A hidden factor in the process of developing a tennis champion is the importance of Life Skills-Based Education. Well-equipped athletes are able to make good decisions under pressure on and off the court. The below skill sets play a critical role in a well-rounded and comprehensive tennis education.
A wonderful daily skill is gratitude. You can’t be angry and grateful simultaneously…so choose gratitude. 
The Secret Ingredients Found in Champions
By Frank Giampaolo
So, you have a natural athlete. That’s the “GIFT”. But why do so many athletes fail to reach their full potential? Being an athlete is one ingredient out of the dozens required, what are some of the other Secrets?
Time Management
The time management life skill is the ability to use one’s time efficiently or productively. A successful athlete with strong time management skills would organize daily, weekly, and monthly planners to assist in scheduling the development of each of the four major components (technical, athletic, mental, and emotional) essential to compete at the higher levels.
Adaptability
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.
“No athlete has ever reached their full potential without learning to overcome stress, fear, and discomfort. Life skills are essential.”
Handling Adversity
Handling adversity is a critical athletic and life skill. Competition brings hardship, drama, and suffering along with positive attributes. Overcoming daily problems is a driving force of champions. Seeing adversity as a challenge versus a life or death crisis is vital.
Handling Stress
Stress causes physiological 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, proper preparation and a positive attitude dramatically reduce stress levels.
Perseverance
Perseverance is one’s ability to stay on course through setbacks, discouragement, injuries, and losses. It is the ability to fight stubbornly to achieve greatness.
“The most meaningful lessons come from the toughest losses…If the student is willing to listen.”
Courage
Courage is the ability to apply belief in your skills in spite of the threat at hand. A courageous athlete knows that competition in sports is to be embraced and not feared. Courage is not allowing oneself to listen to the typical noise of “What if I lose?”
Work Ethic
Work ethic is a diligent, consistent standard of conduct. Strengthening physical, mental and emotional components and the attainment of goals is dependent on a deliberate customized plan and hard work.
Resiliency
Resiliency is the capacity to recover and adjust to 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.
“Great performances stem from a peaceful heart. So after mistakes, forgive yourself quickly.”
Goal Setting
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 have action plans and target dates. Setting daily, monthly and long-term goals build the emotional strength you seek.
Sticking to Commitments
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
Determination is the power to persist with a singular fixed purpose. Champions are stubbornly tenacious to reach their goals. Champions often begin as average athletes with abnormal determination.
Problem-Solving Skills
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 rather than merely identifying the flaw.
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“When dealing with gamesmanship, mature athletes do not give the drama more importance then intelligently remaining on script.”
Spotting Patterns and Tendencies
Patterns and tendencies are an individual’s predisposition to act repeatedly. Spotting reoccurring behavior is essential to understanding your strengths and weaknesses as well as defeating a worthy opponent.
Discipline
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 turn 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
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 playing with confidence and pride regardless of the outcome.
Focus
Focus is the ability to centralize your attention. Examples include adhering to short-term goals, such as a single play, point or game, all the way towards attaining long-term goals, such as playing a junior Grand Slam or being offered a college athletic scholarship.
“Improving involves cleaning out the clutter. Adding more isn’t always the answer. Often, solutions stem from doing less.”
Preparation Skills
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 begins with total preparation. It is indeed the key to preventing a poor performance.
Persistence
Persistence is the continued passion for 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.
“Don’t confuse busy work with productive growth. Practice in the manner you are expected to perform.”
Dedication
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
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.
“Strong competitive character at crunch time stems from life lessons developed.”
This is an excerpt from Frank Giampaolo’s #1Amazon Best Seller: The Soft Science Of Tennis. Www.maximizingtennispotential.com
