Kristianne Bontempo | Towpath Tennis Contributor
I read virtually mental breakdowns on the court, I've written virtually how to avoid them, thence when I’m inwards the take in of a gibe in addition to am flustered alongside the inability to hitting a ball, I’m flabbergasted thinking, “How could I endure having a mental breakdown??”
I read virtually mental breakdowns on the court, I've written virtually how to avoid them, thence when I’m inwards the take in of a gibe in addition to am flustered alongside the inability to hitting a ball, I’m flabbergasted thinking, “How could I endure having a mental breakdown??”
With certainty, no affair who I’m playing I’m in all likelihood the most mentally dominant somebody on the court…is what I would’ve told you lot 5+ years ago. With kids in addition to to a greater extent than responsibilities on my plate, things lead hold for sure changed. Yes, it’s difficult to fit the same amount of play fourth dimension in, yet my strokes are soundless there, my footwork—ehh, could usage to a greater extent than or less locomote but is soundless improve than the average player, but what has been the hardest pill to swallow is accepting the fact that my in 1 lawsuit mentally confident game is deteriorating. So instead of beating myself upward in addition to vowing to quit (which I’ve done numerous times), I decided to drill downward what was causing me to intermission in addition to enquire myself, “How create I diagnose a breakdown before it happens, in addition to what create I create to fighting it?” Diagnosis of breakdown:
Social/Environmental – It mightiness non lead hold been obvious at first, but the unfamiliarity of a novel partner, a novel tournament format, a novel venue or fifty-fifty playing an opponent I lead hold history alongside was a disruption of my game. You’re no longer playing simply a match, you lot lead hold other factors involved that are out of your comfort zone.
Physical – I've been fortunate to endure gratis of injuries, but alongside petty ones a practiced nighttime slumber is ever a gamble. At times, I play to a greater extent than relaxed when tired, yet in 1 lawsuit I instruct to that 2nd laid grade I slow experience the fatigue creeping in. With USTA flavor inwards total swing, most matches are inwards the evenings, thence subsequently a long solar daytime non alone is your footwork shot, but equally good is your inability to brand whatsoever smart strategical decisions (at to the lowest degree for me that's the case).
Mental – Pressure tin come upward inwards all types of cast whether you lot had a bad solar daytime at work, lead hold whatsoever exterior social tension, or for me, simply feeling the pressure level to win for the team’s sake. If you lot proceed to permit the pressure level swallow away at you, it's similar beingness a deer inwards headlights where you lot are unable to move—the worst form of breakdown.
Most of the time, I'm commonly dealing alongside simply 1 of the culprits higher upward (the most mutual beingness fatigue), but I wanted to figure out how to describe myself out of a consummate funk when I'm feeling similar every aspect of my game is going downward the drain. So subsequently to a greater extent than reading in addition to experimenting, hither is a listing of solutions that lead hold worked for me in addition to hopefully for you lot equally well!
Treatment/Prevention of breakdown:
“Only the ball” – Are you lot looking at the ball? The source thing I abide by when I'm inwards a downward spiral is my eyes are on everything BUT the ball (when you’re hitting a whole ton of rimmers, in addition to thence that should endure your source clue). Reciting the words, “bounce, hit”, equally you lot are swinging away volition help you lot focus on that fuzzy yellowish ball. Another useful tip during 'down times' or when waiting to provide a serve, is to expect at your strings to remain focused or tell "ballllllll" inwards your caput equally the server is tossing. Swear this works!
Continue playing your game – “I’m simply non playing my game.” This has literally come upward out of my oral cavity numerous times over the by season. Something doesn’t work, thence instead of trying the stroke or poaching in 1 lawsuit to a greater extent than I’ll play it condom in addition to simply force it back—I despise that game! Not alone create I experience similar I've lost my edge, but my footwork is atrocious. Sports psychologists propose continuing to endeavour your shots alongside the right motion (maybe fifty-fifty over-exaggerate it), since it volition eventually come upward along. I know it won't help when you're inwards the take in of a gibe similar I was, but truly the best proffer is to locomote out beforehand in addition to hitting to a greater extent than or less balls on a backboard or ball machine, or fountain into a drill a solar daytime or thence before.
Be versatile – If you lot endeavour in addition to endeavour but innovation Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 isn’t working, in addition to thence lead hold a innovation B…and C…and peradventure a D. Changing your game upward volition truly locomote inwards your favor since your opponent volition lead hold to remain on their toes to maintain up. Just endure sure to start alongside innovation Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 each time, since the less you lot usage it the harder it’ll endure to instruct it back.
It's all virtually trunk lingo – My sis dorsum inwards the solar daytime had taught me the importance of looking the role of a positive, energetic in addition to optimistic instrumentalist fifty-fifty on the verge of defeat. That has definitely played a huge role inwards my playing mode since forcing myself to express mirth off my stupid shots has kept my heed from sinking into a black hole. Stand upward tall, smile, fountain around, jog inwards place, shadow stroke, positive self-talk—these subtle cues volition brand a dramatic impression on your opponent. For me, fatigue has played a major role inwards affecting that positive/energetic role, thence my solution—bring energy-infusing foods to your matches, similar a banana or a granola bar. Makes all the difference!
Lastly Breatheeee! – Inhale. Exhale. Do this alongside purpose inwards betwixt points to forcefulness yourself to select your time, in addition to to a greater extent than importantly to relax your heed in addition to body.
Obviously, the agency to forestall a mental breakdown is to recognize the possibility of 1 beforehand. If you lot selection upward at the start of your gibe that you lot are uneasy virtually something (anything really), in addition to thence mentally ready yourself on a strategy that volition help you lot focus throughout the match. Good luck in addition to remain strong!