We had a new player at practice, an established player's "little" sister...who is about 5'7" going into sixth grade. Her big sister said she was bribed with a promise of ice cream.
Working on box drills, I emphasized "playing with force." Playing purposefully, with power, separates players from wannabes. Protect the ball, keep it out of the defender's strike zone.
Can tennis fundamentals help us with basketball? In her MasterClass, Serena Williams teaches getting your racquet under the ball...in basketball shooting, you have to get your hand under the ball. She teaches that the elbow is high on the forehand follow-through...in basketball your elbow is above your eyes on the release. Young players have a tendency to shoot from the chest.
Serena teaches "body balance throughout the shot." Just as Pete Newell taught the primacy of footwork, balance, and maneuvering speed.
In her class introduction, she preaches focus, commitment, and work. But she shares that enjoyment is critical to anything you do well. One of our top players came to the workout directly from three hours of volleyball camp. That's commitment.
The winner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles teaches that tennis teaches life skills. You learn RESILIENCE and IMPROVEMENT and the ability to deliver and respond to the UNEXPECTED.
Lagniappe: Playwright David Mamet says about your process, "this will kill them (your opponent) or this will kill me."
Lagniappe 2: After warmups, Geno Auriemma's UCONN women start practice with flips, perfecting their release. If it's good enough for them, are they too good for us?
Lagniappe 3: Popovich 1-4 Wing off ball screen into back cut.
Having Ginobili and Duncan had its advantages.
