Ms. Medal Chasers

Ms. Medal Chasers Our mission is to educate, encourage and empower female pickleballers on and off the pickleball court.

We are crazy about this sport that connects us to the magic of playing again, to reclaiming our inner phoenix, and to making ride or die friends.

MENTAL FITNESS FRIDAY 🏓🧠You don’t need more things to focus on, you actually need to carry less onto the court.Focus LES...
02/13/2026

MENTAL FITNESS FRIDAY 🏓🧠

You don’t need more things to focus on, you actually need to carry less onto the court.

Focus LESS on:
✨ Your mechanics.
✨ What others think.
✨ Whether you win every game.

Shift a calm Focus to:
✔️ Your energy.
✔️ Your attitude between points.
✔️ Recovering quickly after mistakes.
✔️ Being steady for your partner.
✔️ Playing one ball at a time.

Your job isn’t to be perfect, your job is to stay present.

Play simply.
Compete with courage and grit.
Breathe deeply.

You are building mental fitness every single rally — not just when you win.

💪🧠Mental Fitness Friday 🏅On the court, we are always thinking about what we can do better physically, but often the most...
01/16/2026

💪🧠Mental Fitness Friday 🏅

On the court, we are always thinking about what we can do better physically, but often the most powerful shifts are what we do mentally.

We work on developing good skills and habits, but here’s a HABIT WE NEED TO BREAK: Over-apologizing.

“Sorry” often slips out after middle balls, poaches (I mostly say, “Thank you” here if I am slow getting up to the net) and speedups or pop-ups that get our partner clobbered.

🙋‍♀️I have uttered a thousand “Sorry”s. But now I am trying to stop.
We apologize to be thoughtful, but in reality it quietly disrupts rhythm, pulls focus inward, and places unnecessary emotional weight on your partner.
Let’s be honest. Most women were conditioned to keep the peace. Be nice. Be agreeable. Don’t make anyone uncomfortable. On the pickleball court, that shows up as apologizing for everything. Not just real mistakes, but for taking space, making a call, or daring to try an aggressive shot that doesn’t work.
Beneath that reflex is a familiar thought: “Please don’t be annoyed with me. I don’t want to disappoint you.”
🐅But on the court, we are allowing ourselves to be assertive and somewhat aggressive. This is why we love this sport. It’s allowed-accepted-mandated. We can let our inner lion ROAR.
We know when we make an error. We don’t need to sit on the couch and have a coffee talk about it. When you stop acknowledging on-court mistakes, you create space for trust, flow, and better chemistry under pressure.
Mistakes happen, but constant apologies pull attention backward, break momentum, and subtly signal hesitation. Over time, that erodes confidence and partnership trust.
Doubles chemistry isn’t built by being perfect—it’s built by working together and constantly communicating to get better.
🔑Instead of apologizing, try communication that actually helps:
• “Mine” or “Yours” Clear ownership. Prevents confusion. Shows confidence before the ball becomes a problem.

• “Switch” Short, tactical, and necessary when positioning changes. This is information, not emotion.

• “Good idea / Good try” Keeps aggression alive. Reinforces effort and decision-making without assigning blame.
• “Lock in” signifies we can do this. Together.
If something truly needs to be owned, a quick “my bad” works. Neutral. Brief. Then move on. The difference is intention. You’re not shrinking yourself to keep the peace. You’re keeping the team moving forward.
Non-verbal cues matter too. Paddle taps, nods, eye contact. Sometimes acknowledgment without commentary is the most efficient reset.
Your partner doesn’t need “sorry.”
They need someone focused on the next shot.

— with Kat Blanco

Address

Fredericksburg, VA

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Ms. Medal Chasers posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category