I hate saying it about a sport that I care deeply about that is in my blood, but I’ll say it anyway. The tournament setting for a 12 & Under or a 10 & Under child can be cold, freezing, unattractive and downright unappealing. I have long maintained that the lobby of a 10 &…
I cannot wait for summer tennis! I love all of it … from hard courts to clay courts with all the heat and humidity. The entire country has tennis action for all levels and the courts are packed! There are some really good pro tournament options from coast to coast. The summer season ends at…
On Tuesday, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced that Spanish duo Sergio Casal and Emilio Sanchez will receive the ITF’s highest accolade, the Philippe Chatrier Award, for their services to the game as players and coaches. The award will be presented at the 2017 ITF World Champions Dinner on June 6 in Paris at the…
I decided to read a tennis book to improve my game, and complement my practices in drills and lessons with instructors. But let’s face it … I need more than a book, I need a library. To begin my learning-tennis-by-the-book quest, I started with Game, Set and Match (2015) by Mark Hodgkinson. It was there…
I have had one of those days recently. I was under the weather with the flu and my players were coming into my office needing my help to solve the world’s problems. I had reports due to the athletic director and we started practice for the spring season the same week at SUNY Oneonta. That…
In the past 30 years, we have seen a large increase in the popularity of tennis in the United States. Viewership, advertising, attendance and the overall tennis economy have grown significantly over the course of these years. However, as much as our overall industry has gained ground in the world of sports, we…
We play our best tennis when we are not distracted … I think we can all agree on that. When our mind is quiet, our muscle memory is able to operate freely. Decisions are made effortlessly and creative solutions to shots and strategies seem to appear out of nowhere. What most people don’t realize is…
During professional matches or junior tournaments, everyone in the stands can see the score. But what about what’s below the score? What can’t we see? More times than not, that’s going to be the predictor in what happens next? I’m referring to a player’s emotional energy. Are they calm, aware and in a balanced state?…
Get your pro spring swing on! I love this time of year. The weather is warming up and there is such positive energy around the tennis courts. On the Pro Tour, the American swing in Indian Wells, Calif. and in Miami are so much fun for the players. I was a player that loved the…
There are a number of classic “reasons” for the lack of serve and volley among women in the modern game of tennis. Opinions and quotes from fans, players, coaches and commentators are many. True or not here, they are: 1. “The return is too big.” 2. “Women’s serves are not big enough and they are…