Win Matches with the Right Mindset

Body check: Know that your body is prepared with a good night’s sleep and sustainable nutrition. Book a court 1-2 hours before your match to get warmed up and play some points. A completed dynamic warm-up and repetitive hitting helps you feel more prepared for a match.

Mind check: Help prepare your mind and focus by turning your texting and calls off before you get to the court. Listen to music and make it a part of your routine. Limit your distractions and begin to adjust your sensory to the sounds and pace of the game, preparing your mind through positive visualization. Focus on your match. Visualize your match: think of what you will look like walking out on the court, how you want your pre-match warmup to look like, visualize your first service game and changing sides etc.

Confidence

Confidence wins the big points and it is usually never a fluke. Confidence in yourself to win the big points comes from knowing that you have prepared. However, confidence takes a bit longer to build over time. You need to have confidence that you have done everything you possibly could do to put yourself in the position to compete the best you can.

Fitness: Have confidence in your fitness and know that you can go the distance and still have energy for the next match. In fact, you are so confident in your fitness the circumstances favor you the longer you go.

Nutrition: Be confident in your nutrition. You know you have sustainable energy due to your healthy choices you have made over the last several months.

Your Game: You are confident that you worked hard in practice, have made the necessary adjustments in your game, and have taken the repetitions to execute them under pressure. You are confident in your coaching that you have been taught the proper tactics and will find a way to win.

Discipline

Being prepared and having confidence is essential, however the only way to achieve both is through discipline. In this sport you set your own standard and rules. You know what you have to do to be better and do it every time without being asked. Have the discipline to train even when you don’t feel like it. When you create discipline in your daily routine, you build confidence and become prepared for the mental battle of playing a competitive match. The voice in your head will tell you “I can do this. Hang in there!”