In Sports Psychology we talk about an athlete having two brains…one in your head and one in your “gut.” You have the Learning Brain (head) and the Sports Brain (gut).

1. Learning Brain – this is the brain in your head where you are auditory and then visual. At first you listen to instructions (auditory)and once you have heard the message your brain tries to see or “visualize” the message. In this way you have heard it and then have seen it and now you are ready to try it.

a.  Auditory Brain – when you first learn a new skill that is taught to you it enters the auditory brain-the left side of your brain, and you understand the concept. For some athletes this is good enough, they hear what you say and then do it.

b.  Visual Brain – most athletes need more than just hearing it, so they need to then add the visual picture of the skill-this happens in the right side of the brain.

2. Sports Brain – once you have performed a skill perfectly at least seven times it then gets imprinted and sent to your “second brain” (kinesthetic/feeling center) which lives an inch and a half around your belly button-this is called your gut or instinct. All mucle memory is stored here and is triggered by sight and sound.

It all sounds so easy. Learn the skill, practice the skill, imprint the skill and go out there and win, but there is a lot more to it. Seeing and believing are two different things. In our book we teach you the latest skills and strategies that Jason and Sudsy use to Maintain Mental Toughness.

Check out the techniques of Mental Toughness in our book, “Championship Racquetball.”

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I took to heart everything she said, then went and watched their video, read their new book and the things they were saying began to click.  Your book has become my racquetball bible.  I read and re-read chapters, then go and practice what I’ve read.

I have not only moved up in my league from a B-level player to an A-level player I also find that when I get behind, I feel confident that by playing the high percentage shots that you have taught me I can come back and still win the game.  Yet, with all the things I continue to learn from you, the one thing that totally changed my whole game and my ability to not beat myself in the game is doing the down-the-line drill. That one drill has improved my ability to make the shots that I normally would have missed or would end up beating myself by hitting the ball to the floor.

People ask me, “What changed my game?”  I tell them, “Fran.”

Read her book and it will become your racquetball bible too, watch the video and then go back and read the book again and what Fran and Jason are saying in the book will begin to click. But, if you are really serious about changing your game, go and take not just one lesson, but lessons from Fran.  It will change your game no matter what level of a player you are.

I was tired of always beating myself in the game and I wanted to become a better player and compete at a higher level, so taking lessons from Fran has given me the opportunity to do just that.  Every penny I have spent I believe I have gotten more than my money back in the lessons that I have taken. I am not even close to what I believe I can be as a racquetball player.  But, before I started taking lessons, I never truly believed I could really become that player.  Today, I know I can become that player.

“Fran, thank you very, very much for giving me the opportunity, knowledge, and confidence to be the player I know I can be.”

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Breakfast of Champions consists of whole grain cereals, fruit, and juice; or eggs, toast, fruit; or hot oatmeal cereal, yogurt, granola and fruit. All of these good wholesome foods turn into muscle glycogen. Stay away from white flour, white sugar, chemicals, fats, and preservatives. They stay in your stomach too long which drives up your glucose index to higher levels, which in turn makes you feel more fatigued after eating these high fat, high sugar food choices.

Protein Lunch consists of a sandwich made of turkey, chicken, tuna, beef, egg or any form of protein with cheese, lettuce, and tomato on whole grain bread; or soup, salad, and a lean hamburger. These are the ideal protein lunches that you need which will contain the amino acids to build and repair muscle tissue and cells that have been broken down by intense play. These amino acids coupled with the glycogen will put energy back into your muscles.

Pasta Dinner consists of whole grain pasta, salad, bread, and lots of water, (throw in some oatmeal cookies for desert) - making this the perfect ‘glycogen’ source. This meal supplies the energy you need for your brain and your muscles.

Protein Dinner is the ideal post-match meal at night as it is filled with amino acids that will build and repair broken down muscle and tissue from your match. Try steak, salad, and steamed vegetables with rice or a potato.

Post Game Nutrition should be 90 minutes after your match. Always eat a protein/carbohydrate meal-the amino acids are used to repair your broken down tissue and cells and the carbohydrates are used to replace your muscle glycogen stores from your match. Do not replace beer and popcorn for a good meal.

*You need to consistently eat like this for 2 days or 48 hours before your competition begins, your body will be perfectly filled with all the nutrients that it needs for a consistent and peak performance!

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If you can relate agility to a football player, it would best be described by a running back approaching the line knowing there are guys ready to hit him from all directions. He recognizes an opening and accelerates towards it, but finds a bigger athlete running towards him. In an instant he’s able to maneuver his body and feet to make the quick adjustment to avoid the collision.

By concentrating your efforts on maneuvering your body around the court and around your opponent, you will not only be able to get to more shots, but it will enhance your ability to perform the techniques and shots you’ve learned once you get there because you will have more time. With MORE time your shot selection will also be enhanced because you will be able to think…where am I, where is the ball, what’s the best shot to hit?

There are specific exercises that develop your agility and helps you to be “lighter on your feet” on the court so that when the ball is moving in excess of over 100 mph you can react to the ball in a split second.

Check out the exercises in our book, “Championship Racquetball.”

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5 Medals for my Championship Team…4 Gold Medals, 1 Silver Medal and 1 HAPPY Coach

The ten day event is finally over and my students walked away from the Pan Am Games with 5 medals between them:

Paola Longoria took home 3 Gold Medals….1 Gold Individual Singles and 1 Gold Individual Doubles Competition and 1 Gold Team Competition.

Rocky Carson took home 1 Gold and 1 Silver Medal… 1 Gold Individual Singles and 1 Silver Team Competition

Paola was the talk of the games as in November 2010 she won the Woman Athlete of the Year Award for all of Mexico, one of the highest honors an athlete could receive. The cameras and media were focused on her as they expected her to bring home the GOLD for their country….and she delivered big time. The pressure was incredible for both her and I, but through it all Paola beat Rhonda Rajsich 3X in the same event even coming back from being down 8-9 in one of the tie-breakers to win 11-9…a sweet victory in the Singles Individual Competition. As a matter of fact all the games with Rhonda went a tie-breaker so both these women gave the crowd their monies worth. The sellout crowds all week long were chanting, clapping, screaming and cheering for their hometown favorite.

Rocky had to beat 2 Mexicans on the way to the Gold…hometown favorites Alvaro and Gilberto. You couldn’t even hear yourself think as the crowds went crazy for their Mexican heroes, but staying mentally tough Rocky was able to ward off both in 2 games straight to win the Gold in the Individual Singles Competition. In the Team Competition Rocky started off and led the way against Mexican Gilberto and won giving the USA Team a 1-0 lead, but unfortunately Chris lost to Alvaro in the 2nd singles match and Chris and Shane lost to Alvaro and Javier in an exciting tie-breaker in the doubles match to a standing room only crowd. As a result Rocky, Chris, Shane and Alex captured the Silver in the Team Competition, still a wonderful accomplishment.

For me the Pan Am games was a once in a lifetime experience, especially being in Paola’s home country of Mexico. Sitting courtside and coaching her knowing Vic, the Dr., Magaly, the Sports Psychologist, Silvia, from the Mexican Government, and Paola’s family and boyfriend were all there to support her made my job easier. After each match she and sometimes I were whisked away for interviews, pictures and autographs. This is truly the way racquetball athletes should be treated all the time.

Watching both Paola and Rocky play over the course of the 10 days and seeing how all their hard work physically, mentally and emotionally paid off made me VERY PROUD of them. Knowing I have been a part of their growth and development as players is all a coach could ask for and dream about.

Thanks Paola and Rocky for a GREAT week and memories to last forever.

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• Paola Longoria is in 2 finals for both Women’s Singles and Doubles representing Mexico.
• Rocky Carson is in the Men’s Singles finals representing USA.

Being here in Mexico with them and watching them handle the pressure and raising their level of play is something I wouldn’t have missed for the world.
They are playing to sell out crowds. The energy, the cheering, the chanting, the clapping and doing the wave is incredible. This is how tournaments should be in the states.

Hopefully I will have good news for you after their matches.

Gracias and Adios

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