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Do You Know Why You Win Or Lose?
Ten Street-Smart Questions To Ask Yourself
Wise Tennis Competitors Know These 10 Savvy Questions Will
Take Them Closer To Victory By Discovering What Really Wins
Bill Cole, MS, MA
Your teammate comes off the court after losing. You ask,
"Why'd you lose?" They answer, "We played bad, and they played
good". Another teammate comes off after winning. You ask them
why they won. They say, "We played good and they played bad."
Pretty incisive, deep, probing self-analysis, isn't it?
This is the level of introspection most people have in tennis.
Sad, but true. But it's not their fault for these reasons:
1. Tennis is a tough game to figure out. It's complex.
2. In the heat of battle, who can stop to see what's really
happening? It's all too fast.
3. People don't realize HOW they win points, sets and matches.
4. It takes practice to do this with accuracy.
Sometimes people will get the reasons they are winning or
losing all mixed up, with no accurate connection at all to
the true reasons. Then they can't make any strategic adjustments
in the match. Adjusting is a very important thing to be able
to do.
Here are 10 vital questions to ask yourself the next time
you are in a match. These questions will help you figure out
WHY you are winning, so you can continue doing what is helping
you win, or, they will help you figure out WHY you are losing
so you can change what you are doing. Ask these questions
between points.
1. Are You Using The Simplest Tactics That Will Win?
Don't make things difficult by using complex, finicky tactics
you don't know well. Use the tactics you know how to do that
will win for you. Tricky tactics are usually not necessary.
2. Did You Ask Yourself Why You're Winning? Don't take
that answer for granted. Figure it out so you can keep doing
what's winning, so you don't accidentally change it.
3. Did You Ask Yourself Why You're Losing? There is
a reason. Find it out and then stop doing it.
4. Is The Problem Your Strategy Or Your Execution?
Don't immediately assume your tactics are at fault. Maybe
you're missing shots. That's poor execution. Sharpen up your
shots and then see if your tactics are at fault.
5. Did You Almost Always Change A Losing Game? Do you
keep doing the same thing, yet expect different results? That's
the definition of insanity. Stop using losing tactics and
try something new. New ones can't be that bad. You're losing
as it is.
6. Did You Rarely Change A Winning Game? Keep doing
"what brung you to the dance." That's WHY you are winning.
7. If You Could Replay The Match, What Would You Do Differently?
This is a critical question. To win, what would you change?
8. Did You Only Use Shots And Tactics That You Own?
Stay within yourself in your matches. That means don't use
shots and plays you don't know how to do. Trying hair-brained,
low-percentage or panicky shots and tactics rarely pays off.
9. Did You Adjust When The Opponent Adjusted? Good
competitors hate to lose. When you are beating them, they're
over there figuring out ways to beat you. Notice this. Just
because you have a lead does not mean they will roll over.
Be alert to their next tricks and then adjust again, to those.
10. Did The Opponent Win, Or Did You Lose? This is
the most important question you can ask. If you beat yourself
by being erratic or trying dumb plays, they did not beat you.
You lost to them. The #1 rule in all of competitive sports
is this: DO NOT beat YOURSELF. The opponent is already trying
to do that. Don't help them.
Ask yourself the right questions IN your matches and your
friends will be asking YOU how you WIN so often.
Copyright © Bill Cole, MS, MA 2001,
2006 All rights reserved.
This article covers only one small part of the mental game.
A complete mental training program includes motivation and goal-setting,
pre-event mental preparation, post-event review and analysis,
mental strengthening, self-regulation training, breath control
training, motor skill training, mental rehearsal, concentration
training, pressure-proofing, communication training, confidence-building,
breaking through mental barriers, slump prevention, mental toughness
training, flow training, relaxation training, momentum training,
psych-out proofing and media training.
For a comprehensive overview of your mental abilities you need
an assessment instrument that identifies your complete mental
strengths and weaknesses. For a free, easy-to-take 65-item sport
psychology assessment tool you can score right on the spot,
visit https://www.mentalgamecoach.com/Assessments/MentalGameOfSports.html.
This assessment gives you a quick snapshot of your strengths
and weaknesses in your mental game. You can use this as a guide
in creating your own mental training program, or as the basis
for a program you undertake with Bill Cole, MS, MA to improve
your mental game. This assessment would be an excellent first
step to help you get the big picture about your mental game.
Bill Cole, MS, MA, a leading authority on peak performance, mental toughness
and coaching, is founder and President of the International Mental Game Coaching
Association, https://www.mentalgamecoaching.com.
Bill is also founder and CEO of William B. Cole Consultants, a consulting firm that helps
organizations and professionals achieve more success in business, life and sports.
He is a multiple Hall of Fame honoree, an award-winning scholar-athlete, published
book author and articles author, and has coached at the highest levels of major-league
pro sports, big-time college athletics and corporate America. For a free, extensive
article archive, or for questions and comments visit him at www.MentalGameCoach.com.
Article Source: https://www.MentalGameCoaching.com
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