Everyball

Mike James's thoughts on tennis, coaching and personal development

Archive for

September 2011

News from Alex Clark in Missouri

Halton's Everyball player Alex Clark won a scholarship to play College tennis in Missouri. She began late August and is settling in really well.

Here are a few excerpts from recent e-mail to me that with her permission I copy and paste!

tennis is going really well, although i have been cramping a little at then beginning trying to adjust to the climate! its so hot here.. im sweating buckets!

the first impression of the team was TERRIBLE! everyone was trying to impress the new coaches so were hitting big and missing so badly literally every shot! i got so scared on the first day that our team was going to be terrible.. but the 2nd day sasha made us only play directional tennis (only cross court natural body shape) so we didnt go too big and everyone has improved massively and got into a rhythm! our team is actually really good i think i fit right in the middle of the line up quite nicely! we are off to our first individual tournament in minnesota on thursday!

ive been striking the ball really well and the serve is improving, with regards to my terrible ball toss there is a psychologist here called rick mcguire.. he's AMAZING! he told me to think of where i want my take back to be to get into the pre throw position instead of the ball toss so your not thinking about it! it works!!

the fitness isnt too hard though.. either that or dom has done an amazing job of whipping me into shape (apart from the cramping which is technically my fault because im not drinking enough) its just running at 7am 3 times a week then a petty easy strength session tuesday and thursday evenings... like press ups.. squats etc. not too hard at all, i told the coach that i was doing harder stuff hopefully we will continue to progress!

my new doubles partner is called Rachel! shes my height! we are like twin towers on the court its going to be amazing! we are working on volleys and doubles plays a lot so we are going to be absolute machines by the time we are in season!!! :) im sooo pumped!

i went to my first football game last weekend it was sooo good! we had a recruit so we got to walk on the field before the game. i was great! i hope halton is great at home.. i feel like im still part of everything because im reading all the emails i get from you all about the club champs and the next social event! its amazing :) please dont cut me off the mailing list!

send my wishes to the team and the coaches! i miss you all! :) i am not tanning one bit........ stupid hurricane windy state..and no one here knows what banter is?!?! and they drive on the wrong side of the road and my 2 nicknames here are english muffin and hermione granger?!?

Keep up the great work Alex - glad to see you r in top form! Life is good here at the Academy although just a bit quieter with you!

Fed on his loss to Djoko at the weekend....

'He came back, he played I well, I did not play so well at the end. I have only myself to blame.'
Journalist asks Federer, 'Do you find it amazing the Djoko hits two blinding forehands match point down two years in a row?'

Federer answers, 'Well that's why we watch sports, we don't know the outcome, everybody has a chance, till the very end it can still turn; that's what we love about the sport but is tough and cruel sometimes.'
If you want to play, accept all eventualities of that decision to take part - that's the real deal of competitive sport!

Developing youngsters....

I have the dubious honour this year of managing my son's U9 Football team. In a discussion with other managers and coaches last night a very interesting point was made: In many European countries, the Netherlands being one, results are never recorded in youth football, often up to the 14&U age-groups.

Why? Because they don't want youngsters doing the easy thing and hoofing the ball up field to be safe and protect the 'result'. No, they'd like that same youngster, under no pressure, to look up, dribble perhaps, and play the smart pass AT THE COST of losing the ball and conceding a goal. The English FA is over the next couple of years going to adopt this philosophy in an effort to up-skill our youngsters coming through the clubs.

How orientated are we towards the 'result' in tennis? Is it costing our athletes the chance to really develop?