Improving = Competing

Play to improve. You have heard this before if you are a Simcoe Tennis athlete. I remember when I first heard this I took it to the extreme. I thought playing to improve meant trying to hit every ball as if it was going to be a winner regardless of the position I was in. Over time, I learned that it meant to see every opportunity as one to grow, to develop every facet of your game, not just an ability to hit winners, but the ability to be solid every where on the court. Play to improve really meant to see every moment as one to become a better player. 

This saying has developed over the years and has had many different meanings. I have now learned that playing to improve can be equated with competing. Competition can be scary; often depicted as a battle between two players, one trying to beat the other. This idea of competition can consume players and manifest thoughts that every match must be won and no lost match is a good match. Thoughts like this however don’t run parallel to the idea that playing to improve and competition are synonyms for each other. That is true, because this idea of competition negates the idea of playing to improve and can limit a players potential. 

Think about the top players in the game. During their press conferences there is a recurring phrase, regardless if the player won or loss, “I’m just going to keep on trying to improve my game.” We have heard this said by Djokovic, Federer and Nadal; these players are the best of the best, but are focused on improving. Why? Because they’re not competing against the other players, they are competing against their self. 

Regardless of where you are, play your best and
challenge yourself

When competing against yourself you want to be better than the player you were yesterday, better than the player you were when you started practice, and hit a better shot than the one you just hit. These players are always competing, not just in tournaments, but in ups-and-downs, during drills, and during warm ups. These players treat practice the same way they would if they were playing the biggest match of their life, and the biggest match of their life would not differ from their practice. 

How does this relate to Division II tennis? When playing university tennis it is very competitive, not only are there matches on the line, but faculty jobs, player scholarships, and program funding. There are only six spots in the starting line up, so players are competing for positions so they have the opportunity to play. Again, so why is competing and playing to improve so important in university tennis? The players who play to improve are always trying and therefore always getting the most of themselves. Also, they are never cheating themselves; when they play a match, in practice or during the season, they give it their best. If they lose they can accept that the other person was better that day. When they win, they know they earned their spot on the roster and can be proud of it. Also, if they don’t make the starting line up, they understand that it is what is best for the team because they weren’t the best choice. They also know that if they keep working they will be able to make the line up in time. They do not have excuses, the player who plays to improve will always be competing. 

The player who competes this way, doesn’t limit their potential because they set no boundaries on what they can achieve.