The Texan Newsletter Summer 2020

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FROM AROUND THE STATE

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FORETHELOVEOFTENNIS GOLF TOURNAMENT

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THOUGHTS ON REOPENING

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Error Correction & How to Provide Feedback in Tennis

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Healthy HABITS 1

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

H PRESIDENT

MATT WATSON

2214 Prestonwood Drive Arlington, Texas 76012 mwatson@tbarmtennis.com

REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT

CRAIG BELL

5201 Westgrove Drive Dallas, Texas 75248 972-931-4950 cbell1360@aol.com

1st VICE PRESIDENT

MEL MCREE

3400 Mesa Road Lubbock, Texas 79403 806-786-2660 mel@lubbockcc.org

2nd VICE PRESIDENT

KELLY MARSHALL

200 Cimarron Hills Tr. Georgetown, Texas 78628 512-786-8738 kmarshall@onioncreekclub.com

3rd VICE PRESIDENT

ADRIEN CHABRIA

1912 Abrams Rd. Dallas, TX 75214 214-232-5237 adrien@lakewoodcc.com

SECRETARY

MICHELLE STALLARD PO Box 4950 Horseshoe Bay, Texas 78657 512-924-7097 mstallard@hsbresort.com

TREASURER

ERNIE ABRAHAM

13765 Southern Oaks Dr. Burleson, Texas 76028 817-980-9374 abrahamernie@yahoo.com

PAST PRESIDENT

JENNY GRAY

449 Champions Dr. Georgetown 78628 512-930-3783 jgray@berrycreekcc.com EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

CHARLOTTE WYLIE

2113 Winding Creek Drive Keller, Texas 76248 817-521-7483 charlottewylie51@gmail.com

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owdy fellow Texas tennis professionals! I hope this finds all of you doing well and resuming tennis operations as we reopen our facilities. If any of you are still struggling to navigate the pathway to resuming safe tennis operations, please take advantage of all the information available through the USPTA and USTA websites. USPTA and USTA has provided detailed information on safe play guidelines as we resume our tennis programs. I’m sure we are all excited to be back on the courts, as are our clients, but it is important to keep in mind we are still navigating the Covid-19 pandemic and must continue to put safety first for not only our clients but for ourselves as well. I am so thrilled to hear numerous stories about how the love of our sport has continued to provide so many positive feelings throughout our tennis communities and is changing lives for the better during this time. Our sport has certainly helped so many become stronger physically, mentally and emotionally at a time when so many have been terribly stressed.

I would be remiss if I did not take the opportunity to thank our/your current USPTA Texas board for all their continued dedication, time and effort in discussing possible fall events and making some very tough decisions regarding our upcoming events. We have spent several hours on zoom meetings and conference calls to ensure we are making the best decisions for our players and pro’s on upcoming events and what we can do to provide our members with something to look forward to later in the year.

Regarding our USPTA Texas events this year, we cancelled the Champion of Champions event at the US Clay Court Championships in April and have recently decided to cancel our August conference. We (your USPTA Texas Board) realizes the difficulty this situation has caused for so many and the continued concern for a large group meeting/conference. Keeping safety for all as our top priority, we also decided to cancel the Jr. Gran Prix State Championships at Newcome’s Ranch in September. After detailed discussion, it was our decision that gathering 200+ kids and parents in close quarters was simply not the right thing to do currently. We plan on bringing this fun event back better than ever in 2021 and look forward to your support in making it the best one yet!

I am excited to share some news about an event WE ARE HAVING in August. We

Matt Watson are currently organizing an open registration (open to members and friends) golf tournament at Southern Oaks Golf Course in Burleson titled “FORE THE LOVE OF TENNIS GOLF TOURNAMENT”.

The tournament format will be a 2-person Modified shamble.

It will be a 1:00pm shotgun start with an awards reception and dinner on the patio following play. This event will be open to USPTA members, friends and family. You are welcome to play with other members or nonmembers. USPTA members will be able to register for $75/player and non-members for $100/player. There is online registration available at this link www.foretheloveoftennisgolfevent.com , as well as a paper registration included in this newsletter. Payment must be included with your registration. Play will be flighted, and we hope to have many of you participate in this event and celebrate a busy summer on the courts just ending. This will be a terrific opportunity for us to safely gather and come together as a group. Planning is in “full swing” and we will ensure whatever guidelines are in place at that time are instituted to ensure a fun and safe event.

The 2020 World Conference in New Orleans has been cancelled as the National Board and Executive Committee felt it was just not right to converge upon the city with such large numbers at this time. That being said, THERE WILL BE A WORLD CONFERENCE, as National in currently putting the platform together to offer a virtual (online) conference that will be held roughly the same days – mostly likely condensed to 3 days. Please stay tuned for more information from National as they lay out the details for the conference.

Wishing you and all your loved one’s continued safety and health!

COMMITTEE

CHAIRPERSONS

DATESTHATRATE!!!

Awards Mel McRee Division Conference Kelly Marshal Education Matt Watson Ethics/Legal Tommy Connell Diversity & Inclusion Jack Foster Finance Chris Singer Jr. Development Chris Singer Lessons for Life Dennis Reblin Long-Range Planning David Webb Membership Tom Ingram National Convention Jim Sciarro Nominating Rex Cuajunco Regional Directors Jenny Gray Sport Science Bob Haugen Testing & Certification Tom Ingram USPTA Adult Leagues Jim Sciarro

JULY

2020

10–11

Certification and Testing Exam – (full test) Bent Tree Country Club

(Dallas)

7/31 – 8/1

Certification and Testing Exam – (full test) Pecan Plantation Country Club

(Granbury)

AUGUST 14

USPTA Texas Summer Retreat Golf Tournament Southern Oaks Country Club

(Burleson)

SEPTEMBER 11-12

Certification and Testing Exam – (full test) Southern Oaks Country Club

(Burleson)

OCTOBER 3–4

Certification and Testing Exam – (full test) Richland Tennis Center

(NRH)

NOVEMBER 13–14

Certification & Testing Lakeside Country Club

(Houston)

DECEMBER 11–12

Certification and Testing Exam – (full test) Bent Tree Country Club

(Dallas)

U30 Eli Sepulveda USTA Liaison Van Barry

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FROMAROUNDTHESTATE...

Regional Directors needed for Houston & Corpus Christi. If you are interested in providing information and updates for any of these areas contact Charlotte Wylie at charlotte.wylie@uspta.org.

AUSTIN

Kelly Marshall 512-763-8700

Clubs all over Austin are beginning to reopen.

The city has been very delinquent, and we saw all but 3 facilities close for a time. Local league play will

resume mid-June and there are a few local tournaments beginning to pop back up on the calendar with smaller draws and social distancing practices in place. We hope all pros stay safe and good luck as they return to the new normal.

DALLAS

Adrien Chabria 214-821-8440

Besides missing tennis as we know it, and returning to tennis prudently and safely.....

The USPTA community rallies to support one another in “stay healthy“efforts. Judging from the myriad of friendly messages of commiseration, this is clearly a tight knit group, always supporting one another..... striving to get in some conscientious practices and learning into each day.

Popular Dallas pro, Markus Kerner, appearing on a renowned entertainment talkshow in his native Estonia The illustrious Wayne Bryan with an appearance in TX!

Locally based tour coach, and 2005 Roland Garros finalist, Mariano Puerta, appeared on the At The Net Podcast.... as did 2-time Aus Open champ, Johan Kriek.

Sales of this interesting warmup were strong in Dallas Pro Shops. As we all Shelter-in-place .... how did Nike know pajamas were to become very popular this season?

Judy Murray conducted a Miss Hits workshop at Brook Hollow Golf Club in conjunction with the RBC Challenger at T Bar M. She also did a fantastic meet & great before speaking to the crowd at the ATP Challenger at T Bar M Racquet Club Austria’s Jurij Rodionov. 2020 Champion of the RBC Challenger The entire state’s tennis professional community had a blast learning and kibbutzing at the USPTA and USTA annual meetings at the beautiful Horseshoe Bay Resort in Marble Falls in late February.

Here’s Judy..... with her assistant Lauren Middleton from the UK, and Christy Vutam, known in Dallas tennis circles as the Net Ninja!

CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 BRAZOS VALLEY Brandon Carlson (817) 691-7055

Tennis play has slowly resurfaced in the Bryan/College Station area since May 1st, with many of the public courts seeing players return, 4

as well as limited programming resuming at the area's private facilities. As of right now, the Brazos Valley Tennis Association plans to launch Summer league registration by the middle of June, as well as select a new Board member, after the President relocated to DFW for

work purposes. Summer lesson programming through the City of College Station has been cancelled for the area but plans to resume normal activity for the Fall season are currently in development.

FORT WORTH Laura Gilbert 817 312-2045

TJune 1st USTA adult and youth leagues begin slowly, following safety recommendations. Sanctioned youth tournaments begin July 1st.

RTC closed on Saturday, March 14 and reopened on Monday, May 11. During the closing, we resurfaced all 16 courts, which was a project that had already been scheduled. New changes included cash only sales, no use of on court benches, only bottle water available, no water fountains or ice machines, players are not allowed to touch teaching balls, etc. It’s the new normal for now.

OnCourt OffCourt Shares Free Home Practice Videos & Resources OnCourt OffCourt has become a household name in the tennis industry since its inception in 1994.

And, in the past 26 years, it has contributed significantly in the way that people learn tennis. During the COVID-19 crisis, OnCourt OffCourt has focused on providing high quality home training resources.

They produced a series of free home practice videos for tennis and pickleball.

Tennis home practice videos and resources: https://go.oncourtoffcourt.com/ practice-at-home-tennis Pickleball home practice videos and resources: https://go.oncourtoffcourt.com/ practice-at-home-pickleball For more information visit, www.OnCourtOffcourt.com.

CENTRAL TEXAS Julien Curatella 254-498-6379

As restrictions are being lifted around the Texas tennis facilities, we are excited to have a lot of programming starting back up in June, while following the state regulations.

Waco welcomes new adult tennis director, Joe Rosa, to the Waco Regional tennis and fitness center. Joe plans to use his experience to bring a new energy to the adult programs at WRTF and to the City of Waco, with fun leagues, socials,

SAN ANTONIO Dan Cantu 210-355-1336

San Antonio is starting to reopen tennis facilities around the city and I can

Aerial view of Richland Tennis Center championship court.

Kelly Langdon won the USPTA Texas Coach of the Year Award “Thankful to have received the USPTA Texas, "Coach of the Year" award. Although individual in nature, this award is due in large part to the efforts of players, coaches, parents, Marcus HS, Lewisville ISD leadership, the athletic department and of course the TNT staff. As always, THANKS to everyone for unbelievable and continued support. Honored and humbled.”- Kelly Langdon

The only news out of TCU is that we are still closed and will be until the entire university campus can open.

Craig Smith Director of Tennis Bayard Friedman Tennis Center - TCU

adult tennis clinics, Pickle ball fun play and drill clinics and family social events!

While most multiple sports camps are still on hold till July, many facilities are offering a wide variety of tennis activities: Ridgewood Country Club is offering multiple High-Performance unior training sessions with specific drilling topics, as celebrity guest coaches will make appearances from time to time.

Night camps are also being offered at multiple facilities and are very popular, focusing more on match strategy and point play.

Midway High school hosted a UTR

on May 30th with over 80 players with players from all around the area. We had great feedback as players were so excited to compete in a safe competitive setting.

Men’s, women’s and mixed league, clinics and social events are scheduled for the next two months at multiple facilities, respecting social distancing, but providing a whole lot of much needed FUN! We are all in this together! We hope to bring a tremendously positive attitude to our communities through great leadership and togetherness!

feel the tennis heartbeat. SATA Adult leagues are starting to sign up teams for summer league play hopefully in July. Junior Team tennis will likely start after July 4th. Summer Camps are slowly taking place at a few facilities.

Programs, leagues, tournaments, events

and match play may take some time but we are a strong tennis community in San Antonio. We are resilient and optimistic about the future of tennis in this city.

Everyone please be safe, and keep the tennis alive.

VALLEY

WEST TEXAS

The dates for the 18th Annual 2020 Harlingen Country Club $25,000 Pro Circuit ITF World Tour tournament will be the week of October 19.

NOTINGTOREPORT

Andy Carter 956-412-4100 x104

Cody Chapman 432-296-1650

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USPTA TEXAS FORE THE LOVE OF TENNIS GOLF TOURNAMENT HOSTED BY SOUTHERN OAKS GOLF AND TENNIS CLUB

2-MAN MODIFIED SHAMBLE FRIDAY, AUGUST 14 1PM SHOTGUN START DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS AUGUST 7

GOLF AND SPONSORSHIPS SINGLE PLAYER USPTA MEMBER: $75 NON-MEMBER: $100 INLCUDES GOLF FOR 1, GOLF CART, PRACTICE RANGE, DINNER, GIFTS AND AWARDS RECEPTION.

HOST HOTEL:

TWOSOME 2 USPTA MEMBERS: $150 1 MEMBER/1 NON: $175 2 NON-MEMBERS: $200 INLCUDES GOLF FOR 2 PLAYERS, DINNER, PRACTICE RANGE, GOLF CART, GIFTS AND AWARDS RECEPTION.

L A Q U I N T A I N N A N D S U I T E S WY N D H A M B U R L E S O N 225 EAST ALSBURY BLVD BURLESON, TX 76028 817-447-6565 MUST REGISTER BY JULY 23

SPONSOR PACKAGE $500 INLCUDES GOLF FOR 2 PLAYERS, DINNER, PRACTICE RANGE, GOLF CART, GIFTS, AWARDS RECEPTION AND TEE BOX SIGNAGE

* R E G I S T R A N T S WI L L N E E D TO REFERENCE " S O U T H E R N O A K S/ E R N I E A B R A H A M" WH E N MA K I N G REGISTRATION TO RECEIVE $89/NIGHT RATE.

FOR QUESTIONS, CONTACT CHARLOTTE WYLIE AT CHARLOTTEWYLIE51@GMAIL.COM 6

TO REGISTER, VISIT: WWW.FORETHELOVEOFTENNISGOLFEVENT.COM

REGISTRATION FORM Please select on the right which package you will be doing, your name and your teammate's name. Also, if you are paying for yourself or your team. Payment must be included with registration. Payment can be made by registering online or with this form by providing credit card information or making a check payable to: USPTA Texas Payment can be sent to: Charlotte Wylie 2113 Winding Creek Drive, Keller, TX 76248

PLAYER #1 DETAILS

SINGLE PLAYER USPTA MEMBER

INLCUDES GOLF FOR 1, GOLF CART, PRACTICE RANGE, DINNER, GIFTS AND AWARDS RECEPTION.

SINGLE PLAYER NON-MEMBER

$100

INLCUDES GOLF FOR 1, GOLF CART, PRACTICE RANGE, DINNER, GIFTS AND AWARDS RECEPTION.

TWOSOME 2 USPTA MEMBERS

NAME

$75

$150

INLCUDES GOLF FOR 2 PLAYERS, DINNER, PRACTICE RANGE, GOLF CART, GIFTS AND AWARDS RECEPTION.

EMAIL ADDRESS

TWOSOME 1 USPTA/1 NONMEMBERS

CONTACT NUMBER

$175

INLCUDES GOLF FOR 2 PLAYERS, DINNER, PRACTICE RANGE, GOLF CART, GIFTS AND AWARDS RECEPTION.

CREDIT CARD NUMBER TWOSOME 2 NON-MEMBERS

EXPIRATION DATE

CVV

ZIP CODE

NAME

INLCUDES GOLF FOR 2 PLAYERS, DINNER, PRACTICE RANGE, GOLF CART, GIFTS AND AWARDS RECEPTION.

SPONSOR PACKAGE

PLAYER #2Â DETAILS

$200

$500

INLCUDES GOLF FOR 2 PLAYERS, DINNER, PRACTICE RANGE, GOLF CART, GIFTS, AWARDS RECEPTION AND TEE BOX SIGNAGE

WWW.FORETHELOVEOFTENNISGOLFEVENT.COM

THOUGHTS ON STEFAN J. LAPORTE | EXECUTIVE SEARCH CONSULTANT

F

irst and foremost, I hope all of you, your family and staff are safe and healthy during this pandemic crisis. Our best thoughts and wishes go out to the families and friends who were, and are, affected by the virus. We are starting to see some positive and encouraging results in our country. I am encouraged about the eventual reopening of tennis facilities, with new suggested safety guidelines, after the stay-at-home order has been lifted in your state. Tennis is one of the few sports that already has good social distancing practices, and with several improved guidelines, it can be enjoyed by your family and the entire Club for not only the physical benefits, but everyone's mental well-being. I am an Executive Search Consultant with McMahon|10s, an Executive Search & Training firm for private Clubs and also am the Director of Tennis at a 23-court facility in East Hampton, NY during the summer. Like many of my colleagues, I am looking forward to getting back on to the court, however I have seen a lot of fellow professionals and Clubs struggling with getting the message across that tennis is an activity that will be generally safe to enjoy again – very soon.

HERE IS WHAT WE SUGGEST FOR A SAFE RE-OPEN FOR YOUR TENNIS FACILITY: 1. Please read all the information first and then decide what is best for your facility. Every club will handle their situation differently - take what is best for your situation.

2. Follow all CDC, local, state and federal guidelines for social distancing for re-opening your facility. Make sure you are staying current as guidelines are changing almost daily.

3. Update and revise all training manuals and procedures for your Operations in regards to Covid-19 and how your staff will handle different situations.

4.

Precise communication between the GM, Tennis Professional, Racquets Chair, Committee and Board will be critical. Outline a plan now – before reopening, to handle the situation with clear communication with the membership.

5. Check to see what Phase of virus progression your area is experiencing and adjust accordingly.

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BEFORE ON COURT ARRIVAL: 1. If testing is available in your area, all staff should take a Covid-19 test before start of employment and at a later specified time.

2. Staff should have temperature checks at the start of each day. A staff member having a temperature above 100.4 (CDC guideline) should be sent home immediately and self-isolate. A staff member showing other symptoms (check with CDC guidelines) should also self-isolate.

3. Members who come to play at your facility are on the honor system. If they show any symptoms of Covid-19, they should self-isolate (according to your state's guidelines) and get tested. Clubs must have a consistent policy established on how to handle a situation where a member cannot be certain of their condition.

N REOPENING PROCEDURES FOR PRIVATE LESSONS: 1.

Depending on your state's phase, Junior/Adult campsclinics-teams probably cannot be programmed due to the social distancing guidelines; however, private lessons up to 3 people and a pro can still be maintained with social distancing.

2. It is preferred that 3-6 new balls are used for each lesson and the balls are discarded afterwards. If a Bucket of balls is preferred by a group (dedicate 1 ball hopper exclusively for each pro - color code), no students can pick up any balls by hand. Use a ball tube and wipe down after use. The ball hoppers should be replenished regularly. Note: At this point, no studies have shown if the virus can be transmitted on the tennis ball.

3. Wear wristbands (and headbands) to avoid touching your face.

4. Wipe down all equipment after use.

RECOMMENDED EVENTS:

PROCEDURES FOR SINGLES/DOUBLES PLAY: 1. It is recommended that players wear a disposable vinyl glove on their non-playing hand so as not to come in direct contact with the ball.

2. If a ball comes on your court from an adjoining court, roll it back with your racquet.

3. Use a can of new balls and dispose afterwards.

4. Bring your own towel and water and space your items a safe distance away from the other players.

5. Antibacterial wipes should be provided at each court.

6. Chairs, tables, shelves, and water coolers (solid surfaces) should be removed from courtside.

7. When changing sides, use opposite sides of the net.

8. Use antibacterial wipes on your grip before and after play.

9. Limit talking on the court and use air bumps for good shots while still maintaining social distance.

10. Above all else, use Common Sense

1. Events such as Social mixers or round robins should not be programmed because of social distancing.

2. Team matches are not recommended as you want to limit play at your facility to members only - guests should not be allowed at this time.

3. Club Championships can still be held with a set time, court assignment and balls placed at the net post before play while following all the procedures above.

4. The best practice in your area is to form a zoom meeting of your fellow professionals in your immediate area to go over what works best at your Club, and so that ideas can be shared and generally consistent practices followed. It is my belief that this sharing of ideas will go a long way in promoting the safety of our sport in the long term.

Remember that tennis is played outdoors in the open, fresh air with plenty of room. Gyms might have more difficulty opening on a normal scale because of the density and cleanliness of the area. People need exercise for both their physical and mental well-being, and tennis is the perfect sport to maintain our balance. These suggested guidelines are not set in stone and should be adjusted to your area and particular needs. We are not promoting that tennis is 100% safe if you use these suggested guidelines. However, these guidelines can possibly reduce the risk of getting Covid-19 while getting back on the court.If you are looking for guidance, seeking a Director of Racquet Sports or need advice in any tennis related matters, please feel free to contact me directly. The motto for tennis has always been "the sport of a lifetime." On behalf of everyone at McMahon | 10s, I hope that you stay safe, healthy, and smart during these turbulent times.

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Written by: Bo Gard

Below are a few rules of thumb in relation to the feedback:

Practice alone is not enough to learn techniques correctly. For your practice to be successful you must provide your athlete with the following information:

1. During practice, give advice to your students right there on the spot. Some pros wait until the end of the practice to do so.

1- How the player’s performance is compared to the desired performance and

2. The more feedback, the better. If it is useful feedback… Some players just absorb everything and do a great job at applying everything we say. Some players are receptive to only a little bit at a time. So get to know your player by asking a lot of questions. It is also our responsibility to teach our students how to rely more and more on their own feedback and less from the coach, as they develop.

2- How to change an incorrect performance, to bring it to where it is close to the desired performance. This type of information needed is called “feedback”.

The feedback process always starts with the observation and the evaluation. In my opinion, this is the biggest challenge in tennis: misdiagnosing the correct cause of an error. In numerous cases, I’ve seen coaches rushing into fixing or correcting what they first see. I have done it myself during my first teaching years as well.

I see it when I test new pros to become USPTA certified. The new pros are diving directly into instruction, bypassing the observation aspect. My philosophy is that “if we don’t observe, we don’t know where to start”. Some players may have a tennis background, some may not, and some may be very new. Therefore, the initial information we gather from them is not always accurate. It is crucial to take time and watch the player before we start correcting or instructing. Remember that in the learning process, the wrong feedback will hurt you more than no feedback at all. If we are not sure on what the cause of an error is, just give it more time and observe more. If you still have an issue determining what is going on, you can ask for guidance from your head coach.

Overall, we are a team and it is better to get everyone involved because the athlete comes first and we want the best for him/ her. Your student will also respect your honesty and your true effort to helping them.

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3. When correcting multiple technical errors, give one feedback at the time. Us as coaches must decide which one is the most important one. Sometimes, correcting the right error will eliminate or self correct other errors.

4. When providing feedback, we can first compliment the player and then fix.

Another approach would be to tell exactly what was done incorrectly at first, and then secondly, explain how to correct it. It comes down to knowing your player and figuring out how they respond the best.

5. Give simple and concise information on how to improve. Use the “KISS” abbreviation to help you with this: “Keep It Stupid Simple”

6. When giving feedback be specific rather than using the term “good job” which is a very general term.

7. Use visual and auditory demonstrations incorporated together when giving feedback. That will lead to an accelerated learning result. Players learn differently, some of them are visual learners and we have to demonstrate by showing them how to execute, some are auditory learners and we have to talk to them about “how its done” and a small percentage are kinesthetic learners which they have to feel how its done.

Good luck with everything and have fun with it.

Bo Gard I have been a teaching pro for the past 20 years in various countries including Romania, Turkey and the United States. I am a USPTA Elite pro, a USPTA tester and currently serve in various USPTA and USTA committees. I am serving as the 2020 USTA MS Vice-resident and have been the USPTA MS president from 2010-2019. I reside in Gulfport and I am deeply involved at my local club: Bayou Bluff Tennis Club.

A NEW BALL IS BORN: ONE THAT’S GENTLER ON THE EARTH THROUGH LONGER LASTING, FRESH-BALL FEEL & 100% SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING. THAT BALL IS TRINITI.

WILSON.COM © 2019 Wilson Sporting Goods Co. Trademarks advertised other than those of Wilson Sporting Goods Co. are properties of their respective owners. 18-1417

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CRAIG'S CORNER

A

big Texas sized “Howdy” to all of you out there who are reading this latest edition of Craig’s Corner.

Well, what have you been up to since I last wrote an article in The Texan last December? If you would’ve bet me a dollar that from the end of February until now, which is the first of June, the world situation would be where we are right this very moment - I surely would have lost a dollar to you! What a truly unbelievable time we are experiencing in world history – not just the Red, White and Blue but this world pandemic and the very tragic George Floyd situation is really quite something I’ve certainly never witnessed before. I’m glad the Great Game has been there for me (and hopefully you) – both mentally and physically as I’ve needed to get out and hit the ball around, teach a few lessons, string a few racquets etc., etc.

With June upon us and lots of warmer weather ahead of us for a few months, let’s hope we can get back to some type of new normal, whatever that is really quickly. Scroll down below for my latest thoughts, mental musings and other such mind-bending nuggets to digest for you, the faithful.

On the Lonestar scene, we all know that tennis has mostly been shut down for a few months but I’m hearing through the tennis grapevine we are going to get back on the courts very soon, if you’ve not already done so by the time you are reading this column. I’m very glad to be able to deliver some great news that our local Texas tennis 12

rep buddy, Mark Gonzalez with Yonex has just informed me that his company is starting up a summer series of one day tennis tournaments around the state. The format hasn’t been decided just yet, but Mark is telling me that the one-day events, more than likely, will feature doubles and mixed doubles play. Look for more details to follow very, very soon as I know everyone will want to participate in these events coming to a court near you.

On the national front it looks like tennis is starting to see some “live” action. It has been nice to see that UTR was sponsoring a men’s and women’s 4-person exhibition “Fast 4” event at a private court in West Palm Beach the past few weeks. I don’t know about you but I’m getting tired of watching reruns on Tennis Channel. Mind you I do like watching tennis on tv, just not the same thing day in and day out. To me, the “Fast 4 Exo’s” were interesting to see how the tours might “potentially” be setting up events in the future. No lines people or ball kids, masked chair umpire, balls on each end of the court that only the player could touch and the players personally carrying their own towels. I wasn’t a huge fan of the “Fast 4” format (scoring wise) as I’m a little more old school let’s say and appreciate the more traditional 6 game set format. I can certainly understand the appeal of a much quicker format and thus this forum was probably a great place to try and see if this type of event would attract interest from fans watching on tv to the eight players playing in the “Fast 4”. So, what say you about the “Fast 4” format, I’m actually interested to hear? Shoot me an email or a text – listed below.

On the world stage, did you all catch wind (not break wind) that Roger Federer aka The King is now the world’s highest paid athlete in the past 12 months – a Great Game athlete! He has taken in right at $106 million (US dollars) this past

year and thus has ascended to the top of the money mountain. If you look at the numbers, his tournament winnings are not that impressive at only $6.3 million but it’s his endorsements at right at $100 million is where his incredible “king’s ransom” comes from.

The King’s endorsement war chest originates from 13 brands including, but not limited to, Barilla, Moet & Chandon, Rimowa, Rolex, Credit Suisse, Mercedes Benz, Gillette, Lindt, Wilson and especially UNIQLO with whom The King makes as much as $25 million per year for the next 10 years.

The King is so wealthy that he can eat fried chicken all week long if he wants to as the ol Texas saying goes --- now that rich boys and girls!! The highest paid female athlete was the Great Games’ Naomi Osaka who brought in $37.4 million (ranked #29) just edging out Serena (ranked #33) who only brought in $36 million. A few other quick tidbits about the Top 100 list – (a) there were 6 Great Game athletes in the Top 100 (b) the game of basketball lead the way with 35 players in the Top 100 richest athletes and (c) the game of golf only had 4 players in the Top 100 – giving the Great Game “bragging rights” over the game of golf. I’ve heard that the game of golf is so poor that their Sunday supper is friend water – I’m glad I play the Great Game!!

Anyway, it's time to circle the wagons, put out the fire and call in the dogs -- until next time, Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, Stay Away From Sick People and Stay Away From Me (as my wife tells me) ---- plus, Keep Your Eye on the Ball and Don't Forget the Sunscreen...

Craig Bell CB cbell1360@aol.com 214-762-4691 (cell\text)

HEALTHY HABITS

5 Ways Stress Affects Your Body

by Elizabeth Millard With busy schedules and the usual wave of life changes, both big and small, stress is a common condition for most people, if not everyone. When stress becomes chronic — meaning it might feel ongoing rather than coming and going — it can have a major effect on your body.

People often think of stress as feeling frazzled mentally and emotionally — and while stress at the right moments can be positive, chronic stress can cause numerous physical problems, and some of them might kick off a cascade of other issues.

Here are some challenges that could have stress as a root cause:

1

BELLY FAT

Stress triggers the release of cortisol, a hormone designed to assist with our “fight or flight” response when we’re in danger, so we have the energy to deal with threats.

But when cortisol becomes elevated for too long, it’s associated with higher levels of obesity, and particularly with weight gain in the midsection, according to North Carolina-based registered dietitian Molly Devine.

Why the stubborn belly fat? Because one of the functions of cortisol is to shuttle glucose out of storage so your brain and body can use it for the expected battle ahead. But under chronic stress, the body doesn’t need all that extra glucose, so it releases insulin to deal with it. And insulin’s favorite storage facility is your belly.

Compounding the problem: Cortisol tends to make you crave simple carbs that can get turned into energy fast. That’s why “comfort foods” for many people are packed with fast-digesting sugars, which also get the insulin-belly-fat treatment.

6

FINDING A BALANCE

Considering the physical, emotional and mental effects stress can have, it’s worth making the effort to lower the number of stressors in your life. Keep in mind there are some types of stress that can actually be beneficial.

For example, exercise stresses the body — and, as anyone who’s done a HIIT

2

POOR DIGESTION

4

LOWER BACK PAIN

When cortisol releases, it causes increased blood flow toward your limbs — so you can fight or flee as needed — and away from your stomach and intestines, says Ontariobased naturopathic physician Olivia Rose.

The result is your digestion can be affected, leading to problems like constipation or diarrhea, she says. That lowered blood flow also affects how well you absorb nutrients, which means stress might be cutting down on the amount of vitamins and minerals used by the body, particularly B vitamins and vitamin C. “What you’ll get is a cascading effect,” says Rose. “Not being able to digest food properly is hard on your intestinal tract, so you might develop a chronic condition like IBS, along with other problems like insomnia or blood pressure changes.”

3

FREQUENT ILLNESS

5

BREAKOUTS AND ACNE

Just as stress shuttles resources away from your digestive system, it does the same with your immune response, Rose says.

“The body is trying to shut down anything that’s not necessary in a crisis,” she notes.

“If you’re facing an immediate threat, it’s less important for the body to handle a foreign virus or bacteria.”

But that’s meant to be a temporary shutdown, she adds. When chronic stress keeps your immune system tamped down, it can leave you vulnerable to colds, the flu and other illnesses. If you find yourself catching every bug that sweeps through the office, it might be time to implement more stress relief as a way to get your immune system back on track.

In addition to a cortisol wave, stress causes muscles to tense, which can affect areas like the shoulders, neck and particularly the low-back area.

According to Johns Hopkins, back pain can become more severe if you smoke — which raises inflammation in the body and hinders healing — have a high body mass index and/or tend to have a sedentary lifestyle.

Stress can also affect your perception of the pain, making it feel worse and prolonging the issue. If the pain becomes troubling enough to sabotage your workouts, then you could exacerbate the situation since exercise has been shown to decrease emotional stress and improve back pain in many cases.

One common stress effect Rose sees often is skin problems, particularly among those who used to have acne or eczema and are now seeing those flare again.

That’s because stress can prompt more inflammation throughout your system as a defense mechanism. But that might cause your skin to overreact with a disproportionate response, Rose notes.

In addition to breakouts, you might get rashes, rosacea, bumps or scaly areas as your skin tries to adjust to its new, highstress conditions.

When this is happening, your skin tends to become more sensitive as well — which means slathering it with lotions or acne cream could make things worse instead of better.

session or aimed for a strength training PR can report, it usually overwhelms the mind as well — but that type of stress serves a purpose in making you stronger and more resilient.

The same goes for other types of stress, from family issues to work deadlines. Stress can be a fuel to get more productive, work out problems and move forward. So, it’s counterproductive to think of all stress as negative. Instead, focus on strategies that

allow you cooldown periods, so your stress (and cortisol) gets regulated into being an advantage instead of a detriment.

The best strategy is to come up with destress tactics when you’re in a calm period, suggests Devine.

“You don’t come up with an evacuation plan when your house is on fire,” she says.

“Don’t wait for that overwhelmed feeling to kick in before you think about how to balance stress in your life.”

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