Ask yourself the following: Would you drive your car to an unknown location without the benefit of a GPS device, specific directions and/or a roadmap? Would you try to make a new culinary dish without a recipe? Does it make sense to assemble a complex device or item without the benefit of assembly instructions/directions? Rhetorical as these questions may be, I imagine that the reader has probably attempted one of more of these!
 
Many of us approach the game of tennis in a very haphazard and improvised manner. Sometimes, we may move forward in our games even though we have no clear directions or game plans. So, we just continue to plod ahead in a "status quo" manner and hope that our efforts yield positive results.
 
Einstein defined insanity as doing the same things over and over but expecting different results. Well although I am overstating the issue, simply following the same old paths with respect to our tennis games is probably not going to give us the results that we could potentially achieve. Very simply put, we become stagnated and stunted when we allow ourselves to fall into "ruts" and/or do not have short and long term goals/objectives.
 
March is a great time to start organizing the "tennis year." The outdoor season (which is really the way that most of us prefer to play this wonderful game) is about to begin. This is the time to re-evaluate or try any new tennis "gear." Now, and for the next couple of months, is the time to demo any new racquets. Perhaps you seek to experiment with new string technology or fine tune your string tensions? Seeking out new and better foot gear may make sense. All of these decisions, if there are changes to be made, should be put to rest as soon as is possible.
 
Hopefully, one's overall conditioning is such that the body is ready to withstand the rigors of the season ahead. In America, we are blessed with many public courts. Of course, the downside can be that these hard courts take their toll on the body and the joints. If you are not in shape, now is the time to rapidly get your body conditioned for the challenges ahead.
 
If you are a recreational player (or even a serious intermediate player), you probably are just excited that the weather is improving and that you are able to get outdoors and hit some balls. You have high hopes of having your some of your best matches in the months to come. But, I assure the reader that whether you are a rank beginner or a seasoned "pro," having a plan will enable you to advance more fully. The time to formulate your plan is here and now. In essence, you are creating the "tennis roadmap" that you need to play your best tennis.
 
So, this month, I want to explore with you some of the concepts that need to be addressed in formulating your individualized plan, and to offer you a "checklist" of sorts to assure that you have considered all the necessary factors in crafting such a plan.
 
ULTIMATE GOALS
 
Ultimate goals are the final result(s) we wish to achieve. We may have more than one ultimate goal, but these "final results" should be limited in number. For example, an ultimate goal may be to achieve a USTA ranking within a given range and within your local district. For some, the ultimate goal may be to win a club championship. For others, the ultimate goal may be to play well enough to secure a collegiate sponsorship. Scholastic competitors may seek to move up the "ladder" to be assigned better playing positions (e.g. number 1 singles player for a team). Still, others may have beating his/her "nemesis" opponent. Usually, ultimate goals require some time to be achieved. Yet, they are the light at the end of the tunnel that we are seeking. Right now, I encourage every reader to decide for himself/herself what ultimate goal(s) he/she seeks to achieve. Don't be shy about setting lofty ultimate goals! It has been my experience that ultimate goals are best when they truly challenge the tennis player. "You can if you think you can."
 
Ultimate goals should be dream goals! My guess is that, at some point in his career, Novak Djokovic "dreamed" of winning Grand Slam events, and becoming the number one ranked player in the world.
 
INTERMEDIATE GOALS
 
Intermediate goals are the incremental steps needed to achieve your ultimate goal(s). For example, to win the club championship, you may want to compete in several warm up tournaments to solidify your match toughness. If you seek a USTA ranking, you may have to identify four or five tournaments in which you must finish well. If you are seeking to "go up the ladder" with respect to a team, you may need to beat two or three "key" players.
 
As an analogy, let's say you want to go to the third floor of a building. You must decide whether the elevator or taking the stairs is the best or most desirable way to reach your destination.
 
Similarly, a tennis player wants to determine the "steps" that are needed or are most desirable in achieving your ultimate goal(s).
 
Intermediate goals need to be viable and capable of being realized. This is not to suggest that these intermediate goals should not be challenging. But, they must be capable of being achieved. Intermediate goals are not always easy to set and assess.
 
Don't be surprised if some of your intermediate goals are not realized! Intermediate goals may at times need to be adjusted to allow a tennis player to reach his/her ultimate goals.
 
I recall one year when I was seeking a USTA ranking. I ended up injuring my ankle by twisting and spraining it while competing in a clay court tournament. I ultimately did achieve the ranking that I sought, but I had to truly adjust many of my intermediate goals. I had to take a little time off from competition and arrived at a different tournament schedule. In addition, I literally had to adjust my normal manner of play to decrease the need for long, "coast to coast" rallies. Regarding this latter factor, I learned to compete by hitting lots of "moon balls" to keep my opponents deep. In addition, these "moon balls" prevented my opponents from being able to hit severely angled groundstrokes. Ultimately, the "moon ball" became a mainstay in my tennis arsenal of shots.
 
SHORT TERM OBJECTIVES
 
Short term objectives are the specific means necessary to allow a player to reach her/his intermediate and long term goals.
 
The key word is "specific." I always encourage players who I have coached to approach short term objectives by asking themselves the following question: "What specific actions, additions and/or changes do I need to make to move forward in achieving my intermediate and short term goals?" Essential in this self evaluation is an honest and candid assessment!
 
More often than not, the answers focus upon deficiencies that may exist in one of the following areas:

1. Physical conditioning, endurance, speed, strength and flexibility.
2. Improved stroke production.
3. Expanded match tactics and strategies.
4. Mental Toughness.