if you can serve and return serve you can play
if you can get one point you can get two points

if you can get two points in a row you can win a game

if you can win a game you can win another game

if you can win two games, you can win a match.

*****

if you can walk you can get to the ball

if you can run you can get to the ball

if you can lunge after running you can get to the ball

if you can step to the left you can step to the right

if you can volley you should

if you can breath, you can keep going.

*****

if you can warm the ball up you can play squash

if you can hold the racket you can play squash

if you can wash your own squash clothing you can play squash

if you can play casual squash you can play pennant squash
if you can play pennant squash you can play tournament squash
if you can play tournament squash you can play the circuit squash
if you can play on the australian circuit you can play on the international circuit

each step up in quality will require determined effective work.

*******

if your coach says “you can’t do it”, silently add in “yet” to the end of the statement

if your opponent says “lucky shot”, prepare for the next rally

if your opponent says “well played”, prepare for the next rally

if the opponent is arguing with the referee, prepare for the next rally

if the ref says “no let” on your asking “let please”, prepare for the next rally

if the ref says “stroke” on your asking “let please”, prepare for the next rally

if the ref says “yes let” on your asking “let please”, prepare for the next rally

if the scorer calls the wrong score, mention that and accept the refs decision, then prepare for the next rally.
********

if you are angry, become calmly determined and prepare for the next rally
if you are sad, become calmly determined and prepare for the next rally
if you are excited, become calmly determined and prepare for the next rally
if you are weeping, become calmly determined and prepare for the next rally
if you are raging, become calmly determined and prepare for the next rally
if you are confused, become calmly determined and prepare for the next rally
if something is niggling at your mind right now, exhale and let go, becoming calmly determined and prepare for the next rally.
*********

are you training right now within this competition match?

are you competing with your training partner in this training session?

prepare for the next rally and play onwards and upwards.

daj.