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Tennis Pro: UPDATE

Tennis Pro: UPDATE

Dear Patrons,
 
With the sale of the club, we have developed exciting plans to grow our youth and adult tennis programs. In addition, we will be working with our Tennis Professionals to expand our reach into the community.  To that end, we have created a tennis and programs staffing structure that will support these plans. Moving forward, David Roth will be named co head pro with Bobby Schlink and will share Head Pro responsibilities as co-Head Pros. Bobby will be director of junior tennis programming and David will be the director of adult programing. Together they will be working to manage the day to day tennis operations and grow the junior and adult lesson programs. 
 
George Ulrich will be joining us seasonally as a senior tennis professional providing lessons when he returns from Florida. 
 
Andre Danford will continue with us as a senior tennis professional and Director of usta youth tournaments. He will continue to provide lessons.  
 
Dave Bailey will be back full time in September. 
 
Jeff Connolly, Jay Bazinet, Roberto Schiano, and Leah Ward will be part time tennis professionals assisting us with your overall tennis experience. 
 
Thank you and we look forward to making your tennis experience at Lyme Shores Racquet Club a fun and enjoyable one.  
 
Thank you,
 
Juan A. Maldonado 
Club Manager 
Message from New Owner!

Message from New Owner!

We are extremely excited to announce our acquisition of the Lymes Shores Racquet Club.

My wife Kelly and I would like to introduce ourselves, as well as let you know what changes you should expect over the next 24 months. In 2014 we moved from Indiana to Connecticut, where we lived in Southbury for six years prior to the pandemic. In addition to making lifelong friends, we fell in love with the beauty of the state. During that time Kelly was very involved in USTA teams in both Northern and Southern CT leagues, but our involvement with tennis actually predates our move to the area.

Through our holding company (EKM Sports) we have owned the South Bend Racquet Club in Indiana for over 25 years. During that time, we have prided ourselves in having a clean, updated facility whilst continuing to grow tennis in the community. The ultimate goal has always been to provide members with a great experience, which then drives the activity in the facility and the health of the business.

Our plans are to integrate the operating model that has been successful for our Indiana facility with the existing LSRC approach. The high-level changes that we are planning over the next two years include:

Upgrade Indoor Courts – We plan to address the following:
LIGHTING – We will increase the court lighting so there are no shadows
SURFACE – We will resurface the courts after other work is complete
HVAC – We are evaluating whether to add air conditioning to all courts

Renewed Focus on Tennis/Pickleball – We will be discontinuing the fitness component of the current business. This decision is driven by economic issues and we apologize to any fitness members. All fitness members will have their dues refunded on a pro-rated basis upon closing. Certain items may be sold to interested parties, but we expect to donate a large amount of equipment to local high schools.

Tennis/Pickleball Pro Shop – We will be adding a full-line tennis/pickleball pro shop where the fitness equipment currently resides. We believe you will generally find our pricing to be BELOW the internet, but at the very least we match prices from all major internet retailers.

Dedicated Manager – Juan Maldonado – One of our current co-managers in Indiana will be moving to Connecticut to manage the LSRC operation on a full-time basis. Juan is originally from New England and is excited to be moving back to the area.

New Membership Year Period – We will be standardizing the membership year to better match the indoor season. Each membership year will begin on September 1st and end on the following August 31st. All membership payments already made for days after September 1st 2022 will be credited towards the 2022-2023 season. Also, we have an annual membership discount period – If you pay for the upcoming season by June 30th of each year for the next season, you receive a 20% DISCOUNT off of your membership. (This will not apply to monthly payers or current Gold/Grandfather memberships.)

New Billing System – We are familiar with the current vendor, and for economic and technical reasons want to migrate away from that platform.

Credit cards will no longer be kept on record. There are escalating costs associated with any platform that stores credit card information, so we will be using member accounts instead of credit card information. YOU MAY STILL PAY USING A CREDIT CARD, but you will need to stop by the front desk when you are in the facility (or call in). You will get a monthly bill for all account purchases.

Monthly Pay – Anyone who currently pays for their membership on a monthly basis may still do so on their account. However, there are certain discounts that will not be available to members who pay for their membership in this manner.

Increased Focus on USTA Programs – We have historically worked very closely with USTA on leagues and programs, and expect to do the same in Connecticut. Any captain of a LSRC USTA team will receive a free membership for the next season.

New Building Color – We plan to paint the facility – stay tuned on color.

New Roof Coating – We will be recoating the roof to better help with leaking. (However, this type of metal roof will always be problematic.)

Clearing of Land in Back – To support future summer programs for kids, we will be clearing some of the wooded area in back and will install a fence around the entire area.

Resealing Parking Lot – This will be one of the last items, as we want to get all of the construction vehicles off the property before this is completed.

As a thank you for being patient with our changes, we will be giving all members who sign up by August 31st a free LSRC $35 GIFT CARD. This can be used for pro shop purchases, or any other charge at the facility. (This is in addition to any discount you may have received by paying for your membership by June 30th.)

We know that tennis and pickleball players are passionate about their sport, and our goal is to provide an experience that will make you proud of the facility and our LSRC community. We will do everything we can to welcome new players (as well as any members of other clubs) into our facility. Our approach has always been that what is good for tennis in the area is good for all, and we hope to have a very good working relationship with everyone in the area associated with the sport. 

Lastly, if there are any questions or concerns about the above, please feel free to contact Juan at the facility or email me at eric@ekmsports.com.

Thank you,

Eric Moore
President – EKM Sports Inc.

Lyme Shores Sold!

Lyme Shores Sold!

It is our great pleasure to announce that a contract for sale has been signed with EKM Sports, Inc of South Bend, Indiana for 100% of the Lyme Shores Racquet Club’s business assets and real estate. A closing is expected to be consummated by the end of May.

The Board of Directors and the partners of Lyme Associates are pleased that after 40 years of ownership, the club will remain primarily as a tennis and pickle ball business, with new ownership planning to make substantial investments to upgrade the operation and facilities. You will be hearing from Eric and Kelly Moore, the owners of EKM Sports, later today.

It was in September 1981 that a group of us members (organized as Lyme Associates) got together to purchase the club, with a vow to keep it as a tennis club. Through our 40 years of ups and downs, we have resisted numerous proposals to convert to a multi-sports approach (or worse yet to a warehouse), as so many clubs across the country have been forced to do. There have been some difficult years, but we have managed to stay true to our objective, having re-invested any profits back into the business. We have had a great run but realize that it’s time for new blood and a higher level of investment.

We are also pleased to know that all of our existing staff and teaching professionals will be staying on, although a few of us will be retiring after a short transition period.

On behalf of all the partners of Lyme Associates, we wish to thank all our loyal members for your incredible support and dedication through the years, especially through this pandemic. We believe that you will be very pleased with the new owners and the future of tennis and pickle ball at Lyme Shores Racquet Club.

Sincerely (and with a touch of sadness),

Lyme Shores Racquet Club – Board of Directors

Joe Kiah
Gene Cushman
Chris Barrett
Norm Peck, III
Lee Howard
George Ulrich

Q&A: How to stay mentally tough

Q&A: How to stay mentally tough

Shawn Foltz-Emmons, Ph.D., is a former WTA touring professional and current licensed psychologist who has been recently appointed to the USTA’s Sport Science Committee. A nationally and internationally-ranked junior player who went on to an All-American career at the University of Indiana, Foltz-Emmons competed as an amateur at all four Grand Slams in 1984 and 1985.

 She was the second-youngest player to earn a WTA ranking in 1984, and was also the singles and doubles champion at the 1986 Orange Bowl.

 In the present, Foltz-Emmons owns her own business, Advantage Performance Consultants, and consults, advises and provides her services for various companies across the country. She is also brand ambassador and psychologist for SonderMind, a Denver-based company which offers technology-driven solutions for therapists and patients seeking online and in-person appointments, and is the tennis advisor and psychological consultant for the First Serve Tennis Foundation, whose mission is to improve the lives of Arizona youth through transformative and engaging tennis programs.

 In the below Q&A with USTA.com, Foltz-Emmons gives her insights on the importance of mental strength and conditioning for tennis players. 

1.  As a former touring pro and a licensed psychologist, how do you see the importance of mental strength in match play?

Mental strength is vital for match play. From my perspective, mental strength allows the player to be calm in tight situations, resilient in pushing through poor play and overcome off-court distractions, which could impact on-court performance.

2.  What can a player do mentally to be prepared for a match?

Practice, of course, but practice with purpose. Each time a player steps on the practice court, they should have a goal in mind of what is to be accomplished for that practice period. Practicing with purpose can increase confidence that appropriate shot selection will be automatic during match play, which can solidify the mental piece. In addition, pay attention to the self-talk and internal dialogue off court. Off-court preparation in that regard makes on-court self-talk automatically more positive and productive.  Make sure the self-talk is positive and realistic. Also, mentally preparing for match play includes consistent self-care off court. If life is out of balance, it can show in the match play.

 

3.  What can a player do off the court mentally to improve their performance in competition?

Some ideas for off-court mental preparation to improve performance on-court include utilizing imagery rehearsal and visualization, getting proper sleep, eating healthy food, maintaining social connection and commiting to practice with a purpose. Make sure to keep mental health in check, as that can impact on-court performance. Meeting with a psychologist who is well-versed in sports performance can provide guidance on what can be done to increase effectiveness on court.  In addition, video taping yourself is another way to assess what is working and what is not working to improve the mental aspect of the match play.

4.  What are some practical tips that would help someone that has too much negative self-talk and body language?

Some practical tips include creating notes to look at during the match — notes that include reminders of productive and positive self-talk and body language. Ask yourself things like, “What am I saying to myself?”; “Is my head up and looking forward, or is it down?”; “Are my shoulders clenched or relaxed?”. Make sure the self-talk is positive and realistic.

 

Another tip is to use the principals of mindfulness while on court — slowing the breathing down, checking in with the five senses (what do I see, what do I hear, what do I smell, etc.), progressive relaxation and visualizing a calm and peaceful place. Being mindful on court can help to redirect the mind back into the flow, or back into the zone state.

5.  What is the best way for a player to utilize the downtime between points and on changeovers to stay positive and perform their best?

Keeping notes in the racquet bag or somewhere that is easily accessible to look at during changeovers may be helpful to remind a player what works for them. Stay positive and focused during the match. Remind yourself that the preparation before the match prepares one for the performance on court: you have done what you can to prepare and leave it all out there. Also, mistakes will happen and not all points will be won, the last point won is the point that matters.

 

Mentally moving on quickly from mistakes will impact the course of play. Let go of the mistakes, shake them off — literally — and move forward.  Going over the mistakes and focusing on them is not helpful for maximum performance. Once the match is over, review what could have been done differently and work on that. In addition, reinforce what worked and keep that in mind for the next match. The best players, in general, are motivated by performing their best and the result takes care of itself, so focus on performing your best and not necessarily the result.

6.  Do you have any final recommendations for players?

Learning what works for you is important. Everyone is different — yet, positive reinforcement is going to improve performance particularly in the moment during match play. Visualize yourself hitting your shots in the way you want to hit them — do not visualize the mistakes. Visualize responding productively to mistakes — doing this off-court will assist in doing that automatically on the court. Make sure off-court life is in balance and consistent self-care is in place. Focus on the process of the performance and not necessarily the result. When you leave the court, win or lose, make sure you gave it your all. Then, you have done your best. Learn from the match and move forward. Getting bogged down in the wickets of mistakes does nothing to improve performance.

ANNOUNCEMENT

ANNOUNCEMENT

We are very pleased to announce that Bobby Schlink has been promoted to Director of Tennis, effective this date. Bobby will be responsible for all aspects of tennis teaching and program development at the club.

Bobby has been serving as Director of Junior Tennis since re-joining Lyme Shores in September 2017. Bobby originally started with us in 2009, teaching in the University of Tennis summer program and progressively worked his way up as a teaching pro until June 2013, when he left to gain some valuable experience at Mystic Indoor Sports. While at Mystic, he created new tennis programs, camps and leagues for players of all ages. He has worked extensively with junior, high school and collegiate players, as well as nationally ranked players in both private and group settings. Since returning, he has done a tremendous job to improve all of our Junior Programs, including the University of Tennis, while also developing his own adult clients.

Bobby is a graduate of Springfield College, with a Bachelor’s of Science in Recreation Management. He played on the tennis team all four years and was captain his senior year. He is a UTPTA certified teaching professional at the “Elite” level. Bobby and his wife Jessica and two young children (Parker age 2, Avery age 2 months) reside in Mystic.

Bobby will succeed George Ulrich, who has been Director of Tennis since 1993, now in his 28th year, which also included a stint as the club’s General Manager. George, a 2019 inductee into the New England Tennis Hall of Fame, will remain with Lyme Shores as a Senior Tennis Professional and Director Emeritus as he and his wife Karen transition to spending more time at their Sarasota, FL home during the winter months. George has also been appointed to the Lyme Shores Board of Directors, which will benefit by his immense experience.

Andre Danford will remain as the club’s General Manager and Senior Tennis Professional. In that role Andre is responsible for all aspects of the club’s operations, including the physical plant, as well as his wide variety of tennis teaching.

Please join us in congratulating Bobby for this well-deserved promotion, and giving your full support to our entire great staff as we begin this new fall season.