Physical wellness is the name of the game when it comes to competitive sports. Athletes are proficient in strength, power, endurance, or strength, if not more, to excel in their activity. But in the background, a stronger force drives the performance of athletes: their mental.
For the preseason, girls’ tennis participated in a camp designed to prepare the athletes for their sports by providing them with mental skills as well as physical conditioning.
The camp ran every Thursday and Sunday over nine sessions in the span of five weeks, lasting from Jan. 23 to Feb. 20.
“This camp is designed to prepare high school athletes for their sport by providing mental skills and physical conditioning,” assistant girls’ tennis coach James Zurcher said.
Physical conditioning for this camp includes skills you’d expect from athletic programs, with tennis-specific sport exercises designed to improve strength, endurance, agility, and speed. The team progressed through progressively harder routines, starting with regular warmup routines – high knees, jogging, shuffling – and moving on to intense cardio and core strengthening.
“I created and planned this program, basing it on my past experience as a player and coach, and also my current experience as a student pursuing a masters degree in sport & performance psychology,” Zurcher said.
For athletes, their physical condition is only part of the battle. According to Charlie Health, in 2020, about half of elite athletes struggled with mental health at some point during their lives. Depression and anxiety are some of the most common struggles that athletes face, so it’s important to develop mental skills to combat such symptoms.
“We worked on things like goal setting, self-talk, performance routines, imagery, focus, athletic identity, failure as learning,” Zurcher said. “The mental skills and strategies come from decades of experience playing and coaching.”
While these workouts may be more unfamiliar to student athletes, the benefits outweighed any apprehensions about the program.
“At first, I felt a bit stiff and anxious about the risk of injury from pushing myself too hard,” freshman Audrey Williams said. “However, after a few days, I started to truly appreciate the importance of both mental and physical conditioning. Although the program is challenging, I embrace those challenges because they help me focus on achieving my goals.”
The camp not only aims to push the players as athletes but also attempts to establish a stronger connection between everyone as they work together and improve themselves as teammates.
“I got to meet new people and push myself as an athlete. I hope to get into better shape and a new sense of community with all the girls that were there with me,” freshman Ava Hightower said. “I’m excited for the season to start and can’t wait to see how we persevere together as a team.”
Many hours go into each session for the girls’ tennis team to help the young athletes realize their potential as athletes and performers. The goal is to help the players feel more comfortable and confident as they head onto the court for the spring season. Physical fitness is important, but so is keeping a positive mindset. Being able to perform well and concentrate – especially under pressure – is as important as being active.
“My overarching goal is to help these awesome young performers to build habits for their mind and body that will help them realize their potential,” Zurcher said. “I hope they will use these skills in the upcoming season, but my true goal is that they will carry these skills with them throughout their lives.”
