This weekend Nick Schnobel won another USTA Tournament, this time the MVP Rockford Winter Challenger. The competition in this tournament was tough. For example, the person Nick beat in the finals of the last tournament did not make the semi-finals of this event. To see his results for the tournament, Click Here. To view the results, you have to
1. Click on Draws, then
2. Click on Boys 16's.
For those who want to see what very fast improvement looks like, go to the Men's Varsity page and view some of his results from 2011, then look at his results from 2012, then look at his results from the tournament this weekend.
But the really exciting thing right now actually isn't Nick (sorry Nick). It's that we are seeing many kids from the boys and girls on very similar paths. There are several players, boys and girls, who are engaged in the way he was a year ago, and it is getting very exciting. Here are some things I'm seeing:
1. I played with some varsity doubles players this winter who will certainly compete for the top spots on the Men's and Women's teams in the upcoming season.
2. I've seen kids who played on the JV team last year who may possibly jump current varsity players to compete in singles immediately next season.
All of these fast improvers have the following commonalities:
A) They get regular direct instruction, either as a private, semi-private, or small group.
B) They create time each week to practice what they learned in their lesson.
B) They all compete. They play sets/matches often where one person wins and the other person loses. This is soooo much more valuable (and usually less expensive) than drilling!
C) Finally, they all have a very strong desire to improve. Unlike the other commonalities, I can't quantify exactly what this looks like, except to say that you know it when you see it.
Thank you to all the players who are working so hard each day. And congratulations again to Nick. Somebody has to win these tournaments, it might as well be us, right!!!
Take care everyone.
1. Click on Draws, then
2. Click on Boys 16's.
For those who want to see what very fast improvement looks like, go to the Men's Varsity page and view some of his results from 2011, then look at his results from 2012, then look at his results from the tournament this weekend.
But the really exciting thing right now actually isn't Nick (sorry Nick). It's that we are seeing many kids from the boys and girls on very similar paths. There are several players, boys and girls, who are engaged in the way he was a year ago, and it is getting very exciting. Here are some things I'm seeing:
1. I played with some varsity doubles players this winter who will certainly compete for the top spots on the Men's and Women's teams in the upcoming season.
2. I've seen kids who played on the JV team last year who may possibly jump current varsity players to compete in singles immediately next season.
All of these fast improvers have the following commonalities:
A) They get regular direct instruction, either as a private, semi-private, or small group.
B) They create time each week to practice what they learned in their lesson.
B) They all compete. They play sets/matches often where one person wins and the other person loses. This is soooo much more valuable (and usually less expensive) than drilling!
C) Finally, they all have a very strong desire to improve. Unlike the other commonalities, I can't quantify exactly what this looks like, except to say that you know it when you see it.
Thank you to all the players who are working so hard each day. And congratulations again to Nick. Somebody has to win these tournaments, it might as well be us, right!!!
Take care everyone.
