#Get a Grip Newsletter, #6
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Happy 2019 U.S. Open everyone!
This year I have a bit of a crazy U.S. Open. I was in N.Y. last week for the 5th annual USTA High-Performance Coaches Symposium during the Qualifying week. It is always an honor learning and sharing with some of the best coaches from around the country. USTA Player Development and Coaching Education staff does a fantastic job putting the curriculum together. I love the combination of the continued education and watching the up and coming players working their way on to the big stage.
Out on the grounds, we snuck some time to watch our compadre, Ann Grossman Wunderlich, coaching Francesca DeLorenzo during practice with Sloane Stephens. Attempting to avoid the heat, we found ourselves in the right place at the right time! Caught a glimpse of the Althea Gibson statue a few days early, when the cover wasn't quite cooperating. It reminded me of when I met the great Althea when I was ten years old.
After the symposium, I had a brief trip home to get back to parenting duties, with my youngest son's opening football game and the beloved SAT the following morning at 8 am. Now I am heading back to New York to enjoy Labor Day Weekend matches and the USTA semi-annual meetings.
Enjoy the U.S. Open!
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Last week, I attended the USTA High Performance Coaching Symposium during the Qualifying week at the US Open. There was an abundance of information to digest, with technology, biomechanics, and performance teams, but it was Jose Higueras who was able to bring it all together and make it relevant to what we do on the court every day as coaches.
Jose Higueras is now known as one of the greatest coaching minds of all time. In his playing career, Jose won 16 ATP singles titles and was ranked as high as No. 6 in the world. Following his retirement, he made the transition from professional player to professional coach and began to pass on his knowledge and his passion for the game.
Jose has coached the likes of Michael Chang, Jim Courier, Mary Joe Fernandez, Pete Sampras, Carlos Moya, Todd Martin, Jennifer Capriati, Robby Ginepri, and Roger Federer…to name a few. Jose now spends much of his time, sharing his coaching knowledge with other coaches.
Here is how Jose Higueras keeps coaching “SIMPLE”.
"Coaching is about how we take the information, how we apply the information. And then, how we implement it with the kids."
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FROM MY DESK
Are you ready for the US Open? Live updates from the NY Times
Althea Gibson, Tennis Star Ahead of Her Time, Gets Her Due at Last
On Monday, the U.S. Open will unveil a new statue of Gibson, who achieved many firsts for African-Americans in tennis.
ATP Have Some Fun With Another Round of Cards Against Humanity
This time, some more younger players joined in, with Stefanos Tsitsipas playing judge to Frances Tiafoe, Dominic Thiem and Daniil Medvedev.
Youth Sports Have Gotten Too Crazy. They Should Relax.
Kids are walking away from the action early—the solution may be turning down the volume.
Gisele Had to Help Tom Brady Accept That Their Son Doesn't Like Sports: "It Was Hard For Me".
Did Venus Williams Ever Get Her Due?
How the first Williams sister changed the course of women’s tennis.
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YOU ASKED!
On site at the Open, I caught up with Kathy Rinaldi, former top 10 player, the current USTA Director of Women's Tennis and Federation Cup coach, and also a parent of an elite level athlete.
What is one piece of advice you would give parents of junior tennis players and other youth sports?
Focus on
YOUR path and do what is best for you. Don’t focus on someone else’s path and worry about what they are doing. Get to know
YOURSELF and know what is best for
YOU. Everyone has a different path.
Focus on finding yours!
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#GET A GRIP BOOKSHELF
Dr. Chu has consulted with elite athletes at every level on the development of training and conditioning programs. I was fortunate enough to have
Dr. Don Chu as my trainer for the last 8 years of my career. Click on the link above for Don's bio. He has authored several chapters in books on Sports Medicine, particularly in both the area of rehabilitation and performance enhancement.
As an athlete, I had a good base in endurance from my cross country running days, but speed, and specifically my first step, were always a weak point for me. Plyometrics helped me develop an explosive first step.
Elite players, coaches, and trainers rely on plyometrics to improve quickness, speed, jumping ability, footwork, body control, balance, and overall performance. Strength and power—which provide the ability to move quickly with great force—are absolute necessities for today’s athletes.
For the younger athletes, jump roping is the perfect entrance into plyometrics. Please see a licensed personal trainer, who specializes in youth sports, before you begin using these tools. It is easy to get injured with explosive jumps before and during the growth years.
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MEANINGFUL MEALS
This issue's
Meaningful Meals
conversation starter:
"Why do you think people do or say mean things to each other?"
This issue's
Meaningful Meals
recipe:
The Jr. League of Pasadena cookbook, "California Sizzles" is one of my all-time favorite cookbooks. This pasta recipe has been one of our family staples for over 20 years. I have used it as a vegetarian main course, a side to grilled meat, and left overs make a perfect lunch salad.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ripe plum tomatoes (or vine ripened tomatoes)
- 8 ounces Mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup fresh sliced basil (don't skimp or use dried!)
- 6 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 3 large garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Pepper to taste
- 12 ounces fusilli pasta, cooked to directions
- 1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted (Trader Joe's sells them already toasted)
- Fresh basil leaves for garish
Directions:
- Cut tomatoes and cheese into 1/2 inch pieces and place in a bowl or zip lock. Mix in basil, olive oil, vinegar, garlic and red pepper flakes. Season with pepper. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. You can do this part in advance, just bring to room temperature before mixing with pasta.
- Place drained pasta in a pot and add tomato mixture. Toss over low heat until cheese begins to melt. Note: Some people like it best tossed in a bowl so the cheese does not begin to melt.
- Transfer pasta to a platter or plates; sprinkle with toasted pine nuts and garnish with basil leaves
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MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Since we are enjoying the US Open this week, I thought I would spotlight the USTA Foundation and all the great work they do with the NJTL program.
The USTA Foundation mission is to bring tennis and education together to change lives. They support the network of programs of National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) that reaches approximately 180,000 under-resourced youth throughout the U.S.
NJTL network pledges to help children develop skills both on the court and in the classroom, providing scholarship and grant opportunities along the way.
More than 10,000 kids have participated in the Academic Creative Engagement (A.C.E.) and its STEM (Science, Technology Engineering and Math) component is an out-of-school academic curriculum connected to 21st Century Skills, Common Core State and National Standards and the sport of tennis. It is a proven strategy for improving kids’ attitudes and behaviors toward learning geometry and literacy.
The curriculum was created by the NJTL of Trenton and supports academic achievement, health/wellness and social/emotional skills by guiding children through educational processes that include decision-making, problem solving and working together toward common goals.
They teach NJTL youth critical skills, values, and experiences they need to become responsible and successful citizens and that will empower youth and let them soar into the future.
Read more about the USTA Foundation here and ways you can support the next 50 years of
NJTL.
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Thank you for reading!
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