High expectations can sink young tennis players’ confidence. Let’s start with some definitions. Expectations are kids’ judgments about their performance, usually based on end-results or statistics. Confidence is athletes’ belief in their ability. Confident tennis players with a strong mental game of tennis do not place judgments on
In my last article, I discussed the top five mental game of tennis confidence busters for tennis juniors. Why are these so important? It’s simple. Tennis juniors cannot achieve their potential without feeling self-confident. The top five confidence killers I touched on are: high expectations, perfectionism, self-doubt, negative feedback
The mental game of tennis is critical to succeeding in tennis. A good mental game in tennis builds self-confidence. The top tennis players rely on their self-confidence to push through adversity, take risks and continue to work on their game. Self-confidence can also make young athletes feel successful in
Often, parents have the best of intentions when they give their kids pep talks. They might say something like, “You’ve beaten this opponent before!” Or, “I want you to win this match in two sets.” Or, they might say, “Remember how to use your footwork, right? Make sure
One of the hallmarks of a strong mental game of tennis is your ability to stay composed when you are down in a match or making unforced errors. You cannot be a consistent performer unless you slay the raging monster within – or control your emotions during matches.
Tennis parents have a big impact on their young tennis players mental health. A healthy and successful experience in tournament tennis depends on tennis parents’ ability to instill confidence and positive mental game skills in young athletes. In this article, I discuss 8 tips for tennis parents to