Special from
SPMI
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As an aspiring collegiate tennis player, attitude is key to success. Coaches from all divisions stress the importance of recruiting players who demonstrate positive attitudes towards all aspects of the college game. Whether it is waking up early at 6 a.m. to go for a 5K or pushing beyond your limits during conditioning and long matches, the attitude of a college tennis player needs to always be positively on point.
When developing a world-class attitude, it’s essential that junior players learn to embrace the skill of Struggling. Yes, I did mention that struggling is a skill. This skill, also known as delaying gratification, has been proven to produce more success than any other skill athletically, academically and in life. There are even studies in developmental psychology that show the significant benefits that struggling has on becoming more successful in life.
In the late 1960's and early 70's, researcher Walter Mitchell conducted a test (which some would consider cruel) of methodically tormenting 4 year olds. Over 500 children participated in the study. The study was called "The Marshmallow Test". Children were offered a treat and were told that the researcher stepped away and if they could wait just 15 minutes until the researcher returned to eat the treat that the child would receive a second treat. Basically, it was eat one treat now or wait and eat two treats later. When left alone, children tried all kinds of tactics to avoid eating the treat such as looking away, only smelling it and even caressing it! The average kid was able to struggle only three minutes before eating the treat. Also, only three out of 10 children were able to hold out for the full 15 minutes. What they later discovered was nothing short of astonishing.
The children who were able to delay gratification until the researcher returned did far better years down the road in school, were less likely to struggle with weight and substance abuse, and went on to have more successful careers. This test and others proved that struggling is a huge indicator of future success!
The most successful athletes view struggling as a positive.
