ParentingAces - The Junior Tennis and College Tennis Podcast

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 23, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network. This week, we continue our previous discussions of Title IX and advocating for our kids throughout their academic years from kindergarten through college with attorney, Nancy Hogshead-Makar.

Nancy is an Olympic champion, a civil rights lawyer, and the founder and CEO of Champion Women, a non-profit providing legal advocacy for girls and women in sports. Focus areas include equal play, such as traditional Title IX compliance in athletic departments, sexual harassment, abuse and assault, as well as employment, pregnancy and LGBT discrimination within sport.

Hogshead-Makar is leading an effort turn the Olympic Movement back into a service-oriented, athlete-centric non-profit, one who’s corporate structure protects athletes from physical, emotional, financial and sexual abuse. She is the Co-Chair of the Committee to Restore Integrity to the USOPC and United States Olympians and Paralympians Unbroken, comprised of 545 Olympians, Paralympians and elite athletes, sexual abuse survivors, coaches, sport leaders, child protection and civil rights organizations. Team Integrity and USOPU provided legal memos and white papers to members of Congress, the USOPC staff and Board, and the media on the opaque operations and legal structure of the Olympic Movement. She actively participated in all four major reports of the Nassar debacle. Two federal laws have already resulted from this athlete-activism: the SafeSport Act, signed into law in February, 2018 and the Empowering Olympians, Paralympians and Elite Athletes Act of 2020, signed October, 2020.

It is no wonder Sports Illustrated recently listed her as one of “The Unrelenting; the most powerful, most influential and most outstanding women in sports right now – the game-changers who are speaking out, setting the bar and making a difference.”

As an internationally recognized legal expert on sports issues, Hogshead-Makar has testified in Congress numerous times on the topic of gender equity in athletics, and written numerous scholarly and lay articles. Her book, co-authored with Andrew Zimbalist, EQUAL PLAY, TITLE IX AND SOCIAL CHANGE, has received acclaim since its release by Temple University Press. She was the lead author of PREGNANT AND PARENTING STUDENT-ATHLETES; RESOURCES AND MODEL POLICIES, published by the NCAA. She serves as an expert witness in Title IX, sexual abuse, violence and harassment cases and writes amicus briefs representing athletic organizations in precedent-setting litigation. Hogshead-Makar has been teaching sports law related courses for 20 years.

Please check out http://championwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Champion-Women-and-Child-USA-SafeSport-Policies-and-Boundaries-updated-2020.pdf.

For more information or to contact Nancy, visit her website at www.ChampionWomen.org or email her at [email protected].

As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic. If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here. And check out our logo'd merch in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!).

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Welcome to Season 10, Episode 22, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network. This week you'll hear from former college tennis player and current tennis parent, Craig Pettigrove, about his son's Tennis Journey.

Craig is originally from Melbourne, Australia where he grew up playing tennis. He made his way to the US to play college tennis for the University of Tennessee at Martin (1994-1996) and then transferred to the University of Oklahoma (1996-1999). Once his competitive playing days came to an end, Craig moved into coaching, predominantly within a country club setting, before changing career paths and moving into the Information Systems field. He is married with 2 boys (Cooper is 11 years old and Oliver is 13). Cooper plays basketball and Oliver plays tennis.

Oliver is very into his tennis and plays 6-7 days per week, training and competing in USTA and UTR tournaments. Craig puts on his Coach Hat when on court with Oliver. However, he also seeks advice from fellow tennis friends on Oliver's technical and training development and recently went down to Todd Widom's tennis school for a week of training in February of this year.

As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic. If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here. And check out our logo'd merch in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!).

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 21, of the ParentingAces Podcast, part of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network. This week we are speaking with James Leath, founder of Unleash the Athlete.

To watch the video version of this week's podcast: https://youtu.be/Dv7RfXx_SpM

James Leath is a mental performance coach and the founder of Unleash the Athlete (utathlete.com). With a bachelors in communication, a masters in Performance Psychology, and almost 20 years of coaching experience, James teaches leadership, character, and mental resiliency to elite performers in sport, theater, and business through keynotes, workshops, and online courses.

James has worked for companies like IMG Academy, USA Swimming, Positive Coaching Alliance, American Heart Association, the Dallas Cowboys, and the Chicago Bulls. He currently lives in Dallas, TX and coaches high school football.

Throughout James's sports experiences, he has always strived to create better relationships and better communication between coaches, parents, and young athletes. He uses his own life in football and baseball to inform the work he does across all sports, including his weekly e-newsletter and podcast, Unleash Your Life.

To get more information on James's work and to sign up for his e-newsletter, visit his website at jamesleath.com. You can also find James on pretty much all social media platforms @jamesleath.

As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic. If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 20, of the ParentingAces Podcast, part of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network.

Did you know there are college tennis opportunities outside the US? Neither did I until chatting with this week's guest, Alistair Higham!

Alistair is the Lawn Tennis Association's (LTA) Universities Manager, heading up its national tennis program which partners with the leading British universities to give tennis players around the world the chance to further their education while competing on the court against their peers.

Alistair also leads the Great Britain Team at the World University Games as Manager/Coach. His team has won Gold and Silver Medals in South Korea in 2015; Bronze medal in European Masters in 2016; Silver and Bronze medals in Taiwan in 2017; and Gold Medal in 2017 European Masters in France (Silver Medal 2018 and 2019).

In addition to his work with the LTA, Alistair is also an international expert on Matchplay and Momentum in Sport. He has authored two best selling books on momentum and a series of online learning courses available at www.coachingedgeuk.com.

To reach Alistair, you can email him at [email protected]. For more information on College Tennis in the UK, go to www.lta.org.uk/universities.

As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic. If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 19, of the ParentingAces Podcast, part of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network. 

Coach Steve Adamson grew up playing ice hockey in Canada and didn't even consider switching to tennis until the age of 12. Though that is considered a late start by many, Steve parlayed his athletic skills gained from playing a multitude of sports into a tennis scholarship at San Diego State University from 1995-1998 under Coach John Nelson. He went on to a successful professional doubles career before moving into the coaching arena.

Steve became the Manager and Director of Tennis at the Pacific Beach Tennis Club in 2003 before starting his own Steve Adamson Tennis Academy in 2011. Some of his most successful juniors include Timmy Sah (Stanford), Siem Woldeab (Texas), Zoe Scandalis (USC), Ryan Seggerman (Princeton), Greg Garcia (Brown), and Ivan Thamma (UC Davis).

Last year, Steve moved his academy to the Barnes Tennis Center and became the Director of Tennis there. As a testament to his outstanding coaching, Steve was named the 2020 USPTA- San Diego Pro of the Year. 

If you'd like more information or to get in touch with Steve, you can email him at [email protected]. He will be offering summer tennis camps and training opportunities, so be sure to ask about those!

As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic. If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 18, of the ParentingAces Podcast, part of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network. In this week's pod, we chat with Kim Bastable, Director of the Professional Tennis Management program at the University of Florida.

Kim Bastable is passionate about helping to mold future tennis coaches to be great leaders who think of tennis as more than just a game. She considers tennis to be a tool of good health and strong wellbeing. As part of her Tennis Philosophy, Kim believes Junior Tennis Players who decide to go to college should be able to create a career from tennis that goes beyond hitting fuzzy yellow balls.

Through 50 years in tennis, Kim has mentored and led athletes and coaches both on the court and in the classroom. She had on-court success as a Division I All-America player at the University of Florida, and has coached at the high school, Division I college, and Club levels. She has been a mental toughness and performance coach for 10 years, as well.

Kim holds a Masters of Education in Positive Coaching and Athletic Leadership from the University of Missouri, a B.S. in Finance from Florida, and has achieved certifications from the Human Performance Institute as a Mental Toughness Specialist; from Peak Performance Sports as a Mental Game Coach and from Notre Dame University as an Executive in Leadership.

The Professional Tennis Management program at UF is Kim's latest passion project. She has created an opportunity for all lovers of the game to pursue their education while learning how to create and manage a tennis program that will set them on an upward-leaning career path.

The continuing education version of the course is now open for applications. The website for that is www.UF-USPTA.com. 

As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic. If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 17, of the ParentingAces Podcast, part of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network. In this week's pod, we chat with LTA Coach/Educator Simon Wheatley about the importance in finding that sweet spot in our relationships with Parents, Players, and Coaches.

To watch the video version of this week's episode, go to https://youtu.be/cr1MucryALM.

By now, you've likely heard of the Tennis Triangle in terms of junior tennis development. Simon Wheatley takes the triangle metaphor to a whole new level as he works with players, parents, and coaches to help them be the best version of themselves.

Simon's approach marries coaching and psychology, as well as real-life experience. You will hear him talk about The Sweet Spot vs. The Sour Spot and what parents and coaches can do to avoid the inevitable drama that comes up along the way. I urge you to watch/listen then to reach out to Simon with any questions or concerns you may have as you go through the Junior Tennis Journey.

Email Simon at [email protected]. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter as well.

You can purchase Simon's book at https://corecontext.co.uk/sweet-spot/ - this link includes a 50% discount off the retail price.

As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic. If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 15, of the ParentingAces Podcast, part of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network. In this week's episode, we do a slight pivot. Lisa chats with Thomas Williams, a former member of the USC Trojan and Carolina Panthers football teams, not our usual guest here at ParentingAces!

To watch the video version of this week's episode, click below:

https://youtu.be/zwB2q7Xwzx8

Thomas Williams is a former NFL player and 2x National Champion (USC). After a career ending neck injury, he was forced to find a new purpose for his life. Thomas had always been taught by his mother that life was about more than football, so he had faith that he would find his path.

One of Thomas Williams’ main passions is coaching both college and professional athletes on the inevitable transition to life beyond the scoreboard. He is driven by his mantra, “Athletes are great people first, who just so happen to be great athletes. Greatness may have started with sports but it doesn’t end when you retire… GREATNESS is a lifestyle.” Thomas serves as an NFL Player Engagement Ambassador, teaching college student athletes about character, leadership and the NFL evaluation process.

Tennis players and parents can learn a lot from listening to Thomas's stories of his experience on and off the playing field. He is an inspiration to athletes and non-athletes alike who are trying to figure out how to create their own legacies in this world.

Below are some short clips of Thomas speaking with current and former athletes about preparing for their career after sports:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/168zPPtNcjQ85udLsKJiIsU46e0Kgx6pK/view

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ufvXFMCvKBmvJx814McBX5e90GevE8id/view

Find out more about Thomas's work on his website, thomasrwilliams.com. You can purchase his books - Permission to Dream and The Relentless Pursuit of Greatness - through our Amazon Shop (ParentingAces may receive a small commission). If you'd like to reach out to Thomas directly, you can do so via this link: http://thomasrwilliams.com/contact/.

As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic. If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 15, of the ParentingAces Podcast, part of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network.

To watch the video version of this episode:

https://youtu.be/vCBe0cev9-k

Artificial Intelligence has been around for quite a while now. Even though it has been incorporated into other sports training, tennis has been slow to hop on the AI bandwagon. Until now!

Brian Park grew up in Korea then moved to Australia to enhance his junior tennis training and development. He then moved to the US to pursue a college tennis experience at Utah State University before trying his hand on the pro tennis tour. He quickly realized he had the physical skills to compete and win but was missing some of the mental skills needed to find success. Brian returned to school to get a graduate degree in sport psychology and used his new-found knowledge in his role as a junior tennis coach.

Brian eventually enlisted the help of a team of software engineers to create the first AI-based app for tennis, and Apeak was born.

I encourage you to watch the video version of this episode so you can see the app in action - it is so exciting! It requires engagement from the player to go through the various stages of building mental skills and moving on to the next higher level of development.

Brian and Apeak have generously offered a short-term 30% discount to the ParentingAces community. To redeem, you need to go through the following steps:

Instructions:

https://www.apeak.com/redeem/PARENTINGACES

30% code: PARENTINGACES

After April 4, ParentingAces Premium Members can purchase the app at a 20% discount using the code found on our Member Discounts page here.

As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic. If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Season 10, Episode 14, of the ParentingAces Podcast, part of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network. We're capping off Women's History Month with this week's guest, Sarah Borwell.

To watch the video version of this week's episode, click https://youtu.be/Dx1os5GkIzM.

Following a very strong junior career, Sarah Borwell left her home country of Great Britain to play college tennis in the US. She attended the University of Houston after transferring from Rice University at the end of her freshman year. She then launched a successful career on the WTA tour, reaching as high as 65 in the world.

Because of her love of her own college tennis experience, Sarah began helping other British tennis players understand the options available to them once their junior tennis careers were complete. She founded TennisSmart, the first company dedicated solely to helping British tennis players and stopping the drop-out rate in British tennis. More recently, Sarah has partnered with Barry Fulcher to create The Student of the Game.

The Student of the Game provides a better support network for British junior players and parents as they explore the four distinct pathways beyond junior tennis: British university, American university, the professional tennis tour, and the tennis industry. Sarah and Barry have curated a team of experts and consultants to guide participants with content, on-court training, and educational materials delivered in the form of 2-day camps.

For more information on The Student of the Game, you can visit their website at https://www.studentofthegame-britishtennis.com/. You can also follow Sarah on Twitter and Instagram @SarahBorwell.

As always, a big thank you to Morgan Stone, aka STØNE, for our intro and outro music this season. You can find more of his music at SoundCloud.com/stonemuzic. If you’re interested in House Music, please be sure to check out his social media channels on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your tennis community. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or via your favorite podcast app. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by clicking here.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices