#Get a Grip Newsletter, #7
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Happy September, everyone! Where did the summer go?!
We are celebrating the start to the high school and college football season in our house. Two of my boy's football seasons kicked off with wins, their NFL Fantasy League draft was finished just in time, and apparently, they figured out how to order the NFL Sunday Ticket package while I was in NYC for the US Open.
The 2019 US Open was a full schedule for me this year with the Coaches' Symposium, USTA semi-annual meetings, and enjoying the matches as a spectator with friends. I loved watching all the upcoming players break through and pull out some great wins, but I have to say the highlight for me was the Osaka and Gauff post match interview. Nothing compared for me all week. The camaraderie, class, and sportsmanship was incredible. Well done Naomi (and her parents)!
So much of what we do, we take for granted. It has been 22 years since I retired from the tour, and I wanted to thank my parents for all they did in supporting me to follow my dreams. I found the perfect tribute with a paver in the Avenue of Aces at the BJK Tennis Center. I located the paver and loved walking the area leading to the stadium with all the pavers, engraved for some of my idols, my peers, families, and incredible donors who have supported American tennis for generations.
Hope you are all able to take a moment to reflect on all you have accomplished in life and have some "love & gratitude" for those you helped you get there!
Thanks for reading!
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Ok, now that summer is over, we are back to school, and the chaos of our calendars juggling family, work, school, and sports has officially taken over. If you are like me, I always feel like it is the sports component that sets me over the edge. Why is this? Because it is where we are the least organized. We have our work schedule. We have a "back to school night" to get school scheduled. Now, let's create a tennis or sports schedule that is in sync with our family calendar.
Before we get started, let’s revisit the first rule of being a tennis parent-
your child is in fact, “a child”. They aren’t Serena or Roger, so they don’t need to train like a pro until they are a pro. They are kids who need family first, then education, and then the extras.
Here are the steps to make the right schedule for your athlete:
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FROM MY DESK
I Was One Of ‘Those’ Moms You All Hate.
A must read for all sport's parents!
The spotlight on American women at the US Open this year was relentless, shifting from 15-year-old sensation Coco Gauff to 37-year-old Serena Williams to iconoclastic stylist Taylor Townsend, pausing now and then to give us a glimpse of a Madison Keys, Sofia Kenin or Caty McNally. Lurking in the background, out of the light: an embattled generation of American men.
Naomi Osaka Knocks Coco Gauff Out of the U.S. Open
Osaka, the No. 1 seed and reigning champion, advanced to the fourth round by beating the 15-year-old who has captivated the tennis world this summer.
The 10 Life Skills To Teach Your Teens NOW, Before They Leave Home
A Tennis Pro’s Parents Ask, ‘Are You Done Yet?’
At the U.S. Open, Kristie Ahn has reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam event for the first time. Her parents aren’t entirely thrilled.
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Parents, You’re Going to Want to Watch This Video About Vaping Devices
If you’ve heard of vaping but still don’t really know what it is, you’re not alone. Here’s a brief rundown:
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YOU ASKED!
Here is a common question we get when working with younger families just starting to play junior tennis tournaments. It also applies to all ages of competition.
"My child never calls close balls, 'OUT'. So, should I step in and correct their calls, or tell them to call the close ones, 'OUT'?"
The answer is "NO" on both counts. Part of the learning process in playing tennis matches is learning how to call the lines. Knowing your child is going to make mistakes is part of the process.
Condoning or encouraging cheating with line calls is never ok. And yes, even if your child is being cheated. You would much rather have your child known for generous calls than bad calls. Honesty, respect, and sportsmanship are much more important than the outcome of a match, at any age!
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#GET A GRIP BOOKSHELF
“DYNAMIC STRETCHING: THE REVOLUTIONARY NEW WARM-UP METHOD TO IMPROVE POWER, PERFORMANCE, AND RANGE OF MOTION” BY MARK KOVACS
I love this book by Dr. Mark Kovacs. I met Mark when I did the Certified Tennis Performance Specialist Certification with
ITPA (Leader in Tennis Specific Performance and Education).
Mark Kovacs, PhD, FACSM, CTPS, MTPS, CSCS*D, USPTA, PTR
Dr. Mark Kovacs is a performance physiologist, researcher, professor, author, speaker and coach with an extensive background training and researching elite athletes. He was also a collegiate tennis player and NCAA Doubles Champion at Auburn. He currently runs a consulting firm focused on optimizing human performance by the practical application of cutting edge science.
Today’s fitness experts have discovered that both stretching and how you stretch can affect how well you perform on the field, court or track. That is why so many top trainers recommend dynamic stretches.
Dynamic Stretching teaches how to effectively prepare your body for physical activity while simultaneously improving strength, power, speed, agility and endurance. With more than 50 exercises―fully illustrated with step-by-step photos―this book shows how to take your workouts and abilities to the next level:
•Develop full-body range of motion
•Enhance full-body motor control
•Increase flexibility, balance and muscular endurance
•Improve force generation and reaction time
•Correct major and minor muscle imbalance
Has anyone else read this book or have a great book to share? I would love your thoughts and suggestions in our
#Get a Grip Facebook Group. Or you can
EMAIL me here.
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MEANINGFUL MEALS
This issue's
Meaningful Meals
conversation starter:
"What do you think is the hardest part about being kid and about being a parent?"
This issue's
Meaningful Meals
recipe:
One of my favorite treats is the
Crushed Avocado Toast at Flower Child. Somehow when I make avocado toast at home it tastes to me like, you know, avocados on toast, when they make it, it tastes amazing. I am slowly getting better at changing up my avocado toast at home.
Simple Base Ingredients:
- 1 1/2-inch slice seven-grain sandwich bread
- 1/2 a large, ripe avocado
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, or more to taste
- Salt
Options to add:
- Egg (poached or boiled and chopped)
- Cheese (grated gouda or try crumbled cotija, feta, or goat cheese)
- Bacon (only way my boys will eat it)
- Sprouts, arugula or other micro greens
- Black Sesame
- Thyme or other herbs
- Dash of hot sauce or red pepper flakes (don't skimp!)
- Sliced tomato and balsamic drizzle
- Everything Bagel seasoning (careful not to over salt)
Steps
to Making Great Avocado Toast
1) Pick great avocados!
You want ripe but not over-ripe Hass avocados. Look for avocados that yield a bit to a gentle squeeze, but avoid using avocados that are mushy or stringy on the inside. If you run into any bruised or brown bits when you cut them open, scoop those out and discard before mashing the rest.
2) Buy good bread and toast it well
I think sturdy, thick-sliced, whole grain bread make the best avocado toast. Golden, well-toasted bread offers a sturdy base and a crisp, shattering contrast against the creamy avocado.
3) Mash your avocado separately
Mashed avocado is more creamy and luxurious than sliced avocado (think guacamole vs. plain avocado). But don’t mash it on the toast! Mashing a lot of avocados at once? Use a potato masher or pastry cutter instead of a measly little fork.
4) Don’t forget the salt
You’ll want to mix in at least a pinch of salt per avocado halve. Bonus points? Finish your avocado toast with a light sprinkle of flaky sea salt.
Avocado Toast Bonus Tips
Here are a few samples of my favorites!
- Seventh Flag Coffee makes their avocado toast with challah bread from Texas French Bread – crushed avocado, red pepper flakes, lemon, and feta cheese.
- Patika keeps their avocado toast simple with a poached egg, sprouts, and Chile. Pictured below
- The smashed avocado toast at True Food Kitchen comes with an organic sunny side up egg, smoked gouda, black sesame, and thyme.
- Flower Child uses smashed avocado, soft boiled egg chopped, white cheddar cheese and black sesame. Pictured Below
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Flower Child Avocado Toast
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MAKE A DIFFERENCE
This issue I am spotlighting two of the best friends I made through my years on the WTA Tour, Peanut and Tim Harper, and their incredible work through their foundation
"
Harper for Kids".
Peanut Louie Harper, a former WTA Tour top 20 player, and her husband, Tim Harper started "Harper for Kids", a non-profit foundation teaching children about the importance of good character and how it leads to success. The program is based on Peanut's children’s book, co-authored with legendary UCLA Basketball Coach, John Wooden,
"Inch and Miles, the Journey to Success".
Harper for Kids uses Coach Wooden's
"Pyramid for Success" to help students develop a strong foundation of good character and positive behavior and to be respectful, caring and responsible citizens. Success take effort, it’s not about getting an A or winning the game, it's about doing all the things necessary to achieve those goals.
Now in their 12th year,
Harper for Kids work with over 80 schools and reach over 35,000 students on a yearly basis. I have been fortunate enough to help Peanut and Tim host assemblies in Southern California, so I have seen their great work in action! Now, with the aid of Zoom conferencing, they visit schools around the country over the internet, using special guest speakers, like Cici Bellis and Brad Gilbert pictured below, as well as in person through school assemblies.
Click Here
to learn more about having Harper for Kids and the Pyramid for Success work with your school, team, or club.
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I love meeting my readers. Please email me to ask a question and share your thoughts on #Get a Grip.
Do you have ideas for books, recipes, and organizations that we should share in a future newsletter?
If so, click here to email me!
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Click here to get your own!
Know someone who would enjoy it? I appreciate you forwarding it to them!
Thank you for reading!
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