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Juniors Get Underway
The US Open Junior Championships began Sunday
Grand Slam champions and Youth Olympic medalists highlighted the opening day of play for juniors at the US Open. With the exception of just a handful of surprises, Sunday's results showed that seedings for the 2010 boys' and girls' singles tournaments were accurate almost down to the number.
Juniors Photo Gallery - Click here
Junior Tournament Preview & Day 1 Recap - Watch Now
LOCAL and other JUNIOR TENNIS
courtesy of Bob Larson’s Tennis News
Cramping is a Major Concern at Important Tennis Events
The name Shuzo Matsuoka has become synonymous with the agonies of cramping on a tennis court and 15 years have now passed since the Japanese was left was screaming and writhing in pain on court during his U.S.Open first round match against Petr Korda, knowing he would lose the match if he resorted to any medical assistance.
Caught between agony and the Grand Slam rules at the time, Matsuoka was made to suffer until he was finally defaulted for delaying the match. Tennis history will show the rule-makers were forced into a rethink soon after fans on Grandstand Court booed the inhumanity of it all. Kei Nishikori was only four years old at the time but he knows the story well.
Matsuoka is currently a mentor and has long been an inspiration to the 20 year-old who has succeeded him as Japanese no.1 ranked tennis player. The experiences of his predecessor was very much on Nishikori’s mind as he came through a five hour marathon is torturous heat to beat 11th seeded Marin Cilic in five sets.
At the beginning of 2010 after countless players abused the cramping rules brought in as Matsuoka’s legacy and used them as just an opportune moment for a rest and perhaps destroy the prevalent opponent’s rhythm, the International Tennis Federation decreed medical timeouts for a loss of physical condition were no longer allowed.
“There’s basically been a feeling around for quite some time that cramping, in many cases, is what we used to call ‘a loss of conditioning,’ ” said Stefan Fransson, the Grand Slam supervisor of officials. “And because of that, it shouldn’t entitle players to have a medical timeout.”
Nishikori admitted he began to cramp as early as the second set of his 5?7, 7?6, 3?6, 7?6, 6?1 win over Cilic that sends him through to a third round confrontation with 21st seed Albert Montanes of Spain. “I was thinking about it in fourth set mostly,” said the 147th ranked qualifier who missed almost a year because of wrist problems before returning to tennis in the spring of this year and feared his highly promising career could be over before it had hardly started. “I thought even if I win this, I have to play one more set. It's not going to be easy for me as I felt I was cramping. But I was able to fight through.
“I have seen the incident with Shuzo many times on TV. It was always too sad because nobody could help. He just lay down and couldn't do anything. And I used to cramp a lot. Even two years ago I played here and I was cramping from first match. Now the rules have changed and once more it's tough.”
Two years ago before the wrist problems struck, Nishikori won a five set encounter against fourth seed David Ferrer and became the first Japanese player to reach the Round of 16 at the US Open in 71 years. “I have more good memories there against Ferrer,” admitted Nishikori. “I was really happy about it.”
Nadal Sets Up Education Foundation in India
We all are aware of Andre Agassi’s Foundation For Education and his award-winning campus, which houses elementary, middle and high schools. Then there is Serena Williams and her Serena Williams Secondary School in Kenya and her support for education for kids all over Africa. And there is Roger Federer’s Foundation that also provides education and sporting opportunities for kids in several African countries.
Perhaps less well-known is the work undertaken by the Rafa Nadal Foundation in India, in collaboration with the Vicente Ferrer Foundation. This consists of the construction and maintenance of a school and a three-court tennis training center with an aim to improve the future opportunities and quality of life of 150 boys and girls in Anantapur.
The boys and girls will receive educational support English and mathematics, reinforcing this with training in computer skills and improving their integral education through sport.
The project also contemplates nutritional and healthcare cover for the beneficiary students, in order to supplement their nutritional and medical needs. Sport plays a vital part in the aim of the project with the belief that, in addition to providing a healthy life, sports and games encourage youngsters to adopt aptitudes of comradeship and solidarity which they can then go on to develop in their daily lives.
The Harpers are Honored in San Francisco
Harper for Kids, a non-profit organization run by former player Peanut Louis Harper and her husband Tim, was one of five organizations last week honored at the SF Giants game and at a dinner and awarded with a $10,000 All Star Community Grant. The pair also set up the Harpers For Kids Family Day on Saturday at the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, which was a great success and attended by Andrea Jaeger, Mary Joe Fernandez and Mary Carillo. Harper for Kids tennis coaches guided youngsters through a series of games and tennis drills with mini tennis nets.
The best source for local tennis tournament is USTA/NORCAL, http://www.norcal.usta.com/. One can find league, tournaments and most tennis programs in the Bay Area.
World Junior Tennis Team Finals are Set
Italy will play Chile in the boys event and the United States will face Ukraine in the girls final of the 2010 ITF 14 & under international World Junior Tennis team competition held this week in Prostejov, Czech Republic.
Boys semifinals:
Italy defeated Great Britain 2-1
Filippo Baldi (ITA) d. Peter Ashley (GBR) 36 64 64
Gianluigi Quinzi (ITA) d. Joshua Sapwell (GBR) 75 63
Joshua Sapwell/Alexander Sendegeya (GBR) d. Filippo Baldi/Gianluigi Quinzi (ITA) 75 61
Chile defeated Russia 2-1
Dmitry Popko (RUS) d. Christian Garin (CHI) 57 63 64
Bastian Malla (CHI) d. Alexander Chepelev (RUS) 64 61
Christian Garin/Bastian Malla (CHI) d. Alexander Chepelev/Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 46 62 61
Girls semifinals:
United States defeated China 2-1:
Qiuyu Ye (CHN) d. Gabrielle Andrews ( USA ) 76 64
Brooke Austin ( USA ) d. Zi Yue Sun (CHN) 62 64
Gabrielle Andrews/Taylor Townsend ( USA ) d. Yi Hong Li/Qiuyu Ye (CHN) 26 60 62
Ukraine defeated Australia 2-1:
Viktoriya Lushkova (UKR) d. Isabella Beischer (AUS) 60 61
Ashleigh Barty (AUS) d. Oleksandra Korashvili (UKR) 61 76
Oleksandra Korashvili/Viktoriya Lushkova (UKR) d. Ashleigh Barty/Lyann Hoang (AUS) 64 75.
Federer and Show Business Stars are Added to Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day Lineup
The USTA announced that singing sensation David Archuleta, rising star Shontelle and tennis great Roger Federer have been added to an already star-studded line-up that includes chart-topping pop superstars Jonas Brothers, TV and recording sensation Demi Lovato, tennis world # 1 Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Kim Clijsters and Novak Djokovic for the 15th Annual Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day presented by Hess Saturday, August 28 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y., from 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Hosted by Adrienne Bailon and Quddus, the show will feature special celebrity guests including Nick Cannon. The popular full-day tennis and music festival for children and families – including interactive games, musical entertainment and tennis clinics – will also feature performances from Allstar Weekend and School Gyrls. More musical acts and tennis stars will be announced in coming weeks. Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day Presented by Hess will kick off the 2010 US Open, which runs from August 30 - September 12.
Youth Olympic Flame Has Begun its Journey in Greece Heading to Singapore
The Journey of the Youth Olympic Flame is under way in Greece, with the lighting of the flame at an official ceremony outside Olympia’s famed Temple of Hera. Using the sun’s rays and a parabolic mirror, a holy priestess lit the flame before entering the Ancient Olympic Stadium and passing the torch to the Journey’s first torchbearer, Apostolos Koutavas, who will represent Greece in trampoline at the Youth Olympic Games.
In the 22 days leading up to the first-ever Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, some 2,400 torchbearers will take the flame to all five continents in a journey designed to promote the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect among the youth of the world. The Journey of the Youth Olympic Flame was due in Berlin on July 24 before moving on to Dakar, Mexico City, Auckland and Seoul. A six-day torch relay beginning August 5 is planned for the final destination, Singapore, where the Youth Olympic Games will take place from August 14-26.
World Junior Tennis Competition Continues
Last weekend’s final round of the 14 & under European Summer Cups determined the European qualifiers for the World Junior Tennis Finals to be held in Prostejov, Czech Republic, August 2-7. The boys’ Copa del Sol and the girls’ Europa Cup act as the final qualifying round for Europe, with five nations in both the boys’ and girls’ events joining the Czech Republic, which automatically qualifies as host of the Finals.
The Europa Cup for girls took place in Loano, Italy, where Russia defended its title with a win over France. The three other girls teams to qualify were Ukraine, Spain and Austria. In the boys’ competition, France successfully defended its Copa del Sol title with a 3-0 win over Poland in Magaluf, Spain. Great Britain, Russia and Italy also booked their ticket for the Finals.
The European qualifying events (Borotra and Helvetie Cup) for the 16 & under Junior Davis Cup/Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Finals will take place on August 2-4.
The Tao of Tennis USTA Challenger Tournament ID # 508385310
August 7th & 8th 2010
To register please go to the USTA website and click junior tournaments in Nor-Cal and you can search for our tournament using our tournament ID # which is listed above. Each registered player will be entered into our Tao of Tennis Competitive Edge Academy Raffle Drawing and will also receive a Certificate of Participation.
This is our first annual back to school USTA Junior Tournament, please check our website at www.thetaooftennis.com for future tournament dates. We plan to host many more USTA Junior Tournaments here in San Jose as many junior tournaments are held outside of San Jose. Thanks in advance for your support and participation. If you have any questions or for more info,
please contact our Tournament Director Coach Elsio at 408-355-3203 or e-mail him at taooftennis@gmail.com
Junior News/ round the world
COURTESY OF BOB LARSON TENNIS NEWS
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Junior News
Avoiding Culture Shock in College Athletics Recruiting
By Tom Kovic
Like it or not, we are a society of rapid change and the rate we effectively adapt to that change can make the difference between a good and great experience. The same holds true in college athletics recruiting. The question is: How do we come to grip with this rapidly mounting culture shock in the college quest for athletes?
Today’s college athletic climate is much different than it was 30 years ago. Coaches are under tremendous pressure to achieve two important goals: win and raise money. The one directly affects the other and successful recruitment is the college coach’s key that unlocks the door.
The college search for athletes has accelerated to new heights compared to 30 years ago when I was a two-sport prospect. It has become a “force” that needs to be understood, accepted and embraced if families and young athletes plan to grab the brass ring and reach their goals.
This new culture has effected the majority of today’s prospects and families largely and simply because it is “new” and for the unprepared visitor, it can be a bewildering and frustrating journey. Gaining a working understanding, for instance, of the current NCAA rules is one thing. An altogether different skill to hone is to understand how each individual college coach “ticks” and where you, as a prospect, register on the radar. Remember, even the slightest “misread” while communicating with college coaches, could derail a prospects recruiting plan.
Is this an exaggeration? I do not think so. Am I trying to drive fear into recruits and their families? No. I am just trying to get your attention! That said, if we embrace the change around us, along with the acceleration that the college recruiting process has reached, we at least get a clearer idea of the “real” landscape and with that, we position ourselves better to develop more accurate plans of attack.
Education
Gathering information is critical to the successful organization and navigation of any worthy project. Building a college recruiting information base can begin as early as the ninth grade as a family hobby and increasingly grow into a highly organized, disciplined project by the end of the junior year.
Start by gathering information on potential colleges of choice including team and coach profiles, statistics, ranking, and academic offerings. Continue to update and maintain individual e-files on your favorite college programs. Learn the NCAA rules as it applies to recruiting and eligibility (you can access the NCAA college manuals at: www.ncaa.org). Remember, an informed and educated consumer will have the best chance at success.
Communication: The critical link
Effective communication between the family and college coaches is an important component in determining your final college choice. If your mission is clear, the manner in which you communicate becomes the vehicle that drives your plan forward in your chosen direction. On the other hand, ill-prepared communication can cause confusion and misdirection. Your ship moves, but with a weak rudder.
Communication should be initiated early on by the family, and preferably by the prospect. Coaches are bound by very strict contact rules, but a prospect may call or e-mail a coach at any time, with rare exceptions. An initial letter of introduction is a great way to begin, but follow-up by e-mail and by phone is equally important. The point here is simply: Prospects who practices “persistence with respect” when communicating with coaches will have a better chance in grabbing their attention.
Proactive Contacts
I believe many prospects are under the assumption that the college coaches will routinely contact them by phone or by e-mail in an attempt to recruit them. This may be true for some prospects, but for the majority of athletes who are waiting for the phone to ring, it could be a long wait. Coaches are initially recruiting hundreds of prospects and need to utilize a filtering system to organize their list into a manageable and functional grouping.
Whether you communicate by phone, email or face to face, “preparation” is the operative word. When you are well prepared to communicate with the college coaches, your level of self confidence increases, your communication has “grip” and the coaches sense this. Remember, college coaches are certainly looking to attract the best student-athletes, but just as important, they are looking for self aware individuals who bring potential leadership skills to the table.
Getting inside the “Head” Coach’s Head
College coaches are under tremendous pressure to not only manage a successful athletics program, but to win consistently and often. In short, college athletics is big business and the head coach is seen by his AD as the CEO of an organization that must succeed.
That being said, I think it is important for folks to get a glimpse of the head coach from a mental and emotional standpoint and make an effort to get inside their heads!
Coaches and recruiting coordinators work tirelessly to prepare for each new recruiting cycle, sometimes years in advance. They have to. Competition for the top scholar-athletes is fierce. Simply put, the better prepared and persistent the coach is, the greater the chances of matriculating a winning class.
The volume of information that college coaches receive annually is overwhelming and growing. They not only need a system to filter all of this stuff, they need help from the prospects and families. Whether it is submitting your introductory e-mail with profile attachment of initiating phone contact with Coach about a pending tournament, the rule of thumb is simple: Keep it short, sweet and make sure your communication has value.
Gaining an understanding and appreciation of the ever changing college athletics climate is essential to a productive college quest. As daunting as this “culture shock” may appear, there are resources that surround us that will help us understand this accelerated change in college recruiting. By taking a grounded, educational and persistent position in building and executing a well designed plan of attack, we give our boys and girls the best chance at success.
Tom Kovic is a former Division I college coach and the current director of Victory Collegiate Consulting, where he provides individual advisement for families in college recruiting. For further information visit: www.victoryrecruiting.com .
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Being a Ball Kid
By James Handal (Age 12)
Being a ball kid is a lot of fun and something I would recommend for kids my own age who like to be around the world's highest ranked tennis players, get autographs and photos, free clothes and work at tennis tournaments supporting the game of tennis. Working as a ball kid at professional tennis tournaments is something I've done now for three years. During the school year in March, I like working at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells and in the summer I have worked at two tennis tournaments in Southern California .
In July, I worked at the LA Tennis Open which was held at UCLA. Formerly called the Countrywide Classic, this tournament is a U.S. Open Series tournament which allows professional men's players to earn points on the tour before the U.S. Open. Past champions include Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi.
The second tournament I worked at this summer in the Los Angeles area was called the LA Women's Tennis Championships. This tournament, formerly called the East West Bank Classic, was held in Carson in August at the Home Depot Center which is where the LA Galaxy soccer team plays. Past champions include Steffi Graff and Dinara Safina.
As a ball kid, my job is to work on the court during tennis matches, collecting tennis balls and tossing them to the player who is serving. To qualify to be a ball kid, you must have knowledge of how to keep score in tennis, run fast, roll the ball accurately and be responsible for holding an umbrella for the player while he or she is sitting down. In general, the age requirement is usually 12-13 years old.
I think there are a lot of benefits to being a ball kid. I love to work as a ball kid for the world's top players so I can see their emotions during the match. Sometimes they are really happy and enthusiastic and other times, they get really angry and mad. Also, when I am walking around at the tournaments, I get to see some of the players and ask for autographs. I have the autographs of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Juan Martin del Potro, Tommy Haas, the Bryan Brothers, Mardy Fish and John McEnroe.
Another benefit is that your meal is provided during the day or session that you work. Usually, you get lunch tickets to purchase lunch or a voucher for a meal. My favorite place to eat at the LA Tennis Open is California Pizza Kitchen. Another benefit of being a ball kid is that you are given an official outfit to wear on the court. These clothes include shorts, shirt, shoes and a hat. I like to receive Adidas and Fila shoes and apparel.
When you work as a ball kid, you get a credential which identifies you as someone who works at the tournament. By showing your credential, you get to go into the tournament any day for free and you get complimentary tickets for your friends and family. At the tournaments, there are booths which sponsor things, so you can pick up samples like sunscreen and mineral-fortified water. At the LA Tennis Open at UCLA, there was a booth sponsored by Electronic Arts featuring Wii Games. All of the ball kids got to play electronic tennis during the tournament when we got a break. Another benefit of being a ball kid is that there are sometimes exhibition matches between former world ranked players such as Pete Sampras and Jim Courier.
This summer at the LA Tennis Open I worked as a ball kid for Tommy Haas, Mardy Fish, the Bryan Brothers, Sam Querrey, Marat Safin, and Pete Sampras. At the LA Women's Tennis Open I worked as a ball kid for Dinara Safina, Maria Sharapova, Zera Zvonereva, Daniela Hantuchova, Caroline Wozniaki, Ana Ivanovic, Agziezka Radwanska, and Shahar Peer.
At the BNP Paribas Open, where I have worked as a volunteer for three years, some of the players I have worked as a ball kid for were Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Juan Martin Del Potro, Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt, and James Blake. The women players I have been a ball kid for are Dinara Safina, Maria Sharapova, Zera Zvonareva, Daniela Hantuchova, Caroline Wozniacki, Agnieszka Radwanska, Ana Ivanovic, Flavia Pennetta, Jelena Jankovic, and Svetlana Kuznetsova. Most of the players practice on the practice courts so everybody can take pictures and try to get autographs.
Being a ball kid is very fun. I would recommend it for many reasons. You are helping your community. You get to be around world-class tennis players. You are part of a tennis tournament which is organized and a nice place to work. Give it a try!
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Angela Buxton Has Special Offer for Variety Readers
Former Wimbledon and French Open doubles winner and world-ranked No. 5 Angela Buxton formerly ran a successful London Academy and now operates world-wide as an experienced entrepreneur/consultant.
She has developed a tennis Academy Evaluation Ratings chart and shares more about it here:
During the last two years, 13 selected Academies in my Top Tennis Academies Evaluation Chart have been visited either by a Scottish family with two tennis talented children and/or myself.
As clients of mine this family represents an increasing number of families across the world who believe that their children have above-average-talent and are distinctly dissatisfied with what is offered in the way of development in their immediate vicinity.
However being basically a non-tennis-family they spent between three to 10 days at each academy and steadily became totally confused with all the information. It was at this stage they approached me to help them fully understand all they had been told.
Simply they were seeking a system of knowing what best to look for and why. With this in mind I alerted them to the most vital areas of academies and slowly the Evaluation Ratings Chart was born.
Some areas are marked out of 20. These are the important issues like court facilities and quality of coaching. Others are marked out of 10. Both are clearly indicated at the top of each column.
At a glance the figures can easily be added up along the line and the total of what each particular academy has to offer is quickly ascertained. The total for one academy is 150 points.
However not everyone can afford either the time or money which the Scottish family had to spend in order to gather this unique information.
If you would like more information on Angela Buxton Tennis Consultancy call (954) 979-6346 or emailbuxtontennis@btinternet.com.
I am offering this Ratings chart to Daily Tennis News Variety readers for just $20 (discounted from $30) with the offer good through April 10. Mail checks to:
Angela Buxton Tennis Consultancy
3051 North Course Drive, Apt 601,
Pompano Beach, FL 33069
Please mention TENNIS VARIETY when applying and do not forget to add your regular address, your e-mail address, telephone numbers and childrens names and ages. Information will be sent both by e-mail and regular mail.
Find out more on: www.angelabuxton.com.
Ask Dr. Heller
Question: Dear Dr. Heller: I get nervous when my coach or parents watch me play. Should I tell them just to take a walk and come back after the match?
Answer: I would encourage you to have them move out of your visual line of sight and not to make any comments that you are likely to hear. Beyond that, it is your thinking that is making you nervous, not the people around you. Perhaps you are worrying about disappointing them or their being critical of you? Its important for you to play for yourself and not for anyone elses approval of you. If your team overreacts during certain times or is overly negative or critical with you afterwards, you need to let them know how you feel about their reactions and help them learn to give you feedback at a time, place and manner that is helpful and not hurtful to you. Bottom line: spectators are a part of competition and you have little control over how they will act. Learning to tune into your game will help you tune them out.
Send you questions to Dr.Heller at info@robertheller.net. Dr. Heller is the author of the mental conditioning CD-ROM, TENNISMIND and provides mental coaching to individuals at all levels and ages in person and via the telephone. For more information visit: www.robertheller.net.
Tennis Tip
Successful Independent Search in the College Recruiting Process
By Tom Kovic
Independent navigation in college recruiting can be a daunting effort. Whether its investigating NCAA rules and recruiting time-lines or developing and implementing tactics to get on the radar of the college coaches on your A list of schools, an organized and informed approach to the college quest will give prospects and families the best chance at success.
Gather Information: Gathering information is critical to the successful organization of any worthy project. Building a college recruiting information base can begin as early as the ninth grade as a family hobby and increasingly grow into a highly organized, disciplined project by the end of the junior year.
Begin by gathering information on the potential colleges of choice, including team and coach profiles, statistics, ranking, and academic options. Continue to update and maintain individual e-files on these favorite college programs.
Set Goals and Develop Your Plan: A knowledgeable consumer will have a clear edge in the pursuit of the attainment of important goals. I believe that the same holds true in the college search and I encourage families to make every effort and commitment to organize pertinent information regarding this process and to execute well-designed plans.
Develop timelines that will target general events in the beginning of the college search (making unofficial visits, maintaining your data base, and attending tournaments) and continue to move forward with more specific events (compiling a video and player profile, communicating with coaches, and making official visits, etc.) as your search progresses. This will increase the chances of hitting targets throughout the process.
Run the Offense (Execute): OK. Your plans are complete, well constructed and clearly spelled out in a language everyone understands. Your calendar is updated and you have listed everything from the next round of SATs to the fall homecoming dance! Now its time to take the plunge.
You can have the best organized and most highly detailed approach to the college quest, but it wont amount to a hill of beans if you lack confidence, the desire, and the ability to execute the plan. If your strategy is to wait by the phone for the coach to call, in most cases, its going to be a long wait. Top prospects will get their fair share of attention, but the majority of athletes will increase their chances in getting on the radar screen of the college coaches by taking a proactive stance and initiating communication with college coaches.
College coaches are strictly bound by a myriad of NCAA contact and evaluation rules that limit them in initiating contact with prospective student-athletes and their families. What few families realize is that although college coaches may have their hands tied to some degree, prospects may initiate contact with the college coaches, early on and with very few exceptions
Persistence: The dictionary definition of persistence is: Continuing in spite of opposition; Enduring, lasting or recurrent. In a nutshell, I feel strongly that a persistent effort in every aspect of the college search for athletes will, in the end, give them and their families the greatest chance at success.
The one common thread that helps weave my college quest plans for the families I work with is the necessity to embrace persistence as a critical tool in the recruiting arsenal from start to finish. Some believe a persistent approach in college recruiting will be viewed by college coaches as a "pushy" attempt to get on the radar. It could come across this way if your approach is not well planned and carefully executed.
The rule of thumb here is simple: Coaches want to hear from prospects and considering the tight latitude they have in communicating with prospects, coaches welcome and encourage kids to drop them an e-mail or pick up the phone and call. That said, it is equally important for prospects to have a realistic view of their potential athletic contribution to a particular program.
Work as a Team: The team approach during the college athletics recruiting process is suggested to maximize efficiency and minimize individual pressure and stress as families navigate a potentially daunting effort. Forming a trustworthy group of individuals who play specific roles during the recruiting cycle will increase your chances of reaching pre-determined goals.
When working your recruiting plan within a team (prospect, parents, club/high school coach, and college advisor) dynamic, the responsibility in effectively executing your recruiting plan is equally distributed to the area experts. All assignments should be clearly spelled out, and communication between team members should be often and consistent. This will help streamline the complete operation of the project and assist the family in avoiding any confusion that could contribute to unclear thinking, misdirection and potentially poor choices.
You have the drive and the desire to take your athletic talent to the next level. You are confident and dedicated to participating as part of a college team and making your athletic pursuit an important compliment to your overall college experience. You are half way there. Remember, your college search is a personal quest, where maintaining momentum will make the difference between a fair and great college recruiting experience. Leave nothing to chance and make the commitment to treat the college search as you would treat your goal to experience a championship season.
Tom Kovic is a former Division I college coach and President of Victory Collegiate Consulting, where he provides individual advisement for families on college recruiting. Tom is the author of Reaching for Excellence An educational guide for college athletics recruiting and 120 Q and As about College Athletics Recruiting. For further information visit: www.victoryrecruiting.com.
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The following article by David W. Smith first appeared on the website www.collegetenniscamp.com. It is titled Finding your Formula for Tennis Success
There exists a balance between developing skilled tennis strokes and mentally playing the game that allows one to win in as many situations as possible. However, this balance can become perceptually skewed by the immediate gratification process inherent in human beings. The real question is that what processes will produce a player who has reached their potential in playing competitive tennis within their desire or established goals. This player potential can be defined in what I call the competitive formula that every player must understand to reach said potential and not end up stagnant at levels far below this actual level of potential.
As a coach and teaching professional for over 35 years, Ive seen where literally millions of players fall far short of what I would consider their true player potential because they followed a flawed formula.
An example of this formula includes the foundation for the players strokes; from grips to footwork, from strategy understanding to stroke mechanics, the foundation a player is introduced to, (either by self discovery or by professional recommendations and training), will have everything to do with the long-term picture of their potential. For if a player developed an inferior foundation, the mechanics and/or strategies used will most certainly prevent a player from reaching skilled levels of competitive play. Sure, we see many players who seem to buck the trend, who actually compete at relatively high levels, (4.0 or sometimes 4.5). Yet, two questions must be asked of even these exceptions: 1) would the player be able to compete at far higher levels had they learned a more advanced foundation; and 2) can such players compete consistently at these above-average levels or do they simply have an occasional win over the more skilled but same level players?
The other part of this formula is the competitive nature of the individual. Some players have a natural Killer Instinct or simply are calmer under pressure. These mental elements can be derived through various experiences, training, and/or simple genetics which contribute to a natural mental toughness when faced with adversarial situations. While we see hundreds or thousands of players who practice great and avoid competition like the plague, such individuals will seldom be prepared mentally for truly competitive tennis.
One thing for sure, if a player has ineffective strokes, they will seldom reach their player-potential. And, more than likely, they will attempt to play the game within very unconventional means to still compete, yet fail to progress.
If a junior player hopes to reach high enough levels of tennis to play on their high school varsity team, a college team or the professional ranks, he or she will have to recognize the importance of this formula. Too many young players play within an instant gratification mentality. That is, they use methods that work today against players at a certain level of skill. Unfortunately, most of these players use methods that are comfortable to them now, avoiding methods that feel foreign or uncomfortable. Likewise unfortunate, is that most skilled tennis foundations are seldom initially neither comfortable nor familiar. Thus, such players begin to develop a flawed foundation, one based on the concept that they might win more matches while playing within comfortable patterns. Of course a player who is using more comfortable, familiar methods will play with initially more confidence and, usually, hit more consistently. Yet, in almost every example, these players stagnate at levels far below their ability and get passed up by those who they had indeed been beating with regularity.
In my 35-plus years of teaching tennis, by far, most players Ive worked with or Ive seen play the game had ample ability to reach a level of potential that would grant them the opportunity to play at nearly any level they had the sincere desire to reach. The main detriment to those who failed to reach said prolific levels was seldom a lack of athleticism or opportunity. No, what prevented most players from reaching highly skilled levels was first a lack of a proper technical foundation followed by a limiting level of sincere desire and sacrifice necessary to achieve high levels of skilled play. In fact, Ive seen hundreds of examples of students who seemed to possess relatively average levels of athleticism, yet achieve extremely high levels of skilled play. In every one of these cases, such players had the two things Ive mentioned clearly defined in their character: A dedicated attention to developing a skilled foundation and a sincere level of desire to overcome any difficulty or challenge.
In the light of these points, it should be understood that nearly everyone who wishes to achieve skilled tennis levels of competitive play CAN and WILL achieve their goals if they follow this formula. Not everyone will, however, maintain the clarity and pursuit of these goals and those are the individuals who will indeed fail to fully reach their level of potential. From my experience, most players have the potential. While some simply dont, there is no way of knowing if you do or you dont. Yet, if you develop a flawed foundation and dont challenge yourself to achieve such goals, it is almost certain you wont ever reach such aspirations and levels of success.
David W. Smith is the author of the two top-selling and highly acclaimed tennis instructional books, Tennis Mastery and Coaching Mastery.
*** Tennis Tip
The following article by Chuck Kriese first appeared on the website www.collegetenniscamp.com. It is titled Every Prize Has a Price and Every Price Has a Pain.
Because of the overabundance of material things and opportunity in our country today, athletes of America are not naturally hungry enough to suffer for what they want or wish for.
A need is much different than a want or a wish. Needs come true whereas wants and wishes do not. The most true and accurate statement that could ever be taken to heart if a young person wants to achieve greatness would be that of the Great Hockey Coach Herb Brooks (Olympic Champions 1980 Miracle on Ice). He said The willingness to sacrifice (suffer) for an unknown is the key to it all.
We all would do whatever it took, if we knew for sure that the suffering would bring the goal we desired from the heart. There are never guarantees when commitment of the heart is made, so therefore the risk for only a potential payoff is too great while the pain is not worth it all.
In our country, we all have guarantees of mediocrity that we can sometimes prop up to make look like great success. This makes a lot more sense to the American way of modern thinking.
We are not really a society that is that much into sacrifice and suffering if there is no guarantee. Every Prize has a Price, and every Price has a Pain.
To learn more about Chuck Kriese, a former coach of five junior Grand Slam champions and a four-time National College Coach of the Year, go to http://www.totaltennistraining.com. www.pac10s.com
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Tennis Tip of the Day
Editors Note: Former touring pro Tim Wilkison shares the following article he gave to students at the American Tennis Academy in Charlotte, N.C. Wilkison, who runs the academy with Bill Belser, says the goal of the American Tennis Academy is dedicated to working with players who want to become Grand Slam champions. Wilkison is also president of Wilkison Partners which manages multiple tennis facilities in the United States. He can be reached at twilknc@carolina.rr.com.
By Tim Wilkison
The number one tip that will help you achieve your goals in tennis, and all other areas, is hard work. Every person who is playing on the pro tours has spent a tremendous amount of time in practice to reach that level. There are some players who are on the pro tour who definitely have less natural ability than some players who didn't reach that level.
Tennis is a sport where extra practice and training will enable you to defeat players who are more talented but don't put in the time. It has been determined that it takes 10,000 hours to reach a world class level in any activity. If you dedicate yourself to something at age 9 or 10 and practice 20 hours a week, you will reach 10,000 hours of training when you are 19 or 20 years old.
That is what you see happening on the pro tours. That is a lot of work so you have to have an intense desire to stick with your plan through all the ups and downs that will come your way. This desire will push you to take care of all the small details that need to happen if you are going to reach a world class level.
Do you stretch before and after every practice? Do you pay attention to your hydration throughout the day? Do you scout your opponents before your matches? Do you get up early so you can warm-up on the same court that you will be playing your match on later in the day? Do you find out what brand of tennis balls your next tournament is using and play with them the couple of days before your event?
These are all things that players on the pro tour do. This characteristic of hard work and attention to details will serve you well in other areas of your life. I use my tennis experiences to help me in my work and I encourage you to do the same in your schoolwork and any other parts of your life. Modern life exalts the celebrity lifestyle of successful people but we don't see the sheer hard work that goes into their success on a daily basis.
Being one of the best tennis players in the world involves 100% attention to fine tuning your game, and life, so you can walk out on the stadium court for a Grand Slam final and perform at a high level. Let's all commit to complete dedication to our goals. Pay attention to the details and work harder than other people so you will have confidence when you walk out on the court against them. You will maximize your ability and you will be a great role model for what our country needs in the future.
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NATIONAL JUNIOR TENNIS
The best source for junior and college tennis is zoo tennis, zootennis.com
The Beauty of Doubles
By Wayne Bryan
Let me confess at the outset that I'm a lunatic for doubles. I'm absolutely crazy about this great game.
I love the team thing. I love two guys out there working together.
Pumping your partner up when he is down. Patting him on the back and giving him an enthusiastic congratulations on a great shot. High fives.
Yes, even chest bumps!
Walking on and off the court together. Celebrating a win together. Consoling each other after a loss. Watch a doubles match and you will always see more smiles. Way more smiles. You'll see more laughs. Way more laughs.
You'll see incredible points! Come on everyone -- wake up! The best doubles points are just way more spectacular than the best singles points. Here's a typical one:
Andy Ram serves and comes in and Bob Bryan rips a forehand return at Jonathan Erlich who smacks a volley at Mike Bryan who hits a lob volley back over Erlich who can't get up and hit an overhead and Andy has to double back and rip a backhand up the line to Bob who has come into the net and he rips a backhand volley cross court to Erlich who has just switched and he dumps a low volley in the on alley and Mike hits a severe touch volley out wide that Ram has to dash up to re-dump back cross court and then Mike lobs Erlich and he can't cover it and Ram sprints over to rip a huge forehand down the middle and Bob lunges and crushes a forehand volley right through
Erlich armpit. The crowd roars its approval and the Bryans do a huge chest bump high in the air as they close out the first set.
Could you follow that? Probably not and it all happens so fast on court. Sometimes fans have trouble watching it and believing their eyes too. It is all so lightening quick.
Big volleys at point blank range. Thunderclap overheads at point blank range. Guys getting hit. Guys making breathtaking reflex volleys.
Go watch Leader Paes volley. Watch Mike Bryan return and make crisp volleys. Watch Bob Bryan serve and hit running forehand full-swing terrifying volleys. Watch Mark Knowles hit beautiful touch volleys and also that solid inside-out backhand return.
Get up in the front row and watch Jonas Bjorkman and Mahesh Bhupathi smack two handed backhand returns. And watch Danny Nestor slap his slinky and scary second shot ground strokes and his nasty lefty serve in the ad court.
You think Fabrice Santoro is a magician on the singles court? You should see him on the doubles court, where he has two additional alleys of nine feet of court with which to work his diabolical sorcery.
You think Max the Beast Mirnyi looms large on a singles court? Go watch how he can fill up a doubles court with his big serve and overheads. Wonder where serve and volleyers are today? Go watch a doubles match. Serve and volleying is alive and well there.
You'll see countrymen playing together. Friends playing together. Players from different parts of the world playing together. You'll see two players of different and perhaps contentious religions playing together. Doubles is a unifying and powerful force for world peace for crying out loud!
Not only is watching doubles great, but playing doubles is also sensational! Why should juniors play doubles? Let me count the ways:
-- It is fun.
-- It gives them a second chance in tournaments.
-- It will round out their skills.
-- It teaches additional life lessons.
-- It is more social.
-- It's a way of getting four people on a court rather than just two and at a club with just a few courts, that helps.
-- It broadens the overall appeal of the sport.
-- And you'll find there are certain kids who just like doubles better and will be involved in tennis because of it.
I think that with the proper promotion and programming for doubles we could quadruple the number of juniors and adults playing this game world wide. Again, people like the team aspect and the great points in doubles.
They like the exciting and new slightly shortened scoring system -- no ad and a third set super tie breaker. Lots thrills, chills and adventure as my friend and the legendary Billie Jean King would say. By the way, BJK loves doubles and loved to play doubles. Here favorite part of a Davis Cup tie is the Saturday doubles.
And hey -- I love women's doubles and mixed doubles too. And remember: We are the only sport that has men and Women competing together. We need to cherish and sing the praises of that too! And you can talk about sexual equality or gender equity all day. Or you can just go watch a mixed doubles match and bang! There it is right in front of your eyes.
The ATP has done a wonderful job these past few years of pumping up doubles. They are promoting the best teams with posters and cards. They are covering doubles beautifully with pictures and articles on their great web site. They are putting lots more doubles on Center Court and in prime time. They are posting doubles draws and doubles rankings at each tournament. The tournament program has articles and pictures of the top doubles teams. More singles stars like Rafa Nadal play doubles now on a regular basis. There is a lot more doubles on TV and special thanks to the Tennis Channel for that.
And I say thanks to the ATP for putting out this great new book on doubles. Enjoy reading it and looking at the great pictures. And good luck in your next doubles match.
To purchase Bryans book Raising Your Child to be a Champion in Athletics, Arts and Academics go to Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Raising-Child-Champion-Athletics-Academics/dp/0806526602.
Tennis Tip of the Day
Editors Note: Former touring pro Tim Wikison shares the following article he gave to students at the American Tennis Academy in Charlotte, N.C. Wilkison, who runs the academy with Bill Belser, says the goal of the American Tennis Academy is dedicated to working with players who want to become Grand Slam champions. Wilkison is also president of Wilkison Partners which manages multiple tennis facilities in the United States. He can be reached at twilknc@carolina.rr.com.
The correct mental approach is crucial in your quest to become a great player. Anyone who has emerged as a Grand Slam champion has overcome mental hurdles to achieve that goal. The academy practice was held in a very strong wind. That is a great opportunity to polish your physical and mental skills in dealing with that type of situation. It is important to keep shuffling your feet until right as you make contact as it is likely the ball will be blown into, or away from you, at the last moment.
You need to be a little more conservative in your shots.
Aim for larger spots on the court as the wind will push your ball around and you need a bigger margin to compensate for that. Figure out the direction the wind is blowing. It can go down the court, across the court, or it can swirl around. The direction of the wind can change during a match so be aware of that. You can adjust your strategy to the direction.
If the wind is going across the court, you can use it to really get angle on your crosscourts if you hit with the direction of the wind. If you hit against the direction of the wind, it will slow your ball up and make it easier for your opponent to get to. When the wind is at your back, you have a huge advantage in the penetration of your shots. Be consistent from that side and let the force of the wind help you to gradually wear down your opponent. When the wind is in your face, you need to grind it out and try to grab a couple of those games.
Since you are at a disadvantage in the rallies, it is a good idea to make your style a mix of grinding and taking smart chances. Attacking the net or hitting drop shots at appropriate times can be good strategies. Probably the most important aspect of playing in the wind is adjusting your mental attitude and expectations. No one has played their best game ever in a strong wind.
Prepare before the match to decide that you are ready for a challenge and you are ready to win ugly. I was pretty good at that in my playing career and actually won two pro tournaments in Sydney, Australia, which is famous for its wind coming across the court. Being a proficient wind player is crucial. High school and college tennis is played in the spring when it is windy. The first tournaments of the year are often played in the wind and a lot of tournaments in Florida are held in windy conditions. Play smart and prepare yourself to be mentally tough and the wind can become a factor that helps you win matches.
Persistence: A Critical Component in College Recruiting
By Tom Kovic
The dictionary definition of persistence is: Continuing in spite of opposition; Enduring, lasting or recurrent. In a nutshell, I feel strongly that a persistent effort in every aspect of the college search for athletes will, in the end, give prospects and their families the greatest chance at success.
I work with athletes throughout the country in assisting them in putting their plans together for the college search. From place kickers in Southern California to midfield lacrosse players from Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, the one common thread that helps weave my college quest plans for the families I work with is the necessity to embrace persistence as a critical tool in the recruiting arsenal from start to finish.
Competition in the college quest for athletes has increased dramatically during the past 15 years. Whether you are looking for an athletic scholarship or attempting to gain assistance in admission to an academically select, non-scholarship institution, it is important to plan strategically and have the courage to approach this challenge in ways you might think are contrary to your current thinking.
As a former college coach, I valued greatly the importance of effective recruiting in an attempt to grow my program to the next level. I certainly desired a team that could win championships, but I grew to appreciate more, the importance of attracting athletes who brought a high level of personal integrity to the table. I was after potential “strong links” in an already worthy and dedicated team chain.
Some believe a persistent approach in college recruiting will be viewed by college coaches as a "pushy" attempt to get on the radar. It could come across this way if your approach is not well planned and carefully executed.
The rule of thumb here is simple: Coaches want to hear from prospects and considering the tight latitude they have in communicating with prospects, coaches' welcome and encourage kids to drop them an e-mail or pick up the phone and call.
Prospects and families should avoid calling coaches just to say "hello." I always encourage the students I advise to orchestrate their communication with coaches in a way that will advance the relationship and maintain momentum in the recruiting process. It needs to have "grip."
Whether you are sharing information with Coach about a sensational match you had over the weekend, or your math score on the SAT that jumped 30 points, give Coach something that will grab his attention and make your personal profile shine a little brighter.
Maintaining a persistent approach in the college recruiting process is a very broad concept. Below are just a few examples where exercising a persistent approach will help athletes navigate the college search with more confidence:
Initiate primary contact with college coaches. For example: Develop a personal profile and attach it to a well constructed introductory e-mail.
The recruiting process is a journey that requires constant effort where "follow-up” in every communication is essential.
Coaches are bound to very strict contact rules as it applies to recruiting. Prospects and families on the other hand, have very little restrictions when it comes to initiating contact with coaches. Get the ball rolling.
If you plan to initiate a phone call to a college coach, it may take you up to 10 try's before you connect. Do not get frustrated!
If you plan to attend a showcase or tournament where several coaches on your "A" list of schools will be in attendance, don't "hope" they will be evaluating you. Let them know you will be there and encourage them to observe you.
If you happen to be a senior and you are a bit behind in the college search, cultivate a relationship with the coaches and always be sincere in your interest in their institution. You will position yourself best when you reach the point in asking Coach if you can take take that overnight visit to campus and spend time with the team.
Maintaining a persistent and diligent approach in college recruiting can be both frustrating and daunting. In most cases, it takes courage, mental toughness and the ability to develop thick skin! What seems tremendously unfamiliar in the beginning stages of developing this habit will become more comfortable with practice and time and soon you will realize that coaches are educators, moms, dads and just plain, regular people. They “know the score” and only want the best for prospects as they move forward in the college search.
Tom Kovic is the current director of Victory Collegiate Consulting, where he provides individual advisement for families on college recruiting. He is the author of “Reaching for Excellence” An educational guide for college athletics recruiting. Kovic delivers college recruiting presentations nationwide and he is a regular contributor to several online magazines and professional organizations. For further information visit: www.victoryrecruiting.com
Tennis Tip of the Day:
Bud Collins once called Rick Macci the “Coach of Phenoms.” The former coach of Andy Roddick, Venus Williams, Jennifer Capriati among hundreds of others currently runs his academy out of the Boca Lago Country Club in Boca Raton, Fla. To learn more about Rick Macci you can check out: www.rickmacci.com.
Teaching Younger Kids
By Rick Macci
When teaching children it is crucial that a strong technical foundation is put in place. Grips, backswings, balance and follow-throughs are essential. They have to be learning someday to create a weapon, not a liability. Training the muscles through repetition the proper way is the key. A child is very moldable and can be influenced so easily, because there a no real bad habits yet. That is why at the academy I teach kids -- hundreds of 4, 5, and 6 year olds -- just like a pro from Day One so they will grow into a mindset and the muscle memory is crystal clear. You don't ever have to reprogram reflexes down the road. No doubt junior development is a long-term journey, but starting off right is the biggest key of all.
This is What Makes Junior Tennis Special
The following item was submitted by Chris Kretchmer, the head teaching professional at the Carmel Valley Athletic Club in Carmel, Calif. If you have an interesting story or commentary on anything involving tennis you'd like to share, let us hear about it. Email steve@tennisnews.com.
Last month we had a national junior tournament at our club. The last day of the tournament two young men were playing for the championship of the consolation round and assigned to a back court far from any crowds. These two were not junior superstars. There was no prize money and likely no scholarships at stake. It was Sunday afternoon and they were on the verge of evening-long car rides home.
Both players went into the match tired having had long three-set matches prior and little rest between. The battle was joined. Within an hour the matches on all the adjacent courts were complete and the players and parents all gone. But in that fading light those two young men battled and grinded their way though a three and a half hour match. The calls were perfect, the competition intense, the two pushed their bodies and minds far beyond their limits. The match fortunes ebbed and flowed.
The fathers watched caring but not involved. In the end one was declared a winner. As the match ended, the sun set and fathers put their arms around their exhausted sons and they walked away together quietly satisfied with the effort. Glory and rankings notwithstanding, this is what the best junior tennis is all about.
JUNIOR TENNIS NEWS AND EVENTS
http://www.juniortennisnews.com/
BOB LARSON’S TENNIS NEWS
Striking the Balance in Communication with College Coaches
By Tom Kovic
Tom Kovic is the current director of Victory Collegiate Consulting, where he provides individual advisement for families on college recruiting. He is the author of “Reaching for Excellence” An educational guide for college athletics recruiting. Kovic delivers college recruiting presentations nationwide and he is a regular contributor to several online magazines and professional organizations. For further information visit: www.victoryrecruiting.com
Effective communication between the family and college coaches can be a critical component to the final choice in the college search. If your mission is clear, the manner in which you communicate becomes the vehicle that will move your plan forward in your chosen direction. On the other hand, ill-prepared communication can cause confusion and misdirection. Your ship moves, but with a weak rudder.
Communication should be initiated early on by the family, and preferably by the prospect. For example, a prospect may call or e-mail a coach at any time, with rare exceptions. An initial letter of introduction is a great way to begin, but follow-up by e-mail and by phone is very important. The important point here is simply: Prospects who practices “persistence with respect” when communicating with coaches will have a better chance in grabbing their attention.
If there is a proverbial “red flag” when it comes to communication, I can say with confidence that “calling just for the sake of calling” will not carry much weight with college coaches. Coaches are looking for information that will drive your chances in remaining in the “A” recruiting file. Whether it is news about improved scores on your ACT exam, or an invitation to a select tournament, give the coaches something that has “grip” and you will improve your chances in boosting your ranking on Coach's recruiting chart.
I use the term “striking a balance” in communicating with college coaches to develop awareness in prospects and families that effective communication with college coaches is important for two reasons. First, by developing well planned information that is pertinent to the college search, the prospect sends a clear message to college coaches that he is well prepared. Secondly, coaches are keen to the importance of time management, and considering the hundreds of potential prospects they work with at any given time; coaches appreciate and will remember the effort prospects make in using communication as an effective recruiting tool.
Communication is critical to cultivating relationships with college coaches, and the better prepared you are; the better you will clearly define yourself and your goals in the eyes of college coaches. This skill will especially help prospects who are in a “gray” area on the coach's radar and depending on where you rank on the priority chart; well planned communication could make the defining difference between being “in” or “out.”
Practicing communication skills is the same as doing your homework or spending 4 hours working drills in the gym or on the playing field. The more diligent and sincere your effort, the better prepared you will be in effectively sending and receiving information. Remember, the manner in which you express yourself, your interests and your intent can have a direct effect on the level of interest the college coach will offer.
Keep accurate contact logs of all phone calls, e-mails, face-to-face contacts you have with college coaches. This will help families organize information that will assist in future planning. It will also help prepare follow-up communication that will generate fresh “action” items to be discussed during future contacts.
In addition, placing attention on the “little things” like sending personal, handwritten thank-you notes to coaches after a campus visit can make a difference. This personal touch can go a long way, especially if you are on the “bubble” of a coach's priority list. Small efforts add up in the final analysis.
Remember, the college recruiting process is not a sprint, it's a marathon. It should be an effort that is tactical, well planned and with the aim of cultivating sincere relationships with the college coaches. Prospects who embrace this tool as an important part of their recruiting arsenal will give themselves the greatest chance at success.
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