USPTA Southern Standard April 2023

USPTA Southern Division: Where Excellence is Standard

April 2023

Volume 24 Issue 2

Inside May Conference at the Atlanta Country Club Turn Your Blahs into Ahhs Upcoming PB Certification & Tips Doubles Lesson Plan Why Paying for Tennis Lessons is WELL SPENT

Page 2

President’s Message

By Tom Parkes

I hope everyone is having a great start to their year. It’s that me of year again and the Southern Convenon is right around the corner. We are once again at Atlanta Country Club May 18th – 20th. I am delighted to return to the Atlanta Country Club for the 2023 Southern Conference. Ken Andriano’s staff did an amazing job last year with making the USPTA feel like we were at our own facili es.

commi ee have put together a great group of speakers for the event, with Walker and Ray Sahag, and Feisal Hassan. The Sahag’s have a long history of excellence and were the video analysis team at Bolle eri’s and have a strong program in LA. Feisal Hassan is the past president of the USPTA and has been a big part of overhauling the USPTA tes ng system. Each one of these speakers is very dynamic and entertaining.

Southern

Channel

I know everyone is very busy this me of year with adult league play and junior events but there is nothing like ge ng to Ken Andriano and his Southern Conference speak one on one with some of the top

While you are not able to earn credit on the videos posted, anything you may want to learn about is probably on our Youtube Channel.

There are over 175 videos from conferences and workshops during the last 10 years.

Just search on Youtube for usptasouthern (no spaces) and the first item is our channel.

Southern

Page

Of course there is a Facebook page that is frequently updated with current happenings. Just search for USPTA southern and you will be directed to our page.

Southern While this is our newest page, you will also find it by searching for USPTA Southern.

HELP OUT. Share your photos and stories on FB or Instagram.

USPTA professionals in tennis to get a different perspec ve on how we teach and communicate. I also find mee ng new people and talking to professionals from different parts of the south and just talking shop and ge ng new ideas and building new friendships.

I hope to see you at this year’s Southern Conference and please make sure you check in and say thank you to Pat Whitworth, who is our southern Execu ve Director, he’s the person that makes everything work for members at USPTA Southern.

AUTHORS NEEDED for this Newsletter We are calling for you to help and submit your ar cles for the upcoming newsle ers. Below are areas that are needed. Ar cles should be 450-1400 words. Our next deadline is June 10th, but we are always collec ng and can use your ideas. This is a great opportunity to be published as you work towards resume building or your Master Professional por olio.

Social List - Social events that work well for you.

Pro Plans - Share your clinic ideas. Especially good for team plans. Can be 1 lesson, or a group.

Cardio Tennis/Fit to Hit - 2 different but related sec ons.

Cardio Tennis for your best ideas in running and promo ng. Fit to Hit for how to implement fitness into your program.

Book Review - Something that is relevant to our business of tennis. It does not have to be a tennis book.

Invited Guest - This is our sec on that is a general area related to tennis and business.

Send to pat.whitworth@uspta.org

Page 3

Happily, Ever After-Tennis Still Busy After All These Years

by Tom Cascarano - USPTA Elite Professional, Hall of Fame

After being in the Tennis business for over the certification was being held and certi49 years, working as a Director of Tennis fied (what a blast). Once certified I let 45 years and at the same club local pros and clubs be aware of my certi(Greensboro Country Club) for 30 years, I fication status and bumped into a Tennis felt it was time for me to step away from Director from the Lake Jeanette Swim and tennis and retire.

Tennis Club (he used to be one of my assistants-Toby Curtis) and his first question Before retiring I thought it would be good was would you like to be my Pickleball to talk to other retirees from all different Professional part time. Without much types of business backgrounds to get hesitation I agreed. their perspective on what to expect from retirement. The same comments kept Teaching pickleball happens to be a great coming up which were; keep yourself sport to be involved in without having the mentality and physically active, make grind of being a Tennis Director. It has time for your extended family been a great change for me, but I still felt (grandchildren) and take an extended I was missing something about tennis. In vacation away from home. the earlier days of my tennis career, I dealt with high performance players and I took their advice and after retirement wondered how could I reconnect back my wife and I took 2 vacations (1 week into that type of tennis without the long each - beach and mountains) which really hours of teaching. helped me disconnect from the day-today workload. We also spent quality time After some research I realized I could cerwith our family (children and grandchiltify as both a USTA official and ITA official, dren). having the opportunity to return to involvement with my high-performance Once I finished my vacation and family players. There is a dire need for tennis time, I knew it was important for me to officials and a chance for me to fill that stay active, but where do I start? It didn’t void, so I took all the certifications retake me long to come up with the idea of quired for both the USTA and ITA officia second career with the fastest growing ating. sport in the country at my fingertips, why not consider certifying as a USPTA pickle- Being an official gives me the chance to ball professional with the opportunity to fulfill that tennis need and I now feel I teach pickleball and still be retired. I went have purpose to what I was missing in my to the Southern USPTA Convention where retired life. Living in North Carolina with

so many men and women college tennis teams and the ACC in my backyard, I have officiated numerous quality college matches and will be able to do this for years to come. Add the opportunities to officiate USTA junior tournaments, it is so fulfilling as I get a chance to give back to the game I have loved.

I have accomplished so much throughout my past tennis career and now with starting a new part of my life, retirement has given me options I never thought of or considered. Teaching pickleball and tennis officiating has now given me a pathway to my retired life and a chance to stay connected to activities I love.

If you are considering retirement and concerned about what may come after tennis, I can tell you there are many options to stay connected to the sport we all love while still having your freedom of retirement.

Remember: Retirement is not the end; it is a Beginning of new ventures in whatever you are looking for.

MY MOTTO: Stay Active, Take Vacations and Make time for Family

RETIREMENT IS THE BEST

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•Don’t miss out on this amazing event this year at one of Atlanta’s BEST clubs.

•Featuring Walker Sahag and Feisal Hassan •Awards and Hall of Fame moved to Friday again this year •Trade show on Saturday •Neat attendee gifts •3 meals included + breakfast at the hotel •USPTA Pickleball certification on Sunday morning (separate registration – limited spaces) •Network, learn, play tennis, and leave charged for your summer programs

Host Hotel: FairField Inn, Perimeter Mall area, 1145 Hammond Drive Northeast Atlanta, Georgia 30328   

$120/king or $130/queens Book online to receive the group rate. The link will be on usptasouthern.com Room block released after 4/26 - so reserve early

Convention Price: • $135 Early Registration by May 7th, $150 Full Registration • New Certified Member since May 2022 - $25 • Non USPTA Member $160 • One day only $90  Spouse $75 by 5/7, Full price $90 (no gift or ed credit)  Register and pay online at USPTA.com (not active yet).

Watch usptasouthern.com for up to date information.

Page 5

FEATURED SPEAKERS Walker Sahag is currently the Academy High Performance

Feisal Hassan is a USPTA and RPT Master Professional along

Director at Franco's Athle c Club in Mandeville LA. She was previously the Director of the Van der Meer World Class Tennis Academy and Director of High Tech at the Nick Bolle eri Tennis Academy (now IMG Academies). Walker has also worked for a number of years with Dr. Jim Loehr, the world's leading Sports Psychologist.

Walker has traveled with and been the personal coach for players on both the ATP and WTA tours including Hall of Fame member Monica Seles.

As a speaker and presenter at every major conference in the US, Walker has spoken on a wide variety of topics.

She is also currently a USTA High Performance Coach, USTA Mentor, and Net Genera on Ambassador.

with being the immediate past president on the USPTA na onal board. He is also a member of the Head/Penn Racquet Sports Naonal Advisory Board and Na onal Speaker’s Bureau and holds USPTA specialist degrees in Compe ve Player Development, Facility Management, Sports Science and 10 and Under Tennis.

He is on the USTA Na onal Faculty for Youth Coaching, is a TIA Cardio Tennis Trainer and co-chairs the USPTA Na onal Educa on and Tes ng commi ees. In 2011, Hassan was named USPTA’s Alex Gordon Professional of the Year and won the Racquet Sports Industry Champions of Tennis Award. The following year he was named to the USPTA Mid-Atlan c Hall of Fame and won the USPTA George Basco Na onal Tester of the Year Award.

Thursday, May 18

11:30-12:30 Larry Karageanes - Master Poaching for 3.0 to 3.5 Level Players (court) 12:30-2:30 Awards/Hall of Fame Lunch (ballroom) 2:45-4:00 Walker Sahag SERVE + 1 - MONEYBALL Style Professional Models (off court) 4:00-5:00 Brian Park - The Only Way To Win Is With The Right Purpose (ballroom) 4:00-5:00 Milly Sequera- How To Build A Wheelchair Program(court)

12:00-3:00 USPTA Southern Board Mee ng 2:00-7:00 Registra on 3:00-4:00 Marcus Rutsche - Ac on-Reac on. Ini a ng or Responding to Doubles Play (court) 4:15-5:15 Allan Jensen - Teaching Singles to Your 2.53.5 Players (court) 5:30-6:30 Tim Smith - Bagger to Dinker - All About Pickleball (court) 6:30-8:30 Welcome Party Dinner

Saturday, May 20th 7:45-8:45 8:45-9:45

Faith Fellowship Mee ng (library)Ma Grayson - Depth Dictates Doubles Decision Making (court) 8:30-9:00 Feisal Hassan - USPTA Na onal Update 9:45-10:45 Delaine Mast - Connec ng the Dots. (ballroom) Community, Parks, and Clubs (court) 9:00-10:15 Walker Sahag The Doubles Moves Your 11:00-12:00 Bill Riddle - Cardio Tennis Re-Engaged Opponents Don't Want You to See!! (court) and Re-Energize (court) 10:15-11:15 Feisal Hassan - High Performance Techniques 12:00-2:30 Trade Show For Players of All Levels (court) 2:30-3:30 Ma Levinson - Coaching/Drills with the 11:30-12:30 Kevin Theos - Recent Research on Athle c Play mate Ball Machine (court) Development: Prac cal Takeaways for Your Program (off-court)

Friday, May 19

Page 6

Capturing Lighting In a Bottle and Suspending Your Disbelief By: Brian Armstrong CCM Executive Search Consultant McMahon Careers Young Professionals

Presented by McMahon Careers

Running a successful department in this tions and people that produce results while also maintaining employee indicompetitive environment continues to that are consistently better than their viduality and autonomy? There must be grow increasingly difficult. Quality lead- peers. individual practice to achieve team proers are more difficult to locate, hire and gress and consistent success. Individual retain as the job pool continues to Do these leaders work harder, longer practice relies on managers tapping into shrink. Costs are ever increasing. Surely, hours, or take unfair advantages? No. each employees’ strengths and placing we can count on the fundamentals of But, they do seem to have an ability to them in a position to succeed alongside math to keep us grounded and find solu- capture lighting in a bottle and create a their coworkers—one team member’s tions to our greatest pain points – some- culture superior to their competistrengths help others to see their potenthing as simple as 1 + 1 = 2. tors. How? They manage each person tial blind spots. Thus, the one team differently focusing on their strengths. member can overcome another team But - what if what makes the good great They allow individual autonomy, while member’s weakness. A leader capable involves suspending your belief in keeping everyone focused on the long- of managing the individual towards a math? What if the answer lies in 1 + 1 = term goal. These are the leaders whose common vision sets goals and expecta3? Let me explain…. employees want to come to work and tions, outlining everyone’s role within are fully engaged at, because they are the team and how they contribute to A few years back, I had the pleasure of mentored and guided to succeed profes- the greater good. There must also be seeing Bruce Springsteen in New York sionally, which we know is a key driver hard work—these same successful leadduring his critically acclaimed to intrinsic motivation. They create an ers push their employees to be their “residence” on Broadway. During the best selves as a team and individually. If performance, he suggests, in his tribute a leader is dedicated to helping their to the legendary E Street Band, that the team reach their potential, they can concept of 1 + 1 = 3 is the essential challenge their team to become a little equation of great music (specifically, bit better every day. These leaders enrock and roll), great art, love and the environment where each department courage open lines of communication universe. As he talked about it, I found member can bring their unique attriband feedback; both across team memmyself thinking that great leaders and utes and greatest strengths and use bers and up and down from team memtheir departments should be included in them while successfully working within ber to leader and leader to team memthis list with music, art, love, and music. a team. ber. If all the pieces are in place, let the magic happen.

You may be asking “in what universe As Springsteen noted about this synerdoes 1+1 ever add up to 3?” In concrete, gy, each member of his band, the E So, if The Boss says 1+1=3, who is going tangible terms it doesn’t, but the conStreet Band is uniquely qualified to play to argue? cept of 1+1=3 states that it is the intan- their instrument; and as such all of them -------------------------------------gible, the secret sauce, the mojo; what- are accomplished musicians in their own ever you call it that takes something to right. But together – TOGETHER -as a the next level and makes it great; so complete band they are fantastic! The much so that it is greater than the sum band - the sum of the musicians is great- McMahon Careers offers career coaching and of its parts. What makes certain leaders, er than its parts. So, employees who are executive education programs for racquet sports professionals and executive search and therefore the departments they run talented and have solid strengths can services for employers. The firm also manages better than the sum of their parts? All actually be elevated to their fullest po- and delivers all services offered through USPorganizations have warts, all leaders tential as part of a team: 1 + 1 = 3.

TA DirectorSearch. For information visit: make mistakes, yet the best ones in the mcmahoncareers.com or USPTADirectorSearch.com business are associated with organizaHow does a team achieve greatness

Page 7

Our 2022 Winter Workshop was a success! A

workshop also included our yearly awards with some great efforts by so

thank you to everyone who joined us many here in Georgia. This July, we have already secured Jorge CapestaAlabama sincere despite the rain. Our speakers were well-received ny to fill our heads and our notebooks with great drills for all situa ons, and everyone felt they learned a significant amount. We also concluded the a ernoon with an open discussion regarding our organiza on. For example, we discussed changing the me of year for our annual workshop. A er significant discussion, we concluded that the winter me is s ll best. Please be on the lookout for an announcement regarding the specific date of our annual workshop in the winter of 2023.

Other exci ng and new ideas were discussed with one that is currently in the works. Please mark your calendars for the weekend of July 23rd.

As of now, we are planning a trip to the Atlanta Open. We plan to travel as an organiza on for a fun-filled day of professional tennis. Depending on the number of par cipants, the USPTA will provide some form of compensa on for the day whether it be with ckets or travel. Be on the lookout for a signup form soon.

Giving back to the community more was another discussion point. One way to do this is to provide a free tennis clinic hosted by USPTA members. We plan to do this in the summer and will release more details regarding this soon.

Our goal for 2023 is to bring more value to your membership as well as to become more involved in the community as an organiza on. We’re excited about what this year will bring and we sincerely thank you for being a part of the USPTA. USPTA Arkansas is excited for our annual pros

as well as entertain us with how best to grow our programs through instruc on and events. Other great speakers will fill the morning to help us grow and develop before we all head to the Atlanta Open pro tennis matches to watch some top-level tennis. You don’t want to miss this fantas c program that has huge take-home value for all professionals and coaches. are looking forward to hos ng two more USPTA/ Louisiana We USTA Pro workshops in the second half of the year.

Expect top quality events with fresh ideas you can take back to your clubs. The board is also keen to highlight some of the amazing pros and events going on throughout the state growing the game. Look for some spotlights in our upcoming Louisiana state newsle ers!

know most pros are currently planning Mississippi Isummer camps. There’s an opportunity through USTA MS to get your new camp coaches trained and ready to take on summer work. The USTA L1 Workshop will be hosted by River Hills Club in Jackson on April 29-30,2023. If you are interested in this opportunity for your coaches, text me at (601)937-1086.

We are s ll planning on hos ng two small Pro workshops at the end of summer. Dates will be sent out soon.

Please get signed up early to ensure Arkansas workshop. the highest quality workshop. Cost is just $20 for South Carolina USPTA members, and $30 for non members. CLICK HERE to register with Ticket Tailor. All paid attendees will receive a USPTA logo shirt The LR Open Challenger will be played this weekend.

Friday, June 2nd 8:00am-9:00 - USPTA business mee ng for USPTA members 9:00am-11:00 - Ken DeHart, USPTA, PTR "7 Ways to Improve Your Players Performance & Your Communica on Skills - Plus 5 Best Games" 11:00am-12:00 - Paul Pautsch, USPTA, - High School Tennis Associa on Round Table 12:00-12:45 - Lunch provided by ATA 1:00pm-3:00 - Ken DeHart, USPTA, PTR "4 Games for Strategy & What Happens When your Strokes Go On Vaca on" 3:00pm-3:30 - Robert Cox, USPTA , Former Arkansas Razorback Men’s head coach Watch LR Open Quarters in the a ernoon/night with discounted ckets.

6:00pm Happy Hour/Food/socialize for all workshop a endees at local establishment TBD Saturday, June 3rd 9:00 am- 10:00 - USTA and ITF official Sayra Thacker- rules/scenarios and the urgent need for more officials 10:00am-10:30 - Raul Bermudez, USPTA How to turn …. into a 27-year career.

10:30am-11:00 - TBD Watch The Li le Rock Open We had a great turnout at our end-of-the-year mee ng with 74 in a endance. Luke Jensen brought us his exci ng program of taking juniors to the next level and up to the pros, as well as some great drills to use to help our teams win consistently. Other top speakers filled out the day with valuable informa on on how to do what we do be er. The

Georgia

Tennessee

Page 8

The Written Word

By Pat Whitworth USPTA Master Professional

Blasé to Ablaze by Tim Buwick How to Turn You BLAHS INTO AHHS to Ignite Passion & Purpose

Tim Buwick is a DYNAMO, a 'volcano' of energy and enthusiasm. I have been fortunate to hear him speak at Wilson events, at two of our Business Conferences, and on a Virtual Business Conference. He is captivating and just plain entertaining as a presenter and master storyteller. Knowing this, I was very intrigued by the title and to ever consider that Tim had a BLASE moment. This book is a workbook and guide to help you realize where you are, what may be issues for you, and the roadmap to working through those issues.

TAKES! It is so easy to slip into the same habits. This knowledge led him to create the M5 Method of Self-Discovery. The book will help you find the passion, purpose, and plan to position yourself to fulfill your mission in your work and in your life. The book will help you find answers to some nagging questions such as: Is this all there is? Is this how I want my days to look for the next ten, twenty, thirty years? So now what? Why is it that some other people seem to hit on all cylinders while my engine keeps misfiring? What specifically do I need to do so that I can keep my fire burning?

Mine is a particularly challenging chapter as many of us struggle with the question "do you know who you really are?" This is also a tough question in an interview such as "How would you describe yourself?" A major point is that you cannot know where you're going until you first know who you are. The goal of Mine is for you to Mine your experiences, your desires, and your goals to discover the real you. By doing this, you will be equipped to maximize the precious time you have left by aligning what you do with who you are.

There is much more to this chapter as Tim has used the word FLAME to define 5 work The journey to finishing this book took a maareas. A great quote in the (E) section on dejor detour. Tim was near to publishing, when The M5 Method is broken down into 5 chap- veloping your own Personal Mission & Pura major life issue happened - at a routine ters. The first three will cause you to look pose Statement. Bob McDonald, former CEO physical he was diagnosed with a mitral valve inside, the fourth exhorts you to look outside, of Proctor & Gamble said, "Most people issue, which later led to the discovery that all and the fifth and final chapter gives you the spend more time planning their vacations three systems in his heart were blocked. secret to how you can have an everlasting than thinking about what they want to do Open heart surgery was the only cure, so this passion for life, to stay ABLAZE for the rest of with their lives." YIKES. was a BIG change for Tim. Before this Tim your days. had thought that a sudden career change The 4th M is Mode, and it is your outward after nearly 30 years with Wilson Tennis was The chapters are: goal of Where Do I Want to Go. What, where, a big deal. Now that and how can I do what I love every day? Tim 1) Mirror - Who Do I Want to Be? seemed relatively insignificant in light of his provides a guide to create four primary lists looming open heart surgery.

2) Malaise - Why Am I Not That Person Now? which will help you pinpoint the path to ABLAZE. Tim learned during this period of his life that 3) Mine - Who Am I? everything did not fit the perfect life comfortThe final M is Maintain. Now that you have ably, but there is always something to learn, a 4) Mode - Where Do I Want to Go? the fire burning, you need to maintain the new challenge, a new obstacle, and new op- 5) Maintain - How Do I Keep the Fire Burnprogress that you have attained. Tim uses portunity. "This new life forced me to recoganother acronym, ABLAZE to help direct you. ing? nize two old, yet timeless principles. First, my The six elements are Appreciation, Boldness, level of success and satisfaction will never Laughter, Action, Zest, and Expectation. All of Each chapter contains detailed information exceed my level of personal development. In on the topic, some classic Tim stories, (and he these are expanded on and often include other words, if I want to be better, I must be is a great story teller), and some work exer- some of Tim's stories. better. And secondly, all significant growth cises to recognize and improve in these asI highly recommend this book. It is an easy comes from outside my comfort zone". pects of your life. A quote from read as Tim does not try to overuse heavy the Malaise chapter is priceless "Living in In a recent presentation, Tim talked about a bitterness is like drinking poison and exvocabulary. The entertainment is high, but bumper sticker that read 'WHATEVER'. He the message is fitting for today, or any day. pecting the other person to die". was exasperated. It should be WHATEVER IT Well done USPTA member Tim Buwick.

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Pickleball Points

Embracing Errors During Proper Execution

By John Nance

Specifically, around the 3rd shot drop, point progression drops and volley drops. As a beginner and intermediate player begins to lean into their improvement there is a dilemma. Do I keep with the strategy of keeping the ball low in the kitchen on the above mentioned shots when I’m missing?

The tendency is when we miss a couple of drops is to move away from the strategy under pressure and try to execute a drive at the wrong moment.

Don’t Do This!! A miss in the net attempting a drop or a ball that’s just a little high is a positive mistake trying to do the right thing. I have talked to many 4.0+ players and they would much rather play with someone who misses a lot of shots trying to do the right thing instead of someone making the wrong shots at the wrong times. Stay with the plan, do what you know is the proven percentage strategy and play with those who appreciate that approach to improve your game.

Remember, if you keep doing what your you will continue to get what you’re getting!! Go Play and have fun!!

Page 10

Gamma Ball Hopper EZ Travel Cart As a former traveling tennis professional, I appreciate products that are compact, quick to set up, and durable. The ball basket is probably the most used and necessary piece of court equipment a tennis professional will have, and I’ve used many different styles over the past decade. The Gamma Ball Hopper EZ Travel Cart is a very simple and common design used by many big name tennis brands, however the Gamma version packs a few unique features that make it the absolute best option when it comes to a portable ball basket.

The cross brace also creates great rigidity in the very top-heavy ball basket. The design of the basket is not ideal for use on clay because of the very small diameter wheels getting caught on any tiny bump in the court and toppling over. But on hard courts this basket really shines. If you keep your wheel bearings clean this basket will last you a very long time.

From a recent presentation at the USTA GA Community Tennis Development workshop. The topic was Growing Tennis by Engaging Diverse Markets – Introducing a 5-Step Engagement Model designed to help create an outreach strategy to attract new people to the game.

ments for your Launch”. The key components may include: Strategy, action steps, Roles and responsibilities, tracking and progress evaluation.

The second feature that is unique to this design is that it doesn’t require a pull pin mechanism that locks the basket in either a folded or unfolded position. I’ve never needed the basket to stay The design is simple in that it’s a two piece construction. The ball locked and the pull pin feature has only clogged and gotten bag sits on top of a folding metal frame. I used four separate stuck in my experience. bags, all of which containing the four progression tennis balls. I would swap the bag out depending on the age of my upcoming The fold up basket design is the best mobile ball basket I’ve used lesson. What sets the Gamma apart from the many other similar in my travel teaching career, and the Gamma Ball Hopper EZ metal frames is that it contains a cross brace that the bag sits on Travel Cart is the best of those designs. You’ll find this basket top. All of the other brands are missing that brace, so the bag available through a bunch of online retailers, unfortunately not sits suspended in the middle, leading to a huge sag in the bag from Tennis Warehouse. I purchased mine through Holabird and an eventual tear in the bag’s bottom seam. sports for $159.99.

Step 1 that we need to do is to “Define your goal understand your market”. In this area you will conduct demographic research to fully understand your audience/ customers to engage your community.

Step 4 is “Execute and have fun”. Stay focused on turning your ideas/plans into action, so you can eventually achieve your goal.

Step 5” Track, Monitor, course correct and Share”. Involve implementation team (and partners) with identifying potential causes of obstacles and creative solutions to keep moving towards your goals.

Step 2 is to “Find a Local Partner” You will identify and Team up with influential individuals, groups, and/or organiIf you want further information regarding different engagezations that are already recognized and respected. Seek ment guides please go to usta.com or contact Allan Jensen partners that have a connection to the audience. @ 404-483-6591 or jensen@sta.usta.com for more inforStep 3 “Formalize your plan and develop activation ele-

mation. Information taken from USTA Engagement Guides.

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Page 11

Read The Deep Ball and Attack with a Lob

By Ken Andriano USPTA Elite Professional Round #1

30 minutes

10 minutes of Mini tennis with players working on half volleys and volley Feeding drill- two lines feeding three balls, Neutral/deep ball for the player to hit deep cross court, second feed is a high deep ball for the player to hit a lob and step back up just inside the baseline, third feed is a and shorter ball they can step in and be aggressive down the line.

Second feeding drill – first and second feed are the same, but the third feed will be a lob that the player must move in and take in the air and come forward. First option is to have them hit straight ahead and attack the net player.

Round #2

40 minutes

Live ball drill: court 1- 1 up and 1 back (ad side back), court 2 - 1 up and 1 back (deuce side back), court 3- 1 up and 1 back (ad side back) vs. 2 back (feed from behind the 2 back team) Feed to the back player a mix of neutral and deep balls. We want them to recognize the ball so that they can either

play defense (stay away from the net player), neutral (cross court middle to set up their partner). On the deep lob feeds have the receiving player back up and lob the return. Feed mix of low balls, hard balls, and semi-deep lobs to the net player to keep them engaged in the drill.

Players on the feeding side: Net player moves up on a drive feed and holds neutral on a high feed to help defend the lob. Baseline player holds on a drive feed to opponent and moves in on a high feed to take the lob in the air! Make sure they recognize their opponent moving back on the deep ball is an opportunity to move in and attack.

Focus on the players shot selection Round #3

20 minutes

Serve and return practice with a focus on location of serve and movement of net player Have the serving team try to use the Australian formation on the add side a few times. Trying different formations in practice help them to use it in matches

Page 12

-I pay so that my child can learn the importance of time management and balancing what is important like school and keeping grades up ...I could go on but, to be short, I don't pay for sports; I pay for the opportunities that sports provides my kid with to develop attributes that will serve her well throughout her From a Parents Sports Site on Facebook life and give her the opportunity to bless the lives of others.

From what I have seen so far I think it is a great invest“People always asked "Why do you pay so much money for ment!” your kid to do sports”? Well I have a confession to make; I don't pay for my kid to do sports. Personally, I couldn't care less about what sport she does.

Seen by Allistair McCaw on Facebook So, if I am not paying for sports what am I paying for?

Expectations for Junior Athletes - I pay for those moments when my kid becomes so tired  Arrive early she wants to quit but doesn’t.

- I pay for those days when my kid comes home from school  Focus entire session and is “too tired" to go to her training but she goes anyway.  Give your BEST EFFORT - I pay for my kid to learn to be disciplined, focused and  Respect authority of your opponents dedicated.  Listen to and learn from coaches - I pay for my kid to learn to take care of her body and learn  Control your emotions & reactions how to correctly fuel her body for success.  Maintain strong, positive body language - I pay for my kid to learn to work with others and to be a good team mate, gracious in defeat and humble in success.  Exhibit great sportsmanship & character - I pay for my kid to learn to deal with disappointment, Expectations for Parents when they don’t get that placing or title they'd hoped for, but still they go back week after week giving it their best  Emphasize effort & attitude shot.  Watch practice neutrally from a reasonable distance (if - I pay for my kid to learn to make and accomplish goals. at all) - I pay for my kid to respect, not only themselves, but oth Stay calm & relaxed ers, officials, judges and coaches.

- I pay for my kid to learn that it takes hours and hours,  Ensure your expectations and goals are in line with your years and years of hard work and practice to create a chamchild’s pion and that success does not happen overnight.

- I pay for my kid to be proud of small achievements, and to DO NOT work towards long term goals.  Talk to your child or another child during practice - I pay for the opportunity my child has and will have to  Exhibit poor body language or frustration with your make life-long friendships, create lifelong memories, to be child as proud of her achievements as I am.

- I pay so that my child can be in the gym instead of in front  Gossip or ‘trash talk’ any other parents, players, or programs of a screen...

- I pay for those rides home where we make precious mem-  Expect or demand immediate results ories talking about practice, both good and bad.

One Good Idea!