New Normal - Letter To My Students 4/13/2020

Hello Friends, I can only continue to wish you all health and happiness during this time. It has been a time for reflection, and when we return to “normalcy”, may we have a better sense as to what that new normal should be. What have I been up to during the time away from the courts? As many of you know, I have been creating self-made videos on how you can keep your skills sharp at home, as well as including lists of survival mechanisms, with a new set included below. My students’ positive response, such as Lexi Smith sending me a video of her serving in her driveway at home, has inspired me to start a blog in order to better serve all students of tennis at this time… and beyond. Look for the link to The Tennis Coach Tom blog in the email next Monday. Since I hold multiple certifications with The Professional Tennis Registry, I have been leaning on their continuing education resources more than ever at home. I also have been logging extra hours on my Master of Tennis: Junior Development program, an intensive two-year nationally accredited certificate program. Otherwise, I have been enjoying planning healthy meals, and reading too many Covid-19-related articles. I fill the days with walks, meal preparation (some of you have sent me recipes I will be sure to execute), occasional board games, critically-acclaimed movies, documentaries, and shows (right now we are on a war movie kick). The days seem to fly by, though I am always left feeling like I could have accomplished more… I am sure I’m not alone! Here’s this week’s training video, on how to set up a practice session and execute the fundamentals of the “dink.” The dink is the most important shot in Pickleball. A good dink is any ball that is unattackable. The keys to remember are: Athletic stance – bend at the knees, not at the waist Paddle and contact in front of your body – grip tension 3-4 out of 10 Swing from shoulder, not from wrist – south to north motion Enjoy the video! https://youtu.be/zi8vrLoQ_1c I will leave you with a moving quote from Jojo Rabbit, oh, and then be sure to check out my survival mechanisms below. Take care everyone! “Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror. / Just keep going. No feeling is final.”

This week’s survival mechanisms:

Movie Recommendation: Jojo Rabbit – Thank you Matt Ryan! Documentary Recommendation: American Factory – Netflix Show Recommendation: The Plot Against America – HBO Non-Screen Activity: Organize stock-piled groceries by category, color Epic Walk: Stay in your neighborhood / Limit exposure during the surge week Smoothie Recipe: Healthy Strawberry Banana Milkshake (1 serving size)

1 cup almond milk 1 handful greens of choice 1 banana 1 cup of strawberries .5 cup of yogurt 1 Tbs flax seed 1 Tbs hemp seeds 1 Tbs Maca Powder (or other super food like collagen) *use a cup of ice if fruit and veggies are not frozen

Dinner Recipe: Mushroom and Caramelized Onion Crustless Quiche (4 servings)

6 eggs 1.25 cups half n half 1 cup shredded cheddar or gouda 1 onion 1 lb assorted mushrooms Salt and Pepper Pinch of nutmeg

Slice thinly and caramelize the whole onion. Slice or quarter mushrooms. Sautee mushrooms in olive oil and some butter, and salt and pepper to taste, until dark and fragrant, about 7-10 minutes.

Mix together caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, and shredded cheese in a bowl. Spoon mixture into an oven-proof dish (we used a 7 cup Pyrex).

In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, half and half, and a pinch of nutmeg. Pour mixture into dish with mushroom/onion/cheese mixture. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes, until quiche is set but still slightly wiggly.

#tennis #recipes #Covid19