282 How To Help An Emotional Tennis Player Perform Better

In this episode, David Charlton and his colleague Colm O'Donoghue discussed a case study of a 12-year-old tennis player who struggled with her emotions on the court.   She often became overwhelmed by with anger and frustration or disappointment after making mistakes or losing points, leading to a loss of focus, poor performance and less enjoyment.  Her parents also found it very difficult to watch her play and contain themselves as a result too.  David and Colm go on to offer some advice for managing these strong emotional responses so that she can perform better and enjoy her tennis more.  Key Learning Points: ·       Improving her emotional regulation is key to her success and enjoyment. ·       Find ways to focus on the present such as breathing techniques can be useful. ·       David emphasizes the importance of consistent practice and viewing breathing as a life skill. ·       Seeing the alignment of the parasympathetic nervous system as a vital component in playing your best by strategically finding ways to slow down can be helpful. ·       Plan B thinking by using visualisation, where she sees herself making mistakes and feels the emotions that comes with this, then recovering more positively can help her improve her composure in difficult moments. Connect with David Charlton Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIN Podcast Episodes To Help You Regulate Your Emotions Ep071 - James Lau: Mastering The Mental Side Of Tennis Ep232 – Andy Elleray - How To Remain Composed As a Goalkeeper Under Pressure Ep256 – David Charlton - The Immature Brain: How To Help An Emotional Child Other Valuable Resources To Help Children, Young Athletes, Parents and Youth Sport Coaches Youth Sports Psychology Library Conversations With Kids Ideas Frequently Asked Questions - Sport Psychology for Children and Parents Resources To Support Tennis Players Perform Better How To Regain Momentum In Tennis So That You Win More Matches How to Let Go of Mistakes when Playing Tennis How Tennis Players Can Stay Confident Under Pressure