Compete Like a Champion

Do you use the towel during matches? Are you using it to truly refocus? This episode will help you use the towel as a means to refocus in between points. Coach Johnny and Dr. Larry discuss what the meaning of the towel could be instead of just wiping off sweat. We talk about how to incorporate mental skills into a towel ritual and how to find an optimal performance state more consistently. For mor...

The CLC team talks about 3 common myths in tennis. Going fast to avoid thinking, more is more, and angry outburts to let go. We discuss why these exists and why they are ineffective. We offer solutions to each of these myths, as well. For more information find us at Dr. Larry and Coach Johnny on Twitter: @LarryLauer / @johnnyparkes1 Instagram: @johnny_parkes USTA PD Website: http://www.playerdevel...

This episode is about how to simulate major competition environments. We discuss the specifics on how a coach can adjust the timing, rewards/consequences, and stressors to simulate the environment of a Slam or major tournament. For more information find us at Dr. Larry and Coach Johnny on Twitter: @LarryLauer / @johnnyparkes1 Instagram: @johnny_parkes USTA PD Website: http://www.playerdevelopment....

How do you prepare players for major competitions? The team discusses Professional Tennis Coach David Sammel's 5 Factors for Coaching at Grand Slams (Leaders in Sport newsletter). These competitions could be the local championship or a Grand Slam. For more information find us at Dr. Larry and Coach Johnny on Twitter: @LarryLauer / @johnnyparkes1 Instagram: @johnny_parkes USTA PD Website: http://ww...

In this skill drill episode we talk about how to maintain perspective while competing, and how to practice it. We discuss the long-term perspective, delaying gratification, and psychological skills and/or concepts that will help players maintain perspective while competing. We also dive into how to shape behavior. For more information find us at Dr. Larry and Coach Johnny on Twitter: @LarryLauer /...

In this episode we interview Clinical Psychologist and former professional tennis player Dr. Shawn Foltz-Emmons about competition in perspective. The conversation moved from what a healthy perspective is to why many struggle to have a healthy perspective of competition in tennis. We also examined how to create perspective within others. This interview went deep into what competing is all about and...

Time to tackle excuse-making on court. Coach Johnny and Dr. Larry share games you can play in practice to challenge a player's perceptions of what is happening and why. We also get into the importance of asking questions and countering the excuses in vivo or live! Transcript Twitter: Dr. Larry @LarryLauer Coach Johnny @johnnyparkes1 Instagram: Coach Johnny @johnny_parkes USTA Player Development We...

Are excuses always bad or could they play a protective role? How do we know when to call out excuses? This episode will have you think about excuses in a way that hopefully creates more transparent and open conversation with players. Twitter: Dr. Larry @LarryLauer Coach Johnny @johnnyparkes1 Instagram: Coach Johnny @johnny_parkes USTA Player Development Website  

Skill Drill time again! In this episode we discuss how work on players hitting out on ball and making good decisions under pressure using games.    Twitter: Dr. Larry @LarryLauer Coach Johnny @johnnyparkes1 Instagram: Coach Johnny @johnny_parkes USTA Player Development Website  

Inspired by Navy Seal Pete Naschak's talk on the Art of the Debrief, Johnny and Larry discuss their thoughts on how to debrief after matches. The common pitfalls of debriefs were discussed, as was how to approach the debrief including setting the expectation, making it a safe space, staying goal-focused, facilitating versus telling, and summarizing.   Twitter: Dr. Larry @LarryLauer Coach Johnny @j...

It's skills and drills time again! Our focus is on how to practice bouncing back from a break. It's a simple game but a challenging one that encourages players to be resilient.   Twitter: Dr. Larry @LarryLauer Coach Johnny @johnnyparkes1 Instagram: Coach Johnny @johnny_parkes USTA Player Development Website

The team covers 7 ways coaches can help players develop their capacity to bounce back or be resilient. We also talk about what it does for players when they see other players comeback from match point down (see Andy Murray).   Twitter: Dr. Larry @LarryLauer Coach Johnny @johnnyparkes1 Instagram: Coach Johnny @johnny_parkes USTA Player Development Website

In our first skill drill of '23 we discuss how to take the concept of focus and, specifically, channels of internal-external, narrow-broad from the TAIS model and practice them. The keys are to know what to focus on when and how to shift to that focus channel. The drills we describe will help with shifting focus.   Twitter: Dr. Larry @LarryLauer Coach Johnny @johnnyparkes1 Instagram: Coach Johnny...

This podcast is for any player who struggles to focus and attention to the appropriate cues. We cover the TAIS model and how to teach it to players. Examples are provided for each of the 4 channels of attention. We also cover the key concept of shifting attention and ways to train it.   Twitter: Dr. Larry @LarryLauer Coach Johnny @johnnyparkes1 Instagram: Coach Johnny @johnny_parkes USTA Player De...

In the first episode of 2023 Dr. Larry and Coach Johnny return to discuss the Australian Open. We examine what has the Americans doing so well and how they can keep the momentum going!   Twitter: Dr. Larry @LarryLauer Coach Johnny @johnnyparkes1 Instagram: Coach Johnny @johnny_parkes USTA Player Development Website

Our next drill is how to lead an effective pre-season meeting. While it may seem straightforward, if led with planning and foresight, the pre-season meeting can be a difference-maker in a player's motivation, focus, and confidence. We go through the four parts of a pre-season meeting and how to make the most of the time together as a team with the player. Dr. Larry and Coach Johnny on Twitter: @La...

In the this latest episode we discuss the pre-season and how to maximize its effectiveness. The purpose of a pre-season for pros, and what it might look like for juniors is also discussed. We detail the progression from the start of the pre-season to how to finish the pre-season. Dr. Larry and Coach Johnny on Twitter: @LarryLauer / @johnnyparkes1 Instagram: @johnny_parkes USTA PD Website: http://w...

How do we make warm-ups fun and, yet, appropriate? The CLC team details how to develop warm-ups that engage the players. Coach Johnny provides several creative ways to do warm-up activites and we discuss raising the intensity of the warm-up. Dr. Larry and Coach Johnny on Twitter: @LarryLauer / @johnnyparkes1 Instagram: @johnny_parkes USTA PD Website: http://www.playerdevelopment.usta.com/podcasts/...

Coach Johnny leads the way as we discuss the physical, mental and emotional benefits of warm-ups specifically designed to develop the athelte. In this episode we discuss how to use the warm-up to prepare for practice and matches, but also create better athletes. Dr. Larry and Coach Johnny on Twitter: @LarryLauer / @johnnyparkes1 Instagram: @johnny_parkes USTA PD Website: http://www.playerdevelopme...

In this skill drill episode we describe how to enhance awarness of patterns of play through a progression of three on-court games. In addition, we cover the prepare, execute, and reflection cycle and how that applies to this drill. Dr. Larry and Coach Johnny on Twitter: @LarryLauer / @johnnyparkes1 Instagram: @johnny_parkes USTA PD Website: http://www.playerdevelopment.usta.com/podcasts/?

Problem-solving is seen as a core component of competing in tennis (and in other sports, as well). To be a great problem-solver one must have awareness of what is happening in the moment. In this episode Coach Johnny and Dr. Larry, motivated by a recent discussion with tennis coaches, discuss how to develop awareness and problem-solving skills. We offer up a problem-solving cycle that increases pl...

Why promote stress in practice? Why simulate tennis scenarios? We discuss and then share a game that coaches can use to create "good" stress in practice. Dr. Larry and Coach Johnny on Twitter: @LarryLauer / @johnnyparkes1 Instagram: @johnny_parkes USTA PD Website: http://www.playerdevelopment.usta.com/podcasts/?

How much are we talking versus listening in tennis? CLC dives into why we need to listen to the athletes more and why sometimes we don't listen. We also talk about ways to improve your listening. Dr. Larry and Coach Johnny on Twitter: @LarryLauer / @johnnyparkes1 Instagram: @johnny_parkes USTA PD Website: http://www.playerdevelopment.usta.com/podcasts/?

The latest skill drill episode tackles how to work on playing in distracting and new environments. We discuss an example distraction drill in practice, and set it up to maximize learning. We also talk about how often and when to do distraction training. Dr. Larry and Coach Johnny on Twitter: @LarryLauer / @johnnyparkes1 Instagram: @johnny_parkes USTA PD Website: http://www.playerdevelopment.usta.c...

The tennis world has seen numerous retirements recently, including Serena at the US Open and Federer after Laver Cup. The CLC team take this opportunity to discuss the importance of our tennis heroes and how they are human just like us. We also discuss how to have a conversation with a player (or your child) about the strengths and the mistakes of our heroes. Dr. Larry and Coach Johnny on Twitter:...