The Short Set — Applied Sport Psychology for Tennis

Most athletes have had thoughts like these before competition:“What if I lose?”“What if I don’t defend my ranking points?”“What if I fail?”In this video, I explain why simply trying to “think positive” often isn’t enough to reduce performance anxiety... drawing on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), applied sport psychology, and an idea that traces back to the ancient Stoics, I cover about one of my favorite techniques for helping athletes challenge catastrophic thinking before matches and tournaments.If you struggle with overthinking, fear of failure, or constantly imagining the worst-case scenario before matches, tournaments, or performances, I hope you’ll find this helpful.→ Schedule an intro call: https://malimentalperformance.com/intro-call→ How do sessions work? https://malimentalperformance.com/how-do-sessions-work→ My website: https://malimentalperformance.comMy name is Malhar Mali. I'm a mental performance/sport psychology consultant, with a MS in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology. I've been a tennis player for most of my life, at the collegiate level and beyond, and I've also been an NCAA coach. I've managed and directed tennis programs, and over the past few years I've undertaken the appropriate education and ethical training to become a sport psychology professional; I have been trained as a scientist-practitioner. I also have research in cognitive anxiety, emotional regulation, and emotional resilience, working with players inside the Top 100 to the Top 500. Today, I work with athletes all over the globe. Clients range from elite juniors, recreational, collegiate, and professional players.—What is applied sport and performance psychology and who works in it? This field is the non-clinical application of sport psychology (the science), psychology, counseling, and motor behavior to help athletes and performers improve the quality of their performance and improve mental well-being. Professionals have a minimum of a master's or PhDs in Sport Psychology or a *closely* related field.

Why do some junior players develop confidence, resilience, and a love of competing, while others become anxious, afraid of losing, or eventually quit the sport altogether? In this video, I introduce the concept of motivational climate—the psychological environment created by parents and coaches—and explain how it shapes an athlete’s motivation and long-term development. Drawing on Achievement Goal Theory, we explore the difference between ego-involving and mastery-involving climates, what the research tells us, and how subtle messages about winning, effort, and improvement influence young athletes over time. Whether you’re a parent, coach, or player, I hope this gives you a framework for thinking differently about the environment you’re creating and the kind of athlete you’re helping develop.→ Schedule an intro call: https://malimentalperformance.com/intro-call→ How do sessions work? https://malimentalperformance.com/how-do-sessions-work→ My website: https://malimentalperformance.com→ Prefer to read it? Here: https://malimentalperformance.com/post/are-you-responsible-for-your-childs-struggles-on-the-tennis-courtMy name is Malhar Mali. I'm a mental performance/sport psychology consultant, with a MS in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology. I've been a tennis player for most of my life, at the collegiate level and beyond, and I've also been an NCAA coach. I've managed and directed tennis programs, and over the past few years I've undertaken the appropriate education and ethical training to become a sport psychology professional; I have been trained as a scientist-practitioner. I also have research in cognitive anxiety, emotional regulation and emotional resilience, working with players inside the Top 100 to the Top 500. Today, I work with athletes all over the globe. Ages range from as young as 11 all the way to adult.—What is applied sport and performance psychology and who works in it? This field is the non-clinical application of sport psychology (the science), psychology, counseling, and motor behavior to help athletes and performers improve the quality of their performance and improve mental well-being. Professionals have a minimum of a master's or PhDs in Sport Psychology or a *closely* related field.

Most tennis players are too outcome obsessed. You want to chase rankings and ratings but have no understanding of how mastery, performance, and process goals will get you there. That's what we'll cover in this video.—Can't play like you practice? This course will help: ⁠https://malimentalperformance.com/cant-play-like-you-practice-7-day-email-course/⁠—→ Schedule an intro call: ⁠https://malimentalperformance.com/intro-call⁠→ How do sessions work?: ⁠https://malimentalperformance.com/how-do-sessions-work⁠→ My website: ⁠https://malimentalperformance.com⁠→ Prefer to read it? Here: https://malimentalperformance.com/post/how-tennis-players-should-actually-set-goalsMy name is Malhar Mali. I'm a mental performance/sport psychology consultant, with a MS in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology. I've been a tennis player for most of my life, at the collegiate level and beyond, and I've also been an NCAA coach. I've managed and directed tennis programs, and over the past few years I've undertaken the appropriate education and ethical training to become a sport psychology professional; I have been trained as a scientist-practitioner. I also have research in cognitive anxiety, emotional regulation and emotional resilience, working with players inside the Top 100 to the Top 500. Today, I work with athletes all over the globe. Ages range from as young as 11 all the way to adult.—What is applied sport and performance psychology and who works in it? This field is the non-clinical application of sport psychology (the science), psychology, counseling, and motor behavior to help athletes and performers improve the quality of their performance and improve mental well-being. Professionals have master's or PhDs in Sport Psychology or a *closely* related field.

"Mental toughness" clichés won't get you very far. Understand what mindfulness for performance is and how it is conceptualized in sport and performance psychology.—Can't play like you practice? This course will help: ⁠https://malimentalperformance.com/cant-play-like-you-practice-7-day-email-course/⁠—→ Schedule an intro call: https://malimentalperformance.com/intro-call→ My website: https://malimentalperformance.com→ Prefer to read it? Here: https://malimentalperformance.com/post/how-novak-djokovic-trains-his-mental-skillsMy name is Malhar Mali. I'm a mental performance/sport psychology consultant, with a MS in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology. I've been a tennis player for most of my life, at the collegiate level and beyond, and I've also been an NCAA coach. I've managed and directed tennis programs, and over the past few years I've undertaken the appropriate education and ethical training to become a sport psychology professional; I have been trained as a scientist-practitioner. I also have research in cognitive anxiety, emotional regulation and emotional resilience, working with players inside the Top 100 to the Top 500.Today, I work with athletes all over the globe. Ages range from as young as 11 all the way to adult.What is applied sport and performance psychology and who works in it? This field is the non-clinical application of sport psychology (the science), psychology, counseling, and motor behavior to help athletes and performers improve the quality of their performance and improve mental well-being. Professionals have master's or PhDs in Sport Psychology or a *closely* related field.

You have a choice. Do you want to react to the event or whatever is happening with self-judgment? Or do you want to react to it with self-kindness. Your decision will have major impacts.—Can't play like you practice? This course will help: https://malimentalperformance.com/cant-play-like-you-practice-7-day-email-course/—→ Schedule an intro call: https://malimentalperformance.com/intro-call→ How do sessions work?: https://malimentalperformance.com/how-do-sessions-work→ My website: https://malimentalperformance.com→ Prefer to read it? Here: https://malimentalperformance.com/post/self-judgment-vs-self-kindness-sport-psycholoyMy name is Malhar Mali. I'm a mental performance/sport psychology consultant, with a MS in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology. I've been a tennis player for most of my life, at the collegiate level and beyond, and I've also been an NCAA coach. I've managed and directed tennis programs, and over the past few years I've undertaken the appropriate education and ethical training to become a sport psychology professional; I have been trained as a scientist-practitioner. I also have research in cognitive anxiety, emotional regulation and emotional resilience, working with players inside the Top 100 to the Top 500.Today, I work with athletes all over the globe. Ages range from as young as 11 all the way to adult.What is applied sport and performance psychology and who works in it? This field is the non-clinical application of sport psychology (the science), psychology, counseling, and motor behavior to help athletes and performers improve the quality of their performance and improve mental well-being. Professionals have master's or PhDs in Sport Psychology or a *closely* related field.

How you view matches, tournaments, and leagues has a strong impact on your body's physiological responses. It's important to understand the difference between challenge and threat appraisals and how to shift the balance.Join The Short Set: www.malharmali.com/subscribeIntro to Mental Skills (Free 7-Day Email Course): https://www.malharmali.com/intro-to-mental-skills

"What's your UTR?"It's a question heard around the world. The problem? It runs counter to 3 areas of what sport psychology research would recommend. If you find yourself or a player you know playing with fear and worry, this episode is for you.Join The Short Set: www.malharmali.com/subscribeIntro to Mental Skills: www.malharmali.com/intro-to-mental-skillsTo listen to the Dane Sweeney podcast, go to www.malharmali.com/podcasts and listen to "Choose Mastery Over Ego"

Stop mumbling useless phrases to yourself.Intro to Mental Skills (Free 7-Day Course): https://www.malharmali.com/intro-to-mental-skillsJoin The Short Set: www.malharmali.com/subscribe

The highest ROI area in tennis: How you view tennis matches and setbacks and failures is a strong indicator of how resilient you are. Playing more matches can help—but mental performance work is often the key to unlocking your best performances on the tennis court.Intro to Mental Skills (Free 7-Day Course): https://www.malharmali.com/intro-to-mental-skillsJoin The Short Set: www.malharmali.com/subscribe

How does the best player ever train his mental skills? What's his mindset and approach like? Hint: there's no macho-man stuff about being "mentally indestructible" or never experiencing mental challenges and negative emotions.Intro to Mental Skills (Free 7-Day Course): https://www.malharmali.com/intro-to-mental-skillsThe Short Set: www.malharmali.com/subscribe

You don't need to "feel" confident when you're competing on the tennis court. What matters more is how you use your attention. We dive into the performance psychology of attention to help you understand what truly matters when you're competing.Intro to Mental Skills (Free 7-Day Course): https://www.malharmali.com/intro-to-mental-skillsJoin The Short Set: www.malharmali.com/subscribe

How you view competition has a major effect on your performance. We touch on the sport psychology areas of extrinsic vs intrinsic motivation and hear a powerful story of a professional player and how he's changed his orientation toward mastery.Intro to Mental Skills (Free 7-Day Course): https://www.malharmali.com/intro-to-mental-skillsThe Short Set: www.malharmali.com/subscribe