| Learning how to play tennis can be either a wonderful | | | | and fun when learning how to play tennis. |
| or a very frustrating experience. It depends on | | | | 3. Accept mistakes as a part of this game. There will |
| whether your approach and expectations to the game | | | | be probably quite some mistakes at the beginning. |
| are realistic and whether your coach and his way of | | | | Don't let that discourage you, it's only feedback. You |
| teaching the game of tennis are the best for your | | | | learn from them. You need mistakes, without them you |
| starting level of play. | | | | can't explore your limits. And remember your tennis |
| When you start learning how to play tennis you | | | | abilities have nothing to do with you - your inner self. |
| probably don't know much about it. You've seen how | | | | There is no connection unless you make one. |
| good players play and they seem so effortless and | | | | 4. Be patient and willing to wait before results come. |
| the game seems easy. You decide that you want to | | | | Your brain and body need many repetitions before |
| try it too and enroll in one of the lessons at your local | | | | they adapt. Wait and be patient. You'll soon know how |
| club. | | | | to play tennis. :) |
| There are 2 main areas when you are still learning | | | | 5. Here are some mental qualities that lead you to |
| how to play tennis: | | | | success, regardless of your skill level or area of your |
| - Technique (footwork, body, arm action) | | | | involvement:a) Focus on what you want instead of |
| - Tactics | | | | what you don't want |
| And here are the main mental points for these two | | | | - playing better instead of not playing bad |
| areas of your beginning lessons: | | | | - serving in the court instead of not making a double |
| 1. Be aware - when you learn how to play tennis you | | | | fault |
| are soon overwhelmed with lots of information. This | | | | - hitting an »easy« ball in rather than hoping |
| can cause you to lose focus on most important things | | | | that you won't miss againb) Be decisive - when you |
| - depending on your coach's instructions. Listen to your | | | | decide what you want to do (hitting down the line or |
| coach and do as he/she tells you to. Sometimes it's | | | | crosscourt, hitting close to lines or more in the middle, |
| your arm movement, sometimes focusing on the feel | | | | playing more attacking shots, playing more volleys, ...) |
| of the racquet, sometimes on your movement. Be | | | | do it. Stay with you decision. Decide quickly - |
| aware of what is happening so that you may correct | | | | remember: he who hesitates is lost. |
| that. | | | | Even if your decision turns out to be wrong, you'll get |
| We coaches often come to the situation when the | | | | some feedback. When you are indecisive and don't |
| player wants to hit the ball in court while our main | | | | decide what to do, you don't know when will such a |
| concern is correct form. And sometimes we don't | | | | situation present itself again.c) Be courageous - there |
| care about form and just want the player to develop | | | | are many situations in the game where you'll feel the |
| feel and put the ball in court but the beginner is still | | | | fear: of missing, of making a fool of yourself, of |
| focused on the correct form. So stay with your | | | | winning, of not improving ... There is only one way of |
| coach's instructions and be aware of the outcome. | | | | beating the fear - courage. Doing the right thing |
| 2. Don't take the game too seriously and don't try too | | | | regardless of your emotional tendencies. Just do it. |
| hard - it's only a game. You are already too tense at | | | | Feel the fear and do it anyway. |
| the start since you don't feel which muscles you need | | | | Learning how to play tennis can be a very fun, exciting |
| and which you don't. So you use too many of them. If | | | | and rewarding experience. Follow these mental steps |
| you add to this a too serious approach and you try | | | | when learning and playing and you are on your way to |
| too hard to hit the ball in or to please your coach, you | | | | becoming a mental master of this beautiful game. |
| will slow down your improvement and lose all the joy | | | | |