DREAMS!

Today I took four girls I teach to a Westmont College tennis match. These junior high girls and I had a great time. I love getting to spend time with them off the court and learn more about them. But it also made my day that they were excited to go watch tennis. I wanted to show them they can play college tennis - if they want to. So often we are intimidated by the college ranks and rule it out too soon. Westmont is in the N.A.I.A. and plays some great schools. The experience is the same as a NCAA DI, you can receive athletic scholarships, team trips and unity, and the school is incredible. 

What are your goals? Do you want to play college tennis? If so, what would be your dream school? Small school? Big time college tennis? Do you want to be the star of lower ranked team? Or a lower ranked player on a championship team? Close to home? Types of majors? 

Maybe you don't want to play in college - which is fine because learning tennis now will be a skill you will love owning the rest of your life! So you play high school tennis and have fun with your friends and teammates, and focus on school! Where do you see yourself then in those college years? Are you designing clothes in New York? In a sorority? Going abroad and traveling? 

It is never to soon to start thinking about your future! Dream big girls!! My Dad used to tell me that goals are nothing more dreams written down. How true is that? So don't sell yourself short. Write down your dreams so that you never forget them and keep looking at them! Put them somewhere you will see them everyday. They can big and small goals. What are your dreams??

Play time!

I just read this article in the New York Times called, "Taking Play Seriously". It is all about the benefits of play. How children benefit from free play. They gain social skills, motor skills, brain development, creativity - the list goes on. Well I heard about this from a sports newsletter that was encouraging us coaches to put "play into our workouts". A focus on the process and what can be gained through experience of moving and playing, instead of technique and results. 

Well unfortunately us girls are not the best at play. Boys are, though! They are always playing different games - getting hurt, getting dirty, getting into trouble. But in return they are great athletes. They can fool around on a tennis court all day making up games and just hitting around. Think how much better we would get if we "played more". There are tennis specific games that are "play" based - mini me, soft touch games, rolly polly, dinkem, dingles - again the list goes on. But the best type is just to go out and freely hit. Play tennis!!! Not worrying about technique, if you are going to win, what your friend is wearing, homework....just playing! 

To all my girls who read this - GO PLAY!! :-) 

A perfect practice

Pick one aspect and just watch that a minute. It might her footwork. Or the way she breaths through her shots. Or her backhand. Or what she does in between shots. Study that one thing!

How do you practice?? How can you practice better after seeing this clip? How can you copy Henin?

Gratitude in your ATTITUDE!

Just thought I would encourage everyone to stay positive. If you miss an overhead, shake it off and hit another one. The beauty of tennis is that you always get another chance. There is no buzzer, no time limit, no innings or quarters. Its not over till someone wins two out of three sets....it can take any length of time. Enjoy the fact that you are outside healthy enough to be playing tennis. So remember to forget the mistakes and hold on to the shots, the moments, that make you say, "that felt good!" Instead of moping on that missed forehand, ask your coach for another!! That positive attitude and desire to improve will be contagious.  

Today was another beautiful day in Santa Barbara. Mid 80s in the middle of winter...we are incredibly blessed! As I was teaching tennis today I remembered a saying a well known tennis coach told me - There should be GRATITUDE in your ATTITUDE!! So simple and cliche but we should take it with us where ever we go - school, tennis, life. 

YEAH!!

Just had to share - yesterday my husband and I, along with our best friends, bought our tickets to Europe. The highlight of the trip - the FRENCH OPEN!! I am so spoiled and blessed by this life I lead! 

Fed Cup

It is that time of the year again. The start of a new year and the Australian Open behind us. The ladies have to recover from the first grand slam and enter into a clash of countries. I love the team aspect of Fed Cup. It is similar to high school or college tennis, just on a HUGE scale! Some of the highlights of last weekend were - Russia led by Sharapova defeats Isreal and the USA led by the surprise Ashley Harkelroad beat Germany. USA played in San Diego and I would have loved to have been there. I have been to a Davis Cup match before and it is AWESOME. Rules are out the window. Cheering your loudest is required. Noise makers are allowed! These team formats are a great thing for tennis...where usually it is one person for them self. When competitors come together as teammates they only get better. 

You know this just made me think of something. So often as girls playing sports we get cranky, jealous, or care too much what the other girl is thinking. These bad thoughts and attitude can take the fun out of team tennis - junior tennis tennis, high school tennis, college or a USTA team. We should imitate the pros in situations like these. If they make tennis a team sport then we should to! So embrace it. Enjoy everything that goes along with it - uniforms, cheers, coaches, captains, personalities, challenge matches, friendships, team trips and meals. I hope the next time you are on a tennis team you are able to make the best of it! Sharapova, Harkelroad and others "sparkled" while competing for their countries - why don't we "sparkle" for our club, school, or USTA team!! 

If anyone has a chance to watch some matches (Tennis Channel) I would encourage it. We learn so much from following and studying the best in our industry or sport. I got to be patriotic, and say, " GO USA!"