How FBTL works FINAL

 

How FBTL Works

A Quick Overview

We've never had more awareness or resources available regarding emotional health and well-being, yet society and the sports world still struggle to improve. Why?

FBTL takes a proactive approach. Traditionally, sports psychology, coaching, therapy, and even broader psychological treatments address problems after they arise. While reactive methods are essential, FBTL seeks to prevent issues from happening in the first place. How do I anticipate these issues? Because I intimately know the tennis world and competitors' emotional challenges.

Preventative care isn't new—it's already revolutionizing modern medicine. Now, we apply this proactive mindset to something more nuanced: the emotional landscape of competitive tennis.

We dedicate considerable time to shot selection; now, let's invest equally in Thought Selection.

Our Focus

How FBTL Works

A Quick Overview

Despite growing awareness and unprecedented access to resources around emotional health, both society and the sports world continue to fall short in making meaningful progress. Why?

Because most approaches are reactive.

Sports psychology, coaching, therapy—even general mental health practices—typically step in after a problem surfaces. And while reactive solutions are often necessary, they’re not enough.

FBTL flips the script.
We take a proactive, preventive approach to emotional wellness—addressing issues before they derail a player’s growth. How can we anticipate what’s ahead? Because we know the tennis world inside and out—and the emotional turbulence that comes with it.

Preventative care isn’t a radical idea—it’s already reshaping modern medicine. What we’re doing is applying that same foresight to something just as complex:
the emotional life of a competitive tennis player.

We spend endless hours on shot selection.
Now it's time we invest just as deeply in thought selection.

Our Focus

FBTL (For the Battle, the Love) is built to elevate a tennis player’s Emotional Intelligence (EQ)—not just to enhance performance, but to deepen enjoyment and sustainability in the sport and beyond.

Our program is built around nine core pillars:

1. Teaching Academy

Building Our Emotional Immune System

Modeled after a progressive learning framework, this biweekly series dives into tennis-relevant emotional challenges. Each topic—ranging from everyday frustrations to more complex emotional states—is introduced via essays published on Substack and the FBTL platform.

Participants complete a pre- and post-assessment to track growth and earn achievement badges, ultimately qualifying them to lead others or host EQ-centered tennis events.

2. The Power of Daily Routines

Checking Our Emotional Vital Signs

Daily rituals are the foundation of emotional regulation. Meditation, journaling, affirmations, mindfulness, visualization, and goal-setting are tailored for tennis athletes to foster presence, stability, and resilience before training, matches, and throughout the day.

3. The Emotion Racket

Emotional Identification

Adapted from the classic emotion wheel, the FBTL Emotion Racket helps players check in emotionally before matches or practices. It’s a practical tool for identifying current states, working toward optimal performance (Flow), and applying actionable steps to restore emotional balance.

4. Pep Talk Series

Emotional Regulation in the Moment

These scenario-specific pep talks are designed to help players manage emotional spikes—on and off court. Delivered via video and text, they provide practical strategies to handle pressure, recover from setbacks, and stay emotionally centered.

5. Testing & Assessment

Tracking Emotional Growth

Our proprietary EQ Test measures progress in awareness, regulation, and resilience. Players track growth via personal dashboards, creating a clear and motivating sense of development over time.

6. Character Development

Building a Player from the Inside Out

Emotional intelligence means little without character. We incorporate exercises that build belief, integrity, discipline, and resilience—helping athletes grow not only as players, but as people.

7. The Player’s Box

Strengthening the Support System

Parents, coaches, teammates, and doubles partners all play critical roles in an athlete’s journey. This section provides clear, practical guidance to help each person in a player’s life become an emotionally intelligent supporter.

8. Personal Profile & Gamification

Tracking, Rewarding, and Motivating Engagement

Future versions of the FBTL platform will feature gamified elements to increase motivation and consistency. Profiles will showcase progress, highlight emotional wins, and encourage players to stay engaged with their routines and tools.

9. 1-on-1 Mentoring & Emotional Coaching

For those wanting deeper transformation, FBTL offers personalized mentoring and emotional support—directly from me or certified mentors trained in the FBTL method.

FBTL is more than a mindset. It’s a method.
And it’s designed to help tennis players thrive—on the court and in life.



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FBTL enhances Emotional Intelligence (EQ) for tennis players at every level, boosting not only their tennis performance but also their overall life enjoyment.

FBTL’s EQ approach operates through several structured elements:

1. Teaching Academy (Building Our Emotional Immune System)

The Teaching Academy emphasizes emulating ideal player qualities. Each topic, carefully chosen to reflect real-world and tennis-specific emotional challenges, is introduced biweekly. Topics range from everyday situations to deeply impactful emotional states. Content is presented in essays via my Substack and the FBTL platform, followed by initial and concluding assessments to measure growth. Completing modules earns participants badges, ultimately qualifying them to mentor others or host specialized tennis events.

2. Power of Daily Routines (Checking Our Vital Signs)

Daily practices are essential to emotional health. Meditation, mindfulness, affirmations, journaling, visualization, and goal-setting are tailored specifically for tennis players. Regular engagement in these routines fosters emotional stability and optimal performance states.

3. Emotion Racket (Emotional Identification)

Adapted from the Emotion Wheel concept, our Emotion Racket helps players routinely check in emotionally, especially before training or competing. It assists players in identifying their current emotional state, aiming to achieve and maintain their ideal performance state (Flow), and provides clear action steps to regain positive emotional balance.

4. Pep Talk Series (Emotional Regulation)

Our Pep Talk series addresses scenarios that trigger intense emotions, teaching players how to manage sudden emotional fluctuations effectively. Detailed guidance and strategies will be presented in accompanying explainer videos.

5. Testing and Assessment

The unique FBTL Emotional Intelligence Test evaluates players' emotional awareness and growth through active engagement with the materials. Progress is tracked visibly through personal profile pages.

6. Character Development

Strong character underpins tennis success. FBTL fosters self-belief, resilience, and community-building through dedicated character-building exercises, ensuring players develop as individuals beyond tennis.

7. Player’s Box (Support System)

Recognizing the critical role of support networks, this section provides guidance for parents, teammates, coaches, and partners, ensuring everyone understands and fulfills their supportive role effectively.

8. Personal Profile and Gamification

To enhance user engagement, future iterations of FBTL will include gamification elements, creating motivational incentives to regularly engage with the app and content.

9. Additional Services

For more intensive and personalized emotional intelligence work, players will have access to individual mentoring and support from me and trained mentors who are deeply versed in FBTL methodologies.

 


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