Episodes

Nov 25

Welcome to the final episode of Season 14 of the ParentingAces Podcast! We close the season with a thought-provoking discussion with coach Duey Evans centered around the secrets to better coaching. As in the majority of our conversations here, this one once again turns to the importance of communication. In Duey's more than 3 decades of tennis coaching, he has given much thought to how our sport can do better on the part of coaches and players, and as a direct adjunct, parents. Duey has spent the last several months writing thought pieces for his The Performance Architect website, many of which we have reprinted on ParentingAces.com . The impetus behind these writings is to figure out what goes into quality coaching and how better - and more thoughtful - communication can improve the coaching experience for all parties. In this episode, Duey and Lisa dig into the various ways we communicate, why and how certain limiting habits get ingrained into our personal style of communication, and how we can move into more effective individualized communication to have more positive experiences on and off the tennis court. Our hope is that this final episode of the season will give you some things to think about and maybe work on as we all move into 2026. To get in touch with Duey, you can reach out via his website at https://www.theperformancearchitect.com/contact . You can also find him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/duey.evans . We will be back in January with Season 15! In the meantime, please enjoy the holiday season with your loved ones, however you choose to celebrate it! Thank you for supporting ParentingAces and your child(ren)'s Tennis Journey. Wishing you all the best as 2025 comes to an end and we prepare to start fresh in the New Year! As always, I am available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Nov 19

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 44 of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week, sports psychologist and former top junior and pro player, Jeff Greenwald, joins Lisa to discuss the importance of mental training FOR TENNIS PARENTS! On this podcast, we've covered mental training for junior players many, many times. This episode is the first to address mental training for parents, digging into the why and how of it with someone who has plenty of experience as both player and parent. Jeff Greenwald, M.F.T., is an internationally recognized sports psychology consultant/elite mental coach and licensed therapist. Frustrated with his performance as a modestly ranked professional tennis player in his twenties, Jeff went on to earn Master’s Degrees in clinical and sports psychology. During this process, he discovered the fundamental principles of athletic performance that propelled him from a moderately successful tennis player to No. 1 in the world in his age group and two ITF world titles. Jeff has written a new book, THE MENTAL EDGE FOR YOUNG ATHLETES: A WORLD CHAMPION'S MENTAL TOUGHNESS GUIDE FOR ATHLETES, PARENTS, & COACHES IN THE DIGITAL AGE (visit https://amzn.to/4pexg5D to order your copy). In it, he devotes the final section to Tennis Parents, giving us actionable tools to do a better job with our own thoughts, words, and actions as we go through this journey with our child(ren). If you are interested in reaching out to Jeff, you can visit his website at https://mentaledgeforsports.com/ . Be sure to sign up for his email newsletter list while you're there! You can also follow him on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jeff_greenwald/ or reach out directly at jeff@mentaledge.net . As always, I am available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Nov 12

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 43 of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week, Ben Shapiro of Atlas Tennis is back to talk about the phenomenal trips they took in Summer 2025 and what's on deck for Spring Break and Summer 2026. Tennis, travel, and human connection—these are the foundation of Atlas Tennis. Well before they started Atlas, the founders knew there was so much potential in bringing these things together, and that belief is what drives Atlas to create one-of-a-kind tennis camps and experiences. They take small groups (10-15 teens plus 2-3 well-vetted coaches per group) of junior tennis players ages 13-18 to the UK and Europe to experience their sport in a whole new way. For 2026, Atlas is offering their summer experiences but also adding in Spring Break trips for high school teams and individual players who are looking for a different type of training environment for 4-5 days. In order to get more information on these offerings, go to the Atlas Tennis website at https://atlas.tennis/learn-more/ . You can also reach out to Ben directly at ben@atlas.tennis or message him through the Atlas Tennis Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/atlastennis/ . As always, I am available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Nov 5

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 42 of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week, we're doing things a little differently - we asked you what you want to know about player health and injury prevention from the Director of the Emory Tennis Medicine Program, Dr. Neeru Jayanthi, then gave him the opportunity to answer your questions. Dr. Jayanthi is also the co-director of the Emory Youth Sports Medicine Program and has 25 years of experience caring for athletes at all levels: youth, collegiate, and professional. He sits on the USTA Sports Science Committee and writes articles for USTA's Serving Success website which provides information to parents, players, and coaches. Dr. J combines research and education to provide the best care in sports medicine. Our previous podcasts with Neeru: https://youtu.be/K5isy7cJXHw https://youtu.be/2HklV3jW4TY https://youtu.be/y6X8nAvj24g Neeru mentions our recent podcast with Mark Kovacs. You can find that at https://parentingaces.com/podcasts/keeping-our-jr-players-fit-injury-free-ft-dr-mark-kovacs/ . To request an appointment with Dr. J, call 404-778-3350 or visit ⁠emoryhealthcare.org/njayanthi . He is available for virtual consults as well as in-person assessments and treatment. You can also find him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/neeru.jayanthi .As always, I am available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Oct 29

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 41 of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week, Lisa is joined by former top Ukranian junior, NCAA All-American, and current WTA professional and coach, Veronika Miroshnichenko. At the age of 14, Veronika and her developmental coach made the tough decision for her to move to the US to increase the level of her training. She left her parents and younger sister and made a commitment to be the best tennis player she could be. Her journey led her to US College Tennis at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles where she had a stellar career, playing professional tournaments along the way. During that time, Veronika found that she also had a passion for coaching, especially younger players, and found her way to her current coaching mentor, Susan Nardi . In this episode, Veronika talks about her coaching philosophy, what she has learned through her own journey that helps her be an effective coach, and how her experience is helping her parents do a better job with her younger sister's tennis journey. Veronika is active on social media - you can find her on Instagram and Facebook and message her on either platform. You can also email her at veronica.mirosha@icloud.com . As always, I am available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Oct 22

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 40 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's episode, former top junior and pro players, Sky Kim, shares his journey through injury and recovery which led him to coaching and entrepreneurship through his company, Road to Pro . As a child, Sky moved with his father from South Korea to South Florida to train at IMG with Nick Bollettieri. He was training alongside Maria Sharapova, Tommy Haas, and Venus and Serena Williams, among others. After going through two knee surgeries and multiple shoulder injuries, Sky decided to retire from a professional playing career to move into tennis coaching. Once realizing that not only did he need to preserve his own body if he wanted longevity in his coaching career but also other players and coaches were suffering with the same injuries he had endured. Sky put his love of engineering to use by developing unique vibration dampeners, insoles, and performance socks to reduce the wear and tear of tennis on the body. HIs products are now available on his website, RTPtennis.com . Sky has graciously set up a discount for the ParentingAces Community - ParentingAces20 for 20% off your order! Sky has also worked very hard to overcome his introvert personality by creating an online coaching platform on YouTube where he has over 100,000 subscribers. You can follow his channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7Lsu90hbliCn9_Vkp7WtLw/featured . As if that weren't enough, Sky has written the book, ART OF WAR: ART OF TENNIS which you can purchase online at https://rtptennis.com/products/art-of-war-art-of-tennis-by-sky-kim-1 . The book bridges the ancient wisdom of Sun Tzu with the modern battles of competitive tennis. By drawing striking parallels between warfare and the tennis court, this book unveils the hidden roles of the player, coach, and parent—mirroring the general, the strategist, and the king in a campaign for excellence. Through real experiences of top juniors and pro players, it answers the toughest, most often ignored questions that arise on the journey to world-class performance. Currently, Sky is coaching in the LA area as well as continuing to provide virtual coaching via YouTube. You can follow him on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/rtptennis/ or reach out to him via email at sky@rtptennis.com . As always, I am available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Oct 15

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 39 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's episode, Lisa chats with former top junior and long-time coach and coach-educator, Kyle LaCroix. We've kind of followed a theme in our most recent episodes, one in which we've examined the state of junior tennis coaching and how to make it a better experience for the coaches, players, and parents. The hope is that, through these conversations, we can get the ball rolling to improve coach education, parent education, and the overall experience of families and professionals involved in our sport. Here's a little bit more about Kyle and why he's a great guest to tackle this subject: Kyle LaCroix has a proven track record of service and success in the racquet sports industry. A RSPA (Racquet Sports Professionals Association , Formerly USPTA) Master Professional, and a decorated industry veteran that is also certified by RSPA Padel, Professional Tennis Registry (PTR), Registro Profesional de Tenis (RPT), Global Professional Tennis Coaches Association (GPTCA) and the United States Center For Coaching Excellence (USCCE). Kyle has spent the past 25+ years as one of the foremost experts and leaders in coach development. Having worked with players of all levels, across numerous racquet sports as well as coaches, Kylebrings with him a wealth of knowledge through work at clubs and academies. Kyle has served the racquet sportsindustry in a multitude of capacities including being a RSPA Florida Division Tester/Coach Developer for 17 years and a member of the RSPA National College Curriculum Committee, The RSPA National Membership Committee, The RSPA Strategic Planning Committee as well as other board appointments. Kyle has tested, certified and mentored over 1700 individual tennis coaches from around the world. In 2014, Kyle became the youngest recipient of the RSPA National Tester/Coach Developer of The Year Award. Kyle is The Chief Education Officer of SETS. He holds a B.S. Degree from Ferris State University in Professional Tennis Management. A B.S. Degree in Marketing as well as an MBA from The University of Michigan. He also has an M.Ed. from Stanford University. To get in touch with Kyle, you can email him at kyle.lacroix@setsconsulting.org . You can also follow him on Twitter @SETS_Consulting and Instagram @sets_consulting. For our podcast with Kyle's wife, Lisa, go to https://parentingaces.com/podcasts/love-serving-autism-ft-lisa-pugliese-lacroix/ . As always, I am available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Oct 8

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 38 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's episode, Lisa is joined by Sam Parfitt, former top junior and collegiate player and the founder/CEO of The True Athlete Project (TAP) . TAP has pioneered a holistic mindfulness-based approach that unleashes sport's potential to change lives across diverse contexts. They believe sport can play a powerful role in building a happier, healthier, more compassionate world. But too often, sport fails to live up to its potential, driven by a win-at-all-costs culture that dehumanizes people and leads to dropout, burnout, bullying, and disastrous mental health outcomes. TAP wants sport to be joyful and freeing, and to bring people together. They have become leaders in how to change the culture of sport, working with national and international governing bodies, community sports centers, schools, colleges, coaches, athletes, referees, and parents. Sam Parfitt holds an MSc in Sport Policy, Management and International Development from the University of Edinburgh, where he then became an associate tutor. His dissertation focused on the role of sport coaches as social change-makers. He is a certified mindfulness teacher and a USPTA professional tennis coach with experience coaching all ages and standards - from total beginners to internationally-ranked juniors. ​While Sam suffered with poor health during his time in the US, Sam endeavored to use his experiences in sport - both positive and negative - to help others. His academic work centered around sport and identity, and he became intimately involved in establishing projects which used sport as an agent for social change. He worked extensively within the context of sport for at-risk Hispanic youths and won multiple awards for his efforts, including the 2012 UTC and City of Chattanooga public service award and the Coleman Lew & Associates Leadership Award. After working within an NCAA Division I athletics department, he was appointed director of athletics at Saint Peter's School - an independent K through 5th school in Chattanooga, Tennessee. There, he had the chance to create his own athletics program around a set of ideals that would help the children enjoy a positive start to their sporting careers. The program included a novel parkour program, sports poetry, mindfulness, and brought the school into the news for his inclusive and innovative approach to the holistic training of young athletes. During his time at St.Peter's School, Sam was also an NCAA Division I women's tennis coach, helping to take the Mocs to their best record for over twenty years. Sam has also worked with the Mastercard Scholars Foundation and advises several NGOs. He has delivered mindfulness to Olympians and Paralympians across over thirty sports. If you're interested in learning more about The True Athlete Project, visit their website at https://www.thetrueathleteproject.org . You can reach Sam directly via email at sam@thetrueathleteproject.org . As always, I am available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Oct 1

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 37 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's episode, we hear from Quinn Borchard, a former top junior, college, and professional player who is now coaching his own two sons through the juniors. Parenting a child who aspires to be the best at their pursuit - whether that's in academics, the arts, or in sports - is challenging, to say the least. Parenting that child while also acting as his primary coach adds a whole new level of challenge! Quinn Borchard has taken on the challenge with both of his young sons and is doing so very successfully. In this podcast, Quinn goes into detail about his approach to both parenting and coaching his children and shares their weekly schedule and how he and his wife work together to ensure family harmony. Quinn is happy to chat with anyone looking for guidance on their own child's tennis journey. You can reach out to him through the ParentingAces Facebook Group or via email at quinnborchard@gmail.com . As always, I am available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Sep 24

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 36 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's episode, Lisa chats with WTA tour coach and former USTA National Coach, Michael Joyce, and high-performance junior coach, Todd Widom about what true high-performance coaching looks like and what it takes to make it to the top levels of our sport. Michael was a top junior player, winning Kalamazoo in the Boys 18s, who went on to a successful professional tennis career before turning his sites to coaching. Since entering the coaching arena at age 22, he has worked with Maria Sharapova, Jessica Pegula, and Ashlyn Krueger, among others. He has also worked with numerous junior players who had their sites on becoming pro players. Todd Widom runs a successful tennis program in Florida with a focus on preparing his players for college tennis and beyond. Todd also had an amazing junior and college tennis career before embarking on the pro tour. He brings those experiences to his work as a coach today. Both of these men grew up with strict junior coaches - Robert Lansdorp and Pierre Arnold - who taught them the value of hard work, commitment, and patience. Tennis development is a long process where the focus needs to be on growth over results and rankings. To contact Michael, you can email him at Michaeltjoyce73@gmail.com or call/text him at 407-421-4341. To contact Todd, you can email him at todd@twtennis.com . You can also follow him on Instagram at https://instagram.com/toddwidom_tennis . As always, I am available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Sep 17

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 35 of the ParentingAces Podcast! This is the final in our 3-part series of interviews recorded at the 2025 US Open Junior Championships, and it’s another long one, this time featuring the Tennis Parents! Lisa chats with the parents of Wimbledon Junior Boys Singles Finalist Ronit Karki, Kanchan Joshi; US Open Junior Boys Singles Quarterfinalist Andy Johnson, Cindy Johnson; US Open Junior Boys Doubles Champion Keaton Hance, Courtney Hance; and US Open Junior Boys Doubles Champion Jack Kennedy, Bryan Kennedy. Please keep in mind these juniors are playing at the highest level of our sport, and their journey may look very different from the one your family is on. That said, all four parents offer some great nuggets of wisdom and advice! For the draws of each US Open Junior event: Girls Singles: ⁠⁠https://www.usopen.org/en_US/draws/junior-girls-singles.html⁠⁠ Girls Doubles: ⁠⁠https://www.usopen.org/en_US/draws/junior-girls-doubles.html⁠⁠ Boys Singles: ⁠⁠https://www.usopen.org/en_US/draws/junior-boys-singles.html⁠⁠ Boys Doubles: ⁠⁠https://www.usopen.org/en_US/draws/junior-boys-doubles.html⁠ As always, I am available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Sep 11

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 34 of the ParentingAces Podcast! This is the second in a 3-part series of interviews recorded at the 2025 US Open Junior Championships, and it's a long one! In this installment, Lisa talks with the Boys and Girls Finalists and Champions in both singles and doubles. You will hear from Boys Doubles Finalists, Ben Willwerth and Noah Johnston of the US; Boys Singles Finalist Alexander Vasilev of Bulgaria; Girls Singles Finalist Lea Nilsson of Sweden; Boys Doubles Champions Keaton Hance and Jack Kennedy of the US; Boys Singles Champion Ivan Ivanov of Bulgaria; and Girls Singles Champion and Girls Doubles Finalists Jelene Vandromme of Belgium. The interviews were conducted in the Media Garden outside the US Open Media Center. Lisa was joined by Colette Lewis of ZooTennis.com and Michael Lewis, who both cover junior tennis worldwide. After the singles finals were played, the Boys and Girls champions were both invited into Room 1 inside the Media Center for their interviews. You can find that footage, courtesy of the US Open, here and here . For the draws of each US Open Junior event: Girls Singles: ⁠https://www.usopen.org/en_US/draws/junior-girls-singles.html⁠ Girls Doubles: ⁠https://www.usopen.org/en_US/draws/junior-girls-doubles.html⁠ Boys Singles: ⁠https://www.usopen.org/en_US/draws/junior-boys-singles.html⁠ Boys Doubles: ⁠https://www.usopen.org/en_US/draws/junior-boys-doubles.html In the next installment, you’ll hear from some of the parents about their journeys alongside their talented children. As always, I am available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠online shop⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Sep 9

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 33 of the ParentingAces Podcast! This is the first in a 3-part series of interviews recorded at the 2025 US Open Junior Championships. In this installment, Lisa talks with American junior players Ronit Karki from New Jersey, Thea Frodin from Southern California, Andrew Johnson from Southern California, and Kristina Penickova from Northern California. The audio-only (per my media credential rules) interviews were conducted in the Media Garden at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, so please pardon the ambient sounds you may hear in the background! These juniors all competed in both the singles and doubles events in New York alongside the pros. They each took a different path to this tournament which should offer some insights into how a junior player can go from playing their local events to playing on the biggest stages around the world. For the draws of each US Open Junior event: Girls Singles: https://www.usopen.org/en_US/draws/junior-girls-singles.html Girls Doubles: https://www.usopen.org/en_US/draws/junior-girls-doubles.html Boys Singles: https://www.usopen.org/en_US/draws/junior-boys-singles.html Boys Doubles: https://www.usopen.org/en_US/draws/junior-boys-doubles.html In the next installment, you'll hear from additional junior players who all reached the Finals in their respective events. After that, you'll hear from some of the parents about their journeys alongside their talented children. As always, I am available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠online shop⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Aug 27

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 32 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week’s episode, Coach Jack Newman of the Austin Tennis Academy is back to dig deeper into his recent article ( click here to read) on taking one of his alternate-listed junior players to this year's Level 1 in Kalamazoo. Duey Evans shared Jack's article in our Facebook Group and I was very interested to read all the comments. They definitely covered a wide range of opinions, so I wanted to give Jack a platform to talk about the WHY behind his actions. My hope is that this episode will open the minds of coaches, players, and parents to alternative ways of developing players to their full potential. As we all know, there are so many paths through Junior Tennis, and I believe it's helpful to know your options! Jack and I also chat about the upcoming Little Mo Nationals which will once again be hosted by Austin Tennis Academy. To learn more about one of my favorite junior tournament series, visit the Little Mo website at https://mcbtennis.org/ . For those interested in contacting Jack and/or Austin Tennis Academy, visit their website at https://austintennisacademy.com/ . You can reach Jack via email at Jack.Newman@austintennisacademy.com . As always, I am available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠online shop⁠⁠ ⁠⁠. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Aug 20

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 31 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week’s episode, Dr. Mark Kovacs is back to dive deeper into a recent social media post about the decreased fitness levels he's seeing in junior tennis players and what we can do to help our players get fit and stay injury-free. In case you're unsure as to why you should pay attention to what Mark has to say, he is a renowned performance physiologist, researcher, university professor, author, speaker and coach with an extensive background training and researching athletes at all levels. He serves the iTPA membership as its Executive Director. He formally directed the Sport Science, Strength & Conditioning and Coaching Education departments for USTA. He is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and the ITPA. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed scientific articles and abstracts in top journals including the British Journal of Sports Medicine, Sports Medicine, Sports Health, International Journal of Sport Physiology and Performance, Strength & Conditioning Journal, Journal of Sports Science and Medicine among many others. He has presented workshops and keynote addresses on four continents and well over 100 presentations. Along with his academic and scientific background Dr. Kovacs is also a coach and former professional athlete. He was an All-American and NCAA doubles champion in tennis at Auburn University. After playing professionally, he completed his graduate work at Auburn University and earned his Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology from The University of Alabama. Dr. Kovacs is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, a certified Health/Fitness Specialist through the American College of Sports Medicine, a United States Track and Field Level II Sprints Coach and Certified Tennis Coach. This man has the bona fides! You'll hear Mark discuss the Gatorade Sweat Patch as an easy tool to measure sweat level. You can get more information and order them through the Gatorade website at https://www.gatorade.com/equipment/gx-sweat-patch/gx-sweat-patch-00052000048520 . Mark and I also discuss his recent article on combating jet lag which you can find here: Click Here To reach out to Mark directly, email him at mark@kovacsinstitute.com . You can also follow him on Instagram at https://instagram.com/drmarkkovacs . To find our podcast on periodization, go to https://parentingaces.com/podcasts/what-is-periodization-how-do-we-use-it-with-dr-mark-kovacs/ . As always, I am available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our ⁠⁠ ⁠online shop⁠ ⁠⁠. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Aug 13

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 30 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's episode, Coach Hannah Keeling of Georgia Gwinnett College - the winningest college tennis program in the NAIA - joins us to discuss why junior players and their families should take a closer look at this division. Coach Keeling is a former NCAA Division II top-20 singles tennis player and earned four first-team all-conference honors in singles and doubles at Clayton State University in Morrow, Georgia from 2012-15. She helped the team reach a No. 4 national ranking during the 2012-13 season. Hannah earned a bachelor’s degree in health and fitness management from Clayton State in 2015. Hannah has been director of the Stars of the Future program at Ginepri Performance Tennis located at Olde Towne Athletic Club in Marietta, Georgia, where she worked with homeschool and high-performance youth players to develop them for playing at the collegiate and professional levels. In this role, Keeling worked alongside Robbie Ginepri, a former No. 15 ranked player among the ATP Tour, and Jason Parker, a WTA/ATP coach. As a player, Keeling was the top-ranked national junior tennis player in the United Kingdom while playing for Hampshire, England. She supplemented her American collegiate career by spending several years playing in the women’s French national circuit. Hannah shares with us what she looks for in recruits and what she hopes prospective student athletes will ask her during their recruiting process. She also shares her experience coaching the Intennse League over the summer and what she is bringing back to her team from that experience. For more information on Georgia Gwinnett College or NAIA college tennis in general, feel free to reach out to Hannah directly at hkeeling@ggc.edu . She has a wealth of information and experience to share with families considering the NAIA route. You can also follow her on Instagram at fitcourtlife . As always, I am available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our ⁠⁠ online shop ⁠⁠. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Aug 6

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 29 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's episode, we hear from 16-year-old Sadira Ouyang and her parents, Erica and JS, about Sadira's incredible progress over the past year and their thoughts on what has led her to her first seeding at a USTA Level 1 tournament. Sadira loves tennis. Actually, Sadira LOVES tennis! Coming from a family with pretty much no tennis knowledge, she and her parents have had to figure out this junior tennis thing from scratch. Relying on other tennis parents and coaches has helped, but both Erica and JS have definitely put great effort into learning the best way to guide Sadira - and her younger brother - through youth sports. From my perspective, they are doing an incredible job so far, and the fact that ParentingAces has played a role in their journey makes me very proud. You'll hear Sadira talk about her experience playing in the Intennse League this summer, her backdraw experience at the National Clay Courts last month, and her expectations at this event. You'll also hear her parents' thoughts on their role and how they work with her coaches to help Sadira have the most positive experience possible on the court while balancing her life off the court. For more information on Intennse, visit the website at https://www.intennse.com/home . To follow the draws in the various age groups and locations for National Hardcourts, here are the links: Girls 12s ⁠ Girls 14s Boys 12s/14s Girls !6s/18s Boys 16s/18s As always, I am available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our ⁠online shop⁠ . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Jul 30

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 28 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's episode, father-son duo, Ethan and Eyal Yurconi, share their journey through junior tennis. Being the Coach-Parent of a young player is definitely a challenge, but Eyal and Ethan seem to have found a great balance that works for their family. Being a former top junior and college player himself, Eyal had the lived tennis experience but lacked the coaching knowledge to help his son develop. He educated himself, earned coaching certifications, and continues to learn through platforms such as ours. Ethan, at age 12, wants to pursue tennis at the highest levels. He also has interests off the court and continually seeks ways to schedule time for all aspects of his life, including academics. To that end, the family decided to look into alternatives to their neighborhood brick-and-mortar school. Eyal did his research and found Sora Schools . Sora's mission is to deliver a transformative learning experience that empowers middle and high school students to thrive in the modern world. By blending live, interactive classes with independent, flexible focus time, Sora creates a unique environment where students can engage deeply with their learning, pursue their passions, and grow alongside like-minded peers. Their approach prioritizes academic excellence, social development, and real-world preparation, fostering a dynamic and inclusive community where every student is inspired to achieve their unique goals. Eyal and Ethan share more about their family's experience with Sora as well as their tennis journey to date. Eyal has graciously offered to answer any of your questions, so please feel free to reach out to him at eyalyurconi@gmail.com . As always, I am available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our ⁠online shop⁠ . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Jul 23

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 27 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's episode, coaches Pierre Arnold and Todd Widom are back for some real talk around what it takes for junior tennis players - and their families - to develop to their full potential. Long-time listeners of this pod are all too familiar with Todd Widom and his approach to developing and training players. Todd's developmental coach was Argentinian Pierre Arnold who instilled in Todd and all his players a strong work ethic and commitment to excellence. Pierre is an integral part of Todd's coaching system and recently spent 6 months as the Volunteer Assistant Coach of the Brown University Men's Tennis Team. Both coaches share what they've learned from Pierre's college coaching experience and how they're integrating those lessons into their work with junior players. To contact Todd or to get information on his training, you can reach him at todd@twtennis.com . If you aren’t already, be sure to follow him on Facebook and Instagram as well. And check out his newly-redesigned website at https://twtennis.com/ . As always, I am available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Jul 16

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 26 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's episode, Swupnil Sahai of SwingVision is back to share with us the latest - and upcoming - developments in this game-changing platform. Not only is SwingVision changing the way we record and review matches, but it now includes a way for any player to access its extensive professional coaches marketplace to have those matches and/or lessons analyzed with in-app commentary and notes. Imagine playing a tournament match which you've recorded with SwingVision then submitting that match to a globally-recognized coach for feedback with notations and suggestions for improving in your next match. Not only that, your own coach can register FOR FREE with SwingVision to be able to offer you the same type of in-app analysis, giving you access to real-time coaching whether or not your coach is actually on site at the tourney. For more, visit https://swing.vision/coaching/marketplace . The Coach Reviews are just one new development for SwingVision. You'll have to watch/listen to the episode to hear more! For more information on SwingVision and downloading the app on your iOS or Android phone, go to https://swing.vision/ . If your facility in interested in bringing the SwingVision Electronic Line Coaching to your courts, you can reach out to Swupnil directly at swupnil@swing.tennis . For the discounted bundle Swupnil mentions in the podcast, visit https://swing.tennis/c/parentingaces20 . This discount code will give you $20 off your first year of Pro, a free Swing Stick ($100 value), and a 60-Day money back guarantee. As always, I am available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/⁠⁠⁠⁠ . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Jul 9

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 25 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's episode, Lisa chats with former Wimbledon Junior Finalist, Jordan Cox, live from the Intennse Arena in Atlanta. Jordan Cox began playing tennis at 8 years old and quickly started competing in junior events across the country & around the world. Some key junior tournament highlights include winning the singles & doubles (w Evan King) titles at the Boys 14 USTA Winter Nationals, winning the singles title at the Boys 16 USTA Hard Courts at Kalamazoo, placing 3rd at the Boys 18 USTA Hard Courts at Kalamazoo, and reaching the finals of the Boy's Singles draw at Wimbledon. After a successful junior career, Jordan decided to forgo college and NCAA tennis to play professionally. He earned singles and doubles titles at the 10-15k level reaching a career high ATP singles ranking of 449 and doubles ranking of 605. The grind of professional tennis eventually proved too much so Jordan stopped after 4 years. Unsure of what to do next, he found himself playing college tennis for Coach Chase Hodges and the Georgia Gwinnett Grizzlies. He earned his Bachelors in business marketing while competing on the championship winning team 3 years running. Currently, Jordan is an actor and resides in the Atlanta area with his wife, Valeria. He's acting on TV shows & movies while still staying in the game he loves as a coach at Harp Performance Academy under Jim Harp. You can find Jordan's acting resume on his IMDB page at https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6338980/?ref_=fn_all_nme_1 . You can also follow him on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jordanmcoxxy/ . As always, I am available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/⁠⁠⁠⁠ . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Jul 2

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 24 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's episode, Lisa is joined by coach Mark Carruthers, the early developmental coach of the 2025 French Open Junior Girls Champion, Lilli Tagger. Mark Carruthers was born in New Zealand and is 44 years old. As a junior he was the New Zealand National Champion a number of times and played for NZ all over the world since the age of 10. Unfortunately, a shoulder injury followed by some tough mental health challenges at age 16 cut his playing career short. However, he has been coaching professionally since age 24 after earning his degree in History and Journalism. He has coached all over the world including Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, Germany, and Austria where he currently lives with his wife and two children. Most of his work these days is with young juniors looking to develop their games for national and international tournaments although he also does a lot of work with adults and basically anyone who wants to learn. He joins the podcast to talk about developing Lilli and what he saw in her from a very young age that convinced him she had what it takes to become a world champion. If you're interested in talking with Mark, you can email him at mwgcarruthers@gmail.com . You can also find him on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/make.tennisgreatagain/ . For some additional information on the Italian method of training young players which Mark talks about in this episode, go to https://tennisrecruiting.net/article.asp?id=11804& . As always, I am available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/⁠⁠⁠⁠ . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Jun 27

During the opening weekend of the Intennse League, we had a panel discussion with the Head Women's Coaches of cross-town (friendly) rivals, Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia moderated by JY Aubone and Lisa. The UGA Women won the 2025 NCAA Championship just last month. Unfortunately, the video quality didn't come out as we had hoped but the audio is great, so you get an audio-only bonus episode this week! Hear what these two seasoned coaches have to say about junior tennis development, choosing the right coach for your child, what college coaches are looking for during the recruiting process, and more!

Jun 25

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 23 of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week's episode with JY Aubone was shot live at the brand new Intennse Arena in Atlanta right before opening weekend of this exciting new way to play tennis. JY is working with Intennse to help manage the players as well as to do the live broadcasting via Twitch . In this week's episode, he explains how Intennse works, how it fits into a junior player's overall developmental pathway, and the opportunities it holds for recently graduated college players. I had the opportunity to watch Intennse live during its opening weekend, both the qualies matches for a spot on the Challenge team as well as the pro and junior matches. What a blast! This is tennis like you've never seen before: played on a clock, one serve, co-ed teams with coaching and substitutions, with teams playing singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. If you missed my Instagram posts over the weekend, you can find them at https://instagram.com/ParentingAces . To be clear, Intennse is NOT looking to replace traditional tennis or tennis tournaments. Rather, it is acting as a bridge for junior players who want to play college tennis so they can gain experience playing on a team and under pressure as well as for those players looking to play professionally but aren't quite ready - either developmentally or financially - to start a pro career. On the junior side, Intennse matches do count for UTR and WTN and, if a junior player wants to play qualies for a spot on that week's Challenger team, they have the opportunity to earn in excess of $1500 if their Challenger team beats the pro team that week. On the pro side, players receive a guaranteed salary plus prize money if their team wins a match. Intennse is allowing players to better manage their travel and competition schedule while receiving salary and benefits, a far cry from the current ATP/WTA tours. For more information on Intennse, visit the website at https://www.intennse.com/home and be sure to follow them on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/intennsetennis , TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@intennsetennis , and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566418503744 . You can always reach out to JY directly via email at jy@forthesport.com . As always, I am available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/⁠⁠⁠⁠ . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Jun 18

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 22 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's episode, Lisa is joined by former top Danish junior player and current renowned coach, podcaster, and author, Adam Blicher. Adam Blicher is the National Coach of the Faroe Islands and has spent over a decade immersed in coaching and coach development. For six years, he served as a camp and traveling coach for the Danish Tennis Federation, helping shape the next generation of Danish talent. He is the author of Winning Words – How to Unlock Potential Through Communication and the host of Dissecting High Performance in Tennis - the first dedicated podcast for tennis coaches, featuring interviews with over 100 of the world’s most decorated coaches. His work bridges coaching, sports psychology, and leadership, with a focus on long-term impact and sustainability. His second book— Winning Way —is currently in development and will focus on helping coaches build a sustainable, high-impact coaching philosophy. Since the age of 18, Adam has been working with junior players to help them develop to their full potential. He realized early in his coaching career that he needed to develop his own philosophy of coaching modeled on how he was coached as a junior but also incorporating lessons learned from watching other player-coach relationships over the years. After noticing a gap in the market of coaches helping coaches, Adam launched his limited series podcast, inviting experienced coaches from around the world to share their experiences and advice. He later transcribed all the episodes and turned them into his first book, Winning Words. Adam has generously offered to give a FREE COPY of Winning Words to 3 ParentingAces Community Members. To win, simply post about this podcast episode on Facebook and/or Instagram by midnight Pacific Time on June 24, 2025 , tag @ParentingAces as well as @AdamBlicher, and we will draw three winners to be announced on those two social media platforms. You can reach Adam via email at adamblicher@gmail.com or on his website, adamblicher.com . Be sure to follow him on both Facebook and Instagram as well. To order your copy of Winning Words for yourself or your child's coach - or both! - go to https://amzn.to/3ZhdMmm . As always, I am available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠⁠⁠https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/⁠⁠⁠ . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Jun 11

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 21 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's episode, Lisa chats with Italian talent identifier and coach, Luca Appino who is with his 14-year-old player competing in the Italian Open Junior event. Luca started his career in Italy and for over 10 years was dedicated to the development of tennis schools in various clubs. He became experienced in management, marketing and product testing while working for industry leaders such as Dunlop, Babolat, and Fila. Luca has dedicated a significant part of his work and research to talent scouting. For Babolat, he selected various young and, at that time, almost unknown, players from 11 to 15 years old; four of them reached the #1 position in the ATP and WTA: Andy Roddick, Rafael Nadal, Kim Clijsters, and Dinara Safina. In 2008 Luca founded Tennis-Talents and implemented the TT Method. Between 2010 and 2011, he was the Executive Tennis Director of the Tunisian Tennis Federation and coach of Ons Jabeur, the Roland Garros Junior 2011 girls champion.​ Luca is also instrumental in supporting the Smrikva Bowl , a prestigious junior tournament set in Croatia for junior players age 10 and under from around the world. The goal of the tournament is to promote global awareness and understanding through the sport of tennis. If you are interested in getting in touch with Luca for online or in person coaching or consulting , his email is luca@tennistalents.net . You can also contact him through the Tennis Talents website at https://www.tennistalents.net/contact . As always, I am available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠⁠https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/⁠⁠ . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Jun 4

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 20 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's episode, we take a deep dive into a new app designed to help players and parents better manage their training and tournaments. Alli Barnes and Jaime Sullivan have been friends since childhood. After Jamie's last child left the proverbial nest, she was ready to let loose her entrepreneurial spirit so she reached out to Alli to collaborate on an app that combined her love of tennis with Alli's love and expertise in the health and wellness arena. TennisIQ was born! We've done a couple of podcasts in the recent past on the importance of journaling, so I won't rehash the details of the value in it. That said, TennisIQ takes journaling to a whole new level, including a voice-to-text feature, mindfulness prompts, and the use of AI to devise pre- and post-match audio to help players - and parents! - come to each practice and each match fully prepared to give their best. Whether you need to get advise from your personalized in-app coach, track your opponents, manage your matches, or view past journal entries, this app has you covered. And I will be recording some helpful modules for parents so you can use and benefit from TennisIQ as well. TennisIQ is available in the Apple App Store for iOS users and as a web app for Android users. Jaime and Alli have set up a 50% off code for the ParentingAces community which you can redeem as follows: Go to: www.tennisiq.app Click on "Get Started" button. Enter the promo code: ACES at check out Complete your checkout to lock in the discount. Once you've redeemed your code on the website: Head to the App Store Search for “Tennis IQ” Download the app and log in with the account you just created. That’s it! You’re ready to start training your tennis brain with Tennis IQ — anytime, anywhere. To connect with Jaime and Alli and TennisIQ, here are some links for you: Email: Hello@tennisiq.app Instagram @tennisiq_app Facebook: Tennis IQ App Linkedin: Tennis IQ App Website: https://www.tennisiq.app As always, I am available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/⁠ . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

May 28

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 19 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week’s episode, father-son duo, Scott and Bode Campbell, are back to take a look at their Junior Tennis Journey as Bode prepares to play college tennis in the Fall. Scott has been a long-time follower of ParentingAces! This is not his and Bode's first time to appear on our podcast. They were here a little over a year ago sharing their perspective on the journey - you can find that podcast at https://parentingaces.com/podcasts/a-parent-player-perspective-on-parentingaces-ft-scott-bode-campbell/ . Now that Bode is graduating high school and heading into his first year as a College Tennis Student-Athlete at Xavier University in Ohio, they asked if they could share some of the challenges and solutions they faced with the help of our platform. Of course, I said yes! You will hear from them both about Bode's college recruiting process and how he came to choose Xavier, dealing with injury last summer, Bode's high school tennis experience, working through some of the mental aspects of the game utilitizing tools from Apeak and 7ShotTennis, and how parents can work together to ensure a more positive experience for their children. If you'd like to reach out to Scott directly, he's always willing to help! His email is sccsearch@msn.com . You can find both Scott and Bode on Instagram as well. Scott is https://www.instagram.com/scottcoulter5/ and Bode is https://www.instagram.com/bodecampbell_tennis/ . As always, I am available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/⁠ . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

May 22

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 18 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this episode, Case Western Reserve University Head Men's Tennis Coach, Todd Wojtkowski, offers a little calm after the perfect storm of our last episode. This podcast was filmed live from Claremont Mudd-Scripps in Claremont, CA, host to the 2025 NCAA DIII Men's & Women's Tennis Championships. Todd Wojtkowski has built the Case Western Reserve University men's tennis team into one of the top programs in all of Division III during his 16 seasons at the team's helm, which includes guiding the squad to the NCAA Division III Championship in 2023, the first-ever team title won by a CWRU team in any sport. The National Championship came on the heels of back-to-back finishes at the NCAA Championship each of the previous two years, including in 2021 when he was named the Wilson/ ITA National Coach of the Year. Wojtkowski went on to lead the Spartans back to the NCAA quarterfinals for the fourth consecutive season in 2024. Now they find themselves back in the Elite 8 as they compete for the 2025 title. I first met Todd about 10 years ago. We had been corresponding electronically since the beginning of ParentingAces, so it was a real treat to run into him at Indian Wells and put a face to a name. We've stayed in contact over the years, but, recently, Todd's name has come up in multiple conversations I've had with industry leaders, other college coaches, and even Tennis Parents, so I was thrilled to learn he'd be with his team only an hour from my home and was willing to sit down and talk tennis with me. Todd's approach to the sport is so balanced and so heartfelt and 100% aligned with what we are trying to accomplish with ParentingAces. I hope you enjoy hearing his thoughts on the DIII experience, what he looks for in a recruit, and the future of not only college tennis but tennis in its entirety. Coach Wojtkowski has generously offered to take part in a follow-up Q&A with the ParentingAces community to answer any questions or concerns that may pop up as you listen to our conversation. Please email your questions to me at lisa@parentingaces.com so we can compile them into a future discussion. And please join me in wishing the Spartans - and all the teams competing - all the best this week! As always, I am available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/⁠ . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

May 21

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 17 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's episode, Lisa is joined by Markus Dayton and John Parsons, both actively working in the college tennis space. With the House vs NCAA settlement still being negotiated, there are a lot of unanswered questions, both for existing college tennis players as well as those junior players aspiring to play college tennis. There has been a lot of discussion online about the various aspects of the settlement and its impact on facets of college tennis including the transfer portal, roster limits, scholarships, and international recruiting. Both Mark Dayton and John Parsons work daily in the college tennis space and have been actively trying to shed light on the settlement and its possible short- and long-term effects. We tackle a variety of questions in this podcast and hope it clarifies and gives listeners the push to formulate a plan for any junior players who have college tennis on their list of goals. To reach Mark, join his College Tennis Recruitment Video Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/808424032556193 . To reach John, follow him on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/noadnoproblem/ and subscribe to the No Ad, No Problem podcast at https://noadnoproblem.buzzsprout.com/ . As always, I am available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/ . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

May 14

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 16 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's episode, Coach Jim Harp is back to discuss not only his philosophy of junior tennis development but also his latest passion project, Roots to Racquets . Jim Harp is a highly accomplished tennis coach and the founder of Harp Performance Tennis Inc ., established in 2004 in Cumming, Georgia, where he continues to reside with his wife, daughter, and a variety of pets. Renowned for his expertise and dedication to the sport, Jim holds prestigious certifications as a PTR Master Coach and an ITPA Certified Performance Specialist. He is also a graduate of the USTA’s High Performance Program and is recognized as a USPTA Elite Coach. As a coach developer for both the PTR and USTA, Jim is committed to training the next generation of tennis coaches, sharing his extensive knowledge and experience in the sport. His coaching journey began in earnest in 2001, and he quickly made a name for himself as a 1994 NJCAA All-American player from Dekalb College. Jim founded Roots to Racquets in 2024 to create an affordable healthy living initiative for all families through the lessons of sport performance, nutrition, education and lifestyle. Its goal is to create a new age health and wellness environment where the entire family comes to learn and play together. In addition to world class tennis instruction, information on nutrition, exercise and sport performance will be available both online and in person! By providing access to these programs for the entire family, the Roots to Racquets program will provide better opportunity for success in the classroom, at work, in sports and most importantly at home for every member of the family. If you are interested in making a tax-deductible donation to Roots to Racquets, click https://www.rootstoracquets.org/donate/ . To reach Jim directly: jim@harptennis.com www.harptennis.com https://www.instagram.com/harptennis/ 404-213-9282 If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

May 7

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 15 of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week's conversation is all about the mental side of tennis and how we can help junior players and their parents develop the necessary tools to have a successful Tennis Journey. Damon Valentino is a mental strength coach and former D1 Tennis Player at Michigan State University. He holds a Masters in Sport & Performance Psychology and is the founderof SIDE STREET Performance Coaching. He is globally renowned as a high performance coach, facilitator and keynote speaker working with professional tennis players and coaches, ITF juniors and parents, as well as D1 tennis players and coaches. Damon is the Director of Mental Fitness for the PTPA and head mental strength coach for Baylor University's men's tennis team. Damon is passionate about bridging the gap between high performance and wellbeing. To reach out to Damon directly, you can email him at damon@sidestreetcoaching.com . You can also follow him on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/damon_valentino/ . Damon's website is online at https://www.sidestreetcoaching.com/ . Damon has graciously offered a 10% discount off his performance coaching services which you can redeem at https://app.acuityscheduling.com/catalog/6d7b2925/?productId=1965414&clearCart=true . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Spotify or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Apr 30

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 14 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's episode, we hear from the Senior Vice President of UTR Sports and former college coach, Chase Hodges. Before coming to UTR Sports, Chase was the head Men's and Women's Tennis Coach at Georgia Gwinnett College where he led his teams to 15 national championships. Chase knows college tennis and he understands what junior players need in order to be ready for its challenges. Now, in his role at UTR Sports, Chase is very involved in the junior and collegiate side of things. He is always willing to answer questions and shed light on how families can best use UTR events and ratings to help their junior players become their best selves. In this episode, Chase talks about the best way to use the various ratings and rankings and the best way to take full advantage of the team and individual events and tournaments that UTR Sports currently has on offer. Whether its organized match play, leagues, college tournaments, or prize money tournaments, UTR Sports can provide junior players with a wide variety of opportunities to test their mettle and improve their competitive skills. UTR Sports has also taken an active role in High School Tennis around the US. Thirty state high school athletic associations now report match scores to UTR Sports, helping high school players build a profile to make themselves marketable to college coaches. UTR Sports continues to lead the elevation of college tennis with the new UTR Sports College Team Rankings , a definitive ranking system showcasing the top-ranked college teams across Division I, Division II, Division III, and NAIA. The UTR Sports College Team Rankings provide a groundbreaking, data-driven approach to ranking the nation’s top men’s and women’s teams. The rankingsfactor in a team’s UTR Power 6, win-loss record, and strength of schedule. The new rankings will be used for seeding at the UTR Sports NIT Championships (May 7-9 in Rome, GA). From the College Corner on UTRSports.net , anyone can view the new UTR Sports College Team Rankings in the “ College Rankings ” tab, filtering by division, conference,location, and gender. Rankings will be updated weekly on Wednesdays. College Corner is a one-stop shop for college coaches to view rankings for teams and individual college players and class rankings for rising junior players. “This is a game changer for the collegiate tennis landscape,” said Chase. “UTR Sports has now established themost accurate college team rankings in addition to the most accurate individual pro, collegiate, and junior prospect player rankings.” Chase has graciously offered to field your questions regarding UTR rating and/or events via email. You can reach him at chase.hodges@utrsports.com . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Apr 23

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 13 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's episode, we continue our discussion of what it takes to become a great coach and how great coaches bring out the best in their players. Coach Chris Marquez is our guest. Chris Marquez is a nationally respected tennis coach with a career built on passion, perseverance, and a deep understanding of player development. A self-described late bloomer, Chris didn’t pick up a racquet until age 11—but by 16, he was ranked among Florida’s top 15 juniors, earning wins over top-10 players, all while coming from a modest, middle-class background. With his love for the game, Chris also found success on the national level and competed internationally as well. He went on to play Division I college tennis at the University of South Florida, where he competed in both singles and doubles and helped lead the team to a conference championship. After college, Chris stepped into coaching, quickly rising through the ranks to become a Director of Player Development and Group Leader at the prestigious Palmer Academy in Tampa Fl. His coaching journey has taken him around the world, working with top U.S. juniors, international prospects, and traveling on the WTA Tour coaching at Grand Slams, Tour Events and Challengers. Currently, Chris serves as the Head Tennis Professional and High Performance Coach at the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club and is based in St. Petersburg, Florida. He’s coached players at the junior Grand Slam level, numerous top national and international junior players, and helped countless athletes find success at the NCAA Division I level. A pioneer in his field, Chris was recognized on-air by Tennis TV personality Dave Kozlowski for reviving clay court tennis at the collegiate level. He founded and directed the Lakewood Ranch Dick Vitale Intercollegiate Clay Court Championships—widely considered one of the best ITA fall college events in the country, drawing top men’s and women’s programs from all Power 5 conferences and the Ivy League. With decades of experience nurturing talent from the earliest stages to the professional and collegiate level, Chris brings insight, energy, and a genuine love for the game to everything he does. If you would like to get in touch with Coach Chris Marquez, you can email him at collegetourn@gmail.com . You can also follow him on social media: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Apr 16

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 12 of the ParentingAces Podcast! If you've been watching/listening to this podcast for any length of time, you've heard me talk about the importance of mentoring. In this week's episode, Coach Aaron Rusnak of Innovative Tennis Coaching is back with us to discuss his transition from full-time on-court coaching to mentoring those coaches coming up behind him to ensure a better Junior Tennis Experience for coaches, players, and parents. Aaron has been coaching tennis for 30 years following a stint on the USTA Pro Circuit. Recognized as one of the Top 25 Coaches in the U.S. by Tennis Channel and Top Spin Magazine (2021), Aaron brings a unique combination of high-level playing experience, advanced certifications, and a deep commitment to helping athletes reach their full potential. Aaron has been a popular staple on tennis social media for several years now. He loves to post videos discussing the various aspects of the game, especially through the lens of an experienced coach. He realized he could help the next generation of coaches be more effective and find more joy through sharing his own philosophy and approach to junior development. For more information, you can follow Aaron on LinkedIn and Instagram . You can also email him at rushandcrush@prodigy.net . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Apr 9

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 11 of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week's episode is all about High School Tennis! Scott Gerber's two children both grew up playing tennis in Ohio, including playing on their respective high school teams. As Scott watched his kids compete for their schools, he realized high school tennis wasn't getting the respect it deserved in terms of media coverage and reporting of player and match statistics. Like many resourceful parents, Scott took matters into his own hands and set up a website to track all high school tennis players and all high school matches. That was the beginning of Ohio Tennis Zone . Now, Scott has grown the OTZ website into a one-stop-shopfor anyone interested in the world of Ohio High School Tennis. Every player has their own profile with stats which they can use for college recruiting. Every school can see its player and match history. Rankings are updated each week across all divisions. What Scott has created here is invaluable to coaches, players, parents, and school districts, and he's more than happy to speak with anyone who is interested in creating something similar in their own state. Taking a look at a player's profile page, I love the FAQ section: Why create this report? OhioTennisZone.com is a data rich site that can overwhelm people who are not numbers-savvy. This report allows relatives, busy college coaches, and friends to quickly see how you are doing. Some of you may find it beneficial to link to this page from your Facebook and TennisRecruiting.net accounts. How do I get a page like this for me? Sign-up for a paying membership and then pay . Once your payment has been received, your account will be permissioned to allow you to edit a page for yourself. You can pay via check or PayPal. Using PayPal could get you online in a day. How much does this cost? For now, this is part of the $27.95 seasonal fee. This may increase based on how much time and effort it takes to maintain it. May I use a different picture? For now, I prefer retrieving the individual picture from the team picture. I may decide to charge an extra fee to use a different picture. Of course, if the player is blinking, I would be happy to use a different, non-blinking picture. To get in touch with Scott, you can email him at scottgerber@cs.com . Be sure to check out the OTZ website at https://ohiotenniszone.com/ . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Apr 2

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 10 of the ParentingAces Podcast. This week, Coach Duey Evans joins us to share his 3+ decades of junior and college tennis wisdom. Spending much of his career in a field that often relies on dated coaching methods, Duey has continued to think outside the box and create individualized programs that result in high-performing athletes. In his coaching now, you’ll find the same creative mindset with the backing of three successful decades- lined by Ivy League players, NCAA title holders, and a nationally ranked tennis center. His 30-year education in how to coach, experience as a business owner, and continuous quest to be better, makes him the coach tennis players and parents across the nation have come to respect. During the COVID lockdown, Duey and I released weekly video chats taking a deep dive into junior and college tennis and what it means to find success in those realms. You can find those episodes on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfiLuMW_ON875XgkIoMYGZPq7uRbLHqmh . Having recently retired from on-court coaching, Duey is now working one-on-one with junior tennis players to help them reach their goals on and off the tennis court. You can reach Duey via email at duey@theperformancearchitect.com . Be sure to visit his website, The Performance Architect, at https://www.theperformancearchitect.com/ . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 12

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 9 of the ParentingAces Podcast. This week, we take another look at SwingVision and its Electronic Line Calling (ELC) features and how it is being used at junior and college tennis matches. If you've followed this podcast for any length of time, you've heard Swupnil Sahai, the co-founder and CEO of SwingVision, talk about his tennis technology, and you've witnessed the constant developments and improvements over the past several years. Last year, I had the privilege of watching SwingVision's ELC technology in action at multiple junior tournaments in the SoCal section - what a game changer! Now, Swupnil and his team are working even more closely with USTA and the ITA to bring that technology to events throughout the US. Our previous podcasts with Swupnil and SwingVision https://parentingaces.com/podcasts/bringing-ai-to-tennis-with-swupnil-sahai/ https://parentingaces.com/podcasts/swingtennis-ft-swupnil-sahai/ https://parentingaces.com/podcasts/whats-new-with-swingvision-ft-george-opelka/ https://parentingaces.com/podcasts/swingvision-is-changing-junior-college-tennis-ft-swupnil-sahai/ For more information on SwingVision and downloading the app on your iOS or Android phone, go to https://swing.vision/ . If your facility in interested in bringing the SwingVision ELC to your courts, you can reach out to Swupnil directly at swupnil@swing.tennis . For the discounted bundle Swupnil mentions in the podcast, visit https://swing.tennis/c/parentingaces20 . This discount code will give you $20 off your first year of Pro, a free Swing Stick ($100 value), and a 60-Day money back guarantee. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 5

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 8 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, we travel to the metaverse and the new Tennis Australia digital world of Beyond Tennis with Ridley Plummer. Ridley Plummer is Tennis Australia’s Senior Manager Digital Sales and Metaverse, leading the Australian Open (AO) Metaverse strategy and overseeing the development of the Metaverse and Digital Innovation projects. Spearheading the AO Digital Innovation Programs, Ridley is passionate about new technology and its potential to evolve industries beyond physical sporting events into the virtual world. Ridley has been instrumental in progressing the AO's launch into the Metaverse with multiple groundbreaking projects including Beyond Tennis, AO Adventure on Roblox, AO Artball and the AO School’s Block Buster Tennis Challenge in Minecraft Education. It was just a matter of time before Tennis caught up with the rest of the major sporting world and entered the alternative reality known as the metaverse. In this week's episode, Ridley walks us through Tennis Australia's commitment to innovation and technology and introduces us to its latest creation known as Beyond Tennis. Beyond Tennis is not a video game in the classical sense, however. Rather, it is a digital platform which allows its users to coach and act as agent for a variety of AI-generated male and female tennis players from countries around the globe. As Ridley explains, the user can manage the player's training, fitness, nutrition, and social and media commitments in order to help the player improve in his/her performance in tournaments and team events held within the platform. You really have to see it to truly understand it, so be sure to check out the video version of this episode for a sneak peek! To download Beyond Tennis, visit its website here or here are the quick links: iOS: https://apps.apple.com/au/app/beyond-tennis/id6737754053 Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.onefuturesports&pli=1 For more information on Ridley and his work at Tennis Australia, check out his LinkedIn profile here . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 26

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 7 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, we hear from recent Boise State Women's Tennis graduate and psychology major, Nicole Discenza, about the importance of training mindset and mental skills alongside technique and tactics. Nicole grew up playing tennis from a very young age in her home country of Venezuela. During her teenage years, she and her family made the tough decision for her to leave home and train in the US for a year. Nicole was then recruited to play Division I tennis at Boise State University where she also took on some junior players to coach in her limited spare time. It was then that she recognized how she could help these young players develop a more positive mindset and self-awareness through their work together on the court. When Nicole graduated and was thinking about what to do next with her life, she realized by sharing her passion for helping others improve their mental state through tennis was the path she would follow. She set up an Instagram - Mindset by Nicks - and Facebook to share her knowledge through regular video posts. And she works with players individually in person and virtually online to help them develop the necessary skills to find success on and off the court. To get more information about Nicole and her work, you can direct message her on IG or Facebook. You can also email her at nicole@mindsetonlinecoaching.com . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 19

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 6 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week's episode does a deep dive into the new tennis coaching digital platform, Full Court Tennis , with its creator, former top ATP Pro, Brian Teacher. I first met Brian several years ago at the US Open Junior tournament. I've since run into him around SoCal and was excited to get him on the podcast to discuss the latest iteration of Full Court Tennis. I encourage you to watch the video version of this episode for insights as to what the platform is capable of doing for players, parents, and coaches. Here is the press release which describes it best: Virtual tennis coaching has never been easier to use since former Grand Slam champion Brian Teacher launched the improved and updated Full Court Tennis (FCT) website where players can connect with world-renowned coaches for virtual lessons making tennis coaching easily accessible and affordable for everyone. For a limited time, Teacher has announced that players and coaches of any level can sign up completely free with no credit card required. Originally launched as an iOS app two years ago, players and coaches can now sign up and connect directly on FullCourtTennis.com, where advanced features allow coaches to independently set their rates, get hired, or give free virtual lessons. This includes: • Stroke Analysis: Submit videos for in-depth feedback on your technique. • Match Analysis: Get expert insights on strategy and performance. • Live Video Call Lessons: Collaborate directly with coaches in real time to review match footage, improve techniques, or address any aspect of your game. FCT also offers innovative tools like match tagging and the ability to add multiple participants to a lesson space, making the experience collaborative and efficient. “Full Court Tennis revolutionizes the way players and coaches connect, making expert tennis coaching as easy as clicking onto a website or using the app,” said Brian Teacher. “FCT’s coaches are experts in stroke development, match strategy, and mental preparation, with many having worked with top-level professional players. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, FCT ensures you’re learning from the best.” More than 700 coaches from over 100 countries are on the platform, including coach Michael Russell - coach of ATP # 4 Taylor Fritz, Gilles Cervara - coach of ATP #7 Daniil Medvedev and coach Johan Kriek - two-time Australian Open champion. All-time great John McEnroe and former USTA President & CEO Katrina Adams sit on the FCT Advisory Board, lending their expertise and leadership to the platform. If you're interested in learning more about Full Court Tennis, visit the website at https://www.fullcourttennis.com/ . To download the IOS app, go to https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/keynote/id1563456530?mt=8 . To reach Brian Teacher via email, bt@fullcourttennis.com . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 12

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 5 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week's episode is all about college tennis and what may be coming in terms of the House settlement and its conditions. Our guest is the new CEO of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), David Mullins. If you've been watching/listening to this podcast for a while, you may be familiar with Dave. He first appeared on ParentingAces back in 2017 in his role as a junior coach discussing how junior players could get themselves fit enough to play college tennis. He has since returned several times in his roles as a former college player, college coach, and COO of the ITA. You can find our previous podcasts and articles at https://parentingaces.com/search/mullins . This week's episode, though, focuses on the recent work by the ITA to help shape the future of college tennis in the wake of the impending decision regarding the House vs. NCAA settlement. We've all heard the chatter about roster limits and scholarship numbers, but what does the settlement really mean for families on the college tennis pathway? Dave sheds some light on how the ITA is working with the NCAA and other organizations to ensure a strong future for college tennis. For the recent letter written to the judge in the settlement case, visit https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Zpu1d-rQXp-8ozl4Jnk4blMtd_7jMcfj/view . For the article published earlier this week on TennisRecruiting.net, go to https://tennisrecruiting.net/article.asp?id=11764& . And for the video Dave and reference on the history of the ITA, click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=In5uT0lwSk4 . After watching/listening to this episode, if you have further questions, you can reach Dave via email at dmullins@itatennis.com . Or you can tweet at him at https://twitter.com/DaveMullins_ITA . His direct phone number is (602) 341-8517 – he is happy to hop on a call to discuss any concerns you may have. Be sure to visit the ITA website for all things college tennis at https://wearecollegetennis.com/ and follow them on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/ita_tennis/ . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 5

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 4 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week's episode is the recording of the recent webinar Lisa hosted with Brett Hobden, co-founder of GottaTennis . Most junior tennis coaches spend the majority of lesson time teaching and tweaking strokes, grips, and movement patterns to help their players achieve their stated goals. Rarely are these coaches in attendance at junior tournaments so they rely on (1) self-reporting or (2) parent reporting of what's happening on the match court, both of which can be unreliable and unhelpful. GottaTennis provides a tool to take a video recording of a match then spit out a detailed analysis of what happened during that match. Please watch the video version of this episode to see actual footage of the tools included in this new software and to better understand how they can be used to help your player(s) improve. For more information on GottaTennis, visit the website at https://gottatennis.com/ . You can also reach out to Brett directly at brett@gottatennis.com . Follow GT on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/gotta_tennis/ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/gottatennis . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 22

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 2 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, coach Chris Lewit revisits the pod to discuss what he's learned over his career from the top coaches and players in Spain regarding developing junior tennis players. Chris Lewit is a former number one for Cornell and ATP player. He is a high-performance coach, educator, and the author of three best-selling books: The Secrets of Spanish Tennis 2.0 (2024) The Secrets of Spanish Tennis (2014) The Tennis Technique Bible Chris has coached numerous top 10 nationally-ranked players and is known for his expertise in building the foundations of young prodigies. Chris coaches in NYC and year-round at his high-performance tennis academy in Manchester, Vermont, where players can live and train the Spanish Way full-time or short-term. Chris has studied the various rating systems currently in use and has some very definite thoughts on how players, parents, and coaches should be using them. If you'd like to learn more about Chris and his coaching opportunities, visit his website at https://www.chrislewit.com/ . You can also email him at chris@chrislewit.com or reach him by phone or WhatsApp at 914-462-2912. Find our previous podcast at https://parentingaces.com/podcasts/is-utr-still-all-that-ft-chris-lewit/ . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 15

Welcome to Season 14 Episode 2 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Lisa talks with the creator of Tennis:Europe, Martin Vinokur, as well as a parent and player - Dorothy Potash and Max Spillerman - who were part of the Summer 2024 program. If you're looking for a great competitive opportunity for your teen this summer, be sure to check out Tennis:Europe. The 2025 dates work well with our Spain trip in July so players can play some matches then join us at the Nadal Academy for a week of training once they're comfortable on the European red clay. You can find previous podcasts and articles about Tennis:Europe at https://parentingaces.com/articles/announcing-tenniseuropes-51st-anniversary-year-with-memories/ , https://parentingaces.com/articles/tennis-europe/ , https://parentingaces.com/articles/tenniseurope-experience-kayleigh-yun-thayer/ , https://parentingaces.com/articles/tennis-europe-a-fantastic-summer-tennis-travel-experience-ft-martin-vinokur/ , and https://parentingaces.com/podcasts/happy-50th-to-tenniseurope-ft-martin-vinokur-jessie-young/ . To get more information on the 2025 offerings and to inquire about the ParentingAces discount, visit http://www.tenniseurope.com . You can also find them on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tenniseurope/ . To speak with Martin Vinokur directly, call him at 203-322-9803. We still have a few spots available for our upcoming trip to Spain! More info at https://parentingaces.com/articles/join-us-for-10-days-in-spain/ . You don't want to miss this incredible opportunity! If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 8

Welcome to Season 14, Episode 1, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This is just a quick episode to kick off the year! In case you're looking for them, our previous 13 seasons are available on our website at https://parentingaces.com/podcasts/ . You can also do a search there for specific guests or topics. We still have a few spots available for our upcoming trip to Spain! More info at https://parentingaces.com/articles/join-us-for-10-days-in-spain/ . You don't want to miss this incredible opportunity! If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 20, 2024

Welcome to Season 13 Episode 44 of the ParentingAces Podcast - our final episode of the Season! - a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network. This week, Lisa talks with Doctor of Physical Therapy and Strength & Conditioning Coach, Kait Ireland, about why a physical therapist should be part of a junior athlete's team. Kait is a soccer player turned strength & conditioning coach turned physical therapist. She has several degrees including both a Masters degree in Kinesiology (studying exercise & sports conditioning) & a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. She's worked for many years as a strength & conditioning coach and completed internships at notable facilities like EXOS in Arizona and Cressey Sports Performance in Massachusetts where she worked with athletes from most sports and levels including the NFL, MBA, and NHL. Like many entrepreneurs, Kait went into physical therapy after feeling frustrated by the quality of care her strength & conditioning athletes were receiving from traditional physicians & physical therapists who just don’t understand the unique demands of sports participation. She now runs Empowered Athletics PT in Laguna Niguel, CA, and also offers video consultations for those outside the area. In this episode, Kait discusses the important role a physical therapist plays in a junior athlete's development. At different stages, young athletes should have their basic movements analyzed by a professional who can intervene when something is askew. Kait explains how a physical therapist can work with the parents, player, coach, fitness trainer, sport psychologist, sports medicine doctor, and others to ensure healthy physical development and timely intervention when an injury or ailment pops up. You can find Kait on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/empoweredathleticspt/ . You also reach her via email at Kait@EmpoweredAthleticsPT.com or phone/text at 949-584-7787. A final reminder to register for our upcoming trip to Spain! More info at https://parentingaces.com/articles/jo... . The deadline is coming up at the end of November, so don't miss out! If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 13, 2024

Welcome to Season 13 Episode 43 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Lisa talks with former touring pro and current WTA coach of Marta Kostyuk, Sandra Zaniewska. Be sure to check out the video version of this episode for a peek at Marta's 6-month-old Maltipoo puppy named Mandar! Sandra, a professional tennis coach born in Warsaw, Poland and based in Southern France, shared her journey into coaching and her coaching philosophy, emphasizing the importance of understanding and nurturing the growth of junior tennis players. She also discussed the challenges and importance of guiding parents through the journey of raising a junior tennis player, and the need for collaboration and sharing experiences among coaches. Sandra started playing tennis at age 10 and became a professional player, reaching a singles high ranking of 142. After retiring at 26, she began coaching and found it to be a fulfilling experience. Sandra credits her success to her willingness to learn from other experienced coaches and her ability to adapt to each player's unique needs. She emphasized the importance of unlearning previous coaching methods when working with a new player, a lesson she learned from Patrick Mouratoglou. She went on to discuss the importance of understanding and nurturing the growth of junior tennis players, beyond just their technical skills. She emphasized the role of a coach in guiding players to develop their natural strengths and style of play, rather than trying to mold them into a specific type. Sandra shared her personal experience as a player, highlighting the confusion and lack of confidence she faced when trying to conform to a typical style of play. She concluded that it's crucial for coaches to see players with fresh eyes and create training plans based on their unique abilities and potential. Sandra emphasized the need for coaches to be proactive and focus on being the best coach for their players, rather than fearing losing them. She also shared her experiences of writing books, with her first book, "Coaching 2.0: How to Develop Great Female Players on and off the Court," focusing on the connection with players and the mental aspect of coaching. Her second book, "Raising Champions: The Ultimate Guide for Tennis Parents," was born out of her role as a high-level director at the Mouratoglou Academy, where she was responsible for scouting and coaching top players. For more information on Sandra and her coaching philosophy, visit her website at www.sandrazaniewska.com . You can also find and follow her on social media as follows: Instagram: https://instagram.com/sandrazaniewska Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sandrazaniewska/ X: http://www.twitter.com/szaniewska And don’t forget to register for our upcoming trip to Spain! More info at https://parentingaces.com/articles/join-us-for-10-days-in-spain/ . The deadline is coming up at the end of November, so don't miss out! If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 6, 2024

Welcome to Season 13 Episode 42 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Lisa talks with former touring pro and current coach, Thomas Drouet. Thomas started playing tennis at a young age when his grandfather introduced him to the sport at age 3. He was naturally drawn to the game and would spend hours hitting against a wall. At age 12, he entered the National Sports Center in France, where the top junior players trained together. At 18, Thomas transitioned from junior to professional tennis, playing for Monaco and later becoming a coach. His coaching philosophy developed as he worked with young players in Monaco, focusing on technique and tactics. He aimed to push the kids beyond their limits, despite their comfortable lifestyle. Lisa and Thomas discussed the recent announcement by the ITF allowing coaching for junior events and the potential impact on the sport. Thomas expressed his support for the decision, highlighting the importance of coaching in tennis and the need for players to have access to it. He also addressed the issue of unequal access to coaching for players who can afford it and those who cannot. Lisa raised the concern about the financial commitment required for junior coaches to attend tournaments, which Thomas acknowledged as a challenge. Thomas emphasized the importance of parents being involved from the beginning and understanding that tennis is a job for the coach, not the player. He shared his experience with his son, who expressed a desire for a better relationship with his father on the court, leading to them seeking the help of a psychologist. The psychologist recommended incorporating games and fun into their training sessions to balance the coaching and fatherly roles. Lisa agreed, highlighting the importance of communication and maintaining a healthy relationship between parents and their children, regardless of their tennis achievements. Thomas recently developed a card game for tennis players, particularly for coaches and young players. The game is designed to improve technique, fitness, mental, and tactical aspects of the sport. It allows players to practice and strategize, providing insights into their decision-making and personality traits. Thomas explained the effectiveness of his card game in engaging young kids and keeping them focused on specific tasks. He highlighted the game's ability to help kids develop mental skills, such as controlling their temper and dealing with stress during matches. The game can be purchased on Thomas's website at https://www.thecardschallenge.com/ . To reach out to Thomas for video conferencing or other information, email him at thomas.drouet1705@gmail.com . Follow him on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/coachdrouet/ . And don’t forget to register for our upcoming trip to Spain! More info at https://parentingaces.com/articles/join-us-for-10-days-in-spain/ . The deadline is coming up at the end of November, so don't miss out! If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 31, 2024

Welcome to Season 13 Episode 41 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Colette Lewis of ZooTennis joins me to discuss upcoming changes to junior tennis at both the ITF and USTA levels. This episode was born out of an email I received from a member of the ParentingAces community asking about the potential trickle-down effect of a recent ITF announcement that coaching will be allowed at ITF Junior tournaments beginning in 2025. Who better to discuss this topic than Colette who attends several ITF Junior events throughout the year in addition to the Junior Grand Slams. She spends a good amount of her time at those events talking with coaches, federation insiders, and others about the state of junior tennis and what may be coming down the pike. Colette and I discuss the potential impact of allowing coaching at junior tournaments as well as today's announcement from the USTA that it will be using electronic line calling (ELC) at the upcoming National Indoor tournament. There are still many, many unanswered questions, but I hope this conversation will lead to clarification from our governing bodies and better education for all involved. If you aren't already, be sure to subscribe to Colette's daily e-newsletter at https://tenniskalamazoo.blogspot.com/ . You can also follow her on X at https://x.com/zootennis . For the article explaining the ITF policy, go to https://www.itftennis.com/en/news-and-media/articles/explained-off-court-coaching-to-be-allowed-from-2025/ . For Colette's 2023 article on coaching at junior tournaments, go to https://tennisrecruiting.net/article.asp?id=11269 (subscription required). And don’t forget to register for our upcoming trip to Spain! More info at https://parentingaces.com/articles/join-us-for-10-days-in-spain/ . The deadline is coming up at the end of November, so don't miss out! If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 23, 2024

Welcome to Season 13 Episode 40 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, two guests join Lisa to discuss the value and importance of journaling matches. Those of you who have been following the pod for a while are familiar with coach JY Aubone. As he mentioned in our last episode together, he has created a hard-copy journal for junior players that incorporates a range of questions, tips, and suggestions to help players reflect on and record thoughts about their matches. Mike Rogers is a life-long tennis player who has recently decided to train for and play Senior Tournaments. As part of his preparation, he realized the value of keeping notes on each match and each opponent which he was doing via an Excel spreadsheet. It occurred to Mike, though, that it would be much easier to have an app on his phone where he could record his thoughts immediately following a match, so he brought in developers to create Match Recall . The Match Recall app will launch November 1, 2024, but our audience can take advantage of a 50% discount with a 30-day free trial by visiting the Match Recall website and clicking the button on the top right for the pre-launch offer any time prior to November 1st. For more information on JY, visit his website at https://www.aubonetennis.com/ . You can reach him via email at jy@aubonetennis.com . He’s also very active on Instagram at https://instagram.com/aubonetennis . From JY about the journal: Since 2018, my sole focus has been on guiding competitive tennis players to greater success in tournaments. I’ve seen firsthand that having the right strategy is essential, but without a coach by your side, it’s easy to lose focus during high-pressure moments. That’s where this journal comes in —it gives you the tools to stay calm, confident, and fully prepared when you step on the court. Here’s What This Game-Changing Journal Offers: Stay Focused Under Pressure : In the heat of competition, the journal helps you regroup, reset, and keep your mental edge when it counts. You can't talk to a coach in the middle of a match, but you can read your journal! Handwriting Magic : Writing by hand is proven to sharpen a person's focus and memory. The simple act of putting pen to paper will help players retain their strategies and prepare mentally, creating a deep connection with their game plan. Mindfulness & Calm : This journal isn’t just for match analysis; it’s a space for a player to clear their mind, reduce pre-match nerves , and boost their confidence. ParentingAces members will receive a 30% discount on any purchases. Simply contact me at jy@aubonetennis.com to access your offer! In the meantime, check out these links! For more information on Mike and Match Recall, visit his website at https://matchrecall.com . You can also follow him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557152754456 and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/matchrecall . Mike is available via email at mike@matchrecall.com . And don’t forget to register for our upcoming trip to Spain! More info at https://parentingaces.com/articles/join-us-for-10-days-in-spain/ . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 2, 2024

Welcome to Season 13 Episode 39 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Lisa chats with John O'Sullivan and Jerry Lynch, authors of the newly-released book, THE CHAMPION SPORTS PARENT . Jerry Lynch and John O’Sullivan are leadership, performance, and team culture specialists. Their work has received global acclaim in youth, high school, collegiate, and professional athletics. They are highly sought after by teams, schools, and sport governing bodies around the world for their work in athletic performance, coach education, and parent engagement. Jerry and John cohost the Way of Champions Podcast, as well as the Way of Champions Transformational Leadership Events, and both are national advisory board members of the Positive Coaching Alliance. Their first book together, The Champion Teammate: Timeless Lessons to Connect, Compete and Lead in Sports and Life received international acclaim and is used by high-performing teams and athletes on the youth, high school, college and professional levels. In this episode, you'll hear John and Jerry discuss the importance of sports parent education and support. Their latest book not only imparts great wisdom but also gives parents the opportunity to go through some simple exercises to put the lessons into practice. If you've been a listener of our podcast for any length of time, you'll recognize most of the concepts but will also learn alongside Lisa some new and innovative ways to implement them. In fact, if you are interested in reading the book then joining Lisa online to discuss it, send her an email to lisa@parentingaces.com. Jerry has offered to join the online discussion as well. This is a great opportunity to convert knowledge into practice! To purchase the book, visit https://amzn.to/4eDFy1y (NOTE: ParentingAces may receive a small commission from the sale). For more information on John's and Jerry's great work in the youth sports arena, visit their respective websites: www.changingthegameproject.com and www.wayofchampions.com . To follow on social media: Instagram: https://instagram.com/CTGProjecthq X: https://x.com/CTGProjectHQ And don’t forget to register for our upcoming trip to Spain! More info at https://parentingaces.com/articles/join-us-for-10-days-in-spain/ . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 25, 2024

Welcome to Season 13 Episode 38 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, we take an inside look at Intennse, a new team format that was recently showcased as a junior event in the Atlanta area . Lisa chats with two of the players, Sadira Ouyang and Connor Mowrey, as well as their parents about their experience. NOTE: To watch/listen to our earlier podcast with Intennse founders, go to https://parentingaces.com/podcasts/its-time-for-time-tennis-ft-charles-allen-yannick-yoshizawa/ Intennse is a new way to compete in our sport. Per the Atlanta event website, 18 participants (9 boys and 9 girls) were selected by WTN to compete in this event. Participants were divided into 3 teams of 3 boys and 3 girls; each team had a professional coach who was present on court during play. There were round robins in the categories of Boys' singles, Girls' singles and Mixed Doubles. Each team played each other once in each category and accumulated points. The winning team received medals and a trophy. Players from all teams will be invited to attend or participate in the Intennse college level rivalry event to be held October 26th. Matches consisted of two 15 minute halves; there was no second serve and the server continued serving as long as they held serve. Like college matches, lets were played; clean winners count two points, and teams can take one time out and make one substitution per half. Live coaching was allowed. Here is what the one-day event looked like, schedule-wise: 09:00 - 10:00. Arrival 10:00 - 10:30. Presentation / Rules and Schedule overview 10:30 - 10:45 Coaches introduction and Announcement of Teams 10:45 - 11:30 Teams warm up / practice and discuss strategy 11:30 - 12:00. Break 12:00. A Boys v. B Boys 12:30. B Girls v C Girls 01:00. C Mixed v A Mixed 01:30. B Boys v C Boys 02:00. A Girls v B Girls 02:30. C Mixed v B Mixed 03:00. A Boys v C Boy 03:30. C Girls v A Girls 04:00. A Mixed v B Mixed 04:30 Winner Presentations & Prizes 05:00 After Party As you'll hear from both families, this is a format they'd like to see included as a regular option on the junior competition calendar. If you'd like more information on Intennse and how to bring an event to your community, visit their website at https://news.intennse.com/ or reach out to Charles Allen at charles@intennse.com . Their social media channels will be live very soon. And don’t forget to register for our upcoming trip to Spain! More info at https://parentingaces.com/articles/join-us-for-10-days-in-spain/ . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 18, 2024

Welcome to Season 13 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, we address the topic that seems to be discussed over and over among junior tennis parents and coaches: CHEATING. What if we shifted our mindset around what is commonly called Cheating? What if we recognized it for what it is in the majority of cases: a mistake? That's the crux of this week's episode. As a top junior and professional coach, JY recognizes that bad line calls are part and parcel of the game, at all levels of the game from juniors to college to pro. As he took a deeper look into it, he came to realize that it's not the bad line call itself that is the problem but rather the player's response to it that can change the outcome of a match. In this episode, and in a new blog post on his website, JY outlines specific tools junior players can use to keep their focus even when they think a line call error has been made. He and I also discuss how parents can do a better job of choosing language when talking with their player(s) after a match where questionable line calling may have been a factor. For more information on JY, visit his website at https://www.aubonetennis.com/ . You can reach him via email at jy@aubonetennis.com . He's also very active on Instagram at https://instagram.com/aubonetennis . Toward the end of the episode, you will also hear about the new player journal JY has created. For more information and to order a copy, go to https://www.aubonetennis.com/matchjournal . A discount for ParentingAces followers is forthcoming so please check the Community Discount page on our website for the code. And don't forget to register for our upcoming trip to Spain! More info at https://parentingaces.com/articles/join-us-for-10-days-in-spain/ . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 11, 2024

Welcome to Season 13, Episode 36, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network. This week, Lisa chats with the mom behind Raising Happy Champs, a UK-based enterprise to help parents in all youth sports as they navigate through the obstacles of their children's chosen passion. Jen Harris was sitting at her daughter's gymnastics meet when another parent asked her for advice with her own child. After chatting with the parent, Jen realized that with her psychology training and degree, she might be able to offer something to other sports parents that wasn't available in the UK. She decided to go back to school to pursue a Master's degree in sport and exercise psychology. For her final dissertation she developed and tested an approach to sports parenting she calls the Super-P approach. Jen is now pursuing a PhD so she can further refine and test Super-P. Says Jen, "It is very important to me that my support program was designed using sport psychology research." What will you gain from the Super-P program? You’ll gain valuable insights and tools to improve communication with your child athlete. Effective communication is key to building a strong relationship with your child athlete. In this workshop, you'll learn proven strategies to improve communication and strengthen your bond with your child. You’ll get science and psychology backed approaches to parenting child athletes. Super-P is based on the latest research in science and psychology, ensuring that you have access to the most effective and up-to-date strategies for supporting your child athlete. The Super-P Approach will improve your child's performance through practical strategies to keep your child calm. This will help your child athlete perform better in competitions and events. Jen is close to finishing her PhD program and continues to work with parents across a range of youth sports. If you're interested in learning more about her Super-P program, you can check out her website at www.raisinghappychamps.com . To reach out to Jen directly, email her at info@raisinghappychamps.com . You can also follow Jen on either Facebook or Instagram: Facebook: Raisinghappychamps Instagram: Raisinghappychamps Jen has graciously offered exclusive discounts for the ParentingAces community. SUPER-P 25% DISCOUNT : 25% off the SPEEDY SUPER-P Course - Jen's research-based education program designed for sport parents. CODE: ACES25. LINK to BOOK: https://www.raisinghappychamps.co.uk/challenge-page/speedy PREMIUM PARENTING PLAN: 50% DISCOUNT!!! For those of you looking for the full parenting support package - check out Jen's PREMIUM PARENTING PLAN for both parent and child support. 3 courses for one incredible price - SUPER-P, Anxiety Busting, and Learning How to Have the Best Competition Experience with her NINJA-P course. Already 35% off and all listeners can get a further 15% discount with this exclusive code. CODE: ACES15. LINK to BOOK: https://www.raisinghappychamps.co.uk/plans-pricing If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 28, 2024

Welcome to Season 13, Episode 34, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Ben Shapiro of Atlas Tennis shares their inaugural European tennis trip and plans for the 2024-25 school year. Atlas Tennis creates youth tennis camp experiences for teenagers to travel, compete, and grow both on and off the court. Its trips are designed to maximize player and personal development through travel and different tennis environments. The team behind Atlas Tennis includes not only Ben as the Director, but also former top ATP pro Eric Butorac, president of TopNotch Management Sam Duvall, former WTA pro Megan Moulton-Levy, and Andrew Chmura of Grand Slam Tennis Tours. Among them, they have decades of experience developing young tennis players, managing player travel and other needs, and competing themselves on the world stage. We have published a first-hand account of one junior player's experience on our website at https://parentingaces.com/articles/my-experience-with-atlas-tennis . For more information: Website: https://atlas.tennis Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atlastennis/ Newsletter: https://eepurl.com/iGsOF6 If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 21, 2024

Welcome to Season 13, Episode 33, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, we dive into a new way to play our sport that is time-limited, team-based, and provides a guaranteed income with benefits for players at the pro level. Time Tennis seeks to rethink the game to make it more fan-friendly, more player-friendly, and more tv-friendly. This is how it works . . . Players are drafted onto co-ed teams where they can compete in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. Each match is 30 minutes of play, with a two-minute half-time show for entertainment and fan engagement. Coaches are allowed on court and may make one player substitution per half. The scoring is simple point accumulation: 1, 2, 3, 4, ... making it easier for casual fans to understand; clean winners are worth 2 points. At the end of 30 minutes, whoever leads is the winner, with a sudden death point played in the case of a tie. At the professional level, players are paid an annual salary with full benefits. The league season is 6 months with players expected to help run events and engage in their local communities during the off-season. Why? Because the way tennis is currently structured eats into players' mental health, financial stability, and family life. Time Tennis seeks to provide a way for professional players to build a quality life in the community they represent while giving fans that feeling of cheering for the home team. At the junior level, Time Tennis provides a structure for more team events in a time-limited setting, making it more attractive for tennis facilities to host competitions while preserving the physical and mental health of our young athletes. Juniors would compete as part of a co-ed team in all formats (singles, doubles, mixed doubles) and, hopefully, attract local fans to come out and cheer them on. For more information on Time Tennis, visit their website at https://www.timetennis.com/ and follow them on Instagram at https://instagram.com/timetennisintl , Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/timetennisintl , X at https://x.com/TimeTennisIntl , and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/timetennisintl/ . If you are interested in bringing a Time Tennis event to your area, email info@timetennis.com . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone, August Allen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 14, 2024

Welcome to Season 13, Episode 32, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network. This week, tennis parent and entrepreneur, Anirban Dutta, shares his journey through junior tennis with his twins, Maya and Jai, and the creation of Tennis Wizard . This episode all started with a Facebook post (see below) Anirban made in one of our groups about his recent experience at Junior Wimbledon as Maya competed there. As he and Lisa spoke, he was able to share details about the differences in his two kids' pathways, which are both leading them successfully to play college tennis. Anirban Dutta has been a tennis player, coach, administrator, and entrepreneur. As a player, he played DI and DII college tennis and represented India in Junior Team events. As a coach, he was a junior development coach at Midtown Tennis Club in Chicago, Canyon Creek Country Club in Dallas and The Sports Club at Four Seasons, Irving. He was also DI men’s assistant tennis coach at Chicago State University. Recently, he helped coach his daughter Maya Dutta to 94 ITF and son Jai Dutta to DI tennis at Indiana University, Indianapolis. Anirban is also a founding investor at a Birch Racquet & Lawn Club owned by the Taylor Dent family. He was a board member and committee chair at USTA TX and is a Co-founder of an Inc 5000 award-winning software company called CompuMatrice. Currently he is focused on growing Tennis Wizard, a tennis journey acceleration platform for junior tennis players. Tennis Wizard provides junior tennis players with 1-on-1 accountability partnership, tennis journey guidance, college tennis guidance, and a wellness management program. They are offering a 30-day free trial at https://tenniswizard.com . We hope you find it helpful to get an inside look at this family's approach to junior tennis, how they budgeted and allocated that budget for each child, and the challenges of maintaining healthy parent-child relationships along the way. Anirban has set up a discount for our community to purchase Tennis Wizard. If you'd like to chat with Anirban further, he has generously offered to share his contact info: dutta@compumatrice.com (email), 817-403-5214 (cell). Anirban's Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/groups/450459995340631/posts/2128048374248443 If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 7, 2024

Welcome to Season 13, Episode 31, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network. This week, we are joined by coach Marcelo Ferreira, former Men's Tennis Coach at Texas Tech and Pepperdine and High Performance Manager at the Windy Hill Athletic Club in Atlanta, GA. Marcelo recently returned from a European Adventure with several of his players and their families where the kids trained, watched some incredible professional tennis, and had the opportunity to interact with some of the pros. As you will hear, Marcelo had several goals for this trip, not the least of which was to show his players how their peers are training and competing in other countries and to appreciate the setting in which they are privileged to train. Growing up in Brazil, Marcelo was brought up with a lot of discipline when it came to his own tennis training and development. His hope is to instill that same work ethic in the juniors he works with at Windy Hill. If you are a junior coach interested in taking a similar trip with your players, Marcelo is happy to speak with you about what's involved. For those families in or around Atlanta, you can reach out to Marcelo about future travel and training opportunities. His email is marceloferreira2310@gmail.com . You can also follow him on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/coachferreiratennis/ - be sure to check out all his posts about this summer's trip! If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 1, 2024

Welcome to Season 13, Episode 30, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network. In this Bonus Episode, incoming ITA CEO, Dave Mullins, walks us through last week's House Settlement regarding NCAA Division I Tennis and how it could impact recruiting across all divisions of college tennis. Dave will be stepping in as the ITA CEO on January 1, 2025, but he has been involved in college tennis as a player, coach, and on the governance side for decades now. He has appeared on this podcast numerous times over the years and has always been forthcoming with us about what's happening in the college tennis landscape. Please watch/listen to this episode if you have a child entering their recruiting years or already in the midst of it all. As Dave notes, these changes won't go into effect until the 2025-26 academic year, and we could see many tweaks between now and then. He has promised to come back on the pod as this storyline progresses. If you have further questions, you can reach Dave via email at dmullins@itatennis.com . Or you can tweet at him at https://twitter.com/DaveMullins_ITA . His direct phone number is (602) 341-8517 - he is happy to hop on a call to discuss any concerns you may have. Be sure to visit the ITA website for all things college tennis at https://wearecollegetennis.com/ . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 31, 2024

Welcome to Season 13, Episode 29, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, we dive into the high cost of junior tennis and what one Tennis Parent did to ensure her family could support their kids throughout their junior tennis journey. As the mom of a tennis player, Erinn Murray struggled to find courts and coaching that her family could afford. In her pursuit, she discovered she wasn’t the only one and far more than just her children could benefit from her efforts to bring tennis to her Texas community. Since 2006, she has been in the pursuit of affordable, accessible tennis for anyone who wants to play. She has learned how to speak at a council meeting, written more grants than she could have ever imagined and has created a facility in her community that will hopefully live in perpetuity. The 6-court facility is set and ready for 4 more courts and even 2 pickleball courts. Erinn and her staff work with hundreds of kids annually. From the littles who are just trying something new to those varsity players who are striving to play at the collegiate level. The kids' goals are their goals, plain and simple. The path has been rewarding but also difficult. Erinn shares her story with all who ask to minimize their struggle. She has a thousand stories about ways that didn’t work, and she can also tell you what did work. To reach Erinn, email her at tennis@gvtc.com . Visit the Spring Branch Tennis Association website at springbranchtennis.com . You can also reach Erinn by phone at 830-205-1150. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 24, 2024

Welcome to Season 13, Episode 28, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Coach Joey Blake shares how parents and junior coaches can best use match charting throughout the junior development journey. Joey Blake is a former world-ranked professional tennis player and was one of the best junior tennis players in the 1980’s. Blake was raised in Las Vegas, NV. Blake was a U.S. Open Junior Doubles Champion as well as a finalist in singles. He attended the University of Arkansas on a full tennis scholarship, where he became the first freshmen since John McEnroe to win the prestigious NCAA National Indoor singles title and went on to be ranked as high as #1 in the United States in the NCAA Division 1 national rankings in 1986. Blake was an NCAA All-American. Blake turned professional after one of the greatest seasons of any freshman in NCAA tennis history Blake went on to play the professional men’s tennis tour. Life changing tennis related injuries saw the talented Blake retire at the young age of 21. At the age of 22, Mr. Blake began his coaching career. He is regarded as one of the most esteemed and respected high performance junior coaches in the world. He has mentored and coached eight #1 U.S Juniors. Grand Slam and NCAA Champions as well as Olympians. Mr. Blake’s students have gone on to earn more than $5 million dollars in collegiate scholarships attending some of the most prestigious universities in the country. Blake has owned and operated some of the most successful tennis player development programs throughout the world. A reputation that puts students life development first along with a personalized tennis development program for each of his students. Blake consults, mentors and instructs his proven tennis philosophy around the world as as a guest speaker and clinician regularly to avid supporters and tennis fans seeking his vast knowledge of tennis. Early in his coaching career, Joey learned and understood the value of charting matches for his players. He has worked with some of the best coaching mentors out there and developed what he feels are best practices for evaluating matches and using the data when creating or editing developmental plans for his players. Joey has worked closely with Andy Durham, the creator of RacketStats , as well as other tennis statisticians and understands the nuances of match data. In this episode, he shares with us how to better use that data with our own junior players. You can follow Joey on social media at https://www.facebook.com/pro10s and https://x.com/joeyblaketennis . You can also reach him via email at joey@joeyblaketennis.com . Find him online at Joeyblaketennis.com and Spinmastersportfoundation.com . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 17, 2024

Welcome to Season 13, Episode 27, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, we learn about a new product to enhance on- and off-court training with a portable and wearable apparatus. WearBands is an innovative tool to make your workouts more effective while avoiding over-stressing growing bones and connective tissue. The WearBands system is designed to increase the results of any workout or activity via the proven training benefits of time under tension and neuromuscular stimulation. WearBands come in four sock sizes, three lower-body band sizes, and 3 upper-body band sizes, which together accommodate almost anyone of any shoe size, height, and fitness level. The website has a sizing tool that will help you figure out what is correct for your player or yourself. Unlike all other resistance bands, WearBands allows unrestricted movement under variable resistance. Typical resistance bands are either tied to a stationary object, held by another person, or held in your hands. These systems often do not allow the body to move in a natural way with proper posture, and do not leave your hands free. WearBands allows true functional movement under resistance, the way body naturally moves. With your hands free and your body untethered, you are free to add upper-body resistance, if you wish, and you are free to move anywhere and everywhere. This allows for a more complete workout. Upper- and lower-body muscle groups can receive a resistance workout simultaneously, and you can also add fully functional resistance to any cardio workout. You will receive more results in the same time, or the same results in less time, because you are burning more calories (up to 20 percent), getting more cardio, and getting more toning from the same workout. The muscles therefore receive a much more concentrated resistance workout, and for the first time ever, your muscles are trained under resistance to work in a coordinated fashion, as they do when you naturally move. Dan has generously offered our community a 20% discount on WearBands. To purchase, visit https://wearbands.com/pages/product-page and choose your preferred item(s). Use code ACES at checkout to receive your discount. For some ideas of how to workout using WearBands, check out these links: https://share.mindstamp.com/w/HziDHVtZgvFK https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWfUB7olqETFdjtTa17GBl1gLmUEPOD5t&si=R8yidYFTk6joueNx https://wearbands.com/pages/wearbands-interactive-sports-videos If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 10, 2024

Welcome to Season 13, Episode 26, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Lisa chats with former top junior player and collegiate All-American and current tennis-specific nutritionist, Erika Villalobos. Erika Villalobos has transitioned from the courts to become a board-certified nutritionist with a master's in nutrition, specializing in the dietary needs of tennis players. Currently, she collaborates with elite junior and professional players, leveraging her comprehensive understanding of sports nutrition to enhance their performance. In this episode, Erika shares specific tips and guidelines for growing junior tennis players to maximize their performance through better food and hydration choices. She discusses how and what to eat on training days as well as at the various points throughout a tournament week or weekend. Her invaluable contributions on CoachLife cover essential topics like optimal pre-training and tournament nutrition, strategies for hydration and preventing cramps, exploring the significant advantages of caffeine and creatine, and guiding athletes on the effective use of supplements. Erika’s expertise offers players a foundation for not just improving their game, but elevating their overall wellbeing through tailored nutritional strategies. Explore over 330 videos tailored for parents, coaches, and players on CoachLife.com —the premier online resource for tennis coaching knowledge. Our extensive library covers tennis-specific sports psychology, nutrition, footwork, coaching and parenting advice, detailed shot progressions, and insights into the training regimens of top players during their junior years. Learn from coaches who have shaped the careers of tennis legends such as Swiatek, Gauff, Tiafoe, Kyrgios, Fritz, Sampras, Jack Draper, Sharapova, Pegula, Tommy Paul, Roddick, Davenport, Rafter, Nishikori, Kevin Anderson, Mardy Fish, Guillermo Coria, Fernando Gonzalez, and Reilly Opelka at various stages of their development. Additionally, benefit from a comprehensive strength and conditioning program designed to improve various performance areas. Listeners can now take advantage of a 7-day free trial by visiting CoachLife.com . Plus, get an exclusive discount when you click the link in our show notes. Learn directly from the legendary junior coaches behind the world's top pros and elevate your game with CoachLife. Start your journey to tennis excellence today! Affiliate link : https://coachlife.com/?ref=EVPA Discount code : EVPA The discount code gives 5% off the 1st year's subscription - click on the affiliate link and enter the code during checkout. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 3, 2024

Welcome to Season 13, Episode 25, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, coach Todd Widom is back to help all of us better understand what is meant by the term "High Performance" when it comes to junior tennis. "High Performance" is something that gets thrown around much too casually in the junior tennis world. Coaches of varying degrees of experience and expertise will call their training environment "high performance" when, in reality, they are showing no signs of understanding or implementing "high performance" methods. Similarly, junior players and their parents will claim to be "high performance" when, in reality, their day-to-day commitment to tennis lacks the focus and intensity to deserve that moniker. So, what is "high performance" when it comes to junior tennis development? Give this week's podcast a watch/listen and find out! To contact Todd or to get information on his training, you can reach him at todd@twtennis.com . If you aren’t already, be sure to follow him on Facebook and Instagram as well. And check out his newly-redesigned website at https://twtennis.com/ . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 26, 2024

Welcome to Season 13, Episode 24, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Lisa is joined by developmental coach Marcy Hendricks. *Disclaimer: ParentingAces is providing this podcast as a public service. Reference to any specific product, service, or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by ParentingAces, Lisa Stone, or Fit For 2, Inc. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program is not and does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Always do your own due diligence before purchasing, hiring, or using any product, service, or provider. Marcy has been teaching High Performance Tennis in the Chicagoland area for 30 years. She has sent over 200 kids to prestigious colleges with full ride tennis scholarships ( Duke, Princeton, Notre Dame, Stanford, North Carolina, Georgia to name just a few). She has worked and run over 25 USTA sectional and regional camps and was the Girls 18's Fed Cup Coach for the Midwest section for 7 years and the Battle of the Sections Coach in 2023. Marcy currently serves on the USTA Coaches Commission board while continuing to work with juniors of all ages and levels. Become a Premium Member - click here to join Recently, Marcy has noticed a disturbing trend in developmental coaching and how junior players and parents respond to it. Coaches are no longer receiving the type of education and support from our governing body necessary to helping them do their jobs most effectively. Only those coaches who are intrinsically motivated to learn and improve on their own time are getting better at developing players using the most current body of knowledge and techniques employed in other parts of the world. Parents are - dare I say it? - almost too involved in their children's tennis journey while lacking the education and support necessary to ensure all parties involved have the most positive experience possible. Lucky you to have ParentingAces here to help! 😉 And the junior players are paying the price, wasting precious time with coaches who don't have the knowledge or desire to help them reach their potential. In this episode, Marcy and I talk about these issues - and more! - in hopes of effecting change in the way junior coaches are educated and supported. We would love to hear your thoughts via the Comments! To reach March directly, you can email her at marcyrooo@aol.com . You can also follow her on Facebook and Instagram and message her on either platform. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 19, 2024

Welcome to Season 13, Episode 23, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week brings our next episode with coaches who are part of CoachLife, a new platform for tennis coaching knowledge. Guy Fritz's legacy in tennis coaching is solidified by his unparalleled achievement of developing two top-ten players from the ground up, including his son, Taylor Fritz, from age 2 to 18. Under his guidance, Taylor developed one of the cleanest techniques in the sport's history. Additionally, Guy coached Coco Vandeweghe from ages 8 to 16, further showcasing his expertise in nurturing young talent. *Disclaimer: ParentingAces is providing this podcast as a public service. Reference to any specific product, service, or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by ParentingAces, Lisa Stone, or Fit For 2, Inc. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program is not and does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Always do your own due diligence before purchasing, hiring, or using any product, service, or provider. Become a Premium Member - click here to join A former professional player with over six decades of experience and thousands of players coached, Guy is celebrated for his mastery in technical shot shaping. His series on CoachLife stands out for offering in-depth technical breakdowns of all shots, accompanied by game-changing tips. Guy's philosophy emphasizes creating the optimal environment for development, focusing on the long-term growth of the game rather than the immediate outcomes of winning or losing. In this episode, Guy talks about his own tennis journey as well as the challenges of being both parent and coach to a developing young player. His candid answers to Lisa's questions will give listeners a lot to ponder as they go through this journey with their own child(ren). Explore over 330 videos tailored for parents, coaches, and players on CoachLife.com —the premier online resource for tennis coaching knowledge. Our extensive library covers tennis-specific sports psychology, nutrition, footwork, coaching and parenting advice, detailed shot progressions, and insights into the training regimens of top players during their junior years. Learn from coaches who have shaped the careers of tennis legends such as Swiatek, Gauff, Tiafoe, Kyrgios, Fritz, Sampras, Jack Draper, Sharapova, Pegula, Tommy Paul, Roddick, Davenport, Rafter, Nishikori, Kevin Anderson, Mardy Fish, Guillermo Coria, Fernando Gonzalez, and Reilly Opelka at various stages of their development. Additionally, benefit from a comprehensive strength and conditioning program designed to improve various performance areas. Listeners can now take advantage of a 7-day free trial by visiting CoachLife.com . Plus, get an exclusive discount when you click the link in our show notes. Learn directly from the legendary junior coaches behind the world's top pros and elevate your game with CoachLife. Start your journey to tennis excellence today! Affiliate link : https://coachlife.com/?ref=GUYPA Discount code : GuyPA The discount code gives 5% off the 1st year's subscription - click on the affiliate link and enter the code during checkout. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 12, 2024

Welcome to Season 13, Episode 22, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week Lisa chats again with high-performance junior and WTA coach, Tom Downs ( click here for our Season 10 podcast with Tom). Tom is currently working as a private coach based in Dallas, Texas, and is working with former ITF Junior #3 and current WTA player Liv Hovde. Prior to coaching tour players, however, Tom was a high-level junior himself in his home country of Australia. He came to the US to play college tennis and soon realized he had a gift and a passion for coaching. As you'll hear in our interview, Tom was fortunate to come into the orbit of well-known coach, Harold Solomon, early in his career, and considers Harold a mentor to this day. Tom became the Director of Coaching at the Harold Solomon Tennis Institute in 2008 where he spent the next 8 years building up his coaching muscle. He was the hitting partner/coach for several top female players including Sam Stosur, Renae Stubbs, and Elena Dementieva. From 2016 until the start of the Pandemic in 2020, Tom worked with juniors, college players, and pros in South Florida. During that time, he had the good fortune to work with then-junior Peyton Stearns, helping her develop into a top collegiate player at the University of Texas where she became the NCAA DI Singles Champion in 2022. Tom worked with Peyton again as she transitioned onto the pro tour, sitting courtside as she won over 20 matches including two 25k ITF tournaments. To contact Coach Tom Downs, you can email him at tassietom123@gmail.com or text him at 813-382-2241 . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop at https://parentingaces.com/shop . To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 5, 2024

Welcome to Season 13, Episode 21, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week's episode may not be suitable for your children, so please use discretion before letting them watch/listen. When he was 11 years old, Stevie Gould knew what he wanted from tennis: a Blue Chip rating, direct entry into the biggest junior tournaments, a prestigious college tennis scholarship, and a real shot at the professional tour. Stevie did reach his goals of playing Kalamazoo and qualifying events for professional tournaments. He played Division I tennis at the University of Washington for one year before transferring to the University of San Francisco until he graduated with a psychology degree. In the Fall of 2024, Stevie will complete his college tennis eligibility with a year at Saint Mary's College as he pursues a Master's Degree. Stevie's parents - as well as others in the local tennis community - followed his lead and became part of the Burgos Tennis Program. The Goulds were providing their only child with what they thought was a coaching situation that would help Stevie reach his goals while keeping the fun alive for him. They could have never imagined what was truly going on with their son and his coach. As Stevie explains, sexual predators are professionals. They study their prey. They calculate the best way to get what they want. And they are willing to spend months - if not years - grooming their victims. In Stevie's case, he had a coach who seemed to be able to provide everything Stevie needed to become the best tennis player possible. The coach seemed to know what it would take for Stevie to reach his goals as well as the skills to help him along the way. For several months, Stevie's parents - like the other parents in their California community - would drive him to practices, stay and watch, and slowly build a trusting relationship with this man who would be guiding their son. All the parents did their research. All the parents thought they knew who this man truly was. Sadly, they never could have imagined who the coach turned out to be. If there's a takeaway from this episode, it is this: Parents, follow the Goulds' lead and do your due diligence before hiring a coach for your child. Talk to your child about proper and improper touch, acceptable behaviors between a child and adult, and what to do if a trusted adult crosses the line. Keep the lines of communication open with your child so that they feel comfortable coming to you if anything seems or is not as it should be. Then, hope against hope that it works and your child never has to experience what Stevie went through from age 11 to almost 16. For more information and resources, be sure to read the full show notes at https://parentingaces.com/podcasts/when-the-nightmare-is-real-ft-stevie-gould . *Don’t forget to register for our upcoming Junior Tennis Player & Parent Virtual Conference on June 9th! Link: https://juniortennisconference.eventbrite.com * If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 29, 2024

Welcome to Season 13, Episode 20, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Lisa is joined by KT Tape's head of product, Kade Applegate. *Disclaimer: ParentingAces is providing this podcast as a public service. Reference to any specific product, service, or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by ParentingAces, Lisa Stone, or Fit For 2, Inc. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program is not and does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Always do your own due diligence before purchasing, hiring, or using any product, service, or provider. Become a Premium Member - click here to join Lisa did an earlier podcast with KT Tape in 2023 (click https://parentingaces.com/articles/how-to-use-kinesio-tape-to-prevent-treat-injury-ft-zach-decker/ for that episode), but, as always, the company continues to innovate and create new products that should be of interest to the ParentingAces community. In this latest episode, Kade shares the new Pro Ice line of products that include menthol to cool and provide pain relief to injured areas. If you watch the video version, you will see Kade actually demonstrate how to correctly apply KT Tape for maximum support. KT Tape has, once again, graciously offered a nice discount to our audience on its Ice Family of Products which includes the new tape, ice sleeve, magnesium cremes, and hot/cold massage ball. Simply use the discount code ACE-PODCAST for 30% off any KT products listed at https://www.kttape.com/collections/kt-ice-family-of-products . Don't forget to register for our upcoming Junior Tennis Player & Parent Virtual Conference on June 9th! Link: https://juniortennisconference.eventbrite.com If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 22, 2024

Welcome to Season 13, Episode 19, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week brings our next episode with coaches who are part of CoachLife, a new platform for tennis coaching knowledge. Todd Larkham, who coached Nick Kyrgios for over 10,000 hours, shares his coaching philosophy and key strategies that shaped Nick’s career, emphasizing the blend of talent, coaching, and training environment needed for success. With a career spanning 18 Grand Slams and a high rank of 136, Todd’s instructional content on CoachLife, including forehand techniques and a top-tier kick serve video, offers invaluable insights to enhance your tennis skills. Explore over 330 videos tailored for parents, coaches, and players on CoachLife.com —the premier online resource for tennis coaching knowledge. Our extensive library covers tennis-specific sports psychology, nutrition, footwork, coaching and parenting advice, detailed shot progressions, and insights into the training regimens of top players during their junior years. Learn from coaches who have shaped the careers of tennis legends such as Swiatek, Gauff, Tiafoe, Kyrgios, Fritz, Sampras, Jack Draper, Sharapova, Pegula, Tommy Paul, Roddick, Davenport, Rafter, Nishikori, Kevin Anderson, Mardy Fish, Guillermo Coria, Fernando Gonzalez, and Reilly Opelka at various stages of their development. Additionally, benefit from a comprehensive strength and conditioning program designed to improve various performance areas. Listeners can now take advantage of a 7-day free trial by visiting CoachLife.com . Plus, get an exclusive discount when you click the link in our show notes. Learn directly from the legendary junior coaches behind the world's top pros and elevate your game with CoachLife. Start your journey to tennis excellence today! Affiliate link : https://coachlife.com/?ref=TODDPA Discount code : ToddPA The discount code gives 5% off the 1st year's subscription - click on the affiliate link and enter the code during checkout. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 15, 2024

Welcome to Season 13, Episode 18, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week we take a deep dive into parenting and coaching and playing with juniors who learn differently. *Disclaimer: ParentingAces is providing this podcast as a public service. Reference to any specific product, service, or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by ParentingAces, Lisa Stone, or Fit For 2, Inc. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program is not and does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Always do your own due diligence before purchasing, hiring, or using any product, service, or provider. Become a Premium Member - click here to join Lisa Pugliese-LaCroix is a former top junior and college player who tried her hand on the WTA tour before finding her passion working as a Speech-Language Pathologist. She now combines that passion with her love of tennis as the founder of Love Serving Autism , a non-profit organization dedicated to offering racquet sports to all children and adults regardless of their learning style. In 2023, the CDC reported that approximately 1 in 36 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to 2018 data with a 4 to 1 higher prevalence in boys. This means the likelihood of a neurotypical junior facing a neurodivergent junior in a tennis learning and/or tournament environment is pretty high. With that in mind, the two Lisas discuss best practices for coaching and playing with junior players who may have some type of learning challenge, including being on the autism spectrum, ADHD, or ADD. Love Serving Autism also works with junior tennis coaches to help them develop tools to better work with neurodivergent athletes. As you will hear, Lisa is committed to helping coaches, tournament directors, parents, and players have a more positive experience on and off the court. You can find out more about Love Serving Autism and Lisa's work on their website at https://loveservingautism.org/ . You can also reach out to Lisa directly via email at lisa@loveservingautism.org . To follow them on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loveservingautism/ X: https://twitter.com/LSAAutismTennis Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/LoveServingAutism/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChCbBSSTmL1vEjlyplBFI2g If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 8, 2024

Welcome to Season 13, Episode 17, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week brings the first of many episodes with coaches who are part of CoachLife, a new platform for tennis coaching knowledge. Diego Moyano, a renowned developmental coach for tennis stars like Tommy Paul, Reilly Opelka, Frances Tiafoe, and Taylor Fritz, has shaped top talents including Coco Gauff and Kevin Anderson, blending rigorous South American footwork with insights from French and US tennis. His extensive experience is showcased in CoachLife’s video series, offering transformative coaching strategies for developing top juniors globally. Explore over 330 videos tailored for parents, coaches, and players on CoachLife.com —the premier online resource for tennis coaching knowledge. Our extensive library covers tennis-specific sports psychology, nutrition, footwork, coaching and parenting advice, detailed shot progressions, and insights into the training regimens of top players during their junior years. Learn from coaches who have shaped the careers of tennis legends such as Swiatek, Gauff, Tiafoe, Kyrgios, Fritz, Sampras, Jack Draper, Sharapova, Pegula, Tommy Paul, Roddick, Davenport, Rafter, Nishikori, Kevin Anderson, Mardy Fish, Guillermo Coria, Fernando Gonzalez, and Reilly Opelka at various stages of their development. Additionally, benefit from a comprehensive strength and conditioning program designed to improve various performance areas. Listeners can now take advantage of a 7-day free trial by visiting CoachLife.com . Plus, get an exclusive discount when you click the link in our show notes. Learn directly from the legendary junior coaches behind the world's top pros and elevate your game with CoachLife. Start your journey to tennis excellence today! Affiliate link : https://coachlife.com/?ref=DIEGOPA Discount code : DiegoPA The discount code gives 5% off the 1st year's subscription - click on the affiliate link and enter the code during checkout. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 1, 2024

Welcome to Season 13, Episode 16, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, you get to hear all about my experience at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain, as well as information from the Head of Men's and Women's Tennis at the Academy, Project Manager for Avanza Sports, and several junior players who were training there during my visit. This episode is a little longer than usual, but I hope you'll watch/listen to the entire podcast as each person offers a unique perspective on the Academy. Marc Gorriz is the Head of Men´s and Women Tennis for the Academy. He is a former 88 ATP singles and 73 doubles player as well as the former coach of ten Top 100 ATP/WTA players. Marc was brought on to help develop the tennis curriculum for the Academy at the beginning stages of its creation. He works closely with Rafael Nadal and Toni Nadal to ensure the methodology stays true to their own training regimen. My interview with Marc starts around the 13-minute mark of the podcast. Daniel del Val is a project manager for Avanza Sports and was our point person throughout our visit in Barcelona and Mallorca. He works with coaches and clubs around the world to provide a 5-star experience to everyone who participates in a junior or adult camp or full travel experience that includes premium seats at a top professional tennis tournament (ours was the Barcelona Open). My interview with Dani starts around the 35:30 mark of the podcast. Alayna, Millie, Ashwin, Yashwin, Nigel, and Mateo are junior players of varying levels with a variety of tennis goals. You will hear about their different experiences at the Nadal Academy, what they learned, and what they will take away from their visit. My interviews with the junior players starts around the 49-minute mark of the podcast. Daniel and Avanza Sports have set up a nice discount code for the ParentingAces community to attend any junior or adult camps during Summer 2024. You can see the full schedule of North and South American offerings at https://rafanadalacademycampusa.com/ . For a discount to the camp (this will apply to all available camps during Summer 2024): Junior Camp code $75 off: parentingacesjuniors Adult camp code $50 off: parentingacesadults For a discount on the International Travel Experience I did, which includes a city/tournament experience in addition to a week at the Nadal Academy, you will need to contact Daniel directly at dval@rafanadalacademycampusa.com . *Be sure to mention ParentingAces in your email* . If enough people are interested, Avanza Sports will set up a trip for the ParentingAces community, so please let me know if this is something you'd like me to pursue with Dani and the rest of the Avanza staff. Follow both Avanza Sports and the Rafa Nadal Academy on social media to see updates and new offerings. For Avanza Sports: Instagram: https://instagram.com/avanzasports Website: https://rafanadalacademycampusa.com/ For the Rafa Nadal Academy: Instagram: https://instagram.com/rafanadalacademy Website: https://www.rafanadalacademy.com/ Here is a short promo video produced by the Academy about its Junior programs: [youtube id="O-HB-Ibvpj8?si=WgsFAWMzw-B3i4Lr"] [/youtube] If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 17, 2024

Welcome to Season 13, Episode 15, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, father-son duo, Scott and Bode Campbell, share a real-world example of a family from Minnesota (please ignore my mistake in the opening to the episode - I do know the difference between Minnesota and Wisconsin!) trying to navigate high level junior tennis utilizing the resources and content created and curated by ParentingAces. In this episode, you will learn how a parent and family has used this forum to answer questions they had about junior tennis and become exposed to the latest trends in training, college recruiting, and parenting well. Scott grew up in a tennis family and has played - and coached - throughout his life, including having a wonderful college tennis career at DePauw University . When his children were born, Scott knew he wanted to introduce them to tennis as well as other sports due to the lessons he learned through being an athlete. Oldest child, Greta, found her passion in dance (following in her mother's shoes). Middle and youngest sons, Bode and Gus, found their passion in a variety of sports including soccer, hockey, basketball, and, of course, tennis. Though Scott felt he knew a lot about junior tennis and the developmental pathways available, he also knew there was a lot he DIDN'T know. When Bode was 12, Scott stumbled upon the ParentingAces podcast and website and has used our extensive resources to inform his family's journey ever since. Bode continued to play multiple sports throughout middle school but realized last year that if he wanted to fulfill his dream of playing college tennis, it was time to bow out of hockey and the others. He feels like the resources his dad discovered through ParentingAces have made an enormous difference in terms of his on- and off-court training and his college recruiting efforts. Finishing his junior year of high school, staying in traditional school throughout, Bode is excited for what the summer will bring in terms of his development and competitive opportunities. Both Scott and Bode recognize the wealth of resources ParentingAces brings to families who are just trying to understand if and how high-level tennis (college and beyond) can be figured out. They have used those resources to help Bode get to his goal of playing in college and hope other families understand how valuable ParentingAces can be from start to finish. Scott has graciously offered to field any questions you may have via email: sccsearch@msn.com . You can find both Scott and Bode on Instagram as well. Scott is https://www.instagram.com/scottcoulter5/ and Bode is https://www.instagram.com/bodecampbell_tennis/ . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 10, 2024

Welcome to Season 13, Episode 14, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, we visit with the directors of a junior tennis academy in South Florida about their approach to overall junior development as well as overall human development. Carley and Marcin Rozpedski are a husband and wife duo who have recently taken the reigns at the Inspiration Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Not solely by coincidence, they are located just a few blocks away from the IMG Academy, which many of you will know by name if not by reputation. Both Carley and Marcin are active members of the ParentingAces Facebook community and often offer valuable advice to other Tennis Parents in the midst of this exciting journey with their own kids. As a former top junior and college player, as well as a successful ATP player, Marcin understands what it takes to help a child achieve their dreams on the tennis court. As Carley says, she married into tennis, but now as a Tennis Parent herself, has had her own trial by fire as she has helped guide their three sons on the journey to their goals. We won't go into too much detail here about the philosophy of Inspiration Academy - you'll need to watch/listen to the podcast for that information - but we do have an amazing opportunity for one female and one male player . . . Inspiration Academy is offering ONE WEEK OF FREE ALL-INCLUSIVE TRAINING this summer to the winner of the ParentingAces Tennis Means Love contest! To enter, please complete and submit the contest entry form at https://forms.gle/By9NYSjrNJeR6Ujo8 NO LATER THAN MAY 1 . The entry form must be completed BY THE PLAYER - please, mom and dad, do not do the entry for your child (and, yes, we'll be able to tell if you did!). We will choose one male and one female to receive the Grand Prize of one week at the Inspiration Academy during Summer 2024 - travel costs to and from the academy will be the responsibility of the winners though Inspiration may be able to assist if needed. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 3, 2024

Welcome to Season 13, Episode 13, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Lisa talks with junior developmental coach, Aaron Rusnak, about how coaching has changed since he first started playing the game as a nine-year-old child. Aaron is a highly respected coach and has been teaching tennis for 28 years. He played on the ATP Tour and was nominated in 2021 by Tennis Channel and Top Spin Magazine as a Top 25 Coach in the U.S. Aaron has coached College Tennis at a variety of levels and has directed and grown club programs and groups. He has a true talent to see things others don't and knows how to grow and develop a player at any level from the ground up. As a former player he has the knowledge and personal experience to know what players feel like and what they are going through mentally, physically and emotionally. He uses this knowledge to listen to his players then develop a plan around their specific wants and needs. Throughout his career, Aaron has seen our sport - and its coaches and players - change in significant ways. But, instead of fighting these changes, Aaron chooses to embrace them, adapting the way he coaches both players and other coaches in pursuit of their goals. To reach Aaron, you can email him at rushandcrush@prodigy.net , call or text him at 708-471-5416, or follow him on Instagram at @inspire2betennis . You can also find him on LinkedIn at @AaronRusnak and on his website at https://InnovationTennisCoaching.com . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 27, 2024

Welcome to Season 13, Episode 12, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, we bring you something a little different! For the past 3 weeks, Lisa has been on site at a variety of junior tournaments. She finishes her stint at the prestigious Easter Bowl in the California Desert. While there, Lisa had the opportunity to record conversations with Colette Lewis of ZooTennis ; Boys 12s player , Rex Kulman; Junior Developmental Coach, JY Aubone ; and Junior Developmental Coach and owner of Austin Tennis Academy , Jack Newman. Since these conversations were done live and in person, and since Lisa's editing skills still leave a lot to be desired (!), this episode may look and sound a bit different from what you usually get from us. That said, we hope you'll check out the video version on ParentingAces.com for the full Easter Bowl vibe! If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 20, 2024

Welcome to Season 13, Episode 11, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this week's podcast, Lisa checks in with former top junior and college player, Jake Beasley . Jake grew up in the Atlanta area, competing locally and sectionally throughout the Southeast. During high school, he and his family decided he could enhance his training and reach his goal of playing high-level college tennis by moving to the Sanchez-Casal Tennis Academy in South Florida. Jake saw his level rise and, in his senior year of high school, was ready to move back home before heading off to play at the University of South Carolina. Then, COVID. Like many other college athletes, Jake had to make many adjustments to his life on and off the court. He also had a tough decision as he neared the end of his college degree program: stay for a 5th year as an undergrad or stay for a 5th year as a Master's Degree candidate. Jake chose the latter, continuing to play tennis for the Gamecocks while pursuing more academic learning. Once his 5th year was complete, Jake was offered the position of Assistant Coach for the men's tennis team while finishing his Master's before moving on to his PhD studies. In this episode, Jake shares his journey from juniors through college to coaching, along with the wisdom he's gained along the way. You can reach Jake at jacobpb@email.sc.edu . He tries to avoid social media as best he can but is very responsive to emails! If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 13, 2024

Welcome to Season 13 Episode 10 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . Dr. Pamela Ellis of Compass College Advisory joins us this week to talk about the intricacies of college admissions and how families can best approach this very important decision. You've heard me speak - a lot! - about letting your child drive the process of their college recruiting. However, as Dr. Ellis reveals, parents play a crucial role in the college admission puzzle as well. She has worked with thousands of students and their families to help them not only find the best college fit but also to uncover scholarship and other funding opportunities to help take the sting out of higher education. Pamela Ellis has her BA from Stanford, her MBA from Dartmouth, and her PhD from the Stanford School of Education. As with many entrepreneurs, she discovered a need among families for guidance when it comes to applying to and choosing a college for their children. She founded Compass to meet that need. She views her role as a partner with the family to help the student find a college that feels like home while avoiding overpaying for that educational experience. Her team is qualified to work with "regular" students as well as student-athletes in identifying great college fits from a variety of perspectives. To learn more about Compass College Advisory and to contact Pamela, visit their website at https://compasscollegeadvisory.com/ . If you are a junior coach who is interested in bringing in Pamela to talk with and/or work with your players and their families, you can reach her via email at info@compasscollegeadvisory.com . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 6, 2024

Welcome to Season 13 Episode 9 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, journalist Joel Drucker is back to share his thoughts on all things junior and college tennis. Joel has been around tennis since childhood. He fell in love with the game, growing up within biking distance to courts in his West LA neighborhood. That love of tennis has taken him around the world as a sought-after journalist and thought-leader in our sport. He has watched the game change over his 6+ decades of life and has seen young hopefuls go on to win at the highest levels of the sport and others fizzle out. Joel recently wrote an in-depth article on rising young junior player, Iva Jovic, who lives and trains in Southern California. He spent time with Iva, her family, and her coaches, trying to understand who this young woman is, not only as a tennis player but also as a person. You can find Joel's article on the Tennis Recruiting website at https://tennisrecruiting.net/article.asp?id=11532 . Whenever I chat with Joel, whether at a Grand Slam or a junior tournament or just via text message, I am taken by his thoughtfulness around what it takes to succeed in tennis. He has a unique way of looking at - and writing about - the game which is unparalleled. And I always leave our conversations a little wiser and a little "curiouser" to dig deeper. This particular conversation with Joel meanders into several aspects of junior development, tennis parenting, and what happens when expectations are placed on young players too soon. I hope you'll enjoy Joel's take on our sport and will be inspired to read more of his work! You can find links to his books and articles, as well as a Contact link, on his website at http://joeldrucker.com/ . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 28, 2024

Welcome to Season 13 Episode 8 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this episode, coaches Brian Wilson and John Nallon of the TBarM Racquet Club delve into the questions we need to ask when choosing a coach for our child(ren). We've been getting a lot of questions lately about what to do when a coaching situation goes south, so we figured it was time to revisit this issue of what to look for in a developmental coach. Both Brian and John have extensive experience coaching themselves but also developing and implementing coaching education, so who better to ask than these two? If you want to jump right to the meat of the conversation, go to around the 12:23 mark in the podcast. We've also been getting questions about spring break and summer training opportunities for junior players. TBarM offers several different options, from a weekend drop-in to a month-long camp to everything in between. To get more information, visit the Junior Tennis page of their website at https://tbarmtennis.com/junior-tennis/ . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 21, 2024

Welcome to Season 13 Episode 7 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . Renowned coach, Rick Macci, is back alongside his former student and current neuromuscular neurologist (more info on that in the pod!), Dr. Nivedita Uberoi Jerath aka Dr. Niva, to discuss their new book, BILLION DOLLAR MIND ( https://amzn.to/3tMs021 ). Last year, you had the opportunity to hear from Rick about his coaching philosophy and approach to junior tennis development ( https://parentingaces.com/articles/its-a-journey-ft-rick-macci/ ). In this episode, we delve deeper into the coaching of mindset and how that can impact a junior player's ability to perform at their best on and off the court. This new collaborative effort between coach and player/doctor combines Dr. Niva's neurological expertise with Macci's renowned coaching techniques, offering readers a practical roadmap to fortify their minds and overcome mental obstacles. BILLION DOLLAR MIND explores the intrinsic link between the mind and personal success, connecting fundamental neurology principles with the teachings that have shaped the careers of tennis stars like Venus and Serena Williams, Sofia Kenin, Andy Roddick, Jennifer Capriati, and Maria Sharapova under Rick Macci's guidance. The book aims to help readers: - Develop a profound understanding of the brain, senses, and the significance of thoughts. - Break free from thinking loops and negative thought patterns. - Harness the power of positive affirmations for a resilient mindset. - Cultivate self-love, practice gratitude, and build self-confidence. - Instill self-discipline, enhance focus, and nurture inner strength. For more information, and to purchase the book (ParentingAces may receive a small commission if you purchase through our Amazon link), go to https://amzn.to/3tMs021 . There is also a children's version of the book for younger readers, available at https://amzn.to/3TS4o6D . To get in touch with Rick Macci, you can email him at info@rickmacci.com . He has also generously shared his phone number for those who would like to chat with him: 561-445-2747. Or visit his website at https://rickmacci.com/ . Be sure to follow Rick on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter , and YouTube as well. To learn more about Dr. Niva, visit her website at https://drniva.com . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 14, 2024

Welcome to Season 13 Episode 6 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . They say necessity is the mother of invention. This week's guest, inventor and CPA Ken Bright, definitely supports that statement! Ken grew up playing competitive tennis alongside other sports. While he was quite the player, even playing on his high school team, he chose another path when it was time for college. However, he always kept playing and competing, growing his love for tennis into his adult life. After noticing he was amassing quite the collection of used tennis balls in his racquet bag, Ken thought there had to be a better solution for rallying those balls to use in future practices and matches. Rally Hopper ( https://rallyhopper.com/ ) was born! Traditional ball hoppers are awkwardly shaped, cumbersome to transport, and add unnecessary weight to your practice. Rally Hopper is a racquet-shaped ball hopper that fits into the racquet compartment of your tennis bag, holding around 30 balls. It has foldable legs which bring the balls to "grab level" during practices and can also be used to pick up the balls once empty. Taking things a step further, Ken was concerned about the amount of tennis string winding up in land fills. So, he created a way to recycle the string, using it to hold the balls in place in the Rally Hopper. Ken is now working with stringers across the US, providing them a simple way to collect their used string and ship it to him for use in this creative new tennis solution. For more information on Rally Hopper, be sure to visit the KickStarter page at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rallyhopper/rally-hopper . There you will find great photos and videos demonstrating its various uses and branding opportunities. You can also follow Rally Hopper on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/rallyhopper/ where Ken will be posting purchase and branding options as they become available. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 7, 2024

Welcome to Season 13 Episode 5 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this week's episode, we will be looking at one family's solution to the high costs of junior tennis development and competition. When Gwyneth Britton, now 11 years old, was just barely out of diapers, her dad, Anthony, noticed several outstanding qualities in her. She was tenacious. She was competitive. And she loved to ham it up for the camera. After introducing Gwyneth to tennis by hitting some balls on a neighborhood court, Anthony also saw she had great hand-eye coordination and a love for the game. That skill and love were also noticed by area coaches and the USTA as well as some brands that needed a young model to showcase their offerings. That was the start of Gwyneth's tennis and modeling career and the start of a mission to use Gwyneth's skills on and off the court to help fund her tennis development. The two Brittons share their lessons learned - so far! - and offer tips on how other families can use appropriate branding to offset the expense of our sport. In 2024, Gwyneth is releasing her first children's book entitled THE SUMMER CAMP CHAMP based on her experiences training at a new facility with a new coach. We will update the show notes with a link to purchase the book once it's available. For more information, be sure to follow Gwyneth on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/gwyneth.britton/ . You can find out more about her brand deals on her website at https://gwynethbritton.com/ . Also, check out her YouTube show, THAT TENNIS KID SHOW, where she shares interviews with her peers, coaches, and favorite professional players, at https://www.youtube.com/@thattenniskidshow9402/videos . If you'd like to reach out to Anthony, you can email him at anthonygeorgebritton@gmail.com . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 31, 2024

Welcome to Season 13 Episode 4 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . Former NCAA Women's Singles Champion, Jamie Loeb, joins me this week to discuss her transition from junior tennis to an outstanding career at the University of North Carolina to her current status on the WTA Tour . I first met Jamie and her mom while she was still playing the Junior Slams. Ever since, I have followed her career through college and now on the pro tour. Until recently, it's been a pretty seamless transition moving through the various levels of the game. However, in recent years, Jamie has been challenged financially as she continues to fight toward reaching her goals on the tennis court. In this episode, you will hear Jamie's very frank accounting of life on tour when you are outside the Top 150 and struggling to pay for travel, training, medical care, and other costs of being a professional athlete in an individual sport. She works every single day to build and promote her brand so that she can attract sponsors and financial backers to allow her to stay on tour. That's on top of the rigorous training, travel, and competition schedule she has to maintain. It all looks very different from what most of think of when we picture the life of a pro athlete! To get more information on Jamie's career and how you might be able to help her stay on the WTA Tour, follow her on Instagram at https://instagram.com/jloeb308 - her DMs are open! You can also email me at lisa@parentingaces.com , and I'll be happy to connect you. If you're an X user, follow Jamie there at https://twitter.com/jloeb308 . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 24, 2024

Welcome to Season 13 Episode 3 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . Martin Vinokur is back, this time with one of his coaches, Jessie Young, to discuss Tennis:Europe, a unique travel-and-tennis opportunity for teenage players. 2024 marks the 50th year of Tennis:Europe, an amazing accomplishment to be sure! Since the inception of ParentingAces in 2011, we have had many of our families participate in the program with the players coming home with new tennis skills and new friends and new experiences that serve them well as they continue to develop as tennis players and young adults. You can find previous podcasts and articles about Tennis:Europe at https://parentingaces.com/articles/tennis-europe/ , https://parentingaces.com/articles/tenniseurope-experience-kayleigh-yun-thayer/ , and https://parentingaces.com/articles/tennis-europe-a-fantastic-summer-tennis-travel-experience-ft-martin-vinokur/ . To get more information on the 2024 offerings and to take advantage of the ParentingAces discount, visit http://www.tenniseurope.com . You can also find them on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tenniseurope/ . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 17, 2024

Welcome to Season 13 Episode 2 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . Those of you who have followed college tennis for a while will recognize Danielle Lao as a standout in her four years playing at USC . If you follow the pro tour as well, you will also recognize her from her ten years battling her way to achieve her goal of playing in a Slam. In the past year, though, life has taken a turn for Danielle, finding her in the coaching arena while also pursuing her love of distance running. Is pro tennis a done deal for her? What did her own Tennis Journey look like? How did she handle the transition from college to pro to coach? What is her coaching philosophy as she works with up-and-coming juniors? You'll have to listen to our podcast to find out! Be sure to follow Danielle on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thelittlegiant/ - she has her DMs open there if you'd like to contact her. You can also follow her sponsors, Hoka and Picky Bars, at https://www.instagram.com/hoka/ and https://www.instagram.com/pickybars/ If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 10, 2024

Welcome to Season 13 Episode 1 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . We are thrilled to kick off the year with two amazing coaches, Robert Gomez and Todd Widom, helping us understand the role of ratings and rankings in our children's tennis development. Robert Gomez is the Head of the Florida Coaches Commission, a member of the Florida Junior Competitive Counsel, and a USPTA Elite Professional. He has run professional tournaments, traveled the world to coach in other professional tournaments, and is the recently-hired Tournament Director of the Junior Orange Bowl 12s and 14s divisions. Robert also coaches junior players at all levels of the game as the head of tennis at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida. Todd Widom is a former college player from the University of Miami and an ATP professional player who now runs his own tennis system in the Broward County, Florida, area. Long-time listeners of this podcast should be very familiar with Todd by now! These two coaches have known each other many years and often connect to share ideas on developing the players with whom they are working. Now, we have the opportunity to hear from both of them about how ratings - and rankings, to a lesser degree - are impacting long-term athletic development. To contact Todd or to get information on his training, you can reach him at todd@twtennis.com . If you aren’t already, be sure to follow him on Facebook and Instagram as well. And check out his newly-redesigned website at https://twtennis.com/ . To contact Robert or to get information on his training, you can reach him at robertgomez10ss@gmail.com or by phone at 786-253-8185. More information is available on his Facebook and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 15, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 43 - our final one of the year - of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . Heath Waters of Match!Tennis App is back with us to share the latest updates to this game-changing tech! Based on the discussions that happen in our Facebook groups and our one-on-one consults, there are some pain points common to almost all tennis families. And, sadly, these pain points rarely change or get resolved by the governing bodies of our sport. Match!Tennis App hears about these same issues and continues to evolve to address and solve problems such as finding a doubles partner, managing tournament entries, sportsmanship, and tournament quality control. In this week's edition, Heath demonstrates for us the latest updates to the app, so I encourage all of you to check out the video version of this episode on ParentingAces.com. For our past podcasts with Heath: https://parentingaces.com/articles/tennis-parents-gotta-get-app/ https://parentingaces.com/articles/college-recruiting-app-heath-lindsey-waters/ https://parentingaces.com/articles/taking-your-junior-across-the-pond-with-heath-heath-paul-waters/ https://parentingaces.com/articles/matchtennis-app-pivots-for-2021/ https://parentingaces.com/articles/matchtennis-the-must-have-app-for-tennis-parents-ft-heath-waters/ https://parentingaces.com/articles/tourney-selection-based-on-goals-ft-heath-waters-of-match-tennis-app/ To get the app, go to https://matchtennisapp.com/ to register before downloading the app in the App Store. There is a free version that gives you access to the most commonly-used features and a paid version ($9.99/month or $100/year) that gives you full access to all features. BONUS: For double the FREE access to the Premium version (30 days instead of 15), simply email support@matchtennisapp.com and tell them you're part of the ParentingAces community. For any questions or suggestions for app improvements, you can email Heath at hwaters@matchtennisapp.com . You can also use the live chat feature on the website for immediate help. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 8, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 42 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this week's podcast, Lisa brings back fitness trainer extraordinaire, Dean Hollingworth, to break down what junior tennis players need to be doing off-court to maximize their fitness level. Dean has more education and experience training tennis players around their fitness than anyone I know. Lucky for us, he's more than willing to share his expertise with the ParentingAces community. In this episode, you'll hear from Dean about the importance of fitness, the importance of a proper warm-up and cool-down before and after EVERY practice and match, and the other factors that contribute to a player's overall mental and physical fitness. For more information on Dean and to get in contact with him, visit his website here . Be sure to follow him on Facebook and Instagram for new videos and other valuable content. For our previous podcasts with Dean, click here and here . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 1, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 41 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . Egor Shestakov, a senior at University of Texas at Tyler who happens to be from Russia, shares his junior and college tennis journey with us, one that I believe you will find to be extremely eye-opening. Egor was coached by his father at the beginning of his junior tennis career until both of them realized their relationship - and Egor's tennis - would be better served by hiring an outside coach. Egor continued to play other sports at the recreational level while pursuing his tennis with the goal of coming to the US to play in college. You will hear him talk about the challenges involved in getting noticed by American college coaches, learning English and taking the necessary entrance exams, and what he's learned about himself and his tennis since being in Texas the past 3 years. This young man has a lot of wisdom to share with all of us, so please consider having your junior player(s) watch or listen to this episode. Egor is happy to help other players however he can. To that end, you can email him at paint320@gmail.com or message him on Instagram at https://instagram.com/shestakovvegor . NOTE: Here is the article I reference in the episode regarding my son's first solo tournament experience - https://parentingaces.com/articles/another-giant-step/ If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 25, 2023

NOTE: Please pardon the technical issues with the sound. We did our best to capture all of Lester's stories though some of the audio & video glitched along the way. Welcome to Season 12 Episode 40 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week's episode is one that's very special to me as it features my father 's college teammate, Lester Sack, who is still competing on the world stage at age 87! Lester Sack didn't really start developing his tennis game until he showed up at the Tulane tennis courts as an 18-year-old freshman walk-on. He credits coach Emmett Pare with his success on the Tulane team and beyond. Lester has been competing on the Seniors and Super Seniors tour ever since graduating from Tulane in 1958, earning a ranking in the top 3 nationally in every age group. He is the epitome of a lifelong learner, even now continuing to make changes and improvements to his game. Here are just a few of his accomplishments in his illustrious tennis life: Played number 3 singles and number 1 doubles for Tulane University from 1956 to 1958 when the Green Wave won 3 Southeastern Conference Championships, and he and was ranked number 1 in doubles in the conference with partner Ron Holmberg Joined the professional tour and won singles titles in England and Germany, won the 1965 Canadian Open Doubles Championships, and reached the 3rd round of the 1966 French Open Mississippi resident until 1977 and one of the most dominant players of his generation, winning the Mississippi Open or Mississippi Closed every year and ranked number 1 in Mississippi Men’s Open Singles and top 10 in the South every year from 1959 to 1975 Won numerous state and section age group tournaments and ranked 2nd in the nation in Men’s 45 singles in 1984, won the 1984 Men’s 45 Singles National Championship and ranked 7th and was a finalist at the Men’s 55 National Clay Court Singles Championship in 1987 Represented the United States on the Dubler Cup, Gordon Cup, Gardner Mulloy Cup, Stevens Cup, and World Team Championship teams Served as the head coach of the USTA New Orleans Area Training Center and was an assistant pro for the Racquet Club of Memphis and the New Orleans Lawn Tennis Club Inducted into the Mississippi Tennis Hall of Fame in 1994, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1991, the Clarksdale & Cohoma County Mississippi Hall of Fame, the Louisiana Tennis Hall of Fame in 2009, the USTA Southern Tennis Hall of Fame in 2005, Tulane Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000 And Lester isn't even the oldest guy out there competing on the world stage! Take a look at this article on centenarian Henry Young who also played in the recent World Team Championships in Mallorca! I hope to have the chance to hit with Lester in the near future. In the meantime, I'll continue to follow his tennis journey as he makes his way into his 90's! If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 18, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 39 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . Coach JY Aubone is back to talk about what he sees as gaps in the training most junior tennis players are receiving. JY works with several junior players, both in person and virtually, and he is noticing definite trends in the people he trains. Not only are they missing the mental toughness and understanding of tactics during competition and pressure situations, but they are also practicing inefficiently. What does that mean? Players need to replicate tournament situations during their daily practice sessions. That includes building their fitness, mental resiliency, and nutritional habits. And sometimes that means bringing in specialists such as sports psychologists or fitness coaches. Great tennis coaches build a network of professionals to whom they can refer players for that extra training and work. If you have more questions or would like to get in touch with JY, you can reach him via his website, AuboneTennis.com . If you aren’t already, be sure to follow JY on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram as well. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 11, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 38 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . Coach Traci Green, Head Women's Tennis Coach at Harvard University, joins Lisa to share her tennis journey and what sets the Ivy League tennis programs and academics apart. Traci Green's success as a coach follows a highly successful career as an undergraduate at the University of Florida. She was a member of the Gators' 1998 NCAA championship team and was ranked as high as No. 5 nationally in doubles and No. 12 in singles during the 1999-2000 season. Her teams won two ITA national indoor championships (1997, 1999) and ranks among Florida's career leaders in singles and doubles wins. Green was a three-time first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection in both singles and doubles. In addition to her coaching, Green also served as an adjunct faculty member in the Temple University College of Education, where she taught courses in the department of kinesiology. She also continues to serve as a USTA Presidential Appointee in a board adjacent role, on the board of the Black Women in Sport Foundation, on the USPTA Diversity & Inclusion Committee, and as Outgoing Board Chair of the Sportsmen's Tennis and Enrichment Center. Coach Green cherishes her role as mentor and coach to the young women who fall under her purview at Harvard. She understands that the college years are an opportunity to grow as tennis players and as humans, preparing for life after competition. You will hear her talk about how Harvard looks at athletics when reviewing applicants and the role of academic success when seeking a coveted spot at an Ivy League university. As Danielle McNamara explained in an earlier podcast episode , students who want to play college tennis absolutely must pursue academic excellence throughout high school. For more information on Harvard Tennis, visit https://gocrimson.com/sports/womens-tennis . For the admission website, go to https://college.harvard.edu/admissions . You can email Coach Traci Green at tgreen@fas.harvard.edu . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 4, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 37 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, we check back in with SenseArena to see how this unique virtual reality product has morphed over the past several months. Topics of conversation for this episode include how SenseArena is being used at the college level, how junior players can leverage SenseArena to help them be ready to be recruited and play in college, and why the new ATP partnership is so significant to the growth of technology in our sport at all levels. Matthew Simons is the tennis business-to-business manager for SenseArena while also working as the head men's and women's tennis coach at the University of Puget Sound. He offers a unique perspective on how SenseArena can be used at both the junior and collegiate levels to help players work on the mental and physical sides of their game. You will hear Matt talk about how he's using it with his own players to help them prepare for practice sessions and competition. Yannick Yoshizawa and his team of developers created SenseArena , enlisting the expertise and guidance of coaches and professional players to ensure a positive and beneficial user experience. You will hear him talk about why this new partnership with the men's professional tour is a huge step in the technology revolution for tennis and what else is coming in the near future. Here is more information on the ATP partnership: Sense Arena , the world leader in cognitive VR tennis training and The ATP have announced a new multiyear partnership allowing Sense Arena to become the Official VR Tennis Training Tool of the ATP Tour and launching a co-branded platform, ATP Tour Sense Arena. The revamped ATP Tour Sense Arena platform will feature a new integration called Master Your Return , which will be powered by real match data and analytics from pro players on the ATP Tour and Hologic WTA Tour. This revolutionary feature will enable users to analyze and return true-to-life serves in VR from the top ATP and WTA players in the world. The new feature will complement Sense Arena’s existing serve integrations from ATP pro Jack Sock , who had his serves replicated in Sense Arena earlier this year. Compatible with standard tennis equipment, Sense Arena allows players to get valuable off-court training in confined spaces and non-traditional environments such as basements, garages, hotel rooms and more. The innovative VR tech also allows players to train while limiting wear and tear on the body, which is especially important for players rehabbing injury. **DISCOUNT OFFER** Use code PARENTINGACES at checkout for a $50 discount on the annual SenseArena subscription. For more information, be sure to visit the Sense Arena website at https://tennis.sensearena.com/ . If you have questions, you can reach out to the support department at support@sensearena.com or you can email Matt at matthew.simons@sensearena.com and Yannick at yannick.yoshizawa@sensearena.com . Be sure to follow them on socials as well: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sensearenatennis/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/sensearena Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensearenatennis/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SenseArena If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 27, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 36 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this week's podcast, Coach Todd Widom is back to talk about the success our US pro players are having this year and why we're not seeing more US junior players showing up on top college tennis teams. This episode was recorded toward the end of the 2023 US Open where we saw 2 American women and 1 American man into the singles semifinals which is a big positive for US professional tennis. That said, the other side of the coin is that we are seeing fewer and fewer American juniors on the rosters of the most desirable college tennis programs. Where's the disconnect? Todd definitely has some thoughts about what's going on in the junior tennis development landscape and what we need to do to make it better. Hint: it involves a culture shift, a parenting shift, and a coaching shift! To contact Todd or to get information on his training, you can reach him at todd@twtennis.com . If you aren’t already, be sure to follow him on Facebook and Instagram as well. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 20, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 36 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this week's podcast, Lisa is joined by Zach Decker, Chief Marketing Officer of KT Tape . Zach grew up in Boulder, CO with a passion for sports and wellness. He is an avid mountain biker and father of two very active kids. As a result of his interest in physical activity and sports, his role at KT was a no-brainer. In case you're not familiar with the KT brand, it is the leading kinesiology tape brand in the nation. What is kinesiology tape? It is a product used by health care professionals to prevent and treat muscle and tendon injuries and pain such as a strained hamstring or a sore knee. If you watch professional sports of any kind, you have likely seen the colorful tape on athletes' arms or thighs to help them continue playing while preventing further injury. KT has just launched its first mobile app, providing users with clear instructions on how, when, and why to use KT Tape. Based on consumer feedback, KT realized many people lacked confidence in applying KT Tape without professional guidance. The app, designed with input from KT's Sports Medicine Advisory Panel , offers instructional videos to help users understand the benefits, use cases, and proper application of KT tape. You can download the app for free on the App Store and Play Store. They are also launching several new products in the coming months and recently launched the KT PRO Oxygen, the first kinesiology tape to feature CELLIANT® Infrared Technology from Hologenix. Printed on the tape’s surface, CELLIANT® mineral powder converts body heat into full-spectrum infrared energy. This delivers enhanced cellular oxygenation, bringing more oxygen to the cells and increasing local circulation. For the full lineup of KT products, be sure to visit their website at https://www.kttape.com/ . You can also find them on Instagram at https://instagram.com/kttape and Facebook at https://facebook.com/kttape . Zach has set up a special discount for the ParentingAces community which gives you 40% off your purchase of KT Tape Pro Oxygen or Pro Extreme tape through the end of 2023. Go to https://www.kttape.com/discount/ACES?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=Referral&utm_id=parenting-aces and enter the code ACES at checkout to take advantage of this generous savings! If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 13, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 34 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this week's podcast, Lisa is joined by Daniel McCain and David Howell of 7 Shot Tennis . Former President and Managing Director of Universal Tennis, LLC, Dave Howell was the creative force behind Universal Tennis Ratings (UTR®). Dan McCain is a father, husband, dog lover & tennis coach and analyst. He won gold & silver balls as a junior player before playing the University of Michigan on scholarship. He was a Illinois State High School State Champion, as well as a 2-time Florida High School State Champion. For quite a while now, tennis parents and coaches have manually charted matches using a variety of symbols, abbreviations, and lingo. It's a basic way to analyze a match and use the data collected to help the player improve different aspects of their game. But what if there were a universal language around that data collection that all players and coaches understood so that they could all have a conversation using the same terminology? That's where 7 Shot Tennis comes in. Dave and Dan have been working for several years to create a map of the tennis court that helps players not only understand where they are hitting the ball (the target) but also their court position that allowed them to hit the shot (the position). By simplifying these two components and creating a language around them, Dave and Dan feel players can now better understand their strengths and shortcomings each time they play and coaches can now better evaluate what to work on in lessons and clinics. 7 Shot Tennis is the best, yet easiest to understand, approach to visualizing and remembering what happens during tennis points and to analyzing how to improve your game using that information. Be sure to take a look at https://www.7shottennis.com/tennis-court-visualization/ to see the 7 Shot Tennis court map and for an explanation of the various targets and positions. Also, as Dave referenced during the podcast, you can find the blog about Coco Gauff at https://www.7shottennis.com/why-coco-gauff-can-become-world-1/ . The 7 Shot Tennis Playbook is an interactive notebook that outlines drills, scripted plays, games and the inherent strategies within the universal language of 7 Shot Tennis. Graphic displays of target areas and diagrams of tactical positions visually show players and coaches how to use this sophisticated system to chart matches, train effectively based on recent performances, and track progress. Lots of blank match-charting, note-taking, and record-keeping forms. A great handbook for players and coaches, alike. You can purchase the playbook at https://www.7shottennis.com/product/7-shot-tennis-playbook/ . For the 7 Shot Tennis video course, visit https://www.7shottennis.com/video-course/ . You can also follow 7 Shot Tennis on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/7shottennis/ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/7ShotTennis . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 6, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 33 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this week's podcast, Swupnil Sahai of Swing Tennis comes back to share some exciting updates to SwingVision and new partnerships on the horizon that could have a very positive effect on junior competition and college matches. NOTE: For our previous podcasts about SwingVision, go to https://parentingaces.com/articles/bringing-ai-to-tennis-with-swupnil-sahai/ , https://parentingaces.com/articles/swingtennis-ft-swupnil-sahai/ , and https://parentingaces.com/articles/whats-new-with-swingvision-ft-george-opelka/ Hopefully, by now, you've heard of SwingVision and have tried this innovative app to record matches, analyze stats, and even share match highlights. In addition to recording matches and uploading them to the cloud, the app can be used to create highlight videos to send to college coaches during the recruiting process, pull out stats of a particular stroke or shot, and share matches with all members of a player's team. It will soon be able to livestream matches, all simply by setting up a smartphone on the court and opening the app. Over the past 4 years since first hitting the Apple App Store , Swing's AI has improved exponentially such that it can now make line calls with extremely high accuracy such that we may soon see a massive change in the way junior and college matches are officiated. For more information on Swing, visit their website here . You can go directly to the app download page here . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 30, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 32 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this week's podcast, Lisa chats with the Athletic Director of a small college and the Director of Tennis of its neighboring public tennis facility about what it takes to resurrect a college tennis program that has been defunded and unhomed. David Orr is a former multi-sport athlete who attended Centenary College in Lisa's hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana, on a soccer scholarship. After coaching soccer in the Shreveport community, he found his way back to Centenary as its Athletic Director. Chris Dudley is a life-long tennis player who, along with his wife, moved to Shreveport to manage the iconic public facility, Querbes, just over 3 years ago. The facility had just undergone a major facelift when the Dudleys came to town, and they have continued to nurture it and its relationship to other entities in the area. Today, these two are working closely to reinstate the Centenary Men's and Women's Tennis Teams after Centenary decided to move from Division I to Division III athletics. As part of that move, the existing tennis courts were razed to provide space for a football field, so David had to look outside the college for a place for the tennis players to practice and compete. Because of its proximity to the college campus, Chris knew Querbes would be the perfect spot to host these collegiate athletes. He and David have been working hand in hand to hammer out the details, find the right coaches, and recruit athletes to the school. This is a partnership that can be replicated around the US where college tennis teams are losing their funding and facilities, and David and Chris are both happy to share their blueprint. For more information on Centenary College, visit its website at https://www.centenary.edu/ . You can find the athletics website at https://www.gocentenary.com/landing/index . David Orr is happy to field any questions from prospective student-athletes and their families and can be reached via email at dorr@centenary.edu . For more information on Querbes Tennis Center, visit its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/QuerbesTennisCenter . Chris Dudley is available via email at chrisdudleytennis@gmail.com . Note from Lisa: If you find yourself in the Shreveport area, do yourself a favor and visit both of these amazing spots. I grew up going to events on the Centenary campus and playing tournaments at Querbes, so both hold a big spot in my heart! If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 23, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 31 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this week's podcast, Lisa is joined by Amanda Fink, former top junior and college player and current developmental coach and USTA board member. After growing up in Southern California and becoming the top junior player in her age group in the 16s and 18s, Amanda chose to play her college tennis at USC where she achieved All-American status all four years. Her tennis playing resume speaks for itself! Moving into coaching was a logical next step once her professional playing career came to an end. She has worked with players of all ages and levels, helping them achieve their tennis goals. Amanda approaches junior tennis development in a logical and methodical manner, stressing the importance of playing practice matches as an important piece of the journey. Along the way, Amanda became very involved with USTA, both in the Southern California section and now in the Southwest section. She sits at the table where big decisions are made regarding junior tennis and the sport overall and was happy to share some insights with the ParentingAces community. For questions, you can reach Amanda via email at afink15@gmail.com . You can also follow her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=3419937 and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/amandafinkmoore/ . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 16, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 30 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this week's podcast, Danielle McNamara rejoins Lisa to discuss why grades are important to high schoolers hoping to be recruited to play college tennis. For those of you who have watched/listened to our previous episodes with Danielle (click here , here , and here ), you know she's the former Head Coach of the Yale Women's Tennis Team as well as a former college player herself. She is now retired from coaching and has started DLM Coaching to help families better navigate the recruiting process. Many high school players and their families are under the false impression that tennis skill alone is enough to open the door to college tennis playing opportunities and that good grades are secondary to on-court success. That couldn't be further from the truth, as Danielle explains in this episode. She stresses that families need to develop a recruiting plan before starting high school that includes choosing academic courses that will allow the student to achieve at their highest potential. For more information on the NCAA Eligibility Center and to create your Player Profile, visit https://web3.ncaa.org/ecwr3/ . In fact, Danielle has fielded so many questions from parents of 8th, 9th, and 10th graders in recent weeks that she's decided to offer a free webinar to help these parents and players better understand the recruiting process and what they need to be doing at each stage of the process. You can get more information and register for the September 24th webinar at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_EAvVc_tmRf6JdDSI9_BCaQ . For more information or to ask questions, you can contact Danielle through her online contact form at https://www.dlmcoaching.com/contact . You can also email her at danielle@dlmcoaching.com . Be sure to sign up for her enewsletter at https://dlmcoaching.substack.com/ . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 9, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 29 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this week's podcast, we take a deep dive into the NCAA's Name Image Likeness (NIL) rule and how tennis families can use it to their advantage throughout the Junior Tennis Journey. Joy Harris is a mom and an entrepreneur. While her two sons followed their dreams in football, she is no stranger to youth sports and the expense involved in helping your child achieve their athletic goals. Joy found a way to offset the high costs of her own children's' athletic development by helping them develop their personal brand then leveraging it into brand deals with local and national businesses. As a result, other sports parents started asking her advice to help them do the same with their young athletes. She then parlayed her knowledge and expertise into a consulting business that helps junior athletes and parents find ways to parlay their sport and other interests into income opportunities. While the NCAA NIL rule applies solely to college student-athletes, brand deals are open to athletes of all ages and stages of development. Since the cost of junior tennis development continues to increase, why not learn how you might be able to offset some of those costs while helping your child learn valuable life skills in the process? To learn more about how to build a personal brand, be sure to follow Joy on social media: Instagram: @thejoyharris Tiktok: @thejoyharris Threads: @thejoyharris You can also reach her via email at contact@scorecon.co . Also, Joy has a book coming out the end of August 2023 titled HOW TO GET PAID BEFORE GOING PRO . You can do an advanced purchase of her book using our affiliate link: Parenting Aces Link . By purchasing the book through this link, someone in our community could win a $1,000 scholarship to the university of their choice! NOTE: ParentingAces may receive a small commission from your purchase. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 2, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 28 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this week's podcast, Wofford Men's Tennis Coach, Rod Ray, joins Lisa to share his sports journey with his two sons and why he's found value and joy in the challenges life has thrown at him. He also talks about his recruiting philosophy and what parents and junior players need to know. When he was about 4 or 5 years old, Rod's oldest son, Cole, was diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum. Since Rod and his wife also had another son, Ashe, just 18 months younger, they had to find a way to balance Cole's needs with those of his little brother. As the boys got older, they both gravitated toward sports, not surprising given Rod's background as a collegiate tennis player and current job as the Head Coach at Wofford. Through sports, Rod was able to watch both his sons face hardships head on and learn from those situations in order to keep improving on and off the playing field. For Cole, that meant coming in last place in his track events multiple times until he was able to find a way to move up the ranks, eventually earning the opportunity to compete at the collegiate level. For Ashe, that meant learning to be self-sufficient at his tennis practices and tournaments when his parents were otherwise occupied with their own jobs and the care of his older brother. Both brothers will graduate college in the coming months with a future that looks bright for both of them. Throughout their journeys, though, Rod has had his own challenges balancing his role as both Coach and Dad. He is now in the process of sharing that journey through book form, writing HARD COMES FIRST which will be published some time in 2024. For more information on Rod's process, visit his website at https://hardcomesfirst.com/ and sign up to receive his blog and join the waitlist for his book. For more information on Wofford College Tennis, a Division I program in the Southern Conference , visit https://woffordterriers.com/sports/mens-tennis and https://woffordterriers.com/sports/womens-tennis . You can reach Rod via email at Rayra@wofford.edu . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 19, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 27 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this week's podcast, we take a look at a new way to help players get in their fitness training on or off the court. Gemma Coles is a former gymnast in the UK who moved into the coaching arena once her competitive years came to a close. She became very interested in learning how young athletes can maximize their performance by increasing their physical strength, flexibility, and endurance. Shuffle Up Games came about with the help of experts in their respective fields, starting with gymnastics and moving into the tennis arena with the help of former ATP player, Marcus Willis . Gemma's goal in creating Shuffle Up is to provide a simple way for players to work on a variety of skills with a minimum of equipment while giving players a fun way to compete with family and friends. The game box comes with a variety of game-playing ideas while leaving room for players to create their own games as well. The activities are divided up by level of difficulty and are appropriate for all ages and stages of tennis skill. To order your copy of Shuffle Up: https://amzn.to/3rqWd5i (ParentingAces may receive a small commission on your order) You can also engage with Gemma on social media: Twitter ( https://twitter.com/Games1Shuffle ) Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/shuffleupgames/ ) Instagram ( https://www.instagram.com/shuffleupgames/?hl=en ) If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 12, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 26 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this week's podcast, we revisit the idea of virtual academic learning and do a deep dive into a program based in the UK called Minerva Virtual Academy . Fabian Spiess grew up in the world of soccer - or as he calls it, football. After realizing his professional career had reached its end, he wanted a way to give back to other young athletes and found his way to Minerva, a unique virtual school for children ages 11-18. Fabian works across the entire group of Minerva's offerings (Minerva's Virtual Academy, Minerva Tutors and Minerva Homeschooling) to develop relationships and partnerships with sporting governing bodies, academies and clubs to help deliver an education which is accessible, flexible and manageable for young athletes around their athletic commitments. He also works as a mentor to the student-athletes to help them stay grounded in both their academic and athletic pursuits. Minerva places a huge value on what they term the pastoral well-being of each student, putting the person before the athlete. This approach sets them apart from other online learning systems and helps ensure Minerva students are prepared for whatever faces them after graduation. For more information on Minerva Virtual Academy, here are some links for you: Website - https://www.minervavirtual.com/mva-for/sport Open Event on the 17th of July - https://www.minervavirtual.com/events/july-17th-sports-open-event?utm_source=Parenting%20Aces&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_campaign=OpenEvent Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mva.athletes/ Discovery Call Link - https://calendly.com/minervaforathletes/online-school-discovery-call-for-tennis-players You can also reach out to Fabian directly via email at fabian@minervavirtual.com . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 5, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 25 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . Todd Widom is back to discuss how junior players can take full advantage of their time away from school to maximize their training. While we realize many junior tennis players are now opting for virtual school, summertime is still a lighter load, academically speaking, and the perfect time to maximize time working on their game both on and off the court. In this episode, Todd talks about how players can best use the summer months to get in peak physical shape, peak mental shape, and peak competitive shape. He discusses specific drills he uses with his players as well as some of the shortcomings he and his team of coaches have recently noticed in the players who come work with them in Florida. To contact Todd or to get information on his training, you can reach him at todd@twtennis.com . If you aren’t already, be sure to follow him on Facebook and Instagram as well. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 24, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 24 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . Tanner Stump is back this week to discuss his upcoming college showcase and why these showcases are so valuable to college-bound junior players. As you may remember from our previous conversation , Tanner is the former Associate Head Coach of the University of Florida Men's Tennis Team and is now working to help educate and mentor other college coaches. To that end, he has tapped into his extensive network to offer a great opportunity to players ages 13-18 who want to play college tennis. The inaugural Slamstox College Tennis Showcase at Michigan State University August 1-3, 2023, is open to boys and girls with a cost of $399 ($349 if you sign up before July 1st). Included are college coach panel discussions for both parents and players, singles and doubles match play in a round-robin format, and time between matches for one-on-one conversations with the college coaches themselves. You may notice the dates coincide perfectly with the start of this year's National Hardcourt tournaments in Kalamazoo and San Diego. That was no accident! Tanner is hoping players will use the showcase as a warmup event to prepare for the summer's biggest junior tournament while giving them a chance to play in front of college coaches in a less pressure-packed environment. You should also know that the showcase is a verified UTR event which means all matches CAN count toward the players' rating although Tanner has offered alternatives to that which you will hear him discuss in the podcast. Tanner has generously offered the following discounts/bonuses to the ParentingAces community - simply type "ParentingAces" in the "How did you hear about us" section of the registration form : 15% off of early bird rate ($349) if signed up before July 1 10% off of regular rate ($399) anytime before July 10 First 10 signups with ParentingAces discount code receive a free 30 min video call consultation with Tanner Stump and August 1 exclusive training session before the showcase begins For more information and to register, be sure to visit the showcase webpage at https://www.slamstox.com/en/event/college-tennis-showcase-michigan/ . To reach Tanner directly, email him at tannerjstump@gmail.com . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 21, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 23 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week's episode continues our recent theme around Tennis Parenting with guest Violet Clark. Violet is the mother to 3 tennis-playing adult daughters, all of whom started playing the sport at young ages at a local grassroots program in their hometown of Chicago. Each daughter had different levels of commitment to tennis but all pursued their love of the game into college. While the two oldest Clarks played at the club level in college, the youngest, Gabrielle, went on to Emory University where she played the top position in both singles and doubles and won the NCAA DIII Singles Championship not once but twice in her four years in Atlanta. Throughout her daughters' developmental years, Vi became involved in the sport as a valuable volunteer, starting with the Love to Serve Tennis and Education Foundation and eventually moving into her current role on the National Board of the USTA. She has seen first-hand the value of tennis in helping to shape her daughters into the productive women they are today and wants to give back to the sport that has offered so much to her family. Vi shares her wisdom and experience with us, reflecting on the things she feels she did well and those where she could've done better. It's an honest glimpse behind the scenes of a committed parent looking to provide her children with opportunities to grow their minds and their bodies while learning life lessons throughout the journey. For more information on Love to Serve, visit their website at https://ltstennisacademy.us/ . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 14, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 22 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Argentinian Tennis Parent, Hernan Chousa, is back to discuss his thoughts on being a better sports parent as well as his latest book, PARENTSHIFT . Being a former top junior and professional player himself, Hernan believed he was the best-equipped person to coach his own sons to tennis success. While things started off just fine, there came a point in their journey that Hernan realized he needed to take a step back in order to salvage what was left of his relationship with his oldest son. It dawned on Hernan that it wasn't his son who needed to change but himself. He began the long journey of self-reflection that eventually led to the healing of their relationship and speaks very candidly about that journey in this week's episode. Be sure to follow Hernan on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/hernanchousa/?hl=en and Twitter at https://twitter.com/chousahernan . His courses are available for purchase on his website at https://www.hernanchousa.com/ . To purchase Hernan's latest book, PARENTSHIFT: THE SKILLS YOU NEED TO BECOME A SUPER PARENT, go to https://amzn.to/3oEU4SF (Note: ParentingAces may receive a small commission from your purchase). If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 7, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 21 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . For this week's pod, Lisa chats with sports parents, Mark and Britt McKinney, about their book, THE DRIVE HOME , and some of the things we can do to be better at this Tennis Parent thing. Mark and Britt have a daughter who participated in competitive cheerleading and a son who still competes in competitive junior golf. They began to realize they each had a role to play in their children's - and their family's - well-being when it came to extra-curricular pursuits and that they weren't doing things as well as they could. They sought counsel from other sports parents but also from highly-successful coaches and business leaders to improve their own sports parenting skills. As they gathered information, they realized other sports parents could likely benefit from their new-found knowledge so decided to write a book together. THE DRIVE HOME delves into the common issues all sports parents face when helping their children pursue a passion at an elite level. Mark and Britt use humor and personal anecdotes as they share stories of their own missteps and how they have learned to do better as their children are nearing the end of their junior competitive years. For more information, follow the McKinneys' Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TheDriveHomeYouthAthleteParentDynamic . They also have an interactive Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/225725129487601 . To order THE DRIVE HOME , click https://amzn.to/3WDA2o4 (ParentingAces may receive a small commission on your order) - for bulk orders, simply email Mark and Britt at BrittandMarkTheDriveHome@gmail.com . About Mark & Britt: Mark and Britt have been married for 25 years and have walked the fairways of junior golf tournaments for roughly 10 of those. They are the proud parents to two children, Katie Britt and Ben, reside in the upstate of South Carolina, and are proud members of the roller-coaster community of golf parents. Mark is a graduate of Clemson University, works in the software industry, and has a passion for storytelling, laughter, and anything golf. Mark authored his first book, Faith on a Sticky Note in 2010. Britt is a lifelong educator with a passion for teaching and writing. She describes herself as an avid golf mom who gladly gives up vacations to walk the grass fairways instead of sandy beaches. Britt graduated from Georgia Southern University and also holds degrees from Furman University and Augusta University. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 31, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 20 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week's guests are two former Division I college tennis coaches - Danielle McNamara (Yale) and Tanner Stump (University of Florida) who have taken their expertise to the private sector and are now working with players and coaches on an individual level to continue to grow and improve the college tennis landscape. When Danielle reached out to me about tackling the topic of growth over results on the podcast, I couldn't wait to get these two behind the mic! As Danielle wrote, "[Tanner and I] were having this really interesting conversation on our thoughts, experiences and beliefs on the need for players (and parents!!) to focus on the long game (e.g. development) over wins today. It seems like so many parents are putting so much pressure on kids to perform so they can 'make it' to the name brand school rather than the process of improvement. Sounds cliche but something I think the two of us really believe in. And ironically, by focusing on results over development it probably makes it less likely that a player will get to the schools they (and/or their parents) are striving for." I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did! To reach Danielle, visit her website at dlmcoaching.com then click the Contact tab at https://www.dlmcoaching.com/contact . She is incredibly responsive and can answer any questions you may have. I also encourage you to sign up for her free e-newsletter for some very helpful tips. To reach Tanner, visit his website at https://collegetenniscrashcourse.com/ . You can also email him at tannerjstump@gmail.com . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 24, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 19 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Lisa chats with Australian tennis enthusiast, Ric Curnow, about his solution to players ducking matches because of a potential negative impact on their UTR. Since the dawn of junior tennis ratings and rankings, we've seen players opt out of certain tournaments or matches due to fear of losing to a lower-ranked or lower-rated player. Rather than focusing on the benefits to be gained from playing any and all matches, some coaches, parents, and players only focus on outcomes which doesn't serve anyone well. Ric saw this happening over and over again with Tennis Australia tournaments and wanted to create a solution that could show players (and parents and coaches!) whether a match would be UTR-positive, UTR-neutral, or UTR-negative based on the ratings of the two players involved and the resulting final score. Tennis Neutral was born! Players can now input their own UTR and that of their upcoming opponent to: See the ratio of games that would return a neutral UTR result. See the minimum percentage of games in a match that generates positive UTR outcomes for both players. Enter match results to check if a result is UTR positive for either player. Ric's hope is this will reduce the stress around the unknowables of the UTR algorithm and reduce the number of withdrawals as a result of that stress. Tennis Neutral is a useful tool for coaches wanting to monitor a player's performance under differing circumstance or setting up training sessions between players at different levels. It’s an aid for any serious player, and especially for any prospective college-level player. As an added bonus, Ric donates all proceeds from the app's purchase to the Nick Kyrgios Foundation which offers sporting opportunities to underprivileged youth in Australia. It's a great cause and should make purchasing the Tennis Neutral app a no-brainer! For more information and to get the app, visit the Tennis Neutral website at https://www.tennisneutral.com/index.html . If you have additional questions for Ric, you can reach him via email at ric.curnow@anti-bias.com . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 17, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 18 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week Lisa chats with Haitham Eletrabi, co-founder and CEO of Tennibot . We all know the pain of picking up tons of balls during a lesson or ball machine session. It takes up time and energy that could be better spent working on your game. Tennibot is a company that builds robotic assistants for sports. It won TechCrunch Disrupt in Berlin 2017, was a finalist in the Silicon Valley Robotics competition in 2018, and has won multiple awards since, including the 2021 European Product Design Top Design Award and the Wingfield Tennis Innovation Award in 2022. Haitham is a tennis player himself and has captained many USTA teams that won the local chapters and made it to the state (the last team was in 2022). He also currently serves as a board member for the Auburn (Alabama) USTA league. His passion and love for the game come through loud and clear! For more information via video on Tennibot, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jq4cOcfHK6E . You can also email Haitham at info@tennibot.com and visit the website at https://www.tennibot.com/ for info and ordering details. Be sure to follow them on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram , too. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 10, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 17 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this episode, the ITA's Dave Mullins is back to discuss what's happening in the world of College Tennis and to update us on new and returning initiatives to look forward to. Dave Mullins is the Managing Director of the ITA. As such he works closely with the Tennis For America (TFA) program as well as other areas of the organization and is an incredible resource for us at ParentingAces. In this week’s episode, Dave updates us on the ITA Summer Circuit, ITA's partnership with the USTA and World Tennis Number (WTN), the joint NCAA Championships later this month, and other upcoming events in the works. For more information on Tennis for America, go to https://www.tennisforamerica.com . To see the 2023 ITA Summer Circuit schedule, go to https://www.wearecollegetennis.com/championships/summer-circuit/ . For more information on the ITA, go to https://www.wearecollegetennis.com . You can reach Dave Mullins directly via email at dmullins@itatennis.com . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 3, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 16 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this episode, Lisa chats again with Coach Peter Scales, creator of the Compete, Learn, Honor approach to junior tennis development and author of the new Raising Aces series on ParentingAces.com . Coach Pete is a highly-respected coach who works with players of all levels with a focus on high-school players and college-bound athletes. He has graciously offered to create a series of articles for the ParentingAces website to help parents better navigate the junior and college tennis journey. The first installment is now online at https://parentingaces.com/articles. For more information on Coach Pete, be sure to visit his website at https://www.competelearnhonor.com/ . You can reach out to him directly via email at scalespc@gmail.com . Be sure to check back periodically for updates to Pete's series! If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 26, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 15 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Lisa chats with Stanford Men's Tennis player, Anders Matta, and the creator of CoachU, Adrian Levitt, about leveraging NIL opportunities to help both college and junior players. If you've been listening to the podcast for a while, you know how Lisa feels about the importance of mentors, both for coaches and for parents and players. CoachU is filling a void by creating a platform where college players can take advantage of the still new NIL rules to earn money while in school AND junior players can be mentored by these more-experienced players who are living the life they aspire to. Adrian grew up in a tennis family and saw his brother go through the entire junior and college tennis process. Anders is currently a college player, balancing academics and tennis at Stanford while trying to gain some work experience that will help him get a job after he graduates. In this episode, you will hear both men talk about what CoachU can do for the college athletes AND for the junior athletes and why it solves many issues present in our sport. To learn more about CoachU and how it can help your player(s), visit the website at https://withcoachu.com/ . You can also follow them on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/w.coachu/ and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/coachu/ . You can contact Adrian directly at 610-962-6608 (cell) or adrian@withcoachu.com . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 19, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 14 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week's episode is all about using virtual reality to enhance tennis training and recovery. Yannick Yoshizawa and Nick Monroe are tennis veterans. From playing junior and college tennis to coaching, they have seen the sport change and develop over the years. One thing was missing, though - finding a way to use virtual reality (VR) technology effectively to help tennis athletes reach their full potential. So Yannick and his team of developers created Sense Arena , enlisting the expertise and guidance of coaches like Nick and players like Jennifer Brady to ensure a positive and beneficial user experience. Sense Arena’s groundbreaking technology provides tennis players of all ages and abilities with enhanced visualization, allowing them to improve the mental aspects of their game such as anticipation and decision-making skills. Using VR goggles and a haptic racquet, players can train their body and brain in a small space (12'x12' or larger), giving them more opportunities to get in their reps even when court costs, weather, or injury hamper traditional on-court play. Juniors can even customize their virtual environment and train in different weather conditions including bright sun and wind. They can choose Hard Court, Grass, or Clay as the training surface to mimic the various bounces and help their eyes track the ball more effectively. The price of this amazing tech is very reasonable. After a 10-day free trial, you can choose a monthly or annual (discounted) plan that won't bust the family tennis budget. For more information, be sure to visit the Sense Arena website at https://tennis.sensearena.com/ . If you have questions, you can reach out to the support department at support@sensearena.com . Be sure to follow them on socials as well: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sensearenatennis/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/sensearena Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensearenatennis/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SenseArena If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 12, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 13 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . Lavie Sak rejoins the podcast to share V2 of the ADV Tennis Bag and ADV Tennis Backpack. Be sure to catch the video version of this one on ParentingAces.com! Making a better mousetrap has always been at the core of entrepreneurship, and Lavie's latest creations are no exception. His team of engineers and designers have reimagined the ordinary tennis bag to create an iteration that solves for so many common issues such as where to store wet clothes and how to keep drinks cool. And the story behind ADV Tennis is a great one! If you missed our last podcast with Lavie, I encourage you to check it out at https://parentingaces.com/articles/reimagining-tennis-essentials-ft-lavie-sak/ . The show notes include a link to a very inspirational video that speaks to the philanthropic aspect of ADV Tennis. To learn more and to pre-order your bag(s), go to www.advtennis.pro . You can contact Lavie directly with any questions at lavie@advtennis.pro . Also, be sure to check out ADV Tennis's Kickstarter at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/advtennis/adv-tennis-jetpack-collection - the video is a fun watch! NOTE: The Kickstarter campaign ends April 12, 2023. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 5, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 12 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . Chase Hodges, Vice President at Universal Tennis, joins us this week to discuss his company's role in junior, high school, and college tennis. I highly recommend you watch the video version on ParentingAces.com so you can get a better understanding of how to use Universal Tennis. As the former Men's & Women's Head Coach at NAIA powerhouse, Georgia Gwinnett College, Chase Hodges knows recruiting and college tennis. When he decided to retire from college coaching, the move to Universal Tennis seemed the perfect next step. Since Summer 2022, Chase has been working hard to ensure junior, high school, and college coaches have the tools and tournament structure they need to develop players to their highest potential. Each week, it seems, Chase and Universal Tennis are announcing new initiatives to help players, parents, and coaches maximize opportunities to learn and compete. Whether it's the Junior National Pathway, High School tournaments, or the Pro Tennis Tour, Universal Tennis is cementing its role on the global tennis stage. Chase shares some insights into what's currently happening in the ratings arena - I hope you appreciate his honesty and frankness here as did I. For more information on Universal Tennis, visit its website at https://www.universaltennis.com/ . For details on the Junior National Pathway events, go to https://www.universaltennis.com/national-pathway . To see the Summer Camp schedule, go to https://www.universaltennis.com/college-camps . For details on the inaugural Universal Tennis National Intercollegiate Tennis (NIT) Championships, go to https://www.universaltennis.com/pr/universal-tennis-to-host-first-ever-nit-championships-for-college-tennis-on-prime-video And, if you have questions, please use the email addresses here: Universal Tennis High School Inquiries hsteam@universaltennis.com Universal Tennis College Camps and Circuits Hosts college@universaltennis.com I also urge you to read the article regarding Universal Tennis and College Tennis at https://www.universaltennis.com/pr/universal-tennis-expands-its-commitment-to-college-tennis If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 29, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 11 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, we are chatting with the former Head Women's Tennis Coach at Emory University, Amy Bryant, who has moved into the executive coaching and recruiting support space with her company, Bryant College Coaching . Amy shares her knowledge and experience regarding college tennis recruiting and its ever-changing landscape, especially now due to the adoption of the World Tennis Number (WTN) by both USTA and ITA. Her no-nonsense approach to junior development and recruiting is 100% in line with what we've heard from other junior and college coaches as well as industry experts, so I'm hoping you'll take it to heart and stay focused on improving just 1% each day. At the end of the day, the best college coaches are looking for players who will fit into their team culture and work hard for the betterment of the team. And the responsibility lies with each junior player to reach out to coaches for whom they want to play and to get and stay on those coaches' radar through regular outreach and communication. For more information on what Amy offers to junior athletes as well as coaches, please visit her website at www.bryantcollegecoaching.com . There is a Contact form on the site to connect with her directly. You can - and should! - sign up for her e-newsletter on the homepage of her site. She sends very valuable information directly to your inbox each week with specific calls to action included where appropriate. Here are her socials if you want to give her a follow: https://twitter.com/BryantCoaching https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryantcollegecoach/ Https://www.linkedin.com/company/bryantcollegecoaching https://www.instagram.com/bryantcollegecoaching/ https://www.facebook.com/bryantcollegecoaching/ If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 22, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 10 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . Coach Todd Widom is back with us to shed some light on why tour players don't always make the best junior coaches. Many of you have had the good fortune to see former professional tennis players come to your local club or academy or other facility and offer to work with developing juniors. Sometimes they make great coaches right away, using the lessons they've learned throughout their development and career to teach younger players how to be successful on and off the court. But sometimes they need time to develop into effective coaches, and sometimes that never happens for them. Todd and I discuss what questions parents should be asking of these former pro players to ensure they are the right fit to coach your particular child. It's not rocket science, but we just don't want you to let their star power impact your judgement in this very important decision. To contact Todd or to get information on his training, you can reach him at todd@twtennis.com . If you aren’t already, be sure to follow him on Facebook and Instagram as well. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 15, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 9 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week we welcome Coach Tim Noonan to discuss his very interesting proposal to discourage cheating in junior tennis. Several years ago, Tim wrote an article ( click here to read in full) with some thoughts on why junior players cheat and what we as a sport can do to put a stop to it. I came across Tim's article in an industry newsletter I get each month and immediately reached out to him to invite him on the podcast. Tim and I moved in the same circles in Atlanta. Tim is behind the very successful Universal Tennis Academy (UTA) with multiple locations in the metro Atlanta area and has played and coached tennis at every level from beginners to high-performance juniors to college to adult league players. He's seen it all when it comes to on- and off-court behavior and has felt the same frustration as the rest of us in terms of the continual cheating and lack of meaningful consequences. Please take the time after listening to this episode to also read Tim's article here and add your thoughts in the Comments section. Tim is hoping to spark conversation that will lead to significant changes and benefit the sport as a whole. To reach Tim, visit the UTA website at https://utatennis.com/ . You can also email him at timnoonan@utatennis.com . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 8, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 8 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week we return to our recent discussions around UTR, WTN, and what that means for junior tennis and college recruiting with guest Chris Lewit. Chris Lewit is a former number one for Cornell and pro-circuit player. He is a high-performance coach, educator, and the author of two best-selling books: The Secrets of Spanish Tennis (2014) The Tennis Technique Bible Chris has coached numerous top 10 nationally-ranked players and is known for his expertise in building the foundations of young prodigies. Chris coaches in NYC and year-round at his high-performance tennis academy in Manchester, Vermont, where players can live and train the Spanish Way full-time or short-term. Chris has studied the various rating systems currently in use and has some very definite thoughts on how players, parents, and coaches should be using them. To listen to the podcast that led to this conversation, visit https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/utr-is-god-prodigy-maker-show-episode-68/id1456148452?i=1000588954030 . If you'd like to learn more about Chris and his coaching opportunities, visit his website at https://www.chrislewit.com/ . You can also email him at chris@chrislewit.com or reach him by phone or WhatsApp at 914-462-2912. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 1, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 7 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . Our guest this week is Martin Vinokur, creator of Tennis Europe, a fantastic summer tennis-travel experience for players age 13-18 (click the ad on our homepage to go to their website). I first met Martin over a decade ago while at the US Open and learned about Tennis Europe . They offer a unique combination of tennis, travel, tournament match play, and quality coaching. Juniors will travel with peers from all over the country in an athletic team atmosphere and meet players from all over the world, making lifelong friends. It is opportunity to expand horizons, learn life lessons and pursue success. If you're still looking for the perfect summer opportunity for your player(s), I encourage you to visit the Tennis Europe website at http://www.tenniseurope.com and click through the various trip options. As a bonus, ParentingAces community members will receive a nice discount off the total cost of the trip (to be determined on a trip-by-trip basis by Tennis Europe). To read about past Tennis Europe experiences, go to https://parentingaces.com/?s=tennis%3Aeurope and click the articles written by former players and coaches. This is an experience your child will never forget! If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 22, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 6 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . Former Head Women's Coach at Yale, Danielle McNamara, returns to dig into choosing the proper tournaments given all the rating/ranking changes. Last week, we spoke with ITA CEO Tim Russell about the ITA's recently-announced partnership with WTN. Many of you are feeling some confusion about how best to position your junior player(s) to find a college tennis playing opportunity - do you play USTA tournaments, WTN tournaments, ITF tournaments, or does it even matter? Danielle has recently transitioned into a new role as a consultant to players and parents who are struggling with training, scheduling, and/or recruiting. In this week's episode, she gives some very helpful tips and advice to make the Junior Tennis Journey and College Recruiting go a bit more smoothly. To reach Danielle, visit her website at dlmcoaching.com then click the Contact tab at https://www.dlmcoaching.com/contact . She is incredibly responsive and can answer any questions you may have. I also encourage you to sign up for her free e-newsletter for some very helpful tips. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 15, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 5 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Tim Russell joins us to discuss the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's (ITA) announcement regarding its relationship with the USTA, ITF, and World Tennis Number (WTN). For those of you following the various rating systems over the last several months, you know USTA announced it would be using WTN instead of UTR moving forward. We all wondered how this would play out for college tennis recruiting and recently had our questions answered when the ITA announcement was released. Tim Russell, who is the CEO of the ITA, explains to us why the ITA decided to adopt WTN, what this looks like for college recruiting, and how it fits into the larger developmental landscape. He answers many of the questions our listeners have been asking regarding the impact on junior tournament selection and recruiting efforts, so please tune in and share with anyone considering the college tennis pathway. For more information on the ITA announcement, go to https://www.wearecollegetennis.com/2023/01/05/wtn-named-official-rating-of-college-tennis/ . For information on the ATP/ITA Accelerator Program, go to https://www.wearecollegetennis.com/2023/01/18/atp-and-ita-unite-to-accelerate-professional-development/ . If you have additional questions, you can email Tim at timothy.russell@itatennis.com . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 8, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 4 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . Our returning guest this week is Coach JY Aubone who takes a deep dive into the difference between "liking" and "loving" tennis and what that can mean for overall junior development. Those of you who are long-time listeners of our podcast are very familiar with JY and his no-nonsense approach to helping junior players reach their full potential. Whether it's through his virtual coaching services or in-person instruction, JY has a real talent for assessing a player's commitment to doing what it takes to achieve their stated goals. He understands that going all in isn't for every child, and he helps parents understand where they should best allocate their financial and other resources to make the journey an enjoyable one for all involved. If you have more questions or would like to get in touch with JY, you can reach him via his website, AuboneTennis.com . If you aren’t already, be sure to follow JY on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram as well. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 1, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 3 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . Our guest this week is Coach Rick Macci who you may know from KING RICHARD as the coach of Venus and Serena Williams. Rick is a Hall of Fame coach who has been working with tennis athletes since he was 22 years old. Andy Roddick, Maria Sharapova, Sofia Kenin - these are just a few of the players who have worked with Rick over the years. A self-taught player himself, Rick has developed a coaching style that seems to resonate with players who want to reach their highest potential. He focuses on the process rather than short-term results and feels parents are an important and crucial part of a junior player's tennis journey. Rick sees his role as a tennis coach and also a life coach and understands how to educate parents to be assets to their children throughout the process. To get in touch with Rick Macci, you can email him at info@rickmacci.com . He has also generously shared his phone number for those who would like to chat with him: 561-445-2747. Or visit his website at https://rickmacci.com/ . Be sure to follow Rick on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter , and YouTube as well. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 25, 2023

Welcome to Season 12 Episode 2 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . Coach Todd Widom is back with us discussing the limitations of talent identification in young athletes. Governing bodies in junior tennis have traditionally relied on talent ID to determine where to allocate their financial and coaching resources. Players as young as 8 years old would get "tapped" by the organization based on guesses made about their future size, commitment to the sport, and upside potential. As we know, that has led to many mistakes over the years with some children being the Chosen Ones then burning out due to over-playing or injuries and other children being denied coaching and financial resources well before they had a chance to grow into their potential. In this week's podcast, Todd Widom discusses the limitations of traditional tennis talent identification. He argues that the current system of identifying talent fails to account for the differences between players and their individual journeys. He also explains why tennis players need to be evaluated more holistically and how to create a better system of talent identification. Todd and I chat about the factors to consider when trying to decide who will "make it" and who won't, and why Talent ID is such an inexact science. We present several different schools of thought and what parents should consider when deciding whether to invest their time and money in expensive coaching and tournament play. To contact Todd or to get information on his training, you can reach him at todd@twtennis.com . If you aren’t already, be sure to follow him on Facebook and Instagram as well. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 18, 2023

Welcome to the premiere episode of Season 12 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . We are so excited to bring back coach and tennis parenting author, Frank Giampaolo, to discuss his latest book and his thoughts on how we as parents can help our children have a more positive experience as they go on their Junior Tennis Journey. Frank has been coaching for over 30 years in Southern California and around the world and has worked with top juniors who have gone on to have great college and professional careers. But Frank isn't just a coach; he's also a Tennis Parent who helped his daughter reach her tennis goals. Frank understands what it takes from the parent side to survive and thrive in our sport. If you're interested in attending one of Frank's workshops or just want to chat with him, you can email him at fgsa@earthlink.net . Frank is also active on social media - just click the link to follow him: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . To receive your FREE copy of Frank's latest book, email lisa@parentingaces.com with FRANK'S BOOK in the subject line. To purchase Frank's books online, click here (NOTE: ParentingAces may receive a small commission when you order). If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here . CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 10, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 37, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This is our final episode of Season 11 and what better way to close out the year than by taking a deep dive into the mental side of junior tennis development with Dr. Peter Scales! Coach Pete Scales, Ph.D. is an internationally known developmental psychologist and expert in positive youth development, a U.S. Professional Tennis Association-certified tennis teaching pro, long-time high school boys and girls tennis coach, mental strength consultant to college tennis teams, award-winning mental game author, and regular mental game columnist for Racquet Sports Industry Magazine. Coach Pete is the author of the award-winning book, Mental and Emotional Training for Tennis: Compete-Learn-Honor (Coaches Choice, 2019). His latest book is The Compete-Learn-Honor Playbook: Simple Steps to Take Your Mental & Emotional Tennis & Pickleball Game to a New Level . In this week's podcast, Pete shares with us some simple and very effective ways we as parents and coaches can help our developing players improve their mental skills, gaining those small margins that can make a big difference in overall tennis - and human! - development. He emphasizes the importance of learning, then practicing, rituals and routines to give players the confidence to perform at their highest level. If you're interested in speaking with Coach Pete, you can reach him via email at scalespc@gmail.com . He's available for consultations and for virtual mental skills coaching. To purchase his latest book, please use this link to the ParentingAces Amazon Shop: https://amzn.to/3hsRPOj . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). Happy Holidays and we'll see you in January 2023! CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 25, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 36, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Todd Widom is back to discuss the challenges of developing junior players indoors versus outdoors. As you're well aware, there are many paths to success for junior tennis players. Some players grow up in sunny, warm climates where they can train outdoors year 'round. However, there are just as many who grow up in variable climates where indoor tennis is the norm for much of the year. Does one type of training environment offer an advantage over the other? Coach Todd Widom dives into the ways junior developmental coaches can set up their players to better handle the challenges that indoor training poses. And these challenges aren't only about hitting tennis balls but also about handling weather conditions, tactical adjustments, and mentality. All skills that not only serve these players well on the court but also outside of tennis in the rest of their lives. To contact Todd or to get information on his training, you can reach him at todd@twtennis.com . If you aren’t already, be sure to follow him on Facebook and Instagram as well. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 18, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 34, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Lisa chats with Fellow Tennis Parent, Hugo Aguirre. When you have multiple children playing the same sport, oftentimes you can simply repeat the developmental process with each child. Tennis, however, is different. What works for one child won't necessarily work for the next one, even if they are siblings. Hugo Aguirre found that out first hand. His older child, a daughter who is now playing college tennis in California, went the more traditional route with her development, working with a variety of coaches in and around Miami throughout her junior tennis journey, playing tournaments locally and elsewhere, and reaching her goal to play college tennis. Hugo's son, Matteo, however, now age 11, is on a different path. Feeling frustrated by the opportunities available to his son in Miami, Hugo decided to move his family outside the US and try a alternative route. Hugo studied and became a certified coach himself but hired more experienced coaches in a variety of countries to work with his son who has the goal to be the #1 men's player in the world. After living in Ecuador, Serbia, Hungary, and now, Italy, Hugo feels he has found the right training ground for his son. The Professione Tennis Academy outside of Florence, Italy, takes a unique approach to junior tennis development, combining technique and tactics with on-court mental training. The philosophy is to get players uncomfortable in practice so they can better handle discomfort during competition. They use a variety of drills to teach these skills which Hugo details in this episode. For more information on the academy, visit their website at https://www.professionetennis.it/ . You can also find them on Instagram at @Professionetennis . Hugo has offered to connect with any parents who may have questions or want more details about the academy and his family's decision to move outside the US. You can reach him via email at hugo.aguirre76@gmail.com . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 11, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 34, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, we focus on off-court strength and conditioning with certified coach James Shapiro. James grew up playing junior tennis then moved into the coaching realm. He realized there was a missing piece when it came to the off-court training for young players - there were fitness coaches out there but very few who knew the ins and outs specific to tennis training. James continued his education, earning two masters degrees, and now works with players of all ages and levels in the Southern California area. To get more information on James or to contact him, visit his website at https://jameslshapiro.com/ . You can also follow him on Facebook , Twitter , & Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 4, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 33, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Lisa checks back in with Coach Heath Waters of Match Tennis App about their latest feature upgrades. We all know how challenging it can be to figure out which tournaments your child should be playing. USTA? Universal Tennis? ITF? Pro Circuit? Adult Open? There are so many options and not a lot of guidance of what to play when. Match Tennis App to the rescue! They have built into the app a tournament selection feature based on your child's ranking goals. Heath walks us through the app in the video version of this week's podcast, so we urge you to check that out either on ParentingAces.com or on the ParentingAces YouTube channel. You can also read their most recent blog post at https://web.matchtennisapp.com/how-to-decide-which-tournaments-to-play/ for online tutorials and other useful information. To download Match Tennis App, click here . For more information on the app, click here . To suggest additions for the app, you can email them at support@matchtennisapp.com . I promise you will get a quick response! If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 27, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 32, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Lisa has as her guests two coaches who are going against the grain in terms of their approaches to junior tennis development. Todd Widom and JY Aubone grew up training with "old school" coaches who used "old school" methods. Since it served them both so well in terms of their own tennis goals and successes, they both now tap into the knowledge gained from their childhood coaches when working with junior players today. If you've been listening to this podcast a while, you have heard Lisa speak about the importance of having great mentors. Todd and JY are shining examples of what can happen when a coach leans into the wisdom gleaned from those who carved the path before them. As it happens, both of these outstanding coaches worked with some of the same coaches as kids and now look at junior development through the eyes of those men with a modern spin added in for good measure. If you have more questions or would like to get in touch with JY, you can reach him via his website, AuboneTennis.com . If you aren’t already, be sure to follow JY on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram as well. To connect with Todd or to get information on his training, you can reach him at todd@twtennis.com . If you aren’t already, be sure to follow him on Facebook and Instagram as well. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 16, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 31, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Lisa continues her look at life after junior tennis with current college player, Allie McCray. Allie grew up in Marietta, Georgia, the same Atlanta suburb as Lisa's family. Even more coincidentally, Allie trained as a junior player at the same facility where Lisa's son trained for a period of time. As she was entering the recruiting process, Allie was determined to play Division I tennis in the SEC, the athletic conference where she had grown up watching her favorite college sports. Because she had missed a lot of tournaments due to injury, Allie knew she would have to be proactive in reaching out to college coaches to "sell" herself to them as a valuable addition for their teams. Despite doing her recruiting homework, Allie wound up having a less-than-stellar freshman year and decided to enter the NCAA transfer portal. She is getting ready to start her sophomore year in a new town, at a new college, with a new coach and teammates. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 9, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 30, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week's episode is a follow-up to our recent podcast with Coach Todd Widom discussing the prevalence of international players in Division I tennis. In the previous episode, Todd and Lisa talked about some of the factors contributing to DI college coaches recruiting a majority of their rosters from outside the US. That conversation sparked a lot of comments on the ParentingAces social media channels with Sports Illustrated's Jon Wertheim including a link to the episode in his weekly newsletter. This week, Todd and Lisa expand on those reasons and dig a little deeper into possible solutions on the part of players, parents, junior coaches, and USTA and NCAA to help turn the tide. We hope you'll continue engaging in discussion around this important topic to help ensure the growth of junior and college tennis in the US and to level the playing field for American juniors when it comes to college recruiting. To connect with Todd or to get information on his training, you can reach him at todd@twtennis.com . If you aren’t already, be sure to follow him on Facebook and Instagram as well. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 3, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 29, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Lisa chats with NAIA Men's and Women's Tennis Coach, Chance Joost. You recently heard Lisa and Todd Widom discuss the prevalence of international players in Division I tennis and some ideas to increase the chances for American players to be recruited successfully. But, there's more to college tennis than Division I, and Chance Joost is a clear example of looking beyond DI to play and coach at the college level. Chance and his older brother were accomplished junior tennis players who had opportunities to play at top-ranked DI schools. While his older brother started out at a DI program, both he and Chance finished their college tennis careers at a Division II school closer to their beloved grandfather, winning conference championships and earning All-American status. After college, Chance found himself with coaching opportunities at a variety of schools, eventually choosing a head coaching job at William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri, part of the NAIA. Coach Joost shares with us the opportunities afforded to students - academically, athletically, and financially - at his university. The student-athlete experience at William Woods, and schools like it, goes well beyond the typical DI experience. You will hear Chance talk about the integration of the tennis program with all other sports, how he and the other coaches utilize the student resources available to promote their teams and activities, and the unique system at William Woods to reward students financially for engaging in a variety of on- and off-campus activities. Our goal here at ParentingAces is to shine a light on the variety of college tennis programs available to juniors who want to continue developing and competing. While the top DI programs get most of the coverage and exposure, it's important to do your research when looking for the right fit, academically and tennis-wise. College can be the best four years (or five as the trend seems to be these days) of your child's life. Why not put in a little extra work to ensure they find the best program available? Lisa is here to assist in the form of consults when needed, so be sure to take full advantage! For more information on William Woods University and its tennis program, visit https://wwuowls.com/sports/womens-tennis . If you have specific questions for Chance, you can email him at chance.joost@williamwoods.edu . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 28, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 28, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Lisa chats with Ryan Redondo, former top junior and college player, coach, and now Grower of Tennis in his home community of San Diego, California. Lisa and Ryan first met when Ryan recruited Lisa's son to play college tennis for him at University of the Pacific in Northern California. A few years afterward, Ryan left college coaching to return to San Diego to run Barnes Tennis Center, the home of the Billie Jean King Girls 16s and 18s National Hardcourt tournament among others. As you'll hear in this episode, the Redondo family has a storied history in tennis, and Ryan is continuing to build the Redondo legacy via his outreach efforts throughout Southern California and beyond. He works with several non-profits to provide funding and opportunities for children interested in learning tennis and potentially having the chance to be the first in their family to attend college through the doors that tennis can open. Ryan is committed to ensuring these young players have the tools at their disposal to excel academically as well as athletically. The latest iteration of Ryan's commitment to academic excellence is the Inspire360 Digital Learning Lab on site at Barnes. Inspire360 donated the lab for kids to be able to have a place to do their homework, in addition to playing tennis after school. It has a 3D printer, new Apple computers and high speed internet access. Ryan has plans to use the lab not only for homework and tutoring assistance but also as a way for area coaches to utilize video and other technology to better develop young players into their best selves. It's a win-win for players, parents, coaches, and the community as a whole. To learn more or to reach Ryan, you can email him at rredondo@ytsd.org or visit https://www.barnestenniscenter.com . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 19, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 27, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this week's episode, Coach Todd Widom joins Lisa to discuss what American junior tennis players need to do to become competitive in the eyes of Division I college coaches. The conversation has been going on for years now - why are there so many international players on US college tennis teams and why aren't college coaches recruiting closer to home? Of course, there are many factors involved - including budget issues, parents, player attitude - but the bottom line seems to be a mix of player development shortfalls and an understanding of what it means to be the best you can be and how to achieve your highest potential. Todd and Lisa discuss the current DI landscape, the current junior coaching landscape, the current parent education landscape, and the current USTA attitude toward college tennis, and what needs to change in order for American juniors to become desirable prospects once again. To continue this discussion with Todd or to get information on his training, you can reach him at todd@twtennis.com . If you aren't already, be sure to follow him on Facebook and Instagram as well. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 12, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 26, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this week's episode, Lisa talks with Shelia Townsend, former junior and college player, current coach and Tennis Parent, and the creator of 4 the Love . The mission of 4 the Love is to develop the skills of its clients to the status they strive to achieve - whether it be high school, collegiate or professional. They believe in a holistic approach to coaching and instruction and train players to be a whole and complete athlete. Shelia Townsend has a deep-seated love of tennis, and it has been an integral part of her life. She has played tennis since she was a young girl and eventually earned a scholarship to Lincoln University. Her daughters, Simone and Taylor, followed in her footsteps, with Simone playing college tennis while Taylor went straight from the Juniors to the Pro Tour. Through the experience of coaching her daughters, Shelia knew she wanted to bring holistic coaching to the tennis world. In this way she is able to guide players to have rigor, ethics, character, discipline and more. Shelia is also a huge proponent of high school tennis. She has been coaching the tennis team at Boca High for seven years. In 2021, Townsend made history as the first and only African American female high school tennis coach in Florida to take her team to the state championships. Her coaching style has helped her players attend Harvard, Princeton, Florida State, University of Central Florida, Florida Atlantic University, Holy Cross, Lynn University and more. To contact Shelia, you can follow her and message her on Instagram at https://instagram.com/4thelovetennis . She is also active on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/4thelovetennis . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 5, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 25, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Lisa chats with Erik Kortland, former college and professional player and current coach and business person, about his latest venture, RKT Group, Inc. After his playing career, Erik started at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles as Head of Elite Player and Academy Development, where he was responsible for developing a Top-10 national player in every age group of boys and girls. After much success as a private coach, Erik was hired in 2013 by USTA Player Development as National Coach, Junior Development. His primary responsibility was to implement USTA PD philosophy at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, site of the annual US Open Tennis Championships, directly developing USA’s very best prospects and creating programming for all juniors. In 2016 Erik coached Amanda Anisimova (pictured with Erik) to her first junior French Open final and first WTA grand slam win at the US Open. In 2017 he coached Whitney Osuigwe and Claire Liu to the finals of the Junior French open and Claire Liu and Ann Li to the finals of Junior Wimbledon. In 2017 and 2018 USA recaptured the Junior Fed Cup title twice in Budapest, Hungary with 2017 team of Amanda Anisimova, Whitney Osuigwe, Caty McNally and 2018 team Coco Gauff, Alexa Noel, and Connie Ma. In 2018, Erik was promoted to Lead National coach for men’s and women’s tennis and was in charge of all women’s and junior boys programming at Training Center West in Carson, CA. In 2021 Erik resigned from USTA and joined the Tecnifibre/Lacoste Performance Team as part of their sports marketing and player development department. With all Erik’s tennis expertise and business industry experience it was a natural fit to team up with Ryan Redondo and Khuong Tien to form RKT Group, Inc . RKT Group's mission is to grow the game of tennis by working with municipalities, private clubs, coaches, and families to provide educational and funding opportunities through consulting. Erik, Ryan, and Khuong each bring a unique perspective to our sport as players, industry representatives, business owners, and tennis parents. To learn more about RKT, visit its website at http://www.rkt3.com . You can reach out to Erik directly via his email: ekortland@rkt3.com . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 28, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 24, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Lisa talks with fellow tennis parent, Lianne Mandelbaum, about keeping our players who have food allergies safe on and off the court. Lianne's son, Josh, has a severe allergy to peanuts which she has taught him to manage well over the years. However, when Josh had to get on an airplane to travel to a tournament, all bets were off - the airline staff and fellow passengers disregarded Josh's allergy and his concerns for his health. Lianne later learned that airlines have limited tools on board to help a passenger suffering from an allergic reaction, and she went into Momma Bear mode advocating for policy changes and better education around the dangers of known and undiagnosed food allergies. For junior players who also have to deal with their own food allergies, this episode includes very helpful advice and tools for staying safe when traveling or playing in a new place. For players who don't have allergies themselves but may face an opponent with them, Lianne offers helpful tips for keeping everyone safe and healthy during matches and while hanging out during practices and matches. To get more information on food allergies in athletes and Lianne's advocacy and education efforts, visit her website: http://nonuttraveler.com/ . You can also follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/NoNutTraveler . If you're interested in reading more, here are links to some articles and interviews she's done: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/lmandelbaum1-808 https://www.allergicliving.com/author/lianne-mandelbaum/ https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/lianne-mandelbaum https://themighty.com/u/nonuttraveler/ https://www.allergicliving.com/2021/10/28/the-big-tennis-trip-my-teen-and-his-coach-took-the-food-allergy-reins/ If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 16, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 23, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Lisa's son, Morgan Stone, rejoins the podcast to discuss his life after tennis. The last time we checked in with Morgan, he was working in tech sales in the California Bay area. He had graduated from San Jose State by way of Santa Clara University and Boise State University with a major in Business and a focus on Marketing. He was also producing house music with the goal of moving out of sales and into music full time. Then came NFTs. Morgan is now the CEO of Roo Troop, a Web3 company initially funded by non-fungible tokens that is working hard to fill a huge need in the Web3 ecosystem while maintaining a philanthropic mission as well. Roo Troop has donated over $30,000 to date to Rainforest Rescue, a non-profit to preserve the habitat of the endangered tree kangaroo in Australia ( click here for a video on how Roo Troop is making a difference). If you don't understand what that means, just listen to the podcast. Morgan has had to explain these concepts so many times to family, friends, and business associates who are learning about this new technology and financial ecosystem, and he's become an excellent teacher! For more information on Roo Troop, go to RooTroop.com . If you'd like to follow Roo Troop on Twitter, click here . To follow Morgan, click here . For the Roo Troop Instagram, click here . You can find links to everything Roo Troop on Linktree here . To watch or listen to our previous podcast with Morgan, click https://parentingaces.com/articles/my-sons-journey-with-morgan-stone /. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 7, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 22, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this week's episode, Lisa talks with Lavie Sak, a coach who recognized a need for an update to the commonly-used tennis gear currently on the market then started a business to solve for that need. ADV Tennis products have been created by designers and engineers who play, coach, and know tennis. In addition to getting feedback from pro level players and coaches across the globe, they make it a priority to listen to all tennis players to understand how ADV can create the best tennis gear. From overgrips to bags to a tennis training kit, ADV is bringing products to the market that can help every player at every level achieve their goals. But ADV Tennis isn't just about product creation. Lavie and his team are also committed to giving back to his parents' country of origin, Cambodia, as well as other communities in need around the world. They are working with these countries to provide tennis opportunities to those who may not be able to afford to get started in the game due to financial or other hardships. ADV Tennis not only sends equipment but also provides financial assistance to promising young players. This company is a great example of marrying capitalism with philanthropy and making a real difference in peoples' lives. Lavie is offering a very nice discount to the ParentingAces Community. Simply use promo code PARENTINGACES (all caps) at checkout to receive 15% off your entire purchase. For more information on ADV Tennis and to reach out to Lavie directly, visit their website here . You can also follow on Instagram and Facebook . To watch the documentary Lavie referenced on his work in Cambodia, click here . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 31, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 21, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . Coach Todd Widom is back for this episode to discuss Old School (or, as he calls it, Proper School) coaching versus New School coaching. Then the conversation segues into how best to utilize the information provided by ratings and rankings. This is a good one! Todd grew up being coached by the ultimate Proper School coach, Pierre Arnold. Todd has incorporated the lessons he learned from Pierre to provide an environment for his students to learn and achieve whatever goals they have set for themselves. It's not always easy and it's not always fun and games BUT it is always with the intent of helping his players become the best tennis player they can be. That said, one thing that seems to get in the way of that intent is the prevalence of ratings and rankings and the focus on the number instead of overall development. With USTA implementing yet another rating - the ITF's World Tennis Number (WTN) - Lisa and Todd felt it was important to have another discussion on growth versus fixed mindset and what best serves our junior players. For more information on WTN, read Lisa's recent article here . If you have any questions or would like to get information on Todd's training, you can reach him at todd@twtennis.com . If you aren't already, be sure to follow him on Facebook and Instagram as well. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 17, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 20, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this week's episode, Lisa talks with George Opelka, Tennis Parent to ATP professional, Reilly Opelka, and the Head of Pro Player Relations and Head of Community (Southeast) for SwingVision . For those of you who might be new to our podcast, you may not have heard of SwingVision. However, if you are the parent or coach of a junior or college player, you absolutely need to know about this innovative company using video and artificial intelligence to create crucial data points as well as video analytics of match play and practice sessions. To access our previous podcasts discussing SwingVision, including video demonstrations, click here and here . Tennis has been a bit slow to embrace data collection and analytics, but we are now seeing our sport catch up to the rest of the world. SwingVision not only provides a simple way to record practice sessions, lessons, and match play using only your iPhone, but it also delivers usable data to help players understand what's happening on the court in real time while helping coaches develop training programs based on the needs of each player. SwingVision takes each practice or match and eliminates any non-tennis footage such as picking up balls or sitting on a changeover. Now, analyzing a 3-hour match is compressed into 20-30 minutes, making it easier for players and coaches to take the time and understand what needs work. The app also creates highlight video clips that players can use in their college recruiting efforts. It's very simple to set up SwingVision. Simply download the app onto your iPhone or iPad, mount your device on the rear fence using Siri to help you find the correct alignment, then start recording. As soon as your session is complete, you can view the video and its analytics, helping you and your player to identify strengths and weaknesses sorted by stroke, score, and/or court placement. A new feature of SwingVision includes its line calling feature. We all know how much "poor vision" has infiltrated our sport. Now, players can have a tool using their Apple watch to challenge line calls and keep fair play at the forefront. Though it hasn't yet been approved for competition, I'm hopeful it will be in the near future. Click here for a video explaining how this feature works. If you'd like more information about SwingVision, you can contact George Opelka via email at George.o@swing.tennis or direct message him through his Twitter and/or Instagram account. To access the generous ParentingAces discount on SwingVision, click here . The discount code will give you $20 off the pro yearly subscription ($129.99 instead of $149.99) + a 30-day trial as well as $100 off the newest phone mount bundle offer ($159.99 instead of $259.99). If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 10, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 19, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this week's episode, Lisa talks with Chris Boyer, a fellow Tennis Parent and a founding committee member for the new Southern California Pro Circuit. Per a press release Lisa received: The SoCal Pro Circuit is a transitional tour designed to create a path to the pro ranks for up-and-coming professional, college, and high-level junior players (with all main draw and qualifying wild cards to each event going to American players from Southern California or attending university full-time in Southern California). The first three $15,000 tournaments – part of the ITF World Tennis Tour and USTA Pro Circuit – will take place in San Diego County, with the final three events in Los Angeles and Orange County. “Southern California has a long history of producing some of the most celebrated tennis players in the game like Billie Jean King, Serena and Venus Williams, and Pete Sampras,” said Southern California Tennis Association (SCTA) President Bob Hochstadter. “We see the SoCal Pro Circuit as a way to keep this legacy alive.” In addition to Chris, the committee includes such SoCal tennis notables as Lindsay Davenport, Paul Annacone, Pam Shriver, Peggy Michel, and Marianne Werdel. Tournament dates are as follows:  May 30-June 5: Rancho Santa Fe Tennis Club  June 6-12: University of San Diego  June 13-19: Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego  June 27-July 3: Jack Kramer Club in Rolling Hills  July 4-10: Los Caballeros Sports Village in Fountain Valley  July 11-17: Lakewood Tennis Center Attending the events is FREE, so there is no excuse if you're in the area! Our friends at Cracked Racquets will be live-streaming and commentating on each event, so be sure to tune in if you can't attend in person. ( Click here to listen to the Cracked Interviews podcast with Chris about the circuit) For junior players, their parents, and their coaches this is an incredible opportunity to see professional tennis up close and personal. It is an invaluable learning opportunity for coaches to take their young players and use the events as a living classroom to teach warm-up protocols, tactics, footwork, mental skills, and the like. There may even be opportunities for area juniors to act as hitting partners for the pros. An ITF iPin is required for entry into the qualifying and main draw events but NOT for the pre-qualies. If you need to get an iPin, click here for juniors and here for ages 18+. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 3, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 18, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . Coach JY Aubone is back to discuss how junior players and their parents and coaches can best manage both the mental and physical challenges during the course of tournament competition. Both JY and Lisa have been asked numerous times about the best way for a junior player to manage themselves throughout a tournament. Whether it's the warm up, cool down, hydration, meals, sleep, or another facet of competing, there are so many variables when your child is competing. Knowing how to best help them, especially when they are playing multiple matches a day for 3 or 4 (or more!) consecutive days, is an ever-changing challenge. Each tournament is different. Each child is different. Being willing and able to adapt as needed is one of the keys to success when it comes to making sure the player has the energy needed to compete as well on Day 4 as on Day 1. JY has extensive experience both as a player and as a coach. He has played at the highest levels of our sport and has coached players at every level from beginner to Top 20 on the ATP tour. And he's seen junior competition change from playing 1 or 2 matches per day to now playing up to 4 matches a day. Teaching a junior player what to do before, during, and after each match is key to helping them become better competitors. In this episode of the podcast, JY goes through some very specific steps every player should take to have the best possible tournament experience. If you have more questions or would like to get in touch with JY, you can reach him via his website, AuboneTennis.com . If you aren’t already, be sure to follow JY on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram as well. In this episode, you will hear JY talk about "dynamic warmup" - for more information on what that is and how your player(s) should prepare for practice or matches, watch this podcast with Dean Hollingworth ( click here ). If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 26, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 17, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, we've got something a little different on tap. ParentingAces creator and founder, Lisa Stone, does a deep dive into the ParentingAces platform, including ParentingAces.com and its social media channels. Learn how best to use the website, Facebook page and groups, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube offerings to help you have a more positive experience throughout the Junior and College Tennis Journey. If you have more questions or would like to get in touch with Lisa, you can reach her at l isa@parentingaces.com . If you aren’t already, be sure to follow ParentingAces on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram as well. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 19, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 16, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Lisa chats with coach Todd Widom about how parents should go about selecting a short-term training or camp experience for their junior players. The topic of summer camps and Spring Break training opps comes up pretty regularly in the ParentingAces community. There are so many options out there - most of which are pretty pricey - and choosing the right coach and facility for your player can be challenging. Coach Todd Widom shares his thoughts on the questions to ask when considering your options. Not only should you make sure the coach is a good fit for your child, but also that other players who will be there have similar goals and experience so everyone gets the most out of the experience. If you have more questions or would like to get information on Todd's training, you can reach him at todd@twtennis.com . If you aren't already, be sure to follow him on Facebook and Instagram as well. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 12, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 15, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Lisa chats with Brett Connors, current producer at the Tennis Channel and son of World Number 1, Jimmy Connors, and his wife, model Patti McGuire. Growing up as the child of world-famous parents can be a pressure cooker. You're always being held up in the world's eye to the uber-high standards set by your parents. In Brett Connors's case, he definitely faced some of that pressure but has found a way to forge his own path and identity both in and outside of the tennis world. Not only did Brett and his younger sister, Aubree, have to deal with their parents' fame but also with their dad's frequent time away from them as he traveled the world competing. That said, their mother found a way to bring a sense of normalcy to their childhood while encouraging them both to pursue their own interests and dreams. After playing both golf and tennis as a young child, Brett eventually chose to pursue golf in college and still plays to this day. Leaving junior tennis and discovering a passion for photography and production have helped him find his own unique identity separate from his "Pops" and also led them both to co-hosting a podcast, Advantage Connors where they talk about tennis, for sure, as well as other topics of interest. To see Brett's photography and keep up with his latest podcast episodes, you can follow him on Twitter and Instagram . The Advantage Connors podcast is on Instagram here . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 5, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 14, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, the topic is developing great competitors as opposed to simply great ball strikers. Coach Jonathan Stokke, a former college coach and current junior developmental coach, shares his strategies with the ParentingAces audience. Jonathan grew up playing tennis and went on to have a great college career at Duke University. Prior to working at Duke, Stokke served as an assistant women's tennis coach at Wake Forest for two years. Before coaching at the collegiate level, he instructed highly-ranked junior players at the Smith Stearns Tennis Academy in Hilton Head, S.C., with Stan Smith and Billy Stearns. Stokke became the first student-athlete in Duke Men's Tennis history to win the ITA National Arthur Ashe Sportsmanship & Leadership Award in 2006 while also earning the USTA Sportsmanship Award – just the second Blue Devil to earn the honor next to Smith. He was an All-American and a two-time All-ACC selection while being named to the All-ACC Academic Team and ACC Honor Roll for three years. As a junior, Jonathan reached the quarterfinals of Kalamazoo Boys 18s Singles and won the doubles with partner, Rajeev Ram. They defeated John Isner and Brett Ross to win the championship. Jonathan Stokke now hosts his own podcast, Baseline Intelligence , in addition to coaching junior players in the Charleston, SC, area. To reach him, you can follow him on Twitter or email him at jonathan.stokke@gmail.com . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 29, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 13 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this week's episode, Lisa chats with the founder of the Reformed Sports Project , Nick Buonocore. As a former top youth and collegiate baseball player himself, and now as a youth coach and father, Nick Buonocore well knows and understands the challenges facing youth sports development in the current climate. He's seen the good side and the bad of both coaches and parents which led him to create a website and podcast to help bring the fun and joy back into youth sports at all levels. Nick shares his thoughts on the role of the coach and the role of the parent as we all strive to help young athletes reach their full potential on and off the court or field. For more information on the Reformed Sports Project, follow them on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter . You can also reach out to Nick directly through the Contact Us page on the RSP website. You can find all episodes of the podcast here . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 22, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 12, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Lisa chats with Ryan Carney, current head men's and women's coach at Missouri Valley College and director of Collegiate Exposure Camps . Coach Ryan Carney is entering his 19th season as a college head coach. As the Camp Director of Collegiate Exposure Camps, Coach Carney strives to put together an outstanding group of college coaches to run the camps. As a long time college coach, he takes great pride in directing a camp "taught exclusively by college coaches". But what is the difference between an exposure camp and a college showcase? And how do you know which is appropriate for your junior player(s)? Those are the questions Ryan addresses and answers in this week's podcast! In addition, he discusses some of the best practices of college recruiting and the role of the parent in the process. For more information or to register for this summer's Collegiate Exposure Camps at University of Pennsylvania, click here . To reach out to Ryan directly with any questions, email him at tennis@collegiatecamps.com . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 15, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 11, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Lisa chats with Marcelo Ferreira, a former college coach ( Texas Tech , Pepperdine ) who is now running his own junior tennis development program in the Atlanta area. After graduating from Georgia College & State University in 2006, Marcelo remained in Milledgeville, Ga. for a year to serve as the assistant coach for both the men’s and women’s tennis programs at his alma mater. He was a three-year letterwinner on the tennis team and earned Peach Belt Conference Presidential Honor Roll status every season. He later went on to earn his master’s degree in education, with a focus on human performance and sports management, from Texas Tech. Once his time at Pepperdine was complete, Marcelo relocated to Atlanta where he began working with the area's junior players at Universal Tennis Academy (read more about Marcelo in this article ). He then had the opportunity to take over the junior tennis program at the Windy Hill Athletic Club where he now runs his own high performance academy. You will hear Marcelo speak about the differences - and similarities - of coaching at the collegiate level versus the junior level. There are significant differences both in terms of the role of the coach and the role of the parent which are crucial to understand if your child is looking to continue their tennis in college. To reach Marcelo, email him at marceloferreira2310@gmail.com and be sure to follow him on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter . He also shares valuable information on his social media, so don't miss out! If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 8, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 10, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Lisa talks with Katie Lever, a former Division I athlete and newly-published author, about her college athletic experience. Katie is currently working toward her Ph. D at the University of Texas at Austin in Rhetoric and Language with experience in quantitative and qualitative research, academic presentations, teaching, journalism, market research, and college athletics. She also freelances for one of our partners, 2aDays.com - an online resource for prospective college athletes dedicated to transparency and educational empowerment in collegiate athletics - as a writer, speaker, and advisor. Katie Lever ran track and cross country for Western Kentucky University from 2012-17, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies and master’s degree in Organizational Communication. Her current research focuses on athlete rights, issues in intercollegiate athletics, and college sports reform. Over the course of her graduate career, she has presented her research at three national conferences and authored/co-authored two book chapters. To purchase Katie's novel, click here (note: ParentingAces may receive a small commission on your purchase). You can connect with Katie on LinkedIn , Instagram , or Twitter . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 1, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 9, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Lisa talks with Coach Todd Widom about what it takes for a junior player to win the biggest events on the world stage. It's great to finally get Todd back on the pod! Bruno Kuzuhara, an American who trains in Florida, was the 2022 Australian Open Boys Singles Champion. What did it take for him to reach that level? What sets him apart from other American juniors? Coach Todd has some definite thoughts on these and other questions regarding junior tennis development. As usual, he isn't shy about sharing those opinions with the ParentingAces community, and we love him for it! To gain more insight into Bruno Kuzuhara, read Colette Lewis's recent interview with him here . If you're interested in learning more about Todd's training facility and approach, you can reach him on his website here , on Facebook , and on Instagram . He is very responsive and welcomes players to come work with him and his team. Todd has also recently started posting a weekly FAQ in the ParentingAces Facebook Group , so be sure to check that out as well. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 22, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 8, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Lisa checks back in with the founder of Match Tennis App, Heath Waters, to discuss the newest amazing updates to this must-have app for tennis parents. We highly encourage you to watch the video version of this episode on ParentingAces.com or our YouTube channel so you can see Heath walk you through the new features of Match Tennis App. To watch our previous podcasts with Heath, go to https://parentingaces.com/articles/tennis-parents-gotta-get-app/ , https://parentingaces.com/articles/matchtennis-app-pivots-for-2021/ , and https://parentingaces.com/articles/college-recruiting-app-heath-lindsey-waters/ . Heath Waters is not just a tennis coach but also a tennis parent. He and his wife, Lindsey, understand the challenges of navigating the various journey tennis tournament schedules, entry requirements, and match preparation. They continue to enhance Match Tennis App to incorporate features their users ask for and need. We encourage you to watch the video version of this week's episode and see Heath walk you through how to best use the app. To download Match Tennis App, click here . For more information on the app, click here . To suggest additions for the app, you can email them at support@matchtennisapp.com . I promise you will get a quick response! Everyone has access to a free 15 day premium trial of Match Tennis - no CC required! To sign up just go to https://matchtennisapp.com and click the “sign up” button at the top of the page. After 15 days the trial account will be downgraded to a basic free plan which you can keep for life. If you want to continue premium access after the 15 day free trial you can use the Parenting Aces 10% discount for an annual or monthly subscription by using the following promo code: aces10 To upgrade after the free trial ends users will need to go to the link below and follow the instructions and use the provided promo code during the upgrade process to obtain the discount: https://www.matchtennisapp.com/baseapp/updmemb.html NOTE: This offer expires April 1, 2022! If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 17, 2022

Welcome to this Bonus Episode of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . Lisa chats with Randy Master of the TennisONE app about their coverage of college tennis, specifically USTA College Match Days, during the 2022 season. Randy has an extensive history in tennis, starting as an accomplished junior player, playing college tennis at VCU, then moving into college and private coaching. Eventually, Randy made his way into the business side of the sport, working at the Tennis Channel, IMG, and now, TennisONE. You can download the TennisONE app FOR FREE in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store then watch as many matches as you please at no cost. In addition to live matches, the app also includes interviews with coaches and players as well as other on-the-ground content for fans of the game. If watching on a phone isn't your thing, you can also watch on your computer or stream live on your smart tv. TennisONE is doing its part to grow the fan base of our sport and bring live tennis to everyone at any time. For more information on TennisONE, click here . This link includes download links for the app as well. To watch TennisONE on your computer, click here . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 15, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 7, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Lisa chats with two high school tennis coaches from North Carolina: Kyle Williams and Tom Traub. If you've been following ParentingAces for any amount of time, you know Lisa is a huge proponent of junior players getting involved with their high school teams. Having the opportunity to play for something bigger than yourself is an invaluable experience for all players, regardless of their goals and regardless of their level of play. Even though some high school tennis may not be at the level these kids are used to in terms of competition, it can still be a great experience and counter-balance to the pressures felt on the individual tournament court. Kyle Williams and Tom Traub have been coaching at the high school level ( Marvin Ridge High School ) for many years and share their experiences working with both tournament-level players and more recreational players in the team atmosphere. Their program really starts with a feeder program at the middle school level, and they work closely with the middle school players and coaches to get them ready to train and compete once they get to high school. You can reach Kyle at kwtennisnation@gmail.com and Tom at tom.traub@yahoo.com . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 8, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 6, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Lisa chats with former touring pro, Jack Oswald, about his venture into entrepreneurship with Cancha Racquet Bag. After nearly a decade of traveling the world on the men’s pro tennis circuit, Jack Oswald grew tired of experiencing the downfalls of traditional tennis bags: broken zips, loose stitching, uncomfortable straps and a ‘one-size fits all’ mentality that let him and others down time and time again. With a creative idea and entrepreneurial spirit, Oswald set out to create a uniquely adaptable, highly durable and customizable tennis and sports bag that could be used not only for avid and competitive tennis players but also for the outdoor adventurer. The result of Jack’s labor of love, inspired by deep frustration? The Cancha Racquet Bag holds up to four racquets and was designed using a unique modular attachment system. Cancha, appropriately, means ‘court’ in Spanish but Jack adds, “Cancha also translates into activity and is an action word used to describe a go-getter. That’s the type of adjective that fits perfectly with the Cancha brand.” “I wondered why no brands out there came up with a durable racquet bag that would see you through at least a whole season,” said Jack, 26, a resident of Great Britain. “I imagined a bag which, through its uniquely adaptable and customizable design, would be totally personal to each user and act as the perfect tool to help them achieve their goals.” The design of the Cancha bag is unique for another reason; there are no large logos placed on the bag. “People can tell our bags from a mile away,” said Jack. “The design speaks for itself and we keep the logos to a minimum.” Features of the Cancha bag include: § Durable and flexible material giving maximum protection from the elements § Accessory pockets for those little but important items § Removable shoulder straps § Lightweight, making it easy for juniors and adults alike § Modular system for maximum adaptability § Wet-dry bag accessory for soiled shirts and shorts Born in Virginia, Jack spent 14 years in the United States and competed in national and international tournaments as a junior before his family moved to Europe. Fluent in three languages (French, Spanish and English), he holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Stirling (2021) and has also spent time as a hitting partner to ATP pros like Kyle Edmund and Aljaz Bedene. “I am very interested in the lives of those grinding it out on the lower levels of the pro circuit,” Jack says. “My days traveling to the $10,000 Futures-level tournaments helped me learn what a player really needs from a great tennis bag.” To shop all Cancha products, go to: https://canchabags.com/collections/all . For more information, visit: https://canchabags.com . Follow along on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/canchabags/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Canchabags Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/canchabags/ If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 1, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 5, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Lisa chats with Danielle McNamara, former Head Women's Tennis Coach at Yale and current ITA Director of Coach Education, about what it's going to take to attract and retain more children to our sport. Danielle McNamara was the women’s tennis head coach at Yale from 2006-14, and 2016-21. She was also the head coach at Texas from 2014-15. She guided Yale to four NCAA Tournament appearances, including the first in program history in 2008. McNamara coached 27 All-Ivy singles players, 12 All-Ivy doubles teams, two Ivy League Rookie of the Year players, and the first Yale women’s tennis Ivy League Player of the Year. She played college tennis at the University of Michigan, where she became the first player in program history to participate in all three national championships; ITA All-Americans, ITA National Indoors, and NCAA Championships. Danielle served as team captain, and was named Big Ten Sportswoman of the Year. Now, as the mother of two young children interested in sports, Danielle shares her thoughts on how tennis needs to pivot to compete in the world of Youth Sports Recruitment. Using her vast experience as both a player and coach, Danielle's approach makes so much sense and is something we'd love to see governing bodies around the world adopt. To read the Medium article referenced in the podcast, click here . To reach Danielle, you can email her at dmcnamara@itatennis.com . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 25, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 4, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week we discuss helping your child become self-reliant which leads to becoming a better competitor with coaching experts Carlos and Josh Goffi. Carlos and Josh are a father-son duo who, between them, have played and coached tennis at very high levels. Carlos was John McEnroe's developmental coach starting around age 14 and also coached John and his brother Patrick on the ATP tour. Josh is the Head Men's Coach at the University of South Carolina who coached two of his players to the NCAA finals in the last two years - a first since 2004: back-to-back finalists by the same school. In this week's episode, Carlos and Josh discuss their own coaching philosophies in terms of developing top tennis players but, more importantly, developing top human beings. They have developed a virtual course for junior tennis players and parents called Tournament Tough Online. This 5-part interactive program provides valuable instruction, perspective, and a plan for junior tennis families. The pilot series begins February 21, 2022, and is available to 20 participants via invitation only. If you are interested in participating, you need to email lisa@parentingaces.com ASAP to receive your personalized code that includes a 50% discount off the course price! To learn more about Tournament Tough Online, you can visit its website at https://tournamenttough.com . If you want to sign up for the online course, DO NOT DO SO DIRECTLY THROUGH THE WEBSITE! You must have the personalized code in order to receive the discounted price. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 18, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 3, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week we revisit the Progress Tour with its creator, Barry Fulcher. To listen to our previous podcast with Barry, click here . Barry Fulcher grew up in a Tennis Family. His parents and his siblings were avid players, so it was only fitting that Barry start honing his racquet and court skills as a toddler in the UK. His love of the game and of competition led him to a very successful junior tennis career such that he decided to go the professional route. He quickly realized his skills didn't translate well to the pro tour, so Barry decided to try his hand at coaching while continuing to compete locally. The Progress Tour was born out of Barry's frustration at the lack of quality tournaments in and around the UK. He wanted to create a place for players of all levels to come together and satisfy their desire to compete. It has now been over 3 years, and the Progress Tour is growing by leaps and bounds. While all Progress Tour events are held in the UK, they are open to players around the world. To learn more and to register for upcoming events, click here . The Compete & Earn series by Progress Tour provides an opportunity for players to earn prize money through competition. To learn more about those events, click here . You can stay abreast of new offerings by following The Progress Tour on Facebook and Instagram @theprogresstour. You can reach Barry via email at bftournamentdirector@gmail.com . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 11, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 2, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week we bring back coach JY Aubone to talk about why junior tennis player and their parents need to keep their eye on the process and not get sidelined by focusing only on results. To listen to our previous podcast with JY, click here . JY believes players can only be as good as their environment allows them to be, and too many players are being failed by the structure their academies are putting in place. His goal is to help parents put in place the proper developmental environment so their child has the best chance to maximize their potential. Whether their goal is to play Division I college tennis, pro, or high school tennis, there is only one type of environment that can help a player maximize their potential. Players need: • Personalized attention. • Their matches watched by their coach. • A personalized practice plan that includes practice matches and fitness. • Their tournament schedule to be tailored to their needs. • And their parents to be guided through the junior tennis development journey by the coach. To find out more about JY and what he offers both virtually and in person, visit his website at https://www.aubonetennis.com/ . You can reach out to JY directly via email at jyaubone@gmail.com . Special offer for our Premium members : FREE Zoom session with JY and Lisa on January 27th at 7pm ET/4pm PT. Parents will have the opportunity to ask JY any questions about the junior tennis journey and development process. We will email all Premium members a link to register so make sure we (lisa@parentingaces.com) are in your contacts and don't get stuck in your spam! If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 4, 2022

Welcome to Season 11, Episode 1, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . We are thrilled you decided to join us for another year! It seems only fitting to kick off the year with another brilliant conversation with tennis fitness specialist, Dean Hollingworth, who was our most-downloaded podcast guest during Season 10. Dean is back this season to give you some very practical and actionable exercises to help your junior player(s) prepare for on-court play, recover between matches during competition, and keep the body healthy overall. If you're listening to this episode on your favorite podcast app, I encourage you to check out the video version on ParentingAces.com so you can see Dean and his players in action. Dean Hollingworth has more fitness and tennis certifications than pretty much anyone around. Although based in Montreal, Canada, Dean works with tennis players both in person and virtually and has helped so many of them on their journey to US College Tennis and the professional circuit. At the end of the episode, Dean shares an exciting announcement with the ParentingAces Community - make sure to watch/listen all the way to the end! It is a very limited opportunity, so please be sure to take full advantage of Dean's expertise and generosity. For more information on Dean and to get in contact with him, visit his website here . He also has some amazing information on his Principal Movements website here . Be sure to follow him on Facebook and Instagram for new videos and other valuable content. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 23, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 48, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This is our final podcast of Season 10 - we hope you've enjoyed all our guests this year and will join us again in January 2022 for the kickoff of Season 11! Lisa's guest this week is Rishav Khanal, a best-selling author and founder of Compound Career. He helps college students and recent graduates develop the career readiness skills to break into competitive job and internship programs that have been rated extremely high for overall employee happiness. Rishav grew up in Nepal and moved to the US with his family in 2006. A graduate of Virginia Tech, Rishav now lives in the Chicago area where he plays a ton of tennis and drinks celery juice each morning! Rishav brings his experience working at Under Armour and LinkedIn to ParentingAces to help us understand the unique challenges involved in transitioning from Athlete to Working Professional. Rishav has compiled his own experiences as well as that of other former athletes into the Compound Career online course. From the website, Compound Career is an online 6-week career coaching program that guarantees your child their ideal job (or internship) in their dream industry. If your child doesn’t get their ideal job within 6 weeks, Rishav works with them on a 1:1 unlimited basis at no additional cost until they're hired. For more information and to reach Rishav, visit his website at https://compoundcareer.com/fellowship . He also runs a very informative Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/careerplanningsecrets/ . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). Have a very happy holiday season! We'll see you in 2022! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 16, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 47, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this week’s episode, Lisa talks with Dr. Michelle Cleere ( click here to watch/listen to our previous podcast with Dr. Cleere) about a sensitive topic: body image and body shaming in young athletes. Several weeks ago, Lisa received a DM from a parent concerned about comments her 11-year-old daughter was getting about her height. Specifically, the little girl would hear parents and other junior players say things like, "Someone needs to check that girl's birth certificate - there's no way she should be playing in the 12s!" Can you imagine how hearing those types of comments on a regular basis would make a child feel? This week's podcast is all about raising awareness around how what we say to or around children impacts them and what we can do as the adults in the room to help our children manage that impact. Dr. Michelle helps professional, junior, and age group tennis players overcome their performance challenges. It’s her passion, mission, and promise. Ultimately, she works with top athletes to help them unlock the power of the mind and create the mental toughness necessary to be the best. Dr. Michelle’s extensive academic background, which includes a PhD in Clinical Psychology and a Masters in Sports Psychology, allows her to help clients deal with performance anxiety, gain more confidence, and build resilience. You can learn more about Dr. Michelle at https://drmichellecleere.com . Email her at drmichelle@drmichellecleere.com. To purchase her book, Beating the Tennis Demons, click here . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 9, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 46, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this week's episode, Lisa talks with former ATP professional player and current ATP/Junior coach, Daniel Yoo, about how he uses his tour experience to help today's players reach their potential. Daniel Yoo is a South Korean tennis player who made his way to the US to train and eventually coach. Yoo reached a career high ATP singles ranking of 326 and a career high ATP doubles ranking of 425 before retiring from the professional tour. He is now living and working in South Florida, currently training and traveling with South Korean up-and-coming pro Soonwoo Kwon as well as assisting with junior development with coaches Todd Widom and Pierre Arnold at Todd Widom Tennis . Daniel is a firm believer in building trust with his players and feels that is an absolute precursor to success on and off the tennis court. He shares how he builds that trust with his players and their families and what may be missing from other player-coach relationships. He also discusses how his mandatory time serving in the Korean military shaped his approach to working with young players to develop the necessary skills for success. To reach Daniel, you can find him on Facebook here and on Instagram here . You can also email him directly at yootennis@gmail.com . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 2, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 45, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this week's episode, Lisa chats with speed and agility coach, Gary Cablayan, and tennis coach, Susan Nardi, about the importance of training the whole athlete first. If you've been listening to our podcast for a while, you know Lisa is a big fan of developing the athlete first, the tennis player next. Both Gary and Susan talk about why that philosophy of youth sports development is in the best interest of the child both short-term and long-term. You will hear them describe their approach to incorporating overall athletic development into teaching specific tennis skills and why that leads to fewer injuries and less burnout. For more information on Gary, visit his website at https://m.facebook.com/EVO-Sports-Training-240777302622634/ . You can contact him directly through direct message on Facebook or Instagram or via email at garycablayon@yahoo.com . For more information on Susan, visit her website at https://sportsprosconnect.com/susannardi/ and https://www.latennis.com/ . You can also follow her on Facebook and Twitter and email her at suznardi@yahoo.com . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 26, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 44, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this week's episode, Lisa chats with Coach Tom Downs who has recently relocated from Florida to the Dallas (TX) area and works with both junior and professional players alike. Tom's philosophy on Junior Tennis Development, based on his own life growing up playing tennis in Australia, is unique and refreshing. Tom ran his own coaching business in South Florida and was Director at the Harold Solomon Tennis Institute in Ft. Lauderdale before that. He's been coaching on the WTA Tour as well, working with rising player Storm Sanders most recently. In the last 6 months, Storm has gone from 280 to 122 in singles and from 70 to 40 in doubles, reaching the Wimbledon Women's Doubles semifinals and US Open quarterfinals. Tom has a long history in helping good juniors transition to successful WTA pro. Tom is married to former WTA professional, Nicole Pitts, who is the older sister of Tornado and Hurricane Black. You can listen to our podcast from Season 4 with Nicole here . You can reach Tom via email at tassietom123@gmail and on his website at https://linqapp.com/tom_downs . He is also on Instagram and Facebook . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 19, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 43, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this week's episode, we follow up on our recent podcast with Orlando and Zander Bravo ( click here to watch/listen) and talk with Zander's coach, Todd Widom, about how Zander made such huge strides in such a short period of time. If you're a regular of our podcast, by now you have a pretty clear understanding of Coach Todd Widom's philosophy on coaching and developing junior tennis players. When he gets a player who is already in high school, wants to play high-level college tennis, but is missing some significant pieces of his/her game, that's where Todd really shines. In the case of Zander Bravo, not only did Todd have to commit to helping Zander reach his goal of playing at an Ivy, but Zander and his family also had to commit to putting in the work and support needed for Zander to reach his goal. When all is said and done, all parties involved honored their commitment, and Zander will be playing at Brown University starting Fall 2022. The Junior Tennis Journey is a long one, often met with many ups and downs along the way. Hearing from the coach's side how to manage that journey should prove valuable to the parents and players out there. For more information on Todd, visit his website here and be sure to follow him on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . You can also email him at todd@twtennis.com . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 12, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 42, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this week's episode, Lisa chats with University of Georgia Senior, Trent Bryde, about the recent Supreme Court ruling around Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) and how Trent is maximizing the opportunity to help Junior Tennis Players through his TennisMentors program. I've known Trent since he was about 12 years old, playing the Junior Tennis Circuit in and around Atlanta. I've watched him grow up into an extremely talented player who is having a very successful college tennis career and positioning himself for success at the professional level. Trent has never been one to sit back and wait for things to be handed to him. Instead, he creates opportunities. TennisMentors is one of his creations. In high school, Trent achieved a career-high of No. 8 in the junior world rankings, competing in all four junior Grand Slams around the world. He was also invited to participate in the prestigious ITF Junior Masters event in Chengdu, China, which hosts the top 8 juniors worldwide. Currently, Trent is a four-time All-American for the University of Georgia and has reached a career-high ATP ranking of 600. Tennis Mentors is an educational initiative developed by Trent and fellow Atlantan Joseph Gandolfo who played at Georgia Tech. These two know exactly what it takes to succeed in the Juniors. No matter where you are now, their instruction will arm you with the tools and mental model you'll need to take your game to the next level. They do this through virtual and in-person consults as well as through a series of short videos. Trent is offering a nice discount to ParentingAces Premium Members which you can find at https://parentingaces.com/articles/member-discounts/ (you must be a current Premium Member to access the discount code). For more information on TennisMentors, visit their website at TennisMentors.net . You can reach Trent via Direct Message on Twitter @TrentBryde . To listen to my previous podcast with Trent, go to https://parentingaces.com/articles/trent-bryde-patrick-kypson-tennismentors-net/ . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 5, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 41, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this week's episode, we'll be revisiting the Apeak App for training mental skills in tennis players. To watch/listen to our previous podcast with Apeak founder Brian Park, click here . I highly encourage you to watch the video version of this week's episode so you can see Apeak in action: parentingaces.com . Apeak uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help tennis players train the mental side of the game. Now partnering with noted performance psychologist, Dr. Jim Loehr , the app offers even more personally-tailored content and trainings. After playing ITF juniors, futures, and college tennis, Brian Park began his master’s program in Sports Psychology at California State University, Fullerton. He was fortunate enough to have Dr. Ken Ravizza, one of the most well-known sports psychologists, as a member of his graduate committee. While getting his master's degree, Brian was also coaching full-time. Coaching was a great way for him to implement the mental skills he was learning at school. He knew how critical mental skills were to the success of competitive players. Then in 2018, while doing mental training consulting with a challenging student, Brian decided to try a new approach that focused on allowing players to repeat proper ways of thinking and reflect on their performance. The results were eye opening, and it was at that moment that he knew he had found the solution he was looking for. The Apeak System was born. As mentioned in the podcast, the new and improved Apeak is available October 12 and they are offering a 20% discount to the ParentingAces Community. Simply click here to receive the discount. For more information on Apeak, please visit their website here . You can reach Brian via email at brian@apeak.com . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 28, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 40, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this week's episode, we will be discussing mental health as it relates to Junior Tennis. Specifically, we will hear from the person behind the Matt Stevenson Junior Tennis Tournament Series , Gary Poon, as he shares Matt's tragic story and how he and others have turned it into an opportunity to create a positive lasting legacy. The Matt Stevenson Junior Tennis Tournament (MSJTT) Series is the first and only junior tennis tournament event in the country to promote the importance of mental health for adolescents. Inaugurated in 2019 in San Diego, the MJSTT has expanded to New York and Washington, D.C. for 2021. The series aims to address the national teen depression, anxiety, and suicide crisis by engaging adolescents through a sport they love and promoting dialogue and understanding of these issues. At ParentingAces, we feel it's very important to help educate both Tennis Parents and Junior Tennis Coaches about mental health in young athletes, especially the warning signs that a child may need help. Of course, Gary Poon and his ProtoStar Foundation share that feeling and are doing some amazing work to connect players and their families with the appropriate resources while providing competitive opportunities around the US. I hope you'll watch/listen to this week's podcast then open the door to conversations with your young player(s) to help them stay on top of their own mental health as they grow and develop their tennis game. All fees and donations from the tournaments will benefit the Matt Stevenson Junior Tennis Fund , which supports junior tennis programs in low-to-moderate income areas to help make tennis accessible to all kids and provides financial aid to promising junior tennis players. A portion of the net proceeds may also be donated to the tournament site's junior tennis programs. For more information on the MSJTT and links to information on helping anyone struggling with their mental health, please visit https://www.speakingofsuicide.com/resources/ . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 21, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 39, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week's episode features Alex Gruskin, the man behind Cracked Racquets, and a fellow Tennis Channel Podcaster. Alex and Lisa discuss a variety of topics around junior, college, and pro tennis, including how Cracked Racquets is changing the landscape around how tennis is covered in the media. Alex Gruskin grew up playing Junior Tennis and always knew he wanted to continue his Tennis Journey in college. He also really wanted to go to the University of Michigan and found playing Club Tennis was the right choice for him. He had a fabulous experience there, captaining his team and taking them all the way to a National Championship. While still in college, Alex partnered with some Tennis Friends to create Cracked Racquets and the Great Shot podcast . Their dream of disrupting the conventional media coverage of the sport is coming true as they are now being engaged to commentate professional tournaments and even run their own events. Their latest venture is Project Elite , a vehicle to help College Tennis Players connect with sponsors now that college athletes are allowed to profit from their name, image, and likeness. Project Elite will provide players paid chances to promote the sport, build their brands, and much more. Alex is a great story teller, as you will hear in this episode! Be sure to follow him on social media @GreatShotPod and subscribe to their multitude of podcasts (Great Shot Pod, Cracked Racquets, Cracked Interviews, The Mini-Break Podcast) on your favorite podcast app. You can listen to my recent interview on Cracked Interviews recapping the USTA Girls 16s/18s National Hardcourt Championships at https://www.crackedracquets.com/great-shot-podcast-210820/ . My interview with Alex discussing Name, Image, Likeness is at https://www.crackedracquets.com/great-shot-podcast-210728/ . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 14, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 38, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, Lisa chats with Father-Son duo, Orlando and Alexander Bravo. Orlando grew up in Puerto Rico where he was first introduced to tennis. As his game developed and he maximized his competitive opportunities in and around his island home, Orlando realized he needed a more vigorous training environment and moved to the Bollettieri Academy as a teen. He was there during the heyday of American Tennis, living and training with Jim Courier, Andre Agassi, Michael Chang, and other US Tennis Stars. However, he discovered his game was better suited to the College Tennis arena rather than the professional tour, and Orlando pursued both tennis and academics as a member of the Brown University Men's Tennis Team . Orlando went on to further his academics at Stanford University where he earned both a business and a law degree before becoming Puerto Rico's youngest billionaire as the founder and managing partner of Thoma Bravo , a private equity investment firm. Zander is a rising high school Senior who fell in love with tennis at a young age. However, he also fell in love with other sports before making the decision to focus his energies solely on tennis. He entered his Junior year of high school with the goal of playing at an Ivy League college as his father had done. However, his tennis game wasn't yet at the level where he was attracting the attention of those Ivy coaches. Zander, with his parents' blessing, chose to move from San Francisco to South Florida to train with coach Todd Widom . After only a few months with Todd, Zander's game improved to a level where multiple Ivy League coaches were looking at him. Earlier this summer, Zander got the offer from his dad's alma mater and accepted. He will be playing at Brown University beginning Fall 2022. As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 7, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 37 of the ParentingAces Podcast, proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network ! In this week's episode, you get an inside look at what it means to coach a top professional player at one of the world's biggest tournaments. Jean-Yves Aubone, better known as JY, grew up in a Tennis Family. Both his parents were professional players, so it was inevitable that he would learn the sport, too. Starting at age 2, JY was a top-10 player in every age group throughout his Junior Tennis years. He went on to play college tennis at Florida State University where he was a 2-time All-American. All this to say, JY knows his stuff when it comes to tennis and top-level competition. After college, JY explored a traditional career path but quickly learned his heart was on the tennis court. He played professionally for a bit before turning his attention to coaching at both the Junior and Pro level. Now, in addition to running a successful coaching business in Atlanta, he is top-ranked American, Reilly Opelka's, traveling coach, and is currently watching his charge have his best Major result in his young career at the 2021 US Open. JY shares his philosophies on Junior Tennis Development, the role of the Tennis Parent and the relationship between Coach and Parent, and his work with Reilly. For more information on JY, visit his website at https://www.aubonetennis.com/ . You can also find him on Twitter here . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 31, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 36, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this week's episode, we check back in with SwingTennis , the official partner of US College Tennis as well as 3 of the 4 Grand Slam nations! We last spoke with Swupnil Sahai back in November 2019 ( click here to listen to that episode) and can't wait to share with you all the new developments Swupnil and his team have incorporated into this amazing app using AI technology. What is SwingTennis and what does it do? SwingTennis is Artificial Intelligence for your tennis. It uses automated shot tracking, video analysis, and line calling, all on your smartphone. If you watch the video version of this week's podcast, you will see Swupnil sharing his screen to show examples of many of the features of the app. In addition to recording matches and uploading them to the cloud, the app can be used to create highlight videos to send to college coaches during the recruiting process, pull out stats of a particular stroke or shot, and share matches with all members of a player's team. It is also capable of answering challenges to line calls and will soon be able to livestream matches, all simply by setting up a smartphone on the court and opening the app. Incredible! For more information on SwingTennis, visit their website here . You can go directly to the app download page here . ParentingAces Premium Members get a great discount plus a 60-day FREE TRIAL - click here for details! As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 24, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 35, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week's podcast is the second in a series we're exploring here at ParentingAces, one that came at the suggestion of my son, Morgan. There are many pathways in Junior Tennis but maybe even more once that journey is complete. Professional tennis, college tennis, club tennis, and no tennis at all are some of the options, and each has its pros and cons. I hope you find it valuable to hear from the players themselves about what role tennis played in their formative years and what role, if any, it plays in their adult lives. To say that Crews Enochs comes from a Tennis Family is an understatement. Both his parents, Stephen and Lisa, were All American standouts at the University of Georgia after having stellar junior tennis careers themselves. Of course their two children would take tennis lessons to gauge their interest in pursuing the sport at whatever level they chose. While Crews developed into a very accomplished junior player, his relationship with Tennis overall has been a rocky one. As you'll hear in this podcast, Crews chose an unusual path through the Juniors leading into College and beyond. You can follow Crews @theyoungcrews on Twitter and Instagram to see more of his story. As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 17, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 34, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this week's episode, coaches Mark Merklein and Matt Daly explain the importance of using proper grips and share a new tool they developed - Grip MD - to help players find that sweet spot on their racquet. Grip MD is a revolutionary new unique training device developed by two former collegiate tennis stars with the goal to aid players of all levels to perfect the proper volley, serve, and slice grip. Grip MD is the creation of former ATP World Tour doubles No. 38 and NCAA Champion Mark Merklein (University of Florida) and former Notre Dame No. 1 Matt Daly. The device simply slips on to the handle of the racquet, allowing the player to feel the perfect Continental grip. The Continental grip is used for the slice, serve and volleys in tennis and is vital to a player’s development. “Having worked with players of all levels from beginners to pros, I have found that teaching the correct grip is the most important part of any player’s technical development,” said Daly, Co-Founder of GripMD. “It is also extremely hard to teach and commonly misunderstood. This device greatly simplifies the process, allowing players to find the perfect grip in a short period of time.” Merklein appears in several information YouTube videos demonstrating how to master the slice, volley and second serve using Grip MD. “Learning the Continental grip is an important piece in player development,” said Merklein, who won the NCAA singles title in 1994 and the doubles crown in 1993 playing for the University of Florida. “With the proper foundation you will have the opportunity to be the best player you can be! Don’t let your grips limit your level!” Several high-level professionals have come out and endorsed Grip MD. “Having the correct grips for your strokes is one of the starting blocks for a successful career in tennis,” said James Blake, the former ATP World Tour No. 4 in singles. “Whatever your goal is, starting at the right spot and making sure the basics are taken care of is so important. The Grip MD will start you on a path that makes it easy to learn and improve quickly.” “Mastering the serve and the volley requires the perfect grip,” said John Isner, the former No. 1 American who reached a career-high No. 8 on the ATP World Tour. “The Grip MD makes that infinitely easier for you.” To purchase and for more information or to purchase GripMD, visit at: https://www.thegripmd.com/ . ParentingAces Premium Members can get 20% off when ordering using the special discount code at https://parentingaces.com/articles/member-discounts/ . Follow along on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GripMD Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gripmd/ As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 10, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 33, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . Kelly Johnson came to tennis pretty late by today's standards, but that didn't stop her from falling in love with it and committing herself completely. In this week's episode, you will hear Kelly's story playing for her high school team then heading to college and getting involved with the Tennis On Campus team. During college, Kelly realized she wanted to make a difference in the world so started a non-profit organization to give back to the sport she loved. In addition, she started teaching tennis, parlaying that effort into a Junior College Tennis coaching position. After graduation, Kelly was snatched up by Wilson Tennis and is now starting a new position with Adidas. As if all that weren't enough to keep her busy, Kelly also hosts the Daily Grind podcast where she recently had me on as a guest ( click here to listen). Kelly's story is a clear illustration that you don't have to be a top-ranked junior player in order to find a lucrative and satisfying career in the Tennis Ecosystem. If you have questions for Kelly, you can reach her via email here . You can find all episodes of the Daily Grind Podcast here . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 3, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 32, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this week's episode, we take another look at Spec Tennis, a relatively new racquet sport being used to help new and existing players learn new skills that easily translate to a full-size tennis court and racquet. You can listen to last year's podcast with Nate here . Intrigued by the size of a pickleball court and recalling the paddle tennis he played as a youth in Southern California, tennis teaching professional Nate Gross had an idea. Spec Tennis was originally created by Gross as a fun social experience and an alternative use of pickleball courts. Since then, it has evolved into a bridge into tennis, giving players success, confidence, and fun a lot sooner than they would have with regular tennis. “Spec Tennis can dramatically improve your tennis game,” said Gross, currently the Director of Racquet Sports at Clear Creek Tahoe. “The paddle is less powerful than a tennis racquet, yet a similar weight. This promotes better biomechanics, forcing players to turn their shoulders and use their legs in order to generate power. Spec Tennis helps players develop control. Any new shot or tactic you want to learn in tennis can be learned first in the more favorable environment that Spec creates, and then directly translated to tennis.” “When I was first starting out learning how to hit a topspin backhand I learned on a Spec court, and it dramatically improved my game,” said former Twitter COO Adam Bain. “I honed that technique on the Spec court, then brought that over to the tennis court. It immediately translated for me. In fact, it allowed me to advance faster because of the work I did on the Spec court. No matter what skill level you are, starting with Spec should dramatically improve your tennis game.” Longtime retired men’s tennis coach at Harvard University Dave Fish likes all aspects of Spec Tennis and thinks that tennis needs something like this especially at the entry level. “I haven’t liked how the ROGY (Red, Orange, Green, Yellow) pathway has played out—because the racquets are too lively and kids just poke at the ball,” Fish said. “With Spec Tennis, you use a paddle which teaches kids to hit through the ball, and you use the pickleball court, so real estate has already been created and is growing exponentially." Gross has created the United States Spec Tennis Association ( https://www.usspta.com/index.html ) and a unique ambassador program where tennis and racquet directors, as well as Spec Tennis enthusiasts, can grow the sport while receiving commission on paddle sales, and a discount on additional paddles. ( https://www.usspta.com/ambassador.html ). Follow along on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spectennis YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SpecTennis Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spectennis/ As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 27, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 31, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week's podcast is the first in a new series we'll be exploring here at ParentingAces, one that came at the suggestion of my son, Morgan. He had the brilliant idea to check in with some of the players he trained and competed with during his Junior Tennis years to see what they did once finishing high school and where they are now in their early to mid twenties. There are many pathways in Junior Tennis but maybe even more once that journey is complete. Professional tennis, college tennis, club tennis, and no tennis at all are some of the options, and each has its pros and cons. I hope you find it valuable to hear from the players themselves about what role tennis played in their formative years and what role, if any, it plays in their adult lives. The first in our new series is an interview with my son's college roommate and teammate at Boise State University , Jack Heslin. Jack was born in London and moved with his family at a very young age to Auckland, New Zealand, where he and his two brothers grew up. Jack competed in tennis internationally starting around age 14 but always had the goal of playing college tennis in the US. In this week's podcast, Jack describes his Junior Tennis Journey, how he handled college recruiting, and his life after college. As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 20, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 30, of the ParentingAces Podcast, part of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network ! Anxiety and mental strength are often diametrically opposed - lessen one and the other increases. In this week's episode, noted Sports Psychologist and founder of Mind of the Athlete , Dr. Jarrod Spencer, discusses how we can help our players deal with the anxiety that is inherent in competing at a high level while building their Mental Muscle. Dr. Spencer has extensive training and experience in the field of health and sports psychology. Before earning a Doctor of Psychology Degree from Argosy University, formerly known as The Illinois School of Professional Psychology, he earned his Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from West Chester University and his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychobiology from Lafayette College. Dr. Spencer professionally trained at The Jersey Shore Medical Center, Northwestern Neuropsychological Association, and The Diamond Headache Clinic. He is a licensed psychologist in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Michigan and Virginia. Dr. Spencer is also a member of The American Psychological Association, Pennsylvania Psychological Association, and Lehigh Valley Psychological and Counseling Association. Dr. Spencer travels the country speaking to athletes, coaches, parents, students, athletic directors, health care professionals and business leaders. From pharmaceutical companies to state high school athletic director conferences to college campuses, Dr. Spencer empowers people with his signature message of clearer mind, better performance. In this week's episode, Dr. Spencer discusses the major causes of anxiety in young athletes and how we as parents can help reduce it. He offers concrete, detailed suggestions to help our players develop strong mental habits both on and off the court. For more information and to reach Jarrod Spencer, visit his website at http://www.mindoftheathlete.com/ . You can also email him at mindoftheathlete@gmail.com . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 13, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 29, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network ! This week we tackle a topic suggested by one of our long-time listeners: off-court training for Junior Tennis Players. Dean Hollingworth has more fitness and tennis certifications than pretty much anyone around. Although based in Montreal, Canada, Dean works with tennis players both in person and virtually and has helped so many of them on their journey to US College Tennis and the professional circuit. In this week's podcast, Dean shares some very specific information for all of you hoping to help your Junior Players develop to their utmost ability. I highly encourage you to watch the video version as Dean shares some great visuals in this episode. He also provides detailed answers to the questions you submitted via email and Facebook: 1. How much non-hitting training should juniors do? 2. Should juniors attend specific agility/speed facilities that are popping up all over? 3. What weight lifts are most important to tennis? 4. What footwork drills are best? 5. What are some dynamics a junior player on hiatus can do while recovering? 6. What is a good upper body strengthening technique to make shoulders stronger for a better swing? 7. Tennis specific resistance band strength training for my junior twins. 8. Tennis specific 15 minute stretch I can get them to do as I’m making breakfast, packing their lunch and filling water bottles for a full day of tennis before I drop them off. I want it to become automatic but don’t know which exercises they should do every day to stretch and prevent injury. 9. How safe is weight training and conditioning before puberty? 10. How many days per week and how long should a player being doing off court fitness for different age groups, like under 12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18 11. Are there any online resources for parents/kids that can help with ideas of what a good fitness routine should be like or what are the best exercises? 12. Is it better to do in a small group vs one on one? 13. How do you find the right fitness coach? 14. Can a second sport be fitness training? 15. How important is flexibility and how do you build it? 16. What should a junior player be doing to prevent injury? 17. What is appropriate for younger juniors considering growing bodies? 18. How should junior players prepare for the rigors of college tennis? 19. What is the importance of sleep in terms of an overall fitness program for jrs? To see the videos Dean references in this podcast, click here . For more information on Dean and to get in contact with him, visit his website here . You can also follow him on Facebook and Instagram for new videos and other valuable content. As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 6, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 28, of the ParentingAces Podcast, part of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network ! Have you ever thought about what it might be like for your child to train with someone on the ATP or WTA tour? This week, Coach Todd Widom joins Lisa to talk about the opportunities his lucky players have to do just that! Some of you may remember from past podcasts with Todd that Daniel Yoo joined the Todd Widom Tennis coaching staff. Daniel has been working with Korea's top male player, Soonwoo Kwon for the past several months which means Soonwoo is on-site training and in need of hitting partners. Guess who fills that role? Todd's junior players! In this episode, Todd discusses the benefits to these juniors having the opportunity not just to watch a pro train but also to be on the other side of the net from him, feeling that pro-level spin and power, and seeing first-hand what goes into becoming a Professional Tennis Player. Even though the majority of Todd's players will not make a living on the Pro Tennis Tour, what an incredible opportunity for them to reach their highest potential in preparation for College Tennis! For more information on Todd, visit his website here and be sure to follow him on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 29, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 27, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network ! Our guest this week is Coach Bill Patton. Bill Patton is a lifetime USTA member, senior contributor to SportEdTV, a part of the leadership group of The Winning Summit, and a Catalyst for the Evolutionary Sports Collective. He was formerly a long time certified tennis professional. He is the author of 12 books including How To End Cheating In Junior Tennis, Visual Training For Tennis 4th Edition, The Art Of Coaching High School Tennis, and his magnum opus The Athlete Centered Coach. All written since 2014. In this week's podcast, Bill starts by sharing a short rant on cheating in Junior Tennis followed by the five misconceptions about Vision Training. He then goes on to discuss best practices to develop better visual acuity on the tennis court and offers some at-home exercises and apps Junior Players can use to improve this aspect of their game. Finally, Bill has a special offer for those of you who listen all the way to the end! To learn more about Bill's work, visit his profile here . You can see and order his books here . If you have specific questions for Bill, email him at infinitevisioncoach@gmail.com . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo’d merch in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 22, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 26, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network. If you've been around Junior Tennis a while, you may have heard of the Little Mo series of tournaments. But have you heard about the Little Mo Club??? My guests this week include Cindy Brinker - daughter of Little Mo herself, Maureen Connolly Brinker - Carol Weyman who runs the Little Mo tournaments, and Gerry, Gael, and Matias Moran who started the Little Mo Club during the COVID shutdown last year. You will hear both Cindy and Carol talk about the WHY behind Little Mo and the logistics of the tournaments. In addition, you'll hear from the Morans about the need to create a virtual community for young players to stay in touch during the pandemic and how they have teamed with Little Mo to make that happen. Matias is a former Little Mo participant himself, and, at age 14, knows the value these experiences have brought to his life both on and off the tennis court. As Matias mentions in the pod, he interviewed me for the Little Mo Club website, You can watch that interview here . For more information on the Little Mo Club, visit their website at https://www.littlemoclub.com/ . For information on the Little Mo series of tournaments, go to http://mcbtennis.org/Tournaments_9.aspx . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo'd merch in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 17, 2021

Welcome to this Bonus Episode of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network! Lisa is joined by former US #1 men's player, James Blake, and Sora Schools parent, Chris Griffin, to discuss the choices Tennis Families have today over how to educate their children. James shares his junior tennis experiences, including his path to Harvard then to the ATP Tour, focusing on the academic choices his family made. Chris shares his son's experience moving from traditional public school to Sora, a 2-year-old NCAA-accredited virtual school. For more information on Sora, visit https://soraschools.com/ . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 15, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 25, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network. With all of the craziness with USTA so far this year, I thought it would be interesting to hear how Junior Tennis - specifically, for the 10-and-under set - is being managed elsewhere in the world. To that end, please welcome this week's podcast guests, Shayne Tabb and Jay Deacon. These two coaches live and work in Australia and have focused their efforts in recent years on growing the game of tennis and making sure new players have a positive experience from Day One. They created a system of competitive opportunities called the ROG Gold Coast Circuit which is being replicated around the country. Both Shayne and Jay felt the coaches in Australia should come together to develop an effective and fun way to introduce tennis to children. Because their system originated with the coaches then made its way to the governing body, Tennis Australia, there has been a very high level of buy-in from coaches as well as parents and players for this method of devising a competitive structure. It is suitable for players who want to keep tennis fun and casual as well as for players who have loftier goals for their sport. I think you'll be impressed by how the Gold Coast Circuit works, the core competencies that must be met for advancement, and the stories these coaches share. For more information on the Gold Coast Circuit, visit these websites: Red Ball: https://www.tennis.com.au/qld/regions/gold-coast/red-ball-tournament-circuit Orange Ball: https://www.tennis.com.au/qld/regions/gold-coast/orange-ball-tournament-circuit Green Ball: https://www.tennis.com.au/qld/regions/gold-coast/green-ball-tournament-circuit To reach this week's guests: Jay Deacon – jay.deacon@tennis.com.au Shayne Tabb - shaynetabb@yahoo.co.uk As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo'd merch in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 8, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 24, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network. This week, we are joined by one of Tennis Channel's own on-air commentators and coach to some of the games top professional players, Paul Annacone. If you follow tennis at all, you probably know exactly who Paul Annacone is! However, for those of you new to the sport, Paul has coached the likes of Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, Sloane Stephens, Stan Wawrinka, Tim Henman, and, most recently, Taylor Fritz. Before his coaching career took off, Paul spent 14 years on tour as a player where he won three ATP titles and reached a career high ranking of No. 12 in singles. With long-time partner Christo van Rensburg, he won the 1985 Australian Open, and he finished his career with 14 doubles titles. Paul is now consulting with USTA SoCal's Player Development department alongside its Director of Junior Tennis, Trevor Kronemann, to help the next generation of players in the area reach their full potential on and off the court. He is committed to working with players at all levels and understands that to grow the game, you can't only focus on the creme de la creme in the Junior Tennis Player Pool. Rather, you have to meet players where they are, understand their goals and dreams, then help them become the best they can be through thoughtful coaching and guidance. He also understands the importance of Tennis Parents in the Junior Development Journey and is committed to creating Parent Education opportunities in the SoCal section. My hope is he'll be so successful that the other USTA sections will have no choice but to emulate what's taking place in my new home area! For more information on Paul Annacone, visit his website at https://paulannacone.com/ . To learn more about what Paul is doing in the SoCal section, visit their website at https://www.ustasocal.com/junior/ . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo'd merch in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 1, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 23, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network. This week, we continue our previous discussions of Title IX and advocating for our kids throughout their academic years from kindergarten through college with attorney, Nancy Hogshead-Makar. Nancy is an Olympic champion, a civil rights lawyer, and the founder and CEO of Champion Women , a non-profit providing legal advocacy for girls and women in sports. Focus areas include equal play, such as traditional Title IX compliance in athletic departments, sexual harassment, abuse and assault, as well as employment, pregnancy and LGBT discrimination within sport. Hogshead-Makar is leading an effort turn the Olympic Movement back into a service-oriented, athlete-centric non-profit, one who’s corporate structure protects athletes from physical, emotional, financial and sexual abuse. She is the Co-Chair of the Committee to Restore Integrity to the USOPC and United States Olympians and Paralympians Unbroken, comprised of 545 Olympians, Paralympians and elite athletes, sexual abuse survivors, coaches, sport leaders, child protection and civil rights organizations. Team Integrity and USOPU provided legal memos and white papers to members of Congress, the USOPC staff and Board, and the media on the opaque operations and legal structure of the Olympic Movement. She actively participated in all four major reports of the Nassar debacle. Two federal laws have already resulted from this athlete-activism: the SafeSport Act, signed into law in February, 2018 and the Empowering Olympians, Paralympians and Elite Athletes Act of 2020, signed October, 2020. It is no wonder Sports Illustrated recently listed her as one of “The Unrelenting; the most powerful, most influential and most outstanding women in sports right now – the game-changers who are speaking out, setting the bar and making a difference.” As an internationally recognized legal expert on sports issues, Hogshead-Makar has testified in Congress numerous times on the topic of gender equity in athletics, and written numerous scholarly and lay articles. Her book, co-authored with Andrew Zimbalist, EQUAL PLAY, TITLE IX AND SOCIAL CHANGE, has received acclaim since its release by Temple University Press. She was the lead author of PREGNANT AND PARENTING STUDENT-ATHLETES; RESOURCES AND MODEL POLICIES, published by the NCAA. She serves as an expert witness in Title IX, sexual abuse, violence and harassment cases and writes amicus briefs representing athletic organizations in precedent-setting litigation. Hogshead-Makar has been teaching sports law related courses for 20 years. Please check out http://championwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Champion-Women-and-Child-USA-SafeSport-Policies-and-Boundaries-updated-2020.pdf . For more information or to contact Nancy, visit her website at www.ChampionWomen.org or email her at Hogshead@ChampionWomen.org . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo'd merch in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 25, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 22, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network. This week you'll hear from former college tennis player and current tennis parent, Craig Pettigrove, about his son's Tennis Journey. Craig is originally from Melbourne, Australia where he grew up playing tennis. He made his way to the US to play college tennis for the University of Tennessee at Martin (1994-1996) and then transferred to the University of Oklahoma (1996-1999). Once his competitive playing days came to an end, Craig moved into coaching, predominantly within a country club setting, before changing career paths and moving into the Information Systems field. He is married with 2 boys (Cooper is 11 years old and Oliver is 13). Cooper plays basketball and Oliver plays tennis. Oliver is very into his tennis and plays 6-7 days per week, training and competing in USTA and UTR tournaments. Craig puts on his Coach Hat when on court with Oliver. However, he also seeks advice from fellow tennis friends on Oliver's technical and training development and recently went down to Todd Widom's tennis school for a week of training in February of this year. As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . And check out our logo'd merch in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 18, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 21, of the ParentingAces Podcast, part of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week we are speaking with James Leath, founder of Unleash the Athlete. To watch the video version of this week's podcast: https://youtu.be/Dv7RfXx_SpM James Leath is a mental performance coach and the founder of Unleash the Athlete ( utathlete.com ). With a bachelors in communication, a masters in Performance Psychology, and almost 20 years of coaching experience, James teaches leadership, character, and mental resiliency to elite performers in sport, theater, and business through keynotes, workshops, and online courses. James has worked for companies like IMG Academy, USA Swimming, Positive Coaching Alliance, American Heart Association, the Dallas Cowboys, and the Chicago Bulls. He currently lives in Dallas, TX and coaches high school football. Throughout James's sports experiences, he has always strived to create better relationships and better communication between coaches, parents, and young athletes. He uses his own life in football and baseball to inform the work he does across all sports, including his weekly e-newsletter and podcast, Unleash Your Life. To get more information on James's work and to sign up for his e-newsletter, visit his website at jamesleath.com . You can also find James on pretty much all social media platforms @jamesleath. As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 11, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 20, of the ParentingAces Podcast, part of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . Did you know there are college tennis opportunities outside the US? Neither did I until chatting with this week's guest, Alistair Higham! Alistair is the Lawn Tennis Association's (LTA) Universities Manager, heading up its national tennis program which partners with the leading British universities to give tennis players around the world the chance to further their education while competing on the court against their peers. Alistair also leads the Great Britain Team at the World University Games as Manager/Coach. His team has won Gold and Silver Medals in South Korea in 2015; Bronze medal in European Masters in 2016; Silver and Bronze medals in Taiwan in 2017; and Gold Medal in 2017 European Masters in France (Silver Medal 2018 and 2019). In addition to his work with the LTA, Alistair is also an international expert on Matchplay and Momentum in Sport. He has authored two best selling books on momentum and a series of online learning courses available at www.coachingedgeuk.com . To reach Alistair, you can email him at Alistair.Higham@LTA.org.uk . For more information on College Tennis in the UK, go to www.lta.org.uk/universities . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 4, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 19, of the ParentingAces Podcast, part of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . Coach Steve Adamson grew up playing ice hockey in Canada and didn't even consider switching to tennis until the age of 12. Though that is considered a late start by many, Steve parlayed his athletic skills gained from playing a multitude of sports into a tennis scholarship at San Diego State University from 1995-1998 under Coach John Nelson. He went on to a successful professional doubles career before moving into the coaching arena. Steve became the Manager and Director of Tennis at the Pacific Beach Tennis Club in 2003 before starting his own Steve Adamson Tennis Academy in 2011. Some of his most successful juniors include Timmy Sah (Stanford), Siem Woldeab (Texas), Zoe Scandalis (USC), Ryan Seggerman (Princeton), Greg Garcia (Brown), and Ivan Thamma (UC Davis). Last year, Steve moved his academy to the Barnes Tennis Center and became the Director of Tennis there. As a testament to his outstanding coaching, Steve was named the 2020 USPTA- San Diego Pro of the Year. If you'd like more information or to get in touch with Steve, you can email him at info@steveadamsontennisacademy.com . He will be offering summer tennis camps and training opportunities, so be sure to ask about those! As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 27, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 18, of the ParentingAces Podcast, part of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this week's pod, we chat with Kim Bastable, Director of the Professional Tennis Management program at the University of Florida. Kim Bastable is passionate about helping to mold future tennis coaches to be great leaders who think of tennis as more than just a game. She considers tennis to be a tool of good health and strong wellbeing. As part of her Tennis Philosophy, Kim believes Junior Tennis Players who decide to go to college should be able to create a career from tennis that goes beyond hitting fuzzy yellow balls. Through 50 years in tennis, Kim has mentored and led athletes and coaches both on the court and in the classroom. She had on-court success as a Division I All-America player at the University of Florida, and has coached at the high school, Division I college, and Club levels. She has been a mental toughness and performance coach for 10 years, as well. Kim holds a Masters of Education in Positive Coaching and Athletic Leadership from the University of Missouri, a B.S. in Finance from Florida, and has achieved certifications from the Human Performance Institute as a Mental Toughness Specialist; from Peak Performance Sports as a Mental Game Coach and from Notre Dame University as an Executive in Leadership. The Professional Tennis Management program at UF is Kim's latest passion project. She has created an opportunity for all lovers of the game to pursue their education while learning how to create and manage a tennis program that will set them on an upward-leaning career path. The continuing education version of the course is now open for applications. The website for that is www.UF-USPTA.com . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 20, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 17, of the ParentingAces Podcast, part of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this week's pod, we chat with LTA Coach/Educator Simon Wheatley about the importance in finding that sweet spot in our relationships with Parents, Players, and Coaches. To watch the video version of this week's episode, go to https://youtu.be/cr1MucryALM . By now, you've likely heard of the Tennis Triangle in terms of junior tennis development. Simon Wheatley takes the triangle metaphor to a whole new level as he works with players, parents, and coaches to help them be the best version of themselves. Simon's approach marries coaching and psychology, as well as real-life experience. You will hear him talk about The Sweet Spot vs. The Sour Spot and what parents and coaches can do to avoid the inevitable drama that comes up along the way. I urge you to watch/listen then to reach out to Simon with any questions or concerns you may have as you go through the Junior Tennis Journey. Email Simon at simonwheatleytennis@icloud.com . Follow him on Facebook and Twitter as well. You can purchase Simon's book at https://corecontext.co.uk/sweet-spot/ - this link includes a 50% discount off the retail price. As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 13, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 15, of the ParentingAces Podcast, part of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . In this week's episode, we do a slight pivot. Lisa chats with Thomas Williams, a former member of the USC Trojan and Carolina Panthers football teams, not our usual guest here at ParentingAces! To watch the video version of this week's episode, click below: https://youtu.be/zwB2q7Xwzx8 Thomas Williams is a former NFL player and 2x National Champion (USC). After a career ending neck injury, he was forced to find a new purpose for his life. Thomas had always been taught by his mother that life was about more than football, so he had faith that he would find his path. One of Thomas Williams’ main passions is coaching both college and professional athletes on the inevitable transition to life beyond the scoreboard. He is driven by his mantra, “Athletes are great people first, who just so happen to be great athletes. Greatness may have started with sports but it doesn’t end when you retire… GREATNESS is a lifestyle.” Thomas serves as an NFL Player Engagement Ambassador, teaching college student athletes about character, leadership and the NFL evaluation process. Tennis players and parents can learn a lot from listening to Thomas's stories of his experience on and off the playing field. He is an inspiration to athletes and non-athletes alike who are trying to figure out how to create their own legacies in this world. Below are some short clips of Thomas speaking with current and former athletes about preparing for their career after sports: https://drive.google.com/file/d/168zPPtNcjQ85udLsKJiIsU46e0Kgx6pK/view https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ufvXFMCvKBmvJx814McBX5e90GevE8id/view Find out more about Thomas's work on his website, thomasrwilliams.com . You can purchase his books - Permission to Dream and The Relentless Pursuit of Greatness - through our Amazon Shop (ParentingAces may receive a small commission). If you'd like to reach out to Thomas directly, you can do so via this link: http://thomasrwilliams.com/contact/ . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 1, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 15, of the ParentingAces Podcast, part of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . To watch the video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/vCBe0cev9-k Artificial Intelligence has been around for quite a while now. Even though it has been incorporated into other sports training, tennis has been slow to hop on the AI bandwagon. Until now! Brian Park grew up in Korea then moved to Australia to enhance his junior tennis training and development. He then moved to the US to pursue a college tennis experience at Utah State University before trying his hand on the pro tennis tour. He quickly realized he had the physical skills to compete and win but was missing some of the mental skills needed to find success. Brian returned to school to get a graduate degree in sport psychology and used his new-found knowledge in his role as a junior tennis coach. Brian eventually enlisted the help of a team of software engineers to create the first AI-based app for tennis, and Apeak was born. I encourage you to watch the video version of this episode so you can see the app in action - it is so exciting! It requires engagement from the player to go through the various stages of building mental skills and moving on to the next higher level of development. Brian and Apeak have generously offered a short-term 30% discount to the ParentingAces community. To redeem, you need to go through the following steps: Instructions: Only redeemable for 1 year subscription First 100 subscribers only. This code expires on April 4th 2021 Only redeem this code on Apeak website. Here is the link https://www.apeak.com/redeem/PARENTINGACES 30% code: PARENTINGACES After April 4, ParentingAces Premium Members can purchase the app at a 20% discount using the code found on our Member Discounts page here . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 30, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 14, of the ParentingAces Podcast, part of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network. We're capping off Women's History Month with this week's guest, Sarah Borwell. To watch the video version of this week's episode, click https://youtu.be/Dx1os5GkIzM . Following a very strong junior career, Sarah Borwell left her home country of Great Britain to play college tennis in the US. She attended the University of Houston after transferring from Rice University at the end of her freshman year. She then launched a successful career on the WTA tour, reaching as high as 65 in the world. Because of her love of her own college tennis experience, Sarah began helping other British tennis players understand the options available to them once their junior tennis careers were complete. She founded TennisSmart, the first company dedicated solely to helping British tennis players and stopping the drop-out rate in British tennis. More recently, Sarah has partnered with Barry Fulcher to create The Student of the Game . The Student of the Game provides a better support network for British junior players and parents as they explore the four distinct pathways beyond junior tennis: British university, American university, the professional tennis tour, and the tennis industry. Sarah and Barry have curated a team of experts and consultants to guide participants with content, on-court training, and educational materials delivered in the form of 2-day camps. For more information on The Student of the Game, you can visit their website at https://www.studentofthegame-britishtennis.com/ . You can also follow Sarah on Twitter and Instagram @SarahBorwell. As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 23, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 13, of the ParentingAces Podcast, part of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network. To watch the video version of this episode, go to https://youtu.be/jIpv9njrJwQ . When young people arrive on campus for college, we parents have to do a giant pivot in terms of our role in their lives, both on and off the tennis court. Part of this pivot is understanding if and when we should intervene when our children have an issue with their coach, a teammate, or otherwise. In this week's episode, former college coach, Tina Samara, gives us some real-life examples of when and how we and our children should handle these issues to get a desirable resolution. Tina played both professional tennis and semi-pro golf herself, and she understands what is required to become a champion. On the WTA tour, she reached a career-high ranking of 223 in doubles and played in the US Open Singles in 1994 and 1995. During her US College playing days, she won three NCAA National Team Championships and was the #1 ranked NCAA doubles team for the University of Georgia in 1995. Following her sporting achievements, Tina went on to coach Division 1 women's college tennis for 11 years and was known for her practical, empathic and direct approach to the holistic development of both the person and the athlete. In addition, Tina also competed as a semi-pro golfer for three years winning the New York State public links event in 2003. Tina privately coaches and mentors many teenage athletes to help them transition from high school into college by pursuing their sporting goals and dreams. She is the owner and founder of Transition Coach 4 Athletes . This service helps student-athletes navigate the often challenging world of balancing study and maximizing sports performance as well as helping find US College Scholarships. You can contact Tina directly via email at tina@transitioncoach4athletes.com . You can also visit her website at transitioncoach4athletes.com . For a questionnaire with a follow-up FREE College Placement call with Tina, click https://tina263124.typeform.com/to/PDRqB3 As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 16, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 12, of the ParentingAces Podcast, part of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network. To watch the video version of this week's episode, click https://youtu.be/J9-fr9zJDys . Second Serve was created two years ago by Amani and Ayanni Shah, nationally-ranked junior players out of the San Diego area. It is a youth-run non profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of underprivileged kids who love tennis by supporting them with the equipment they need. ​The Shah Sisters and their team redistribute used tennis equipment to kids in underserved communities to facilitate their involvement in tennis. They have expanded their efforts to partner with multiple National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) sites in low income communities of California, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Texas. They also now have international sites in Uganda, Mexico, India, and soon Argentina and Zimbabwe. Now, Second Serve is not only seeking additional Team Members but also financial donations to support the shipping of equipment around the world. ParentingAces is partnering with Second Serve to help promote their mission. Ideally, we would like to help them get chapter presidents in as many cities and states as possible. We are helping to get the word out to high schoolers around the country to join their team. This will allow Second Serve to tap into more communities for donations and in turn serve greater numbers of children. It also gives junior tennis players around the country a platform to give back. Second Serve will follow up with these new team members with an email, call, and starter package. Eventually, these Second Serve Presidents could help in many ways such as organizing and playing ‘charity exhibition’ matches where funds raised from parents and community would help pay for shipping, or even committing to providing tennis lessons and clinics this summer to Elementary and Junior High underprivileged kids. Down the road, there could even be ‘Second Serve Fellows’ who would travel to teach tennis to the underprivileged. Once Second Serve has a big army of leaders to serve with them, the possibilities are endless! For more information and to get involved, visit https://www.secondserve.club/ . To make a financial donation, visit https://www.secondserve.club/donating . To apply to become a Team Member, visit https://www.secondserve.club/join-our-team . You can also follow Second Serve on Instagram @secondserveclub . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 9, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 11, of the ParentingAces Podcast, part of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network . This week, to further our observance of Women's History Month, we chat with USTA Past President Katrina Adams about her life in tennis and her newest endeavor as the author of OWN THE ARENA: Getting Ahead, Making a Difference, and Succeeding as the Only One . To watch the video version of this week's podcast: https://youtu.be/GpN8fzSW84A Katrina Adams grew up in Chicago, the youngest of three children with 2 older brothers. Her parents were both school teachers, so Katrina was brought up understanding the value of education. As such, after graduating high school at age 16, she accepted a tennis scholarship to Northwestern University before leaving after her sophomore year to pursue a professional tennis career, eventually becoming the first black - and youngest - president of USTA in 2015! In this week's episode, you'll hear Katrina talk about her junior development process, her parents' involvement in her tennis life, and how she has used the lessons learned along the way to become the successful player, coach, volunteer, board member, businessperson, and author she is today. Katrina's book is divided into 12 chapters which she calls her 12 Winning Match Points. From the book's description on Amazon: As Adams shares a wealth of stories from her career and personal life, as well as insights from top tennis professionals, she provides invaluable information on meeting life’s tests both on the tennis court and off. Own the Arena offers fresh perspectives on having presence, being remembered, directing a conversation, and moving boldly in spaces where “you are the only one.” It also covers good sportsmanship—treating others with respect and being inclusive and open to diverse perspectives. Tennis is said to be 90 percent mental; this book shows how to take the elements of mental fortitude and use them to achieve greatness. By embracing and expressing one’s inner grace and humanity, Adams shows, you can own the arena. For more information on Katrina, visit her website, katrinamadams.com . To purchase her new book, click here . (Note: ParentingAces may receive compensation for purchases made through this link.) As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 2, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 10, of the ParentingAces Podcast, part of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network. In this week's episode, we're going to be looking at a unique way parents - and coaches - can help their players learn tennis better. To watch the video version of this week's episode, click below: https://youtu.be/Mrl7FaJXUzM So, exactly what is kinesthetic learning ? It is a way of learning about the world by touching, feeling, and doing to understand a concept or skill. Often it involves the use of props and ordinary household objects to enhance and speed up the learning process. Using this approach to teaching tennis has been shown to be extraordinarily effective with beginners and advanced players as well. Coach Emma Doyle and Movement Specialist Kalindi Dinoffer have collaborated to create 90 videos across 9 modules that focus on teaching players and helping coaches develop a true feel for the game using innovative training aids and personal, energetic coaching. They share their coaching philosophy with the ParentingAces audience and demonstrate some of the techniques they use to help players improve. To purchase the Kinesthetic Learning Academy in the NEXT 24 HOURS at 50% OFF , use code HALFOFF and click here . That link will also enable you to purchase any of the OnCourtOffCourt adjunct equipment at a discount. Our Premium Members get a permanent discount which you can find here . Emma has also created a series of books and videos - ACE Tennis for Kids - which you can view and purchase here . The series includes two blue stage books (2 - 5 years), one red (5 - 8 years), one orange (7 - 9 years) and one green (9+ years) book filled with coordination and confidence-building fun activities to help you practice with your child. Again, our Premium Members get a discount as outlined here . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 23, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 9, of the ParentingAces Podcast, part of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network. This week we take a look at some new Tennis Technology to help parents, players, and coaches with our guest, Andy Durham. To watch the video version of the podcast, click below: https://youtu.be/KIzyMFDl_HQ Andy Durham is the founder of RacketStats.com , an app allowing parents, players, and coaches an easy system to chart and get access to vital statistics. He is a member of the USPTA, PTR and has been teaching for 48 years, many of his students rising to college, WTA and ATP levels. Currently he is the Director of Tennis at the Cindy Hummel Tennis Center in Auburndale, Florida. Half the kids playing tennis tournaments give up after playing two tournaments after all the work they have done just to get there. RacketStats is an app with a database for Boys and Girls 14, 16, 18 and college to help parents set goals for their players and quantify the areas of their game. It was designed to be easy to use for any parent, coach, or friend and offers 11 - 34 statistics that can be texted/emailed to anyone after the match. In recent years, tennis - like many sports - has become very data driven. If you watch any professional tennis match on tv, you will constantly hear the commentators discussing 1st serve percentage and the percentage of points won on the forehand vs. backhand side. Now, parents can track their kids' matches using the simple tools provided in RacketStats, share those statistics with the coach, and give their players concrete data to use in practice and competition. Plus, tracking your child's match is a great way to keep your mind occupied while your child competes - we all know Tennis Parents can benefit from that! For more information and to download RacketStats, click here . To reach Andy Durham, email him at info@racketstats.com . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 20, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 8, of the ParentingAces Podcast. This is a Bonus Episode offered as a follow-up to the episode with David Lewis published earlier this week. Our intent is to give you further information on how to keep your children safe not only on college campuses but also throughout elementary, middle, and high school. To that end, we have attorney Karen Truszkowski and activist Katherine Redmond explaining the laws put in place to protect all children and students throughout their education journey. For the video version and complete show notes of this Bonus Episode, click below: https://parentingaces.com/articles/who-what-protects-our-kids-on-campus-ft-katherine-redmond-karen-truszkowski Both Title IX and the Clery Act, as well as the Violence Against Women Act, were created to ensure equal access to education regardless of gender and to provide reporting requirements for educational institutions when that access has been threatened in any way. In August 2020, Title IX was amended to eliminate the reporting requirement for faculty and staff at colleges and universities - it shifted the onus to the victim. However, in K-12 schools, faculty and staff are still required to report any suspected or actual threats to their Title IX officer. Please note that Title IX applies to ALL students on college campuses regardless of their country of origin and citizenship status. We urge you to watch/listen to the conversation with Karen and Kathy then to investigate the additional resources below. The best way to prevent your child from becoming a victim - or a perpetrator or bystander - of violence is to get informed and keep talking to your kids about these very important issues. It may not be comfortable but it is necessary. To reach Karen, email her at Karen@temperancelegalgroup.com . To reach Kathy, follow her on Twitter @kathyredmond and and @WeLEADProject . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 16, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 7, of the ParentingAces Podcast. Before I go any further, please know this episode contains graphic descriptions of violence toward a female college tennis player as described by her father. Please use discretion when listening or viewing in the presence of children. I highly encourage you to watch the video version of this week's podcast which you can find here: https://youtu.be/sHaJT5IvrAc In January of 2017, Jade Lewis arrived on the LSU campus to begin her life as a college student and member of the LSU Women's Tennis Team. After sitting at the top of the Junior Rankings for her recruiting class on TennisRecruiting.net, she was offered a full scholarship and an agreement that, if she played on the LSU Women's Tennis Team for at least one semester, she could pursue a professional career then return to complete her degree at LSU at a later date at no cost to her. It was a great offer that aligned with Jade's dreams of becoming a professional tennis player. Just a few short weeks later, Jade's dream turned into a nightmare. She had formed a relationship with a member of LSU's football team, a relationship that would prove dangerous and threatening to Jade's physical and emotional health. In May of 2017, Jade reported to the LSU women's tennis athletic trainer that this football player had physically assaulted her. Presumably, Jade assumed the athletic trainer would follow NCAA protocol and file a report with his superiors as well as LSU's Title IX officer as required by law. However, it now appears that did not happen. In this week's podcast (again, I urge you to watch the video version on ParentingAces.com and read the complete show notes), you will hear Jade's father, David Lewis, explain how the violence perpetrated against Jade by the LSU football player escalated while the LSU Women's Tennis Coaches and other athletic and academic staff who knew about it sat by and did nothing to protect Jade nor punish the football player. You will hear details of the violent incidents and the frustration of a parent helpless to rescue his daughter. Below is a timeline of events as they unfolded as well as a list of media articles investigating these events. My hope is you will watch this podcast, read through the timeline and articles on ParentingAces.com , then do whatever you can to help us prevent anything remotely resembling these incidents from ever happening again. Our plan is to do another podcast with Title IX and Clery Act experts to help all of us understand the laws put in place to protect college students. That some students still fall through the cracks of these laws is inconceivable, especially when it involves violence against those same students. That the perpetrators of the violence are permitted to not only remain on campus but also continue to receive scholarship money and compete on athletic teams is appalling. That the Tennis Coaches themselves did not protect their player is unfathomable. That the Athletic Department and University employees who were aware of the abuse - and did not report it through proper channels nor ensure the safety of the victims - have not been held accountable goes against all reason. ParentingAces will continue to inform parents and is working to establish better systems to protect our children on college campuses. Note : ParentingAces reached out to the LSU Women's Tennis Coaches for comment and an opportunity to come on the podcast. The coaches did not respond. Mike and Julia Sell are still the LSU Women's Tennis Co-Head Coaches as of publication. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 9, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 6, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network. This week, the topic is Mental Toughness but with a twist! To watch the video version of this week's podcast, go to https://youtu.be/PzEKjiWGO_4 . Dr. Anthony Ross grew up in the Australian Outback, not exactly a Tennis Mecca. He went on to become a top junior player and was recruited to join the Pepperdine Men's Tennis Team where he earned All-American status. After college, Anthony turned pro but retired when he realized he couldn't make a living on tour. While completing his professional run, he transitioned to coaching and got involved with his home tennis federation, Tennis Australia. Once Anthony started working with juniors, he quickly realized the importance of parent support for developing players so he created parent education workshops in conjunction with Tennis Australia. The parents bought right in to Anthony's process, and he's had tremendous success educating parents throughout his home country. In recent years, Anthony has brought his approach to Tennis Parents worldwide. He realized he needed to create a course to share with parents and has now launched the Parenting Healthy Mental Toughness Project , a 6-part online series that coaches and academies can purchase for the parents of their junior players. A portion of the proceeds go to charity, making this even better. Guest presenters include Rob Barty, father of Ash Barty, and Peter Smith, former Pepperdine and USC Men's Tennis Head Coach and father to 3 tennis-playing sons. Hear more about Anthony's philosophy on coaching mental toughness and why he feels the parents are Key Players in the process by listening to or watching this week's episode. If you are a Tennis Parent who would like to participate in the course, please share this episode with your child's coach or academy so they can purchase it at a discount! Anthony has generously offered a 10% discount to anyone purchasing the program using code PARENTINGACES . For more information on the project, you can reach out to Anthony directly at Anthony@mentallytoughtennis.com . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 2, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 5, of the ParentingAces Podcast, part of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network! To watch the video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/V7ERtfMqXZ0 This week's guest, Brian Wilson, is a former top junior player, member of the National Championship University of Illinois Men's Tennis Team , and top 100 professional doubles player. Brian now works as the Associate Director of Junior Tennis at the Darling Tennis Center in Las Vegas and also as the US Scout for Head Tennis . Brian not only shares his own experiences growing up in the Southern California Tennis Scene but also offers specific information on how junior players can qualify for sponsorship for racquets, string, grips, and other vital equipment. He shares his upcoming UTR Pro Series events that he will be hosting at Darling later this year. For more information on Head Tennis, follow them on Instagram @teamhead_northamerica . If you'd like to reach out to Brian via email, his address is brianwilsontennis@gmail.com . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 26, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 4, of the ParentingAces Podcast, part of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network! With the 2021 College Tennis Season underway, it's a great time to check in with the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) for an update. To watch the video version of this episode, go to https://youtu.be/qspzISgxGVo . Dave Mullins is the Managing Director of the ITA. As such he works closely with the Tennis For America (TFA) program as well as other areas of the organization and is an incredible resource for us at ParentingAces. In this week's episode, Dave updates us on the application process for Year 2 of TFA and what changes are in store as the program continues to grow and partner with more sports. Dave also discusses the 2021 College Tennis Season and the challenges ahead for the coaches and players as they continue to navigate life during a pandemic. The ITA maintains a good working relationship with the NCAA and offers input on rule changes, including the current recruiting dead period and when it might end. Dave also shares his insights on how coaches and college tennis programs are innovating so they stay relevant in this trying economic environment. For more information on Tennis for America, go to https://www.tennisforamerica.com . For more information on the ITA, go to https://www.wearecollegetennis.com . You can reach Dave Mullins directly via email at dmullins@itatennis.com . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 19, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 3, of the ParentingAces Podcast! Our guest this week hails from Argentina and reminds us that Tennis Parents are Tennis Parents, no matter where we live! To watch the video version of this week's episode, go to https://youtu.be/Pd4IjVRiPmY Hernan Chousa is a former ATP professional reaching a career-high ranking inside the Top 300. He has gone on to the business world, stepping into a family business which he now runs. His two sons have played tennis at all levels, and Hernan shares his experiences as a Tennis Parent and Tennis Coach in this week's podcast as well as in the two books he authored: MY SON THE TENNIS PLAYER and HOW TO HELP YOUR KID SUCCEED IN SPORTS , both available in Spanish and English. To reach out to Hernan, you can email him at gatochousa@gmail.com . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 12, 2021

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 2, of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week, we're talking Tennis Tech with one of the masterminds behind the latest wearable tennis technology, Cameron Lickle. To watch the video version of this episode, go to https://youtu.be/xMg8ym_GPqk . Cam Lickle grew up playing tennis, went on to play for the US Naval Academy then fulfilled his military commitment as an integral member of Operation IRAQI and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. He went on to the professional tennis circuit before finding his passion for creating unique products and services in the tennis space. In 2009, Cam went into business with former World #1 Mats Wilander with their Wilander on Wheels instructional tour. From there, Cam continued working with Mats as well as Alain and Marc Cohen to develop NeuroTennis . Two key differences make this wearable technology so different from other smart tennis devices on the market. “One major difference is that NeuroTennis coaches you while you play,” said NeuroTennis CEO, Alain Cohen. “Other tennis trackers just report statistics on speed, spin, and stroke counts, without much actionable information. NeuroTennis, on the other hand, provides coaching instructions that are synchronized with the rhythm of your hitting, as you play. Cohen stated the second revolutionary aspect of the technology is that it wirelessly connects the wristbands of two players across the court, in order to pinpoint the timing of audible coaching instructions, precisely when your opponent hits the ball. Former world No. 1 Mats Wilander was an integral part of designing NeuroTennis. “To reach the next level, I believe in modifying your game and not just measuring it,” Wilander said. “I believe that to reach your full potential, you need to train your brain just as hard as your skills and fitness.” Features and benefits of NeuroTennis include: • Two player or solo mode - NeuroTennis is most typically used in a two-player mode, meaning that the sensors in each device communicate with each other, across the court. • NeuroTennnis App - The feature-rich app allows you to select lessons and drills from an extensive library designed by world-class coaches, including Mats Wilander. Taking it to the next level, you or your coach can easily customize content to specifically address your goals. Available for iPhone and Android. • Game Modifying Technology™ - While other wearable tennis products just measure physical results, like speed and spin, NeuroTennis is about ingraining better habits and accessing your tennis skills consistently so you can raise your game while you practice. Training at higher levels leads to playing at higher levels. NeuroTennis is available now at NeuroTennis.com and sells as a pair for $329. However, ParentingAces Premium Members can get a great discount by clicking here . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 5, 2021

Welcome to 2021 and our first episode of Season 10! We are thrilled to announce our partnership with the Tennis Channel Podcast Network and to bring you another year of interviews with the top experts in Junior and College Tennis! Later this week, we'll be announcing an awesome giveaway on Twitter in conjunction with the Tennis Channel, so be sure to keep an eye out for it! In this first podcast of the year, the topic is performance anxiety in athletes, what causes it, and what parents and coaches can do to help players manage it. To watch the video version of this episode, go to https://youtu.be/XamDLt4yySI . Performance anxiety can be debilitating in people of any age but especially in young athletes who may not yet possess the maturity or tools to manage it properly. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Abby Gold works with clients and helps them develop the know-how to recognize the early signs of performance anxiety then use their personalized "tool box" to prevent it from controlling their lives. Here are some useful resources Abby shared with me: Self-Talk worksheets and education: http://www.pelinks4u.org/articles/lottes3_2012.htm Hub of research and information on sport psychology: https://amplifysportpsychology.com/resources/ Negative Thoughts worksheet: https://www.therapistaid.com/worksheets/challenging-negative-thoughts.pdf Books: Rewire Your Anxious Brain - Catherine Pittman This Is Your Brain on Sports - David Grand and Alan Goldberg Mindfulness for Student Athletes: A Workbook to Help Teens Reduce Stress and Enhance Performance The Anxiety Toolkit Getting Over OCD workbook My Anxious Mind- Managing Anxiety The Perfectionism Workbook The Stress-Proof Brain Other Worksheets: Worksheets For more information on Abby and her work, visit http://www.abbygoldmft.com/ . You can contact her with any questions via the form at http://www.abbygoldmft.com/contact.html . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 24, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 44, of the ParentingAces Podcast, our final episode of the year! In a fitting manner, we are closing the year with one last interview with Coach Todd Widom and his mentor/coach, Pierre Arnold. To watch the video version of this episode, go to https://youtu.be/mTs5uWu5zyE . Over the past few years, you have heard often from Todd Widom about his approach to coaching and Junior Tennis Development. He has very definite views about the popular academy model of developing young tennis players, much of them a result of the years he spent learning tennis with Pierre Arnold. Now, you can hear from Pierre himself about how his coaching philosophy came to be and why he is still working with young players. Pierre Arnold has had major personal success along with the students he coaches: Secured millions of dollars in scholarship money for his junior players because of his relationships with multiple Division 1 college tennis coaches Developed many junior players into pros Coached more than 10 ATP, ITF & WTA players ATP Tour pro 1980-1983 Played #1 singles on scholarship at East Tennessee State University Member of the East Tennessee State Sports Hall Of Fame 2001 Florida Section Junior Coach of the Year Tennis Director at 4 different south Florida facilities since 1983 Fluent in English, Spanish & French It was a pleasure speaking with Pierre again and having the opportunity to share the conversation with the ParentingAces Community. I wish you all a very happy holiday season and look forward to bringing you more outstanding content in 2021! As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 17, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 43, of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week's guest hails all the way from Sweden to share a unique program designed to attract and retain new junior tennis players to the game. To watch the video version of this week's podcast, click here . Magnus Gustafsson had a very good junior and professional career that lasted well into his 30s. When he decided to retire from the ATP Tour, Magnus wanted to follow in his parents' footsteps and give back to the sport that had given him so much joy. The Small Champs program was born. According to one parent who is also involved, the Small Champs program is grounded in raising good people first, then followed by incorporating tennis into their lifestyle. In the Gothenburg, Sweden, area there are over 150 juniors who belong to various Small Champion groups, all engined by parent volunteers and by Magnus himself donating his own time every Friday to be on the court with different kids. This program is an amazing compliment to these juniors' everyday tennis training. It could very easily be adopted in cities all over, and Magnus is very willing to assist anyone wanting to start a program in their area. For more information on Small Champs, visit the website here and click "Små Lirare". Note: the site is in Swedish - Google Translate works pretty well for those of you who don't read or speak Swedish! The site contains a short video which you can view at https://youtu.be/o9VUKNY0GqQ . You can email Magnus at gusten@gsl.nu or reach him by phone at +46-733-718400. As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 10, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 42, of the ParentingAces Podcast! To watch the video version: https://youtu.be/zrhRMnz-ss0 Evolve9 is a tennis consulting company which specializes in helping coaches and tennis directors set up and run amazing junior tennis programs. They have just launched a professional development certification off the back of their It's My Game online conference, which is designed to give coaches and program managers all the tools they need to attract, retain and develop amazing junior tennis players. In this episode, Lisa speaks with Evolve9's Director, Ash Smith, about how facilities and coaches can better meet the needs of their players and families. For more information, you can reach Ash at ash@evolve9.com or visit the Evolve9 website . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 3, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 41, of the ParentingAces Podcast! To view the video version of this week's episode, go to https://youtu.be/KGaX6MbLYrE . Brittany Collens and Anna Woosley were members of the University of Massachusetts Women's Tennis Team from 2014-2017. Two weeks ago they received some very upsetting news. The NCAA is stripping UMass of victories in men’s basketball and women’s tennis for overpaying 12 athletes about $9,100 in financial aid over three years, prompting criticism of the penalty from the Atlantic 10 Conference commissioner. The NCAA announced the Committee on Infractions had imposed a two-year probation on UMass that will end October 2022 in addition to vacating results involving athletes who received what were determined to be a total of 13 inappropriate payments. For the women's tennis team, those inappropriate payments totaled $252. What is the role of the NCAA in terms of protecting student-athletes? What is the role of the NCAA in terms of ensuring fair play? Anna and Brittany answer these questions and more in this week's episode. Please consider signing their petition and helping to spread the word about this erroneous decision on the part of the NCAA. And, above all, #savecollegetennis! Brittany & Anna's Petition: https://www.change.org/p/ncaa-support-a10-champion-umass-women-s-tennis-vs-the-ncaa NCAA Statement: https://s3.amazonaws.com/ncaaorg/infractions/decisions/Oct2020D1INF_MassachusettsDecisionPublic.pdf As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 27, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 40, of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week Lisa speaks once again with coach Todd Widom. To view the video version of this episode, go to https://youtu.be/XvNYHoB9Nrk . Todd recently posted an old clipping on Facebook showing the Boys 16s rankings in Florida in the late 1990s. It sparked a conversation about the importance - or non-importance - of rankings and ratings and how today's players and parents seem to be obsessed with the numbers. In this episode, Todd discusses why Tennis Parents need to shift their focus away from rankings and toward incremental developmental accomplishments to help their children reach their goals. He gives several examples of how junior ratings really don't reflect a player's long-term potential and talks about the challenges in the US Junior Competition system of needing certain rankings to compete on the national level. For more information on Todd Widom, click here to visit his website. You can email Todd at todd@twtennis.com . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 13, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 38, of the ParentingAces Podcast. This week Lisa speaks with Coach Heath Waters and his son, Heath Paul, about their travels to Europe to train with coaches who developed Grand Slam Champions. To watch the video version: https://youtu.be/Kc_wObEWgG8 With junior tournaments on hold here in the US, Coach Heath Waters decided to take his 14 year old son, Heath Paul, to Europe to train and compete. This father-son duo join Lisa to talk about their experience and the lessons they brought home with them. They started their adventure in England where Heath Paul hit and trained with ATP player Kyle Edmund. They then made their way to Spain to work with Toni Nadal, Jofre Porta, and Luis Bruguera. Heath Paul gained valuable takeaways from each coach that he has incorporated into his training back home in the Atlanta area. Coach Heath Waters is also one of the creators of the Match!Tennis App and its Virtual Tournament Desk. He talks about the latest features of the app and what may be coming down the pipe. For more information or to download the app, click here . To contact Heath, email him at hwaters@matchtennisapp.com . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 29, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 37, of the ParentingAces Podcast. This week, Lisa speaks with former UCLA Men's Tennis standout, Karue Sell, about his recent gig as US Open Women's Singles Champion, Naomi Osaka's, hitting partner, and his move into the world of Tennis Technology. The impetus behind this week's pod was a tweet Karue posted recently: He went on to tweet about the personal growth afforded to players who choose the college route for their tennis which led me to reach out to him again and invite him on the show. Not only has Karue parlayed his college tennis career into a position as the hitting partner to the most recent Slam winner, but he has also partnered with other former college tennis players to form a new tennis website called MyTennisHQ . The site contains information for players of all levels, including technique lessons, equipment reviews, and interviews with current and former college players. If you are interested in reaching out to Karue for more information on his company and/or for lessons for your junior player, the best way to contact him is through a message on Twitter or Instagram . To listen to Karue's conversation on the Cracked Racquets podcast, click here . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you're interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. If you're so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website. If you haven't already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 22, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 36, of the ParentingAces Podcast! To watch the video version of this episode, go to the ParentingAces YouTube Channel . As you know by now, Dominic Thiem broke the long-standing string of Majors won by The Big 3 (Djokovic, Nadal, Federer) to win the 2020 US Open Men's Singles Title. Dominic's father, Wolfgang, joins Lisa Stone of ParentingAces to talk about his son's junior development process and how parents can help their young tennis players achieve their goals. Wolfgang shares his philosophies on Tennis Parenting, junior tennis development, and college vs. professional tennis, among other topics. He is very forthcoming about his two sons and their Tennis Journeys and how his role as Tennis Parent has evolved. In a new online course which launched earlier this week, Mr. Thiem goes into detail about the various stages of Dominic's development and the parent's role along the way. You can view a trailer of the course at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCcWsxUaCAQ . To purchase the full course and Gold Access membership with a special 10% discount for ParentingAces, go to https://topleveltennis.com/ and use code PARENTINGACES10. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 15, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 35, of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week's episode with Coach Zibu Ncube was recorded right before the end of the 2020 US Open. One of Zibu's players, Katrina Scott, had an incredible opportunity as a wildcard recipient into the US Open Main Draw for the first time . . . at age 16! Be sure to check out https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/02/sports/katrina-scott-usopen.html for more information on Katrina and her family. Zibu discusses what he looks for in a junior player to determine if college tennis is the best path to take or if professional tennis is in their future. He shares specific touchpoints that must be present in order for him to recommend one choice over the other as well as the differences between advising junior boys versus junior girls. If you are interested in speaking with Zibu, you can reach him by phone (he prefers text messages!) at 805-444-5430. Definitely give him a follow on Instagram at https://instagram.com/zodada57! As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you're interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. If you're so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website. If you haven't already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 1, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 34, of the ParentingAces Podcast! Lisa's guest this week is Coach Jay Gooding of the Gooding Todero Academy in Orlando, Florida. To watch the video version of this week's episode, click here . Jay is currently in New York coaching players as part of the Tennis Australia Coaching Team during the US Open. In this week's episode, he discusses the unique nature of this year's Open as well as his own coaching philosophy when it comes to Junior Development. Jay is committed to open communication with Tennis Parents and understands why Parents are such an integral part of the overall journey. He grew up in an era in Australia where private tennis lessons were a rare privilege and getting together with peers to play practice matches and just have fun on a tennis court were the norm. Jay encourages his players to take initiative in order to develop into top competitors, not just top ball strikers. To reach Jay, email him at jaygooding@icloud.com . You can get more information on Jay's tennis academy by visiting its website: goodingtoderoacademy.com and by following them on Instagram @gtatennis . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you're interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you're so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven't already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 25, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 33, of the ParentingAces Podcast! To watch the video version of this week's episode, click here . Learn from Kayla Epperson, Physical Therapist and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, about a very specific and common tennis injury called "Backhand Wrist" and how it can be avoided. This is a similar injury to the one Cici Bellis sustained and is finally recovering from as she gets back to professional tennis competition. Kayla experienced the injury herself in college and wound up having surgery, a decision she now regrets. Hear more when she joins Lisa Stone, creator of ParentingAces, in a video conversation. For more information and to contact Kayla, go to theathleteconnectionpt.com . You can also email her at kayla@theathleteconnectionpt.com . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 18, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 32, of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's episode, Lisa speaks with Tim Cass, General Manager of the USTA National Campus in Lake Nona (Orlando), Florida. They discuss USTA's role in college tennis and what they are currently doing to preserve the College Tennis Pathway for US Junior Tennis Players. Tim talks about how USTA has developed 5 "buckets" around college tennis: Relevancy, Pathway, Education, Competition & Events, and Partnerships. He delves into each of the 5 areas throughout the podcast, explaining how USTA is creating opportunities for players, parents, coaches, and the universities themselves. In addition, Tim explains USTA's commitment to working with both the ITA and the NCAA to save college tennis even as over 60 programs have been cut so far in 2020. That commitment includes a grant program to assist college coaches in recruiting US players within their local region, hopefully creating more opportunities for American Juniors to find spots on college tennis rosters. To watch the video version of this week's episode, click here . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 11, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 31, of the ParentingAces Podcast! Lisa Stone of ParentingAces speaks with Coach Todd Widom about what's happening in the world of Junior Tennis Development and Competition in Florida during the pandemic. Todd and I also dive into Junior Golf as well. Todd's oldest son, age 6, has been competing in Junior Golf events for about a year now, and Todd shares his insights on what Junior Tennis can learn from his son's sport of choice. As Todd shares, golf is a game in which the players have extreme respect both for the sport as well as for their fellow competitors. Maybe this recent quote by Rory McIlroy says it best: "At the end of the day, golf is a game of integrity and I never try to get away with anything out there. I'd rather be on the wrong end of the rules rather than on the right end because as golfers, that's just what we believe." A good lesson for Junior Tennis Players to learn! For more information on Todd and his training program, visit https://twtennis.com . You can reach him on Facebook and Instagram @toddwidom_tennis. As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 4, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 30, of the ParentingAces Podcast! Lisa Stone, creator of ParentingAces, and Gabriella Hesse, part of the inaugural group of Tennis For America representatives, join in a discussion around the role of the college tennis and its players, especially as it relates to giving back to the community. As Gabby says, "We NEED to integrate our college tennis programs into their communities through volunteering, outreach, and fundraising and find ways to make them invaluable to the schools that believe the only way to make budget is to cut them." For more information on Tennis for America, visit https://parentingaces.com/new-ita-program-for-college-players/ and https://www.wearecollegetennis.com/2020/06/04/inaugural-tennis-for-america-class-begins-year-of-service-to-country/ . To watch the video version of this interview, click here . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you're interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you're so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven't already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 28, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 29, of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week's podcast is a little Tennis History Lesson focusing around an amazing woman who blazed new trails not only on the court but also in the areas of music, writing, politics, and civic action. She was a Renaissance Woman in every sense of the term! Who was Alice Marble? In her public life, she was the biggest tennis star of the pre-war era, a household name like Joe DiMaggio and Joe Louis. She was famous for overcoming serious illness to win the biggest tournaments, including Wimbledon. She was also a fashion designer and trendsetter, a contributor to a pioneering new comic called Wonder Woman—and friend to the biggest names in Hollywood and society, like Carole Lombard and Clark Gable, William Randolph Hearst and Marion Davies, and members of families named Bloomingdale, Loew, and du Pont. She helped integrate tennis with her support of Althea Gibson, and even coached two young women who became stars in their own right: Billie Jean King and Sally Ride. Yet her private life provoked constant speculation while she was alive, and her own memoirs added layers of legend upon stories. Lisa Stone of ParentingAces chats with Robert Weintraub, the author of this new accounting of Alice Marble's life, in this Facebook Live conversation. To purchase THE DIVINE MISS MARBLE, click here . To watch the video version of this interview, click here . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you're interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you're so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven't already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 21, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 28, of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's show, Lisa Stone chats with Coach Bill Patton about his new course for junior tennis players and their parents. It's vital for beginners to learn Visual Training so Tennis can retain more players. If you're interested in learning more about Visual Training, you can contact Bill Patton directly at 720degreecoaching@gmail.com . To purchase Bill's book on visual training, go to https://amazon.com/shop/ParentingAces . To watch the video version of this podcast, go to https://www.youtube.com/ . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our NEW intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 14, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 27, of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week's episode is all about high school tennis and technology. Our guest, Keanen McCarthy, has been working for several years to develop an app to help high school tennis coaches and players get organized and improve communication. The Mobile Match App is the perfect solution! Keanen shares his motivation behind the app and what he hopes to accomplish through its use. For more information, you can visit the NexGenTen website here and follow the company on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter , and YouTube . To download the app, click here . To watch the video version of this podcast, go to https://www.youtube.com/ . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our NEW intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you're interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you're so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven't already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 7, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 26, of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's episode, we're talking about the mental side of tennis. But NOT for the juniors! For the Tennis Parents! Lisa Stone and Rob Polishook chat about the mental side of returning to junior competition, both from the player's and the parent's side of things. Rob is a mental training coach who works with tournament players, has written numerous article on parenting for LI/NY tennis and USTA parenting columns and talks, coached Zonals 16’s for 4 years, and has been quoted/featured in national publications like ESPN, NY Times, Sports Illustrated and others. To watch the video version of this podcast, go to https://www.youtube.com/ Rob can be reached at 973-723-0314, rob@insidethezone.com , www.insidethezone.com , Facebook and Instagram @InsideTheZone. As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our NEW intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you're interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you're so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven't already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 30, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 25, of the ParentingAces Podcast! Even though we're still in a recruiting "dead period" through the end of August 2020, that doesn't mean Prospective Student Athletes (PSAs) should put their recruiting efforts on hold. In fact, quite the opposite it true: this is a great time for PSAs to ramp up their efforts to reach out to college tennis coaches and market themselves to get on the coaches' radar. Colin McAtee, a former college soccer player at the University of Michigan, has created an app for that! Productive Recruit is a tool to help PSAs better organize and personalize the recruiting process. Incorporating college and coach search tools, contact forms, and task scheduling - all things Colin wishes he had for his own recruiting efforts - Productive Recruit is a better way to take charge of this stage of the Junior Tennis Journey. Click here to watch a short video demo of the app. Colin has set up two payment options for PSAs: you can pay a flat fee of $199 to use the app indefinitely OR you can pay $29.99 for a month-to-month subscription. He is offering a discount of $50 through July 31, 2020 - the ParentingAces Community will have its own discount offer beginning August 1, 2020, so check back for the code! To see a video of what the Productive Recruit app can do, click here. You can follow Productive Recruit on social media as follows: Twitter: https://twitter.com/prodrecruit Instagram: http://instagram.com/prodrecruit Facebook: http://facebook.com/productiverecruit To reach out to Colin with any questions, email him at colin@productiverecruit.com . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our NEW intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 23, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 24 of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week's episode features a new racquet sport that can be used as a training tool for - and a gateway to - junior tennis. It's called Spec Tennis and is the brainchild of Nate Gross. Using a perforated paddle and a orange dot or foam ball, Spec Tennis is played on a smaller court. Because the strokes used in Spec Tennis look the same as those used in tennis itself, Spec can be used by junior coaches to work on specific shots and tactics in a way that is much less frustrating than using a regular racquet and yellow ball. For more information on how to play Spec or to order supplies, click here . To see Spec in action, click here . To reach Nate for more information, email him at nate.spec.tennis@gmail.com . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our NEW intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – which we are relaunching July 1 – by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 16, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 23 of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week's episode is the audio version of a Facebook Live chat (you can watch the video version here ) I had with Coach Sandy Franz discussing his work in recruiting international players to US college tennis programs as well as his newly-founded Charleston Tennis Circuit. For the last 10 years college tennis recruiting has been Sandy Franz's biggest passion. He has worked with many top international players helping them find college placement in the US. Now living in Charleston, SC, he is organizing tennis tournaments as well. His latest is a junior UTR event with strict Covid-19 restrictions on June 19-21. Sandy will help us understand the landscape of international college recruiting and discuss his new tournament circuit. For more information on the Charleston Tennis Circuit, click here . To reach Sandy, you can email him at sandy@charlestontenniscircuit.com . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our NEW intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – which we are relaunching July 1 – by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 9, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 22, of the ParentingAces Podcast! Laura Vallverdu, sister to ATP coach Dani Vallverdu, found herself in the WTA top 450 before making the decision to play college tennis at the University of Miami. She was the top collegiate player in the US, making the NCAA singles final in 2009 and the semifinals in 2010. After graduating and getting her Master's Degree, Laura started coaching the Miami women's team where she was the Assistant for 3 years and the Associate Head Coach for 3 more. In her role at Miami, she guided Estela Perez-Somarriba to the 2019 NCAA singles title. At the end of 2019, Laura made a choice to leave college tennis and return to coaching in a private academy setting while pursuing her passion to bring the various parties in tennis together. She is currently working on the launch of Tennis Between Lines, an online platform to collect tennis stories from "Tennis Lifers" around the world. You can find Laura and Tennis Between Lines on Instagram (@tennisbetweenlines) and Twitter (@tennisBTWNlines) or reach her via email at lauravallverdu@gmail.com . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our NEW intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – which we are relaunching June 15 – by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 27, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 21, of the ParentingAces Podcast! My guest for this special Video Episode is my son, Morgan Stone. For those of you who follow the ParentingAces Facebook Page , you may have seen our conversation when it aired live last week. However, for those who missed it, this is a very raw, very honest – and, at times, very uncomfortable – account of Morgan’s junior tennis development, college tennis experience, and relationship with my husband and me. If you are the parent of a young player, you may want to watch first before letting your child view this one. As I said, Morgan gives an honest – and sometimes bitter – assessment of growing up as an elite tennis player and playing in college. He owns that experience and makes no assumption that others will or have had similar ones. I have struggled for a while about providing a place for Morgan to share his story with the ParentingAces community because it’s not all flowers and butterflies (as will be evident as you watch). However, I know from talking with several of you that he’s not alone in feeling the way he does. I am very interested to hear from you after viewing the conversation, so please do add your Comments below or feel free to contact me directly . Several comments came in as we were doing the livestream on Facebook. Here are a few of them: “I think this interview is authentic and very honest. Performance tennis as a sport has many sad stories including frustrations, divorces, financial woes etc. Most 1st time tennis parents do not understand till they have already spend a lot of time and money and can’t pivot.” “Healthy conversation.” “This is sad…” “I watched the podcast with your son and found it so authentic. For a 23 year old, he truly has a sense of himself.” “I think every single parent that considers getting into tennis for their kids needs to watch that video.” I want to say, though, that this is a Tennis Story with a happy ending. Although he is no longer playing tennis, and although our Parent-Child relationship went through some very rocky periods, Morgan has found his passion in the form of producing music and performing as a DJ, and our relationship is stronger than ever. Morgan is also having great success in his first post-college job, working in Business Development for an education tech startup in San Jose. It is extremely satisfying for my husband and me to see all three of our children thriving in their careers. For those curious about Morgan’s music, you can listen here and watch his recent livestream here . During our conversation, I reference another podcast Morgan did prior to ours. You can find that episode online by clicking here . He speaks in much more detail about his college recruiting and playing experience in his D1 Only Podcast interview. To follow Morgan or to contact him, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Twitter , Instagram , and Facebook . To watch this week’s video podcast, click below: As the COVID-19 pandemic is changing daily, please know that ParentingAces is committed to continuing to bring you information and support as it relates to junior tennis and college recruiting. We have created a page on our website specifically dedicated to sharing useful tennis-related resources. You can visit it here . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – relaunching June 15 – by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 19, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 20, of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week's episode is once again an audio replay of a Facebook Live interview I did last week, this time with Coach Andy Findlay of Erie, PA. As the Intense Tennis Camps' 26th-year director and with over 49 years of tennis experience, Andy Findlay brings confidence, determination, engagement, professionalism, imagination, intensity, resilience, respect, toughness to his coaching. From 1992-2003, Andy was the Head Coach at Edinboro University of PA where he was the men's PSAC Coach-of-the-Year in 2000 & '03. Also, Andy serves as co-Head Coach at the USTA Sectional Training Center (STC) in Pittsburgh and has attended 50 USTA national workshops. From 1997-2013, he coached the USTA MS Boys' 18s at national championship events in Champaign, IL and Kalamazoo, MI. Since 2012, Andy has performed National Coaching for the USTA at the L1 National Spring Team Championships in Mobile, AL and RTCs in NY, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Andy has been in meetings with tennis leaders around the US to devise a safe way to re-open tennis to junior instruction and competition. In this episode, he shares what he's learned and what he's implemented at his own tennis facility. For the resources Andy mentions, go to our COVID-19 Resources page on ParentingAces.com ( click here ). If you'd like an emailed copy of Andy's Waiver, please contact lisa@parentingaces.com . To watch the video version of the podcast, click here . As the COVID-19 pandemic is changing daily, please know that ParentingAces is committed to continuing to bring you information and support as it relates to junior tennis and college recruiting. We have created a page on our website specifically dedicated to sharing useful tennis-related resources. You can visit it here . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our NEW intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you're interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you're so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven't already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 12, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 19, of the ParentingAces Podcast. As with last week's episode, this week's podcast is a recording of a Facebook Live interview I did with Coach Ruben Herrera. If you'd prefer to see the video version, click here to go to our YouTube Channel. Ruben Herrera runs BaseTennis in Germany, the organization behind the Tennis-Point Exhibition series, the first live tennis event since COVID-19 shut everything down. Hear his thoughts on how we can restart tennis at the professional and junior levels - what worked in his event and what he needs to tweak for the next one. For more info on Ruben's events, visit https://exo-tennis.com/ . As the COVID-19 pandemic is changing daily, please know that ParentingAces is committed to continuing to bring you information and support as it relates to junior tennis and college recruiting. We have created a page on our website specifically dedicated to sharing useful tennis-related resources. You can visit it here . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our NEW intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 5, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 18, of the ParentingAces Podcast! Tennis is opening up in various spots around the world (tomorrow I'll be chatting with Ruben Herrera about his Tennis-Point pro event in Germany). What's it going to take for you to feel comfortable getting back out there or sending your junior player back to lessons, drills, and match play? Coach Matt Manasse and I discuss these and other questions in this episode. As the COVID-19 pandemic is changing daily, please know that ParentingAces is committed to continuing to bring you information and support as it relates to junior tennis and college recruiting. We have created a page on our website specifically dedicated to sharing useful tennis-related resources. You can visit it here . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our NEW intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 28, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 17, of the ParentingAces Podcast! Our conversations around college tennis and COVID-19 continue this week with guest Scott Handback. Lawrence "Scott" Handback is a junior tennis coach, junior tennis official, and tennis director in North Carolina. He has developed over 70 players who have gone on to play college tennis and understands the unique nature of junior tennis development. According to Scott, there will be a new equilibrium in college athletics and it will not look anything like what we are used to. For tennis, there will be big changes coming. Those that continue the collegiate sport will look for new conferences to reduce travel costs or reduce the amount of scholarships offered by the programs. You may see NCAA Division I programs having to do the fundraising that small DII and DIII schools have to do to provide uniforms for players. As a positive, there will be fewer international players coming to the U.S. to play collegiate tennis. With the current immigration hold and the reduced staffing producing visas for international student-athletes, anyone who does not already have a visa to attend college this fall will not get one for the foreseeable future. This fall season will be a great opportunity for American junior tennis players to have opportunities to play collegiate tennis that they may not have had prior. Whatever ends up happening, the landscape of college athletics will be significantly different in the future. How quickly those changes occur - only time will tell. What will the long-term impact be? No one knows....yet. As the COVID-19 pandemic is changing daily, please know that ParentingAces is committed to continuing to bring you information and support as it relates to junior tennis and college recruiting. We have created a page on our website specifically dedicated to sharing useful tennis-related resources. You can visit it here . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our NEW intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 21, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 16, of the ParentingAces Podcast. This week's episode is a replay of the Facebook Live chat I had with ITA CEO Tim Russell last week. In that discussion, Tim and I talked about COVID-19's potential impact on college tennis, what's in store for both entering and returning college tennis players, and what we can all do to help ensure college tennis remains vital and viable for the 2020-21 school year and beyond. Tim and I plan to have further conversations in a public forum as new information becomes available. In the meantime, please take Tim's advice and follow the ITA , ParentingAces , ZooTennis , and other social media accounts to keep college tennis front and center as some big decisions are being made by the NCAA and others. To read the article on simultaneous format referenced in our conversation, click here . For a follow-up piece, click here . To read the article that triggered our conversation, click here . For Tim's response to that article, click here . As the COVID-19 pandemic is changing daily, please know that ParentingAces is committed to continuing to bring you information and support as it relates to junior tennis and college recruiting. We have created a page on our website specifically dedicated to sharing useful tennis-related resources. You can visit it here . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our NEW intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 14, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 15, of the ParentingAces Podcast. In this week's episode, my guest, sports journalist Cecil Harris, shares some Tennis History with us in conjunction with the release of his new book, DIFFERENT STROKES: SERENA, VENUS, AND THE UNFINISHED BLACK TENNIS REVOLUTION. Why should you care about tennis history? Well, as Cecil explains very eloquently in our conversation, children are inspired by the champions they see on tv. And, especially in an individual sport such as tennis, it's important to teach our kids that the sport is about more than just their own participation in it. Knowing who came before them and understanding their contributions is so valuable. While we're all still on stay at home orders, now is the perfect time to read Cecil's book as a family then open the proverbial door to some discussions about it! To order DIFFERENT STROKES through BookShop.org, click here . You can also find it in our Amazon Shop here . As the COVID-19 pandemic is changing daily, please know that ParentingAces is committed to continuing to bring you information and support as it relates to junior tennis and college recruiting. We have created a page on our website specifically dedicated to sharing useful tennis-related resources. You can visit it here . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our NEW intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 7, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 14, of the ParentingAces Podcast. I hope you're all staying well and continuing to stay home. In this week's show, I have the pleasure of speaking again with John O'Sullivan, soccer coach and the mastermind behind Changing the Game Project. John has recently released his latest book, EVERY MOMENT MATTERS ( click here to purchase through our Amazon Shop), and we dive into its content and discuss how the lessons can apply to tennis coaches and parents. John is committed to a philosophy of athlete-centered coaching. He devotes whatever time he has - outside his own soccer coaching commitments - educating coaches, national governing bodies, and others on specific tactics to give youth sports back to the kids. During this time of sheltering at home, John is living that philosophy on a daily basis by holding virtual practices with his young athletes which he details in our conversation. To learn more about John and Changing The Game Project, click here . He is available via email at john@changingthegameproject.com . As the COVID-19 pandemic is changing daily, please know that ParentingAces is committed to continuing to bring you information and support as it relates to junior tennis and college recruiting. We have created a page on our website specifically dedicated to sharing useful tennis-related resources. You can visit it here . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our NEW intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 31, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 13 of the ParentingAces Podcast. I hope this week finds you and your loved ones healthy and well. Coach Todd Widom and I wanted to take the opportunity to talk a little more about what junior tennis players - and coaches - can do during this time of isolation to stay on track with their development and goals. To get in touch with Coach Todd, follow him on Facebook and Instagram or email him at Todd@TWTennis.com . As the COVID-19 pandemic is changing daily, please know that ParentingAces is committed to continuing to bring you information and support as it relates to junior tennis and college recruiting. We have created a page on our website specifically dedicated to sharing useful tennis-related resources. You can visit it here . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our NEW intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 24, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 12, of the ParentingAces Podcast. Boy, is this a strange time for all of us. We are sheltering at home, with our kids, trying to figure out this New Normal. Rather than release a brand new episode this week, I thought I would go back to our Archives and re-release a conversation I had with David Benzel, creator of Growing Champions for Life, from August 2012. In this episode, David and I discuss what it means to be an effective Tennis Parent and the common pitfalls we all face as we try to do what's best and right for our child(ren). Since we're all at home anyway, why not use this time to practice some of the techniques David offers up to do better, to be better? Please do visit David's website at https://www.growingchampionsforlife.com/ and be sure to get on his email list so you're alerted to upcoming webinars and other events. David is a true gem of a human and has a lot of wisdom to share! As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our NEW intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you're interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you're so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven't already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 17, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 11 of the ParentingAces Podcast! Elliott is one of the owners at Overland Park Racquet Club . He spends the majority of his time deeply involved with their top junior players. He is a long time Kansas City tennis coach, player and figurehead with now 21 years of tennis coaching experience. Elliott’s players have earned success at every playing level, from more than 50 Missouri Valley Champions, to ITF titleholders and players competing at the Professional level. He has been a USTA Regional Training Center Director, National Prince Plugged In Director and proudly represents the Heart of America as the VP of Junior Competition. Before working in junior development he was a collegiate coach at Saddleback College, Baker University and the University of Kansas. A source of great pride for Elliott is the number of players that he’s trained who have moved on to compete at the NCAA Division I college level. Over 50 players in the past 10 years have gone on to play at the highest level of NCAA competition. Elliott believes that being a student-athlete in college makes for a much more fulfilling overall experience. There is a college out there that is perfect for everyone to pursue their education and tennis goals! To listen to my 2015 podcast with Elliott, click here . To reach Elliott via email, click elliott@opracquetclub.com As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our NEW intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . We have also started a Patreon page for those of you not ready to take the plunge as a Premium Member. You can make a donation of any size to support our podcast by clicking here . Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 10, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 10, of the ParentingAces Podcast! We finally have Coach Todd Widom back to discuss the junior coach's role in the college recruiting process. As Todd has discussed previously on the pod, several of his players have gone on to play very high level college tennis. One of his recent students, Ronnie Hohmann, is in his freshman year at LSU and playing at the top of the singles lineup. What, exactly, is the junior coach's role in helping players and their families choose a college tennis program? How much influence and input should the junior coach have? These are the questions we tackle in this week's show. To reach Todd Widom, visit his website here or email him at todd@twtennis.com . You can also find him on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our NEW intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you're interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you're so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven't already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 3, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 9, of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week, we are discussing how to prevent injury in our junior players and what to do if/when they do become injured. My guest, Kayla Epperson, has trained with Dr. Neeru Jayanthi (who has been on this podcast several times) and is now in practice herself. As a former college tennis player and injured athlete herself, Kayla brings a unique perspective to today's discussion. Kayla is a sports physical therapist and strength and conditioning coach. She recently started her own practice in the Chicago Western suburbs so she could work more closely with athletes. She is especially passionate about working with youth athletes and tennis players as she was a competitive junior player and played in college at Indiana University. Having battled many overuse injuries in her junior and collegiate career, Kayla feels that tennis specific injury prevention programming and education is so important. She shares her experiences and advice with the ParentingAces Community in this episode of our podcast. To read the Series, Navigating the Sidelines: Perspectives from an Injured Athlete, click here (Part 1) , here (Part 2) , and here (Part 3) . For more information on the specifics of Kayla's practice, visit https://www.theathleteconnectionpt.com . ParentingAces Premium Members can click here for Kayla's FREE Tennis Insider Rotator Cuff and Scapular Stability Guide and accompanying videos. You can reach Kayla through her website, www.theathleteconnectionpt.com or by phone at 630-525-1129. She is also reachable by email at kayla@theathleteconnectionpt.com . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our NEW intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you're interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you're so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven't already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . We have also started a Patreon page for those of you not ready to take the plunge as a Premium Member. You can make a donation of any size to support our podcast by clicking here . Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 25, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 8, of the ParentingAces Podcast! You are in for a treat this week as we chat with the Dent family: Phil, Taylor, and Jenny! Taylor Dent, formerly ranked #21 on the ATP Tour, is a past guest on our podcast. He has coached several top players since retiring from professional tennis, and is now running a very successful program in Texas alongside his father and wife. In this week's episode, all 3 Dents share their coaching philosophy in terms of both on-court and off-court work, and their commitment to producing not only great tennis players but also great humans. I first met Taylor at the US Open several years ago when he was working with Jared Donaldson. I couldn't help but be impressed with his no-nonsense approach to sport and his humility when talking about his own accomplishments. A few months ago, the director of The Birch Racquet and Lawn Club reached out to me asking if I'd like to interview Taylor, Phil, and Jenny. Of course, I said YES! In case you aren't familiar with this very impressive family, here are some facts taken from their academy website: Taylor Formerly Ranked #21 in the world Served 149mph at the French Open, 148mph at Wimbledon and 147mph at the US Open — all in 2010, and all serve speed records at these Grand Slams Won 4 ATP singles titles in Newport (2002), Bangkok (2003), Memphis (2003) and Moscow (2003) Coached Jared Donaldson (2013-2017) to the top 100 in the world and 2016 US Open 3rd rd Placed 4th in the 2004 Olympics in Athens Captured wins over Novak Djokovic, Andy Roddick, James Blake, Lleyton Hewitt and Marat Safin during his ATP career Recorded in the International Tennis Hall of Fame, Taylor and Phil are the only father-son duo to have won ATP titles in the Open Era Phil Known as the Serve Doctor throughout the ATP and WTA tours Reached #12 in the world in 1977, finishing the year at #19 Coached Michael Chang and Maria Sharapova Doubles Grand Slam Champion at both the US and Australian Open Claimed mixed-doubles champion at the US Open in 1976 (with teammate Billie Jean King) Captured wins over Rod Laver, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg and Jimmy Connors during professional tennis career Helped lead his native country of Australia to victories at both the Davis Cup in 1977 and the World Team Cup in 1979 Jenny Reached #52 in the WTA world rankings Competed on the WTA tour for 7 years and accumulated 6 International Tennis Federation Women's Singles titles Won the 2005 World Team Tennis Championships with Martina Hingis as her doubles partner Competed against Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Monica Seles and Jennifer Capriati during her professional tennis career Captured The Missouri State Tennis Title in 1996 Mother of 4 children and CEO of the Birch Racquet and Lawn Club For more information the Dent Tennis Academy in Keller, Texas, click here . You can reach out to Jenny by email at Jenny@TheBirch.com . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our NEW intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you're interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you're so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven't already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . We have also started a Patreon page for those of you not ready to take the plunge as a Premium Member. You can make a donation of any size to support our podcast by clicking here . Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 18, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 7 of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week's episode is once again centered around the mental side of tennis, this time from the perspective of overcoming obstacles. I think you'll find my conversation with Angelo Rossetti enlightening as well as inspiring. This episode is a great one to share with your Junior Tennis Player(s)! Angelo Rossetti is not only a USPTA-certified tennis coach, but he and his twin brother also hold 2 Guinness Book of World Records in tennis! As you can imagine, earning a world record requires tremendous focus and training and tenacity. To earn TWO of them is a feat not achieved by many. Angelo shares his story growing up with obstacles in our sport and how he used those obstacles to develop incredible stick-to-it-iveness. He now uses those life lessons to teach others how to be stronger and better on and off the court. To read Angelo's article on sportsmanship, click here . To purchase Angelo's book, click here . As a special treat for the ParentingAces Community, you will receive a complimentary expanded Mental Skills Audit Analysis ($100 value!). Simply email angelo@tennacity.org with msa-parentingaces in the subject line with how many copies you purchased of the book and where you purchased the book. To watch a brief video about Angelo's and Ettore's journey, click https://youtu.be/S6mzVk7Etwc . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our NEW intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you're interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you're so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven't already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . We have also started a Patreon page for those of you not ready to take the plunge as a Premium Member. You can make a donation of any size to support our podcast by clicking here . Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 11, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 6 of the ParentingAces Podcast! The topic of the week is Mental Toughness. Allon Khakshouri has been in the tennis business for many years, managing World #1 players including Novak Djokovic, organizing tennis events, and sitting on the ATP Council. His most recent foray involves helping junior players develop the mental acuity to train and compete at their highest level. In Allon's words, "I have made it my mission to share some of the world’s best mental toughness strategies with ambitious young tennis players like you, who want to develop the mindset and thinking of real champions so that they can take their game to the next level and still feel the joy of what they do." Find Allon and his free e-book on his website at https://mentalgameoftennis.com/ or email him at akhakshouri@gmail.com . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our NEW intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . We have also started a Patreon page for those of you not ready to take the plunge as a Premium Member. You can make a donation of any size to support our podcast by clicking here . Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 4, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 5 of the ParentingAces Podcast! It's time for another college recruiting conversation with Renee Lopez! Renee has just published her latest book, LOOKING FOR A FULL RIDE? It is the most thorough book on college athletic recruiting and scholarships that I've read to date. In it, Renee offers concrete on everything to signing up with the NCAA Eligibility Center to marketing yourself to college coaches to understanding what it means to be a walk-on. I cannot recommend this book enough! And, lucky for the ParentingAces Community, Renee is offering FREE SHIPPING to the first 15 people to order using code PA2020! You can purchase the book directly through Renee's website here . To contact Renee Lopez directly, visit her website, rlopezcoaching.com or email her at info@lookingforafullride.com . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our NEW intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . We have also started a Patreon page for those of you not ready to take the plunge as a Premium Member. You can make a donation of any size to support our podcast by clicking here . Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 28, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 4 of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week's guest, Trevor Short, went from a top 20 nationally ranked junior tennis player to a NCAA Division 1 nationally ranked player at Middle Tennessee State University. Following his tennis career, Trevor founded T&S Events where he produced over 10 professional tennis events with some of the world’s top players including Andy Roddick, John Isner, the Bryan Brothers and more. Trevor also founded the Australian Open Wild Card Playoffs in partnership with the USTA which ran from 2009-2011. While still running T&S Events, he became the General Manager of the Racquet Club of the South where he and Remington Reynolds met and co-founded Premier Live. Trevor’s 12 plus years in the tennis event industry continues to drive Premier Live into new heights on a daily basis. As the President of the Company, he oversees both the Necker Cup & Necker Open with Sir Richard Branson along with driving the company’s sales and player/celebrity relationships. In 2009, Trevor partnered with Rem Reynolds and Steve Garelek to form the National Tennis Foundation . The NTF is committed to the development and advancement of under-served student athletes by providing opportunities through tennis and project-based educational and leadership programs. These programs are devised to promote academic excellence, healthy living, personal responsibility and character development. THE NTF SEEKS TO EDUCATE OUR STUDENT ATHLETES ON THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND COEXISTENCE OF IDEAS AND VIEWS BOTH DOMESTICALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY. Trevor and Premier Live are working with Rafael Nadal and his foundation to put on two very special events in Atlanta March 1-2, 2020 to benefit NTF! You can learn more about the events by listening to our chat and by clicking on the photo of Rafa on the sidebar of ParentingAces.com. For the National Tennis Foundation website, click here . To reach Trevor directly, email him at trevor@premierlive.com . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our NEW intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . We have also started a Patreon page for those of you not ready to take the plunge as a Premium Member. You can make a donation of any size to support our podcast by clicking here . Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 21, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 3, of the ParentingAces Podcast! With the Australian Open underway, what better time to talk about hydration and cramping? This week, we hear from Andy Blow, the founder of Precision Hydration, about why it's important to understand the content of sweat so we can hydrate properly to maximize performance. I will be writing a more extensive article on ParentingAces.com about my experience with Precision Hydration's sweat testing. In the meantime, please check out the articles below from Andy's website. They will give you a ton of insight into why it's so important to understand cramping and sweating as well as ways to help your junior and college players avoid being waylaid as a result of improper hydration. We also have a special discount for ParentingAces Premium Members at https://parentingaces.com/member-discounts/ so be sure to join (if you haven't already!) then check it out! - Why do athletes suffer from cramp - Does having clear pee really mean you're well hydrated? - How to measure your sweat rate - How much dehydration can you tolerate before your performance suffers? As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our NEW intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . We have also started a Patreon page for those of you not ready to take the plunge as a Premium Member. You can make a donation of any size to support our podcast by clicking here . Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 14, 2020

Welcome to Season 9, Episode 2, of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week, we are discussing how to help junior players with the all-important mental and emotional side of tennis. Our guest is long-time high school coach and author Peter Scales. Teaching a young player how to hit forehands and backhands is something many great coaches can do. However, also teaching them how to problem-solve and stay calm and focused is a bit tougher. Peter Scales seems to have found a successful approach to helping his players develop these skills while enjoying the journey. One his biggest messages to his players is giving your all every time you set foot on the tennis court. Peter discusses how he reinforces that lesson and how he explains its value as a bigger Life Lesson.He also shares tips on how we parents can help our children in this area. Peter mentions a couple of great books in this episode. Click the titles below to go to the ParentingAces Shop on Amazon: Jeff Greenwald's The Best Tennis of your Life Jim Loehr's The Only Way to Win To purchase Peter's book, Mental and Emotion Training for Tennis, order it from CoachesChoice.com Our Premium Members and Patreon Patrons get a 25% discount on the Coaches Choice website by using the code shared here . To learn more about Peter and to contact him, visit his website at coachpetescales.usptapro.com . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our NEW intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . We have also started a Patreon page for those of you not ready to take the plunge as a Premium Member. You can make a donation of any size to support our podcast by clicking here . Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 7, 2020

Welcome to Season 9 Episode 1 of the ParentingAces Podcast! Happy New Year! In our first podcast of 2020, we welcome professional tennis player, Danielle Lao, back to the show! Danielle has been on tour for over 6 years after graduating from USC in 2013, so she has had time to fine-tune her limited off-season training block to best suit her needs. Danielle talks about the importance of cross-training to staying healthy throughout the long pro calendar and shares her new-found love of running as a way to keep her mind and body strong. As most of us know, tennis is a marathon not a sprint, and Danielle feels this holds true even at the professional level. She takes the long-road approach to her training on and off the court and sets small as well as large goals for herself. She is so grounded in how she looks at her profession and how she balances it with her friends and family. This episode is a great listen for juniors who aspire to play on the tour! Be sure to follow Danielle on Facebook here and on Twitter here . And join me in wishing her all the best in the upcoming season! As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our NEW intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . We have also started a Patreon page for those of you not ready to take the plunge as a Premium Member. You can make a donation of any size to support our podcast by clicking here . Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 26, 2019

Welcome to our Final Episode of 2019 - Season 8, Episode 49! We end this year with a BANG! with this interview with Coach Morgan Shepherd! A long-time podcast listener from Northern California recently emailed me to suggest I invite Morgan on the show. This Tennis Parent could not say enough positive things about Morgan's approach to coaching and the impact he's had on the children with whom he works. Naturally, I reached out to Coach Shepherd and, thankfully, he agreed to be on the pod! As it turns out, Morgan and I have some things in common. Not only does he have the same first name as my son, but he also has a Boise State Tennis connection and lives pretty near to where my son now lives as well. This great coach comes from a psychology background in addition to his tennis upbringing, something that really helps him help his young charges develop fully as both Tennis Players and as Human Beings. I think you'll enjoy hearing his approach to bringing up players and helping them grow to their full potential. To reach Morgan Shepherd, you can email him at moshep9@gmail.com . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . We have also started a Patreon page for those of you not ready to take the plunge as a Premium Member. You can make a donation of any size to support our podcast by clicking here . In exchange, you will have access to extra audio and video recordings not available elsewhere, including exclusive content recorded at the recent WTCA Conference in New York. Thank you! Sending you lots of love and heartfelt thanks for another great year of the ParentingAces Podcast! Have a wonderful holiday season, whatever you celebrate, and I'll see you in 2020! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 19, 2019

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 48 of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week, we are discussing the importance of point construction and how to teach it to developing junior players. If you've been listening to our podcast for a while, you are already very familiar with Coach Todd Widom and his non-academy approach to helping junior tennis players reach their full potential. In this episode, Todd delves into the idea of point construction - its importance in overall tennis success and the lack of organized instruction around this aspect of the sport. Todd shares specific drills to help young players learn and understand the geometry and physics of a tennis court and tennis ball. This is Must-Listen stuff! If you would like to contact Todd Widom, you can find him on Facebook and Instagram or email him at todd@twtennis.com . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . We have also started a Patreon page for those of you not ready to take the plunge as a Premium Member. You can make a donation of any size to support our podcast by clicking here . In exchange, you will have access to extra audio and video recordings not available elsewhere, including exclusive content recorded at the recent WTCA Conference in New York. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 12, 2019

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 47 of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week, you will learn about a new app that brings Artificial Intelligence to the tennis court, allowing not only for score-keeping and match stats but also in-depth analysis, coaching, and social networking. Swupnil Sahai started playing tennis with his younger brother at an early age. He went on to play for his high school team then played recreationally throughout college and graduate school, always maintaining a great love of the sport both as a player and as a fan. As a side project during college, Swupnil and a buddy developed an app for the newly-emerging Apple Watch to keep score and capture stats while playing tennis. Their little side project has now morphed into Swing Tennis, a highly-intelligent app for IOS devices that does what Hawkeye does . . . and more! Both James Blake and Andy Roddick were so impressed by this new technology that they became not only investors but also consultants as new features are developed and added to the app. To get more information on the Swing app, visit their website here . To download the app and start your free 2-week trial, click here or simply search Swing Tennis in the App Store. If you are a ParentingAces Premium Member and/or Patreon Patron, we have a phenomenal discount for you to save 50% off the first year's service. You can find the code on our website here (for Premium Members) and on our Patreon page here. If you'd like to reach out to the app developers, contact them on Twitter ( click here ), Instagram ( click here ), or via email at support@swing.tennis . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . We have also started a Patreon page for those of you not ready to take the plunge as a Premium Member. You can make a donation of any size to support our podcast by clicking here . In exchange, you will have access to extra audio and video recordings not available elsewhere as well as other benefits – go to our Patreon Page for more info. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 5, 2019

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 46 of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week we are talking nutrition, but not in the way you might think! Andrew Golub is a founding and managing member of ArrowBar . Andrew earned his Bachelor of Science Degree with a focus on Business Management from the University of Miami. Following graduation Andrew started Golub Tennis, which is now one of the most successful tennis academies in Florida. Andrew gained invaluable skills through his experiences as a highly ranked junior tennis player and scholarship athlete, as well as a four year letterman at The University of Miami, which lead him to be voted a two-time team captain. In twelve years of business, Golub Tennis has impacted the lives of hundreds of children who have come through the program, more than 120 of whom have received college scholarships to universities across the country. Andrew, along with a few of his tennis compatriots, has used his experience as a player to help develop ArrowBar. In this week's episode, he shares the ArrowBar story, one filled with u-turns and detours, and how he is using the lessons he learned through Tennis to persevere and grow the ArrowBar brand. Our conversation also takes a slight detour to discuss Andrew's experience as a Golf Parent. He shares some personal stories about what he learned from his parents now that he is a parent himself. I think you will find our conversation very enlightening! To get more information on how your Junior Player can become an ArrowBar Ambassador, simply Direct Message (DM) Andrew on Instagram @arrowbarenergy . You can also email info@arrowbar.com . To read the article I reference regarding Junior Golf, click here . To listen to my previous podcast with Michael Russell discussing his involvement in ArrowBar, click here . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . We have also started a Patreon page for those of you not ready to take the plunge as a Premium Member. You can make a donation of any size to support our podcast by clicking here . In exchange, you will have access to extra audio and video recordings not available elsewhere as well as other benefits – go to our Patreon Page for more info. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 29, 2019

Welcome to Season 8 Episode 45 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's show, I chat with Matt Manasse, former Purdue standout and current Tennis Coach. Matt has a unique perspective on the role of the Player, Parent, and Coach. Having now coached at the college, professional, and junior levels, Matt shares his insights on the similarities and differences in coaching at the different levels. I think you'll find his approach interesting and thought-provoking! Matt is now co-hosting his own tennis-themed podcast called Double Fault which you can find on Spotify here . If you'd like to email him, his address is matt.manasse@gmail.com . You can find him on Twitter and Instagram @Matt_Manasse. As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . We have also started a Patreon page for those of you not ready to take the plunge as a Premium Member. You can make a donation of any size to support our podcast by clicking here . In exchange, you will have access to extra audio and video recordings not available elsewhere as well as other benefits – go to our Patreon Page for more info. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 22, 2019

Carlos Silva joined World TeamTennis (WTT) as CEO in Jan of 2019 to lead the organization forward. He led expansion team efforts in Las Vegas and Orlando. He also led the efforts to partner with CBS Sports and ESPN to broadcast the WTT in 2019. A veteran media and digital executive, Silva has built and sold companies in the TV and Media convergence space over the last 25 years. He has also raised more than $250M for the startups that he has operated. Prior to WTT, Silva served as CEO for the World Series of Fighting for three years, beginning in August of 2015. He led the sale of the MMA property to new investors, staying on as President of the newly named Professional Fighters League (PFL) until Jan. 2018, following the success of season one of the PFL MMA season format. PFL is one of the top three MMA properties. Silva served as President of Back9Network beginning in an Jan. 2013, where he led day to day operations of the golf-lifestyle focused network as it grew its digital audience, launched on DirecTV, and acquired the leading GPS app Swing by Swing. Silva was a Senior Advisor in 2011-2012 to various sports clients from leagues to media startups while serving as an Executive in Residence at Park Lane Investment Bank. Prior to that, Silva led the programming and operations of Universal Sports Network until Dec. 2010. He was the President & COO and was recruited by the original investors in April 2006. He built and operated the digital and TV network and ran day to day operations. He was also the co-Executive Producer of Universal Sports coverage of the Vancouver Olympic Games. Prior to Universal Sports, Silva ran some of the largest Web destinations in the World: AOL Sports, AOL News and AOL Money. Silva joined AOL when the company purchased NetChannel and was the senior onboarding executive. Silva holds a B.S. from Boston College and M.S. degree from George Washington University. Silva played Tennis at Boston College as well as the pro satellite tour after college. You can find everything you need to know about World Team Tennis on its website: wtt.com . Follow WTT on social media: @WorldTeamTennis As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you're interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you're so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven't already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . We have also started a Patreon page for those of you not ready to take the plunge as a Premium Member. You can make a donation of any size to support our podcast by clicking here . In exchange, you will have access to extra audio and video recordings not available elsewhere as well as other benefits – go to our Patreon Page for more info. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 15, 2019

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 43 of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week's guest is Jack Newman, founder of the Austin Tennis Academy in Austin, Texas. Not only is the ATA turning out excellent tennis players, but it is also turning out excellent Human Beings. The academy was founded with the idea of using tennis to teach children how to be good World Citizens, and Jack and his staff impart those lessons each day through work on and off the court. You will hear Jack talk about the community service efforts he and ATA are committed to on a daily basis as well as how the academy provides opportunities for the junior players and their families to learn and grow together. For more information on the Austin Tennis Academy, visit its website here and follow on Twitter , Facebook , and/or Instagram . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . We have also started a Patreon page for those of you not ready to take the plunge as a Premium Member. You can make a donation of any size to support our podcast by clicking here . In exchange, you will have access to extra audio and video recordings not available elsewhere as well as other benefits – go to our Patreon Page for more info. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 8, 2019

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 42 of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week I chat with Dave Mullins about his recent Masters Thesis research around which players improve as tennis players during college and what specific qualities they possess. I will likely be driving across the US as you listen to this week's episode! Dave is a former top college tennis player himself who moved into college coaching after a brief run in the World of Finance. He coached on both the men's and women's sides and brings incredible knowledge and experience to his latest role as the Managing Director of Community Engagement and Coach Empowerment at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) . In this week's episode, Dave shares with us some of what's on tap for the ITA in the coming months in terms of recruiting information, coach support, player support, and even parent support. He also shares the insights he gleaned from his research into what attributes are common among those college tennis players who improve the most during their college years. Dave interviewed several experienced college coaches about players they had coached who had achieved the most over their time on a college tennis team. If you would like to reach out to Dave, you can email him at dmullins@itatennis.com . You can also find him on Twitter @DaveMullins_ITA . He has graciously offered to share his research with the ParentingAces Community, so please reach out to him if you'd like to read it. As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . We have also started a Patreon page for those of you not ready to take the plunge as a Premium Member. You can make a donation of any size to support our podcast by clicking here . In exchange, you will have access to extra audio and video recordings not available elsewhere as well as other benefits – go to our Patreon Page for more info. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 1, 2019

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 41 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's show, I chat with Bella Heidenreich, a former Division I college tennis player who experienced a career-ending injury during her first semester at James Madison University. Note: There are a few 4-letter words in this week's episode which I chose to leave in, so please use care when sharing with young children. Any time a young athlete is side-lined due to injury, it is emotionally stressful on top of being physically painful. When the injured athlete falls under the jurisdiction of a college coach and trainer, there are additional factors that may come into play. Bella went through a series of challenges and obstacles while trying to recover from a fluke foot injury that happened her first month in college. Being far away from home, she dealt with the incident in the best way she knew how and shares that experience with us this week. My conversation with Bella is the first in an effort to bring Truth to Tennis. We often try to sugar-coat the Junior Development Process and College Recruiting in hopes of keeping players and their families invested in the sport long-term. However, as I learned through my own journey with my son, things aren't always as they seem on the surface. Bella's story isn't unusual. The way her injury was handled by the JMU athletic trainer and coach isn't unusual. It is crucial that parents understand what can happen when their child leaves home to play College Tennis and are armed with information if their child becomes injured. My hope is that this episode with Bella leads you to ask more questions during the Recruiting Process and leads your player to become a good self-advocate once he/she is on campus. As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . We have also started a Patreon page for those of you not ready to take the plunge as a Premium Member. You can make a donation of any size to support our podcast by clicking here . In exchange, you will have access to extra audio and video recordings not available elsewhere as well as other benefits - go to our Patreon Page for more info. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 24, 2019

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 40 of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week is all about Tennis Technology, specifically, AccuTennis, and how collecting data can help our junior players develop more fully. AccuTennis is a new on-court automated camera and player analysis technology that enables game-based play for all players. It can be used by clubs and other facilities to call lines, run drills, keep score, livestream matches, scout opponents, and review play. Building trust in the system has been one of AccuTennis's biggest challenges to date, and getting organizations - like the ITF and USTA - to approve its use in official tournaments is a work in progress. In terms of Junior Development and how AccuTennis can help, the technology "chunks" matches into usable video that can be sorted by stroke, spin, score, etc. For coaches, this makes watching a student's match video doable in terms of time commitment and takes the onus off the player or parent to edit a full match before seeking input from the coach. For players, having the ability to sort a match based on specific elements being worked on in practice is invaluable. There are also many cost-savings implications for parents with AccuTennis. For example, juniors could play a practice match on an AccuTennis-powered court which captures video and data. Then, the coach could evaluate the practice match for a fee that may be much less than the cost of a lesson. For more information on AccuTennis and bringing it to your facility, you can reach Adam Sher at 215-989-4312 or via email at adam@accutennis.com . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . We have also started a Patreon page for those of you not ready to take the plunge as a Premium Member. You can make a donation of any size to support our podcast by clicking here . In exchange, you will have access to extra audio and video recordings not available elsewhere as well as other benefits – go to our Patreon Page for more info. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 17, 2019

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 39 of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week, we're talking Team Tennis and how our Junior players can benefit from it. My guest is Tammy Anderson, a long-time tennis player and tennis coach who, most recently, coached a team at the U12 Southern Cup ( click here to go to the tournament page). She is also the chief financial officer and executive board member of the Women's Tennis Coaching Association (WTCA). Tammy shares her thoughts on what makes these top-level team events so great for developing Juniors and how they can help grow the sport through engaging the players with their peers of both genders. For more information on the Southern Cup across all age divisions, click here . You can reach Tammy Anderson via email at tanderson@springhurst.com or tammy@wtcatennis.org or via text at 859-409-0554. For more information on the Top Gun Academy at the Springhurst Tennis Club, click here . To find your sectional USTA TSA and Junior Competition Manager, go to our Guide to the USTA Website here . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . We have also started a Patreon page for those of you not ready to take the plunge as a Premium Member. You can make a donation of any size to support our podcast by clicking here . In exchange, you will have access to extra audio and video recordings not available elsewhere as well as other benefits - go to our Patreon Page for more info. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 10, 2019

Welcome to Season 8 Episode 38 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's episode, I sit down with veteran tennis journalist Joel Drucker to talk about this year's US Open Junior players and his thoughts on their future prospects in the college and pro game. According to his profile on the Tennis Channel website, Joel Drucker has been writing about tennis since 1982 for a variety of magazines and broadcast outlets. He has been part of Tennis Channel's team since the network stared airing in 2003, including work as story editor at all of the Grand Slam events, as well with various documentaries and special projects. Most recently, he was story editor-researcher for the network's "Barnstormers" documentary. In 2016, Joel was named a historian-at-large by the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Drucker’s tennis work spans the worlds of professional and recreational tennis – history, news, player profiles, psychology, instruction, travel, humor and participatory experiences. On the court, he has been berated by John McEnroe, hit with a ball by Jimmy Connors and beaten left-handed by Andy Roddick. I met Joel in 2007 during my first visit to the US Open. As we quickly discovered, Joel and my husband grew up together in Los Angeles and even attended the same junior high school! Joel and I have stayed in contact ever since, and he always has valuable insights to share when we see one another in New York each year. You can find Joel online here . If you have a direct question, you can email him at joel@joeldrucker.com . To view the video version of this week's podcast, filmed during the 2019 US Open, click here . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you're interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you're so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven't already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . We have also started a Patreon page for those of you not ready to take the plunge as a Premium Member. You can make a donation of any size to support our podcast by clicking here . In exchange, you will have access to extra audio and video recordings not available elsewhere. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 3, 2019

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 37 of the ParentingAces Podcast! My guest this week is Coach Todd Widom discussing how he helped his player, Ronnie Hohmann, prepare for the US Open Juniors. A big thank-you to Colette Lewis of ZooTennis for the photo! Of course, it's "just another junior tournament". However, winning the US Open Juniors is often a stepping stone to a successful collegiate and professional career, so preparing properly can be key. For Ronnie, this is literally his Home Slam since he grew up very close to the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, and there might be some added pressure on him as local friends and family come out to see him play. Handling that pressure, according to Todd, will be one of the keys to Ronnie's success this week. As promised in the podcast, here are links to the ITF and USTA Pro Circuit Tournament pages: USTA Pro Circuit Events ITF Events - Men ITF Events - Women If you would like to contact Todd Widom, you can find him on Facebook and Instagram or email him at todd@twtennis.com . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . We have also started a Patreon page for those of you not ready to take the plunge as a Premium Member. You can make a donation of any size to support our podcast by clicking here . In exchange, you will have access to extra audio and video recordings not available elsewhere, including exclusive content recorded at the recent WTCA Conference in New York. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 27, 2019

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 36 of the ParentingAces Podcast. In this week's episode, we hear from the 2019 ITA Division I Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award Winner Isaac Perez and his college coach Dan Oosterhous. Apologies for the poor sound quality - we recorded this episode while sitting outside during Arthur Ashe Kids Day and it was just a little noisy out there! Coming from a military family, it wasn't so far-fetched that Isaac Perez would look to the military academies to further his education and tennis career. While he was a solid 4-star recruit according to TennisRecruiting.net , he knew he wanted to fly jets once he completed his college degree. Air Force Academy Men's Coach Dan Oosterhous said he could tell right away that Isaac would be a great fit for his academy and his team. He noticed leadership qualities in Isaac from the first time they met and was thrilled to nominate Isaac for the prestigious ITA award. You will hear from both Isaac and Coach Oosterhous about what's involved in recruiting at one of the military academies and how it differs from "civilian" programs. If you would like more information on how the military academies work, both in terms of academics and tennis, we will be doing a follow-up podcast with Coach Oosterhous very soon. In the meantime, you can contact Dan Oosterhous at Daniel.Oosterhous@usafa.edu . I know you all join me in wishing Isaac all the best as he pursues his dream of flying jets and defending our country. If he is indicative of all the men and women in our armed forces, we should all feel very well-protected! As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season and congratulations to him on his latest performance in San Francisco! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . We have also started a Patreon page for those of you not ready to take the plunge as a Premium Member. You can make a donation of any size to support our podcast by clicking here . In exchange, you will have access to extra audio and video recordings not available elsewhere, including exclusive content recorded at the recent WTCA Conference in New York. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 20, 2019

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 35 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's episode, Creator Lisa Stone, gives a brief update on what's happening at ParentingAces and what's coming on the website and podcast during the 2019 US Open. If you are going to be in New York for either Lisa's Tennis Parent Recruiting Session ( click here for more info) or the US Open, please let her know so you can connect. You can reach her via email at lisa@parentingaces.com . You can also message her on Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you're interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . For those of you in the San Francisco area, he is performing August 23rd at 1015 Folsom starting at 10pm. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets. If you're so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven't already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . We have also started a Patreon page for those of you not ready to take the plunge as a Premium Member. You can make a donation of any size to support our podcast by clicking here . Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 13, 2019

Welcome to Season 8 Episode 34 of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week, we hear from Todd Widom about the work he's been doing this summer with juniors from all across the US and the developmental shortfalls he's had to work on with them. It turns out, several of you ParentingAces Listeners have reached out to Todd over the past couple of years. Several of you have even sent your kids down to Florida to work with him either short-term or long-term. In this week's episode, Todd talks about some of the things he sees when he gets a new player, what he does to help players improve, and how he works with their full-time coach to keep things moving in the right direction. You can reach Todd via email at todd@twtennis.com or via phone at 854-296-5610. Be sure to follow him on both Facebook and Instagram . As always, a big thank you to my son, Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you're interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . For those of you in the San Francisco area, he is performing August 23rd at 1015 Folsom starting at 10pm. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets. If you're so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven't already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . We have also started a Patreon page for those of you not ready to take the plunge as a Premium Member. You can make a donation of any size to support our podcast by clicking here .Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 6, 2019

Welcome to Season 8 Episode 33 of the ParentingAces Podcast! Jimmy Bendeck started playing tennis at a young age after growing up watching his parents play at the local courts in South Florida. After having early success as a Junior Player, he developed a serious injury that kept him out of the game for over 4 years. In this week's episode, Jimmy talks about overcoming injury and working to restore his tennis level so he could fulfill his dream of playing high level Division I tennis. After competing for four years at Baylor, Jimmy is finishing his degree this summer then embarking on a professional tennis career. To that end, Jimmy is using his college degree in finance to creatively fund his first year on tour. To read more about Jimmy's plan, you can find his Make A Champ website here: https://makeachamp.com/jimmybendeck . If you are interested in making a donation, click here . Don't miss your chance to participate in our upcoming Tennis Parent Recruiting Panel at the WTCA Conference in New York August 23, 2019 . . . Our Premium Members receive a $20 discount off the $49 registration fee, so please join the site and take advantage of that great offer! For more information on the Conference and to register for our Panel, click here . As always, a big thank you to my son, Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . We have also started a Patreon page for those of you not ready to take the plunge as a Premium Member. You can make a donation of any size to support our podcast by clicking here .Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 30, 2019

Welcome to Season 8 Episode 32 of the ParentingAces Podcast! Before embarking on a professional tennis career, Danielle Lao had an outstanding 4 years as part of the women's tennis team at USC . She was an All-American in Singles and won multiple doubles titles throughout her time in college. She wrote a book about her experiences entitled THE INVALUABLE EXPERIENCE . Since graduating in 2013, Danielle has been out on tour, working her way up the rankings as she confronts and conquers the various challenges that entails. In this week's episode, Danielle shares her junior tennis development, her experiences at USC, and how she has been managing as a professional athlete. There is a lot of wisdom in her words both for parents and for players themselves. You can follow Danielle on the various social media outlets: Twitter: @TheLittleGiant Facebook: facebook.com/danielle.lao Instagram: instagram.com/thelittlegiant A quick reminder about our upcoming Tennis Parent Recruiting Panel at the WTCA Conference in New York August 23, 2019 . . . Our Premium Members receive a $20 discount off the $49 registration fee, so please join the site and take advantage of that great offer! For more information on the Conference and to register for our Panel, click here . As always, a big thank you to my son, Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . We have also started a Patreon page for those of you not ready to take the plunge as a Premium Member. You can make a donation of any size to support our podcast by clicking here . Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 23, 2019

Welcome to Season 8 Episode 31 of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week we are discussing Division III recruiting with Jordan Brown. Jordan Brown is Assistant Dean of Admission & Coordinator of Student-Athlete Recruitment at Occidental College . In his role he works with both coaches and prospective student-athletes as they navigate the college admission and recruitment process. Jordan is also a tennis enthusiast, who played for both Fordham University and Occidental College. He holds a bachelor's degree from Occidental College and a master's degree in education policy from Columbia. Jordan shares his experience and insights about what sets Division III apart and why recruiting at this level may be different from Division I. He talks about the academic and athletic requirements to gain admission to a DIII university as well as funding options available. If you have further questions for Jordan about Occidental or about DIII recruiting in general, you can reach him via email at brownj@oxy.edu . A quick reminder about our upcoming Tennis Parent Recruiting Panel at the WTCA Conference in New York August 23, 2019 . . . Our Premium Members receive a $20 discount off the $49 registration fee, so please join the site and take advantage of that great offer! For more information on the Conference and to register for our Panel, click here . As always, a big thank you to my son, Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you're interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you're so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven't already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 16, 2019

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 30 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's episode, I chat with Jeff Puhan about how junior players can best prepare to play at the National Clay Court Tournament. Coach Jeff Puhan has been in the tennis business for over 25 years and has worked alongside of some of the best coaches, fitness trainers, mental coaches, and players in the tennis world. Throughout his years in the Coaching Business, he has coached 9 different National USTA Champions, 4 Top 20 ITF ranked players, 4 NCAA All- Americans, 2 NCAA National Champions, and many who have gone on to play on the WTA and ATP tour. All of which is to say, he knows of which he speaks! Jeff gives us details about what it takes for a junior player to prepare, both mentally and physically, to compete on the clay. Specifically, he talks about how he gets players ready for the USTA National Clay Court Tournament going on now in various locations in the Southeastern US. He will also be training players for Kalamazoo, just FYI! If you are interested in having your junior train with Jeff, or if you simply have questions for him, you can reach him in a variety of ways: Email: jpuhan@gmail.com Phone: 215-205-3725 Facebook: Puhan Personalized Tennis Programs Also, just a quick reminder about our upcoming Tennis Parent Recruiting Panel at the WTCA Conference in New York August 23, 2019. Our Premium Members receive a $20 discount off the $49 registration fee, so please join the site and take advantage of that great offer! For more information on the Conference and to register for our Panel, click here . As always, a big thank you to my son, Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 9, 2019

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 29, of the ParentingAces Podcast! My guest this week is Coach Bill Patton, and we discuss the concept of the athlete-centered coach. Most Tennis Parents struggle with identifying the "right" coach for their child and may make several "wrong" choices along the way. In this week's episode, Bill talks with us about what an athlete-centered coach is, why these coaches may be preferable to others in the field, and how parents can recognize the difference. Bill has written several books over the past few years, even co-authoring one with Yours Truly . Most of them are available on the ParentingAces shop at Amazon.com. But, to order his latest, The Athlete-Centered Coach , click here . To buy an autographed copy of Bill's latest book, email him directly at 720degreecoaching@gmail.com . Subscribe to Bill's YouTube Channel here . For those interested in learning more about the Omni Athlete concept, Bill will be at its upcoming event July 19-21, 2019. Find out more here . Bill mentions the Sports, Energy, and Consciousness Group. To find out more about them, click here . And to read Reno Manne's Facebook post which Bill and I reference in our discussion, click here . As always, a big thank you to my son, Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you're interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you're so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven't already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 2, 2019

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 28, of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week, my guest is Marianne Werdel. Several weeks ago, I read an article on Marianne's website discussing Toni Nadal aka Uncle Toni and his approach to developing his nephew's tennis game. Marianne had shared her article on the ParentingAces Facebook Group, and it sparked several communications between the two of us regarding junior tennis development and the parents' role in the process. Marianne is a former junior champion and collegiate player (Stanford University) who went on to have a very long - and very successful - professional tennis career. She is now a certified coach and works closely with the USTA to help educate parents on the junior development pathway. Marianne draws on her personal experiences in the sport as well as her personal experiences as a parent to inform her work with USTA and her own website. In this week's podcast, Marianne and I dig a little deeper into what it means to raise a champion human, not just a champion tennis player. She shares her own stories with her parents and sons to help us better understand what's required of us as Tennis Parents in this journey. To read the above-referenced article from Marianne's website, click here . To listen to Toni Nadal's TedX Talk, click here . To learn more about the book Range that Marianne mentions, click here . If you have questions or issues you'd like to discuss with Marianne, you can contact her directly through her website here . Thank you to my son, Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you're interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you're so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven't already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 25, 2019

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 27, of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week, things get personal! My father, Carl Goodman, started playing tennis in New Orleans when he was a kid. He has continued playing throughout his life with a short hiatus from the sport while he was in medical school in the early 1960s. He has seen the game change and develop over many decades and has some very definite opinions on what's good - and what's not! - regarding those changes. In this week's episode, he shares his own Tennis History as well as his thoughts on what we need to do as a community to give the sport back to the kids. Thank you to my son, Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you're interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you're so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven't already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 18, 2019

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 26 of the ParentingAces Podcast! I have been traveling - A LOT! - and have not been able to schedule podcast recording sessions the past few weeks. So, in this week’s show, we throw it back to my conversation with former World #1 and current Tennis Parent, Tracy Austin. Please note: this episode hails from my days broadcasting on BlogTalkRadio, so you will hear a different intro than you're used to! Tracy Austin shares her incredible tennis story and how she has used the lessons learned from her parents and siblings with her own children in this episode of the ParentingAces podcast, originally recorded and released in February 2015. As you may know, Tracy's son, Brandon Holt, just finished his 4-year stint as a USC Trojan where he played at the top of the lineup starting his Freshman year. I last had the chance to see him play at the 2019 NCAA Division I Championships in May, and his game has continued to grow and develop during his time under the tutelage of coach Peter Smith. Thank you to my son, Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 11, 2019

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 25 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's show, the topic is High School Tennis. Corey Aldridge and Troy Simonek both grew up playing junior tennis then college tennis, and went into coaching after getting their degrees. Their commitment to growing High School Tennis in Texas has been nothing short of phenomenal. As you'll hear, they have worked alongside Universal Tennis to ensure the majority of high school teams throughout the state are now reporting scores to UTR. In addition, they have each created UTR tournaments for high school players in their respective cities, ensuring the kids have events to play when they're not in season. Check out last week's Tweet from UTR: — MyUTR (@MyUTR) June 4, 2019 For more information on what these two guys have accomplished, be sure to check out their Facebook group here . For information on the UTR National High School Team Tennis Tournament, click here . To find out how UTR works with high school tennis, click here . To read the ParentingAces article discussing UTR Fit, click here . And, finally, to contact Corey and/or Troy via email: Corey: Corey.aldridge@southlakecarroll.edu Troy: Troy.simonek@midwayisd.org Thank you to my son, Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 4, 2019

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 24 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's conversation, I chat with Sid Newcomb, lead tester for the USPTA. For those unfamiliar with USPTA , it is one of the most highly-regarded certifying organizations for tennis coaches, and its offices are located directly across the street from the USTA National Campus in Lake Nona, Florida. The organization was founded in September of 1927 in New York and has grown to over 15,000 members in its 92 years. Member coaches must go through an education and testing process before receiving their official certification. That's where Sid Newcomb comes in! Sid is a USPTA Elite Professional and USPTA National Head Tester. Sid loves coaching and teaching tennis to all ages and levels. He has been in the industry as a teaching pro and coach for almost 30 years. The first seven years of his career were with the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy. He was the European Academy Director in Belgium, Germany, France and England. While with the NBTA, he had the opportunity to coach numerous professional and collegiate players. Prior to joining the USPTA in 2015, Sid was the Director of Tennis at a private club in Northern California. In his current role at the USPTA, he works to set the standards and elevate the game of tennis for current and future teaching professionals. He is an integral part of the USPTA staff, and his passion and love of the tennis shines through in all that he does. Sid played collegiately at NAIA tennis power, John Brown University in Arkansas. He was nationally ranked in both doubles and singles. He had a short stint on the professional tour before he began his coaching career in 1990. Sid and I discuss what's involved in become a certified teaching pro and how the process could improve. We also discuss some of the changes coming in the next couple of years, including more extensive education around junior development and college recruiting. Thank you to my son, Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you're interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you're so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven't already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 28, 2019

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 23 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this episode, I discuss the NCAAs with coach - and former University of Miami standout - Todd Widom. If you follow ParentingAces on any social media, you are well aware the NCAA Division I Championships just concluded down in Orlando at the USTA National Campus. I was fortunate enough to be there for the team finals as well as the first day of the individual singles competition. While Todd Widom wasn't able to be there in person, he did watch countless matches online and on Tennis Channel. He and I both have several observations to report and discuss. Tennis parents and junior coaches may learn some things to help their own players reach this highest level of College Tennis! Thank you to my son, Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you're interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you're so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven't already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 18, 2019

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 22 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's episode, I chat with Cory Brooks, the ITA Senior Director of Championships, Rankings and Membership about the 2019 ITA Summer Circuit. The Summer Circuit is one of my favorite series for junior players as well as incoming college freshmen and other college players looking for quality competition during their time off from school. These tournaments are held on college campuses across the US and offer the opportunity to play both singles and doubles for a relatively low entry fee. You can read more about the Summer Circuit and find all necessary links in my recent article at https://parentingaces.com/ita-summer-circuit-2019/ . If you have more questions about the ITA Summer Circuit in general, you can reach Cory at cbrooks@itatennis.com or visit the ITA website . Otherwise, Cory suggests reaching out to the Tournament Directors for questions regarding specific events. You can find that contact information on the UTR event page for the particular tournament. In the podcast, you will hear Cory reference a new aspect to this year's Summer Circuit. For more information on the NCAA rule regarding prize money for college tennis players, see this excerpt from the NCAA website : Can a student-athlete accept prize money? In all sports except tennis, a student-athlete or prospective student-athlete may accept prize money as long as the amount of the prize is less than or equal to his or her expenses for participating in the competition, such as meals or lodging. The prize money may not pay for expenses of parents or coaches. In tennis, a prospective student-athlete may accept up to $10,000 per year in prize money. Once he or she has accepted $10,000 in prize money in a particular year, he or she may accept additional prize money on a per-event basis as long as the amount of the prize does not exceed his or her expenses. A current tennis student-athlete may accept prize money as long as the amount of the prize is less than or equal to his or her expenses for participating in the competition. Thank you to my son, Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 14, 2019

Welcome to Season 8 Episode 21 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this episode, we chat once again with Coach Todd Widom as a follow-up to last week's episode with the parents of 2 of Todd's players. The focus of this week's conversation is the importance of following a step-by-step plan in junior development. Todd discusses the dangers when coaches and players try to rush the process, oftentimes leaving the player with shortcomings that are very difficult to fix down the line. Whether it's the type of ball being used or the level of tournament being played, there is a logical progression that needs to be followed in order to wind up with a player who can compete with his or her peers throughout the juniors and into college and even the professional tour. Todd has had many young players come to him who were not taught proper technique or proper footwork or who aren't physically fit enough to withstand the rigors of junior tennis competition. As he says, it's much easier to teach those things properly from the beginning than to try to make up for deficiencies later on. Thank you to my son, Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 7, 2019

Welcome to Season 8 Episode 20 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's episode we hear from two Tennis Dads who have seen their sons rise to the highest levels of junior and college tennis. Ron Hohmann lives in New York. He grew up playing both tennis and volleyball then played Division I volleyball in college. His son, Ronnie, is choosing the tennis path instead. You may remember my podcast with Ron and Ronnie and Ronnie's coach, Todd Widom, from a few months ago ( click here to listen). Since that episode, Ronnie has had a tremendous year, winning the 2019 Easter Bowl just last month and earning a full scholarship to play tennis at LSU. Throughout his junior tennis career, Ronnie has been at the top of the national rankings, finishing as the Number 1 recruit in the 2019 class on TennisRecruiting.net. Eric Mautner grew up playing tennis, among other sports, and played at Boston University during his college years. His son, Kyle, is graduating next month from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business where he played all four years in the top spot on Penn's tennis team. Kyle was a Blue Chip recruit on TennisRecruiting.net in the 2015 class. Both Ron and Eric chose to send their sons to train with Todd Widom down in Florida at relatively young ages. Hear from these two dads about what went into their decision, what they feel their sons gained from the experience, and what they might do differently. These two dads have generously offered to answer any questions you might have. To reach Ron, you can email him at H5Roroc@aol.com . To reach Eric, you can email him at Eric.mautner@nindelivers.com . As I mention in the podcast, our first online webinar is coming up on May 9 for our Premium Members. For more information, click here . Thank you to my son, Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces – we have 4 options for you – by clicking here . Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 30, 2019

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 19 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's episode, we talk about the NCAA rule regarding a grace period between high school graduation and the start of college. Ken is a San Diego-based coach who works with many top-level junior players, including his own niece who has committed to play her college tennis at University of California, Berkeley, starting Fall 2019. He travels the world with his players and has engaged in conversations with both US and international men and women about the struggle this NCAA rule can cause. You will hear from Ken his thoughts on why the rule is problematic and his suggestions for how it should be modified. For those of you with junior players who aspire to play college tennis at a high level, this episode is a must-listen! You can reach Ken via his website here . He is available via email at kennethgiavara@gmail.com . Thank you to my son, Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our new intro and outro music this season! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you're interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you're so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven't already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces - we have 3 options for you - by clicking here . Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 23, 2019

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 18 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's episode, we discuss summer tennis camps with Ohio State Men's Assistant Coach and founder of Wilson Collegiate Tennis Camps, David Schilling. If you've been following ParentingAces for a while, you know what a huge fan I am of sending your child to tennis camp in the summer. Not only is it a fantastic break from their regular grind of drills and tournaments, but it also fosters independence and gives them a chance to meet and play against kids they may not know. If the camp is held on a college campus, as are the Wilson Collegiate Tennis Camps, then they also get the added benefit of spending time on a campus, getting a feel for dorm life, and meeting and playing with some of the current team members. In my opinion, there's no better way to inspire a young player to aim for playing college tennis! David Schilling has a rich background in tennis with the added benefit of having a father who was a coach and who mentored David throughout his childhood. David has used the lessons he learned from his dad in his own recruiting, coaching, and management of the camps and shares all of that with us this week. He talks about UTR, Tennis Recruiting, and the various rankings and how he and Ty Tucker use them in their recruiting efforts at Ohio State. If you're interested in Wilson Collegiate Tennis Camps for your kids, click here . Wilson Tennis does a great job of supporting the camps with equipment and prizes for the kids! To contact David directly, you can do so via this contact form or via email at david@premiersportscamps.com . Thank you to my son, Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our new intro and outro music this season! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . If you haven't already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces - we have 3 options for you - by clicking here . Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 16, 2019

Welcome to Season 8 Episode 17 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's episode, we hear from two families who have chosen two very different pathways for their junior players, both with the same coach. Over the past couple of years, I have interviewed coach Todd Widom many times. Instead of talking to the coach this week, though, I chose to speak with two sets of parents whose children are coached by Todd. You will hear from Lila and Frank Kim, who have a son and a daughter working with Todd, as well as Lisa Hendricks, who has 2 daughters working with Todd. The Kims and the Hendricks have chosen to approach their children's tennis differently. One family chose to relocate to Florida, the other to travel there periodically for training. It is very interesting to hear the reasons for their choices as well as how their decisions are working for their children and their families overall. Both Lila and Lisa have offered to answer any questions listeners may have. You can contact either of them via text message: Lila Kim 310-560-1287 Lisa Hendricks 913-461-5765 As you've probably heard by now, ParentingAces.com has gone to a Membership platform. The good news is it's FREE to join! Find out more here: https://parentingaces.com/exciting-changes-ahead/ and make sure to sign up for one of our membership options so you don't miss anything on ParentingAces.com. Thank you to my son, Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 9, 2019

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 16 of the ParentingAces Podcast! I hope you've used the last couple of weeks to catch up on any episodes you may have missed! Matt Knoll had an incredible career as the Head Coach of Men's Tennis at Baylor University. A 2008 Baylor Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, Matt was the Bears' head coach since their first season of Big 12 Conference competition in 1997. Before retiring at the end of the 2018 season, Matt Knoll amassed a 510-150 record as Baylor's Director of Men's Tennis. His teams captured 13 Big 12 Conference regular season titles, including eight consecutive from 2002 through 2009, and they added eight Big 12 Tournament championships. Coach Knoll brought Baylor University its first team national championship when he led the Bears to a 4-0 sweep of UCLA in the 2004 National Championship title match. He also guided BU to the 2005 National Team Indoor Championship and four additional runs to the NCAA semifinals, including a runner-up finish in 2005. A three-time National Coach of the Year, Matt was also honored as Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year six times. His teams finished seasons ranked top-four nationally six times and top-10 nationally in 13 of 22 years. Baylor joined UCLA as the nation's only programs ranked top-10 in the final national rankings every year from 2002 through 2011. Since leaving Baylor, Matt decided to move into the other side of college tennis, helping Prospective Student Athletes (PSAs) find their best fit. He started American College Placement in order to help players and their families during the recruiting process. You will hear more about how Matt and his staff work with families and what sets his service apart from the other recruiting companies out there. This June, Matt will be putting on a college tennis showcase at SMU in Dallas, Texas. The showcase is open to any tennis player currently in 8th, 9th, 10th, or 11th grade. It will take place June 22-23, 2019 with Saturday reserved for boys and Sunday reserved for girls. I will be there as well, talking to the players and parents as part of a panel discussion, and I hope to see you! For more information and to register, click here . Thank you to my son, Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our new intro and outro music this season! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . To join the ParentingAces Community and have full access to all content, including discounts on a variety of products, services, webinars, and camps, click here . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 26, 2019

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 15 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week’s episode, we chat with Cindy Brinker and Carol Weyman of the Maureen Connolly Brinker Foundation and Little Mo series of junior tennis events. Not only will you hear about one of my favorite junior tennis events, but you will also learn some Tennis History! Maureen Connolly, or Little Mo as she was fondly dubbed by a journalist early in her tennis career, was the only woman to win tennis's Grand Slam. Sadly, her life was cut short by ovarian cancer but not before she established the Maureen Connolly Foundation in 1968 to give back to the sport she loved. Now, the MCB Foundation runs several events throughout the year, including the Little Mo series of tournaments for players age 8-12 and the Big Mo tournaments for players age 13-16. These are some of my favorite tournaments in all of junior tennis, so I hope you will listen to the podcast then consider adding one or more of them to your player's schedule! Grants are available to those in need. 2019 BNP Paribas Open Champ Dominic Thiem in Little Mo/Smrikva Bowl 2003 If you have a business or company that is looking for sponsorship opportunities, the MCB Foundation is very interested in talking with you! It uses the sponsorship money to put on events as well as to fund its various grant programs. Contact Carol Weyman at the email address below for more information. You can find out more at mcbtennis.org - click on the Tournaments link at the top of the page. To apply for a grant, contact Carol Weyman at cartennis@aol.com and ask for an application to be sent to you. To learn more about the Little Mo postage stamp, pictured so beautifully above, click here . You will be able to buy the stamp through the US Postal Service at your local post office or online here beginning April 23, 2019. FYI we won't be releasing Episode 16 until April 9th, so please use the next 2 weeks to catch up on any episodes you may have missed! Thank you to my son, Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our new intro and outro music this season! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . This podcast – and all of the work ParentingAces does – is supported by donations from our audience. If you are getting value from these podcasts, please consider making a donation – any size is much appreciated! – through PayPal here . You can also support ParentingAces by clicking on the ads on the right sidebar at ParentingAces.com . Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 19, 2019

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 14 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's episode, we take a detailed look at hydration and nutrition for junior tennis players. My guest is Certified Sports Nutritionist and Sports Nutritionist for the Boston Bruins, Julie Nicoletti. Julie also now works with CrossCourt Consulting to help junior tennis players maximize their performance both on and off the court. Julie provides DETAILED information on what our young players should be eating and drinking before, during, and after practices as well as before, during, and after tournaments. She mentions several products throughout the podcast, and I've provided links to each one below (NOTE: ParentingAces may receive a commission if you purchase the products through these links; however, ParentingAces does not endorse these products to the exclusion of other similar products on the market). Julie also mentions The Clean Label Project (click here to visit its website) as a reliable resource for clean and healthy products and foods. To reach Julie, click here for her website, email her here , or call her in Boston at 617-921-4237. I will be at the Miami Open for one day on Thursday, March 21. If you're going to be there, too, please let me know so we can connect! Thank you to my son, Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our new intro and outro music this season! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . This podcast – and all of the work ParentingAces does – is supported by donations from our audience. If you are getting value from these podcasts, please consider making a donation – any size is much appreciated! – through PayPal here . Thank you! Hydration & Nutrition Products Click the product name to open a new window and go to it in the ParentingAces Amazon Store: Nuun Tablets Skratch Powder Fuel For Fire Munk Pack Clif Shot Bloks Honey Stinger Chews Honey Stinger Waffles Nordic Naturals Omega3 & Vitamin D supplement Barlean's Omega3 supplement Sol Raiz Organic Maca Powder Vital Proteins Collage Protein Powder Vega Clean Protein Powder Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 12, 2019

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 13 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's episode, I chat with coach Matt Manasse, the women's Associate Coach at 4th ranked Duke University, about college tennis recruiting. Matt is a former college tennis player himself and offers incredible insights into recruiting and playing at the college level. What questions should your junior ask the college coaches during recruiting visits? How do you choose a college? What should prospective student athletes look for during college visits? What's the best way to transition from college to pro? These are all questions Matt addresses in this episode of the podcast this week. Matt also shares his own college tennis experience and his decision to transfer. As he says, transferring is something that happens more often than we may know. It's very tough for a 17- or 18-year-old to know what he/she doesn't know when making that college tennis decision, so it's no surprise that the initial decision doesn't always work out as expected. I love getting an inside look at the life of a college tennis coach as well as recruiting, and Matt does a great job of letting us inside his world. You can reach Matt via email here and find him on Twitter @Matt_Manasse . Thank you to my son, Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our new intro and outro music this season! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . This podcast – and all of the work ParentingAces does – is supported by donations from our audience. If you are getting value from these podcasts, please consider making a donation – any size is much appreciated! – through PayPal here . You can also support ParentingAces by clicking on the ads on the right sidebar at ParentingAces.com . Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 5, 2019

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 12 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's episode, I chat with Mark Kovacs, PhD, founder of the International Tennis Performance Association (iTPA) and fellow Atlanta resident, about the concept of Periodization and how best to use it with our junior tennis players. This conversation came about after I received an email from a ParentingAces listener asking for more information about what periodization really is and how she can incorporate it into her child's training and competition schedule. After sending her a few articles to read, it occurred to me that Mark Kovacs would be the best person to address this topic on the podcast. Dr. Mark Kovacs is a renowned performance physiologist, researcher, university professor, author, speaker and coach with an extensive background training and researching athletes at all levels. He serves the iTPA membership as its Executive Director. He formally directed the Sport Science, Strength & Conditioning and Coaching Education departments for the United States Tennis Association (USTA). He is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and the ITPA. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed scientific articles and abstracts in top journals including the British Journal of Sports Medicine, Sports Medicine, Sports Health, International Journal of Sport Physiology and Performance, Strength & Conditioning Journal, Journal of Sports Science and Medicine among many others. He is currently the Associate Editor-in-Chief of the Strength & Conditioning Journal and is on the editorial board for multiple other journals including the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. He has presented workshops and keynote addresses on four continents and well over 100 presentations. Along with his academic and scientific background Dr. Kovacs is also a coach and former professional athlete. He was an All-American and NCAA doubles champion in tennis at Auburn University. After playing professionally, he completed his graduate work at Auburn University and earned his Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology from The University of Alabama. Dr. Kovacs is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, a certified Health/Fitness Specialist through the American College of Sports Medicine, a United States Track and Field Level II Sprints Coach and Certified Tennis Coach. In other words, Mark knows whereof he speaks! As he mentions in the podcast, Mark was scheduled to host a Tennis Fitness Combine on March 9 in Atlanta. Unfortunately, he had to cancel that event and offers his apologies. To contact Mark via his website, click here . To find Mark on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), search @MKovacsPhd. Thank you to my son, Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our new intro and outro music this season! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . This podcast – and all of the work ParentingAces does – is supported by donations from our audience. If you are getting value from these podcasts, please consider making a donation – any size is much appreciated! – through PayPal here . You can also support ParentingAces by clicking on the ads on the right sidebar at ParentingAces.com . Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 4, 2019

Welcome to another Bonus Episode of Season 8 of the ParentingAces Podcast. In this one, I chat with former University of Iowa and current professional player, Shelby Talcott, regarding the possible underlying reason for the ITF's new World Tennis Tour which is implemented beginning January 1, 2019. My conversation with Shelby was prompted by an article she posted on her blog entitled THE ITF'S DEAL WITH THE DEVIL . You can reach Shelby via her blog here or via email at sbtalcott@gmail.com . Please go to ParentingAces.com for more details. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 4, 2019

Welcome to another Bonus Episode of Season 8 of the ParentingAces Podcast. In this one, I chat with brothers Jared and Aron Hiltzik and their father, David, about how the new ITF World Tennis Tour is impacting their ability to pursue a professional tennis career. Please visit ParentingAces.com for more details. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 1, 2019

Welcome to this Bonus Episode of the ParentingAces Podcast! Growing the game of tennis is the mission of many organizations and individuals out there, including Yours Truly. However, there seems to be a disconnect between the marketing experts and those on the ground, and we aren't seeing the increases in players and fans that we hope and work for. One young professional player is working to change that. Noah Rubin, whose mom, Melanie, you've heard on this podcast in the past (click here , here , and here for my conversations with her), realized that in order to grow the sport, there needed to be a way to get the individual players' stories out to a large audience. He decided to use his large social media presence to create a new Instagram account and do the story-telling himself. Behind the Racquet has only been in existence about a month, but Noah has already amassed a following of almost 5000 people. There are other professional players, coaches, parents, and fans who have found these stories to be inspirational and a real way to connect with players and the game. As you'll hear in our podcast, Noah is getting messages from people all around the world who are moved by the honesty and rawness of what he's presenting via Instagram. You can find Noah's Behind the Racquet on Instagram here and on Facebook here . He is also on Twitter here . I hope you'll share his platform with your young players, too, so they get a better understanding of the challenges faced by pros that may not look any different from what they're going through themselves. Thank you to my son, Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our new intro and outro music this season! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . This podcast – and all of the work ParentingAces does – is supported by donations from our audience. If you are getting value from these podcasts, please consider making a donation – any size is much appreciated! – through PayPal here . You can also support ParentingAces by clicking on the ads on our right sidebar. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 26, 2019

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 8 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's episode, former college coach, Dave Mullins, joins us from Ireland to talk about what we should really be looking at in terms of player development. Dave recently wrote a 2-part article on this topic (see http://www.davemullinstennis.com/news/2018/11/2/shaky-foundation-part-1 and http://www.davemullinstennis.com/news/2019/1/8/shaky-foundation-part-2 ) which also appeared on the Tennis Recruiting website. Dave lived in the US for many years, coaching at several different schools, before returning to Ireland to raise his family. He is now working with the Irish Tennis Federation as well as coaching individual players and playing a bit himself. Dave provides the ParentingAces Community with an honest look at player development, college recruiting, and life beyond tennis. We are lucky to have access to his vast experience and in-depth knowledge of our sport! Thank you to my son, Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our new intro and outro music this season! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . This podcast – and all of the work ParentingAces does – is supported by donations from our audience. If you are getting value from these podcasts, please consider making a donation – any size is much appreciated! – through PayPal here . Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 19, 2019

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 7 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this week's show, the focus is on level-based play. That is, playing tennis against opponents of a similar skill level regardless of age or gender. My guest, Greg Chambers, is the Director of Tennis at the Ensworth School in Nashville, TN. He has a long history in our sport and is bringing his experience and passion to players of all ages through the tournaments and events he runs at the school. Ensworth has an amazing tennis facility, made possible through funding by a very generous sponsor. The facility rivals that of top Division I colleges with both indoor and outdoor courts, a covered viewing area, and ample parking for players and fans. Greg was one of the Early Adopters of UTR, putting on one-day events and multi-day tournaments over the past 4 years. We discuss the pros and cons of these events and how they compare to those sanctioned through our governing body. We also discuss how parents and coaches can use UTR to help their junior players reach their highest potential in the sport. You can find out more about the Ensworth School here . To contact Greg Chambers directly, email him at chambersg@ensworth.com . Thank you to my son, Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our new intro and outro music this season! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . This podcast – and all of the work ParentingAces does – is supported by donations from our audience. If you are getting value from these podcasts, please consider making a donation – any size is much appreciated! – through PayPal here . Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 12, 2019

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 6 of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week, we chat with Jeff Bearup, Tim Donovan, and David Benzel who founded CrossCourt Consulting in the New England area. Between them, these three gentlemen have extensive experience working with not only Tennis Parents, but all sorts of Sports Parents, to help their children have a more positive experience. Realizing there was a gap in the tennis space, Jeff and Tim joined forces to help families better navigate the junior development process to maximize their child's tennis experience. Crosscourt Consulting provides families with the knowledge and framework necessary to help them design a master plan that includes key benchmarks in the player’s tennis development through proper goal setting, tournament planning, periodization schedule and developmental planning. They work with the child's personal coach to ensure the best process and outcome for all involved. Crosscourt Consulting and Parenting Aces are teaming up to give one lucky junior tennis player a Crosscourt Consulting Gold Plan Consulting Package. The 12-month Package Includes: Developmental Planning Tournament Planning Periodization Schedule Phone Meetings Coordination with your Private Coach To get more information and to enter, click https://crosscourtconsulting.com/crosscourt-consulting-and-parenting-aces-2019-drawing/ . Entry deadline is May 12, 2019 . They are also offering a 10% discount to ParentingAces Families on any package through May 12, 2019. For more information on CrossCourt Consulting and/or to contact them, be sure to visit their website here . The Contact form that Jeff mentions is located online here . I hope to have other members of the CrossCourt Consulting Performance Team on the podcast in the near future. As promised, for Tim Donovan's site, click here . For David Benzel's site, click here . Thank you to my son, Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our new intro and outro music this season! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . This podcast - and all of the work ParentingAces does - is supported by donations from our audience. If you are getting value from these podcasts, please consider making a donation - any size is much appreciated! - through PayPal here . Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 5, 2019

A few weeks ago, I received an email from a member of the ParentingAces Community asking if ANY coach can develop a champion if the family has enough time and money to invest in the child's tennis. I posed that question to one of my favorite coaches, Todd Widom, and in this week's episode we discuss the query in depth. There is so much more to high-level junior development than simply time and money. The proper mindset, the proper work ethic, the proper attitude . . . all these things are contributing factors that affect how far a player can take his/her tennis skills. And do not underestimate the impact the right - or even the wrong! - coach can have. Yes, it helps to have a player with unlimited financial resources. Yes, it helps to have a player who isn't bound by traditional school hours (however, please note, there are so many benefits to attending traditional school!). However, there are some players who are born with skills that can't be taught, regardless of time or money. There are some players who don't have the internal drive to succeed, and that can't be bought or taught. It is crucial that parents understand the factors that go into high-level tennis development and make decisions impacting the family accordingly. This week's episode helps to shed light on many of those factors. Thank you to my son, Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our 2019 intro and outro music this season! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 29, 2019

Several months ago, I had the pleasure of talking with Dave Miley, the Executive Director of Tennis Development for the International Tennis Federation (ITF) from 1991 until 2015 who was responsible for the non professional activities of the ITF including junior tennis, senior tennis, wheelchair tennis, technical and anti-doping as well as the ITF’s Development Programme. Dave has been very vocal about the ITF's World Tennis Tour and its possible ramifications for our sport. In Season 8, Episode 4, Dave and I delve deeper into the World Tennis Tour and how it's impacting tennis so far. Dave shares his thoughts on why this is important to Tennis Parents in the US and around the world, especially as it affects College Tennis. Dave also discusses his candidacy for President of the ITF and what it could mean for tennis as a whole. He explains the election process and details of his campaign platform. As he will likely be running against current ITF President - and former USTA President - David Haggarty, Dave is not betting on the support of our governing body this year. That said, if you are interested in learning how YOU can support Dave Miley, please contact me for more information. NOTE: We recorded this episode using a new (for me!) platform since Dave was in Abu Dhabi, so please excuse any wonky sound quality! To listen to my previous podcast with Dave on the Transition Tour, click here . To read the series of Dave's articles on the State of the Game, click here . To read Dave's latest article on the ITF World Tennis Tour, click here . To access the ITF website, click here . To sign up for the ITF Newsletter, scroll to the bottom of their homepage and enter your email address. Thank you to my son, Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our new intro and outro music this season! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 22, 2019

Jeff Salzenstein has been involved in tennis pretty much his entire life. In Season 8 Episode 3, Jeff shares his tumultuous junior career, going from #1 in the 12's to #69 in the 16's, eventually making his way to the Stanford Men's Tennis Team playing for the inimitable Dick Gould. After giving the pro tour a go then getting side-lined by multiple injuries, Jeff moved into coaching, developing a variety of online platforms to reach players around the world. Today, his focus is the power of language and the power of communication and how to help others improve. How you talk to yourself, how you communicate as an influencer, and how we're being "programmed" by our larger community are all aspects of Jeff's work as a coach. Simply becoming aware of how you speak with your child is Step One of improving communication. Not just the words but also the tone of voice can impact how your junior interprets what you're saying. As parents and coaches, we have to model good communication for our children so they will grow and develop into better communicators as adults. Jeff offers some concrete advice on how we can hone our skills in this arena. Thank you to my son, Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our new intro and outro music this season! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 15, 2019

Welcome to Season 8, Episode 2 of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week, the discussion focuses on the nuances of Division III Recruiting and how it differs from Division I. For example, did you know many DIII schools no longer require Prospective Student Athletes to take the SAT or ACT? And according to the NCSA website , for DIII schools, official visits begin January 1 of junior year, and they are unlimited? These are two very important things to know! Lauren Egna and Leslie Schleimer have each gone through the DIII recruiting process with their own children, Lauren in tennis and Leslie in soccer. After discovering how complicated and convoluted the process can be, they decided to go into business together to help other families avoid the pitfalls and maximize the opportunities available. College Athlete Consultants was born! Thank you to Lauren and Leslie for shedding some light on how rewarding the DIII athletic experience can be and helping the ParentingAces audience learn more about how to get started with recruiting. To connect with Lauren and Leslie via their College Athlete Consultants website, click here . You can find them on Facebook here . You can reach them via email here . For a free phone consultation, call Lauren at 917-887-8930. **Mention ParentingAces to receive a 20% discount off College Athlete Consultants recruiting services!** You may notice we have new music in our intro and outro this season. That’s thanks to my son, Morgan Stone, aka STØNE. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram . If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 20, 2018

It's hard to believe another season of the ParentingAces Podcast has come to a close! Over the past 7 years, I've had the opportunity to chat with some amazing Parents, Coaches, Players, and Industry Folks who have been incredibly generous with their knowledge and offers to help. It seems only fitting to close this season with one last conversation with Coach Todd Widom. In this episode, Todd addresses the Millennial Player and how best to coach them to their highest potential. You will hear Todd (and me) reference a video we both watched a few months ago. You can watch it here: https://www.facebook.com/100000013386147/posts/2186232288053863/ . It's only 16 minutes long, and I promise you it's worth your time! While I won't be releasing any new episodes between now and the end of the year, rest assured I will be RECORDING new ones in anticipation of 2019 and Season 8! I urge you to use these next few weeks to catch up on any episodes you may have missed, to re-listen to those that sparked something in you, and to share our podcast and website with anyone you think will benefit from their content. Also be sure to subscribe to ParentingAces here so you don't miss a thing! Please enjoy the holidays with your family and other loved ones. Let's all come back together the first week of January to jump-start another great year of learning and sharing. Happy holidays! As always, a big thank you to STØNE for our music! I'll be seeing him perform live in San Francisco this week! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 13, 2018

Patricia Hy-Boulais has worn many hats in the tennis world: junior player, professional player, coach, parent. Her latest hat is that of blogger as she recently entered the online world to share her thoughts on the Junior Tennis Journey from the perspective of both a parent and a coach. When I saw Patricia's announcement of her new blog, I couldn't wait to read it! After interviewing her earlier this year for ParentingAces, I knew she had a lot of wisdom to share. As you'll hear in this newest episode, her goal is to speak to Tennis Parents from the coach's perspective as well as to Tennis Coaches from the parent's perspective. I am looking forward to learning from her and sharing it with all of you. You can find Patricia's blog here: https://www.patriciahy.com/ To listen to my earlier podcast with her, go to https://parentingaces.com/from-pro-to-parent-with-patricia-hy-boulais/ And you can contact Patricia through her website at https://www.patriciahy.com/p/contact-me_4.html . She has graciously offered to answer any questions you may have about your own child's journey. As always, a big thank you to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 6, 2018

Like many young kids, Jordan Belga played several sports, but it was tennis that lit a spark in him. The sport seemed to come easy to him. He was the #1 ranked player in the US in the 12-and-unders, seemingly on an upward trajectory toward his dream job of playing professional tennis. However, an injury at age 14 meant significant time away from the sport for young Jordan. And he wasn't sure he had what it would take to make his way back to the top of the game. In this week's episode, Jordan Belga shares his tumultuous journey along the junior and college tennis pathway with brutal honesty. Never fear, though: the story does have a happy ending! This episode is a bit longer than usual, but please do stick with it to the end. Jordan's story is a common one, sadly, and it's an important one for parents, players, and coaches to hear and understand. If you'd like to contact Jordan Belga, you can do so via his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/jordan.belga and via his Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jordan_belga/ . To read Jordan's account of his experience with the USTA Player Development Coaching Fellowship, click here . To learn more about the Fellowship and how to apply, click here . As always, a big thank you to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 30, 2018

When you're a 10-and-Under Faculty Coach for the USTA, you have access to the latest information on junior development and the best way to navigate the process. When you're also the parent of a college tennis player, you have something even better: first-hand experience! Coach/Parent Ellen Miller has seen the process unfold not only with her young players but also in her own family. She is the mother of 4 children, two of whom played or are playing college sports, all of whom grew up participating in multiple sports. Ellen competed in multiple sports as well, finally choosing to play college tennis at Rice University in Houston and now competing as a Senior Master Swimmer. I'm sharing all this with you so that you understand this woman knows her stuff when it comes to youth sports development and college recruiting! She has been through it herself. She has parented her children through it. And now she is guiding families as they enter the Junior Tennis Journey. I encourage you to listen closely to Ellen's advice. This episode is full of good stuff that will help all parents and coaches do a better job. Ellen has graciously offered to help anyone needing some guidance through the Junior Development Pathway. You can reach her at ellen.m@houstontennis.org . To get information on the Houston NJTL and how you can get involved or donate , click here . To get information on your local NJTL chapter, click here . As always, a big thank you to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 23, 2018

While I was in New York for the WTCA Conference and the US Open, I had the opportunity to learn from some incredible coaches and parents. One of the most unique learning opportunities came on the final day of the Conference when I heard Jure Ko and Anja Prislan explain how they use numerology to help coaches understand the mindset of their players. I know this sounds kind of "woo-woo" when you first hear it, but please give this week's episode a full listen and click on the links below. I think you will be as surprised as I was to learn what this ancient methodology can teach us! According to Jure and Anja, the majority of coaches are closed to accepting new ways of doing things because they are comfortable with the conventional and familiar. This makes them feel secure. So a lot of the coaches and players are simply doing the same old same old and are not risking anything with a new approach. But why not try something new because what is old and proven now was new not so long ago. Why not open yourself to a new horizon and broaden your approach to coaching, to the understanding of your players, and enjoying the tennis game? Numerology is not for everyone but something that might just change the way you work with a player that you previously really couldn’t understand! These same skills apply to your relationship with your child and can help you communicate more effectively. So, check out these links to learn more and to connect with Jure and Anja: https://www.trainyourvibration.com/ https://www.facebook.com/puntacanatcnow/ https://www.instagram.com/puntacanatcnow/ To see how Anja and Jure used their method to evaluate Serena Williams's performance in the 2018 US Open Final, click here . A big thank you to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on our website and on iTunes . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 16, 2018

What happens when 3 brothers, all alums of the Yale Men's Tennis program, are inspired by an Aristotle quote to create an online space to offer coaching from some of the best in the business? Rhabit! Repetitive actions, becoming habits, leading to excellence - that is the impetus behind this new platform that brings video instruction from top ATP/WTA coaches, current and former tour players, current and former college players, and others directly to you. Rhabit’s instructional videos teach proven skill and strategy development techniques in a unique vlog like style—delivering a fun learning experience. Jeff and his brothers, Connor and Kyle, traveled around the US in an RV - The Rhabitat - meeting with and recording video sessions on the strokes, tactics, and other issues that make up the entire tennis development journey. In this week's episode, you will hear Jeff talk about what Rhabit.com offers, some of his favorite experiences on the road, and how best to use the site to enhance or supplement a player's existing coaching situation. Graciously, Rhabit is offering a 15% discount to the ParentingAces community. Simply use code Parentingaces1 when registering. Of course, you can also test out the site with a free trial to make sure it suits your needs. To learn more, visit Rhabit.com . You can reach Jeff at jeff.dawson@rhabit.com . The article Jeff mentions pertaining to extended life expectancy is here . As always, a big thank you to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 9, 2018

In our last episode , we discussed the youth tennis progression in terms of the Red, Orange, Green, and Yellow balls. This week we will discuss the youth tennis progression in terms of tactics. Coach Todd Widom joins us once again to talk about the importance of integrating lessons on tactics alongside the technical training our kids typically receive. He gets into the details of how kids should learn the X's and O's of the game and how to tell when they are ready for a higher level of instruction. If you have a child just starting out in tennis, do yourself a favor and listen to both Episode 43 and 44 to gain a more thorough understanding of the developmental process. And be sure to go back and read the Show Notes from Episode 43 as well. To contact Todd, you can visit his website at twtennis.com . You can also email him at todd@twtennis.com or find him on Facebook or Twitter . Thank you to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 25, 2018

In our last episode, you heard from Coach Todd Widom about the role of the Tennis Parent throughout the Junior Development process. In this week's podcast, you'll hear from Todd again, this time about the different types of coaches and which one is appropriate at which stage. Coach Todd discusses the differences between a technical coach, a tactical coach, and a teacher. He explains when a child would need each of these and how parents can determine when it's time to move to a new coaching situation. To contact Todd, you can visit his website at twtennis.com . You can also email him at todd@twtennis.com or find him on Facebook or Twitter . Thank you to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 18, 2018

The role of the Tennis Parent is crucial in the Junior Development Process. But, if we don't have a clear understanding of exactly WHAT our role is, it's much easier to make mistakes along the way. In this week's episode, Coach Todd Widom shares his thoughts on what we parents should be doing at each stage of the game. He starts with the early years, moving into the middle school then high school years, explaining how our role changes but also how it stays the same. As always, you can reach Todd Widom via his website at twtennis.com or email at todd@twtennis.com . A big thank you to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic If you’re so inclined, please share this - and all our episodes! - with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on our website and on iTunes . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 11, 2018

For years I have been asking junior coaches to do a better job of communicating with families. Everything from which tournaments to play to whether the child is progressing to how a child compares to his/her peers are questions most Tennis Parents have. Furqan Iqbal, the CEO of Tennis Locker, is a Tennis Parent himself who had similar questions for his son's coach. That coupled with his software development background led Furqan to create an app that would allow coaches to plan for and monitor player development while giving them a simple means of communicating with players and parents. I had the chance to meet Furqan and hear his presentation at the recent WTCA Conference in New York. Once seeing how the app actually works and how simple it is for everyone to use, I wanted to share it with the ParentingAces audience. I love that Tennis Locker solves the problem of coach to parent communication. I love that it includes a variety of pricing options to suit a variety of coaching situations. And I love that it can be used by all three facets of the Junior Tennis Triangle: player, parent, and coach. After listening to this week's episode, I hope you'll go to the Tennis Locker website here and reach out to Furqan with any questions. You can contact him at furqan@tennislockerapp.com . A big thank you to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic If you're so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 28, 2018

A few weeks ago I received an email from a member of the ParentingAces community. It said, "We have a limited budget for tennis and you know personally how expensive it can be with all the costs adding up. I would love to hear a program on how to get the most bang for your buck. That is, ways to help your child become a great tennis player when you don't have a large income to draw on." Ask and ye shall receive! In this week's episode, we address the topic of developing a high-level junior tennis player on a tight budget. Coach Mike Belangia and parent/coach Will Segraves share their ideas and personal experience of how to Junior Tennis when you don't have six figures to spend. Mike runs a program in North Carolina called Greensboro Tennis Program. According to what I've learned, the group practices on public courts, and the rates for lessons/academy and traveling coaches is very affordable. They also offer financial aid. Will has raised his own son on a very limited budget and shares how he helped Gavin develop to such a high level that he was recruited by the Naval Academy to play tennis beginning Fall 2019. I posted the question on the ParentingAces Facebook Group and received some great comments and suggestions there, too. One in particular stood out: "I worked at the tennis club, running their summer camps for over 9 years. I never got paid a dime, but my kids received free year round lessons many days per week. Wasn’t easy but well worth it and it was wonderful to be a part of all that they were doing." That comment was posted by my dear friend, Melanie Rubin, mom to Noah Rubin (ATP 139) and Jessie Rubin who played at Binghamton University. Mike Belangia (pictured on the left) has been the City tennis director for Greensboro, NC for over 23 years. During that time his organization has run more than 600 tournaments including national and state championships. In 2001 he formed the Greensboro Tennis Program, one of the top junior training programs in the southeast. GTP is committed to providing opportunities for all kids in Greensboro to grow on and off the court. Mike has been fortunate enough to work with some the top pros in North Carolina history including Jim Winstead, Henry Hostetler and Jim Haslam. You can reach Mike at mike@greensborotennis.com . Will Segraves (pictured on the right) is the Tournaments & Social Coordinator at Farmington Country Club in Charlottesville, VA. Prior to his stint in Charlottesville, Will was the Tennis Director at PGA Tour in Duluth, GA. He has coached several elite junior players including his own children. You can reach Will at coachsegraves@gmail.com . A big thank you to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 21, 2018

Withdrawal from the backdraw of our biggest national tournaments has reached a ridiculous level. At last week's Kalamazoo Tournament (Boys 16s & 18s National Hardcourts), backdraw walkovers were at 16.89% up from 5.88% only fifteen years ago. Why are so many players pulling out once they lose in the main draw? What can coaches and parents do about it? What SHOULD coaches and parents do about it? That's the topic of this week's conversation with coach Marc Lucero. He feels very passionately about this issue and shares his thoughts on the reasons behind all the withdrawals and what can be done to curb the trend. After recording, I received a request via email from a parent: "Please discuss the summer schedule which contributes to fatigue and injuries. There are too many high level events too close together in my opinion." Marc's response: "I think it’s a valid concern. However I think it’s less to do with the schedule than the feeling that you need to play everything on the schedule, if that makes sense. I think there is an education component to this that the USTA can do better but also some culpability falls on the coaches of the kids to take a more proactive role with helping guide parents in the scheduling. Parents also would have to give up some control in this scenario and this is also assuming that coaches have experience in this area. For those that don’t have experience or for parents who do this on their own, a good way to think about optimum scheduling is to pick the one or two biggest events in the summer and put those on the calendar. Then work backwards from there. The health of the player always comes first in my mind. I want the player to be as fresh and healthy as possible (ready to go play) heading into the biggest events." You can find Marc at First Break Academy in Carson, CA. You can reach him on Twitter here and Instagram here . He is incredibly responsive, so please feel free to contact him with any questions! A big thank you to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic If you’re so inclined, please share this - and all our episodes! - with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on our website and on iTunes . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 7, 2018

Imagine being outside on a summer day surrounded by people who all share a love of the same thing. The only sounds are of feet skidding on green "clay", the contact of ball and string, and the occasional outburst of applause. You are hot and sweaty, but it doesn't matter because you are in your Happy Place doing what you love. Ten years ago, a long-standing tennis tradition in my hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana, disappeared. Yes, this week's episode is personal. A few weeks ago, my brother, Jeffrey Goodman, came up with the idea of reviving the Shreveport City Tournament, one that had taken place on the public courts at Querbes Tennis Center dating back to 1933. In its prime, The City had every junior division in both singles and doubles, every adult division in both singles and doubles, a Men's Open, a Women's Open, plus mother-daughter and father-son doubles. Querbes was THE place to be if you had any interest whatsoever in the sport of tennis. You were guaranteed to see the area's best junior and adult players go at it for the ultimate title, City Champion. This week Jeffrey talks about the challenges of bringing the tournament back, why it is so important to preserve these types of events, and how others can take similar action in their local communities. Here is a bit more information: The City Championships The kickoff weekend to bring back one of the premiere sporting events in our area, The City Tennis Tournament, is coming. Dating back to at least 1933, it was the premiere annual gathering for all of the tennis players in our area. Dormant now for almost ten years, a group has banded together to bring back this truly special and key multi-generational event. The kickoff weekend tournament will take place from 8/17-8/19 at Bossier Tennis Center. In honor of the marquee event of the old "City", we are having a Men's Open Singles division. The other division will be Men's Open Doubles. Prize money will be given to the top three people in each event. Like the original City, the event will be a showcase for the best junior tennis players and the best adult tennis players in our area. Next month's tournament will feature the best high level tennis we've had for our local players in years. As part of this initiative, we also want to bring more attention to the current efforts underway to revitalize Querbes Tennis Center, the headquarters for many years for The City. At a time when Shreveport has two players (Ryan and Christian Harrison) in the top 250 of all players in the world, we are committed to preserving the extremely rich tennis history of our area. We are naming the event "The City Championships" with the idea that once Querbes completes its revitalization, we intend on holding the event twice a year, once at Bossier Tennis Center and once at Querbes. Although we are only starting with two events, the ultimate goal is to get back to the original City format of all age divisions, boys, girls, men and women, singles, doubles and adult mixed. We would also love to honor the event by bringing back the Father/Son and Mother/Daughter events. Also, we have decided to expand the event to allow any players north of Alexandria to participate. We would like the event to promote tennis for all of North Louisiana. To register for The City Championships, click here . To visit the Facebook Page, click here . To contact Jeffrey directly, email him at amoprinciple@hotmail.com . To read more about Jeffrey's film career, click here . A big thank you to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 24, 2018

What happens when 3 tennis-playing brothers get together and start a website? Get the answer in this week's episode (apologies for the poor sound quality in the intro - it gets way better after that!) with Vanderbilt Men's Tennis Assistant Coach, Ryan Lipman, and his mom, Lisa. Ryan and his brothers, Maxx and Marshall, all played college tennis and all still love the sport. They followed very different pathways in the junior, college, and even professional game, but have now come together to share their knowledge and connections with the rest of us via Tennis Takes . Ryan talks about the upcoming ITF Transition Tour and its potential impact on the college game (for more on that, read Colette Lewis's article here ). Admittedly, he says no one really knows what's going to happen and that we should adopt a wait-and-see attitude for now. Mom, Lisa, shares her thoughts on what it takes to bring children up through the junior and college tennis journey as Ryan adds his insights. Playing multiple sports, choosing to focus solely on tennis, dealing with injuries, moving into coaching - these are all aspects of the game that many families encounter. Reflecting on all the lessons her 3 boys learned through tennis, Lisa realizes how much her entire family has benefited from our sport. Hindsight is a beautiful thing! You can find Tennis Takes here . Subscribe so you get an email whenever they post new content. Follow them on Facebook here and on Twitter here . For information on the Sean Karl Foundation, click here . You can read about Sean here . For information about the Sol Schwartz #SaveCollegeTennis All-In Tournaments, visit our Facebook page here . Register for the Baltimore event (August 11-12) here . A huge thank you to all of our sponsors! Thank you to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic If you’re so inclined, please share this - and all our episodes! - with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 10, 2018

In our last episode, we talked to you about how you can manage your college recruiting in the palm of your hand with the newest feature on the Match!Tennis App . This week, we discuss college scholarships and how best to get them. Marisa Meddin worked in marketing after a very successful college career at the University of Michigan. She found her greatest satisfaction, however, in volunteering to help high school students navigate the college application process, so she quit her corporate job to start Talk College To Me , a website devoted to guiding students through their applications and scholarship searches. In this week's episode, Marisa shares her tips for getting college scholarships in addition to - or maybe in lieu of - an athletic scholarship that may or may not be offered by the university's tennis coach. Marisa also offers an online admissions crash course FOR PARENTS which you can find here . ParentingAces listeners will receive a $50 discount off the registration fee when using code "parentingaces" (one word) during the checkout process. Link to view more info about the course: www.talkcollegetome.com/parents Link to download the scholarship guide: https://talkcollegetome.com/parentingaces Main website: www.talkcollegetome.com Thank you to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic If you’re so inclined, please share this - and all our episodes! - with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 3, 2018

Last year, we were all introduced to the Match!Tennis App , a one-stop-shop for all your junior tournament needs - a calendar, rankings, ratings, medical release, weather updates, doubles partner search, and more. When I used the app during the 2017 Sol Schwartz #SaveCollegeTennis All-In Tournaments, I was blown away by all it could do from the Tournament Director side, too. And now the app has gone one better. You can use it to manage your college recruiting process by searching schools by division, finding programs where your child's UTR, GPA, and standardized test scores will open the door, track visits and communications, plus get reminders of when applications are due or when it's time to follow up with a coach. You can watch a tutorial on Match U here . It's awesome! In this week's podcast, we hear from the app's creators once again, Heath and Lindsey Lee-Waters, Tennis Parents themselves who decided they'd had enough with traditional time-sucking junior tournament and college search responsibilities. Please give the episode a listen then run - don't walk! - to your computer to register at www.matchtennisapp.com/ ! ParentingAces listeners/readers get a nice discount through August 6, 2018 . Just use the following codes when registering: Annual Discount code: acesyear Monthly Discount code: acesmonth To find the app, go to www.matchtennisapp.com/ . If your child is playing in either of #theSol tournaments this summer, you can try the app for free (instructions are on the tourney websites here and here ). Even if you decide NOT to purchase the app (which I'm not sure why you wouldn't at least try the 30-day-free option!), your junior can create a profile at this link that college coaches will see. For information about the Sol Schwartz #SaveCollegeTennis All-In Tournaments, visit our Facebook page here . Register for the Atlanta event here and the Baltimore event here . A huge thank you to all of our sponsors including Match!Tennis App! Thank you to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 26, 2018

Barry Fulcher grew up in a Tennis Family. His parents and his siblings were avid players, so it was only fitting that Barry start honing his racquet and court skills as a toddler in the UK. His love of the game and of competition led him to a very successful junior tennis career such that he decided to go the professional route rather than come to the US to try his hand in our college tennis system (much to his mother's chagrin, I might add!). After realizing he couldn't sustain a pro career, Barry moved into coaching. However, his love of competition persisted and he sought out tournaments where he could continue to hone his game. He soon realized the lack of good level competitive opportunities in his home country, both for juniors and for adults. In 2017, Barry created The Progress Tour, a series of UTR -powered tournaments throughout the UK. He consulted with Sarah Borwell of TennisSmart to work out the details of his tour including sponsors who would help fund the prize money he wanted to offer. In addition to playing matches, participants (and their parents) in The Progress Tour have the opportunity to learn from experts in various aspects of tennis including college recruiting, coaching, and the mental game. The thing that jumped out at me during my conversation with Barry was the similarities of Tennis Parents and our concerns regardless of whether we're in the US, the UK, or anywhere else around the world. It helps keeps thing in perspective, I think, when we learn that other countries face the same tennis challenges as we do here in the States. This year, Barry celebrates 10 years of being cancer-free (after being diagnosed shortly after his wedding) and has decided to organize a tennis event to raise money for the Sussex Cancer Fund and The Cancer Research UK. He calls the Davis-Cup-like event British Tennis vs. The Big C , so please check it out at the link below. You can learn more about The Progress Tour here: https://www.facebook.com/TheProgressTour/ https://www3.lta.org.uk/in-your-area/Wales/news/2017/November-2017/-The-Progress-Tour-2018-/ https://youtu.be/BoeUJgh3Nrs You can learn more about Barry's fundraising event here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/barry-fulcher-britishtennisvsthebigc You can reach Barry Fulcher at barryfulch@hotmail.com . For information about the Sol Schwartz #SaveCollegeTennis All-In Tournaments, visit our Facebook page here . Register for the Atlanta event here and the Baltimore event here . Thank you to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic If you're so inclined, please share this - and all our episodes! - with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 19, 2018

How lucky are we to have both Coach Todd Widom and Tennis Parent George Opelka together in one podcast?!?!?! These two gentleman offer their wisdom on everything from the different developmental pathways to college vs. pro tennis and everything in between. They have spent many hours talking to each other courtside while watching their respective player's practice and compete and share those conversations with us this week. You can find Todd Widom and his academy online at http://twtennis.com/ You can find out more about George's son, Reilly, at http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/players/reilly-opelka/o522/overview Thank you to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 12, 2018

June is prime recruiting season for many college coaches. That said, what better time to do a podcast about Division III and how it differs from DI? Coach Matt Brisotti leads both the men's and women's tennis teams at Hamilton College, a Division III school in New York that is part of the NESCAC, one of the stronger conferences in DIII. He played college tennis at Drew University (also DIII) and finished his collegiate career as one of the top players in Drew men's tennis history with 55 career singles victories and 64 career doubles wins. After college, Matt was the head women's coach at College of Saint Elizabeth then went back to his alma mater to lead the tennis programs there. In this week's episode, Coach Brisotti discusses the ins and outs of both recruiting and coaching at the Division III level. He answers many questions about how DIII differs from the other collegiate divisions and why top juniors should look at DIII opportunities as they plan for their college tennis experience. We delve into how to fund a DIII education, too, and this is really important information for parents to have as their junior players go through the process. Just because there are no tennis scholarships does NOT mean there is no scholarship money available to interested student-athletes. While he is a relatively young coach, Matt has acquired so much wisdom and insight from his own experiences as a junior and college player as well as from the mentors who continue to play an important role in his personal and professional life. Enjoy! Coach Brisotti mentions several different showcases and recruiting camps. Here are some links for you to check out: Collegiate Exposure Camps: www.collegiateexposurecamps.com/ Ed Krass College Tennis Exposure Camps: collegetennis.com/ Donovan Tennis Showcase: www.donovantennis.com/showcases/ USTA All-American College Combine: events.universaltennis.com/tournaments/1488/ Thank you to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 5, 2018

A few weeks ago, I posted on our Facebook page that I would be doing an interview with a USTA official and asked you for questions to ask him. You did not disappoint! In this week's episode of the ParentingAces Podcast, recorded in person at Goldberg's Deli (!), I chat with Gary Link, an amazing official based in South Carolina who has committed the past 21 years to helping junior tennis players learn while playing. I have known him since my son's junior tennis years, and I can vouch for his devotion to learning and teaching others the rules while always striving for fairness and equality. Gary addresses issues such as when officials should issue a warning versus a code violation. He talks about throwing racquets, foul language, and cheating, and how parents and officials should handle these occurrences. He talks about officials who may not be up to speed on the rules and why junior players should make sure they are prepared to question a ruling. Gary also addresses some of the myths about officials and their behind-the-scenes conversations. In addition, we spend quite a bit of time talking about the cheating problem in junior tennis and what we parents can do to help put a stop to it. You will hear us refer to Friend At Court. You can find the current document here . More on Gary Link: Gary Link is an ambassador for youth of all ages. He is a USTA Certified Referee entering his 23rd year of officiating junior and adult tennis. In addition to tennis Gary has officiated basketball for youth from ages 4 to 18 as well as adults. Gary currently serves as Chairman of the Adult Competition Committee and as member of both the Junior Competition Committee and Officials Committee for USTA South Carolina. Gary is a certified Life Coach and motivational speaker for the John Maxwell team. Gary is the founder of Upstate Junior Tennis which offers parents and junior players the opportunity to attend educational seminars on junior tennis and events featuring college coaches, inspirational speakers, and experts in the area of junior tennis. He is available to partner with your club or organization and speak on a variety of topics. You can reach Gary Link via email at glinksc@gmail.com . Thank you to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 29, 2018

I know. No one likes talking about periods and puberty. But, it's a reality of life and a topic that we need to discuss if we're going to help our young players maintain a healthy body image and feel comfortable asking for help whenever and wherever they may need it. In this week's episode, Katie Malinski and I get pretty candid and raw in our conversation about how to talk to our children about their bodily changes, what to do if our daughter or other female player gets her period while on our watch, and how to deal with body odor and the other wonders of puberty. Katie offers up some great ideas and actual phrases we can use to reduce the awkwardness in what is typically an inherently awkward situation. Katie Malinski is a licensed clinical social worker based in Austin, Texas, where she lives with her husband and two children. As a parenting coach and family therapist, she offers expert guidance to help families regain their balance and move forward together. Katie's top priority is preserving your parent-child relationship, and her greatest strength is the ability to see connections and patterns that are key to resolving your family’s difficulties and discord. You can find Katie online at http://www.katiemalinski.com/ and a list of her upcoming webinars at https://katiemalinski.com/upcoming-events/ . You can find the absorbent underwear Katie referenced here . Thank you to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 22, 2018

Jackie Slomin is a sports dietitian who helps high school athletes get recruited to top tier colleges on scholarship with her Fuel Your Full Ride program. Having previously worked with hundreds of division I and II athletes from all different sports and holding a master's degree in sports nutrition and exercise science, Jackie is an expert at helping athlete's discover how to improve their performance, energy and recovery time by up to 50% with advanced sports nutrition principles that can be used by even the busiest of families. Jackie works with student-athletes, families, coaches and teams to help them discover how to gain a competitive edge through nutrition. When Jackie isn't working with athletes, she loves weight training, kayaking and trying new foods. In this week's episode, we discuss the specifics of what constitutes a healthy eating regimen for junior and college-bound tennis players and how and why a good diet can impact the recruiting process. Jackie shares her tips for what foods to eat to maximize training and competition as well as how to find the best foods for each individual player. She delves into the particular foods and drinks to eat before, during, and after competition to maximize performance and minimize the risk of fatigue and/or cramping. We also discuss the warning signs of eating disorders in our junior athletes and how we can recognize those signals in a timely fashion and get our athlete the appropriate help. Please remember that eating disorders occur in both males and females. Jackie is offering a free online nutrition training that teaches you how to put together a sports nutrition plan for your junior player. You can register at: FREE Sports nutrition training: https://training.jackieslomin.com/jit-sports/ You can find Jackie online at http://www.jackieslomin.com/ . You can contact her via email at info@jackieslomin.com . Jackie mentions BodyArmor Sports Drink which you can find here . She also mentions Clif Bars which you can find here . Thank you to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic If you're so inclined, please share this - and all our episodes! - with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 15, 2018

Wouldn't it be awesome if you could find a teaching pro who actually had a college degree in Tennis? What if she had an in-depth knowledge not only of teaching forehands and backhands but also sport psychology, injury prevention, nutrition, and communication? Well, thanks to several hard-working and forward-thinking folks, the Professional Tennis Management (PTM) Certificate is now a reality! Coach Jorge Capestany, the Head Tennis Coach at Hope College , is leading the charge to create the PTM program at his school and chats with us this week about what that program will entail, how he is recruiting students to participate, and what will set these newly-educated professionals apart from their peers. USTA is working hard to expand the number of PTM programs around the US in order to raise the bar for those calling themselves Tennis Teaching Professionals. My hope is that we will see a big uptick in the quality of coaching in our country which will make the Tennis Parent's job easier when it comes to choosing a coach for his/her junior player and will grow the sport at the same time. Jorge is still developing the program and is actively seeking input on courses, curricula, and other aspects of the Certificate. If you have thoughts to share with him, you can reach him via email at capestany@hope.edu . Find Jorge online here . Read more about the Hope PTM Certificate at hope.edu/ptm Watch the Hope PTM PowerPoint presentation here . Thank you to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 8, 2018

If you're a Tennis Parent or Coach, you know how frustrating it is to travel to a tournament only to find out the Tournament Director has decided to use short scoring due to weather or other impediments to play. This week's podcast guest, Mark Milne, has a great solution to present. Thirty30 Tennis presents a format where players start each game at the score 30-all then play out the game from there, deuces and all. This is not about no-ad scoring. It is not about sets played to 4. The only change is that each game now starts at 30-all. That's it. Everything else stays exactly the same. Since tennis seems to keep trying to shorten matches in order to maximize tv exposure and grow its fan base, maybe Mark's Thirty30 Tennis is just the solution everyone is looking for? Mark mentions Dave Miley in our conversation - you can listen to my podcast with Dave here . Mark's call to action for all of us is to give his format a try then report the results and our thoughts on Thirty30 Tennis to him so he can compile the results into a report for the ITF in hopes of getting this format approved for play across all levels. I hope you enjoy listening to Mark's beautiful Scottish Brogue as he explains Thirty30 Tennis to all of us! Please pardon the technical snafus - I am still searching for the perfect solution to doing podcasts with my guests who are based outside the US. You can find Mark and Thirty30 Tennis online at thirty30tennis.com and as @thirty30tennis so be sure to follow him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. You can email Mark at contact@thirty30tennis.com . Read more about Thirty30 Tennis in Mark's article for The Tennis Review here . The ITF Rules of Tennis are online here . Be sure to check out Appendix 5 on Page 25! Thank you to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 1, 2018

As of the taping of this week's podcast, there are 4 former college players in the Top 100 of the ATP and 2 former college players in the Top 100 of the WTA. It begs the question: is college tennis really a pathway to the pros? In this week's podcast, Todd Widom discusses how juniors should use college as a step in their overall development process. He also talks about the Junior ITF pathway and what a Junior ITF ranking may or may not mean in terms of college recruiting. As always, Todd tells it like it is, no holds barred! He shares his own college tennis experience and how it shaped him in preparation for a professional tennis career. He also shares conversations he's had with college coaches about how they view rankings and ratings. You can find Todd online at www.twtennis.com. Thank you to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic Thank you to Bill Kallenberg for sharing his photo of John Isner as a Georgia Bulldog. See more of Bill's photography at capturedinaction.com If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 19, 2018

With the new recruiting rules announced by the NCAA (click here ), making sure your child is properly prepared for the process is crucial to his/her success. In this week's episode, we talk about how junior players can increase their exposure to college coaches, especially if they are not among the top-ranked players in their recruiting class. We also discuss several recruiting myths that seem to make the rounds among Prospective Student Athletes (PSAs) such as D1 has the best tennis and all other divisions are second-rate or that if your UTR fits within a team's top 6 then you'll automatically be offered a scholarship and play in the lineup. Tarek explains the different ratings and rankings, how college coaches utilize them during recruiting, and what junior players can do to maximize their opportunities during the recruiting process. In addition, Tarek also discusses his collegiate exposure camps and how they are different from college showcases or combines such as the one offered by USTA ( click here to read about it). Tarek Merchant is the Founder and CEO of IMRecruitable . He has experienced all there is to offer in the college recruitment process which makes him a unique ally in your recruitment process. Tarek has more than 15 years experience in the college system, as a player from 2002-2006, conducting over 30 exposure events (showcases, exposure camps at colleges such as Yale and University of Pennsylvania) and assisting more than 5,000 high school athletes through the recruitment process in various sports. Originally from Kingston, ON Canada, Tarek grew up a multi sport athlete. He excelled in ice hockey, baseball, and tennis. At the age of 15 his family moved to Toronto. Tarek was offered multiple tennis scholarship that he refused until finally decided to take a full scholarship in 2002 to attend Western New Mexico University (division 2). In 2004 he transferred to Jacksonville University (division 1) on a partial scholarship. Since graduating in 2008 with a MBA, Tarek has been heavily active in helping high school athletes find the best college fit according to their athletic and academic abilities. In 2014 Tarek formed IMRecruitable to provide a platform to further educate students and parents on how to approach college recruitment and simplify the process from start to finish. Tarek has graciously offered a $100 discount for any of his camps using coupon code: PA. But hurry! The discount is only valid until May 15th, 2018. You can reach Tarek at tm@imrecruitable.com or find him online at www.imrecruitable.com . For more information on the collegiate exposure camps, go to www.collegiateexposurecamps.com/ . Thank you to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 17, 2018

Last week I published an article on the new partnerships between Universal Tennis Ratings and the two major coaching certification organizations, USPTA and PTR ( click here to read the article). And this week UTR announced another new partnership with Chinese Tennis organization Love Sports. Now, you have the opportunity to hear from UTR's CEO, Mark Leschly, about how UTR works and what's in store for the future. Since there seem to be a lot of misconceptions around UTR and its algorithm, I thought this would be a great chance to clear up some things and give you a peek behind the curtain. Universal Tennis is the company behind UTR powered by Oracle, a revolutionary system that provides a single, unifying language and standard for tennis players across ages, geographies and genders. The company’s vision is to unify tennis for everyone by bringing cutting edge analytics and community based technology to players worldwide independent of level. UTR is a unique, algorithm-based system for tennis that allows anyone to measure, identify and track their level relative to other players, while also providing tools for coaches and organizers to run UTR Powered Events that are level based rather than age or gender driven. Today the UTR powered by Oracle system is gathering data over 6.5 million match results, across 700 thousand players in over 200 countries. The Company is owned by Iconica Partners ( www.iconicapartners.com ) and other seasoned investors, advisors and operators in tennis, sports, technology and media. Partners include Ken Solomon, President of Tennis Channel; Mark Hurd, CEO of Oracle; Jan Leschly, former CEO of Smithkline Beecham and ATP Top 10; Ken Hao, Managing Partner, Silver Lake Partners; Tennis Media Company; and the LA Dodgers investment group. To sign up for UTR powered by Oracle, please visit www.MyUTR.com . Mark Leschly combines both an in depth knowledge and experience in sports and tennis with nearly 25 years of entrepreneurial management and investment in technology led businesses as a venture capitalist and startup CEO. He is a former ATP ranked player selected to the Danish Davis Cup, two time Captain and #1 player for Harvard Men’s Tennis and a member of the USTA Foundation Advisory Board and USTA Player Development Council. Mark is the Founder and Managing Partner of Iconica Partners, a principal firm investing at the interface of sports, media and technology. He is an owner in several sports teams and leagues including the Los Angeles Football Club (Major League Soccer team in LA), Professional Fighters League (a new MMA league), Team Liquid (esports) and Oklahoma City Dodgers (AAA Minor League baseball team). He is an owner and Managing Partner of Rho Capital Partners, a leading technology focused venture capital and private equity firm with over $2.5B under management ( www.rho.com ). Mark received an M.B.A. from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business and a B.A. with honors from Harvard University where he played tennis all four years. Thank you to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 10, 2018

Several months ago, Tennis Parent (and now, Podcaster!), Robert Garrett called and asked me if I would ever consider doing an episode where he could ask questions of a top junior player, parent, and coach. Of course, I said YES, and this week's episode is the outcome of that conversation. Coach Todd Widom, who y'all have heard from many times on ParentingAces, arranged for his young player, Ronnie Hohmann, and Ronnie's parents, Ron and Judy, to come on the podcast so that Robert could ask them pointed questions about how Ronnie progressed from beginner to 2017 Eddie Herr 16s Champion. The Hohmanns were incredibly honest in their responses to Robert's questions, giving all of you some great information as you help your own junior player reach his/her highest potential. Please remember, though, that this is only one family's experience. There are so many pathways through Junior Tennis, and I hope to be able to have more of these types of conversations with families and coaches over the next few months. You will hear the Little Mo tournaments referenced. You can find more info on Little Mo here . Thank you to Todd, Judy, Ron, Ronnie, and Robert for chatting with us! You can reach Todd at todd@twtennis.com . You can find Robert's new podcast, Payers & Players, here . Thank you to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 3, 2018

Sports Made Easy , formerly known as My Game Solutions, is an online community that connects players, instructors, and facilities in real time. With the mobile app you can search for players using any preferred location and find a place to play. Participate in a friendly game or competition to help you improve your overall game. Parents and junior players can use the app to schedule practice matches which can be reported to UTR directly through the app IF both players agree. Sports Made Easy really does make the whole notion of playing more practice matches so easy! As a service provider - such as coach, hitting partner, personal trainer, and racquet stringer - you can promote your services on the platform and reach new clientele. As a service provider, get real-time messages and bookings through this innovative app. For more information, please email customer support. They are also conducting a summer camp with a subsidized rate plan for high performance and beginners. High performance kids will be trained with retired pro Melanie Oudin. Check out their events on their website or download the app and register to view all the upcoming events. Neil and Chuck have offered a generous discount to the ParentingAces community! While the Basic Version of the app is free for everyone, Parenting Aces community members will get 30 days of Premium Services for free and a 20% discount on monthly subscription charges for each month you pay for Premium Service until the end of 2018. You simply need to use promo code PA2018 while registering. For more information, email info@sportsmadeez.com A big thank you to Neil and Chuck for taking the time to chat with us. Also a big thank you to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 27, 2018

We rarely get to hear from Tennis Parents outside the US, so I was thrilled when UK Tennis Parent Sharon Gaskin agreed to come on the podcast! Sharon shares her son, Ryan's, entire tennis journey starting with his early junior years and moving to his training at Soto Tennis Academy in Spain, eventually landing in the US to play college tennis. She talks about the difficulty of working with the LTA (the UK equivalent of USTA), deciding to send her son abroad to train in his early teen years, and the challenges of college recruiting as an international PSA. Sharon mentions the relationship her son formed with Sara Borwell (hear my podcast with Sara here ) in order to help him navigate the recruiting process. Things haven't gone completely smoothly, as you'll hear Sharon explain, but Ryan seems to be settling into American College Life now that he's into his 2nd semester and that the dual match season is underway. A big thank you to Sharon for taking the time to share her journey with us. Also a big thank you to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic If you're so inclined, please share this - and all our episodes! - with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via the ParentingAces website . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 20, 2018

Tami Matheny became a Mental Game Coach in 2008 and started Refuse2LoseCoaching, LLC . She knows the role the intangibles play in career success and longevity and has had experience with working on the mental skills at the collegiate level with tennis, basketball, softball, baseball, volleyball, golf, field hockey, cross country and soccer student-athletes. Tami believes that while it’s important to work on the physical and technical aspects of sport, the mental side is just as important; mental skills are often the differentiating factor for the most successful athletes. Tami understands that talent can not always overcome a lack of confidence or mental toughness, but a high level of confidence and mental toughness can often overcome a lack of talent. She enjoys interacting and working hands on with coaches, athletes, and teams to make a difference. In addition to working with student-athletes and teams, Tami has written The Confident Athlete: 4 Easy Steps to Build and Maintain Confidence in hopes of providing a easy but productive way for athletes to take control of their confidence. Tami also has spoken at various businesses, Rotary Clubs, churches. She has also presented at Dan Tudor’s Recruiting Conference. In addition to Mental Game Coaching, Tami Matheny was one of the most successful tennis coaches in USC Upstate tennis history. Working physically and mentally with the men and women’s teams to produce nationally ranked teams, conference champions, and numerous individual awards. Matheny became the head men and women’s tennis coach at USC Upstate in 1998. During her five-year stint with the tennis programs, she elevated the programs to levels never before seen. In her first two seasons as coach, Matheny led the women’s team to a remarkable improvement, as the team went from 0-12 the year before she took the job to 9-16 in 2000 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 2003. The men similarly quickly developed after an 0-12 season in her first year. The Rifles won five matches the next year before reaching the NCAA Tournament in 2001. By 2003, Matheny earned the Peach Belt Conference Men’s Coach of the Year, thanks to leading the Rifles to a 20-2 overall record and a share of the Peach Belt Conference regular season crown. Matheny coached the men to the Peach Belt Conference championship match and to the NCAA Tournament for the third straight time. On the women’s side, a 15-8 record helped the Lady Rifles earn their first bid to the NCAA Tournament since 1995. The women finished the season ranked 25th in Division II. In total, Matheny coached one All-American, five All-Peach Belt Conference selections and 39 Peach Belt Presidential Honor Roll selections. She took the Spartan men to the NCAA Division II Tournament a school-record-tying three times. You can find Tami online at the following: Instagram: @refuse2losecoaching Twitter: @r2lcoaching and @tamimatheny Thank you to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his original creations at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 15, 2018

I can't tell you how thrilled I was to run into my old friend, Craig Cignarelli, at the BNP Paribas Open last weekend! It's been quite a while since we've chatted, and I knew he had some incredible knowledge to share with all of us. Thankfully, he agreed to sit down with me and talk junior development pathways and how technology is impacting today's up and coming players (and their parents). He also shares some "secrets" that coaches don't necessarily want us Tennis Parents to know, so you don't want to miss this one! In this Bonus Episode, you will hear Craig reference data regarding how many matches juniors should play and how many hours per week they should practice. You can find links to that data here . Craig also references using technology to upload video for coaches to analyze. Our friends at Tenicity can provide that service - click here for more information. Thank you to Craig for the conversation. I look forward to many more insightful episodes with him! You can find Craig on Twitter at @CraigCignarelli Thank you, too, to 10sballs.com for sponsoring my trip to Indian Wells and to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 13, 2018

Sixteen-year-old Ronnie Hohmann, who won the 2017 Eddie Herr 16s, recently had the unique opportunity to train with several players on the ATP tour. Both Ronnie - and his coach, Todd Widom - learned so much from these training sessions beyond just hitting forehands and backhands. All junior players and their coaches can learn a lot from studying how the pros train. With so many pro tournaments across the world, there are typically at least one or two days before the main draw starts where the players are on site and getting used to the courts. Practice sessions - other than for some of the very top players - are usually free to attend and open to the public. Consider taking your junior players to watch and see what it means to train like a pro. Coach Todd Widom made the most of his player's time hitting with the pros and found a way to point out and then incorporate those professional behaviors with the players he trains. Hear more about what he learned and how he's using it in this week's episode. You can find Todd online at www.twtennis.com. Thank you to our sponsor 10sballs.com ! Thank you, too, to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 6, 2018

In order to further junior tennis development, it is crucial that coaches learn about and use the new technologies being developed. One of my favorites in terms of planning and communication is Tenicity. Harsh Mankad, the founder of Tenicity, is back with us to talk about the latest updates to his platform, including a new mobile app that parents, players, and coaches can use to track progress and keep the lines of communication open. Tenicity is all about organizing data, communicating the data, and understanding how to learn from it. As Tenicity grows and develops as a strong tool for overall player development, Harsh is traveling to meet with college tennis coaches, junior coaches, and national governing bodies to help them understand the platform and integrate it into their existing systems. As a former top junior and college player, and now, as a developmental coach himself, Harsh truly understands what it takes to help players reach their highest potential. I was happy to hear that Tenicity is partnering with the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) to get the platform into more college tennis programs. This could be a great recruiting tool for coaches who are looking for players interested in developing to the next stage, and Prospective Student Athletes (PSAs) and parents should definitely ask about Tenicity when meeting with college coaches. You can find Tenicity online at www.tenicity.com . If you have questions, contact Harsh Mankad at harsh@tenicity.com or 651-285-7280. Thank you to our sponsor 10sballs.com ! Thank you, too, to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 3, 2018

I recently had the opportunity to be interviewed by the amazing talents behind the Great Shot Podcast, Alex Gruskin and Max Rothman. We did the interview as I was driving back to Atlanta from the Blue Gray Tennis Classic in Alabama, and I had a blast chatting with these guys! From their website: Welcome toooooo…. Another special edition of Hey, Great Shot!! In today’s episode, co-hosts Alex Gruskin and Max Rothman sit down with Parenting Aces founder Lisa Stone to discuss the many rule changes being proposed to alter the game of tennis. The crew debate topics such as the implications of the newly announced ITF Transition Tour , the merits of ad vs. no-ad scoring, what role coaching should play during matches, and much more. The guys also ask Lisa about her personal history with the game of tennis, and why she chose to make her website tennis parent-focused. Personal note from the GSP hosts: We cannot thank Lisa enough for taking the time to do this interview with us. Her kindness, intelligence, and passion for the game were contagious throughout the episode, and we hope she is willing to come on the podcast again in the future. To find more of Lisa’s content, be sure to checkout her wonderful Parenting Aces Blog or listen to her Parenting Aces Podcast. As always, the opinions in this podcast are our own, and we are happy to debate them with anyone kind enough to listen to or comment on our episode. The podcast feed is now live, so please share our episodes with your friends, and subscribe to our show on iTunes . Thank you for listening, and we hope you enjoy our eighteenth episode!! A special shoutout to Super Producers Max Fliegner and Daniel Westhoff, the men behind the scenes who make these episodes possible. I hope you enjoy hearing a little more about my background and the story behind ParentingAces. Be sure to subscribe to Great Shot Podcast here as well as their sister podcast, Cracked Interviews . They are a great social media follow, too! Find Alex and Max on Twitter: @GreatShotPod Cracked Racquets on Twitter: @CrackedRacquets Cracked Racquets on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crackedracquets/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 27, 2018

As an adjunct to this week's podcast with Tim Russell, I also had the opportunity to chat with Dave Miley who has written a very detailed article about the ITF Transition Tour ( https://www.facebook.com/davemileytennis/posts/987689468064829 ). Dave Miley was the Executive Director of Tennis Development for the International Tennis Federation from 1991 until 2015 and in this role he lead the biggest department of the ITF and was responsible for the non professional activities of the ITF including junior tennis, senior tennis, wheelchair tennis, technical and anti-doping as well as the ITF’s Development Programme. During this time, he visited over 140 countries advising National Associations, conducting coaches’ workshops and directing junior training programmes. Dave was actively involved in the ITF’s High-Performance programmes, helping to establish 5 residential training centres in Africa, Central America and the Pacific and overseeing the ITF’s Grand Slam touring team programme which involved 150+ players per year and included Gustavo Kuerten, Marcos Baghdadis, Grigor Dimitrov, Victoria Azarenka, Li Na, Hyeon Chung and Cara Black. Dave established the ITF’s coach education programme in 1993 and was involved in producing the ITF’s recommended syllabi for coaches which is now available in over 20 languages. He started the publication “ITF Coaching and Sports Science review” in 1992 and was the author of 7 tennis books including the ITF Advanced Coaches Manual, the ITF Schools Tennis Initiative Teachers Manual and Developing Young Tennis Players. He also was responsible for the creation of the tennis i-coach which was launched in 2007 as the ITF’s distance learning platform. He oversaw the growth of the ITF Worldwide Coaches Conference which grew from 100 coaches in 1991 to 850+ coaches from 100 + nations in 2013. Dave has presented at many conferences worldwide including the Worldwide Coaches Conference, the European Coaches Conference, the USTA, LTA and Tennis Australia national conferences as well as at various IOC and Peace and Sport conferences. In the area of tennis participation, Dave chaired the ITF Intro to Tennis Task Force which was instrumental in the development and implementation of the ITF “Tennis…Play and Stay” campaign to increase tennis participation which was launched in 2007 and for the development of tennis 10s and for the adult programme tennis express. This led to the Tennis10s rule change in 2010 which mandated that 10 and under competition use one of the slower red, orange or green balls. He also was responsible for the development of the International Tennis Number (ITN) which was launched in 2003 in Australia as the rating system for world tennis. Before working at the ITF, Dave owned and ran an indoor tennis and fitness centre in Kent with 6 indoor courts and 25 employees. On the playing side Dave was a Irish National Champion in 1982, 1984 and 1987. Dave holds a Bachelor of Commerce from UCD (82) and a degree in Business and economics from Lander University in South Carolina, USA (81). He holds the top coaching qualification from the British LTA (84). Dave was a member of the ITF medical commission (98-2015) and the Tennis Industry Association (2008-2015). You can listen to Part 1 of this discussion at http://traffic.libsyn.com/parentingaces/Tim_Russell_podcast.output.mp3 Thank you to our sponsor 10sballs.com ! Thank you, too, to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 27, 2018

On February 1, 2018, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) sent out a press release describing its effort to reduce the number of professional tennis players through the creation of a Transition Tour (see http://parentingaces.com/repost-zootennis-itf-junior-rule-changes-2018/ and http://www.itftennis.com/news/278962.aspx for more info). What's obviously missing from the ITF's announcement is a clear-cut pathway for those juniors who choose to go to college instead of turning pro straight from their junior careers. I decided to reach out to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's (ITA) CEO, Tim Russell, to get his thoughts on how best to navigate this new arrangement. As you'll hear in this week's episode, even Tim doesn't have the answers just yet though he is certainly doing his due diligence to get them. You can learn more about the ITA at www.itatennis.com . Tim Russell's email is twrussell@itatennis.com . He is incredibly responsive to anyone reaching out with questions - I am very grateful to him for that! I also had a follow-up conversation with former ITF Director of Development Dave Miley who has published some very detailed thoughts on this new Transition Tour and its potential impact. So, lucky you! This week's topic is a two-fer! Part 2 is available at http://traffic.libsyn.com/parentingaces/Dave_Miley_podcast.output.mp3 Thank you to our sponsor 10sballs.com ! Thank you, too, to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 20, 2018

Just because you're an experienced coach yourself doesn't mean you can't learn from the Great Coaches who came before you. Former college player Chris Trieste has learned that lesson first hand as he researched then wrote his book, 14 Great Coaches: Learn Their Lessons, Improve Your Coaching, Have A Lasting Impact. In this week's podcast, Chris discusses his book and the invaluable lessons he learned and now applies in his own coaching as well as in his life as a Sports Parent. I first learned about Chris when his book was named as a Staff Pick by Changing the Game Project. Shortly after, Chris emailed me, and I was pleased to hear he wanted to come on the podcast to share his knowledge and coaching approach with all of us. Chris feels he can help other Tennis Parents choose good coaches for their young players as they read the lessons learned from the great coaches featured in his book, so he and I both encourage all listeners to check it out! Read more about Chris's book here: http://changingthegameproject.com/culture-code-2017-book-year-plus-staff-picks/ Contact Chris at the following links: Twitter - @CTrieste2 Website: www.christrieste.com 14 Great Coaches Book: http://bit.ly/14GreatCoaches Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-trieste-00a9713/ Thank you to our sponsor 10sballs.com ! Thank you, too, to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 13, 2018

Being sidelined by injury is never a good thing. In the short journey that is Junior Tennis, taking even a few weeks away from training and playing can wreak havoc on development, so it becomes that much more important to keep the body healthy. In this week's podcast, Dr. Erin Boynton, an orthopaedic surgeon who is also a Tennis Parent as well as a competitive tennis player herself, talks about the specific steps juniors can - and should - take to keep their bodies performing at the highest level. We need to understand the firing patterns of the various muscles and how to warm them up properly before each training session or match. Erin suggests we parents (and coaches) do a thorough warm-up ALONGSIDE our kids to encourage proper form and performance. Erin also talks about why playing multiple sports is so important, not only in terms of injury prevention but also in terms of overall athletic development. She offers some great suggestions for coaches and academies to encourage cross-play which could help prevent burnout as well as overuse injuries. Visit Erin's website at http://doctorerinb.com/ . Follow her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DoctorErinB/ and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/DoctorErinB . Thank you to our sponsor 10sballs.com ! Thank you, too, to STØNE for our music! You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 6, 2018

Wondering what your high school or college player should do this summer? USTA tournaments? ITA Summer Circuit? ITF Pro Circuit? Something else? Former USC Women's Assistant Coach West Nott has started a new summer tennis tour that takes male and female players who are currently in high school or college to a variety of tournaments along the Pacific Coast in California, Oregon, and Washington. What an incredible opportunity to travel with a former college coach, play some great matches, and learn from some of the best former college players in the game! In this week's podcast, West talks about the West Coast Tennis Tour, who should take advantage of it, and how the ParentingAces Community can get a discount (hint: mention ParentingAces when you call to get information!). According to West, "The idea is to take 30 players from San Diego to Seattle to compete in 13 events in 3 months during the summer. We are targeting high school kids looking to play college tennis, and we are looking for current college players who need events to play to keep improving during the summer months. We are forming a strong group of mentors to make the experience great for the kids, seeing many new things along the way, staying in giant homes, traveling as a team, one big road trip." West also discusses what he was looking for in a college player when he was recruiting for USC and how he will share that information with Tour participants. It's a tough process, and the more information you have, the better. Coupled with last week's podcast with Renee Lopez, you should now have a pretty thorough understanding of what this process is all about. West has also created a great college viewing opportunity for junior players called www.collegetennistours.com . The College Tennis Tours idea is simply taking junior players to the NCAAs to watch the Sweet 16 and on. This is a great way for parents to send their kids to get excited about their future and what playing for a college team is all about. He is selling 2-day, 3-day, and 4-day packages and is offering a special ParentingAces package as well. #SaveCollegeTennis The book West discusses in the podcast is BECOMING A SUPPLE LEOPARD by Kelly Starrett ( click here for more information). Get more information on the West Coast Tennis Tour at https://www.westcoasttennistour.com Contact West directly by phone at 858-322-3171 or email him at westnott@gmail.com A big thank you to Morgan Stone and STØNE for our music! And congratulations to him on having his first original song, TIBET, made available on iTunes and Spotify. You can find more of Morgan’s music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 30, 2018

The college recruiting process can be overwhelming and confusing. This week's guest, Renee Lopez, works with prospective student athletes (PSAs) and their families to help them find the right college programs then market themselves effectively to those programs. PSAs must find the right fit academically, athletically, and socially. The cost of the program has to come into play as well. Renee discusses the questions to ask the coaches, the admissions department, and yourself when choosing a college. Be sure to listen all the way to the end for a free offer from Renee! A seventeen-year coaching veteran, Renee Lopez has been successful both in business and sports. She has been a college soccer coach for 14 years and high school varsity coach for 3 years. She served on staff at the University of Florida and also been an NCAA Division I & II Head Coach for 11 years. In addition to being the CEO of her own leadership development and coaching education academy consulting service, she is the author of an upcoming book on the college recruiting process for student-athletes titled “Looking For A FULL RIDE?: An Insider’s Recruiting Guide” where she has interviewed 35 college coaches. ( www.lookingforafullride.com ) In addition to consulting with high school families, coaches, athletic directors, and guidance counselors, she regularly speaks as a keynote and teaches seminars with Fortune 500 companies, sports organizations, non-for-profits, and community groups. She runs a regular blog on the college recruiting process for high school student-athletes and she has been a guest on numerous blogs and podcasts, and radio, and has even recently been featured on ESPN Radio and SiriusXM. As a coach, she developed 3 All-Americans, was named Coach of the Year, and regularly led her teams to Academic Honors, Sportsmanship Awards, & Regional Championships. Her undergraduate degree is in Elementary Education and her graduate work from the University of Florida is in Exercise Sport Science (Sport Management/Pedagogy). She is also a certified speaker, trainer, and coach with the John Maxwell Team, Jon Gordon Company, 3Dimensional Coaching, and Positive Coaching Alliance. You can find more about her www.rlopezcoaching.com or email her at info@lookingforafullride.com . You can find her on social media as follows: Facebook Private Parent Group for those with high school student-athletes: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parentsofhsathleteswantingtoplayincollege/?ref=group_cover Facebook Private Coaches Group Learning Recruiting Process: https://www.facebook.com/groups/coacheslearningrecruiting/ Facebook Private Group for principals, guidance counselors, and ADs about athletic recruiting education: https://www.facebook.com/groups/athleticrecruitingforPrincipalsADsCounselors/ Linkedin: Renee Lopez (also can be found under Looking For A FULL RIDE?) Twitter: @lookn4aFULLRIDE Instagram: Reneelopez5 A big thank you to Morgan Stone and STØNE for our music! And congratulations to him on having his first original song, TIBET, made available on iTunes and Spotify. You can find more of Morgan’s music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 23, 2018

Siberia isn't really the first place I think of when I think "Tennis Hotbed." However, there have been some incredible players coming out of that ice-packed region of the world, including this week's guest, Aleksey Zharinov. Aleksey considers himself a product of the Russian System of tennis development, due in large part to the commitment of his father to ensure he had a solid base in "technika" before allowing him to enter any tournaments. After making his mark at the University of Minnesota and taking a stab at the pro tour, Aleksey got into coaching and has recently published a book on the Russian System. Aleksey has graciously offered his book at a deep discount to the ParentingAces community. Simply go to https://aztenniscoaching.com/ and enter promo code PARENTINGACES at checkout to receive your $18.00 discount. I hope you enjoy hearing Aleksey's story and how he approaches developing juniors to their highest potential. You can email him at Azharinov@yahoo.com or reach him by phone at (612) 730-2539. A big thank you to Morgan Stone and STØNE for our music! And congratulations to him on having his first original song, TIBET, made available on iTunes and Spotify. You can find more of Morgan’s music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 22, 2018

This podcast is from 2013 but warrants a listen even now! Craig is still one of the most influential coaches in my son's Tennis Journey, and his wisdom about junior development needs to be shared. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 16, 2018

What do you get when you cross a marketing whiz with a top-notch event planner/journalist? A new ATP tournament featuring black courts, a female-anchored exhibition, and a community event for players and fans of all ages! Memphis's loss is Long Island's gain as the long-standing Winter Indoor event makes its move and brings top-level professional tennis to hungry fans in the form of the New York Open and Tennis Expo. Tournament Director, Josh Ripple, and New York Open Expo creator, David Sickmen, talk about the unique aspects of this new event in this week's podcast. They are going above and beyond to bring a Total Tennis Experience to players and fans through offering an inside look (and playing opportunity) at the tournament's facility in the cutting edge NYCB Live Arena as well as interactive experiences with college coaches, top junior coaches, and the latest tennis equipment and technology. From a College Recruiting panel discussion to a fashion show and everything in between, fans are in for a fabulous FREE day of top programs, camps, products, apparel, sports medicine, travel destinations and more. To register for the Tennis Expo, click here . Your registration also serves as your FREE parking pass! The tournament itself features many NextGen stars such as local favorite Noah Rubin, Next Gen ATP Finals Champion Hyeon Chung, and rising stars Frances Tiafoe, Jared Donaldson, and Reilly Opelka. The opening night will showcase exhibition matches from John McEnroe, James Blake, Genie Bouchard, and US Open Champ Sloane Stephens. For more information and to buy tickets, click here . Thank you to Morgan Stone and STØNE for our new music! You can find more of Morgan’s original music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 9, 2018

Family practicioner, Charlotte Alabaster, originally from the UK and now living and practicing in Calgary, Canada, grew up playing tennis only recreationally but fell in love with the sport. As a family practice physician, Charlotte has encountered several elite youth athletes who are suffering from nutritional deficits. In this week's episode, she shares with us the specific nutritional needs of young athletes both prior to puberty and after. It varies greatly between boys and girls, and it's important that we understand how to help our young players get the required calories, vitamins, and minerals so they can reach their growth potential. Charlotte discusses specific food choices, the importance of reading food labels, and the various vitamins and minerals (and how best to get them). She addresses how vegans and vegetarians can meet their needs and maintain a high level of performance. She also addresses the prevalence of eating disorders in both boys and girls, the warning signs that an eating disorder may be brewing, and how parents can help their children maintain a healthy body image while also properly fueling their growing bodies. Charlotte recommends the following resource for the latest nutrition information: Authority Nutrition Music by: STØNE – You can find more of Morgan Stone’s original music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 2, 2018

Happy New Year and welcome to our first podcast episode of 2018 with Patricia Hy-Boulais! Music by: STØNE - You can find more of Morgan Stone's original music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 21, 2017

In Part 3 of my series with Todd Widom, we discuss the importance of choosing a coach who has a long-term development plan for your child. Unfortunately for us parents, there are many coaches and academies out there who just want to keep giving your child - and charging you! - private lessons week after week, year after year regardless of how your child is developing as an overall player. These coaches may or may not have the knowledge or desire to create and implement a long-term development plan to help your child reach his/her highest potential. In this week's podcast episode, Coach Widom helps us understand how to determine whether or not a coach has the know-how to develop a player from the beginner stage through Juniors to college and beyond. You can find Todd online at www.twtennis.com. Thank you for listening and sharing our podcast with your tennis community! Please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, Google Play or wherever you like to grab your podcasts! If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of the ParentingAces Podcast, click here for more information. Please visit us online at www.parentingaces.com. Email us at lisa@parentingaces.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 14, 2017

I had the opportunity to speak at the Middle States USPTA Conference in Philadelphia last weekend, presenting to a room full of coaches. What a treat! This week's podcast is a slightly edited recording of my presentation. You will hear questions from the audience (please forgive the sound quality as I was recording the whole thing on my iPhone) and my attempts at helping these coaches understand what parents want from them. We discuss communication, tournaments, rankings, college recruiting, and burnout among other things. I hope this presentation opens the door to many more opportunities to address coaches directly and help to bridge the gap between them and us. You will hear me reference a Facebook Live video that I did regarding USPTA certification. You can find that video at https://www.facebook.com/ParentingAces/videos/1676603665745115/. You will also hear me mention Allistair McCaw's new book, Champion Minded. You can find his book here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/069279154X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=069279154X&linkCode=as2&tag=pareaces-20&linkId=d437a485e4f34c3ac4ce061b067fd289 Thank you for listening and sharing our podcast with your tennis community! Please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, Google Play or wherever you like to grab your podcasts! If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of the ParentingAces Podcast, click here for more information. Be sure to visit us online at www.parentingaces.com . Email us at lisa@parentingaces.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 7, 2017

When Tennis Parent Extraordinaire, Steve Johnson, passed away unexpectedly in May, the tennis world was in shock. Steve was a man who devoted his life to his family and his sport, coaching not only his own son to the highest level of the game but also committing himself to helping all young players who wanted to learn and succeed in tennis. Dennis Claus was a good friend of Steve's and decided to pull together a tournament to honor this dear man. The tournament included a Men's Open division as well as a high school division in order to further Steve's work with the high school he and his wife, Michelle, and their kids all attended - Orange High School. The proceeds of the event will go toward preserving the facilities and the tennis program at Orange. In this week's episode, Dennis talks about the how and why of the tournament as well as his thoughts on the importance of playing high school tennis. Dennis currently coaches his local high school team as a labor of love. For information on the joint tournament between USTA and UTR that we discuss in this episode, go to http://events.universaltennis.com/tournaments/761/ and https://blog.universaltennis.com/2017/11/01/usta-and-utr-partner-to-stage-a-tournament-in-orlando/ . Thank you for listening and sharing our podcast with your tennis community! Please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, Google Play or wherever you like to grab your podcasts! If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of the ParentingAces Podcast, click here for more information. Please check us out at www.parentingaces.com. Email us at lisa@parentingaces.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 31, 2017

Carlos Goffi has a very impressive coaching resume, listing John McEnroe and Mary Carillo among his successful charges. In this week's throw-back episode from 2013, Coach Goffi shares how he learned to coach, why he feels young athletes should play a variety of sports, and why it is so important for us as parents to learn how to control our emotions and body language as we watch our young players compete in the classroom, on the field, or on the court. This episode was recorded several years ago as I was driving with my son back from Mobile, Alabama, where we had spent the long weekend at a junior tournament. Listening to it today brings back so many memories and emotions of my years traveling with my son! Having just returned home from spending a long weekend with him and my daughters in Los Angeles, I am reminded of how tennis helped cement a bond between us that I hope will last forever. Tennis is truly the gift that keeps on giving! You can find Carlos Goffi's book, TOURNAMENT TOUGH, here . Thank you for listening and sharing our podcast with your tennis community! Please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, Google Play or wherever you like to grab your podcasts! If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of the ParentingAces Podcast, click here for more information. Please check us out at www.parentingaces.com . Email us at lisa@parentingaces.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 17, 2017

In this second in a series of episodes devoted to the business side of tennis, Coach Todd Widom discusses how to determine what coaches and academies have really accomplished with their players. Whether it's rankings or college placements and scholarships, sometimes you have to dig deeper to truly understand what an academy's claims truly mean. Todd offers up specific questions to ask and helps parents cut through the marketing hype as they search for the right training environment for their junior players. To listen to Part 1 of this series, go to http://traffic.libsyn.com/parentingaces/Todd_Widom_podcast.output_1.mp3 You can find Todd online at www.twtennis.com or via email at todd@twtennis.com . His phone number is 954-296-5610. Thank you for listening and sharing our podcast with your tennis community! Please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, Google Play or wherever you like to grab your podcasts! If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of the ParentingAces Podcast, click here for more information. Please check us out at www.parentingaces.com . Email us at lisa@parentingaces.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 10, 2017

Y'all know how much I love to hear about tennis players giving back to their communities. And, when the various organizations within our sport take the initiative to sponsor community service opportunities . . . well, that is The Best! In this week's podcast, I chat with Mary Edman, Director of Community Programs for the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) and Rhiannon Potkey of TennisRecruiting.net about their respective community service programs. The ITA is sponsoring an actual Community Service Month throughout October wherein college teams come up with community service activities, log their service hours with the ITA ( https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeA6-g6MN1NvgXp0AFOeXRtQehb4-ZNZuDJtD88-TY2tL8MqQ/viewform?usp=send_form ), post photos and videos to earn points ( http://indi.com/itachallenges/communitaservice ), and have an opportunity to win grants for their college teams. TRN is sponsoring its own Community Service Initiative called First Serve for Community to encourage junior players to give back. This is an ongoing initiative wherein TRN will feature the good works of its players through articles on its website, social media, etc. I am so happy to have an opportunity to share these great initiatives with all of you and hope that you will encourage your junior and college players to get involved. I will be sharing both the ITA's and TRN's stories on the ParentingAces Facebook page and Twitter feed. To reach Mary Edman at the ITA, email her at medman@itatennis.com . To reach Rhiannon Potkey at TRN, email her at rhiannon@tennisrecruiting.net . If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of the ParentingAces podcast, please go to http://parentingaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/SponsorshipPackages-Aug-2017.pdf for more information. We hope you'll visit us online at http://parentingaces.com . Email us at lisa@parentingaces.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 3, 2017

In the last year, we saw something pretty remarkable in terms of Roger Federer's career. He took extensive time away from the game then came back to win 5 titles including 2 Majors and 2 Masters 1000s. Federer's time away had to do with his age (he's now 36!) and some recurring injuries that were impacting his ability to perform at his best. And his decision to decrease his playing schedule is starting to trickle down to others on the tour, including Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, as well as players at the entry level of the professional game. If things continue as they have in the past, we will likely start to see these types of extended breaks from training and competing trickle down to college and maybe even junior tennis. And, according to this week's guest, that is a very good thing. Your kid can't play if he/she is injured. So, what can we parents and coaches do to help prevent the most common injuries in our young players? Dr. Neeru Jayanthi of the Emory Tennis Medicine Center offers some valuable insights into how we can use early screenings and other methods to reduce or even prevent injury from over-use and over-training. Dr. J shares information on his STAY (Specialized Training Assessments in Young Tennis Players) screenings and how he's using the data he's collecting to help coaches at all levels better train their young athletes. He also discusses his opinions on how our current ranking structure feeds the need to over-train and over-play, leading to a high attrition rate in our sport as young as age 13. The goal, according to Dr. J, is to keep our kids playing tennis beyond their junior or college years so that it truly is a sport for their lifetime. Through early assessment and smart scheduling we can help them prevent the injuries and burnout that may take them out of the game prematurely. To schedule a free assessment with Dr. J and his team, go to https://calendly.com/neerujayanthi/tennis-medicine . To contact Dr. J directly, email him at neeru.jayanthi@emory.edu or tennismedicine@emoryhealthcare.org . To read Ben Rothenberg's New York Times article addressing the WTA's age eligibility rule referred to in the podcast, go to https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/10/sports/tennis/us-open-girls-final-anisimova-gauff.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of the ParentingAces podcast, please go to http://parentingaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/SponsorshipPackages-Aug-2017.pdf for more information. We hope you'll visit us online at http://parentingaces.com . Email us at lisa@parentingaces.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 26, 2017

With the growth of the internet and the proliferation of online tennis sites, it's tough to separate the proverbial wheat from the chaff. Coach Todd Widom comes to the rescue! In this first in a series of episodes devoted to the business side of tennis, Todd discusses the best way for parents to see past the bells and whistles to determine whether or not a potential coach or academy is right for their family. Thank you for listening and sharing our podcast with your tennis community! Please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, Google Play or wherever you like to grab your podcasts! If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of the ParentingAces Podcast, click here for more information. Please visit us online at www.parentingaces.com. Email me at lisa@parentingaces.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 19, 2017

The topic of cheating in junior tennis seems to come up ad nauseum both on this podcast as well as on the ParentingAces social media outlets. I'm not sure if that means the issue is getting worse or if we're just talking about it more, but, either way, it is something we as a Tennis Community need to act on to ensure the growth of our sport. In this week's ParentingAces podcast, Bill Patton and I revisit past conversations we've had around cheating and what to do about it. Bill lays out some specific action items in his e-book, How To End Cheating in Junior Tennis (visit https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Y00NKNK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00Y00NKNK&linkCode=as2&tag=pareaces-20&linkId=2b3a09843f63af59fba90d21bf36832d to view and order the book). He also leaves the ParentingAces community with a challenge to take specific steps ourselves to stop this negative aspect of our sport. We also discuss Bill's upcoming USATennisCoach Deep Coaching Workshop. You can get more information on the USATennis Coach Facebook page here . To watch Bill's live YouTube broadcast of the first part of our podcast, click here . Thank you for listening and sharing our podcast with your tennis community! Please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, Google Play or wherever you like to grab your podcasts! If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of the ParentingAces Podcast, click here for more information. Find us online at www.parentingaces.com . Email me at lisa@parentingaces.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 8, 2017

Seventeen year old Trey Hilderbrand and his father, Mark, joined me in the interview room at the US Open to discuss his incredible run at this year's US Open Juniors event. They share details about Trey's tennis development and his plans for the future. We appreciate the support for our podcast. If you are interested in sponsoring one or more episodes, please go to http://parentingaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/SponsorshipPackages-Aug-2017.pdf Visit us online at www.parentingaces.com . Email me at lisa@parentingaces.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 4, 2017

Since I'm not yet at the 2017 US Open, I thought I would throw things back to my last trip to our Home Slam and my conversation with Tennis Parents Extraordinaire: Wayne Bryan (father of Bob & Mike, the Bryan Brothers), Steve Johnson (father of Stevie who passed away earlier this year), and Melanie Rubin (mom of Noah). These three have so much knowledge and great advice to share to those of us coming up behind them. I hope you enjoy hearing from them. I plan on releasing another podcast episode later this week from the 2017 US Open, so please keep an eye out for it. The US Open Juniors tournament is now underway, and the Collegiate Invitational starts Thursday, both of which will provide lots of great content for another podcast! And, for those interested, we are now accepting sponsors for the ParentingAces Podcast. If you'd like to learn more, please visit parentingaces.com/sponsorshippackages-aug-2017/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 29, 2017

Coach Craig O'Shannessy knew there had to be more to developing players and analyzing matches than simply relying on the opinion of others. He looked to other sports like baseball, basketball, and soccer and found that those sports relied on a unified method of collecting data, analyzing it, then using it to improve performance. The eyes, afterall, don't always tell the whole story! In early 2010, Craig started Brain Game Tennis (click http://www.braingametennis.com to go to his website) so he could share his data with others in the tennis world. As Craig writes on his site, "Tennis looks like a game of pinball, with the ball careening here, there, and everywhere. But it's not. It's actually the exact opposite. Tennis is a game of repeatable patterns in four specific areas - serving, returning, rallying and approaching. Study the patterns, learn the winning percentages, and make the game simple. That's what Brain Game Tennis stands for. No more guessing. No more opinions. Just the facts please..." And now Craig has introduced Gameplan, his newest product for use in junior development, college tennis, and beyond. Listen to this week's podcast for more information on Gameplan and how you can purchase it. Then go to this link (https://www.braingametennis.com/stop-guessing-start-knowing/) to read more. NOTE: If you purchase Gameplan - or any of Craig's other Brain Game Tennis products - during the two weeks of the 2017 US Open, you will receive a 20% discount. To contact Craig directly, go to his homepage here (http://www.braingametennis.com) then scroll to the bottom for the Contact Craig O'Shannessy link. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of the ParentingAces Podcast, please contact us. You can reach us at www.parentingaces.com. You can email me at lisa@parentingaces.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 22, 2017

High-performance coach Jim Harp has been around a few years, more than 30 to be exact, and he knows his stuff! He makes it his mission to learn something new every day so he can better coach the junior players under his care. He works with all levels of juniors - from the very beginners to the D-1 college bound and everything in between. In this week's podcast, Jim and I discuss his coaching philosophy as well as his new role as an advisor to TennisMentors.net . He has a lot of wisdom to impart to Tennis Parents and is more than happy to answer your questions if you'd like to reach out to him. You can find him online at HarpTennis.com or via email at Jim@harptennis.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 15, 2017

Photo courtesy of Bill Kallenberg & Captured In Action What happens when two top juniors get together to form a business while giving back to the sport they both love? TennisMentors.net ! I had the opportunity to chat with Trent Bryde and Patrick Kypson the day before their week at Kalamazoo 2017 started. They took some time away from their tournament preparation to talk about their goals as tennis players as well as in business. Trent and Patrick have wisely partnered with Jim Harp of Harp Performance Tennis Academy to market their mentoring service to young players around the US. Jim is an experienced coach based in the Metro Atlanta area and is a huge asset to this blossoming business. The other two mentors on board so far are Gianni Ross and Sam Riffice. They hope to eventually include some female mentors, too. Through their new venture, these young men hope to meet with and advise those coming up behind them. Whether it's through an online chat, a phone call, or an in-person hitting session, they will work with a player on a one-to-one level with the aim of helping the younger players reach their own tennis goals. Be sure to check out their website at http://tennismentors.net . Huge congratulations to Patrick on winning the Boys 18s singles (and for reaching the finals of the Boys 18s doubles) at Kalamazoo last week! Please join me in wishing him all the best as he puts his US Open Wildcard to use in a few weeks! Please visit us online at www.parentingaces.com . Contact Lisa at lisa@parentingaces.com . Note: We are currently seeking additional sponsors for the ParentingAces podcast. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Lisa at lisa@parentingaces.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 8, 2017

Professional tennis player, Rubin Statham, chats with Lisa about his life growing up with his twin brother in New Zealand and going through the juniors there then transitioning to a life on the pro tour. A few years into his career, Rubin and his twin, Oliver, noticed that they were spending in excess of $17,000 per year on stringing, almost half of their overall prize money. They decided to find a way to cut their expenses and go into business at the same time. That's how the Pro Stringer Platinum was born! Rubin talks about why every junior player should learn how to string his/her own racquets and the best age to start stringing. Rubin graciously agreed to offer a nice discount to the ParentingAces community, so if you're interested in purchasing one of these fabulous portable stringing machines, go to https://pro-stringer.com/the-pro-stringer-platinum-in-action-limited-time-offer/ and use PROMO CODE "ACES100" to get a $100 discount at checkout. To read more about the Pro Tennis Platinum stringer, check out this article on ParentingAces.com: http://parentingaces.com/how-to-save-money-on-racket-stringing/ . Be sure to visit us at www.parentingaces.com . Email us at lisa@parentingaces.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 1, 2017

The Tour Level Program was born of a vision to bring together tennis experts from around the world and to make the program accessible globally to junior, collegiate and professional tennis players. The program experts' collaborative approach enables you to add to your existing team while maintaining great synergy. Using online platforms such as Skype, they are able to offer a variety of 'off-court' online training with their experts that includes Tennis Fitness, Nutrition, Mental Training, Mindfulness, Skype Yoga and Recovery Strategies - each of them key to being a complete player. They also provide exciting Tour Mentorship opportunities with members of the tennis elite: Guy Fritz, a former touring pro and winner of the prestigious Team USA Developmental Coach of the Year in 2016, will provide ATP Tour Track Mentorship. Angelica Gavaldon, former WTA Tour world no. 30 and Fed Cup Team Captain for Mexico, will provide WTA Tour Track Mentorship. There are also in-person training options including high performance on-court coaching from former ATP Tour world no. 18 Vince Spadea (Los Angeles, CA), Guy Fritz (San Diego, CA) and Matt Hanlin (McKinney, TX). Additionally, for those located close to or willing to travel to their world experts, in-person training will be available for all aspects of the Tour Level Player Development Program. Contact Mark for more information, either using the Contact Form or by emailing info@tourlevelprogram.com. You can reach him by phone at (310) 923-1856. Also be sure to follow them on social media: http://www.facebook.com/TourLevelProgram, http://instagram.com/tourlevelprogram, https://twitter.com/tour_level Reminder: you can still enter the 2017 Sol Schwartz #SaveCollegeTennis All-In Tournament in Baltimore August 12-13. Go to http://events.universaltennis.com/tournaments/336/ - entry deadline is August 5th! Visit us online at www.parentingaces.com. Email us at lisa@parentingaces.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 25, 2017

Sport Psychologist, Dr. Michelle Cleere, talks with us about why training the brain is crucial to the overall junior development process. Her approach to working with young players is to normalize the process and help them understand that they need tools to deal with the ups and downs that naturally happen during a tennis match or during training. If all a child knows how to do is throw a temper tantrum or cry, then they are more likely to give up on the sport. Instead, what if they were able to process and file away their strong emotions so they didn't get in the way of their play? This is the work that Dr. Michelle does with her young charges. She gives them the tools to develop their own mental game plan. You can learn more about Dr. Michelle at https://drmichellecleere.com. Email her at drmichelle@drmichellecleere.com. To purchase her book, Beating the Tennis Demons, go to https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WFG2AJG/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00WFG2AJG&linkCode=as2&tag=pareaces-20&linkId=e407c93a7974ea287379cea8280e9594. DR. MICHELLE CLEERE Elite Performance Expert Dr. Michelle helps professional, junior and age group tennis players overcome their performance challenges. It’s her passion, mission, and promise. Ultimately, she works with top athletes to help them unlock the power of the mind and create the mental toughness necessary to be the best. Dr. Michelle’s extensive academic background, which includes a PhD in Clinical Psychology and a Masters in Sports Psychology, allows her to help clients deal with performance anxiety, gain more confidence, and build resilience. As many clients attest, their experience with Dr. Michelle is exactly what they needed and more than they expected – it was life changing. Dr. Michelle’s bestseller, Beating the Tennis Demons, helps clients develop practical skills to gain more control over competitive environments and mitigate the interruption in play to overcome intense odds and defeat adversity. She has been involved in many different sports and understands the stress and demands to perform at the top. As a 15-year USAT Coach, she developed simple and effective tools to mentally train her athletes, and they are used by PTR and USPTA coaches around the world. If you are interested in finding out how Dr. Michelle can help your child beat their tennis demons, email her for a free 30-minute phone consult – drmichelle@drmichellecleere.com . She works with clients remotely via Skype or phone. Be sure to enter the Sol Schwartz #SaveCollegeTennis All-In Tournament August 12-13 in Baltimore at http://events.universaltennis.com/tournaments/336/. If your child is unable to play but you would still like to support our fund to provide grants to college tennis programs at risk of being cut, you can make a donation using Venmo to my email address: lisa@parentingaces.com. Visit us online at www.parentingaces.com. Email us at lisa@parentingaces.com. Email me at lisa@parentingaces.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 18, 2017

Tim Russell, the head honcho at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), discusses how his organization is working with colleges, coaches, and communities to save and grow college tennis across the US. The ITA has developed a self-assessment tool, the Program Health Index, for college tennis programs to use in order to determine whether their team is "safe" or at risk of being cut. The assessment includes items such as the team GPA, how much community outreach the players do, and how often the college president attends matches. Tim and his staff hope this will help prevent program cuts by helping coaches learn what's important to university administrators. Tim stresses that the ITA is committed to telling the stories of college tennis, not just to the community, but also to college presidents and other decision-makers at the school. It is a tough sell since tennis is a non-revenue sport, but the Program Health Index and other tools are helping the ITA to make its case effectively. Of course, it wouldn't be a college tennis discussion without addressing the subject of international players! Tim and I delve into that topic as well. You can learn more about the ITA and its initiatives at www.itatennis.com. Just a reminder that entries are still open for the Sol Schwartz #SaveCollegeTennis All-In tournament in Baltimore August 12-13. You can enter at http://events.universaltennis.com/tournaments/336/. Visit us at www.parentingaces.com. Email me at lisa@parentingaces.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 11, 2017

I will once again be covering the BB&T Atlanta Open, the kick-off men's event to the US Open Series. This year's tournament will be held at Atlantic Station in the heart of Atlanta's Midtown district July 22-30, 2017. For more information on the tournament, go to http://www.bbtatlantaopen.com. At this year's Media Day, I had the opportunity to chat with Young Guns Chris Eubanks and Trent Bryde (who is coached by Viv Chhetri and Will Wright) about their tennis goals and the role tournaments like this one play in their overall development. I also had the chance to talk to Trent's dad, Bruce, not only about Trent but also about the other two Bryde children, Karlee and Kyle, and how he and his wife, Kathi, balance the various interests of their offspring. Be sure to enter the Sol Schwartz #SaveCollegeTennis All-In tournament(s) before the deadlines! For the Atlanta event (July 17-19) go to http://events.universaltennis.com/tournaments/261/. For the Baltimore event (August 12-13) go to http://events.universaltennis.com/tournaments/336/. If you'd simply like to make a donation to our fund which will provide grants to college tennis programs at risk of being cut, you can do so via check made payable to The Sol and sent to 70 1st Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30317 OR you can now donate via Venmo to lisa@parentingaces.com. Thank you for any support you can give! This is also the last week to take advantage of the ParentingAces discount on Match!Tennis App. If you haven't downloaded it and taken advantage of a 30-day free trial, what are you waiting for???? For more information, visit http://parentingaces.com/tennis-parents-gotta-get-app/. We hope you'll visit us online at http://www.parentingaces.com. Email lisa@parentingaces.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 4, 2017

Two-time Australian Open Champion, Johan Kriek, has been working hard for the past several years to change how we train junior tennis players here in the US. Last year, he moved his academy from Charlotte, NC down to the PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, FL in order to maximize the opportunity for young players to train and learn. This summer, Johan is partnering with Ten-Pro Global's Junior Tour to offer the Kriek Cup, an age-group tournament for players age U10 through U16 August 13-19, 2017. Players can register to compete in their own age group PLUS one age group up to maximize the number of matches played with a minimum of 4 matches guaranteed to each player. On-court coaching is allowed during the set breaks. Johan's academy is also offering a special training camp the week prior to the tournament to help players adapt to the clay and to the South Florida heat and humidity. Per the press release from the Johan Kriek Tennis Academy: All highly talented junior tennis players around the world are invited to participate in the KRIEK CUP USA International Junior Tournament organized by TEN-PRO Global Junior Tour. The tournament which takes place at PGA National Resort & Spa, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida during school vacation, August 13 through 19, 2017 gives the perfect possibility to combine a holiday with World top junior tournament and also promises participants an enjoyable stay at the beautiful and sunny Florida resort. This tournament is part of a very successful series that is being played at the world's most prestigious tennis academies such as the Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy, Kim Clijsters Academy and the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy. The Johan Kriek Tennis Academy is the first and only academy in the US to host this event. The tournaments results are counted by UTR (Universal Tennis Rating) and will be played in separate competitions in each age category at the same time (U9), U10, U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, U16. As part of the packages embedded in this great tournament, four matches are guaranteed per person with new coaching on court. Johan Kriek and the Johan Kriek Tennis Academy team will also conduct a Kriek Cup Preparatory Camp right before the tournament. For more information on the camp visit https://www.johankriektennis.com/kriek-cup-tennis-camp For more information on the Kriek Cup, go to https://www.johankriektennis.com/events/kriek-cup-2017-this-august/ Registration is still open for both Sol Schwartz #SaveCollegeTennis All-In Tournaments. For the Atlanta event (July 17-19), go to http://events.universaltennis.com/tournaments/261/ . For the Baltimore event (August 12-13), go to http://events.universaltennis.com/tournaments/336/ . Be sure to visit us online at www.parentingaces.com . Email us at lisa@parentingaces.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 27, 2017

My dear friend, Sol Schwartz, passed away suddenly in March 2016, and a group of us decided to honor his legacy and try to continue his life's work by creating a very special junior tennis tournament. The inaugural tournament was held in Sol's hometown of Baltimore in August of 2016. This year, we are excited to expand the tournament to two cities: Atlanta July 17-19 and Baltimore August 12-13. In this week's podcast, we hear from others affiliated with the tournament as well as from Sol's wife, Ilene. My hope is that you'll feel compelled to sign your junior players up for these tournaments after hearing from them! After all, in what other junior tennis tournament is your child guaranteed 3 matches all for the low cost of $15 per day? A huge thank you to the tournament sponsors: 10sballs.com Holabird Sports The Intensivist Team Kassimir Physical Therapy Match Tennis App Maller Wealth Advisors Solinco Dunlop Tennis Trunk Universal Tennis Rating Universal Tennis Academy Voss Water Melanie Rubin Michael Sellman Ilene, Dori, and Evan Schwartz For more information on the tournaments, you can visit the following links: #theSol Atlanta: http://events.universaltennis.com/tournaments/261/ #theSol Baltimore: http://events.universaltennis.com/tournaments/336/ More info on this year's tournaments: http://parentingaces.com/thesol-year-2/ Info on last year's tourney: http://parentingaces.com/sol-schwartz-savecollegetennis-all-in-tournament/ Info on Sol: http://parentingaces.com/tribute-to-a-gentle-man/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 20, 2017

Should we parents push our kids to be fiercely competitive? Or should we protect them from the knockouts? In Part 8 of our conversation, John Falbo is of the opinion that not only should we push our kids to be competitive but it is also OUR RESPONSIBILITY as parents to do so in order for them to be successful in life. As usual, John doesn't mince words, and some may find his opinions offensive, but that's what I love about him! He speaks his mind as someone who has lived through the rigors of junior and college tennis and used those experiences to find success in the business world. You can find John's Facebook video here: https://www.facebook.com/ You can find the article he references here: https://tennisdadblog.wordpress.com To enter the 2017 #theSol Atlanta tournament, click here . To enter the 2017 #theSol Baltimore tournament, click here . To get info on the Match Tennis App, click here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 13, 2017

Like most of us Tennis Parents, Lindsay Lee Waters (who also happens to be a touring pro) found herself spending an inordinate amount of time dealing with her son's junior tournament scheduling. Between searching for tournaments on TennisLink, UTR, and other sites then choosing which tournaments were appropriate given her son's current level then signing up without missing the deadline then checking every few days to see if her son got in and whether the draws had been posted, Lindsay was overwhelmed. She knew there had to be a better way. So, Lindsay and her husband, Heath, a high-performance junior coach, enlisted the help of some techies to develop an app for that. A few months later, the Match!Tennis app was born. I won't spoil the podcast by laying out all the features of the app in the show notes, but suffice it to say that if your child plays junior tennis, you absolutely have to download it. And, the fact that, as part of the ParentingAces community, you get a 30 day free trial PLUS a 20% discount makes this a no-brainer! Here's how to take advantage of the discount: 1. Go to http://matchtennisapp.com/parenting-aces/ 2. Enter promo code “acesmonth” into the promo code box during registration to get your 20% discount to a monthly Match Tennis App subscription. 3. Enter promo code “acesyear” into promo code box during registration to get your 20% discount to a yearly Match Tennis App subscription. 4. Make sure to use the correct phone number and email address during registration as you will be sent verification code to your text or email in order to secure your registration. 5. If you have any issues completing registration or need any assistance contact support@matchtennisapp.com and they will help you get squared away. 6. The discount codes are only good through July 15, 2017, so act quickly! The Match Tennis app is nationwide so every state in the US is able to use it and take advantage of the 20% discount. NOTE: You will need to put in your credit card info during registration. However, you will receive a 30 day free trial to give you time to see if the app is right for you. You can easily cancel using the desktop app before the 30 day trial ends by clicking "My Account" then scrolling to the big red "Cancel Subscription" button to avoid any charges on your credit card. Entries for the 2nd annual Sol Schwartz #SaveCollegeTennis All-In Tennis Tournament are now open. We are thrilled that Match Tennis App will be a sponsor this year! For the Atlanta tournament (July 17-19) go to http://events.universaltennis.com/tournaments/261/. For the Baltimore tournament (August 12-13) go to http://events.universaltennis.com/tournaments/336/. Also, registration for the ITA Summer Circuit is now open. Go to http://www.itatennis.com/Events/ITA_Summer_Circuit.htm for information. Visit us at www.parentingaces.com. Email me at lisa@parentingaces.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 6, 2017

Dave Mullins comes from an extensive tennis background, both as a player and as a coach. He is originally from Dublin, Ireland, and came to the US to play college tennis. He wound up in the world of college coaching, having a stellar career at the University of Oklahoma as the head women's coach. A couple of years ago, Dave retired from coaching and returned with his wife and two children to Dublin where he is now working at the same club where he grew up playing. He is also devoting a good amount of time to helping families navigate through the tennis development process. In this week's podcast, Dave and I talk about how rising college freshmen, as well as current college players, should be spending their summers. Should they be playing tournaments? Should they take an internship? Should they have a paying job? Should they take time off and relax? Of course, there's not one answer that is best for every player, but Dave backs up his answers with what he's learned in his years as a player and as a coach. He shares very important information as we move into the summer season. To find Dave online, visit his website at www.davemullinstennis.com . You can also reach him via email at davemullinstennis@gmail.com . Entries for the 2nd annual Sol Schwartz #SaveCollegeTennis All-In Tennis Tournament are now open. For the Atlanta tournament (July 17-19) go to http://events.universaltennis.com/tournaments/261/ . For the Baltimore tournament (August 12-13) go to http://events.universaltennis.com/tournaments/336/ . Also, registration for the ITA Summer Circuit is now open. Go to http://www.itatennis.com/Events/ITA_Summer_Circuit.htm for information. Find us at www.parentingaces.com . Email me at lisa@parentingaces.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 30, 2017

The past 12 days at the NCAAs at the University of Georgia have been incredible! The level of tennis and sportsmanship exhibited by the student-athletes, coaches, and fans (well, mostly!) has been superb. I ran into some old friends (including Stanford Super Fan, Cliff Hayashi !) and made some new ones. I even had the opportunity to meet some long-time digital friends in person - including College10s2day's Bobby Knight - what a treat! At this year's Championships, I wanted to give y'all a glimpse at some of the people who make this event so great, so I reached out to some of the players, parents, and behind-the-scenes folks involved. The volunteers from UGA did an incredible job of keeping things running, including squeegeeing courts, manning the gates, and keeping all of us fed and hydrated. I hope those of you on Twitter and Instagram enjoyed my updates there, too! In this week's ParentingAces Podcast, which is a bit longer than usual (sorry!), you will hear from Taylor Davidson, a senior at Stanford; Francesca DiLorenzo, a sophomore at Ohio State; Chanmeet Narang, the UGA Men's Tennis Team Manager; Elizabeth Milano, a UGA student and volunteer at the Championships; Tammy Duncan and Olga Reinberg, parents of UGA players; and Beata Redlicki, mom to players at University of Arkansas and UCLA. Please pardon the background noise as these interviews were actually conducted on the grounds of the Championships. As mentioned in the podcast, entries for the 2nd annual Sol Schwartz #SaveCollegeTennis All-In Tennis Tournament are now open. For the Atlanta tournament (July 17-19) go to http://events.universaltennis.com/tournaments/261/ . For the Baltimore tournament (August 12-13) go to http://events.universaltennis.com/tournaments/336/ . To watch the FloTennis profile on Michael Redlicki, go to https://www.flotennis.com/article/56190-8-things-you-didn-t-know-about-mike-redlicki . Also, registration for the ITA Summer Circuit is now open. Go to http://www.itatennis.com/Events/ITA_Summer_Circuit.htm for information. For more information on the 2017 NCAA Division I Tennis Championships, visit http://www.georgiadogs.com/sports/m-tennis/spec-rel/ncaa-2017.html . A huge THANK YOU to the University of Georgia, the NCAA, and the ITA for working together to put on my favorite event in tennis, hands down. Visit us at www.parentingaces.com . Email me at lisa@parentingaces.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 23, 2017

PlaySight Head of Sales Racquet Sports, Josh Graves, grew up in tennis. Upon graduating from Northwestern where he played #1 for the men's tennis team, he sought a job. Using the vast store of resources he developed throughout his tennis career, he landed his ideal job: working with a cutting-edge tech company in the tennis arena. PlaySight has really changed since I was first introduced to it at the 2014 NCAA Tennis Championships. The company has created more affordable options for colleges and other facilities that want to bring the latest video, streaming, and stats technology to their users. Now, PlaySight is situated in 20 of the 32 schools represented at the NCAA Team Championships as well as at the new USTA Lake Nona facility. They also have a presence in several private clubs around the world, including the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. The PlaySight folks have also created a great new tournament format called PlayFair using their video replay capabilities as a sort of challenge system ( click here for my article on the first collegiate PlayFair tournament). So far, PlayFair has been very well received by key players, including coaches, officials, and players. PlaySight has partnered with USTA to test out the PlayFair format at some junior tournaments. We should expect to see more of these tournaments over the coming months which is great news for junior tennis. PlaySight has developed an app as well, which can be downloaded free of charge from the App Store or the PlaySight website. It provides free video annotating and sharing as well as free viewing of livestreaming. To reach PlaySight, go to www.playsight.com . You can also find them on the various social media outlets. To listen to my 2014 podcast with PlaySight founder Gordon Uehling, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOzK3qByYeM&list=PLfiLuMW_ON87GUE6yUO5lVErBpThwyC1r&index=6 Visit www.parentingaces.com Email lisa@parentingaces.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 16, 2017

On July 28, 2015, Tim Siegel received a phone call that tragically changed his life. In this week's ParentingAces podcast, Tim talks about his son, Luke's, golf cart accident and how his family has turned such a horrific event into a foundation dedicated to helping others. Tim grew up in tennis, achieving the highest level as a junior player, college player, and on the pro tour before moving into college coaching at Texas Tech University. He lives with his wife, Jenny, and their children in Lubbock, Texas, now working full-time to care for Luke and to share Luke's story in hopes of raising funds to assist other families that have a child suffering with a traumatic brain injury. FoxTV will air a recently-produced documentary on Luke this summer (air dates listed in image below). The ITA also produced a short video on Luke which you can view at https://www.facebook.com/ITACollegeTennis/videos/vb.44553009422/10154633892519423/?type=2&theater Please take the time to visit the Team Luke Foundation website at http://teamlukefoundation.com. You can follow Luke's story on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Prayforlukesiegel/?ref=br_rs, on Twitter @TimSiegelTTU, and on Instagram @Luke.Siegel Visit us: http://parentingaces.com Contact us: lisa@parentingaces.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 12, 2017

This week, the world lost a great man, a great supporter of tennis, and the Tennis Parent I aspired to be when Steve Johnson, Sr. passed away. I first met Steve at the NCAA Championships in Athens, GA when he was on a panel for parents and high school-age players who were interested in learning more about college tennis. After the panel discussion, my husband and I spoke with Steve and thanked him for his candor. I never guessed that would be the beginning of a friendship that would find us together at the US Open, Indian Wells, the Easter Bowl, and at a variety of college matches in Southern California. Whenever I traveled to SoCal, I would always let Steve know I was coming to "his coast" in hopes that we would have a chance to meet up and catch up. If he wasn't too busy teaching tennis lessons or spending time with his family, he would make the effort to find a way to come to wherever I was and say hello. The last time was at the Boise State-UC Irvine match just a few weeks ago. I will miss Steve's friendship and his council. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Michelle, and his two well-loved children, Alison and Stevie. Godspeed, my friend. This podcast was originally recorded in December of 2012. To read an interview between Steve and Frank Giampaolo, click here . For two other interviews I did with Steve, click here and here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 9, 2017

Adam Van Zee played his college tennis at D3 Wabash College then coached both the men's and women's teams at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana. He now works in development at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis while also writing and hosting his own podcast for Division3Tennis.com . In this episode of the ParentingAces podcast, Adam and I discuss the ins and outs of playing a Division 3 sport. We talk about how to finance a D3 education when the NCAA does not allow for athletic scholarships, how the D3 recruiting and application process works, and how PSAs can use the D3 Recruiting Hub to narrow down their list of potential schools. NOTE: According to the information I was able to find online, PSAs are allowed unlimited official visits to D3 colleges starting the first day of their senior year of high school. However, they are only allowed one official visit per college. In Divisions 1 and 2, PSAs are limited to 5 total unofficial visits. If you have questions about choosing a D3 tennis program, you can reach Adam on Twitter @d3centraltennis or via email at acvanzee@gmail.com For more information on Division 3 from the NCAA, click here and here . My apologies for the ad-lib from Sully mid-episode! Keywords: adam van zee, college, d3, division 3, earlham, ncaa, official, recruiting, tennis, visits, scholarships, financial aid, college tennis, coach, student-athlete Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 2, 2017

Coach Ed Krass runs a series of college exposure camps for high school age junior players (rising 9-12 graders). His goal is to help these kids learn from the college coaches themselves so they have a clear idea of what it means to play college tennis. Not only are the kids on the court with the head coaches themselves, but they also have the opportunity to talk one on one with the coaches and ask questions that can help them throughout the recruiting process. In this episode of the ParentingAces podcast, Ed shares a day in the life of his campers as well as some of the things potential student-athletes should look for in a college tennis coach and program. Plus Ed graciously offers a $50 discount to the ParentingAces audience! To redeem the discount offer, visit the Register Now link on CollegeTennis.com to choose the date and location you'd like your player to attend, then call 813-684-9031 and let them know you're a ParentingAces listener who would like to take advantage of the discount. For more information, visit CollegeTennis.com . Also, check out OneOnOneDoubles.com for information on the doubles drills and tournaments that Ed discusses during our podcast. Book mentioned in podcast: Coaching Tennis by Coach Chuck Kriese (click here to buy) To contact Ed Krass, call 813-684-9031 or email ekrass@tampabay.rr.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 25, 2017

Coach John O'Sullivan of Changing the Game Project discusses transactional vs. transformational coaching (read more here ) and why we parents need to seek out coaches who are truly invested in the development of the whole child, not just the tennis player. We also talk about the "sweet spot of involvement" for parents and how we parents need to adjust constantly throughout our child's junior development. Lastly, we touch on the challenges of coaching your own child and how best to separate "coach" versus "parent" on and off the court. You can find John's podcast here - I encourage you to check it out! Coaches may be interested in the Way of Champions conference coming this summer to New Jersey. You can find out more here . To listen to John's TED Talk, click here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 18, 2017

Does your junior player have issues staying motivated? Has he/she had to deal with cheating in practices and/or tournaments? In Part 7 of our conversations, John Falbo discusses the intricacies of helping your player find the internal drive to succeed in tennis despite the obstacles ahead, including players who are dishonest. John stresses the importance of maintaining an open line of communication with your player throughout the development process, especially given the high cost of junior development and the small number of college scholarships available. Constant communication is key! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 13, 2017

The founder of Im Recruitable and Collegiate Exposure Camps talks about the challenges and possible stumbling blocks for junior tennis players going through the college recruiting process. Tarek offers suggestions and solutions for helping the process have a positive outcome from both Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 12, 2017

Registered dietician and sport nutrition expert Jeff Rothschild discusses the various supplements available to junior tennis players and how they need to fuel their bodies for maximum performance and to reduce illness and injury Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 6, 2017

Former professional player Eric Butorac talks about his unique junior development and college tennis years and how they helped form him into one of the world’s top doubles players Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 5, 2017

Reynaldo Garrido had to make his own way in tennis as a young boy growing up in Cuba. Hear his story then read more in this New York Times article (click here ). The Tennis Channel is in Cuba doing a documentary on this project where the tennis courts at the main tennis training facility in Havana were refurbished by funds raised by Jake Agna from Connecticut, the first brick and mortar project approved by the US to be done in Cuba in 55 years. The courts were recently completed and the ribbon ceremony was this week. In addition, they are also reporting on the history of tennis in Cuba and so they interviewed Reynaldo's brother, Orlando, and later on will be down in Miami interviewing Reynaldo. The full show is scheduled to air sometime around the US Open. Here is the pre-interview clip of Jon Wertheim interviewing Reynaldo's brother, Orlando: http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2017/04/cuba-national-tennis-center-orlando-garrido-fidel-castro-tennis/65578/#.WPo2FM3f8Mg.facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 4, 2017

Former college and pro player and the founder of Tenicity discusses the difference between simply coaching a junior player and managing that player throughout the junior development process Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 28, 2017

For this episode of the ParentingAces podcast, Lisa Stone traveled to Chattanooga, TN, to spend the day at the 2017 DecoTurf High School Tennis Team Championships where she chatted with Tournament Director Brandon Feusner as well as several others involved with Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 21, 2017

In this episode of the ParentingAces podcast, Lisa Stone and John Falbo discuss what it will take to bring back the popularity of tennis in the US, including officiating, junior tournament rules, and building a fan base for college tennis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 14, 2017

In this episode of the ParentingAces podcast, Peter Rennert, former top college player and current coach and founder of TELOS, shares his thoughts on integrating the body and mind through breath work and purposeful training to maximize performance both on Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 9, 2017

In this episode of the ParentingAces podcast, high-performance coaches Frank Giampaolo and Bill Riddle discuss the junior development process from the early years through high school. Be sure to check out Frank’s newest book here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 28, 2017

In this episode of the ParentingAces podcast, Part 5 of the conversation with John Falbo, John shares even more stories from his life in tennis. In John’s own words, this episode is titled Silly Rules and Stubborn Fools Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 21, 2017

Recruiting consultant Sarah Borwell discusses maximizing the recruiting process, her consulting service TennisSmart, and British players coming to the US to play college tennis in this episode of the ParentingAces podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 14, 2017

USTA’s head of Collegiate Tennis, Stephen Amritraj, discusses USTA’s role in the growth and development of college tennis in this episode of the ParentingAces podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 7, 2017

High-performance coach Todd Widom is joined by his momma, Eloise, to discuss the role of the parent in raising a tennis player in this episode of the ParentingAces podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 31, 2017

Former UCLA standout discusses his life in tennis – from the juniors through college and the pro tour – and his work to grow the game with Tennacity in this episode of the ParentingAces podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 17, 2017

Coach Bill Patton discusses the challenges and benefits of online coaching in this episode of the ParentingAces podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 17, 2017

John refers to this episode of our chats as “Grow A Pair”! He shares even more of his stories about growing up in tennis and how he’s parlayed that experience into a successful life in this episode of the ParentingAces podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 10, 2017

Martin Blackman, USTA’s head of Player Development, discusses how parents can access USTA camps, the new Lake Nona campus, and USTA’s recommittment to US College Tennis in this episode of the ParentingAces podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 20, 2016

High-performance coach Todd Widom discusses the 2017 Junior Competition changes in terms of aging up & tournament scheduling in Part 3 of this series of the ParentingAces podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 13, 2016

Boise State Men’s Coach, Greg Patton, and UNC standout, Hayley Carter, discuss their experience at the 2016 BNP Paribas Master’U in France in this episode of the ParentingAces podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 6, 2016

In this episode of the ParentingAces podcast, former top junior, Lark Baxter, discusses being a player development rep for tennis manufacturers & transitioning to high-level coaching Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 29, 2016

John’s title for this round of our chats is “B.S. Toughness”! He shares his opinion on mental toughness and how it can be achieved by junior players in this episode of the ParentingAces podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 22, 2016

In Part 2 of this series of the ParentingAces podcast high-performance coach Todd Widom discusses Jr ITF tournaments, point construction, & off-court training Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 24, 2016

In this episode of the ParentingAces podcast, and the first of an ongoing series of chats, high-performance coach Todd Widom discusses his unique approach to developing junior players and limiting the size of his group to provide individual attention Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 11, 2016

John calls this one “Heavyweight Heifer” – not sure why! Listen to John Falbo as he shares his wisdom and life experience in the world of junior and college tennis in this episode of the ParentingAces podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 4, 2016

In this episode of the ParentingAces podcast, ITA COO, Erica Perkins Jasper, discusses the ITA/Oracle Masters Tournament & College Tennis in 2017 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 13, 2016

In this episode of the ParentingAces podcast: John Falbo was at the top of the rankings during his junior tennis years, coming up alongside players such as Andre Agassi, Malavai Washington, and Pete Sampras. But, his family’s business had to take precedence Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 6, 2016

How we can use research and stroke analysis to reduce injury in junior players in this episode of the ParentingAces podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 23, 2016

In this episode of the ParentingAces podcast, coach Vivian Chhetri discusses the challenges of coaching high-performance players Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 2, 2016

Andrew Carter shares stories from his life in tennis, from juniors to college to the pro tour LIVE from the BB&T Atlanta Open in this episode of the ParentingAces podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 26, 2016

Former top pro, Johan Kriek, discusses his new academy at the PGA facility in South Florida and his plan for developing top junior tennis players in this episode of the ParentingAces podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 19, 2016

In this episode of the ParentingAces podcast Michael Russell discusses his life in tennis from Juniors to College to the Pro Tour to the Business World as an ambassador for ArrowBar energy bars Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices