Cheering: How Does It Affect You?

[Cindysphinx]

When you're playing, are you aware of whether your teammates are watching and supporting you? Does it feel like extra pressure or support? Do you care if they don't watch when they could?

One of the toughest things for me is focusing on the next point and tuning everything out. In fact, I sometimes get distracted simply because a teammate is playing on the adjacent court: "Oh, I wonder if she's winning? Gads, that woman has a killer forehand! That's a short ball, come in!!"

On the few occasions my teammates have had the opportunity to watch me, it makes me tight. I'd just as soon that they watched someone else . . .

 

[kylebarendrick]

I had two guys from the opposing team yell just as I was about to receive serve in my last match. It distracted me just enough that I sent my return into the net - at least I prefer to believe that's why I missed my shot! Judging by the smirks on their faces, I believe it was intentional. We won the match which is always the best revenge.

Generally, though, I enjoying hearing a good yell from my team after I hit a great shot. Otherwise, I ignore what's going on around me.

 

[fgs]

cindysphinx,
nobody is putting any pressure on you but yourself. try to stay relaxed and focus on the point you are about to play. if you make a good shot or a tactically good sequence of shots that lead to you winning the point, the cheering is exactly what you deserve. so stay focused and try to earn as much cheerings as possible. your teammates and friends want to support you, not to pressure you!

 

[MacKenzie]

I have to admit I like hearing people clap after a good long point in a match. It invigorates me.

 

[hammer]

I tend to play better when people are watching me. It actually makes me stay more focused on playing, believe it or not. Probably my best league match I played last season was a doubles match against one of the better teams in the league (ended up in 4th place out of 12 teams and made playoffs), and it was on the closest court to where everyone was sitting. Almost everyone there were teammates or friends and family of the other team, and I got myself pumped up while feeding off their cheering for my opponents. We won that match in three sets by playing some very good tennis.

 

[CrocodileRock]

It makes me feel pressured, self-conscious, and uncomfortable. But still it's better than people cheering for my opponent, but no one cheering for me.

 

[volleyman]

I have to admit, I like it when people are watching and cheering, so long as they aren't cheering double faults.

I'm not such a big fan of being quizzed by bystanders on the score and how the match is going while I'm playing, though.

 

[Zets147]

I'm still looking for a cute girl to cheer me on.. sad story, really.

 

[rasajadad]

Cindy-
There are a million possible distractions out there; spectators, cars driving by, planes flying overhead, kids playing on the baseball field next to the courts... In any event, you need to learn how to focus in on the task at hand.

I hear the cheers for me or my opponent, then go into a pre-point excercise that starts with a deep breath and culminates in me targeting in on my opponents hand that's holding the ball (when I am receiving) or my hand (when I am serving.) It's just my ritual to get totally into what's happening "between the lines."

 

[maverick1]

People cheering for me is extra pressure. I like having people cheering for the opponent.

 

[spot]

I like the energy of having people watching- but I rarely even notice them when I am out there. My record in the playoffs is really good and I think that part of it is just that the crowd helps me focus. Or maybe its that the opponent feels pressure more than me. And I am on a team where we are more likely to rip on each other during the match- I really think its an advantage because it keeps everyone loose.

 

[Kaptain Karl]

In my College Conference, we had three schools with whom we had long-lasting rivalries. When "they" came here, or we went there, the cheering was more like a Davis Cup experience. I loved it!!! It energized me.

I like being cheered for; I especially enjoy being cheered against ... IF it's a crowd of fans. If the "crowd" comprises fewer than four people I don't even pay attention to them. I am able to "tune out" the spectators.

I usually don't "interact" with the crowd either way. This bugged many of my college friends -- until I explained. (I am aware of their support and love it but my way of maintaining concentration means, even if I'm picking up a loose ball from right in front of you on the other side of the fence I will usually not make eye contact or speak to you. After the match I'll come give you a big sweaty bear hug for supporting me ... win or lose.)

- KK

 

[penpal]

I don't really care one way or the other. I appreciate the support, of course, but if they choose not to watch that's fine too. And if my opponent has fans that want to cheer him on, that's fine as well.

Here's what I don't like -- when a crowd of my teammates gather, ostensibly to cheer me on, and instead begin drinking and joking around to the point where they really aren't paying attention to the match and become loud and obnoxious to the point of distraction. If you aren't really interested in the match, please take your party somewhere away from the court, that's my feeling.

Oddly, if the obnoxious crowd consists primarily of my opponent's teammates I'm not bothered. So I guess it isn't the noise so much that bothers me (although this is a problem on rare occasions), but the fact that they are feigning support and demonstrating total disinterest.

 

[Cruzer]

Cheering doesn't do much for me either way. My wife has played in a couple of matches where some of the spectators have consumed a few adult beverages to the point they became rather obnoxious. In one match her partner simply could not tune out the noise from the spectators and they lost after they had been ahead for almost all of the match.

It is annoying and somewhat tacky to cheer when someone makes an error. It is fine to cheer a good shot or a good effort that was unsuccessful but not when an opponent dumps a shot into the net.