Mental Toughness

I would assess my performance lately as improving in mental toughness.  Overcoming loss of focus when fatigue sets in is the most important right now.  It is the obvious choice for another reason.  I don't have the time to train regularly so I can't put in the hours for drills and cross training to improve techniques and fitness.  While I can work on mental toughness every time I enter the court.

The results are seen in winning games when I've been pushed physically to my limits.  I still experience some lapses, but I'm keeping the lapses brief and regaining composure and fighting on.  I keep my focus on just two things.  Serving deep and watching the other player.  When I'm focused the serves are deep.  That starts the rally in my advantage.  I'm watching the other player for cross and boasts.

The real difference in how I play is in how I manage my breathing to control my heart rate.  I wore my HR monitor a few times now during practice.  I keep an eye on spikes in my HR.  When I see that it's up, I slow my breathing and my pace.  It's a good self coaching technique that I'm having success with.  Despite playing less and fatigue more quickly I'm winning more.  The mental training plus the better warm up exercise and stretching have yielded good results for me.