My understanding of what a progression is, is to use a systematic scheme to accomplish goals. Using progressions as a tool to teach any subject matter is not a new concept. For tennis players, this type of planning can minimize the dependency cycle a player can have for a coach's approval. Progressions bring accountability for…
There is no shortage of high-quality tennis coaches on Long Island, and the area has helped grow some of the best players in the country. But few of those coaches carry the type of background and experience brought to the table by Andrea Retolaza. “Andrea has the combination of a professional background and the technical…
It seems strange to start an article about warm-ups with a note about cooling down (many teaching plans include a period for warming up and cooling down during a lesson). The New York Times recently printed a piece outlining how cooling off after athletic exercise was mostly unnecessary. For high-level athletes training to the max,…
For 10 years, Chris Lewit spent a month each summer living in Barcelona, traveling around Spain to learn from the country’s legendary tennis coaches. “It was an interesting evolution for me to study and travel to Spain, I spent about 10 years doing that,” said Lewit, who grew up a very good basketball…
I often hear the phrase “PLAY” used by coaches to begin a drill or scenario to emphasize the starting of a point. Play is a creative term used to elicit a behavior of imagination and randomness to help discover what experiences really mean. The word “PLAY” sounds fun, but I believe we can…
It’s a truism that the best way to play well in competition, you need to relax, have fun and play freely. The moment a player starts to worry about outcomes or overthink the serve, is when tightness sets in and you begin to play weakly. To win on the court, one must have a free…
The second annual John McEnroe Tennis Academy (JMTA) College Recruiting Combine was held at Sportime Randall’s Island, as prospects and college coaches from across the country came together for a weekend-long showcase. The event eases the process for both the players and coaches to find the right fits and is one of the most detail-oriented…
I have been increasingly perplexed and frustrated by the current day professional tennis players who refuse to work their way in to the net. As most people know, I have coached players and played my own game with the idea that it is an advantage to be the volleyer and a disadvantage to be the…
Don’t miss the opportunity to be coached by world-renowned Emilio Sanchez and his team at Riverdale Tennis Center the week leading up to the U.S. Open this year! Emilio Sanchez and his partner Sergio Casal were recently honored with the ITF’s highest accolade, the Philippe Chatrier Award. Sanchez and his team will be offering two…
When they were just kids, Tennis Innovators’ Cesar and Juan Andrade came to the United States from Ecuador with their family, first settling in Malverne, Long Island before going to live in Queens. It is there, where the two brothers’ love for tennis began. Along with their two sisters, the Andrade’s would attend free morning…