THE HISTORY OF COLLEGE TENNIS

On By ethomasparhamIn C. COLLEGE TENNIS and INSTRUCTION, D. INTERNATIONALS, E. SPORTS COMMENTARY1 Comment

The  History Of College Tennis and the ITA

I viewed with pride and appreciation the new video.  Everyone in College tennis in general, and small divisions in particular,  owes gratitude to David Benjamin.  

The NAIA, Division II, and JUCOS were where the influx of international tennis players began.  From 1970 to 1980 was our boom.  

Early on many of us wondered if this was the best thing for our schools and students and their families.  Many of us still do. 

We lost the argument even though a majority of ITCA coaches supported limitations.  Fear of a lawsuit frightened  some.  The diversity issue merited influence. 

I do take issue with the video on several points.  

The suggestion that there are many opportunities for American youngsters at high quality Universities and colleges ( with a sizable scholarship) is flawed.  Division I schools number in the hundreds before most of those have Americans with large grants for tennis.  Division II is almost totally international among its elite institutions.  Ditto for JUCOS.  Women too.  Don’t mention DIII with no grants, just price tags that create family debt for even wealthy families and students.  The ITA website now makes data available  that refutes  earlier USTA numbers.  

Paying the players will attract more and better internationals.   They will bump more good  American kids and lesser internationals.  Will the same happen with basketball with losers being mostly Black kids?  Really all “Global Sports” ( Golf, Soccer, Volleyball, Track. Etc.)?

Don’t we have a right to take care of our own?

Links below are lengthy articles I wrote on scholarships, portal and payments, Artificial Intelligence and college tennis , colleges to pros. 

Please relay my sincere regards to David Benjamin.  Tom Parham.

“WHOA, NELLY!”
NEXT PLEASE

http://www.tompqrham.wordpress.com

A NEW BOOK?

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

New Book by Tom Parham?

No but–It is as long as a book.  MILESTONES is an index to writings, projects, collections, since the last revision of THE LITTLE GREEN BOOK of TENNIS (2015 ). 

Along with free access to all  seven previous books and 500 plus blog articles, there are twenty new instruction articles on the changing world of tennis. Plus 10 of the most visited coaching parts of the revised THE LITTLE GREEN BOOK of TENNIS.

A brochure that highlights SHOT DOCTORS.

A new section , THE REST of THE STORY, focuses on three recent developments that have an effect on college tennis in America: 1. The Portal and Likeness issues  2. Article Intelligence (AI) and 3. College tennis is becoming “ the minor leagues of Professional tennis!”

GOOD JOB

On By ethomasparhamIn A2. THE LITTLE GREEN BOOK OF TENNIS, C. COLLEGE TENNIS and INSTRUCTION, HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS / SHOT DOCTORSLeave a comment

Just read the whole article in New York Times.

This is good analysis, writing , AND COACHING.

Analysis from James Hansen, senior editor for tennis

In this specific matchup, Michelsen’s ability to hit down-the-line and cross-court on his backhand from almost any position prevented Tsitsipas from using his favorite tactic. He knows his one-handed backhand can hamper him, so tends to try and hit an inside-out forehand (a forehand from the ad-court) as early as he can in a rally. To do this, he shuffles to his left, but this leaves him open to being attacked if his opponent can hit a backhand into that space. Michelsen can do that.

Tsitsipas could neutralize that problem with a slice, or a short ball, but he isn’t comfortable playing those kinds of shots. As a result, he found himself caught in a tactical fight he could not win.

(Graham Denholm / Getty Images

SANCTUARIES

On By ethomasparhamIn HUMOR/ ODDS AND ENDS1 Comment

They named the Cardinal the North Carolina state bird recently.

My Mom’s sister. Olive Phillips , was our family’s ecologist and a bird lover. So when she saw me gun down a Blue Jay with my Daisy air rifle, she lit me up. Aunt Ollie was also the closest thing I had to a rich relative. So. puzzled about her concern about a bird, I still remembered Christmas and my birthday. She subscribed to AUDOBON magazine and saved her copies for me.

My college friend , Watson Hale . told about a question from a co-worker. “Watson , what does it mean when you enter a town and a sign says ” Bird Sah koo cherry”? ( Sanctuary).

Watching our birds flutter around their feeders, I wonder if there really is a Sanctuary in the sky for the souls of beat up old North Carolina coaches?

I’d like to request a Cardinal to take me to the airport.

There are decades when nothing happens, and there are weeks when decades happen.

On By ethomasparhamIn K. PHILOSOPHY, M. POLITICS, N. RELIGION, WARLeave a comment

In an op-ed for The New York Times, opinion columnist Thomas Friedman likened artificial intelligence advances to opening Pandora’s box. “We as a society are on the cusp of having to decide on some very big trade-offs as we introduce generative A.I.,” he writes. “And government regulation alone will not save us.” 

One of these Pandora’s boxes is labeled “artificial intelligence,” and it is exemplified by the likes of ChatGPT, Bard and AlphaFold, which testify to humanity’s ability for the first time to manufacture something in a godlike way that approaches general intelligence, far exceeding the brainpower with which we evolved naturally.

The other Pandora’s box is labeled “climate change,” and with it we humans are for the first time driving ourselves in a godlike way from one climate epoch into another. Up to now, that power was largely confined to natural forces involving Earth’s orbit around the sun.

“WHOA, NELLY!”

On By ethomasparhamIn E. SPORTS COMMENTARYLeave a comment

REDSHIRT (Definition of an athlete staying out of college competition for a year to develop one’s skills and extend one’s period of playing eligibility: He redshirted last season. 

Most humans max out physically at about age 27 or 28, College freshmen start college at 17 or 18.

Aspiring professional tennis players have long been advised to not go to college.

A new scenario has emereged !

The first and main problem listed is described this way:

“… if you don’t start out with a trust fund, you’re stuck, especially for a sport like tennis that requires years of youth investment. This is a major, fatal disadvantage for American tennis. In Europe, South America and lately in Asia, kids from all social classes have a shot at a tennis career. If they show sufficient talent and motivation, there are numerous community organizations, government programs and general social assistance systems to help build up their careers, in part because these other societies strongly support investment in their youth. “

My inclination is to cite #1 as the core flaw to be dealt with.

Best current estimate for annual pro tour ? $100.000. PLUS A COACH! Big dogs now have a TEAM.

This hopefully covers travel , room. meals , coaching. facilities use, equipment. Stringing cost Borg $60K in 1980. Bottom line annual expenses – 200k plus. Average annual prize money ? About 25k.

Very few make the top 200, who about break even, The conditions are often horrible, lonely and dissapointing. One fine college player after trying the pro circuit said ” I got tired of eating mayonaisse sandwiches. You need about 3/4 years to develop physically”.

The galloping aullure of American College Tennis is attracting more and more, better and better potential pro players, who are betting on a different developmental arena.

College tennis is becoming the minor leagues of International tennis. 2024 was ample proof that that day is already here. And why not? Annual expenses? That is up to you. Great facilities and coaching, schedules featuring high quality match play. Fine practice partners (a team full ), not to mention a free college education. That most often is worth more than tennis.

And don’t forget- Pro tennis expenses come after years of very similar amounts of annual costs to be in the hunt.

The KICKER–The portal and likeness monies will make very lucrative possibilities for the best borderline international players. True too of the very top Americans. But only a few. Already the first year rumor mill is adrift with wildly questionable numbers and propositions being floated.

THE BAD NEWS IS A LOT OF FINE AMERICAN ASPIRANTS WILL BE IGNORED, And the same is probably true of many “global ” sports. Basketball, golf, soccer, volleyball, track and field are right behind. Tennis just got there first. See NEXT PLEASE ( https://wordpress.com/post/littlegreenbookoftennis.com/6105 ).

Currently college coaches go after the best players . Pretty simple. Earlier the players came from the student body. Then they recruited areas, then statewide, regionally, nationally, and internationaly. Now we are attracting elite players world wide. Is Mars next?

We have created a pathway only possible for the very best and richest, What about the majority of our kids?

THE CURRENT RUBICON

The NCAA holds it’s Convention in January. Changes are inevitable. Now is the time for wise choices that affect our children and our populace. Education, reason, health-physical and mental, sportsmanship , teamwork, on and on.

Do tennis players pay their own travel expenses?

The enormous and uncertain costs. PLAYERS ARE RESPONSIBLE for paying for their own transportation to and from tournaments, as well as the support staff who travel with them, including coaches and physios.Jan 17, 2023

“…as they start their journey toward the higher echelons of the tennis world. If we’re honest, prize money at this level is modest, with tournament funds typically totaling somewhere between %15,000 and $25,000. This is to say that the winner takes home anything from $2000 to $4000.

 ATP Challenger Tour saw players competing for prize money ranging from $36,680 to $156,240 per tournament, with approximately $21 000 going to winners on average. ( 2021 )

to qualify for Grand Slams, a player usually needs to be ranked amongst the 104 best players in the world, which is not an effortless accomplishment.