In art there is a term called negative space, which refers to the empty area that is contained around or between the subjects of an image. There are even some instances where the negative space itself can form a unique picture such as in the optical illusion of Rubin’s vase. While pondering this concept, I realized that negative space is also readily apparent inside the competitive tennis arena and it is found in the space between points on a tennis court.
So much of our time and energy as players and coaches is spent focused on technical strokes or tactical point construction that it is easy to disregard the time between these points. The reality is that in a competitive tennis match an overwhelming amount of the time that you spend on court is spent emotionally reacting to the previous point and waiting for the next point to start. Therefore, if most of our time is spent in limbo, then it is critical that coaches properly teach our students to develop sound routines between points and strategies to help manage their emotions, maintain concentration, and properly prepare to play the next point.
Green Light Routine
In order to make sense of this open space and best prepare our players for the emotional challenges that arise in competition, Dr. Larry Lauer from USTA Player Development helped to devise two different types of between point rituals: The green and yellow light routines. The green light routine means “go”, and it should be employed on every point when you are confident and when things are moving smoothly.
This green light routine has four stages: respond, recover, refocus, and ready. The respond stage refers to the emotional reaction of the player immediately following the completion of a point. The player should exhibit either a positive or neutral emotion, and limit the time that is spent in negative reflection. Turning away from your opponent, focusing your eyes on your strings, and quickly moving towards a predetermined spot on court all help to promote a positive response. The recover stage follows and addresses the physical need of the player as they quickly needs oxygen and to lower their heart rate. This is best achieved by utilizing deep breathing techniques achieved by breathing in through the nose for three seconds and out through the mouth for five seconds.
Next is the refocus stage, which requires leaving the previous point in the past and planning for the following rally to be played. Visualizing a solid pattern of play is a great way to achieve this goal. Last, the ready stage is where you are fully prepared to engage in the upcoming point. Having an ignition word to help you activate can be useful here (“energy”, “attack”, etc.) as will having a little bounce in your step prior to the start of the point.
Yellow Light Routine
The yellow light routine indicates “caution” and should be utilized when things aren’t quite going your way. You might be down in the set, your shots might be off, or you could just be struggling with your emotions. Instead of rushing to play the next point, here it is crucial to slow down and take a little extra time. One helpful tool that Dr. Lauer suggests is to “breathe and believe”. By engaging in one deep belly breath as described above and visualizing the proper execution of an appropriate pattern of play, you will significantly increase your chances of success on the preceding point.
Developing a mastery of the green and yellow light routines takes time, as does the development of self-awareness to recognize when to utilize each routine. However, with patience and deliberate practice these routines will become more naturally ingrained in a player’s behavior patterns. Ultimately, by focusing on what occurs in the space between points you will develop a more resilient, confident, and poised player who is well equipped for the rigors of tennis competition.