Almonte Tennis Club

As we bump into September it is hoped that your tennis game is improving. Covid 19 has certainly changed our recreational and social habits. Golf and tennis seem to be two sports where social distancing is more easily met. Still remember, Covid is still around; social distance on the courts and wash your hands…..

Hyacinth’s coaching posts and quizzes have been an enjoyable way to stay current and competitive, if only with yourself. For myself I am thinking a lot more when I am on the court, practicing Hyacinth’s suggestions. I’m not sure if my game has improved, but I have had more fun playing the game this year.

As always, feedback to Hyacinth on these posts is appreciated.

So off we go………

HELLO !    BONJOUR ! IT’S A WRAP !   My weekly E-connection—in summer-2020 designed to cheer you along, from a “virtual” court-side in this “covid-combat-time” during JULY and AUGUST, has featured the following …            

•[1]—FUN-FACTS (including quizzes)                    
•[2]—HELPFUL-HINTS (charting progress)                                
•[3]—PRACTICE-PLAYS (honing skills)

MERCI / THANKS    Many thanks to those who read-&-absorbed these weekly“communication-bits”, and especially to those who carved-out some time to participate, by providing me with your feedback!

YOUR NEXT STEPS   
(A)—For those who were wondering, yes—there is still time (up to and including Monday August 31st) to send-in responses for any-or-all of the 3 areas mentioned above. I will continue to tally the points earned, and everyone’s participation will be recognized towards the end of the season.   
(B)—Choose additional areas and continue practising your “Percentage-Check” as suggested in last week’s Section under “HELPFUL-HINTS”/ This practical way of keeping tabs on your progress will expand your comfort-zone, and also increase your “fun” quotient while playing this fab sport.  Sans doute.   
(C)—Try your best to complete the recent True/False Quiz. The link to the quiz is below

Every T/F answer gets a point for effort (minimum is 18-pts.) & Correct responses get double points (maximum is 36-pts.) 

CHEERS ! … 
Hyacinth-C  —613-623-0976
ATC-Pro & Adult Programme Coordinator

Cooler weather has arrived. It seems that a portion of the membership likes their tennis weather hot, hot. July made these people very happy! August seems to have brought moderate to cool temperatures. I looks like this year, everyone gets their wish. So get out and enjoy the bottom half of our ATC summer season.

Hyacinth’s Corner will be completed on July 28th, and Hyacinth is asking for feedback on her series of virtual coaching. When you have a few minutes, please respond to her with your comments. I have found myself “thinking” more when I am playing, based on Hyacinth’s posts this summer. For me it has made the game more enjoyable which in turn offers a greater incentive to play more often. What about you?

So here we go with the next coaching tips……………

SECTION#-[2]
HELPFUL-HINTS Sub-Section-[ii]:  
CHECK YOUR PERCENTAGES!

YOU may tell yourself—“I feel I’m really improving.”B-U-T you may wonder—“How can I be sure of this”?           

NO PROB  …  /  PAS DE PROBLÈME …HERE’S YOUR ANSWER

Do a Percentage-Check!WHY? 
•Easy to do  •Provides a factual response! SAMPLE OF AREAS TO CHECK
Here’s my suggested sampling of some areas that you might like to choose for checking your improvement …   
(a)->reliable placement of service   
(b)->accuracy of down-the-line approach-shots   
(c)->accuracy of cross-court approach shots   
(d)->lobs—defensive, offensive, & “sky-scraper”   
(e)->effective overhead shots & smashes   
(f)->use of various spins when serving or stroking   
(g)->alley-rally for accurate grounds—b/h + f/h   
(h)->net-play (volleys, ½-volleys, drop-shots, etc.)   
(i)->footwork (split-step, shuffling, running, etc.)   
(j)->poaching—from the left or right forecourt

And many others that you may personally wish to add to the above.

MY SUGGESTED “ACTUAL/FACTUAL” APPROACH   
At your next on-court-session, slot-in some minutes of practice-time, and proceed as follows: (good to work w/ “practice-pals”, as some areas benefit from ball-feeding, while others, e.g. the serve, are self-feeding)   
(1)•choose an area in which you’d like to improve   
(2)•take 10 balls, one at a time, and try the shot   
(3)•record your successes w/ these 10 balls   
(4)•if you make, e.g., 3 of the 10 tries, that’s 30%   
(5)•practise over the course of say, a week-or-less   
(6)•then check again with 10 balls
An increase in percentage shows your improvement. … BRAVO!!

YOUR FEEDBACK—SUMMER-2020   
As always, I welcome-&-enjoy your feedback during this summer-2020-series of my “virtual” cheering from courtside.  During this time, we have adjusted to, and coped w/, restrictions necessitated by the pandemic. Please keep in mind that e-a-c-h feedback/response earns “equi-points”, for which you will be recognized after the season ends.  So, if you wish to review some“communication-bits”, there’s still time—up to August–31st—to submit answers/comments.  These will add to points already earned … ergo, 
E-N-J-O-Y the process !

My 9-wks. of “virtual-visits” will end FRI-28th-AUG—thanks/merci, for your participation !
HYACINTH-C

My apologies for the Hot Dog post. I forgot to sign out of the ATC site before posting on my personal website. Now you know how I spend my day!!!!! Bill

Youth represent the future of our club membership. To that end, ATC will again welcome students from the Almonte District High School physical education program to participate in supervised instruction and play for the fall season.

In addition to school board rules concerning Covid 19, the supervising teacher will undertake to apply the ATC Rules and Recommended Behaviour while students are on the courts.

As planning becomes more defined, scheduled times will be posted on the ATC website.

NOTE:
This season has noticed a higher participation in Tuesday and Thursday morning play. For this reason, all courts have now been blocked for the remainder of the 2020 season, for member play on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 8:30 – 11:00 AM

HAPPY FRIDAY and welcome to another segment of Hyacinth’s Corner.

Mid August! Can you believe it.

Click on the button below to take a rules quiz. Some of these scenarios seem quite bizarre. It just goes to show that in sport, rules need to be in place to address all contingencies. Have some fun with this one!

The following quiz is the latest tennis “brain burner” contribution by club pro Hyacinth C.

Hyacinth’s quizzes educate us of the rules of tennis by challenging us to sort out the various interpretations that are often made by individual players.

You can take the latest quiz by clicking on the button below.

THIS IS THE LATEST SERIES OF TIPS FROM OUR CLUB PRO. ALL GOOD INFORMATION TO IMPROVE FOCUS AND MOVE A BALANCE OF CONTROL TO “YOUR” SIDE OF THE NET. 

SECTION#-[2]~HELPFUL-HINTS Sub-Section-[ii]:
Picture Y-o-u-r-s-e-l-f—Continued …

TAKING CONTROL •WHEN you can, •WHERE you can in 5 more areas where you’re totally in charge!

OPENING-NOTES:

• some hints below are geared towards competitive situations; nevertheless, whether you’re involved in competing, or not, many are “fab-habs” to adopt!
• when engaged in “social” tennis, the atmosphere is, understandably, far less stringent, sans doute …

6. FACE

(i) Even if many thoughts-&-plans may be stressfully racing inside your head, let your facial expression exhibit calmness, determination and purpose.

7. EYES

(j) Stay “in the moment” by looking at, and focusing on, events on your own court, e.g. the opponent’s movement, your racquet-handling, ball motion, etc.

8. CONFIDENCE

(k) Whatever your motions involve—running, striding, shuffling, stroking the ball, etc.—let these actions exude confidence; the end-result will be to provide your performance with a built-in positivity.

9. CHANGING ENDS

(l) In the time allotted for changing ends, create a personal routine, e.g. sipping a drink, towelling-off, checking/making notes, preparing your next moves.

10. BREATHING

(m) Controlled breaths have a positive effect on your body language—breathing deeply as needed, will calm your mind, reduce stress, increase alertness.

CLOSING NOTES:

• the 10subcategories that I have presented, mirror those listed in the International Magazine, “Tennis-Pro”, in its promotion of “Mental Metrics”.
• the descriptions I provide are a blend of some ideas there, together with tenets from my TKT© approach.

HELLO !    BONJOUR !

HYACINTH PROVIDES A LINK BETWEEN GHOST/FANTOME AND “PRACTICE-2-PLAY”

Many thanks to those who reported having enjoyed the drill “The Ghost/Le Fantôme”. There is still time to practise the drill and the rules are repeated below. It would be great to now have additional comments from others; and you may opt to try this in a SINGLES or a DOUBLES setting.  This is an activity that transfers seamlessly from “Practice-2-Play”.)

So, enjoy this drill, then kindly send me **feedback** once you have completed your games. (FORM BELOW).

HOW TO PLAY AND SCORE GHOST/FANTOME

Play a regular set (1st to 6-games) if your time permits; or just decide ahead to play a certain number of games.

    •EITHER try to avoid deuce—when you serve @ 40-30 … (receiver has opposite aim, bien sûr)

    •OR aim to achieve deuce—if you’re serving @ 30-40 … (receiver has opposite aim, of course)

    •AND, remember that if a score gets to deuce, the game ends there, and  Ghost/Fantôme wins that game—all the other players then record zeros as their scores for that game

Your participation would be very helpful with ongoing “statistical-tracking” for this drill.  BTW, NO names are used in compiling these stats; and please keep in mind that Season-2020 participants are earning “Equi-Points”  by responding to these “virtual” activities.  BONUS. 

LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR INPUT ON THE FORM BELOW

YOU WILL HAVE TO VISIT THE ATC WEBSITE TO COMPLETE THIS FORM.

HC  —613-623-0976

What a great month this has been for tennis. A few very hot days, but overall the weather has offered numerous opportunities to get out of the house and engage in some badly needed social activity in a safe environment.

Hyacinth’s virtual coaching posts have both helped to entertain and educate, providing a positive activity to stimulate our brain cells in a practical way.

Hyacinth’s post for this week offers suggestions to increase our mental edge while playing.

Her post can be found on the ATC website (atc.sport.blog) on the Hyacinth’s Corner page.

HEADS UP!!!!

HELLO !    BONJOUR

The next two “communication-bits” will be added to the Hyacinth’s Corner Page on the ATC website on July 24th & July 31st and will highlight 10 of the important areas in which Y-O-U are absolutely IN CHARGE while on the tennis court!  

Being continually aware of these areas will definitely be positive stepping-stones to your increased enjoyment of this FABSPORT, and also advance your own improvement.   

They’re part of the Section of “Helpful-Hint” (H-H), and emphasize TAKING CONTROL, WHEN you can, and WHERE you can … Thinking/Prepping Ahead   

I know that most of you plan to participate in ATC’s “OTT-Valley” tourney (rescheduled from 2020 to 2021)

These 10 H-H’s will be fab additions to your “play-book”.  Really & Truly!!

 CHEERS FROM MY “VIRTUAL” COURTSIDE-2020!

HC  —613-623-0976