The mental component of tennis – Temperament
12/02/2010 | Written by: uspta
Click Video Highlight:
The mental component of tennis – Temperament
Description:
In this video clip, USPTA Master Professionals Jim Loehr, Ed.D., David T. Porter, Ed.D., and Jim Parker offer their definitions and explanations of temperament as it relates to a player’s attitude.
Tip:
Temperament is the aspect of an individual’s personality that is often regarded as innate rather than learned. Each individual thinks, behaves and reacts in ways that are unique to his or her personality.
A person’s temperament can make or break his performance on the tennis court. If a player becomes physically and verbally angry and loses his cool during a match because things are not going his way he is demonstrating a bad temper. Other examples might include throwing the racquet, screaming and yelling at himself, creating negative self-talk. This type of frustration has a profoundly negative effect on a player’s game, giving way to lack of focus. It also may allow the opponent to swing the match his way and get a mental advantage.
A player with a good temperament stays positive and level-headed no matter what the situation. Staying mentally focused and balanced is the key to competitive success.
It is important for players to control their tempers and be able to solve problems on the court with a positive attitude. TennisResources.com offers a number of one-on-one video interviews featuring some of the world’s most accomplished tennis-teaching professionals speaking on the mental aspect of tennis and its importance to a player’s game. To access these resources, visit www.tennisresources.com and enter the word “mental” into the Quick Search field. If you select the Advanced search, click on “Mental” under the “General Performance Components” category.
New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium membership have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!
