Tag: life

How to Get Motivated and Sustain Motivation for a Big Match or Event

  1. What makes you tick? Dig deep to learn what motivates you internally to work hard and perform at a high level. Where do you find your inspiration to pursue your passions? What has served as a catalyst in your life to make you want to get better and improve your skills? What makes you want to compete and take on new challenges. A self-awareness of what mental and emotional state is required to boost your confidence and propel you to perform at the highest level is the key to motivation and preparation for every match.
  2. Have fun. Dig a little deeper to determine what makes tennis fun and fulfilling for you. Why do you to play tennis and how do you benefit from playing tennis? From your time on the court what aspects of tennis bring you joy and happiness. If you are having trouble identifying or even appreciating the fun features of tennis, here are some thoughts on what makes tennis an encompassing, fun game. Tennis is highly engaging, physically demanding, strategic, technical and mentally challenging. It requires resilience and focus, emotional control, attention to details, adaptability, creativity and problem-solving skills. As a skill-based sport with so many shot and shot pattern options, the game provides a life-time opportunity for learning, development and growth. Plus, the scoring system with no time clock has been designed to keep you in a match when behind no matter how large the deficit and keep you invested and focused to stay on form when ahead knowing a comeback is always a possibility. Focus on the identified aspects of tennis you find most rewarding for motivation. Reference what works for you to have the most fun possible every time you step on the court. Express your personality with your style of play. Look to make each match fresh, interesting and compelling. It is much easier to get excited and motivated when participating in an activity you love and enjoy particularly if one of your main priorities is having fun.
  3. Embrace the challenge. Adopt a Challenge Mentality where competition is perceived as an opportunity to learn and grow as a player and person. A Challenge Mentality is characterized by a readiness and willingness to accept all challenges. Get excited about the opportunity to showcase your ability to execute shots and shot patterns. Look forward to the opportunity to solve problems, overcome obstacles and meet the unique challenges you encounter every match you play. Get motivated to face every challenge with determination, conviction and commitment with no fear of failure.
  4. Have a plan. If you are peaking for an event, establish a macro, long-term training plan six to 12 months in advance of the event. Set up a training block or series of training blocks leading up to the start of the event. Have a plan for the day of the event. When to practice? What and when to eat? How to approach your match warmup and your choice with the spin for serve, return of serve, sides, etc. And most importantly, establish a goal, objectives and a plan with contingencies for how to play each match. When set to play one specific match and opponent, establish a plan to cover whatever lead time you have available to prepare and train. Chart out a course on how you plan to play the match preferably with advance scouting knowledge of your opponent’s strengths, weaknesses and tendencies. Working through the process of planning in preparation for an event or match serves to increase motivation, sense of purpose and confidence.
  5. Work through your rituals. There are other practices and rituals you can follow just prior to the start of play and during play to get pumped up, bolster confidence and maintain focus and composure. What are things you can do to get and stay motivated? It could be listening to a specific playlist just before the start of play or the ritual you follow in preparation to hit each serve. It could be your routine during the changeovers or how you express joy after hitting a good shot. It could be positive self talk and affirmations or something quirky like not stepping on lines between points. It could be how you direct your vision to your strings prior to getting set to return serve or it could be all or some of the above plus more. Find out what practices, routines and rituals work for you to get motivated to work hard and perform your best.
  6. Create a backstory. Use your imagination. Make your opponent out to be a villain looking to leverage a win against you to steal your girlfriend or a coveted promotion at work. Picture playing in front of a group of college coaches looking to be the first to sign you to a college athletic scholarship and six figure NIL deal. Imagine waking up with the superpower to read the intentions of your opponents, anticipating every shot and shot sequence and your next match is your opportunity to showcase this new amazing ability. Use your story to create a competitive edge and fuel your passion to perform at your highest level.
  7. Use imagery as a motivational tool. Find a quiet place and envision serving, hitting from the baseline and net, moving in coverage of the court and executing patterns. Map out a series of points against selected opponents. Work through how to positively respond to different situations and scenarios. Establish a positive mental image of your performance. Apply this mental rehearsal as a process to get motivated, build confidence and prepare your body and mind for competition.
  8. Stay engaged. From the start of the match, have a purpose and plan for every point. Focus on things you can control such as the process of how and where to hit the ball. Be relentless and resilient regardless of the outcome of the previous point and the score. Motivation is not always easy to sustain for an entire match, but it is more possible if you are purposeful and focused with a clear intent every point.
  9. Be all in. Make a commitment to go for every ball. No excuses. No half measures. Give 100% effort each point regardless of the playing conditions, level of your opponent, score, how much you have hit or not hit beforehand, etc.
  10. Live to play another day. No one likes to lose. Losing can be painful and leave scars, but it is these scars and experiences in loss that can serve as an impetus and motivation to work harder and smarter and make the changes necessary to get better (and ultimately to defeat an opponent you may have struggled against before). Every competitive match (win or lose) should be viewed as a learning process with the goal of continuous improvement. Learn from your wins. Learn from your losses. And jump at the chance to play anyone who previously gave you difficulty whether you won or lost approaching each ensuing match as a problem to be solved. And, to take it one step further, get motivated for every match and hitting session. See each match as an opportunity to develop into a more skillful player capable of doing more things with the ball, responding to all situations and conditions and having the most fun in the process.