FEATURED WORKSHOP
 
"Mind Games - Core Concepts for Junior Athletes"
 
On Saturday, December 16th 2017 , Ace hosted the Empower Aces workshop titled "Mind Games - Core Concepts for Junior Athletes." The workshop originally intended for U12 provincial players was at maximum capacity and saw representation from not only the Ace U12 Provincial program but also the Ace U14 Provincial and National programs with participants ranging from 9 to 12 years in age.
 
The core concepts covered in workshop included:
  • 4C's for optimum performance: commitment, confidence, concentration, composure
  • Fixed vs growth mindset
  • Controllable vs uncontrollable factors
Aimed at creating awareness, the workshop also highlighted core code violations including racquet abuse, ball abuse, unsportsmanlike conduct etc. and enabled junior athletes to gain an understanding of the OTA and Tennis Canada sanctions for these violations.
 
The junior athletes were taught breathing techniques to maintain their composure followed by an interactive exercise to help improve self-confidence of the participants. The 90-minute workshop enabled athletes to actively participate in discussions and activities.
 
The participants received handouts including instructions and a tracking sheet to practice their breathing exercises for 5 minutes twice a day for a month and were encouraged to make it a part of their daily routine. The athletes were also provided a handout titled "10 Rules to Remember"   emphasizing some of the core behaviors expected from athletes on the court. The athletes also took home their affirmations charts.  The junior athlete workshop was preceded by the Empower Aces "Mind Games - Core Concepts for Parents to Help Junior Athletes" held at Ace Tennis on December 9th.
 
Parents of junior athletes in the Champions and Futures programs have expressed a keen interest for their children to participate in future workshops. Given the strong interest, a workshop for our U9-U10 junior athletes has been scheduled for February 24th 2018.
 
Stay tuned for additional Empower Aces workshops at Ace Tennis in 2018.
 


Workshops for Parents
 
Sample List of Mind Games workshops and areas of focus for parents:
 
  • Mind Games for Parents - Core Concepts for Parents to Help Junior Athletes Thrive
  • Mind Games for Parents II - Additional Concepts to Help Your Junior Athlete Thrive
  • Mind Games for Parents III - Understanding Sportsmanship and the Code of Conduct
  • Mind Games for Parents IV - Understanding Emotions and How to be a Supportive Parent
 
For a complete list of workshops for Parents please refer to click here
 


Workshops for U12 Junior Athletes
 
Sample List of Mind Games workshops and areas of focus for U12 players: 
 
  • Mind Games - Core Concepts for Junior Athletes (U12) 
  • Self-Awareness workshop I - Focus on Identifying Anger and Frustration Triggers 
  • Self-Awareness workshop II - Converting Negative Self Image to Positive Self Talk 
  • Self Confidence and the Importance of Body Language 
 
For a complete list of U12 workshops  click here
 
 
Workshops for U9-U10 Junior Athletes
 
Sample list of Mind Games workshops and areas of focus for U9-U10 players: 
 
  • Ready to Compete: Preparing Junior Athletes for the Competitive Circuit 
  • Mind Games - Core Concepts for Young Athletes (U9-U10) 
  • Sportsmanship and Handling Unsportsmanlike Conduct
 
For a complete list of U9-U10 workshops,  click here