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

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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

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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

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

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

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 [email protected] 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

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

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 [email protected]. 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

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