The Present Play Method
Mental footwork for competitive women
— built by a coach who has spent 40 years watching what pressure actually does to players at every level.
The 10-Second Reset
Break the cycle of a bad point instantly. Learn the physical trigger that flushes frustration and resets your nervous system before the next serve.
The Awareness Anchor
Stop the "mental drift." Use sensory cues to stay locked into the present moment, keeping your focus on the ball rather than the scoreboard.
The 3-Step Recovery
A cognitive sequence to analyze a mistake without the "inner critic" taking over. Turn errors into data so you can adjust your strategy mid-match.
Pressure Protocols
Pre-set "if-then" mental scripts for high-stakes moments. Know exactly how to breathe and think when you are at break point or tie-breakers.
"After 40 years in this sport, I’ve learned: You don’t rise to your intentions in competition. You fall to your habits between points. So we train those habits."
40 Years Inside Competitive Racquet Sports
I have coached internationally across the United States, Canada, England, and France—working with nationally ranked juniors, professional tour players, club teams, and high-performance academies.
Here's something I don't usually put in my coaching materials.
I competed on the professional satellite circuit in the late 80's and early 90's. I have a psychology degree. I spent three years at Van der Meer Tennis running sport psychology sessions for ITF WTA-level players. I understood every principle of performance under pressure — technically, scientifically, practically.
I still remember how I used to lie awake reconstructing rallies from matches I'd already lost. Replaying one missed return in the shower. Waking up the next morning still annoyed about a double fault in the third set.
The thing nobody tells you about caring deeply about competition is this: that same intensity that makes you improve — if you don't have a way to release it — turns inward and starts working against you.
That's what Present Play is built to solve. Not from a textbook. From experience.
Credentials & Leadership:
I hold a B.S. in Psychology from Birmingham Southern College and have served in leadership roles including
✦ Director of Tennis 21 years
✦ Head Professional
✦ Sports Science Director
✦ Strength & Conditioning Coach
✦ Head Platform Tennis Professional
PTR Certified in Tennis, Padel and Pickleball
TPA Member
The Real Problem Isn’t Technique
At every level — junior nationals, pro events, club championships — the biggest performance barrier wasn’t stroke mechanics. It was emotional reaction.
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Tension after mistakes.
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Overthinking under pressure.
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Scoreboard anxiety.
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Partner frustration in doubles.
Talent gets blocked by tension. And no one teaches adult women how to manage that in a practical way.
Why I Created Present Play
Most mental training falls into two camps: hyper-aggressive “killer instinct” or distant academic theory. Neither speaks to intelligent, competitive women. Present Play is mental footwork for real matches.
Simple between-point resets.
Emotional regulation under pressure.
Systems you can use at 5-all.
Who I Work With
Women 35–65 who play tennis, padel, or pickleball. If you love the game but struggle with nerves or spirals, we’ll work well together. I provide grounded confidence and clarity under pressure — not chest-pounding hype.
My Approach
Calm is not a personality trait. It’s a trained response. Confidence is not motivational hype. It’s emotional stability under stress. After 40 years in this sport, I’ve learned: You don’t rise to your intentions in competition. You fall to your habits between points. So we train those habits.
The Edge
Three years coaching ITF juniors and WTA professionals at the Van der Meer Tennis Academy in Hilton Head — running weekly sport psychology sessions, travelling to international tournaments, watching elite players manage pressure in real time.
Elite-level coaching experience combined with decades inside real competitive environments
USTA Sports Science certified (Levels I and II) with five years as Head Strength & Conditioning Coach at Universal Tennis Academy in Atlanta — building fitness programs for ITF and nationally ranked juniors.
Club leadership expertise and adult program design built specifically for competitive players
You already have the strokes. Let’s remove what’s blocking them.
— Gary
Founder, Present Play
