Mental performance

In her book “Mistakes Worth Making” Susan Halden-Brown points out that in every sport there are four performance systems: physical, emotional, mental, and skills. Each area has its unique performance issues.

Many of the players I coach at MVHS possess superior skills to my own and at times I’m not equipped to recognize what might not be working well so I usually inquire during the change on how things are going to get a clue.

In the area of mental performance I think I have some insights that can be helpful to the players in dealing with their performance systems.

In particular getting ready for each point as a new moment in time with a refreshed recollection of where one shoud be directing attention is very helpful.

In my introductory article last month I mentioned the fusion of what I consider the primary elements of tennis: the court, the opponent, the racket, the ball.
Directing one’s attention to the fullest on the court should be the first consideration by the player and that can be achieved, I believe, through the activation of one’s wide or peripheral vision. How? That’s for next time!