Having a POSITIVE ATTITUDE

  [caption id="attachment_1646" align="alignright" width="150"] Coach Fran Davis[/caption] The ego does not like to live in any gray areas. The ego loves to be right and hates to be wrong. But we as human beings are 100% in control of the thoughts and emotions that we choose to focus on. So whatever we pay attention to and focus on grows. If you are filled with negativity, doubt and fear is what will grow in your mind. If you focus on being positive, happy, and fearless that is what you will create. All of this is up to you. Everyday thoughts are

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Why You Need a Pregame Psych Plan

[caption id="attachment_1322" align="alignright" width="199"] Coach Fran Davis[/caption] A pregame psych plan prepares an athlete’s body, mind, and emotions to be 100 percent in the present moment. The more an athlete is willing to prepare properly, the more that athlete will walk onto the court with total self-confidence, consistency, focus, and concentration. For elite athletes, the pregame psych plan begins 48 hours before their competition. If they prepare before each match by eating properly, warming up their bodies properly, sleeping enough, visualizing their game plan, having routines, saying their affirmations, and staying calm and relaxed, the easier it will be to

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Affirmations

[caption id="attachment_1646" align="alignright" width="150"] Coach Fran Davis[/caption] An affirmation is a personal and present statement of what you would like to happen in your game. It is as if you are bringing the future into the present moment. Your mind does not know the difference between a self-created statement and reality, so it sends triggers to your body as if it is a reality now. The beauty of the mind is that you really can control so many aspects of the way it works and how it affects your everyday life. (more…)

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Game Situations and Strategies

[caption id="attachment_1646" align="alignright" width="200"] Coach Fran Davis[/caption] A strategy is a method of achieving a specific goal or end result, which is to play your best to win the match. Your strategy helps you carry out your plan. If you just step out on the court without a plan and a particular strategy, you will be doomed from the start. You will always be reacting to the situation rather than creating the situation. You are in a much better position to win when creating the situation right from the beginning of the match.  (more…)

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Your Emotional State Affects Your Game

[caption id="attachment_1646" align="alignright" width="150"] Coach Fran Davis[/caption]The greatest performances come from a state of enjoyment. We take risks, take chances, and are more creative in this state. If it feels great, we continue doing it. If it does not feel good, we stop the pattern. So you have to feel great out on the court all the time. If you are not enjoying racquetball, why are you playing? (more…)

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How Important Are Routines?

We are creatures of habit and perform best when there are no surprises. In order to obtain optimal performance levels, you need a pre-performance routine. All successful athletes thrive on routines that help their mind and body to relax and focus on the essentials of the upcoming competition. Everything in sports is a learned behavior, so each consistent pre-competition routine that an athlete does automatically sets up an ideal performance state. If these routines are performed regularly, then the athlete is on automatic pilot and enters each competition in the ideal performance state. (more…)

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2 Common Serve-Return Errors, and How to Fix Them

[caption id="attachment_5674" align="alignright" width="300"] Rocky in return of serve position during the 2014 US Open UnitedHealthcare championships. Photo by restrungmag.com[/caption] After you return a serve, one of your goals is to get back into center court (behind the dotted line that marks the safety zone and in a box about 6' x 6' toward the back) by moving forward as quickly as possible to regain control of that key area and the match. Basically, your returns should be ceiling balls and passes to get the server out of the middle and so you can cover the return to your shot. Where you stand in the

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Center Court: Positioning and Observing

When you are good center court position, down and ready, you are on defense and your opponent who is hitting the ball is on offense. You have put yourself in the best possible position to get to whatever ball your opponent hits that is left up and getable. Remember good center-court position is located approximately in a 6-foot-by-6-foot area behind the dotted line because 80 to 90 percent of all balls that are hit wind up in the back half of the court. Therefore, center court is in the middle of the back half of the court. There are a

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The Art of Doubles Service Game Strategy

With the National Doubles Championships just around the corner, I thought it would be apropos to cover some doubles “Service Game Strategy." Before you decide on what serve to hit, you want to know your opponents’ strengths and weaknesses, as well as your own, and take advantage of serving to your opponents’ weaknesses. (more…)

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Building Relationships Builds Champions

[caption id="attachment_5350" align="alignright" width="300"] Coach Fran Davis on her way with Jordan, Wayne, Mitchell and Jack to visit OSU and their dynamite Racquetball Program[/caption] I just finished a wonderful training camp with my Junior Championship Team in Salem and Mt. Hood, OR during the Christmas to New Years break, as there was NO school. Jordan Cooperrider flew from Tampa, FL to Seattle, WA on Christmas Night to begin a week long training camp with me. We wanted to make her feel at home so we started the night with “stocking stuffers” and a movie….oh what fun. (more…)

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