This tip is largely for club players, but applicable to anyone who has the need and sees the value.
When you are competing, do you often feel rushed? Do you feel that you are too slow or do not have enough time to get to the ball?
Often, when this is the inner dialogue, the feet start moving towards the ball before the hands ‘see’ the ball.
This results in the body moving blind to the ball because the hands are the eyes of the body.
What is your first move? Everyone says ‘watch the ball’, but far more important, is to see what is your physical reaction to this watching. Is it the feet or the hands? Or do you just freeze and ‘watch’ for a few seconds.
Are you taking time away from yourself?
Either way, if you follow the ball with your hands immediately it is hit by your opponent, you will find so much time that you will have to wait for the ball.
Enjoy, explore, experiment!