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Picture the scene. You are playing against opponents that you know you can beat, but luck just doesn't seem to be on your side. For once, your trademark net skimming serve isn't skimming the net and you favourite shots just aren't working out. To make matters worse, your opponents seem to be enjoying all the breaks! The harder you try the more mistakes you seem to make.  You can feel the frustration building and with it, the temptation to smash your racket or let rip with a temper tantrum of Kevin Jolly proportions. Although some players feel that they perform better when physched up and aggressive, when you reach the stage of frustration, your aggression is no longer under your control and may in fact be working against you. Since the introduction of the red and yellow card system in badminton, there is now even more reason for elite players to keep their tempers in check. Go too far and you may be off the court altogether! While this may seem harsh, from a psychological perspective, anything that encourages players to learn to deal with temper control is a step in the right direction. Whether you are an elite player, a league player or just play socially, it is likely that you will have experienced frustration on court at some point. Sport by its very nature is frustrating. Frustration occurs when we are blocked from achieving a particular goal either by our own inability or by intervention of someone or something else. In badminton there are many ways in which goals can be blocked, in fact this is your opponent's very aim! When you are pumped up and ready to go, such a frustrating environment can easily tip you over the edge.
Many players turn their frustration upon themselves, with negative comments such as "Why do I even bother?" "I can't do this" or "That was useless". In this way frustration can destroy concentration and undermine your confidence and deny both success and enjoyment. Often a player's performance will deteriorate along with their language!

Relaxation strategies are essential in addressing total control. When you feel as though your emotions are getting out of hand, it is vital to try to re-focus. The key is to break the cycle/ Slow deep breathe with emphasis on exhalation, can calm things down. It sounds simple, but it works.

Off the court, try to keep a note of when you got riled up, that way you can prepare for it the next time it comes along. The first step to control your thoughts and emotions is to have awareness of them. Once you have the facts written down you can address them calmly and constructively.

Remember to focus on each point as you play it. And don't dwell on the ones that have gone. Dwelling on mistakes only leads to further frustration and mistakes. Instead you have to comments on your performance during the game, try to say something constructive e.g. "Get more length" or "Move faster".