• The tips cover a variety of practical suggestions, ideas, concepts and objectives to help all standards of players with the mental aspects of squash.
• It covers anything within the sphere of Sports Psychology, including creating good habits, breaking bad habits, improving concentration, dealing with nerves etc.
• I post Mindset Tips images on my Instagram, Facebook and Twitter account every week.
• These are collected into a video that contains 4 tips.
• Each tip is explained and put in a squash context to ensure it is of maximum benefit to club squash players.
• The tips come from my experience of coaching individuals and teams, the Internet, books I am reading and from you, the viewer. So, if you have a tip you want to share or you have any questions related to squash psychology, please email me.

• Tip 01. A simple idea to start a new habit.
• Tip 02. Focus on good habits not goals.  Goals provide motivation.  Habits bring improvement.
• Tip 03. Just like your body, your motivation needs feeding.  Find what motivates you and use it.
• Tip 04. Identify 1 bad habit and try to stop doing it.  Small, but regular improvements are easier to control.

• Tip 05. Set goals that are within your control.
• Tip 06. Accept that you WILL be nervous before an important match.  Develop a pre-match routine that will try to reduce them.
• Tip 07. Success is a by-product of self-discpline.  To succeed you need a plan and work hard to follow it.
• Tip 08. Small but continuous progress builds momentum.  Play one less weak shot per match and you will soon see an improvement.

• Tip 09. For regular goals, set specific times and lcoations.  For example, 2 minutes planking in the bedroom before breakfast.
• Tip 10. Beating the same people each week doesn't make you better.  Play different people and your game will improve faster.
• Tip 11. Realise that your attitude is a choice.  You can choose to be positive and see each match as an opportunity to improve.
• Tip 12. Develop a pre-service reoutine.  Bounce the ball, adjust your goggles, move your strings; anything that allows you to forget the previous point.

• Tip 13. Set S.M.A.R.T. objectives.
• Tip 14. Learn how and use deep breathing techniques to help control your pre-game nerves.
• Tip 15. Perserverance might be more important that talent.  Be like Rocky Balboa; keep coming forward and never give up.
• Tip 16. Listen very carefully to all the on-court sounds during the knockup.  It will help you focus your mind.

• Tip 17. Write down your goals and your plan to reach them.  Research shows you are more likely to achieve them if you do.
• Tip 18. Gaining experience lessens nerves.  Gain as much experience as you can as often as you can to help put your nerves at ease.
• Tip 19. Understand that no goal setting system or progress plan is guaranteed to work.  If you don't work hard, the results won't come.
• Tip 20. The less you can think about when you are on court, the better.  Focus on a simple gameplan.

• Tip 21. Often you don't have to get "better", you just have to improve your consistency.
• Tip 22. Develop a pre-match routine.  It will help calm your nerves and ensure you are properly prepared.  But don’t panic if you can’t always follow it.  DO NOT become superstitious.
• Tip 23. Treat every single training session as seriously as you treat important matches.
• Tip 24. Use cue words. Cue words are simple words and phrases that remind you of your focus points.  Repeat phrases like “hit straight,” “get back to the T” & “watch the ball hit my strings” etc

• Tip 25. Have no expectations, forget winning or losing.  Don’t think about judging your performance.  Focus on the elements you can control.
• Tip 26. A shot is a winner, not because it was just above the tin, but because it was played in the right place at the right time.
• Tip 27. Visualisation can be performed between points. See yourself playing smart, hard squash.
• Tip 28. You won't always be motivated. That's why you have to be disciplined.

• Tip 29. Good shot selection comes from experience. Experience comes from learning from bad shot selection.
• Tip 30. Understand and accept that confidence is not all-or-nothing. On the days it is low, focus on working smart and hard.
• Tip 31. A goal and a plan are totally different. A great goal with a bad plan is no better than a bad goal with a great plan.
• Tip 32. Body language is important, both for you and the people around you. Act confidently and you'll begin to feel confident.

• Tip 33. Remember, it’s possible to do everything right, but still lose. As long as you tried your best, that’s what really matters.
• Tip 34. Focus completely on the present moment. Don’t worry about what just happened or dream about what could happen.
• Tip 35. Cultivate the mindset "I never just lose". You either win or you learn. That's not to say you don't learn when you win, you just probably learn more when you lose.
• Tip 36. Do not complain about the things you have no control over. Recognize that you can always control your own response and attitude.

• Tip 37. Every now and then, sit down and remind yourself why you love your sport. Playing sport should be enjoyable!
• Tip 38. Smiling has been shown to help you relax and deal with stressful situations. The next time you have a mega-rally, don't grimace, but smile.
• Tip 39. Every match you play that is not part of a competition should be used to improve one aspect of your game.
• Tip 40. When heating up for a match, do not neglect your mind. Listen to music, rehearse your gameplan; anything that will help you play better.

• Tip 41. Think of deep drives as waves at the beach. Each one doesn't make much difference, but over time they change the coastline.
• Tip 42. Make every first rally of each game as long as you can. It will develop your physical and mental fitness.
• Tip 43. Think back to the time you played your best. Before a match, close your eyes and step into that persona.
• Tip 44. In most close matches, the difference between winning and losing is "decisions". To win, we don't have to be "better", we just have to make the right decisions.

• Tip 45. Think like a team. You have to play each different position; defense, offense, keeper, play-maker etc.
• Tip 46. Overconfidence is just as bad or even worse than underconfidence. Don’t let that one winner overshadow the three errors from the same position.
• Tip 47. SAY NO! No! to playing the wrong shot. No! to not heating up before a match. NO! to giving up when you get tired.
• Tip 48. Just because you are an amateur doesn’t mean you can’t behave like a professional. Do everything within the best of your abilities. Take every point seriously.

This video will be published on
7th February 2021 at 6am GMT.

• Tip 49. There are times for aggression and passion, and there are times for calmness and clarity. Knowing which is required is key to success.
• Tip 50. Don’t change your gameplan if you are winning. Change your gameplan if you are losing, unless you are 100% convinced it will work in the end!
• Tip 51. The next time you walk on court, commit to performing one thing the best you can. It doesn’t matter what it is: drives, lobs, boasts, even serves. Just try to do it better than you have ever done before!
• Tip 52. you will never become as good as you could be unless you make a conscious decision to commit to both physical AND mental hard work. MAKE THAT DECISION TODAY!