The Emotion Racket
Becoming a Role Model Through Emotional Awareness
(Using the Tools of the FBTL Emotion Racket)
In my memoir You Can Get There From Here, I wrote about a young player who had all kinds of talent but lacked the tools to manage his emotions. That imbalance — between my ball striking and my mood management nearly cost me everything.
The FBTL Emotion Racket was created to ensure that others never have to walk that same path unarmed. It's more than a tool for competition; it’s a guide for emotional identification and management to help you navigate the many powerful emotions that come with tennis life. It's the players who manage these challenging emotions best who become the kind of role models others want to follow.
To be a role model in tennis and in life, you must first learn to recognize and manage your own emotions before you can guide or inspire others. The Emotion Racket helps players identify their emotions, understand their triggers, and respond intentionally rather than react impulsively. The best Role models aren’t perfect people; they are emotionally aware people. They demonstrate how to handle pressure, frustration, loss, and triumph with grace and self-control. When other players observe how you navigate the emotional roller coaster of competitive tennis, we teach emotional intelligence by example.
The Emotion Racket also reminds players that being a good example begins with self-regulation. A composed athlete under pressure shows others the importance of appearing calm under duress. A humble champion shows others what success looks like with gratitude. A resilient competitor demonstrates perseverance when results don’t go their way. When you use these emotional tools intentionally, you set a powerful example of emotional intelligence that elevates the entire tennis ecosystem we compete in.
The “Get There From Here” part of my memoir's title is bridging the gap between what you feel and how you respond. The FBTL Emotion Racket helps you do just that, turning potential emotional turbulence into an understandable and manageable situation.
5 Ways to Use the FBTL Emotion Racket to Become a Role Model
Name It Before You Frame It - Pause when agitated. Before reacting on court, identify what emotion you’re feeling. This pause builds awareness and control, two traits every role model must master.
Model Emotional Recovery – Use your between-point routines to reset visibly and intentionally. Players will notice your consistent poise under pressure far more than your shot-making
Turn Frustration Into Fuel – Channel your emotions into renewed effort. Resist defeatism. Things aren’t always going to go your way. Do not give in to the negativity.
Show Gratitude Publicly – Thank opponents, coaches, and officials graciously and authentically, especially in defeat. Make Gratitude your superpower. I can think of no other trait more important to model.
Reflect Daily – After each match, emotionally debrief with your Emotion Racket. Ask: What did I feel? Why? How did I react? What can I carry forward? Reflection builds wisdom, the type of wisdom we seek in others when choosing our role models.