Help! I hate the ball we are playing with! I hate the court we are playing on. I hate the ref in charge of this match. I hate the (fill in the blank). When I hear this I can forecast what is coming. The athlete has their built-in excuse.
I always use the xyz ball instead of the abc ball! As players morph between local shootouts and all sorts of organization’s tournaments this is a popular notion. Here’s how to cope. Find out as early as possible what ball is being used. Do practice with that ball as much as possible. Begin saying to anyone who will listen, “I love the xyz ball!”
Want to complain about the ball? Here’s how! To any opponents who are around you be sure to point out how you hate the ball and hope they are complaining about it! Get them thinking about it but very quietly move away and don’t join the party!
Remember they play with the same ball so it is like getting stuck on a blind date! You have to love the ball!!
The same applies to the court, the temperature, the walls, the ref, the racquet and on and on! Do not join your own excuse party but feel free to invite your opponents to join!