Different Pre-Game Strokes For Different Folks

Wimbleton’s only a few days away, and everyone’s hoping for more drama similar to last year’s epic 5-set battle between Nadal and Federer. Everyone except Nadal, that is, who’s sitting this one out due to a knee injury. Today’s article in the Telegraph focuses on the contrasting prematch behavior of these two great players.

It’s interesting, I’m often asked by elite athletes what is the best way to prepare for competition. My answer is that there is no “best” way that applies to all. People are different. Extroverts tend to like things (action and confrontation) that raise their arousal levels. Introverts tend to prefer quiet and calm to prepare.

In my upcoming book, Performing Under Pressure, I describe working with an NCAA D 1 tennis team to develop a pre-competition routine for the group. Before each match, the players would lie down for five minutes with their eyes closed, and their racquets in hand. After relaxing and breathing for a few moments, they would mentally run through every aspect of their game and imagine themselves playing well, with speed, balance, power, and accuracy.

Most of the players enjoyed the process and found it set them up well. However, a couple weren’t comfortable with the routine. They said sitting quietly and visualizing before a match made them "nervous". Instead of spending a few minutes being quiet and calming down, they wanted to do something energizing to "pump" themselves up. For them, we designed a stimulating shadow boxing reaction drill that got them moving and encouraged them to choose some hard-driving music to listen to prior to going out onto the courts.

I also developed a self-talk program for the players. For most of the team the affirmations were positive, calming, reassuring, and confidence building. The self-talk created for the extroverts was very upbeat and challenging. Essentially, it was designed to increase their arousal levels and elicit feelings that would give them an edge and help them to perform.

It’s also interesting to note that one’s preferences can chance over a career. In the Telegraph article, it mentions how Federer, once rather flamboyant, seems to have toned down his persona over the years. I think age and experience has a lot to do with it. In my book, Hockey Tough, A Winning Mental Game, I mention that Steve Yzerman, a perennial NHL all-star, reported that as a young player he would pump and psyche himself up before games and, as he grew to be an older, wiser veteran, he switched to relaxation as a way to get ready for battle.

Hockey Tough, A Winning Mental Game is available at amazon.

Performing Under Pressure will be released this fall though Wiley Publishing.

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