YAHOO for National Showcase Series!

We've been keeping a gigantic secret since at least last August (& I'm not good at keeping secrets so that's saying something!!)---At last, we can speak openly about the exciting National Showcase Series for 2013!!! We got the heads-up earlier this week from our friend Julie (love her name) Wrege at Tennis Recruiting Network that the announcement would FINALLY be made so YAY for that.

You can find answers to your ranking and all other questions at the TennisRecruiting.net site (we just want you to be aware of the showcase & to let you where we'll be!) but suffice it to say that we FULLY SUPPORT this brilliant solution for two very good reasons:
 

1) They recognized that players would be left behind as a result of the USTA changes; and

2) They stepped UP on behalf of those players by offering them a CHOICE: Let the PLAYERS PLAY and let the parents decide WHERE THE PLAYERS PLAY!!!

We've already added FOUR events to our 2013 calendar---hoping to add more--but we'll be offering our popular video services at THREE out of the first FIVE events!!! The showcase kicks off very soon with the Costa Mesa Open Classic in Costa Mesa, CA for BG18s (which starts on 12/26). That's great for players on the west coast -- but it's also waaay too far awaaay for your HIGH-TECH friends who <HEART> the Southern Section.

Fortunately, the very next event is the Georgia/Alabama Open in Dothan, AL for BG18-186s (which starts on 3/30). We're EXTRA excited to return to the Westgate Tennis Center for the first time in at least 3-4 years..since the demise of the National Open for BG14s that was always so much fun in February. TD Don Bryan is one of the good guys who gets it - check out his response when I contacted him via email to ask permission to offer video services during the tournament:

"Of course. If there's anything you need, just let us know.
See you soon!"

What about the very next showcase event? The Bluegrass Spring Junior Open in Louisville, KY for BG18-12s (which starts on 4/6). If you know us, you know how much we LOVE our home-away-from-home at The Tennis Club at Springhurst. TD (& tennis father) Chris Mather is absolutely one of the best - he TOTALLY gets it - check out his response a few years ago after we offered video services during his tournament:
 

"What an awesome video service for tournament players!!
If you have YET to get a video of your match, you should know that HIGH-TECH TENNIS is the BEST!! Video is such a great learning tool --- so look them up at your next Southern tournament!!"

We'll have to skip the next showcase event, which is the Ojai Junior Tennis Tournament in Ojai, CA for G18s & BG16-14s (which starts on 4/26). Again, great for players on the west coast but not so much for HIGH-TECH friends...but the North Georgia Open in Rome, GA for BG18-12s (which starts on 5/25) is right up the road!! We haven't been to Rome in YEARS but when I contacted TD Robert Sasseville for permission?

"I don't anticipate a problem with your filming at that event."

Our schedule is jam-packed during the summer but we'll revisit the showcase for the Bluegrass Fall Junior Open in Louisville, KY for BG18-12s (which starts on 9/21).
 

Let the PLAYERS PLAY and let the parents decide WHERE THE PLAYERS PLAY? This brilliant solution has our FULL support & we'll do whatever we can to make it successful!

You can believe me when I say WE KNOW crappy tournaments...
If we're going, it ain't crappy (been there, done that)!!! Just as in all walks of life, ALL TOURNAMENT DIRECTORS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL---enough said.

 Meantime, we're spending a few quiet weeks in paradise... We're doing loads of planning for our 2013 calendar which includes several USTA events (mostly in Mobile & Louisville), several National Showcase Series events, several weekends at the National High School Tennis Team Championships, several Experience Tennis Technology events, several HIGH-TECH SPORTS VIDEO events...
We can't wait to see YOU on video in 2013!

On a personal note....

Hearing the news about little kids being murdered in their elementary school classrooms felt a little like hearing about 9/11..
Shock, disbelief, anger & extreme sadness..
Then we went to war to get revenge..
So I guess we'll be going to war soon..?
So many are dealing with such unimaginable pain today..
Moving forward with mundane tasks seems trivial & insensitive..
Wish we could find a way to live in the world without senselessly killing each other.. :( Sending much love to comfort those affected by recent tragedy in CT...
May the sweet victims rest in peace with the angels forever.