelligence at work.

Handling Adversity: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Handling adversity is a critical athletic and life skill. Competition brings hardship, drama, and suffering along with the positive attributes. Overcoming the daily problems is what a champ thrives on. Seeing adversity as a challenge versus a life or death crisis is key.

Handling Stress: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Stress causes biological and mental tension. It occurs when one believes that their physical skills aren’t strong enough to meet the challenge.  While some personalities stress more than others, stress is dramatically reduced by proper preparation and a positive attitude.

Courage: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Courage is the ability to apply belief in your skills in spite of the threat at hand. Of course, if you aren’t training at 100%, true courage doesn’t exist. Courage is knowing that competition in sports is not to be feared but to be embraced. Courage is not allowing yourself to listen to the typical noise of “What if I lose.”

Work Ethic: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Work ethic is a diligent, consistent standard of conduct. It is the belief that the physical, mental and emotional components will strengthen, and goals will be achieved through a deliberate, customized plan.

Perseverance: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Perseverance is one’s ability to stay on course through setbacks, discouragement, injuries and losses. It is the ability to stubbornly fight to achieve greatness.

Resiliency: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Resiliency is the capacity to recover and adjust after difficulties. Champions fall, hurt and fail just like us but they have preset protocols to adapt and press on. Winners aren’t always the most intelligent or even the strongest athletes in the event.  They are often the individuals who respond with the best adjustments after misfortunes.

Goal Setting: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Goal setting is the process of identifying something that you want to accomplish with measurable goals. Dreams are a great start, but the work begins when both specific performance improvement goals and outcome goals are set with action plans and target dates. Setting daily, monthly and long term goals builds the emotional strength you seek.

Sticking to Commitments: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Commitments are obligations that restrict freedom of action. Staying loyal to a written action plan separates the champion from the part time hobbyist. Hobbyists train when it’s convenient. Committed athletes put their sport above their social calendar.

Determination: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Determination is the power to persist with a singular fixed purpose. It’s being hell bent on reaching your goals. Champions often begin as average athletes with abnormal determination.

Problem-Solving Skills: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Identifying the problem is only the first step. Step two is to isolate the causes of the problem. Step three is then to customize the solution to the problem. Creative problem solving requires digging deeper than simply identifying the flaw.

Spotting Patterns and Tendencies: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Patterns and tendencies are an individual’s predisposition to do something repeatedly. Spotting reoccurring behavior is essential in understanding your own strengths and weaknesses as well as defeating a worthy opponent.

Discipline: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Discipline is behavior that is judged by how well it follows a set of rules. It is one of the most important emotional elements that turns dreams and goals into accomplishments. It often requires you to choose to train…when you’d rather be socializing. Discipline is painful but not nearly as painful as losing to people you should be beating.

Sportsmanship: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Sportsmanship is the underlying respect for the game, the rules governing the sport, the opponents and the officials. It’s giving it your all and carrying yourself with pride regardless of the outcome.

Focus: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Focus is the ability to be single minded in your interest. This relates to a short term goal such as a single play, point or game all the way towards attaining a long term goal such as being offered a college athletic scholarship.

Preparation Skills: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

The life skill of being prepared is especially important in athletics. Preparing properly for battle is one of the most neglected aspects of intermediate athletes. Success stems from total preparation. It is truly the key to preventing a poor performance.

Persistence: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Persistence is the continued passion of action in spite of opposition. You need constant energy devoted to your sport. Anything less means that you’re a hobbyist. Persistence gets you to the top. Consistency with that persistent frame of mind keeps you there.

Dedication: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Dedication is the quality of being committed to a purpose.  Dedication to a sport requires passion and commitment to strive for daily improvement. Lazy, non-athletic people use the word “obsessed” to describe the dedicated athletes.

Positive Self-Image: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Strong emotional aptitude starts with positive self-esteem. Trusting yourself is a key to competing freely. Changing the negative self-talk into positive internal dialog is a great start.

 

Revisit your scores above and begin strengthening your emotional aptitude by improving any skill that you graded 7 or less. Keep in mind that solutions are customized to your personality and circumstances. These life lessons are the roots that competitive character skills stem from. Achieving spectacular results requires thousands of hours of deliberate customized practice.  Without the foundation of critical “root” skills (optimism, growth mindset and life lessons), a deliberate customized developmental plan will fail to bloom. Subsequently, without proper training; results never materialize.

College Tennis Coach Colin Foster

Posted on December 3, 2016 by in Emotional Aptitude in Sports, The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent's Bible

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The following post is an excerpt from the Second Edition of The Tennis Parent’s Bible NOW available through most on-line retailers.   Click Here to Order

Coach Foster’s interview is a bit long for a single blog post, so his interview will be posted in two posts.  Part one follows.  Thanks, Frank

 

COLIN FOSTER WOMEN’S HEAD COACH
WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY

Wichita State University (Interview Conducted Summer 2014)

 

Frank: What’s new and exciting in the world of college tennis?

Colin: The biggest change this year is new leadership at the ITA (Intercollegiate Tennis Association).  After a long and distinguished career, David Benjamin retired and new CEO Tim Russell has taken over and brought in a new team.  They have ambitious plans not only to help college tennis survive in the uncertain collegiate athletics atmosphere, but to help it thrive on campuses and in communities.

Additionally, the format change that was much debated has been passed.  Starting this year all Division 1 matches will begin with three doubles sets (to six), followed by six singles matches (best of three sets).  No-Ad scoring will be used for doubles and singles.  There were compelling arguments from those in favor of and opposed to this change, but the new leadership team at the ITA, and I agree, feel strongly this change makes our product more fan-friendly and will help create better opportunities for our sport to be most successful going forward.

 

Frank: What’s your opinion of the current state of US junior tennis versus ITF junior tennis?

Colin: I don’t buy into the notion that Americans are doing anything wrong to not churn out professionals at the rate we once did.  There are tournaments, facilities, coaches, and opportunities growing all over the world and it’s natural that the landscape at the top of the game would reflect that.  I certainly see that when I’m recruiting at the junior level.  There are many strong American juniors, young and old, boy and girl, playing some serious ball both at the ITF events and in the USTA events.

With online school becoming so prevalent it’s easier for these American juniors to play more internationally and gain that experience of “the grind” that is part of being a professional.  It will never be like the glory days of the 80s and 90s but it’s unrealistic to expect that and not fair to put that type of pressure on these juniors.  There is a lot of excitement over the upcoming batch of young male players just now turning pro.  With there being a strong group (at least six) showing serious promise these guys (and some girls that are working their way toward the top of the junior ranks) will be able to share a lot of the pressure and expectations and no one individual will feel “the weight of the (tennis) world” on their shoulders.

 

Frank: What are some of the key differences between the men’s & ladies scholarship requirements and experiences in regards to NCAA tennis?

Colin: Firstly the biggest difference is that, at the Division 1 level, men have a maximum of 4.5 scholarship (to be split amongst as many players as the coach decides) and the women have a maximum of 8 scholarships, to be given at full scholarships to 8 players (can’t be divided amongst more than 8 players.)

On the recruiting side this makes the men’s side much more complicated.  If a family is shopping around for the biggest scholarship they may find a weaker program where their son can play higher in the lineup, but this might not be the best experience for the player.  If they go to a team where they’ll start lower in the lineup they may be on less money (at least initially) but they may have a more rewarding experience on a more competitive team.  Good students can also look for academic scholarships to help.

On the women’s side it is a bit more straightforward, if a coach offers a player a scholarship that means he/she expects the player to be in their top 8 and compete for lineup spots.  Oftentimes players will choose the best (highest ranked) school they can get a scholarship at and sometimes that leads to riding the bench and a disappointing experience.  Men’s and women’s tennis often have the highest transfer rate in NCAA sports, much of this can be attributed to players not being realistic enough about their playing chances at a school and going to a program that is too strong for them…and not doing enough homework about what type of program the coach runs.

 

Frank: Can you briefly share your team’s weekly practice, training & match schedule as well as your annual schedule?

Colin: In season we are usually off on Monday after competition.  Players may see our athletic trainer to treat any injuries/soreness from the weekend.  Tuesday/Thursday we usually practice in smaller groups to give players more individual attention (with one of those days often having a heavy doubles emphasis).

On Wednesday we have team practice and use the group to push each other physically and mentally with a lot of consistency drills and competition (often finishing with at least one set).  Friday is also a team practice where we’ll play some doubles to stay sharp going into the weekend and then tailor the second half of practice to whatever each individual needs so that they are feeling their best going in to the weekend.

On Saturday and Sunday we usually have matches.  Workout-wise, we do some type of on-court fitness and agility almost every day (sprints, footwork ladder, med ball, etc.).  We do Pilates once or twice/week and lift once/week during the spring season.  In the fall when we aren’t competing as often we lift a bit more (twice/week) and do a bit more endurance training, sprint/bike intervals, swimming.  We try to vary our workouts to keep the season from becoming monotonous and we listen to our players to see what they like and don’t like.

Lastly, injury prevention is always our #1 priority.  If a player is uncomfortable with a drill/exercise/etc. from an injury standpoint we are very careful to make sure they are doing the correct technique and if they are still uncomfortable we find a different exercise for them to do.

Annually, we play 4-5 tournaments in the fall.  Some are “bracket” style, others are round robin.  Ideally our players get 12-15 singles matches (and a similar amount of doubles) in the fall season.  In the spring we play 22-25 dual matches, followed by our conference and NCAA tournaments.  Most of our competition is regional but we make sure to schedule some trips to different parts of the country as that is an important part of the college experience for our players.  We also schedule in such a way to give our team, and individuals on our team, opportunities to get ranked as high as possible.

Skill Sets of Champions

Posted on October 31, 2016 by in Emotional Aptitude in Sports, Maximizing Tennis Potential, The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent's Bible

 

The following post is an excerpt from the Second Edition of The Tennis Parent’s Bible NOW available through most on-line retailers!  Click Here to Order

 Frank Giampaolo

QUESTION: What are the hidden skill sets of champions?

Frank: Jarrod Wilson has the Babolat Pure Drive, strung with natural gut on the crosses and polly on the mains… just like the pros. He sports the latest “Nadal” Nike shirts, shorts and shoes. His 12-pack racquet bag even says “TOUR TEAM” on it. Man, he even goes to an $80,000 a year tennis academy. At first glance, he looks like a sure bet for the pros.

Now let’s look at Jarrod’s regiment a little deeper as it pertains to player accountability.  Jarrod loses early almost every event in an implosion of negative behavior. There is nothing more common than young, talented athletes that are weak competitors. This is a prime time example of player accountability. After reading the below Ten Essential Hidden Skills of a Champion ask yourself, are there any similarities between Jarrod and your little tennis phenom?

Ten Essential Hidden Skills of a Champion

1) Champions face their fears versus avoiding them.

If you ask Jarrod to play a practice set against a younger retriever he has 100 excuses why he can’t and won’t play.

2) Champions have swagger which is truly different than fake, empty confidence.

Jarrod willingly practices his primary stroke production and then routinely SKIPS his weekly regime of off-court training sessions, rehearsing closing out sets, match play video analysis and his required mental/emotional classroom sessions. His empty confidence shatters under the slightest bit of pressure

3) Champions are strong competitor’s not just good athletes.

Set up a great sparring session for Jarrod and he’ll tell you “No thanks…I’m good! …I already rallied with Kenny today.”

4) Champions do everything to prepare properly.

Jarrod often stays out late the night before a big event, leaves no time in the morning for a real breakfast, neglects to organize his tournament bag, hits for 10 minutes before the match and actually believes he is ready to compete.

5) Champions know that they will lose more than they will win.

Jarrod and his parents believe that he should win every match he plays.

6) Champions develop problem solving skills, confidence, perseverance, determination and work ethic.

Jarrod chooses to focus on stationary strokes, week in and week out.

7) Champions have self-belief and a positive outlook.

Jarrod wears his ball cap backwards and twirls his racquet confidently at the start of each tournament, until the umpire yells “2 minutes gentlemen.” Then like clockwork, he loses focus and morphs into an “Emotional Basket Case” every weekend. Jarrod only has one game style- hard hitting baseliner.

8) Champions develop several game plans, emotional solutions to common problems, agility and brain speed.

Jarrod is brain washed into believing that if he perfects his primary strokes every day, he will go pro.

9) Champions understand that controlling their adrenaline and concentration wins matches.

Jarrod believes that he is the one and only gifted, athlete out there and that should be enough to sky rocket him to success. When his opponents begin to challenge his game, he folds emotionally.

10) Champions spot tendencies and control the energy of the match.

simply hits the shots that feel good to him versus hitting the shots that feel uncomfortable to the opponent.

 

In conclusion, it’s important to understand that there is nothing more common than extremely athletic individuals with weak competitive skills. This is why, to the untrained eye, it appears that the better “looking” athlete should win. As you all know, it is often not the case. Although it is essential to develop solid fundamental, once fundamentals are developed, the art of winning stems from developing these hidden skill sets.

 

Pre-Match Gamesmanship

Posted on October 21, 2016 by in Emotional Aptitude in Sports, Emotional Tennis, Maximizing Tennis Potential, The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent's Bible

 

The following post is an excerpt from the Second Edition of The Tennis Parent’s Bible NOW available through most on-line retailers!  Click Here to Order

 sarah

QUESTION: What is pre-match gamesmanship and/or intimidation?

Frank: Winning matches begins in the pre-match warm up. Controlling the opponent by exhibiting a superior demeanor causes intimidation. It’s a perception of power.  Let’s look at ten legal strategies your athlete can employ to gain a psychological advantage even before the very first point has been played.

 

How to Intimidate Legally in the Warm-Up Checklist:

1)      Make the opponent wait for you. This sends a message that you’re the person who’s going to control today’s match.

2)      Feed balls directly at their belly button during the warm up to see which stroke they prefer. They’ll run around their weaker side, “telling you” their deficiencies.

3)      Use your most elegant form on every stroke.

4)      Move quickly to get every ball on one bounce.

5)      If you don’t like their shot, catch the ball and re-start the rally.

6)      During baseline rallies, aim your groundstrokes deep at their feet. This serves two purposes, it grooves your depth and only provides them with defensive shot options.

7)      When they’re at the net, junk balls at their feet versus giving them hard & high confidence building volleys.

8)      As you offer lobs for their overhead smashes, re-lob deeper to make them hit off their back foot.

9)      When serving, don’t let them hit returns yet, try to steal a few returns to get a feel for their serve.

10)  Consistency is incredibly intimidating. Be steady by simply matching the ball speed.

By controlling the warm up, your athlete is sending the subliminal message that the opponent is going to have a bad day at the office.

Performance Anxiety Symptoms and Causes

Posted on October 13, 2016 by in Emotional Aptitude in Sports, The Second Edition of The Tennis Parent's Bible

The following post is an excerpt from the Second Edition of The Tennis Parent’s Bible NOW available through most on-line retailers!  Click Here to Order

 Frank Giampaolo

Performance Anxiety Symptoms and Causes 

Performance anxieties appear in a broad spectrum. Some athletes seem to fear nothing…some fear everything. Most have their personal anxiety triggers that should be discovered and examined. If you suspect that your child is experiencing excessive performance anxiety, it’s time to look at the common signs. If your athlete’s lack of personal belief is over-riding their actual ability then they’re battling performance anxiety which is part of the emotional development of the game.

Emotional Development is just as important as stroke development.

I’ve listed four categories of common performance anxiety symptoms.  If you suspect that your child’s fear of competition, confrontation or adversity is affecting their performance, it may be time to gather the coaches for an emotional training session. Ask your child to check any below symptoms that they feel describes them on match day. Design a new action plan to overcome each issue.

Match Day Symptoms

Physical Symptoms:

  1. Shallow, fast breathing
  2. Increased muscle tension throughout the body
  3. Increased perspiration
  4. Feeling dizzy and weak in the knees
  5. Feeling that your body is on the court but your mind is somewhere else

Mental Symptoms:

  1. Inability to focus one point at a time
  2. Over thinking (choking)
  3. Under thinking (panicking)
  4. Reoccurring thoughts of failure
  5. 5. Worrying about others opinions of their performance
  6. 6. Obsessing about others rankings & successes

Emotional Symptoms:

  1. Self-doubt in strokes as seen in “pushing”
  2. Self-doubt in stamina & strength as seen in reckless shot selection (to end points prematurely)
  3. Nervousness, hesitation & fearful performance
  4. Stressing about uncontrollable variables
  5. Not taking the time to enjoy the moment

Behavioral Symptoms:

  1. Not performing match day routines & rituals
  2. Hurrying & fast pace walking
  3. Having mini tantrums, racket cracking or mindless fast walking/play
  4. Forgetting the basic ball striking functions
  5. Allowing the opponent or situation to control your playing speeds