Whether at home or in the classroom, post-it notes are an absolute marvel and are often used by many for quick notes to recall as needed. The same applies to the ‘dreaded’ to-do list when it appears to be never ending. Each and every one of us has a different way we recall and take notes and most often this would be ‘added to’ when we want to remember something specific (detail) and/or remember to do ‘something’ in particular (action). Either way, we learn these behaviours very early on in our formative years and perhaps is taken for granted as we mature. One skill, nevertheless, that can progress a player’s performance is this very skill that is often neglected.
How would you feel if you no longer had the use of post-its? Or, if that ‘to-do’ list was somehow misplaced — whether on paper and/or the ones that now pile up in our phones? Rather, what if ‘everything’ you had to remember each and every day remained ‘in your head’ rather than carefully thought out and/or remembered for recall when and/or as needed for a later date? Whilst our memories are absolutely incredibly ‘most’ of the time (brain fog, anyone?), when we consider the developmental player specifically and how they can use specific tools to optimise their performance, this is one that needs to be implemented rather than ignored.
The good news is that if you’re not using note taking — irrespective of form, it’s never too late to start! And sure, you might ask ‘what am I meant to write down’? Well, a good coach will remind you, and a great coach will help you figure it out! There’s a difference and the good news is that this is coming in my new release that is to be launched next week! That’s right, my new title “How to Develop a Top 10 Tennis Ranking” is almost here and boy does it pack a punch when it comes to sharing how, for the very first time, the once thought impossible, is possible.
Oh, and don’t worry. It’s all 100% backed by data (science) rather than an opinion. And I know there are many opinions around, but when it comes to something this substantial (a world first, in fact), this is where science really shines!
Back to note taking. It’s a skill that can be learned and incorporated. Personally, I’ve always encouraged players to write down what they’ve been working on and to use this as a point of reference for their practices (when I’m not around to remind them), but also for future lessons so they can become ‘autonomous’ before a new skill is built upon. In other words, sure it is a form of ‘homework’ but the type of recall that is incredibly important when you’re considering the 10 Year Pathway and/or following The Long Game. These notes, pre and post performance can be incredibly powerful to ensure a player’s recall of what they’re working on and what’s the focus of ‘conditioning’ this week, this month and/or this quarter, in working towards respective milestones, can be seen and that the player can see how far they’ve come, can be equally as rewarding.
For the coaches out there, this is a reminder to take the time to sit down with your players for a few minutes after each session to ensure they write down, in some way, shape or form, what they’ve been working on, and to use this as a point of reference to ‘build on’ for next lessons and/or session. Over time, these points of recall will reach a level of habitualisation and return a level of ‘autonomy’ in a given skill and/or action to afford a new peak performance cycle to commence. And all of these ‘wins‘ afforded by simply including note taking in your performance practices.
Now, if something so simple with such profound rewards is not included and/or the time is not taken to integrate this step, then I’d say “How to Develop a Top 10 Tennis Ranking” will really serve as a wake up call for all inside the sporting spectrum to reconsider what they’re doing, how they’re practicing and even more profoundly, why the 7 Keys really are integral now to get a head start on integrating the ‘almost lost’ 8th Key — and boy was it worth the wait with a Top 10 tennis ranking the endpoint.
To learn more about Note Taking Pre and Post Performance: for Tennis Players, head on over to Beyond Top 10 Tennis and head to Episode 59. More? Catch up on our Tips over on TikTok, Twitter, Threads or Instagram for quick snippets to apply in your game, today.
