This article has been written by a professional tennis and mental coach, Michal Šimeček.
- The Background of Mental Coaching
- The Benefits of Mental Coaching
- Who Is Mental Coaching for?
- Where Can I Get Mental Coaching in Tennis?
- About the author
- Read More:
The Background of Mental Coaching
Imagine having a well-maintained car with a powerful engine and a full tank, but not having GPS – you won’t get where you want to go without a clear direction. Mental coaching is like the GPS that helps you navigate the journey: it helps you recenter, re-route, and keep moving forward even when there’s a detour.
Mental coaching means training the athlete’s mind on how to cope mentally in different situations before, during, and after matches, and learning to use one’s mind to support the physical training. Mental coaching is based on and backed by science – namely, the research area of sports psychology.
Sport psychology studies how psychological factors influence sports performance, and uses psychological knowledge and skills to help athletes reach their optimal performance.
The role of mental coaching is especially important in tennis – not only because players must manage emotions, focus, and pressure alone on court, but also because tools like mental imagery and routines can actively support learning new skills, building confidence, and enhancing performance.
For example, a player who struggles with nerves before matches might work with a mental coach to create a calming pre-match routine. A player with low confidence might benefit from visualization techniques to mentally replay successful serves or forehands from training sessions, helping them feel more prepared and capable in competition.
Mental coaching can take place either online or in person, on or off the court, depending on the player’s current needs. Off-court sessions focus on reflection and planning. The player and the mental coach review recent practices and matches to evaluate progress on previously addressed topics, identify emerging challenges, and introduce new tools and strategies to move forward.
On-court sessions, on the other hand, allow for hands-on application. These may include pressure training, where simulated match-like pressure is created through competitive drills or games, and focus training, where the player practices staying locked in on their task despite deliberate distractions. These practical exercises help bridge the gap between mental skills and real-time performance.
Good to know – The field of mental coaching is largely unregulated in many countries, which means that anyone can technically call themselves a “mental coach” without formal education or certification. Thus, when looking for a mental coach, it’s important to check their qualifications, experience, and educational background to ensure you’re getting credible and effective support.
The Benefits of Mental Coaching
Mental training has scientifically proven benefits – mental training supports both the physical training and its psychological aspects, and the best sport performance is achieved by combining physical and mental training. Mental training has also been proven to improve psychological variables like self-talk, self-concept, pre-competitive anxiety, self-confidence, concentration, and motivation, also leading to an increase in athletes’ personal well-being. (Herrera & Vargas, 2019*).
What can mental coaching offer you:
1. Personalized guidance: Every athlete is unique, with their own strengths, weaknesses, and goals. A mental coach assesses your individual needs and provides customized strategies that align with your personal and athletic profile.
2. Accountability: A mental coach holds you accountable for implementing strategies, tracking your progress, and making adjustments as needed. Without this support, it’s easy to lose motivation or focus when working on your own.
3. Immediate feedback: A mental coach provides real-time feedback during practices and competitions. They can observe how you react under pressure and guide you on how to adapt and improve in the moment.
4. Deeper insight: A Mental coach is trained to identify underlying issues that may not be immediately obvious to you, such as fear of failure or perfectionism. They use evidence-based techniques to address these barriers effectively.
5. Skill application in real-time: Mental coach helps you apply mental techniques like visualization, goal-setting, or emotional regulation directly during your training sessions and competitions. This hands-on approach ensures that the skills become second nature.
Physical training, strategy, and technique are all crucial puzzle pieces, but without mental strength, the picture is incomplete.
Who Is Mental Coaching for?
The short answer? Everyone.
Whether you’re a competing athlete, an aspiring professional, a parent supporting a young athlete, or a competitive coach, mental coaching can benefit you. Athletes aren’t the only ones navigating pressure, emotions, and motivation – parents and coaches play a crucial role in an athlete’s development, and we’re here to support that entire journey.
Building mental strength is a lifelong journey that everyone benefits from, both in sports and in everyday life.
Where Can I Get Mental Coaching in Tennis?
I would recommend contacting the author of this article, Michal Šimeček.
About the author
Michal Šimeček
Šimeček Mental Coaching
IG: @simecekmentalcoaching
FB: Šimeček Mental Coaching
Tel: +420 721 010 654
Email: simecek.coaching@gmail.com
https://www.simecekcoaching.com
Šimeček Mental Coaching was founded by mental coach Michal Šimeček, who holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of New York in Prague and a Master’s in Psychology of Physical Activity, Health, and Well-Being from the University of Jyväskylä. With over 10 years of tennis coaching experience, Michal combines sport psychology expertise with practical, on-court knowledge. His approach is built on creating meaningful connections with clients to develop strategies tailored to each athlete. Contact us via social media, phone, or email to discover how mental coaching can help you reach your potential!
* Link to the full study:
https://www.redalyc.org/journal/5516/551657706006/551657706006_11.pdf
