Last week I talked about a player who had lost confidence and how we reframed his thinking so that he focused on what he did well. I want to expand on that idea this week.
We are our worst critics
Most of my players can tell me exactly what they did badly in a match and why they lost. ‘I served 20 doubles faults.’
‘I always get 4 -1 up in a set and then get tight and lose the set.’
‘My forehand breaks down.’
They are good at finding our faults and quick to make up ‘I always do this and lose’ stories. As coaches we also often acknowledge and focus on weaknesses a disproportionate amount. And yes, critically evaluating why a player has lost is important, but what’s maybe more important is asking ‘How do they win’?
More upside in strengths
In this clip, The Tennis Menu’s performance psychologist Nick Ferrier does a great job of explaining why there is usually more upside when you focus on your strengths and how you win.
(This clip is part of our The Winning Brain course which you can check out here)
And when you are aware of your strengths and how you win, you can start to create what I call a recipe for success. I use the idea of a recipe because there is more than one thing a player needs to do to bring their strengths to the forefront. And if they miss one, then the result isn’t quite right. Just like if you leave out the chocolate when making a chocolate cake - it’s not a chocolate cake anymore. It’s just a cake. And let’s face it, nowhere near as delicious!
How to create a recipe for success?
To create a recipe that gives you the best chance of winning matches, follow these steps:
1. Record.
After each match you win write down all the things you did in the lead up to that match. Write down what you did a week before. A day before. In the two hours before. Did you eat pasta? How much did you train? What did you drink? How did you warm up. What was your mindset like? And finally, what did you do well in the match?
2. Find a common thread
After five to ten matches common actions should start to stand out. Things you did every time you won. Now write those out. That’s your success recipe.
3. Follow the recipe.
Once you have a recipe worked out, then you follow it. Have that pasta meal the night before. Get to the venue 1 hour early. Sleep 7.5 hours. Put on some pump-up music 20 mins before. Dominate with your forehand. Whatever it is that helps you win. Do it!
4. Tweak your recipe over time
Like any great chef you need to review and tweak things over time to improve your recipe.
But remember, this is YOUR recipe. It’s individual to you. Don’t worry about what other people are doing to win. Focus on your strengths and what you need to do to feel prepared, ready and confident. If you can create your own success recipe you can start to achieve your own brand of success more often.
Regards,
Marc Sophoulis