Each Day Tennis is Different
First published on 9-09-2009. Bookmark & share
by Randy Lynn Rutledge - a previously certified USPTA Tennis Teaching Professional
( Note: retired in good standing, but stopped making USPTA dues payments )
( Note: retired in good standing, but stopped making USPTA dues payments )
This article offers suggestions and questions to consider while planning tennis improvement.
Tennis is experienced differently each day. Daily tennis improvement or setbacks can be determined by the degree to which a tennis player is aware of and able to incorporate tennis strategy during points, games, and sets of a tennis match.
Endurance, or the length of time that an athlete can maintain all body systems functioning within normal ranges, is a major factor to consider when calculating the playing ability of a tennis player. Manipulate factors (internal and external) within your control to give yourself the best possible chance to succeed.
Consider these questions while planning pathways for improvement:
1). Do you make necessary changes or adaptations to your living and playing environments to be safe and healthy?
2). Do you mainly intake a diet of healthy food and drink to supply the necessary nutrients necessary for normal functioning of all systems of your body?
3). Do you adjust your rest and sleep amounts according to the stress exposure levels to your body so that repair within body systems can take place?
4). Do you engage in positive activities such as exercise, breathing control, mindfulness, hobbies, relaxing activities, and time management as counter-balances for undesirable types of stress?
5. Do you make efforts to maintain normal operations of the vital systems within your body such as blood oxygenation and circulation, skeletal and muscle functioning, fluid and food processing and distribution, waste elimination, immunity from illness and disease, temperature control, and the processing of sensory input to the brain to keep everything working well and maintain a sense of well-being within your own mind and body?
6). Do you make honest efforts to learn about other people and to grow as a person within a global society?
7). Do you regularly set and adjust short-term and long-term goals for your tennis and life?
8). Have you discovered which of your sense organs (touch, hearing, smell, taste, sight) usually dominates the transfer of input to your brain and has the greatest influence on your perception during various situations?
9). Do you find ways to spend time with people and nature?
10). Do you expose yourself to new learning, indulge in self-discovery, stay abreast of new trends and topics of interest from multiple media sources?