With The New National Ranking System How Did The January Regional Cut-Off Compare To Last Year?

By Ricky Becker
Boys'18's: 2011 January regionals had 5 easier cutoffs; 2012 had 3 that were easier Boys' 16's: 2011 3 easier; 2012 5 easier Boys' 14's: 2011 4 easier; 2012 4 easier Boys' 12's: 2011 5 easier; 2012 3 easier Girls 18's: 2011 4 easier; 2012 4 easier Girls' 16's: 2011 5 easier; 2012 3 easier Girls 14'...Read more

Tennis Channel ... Really?

By Steven Kaplan
Forgive me if I'm slightly underwhelmed by the news as reported by Longislandtennismagazine.com that the Tennis Channel will have, "Thirteen Days of Televised Match Coverage for Australian Open." It's a reminder that since last September, very few Long Island households get the Tennis Channel since...Read more

A New Benchmark

By Steven Kaplan
I've just returned from my annual holiday mountain biking trek to Tucson, Ariz. It's not easy for me to escape from tennis responsibilities while in Tucson because the 12's and 14's Winter Super Nationals are here, and this year, five of my players competed. While watching a student one afternoon...Read more

How Many Coaches Are Too Many?

By Ricky Becker
From my experience of working with two of the stronger junior programs around and now going out on my own, I have seen two different styles in terms of coach quantity for junior players. I have seen situations where some juniors want one coach and view any time/money spent with a different coach a...Read more

One of The Best Bargains Around: Teen-Aged Hitters

By Ricky Becker
I started coaching when I was 15-years old at a country club. If I remember correctly, I was paid $20 an hour at the cluband I was more than thrilled. IAt the club, I taught adults and kids (many of whom went to my high school.) I went on the next couple of years to teach a handful of local uniors...Read more

Viva Fernando Verdasco

By Steven Kaplan
Each Sunday morning, I direct the Reebok Academy for The City Parks Foundation at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. This past Sunday, I was asked if Fernando Verdasco could use one of our courts. It was a request I couldn't refuse. Up close, Verdasco is an imposing athlete;...Read more

Maria Sharapova, Rafael Nadal and Cheating

By Steven Kaplan
The USTA rules against coaching during matches are unambiguous; it's not allowed except during breaks. Coaching is defined as: "Any communication between players and parents, coaches and spectators." How widespread is this illegal practice? USTA.com writes in the "Improve Your Game " section, "...Read more

Significant National Point System Changes In 2012

By Ricky Becker
If you plan on aging up in 2012 naionally, all I could say is "good luck." Points have been drastically reduced for all national level tournaments except for the quarterfinals on in SuperNationals.This includes national points distributed at USTA/Eastern Sectional Tournaments. Last year if you win...Read more

Straw Dogs

By Steven Kaplan
Long Island Tennis Magazine asked me in the November/December 2011 edition: At what age or level, if any, does home-schooling become necessary for a serious tennis player? I summarized by stating "While the tennis rewards of home schooling are undeniable, the educational compromise and risk...Read more

A Rule That Allows Stacking?

By Ricky Becker
Although I appreciate (and disagree with) the counterpoint to my last article about limiting junior tournaments to younger kids, I will respond to it in the future. When I heard that for the second time, there was going to be an attempt to blatently stack a lineup to gain a competitive advantage, I...Read more

Hannah Camhi

By Steven Kaplan
Hannah Camhi hasn't quit school to play tennis, instead, she stays after class as she has done since eighth grade to lead the team. Hannah doesn't see education as an obstacle to her goal of being a top ranked player, instead, she recognizes her tennis as a way to further her education. It has...Read more

Stackingate

By Steven Kaplan
The Syosset Girls Varsity Tennis team has been declared 2011 Long Island Champions by default and justice has been served (no pun intended). I have little to add about this sorry event because Longislandtennismagazine.com has finally stopped snuggling in editorial Switzerland and projected a strong...Read more
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