never really trying hard ever again. They transform themselves into a weaker player. A young hockey player who was headed for the NHL once told me that hockey is an oval within an oval. Those inside the inner oval were actually playing the game. Those who were on the outside of the oval were on the ice, but were just watching the action and pretending to be playing the game. That is a great metaphor for what I am talking about here. The fear of encountering another loss like the initial one is so intolerable to some players that they inhibit their drive, their power, and their aggression. This is what I call a drive towards mediocrity. The feeling of helplessness and hopelessness was so devastating that they never recover and refuse to give full effort again. The champion rarely loses their aggression, sense of power, confidence or grit. Roger Federer is a good example of a champion that
never quits. This is one reason that he tends to gain momentum at the end of matches while his opponent relinquishes power. You may have noticed that Federer seems humble, not grandiose and isn’t a perfectionist. He accepts failure and is not shattered by it. This allows him to bounce back and keep on trying. Their sense of perfectionism and grandiosity sets players up for disappointment which is unbearable and they avoid all real effort in the future. These are the players who never do well under pressure and who never live up to potential. The secret of the champion is that they have no fear of success, no fear of failure and therefore they give it their all every single time they play. This is a
rare thing and terms like grit, resilience and a never-say-die attitude describe this trait. It is possible to develop grit and play like a champion. If you notice that you seem to lose focus and give up as you play, you may be suffering in this way. This is due to an unconscious unresolved anxiety about losing which you have converted into a fear of trying to win. Look back at your biggest loss, see if it changed you and if so, go find someone to talk about it. Why suffer the same loss over and over again? And why live a life of mediocrity when it does not have to be that way? You may be acting like a Salieri with a Mozart inside of you waiting to emerge
For consultations, treatment or on-site visits, contact Dr. Tom Ferraro Ph.D., Sport Psychologist, by phone at (516) 248-7189, e-mail DrTFerraro@aol.com or visit DrTomFerraro.com.
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LITennisMag.com • May/June 2022 • Long Island Tennis Magazine
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