Compete Like a Champion

Coach Johnny and Dr. Larry review the documentary In Search of Greatness that interviewed Pele, Wayne Gretzky, and Jerry Rice about how they became great at their respective sports. The team connects the themes that came from these great athletes’ journeys to what American tennis players, coaches and parents must do to strive for greatness.

USTA Player Development’s Mental Performance Team gets together to discuss the psychology of performance and some of the latest theories and techniques. Many practical ideas are provided on how to train for peak performances in tennis including the most effective methods of breathing, mindfulness and visualization.

Dr. Larry and Coach Johnny review the article The Myth of Self Control written by Brian Resnick in 2016. They entertain the idea that maybe we don’t have as much control as we like to think in our lives, and how much will power do we really have to make the changes that we want. Specific recommendations are made as to how to change behavior that may surprise listeners.

Renowned sport scientist Dr. Mark Kovacs visits with Dr. Larry and Coach Johnny to review some of the latest technology in the world of elite sport. We discuss what innovations truly make a difference and what technologies have a long way to go to support athlete development.

Our first professional player to be a guest on the podcast, CiCi Bellis, drops by to discuss the life on the tour. CiCi details her approach to tennis and how it has helped her be successful at a young age.

In this episode Coach Glover discusses how to integrate the training of the mind to practices and provides practical ways to use breathing, visualization, and mindfulness.

Coach Riffice details from her experience the errors that parents make in tennis and the effects on their child athletes. Recommendations on how to avoid these unforced errors.

Preparing for your season and want to get the most out of it? The team discusses what a preseason should look like in professional tennis and the importance of training blocks in the long term development of junior tennis players.

In this episode Coach Johnny and Dr. L discuss the trend of pseudo-professionals that are selling their products and how not to get caught in their trap. They describe the tennis performance team and what qualifications to look for in a coach.

National coaches Maureen Diaz and Erik Kortland drop by the podcast to discuss a template for training camps that are creating impressive changes in players. These camps emphasize the sport sciences, and in particular, mental training and strength and conditioning. They dive into the breathing methods that enhance focus, recovery, and performance.