Northern New Mexico by Dick Johnson
Dick JohnsonIt has been a “crazy” month! We have started tennis practice but the state of New Mexico and the Albuquerque Public Schools have not “uncoupled hybrid and at home virtual school so kids are not allowed to play high school sports!
I attended a well-attended rally in front of the APS Office on Sunday, February All worn out after 21st. All the local TV stations the rally! were there. I was interviewed and the basic theme was “Let Our Kids Play”. Hopefully this rally had some impact.
I hope everyone is doing well, staying safe, and continuing to have a productive year. Can’t wait to see you at the Virtual Southwest USPTA conference in May.
Amy Badger I am excited for the high school tennis preseason to begin while still under strict governor orders of mask wearing, pod size, etc. The high school tennis showcase series has been approved by the city under the condition each event is a skill building practice play as the state is still under a “no competition” order. We hope that we’ll be updated soon. For our first event, the singles showcase, we had a full house and the kids were so happy to see each other and willing to work hard in their pods. Included was a fun raffle and each player received a goodie bag thanks to the support from local businesses. High school coaches and top adult tennis players came out to help and that was incredible. The city just approved the doubles event and with only 72 hours until the event registration will be filled. Our kid want to play so desperately. I am thankful to the city for approving. As a member of the national local play and competition committee we have not stopped towards advancing our goals and mission as stated by USTA national. It is a very active group and I’m looking forward to the time ahead as we work together to help grow the game. The members of The Club of Las Campanas are amazing. We have been working together outside in sub 40 temperature and they inspire me every day!
Doug MacCurdy
I have helped Amy Badger with a singles clinic recently and you can see it in the player’s eyes. They want to compete badly and my heart goes out to them. Especially, my seniors who lost 90% of last year’s season and now face the elimination of another one.
Hello I’m writing this message from Taos, New Mexico where I am getting a chance to get in some great skiing. The mountain and conditions are great, as opposed to my standard of skiing. But, it leads to a few thoughts on the value of using a variety of sports and complex exercises in our pursuit of producing good tennis players.
It was exciting to be asked to be USPTA’s Past-President committee. The committee is gathering information now to present for a very special World Conference hopefully in September in Las Vegas, Nevada. So glad that my good friend, Kurt Edelbrock is recovering from his recent surgery. Kurt was leaving the hospital at the same time I was receiving my COVID Vaccination.
In general terms the number one physical skill needed for tennis is coordination. The greatest rate of development an improvement in coordination occurs between the ages of four and 12 for girls and about 13 for boys. of course, one can improve coordination with various games before the age of 4, and any player can certainly
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March 2021
