When learning a sport the brain retains and makes gains when
the event is fun. Think of movies you’ve seen that have inspired us such as:
Happy Gilmore (Adam Sandler while learning to transition from a slap shot
specialist to a professional golfer finds his “happy place” where he
hilariously visualizes his grandmother winning the slot machine outside on a
sunny day, then his girlfriend who is
waiting for him with champagne, and then a star from the movie elf rides by on
a tricycle wearing a cowboy hat; it is only after this process does he sink the
most difficult putt he faces), The Bad News Bears starring Walter Matthau (an
ex-minor coach takes over a misfit team of little leaguers in a tough
California league), The Mighty Ducks (Emilio Estevez, a former hockey player
who almost made the cut for the NHL takes over a team of kids that were getting
crushed by everyone, only to learn how to work together as a team, develop the
special “flying V”, and win the championship against all odds, both on and off
the ice). Only after we become comfortable with ourselves and our learning
environment can we then make the improvements we desire. We have to trust the
environment, ourselves, and our coaches. At that point we begin to have fun,
perhaps learn some trick shots, a new shot, a new footwork, a new conditioning
technique. If we make learning a game, it’s more likely to be as memorable as
the movies previously stated. Fun produces chemicals in the body that allow
learning to happen. Negative self-talk or having a coach yell in your face
using fear and stress will backfire causing more errors. Using positive fun
motivation as the great Jack Wooden will produce the longest most consistent
results for players and teams. Remember that sports are games and are meant to
be fun. Imagine the results if all learning were made fun.
The Cape Cod Open Singles Championship completed the first season at the Falmouth Sports Center this past weekend with over forty players participating in the event. The capstone event was the College “A” division which sported the Division One former Massachusetts State Champion and University of Central Florida’s Captain, Falmouth Sports Center’s Joe Delinks as the first place finisher, with NCAA Division 2 National Champion, New Seabury’s Rafael Mittag placing second, and Merrimack’s recruit, and Mid-Cape standout, Nick Majewski placing third, and Babson’s recruit from Saint John’s finishing fourth, Alden Hosmer. In the College “B” division, Falmouth Sports Center’s Ben Monteiro placed first, with, Theo Guerin from the Sports Center second, and Josh Dugas of the Sports Center and the Cataumet Club finishing fifth in an “A” division qualifier. The winner of the Girl’s High School Division was 13 year old Catalina Pombo from Brewster, followed by Falmouth High School’s and Sports Center’s Sarah Monteiro, and then by Cape Cod Academy’s Abigale Souza. The Boy’s Junior Varsity Division had Brian King (Great Harbors and Stowe, Ma) at number one, Dan Little (Brookline and Sports Center) at two, Will Goodman (Greenwich , Ct. and Sports Center) at three, and John Duffy (East Greenwich and Sports Center) at four. In the Junior High School Division it was Isiah King (Great Harbors and Stowe, Ma) finishing one, Nate Ruddy (Harbor Head and Needham) finishing second, Charlie Gans (Richmond, Va and MYC) finishing three, and Haik Semerjian (Farmington, Ct. and Sports Center) finishing fourth. In the Girls’ Junior High Division it was Elizabeth Duffy (East Greenwich, RI and Sports Center) finishing number one, with Rebecca Perlemen (Brookline, Ma. and Sports Center) finishing two, Jackie Perlemen (Brookline, Ma and Sports Center) three and Sarah Christa (Falmouth and Sports Center) finishing four. In the Boy’s grade School Division it was Chris Pombo (Brewster) finishing one, Joe Connolly (Natick, Ma and Harbor Head) who finished two, and Charlie Willend (Austin Texas) finishing three. In the Girl’s Grade School Division it was Olivia Ernst (Chevy Chase, Maryland and Georgetown Tennis) who narrowly defeated her sister Phoebe for the number one title, Izzy Gordon (Boston and Sports Center) placed three and Hadley Smith (East Falmouth and Sports Center) placed four.
