We are 2-0 And Away We Go, For The First Poem ... A Volley Tip & Poaching Tip

We are 2-0, to Camden we did go
be grateful that is so
for you must know
that this is not the endpoint
Its the beginning of our road

To travel in our yellow school bus
More Indian schools to go
One down but 3 pow - wows where we'll show
Our team of Eagles fly strong

Then we swoop down low
When we see a team in silver and black
With all their families giving back
The Eagle can now sense the large helping

Of Crusader stew that we'll all enjoy
Where points, sets and matches won
Will make for a savory mix
JV is essential to marry the recipe's ingredients

Parents come help us enjoy the feast
and not waste any of
The Bishop Eustace Stew
That you'll all get a chance to season to taste

Parents!! Please come monday as Bishop Eustace travels with a big group of tennis moms, dads, sisters and 6th cousins to all their matches. I mean HUGE, as I've seen them bring a big spread of finger foods to feed their herd. They take over space. I imagine Bishop Eustace parents are like this for all their kids sporting events. Its a little, well you know. I like rivalries, and I sense since Camden Catholic doesn't play tennis, that BE is that rival.

We had some great support out at Seneca, where I was thrilled to see the Villari's, Mrs Long, Mrs. Fuscerello and Mrs Laige. That was a long trip and it was great to see you all their to share in our big road win. Thanks a ton !!

1st video - doubles poaching zone 2nd video - volley tip, use your feet

Very Proud Of All Of You, EVERYONE Contributed

That was a great 3-2 win over the 11th ranked team in South Jersey (Courier Post, click this address and then Boys's Tennis for rankings) http://www.courierpostonline.com/section/varsity
or here in the future ... as ocassionally both pages are down
http://highschoolsports.nj.com/boystennis/ for scores and boys high school tennis information


That was a great way to start the season, as I know you all have some pep in your step and want to continue to strive to be better. I know you can and I'll continue to encourage you to be better and do more than you think your capable of.

That win is representative of all the little things you do in practice. They all add up, and equal a win. "The little things make the big things happen." Its one part the running that you love, you get confidence from the increased dopamine production, i.e the runners' high.

Remember I stated this in one of my first blog posts that I hear some don't read. That aerobic foundation that was also talked about in the previous post video tip, is part and parcel to this same idea of confidence. Don't forget how your breathing functions when you get nervous.

Confidence is so important. We can hit many a fast serve or great backhand during practice without pressure, but to then feel the pressure of a match situation maybe we don't always hit so free and easy. Our muscles tighten up as we restrict our breathing. Everyone gets nervous, its natural, but we practiced all the little things in hopes that you all can push through that wall when you come to it at a crucial point in your match.

Chuck Noll, the coach of the 5 time Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers, once said, "Pressure is not knowing what the hill you are doing." I'm 100% confident that all of you know what your are doing during match play. We practiced all these little things in the same routine each day. Your muscle memory knew what to do. What's that Nike motto, "Just Do It." Well you all just did it.

I feel that short warm-up you did today, serve toss, return of serve, short court volleys and ground-strokes and full court cross-court forehands and backhands was part of your success today. That was something we surely wouldn't have had as much time for if we had school. So next time when they come to our place in a few weeks we'll have that luxury of a similar warm-up, while they'll be on the bus.

See you all tomorrow @230 for another short practice. Enjoy your well earned feeling of success, as I hope it made you hungry for more. Our goal of putting 2010 on your tennis banner and winning a round in the playoffs is well in sight, and I'll help you keep it there. Believe and visualize that all the good that happened today, with straight set wins at three spots, will happen again and again. We are a team, and you were all rock stars today !!!


Here is a short video clip on concentration by noted sports psychologist Jim Loehr. Tennis is such a great mental challenge, and concentration is at the center of such. It is important to be relaxed while striving for this higher level of focus in your tennis game.








I kept on thinking of this famous line from the great old school TV show, "Gomer Pyle," ... the whole bus ride home. Paul VI tennis will be doing a lot of this to their opponents this season ... watch this and then mimic it back to your parents and friends.

Doubles and Singles Strategy

We had a great practice today on a beautiful day in our PVI neighborhood. The weather was spectacular, however I see the report for heat tomorrow. I will have the water jug filled for our match against Seneca, but per the recommendation of PVI's nurse and athletic trainer I won't bring the plastic water bottles you use to have. At a meeting in the beginning of the year with all the coaches and our AD's this was recommended so to avoid the H1N1 flu strain. So its for your safety.

The two short video tips below are related to doubles and singles stradegy. I am excited to get our season started, and I know you are too. The singles tip is about three common patterns, which I know our singles players would want to use. The doubles tip is about what your responsibility is when your partner is receiving serve.

See you all tomorrow at 2pm at the courts where we'll have a short warm-up of serves, serve returns, groundstrokes and volleys. I'd also recommend bringing an a few extra pairs of socks.

The picture above is of the Newport Casino, aka The International Tennis Hall Of Fame in beautiful Newport, Rhode Island, coach spent the summer of 1994 interning t for the induction ceremonies of Bud Collins, Donald Dell and Hana Mandlíková. A truly great experience.

Its a summer spot you all should visit. Do the mansion tour via the cliff walk, see the Breakers. Check out Little Compton State Park and spend you beach time there. Then shower up and hit Christopher's on Newport's main drag for a lobster dinner with the family. Boston and Providence are an hour and a little more away.



1st video clip - singles tip 2nd - doubles tip

Video Tips - Doubles Principles & Singles Strategy

A good practice on a beautiful sunny day at Paul VI. I hope you all are getting outside and being active. Here are two short video clips on "Doubles Principles."
And one other video on singles strategy. The singles strategy talks about shot tolerance. We all need to THINK when were out on the court competing. We have a doubles and a singles challenge match tomorrow, and we'll run practice from 11-1. I love this weather and hope it never ends.














1st video - doubles principles part II -- 2nd - doubles principles I -- 3rd - singles strategy

Our Aerobic Workout For Tennis - Clearly Reasoned By Dr Jack Gropell

The two one minute videos below are great explanations by a Doctor, of why we do our short mile run in the preseason. The run that many of you don't like and frequently walk 1/2 of. Wherein we have to wait for you to run an xtra lap if you went over your 10 minute time limit.

As with all my blog posts, I give you information so you have a better understanding of why we do what we do at practice each day. I hope this information engages you in the process to a greater degree, with each post and everyday at practice, wherein you continue to grow in our sport. That you'll eventually take full ownership in your tennis game over time. Your sport for a lifetime.

This old post card above is a picture of the very same grounds where I instructed, managed and played tennis at for 6 years. The tennis center is on the North Side of Chicago, in Lincoln Park, right up against the shores of Lake Michigan. A truly beautiful location, as the majority of the park system runs for miles along said lake. My old club, the Lincoln Park Tennis Association and Diversey Public Tennis Center has been at the same location for over 100 years, and is an important part of tennis in Chicago. Its part private and part public.

If your ever in Chiacgo, please give me a little advanced notice, and I will secure some court time, at a friendly rate. Reservations for the 4 public hard-tru courts can be tough when it gets nice. You can play an hour of tennis, and then walk 7 blocks from the courts, mostly in Lincoln Park, to Wrigley Field to catch the Chicago Cubs.

The Cubs tickets are on you, and Wrigley Field is a PRICELESS experience any sports fan should do once in their life. Find out when the Phils are in town. I'd go to Murphy's Bleachers first for some frivolity and burgers, before you go into the game. The first time that you walk in off the lower concourse, and see the field spread out before your eyes, as you get to the top of the steps. It will give you goosebumps.

There is truly nothing like a beautiful day in the city of 'broad shoulders,' and a ball game at Wrigley Field. Don't forget a night cap, say some jazz at the Green Mill or blues at Buddy Guy's. Now you know what Coach did for much of his time there.

Happy Easter,
Coach Bozarth

Practice Schedule 4/5/10 - 4/10/10

Next week's practice schedule will go like this.

Monday - 1130-130

Tuesday - 1100-1

Wedensday - Match @ Seneca 4pm be at school @ 2 for a short warm-up before we get on the bus and head to Seneca for a 4pm match

Thursday - Match @ Camden be at school @ 230 for a short warm-up before we make the short trip

Friday - 1100-1

A Great Return of Serve Tip & No Practice Saturday

As I left practice yesterday I sensed that many of you had other obligations due to the Easter holidays. Thus you won't be able to attend the practice that I wanted to have on Saturday @3pm. We still have challenge matches, moreover practice, which the recent rain has hampered greatly.








We haven't gotten into any rhythm on such a necessary practice routine. This is very important to improve at our sport and why I love the team concept here, wherein we practice on consecutive days. I feel this is vital for all members on our team, new and old. You can see your improvement speed up with such a routine. Think of a musical instrument and the need to practice everyday to improve, and how rusty you are when you don't practice it for a couple days.

The tennis racquet has strings much like a musical instrument some of you may play. It makes music when you hit the ball in the center of its strings. The (WHAT) spot??? Listening is a sense and one that you use to play tennis. Listen to the ball when you hit it and listen again when your opponent hits it, this can aid in concentration and focus during a point.

When you hit the tennis ball on said sweet spot you can actually feel a solid thud go up into your forearm, much like a baseball bat and a golf club? They both have sweet spots without strings. The feeling and sound of solid contact to any of said balls is a beautiful thing and the simple essence of these sports. A golf lover must know this feeling. Remember the sound of a Ryan Howard home run? We've heard it, as it makes us feel great too. Wherein tennis we want to attempt to repeat this action with our body and racquet positioned correctly as many times as needed during a point.

Enjoy this tip as it has good information on how to position yourself for the 2nd serve, and serve return positioning in general. Please give Easter blessings to your family, and save an Easter egg for me. I love using all those easter eggs to make my famous egg salad sandwich, and so they don't go to waste.

Sincerely,
Coach

PS - We will have practice in the morning on mon, tue and fri ... we have a match on wed and thurs which you need to be at school by 230 for, which will most likely end at 6pm ... the late morning practice time I'll get back to you here tomorrow.