Monday, October 18, 2010

Take The Right Moment To Be Aggressive ... Be Smart And Don't Be Scared



Please watch these two great 'tennis vid tips.' One is on doubles and one on singles strategy. We have our Olympic Conference National Division Singles and Doubles Tournament tomorrow at Seneca HS in Shamong. So we'll leave at 1030 ... Only the varsity 7 ... and you are to leave at 948 after said period and take 15 mins to change and 15mins to eat. We'll be home between 4-430pm.

We will have a full team practice on Wednesday ... from 245-500.




Singles Tactics ... When to Approach Down The Middle



Doubles - Poaching ... please get a visual for this as we've spoke of before

Monday, October 11, 2010

Playoffs Tomorrow @ Holy Spirit High School


Holy Spirit High School
500 S New Rd
Absecon, NJ 08201-2599
(609) 646-7082

See Our NJSIAA Girls Tennis, Non-Public South A Tournament's first round matches and seedings at very bottom.

I am excited for tomorrow, we had a good practice today with those who were able to attend on a fine Columbus Day at PVI. Holy Spirit is a good program with a tradition, but this is a bit of a down year for them. This will be a fun test. I think you will all surprise each other with your play tomorrow. I have a really good feeling. Remember we are leaving at 115 for a 3pm start at Holy Spirit and we should be back to PVI by no latter than 645.

Listen to PA for weather related changes.

Its an hour from PVI to Absecon, NJ. They have 6 courts ... so all who can come bring their racquets as there maybe opportunity to hit and cheer on our fellow tennis eaglets. I understand if JV members can't make it due to school or travel concerns. Any parent who can come, here's the address and it would be great to have your support.

I'd love for all the JV to come as you've earned such a playoff journey with the rest of your tennis travelin sisterhood ya-ya pants. The picture below is a tennis artifact that the ya-yas' once used, probably the 1920's. It was used to clean tennis balls. Tennis balls and the material used to make them used to be VERY expensive and the felt wasn't as tough as what you see and play with now.



Part of our practice routine is a simple lob drill. A lob is another tool in our tool box of tennis skills that we've worked on in practice this year. Today was no exception as we performed our self feed lob drill with the cones as targets on the opposite side of the court.

We'll use all our tennis tools, which we've polished in practices, to play a consistent and thoughtful tennis match tomorrow. We'll get our first serve in and place it where we want to. We'll focus real hard to not make errors on our return of serve. We'll stay out there as long as it takes to win a point and try to win the next one.

Please remember tomorrow to add a dash of discipline with a sprinkle of intentness when we feel were getting frustrated, so our emotions don't lose points. We refocus and try again, to get one more ball back. We'll use that lob tomorrow, maybe a little more than we normally do

The lob is used often in doubles as a change of pace or to force our opponents to adjust their court positions, wherein we make them uncomfortable. We can use it in singles as a change of pace and height our opponent receives. Giving your opponent balls at different heights is an important strategic tactic to use. A lob maybe a defensive shot, to buy time for you to prepare for your opponent's next shot ... AND to catch your breath.

The two pages below(just click on and enlarge them) describe in further detail the idea of the need for a proper follow through and a sense of feel and touch when executing the shot. Remember feel and touch are vital for all your shots. These tips from this great book by Bob Harman(see below) are some of the points I've made to you during our practices.

As with all the instructional points I've made here I used the blog to reinforce the learning and instruction I give you from practice. Upon watching a few of you today during our lobbing drill I saw some follow-thrus' that are good but actually got better when we repeated the 'lob target drill.'

We performed the 'lob drill' while also using 'target drills' to work on our ground strokes ... forehand and backhand sides. We did another target drill with our approach shot, volley and overhead. We worked on our return of serve and we played three games using each of our cross court ground strokes and a net game with approach shots, volleys and overheads. We started today's session, after the flexibility exercises, with a 'target drill' for our serves.

Read this short piece on the lob ... a tool in your tennis tool box. I underlined the necessary information which isn't more than 4 sentences, so read it and remember it when we practice and or play again.





Oct. 12th, 3 p.m. - Red Bank
Preview | Box Score
(8) Msgr. Donovan ---
(1) Red Bank Catholic ---

Oct. 12th, 3 p.m. - Holmdel
Preview | Box Score
(5) Notre Dame ---
(4) St. John Vianney ---
Oct. 12th, 2 p.m. - Pennsauken
Preview | Box Score
(6) Bishop Ahr ---
(3) Bishop Eustace ---

Oct. 12th, 3 p.m. - Absecon
Preview | Box Score
(7) Paul VI ---
(2) Holy Spirit ---

Monday, October 4, 2010

Elvis Has Left The Building ... And On His Way Out He Promised Sun For Tennis



Elvis also said that these are two of coach's best tennis videos and that you all must watch them to insure improvement. Elvis loves my blog and he knows his tennis game has improved because of it. Hopefully Elvis is right and there is no rain tomorrow and we can practice.




Doubles Positioning Video - for everyone - doubles is for everyone ... 3min




Tennis History FYI - Beginnings Of Tennis - 1 min



Elvis 1973 - Hawaii Concerts - Music FYI 1 37 sec

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Good Practice Today ... A Good Test Tomorrow Against Cherry Hill West

We had a good and well needed practice today. I feel good about our readiness for our match tomorrow against Cherry Hill West. I believe tomorrow, that both varsity and junior varsity players will have competitive matches against opponents of similar skill level. I am excited for such an opponent, and the opprotunity to compete and polish your tennis skills during match play. We should be ready to leave at 245 and I expect us to be back no latter than 6:00.

Here is one quick video tip. It is about feel, something we all forget about, so here is a reminder. Remembering 'Feel' may help settle your game down and channel your focus when you need it. I know it can give you more power.



Feel Video Tip

Monday, September 27, 2010

Confidence and Shot Tolerance Vid - THE Rain Is Dampening Our Tennis


Here are two tennis video tips. Each is no more than 1 minute. One is 'singles strategy,' and one is a general tip on confidence. There are good points in each video which we all can benefit from. Do a little each day to improve your tennis game. Thinking about tennis and watching the instructional videos here, is a little something you can do each day to assure improvement. I am sorry that the rain has put a damper on the growth and improvement of our team. We will be back on the court tomorrow, practice will be from 145-415.




Confidence - David Porter


Shot Tolerance - Singles Strategy Vid Tip

The above picture is of Bill Tilden and Suzanne Lenglen, and taken in the 1920's I think. They are two of the all time greats of the sport. Tilden is a UPenn grad and the best American tennis player, of the first half of the 20th century. Lenglen is the greatest French female player of all time.





A Good Ending To Our Week ... With A Win At The Eagles Tennis Nest Against Triton

A beautiful Friday it once was, and the end week win takes the Lady Eagles to 6-4. Our feet survived a tough test Thursday at Wilson, and for that Nicole got a rest on Friday. We had many good moments during the week and they had nothing to do with wins and loses of matches you played in.

I saw a ton of growth and increased confidence during match play. That is the goal of the season. I am thrilled when I see it and I hope you feel great when you see improvement. I saw it with Sam in her focus while attempting her service toss during the Eustace match. I saw it with Kaitlin, as I caught her 3rd match Saturday, at the Camden County tourney. It was a moment where she was a bit frustrated during the match, when in a moment she found her groove on her serve. She found confidence from her serve ... and then in a flash, she found herself right back in the match, winning the 2nd set and taking it to a 3rd.

We'll keep on working on all the little things next week so we can all grab increased confidence when we succeed using these skills on the court. Think our 'Service Toss Activities.' Click on the picture below. Its John Wooden's 'Pyramid of Success.' One of Wooden's ideas is a time honored coach's cliche. 'The little things make the big things happen.' Its a simple idea and one of many I ascribe to, from Wooden's Pyramid Theory. I think his ideas are priceless, for use in team sports and life. I want you all to read it. Here's another post I did in June on Coach Wooden. http://paulvitennis.blogspot.com/2010/06/video-essays-coach-wooden-pyramid-of.html We will talk about the Pyramid in the near future as rain may throw a money in a wrench.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Zen Video Tip, Today's Ice Tea - AND We Have A Home Match vs. Triton Tomorrow Against Triton ...

Tomorrow we will have a home match against Triton HS. They will have enough players for us to field 4 more JV doubles teams. I want everyone to come dressed. We will have a short practice from 240-325, right before the start of the match. JV who won't play can stay and or go at this time. I understand. We should be finished the team match by 530. I was alerted to this match by our AD right before our 5-0 win today at Woodrow Wilson HS... so what to say, we know its not on our schedule.

Triton should have a nice squad with competitive matches at all positions. I see them as maybe a small step down from the competition we got from Timber Creek. I expect the JV competition to be equal, with maybe a slight edge to our Eagles. Please get to the courts asap ... so we can get in our normal pre-match practice routine ... footwork, flexibility and strokes.

The above picture is of the ice tea we've been having thus far ... for those who are interested. Today we had that 'Red Mango Tulsi' blended with a little 'Organic Cranberry Herbal Tea' ... I did a blog post on tea and great places in our area you can get HQ Tea, if you are interested ... tea is perfect! http://paulvitennis.blogspot.com/2010/06/ice-tea-recipe-which-i-brought-to-our.html



Ed Tseng is a respected tennis pro from the Princeton area ... listen to his Zen Tip and don't laugh ... please use his advice to to stay focused during our matches ... and even in preparation for a match ... and to help us deal with the ebb and flow of any match we play in ... During a match many points are played and many won and lost by you and your opponent ...

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Great Match Against Bishop Eustace = Best Learning Experience Thus Far

We played this same darn good Eustace squad just two weeks ago. We were at different points of learning and had less polish to our game then we did today. This was another great experience for all of you. I observed each and everyone of our tennis team members taking full advantage of the opportunity to improve their tennis game...AND we all took on the challenge with GOOD ENERGY.

Great attitude from each and everyone of you. It was another beautiful day and once again thanks to the parents who came out to support the team. Below are 2 short '1 min videos' I want you to watch them, and start to see the mental part of the sport. Tracy Austin, one of the all time greats, speaks in the 2nd video. Tracy is 5'4 and never had any huge wepons, but did have a mental toughness that separated her from all other competitors. Tracy Austin won 2 US Opens and is a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Tracy is a tennis expert and one of the greatest American tennis players of all time.



What are 4 areas of tennis improvement?





Tracy Austin - Mental Toughness ... listen to what she says about keeping the ball deep and footwork

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Great Win Against Winslow Township. And Another Beautiful Day !!!


We stand today 3-3 fresh off a good win against a game squad from Winslow Township. That was a great way to begin the week. Everyone played great and nearly gave up more than 3 games in any set we played. I see much improvement on everyone's service toss and first serve percentage ... with that 'no doubles faults' goal.

I think Bishop Eustace will give all of us a great test today that I am thrilled to accept. Have fun competing today, don't worry about the score but only worry about the point your playing in the game your in. I hope you have a blast. It'll be another beautiful day to play tennis. Thanks to all the parents who came out yesterday to support the team. I'll see you at the courts at 245 where we'll get a quick warmup in. Bishop Eustace will have a full JV squad and we will all play.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Lindenwold Success First In Play Second in Score


It was a stunning Friday afternoon and a great moment to play some tennis and feel success in many ways. Once we walked on the court to play our white horse pike foes we were focused and held it throughout our matches. Everyone got out front early, wherein you all settled in nicely and held that focus. AND Everyone got to play and practice all the little things needed to improve our whole tennis game.

Its good to start a match with a dash of discipline. The first game 'feel out.' You wanna take that beginning to look at a small picture of there strong and weak points...Whose the weaker doubles opponent? Are my opponent(s) fast or slow? Which ground stroke is weaker.

Look for those strengths and weaknesses during your warm-up, but concentrate on grooving your strokes first. Hold on to one or two pieces of information you've observed. That first game is where nerves may show the short comings of your opponent's tennis game ... let them make a mistake or two. There are moments during a match where you may be helping or letting your opponent beat themselves.

Here's a short video on what to do when playing in the wind ... please watch it. This is something we'd communicate with our doubles opponent. Thanks to all the parents who came out to show support.



How To Play In The Wind - 1 min video

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Doubles And Singles Vid Tips - Lindenwold Tomorrow ... Everyone Will Play



We had a rain shortened match today that will be completed when we travel to Seneca and play them this season. My Verizon has been down ... and then on and then quickly disconnected. I have been short on email and blog. So here's four ... 2 for singles and 2 for doubles ... thus get this back on track. Please use the weekend to refer back to the vid tips seen below, and spend a moment each day thinking about your tennis game ... we have a match on monday.

I am sorry for the JV who didn't get ... but got washed out by the rain. You will all play on friday. Be out at the courts as soon as you are dressed and ready so we can get in a condensed practice. I will be at the courts by 240. This 'home pre-match' routine is the way we've been doing it for home matches and we will continue as such ... so no matter what curve ball we are thrown, we have spent part of each day this week improving and practicing our service toss, serve, ground strokes from both sides and volleys too.

We should be complete the full varsity and jv match shortly before 6pm.




Singles Strategy - please see the "21" and "12" patterns




GET VERY LOW, BEND YOUR KNESS - Vid Tip



Volley At Different Heights

Friday, September 3, 2010

New Blog Post for Girls Team - Labor Day '10



This is a a funny ESPN TV commercial with Maria Sharapova. I'll try to have some fun with the blog this season with tennis related stuff. (30 secs video)

Read and watch the short pieces on tennis instruction seen below. These information pieces are always references to things we have gone over at tennis practice or a few points that we will go over in the near future. The learning is important and especially if you are new to the sport. All that is seen her on our blog is meant to be simple to grasp. I believe such visual learning will enhance and quicken you the improvement of your tennis game.

You all had a great first week of practice and I saw much promise and a good degree of effort. I hope you all felt a degree of improvement with the many aspects of sport we worked on together over the last 9 days. I certainly saw some. From our first practice and now with the time we've spend together on the courts. I without a doubt know that each one of you are talented and very capable of success and improvement over the course of the season.

I am excited for the upcoming season's journey. I think we have a very coachable group and I promise to work hard and encourage all of you toward such improvement over the course of the season. I assure you that by season's end you will be thrilled to see how you've improved through the sport of tennis.

I've posted one 2 minute video and three short tips. Watch the first video and think about the fine and gross motor skills you've learned thus far. The gentleman you see in that video is the author of the study '34 Reasons,' that you'll see at the bottom of this introduction piece, just double click on it.


These reasons actually are a simple framework for what we do and talk about everyday in practice. Team members, after they read the '34 reasons' will see the connections, think foot work for one reason/connection. Read the 34 reasons why tennis is a great sport, so to see all that is to gain through this great sport, 'sport for a lifetime.' I think I've said that many times by now.

I posted an easy wrist/hand/forearm exercise here that I'd like you to do, its simple and not strenuous at all. Try one of the three listed, moreover think more stretching work. Strength in these muscles is a good thing for your improving tennis game. Finally see some simple rules of doubles that you should follow.


Hope you and your family are having a happy and relaxing holiday weekend. See you tuesday, 1-3pm.



Fine And Gross Motor Skills








Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Less Running ... Hip Hip Horray ... Volley Vids ... Please Watch



I guess I am getting soft in my old age, as I don't like to sweat as much as I once did. I do a bunch of small and large group tennis instruction for most of the summer. By the end of the summer I've spent a good portion of the previous 2 months, and say 5 hours each day covered in sweat.

So you guys won today as we ran less than we normally do. That said I see the upcoming weather forecast wherein today may have been the last of the really hot days of the year. We'll run again and the temperature will be much lower. I promise to toughen up my new soft self.

Please watch the short vids to give you a different and enhanced visual aspect of the learning we've been doing with the Volley. Please email me your challenge match scores and opponents so I have a record of such.





Volley With Your Feet





Volley with your eyes - See Volley Ready position - your base may not be as big as the instructor in the video

Friday, August 27, 2010

Girls Post # 3 Three Short Tennis Video Tips



See our schedule in the 'Links' section of the blog here. See link below this paragraph too. I'll see all of you at or shortly after 9am on monday for our scrimmage at Haddon Township High School. We should be done shortly after noontime. We'll all return to school where your parents can then pick you up after our individual meetings, no one should be there latter than 130.

www.highschoolsports.net/defaultcal.cfm?ct=s&schoolid=NJ080332150&spt=9&lvl=1&division=2

Paul VI Girls Tennis 2010 Schedule as seen at the website above. It is subject to change due to rain or unforseen conflicts of either school. This may occur once or twice during our season. Please check the blog to see any updates or cancellations, as I will post them here for parents and tennis team members alike. This blog is for both of you.

Monday 8/30 10:00AM @HaddonTownship(scrimmage)
Friday 9/10 3:45PM vs. Woodrow Wilson postponed
Monday 9/13 3:45PM vs. Lenape
Tuesday 9/14 3:45PM vs. Timber Creek
Wednesday 9/15 3:45PM vs. Camden High
Thursday 9/16 3:45PM vs. Seneca
Friday 9/17 3:45PM vs. Lindenwold High School
Monday 9/20 3:45PM vs. Winslow Twp
Tuesday 9/21 3:45PM vs. Bishop Eustace
Thursday 9/23 3:45PM @ Woodrow Wilson
Monday 9/27 3:45PM @ Washington Township
Thursday 9/30 3:45PM vs. Cherry Hill West
Friday 10/1 3:45PM vs. Camden High
Monday 10/4 3:45PM @ Cherokee
Wednesday 10/6 3:45PM @ Seneca
Friday 10/8 3:45PM @ Eastern Regional
Tuesday 10/12 3:45PM @ Cherry Hill East
Wednesday 10/13 3:45PM @ Moorestown Friends
Wednesday 10/20 3:45PM vs. Shawnee High School



Great week ! I hope you all have a safe weekend and do practice your service toss and find a wall or partner to practice your strokes.

Sincerely,
Coach



'Singles Strategy Tips' for our singles players and anyone having to play a challenge match - this is a great general video that those new to tennis can take a few points from that can help them now



Service Toss Tip

This is a blog post I put up here for the boys' team in February. Please watch the video and heed the simple advice. I was thinking about this as I left practice today. Relaxed muscles can help you hit a tennis ball with more power, control and fluidity than tense and constricted muscles that aren't getting air.


Please watch this short clip and listen for the connection between breathing and your muscles when making contact with a tennis ball. This is a fantastic tip. Remember a couple deep breaths though the nose can do wonders for your body, mind and soul. It can help you relax and refocus. Do it as your sitting in a classroom and taking a test. BUT please practice it, even though it may sound goofy, so it starts to become natural when your on the court.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Service Toss Advice and Two Other Short Videos

See the first video below that further explains to us the importance of the Service Toss. You'll see Brad Gilbert, the same gentleman who's in the video describing the 'toss assist.' The last blog post video. You'll also see a short video on the 'Service Grip' we've been working on. This is the same grip we'll use to volley with. We will get further into the scoring and any other necessary questions relating to match protocol tomorrow.





Service Toss Video






Scoring Of A Tennis Game and History FYI





Service Grip Explained


www.highschoolsports.net/defaultcal.cfm?ct=s&schoolid=NJ080332150&spt=9&lvl=1&division=2 - The Link To Our Fall Schedule

Monday, August 23, 2010

Tennis Training Aids By 'Square Hit Tennis'





Hey Paul VI Girls Tennis Team Members ...
This is one of my very first posts of the blog seen here. Its about the service toss. If you were with me today you got to use it and the wrist assist ... go to this link http://www.squarehittennis.com/instructionsTA.html ... if you don't want to read the whole post here. You can click on the left, after you click on the link above, to see to short video pieces about the 'Wrist Assist' and the 'Toss Assist.' I decided to take a Flyer and buy them, and after today's experiment with some of you, I see their usefulness.






Those who were with me thanks for being my test run. Those who hadn't used them yet will use them in the near future. BUT I want all of you to watch the video and learn about what important aspects of your tennis game that these aids can help improve. We will be working on those same aspects of your tennis game in practice each and every day this season. The volley is a stroke that the 'Wrist Assist' is particularly useful for. You'll see it instantly.

Good practice and I saw lots of good stuff. BUT We all can do an 8 min mile. I was reminded today that my old high school coach had us do a 2 mile fitness test, and in no more than 16 mins. Which one of our transfer students had the pleasure of taking with him last year. The two mile road run was a blast, even though I may have tried to hide along that route on occasion, to shave 1/4 mile off at the end.

Hey !!! If anyone wants to try a 2 mile fitness test, we could put it to a team vote.

I will email you all tomorrow, an hour before practices starts, if rain appears to be an issue.

Sincerely,
Coach Bo





REPOST - Paul VI Tennis - Service Toss 'How To' - Feb 2010

What is the most important shot, yet hardest to master in the sport of tennis? The Serve. I want you all to visit this you tube site and watch the video there on the service toss. Listen and pick up some necessary tips to improve your service toss. Note why Brad Gilbert thinks the toss is so important.




Brad Gilbert is one of the best in the tennis coaching business, he resurrected Andre Agassi's career in the late 1990's and spent time after that coaching Andy Roddick and Andy Murray, both in the top 10 now. This simple activity was something we did each and everyday of the first part of practice. Gilbert thought it so important that he and his partner invented a teaching aid for that specific reason. To mold it to you muscle memory in the most effective and efficient way.

The advice he gives about the toss is point for point the same as I gave all tennis team members each and every time we practiced such. Many of you didn't seem to like it. I hope this video sways your opinion now of its importance.

Notice the target dot in the video that he uses to practice the toss. Please hear where Brad recommends to start the toss and where to release the toss. Remember put a very little bit of pressure on the ball with the forefinger and thumb of your toss hand. Notice Brad and Venus above holding their toss arm up after the release of the ball. See his eyes and head still held up after the release of the ball. Notice where he holds the tennis ball in his hand. It was great to find this new training aid product, on brad's "square hit" website.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

1st Girls Season Blog Post - Why We Run Vid Tip, Grip We'll Use For Serve, Volley, Overhead & Vid Tip On Why Proper Footwear Is Important




A good practice today, and I'll see you all Monday from 1-3 for the continuation of tryouts. Here's is a short video bit about the need for proper footwear. The last video tip seen here is on the need for aerobic conditioning for tennis. We must all be able to run an 8 min mile. The grip change is something we'll start work on Monday with, so such is a heads up. PLEASE check out the blog and have your parents check it out too as all the information seen on it we'll cover during the course of the season.

Continental Grip ... Bevel 1 ... Eastern Grip Bevel - Right Side ... We are using that same Eastern forehand grip for our backhand also ... we're only using 2 different grips, so to simplify ... notice the circled area on the hand print ... its just a quick shift up or down from that circled point on your hand.











Here are two videos, one on the proper grip for the volley, which is the same grip for the serve and overhead. This was the very first thing I tried to implement in our daily practice routine last season, through our extended practice of the serve.


Notice in the volley video about the contact point and keeping the ball in front of you while still improving your technique. This is something I've always stress when were drilling you on the volley. The second clip is a video is about the need for proper equipment to avoid injury.

Grips and shoes are discussed. Tennis specific shoes have extra side support, that cross trainers and running shoes don't. We have never had an injury, which is a fact that I'm very proud of. KNOCK ON WOOD RIGHT NOW PLEASE!!! That is the central reason I've been tough on your need for the right footwear. Injures to the feet, leg, knee and ankles' are all to common to tennis.

Tennis requires much running with frequent starting and stopping. You do all of this on essentially asphalt, which isn't that soft. Playing tennis for 2+ hours a day without said shoes would put you at an unnecessary risk. I don't want you to get injured !!! How much would and MRI cost due to a tennis injury, then compare that to the cost of a pair of tennis specific shoes? $50-$60 compared to maybe $1000 for the MRI on your ankle to check for ligament damage. Whatever you'd pay I don't know. Safety 1st, 2nd and 3rd !!! I think I remember a teacher once saying that phrase???









Monday, June 7, 2010

'String Theory in Paris' - New York Times Article Reprint



This new string by Babolat is quite fascinating and now I'm excited to try it out. The article below further explains what all the buzz was about with this new string. Some of you may have heard the announcers reference this new string during the French Open TV coverage. Sam Stosur, this year's French finalist, as seen above, using Babolat new 'RPM Blast' tennis strings. She beat Serena Williams and Justine Henin in succession, that was a first in a major, before losing in the French Finals to Francesca Schiavone, who used the same strings.

I'm not much into strings even though I just started using a popular polyester blend, which had been hyped the past couple years. A 16 gauge synthetic gut has usually been fine with me and my racquet. But upon seeing Robin Solderling, confidently smacking second serves in the 135mph range, in the fifth set of his semi final match in Paris. I thought there could be something to this hype of the increased feel, spin and control that the unique shaped strings offered.

Maybe these new strings helped Robin beat Roger in the quarter-final round. He was 0-12 before that match against him. Roger, Serena and Justine all use Wilson strings and racquets. Technology's affect on tennis is fascinating, as I wonder how Wilson will respond now. I put a short Babolat promo video, at the bottom of this post, with Roddick, Nadal and other pros describing the benefits of the new 'RPM Blast' tennis string.



Francesca Schiavone, kissing the clay after her French Open Final victory, the first time an Italian women has won one of the 4 Grand Slams.


June 3, 2010,
By THOMAS LIN, New York Times

The two long shots Samantha Stosur and Francesca Schiavone stormed to their first Grand Slam singles final on a wave of confidence and underdog grit. But they have something else in common. They both use Babolat’s black, apparently well-named RPM Blast strings, made popular this year by the men’s semifinalist Rafael Nadal.

Babolat’s Web site describes the strings, announced in February, as maximizing spin and feel because of “cross-linked silicone” and “high density co-polyester.” Its octagonal shape may also have something to do with its perceived ability to generate extra spin (RPM = revolutions per minute) and improve control. Nadal, Andy Roddick and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, sponsored by Babolat, all wield this string.


The Sports Illustrated writer S.L. Price described Stosur’s switch to Nadal’s black synthetic string:

With all that, at Roland Garros Stosur also had an edge that is, the last few days, all the talk among equipment geeks. Just after losing to Williams at the 2010 Australian Open, Stosur swapped out her longtime blend of gut and Luxilon — the synthetic string that, for the last few years, enabled pros to hit harder, with more control and spin, than ever before — and replaced it with a new black synthetic from Babolat. That the new string is also used by a revitalized Rafael Nadal, not to mention Francesca Schiavone, the Italian who upended No. 3 Caroline Wozniacki to set up one semifinal against Elena Dementieva, is lost on no one.


One of Wozniaki’s advisers, Sven Groeneveld, sat behind the court for that quarterfinal match Tuesday, watching the straight-hitting Wozniaki get constantly yo-yo’d into the doubles alley by Schiavone’s hyper-rotating shots. By Wednesday morning he had tested the new Babolat strings himself, becoming convinced that the new strings allow for a larger sweet-spot, an even broader grip on the ball — or as Nadal put it, “the ball stays more time on the racket, so is easier to have the control”. Then Groeneveld all but declared them a new state of the art.

Before we start assigning too much credit to a piece of equipment, it’s worth remembering that Roddick, seeded sixth, lost in the third round. Tsonga, seeded eighth, retired in his fourth round match because of injury.




Babolot Promo Video - RPM Blast Tennis String

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Video Essays - Coach Wooden, Pyramid Of Success Author, Dies At 99



An Athletic Director explained to me once that the sports field was the biggest classroom in the school. Please look at the picture below for a second, the pyramid, which you've heard me profess it's virtues many times by now, in practice and here on the blog, over how ever many seasons. This has been my guide, as not only a teacher here, on the tennis court, but really a map which I hope you can draw guidance from, and see it's human values as a simple connection to both life and sport and inspire you to strive for success in both.

One quote, that you'll see in the pyramid below, which I particularly love, "The little things, make the big things happen," was one I often referenced, during our tennis season(s). Now think about our service toss practice, and how many times we practiced it, as one example. His two convergent theories, 'The Pyramid of Success,' and 'Twelve Lessons In Leadership,' intertwine life and sport. The 12 points are noted below in the pyramid in the picture. Maybe watch the first video than come back and read my piece here.

Sadly, Coach Wooden died last night at age 99. An amazing life span lived by an amazing person. The two short videos below are now being shown over and over again on ESPN in light of his death. Your sure to hear about his passing on the TV this weekend. Enjoy the videos and see why he was so special and you'll gain a further understanding of the substance and importance of Coach Wooden.

Coach Wooden and his famous pyramid were simple truths which he idealized to encourage life successes and growth with team sport as metaphor. He took 14 years to ferment and distill his ideas, wherein he carefully arranged and coordinated his best ones to act as support blocks within the shape of a pyramid, which symbolically pointed to success for the individual and team.

Coach Wooden hoped all his pupils accepted and try to embody the virtues contained in the pyramid. His team speeches would often start with one word from the pyramid. It now seems the staying power and strength of those speeches is attributed to the simplicity of those words which you see in, and outside of the pyramid. Coach Wooden used these same words as individual building blocks for whatever the subject of that particular speech might have been about on. Think a coach giving a pep talk at halftime, where Coach would use one of said words and talk about its meaning, characteristics and maybe give real life examples of such.

He hoped that his players would carry these same virtues off the basketball court and into their lives. The video essays by his former pupils will support this statement. The teachings of the pyramid did stay with them and continued to strengthen their moral fiber as they journeyed into adulthood. The pyramid continues to influence and shape their lives, and even their families lives to this day. The pyramid is dynamic and the more I look at it, and read it, the more fascinating and thought provoking it becomes. Its' complexities and possible adaptations appear to be many. You could use to achieve success in the business world for sure.

For example look at the pyramid from a slightly different perspective. You then identify an individual with a block. Wherein each pyramid block needs the other for support, as each teammate needs each other for the team to thrive. Wrapped within this is the individual always striving to improve and reach the top and the betterment of himself and the team.

If this support and competition naturally exist within a team, then the team can do nothing but succeed. The team's success, often tied to wins, but mostly the team member's growth and improvement occurs organically, if they use the pyramid as a guide for improvement on the tennis court or in the classroom. Winning has always taken a back seat in Wooden's theories, wherein the strive to win really is the never ending journey towards improvement. That we all should appreciate those moments of improvement within the journey. "Success is the piece of mind in knowing that you made the effort to be the best that you are capable of being." (Wooden quote)


In his pyramid winning is secondary to preparation, wherein preparation points to winning. The top of the pyramid. This is why I feel strongly about practice and the time we spend preparing in various ways. One of Coach Wooden's sayings is, "failing to prepare is preparing to fail." If I as your coach and you as the athlete are always striving to learn more and better prepare our athletic craft in partnership, then winning to some degree will happen. We will all improve, and it can never and should never be wholly defined by wins and loses.

If you look at the middle block of the pyramid you'll see it contains the word, "Skill." Under "Skill," it states, "what a leader learns after he's learned it all is what matter most. I see this to define the role of the coach. That no matter how much knowledge I have as teacher of whatever it is that I am called to teach, moreover I must continue to challenge myself to learn more and improve my ability to teach all.

Coach Wooden really had been working on his theories, and their arrangement, since childhood, inspired by the teachings of his father, a struggling farmer from rural Indiana. He wanted to take his father's faith, influence and ideas and adapt them in his own way, to assist his adolescent desire to find success on the basketball court. Basketball is now and was then king in Indiana, where Coach Wooden grew up during the depression. The pyramid was the formula he eventually came up with many years latter, as he transitioned from player to coach.

Though he has passed, his pyramid will live on through the Paul VI tennis teams and countless other athletic teams at various levels, but really anyone striving to be a better person, who may or may not play a sport. I am forever grateful that I learned of him and his wisdom so many years ago. Back then, when I was a junior in high school, I was only an athlete with no inkling I'd ever be a coach. I just knew of his UCLA teams, and their record 10 NCAA national championships, by watching ESPN specials. However his pyramid, when it was first described there, seemed like such a logical connection between sport and life. I had heard other youth coaches make the parallel between life and sport often, so now I was quite intrigued in my newly discovered 'sports theory.'

There were a few ideas within the pyramid that I already knew of and believed to be true, but how the connections were made and shaped in a singular working theory fascinated me. I went to the library to read further, as I always loved books on any and every sport. I took away a few points from this reading that have stuck with me ever since.

That the experience of athletic practice and competition, contained so many possibilities for individual and team growth, beyond winning or losing. When you can teach yourself to give up both you gain a feeling and freedom that is priceless. That a new path is possible and there is no end to it, and fear(losing) has been removed as a road block in your journey to a more dynamic self.  I now, many years latter, meet this challenge anew as coach. It is crazy where life can lead you, without you even knowing it at the time, as all of this is just an extension of my childhood love of anything sports related. I still have it and now I can put it to use here, as your tennis coach.

Thankfully I will have his pyramid to continue to help guide my improvement as a teacher, coach and person, each and everyday. I also hope I can continue to grow by using his inspiration in order to have a positive effect on anyone I come in contact with through tennis.





Wooden Video Obituary - You can't miss the pyramids, as images shown in the backround, as persons are interviewed about Coach Wooden.



William Nack - Senior Writer Sports Illustrated -
Video Essay on Coach Wooden



A Cool Gatorade Commercial - directed by Spike Lee - a poem read by John Wooden with Michael Jordon and other college basketball images

Friday, June 4, 2010

2010 Olympic Conference National Division Tee Shirts, Hoodies and Jackets Are Available For Purchase



Hey all you Olympic Conference Tennis Champions, parents and team members. These are the images from the jacket and tee shirt. The Tee Shirt(PVI logo pic) will note, "2010 Olympic Conference National Division Champions," On it. Mr Burns has been quite kind to take the time and locate a athletic apparel company in Sewell, NJ who can produce such Tee Shirts, Hoodies and Jackets for anyone who wants to purchase and have as a great memento. We've earned this honor, to wear such posh apparel by the great season and 5-1 record we had in the National Division.

Its kind of cool to think that we are in the same company as Cherry Hill East(American Division) and Shawnee(Patriot Division) as 2010 Boys Tennis Conference Champions. Remember that this is the first time in 15 years that a boys tennis team could call them selves 'Champions.'

I think you would all look quite cool sporting such threads around PVI, and your athletic and academic peers will know that you were a member of a select few that walk your PVI halls this year. Everyone who buys such will look quite hip.

Mr Burns and I talked and we both agreed that we hope and want our tennis team parents, and even your grandmother in Florida, to buy any piece of apparel too. I really hope our team parents will make a purchase. All the parents who supported the team this year were a necessary part of our success equation, thus you all deserve and would look great in something that said 'Champions.'

Here's the letter that Mr Burns wrote to me as I know he sent you all an email too.
The price list he gave me is below. I hope to see you all at the June 9th spring sports banquet.

I think you'll all be happy to hear that I specifically requested all the tennis tables get fresh Maine lobsters and specially aged Porterhouse steaks for dinner. Mr Burns agreed that this was a great idea and a deserved treat for winning the conference. It appears he loves a good surf and turf as much as I do, and now we'll all get that same pleasure at the banquet. I want to thank Mr Mitchell who has assured me that our request will be obliged, and only because it took 15 years for another number to be place on our banner in the gym. The others PVI parents and athletes who are being served chicken may not like us, but I won't mind if you don't. My mouth is watering already, mmmm!!!


To All,

I case you didn't have a chance to check out Coach's blog recently, I stopped by MBM Sports and got a quote for the Tee-shirts, hooded sweatshirts and jackets.

The tee-shirt is gray with a PVI logo on the left front and on the back center "2010 Olympic Conference National Division Champions"

The hooded sweatshirt is navy with a PVI logo on the left front and on the back center "2010 Olympic Conference National Division Champions"

The jacket is made by Holloway and is a warm-up jacket embroidered with PVI Tennis on the front and "2010 Olympic Conference National Division Champions" on the back.

If we order 20 to 24 of the tee-shirts/sweatshirts, the tee-shirt will cost $12.25 a piece and the hooded sweatshirt will cost $24.50. The cost goes down the more we order. The Holloway turbo jacket cost is $54.50 (if we order 6 or more).

If you order all three, the total cost would be approximately $91.25.

MBM Sports will accept any form of payment (including checks). Parents can make the checks out to MBM Sports. They said it will take 10-14 days from the time of order to the time they are done.

Please email me what you want to order as soon as possible. You can give your order/check to me on Wednesday at the Sport's Banquet or mail it to me at 34 Daytona Ave, Sewell, NJ 08080.

If you have any question please email me at - jimburns@att.blackberry.net

Thanks,
Jim Burns

Thursday, June 3, 2010

French Open FYI - The Red Clay Is A Needed Disguise


Here's a great article from the NY Times that I cut and pasted here because I love the French Open and the red clay they play on. There's an art form to keeping clay courts at its best for tennis play, as you'll read and see here. Do watch the French Open Finals, women's - Saturday at 9am on NBC 10, and men's - Sunday 9am on NBC 10. Its great tennis, enjoy!!!

New York Times Article - May 31, 2010 - John Branch

PARIS — It really is not red clay. The famous courts of the French Open are white limestone, frosted with a few millimeters of powdered red brick dust. This was evident as Bruno Slastan, second in command of court maintenance at Roland Garros, scraped the surface of Court Suzanne Lenglen with his shoe. With a few swipes, the reddish powder gave way and revealed a firm white base below. (See the profile of what makes up this red clay surface in the picture to the right)

The “brick broken,” as Slastan, a Frenchman, gamely explained in English, is a cover-up, applied for three reasons. It keeps the otherwise white courts from blinding players and fans. It allows the players to move and slide. And it looks cool. In other words, the beauty of the Roland Garros courts is only skin deep.

It is created by a powder with the look and feel of ground cinnamon. For 20 euros (about $24) at the souvenir stands, fans can buy a flacon de terre battue — a glass, bell-shaped flask filled with a few ounces of pulverized brick from a factory about 60 miles north of Paris.

Roland Garros estimates that it uses 99,000 pounds of the crushed brick each year on the courts. All those tons are spread to about the depth of a tenth of an inch across 20 courts. Each of the courts, including the surface surrounding them, measures nearly 10,000 square feet.

Every morning during the tournament, the courts are dusted again, ever so lightly. Much of it ends up in that night’s laundry, especially on the players’ socks. But the crushed brick is just deep enough to allow footprints and, quite helpfully, ball marks. It is shallow enough not to make the court too spongy or slippery, or to allow all of the powder to accumulate into tiny piles that could affect the way the ball bounces.

“With one millimeter, if you slide, you see the white limestone,” Slastan said. “But with a few millimeters, you don’t see the white limestone on the television.”

Before matches and between sets, a couple of workers smooth the red surface by dragging rectangular swatches of chain-link across the surface, a quick fix commonly used on baseball infields. Other workers hurriedly sweep the dust from the white lines. The result is a satisfying dress-up, like a just-vacuumed carpet.

By the end of a set, the baseline areas are trampled from the foot traffic. There is a worn line on either side of the net where the ball boys and girls zipped back and forth. The space between the net and the baseline is a Pollock rendering of the recent action.

Tennis began as a lawn game in England. But in warmer, drier climates, grass courts are not practical. “It’s too hot,” Slastan said. “In England, it is raining very long.”

Most courts at Roland Garros are constructed of several layers of materials, about three feet deep. Most of that is filled with small stones topped with smaller gravel. (The two main show courts and three other courts are built on slabs of concrete, topped with a thick layer of sand.) The base is topped with a six-inch layer of volcanic rock and three inches of porous limestone.

Drainage is the reason play after a rain delay can begin just minutes after the tarps are pulled. “All clay courts are different,” Venus Williams said. “None play the same. This one plays the best.”

Each April, a tractor churns the limestone, like plowing a field. The limestone on Court 11 has been there 20 years, Slastan said, but the other courts received fresh limestone about 12 years ago. Over time, it takes on a pink hue as it mixes with what is left of the previous year’s crushed brick. The courts are pressed back into shape with rollers and exacting planes. For a day, they are white.

But about a ton of the crushed brick is pressed onto the surface of each court with rollers, then drenched in water. The process is repeated several times until a thin, compact layer of red frosting tops each court.

Lines are measured and scraped out of the red surface, down to the limestone, and then painted white with the same type of thick paint used on roads. Getting all the courts ready takes about a month. When the French Open begins, four workers (six on the show courts) are assigned to the care of each court.


At the end of each day’s play, the courts are doused in water, then covered for the night. The limestone can dry and crack if allowed to simply bake day after day, Slastan said. During the first few days of this year’s French Open, the courts were dry and played fast, but rain and cooler weather slowed the action.


Early each morning, long before the crowds arrive, 55 pounds of crushed brick, packaged in a plastic bag like topsoil, is spread evenly around the court. The courts were pristine and ready on a recent morning.

A couple of players and coaches came to practice at Lenglen Court. Slastan spotted an enemy of his handiwork a specific style of shoe that, he said, scrapes the court’s surface more than others. He watched with a bit of resignation as the players dug up his handwork.
“They attack,” he said.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Ice Tea FYI And Recipe Which I Made For Our Matches

I am certain you are all missing your fix of White-Pomegranate Ice Tea. Tea of any type, be it Oolong, Rooibos, Green, White and Black has a ton of great health benefits and some scientific evidence now points to cancer prevention.

Tea has long been know for being high in antioxidants that can strengthen your immune system and fight off any number of infections. You'll even read, if you double click the article/picture to the left, that tea can lower your cholesterol. Combine that with the simple experience of a flavorful cup of any variety you desire, its easy to see that tea is an amazing beverage.

I see regular tea consumption as a form of preventive health maintenance, but if your under the weather drink much green tea and water. The enclosed article will give you some more information to that point. Most teas have some caffine, with White and Rooibos having none, but such is far less than coffee and most sodas have. I love Ice Tea and especially as it gets hot out.

Wegman's Market has a excellent tea section, which is the largest in our area. I am a big fan of Wegman's whole leaf teas, many of them are organic, which you'll see in large metal tins there. These whole leaf teas are even cheaper than their other packaged teas. I listed some places below where you can get whole leaf tea and other necessities for brewing.


Whole leaf tea is better and more beneficial than bag tea, and their is scientific research to this point. I use a mesh strainer to help make the tea and remove the leaves. Wegman's has disposable tea bags in their teas section, right below the metal tins containing the loose tea. These bags make is easier to brew a bigger batch for ice tea, and simplifies the clean-up. I wrote a couple of emails to their corporate HQ's in Rochester, NY requesting these disposable tea bags. You can also get these same bags at Target for cheaper.

There are tea making instructions on the bags you use to purchase their whole leaf teas. Please remember to always follow the instructions about temperature, steep time and amount of tea leaves used per 8 ounces of water. These specifics are important to making the tea taste right, and not overdone,bitter or burnt. Tea bags usually have a teaspoon of chopped or broken tea leaves in them. But all tea is good, and surely better than a Mountain Dew or even a Red Bull.

I always used organic unprocessed sugar to sweeten our ice tea. I feel strongly that organic sugar is far better for you than regular processed sugar. Processed sugar is in almost everything we eat. I also think that we and maybe you have far too much bad sugar, which is in much of the foods we eat but mainly the garbage sodas that I am even guilty of on occasion.

My ice tea not only had all the great benefits that tea offers you, but Pomegranate(fruit) is a 'Super Food' and does wonders for you to. I hope you enjoyed the ice tea these past two seasons, and it made you think of a simple way to kind of eat healthier. I'll make some different teas' next year, more whole leaf oolong and green tea.

Think about eating good sugars more which come in the form of blueberries, apples and oranges. Eat more WHOLE FRUITS. There is sugar in these fruits and they TASTE SWEET. Please remind yourself of that fact once in a while. I'd recommend to spend some time in the summer learning how to cook, as this will give you a whole new perspective and appreciation for food and what you put into your body. Remember no good tennis player could fuel their body with soda and chips and expect it to do anything but harm there physical and mental performance during practice or competition.

Eating healthier is not just a fad, its something your parents do and something you'll all do more of the older you get, if you don't already. There is more information available to us about the ingredients in our foods. I think it helps all of us, including athletes live healthier and more productive lives, as it gets harder to ignore how many health issues can occur through food and diet.

As you get older and more thoughtful about your diet, do think and understand more about how much bad stuff you may put in your body on a daily basis. I'd say to you to please think of more ways that you can make or find something that may be tasty and or sweet, but not have say high fructose corn syrup in it. Get into good dietary habits now by being a little more thoughtful each and everyday about the accumulation of things you put in your body on a daily basis.

High Fuctose Corn Syrup is a very, very, very bad ingredient that is in way to many things we eat and drink, and it is the main ingredient in all sodas. It's even found to a lesser extent in some bread and many other foods we eat. Remember these sodas we drink (coke,pepsi)could be used as a paint stripper, now imagine what it does to your stomach. Try pouring it on an old piece of painted wood and lay it in the sun for a couple hours and see what happens. Maybe even try to clean that soda stain off with some soap and water and see how hard that is. Its and eye opening experience for sure.



I love this cold brewing method you see to the left.









Other places in our area that have good tea sections are:
Asian Food Market
100 Barclay Walk
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034-2108
(856) 857-1388

Han-Ah-Reum Asian Market - in Danzizen & Quigley's shopping center
1720 Marlton Pike E
Cherry Hill, NJ 08003-2301
(856) 751-6659

Teavana‎ - Cherry Hill Mall, go through Nordstrom's into the mall, a bit to the left
2000 Route 38
Cherry Hill, NJ‎
(856) 663-3380‎
www.teavana.com
this is a great specialty tea store that sells much loose tea and brewing supplies

Mulberry Tea House‎ - An authentic English tea room experience
60 South Main Street
Medford, NJ‎
(609) 714-0640‎
www.themulberryteahouse.com

TBar - and if your in Philly, this and the one below are excellent tea bars
117 South 12th Street
Philadelphia, PA‎
(215) 625-3936‎
www.tbarteas.com

Premium Steep
111 South 18th Street
Philadelphia, PA‎
(215) 568-2920‎
www.premiumsteap.com
'Holy Detox' one of their signature herbal teas, with Tulsi (holy basil). This chai style blend is awesome as it seems to simply attack any sickness or cold i've had. I swear by it and its their best selling tea for this reason as others concur. It's perfect for ice tea to, with lemon myrtle, rose hips and spearmint. Click here to learn more about Tulsi, its a facinating herbal remedy.

www.hinduism.about.com/od/ayurveda/a/tulsibenefits.htm