📖 Story of the Week
I’ve never been cheated. Really—it’s true!
Well… maybe not entirely true.
But I do act like I’ve never been cheated—and that mindset is key.
What’s my secret? Read on to find out.
✅ 1. Give Your Opponent the Benefit of the Doubt
First and foremost, give your opponent the benefit of the doubt when you disagree with a call.
Instead of raising the alarm and flying into a rage (an equally unhelpful reaction), take a second to slow down and breathe.
Remember: when you're playing the role of player, coach, and umpire, mistakes happen. It's hard enough to track and strike a ball cleanly, let alone make perfect line calls over and over.
Also, consider that you could be wrong.
If it's tough to call the ball on your side of the court, it's even harder when you're judging it on the other side.
The reality is, even well-intentioned players make mistakes—we're not machines capable of tracking the ball to the nearest millimeter.
So give your opponent some grace and assume they’re doing their best.
🧠 2. Reframe the Situation
One of the most powerful tools I teach players when dealing with cheating is how to reframe the situation.
Take this moment—whether the wrongdoing is real or perceived—and turn it into a teachable moment and call to action.
Here’s how:
If a player is frustrated about a call, it usually means their shot landed close to the line.
But at Colossal Tennis, we don’t teach players to aim for the lines.
We teach our athletes to play with certainty—to aim for big, clear targets that cannot be reasonably called out unless someone is blatantly cheating.
By hitting to bigger targets, you reduce doubt and increase control. Suddenly, the power is back in your hands.
The fault no longer lies with the opponent making the call—it lies with the player who took the risky shot.
🔍 3. Understand the Context
When a cheating incident occurs (or is perceived to), we teach our players to fall back on their mental toughness training.
Why? Because there are no “bad situations,” only bad reactions to situations.
It starts with understanding the bigger picture:
Tennis isn’t like football or baseball, where one single play can determine the outcome.
Tennis is a collection of moments—a long battle of wills.
A single bad call rarely determines the match.
Yes, some points matter more than others (a break point is more crucial than a point at 40–0), but the opportunity to regain control is always present.
So instead of overreacting, remember the context—and don’t make mountains out of molehills.
🧘 4. Control Your Reaction
Even if you follow all the steps above, you may still feel angry—and that’s okay.
But what you do next is what really counts.
We teach our players to focus forward. Put the last point in the rearview mirror and move on.
The best way to do that is with a between-point routine.
My favorite is The 16-Second Cure by Jim Loehr, which includes:
- Positive Response
- Relaxation
- Preparation
- Rituals
This framework helps players stay composed, focused, and ready for the next point. (I may dive deeper into this routine in a future article.)
🧑⚖️ 5. Find a Tournament Official (When Necessary)
When all else fails, remember: tournament officials are there for a reason.
If there’s an on-court umpire or roving judge, don’t hesitate to respectfully ask for help. It’s their job to monitor disputes—not yours.
If there’s no official on hand, things get trickier.
Still, if you’ve done everything else and feel certain that something isn’t right, it’s okay to politely speak with your opponent and request that the tournament director get involved.
I recommend this step only in extreme situations.
Most of the time, it’s far more valuable to treat these moments as opportunities to grow and sharpen your competitive mindset.
That way, the ball stays in your court (pun absolutely intended).
💡 Bonus: Understand the Reasoning
One final note—it’s important to consider why a player might cheat.
Tennis is about much more than forehands and footwork. It’s a tool for character development.
So when I see a player with a reputation for cheating, I try to ask:
- Are they immature and in need of guidance on sportsmanship?
- Are they afraid of losing? If so, why?
- Are they under pressure from parents, coaches, or peers?
- How can I help them value integrity over outcome?
Cheating is never okay—but it's often a symptom, not the root cause.
When you take this approach, you humanize the player.
You create an opportunity not just to correct behavior—but to lead with compassion and teach a bigger life lesson.
🎯 Your Turn
That was a long one—but this topic deserves it.
Cheating is one of the most common concerns in junior tennis, and it’s not going away.
Your challenge is to use one of the tools above to take this fault and turn it into an ace.
I hope today's article helps!
Also, if you have a question or topic you’d like me to tackle in the future, just hit reply and let me know!
