Archive | Preparing for Pressure RSS feed for this section

“I focus the whole match on perfect form. That’s Correct …right?”

Posted on December 7, 2019 by in Preparing for Pressure

The following post is an excerpt from Frank’s NEW Amazon #1 New Tennis Book Release, Preparing for Pressure.
Click Here to Order

Preparing final cover 3D

“I focus the whole match on perfect form. That’s
Correct …right?”

 

“Athletes nurtured to focus on mechanics in match play seldom perform in the flow state.”

I recommend that athletes save most of the detailed analysis of strokes for the improvement phase, which takes place on the practice court. Biomechanical analysis surely has its place; it’s just not in the midst of competition. Focusing too much on “bend your knees,” “close the racket face 30-degrees and brush up,” and  “tuck the left hand in on the serve to block the third link of the kinetic chain” pulls athletes out of the flow state and into their editing, analytical brain.

The week leading into an important event, I recommend trading-in the need for stroke perfection and replace it with practicing picking up relevant cues like proficient pattern play, score management, and opponent profiling. This prepares the athlete for pressure by allowing their judgmental ego to slip away. Performing in the zone requires relaxed contentment, which can’t be found if you’re focused on fixing every micro-flaw.

 

Preparing for pressure requires the athlete to focus on the art of competing.

“Yeah, I know I should practice more, but I’m too busy.”

Posted on December 5, 2019 by in Preparing for Pressure

The following post is an excerpt from Frank’s NEW Amazon #1 New Tennis Book Release, Preparing for Pressure.
Click Here to Order

Preparing final cover 3D

“Yeah, I know I should practice more, but I’m too busy.”

 

 “It’s not the most gifted athletes who typically succeed; it’s the most organized and disciplined.”

Preparing athletes for pressure include pointing them in the right direction. One of the assessment tools I use is the 168 Hour Rule. We all get 24 hours a day, seven days a week, equaling 168 hours. I ask junior athletes to begin with 168 hours a week and then deduct their hours for sleep, school, homework, and other serious interests. Most often, the very same athletes who claim that they’re too busy realize that they have 60-70 free, unaccountable hours weekly. This exercise is very eye-opening for both the parents and the athletes.

After we identify the athlete’s free time, we re-design their weekly developmental plan. Together we assess the quality of the hours they’re dedicating to their long-term goals.

An example of a typical conversation after reviewing time assessment may go like this, “Joey, since you just revealed that you have 60 unaccountable hours weekly; would it be possible for you to increase your deliberate customized tennis training to 20 hours a week? That’ll still leave you with 40 hours a week to hang out with friends, socialize, and play video games!”

 

Growth stems from managing one’s time efficiency.

“In real matches, I’m so stressed. All I think about is don’t lose …then I lose!”

Posted on December 3, 2019 by in Preparing for Pressure

The following post is an excerpt from Frank’s NEW Amazon #1 New Tennis Book Release, Preparing for Pressure.
Click Here to Order

Preparing final cover 3D

“In real matches, I’m so stressed. All I think about is don’t lose …then I lose!”

“Internal dialogue refers to the unspoken conversations we all have …”

Athletes are often unaware of the inner conversation they have through the course of a tennis match. Internal dialog is the conversation our ego is having with ourselves. In match play, inner dialog takes place in-between points and during changeovers. This is when athletes are encouraged to program themselves towards a more constructive mindset. With between point ritual practice, athletes will learn to focus on what they want versus what they don’t want.

It’s true that society propagates a negative bias day in and day out. Athletes would benefit from committing to replacing the typical negative statement, “The problem is …” with “The solution is …”

Positive self-coaching revolves around a reoccurring theme of this book: Gratitude. It shifts our mentality from pessimistic to optimistic. I encourage my athletes to apply the mantra: There’s nowhere I’d rather be than right here, right now!

 

Energy flows wherever their internal dialog goes.

“I used to beat these toads…now I’m losing to them.”

Posted on December 1, 2019 by in Preparing for Pressure

The following post is an excerpt from Frank’s NEW Amazon #1 New Tennis Book Release, Preparing for Pressure.
Click Here to Order

Preparing final cover 3D

“I used to beat these toads…now I’m losing to them.”

“Regrouping begins by reassessing current efficiencies and deficiencies.”

When athletes are no longer getting the results, they believe they’re capable of, I recommend conducting an honest assessment of their current training and match preparation. With few exceptions, I find that the athlete has changed their developmental routines and not for the better. In these situations, a fresh start makes a world of difference.

I’m a bit more detailed than the average coach. When I’m hired to revive a stalled career, I begin with a 300 Point Assessment of the athlete’s life skills, weekly developmental routines, primary & secondary strokes, mental skills, emotional skills, and incorporate match video analysis. Together, the athlete and I assess their confidence level, under pressure in each category. By doing so, we relaunch their progression with a new deliberate, customized developmental plan.

 

Revitalizing a career begins by organizing the athlete’s developmental plan.

“IT’S LOSING TO THE WEAKER PLAYERS THAT KILLS ME… I SELF-DESTRUCT!”

Posted on November 27, 2019 by in Preparing for Pressure

The following post is an excerpt from Frank’s NEW Amazon #1 New Tennis Book Release, Preparing for Pressure.
Click Here to Order

Preparing final cover 3D

“IT’S LOSING TO THE WEAKER PLAYERS THAT KILLS ME…
I SELF-DESTRUCT!” 

“Self-destruction unknowingly begins in the preparation phase.”

The worst part about the feelings of self-destruction in competition is that the athlete is fully aware it’s happening but can’t do anything to stop it. Their muscles begin to tighten, they shank every other ball, and their brain is fixated on contaminating outcome thoughts. We’ve all been there. You’re choking, and you know it, the opponent knows it, even the spectators know it, but you weren’t taught any self-destruction solutions, so the match feels like a slow death.

Rehearsing self-destruction solutions on the practice court provide the athlete with a practical “go to system.”

The following are a few proactive solutions to employ during match play to aid in regaining focus:

  • Focus on Hitting 3 Balls Deep Down the Middle
  • Apply the Old School Bounce-Hit Method of Vision Control
  • Return to your Script of Top Patterns of Play
  • Reboot your Between Point Rituals

I recommend the player choose two of the previous solutions and play a few practice sets, and focusing exclusively on the selected solutions to stop imploding behavior.

 

Preparing for pressure requires pre-set solutions to common problems.

“I’ve lost confidence. How do I get it back?”

Posted on November 24, 2019 by in Preparing for Pressure

The following post is an excerpt from Frank’s NEW Amazon #1 New Tennis Book Release, Preparing for Pressure.
Click Here to Order

Preparing final cover 3D

“I’ve lost confidence. How do I get it back?”

 

“Your positive performances are imprinted in your memory, so choose to re-live them.”

A re-occurring defining characteristic of champions is their strong software skills. There are many times in a professional athlete’s career when they’ve lost their confidence and had to reboot their motivation.

One solution lies in choosing to focus on past successes more than past failures. Failure is no doubt part of the learning process but revisiting past successes via- match video analysis is one method used to rekindle self-esteem. If you don’t already videotape tournament play and analyze your performance with an experienced coach, now’s a great time to start.

Past successes leave a footprint in the brain. Remind yourself of previous pressure-packed situations when you performed spectacularly. Go into detail. Where did it happen? What event?  What round?  How did I overcome the challenges?  Why was I determined to fight?  What was my inner dialog and mindset? This process stops the discouragement and replaces it with the realization that you’ve done it before and you’ll do it again.

 

Preparing for pressure comes from realizing that you have come through under pressure before.

“Johnny screams and throws his racket, why can’t I THROW MINE?”

Posted on November 22, 2019 by in Preparing for Pressure

The following post is an excerpt from Frank’s NEW Amazon #1 New Tennis Book Release, Preparing for Pressure.
Click Here to Order

Preparing final cover 3D

“Johnny screams and throws  his racket, why can’t I THROW MINE?”

“Attitude and emotions are highly contagious.”

Remember the old saying, Monkey See Monkey Do? It’s human nature for people to model themselves after their sphere of influences subconsciously. Behavior modeling is a form of social learning. It states that most behaviors are picked up through imitating who and what they see.

Preparing athletes for pressure include carefully navigating athletes away from bad influences. Bad influences can sabotage the strong character traits you seek.

It is the athlete’s responsibility to detach themselves from anyone or anything that pulls them away from the progress they seek.

 

Be aware of the behavior of those influencing the athlete.

“How do I reboot after a bad patch?”

Posted on November 20, 2019 by in Preparing for Pressure

The following post is an excerpt from Frank’s NEW Amazon #1 New Tennis Book Release, Preparing for Pressure.
Click Here to Order

Preparing final cover 3D

“How do I reboot after a bad patch?”

 

“What defines a competitor is how well they get up after they’ve fallen.”

Bouncing back quickly from heartache is what separates the competitive contenders from the pretenders. Having the courage to accept the situation and adapt is the resiliency you seek. It’s important to welcome the fact that competitive tennis matches are routinely stressful.

How to reboot when things get uncomfortable falls into the software department. Reconnecting to peak performance is done through slow/deep breathing, match tendency awareness, optimistic inner dialog, visualizing solutions, shadow swings/footwork, refocusing the eyes, and taking more time with relaxation rituals.

 

When the going gets tough, don’t be afraid to reinvent

“How do I spot when I’m losing focus?”

Posted on November 17, 2019 by in Preparing for Pressure

The following post is an excerpt from Frank’s NEW Amazon #1 New Tennis Book Release, Preparing for Pressure.
Click Here to Order

Preparing final cover 3D

“How do I spot when I’m losing focus?”

 

“Be on high alert for signs of mental detachment.”

In matches, it’s not uncommon for athletic individuals to realize that the opponent isn’t the only cause of their losses. It’s their roller coaster performance. Their detachment fuels bouts of sloppy play which complicates even the most routine matches. So, how can a player spot when their performance level is about to take a dive?

The following are 10 common signs of an athlete detaching from their script.

  1. Unfocused Eyes: “Are my eyes starting to wander outside my court?”
  2. Reckless Shot Selection: “Am I now attempting shots the moment doesn’t really demand?”
  3. A Drop in Intensity: “Has my energy level or focus intensity dropped?”
  4. Frustration-Body Language: “Am I calm or agitated?”
  5. Rushed /Panicking Play: “Is my breathing shallow and is my heart racing too fast?”
  6. Choking/Pushing: “Am I worried about the outcome?”
  7. Lack of Rituals: “Am I skipping my between point rituals?”
  8. Hesitating: “I know how to play my game, but am I chickening out?”
  9. Attempting to Play above Your Level: ‘Do I really need to hit this big?”
  10. Wandering Mind: “Am I thinking about irrelevant, contaminating thoughts?

 

If detachment is spotted, disconnect and reboot before returning to play. Verbal and physical triggers pull the athlete back on script. Verbal triggers include “Get back on script.” “One point at a time.” Physical triggers involve moving your feet and doing some loose shadow swings.

 

Reconnecting to the correct headspace starts with picking up these available clues.

“It’s not my strokes that fail me; it’s my mental toughness. I just freak out!”

Posted on November 14, 2019 by in Maximizing Tennis Potential, Preparing for Pressure

The following post is an excerpt from Frank’s NEW Amazon #1 New Tennis Book Release, Preparing for Pressure.
Click Here to Order

Preparing final cover 3D

“It’s not my strokes that fail me; it’s my mental toughness.
I just freak out!”

 

“Mental toughness is often confused with
emotional toughness.”

My definition of mental toughness in the tennis world is the understanding of strategies, tactics, and patterns. It also includes opponent profiling and problem-solving skills. My definition of emotional toughness is the ability to overcome the onslaught of performance anxieties and outcome-oriented emotional thoughts.

Solutions to match issues begin with understanding the actual cause of the problem. Is the athlete’s above statement: “I just freak-out!” A mental issue or an emotional issue? I would say it is an emotional issue. Because the correct solution is customized to the cause of the problem.  I recommend digging deeper into why this particular athlete “freaks out.”  Does it involve the above mental categories, emotional categories, or a combination of the two?

It’s important to note that a seemingly unrelated component may be the root of the athletes break down. For example, if an athlete is physically unfit for serious competition, that lack of fitness can cause stroke mechanics to break down, reckless choices in shot selection, and manifest negative emotional outbursts.

 

Preparing for pressure involves knowing the difference between the mental and emotional components.