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.

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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