Long Island Tennis Magazine’s 2013 Gym Guide

February 11, 2013 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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Photo credit: Medioimages/Photodisc

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Early Hit Training Center at Glen Head Racquet Club
95 Glen Head Road ♦ Glen Head, N.Y.
(516) 455-1225

The Early Hit Training Center offers the most comprehensive (and flexible) fitness conditioning program for aspiring junior tennis players. Our group classes are designed to improve mental focus and physical strength by training the body, mind and spirit. We develop intelligent and strong athletes by teaching the fundamentals of world-class athletic training.

The ability to win starts in the mind. Our tennis-specific conditioning program teaches kids how to train like the pros and develop a greater sense of self-confidence by training properly—at all times. To achieve positive results, it is essential that kids learn how to avoid distraction; train smart and stay motivated from within. Our “Eight Steps to Athletic Success” teaches kids how to successfully develop a plan of action and a will to win.

Early Hit Training Center fitness classes focus on the entire body with tennis-specific “pre-game” warm up drills; muscular strength and cardiovascular endurance exercises. Your child will improve their flexibility; range of motion; core strength; body posture; foot speed and power. Remember, fitness conditioning is one of the best ways to improve self-confidence and competitive spirit within any athlete.

Your child will discover the excitement of learning new skills; the value of discipline and the rewards of consistent effort. With more than 500-square feet of dedicated training space and a team of qualified tennis professionals—your child will have a unique opportunity to gain that competitive edge. The Early Hit Training Center offers the best fitness training facility on Long Island for rising tennis stars.

For more information or to make an appointment to tour our facility—call Carl Barnett at (516) 455-1225.



IMG Academy
5500 34th Street West ♦ Bradenton, Fla.
(800) 872-6425 ♦ www.imgacademy.com

Tennis is a very complex game which demands high energy output and muscular engagement. At IMG Academy, we develop a strength and conditioning routine tailored to the individual athlete that addresses these demands. With a combination of work in strength, movement, and footwork, we seek to prevent injuries, while helping to build the absolute best tennis body possible. In terms of strength, we look to produce a solid and strong body that is able to generate power and develop a lot of momentum with rotational movements. For injury prevention, scapula stabilization, hip mobilization, core strengthening, and knee and ankle proprioception, are the main focus. Lastly, footwork and movement combine to make our “chef’s special” of training, which includes court drills and a variety of equipment like medicine balls, bungees, and balance boards. Our main focus is to provide better self awareness, balance, eye-to-hand and eye-to-foot coordination, and speed of reaction. All these points are very important to maintaining good technique throughout a stroke. As part of the IMG Academy training program, we take all of our athletes through our i360 sports performance tests, which give our coaches an indicator of what areas of development the individual athlete needs to work on in order to take his/her game to the next level. Within the IGNITE 360 performance training system, we continue to work on the athlete’s strengths, but spend more time on fixing the athlete’s weaknesses and improving any muscular imbalances or deficiencies.

This approach grants the athlete the best opportunity to maximize their energy output and muscular engagement capabilities.

Cassiano Costa is IMG’s physical conditioning coach. He completed a bachelor’s degree in sports science at the University of Sao Paulo, a master’s degree in sports injury prevention at University of Galicia, and specialist in tennis biomechanics at Federal University in Sao Paulo. Before joining IMG Academy, Cassiano was a strength and conditioning coach for a number of professional players on the ATP and WTA Tours, including Thomas Bellucci and Vera Zvonareva. Prior to that, he was the head strength coach at soccer clubs in Brazil (Corinthians and Palmeiras) and in Holland (AFC Ajax). He has enjoyed much success in his coaching career, winning the national soccer championships with Corinthians in 2005 and the national Under 17 soccer championship with Palmeiras. Flavio Saretta, Jamea Jackson, Thomaz Bellucci, Vera Zvonareva, Gastao Elias all won during his time with them. In particular, Bellucci reached his best personal singles ranking (number 21), and Zvonareva rose to second best player in the world and reached two Grand Slam Finals (Wimbledon in 2010 and the U.S. Open in 2010).



SPORTIME Kings Park
275 Indian Head Road ♦ Kings Park, N.Y.
(631) 269-6300 ♦ www.sportimeny.com/kings-park

Although many people go to one club or facility to play tennis and another club or facility to use a gym, or to take fitness classes, at SPORTIME Kings Park, we offer 11 year-round tennis courts, in hard and soft surfaces, and a modern fitness center on two levels, along with indoor and outdoor sports facilities. SPORTIME calls this the TFM model, for Tennis/Fitness/Multi-Sport, and at Kings Park, this is a luxury that we cannot imagine living without. For recreational players, we offer programs to enhance core strength and cardio endurance. For our tournament players, young and old, functional training leads to enhanced conditioning and endurance. The bottom line is that improved fitness wins tennis matches.

SPORTIME Kings Park’s full-service gym offers state-of-the-art cardio and strength equipment, Free-Motion trainers, and a free weight and circuit training area. Our cardio area includes treadmills, stationary bikes, elliptical and AMT trainers. Our multi-sport court accommodates adult and youth basketball and volleyball. SPORTIME Kings Park also features a large group exercise studio, offering over 35 classes each week.

SPORTIME’s certified personal trainers are available for one-on-one small group training. Every SPORTIME member/players receives a complementary evaluation leading to a personalized workout/training plan.

SPORTIME junior players participate in our Junior Athletic Conditioning program, or “JAC.” Led by our certified personal trainers, our junior athletes are able to take an unlimited number of group classes each week, including strength and conditioning, flexibility and, most popular, speed and agility. The JAC program provides an opportunity for us to efficiently train junior players off-court, in a fun and social environment, leading to improved on-court confidence and performance.

The SPORTIME TFM Model, with fitness centers, sports and cross-training available on-site at some of the finest tennis facilities in our area, is also available at SPORTIME Quogue, SPORTIME Lynbrook, SPORTIME Randall’s Island and SPORTIME Schenectady. Many other SPORTIME locations, including our John McEnroe Tennis Academy Annexes at Bethpage and Lake Isle, offer functional and group training, to support our junior athletes.



World Gym Bay Shore
225 Howells Road ♦ Bay Shore, N.Y.
(631) 968-8668 ♦ www.worldgym.com/bayshore

World Gym Bay Shore is a 50,000-square foot facility located on the South Shore of Long Island, boasting great amenities for tennis players of all levels. There are two beautifully maintained hard courts and a comfortable viewing area for guests. The Club offers seasonal contract time, group and private lessons for all ages and levels and is led by a USPTA-certified staff, including Head Pro Tracie Forsythe. Off the court, players will be happy to find many options for boosting their on-court performance, as well as places to unwind after a hard-fought game. There are two gym areas that offer the latest cardio and fitness equipment, a wide variety of group exercise classes, and a heated indoor lap pool and whirlpool. The top level of the gym has every piece of cardio equipment a player needs for training hard and staying a step ahead. The Nautilus, Cybex and Olympic free weight equipment is state-of-the-art and there are certified personal trainers on hand to help with any questions one might have. Training sessions can also be tailored to fit an emerging players specific training needs. For those players already up on their fitness and looking for something different, there are a wide variety of exercise classes that range from Tennis Boot Camp and hardcore spin classes that test your endurance to tranquil yoga and Pilates classes that will keep you strong and limber.

This facility also has everything you would need to unwind and relax. There are steam rooms located in each of the country club style locker rooms, as well as a large sauna which are great for loosening up. And on the way out, you can grab a delicious shake from our newly renovated café that will be sure to replenish anything you might have left out on the court.
 


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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