But this experience is not unique.
An estimated 31 percent of US adults struggle with anxiety disorder at some point in their lives, so why do athletes feel so alone? According to J.D. DeFreese, an exercise and sport science professor at UNC, this is because the experience of anxiety is individualized.
Ryan Seggerman, a graduate student on the UNC men’s tennis team, said the first step in grappling with anxiety in sports is acknowledging that it can’t be avoided.
“I think (anxiety) is just part of sport in general,” Seggerman said. “You get nervous before matches, you get nervous before big moments. It’s almost a fact. You have to be ready to deal with it.”
Anxiety is a battle that is being fought inside the minds of many athletes. Thanks to a growing dialogue about mental health in athletics, athletes are becoming more comfortable sharing their stories and building up one another.
Brian Cernoch, Seggerman’s teammate and a three-time All-American, said that the way in which he deals with anxiety on the court can make or break a match.
“If you come into a match and you just let the anxiety and fear of losing get to you, it’s going to take over,” Cernoch said. “If you can turn your mind to focusing on something else, focusing on your game point by point, eventually it will go away and you’re going to have a much clearer mind when you’re playing.”
For many, anxiety in athletics comes from within, but for others it comes from somewhere else — or perhaps, someone else. DeFreese said external factors like academics, family or other personal issues can affect athletes’ performances.
Anxiety can also stem from a coach.
“Coaches have a lot of actual power and a lot of perceived power over athletes,” DeFreese said. “They get to decide who gets to play. They decide who plays what positions. How they make those decisions, how they communicate those decisions, the degree to which they make the athlete feel meaningful and valued beyond just playing — coaches can do that in the most positive ways, and coaches can make an athlete not feel very valued outside what they do as a performer.”
Sam Paul has been the head coach of UNC’s men’s tennis team for 30 years. He said he must always be mindful of how his words and actions affect the athletes he coaches.
“You, as a coach, can certainly increase anxiety if you’re not aware of what’s happening around you,” Paul said. “But it’s all about communication.”
Communication. That is what it all boils down to. The stigma around anxiety in athletics has made it difficult for athletes at all levels to come forward and communicate the fact that they are struggling.
Since 2020, NCAA student-athlete well-being studies continue to report that mental health concerns are prevalent among collegiate athletes.
Bathurst Tennis Senior Tournament 28 Apr
/in Club News, Tennis Seniors /by RobBathurst Tennis Centre invites you to register for its upcoming 30+ Seniors NRT6 Tournament. It has 17 synthetic grass courts available for play.
Bathurst is less than 3 hours drive from the centre of Sydney.
Tournament Dates: • Saturday 28th April 2023
• Sunday 29th April 2023
Entries close: Monday 24th April 2023
Contact:
• Andrew Mitton
• 0419 499 467
• [email protected]
“You have to be ready to deal with it”: Combatting Anxiety on the Court | AskThePro
/in Ask the Pro, Club News /by RobBut this experience is not unique.
An estimated 31 percent of US adults struggle with anxiety disorder at some point in their lives, so why do athletes feel so alone? According to J.D. DeFreese, an exercise and sport science professor at UNC, this is because the experience of anxiety is individualized.
Ryan Seggerman, a graduate student on the UNC men’s tennis team, said the first step in grappling with anxiety in sports is acknowledging that it can’t be avoided.
“I think (anxiety) is just part of sport in general,” Seggerman said. “You get nervous before matches, you get nervous before big moments. It’s almost a fact. You have to be ready to deal with it.”
Anxiety is a battle that is being fought inside the minds of many athletes. Thanks to a growing dialogue about mental health in athletics, athletes are becoming more comfortable sharing their stories and building up one another.
Brian Cernoch, Seggerman’s teammate and a three-time All-American, said that the way in which he deals with anxiety on the court can make or break a match.
“If you come into a match and you just let the anxiety and fear of losing get to you, it’s going to take over,” Cernoch said. “If you can turn your mind to focusing on something else, focusing on your game point by point, eventually it will go away and you’re going to have a much clearer mind when you’re playing.”
For many, anxiety in athletics comes from within, but for others it comes from somewhere else — or perhaps, someone else. DeFreese said external factors like academics, family or other personal issues can affect athletes’ performances.
Anxiety can also stem from a coach.
“Coaches have a lot of actual power and a lot of perceived power over athletes,” DeFreese said. “They get to decide who gets to play. They decide who plays what positions. How they make those decisions, how they communicate those decisions, the degree to which they make the athlete feel meaningful and valued beyond just playing — coaches can do that in the most positive ways, and coaches can make an athlete not feel very valued outside what they do as a performer.”
Sam Paul has been the head coach of UNC’s men’s tennis team for 30 years. He said he must always be mindful of how his words and actions affect the athletes he coaches.
“You, as a coach, can certainly increase anxiety if you’re not aware of what’s happening around you,” Paul said. “But it’s all about communication.”
Communication. That is what it all boils down to. The stigma around anxiety in athletics has made it difficult for athletes at all levels to come forward and communicate the fact that they are struggling.
Since 2020, NCAA student-athlete well-being studies continue to report that mental health concerns are prevalent among collegiate athletes.
April 11, 2023
Credit
MLTC Newsletter- 14 April 2023
/in Club News /by RobBefore Badge BBQ – We are postponing the BBQ scheduled for tomorrow to Saturday 22 April.
The BBQ will be after social tennis from around 4.30pm. Any club members that can assist with the BBQ, whether, set up, cooking or clean up would be appreciated. Please let me know if you can help out.
Email [email protected]
Badge
With Badge starting on Saturday 29th April, all badge players should log onto the Match Centre to check updated times and venues changes for matches.
Best wishes,
Virginia
MLTC Secretary
www.manlylawn.com.au
MTC Night Competitions Term 2
/in Tennis Centre /by RobMTC Night Competitions
Entries for Term 2 Close 21 April.
Enrolments are now open online for Term 1 comps.
Night Competitions start:
Reserve players always welcome. For more information, please contact or email Scott.
Sign up on the web links above.
Scott Blackburn
MTC Tennis Director & Head Pro
MTC Ladies Competition Term 2
/in Tennis Centre /by RobMTC Ladies Competition
Entries for Term 2 Close 21 April.
Enrolments are now open online for Friday’s Term 2 comp.
Ladies Competition starts Friday 28 April.
Reserve players always welcome. For more information, please contact or email Scott.
Sign up on the web links above.
Scott Blackburn
MTC Tennis Director & Head Pro
Badge Draws 2023
/in Club News /by RobAs promised, direct links to draws and scores for each Badge division in which Manly teams are playing are hot linked below. Please note you will need to log in using a registered email to see the draws.
Click here for our dedicated Badge draw page.
Cheers Rob
MLTC Newsletter 2 April 2023
/in Club News /by RobCourt Booking Sundays
Just a reminder for members, with Badge getting closer there is a lot of demand for courts on Sundays. If you are playing singles one hour, doubles one and a half hour booking.
Badge Team Bookings
Basil South’s Celebration of Life
Best wishes,
Virginia
MLTC Secretary
www.manlylawn.com.au
3 Ways to Measure How Fit You Are | Tennis4Life
/in Club News, Tennis4Life /by RobMLTC Newsletter 26 March 2023
/in Club News /by RobEnd of Month Friday Mens Doubles
A chance for you to pair up with a friend and play some men’s doubles. When: Friday 31 March 6.30pm till 8.30pm. Please contact Denis.
Positions Vacant
We are looking for a bookkeeper to assist our Treasurer. This is a paid position, the person needs Xero experience and willing to learn how to use the InTennis software. Please let me know if you know of anyone.
Badge Practice Sessions
If Badge Captains would like to organise practice sessions for their teams please contact Denis. Courts will be available from Saturday 1 April. You can always book your own court on Sundays too.
4 courts 11.30 – 1pm, and 2 courts 2.30pm 4pm, 4 courts 4 – 6pm
Before Badge BBQ
Saturday 15 April.
Best wishes,
Virginia
MLTC Secretary
www.manlylawn.com.au
2023 Badge Gradings (Final)
/in Badge, Club News /by RobSYDNEY BADGE has published the FINAL Badge Gradings for 2023.
MLTC Newsletter 16 March 2023
/in Club News /by RobIn this newsletter, Positions’ Vacant, Men’s Doubles, Badge Practice Times.
Trivia
Last Friday our social secretary Michelle put together a fun Trivia evening at the Club, it was very much appreciated. Very good questions, we all had to put our heads together to work through the quiz. Coming out on top was Denis international team!
Next event is a BBQ before Badge on Saturday 15th April.
End of Month Friday Men’s Doubles
A chance for you to pair up with a friend and play some men’s doubles. When: Friday 31 March 6.30pm till 8.30pm. Please contact Denis.
Positions Vacant
We are looking for a bookkeeper to assist our Treasurer. This is a paid position, the person needs Xero experience and willing to learn how to use the InTennis software.
We need a bar person to work every Saturday for 5 hours from 29th April. Person needs no experience, training will be given. Club will pay for their RSA if they don’t have one.
Please contact Virginia if you know of anyone to fill these positions.
Charity Day
This Sunday we donate our member’s courts from 9am till 12pm for a Charity Day. This year the charity is donating to Childhood Diabetes.
Badge Practice Sessions
If Badge Captains would like to organise practice sessions for their teams please contact Denis. Courts will be available from Saturday 1 April. You can always book your own court on Sundays too.
4 courts 11.30 – 1pm, and 2 courts 2.30pm 4pm, 4 courts 4 – 6pm
Best wishes,
Virginia
MLTC Secretary
www.manlylawn.com.au
Tennis Seniors Tournaments 2023
/in Club News, Tennis Seniors /by RobSome changes may occur from time to time as Tennis Club personnel or Tournament Directors can change. Any problems, please contact the Secretary of Tennis Seniors NSW on 0418 402 415.
TSNSW Tournaments