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 [email protected].

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

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 [email protected]. 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

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 [email protected]. 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

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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

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 [email protected]. 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

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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

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 [email protected].

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

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, [email protected].

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

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 [email protected]. 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

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 [email protected]. 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

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:

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 [email protected] 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