What is fun, fresh, fast-paced and fantastic for your tennis game? POP Tennis! This is a standalone activity/program used as an engaging teaching tool that not only helps students with their tennis, but makes it enjoyable, too. The sport of POP Tennis isn’t new. In fact, it was founded more than 100 years ago, in…
In an ideal world, competition should not exist. But in the world where we live, it is a key component. Since we were born, our parents have compared us to our siblings, our cousins, our classmates, our friends, or to the children of their friends. We all grow up competing, and this can be so…
Photo Credit: Darren Carroll/USTA With the demands of the sport, it is common to see tennis players dealing with anxiety, stress, and overwhelming complications that take place in the mind. The mental aspect of the game is sometimes even more important and critical to look at than the physical. Having a journal has become such…
Over the past 12 years, I have been very interested in understanding performance differences in tennis coaches and their standards. Some are recreational coaches, some are assistants, some are head tennis pros … all the way to tennis directors and everything in between. I believe that my six habits below can serve and help every…
In the November/December 2016 edition of New York Tennis Magazine, I discussed the four options players have when facing a determined cheater. In Part II, I will explore some specific actions and plans that players can take to help ameliorate the cheater's negative impact. 1. Make excuses, whine and complain, and give up This is…
Many people view having a purpose as a reason for being. Others see it simply as an intention or objective. But in both cases, it gives a particular direction to life and–when pursued correctly–a tremendous amount of satisfaction. Purpose doesn’t happen by accident Young people often need help finding their purpose. Not because they lack…
The selection of a coach is one of the most important decisions that can be made for a young player. There is no perfect coach or coaching style, as each relationship is unique and must be a strong fit. I have listed 10 categories to consider when evaluating the suitability of a coach, but of…
One of the joys of teaching 10 & Under Tennis is hearing young students shout out, “I made the sound, I made the sound.” They are telling me they are experiencing feedback, one of sport’s most satisfying pleasures. The red and yellow balls designed for use on 36-foot courts were engineered to produce a distinctive…
Tennis fans, I am going to tell you about the biggest secret in professional tennis. Wherever I go in the world, tennis fans talk about their amazing adventures to tournaments like Wimbledon, the French Open, Indian Wells, Miami, the U.S. Open … But I never hear about the warmest tennis hotspot in the world: The…
The following article is a compilation of my favorite quotes taken from conversations with champions at every level, from the juniors to the pros. These conversations have helped shape my own coaching philosophy and I often use these tidbits in my coaching and consulting roles. “Training…