Sun Screen Protection
The more you learn about sunscreens the more you can protect yourself from the long term damage the sun will put to your skin. As a tennis player or teacher this is essential knowledge.
Wednesday, May 31, 2017
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Old Man Tennis - Top in Men's Over 30
Over age 30 players dominate men's tennis
This takes us back to the 1960's when men in their late 30's were at the top, Laver and Rosewall.
This takes us back to the 1960's when men in their late 30's were at the top, Laver and Rosewall.
Tennis Pro Retirement: The three legged chair is fading
Three legged retirement
If you aren't near retirement now then you can question how much social security you may receive. If you have a 401K or IRA your investments may not work out as planned. Almost no one gets a pension unless you work for the government in some way. For the rest of us, and especially tennis teachers who are self employed your only way to prepare for retirement is to save well, invest, and consider some form of private pension by allocating some of your retirement funding in an annuity.
Not saving enough is biggest financial regret
Creating your own three legged retirement means considering each as a part of the whole, but adding a fourth leg by working in retirement can become the way to safely navigate your reclining years. As a tennis teacher your ability to just slow down and take less work while still working and generating income is a sound approach to making it through.
In addition, just having something to do that keeps you involved is a great justification for teaching long after many others might have quit their 9-5 jobs.
This is how I approach retirement. I just shared my ideas of how I have worked to navigate the sometimes difficult idea of having a comfortable and successful and winning fifth set in the grand slam event of life. Winning in this case means you live life as you choose.
Disclaimer: I am not an investment or retirement professional so please do not consider this investment advice but rather ideas for discussion. Seek professional assistance for your retirement planning.
If you aren't near retirement now then you can question how much social security you may receive. If you have a 401K or IRA your investments may not work out as planned. Almost no one gets a pension unless you work for the government in some way. For the rest of us, and especially tennis teachers who are self employed your only way to prepare for retirement is to save well, invest, and consider some form of private pension by allocating some of your retirement funding in an annuity.
Not saving enough is biggest financial regret
Creating your own three legged retirement means considering each as a part of the whole, but adding a fourth leg by working in retirement can become the way to safely navigate your reclining years. As a tennis teacher your ability to just slow down and take less work while still working and generating income is a sound approach to making it through.
In addition, just having something to do that keeps you involved is a great justification for teaching long after many others might have quit their 9-5 jobs.
This is how I approach retirement. I just shared my ideas of how I have worked to navigate the sometimes difficult idea of having a comfortable and successful and winning fifth set in the grand slam event of life. Winning in this case means you live life as you choose.
Disclaimer: I am not an investment or retirement professional so please do not consider this investment advice but rather ideas for discussion. Seek professional assistance for your retirement planning.
Saturday, May 20, 2017
Tennis News: Bizarre, Sharapova to Qualify, Real Writers, Head Shot
Bizarre Match - focus on play. If this was supposed to psych out her opponent it didn't work.
Halep Advances in Rome
Sharapova to try qualifying for Wimbledon rather than Wild Card
Real Writers Play Tennis
Head Shot almost causes concussion
Halep Advances in Rome
Sharapova to try qualifying for Wimbledon rather than Wild Card
Real Writers Play Tennis
Head Shot almost causes concussion
Monday, May 15, 2017
Enough of Sharapova Talk
http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2017/05/kuznetsova-other-wta-players-are-tired-talking-about-sharapova/65984/
It is nothing but a distraction. Let Sharapova prove herself again on the court and at the same time prove that she isn't using banned substances by playing and submitting to testing like other pros. Beyond that the chatter should end.
One question I have about all of the testing is that it appears easy to mistakenly take supplements that might cause you to fail a drug test. It seems that there should be a way to confirm that some type of supplement is approved or not beforehand rather than face the risk of a ban.
It is nothing but a distraction. Let Sharapova prove herself again on the court and at the same time prove that she isn't using banned substances by playing and submitting to testing like other pros. Beyond that the chatter should end.
One question I have about all of the testing is that it appears easy to mistakenly take supplements that might cause you to fail a drug test. It seems that there should be a way to confirm that some type of supplement is approved or not beforehand rather than face the risk of a ban.
Saturday, May 13, 2017
Tennis Teachers in Retirement: Keep Working
Why Delaying Retirement is Good for You
Even if you weren't a tennis instructor for your primary working lifetime you can make it a post retirement paying avocation. I have known many that have done just this.
Your post retirement approach to work
I knew a schoolteacher who retired from teaching but he had also volunteered to coach tennis at his school so he already had some experience. It turned out to be a good thing for him and the community as he taught until he passed away in his early 90's.
In another case I had a friend that liked tennis and became a strong player but made his living in the corporate world. After his retirement he went looking for something to do that didn't involve the stress he had lived most of his working life. He found tennis teaching and community tennis programs were the ideal thing for him to do and also made a fair amount of income as well. He finally took a full retirement when health problems caused him to move into an independent and then later an assisted living facility, but until that time he had a very active life.
Anyone that loves tennis can find some way to get involved
In addition to these two examples I know many people in various walks of life from physical therapists, military retirees, teachers, and former coaches in other sports who are tennis enthusiasts plan to take up teaching as a part time solution to retirement activity and income. If you are contemplating such an approach my main suggestion is to get started with teaching skills by taking training and to get involved on a volunteer basis for county programs or local tennis associations. You could even set up something in your local community but keep in mind that insurance is always the issue so getting some sort of certification with insurance that is offered makes good sense. It will also help you decide if this lifestyle is for you.
Keep Teaching
Finally, if you are already a tennis teacher the best way to stay active is to keep teaching. Sure, you don't want to put in fifty hour weeks on the court, but how about scaling down and teaching twenty hours. When I say twenty hours I mean combined group and private lessons because if you're doing twenty hours a week of private lessons you're still putting a serious effort into your job.
I have a couple of tennis pro friends that share with me the challenges of reaching the age of sixty and thinking they can still maintain the teaching schedule they may have had for the past thirty years. It simply isn't possible without wearing yourself down and eventually out. I ran into this myself as injuries and repetitive use problems seemed to show up much more often as I headed toward my sixties.
A modest approach
Do a slow fade. Just allow your schedule to slow down to match your financial and health needs. If you can get by with only fifteen or twenty hours a week on the court then do it. The nice thing is that you'll still get the benefits of social engagement if you spend time in the community teaching tennis and sharing what you've learned. If you still have management responsibilities at a club then you can focus more on those and less on teaching.
Share the Game
You can also use the opportunity to mentor others that want to get into teaching and since you're no longer in competition for business it might be one of the best things you can do to help keep tennis growing in your community. I have taken the opportunity many times to bring others into teaching, coaching, and just volunteering in tennis. It's a good thing for everyone involved.
It is a perfect retirement atmosphere
The environment for tennis is conducive to fun and interaction which are essential parts of staying happy and healthy. If you can make some money at the same time to help support your retirement needs then you've accomplished the ideal which is to find something that keeps you involved and yet allows you to live a comfortable life.
Even if you weren't a tennis instructor for your primary working lifetime you can make it a post retirement paying avocation. I have known many that have done just this.
Your post retirement approach to work
I knew a schoolteacher who retired from teaching but he had also volunteered to coach tennis at his school so he already had some experience. It turned out to be a good thing for him and the community as he taught until he passed away in his early 90's.
In another case I had a friend that liked tennis and became a strong player but made his living in the corporate world. After his retirement he went looking for something to do that didn't involve the stress he had lived most of his working life. He found tennis teaching and community tennis programs were the ideal thing for him to do and also made a fair amount of income as well. He finally took a full retirement when health problems caused him to move into an independent and then later an assisted living facility, but until that time he had a very active life.
Anyone that loves tennis can find some way to get involved
In addition to these two examples I know many people in various walks of life from physical therapists, military retirees, teachers, and former coaches in other sports who are tennis enthusiasts plan to take up teaching as a part time solution to retirement activity and income. If you are contemplating such an approach my main suggestion is to get started with teaching skills by taking training and to get involved on a volunteer basis for county programs or local tennis associations. You could even set up something in your local community but keep in mind that insurance is always the issue so getting some sort of certification with insurance that is offered makes good sense. It will also help you decide if this lifestyle is for you.
Keep Teaching
Finally, if you are already a tennis teacher the best way to stay active is to keep teaching. Sure, you don't want to put in fifty hour weeks on the court, but how about scaling down and teaching twenty hours. When I say twenty hours I mean combined group and private lessons because if you're doing twenty hours a week of private lessons you're still putting a serious effort into your job.
I have a couple of tennis pro friends that share with me the challenges of reaching the age of sixty and thinking they can still maintain the teaching schedule they may have had for the past thirty years. It simply isn't possible without wearing yourself down and eventually out. I ran into this myself as injuries and repetitive use problems seemed to show up much more often as I headed toward my sixties.
A modest approach
Do a slow fade. Just allow your schedule to slow down to match your financial and health needs. If you can get by with only fifteen or twenty hours a week on the court then do it. The nice thing is that you'll still get the benefits of social engagement if you spend time in the community teaching tennis and sharing what you've learned. If you still have management responsibilities at a club then you can focus more on those and less on teaching.
Share the Game
You can also use the opportunity to mentor others that want to get into teaching and since you're no longer in competition for business it might be one of the best things you can do to help keep tennis growing in your community. I have taken the opportunity many times to bring others into teaching, coaching, and just volunteering in tennis. It's a good thing for everyone involved.
It is a perfect retirement atmosphere
The environment for tennis is conducive to fun and interaction which are essential parts of staying happy and healthy. If you can make some money at the same time to help support your retirement needs then you've accomplished the ideal which is to find something that keeps you involved and yet allows you to live a comfortable life.
Tuesday, May 9, 2017
Bouchard Defeats Sharapova
Bouchard Defeats Sharapova
We'll see if she can do this six months from now. Sharapova is probably not up to par but this is also a good win for Bouchard.
We'll see if she can do this six months from now. Sharapova is probably not up to par but this is also a good win for Bouchard.
Therapy for bad back pain - forget mindfulness
Forget mindfulness
No kidding. The last thing you want to do is have your mind focus on your back or to try to make it not focus on your back pain. Thinking about not thinking about it will cause you to think about it. Instead, go with the old standby remedies. You know that list which includes meds, TENS units, stretching, exercise, and mental diversions.
No kidding. The last thing you want to do is have your mind focus on your back or to try to make it not focus on your back pain. Thinking about not thinking about it will cause you to think about it. Instead, go with the old standby remedies. You know that list which includes meds, TENS units, stretching, exercise, and mental diversions.
Intense Exercise May Cause Leaky Gut
Intense Exercise Risk Study
Overtraining is a problem. Many athletes become so fixated on training that they often equate more hours with more result and this works to a point. But it does come to a point of diminishing benefits and at some point may cause injuries or health challenges that are permanent. This is why it is best to have a balanced life as well as a balanced training regimen.
Overtraining is a problem. Many athletes become so fixated on training that they often equate more hours with more result and this works to a point. But it does come to a point of diminishing benefits and at some point may cause injuries or health challenges that are permanent. This is why it is best to have a balanced life as well as a balanced training regimen.
Monday, May 8, 2017
Saturday, May 6, 2017
Novak Goes for Reset: Fires whole support team
Novak Reset
He might want to emulate the Fed. This could include an equipment upgrade, a change in playing schedule to focus on important events and fewer overall matches, and a review of his physical training and dietary approach. All those needs change as we age. As a final consideration he might want to look at changing anything that might fall into the category of a weakness. Looking at his game it is hard to find any. If I had to choose I'd suggest he work on his net game and maybe even play doubles to raise his level in that area. He has few if any visible weaknesses.
Final Analysis: All this goes back to focus. He is now married with a child. I never remember a Pro that didn't drop his level of play when family became an issue, at least for a time until some balance was achieved. If personal issues come along this can destroy focus.
Married
Falling out of love with tennis?
He might want to emulate the Fed. This could include an equipment upgrade, a change in playing schedule to focus on important events and fewer overall matches, and a review of his physical training and dietary approach. All those needs change as we age. As a final consideration he might want to look at changing anything that might fall into the category of a weakness. Looking at his game it is hard to find any. If I had to choose I'd suggest he work on his net game and maybe even play doubles to raise his level in that area. He has few if any visible weaknesses.
Final Analysis: All this goes back to focus. He is now married with a child. I never remember a Pro that didn't drop his level of play when family became an issue, at least for a time until some balance was achieved. If personal issues come along this can destroy focus.
Married
Falling out of love with tennis?
Health: Medical Studies, Supplements
Medical Studies Almost Always Bogus
So when you see a new study published keep in mind that it may not be an outcome that can be reproduced, therefore is false information.
Supplement Industry Flies under the Radar
Take designer supplements at your own risk. I personally stick with basic nutritional supplements that are herbal in nature and not synthetic. Even these probably pose risks if misused so consider the benefits versus the risk.
So when you see a new study published keep in mind that it may not be an outcome that can be reproduced, therefore is false information.
Supplement Industry Flies under the Radar
Take designer supplements at your own risk. I personally stick with basic nutritional supplements that are herbal in nature and not synthetic. Even these probably pose risks if misused so consider the benefits versus the risk.
Mikos Banned For Life - Is it worth it?
http://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/19311016/konstantinos-mikos-banned-tennis-life-being-found-guilty-match-fixing
I'd rather string rackets for extra money if it came to this. Your best bet is to teach lessons on the side. I can't believe you can make enough money to justify the risk of being banned for life.
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
Gluten Free Diet Risk
Gluten Free Diet Raises Heart Disease Risk
There is always a good argument for a balanced diet and one of moderation.
There is always a good argument for a balanced diet and one of moderation.
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