If you're a regular Mental Equipment reader, you'll recall previous articles discussing sport psychology at the junior, pre-collegiate, and collegiate levels. This month let's outline psychological skills training in college tennis. If you're a college tennis player, coach or fan, you'll want to make sure your team is properly tooled. Tennis players and performers in all other endeavors can no longer afford to neglect the mental side of training.

Best Season for Washington State Tennis

Here's the terrific bunch that I've had the privilege of working with over the past 6 months:

Head Coach Cari Gross

1998 Washington State University Tennis Team

Get Mental or Lose

Outline of a Sport Psychology Tennis Program

1. Full Coach Investment - The first consideration is to elicit the full support of the head tennis coach. At Washington State, sport psychology is a regular part of team training. Sessions often involve the full participation of the coaching staff. In the early months of a program, this is particularly important because many players are still unfamiliar with regular mental skills training. Coach support reinforces psychological skills training as an essential component.

2. Open Communication and Feedback - Each player and team is unique. A portion of each session should involve discussion of current challenges both on and off the court. Enhancing mental skills is important, but flexibility to deal with relevant issues is needed. Players should be encouraged to discuss issues in an atmosphere of acceptance and trust. Sessions should aim at developing skills over time through frequent positive feedback and support.

3. Early Introduction to Many Mental Skills - A review of the Mental Equipment archive reveals that there are many mental skills for specific problems as well as for overall development. By midseason, the majority of essential skills should have been fully introduced and discussed.

4. Knowledge is Not Enough - Ensure that mental skills are actively practiced and implemented. Take mental training on the court and practice it regularly. Set and achieve short- and long-term goals. Talking is not enough. Put your mental skills where your mouth is.

5. Awareness of Professional Resources - Learning and applying mental skills is important, but players should be encouraged to obtain assistance for more serious clinical issues should they arise (e.g., consultation with a clinical psychologist or physician for more serious issues).