Tennisurlaub Österreich, Schweiz, Spanien : European Tennis Academy European Tennis Academy - Tennisunterricht mit Musik

For the pure enjoyment of the game

Tennisurlaub in fünf einzigartigen Tennisschulen. Die European Tennis Academy Tennishotels in Österreich, der Schweiz und Spanien informieren über Tenniskurse, Tennisunterricht, Turniere, Tennis mit Musik, Familientennisurlaub und Tennispauschalen.
 

Mental Match Play: Tennis for body and mind

Mental Match Play is a self-coaching course from the European Tennis Academy which brings together the latest developments in the field of technique and mental training methods. Specially composed music stimulates the player in various different situations during training and in so doing bridges the gap between body and mind. Beginners, hobby players and competition players all have the chance to decisively improve their game within a very short space of time.

The Mental Match Play programme is based on studies carried out by the sport psychologists Kurt Wiederkehr over a period of 15 years where the behaviour of 50,000 tennis players was researched and scientifically analysed. The music that accompanies the Mental Match Play key exercises was composed by the music producer Tibor Lörincz according to musical education criteria.

How Mental Match Play Works

Using noise vibration experiments scientists have found out what affects music vibration has on your body. With music both halves of the brain can be selectively stimulated and in so doing improve learning success: The music centre in the right half of the brain is stimulated by the music relieving the analytical left side of the brain making it more receptive and easier to programme and train.

In this state certain movements that your body should then execute automatically can be learned more easily. This is achieved with the help of commands for each particular movement that are given along with the music. The Mental Match Play training technique leads to a particularly fast improvement of your game.

More than just “tennis to music”

Mental Match Play is much more than playing tennis to music. It is a comprehensive mental and physical training method. Instead of instructions and commands during training, awareness for your own body, the ball and the racket are sharpened improving your skills. And the area on which you concentrate is the area where learning takes place. Although Mental Match Play was developed for tennis play the basic principle can be used in any type of sport.

 

 

The evolution of Mental Match Play

What does Mental Match Play mean?

MMP is the teaching method used in the European Tennis Academy. A method that has been developed by Kurt Wiederkehr, sports psychologist, and the ETA coaching team using over 20 years of coaching experience. The training programme “Tennis to Music” is a unique teaching tool which combines concentration and fun in a truly impressive way.
Today this method is used in all courses offered by the European Tennis Academy.

What is Mental Match Play’s background and where did all start?

  • The Inner Game Method
    In 1974 Time Gallway introduced mental training elements to the game for the first time in his book „The Inner Game of Tennis“. In his book he dealt with the constant dialogue between ‘self 1’ and ‘self 2’. The aim was to achieve inner peace by focussing consciously instead of following the commands of the trainer. This was a completely new approach to coaching and learning.
    At this time Kurt Wiederkehr was Tim Gallway’s assistant in USA and it was here that the he found the decisive inspiration for his Mental Match Play method.
  • The Decision Theory from Dr. Stille
    This is a theory that emerged as a result of behavioural study research and looks at the effect of rational thought on the way we behave and shows us the appropriate approach to finding a solution.
    All ETA coaches are confronted with this method during their ETA-training. Both directors have successfully trained as mental trainers.
  • Solution Focus Coaching according to Steve Shazar
    A situation can only be considered a problem when it can be matched by a solution, thus the pupil knows how he to handle the problem. Using specific questioning the coach develops a working rapport with his pupil. This unification of trainer and pupil creates an atmosphere of self-motivation and self-confidence in one’s own ability. The questioning methods found in Solution Focus Training play an important role in Mental Match Play.

What effect does Mental Match Play have on the student?

The chance to play free of inner tension and the usual ideals of “right” and “wrong” brings effortlessness and ease to your game.
Playing tennis Free of judgement strengthens the player’s confidence in his own skills. The result is enjoyment of the game and fun, instead of cramped concentration.

Which target groups is the Mental Match play method suitable for?

MMP is a suitable coaching method for all levels of player, from beginner to tournament players.
Because MMP makes self perception the focal point, the players own personal playing ability forms the basis for the coaching sessions. The player decides which focal points, in which situation of the game are effective. The student learns, regardless of the level of play, to transfer his skills into his game.

What success has Mental Match Play had so far?

Because the feedback received from our students forms the basis of MMP, the coaching sessions are dictated by the needs of the participants – one of the main reasons for our sustained success.
In 1996 the training programme Tennis to Music was the big breakthrough and was also celebrated as such in the media. Thanks to diverse TV broadcasts, presentation at tennis congresses and numerous reports in the newspapers, we were declared as the most innovative tennis school in the German speaking countries.

For over twenty years now more than 2500 tennis players participate in our courses each year.

How is the quality of the Mental Match Play programme guaranteed in each of the schools?

One of the requirements for our quality management is that each month every ETA coach makes written notes of certain observation criteria of the coaching sessions. These reports are discussed and analysed with Kurt Wiederkehr.
In this way the ETA coaches are confronted by the MMP principle throughout the entire season and continue to develop their coaching skills and the method.

We guarantee the same level of coaching quality in all our tennis schools.

This is what pupils say about Mental Match Play:

"I’ve never played such a relaxed game of tennis."

"That was the longest rally I’ve ever played!"

"During the game in particular the concentration focus points are of great help to me."

"Now I’m totally committed to the game."

 

 

» Booklet download

 

 

Tennisurlaub Österreich, Schweiz, Spanien : European Tennis Academy
Tennisurlaub in fünf einzigartigen Tennisschulen. Die European Tennis Academy Tennishotels in Österreich, der Schweiz und Spanien informieren über Tenniskurse, Tennisunterricht, Turniere, Tennis mit Musik, Familientennisurlaub und Tennispauschalen. Tennisurlaub Österreich, Schweiz, Spanien : European Tennis Academy Tennisurlaub in fünf einzigartigen Tennisschulen. Die European Tennis Academy Tennishotels in Österreich, der Schweiz und Spanien informieren über Tenniskurse, Tennisunterricht, Turniere, Tennis mit Musik, Familientennisurlaub und Tennispauschalen.
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Tennisurlaub Österreich, Schweiz, Spanien : European Tennis Academy Tennisurlaub in fünf einzigartigen Tennisschulen. Die European Tennis Academy Tennishotels in Österreich, der Schweiz und Spanien informieren über Tenniskurse, Tennisunterricht, Turniere, Tennis mit Musik, Familientennisurlaub und Tennispauschalen.