4 Stages of Tennis-Mind-Learning

There are four stages in tennis-mind-learning when new skills are introduced to players:

1. Unconsciously Incompetent - The students don't know what they don't know.
2. Consciously Incompetent - The students at this stage become aware of what they need to work on.
3. Consciously Competent - While the students are working on this improvement, they must think about it.
4. Unconsciously Competent - The skill now becomes part of their game and the tennis players perform it automatically.

The most critical stage of learning is the third state, where a player has to think and perform at the same time. Ideally, I would like my students to play instinctively. However, at this level the player tends to be too analytical while playing, making this process a sure cause for failure.

So the question often asked is "How do I avoid having my students be too analytical while learning a new skill?"

I use two easy ways to achieve positive results:

1. Keep Message Simple (KMS) - I work on one skill at the time, I introduce new ideas only in relation to the same motor skill. In addition, I use Dartfish video analysis to show the gradual progress to my students. This way I help them to stay focused more on their success and gradual improvement.
2. Use Key Words (UKW) - I simplify my student's thought process by giving them key words to use while performing the movement. This way they are able to "quiet" their thought process and allow the movement to flow harmoniously.

The above two techniques have helped many of my students stay "in the moment" and enjoy their tennis.

When they play great, focusing is easy. It feels as if "it just happens." They don't have to think about playing well, they are just "on". Problems arise when their focus is off and they don't know what to do to regain their focus.

Here is my tennis-mind-learning strategy tip:

• My students carry two photos of themselves playing tennis. On each picture they have written trigger key words. During changeovers, they can improve their focus by looking at these pictures and repeating these key words.

Wish to know more about this simple focusing technique? The more you use this technique, the easier you will find it to re-focus better and faster.











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