FAVORITE SITES: Timeless Tennis by Gary Bala

Posted: Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Tennis Video of the Day: What's It Like to Face a 150MPH Serve?

The pros make it look easy, but the reality is much different. See video

NEWS: GlouTwp. Summer Tennis program update

RAINOUT

Session #1 (June 27th) GlouTwp. Summer QuickStart Tennis program 

has been cancelled due to rain

Rescheduled to begin
July 11th

 

There is no session

July 4th

NEW TIMES

Please take note of the following schedule change:

Ages 5-7

8:45-10:10

Ages 8-10

10:15-11:40

15 minutes will be added to the first 4 sessions
to cover the rained-out first week session

For more information:

856-359-GPTS (4787)

gottaplaytennis.ron@gmail.com

NEWS: 4th Annual Tennis Family Fun Day at Gloucester Twp. Community Park

THANK YOU TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS WHO MADE THIS EVENT POSSIBLE.
and
Thank you to all those who attended and enjoyed our event.

RAIN DELAYED - 1 HOUR

FREE FAMILY EVENT

Moms • Dads • Guardians • Grandparents • Kids aged 5-10 • Siblings

An introduction to QuickStart Tennis

Come out for some Family Fun while learning about this new 

family-oriented tennis format offered by Gloucester Twp. Recreation

JUNIOR RACQUET GIVEAWAY/ENTER DRAWING AT EVENT

Saturday, June 20th

10-12:00 P.M.

Gloucester Twp. Community Park

Peter Cheeseman and Hickstown Roads

Sicklerville, NJ

FOR MORE INFORMATION

www.gottaplaytennis.net • gottaplaytennis.ron@gmail.com

856-359-GPTS

NEWS: Spring/Summer QuickStart Tennis begins in Gloucester Twp.

Spring/Summer 2015 QuickStart Tennis

— Program Dates —

April 25 - May 30 (6 weeks)

Rain Date: June 13

AGES: 5-7 program

Time: 9:00 - 10:10AM

AGES: 8-10 program

Time: 10:15 - 11:25AM

June 27 - August 8 (6 weeks)

Rain Date: August 15
AGES: 5-7 program

Time: 8:45 - 9:55AM

AGES: 8-10 program

Time: 10:00 - 11:10AM

LOCATION: Gloucester Twp. Community Park

Peter Cheeseman and Hickstown Rds., Sicklerville, NJ

REGISTRATION (Spring Sessions) BEGINS: 
Monday, April 6th (residents)
Monday, April 16th (non-residents)

REGISTRATION (Summer Sessions) BEGINS: 
Monday, May 11 (residents)
Monday, June 8th (non-residents)

— ALL EQUIPMENT INCLUDED —

Registration Hours:

Monday-Thursday 8:00AM—5:45PM 

Extended evening hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays until 7:30pm

80 Broadacres Drive, Clementon, NJ

(Next to the Cherrywood development)

—

Click this link for the Gloucester Twp. Recreation site

Gloucester Twp. Dept. of Recreation

call (856) 435-5734

EPISODE 104 (Podcast): Turn up the Quiet...at least above the waist

Although all parts of the body make up one system, a tennis player can benefit from dividing the upper and lower halves as each has a role to play in successful movement and stroke production.

Subscribe in iTunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/gotta-play-tennis/id310096949

http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/gotta-play-tennis?refid=stpr

REFLECTIONS: Fans of SPORT get a great return on their time investment watching TENNIS

Stan Wawrinka (L) defeats Milos Raonic (R)

As much as I like to head scratch about why people love to endlessly watch their sports, especially ones that they neither currently play nor have never played, I'll give everyone a pass on this part of their persona under the phrase "live and let live." Who am I to judge after all. But I need to step up on my soapbox, and scream at the top of my lungs, when someone tells me that tennis is boring to watch.

I of course politely ask just what it is about the sport that does little to excite, and they usually respond, in my words not theirs, that fatigue develops while watching players hit back and forth. Or the answer might be that disinterest creeps in when the combatants start play with serves that both begin and end the point. It is usually about this time that I go on a rant about all that is really happening out there, but then eventually pull myself back realizing that nothing I say will have any impact. It is what I, in my humble opinion, refer to as sheep mentality. All my friends watch "X" so therefore I watch "X". With that said, I will admit that many of us are groomed from childhood to enjoy the sports that interested our parents as exposure always begins in the home. Also, sports seems to be about socializing and having common interests with friends or family members.

But I must be clear that I appreciate the passion these folks have for whatever sport they follow. Watching these individuals root for their favorite teams, regardless of why chosen, is always interesting. I actually had a brother in law, God rest his soul, that rooted for Notre Dame football for some reason I never understood. He did not attend that college, and neither did his parents nor children. But I recall him adamantly following their success and failure as if his livelihood depended on it. It did not.

The games were obviously exciting to him as they are to many, and he really enjoyed their drama. Were they exciting to me when he and others were huddled around the TV on holiday visits instead of engaging in conversation? No. But I would not be one to discuss how much time was wasted on huddles, flags thrown on the ground, or huge piles of bodies dispersing after what looked like the ultimate invasion of personal space. If someone ever asked me about whether I liked football, they would just exit the conversation quietly after my answer that "I'm a tennis fan." Why did I always feel like a leper after that answer?

The truth is, if one does not play the sport or has never played the sport, they cannot possibly understand what one feels when watching professionals play this most incredible game. Athletes serve balls (that is put the ball in play) at speeds from about 110 to 145 mph, they rally balls (that is hit balls back and forth over the net) anywhere from 2x to 25+ strikes of the ball that are hit with as much venom, spin, direction, and guile they can muster, and winner shots can be as soft as a feathery drop over the net or a cannon shot line-licker at speeds faster than most of us blink.

I could cite contest after contest of exciting and dynamic match play from international prime athletes playing in tournaments held all over the world, but I will just let the numbers on a recent match speak for my point. This happened to be a semi-final contest between Milos Raonic of Canada and Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament held in Rotterdam, The Netherlands on February 14, 2015. Although I have seen longer matches with even more drama, I cite this battle due to the data in the post-match stats. The match was 1 hour, 38 minutes in length which seemed about average at this level of play at about 1 hour per set. The final score was 7-6 (3), 7-6 (7) with the swiss coming out on top. Tennis fans know that a score of 7-6 means a tiebreaker, and as both sets went to tiebreakers, you might imagine it was close. Total points won on serve, with both of these guys able to crank up the big gun, was 64 or 74% Wawrinka to 57 or 78% Raonic. But even more telling was the Total Points Won stat of 80 to Stan the Man and 79 to his challenger Milos. So in other words, after battling close to 2 hours hitting brutal serves, screaming groundstrokes, and soft-hand volleys, only 1 single point inevitably separated first and second places. Now THAT is what I call exciting. And if anyone reading this does not think so, I can only suggest that they give watching tennis a try. They might just be pleasantly surprised.

FAVORITE SITES: Timeless Tennis by Gary Bala

Posted: Friday, January 23, 2015
Tennis Topic of the Day: Keep the Ball in Play

Mens Pro Tour (ATP) 

• XX% of points end with an error
• XX% of points end with a winner

Womens Pro Tour (WTA)

• XX% of points end with an error
• XX% of points end with a winner

Club Tennis

• XX% of points end with an error

get the stats...

NEWS: Gotta Play Tennis recognized by USTA Middle States NJ

Much to the surprise of both Trish and myself, we received an invitation in the mail from the USTA Middle States informing us of an awards ceremony this Spring. But the bigger surprise was the fact that Gotta Play Tennis has been awarded the 2014 USTA Middle States New Jersey District ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR (non-commercial).

Apparently the nomination process is meant to include those who have "contributed to the promotion and growth of the sport of tennis in the Middle States Section" which include 17 USTA sections divided regionally into six districts.

First and foremost, we would like to thank the many parents and children from the Gloucester Twp. South Jersey area for all of their participation and involvement with our youth tennis programs. Without them, our programs would not exist. 

Secondly, we need to recognize the Gloucester Twp. Recreation department for their steadfast commitment to supporting our tennis programs in their community by allowing us to utilize tennis courts at both Point Ariel Park and Gloucester Twp. Community Park in Sicklerville, NJ. Special thanks to Recreation Supervisors Diane Jones and Bill Fagan.

Last but not least, Trish and I are humbled with this recognition by the USTA Middle States NJ District (2014 president Carol MacClennan). Special thanks to Carol and also to the supportive efforts of USTA Tennis Service Representative Lori Schwartz and Associate Executive Director for the USTA Middle States Ben Zislis.

As we move forward in 2015, we are as excited as ever to bring quality tennis programs to the masses through low-cost recreational programs available to children starting at the age of 5. We hope to continue growing the tennis community in South Jersey for many years to come.

Congratulations to the 2014 New Jersey District Award Winners

Adaptive Award - Magee Wheelchair Tennis Team

Coach of the Year - Jay Snyder/Lindenwold High School

Family of the Year - The Albert Stark Family

Junior Team Tennis Organizer - Lisa Ullmann

Organization - Commercial - Riverwinds Tennis Center

Organization - Non-Commercial - Gotta Play Tennis/Ron Miller
Teaching Professional - Eric Wall
Team Spirit Award - Rowan University Club Tennis Team
Tournament Director - Nancy Wilkins
USTA Captain (Women) - Karen Shinn
USTA Captain (Men) - Ron Battle

Volunteer- Adult - Mike Genovese

Volunteer- Junior - Caroline Casey

Volunteer - Junior - Kabir Sarita

EPISODE 103 (Podcast): A cut above the rest Down Under

It's time for us to study how the tennis stroke known as the slice can add that dimension to our games for the benefit of both our offensive and defensive shotmaking. We'll also glance at how this seems to be growing in popularity with current pros on the tour today.

Subscribe in iTunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/gotta-play-tennis/id310096949

http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/gotta-play-tennis?refid=stpr

EPISODE 102 (Podcast): Discussing tennis ahead and behind

As a way to kick off the new year of 2015, I had the opportunity interview Gary Bala of TimelessTennis.net. Gary and I take an over-the-shoulder look at the 2014 Grand Slams in the world of men's tennis and then consider how those results may may affect the 2015 ATP tour. 

Subscribe in iTunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/gotta-play-tennis/id310096949

http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/gotta-play-tennis?refid=stpr

FAVORITE SITES: Timeless Tennis by Gary Bala

Posted: Thursday, January 8, 2015
Tennis Topic of the Day: Footwork Errors

The three common tennis footwork errors are...read more

NEWS: Here is a small way you can show your support for Gotta Play Tennis

Good News! 

Now you have a way to show your support for my efforts with what I hope has been valuable, entertaining and inspiring content since 2009. It is called Patreon.

"Founded in May 2013 and based in San Francisco, California, Patreon was created to enable fans to support and engage with the artists and creators they love. Empowering a new generation of creators, Patreon is bringing patronage back to the 21st century."

With just a little help on your part, I can continue some of my past work and even grow my content to become a more valuable asset to whatever place tennis has in your life. 

Go to: www.patreon.com/gottaplaytennis

For more details: http://www.patreon.com/faq

You will see that, by working together, very little effort on your part can make a huge impact on what I can provide for my patrons.

Note: The Gotta Play Tennis website and podcast have never been FREE from hosting fees, substantial research, writing and recording time, equipment purchases and graphics creation. Workshops attended, insurance, memberships to organizations, and certifications, are also not FREE. In other words, I have carried the burden of the costs for you since 2009. Now I am asking for your support in a very small way. Become a patron of Gotta Play Tennis and continue to enjoy even more and expanded content with the help of my supporters.

GLOUCESTER TWP. TENNIS

Fall Tennis 2014 is COMPLETED.

Week 1 - Sept. 27

Week 2 - Oct. 11 (RAINOUT)

Week 2 - Oct. 18

Week 3 - Oct. 25

Week 4 - Nov. 1 (RAINOUT)

VERY COLD – Week 4 - Nov. 8 – VERY COLD
VERY COLD - Week 5 - Nov. 15 (Rain Date 1) - VERY COLD

Week 6 - Nov. 22 (Rain Date 2)

NEW CONTENT OF NOTE: Fall registration for local QuickStart tennis program

Register for the fall session of QuickStart Tennis (ages 5-10) in Gloucester Twp.

Fall program details

REFLECTIONS: Dare I say it? STOP SACRIFICING OUR CHILDREN ON THE ALTAR OF CONTACT SPORTS

Please take a moment to read this if you are in any way interested in the safety and health of our children. 

http://www.courierpostonline.com/story/sports/high-school/football/2014/09/05/south-jersey-schools-take-drastic-steps-limit-concussions/15149127/

Football has the highest number of head injuries in high school sports per year, with 55,007 cases. 

Girls' soccer is second, with 29,167.

NEED I SAY MORE?

REFLECTIONS: The Summer Tennis 2014 finishes amidst glimmering smiles

The dog days of summer are almost a memory as we are consumed with ads for notebooks, backpacks, and the latest fall fashions. So now may be the last chance to reflect on the Summer Tennis program 2014–held at Gloucester Twp. Community Park–that recently finished amidst a flurry of high-fives, laughter and glimmering smiles. Both parents and their young tennis players, between the ages of 5 and 10 years old, displayed their satisfaction over the learning activities in which they participated on kid-sized 36 x 18 foot courts (standard courts are 78 x 36 feet) with portable nets and junior-size racquets supplied by Gotta Play Tennis Kids.

According to the feedback from one parent: “Coach Ron and coach Trish are very motivating to kids, they make it fun and interesting.” Another parent called it a “great introduction to tennis” while even another went as far as saying, “We are looking forward to the next set in Sept. I have even recommended you to a friend for their young son.”

If you have children ages 5-10 years of age, and you would like them to experience the joy and great family fulfillment that comes from this popular lifetime sport, why not join us for the Fall session. Registration begins on September 10th, and the programs (ages 5-7 and 8-10) run for 6 weeks from September 27th to November 8th. All equipment is provided and includes lower portable nets, slower and lower-bouncing balls, and junior racquets ranging in sizes from 19" to 25" (adult racquet is 27"). The registration fee is only $65 for the seven hours of fun and learning over the 6 week session (that's less than $10 per class). Class size is limited, so register early. Want to know more? Contact Ron at Gotta Play Tennis (gottaplaytennis.ron@gmail.com or 856-359-GPTS) and he will be more than happy to explain the program details.

REFLECTIONS: What a great shot. Did you mean it?

While on the court last week working with a student developing their game, they were successful at hitting some quite well-placed shots. Knowing the ability level of the student, I was urged to ask the logical question after they laid the ball down with such apparent precision. Did you mean to hit that, or did you just get lucky? 

I will be the first to admit that hitting a winner of any sort is a great feeling. And if luck plays a role in that captured point, then so be it. Even if the ball came from the thin frame area and not the huge string-bed, I'm convinced it was earned. After all, you did pay for the entire racquet did you not? I'm also not so sold on the idea of apologizing for a flubbed shot that landed in a winning spot. Did I mean to win that point? Yes I did. Does it really matter that much if the hit was clean or not? A shot was attempted, the placement was favorable, and the point was won. I do not consider this to be poor sportsmanship as long as I do not gloat about it. Should I be sorry I won the point. I think not. If so, then why don't I apologize every time I hit a cleaner winner. Where do you draw the line?

My point is really not about sportsmanship however. I'm merely distinguishing the difference between CHOICE and CHANCE. The better the player, the more likely a shot is hit with a purpose. It may be to win the point outright, or it might be an interim shot to gain a better foothold in the rally. Regardless, if I hit a winner by CHANCE, it is still called a winner. But as a player, I need to realize that I cannot come to depend on such luck is I am to be successful. When someone on a tennis court develops the ability to make conscious decisions about each and every stroke, and most shots are hit with a PLAN and not a WISH, they have achieved some relatively good tennis chops.

Then there will less chance of needing to say "I'm sorry" after winning the point.

NOTE: Balls that touch the line are considered "in".

FAVORITE SITES: Timeless Tennis by Gary Bala

Posted: Sunday, June 29, 2014
Tennis Quote of the Day: Mental Imagery and Visualization in Shot Making

"What should be going through your mind as you hit the tennis ball? It's a big question - possibly the biggest question." read more...

NEWS (local): Fun tennis event brings smiles at 3rd Annual Tennis Family Fun Day

Whatever intervened with the impending rainy weather we will never know. Perhaps it was the gods taking pity on us for all the planning of the event, or it was because of the extensive court setup across all four of the Gloucester Twp. Community Park courts, or maybe we were spared due to all our efforts to promote Tennis Family Fun Day 2014 to the community. Regardless, the rains did hold back and we offered what we think everyone involved will recall as a very fun time for kids and their families. This totally free event, the third of its kind, was held June 21st on the only blended-lines kid-sized public courts in all of south jersey.

Various tennis-related activities and games were designed to give those in attendance a snapshot of what the QuickStart tennis programs–available from Gloucester Twp. Recreation and Gotta Play Tennis Kids™–resemble during the spring, summer or fall sessions offered throughout the year. Everyone had a great time as they moved from one station to another using either koosh balls, cones, rings, racquets, and various types of balls. With the assistance of a few current tennis students as volunteers, kids as well as their parents and siblings got a chance to experience some of the foundational skills we emphasize that help players gain quicker success on the court.

If you were one of the over 20 families in attendance, we hope you had a great time and enjoyed this free community event. If you did not visit us, why not still consider some of the upcoming programs available this summer through Gloucester Twp. Recreation (download the Summer 2014 newsletter for details) and Gotta Play Tennis Kids. These include 6-week summer Saturday sessions for ages 5-7 and 8-10 as well as two 3-evening camps beginning on June 30th. No previous tennis experience is necessary and Gotta Play Tennis Kids provides all of the equipment. Registration is handled at the Gloucester Twp. Recreation Center. Call 856-435-5734.