This article is written by an extraordinary member of our coaching community, here in San Diego, Ron Marquez. Ironically, Ron and I met for the first time when he was a ballperson for one of my matches in the late 80s. I cringe to think of what I muttered under my breath between points. We reconnected when two of my favorite students were fortunate enough to play on Ron’s high school team. Ron Marquez was the girls and boy’s tennis coach at Cathedral Catholic High School for 20 years, Assistant AD at Cathedral, and is now working for…
1. College Coaches Want to See the Player Compete College coaches want to see that you are competing and improving. The simple fact is that college tennis is tougher than junior tennis. Coaches need to know you can rise to the level of play and adjust to the collegiate environment. College coaches don’t want the players who run and hide from competition. Let me repeat, coaches don’t want players who run and hide from competition. If you are avoiding competition to protect your UTR or ranking, you are focusing on the wrong things. We hear constant stories of…
Ok, now that summer is over, we are back to school, and the chaos of our calendars juggling family, work, school, and sports has officially taken over. If you are like me, I always feel like it is the sports component that sets me over the edge. Why is this? Because it is where we are the least organized. We have our work schedule. We have a “back to school night” to get school scheduled. Now, let’s create a tennis or sports schedule that is in sync with our family calendar. Before we get started, let…
I get to wear many hats while on-site at the USTA BJK Girls’ 16s & 18s Nationals… volunteer for social media, registration, tournament survival guide and college recruitment forum, coach to one of the players, college consultant for two players, and a former player and spectator. Here are a few of my reflections on the changes in the 35 years since I played… The tournament site looks like a professional event. The variety of ways for parents to coach their player has not evolved. Mental skills coaches have made many players robots between points. Ok, what is up with…
Tips to Stay Hydrated this Summer Staying hydrated during the summer playing season is not easy. We all know it is tough to perform well when dehydrated, but more importantly, it can prevent heat illness and heat exhaustion. In my tennis career, I had to train and compete in all types of heat. I grew up playing tennis in Central California with very dry heat. During practice and matches, we would change sides, and there would be a sprinkling of white salt on my arms and legs. Many of our nationals were in the hot and humid south, where we…