When tennis became a sport and was developed, it was always a game that had two people competing against one other using their tools, talents and mental know-how to solve problems on the court to achieve goals. Coaching was done prior to the matches and the players were off to solve the challenges that…
As coaches and teaching professionals, we are constantly trying to help our players develop good habits, but how often do we look at our own habits as teachers? This article will portray simple actions and behaviors that can make us better professionals. On-court teaching As someone who spends most of my working hours on-court,…
The New York Empire presented by Citi announced today the themes for each of the team’s seven home matches during the 2019 season at Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning in the Bronx, N.Y. To kick off the 44th season of World TeamTennis (WTT), the league co-founded by International Tennis Hall of Famer Billie…
Silent Partner Tennis, a division of Deuce Industries Ltd., was founded in 1989 by Dr. John Bassili. A recreational tennis player and psychology professor, Dr. John had a dream. He sought a reliable tennis partner. One that would play on his schedule and help improve his game. Meanwhile, John’s son was progressing through the…
In order to maximize the development of players over the long run, the best plan is to adopt a four-stage training model developed by Dr. Istvan Balyi. The four stages are: 1. FUNdamental Stage 2. Training to Train Stage 3. Training to Compete Stage 4. Training to Win Stage Stage 1: FUNdamental Stage (ages:…
A few months ago, I was listening to John O’Sullivan’s Way of Champions’ podcast when he interviewed his colleague, renowned mental training coach Dr. Jerry Lynch. They were talking about how all athletes want to win, but the path to winning is not so much about wanting to win, but understanding how to W.I.N….
In my career as a tennis coach, I’ve learned that when you start working with a young tennis player, it’s not enough to just focus on the quality of the technique, you must also take into account what happens outside the court. Children play many roles … they are sons and daughters, students, friends…
It was a universally happy day across the tennis world on Thursday as three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray made his return to the court at the Fever Tree Championships at the Queen’s Club in London. Murray, competing in his first match following hip surgery after the Australian Open, paired with Spain’s Feliciano Lopez…
In the March/April 2019 issue of Long Island Tennis Magazine, I discussed my formula on junior tennis success. In short, it goes like this … Click Here to read Part I of Ricky Becker’s article Ten percent of junior players walk onto the tennis court for the first time with clear-cut talent; 80 percent…
Sometimes, as a tennis player, you exist on an island. Alone, solo, under the lights of your local club or drenched in the sun, there you are … between the lines, either gaining the accolades of glory hitting the winning shot or facing the weight of defeat. There are no teammates to pass to,…