Tennis Skills to Help During COVID-19

How can tennis help us during the COVID-19 pandemic? I am not just referring to the active part such as playing through creative measures. I am talking about the mental skills we learn in tennis that allow us to be resilient and to adapt. Tennis is a game where you must have a plan, but be able to adapt that plan to the situation. Think of when we are returning serve. We don't know where the server is going to serve the ball, but we have to adjust if it comes to the right, left, or right at us. We also have to be able to adapt to the speed, the height, and the spin of the ball. As we go through this COVID-19 pandemic, think about what we already have to help us get through this. When returning serve, we have practiced our backhand, we have practiced our forehand, we have practiced moving to the ball, we have practiced the rally. The same thing applies to real life. This pandemic feels like an opponent on a comeback. We were ahead in the game and all of sudden, they caught some momentum. Now we are uncertain, the nerves start rattling, we start to think,"Oh No! I blew it."  We need to adapt. One of the things I have to tell myself everyday is,"Start over. Make it look good. It's okay, I got this. Stay the course." 

One of the things tennis teaches us is to use what we have and adjust to uncertainty. My challenge to you is to use what you have. Tennis teaches us routines, routines are mindfulness in action. The way we start a serve with checking our grip, bouncing the ball. The way we look at our strings in between points. The way we set up to return a serve. I was thinking about the Potato Race. These routines help prepare us to play a point. Use what you have a set a routine. Stay mindful and remember, tennis brings out the strengths to help us be resilient.