Sarah Merriman

2019 Fast4 League Championship Match Scheduled

July 27, 2019 by Staley Tennis

Our summer-long Fast4 league will come down to the wire on Saturday, August 3rd, 2019 when the Topspinners face Double Trouble in the final match of the year. Both teams go into the season finale with a 4-1 record. The Topspinners team consists of Joe Bowsher (Indianapolis, IN), Nathan Harper (Warsaw, IN) and Katelyn Vetor (North Webster, IN). Double Trouble includes … [Read more...] about 2019 Fast4 League Championship Match Scheduled

Club Tennis Results (June 17-23, 2019)

June 24, 2019 by Staley Tennis

This was one of our busiest weeks of the summer for competitive events. Our Challenger Series entered week 3, our Fast4 League week 2 and the Verified UTR match play event, Sunday Showdown #1, is now also in the books. Here's a quick recap. Six matches were played this week in our Challenger Series… June 20th Kelsey Harper defeated Lily Crighton 8-2Kaitlin Graber … [Read more...] about Club Tennis Results (June 17-23, 2019)

Winter Sessions Conclude

March 8, 2019 by Shane Staley

Staley Tennis held its winter sessions once again at the Mast Family Facility. In addition to our Advance Junior Drills we run each year, we also launched the inaugural High School Skills Builder Course. This new course is for beginning tennis players who are heading into high school tennis. This prep class is held in the winter for girls and in the summer for … [Read more...] about Winter Sessions Conclude

Ball Machine Drills August 13, 2020
During academy ball machine sessions, I wanted to collect the various drills players can run during their time on court. Currently, our Lobster Phenom has 6 preset drills. They can be accessed directly on the machine's console as labeled. These … … The post Ball Machine Drills appeared first on Staley Academy.
The Preacher August 7, 2020
Description: Simple one-shot play to defend against an approaching opponent. This play can be run in any situation where your opponent approaches and sets up deep in the service boxes near the service line. Goal: Forehand or backhand slice hit low to … … The post The Preacher appeared first on Staley Academy.
Between the Points: The 16-Second Cure May 15, 2020
Entire matches are won or lost between points in tennis. It comes down to a proven ritual. A player's ability to manage his or her own emotions, focus and stress levels become paramount to becoming a top competitor. I'm a … … The post Between the Points: The 16-Second Cure appeared first on Staley Academy.
Mental Toughness: Why Tennis Demands More From Its Players May 6, 2020
The psychological demands of tennis make or break players. The mental toughness component of tennis ultimately determines who wins or loses. It separates average players from elite. No matter what skills or athleticism a player has, their ceiling will be … The post Mental Toughness: Why Tennis Demands More From Its Players appeared first on Staley […]
Focus & Relaxation Exercises May 6, 2020
Why Do It? In tennis, it's imperative for high level players to condition their minds as well as their bodies. Tennis is a psychologically demanding sport. You will only play your best tennis if you can learn to relax your … … The post Focus & Relaxation Exercises appeared first on Staley Academy.
Mindset: Playing An Opponent, Not The Person Or Their Attitude May 4, 2020
Tennis is often a game of mental warfare between opponents. In coaching players in match play, I’ll always remind them that their job when they step out onto the court is to take on a special persona, an alter-ego of sorts: … … The post Mindset: Playing An Opponent, Not The Person Or Their Attitude appeared first on […]
Forcing Winners Does Not Win Matches (Match Tip) April 30, 2020
Too many junior players fall in love with power. There’s few things more exciting in tennis than blasting a winner. However, winners generally make up a very small percentage of points won and yield a very high percentage of mistakes (unforced errors). … … The post Forcing Winners Does Not Win Matches (Match Tip) appeared first on Staley Academy.
The S.M.A.R.T. Way To Set Player Goals April 30, 2020
Let's just put it out there: few people find setting goals exciting. To most, this task is avoided and feared. Tennis players are no exception. We'd rather be out on court playing than confined in front of a computer screen … … The post The S.M.A.R.T. Way To Set Player Goals appeared first on Staley Academy.
Mixing It Up: Versatility In Competition April 28, 2020
Obtaining versatility in the sport of tennis is a long journey. In my many years of watching and coaching the sport of tennis, I’ve seen a common recurrence in match play and in training (or lack thereof). Juniors (particularly boys) … … The post Mixing It Up: Versatility In Competition appeared first on Staley Academy.
The Importance of Empathy In Tennis April 27, 2020
We live in our own worlds. We center our perspectives around our respective selves. Athletes often stress about their own performance and it becomes their focal point. The worse the stress gets, the worse their performance. One cure I administer … … The post The Importance of Empathy In Tennis appeared first on Staley Academy.