I hope everyone is having a great start to their year. It’s that me of year again and the Southern Conven on 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.
Ken Andriano and his Southern Conference
By Tom Parkescommi 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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
After being in the Tennis business for over 49 years, working as a Director of Tennis 45 years and at the same club (Greensboro Country Club) for 30 years, I felt it was time for me to step away from tennis and retire.
Before retiring I thought it would be good to talk to other retirees from all different types of business backgrounds to get their perspective on what to expect from retirement. The same comments kept coming up which were; keep yourself mentality and physically active, make time for your extended family (grandchildren) and take an extended vacation away from home.
I took their advice and after retirement my wife and I took 2 vacations (1 week each - beach and mountains) which really helped me disconnect from the day-today workload. We also spent quality time with our family (children and grandchildren).
Once I finished my vacation and family time, I knew it was important for me to stay active, but where do I start? It didn’t take me long to come up with the idea of a second career with the fastest growing sport in the country at my fingertips, why not consider certifying as a USPTA pickleball professional with the opportunity to teach pickleball and still be retired. I went to the Southern USPTA Convention where
the certification was being held and certified (what a blast). Once certified I let local pros and clubs be aware of my certification status and bumped into a Tennis Director from the Lake Jeanette Swim and Tennis Club (he used to be one of my assistants-Toby Curtis) and his first question was would you like to be my Pickleball Professional part time. Without much hesitation I agreed.
Teaching pickleball happens to be a great sport to be involved in without having the grind of being a Tennis Director. It has been a great change for me, but I still felt I was missing something about tennis. In the earlier days of my tennis career, I dealt with high performance players and wondered how could I reconnect back into that type of tennis without the long hours of teaching.
After some research I realized I could certify as both a USTA official and ITA official, having the opportunity to return to involvement with my high-performance players. There is a dire need for tennis officials and a chance for me to fill that void, so I took all the certifications required for both the USTA and ITA officiating.
Being an official gives me the chance to fulfill that tennis need and I now feel I have purpose to what I was missing in my 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
•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.
Walker Sahag is currently the Academy High Performance 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.
Thursday, May 18
12:00-3:00 USPTA Southern Board Mee ng
2:00-7:00 Registra on
3:00-4:00
4:15-5:15
5:30-6:30
6:30-8:30
Marcus Rutsche - Ac on-Reac on. Ini a ng or Responding to Doubles Play (court)
Allan Jensen - Teaching Singles to Your 2.53.5 Players (court)
Tim Smith - Bagger to Dinker - All About Pickleball (court)
Welcome Party Dinner
Friday, May 19
8:30-9:00
9:00-10:15
10:15-11:15
11:30-12:30
Feisal Hassan - USPTA Na onal Update (ballroom)
Walker Sahag The Doubles Moves Your Opponents Don't Want You to See!! (court)
Feisal Hassan - High Performance Techniques For Players of All Levels (court)
Kevin Theos - Recent Research on Athle c Development: Prac cal Takeaways for Your Program (off-court)
Feisal Hassan is a USPTA and RPT Master Professional along with being the immediate past president on the USPTA na onal board. He is also a member of the Head/Penn Racquet Sports Na onal 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.
11:30-12:30
Larry Karageanes - Master Poaching for 3.0 to 3.5 Level Players (court)
Awards/Hall of Fame Lunch (ballroom) 2:45-4:00
12:30-2:30
Walker Sahag SERVE + 1 - MONEYBALL Style Professional Models (off court)
Brian Park - The Only Way To Win Is With The Right Purpose (ballroom)
Milly Sequera- How To Build A Wheelchair Program(court)
Saturday, May 20th
7:45-8:45 8:45-9:45
9:45-10:45
11:00-12:00
12:00-2:30
2:30-3:30
Faith Fellowship Mee ng (library)Ma Grayson - Depth Dictates Doubles Decision Making (court)
Delaine Mast - Connec ng the Dots. Community, Parks, and Clubs (court)
Bill Riddle - Cardio Tennis Re-Engaged and Re-Energize (court)
Trade Show
Ma Levinson - Coaching/Drills with the Play mate Ball Machine (court)
Running a successful department in this competitive environment continues to grow increasingly difficult. Quality leaders are more difficult to locate, hire and retain as the job pool continues to shrink. Costs are ever increasing. Surely, we can count on the fundamentals of math to keep us grounded and find solutions to our greatest pain points – something as simple as 1 + 1 = 2.
But - what if what makes the good great involves suspending your belief in math? What if the answer lies in 1 + 1 = 3? Let me explain….
A few years back, I had the pleasure of seeing Bruce Springsteen in New York during his critically acclaimed “residence” on Broadway. During the performance, he suggests, in his tribute to the legendary E Street Band, that the concept of 1 + 1 = 3 is the essential equation of great music (specifically, rock and roll), great art, love and the universe. As he talked about it, I found myself thinking that great leaders and their departments should be included in this list with music, art, love, and music.
You may be asking “in what universe does 1+1 ever add up to 3?” In concrete, tangible terms it doesn’t, but the concept of 1+1=3 states that it is the intangible, the secret sauce, the mojo; whatever you call it that takes something to the next level and makes it great; so much so that it is greater than the sum of its parts. What makes certain leaders, and therefore the departments they run better than the sum of their parts? All organizations have warts, all leaders make mistakes, yet the best ones in the business are associated with organiza-
tions and people that produce results that are consistently better than their peers.
Do these leaders work harder, longer hours, or take unfair advantages? No. But, they do seem to have an ability to capture lighting in a bottle and create a culture superior to their competitors. How? They manage each person differently focusing on their strengths. They allow individual autonomy, while keeping everyone focused on the longterm goal. These are the leaders whose employees want to come to work and are fully engaged at, because they are mentored and guided to succeed professionally, which we know is a key driver to intrinsic motivation. They create an
environment where each department member can bring their unique attributes and greatest strengths and use them while successfully working within a team.
As Springsteen noted about this synergy, each member of his band, the E Street Band is uniquely qualified to play their instrument; and as such all of them are accomplished musicians in their own right. But together – TOGETHER -as a complete band they are fantastic! The band - the sum of the musicians is greater than its parts. So, employees who are talented and have solid strengths can actually be elevated to their fullest potential as part of a team: 1 + 1 = 3.
while also maintaining employee individuality and autonomy? There must be individual practice to achieve team progress and consistent success. Individual practice relies on managers tapping into each employees’ strengths and placing them in a position to succeed alongside their coworkers one team member’s strengths help others to see their potential blind spots. Thus, the one team member can overcome another team member’s weakness. A leader capable of managing the individual towards a common vision sets goals and expectations, outlining everyone’s role within the team and how they contribute to the greater good. There must also be hard work these same successful leaders push their employees to be their best selves as a team and individually. If a leader is dedicated to helping their team reach their potential, they can challenge their team to become a little bit better every day. These leaders encourage open lines of communication and feedback; both across team members and up and down from team member to leader and leader to team member. If all the pieces are in place, let the magic happen.
So, if The Boss says 1+1=3, who is going to argue?
McMahon Careers offers career coaching and executive education programs for racquet sports professionals and executive search services for employers. The firm also manages and delivers all services offered through USPTA DirectorSearch. For information visit: mcmahoncareers.com or USPTADirectorSearch.com
Our 2022 Winter Workshop was a success! A sincere thank you to everyone who joined us despite the rain. Our speakers were well-received 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.
workshop also included our yearly awards with some great efforts by so many here in Georgia. This July, we have already secured Jorge Capestany to fill our heads and our notebooks with great drills for all situa ons, 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.
We are looking forward to hos ng two more USPTA/ 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!
USPTA Arkansas is excited for our annual pros workshop. Please get signed up early to ensure the highest quality workshop. Cost is just $20 for 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
I know most pros are currently planning summer 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.
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.
The journey to finishing this book took a major detour. Tim was near to publishing, when a major life issue happened - at a routine physical he was diagnosed with a mitral valve issue, which later led to the discovery that all three systems in his heart were blocked. Open heart surgery was the only cure, so this was a BIG change for Tim. Before this Tim had thought that a sudden career change after nearly 30 years with Wilson Tennis was a big deal. Now that seemed relatively insignificant in light of his looming open heart surgery.
Tim learned during this period of his life that everything did not fit the perfect life comfortably, but there is always something to learn, a new challenge, a new obstacle, and new opportunity. "This new life forced me to recognize two old, yet timeless principles. First, my level of success and satisfaction will never exceed my level of personal development. In other words, if I want to be better, I must be better. And secondly, all significant growth comes from outside my comfort zone".
In a recent presentation, Tim talked about a bumper sticker that read 'WHATEVER'. He was exasperated. It should be WHATEVER IT
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?
The M5 Method is broken down into 5 chapters. The first three will cause you to look inside, the fourth exhorts you to look outside, and the fifth and final chapter gives you the secret to how you can have an everlasting passion for life, to stay ABLAZE for the rest of your days.
The chapters are:
1) Mirror - Who Do I Want to Be?
2) Malaise - Why Am I Not That Person Now?
3) Mine - Who Am I?
4) Mode - Where Do I Want to Go?
5) Maintain - How Do I Keep the Fire Burning?
Each chapter contains detailed information on the topic, some classic Tim stories, (and he is a great story teller), and some work exercises to recognize and improve in these aspects of your life. A quote from the Malaise chapter is priceless "Living in bitterness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die".
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 areas. A great quote in the (E) section on developing your own Personal Mission & Purpose Statement. Bob McDonald, former CEO of Proctor & Gamble said, "Most people spend more time planning their vacations than thinking about what they want to do with their lives." YIKES.
The 4th M is Mode, and it is your outward goal of Where Do I Want to Go. What, where, and how can I do what I love every day? Tim provides a guide to create four primary lists which will help you pinpoint the path to ABLAZE.
The final M is Maintain. Now that you have the fire burning, you need to maintain the progress that you have attained. Tim uses another acronym, ABLAZE to help direct you. The six elements are Appreciation, Boldness, Laughter, Action, Zest, and Expectation. All of these are expanded on and often include some of Tim's stories.
I highly recommend this book. It is an easy read as Tim does not try to overuse heavy vocabulary. The entertainment is high, but the message is fitting for today, or any day. Well done USPTA member Tim Buwick.
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!!
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 design is simple in that it’s a two piece construction. The ball bag sits on top of a folding metal frame. I used four separate bags, all of which containing the four progression tennis balls. I would swap the bag out depending on the age of my upcoming lesson. What sets the Gamma apart from the many other similar metal frames is that it contains a cross brace that the bag sits on top. All of the other brands are missing that brace, so the bag sits suspended in the middle, leading to a huge sag in the bag and an eventual tear in the bag’s bottom seam.
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.
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 locked and the pull pin feature has only clogged and gotten stuck in my experience.
The fold up basket design is the best mobile ball basket I’ve used in my travel teaching career, and the Gamma Ball Hopper EZ Travel Cart is the best of those designs. You’ll find this basket available through a bunch of online retailers, unfortunately not from Tennis Warehouse. I purchased mine through Holabird sports for $159.99.
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.
Step 1 that we need to do is to “Define your goalunderstand your market”. In this area you will conduct demographic research to fully understand your audience/ customers to engage your community.
Step 2 is to “Find a Local Partner” You will identify and Team up with influential individuals, groups, and/or organizations that are already recognized and respected. Seek partners that have a connection to the audience.
Step 3 “Formalize your plan and develop activation ele-
ments for your Launch”. The key components may include: Strategy, action steps, Roles and responsibilities, tracking and progress evaluation.
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.
If you want further information regarding different engagement guides please go to usta.com or contact Allan Jensen @ 404-483-6591 or jensen@sta.usta.com for more information. Information taken from USTA Engagement Guides.
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
“People always asked "Why do you pay so much money for 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. So, if I am not paying for sports what am I paying for?
- I pay for those moments when my kid becomes so tired she wants to quit but doesn’t.
- I pay for those days when my kid comes home from school and is “too tired" to go to her training but she goes anyway.
- I pay for my kid to learn to be disciplined, focused and dedicated.
- I pay for my kid to learn to take care of her body and learn how to correctly fuel her body for success.
- 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.
- I pay for my kid to learn to deal with disappointment, 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 shot.
- I pay for my kid to learn to make and accomplish goals.
- I pay for my kid to respect, not only themselves, but others, officials, judges and coaches.
- I pay for my kid to learn that it takes hours and hours, years and years of hard work and practice to create a champion and that success does not happen overnight.
- I pay for my kid to be proud of small achievements, and to work towards long term goals.
- I pay for the opportunity my child has and will have to make life-long friendships, create lifelong memories, to be as proud of her achievements as I am.
- I pay so that my child can be in the gym instead of in front of a screen...
- I pay for those rides home where we make precious memories talking about practice, both good and bad.
-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 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 investment!”
Seen by Allistair McCaw on Facebook
Arrive early
Focus entire session
Give your BEST EFFORT
Respect authority of your opponents
Listen to and learn from coaches
Control your emotions & reactions
Maintain strong, positive body language
Exhibit great sportsmanship & character
Emphasize effort & attitude
Watch practice neutrally from a reasonable distance (if at all)
Stay calm & relaxed
Ensure your expectations and goals are in line with your child’s
Talk to your child or another child during practice
Exhibit poor body language or frustration with your child
Gossip or ‘trash talk’ any other parents, players, or programs
Expect or demand immediate results
