Becoming a great tennis player involves more than physical skill. Learning and practicing how to maintain concentration in a tennis match is equally important. Being strong both mentally and physically can put you ahead during a competition as you focus on what’s important. However, there are days when it is very difficult to focus due to distractions or tiredness, and these following tips can help you get back on track. Here’s how players can improve their concentration during a tennis match and how our kids’ tennis summer camp in Toronto can help you.
Be the Ball
One of the most effective tips for concentrating in a tennis match is to “be the ball.” In other words, focusing completely on the ball lets you concentrate on how you play, rather than how you feel or what is happening around the court. Focusing on the ball helps you sharpen your instincts and reduces stress, which can be detrimental to your mental strength and performance. To master this level of concentration, you will need to spend a lot of time training and gaining experience, but once you have achieved it, you will have a vital skill.
Be Versatile
Confidence goes a long way to helping improve your focus. It helps you play the game with ease and helps you move forward even after slip ups. This confidence is rooted in versatility, which is why you should strive to be as versatile a player as possible. You need to practice and learn how to respond quickly to different situations, and flexible to turn the game around in your favour.
Stay in the Moment
Another important tip to help you become a better tennis player is to focus on the present moment. If you make a mistake and focus on it, it will impact how well you continue to play. If you focus on the future, you can easily lose concentration. Learn to be present during a match. You cannot change the past or control the future, so staying present is your best option.
Include Distractions in Your Training
It may sound counterproductive but adding distractions in your training can help you focus better. During a match, there may be someone who coughs or a baby that cries, or something that can distract you. But if you have practiced how to focus on the match, those noises and sights won’t throw you off your game. When you practice, try to recreate situations with similar distractions. Invite your friends and let them talk to each other on the sidelines. Get creative and have fun with it! The more you practice staying focused on your training, the better you’ll be able to ignore the distractions.
Create a Mental Plan and Goals
Concentration requires focusing your mind on something specific, either an object, action, or scenario. Focusing on too many things at the same time leads to a loss of concentration. This is why it is important to set short- and long-term goals for your tennis match. You can focus on tackling short term goals that get you closer to achieving the bigger goal. This strategy will help you focus and get the most out of your strengths on the court.
Use Verbal Cues
Another helpful tip is to have special words and/or phrases to help you snap into focus again and stay present. It could be an instructive reminder or something that helps you centre your emotions like breathing deeply or counting to ten. Be sure not to over analyze anything during your match as it will take away from your focus.
Act the Part
Most players get a little nervous before a match and some get extremely tense, but it’s important to appear confident and relaxed to your opponent. If you appear flustered it will increase their confidence and help them play more intensely against you. Even if you feel nervous or play poorly, continue to appear cool and confident. If you are losing the game and the odds are against you, remain clam. It will confuse your opponent, which can be all you need to take the game back and win.
Monitor Your Concentration and Bring It Up, If Needed
Every now and then rank your level of concentration on a scale of one to ten. This is another tip that will take practice to help you remember it. Most players can easily identify their level, which is usually between six and eight. If you recognize a lack of concentration, you can remind yourself of these tips above such as focusing on the ball or taking deep breaths to calm down and get centered.
Learn Valuable Skills at Our Tennis Summer Camp for Kids
Poor concentration is often an overlooked cause for poor game performance, so now that you know how valuable it is, it’s time to find ways to keep the game interesting and enhance your ability to stay on track mentally.
If your child has shown an interest in tennis or is currently enrolled and having difficulty developing important skills to help them focus and play their best, consider registering for our tennis camp.
Our camp employs experienced instructors that know the tips and tricks to help your child learn how to play their best with their mind and body. We also have amazing courts and facilities, and we create an environment that gets kids excited to learn and play. They can make friends and develop important social skills that they will have for all their lives.
Bayview Village Tennis Camp is the best tennis camp for kids in Toronto. Our Tennis Canada-certified instructors work to teach kids not only how to have fun with tennis, but also how to play smart and safe. More information our various tennis programs can be found by calling us at (905) 889-7293 or emailing pnielsen889@rogers.com.