Spring '09 Newsletter
It's time to plan for your kids summer activities!
From June 15th to August 21st, we (GSI Bollettieri) will be hosting our popular Tennis & Surf Camp. The program will be directed by James Bollettieri and Tom Mar at the North Shore Tennis Center. Surf sessions are offered only from June 15th to July 24th. The Tennis program will resume until August 21st. You can choose to participate in our full-day program (9:30 to 3 PM) or a half-day program from 9:30 AM to 12:00 noon (Tennis only). Adult programs are also available from 9:30 AM to 12:00 noon. For prices click here. For program information click here
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The North Shore Ladies B Team surpasses expectations
The 2009 Ladies League season started slow with three consecutive losses barely winning a match. But this team showed some amazing resiliency by winning their last five matches. As a result, they squeaked into the playoffs by one point beating Miami Shores 4 to 1 in their final regular season match.
As the 4th and final seed, the North Shore Ladies B Team had to face the number 1 seed, North Miami Beach (defending champions and four time consecutive winners).
Tied at two matches all, the number 4 team (Marjo Grodin and Mati Deutsch) played in a classic 3 set match that lasted almost three hours. After being down a set (6 - 3) and down 4 - 1 in the second set, they somehow managed to get to the third set and win it all in a tight tie breaker (8 - 6). Unfornately, the ladies lost in the finals against Golden Isle.
Nevertheless, the North Shore Ladies B team season was a huge sucsess by finishing 2nd over all. Congratulations to the North Shore Ladies B Team! For information about our leagues, contact Mike Melanefy at (305) 244-0021.
The Women's Doubles Tournament at North Shore Tennis Center was a great success
Sixteen players showed up to try and take the title as "the best ladies doubles team" at North Shore Tennis Center. All the competitors came from a variety of venues. There were ladies that came from the leagues, ladies that were regular clinic participants and ladies that play on there own, some from North Shore and some from other clubs.
After a long day (9:30 AM to 3 PM) playing in a round robin format, the victors turned out to be two regular clinic participants (Katia Haunschild and Gabriela Castanon). The second place winners was a mother daughter team (Marjo Grondin and Marie Grondin) that plays on the North Shore Tennis Center Ladies B Team.
Men's tournament at Flamingo Park a great success!
44 players showed up to compete at GSI Bollettieri's 3rd Tournament Championship Series. Winners include Freddie Azucey (Open Division), Ismael Cuevas ("A's") and Marco Bianco (C's).
TIP OF THE MONTH BY TOM MAR
The secret to a fast start is a slow warm-up
Typically, most players like to swing their arms and hips around in a circle a couple of times and then immediately head for the baseline banging the balls as hard as they can with out paying any attention to where the ball is going. Then when they start playing, that's when they notice that the big shots they were hitting in thier warm up are not going in. As a result, they lose confidence and the pushing begins.
The key to a fast start is being in rythym early in the match and the key to being in rythm is confidence and confidence comes from sucess (i.e. making shots). The mistake most players make when warming up is that they focus too much on power and not enough on control. With out control players typically will not have much success. Remember, "with tennis, power means nothing if your shots are not going in."
HERE’S THE TIP - take your time with your physical warm-up. Do a light jog before stretching and when stretching make sure you allow yourself enough time to losen your muscle and joints before you start hitting. When your ready to hit, start slowly inside the service line hitting at a target (use a tennis can as a target) and work it until you can hit near it consistently. Then move to the baseline and begin warming-up the same way as you did at mini tennis until you get into a rythm from there. Now you ready for a fast start.
The new GSI Bollettieri Jr. Traveling team shows progress
The GSI Bollettieri Traveling Team went to their first tournament last weekend in Orlando and brought back 3 trophies. But, the real story here is not the trophies, it's the the way our kids are responding to our programs. The New Traveling Team is an advanced program that focuses on live ball, match play, strategy sessions and tournament play (modeled after Nick Bollettieri's Traveling Team program at the IMG Academies in Bradenton, Florida).
The GSI Bollettieri Traveling Team is the direct result of all our other programs working. Some started in our Pee Wee program like Nickolas Berone who now is a top Florida ranked player in the boy's 10 and under. Some came in through our academy who already had excellent skills and are now doing very well in their standings.
After 5 years of training our local kids (mostly Miami Beach residence), there are a number of them (approximately 10 to 15) who are now traveling and playing tournaments all over the area. As mentioned, we now have a few players who are ranked highly in the State of Florida and some with respectable national rankings. We are proud to say that our grass roots programs are working.
For more details click here. For club directions click here
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New services offered!
Private Surfing lessons - attention "want to be surfers", James Bollettieri is available to give private surfing lessons available by appointment only and limited to ideal surf conditions. For more information - write to info@gsibollettieri.com or call North Shore Tennis Center at (305) 604-4080. For rates click here.
Tutoring - as an added service to our tennis patrons, GSI Bollettieri will offer private educational tutoring from Tom Mar's wife, Michele Mar. Michele has been teaching for fifteen years as a gifted program Instructor. Michele has two Masters' Degrees and is currently working on a Ph. D in education. For more information - write to info@gsibollettieri.com or call Michele Mar at (305) 756-1832. For rates click here.
Your suggestions are important to us!
To all members, if you have any suggestions or complaints regarding club issues, please send us an e-mail at info@gsibollettieri.com. It is very important that you do not take action on your own in that you may cause other problems. Greensquare Inc. and the City of Miami Beach Parks and Recreation Department are doing everything possible to provide you with the "best tennis courts in Miami". Thank you for your cooperation, Greensquare Management.
Please follow club rules
We have had several conflicting situations from patrons not following court reservation rules, like booking consecutive hours, hopping from court to court, refusing to leave the court when their hour is up, not checking in or refusing to pay fees. Keep in mind that in order for everyone to enjoy these popular beautiful tennis courts, we must all follow club rules. The system is designed for busy clubs like ours (North Shore and Flamingo Park Tennis Centers) and only works if everyone is on the same page. Thank you for cooperating and lets all have a good time.
Vending machines are not ours
Please note that if you have any problems with those vending machines, we are not responsible. You can contact the number on the machines or call the City of Miami Beach. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Senior Clinics – we decided to offer this program shortly after one of our principals (we won’t mention who) became a senior. He made us realize that seniors need to practice too. But, all kidding a side, we will be offering a Free Clinic for seniors who are Miami Beach Residents sometime this fall.