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.

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

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

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

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