The “Keep’em Back, Jack” Game Plan
Keep’em in the back-Jack! Where do I come up with these ideas? Well, from coaching folks mostly. Here is one. Player A makes splat after splat from deep court on the backhand and forehand side and is way out in front the entire game. Everyone is “ooooh and aahhhhh” over junior but me, not so […]
Mad Racquetball?
In past years talked to many athletes who were feeling very down. One particular case a racquetballer lost it and went off on the ref and basically had a mental meltdown. I was pretty much like “Hey, it happens!”. Then I began to realize something else was at play here. In this day and age […]
Side-Steppin’ Blues
Are you a side-stepper? I guess I am having some effect on athletes because several have emailed me about the crossover step. I preach constantly about not stepping to the sidewall yet it is pointed out to me that several pros, including ones I teach do exactly that, especially on the backhand side. Okay-let’s go […]
Is it the Coach’s Fault?
“My athletes are losing and it is my fault!” This came to me from one of my coaches I work with. Say what? Okay enough–no coach! -your athlete has to get better. To be consistent there is only one way. Perfect practice-over and over–and over and over again. The more time on the court, […]
Poker or Family Feud?
Play Poker, not family feud! I happened upon the tv game show, Family Feud the other night and these crazies are jumping up and down and acting insane for a new tv or some such prize. I got thinking where have I seen that type of behavior before? While pouring through video it comes […]
Lean or Move?
Do you ‘lean” to the ball or do you move to the ball? One of the issues with coaching junior racquetball is the natural development of motor skills. Among those skills is movement. It is not natural to move your feet but it is natural to lean or stretch to get to a shot. In […]
Coached Up!!
It is a great day when these come across my desk-(I’ll paraphrase and change some things to protect identity!) Coach–” I got an awful draw and got matched up against the guy who won the tournament one week before I started your monthly program. Well, I beat him yesterday and it was not close. I […]
Want Workouts or Justice?
It is easy to judge others’ behavior. It is competition and at my old age I have come to realize two competitors in small box will compete hard and the gray area will be exploited; sooner or later. In a weird way, it is sort of a merit badge, that someone thinks they […]
Why Coach, Coach!
Recently I had the honor of giving an impromptu racquetball clinic to a group of high school kids. It was a great group of kids and fun coaching them up! But I asked them all a question none of them could answer. I get this blank look from racquetball team members always on this one […]
Hinders in Hinterlands!
This one came via the fb network to my desk- “Coach-my opponents in doubles say I take up too much room. When I move to the ball I stay away from it and move toward it only before my shot. They say this inconveniences them and they get out of position. What do you think […]