On the 247th episode of the GreatBase Tennis Podcast, Steve Smith, Ivan Ozerets, and Dave Anderson discuss summer tennis camps. Their conversation coincides with their efforts to produce an instructional tape for the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). Almost all college coaches direct summer tennis camps.(The tape will soon be shared on the GreatBase Tennis Facebook page)The next few episodes will review input for teaching volleys, groundstrokes, overheads, and serves. Our listeners continually request that we review information, ideas, and insights on teaching basic fundamentals.Our position, summer tennis camps should be a fantastic experience that creates lifetime memories, plus children should be taught extremely well. In previous generations, summer tennis camps were the gateway to tennis teaching careers. To make an understatement, the success of summer tennis camps is of utmost importance for the future success of our sport.
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59:27
Frank Butera - Love For The Game
On the 246th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith and Dave Anderson have a tennis conversation with Frank Butera. Their guest is a tennis teaching professional based in Boston, Massachusetts. The veteran pro teaches adults and juniors at MIT and the Marcus Lewis Indoor Center. He was born in Boston and then raised in Italy until the age of fourteen. He began school in the US without speaking a word of English. Yet he became an outstanding student and completed a degree at Boston College (BC).Prior to BC, he found his way to study tennis with Steve Smith at Tyler Junior College (TJC). That connection initially took place thirty-seven years ago. The two have continued to work together to help people improve. Frank's passion for the game is second to none. He has a charming personality and an impressive command of teaching solid fundamentals, as Steve says. "It's always fun to see Frank, he's fun and he makes tennis fun." More importantly, Frank knows that if his players are always trying to improve through obtaining solid fundamentals, they will have more fun.From this episode, there are many golden nuggets to add to one's tennis treasure chest. Here are three:* Frank's number one rule: always try.* Frank tells his students to be players, not just payers.* Frank touches upon pickleball and states that one thing tennis players can learn from pickleball players is that sometimes you have to shovel snow off the courts to play.
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2:08:07
Petrus Koekemoer - South African Support
On the 245th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith, Dave Anderson, and Ivan Ozerets have a tennis conversation with Petrus Koekemoer. Their guest is a long-time associate who lives and works in his native South Africa (SA).He currently leads a unique development program serving underprivileged children at the Rosemoor Tennis Centre near George in the Western Cape province of South Africa.Petrus has spent over ten years with the GreatBase tennis pathway. He has traveled to the US numerous times to work with Steve and Dave. Likewise, Steve has traveled to South Africa to work with him. Petrus has documented the improvement of his students through in-depth video work and skill testing. The progress of his players and coaches is extremely impressive. The historical and deep connections between GreatBase Tennis and South African tennis are discussed. Other topics that are discussed: fact-based instruction for long-term development, the importance of a good beginning, and staying true to fundamentals through all stages of development.Another point of interest is connecting South Africans with South Africans to fundraise to help SA tennis players. In doing so, Petrus is making the effort to unite the SA tennis community. One Vic Braden theme that will surely help him with his efforts. "The dimensions of the court and physical laws dictate stroke production, not a coach's opinion or any unique theory.
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1:57:00
David Sivertson More Wisdom
On the 244th episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith, Dave Anderson, and Ivan Ozerets interview Dave Sivertson. On the podcast previous to this edition, Dave shared information, ideas, and insights related to on-court success. The USTA national title holder and ITF international team champion has been equally as successful off the court as on. He is in his fifth decade working as a tennis director. Dave has served as a tennis director for some of the most prestigious tennis clubs in the United States.Dave has written a 400-page business program for club managers and tennis professionals to improve the productivity and profitability of their tennis operations. The written work is called 'Net Profits.' https://www.netprofittennis.com/To name a few of the industry awards he has won are the USPTA National Pro of the Year, the USPTA Texas Pro of the Year, and the Lloyd Sessions Education Award. He is a master pro with the USPTA (now RSPA) and has served the organization as a speaker, educator, committee member, and officer of the board.
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1:59:48
David Sivertson Tennis Wisdom
On the 243rd episode of the GreatBase Tennis podcast, Steve Smith, Dave Anderson, and Ivan Ozerets interview an amazing tennis mind. Dave Sivertson knows games within the game of tennis. The ultimate competitor keeps getting better. He has won multiple national championships and multiple international team championships representing the US.Not everyday does one get the chance to listen to someone who has represented their country. On this episode, there is an abundance of tennis wisdom shared. To make an understatement, his story is inspirational.Dave Anderson's last question leads to a powerful answer. At every level of the game, regardless of the player's age, a strong support system is needed. The session is worthy of writing and re-writing notes.
The GreatBase Tennis Podcast is a weekly audio show presented by Steve Smith and associates. Information, ideas, and insights are provided to help those connected to the game of tennis.
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