Category: C. COLLEGE TENNIS and INSTRUCTION

“NON PARTISAN “

On By ethomasparhamIn C. COLLEGE TENNIS and INSTRUCTION, D. INTERNATIONALS, E. SPORTS COMMENTARYLeave a comment

There have been a lot of political promises lately. Many citing American citizenry.

HR 10351 is before Congress ( Key purpose below )

1. 20% Roster Cap:

Limits international student-athletes to a maximum of 20% of the total official roster for any individual varsity sport at higher education institutions.

Should this become law it will insure many, many opportunities and financial benefits to American students and families from all walks of life. Any student/athlete in any global sport will have a decidedly better chance at

scholarships, NIL monies–not mentioning the life lessons of sports particpation.

While my guess is Men’s Basketball is the sport that has highlighed this issue, College Tennis is the most affected. Men and Women. American women would have 8 to 10 roster spots and 8 to 10 scholarships. There are many teams now, women and men, whose rosters are all international and who, in turn, receive all the grants.

This may seem a minor issue but it is one way to help American Families and fulfill a lot of promises.

LEGISLATION OVERVIEW: H.R. 10351 – THE TEAM USA ACT

On By ethomasparhamIn C. COLLEGE TENNIS and INSTRUCTION, D. INTERNATIONALS, E. SPORTS COMMENTARYLeave a comment

Here is a clean, plain-text version formatted for easy copying and pasting:

LEGISLATION OVERVIEW: H.R. 10351 – THE TEAM USA ACT

Bill Title: Training and Education for American Members in University Sports and Athletics Act (TEAM USA Act)

Bill Number: H.R. 10351

Introduced Date: September 2026

Key Sponsors: House Education Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) and Senator Jon Husted (R-OH)

SUMMARY OF KEY PROVISIONS:

1. 20% Roster Cap:

Limits international student-athletes to a maximum of 20% of the total official roster for any individual varsity sport at higher education institutions.

2. Title IV Funding Enforcement:

Ties compliance directly to federal student aid eligibility under Title IV of the Higher Education Act. Colleges or universities that violate the 20% limit on any single varsity team risk losing access to federal student assistance, including Federal Pell Grants and federal student loans.

3. Definition of International Student-Athlete:

Applies to any athlete who:

– Is not a U.S. citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident (green card holder), OR

– Receives or has ever received salary, scholarship, or financial assistance from a foreign Olympic or Paralympic committee.

4. Timeline & Implementation:

– Proposed Effective Date: July 1, 2029 (beginning with the 2029–2030 academic year).

– Grandfathering: The current text includes no waiver, phase-in period, or exemption for athletes already enrolled when the law takes effect.

MOST AFFECTED SPORTS:

While international athletes comprise ~4% to 7% of overall NCAA DI athletes, the cap would heavily impact sports with high international representation, including:

– Tennis

– Swimming & Diving

– Golf

– Track & Field / Cross Country

– Soccer

– Rowing

HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW?

On By ethomasparhamIn C. COLLEGE TENNIS and INSTRUCTIONLeave a comment

BELOW ARE SOME EXCERPTS AND ARTICLES FROM MY BLOG, THAT SHOW A PATTERN OF DEVELOPING BELIEF IN THE DROP SHOT , AND AN AMERICAN TENNIS NEED ( WWW.TOMPARHAM.WORDPRESS.COM):

(2016)

In pro tennis both men and women have learned the virtues of the drop-shot. One–it tires opponents quickly.
Secondly, it has a subtle psychological effect that discourages opponents.

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Take heed. Develop your drop-shot. And your DEFENSE AGAINST THE DROP SHOT. That starts with conditioning and footwork/posture.

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I would remind all players that you have to develop defensive quickness, and movement patterns and postures that offset this demon.

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 One thing that does seem to be growing in effectiveness is the drop shot. The old adage that “you can’t drop shot on a hard court” is being tested more at the top level.

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. Maybe there is someone coming along with this unique touch, who combined with the other tennis skills needed, will produce the next level in the never ending evolution of tennis.

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To follow up, or evolve, as a teacher/coach, it then seems we must learn defense against the drop shot. In addition to the basic strokes of tennis there are auxiliary shots (returns, approaches, passing shots, etc. ) with different techniques to be mastered. Drop shots are one of these now more than ever. There are also an unlimited “awkward” shots in tennis (for example a backhand overhead, or running down a “shanked shot”).
These shots, including defending against drop-shots, must be identified, the proper techniques practiced, and implementation mastered. Please remember, players and parents, that this isn’t easy work.

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2026 –10 years later

SOME HAVE –SOME HAVEN’T !

But the best have.

The BASIC UNIT OF PLAY is 1. approach on short balls 2. they hit a passing shot 3. you volley away from them. You have to practice the approach shots, the passing shots, and the many volleys. And there are any number of other patterns. Including drop shot execution and defense against this tactic.

  1. You must practice proper forehand and backhand drop shot technique.
  2. You must practice how to defend against drop shots: Drop shot return of their drop shots, or down the line passing shot, or the extreme cross court pass.
  3. The PATTERN most are using on drop shots seems to be : A. the drop shot. B. defense hits a delecate cross court pass. C. Then the drop shot player recoils and volleys the cross court “floater” away from opponent.

Sure- there are other options. But the fundamental skills ( running to get there, foot work and posture) on these unique and, new to many, must be practiced properly.

Coaches: Many players don’t like anything about practicing these awkward and toug and different skills.

Evolution continues–TOPSPIN LOBS !

Zverev and Sablenka

On By ethomasparhamIn C. COLLEGE TENNIS and INSTRUCTIONLeave a comment

“… a tennis player is as strong or as weak as their weakest link, and the weakest link in tennis is the second serve.”

Wlmbledon Men’s Singles observation :

I don’t believe Shasha Zverev made many crucial double faults yesterday. Even elite players have problems. A short while back , two of the world’s best players ( Zverev and Sabalenka ) had big time second serve issues. Both seem to have corrected this significant flaw.

I’d like to know how their coaches helped them do it.

Pressure points in various sports must be dealt with. “Gimme” short putts in golf. Free throws in basketball ?

I think Dave Pelz had the clue. In dealing with golf’s “short game”. Pelz urged controlling pressure, or “nerves”, by

length of stroke adminstered with “dead hands”. (See THE SHORT GAME BIBLE ). No yips or jerks (Shaq’s free throws ?) Closers in baseball? Second serves ?

Motor memory through practice. Carnegie Hall ?—See THE TALENT CODE . Myelin , my Boy.

Discover what your second serve FEELS like. Practice it often. Trust it.

COLLEGE TO PRO?

On By ethomasparhamIn C. COLLEGE TENNIS and INSTRUCTION, D. INTERNATIONALS, E. SPORTS COMMENTARYLeave a comment

As the world turns !

(From—ESPN Wimbledon broadcast of the Ben Shelton–Otto Virtanen first-round match yesterday, the commentators had a brief discussion about the changing path from college tennis to the ATP Tour.

The main points they made were:

  • College tennis is no longer viewed as a detour from professional tennis. The commentators noted that more elite players are spending one or more years in college before turning pro because the level of competition is so high.
  • Ben Shelton was used as the prime example. They pointed out that Shelton played at the University of Florida under his father, Bryan Shelton, won the NCAA singles championship, and then made an exceptionally rapid transition to the ATP Tour.
  • They mentioned that NIL opportunities have changed the equation for top American juniors. Players can now earn meaningful income while competing in college, making it less financially urgent to leave school immediately for the lower levels of professional tennis.
  • The discussion also touched on how college players now receive:
    • world-class coaching,
    • strength and conditioning,
    • sports science,
    • and frequent competition against future professionals,
      making college a stronger developmental pathway than it was a decade ago.
  • They contrasted today’s environment with previous generations, when the expectation for top juniors was often to turn professional immediately if they had the opportunity.

This wasn’t presented as a formal statistic but rather as commentary on how the landscape has changed, with Shelton serving as an example of a player who successfully used college tennis as a springboard to the top of the professional game.

HACKALOOSKI REVISITED

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“I learned to listen to an old man, who had been there, even though I didn’t think he knew much. ” ( Thomas Linne, 1984 ).

This was a comment from one of my players after our team won The NAIA national championship.

My son and I discussed how to advise his 10 year old tennis aspirant. Recently I reminded them of two suggestions I felt were very sound for any level of player:

!. Hit your first serve UP enough.

2. Play AHEAD. 40-15 and 30 -0 points. Up a break. Up a set and a break.

Play ahead, Stay ahead.

Often players grind out a tough point to get AHEAD. Winded or tired they then take an unwise shot.

****Develop this better thought : “Okay –I may be tired but they are too. If I grind out this point too, the odds go way up in my favor.

Believe an old man.

HACKALOOSKI–WHEN A LIMITED PLAYER TELLS A GOOD PLAYER WHAT TO DO.

Even the great players often play these “aheads” too loosly.

Believe an old man.