- Your job is to prevent cheating on the line calls. (Limit worry on
trivia, i.e., bathroom break time, singles net stick to the quarter inch,
four balls or three, etc.). The trouble comes when cheaters cheat. - Think the philosophy of line calling is wrong with solo chair umpires.
Referees tell me they are reluctant to overrule far line calls. Why?
You are the only neutral person there! In a professional match, you
are overruling a colleague. In college teams, the person you defer
to is biased. Don’t be afraid of confrontation with players or coaches.
The third overrule is powerful. Once you’ve corrected once or twice,
the cheating stops. So what if they have to play close or even slightly
out balls? That’s what the code says, anyway. - They cheat on the far line. Get someone on that line if you suspect it.
- A note to coaches: Don’t complain about the refs. Don’t allow your
players to complain or insult them. If you do, it will be like the
teacher shortage, badgered to death until the refs finally quit. Then
you’ve fired Donald and hired Daffy. Again, coaches, we are an
extension of the referees. Back them. I constantly hear players who
admire coaches for overruling or disciplining their own players. - Questions for the rule makers: When a court is next to a sidewalk
and fence, how far back do the team members stand? Can they
crowd right behind an entrance to the courts? Shouldn’t a coach
stop that even before a referee? Who is really in charge of crowd control? What is permissible? How should violators be handled? People are saying some nasty things to people in foreign languages.
It is not all that unusual to interpret these words which, spoken in
English, would be deplorable. Come on, Coach!Vic Braden says he can prove scientifically that players are the worst
choice to call lines accurately (moving, bouncing, etc.) My contention
is a referee knows pretty soon who is cheating. Should we have a rule
to allow a solo chair to take over all line calls on a suspect side, or
both sides? Believe me, it would be better than some that we are
seeing. We can see, too!
Author: ethomasparham
THE FORMAT (86)
Certainly the matches are too long and will be forced to change
somehow, someday. So much has been suggested and we are nowhere.
Two common sense, brief observations:
First, play a super tiebreaker for third sets. Period. Second, count a
win in singles two points and a win in doubles one point. You have the
same system but not the “throwaway” or “stack” or uncounted doubles
match. This system (two points, one point) isn’t foolproof or “stack proof”
but it stops a 9–8 match of beauty that ends in a 13–11 tiebreaker and
counts for absolutely nothing. Believe me, two points; one point will
drastically seal this stacking loophole.
FOR PARENTS (87)
- Check the college’s websites for rosters and nationality of players.
- There is an “elephant in the room” of college tennis: They don’t want
your kid. Why? An 18-year-old can’t beat a 23-year-old international
(other factors being equal). - Don’t give money to institutions that don’t support our kids. Tell your
alumni and giving buddies the same. - Don’t go for the “walk-on” speech. If a coach wants your kid, he will
find a scholarship. Otherwise, he has nothing to lose and probably
doesn’t think your kid will play. Believe me. - “Enron” University is out there. You have to protect your kid.
- Let the press know your feelings.
- Check out the “Florida Story” about internationals.
- Let the coaches know how you feel.
James Michener, in Sports in America: “and we do it in the name of
education.” What hypocrisy.
MAIN JOBS AT THE JIMMY POWELL TENNIS CENTER (88)
- Keep it spotless! Develop a sense of pride in the care of this
great facility. - Open at 9:00 AM and close at 10:00 PM daily, every day the school
is officially open. When school is officially closed (between
semesters, winter break, spring break, etc.) lock south, west, and
north gates. Keep north gate locked except for special events.
Leave “closed” signs on fence. This sign directs players to east
entrance, which is open and closed daily by security. Cut lights off
during this time (last switch on right on light panel is turned down).
We do not turn lights on for neighborhood players during
the break. - Lock and unlock bathrooms daily.
- Pick up trash daily. This includes ball can lids, chewing gum,
cigarette butts, leaves, and any other mess. Use the blower to blow
off the courts as needed. Leaves are a special problem. I have
requisitioned a leaf vacuum Keep oil and gas in the blower. If you
have to pay for gas, I will reimburse you. - If a worker is to be absent, get a substitute. Teach them the job
(how to lock the gates properly, etc.). - Time sheets are due on the last day of the month. If they are not
signed on time, then no pay on time. - Periodically sweep the balcony, steps, and bottom of the gazebo.
This area picks up a lot of trash. Periodically wipe off the table and
chairs upstairs. - Occasionally monitor night play. Try to prevent unnecessary
burning of lights. Educate our students. Learn to work with
appropriate personnel on time changes for lighting, plus watch the
lighting problems (faculty computer timings, etc.). - Learn to care for the fences and gates, and windscreen (plastic
stays, metal stays, rope work, net work, net measuring, numbers on
court, etc.). - Get mowing schedules to landscapers each semester (varsity
schedules, P.E. classes, etc.). - Keep benches clean and in good repair. Keep trash cans empty and
in good repair. - We fight birds for ownership in the spring and summer. The
mechanics center has a water spray machine we use to clean the
stairwell and balcony. Learn to use it. We have a pest control
employee for wasps, etc. Report to the tennis director if lights aren’t changed at daylighttime changes.We need to keep several new nets and small green trash cans onhand. Tell tennis director of need to order.
- We have a handheld blower and extension cords that allow you
to clean out the stands (leaves, bush sheddings, etc.). Do this
periodically as needed. - We host several tournaments, the secretary has the schedule.
Many are high school playoffs, so we need to be especially clean.
Make sure bathrooms are cleaned the evening after a tournament
day. Trash pickup will be heavy and important on those days. - Report all damages to appropriate personnel. Report painting
repair needs that need special attention. - Correct vandalism acts. Report significant incidents to security.
Pick up broken glass. Clean up aftereffects of the weather. Take
trash to appropriate pick up location. - No skateboards, bicycles, skates, etc., on court surface. No bikes
inside the courts ever. Keep skateboarders off East Gym patio
(noise). Call Security if anyone is unruly.
Reviews (TLGBOT)
Here are a few early reviews:
“If you are looking for a tennis book that is both entertaining and thought provoking this is the book for you. Tom Parham’s insights and musings are both informative and entertaining. As a former college coach, I found it a great read! This Hall of Famer has the ability to think outside the box and you might just find yourself doing the same thing. Coaches will appreciate his originality and benefit from his years of experience.” (Coach Bob Bayliss, Notre Dame Men’s Tennis, ITA Hall of Fame)
“I was very fortunate to find Elon University and Coach Parham when I decided to play college tennis, after getting out of the sport in my crucial junior years. At Elon with Parham at the helm I found the love for the sport again. Coach Parham wanted you to love the game when you graduated and never treated his players like a number. He truly cared about them. I learned a lot from Coach Parham not only in the 4 years I played for him but throughout all my years in teaching and coaching tennis. He has been a gracious mentor to me. I was fortunate to follow Coach Parham as the Elon Men’s Tennis Coach when he retired in 2004 and have passed much of his knowledge on to my players. A lot of what I learned is written in “The Little Green Book of Tennis” as he wrote it all down. I believe this book is a must read to all high school coaches and players.” (Michael Leonard, Elon University Men’s Tennis Coach)
“Tom Parham is my friend, my coach at Elon University, and a long time advisor. He brought me to America. He skillfully guided me through a new world and a new tennis arena–American College Tennis. We did well. He understood both the game, the team, and me. He is a very well respected professional with success at coaching and teaching at all levels. Coach Parham is a master teacher and looked at as a integral part of tennis history in North Carolina, the South, and the nation. The book, The Little Green Book of Tennis is spot on in method and message for coaches, players, and teams, at all levels. Buy it.” (Roland Thornqvist, Head Women’s Tennis Coach, University of Florida)
“Coach Parham is a masterful teacher, southern humorist, and sports philosopher who explains tennis strategies and techniques in a way that anyone can “get it.” The wisdom gained in a brilliant career has been boiled down to bite-sized pearls of wisdom in “The Little Green Book of Tennis,” a must-read for coaches, instructors, players, and parents.” (Ron Smarr, Rice University Men’s Tennis, ITA Hall of Fame, Winningest Coach in Men’s College Tennis upon retirement)
“Tom Parham’s recent authorship of his book The Little Green Book of Tennis is a great handbook for young, aspiring tennis coaches. It is also a thoughtful, entertaining read for all tennis buffs. During Tom’s forty-plus years of coaching collegiate tennis at ACC (Barton) and Elon University, he won numerous conference, district, and national championships in both the NAIA and NCAA levels of competition. As Director of Athletics at Elon University for twenty-seven years, it was a pleasure and with admiration that I observed his success during his tenure at both institutions. Coach Parham was and continues to be a committed and astute “student” of the game while he is quick to offer praise and credit to such outstanding coaches as Jim Leighton and Jim Verdieck for their mentoring that greatly enhanced his knowledge and skill for his teaching expertise.” (Dr. Alan J. White, Elon University Athletics Director)
“Tom Parham and I are colleagues and friends. We are a lot alike, because we could not have lived without coaching. Both native North Carolinians, we both played two varsity sports at small colleges in NC—me at Guilford, Tom at Barton. I have seen this man coach and teach. His words flow off the page much in the same manner as the great teachers and coaches I have known. Coach Parham concludes that “this material is, in large part, not mine. I am only the messenger. I believed in it and benefitted from these masters. I did write it down.” I don’t think anyone has done it better.” (David Odom, Wake Forest University Men’s Basketball Coach)
“I have read the Verdieck chapter, and you did a great job capturing my dad’s thoughts. I still get choked up when I try to express my great pride in my dad and give him the credit he deserved. My dad focused so much on finding a player’s weakness and fixing it, as well as putting his players into pressure situations to learn to compete and remain poised. Each day of practice at Redlands was competition, whether a challenge match, a round robin, a steady game, a volley game. Coach Verdieck would test his players, not only with their ability to make shots and eliminate errors, but to do it when feeling pressure.” –Doug Verdieck
I played for Coach Parham during the late sixties at Atlantic Christian College. After graduation and entering a career in teaching and coaching, I was a member of the tennis camp staff at Atlantic Christian and Elon University. Much was learned during these twenty-five plus years from my mentor Tom Parham. He had spent years talking with some of the top teaches and coaches including Jim Leighton at Wake Forest, Dennis Van Der Meer, Chet and Bill Murphy, Welby Van Horn, Wayne Sabin, Jim Verdieck, and others. What he did with all of this knowledge was to present it in such a manner that both young and old could understand it. This is exactly what he has done with “The Little Green Book of Tennis.” He wrote it all down. The best book I have ever read on the game of tennis – from teaching techniques, to drills, to strategy. A must read for players and coaches. (Eddie Gwaltney, Retired Athletic Director, Teacher, Coach)
“Coach Parham coached me at Atlantic Christian College, now Barton College. I was in the middle of some 30 Swedish youngsters who ventured into a new country, a new language, and new friends. This came largely at the time of “the golden days of tennis in Sweden.” Bjorn Borg was our impetus. Edberg, Wilander, Anders Jarryd, an on and on. My father was the director of the Swedish Open in Stockholm. I grew up watching these guys, their games, techniques, deportment. While Coach Parham recruited world-wide and very well, he had the Swedes at the core for 26 years. He told us all, “Do it right academically, personally, and on the court. This is not just about you. You establish whether I can bring in other players behind you.” It is hard to imagine how many good young Swedes there were, and how hard players and coaches attempted to learn and play the game. At one time there were about 300 Swedes playing college tennis in America. Quite frankly, most of us had been trained by more knowledgeable teachers and pros. But Coach Parham had done his homework. He had paid his dues. Not only that, he was eager to absorb what we brought. I once heard him say “… the Swedes know things we don’t. And they know how to play as a team member.” He was all about the team. We respected him, knowledge, effort, and leadership. And we held up our end of the bargain.” (Johan Sturen, ACC ’83, two time first team All-American).
Getting closer to reorganization. The third edition of THE LITTLE GREEN BOOK of TENNIS is done. It is the first third of the new blog site. Hopefully the new ordering of blogs will make it easy as it goes from beginners, to high school and tournament players, to talented juniors, to college tennis aspirants, and up. Help for coaches and teams.
We are still working on the mechanics. The next third comes from PLAY IS WHERE LIFE IS. Town lore and people from five small North Carolina towns at the core of this third.
The final source is largely from A LEVEL OF THINKING. From dark to light, serious to entertaining. This material concludes the twenty some “columns or categories” each of which reads as an independent “chapter”. Now one is able to skip from chapter to chapter by choosing and clicking on the preferred column located to the right on the website home page.
A. I’M FREE FALLING * (updated March 2023)
For anyone who is interested in my writing, here are free links to my books:
- THE LITTLE GREEN BOOK of TENNIS (Second edition).
- THE LITTE GREEN BOOK of TENNIS (Third Edition https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IstkubA3qBwoJITAtqa2j1l5TW8hc2Myx_6_ZIwGqOs/edit
*These are two books on tennis. Mostly “mild” , the material below has content that some would object to.
Also New in 2022:
3. EM OLE COACHES (HEROES AND FRIENDS ) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SOMLWckI-GqiweDlSa3B7Pn29q2AUVBW/edit
4. PLAY IS WHERE LIFE IS. My first book. **The tennis insruction in the back of this book is much better presented in the two tennis books above”. tp
5. A LOT ( A Level of Thinking). A mixture of serious and fun items, collected by an old coach.
6. HELPING. https://littlegreenbookoftennis.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/helping-by-tom-parham.pdf. This includes more tennis, much post-THE LITTLE GREEN BOOK of TENNIS. Much is a repetition of blog articles. Maybe more important is the back half of this book , as it chronicles a thorough collection of data on the issue (s) of international college tennis players in the USA. The history of this ongoing problem is here.
7. THANKSGIVING. This is a hard copy of selected blog articles, writings, family history. Personal pictures in the back are beach and family/friend/fish oriented.
NEARLY FIFTY. My friend, Earl (Country) Boykin of Rock Ridge, N.C, hosted a “duck hunting party” for fifty – one years continuously. It started with the first super bowl. We moved to Back Creek near Bath, N.C. and did run over a duck. From there to Emerald Isle, N.C. The book reviews, through print and pictures, the principal characters, and some of the events.
TOM PARHAM’S BOOKS–PICTURE ON BACK COVER OF EM OLE COACHES (LINK ABOVE )
Parham’s blog (www.tomparham.wordpress.com ) hosts about 500 articles, many on tennis and sports in general. Others belong in the “caution” category !
A. Modern vs. Classic Teachers
Changing to a proper service grip is an example of where this technique may be used; or playing with a continental grip for all volleys; or moving the ball toss to the right move for the service; or any number of other changes that are sound and needed. If this all sounds like it is moving toward the Classic vs. Modern coaching argument, it is. And no tennis debate is more heated than debate over the current widespread use of Western forehand and two-handed backhands. Coach Leighton invited me for breakfast with Chet Murphy at a USTA Teachers Conference. After listening to these two great teachers, I was particularly struck with one statement: Mr. Leighton asked Mr. Murphy what his assessment of the classic method of tennis instruction that their careers had sanctioned. Mr. Murphy pondered, then responded, “I think we did a good job, though we probably should have been more tolerant of Western forehands.”
It is tough to be a “purist” today. There are so many varied and successful styles. I don’t think there’s a stroke Greg Holmes (1983 NCAA Singles champ) didn’t use. Borg, Evert, Connors, etc. all use some shots that vary from the classic or Ken Rosewall style of play that so many used as “copy” for years. Many of the variations offer improvement, and certainly there is a “classic” way to hit any shot, new or old. One problem some teachers have is that many played before these new “inventions” and we have to “retool” our knowledge. Coaches to follow will have the same task.
Welby Van Horn took time to talk tennis with me at the summer resort in Pinehurst (North Carolina). One of his concerns is the lack of proper “copy” for young players. Who to imitate becomes a modern problem that perhaps players from an earlier era did not have. There has always been copying or imagery, but never has there been such a wide panorama to choose from.
HELPING HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS COACHES
NC TENNIS—HELP FOR HIGH SCHOOLS COACHES
I attended the NC High School’ s tennis coaches clinic in Greensboro last week. This is held and hosted on the UNC-Greensboro campus with Coach Jeff Trivette as chairman. This is the first time in a while I had attended and was impressed as Coach Michael Leonard of Elon University put on a superb doubles clinic for some 150 high school coaches from our state. I attended the first tennis clinic the North Carolina High School Athletic Association held. Wake Forest coach, Jim Leighton was the clinician and there were four coaches at the Latham Park courts. That clinic was the beginning of a different level of desire to be a good coach, for me personally. In 1985 I put on that clinic.
I watched the progress that has been made in high school tennis in our state. The Burlington Tennis Center was and is the site of many state championship tournaments so it was easy to watch many of these.
As I watched the clinic this year I told some one “…there is a lot more CARE in that group than knowledge. Granted several of the coaches demonstrated good skill on the court. I have said all along that a high school coach who cares and drives the van properly is all parents can hope for. Now I think it time to help them. They , by virtue of their attendance and willingness to coach our children, have earned our assistance.
HOW?
Much is already being done. The NCTA , The USTA, The NCHSAA, The North Carolina High School’s Coaches Association are going hard to help. Where help is needed comes from several sources:
**** Pay for these jobs is meager compared to what is asked and expected.
****The pay will not attract top notch tennis coaches in most instances. Most of the very good ones are volunteers, or close.
*** The typical “assigned” staffer is often a football coach, one who knows nothing about tennis. Or some similar scenario.
****More and more are “adjunct”, or part time coaches, who don’t have even the academic background that teacher/coaches have.
WHAT CAN HELP?
One way to start is a “THINK TANK” or committee to examine what is possible. We have a tremendous group of fine players throughout the state. We have in place an organization of teaching professionals in NC. Many times the best source is a “tennis angel” who silently plays with youngsters. No one gives more than parents. The club pro benefits from high school families.
There is another largely untapped source in our state. The NC TENNIS HALL OF FAME members. There seems to me to be a group of old pros and young turks in our select group who could also help the coaches in their area. Many of the hall of famers and pros are the same people. Many already give or have given to tennis in many ways. There are so many ways these people could enhance the knowledge, confidence, and performance of particularly the beginning coaches. I can’t list them all. Believe me, you can help.
I would also suggest to these coaches to look for the local angels. My experience is these are great people who only need to be asked. It may be one afternoon a week, It may be a helpful phone call. Showing a drill, filling in for an emergency, play an exhibition, take them to a college match, gift of equipment—old or new, simply attend matches, etc.
I think a good place to start “thinking” would be the coaches, the Pros, the angels ,and the organizations to brain storm the how. The why is obvious. And I think there is ample evidence that this help is available. And I am convinced the link between high school and juniors and parents and these volunteers can thrive.
The first place to start is knowledge plus need. Our hall of famers and our professional tennis teachers are where to start.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS? WILLING TO HELP?
FAULT LINES
I have a golf acquaintance that is almost 90 years old. Still plays from the regulation tees and shoots well below his age. He is 6’3″, weighs about 240lbs and looks like he could play tight end in college right now. I asked him what sports he played in high school? I didn’t PLAY anything. I had to work. Tobacco was the worst. (fault line 1).
At 76 (born 1940) my generation was allowed to play. I could be in school, church, working, or on the team. My guess is post WWII boys had fathers who were more willing and able to loosen strings on the family workforce.
The next sports fault line, I think, was that parent who clawed his way to the top through hard work and wanted to give their kids “opportunities I didn’t have!” Admirable but sometimes flawed thinking. Some of these went overboard, giving the kid unlimited time and money for play. Often the youngster began to believe school, work, discipline, were for others. These “pros to come” wound up wondering what happened when the inevitable (for most) work, was unavoidable. “There are two kinds of golf(or tennis) pros: The workers and the players, and all the players are looking for a job!”
One college president said, “…the worst thing for a golfer is to be able to shoot par!” Planning to play for a living is indeed a bad bet.
I don’t want to discourage youngsters from trying their best at sports. Handled right there are great hard work and life lessons in sports. What I am seeing too much of is a more frightening fault line.
A recent beach visit by his grandchildren had an “old coach” friend excited. “I may want you to help with these two on their tennis.” Ready to help, I waited to no avail. I asked Grandpa what happened? “I asked the two of them to go hit four days in a row. Each time they barely looked up from their video games, thumbs twitching, to mumble “Maybe tomorrow, Pop.”
Double fault.
FOR JIM TONEY
My friend, lane Evans, a USTA professional,and I had a long discussion about tennis in the USA. Maybe this will summarize some suggestions, observations, and interrelationships that are linked. And maybe helpful.
My personal efforts are being directed toward helping high school varsity tennis coaches, players and teams. We just lost a North Carolina ” tennis angel”, Mr. Jim Toney. Jim spearheaded a successful effort in our County (Alamance) in North Carolina, to build or refurbish all high school facilities. Quite a task, quite impressive success. We then pledged each other to help the coaches. Very often these people were in need of help.
I hope my book, “The Little Green Book of Tennis”, will aid the 700 coaches in North Carolina we are providing the book to.
Consider these:
1. Teaching Pros can be helpful to these high school coaches, players and teams. Very often the pros are much more knowledgeable and specialized in tennis.
High schoolers and younger are a great source for the pro’s business. A nurturing of this relationship is mutually beneficial.
2. High school sports are more and more selective. Basketball and football are sports not all are fitted for. Youngsters will look more and more for alternatives.
Some will be stellar athletes who might consider tennis.
3. Many won’t.
4. Why? Since the early 70’s more and more tennis scholarships have gone to internationals. We are in the third generation of this reality. The skyrocketing of college costs has paralleled the number of internationals. And the number of grants for Americans have declined in a similar staggering proportion. Families invest tremendous amounts of money into their children’s tennis. It can be rewarded only two ways: 1.The extremely rare route of becoming a professional player and 2. College scholarships. And the scholarships grow more and more important annually.
5. One significant reason people are opting for sports other than tennis is that this third generation of parents and players have seen the scholarships shipped overseas.
6. This also manifests itself in the dearth of top pro players in America today. The obvious graph-like decline in quality of players in America coupled with the elimination of Americans selected for college scholarships should be grounds for new ideas.
7. Here is one. Is it not time to seriously study how to restore these opportunities and scholarships to our own?
8. Wouldn’t this benefit the hopeful high school or junior player in terms of motivation.
9. Much has been written about internationals in American college. My more detailed thoughts can be found in the articles listed in XENOPHOBIC (146) from my blog, http://www.tomparham.wordpress.com.
10. One last suggestion to high school coaches and tennis pros: Coach–talented players are protective of their games and practices. Work with the players and pros to allow meaningful practices, and still maintain team sacrifices. Meet and set up a plan; the kid misses high school practice for pro lessons or a match with a high level opponent and yet gives back to the team by helping less talented teammates. Both interact in the long run. PROS- encourage why team play may teach more than individual success. I wondered if a “prima donna “wouldn’t play for his/her high school , would they sacrifice as needed to be a good college teammate?
The Little Green Book of Tennis 