Keith Wilbur - SCU Water Polo

Keith Wilbur stepped in as the Santa Clara University men’s and women’s water polo coach in 2002. In 2006 he became the all time most successful men’s water polo coach and surpassed the 100 wins mark in 2008. Wilbur began his coaching career as the boys varsity water polo coach at Menlo School. Wilbur is a graduate of Princeton University. As a player he was a team captain his senior year, leading the Tigers defensively to three Ivy League Championships. Wilbur was also a member of the U.S. National Team in 1997-98 and competed at the l997 World University Games in Sicily, Italy. 

SZ: In 2002 you took over the coaching job at Santa Clara University. In 2006 you achieved the honor of becoming the most successful men’s water polo coach in the university’s history. What have been the staples of your coaching success? What are some of the changes you’ve brought to this program that got it rolling?

KW: In terms of being the winningest coach, I think that has mostly to do with longevity.  I really like Santa Clara University, and I made a commitment to be here for the long term when I was hired.  I have been very active recruiting since my first day here, and I think that change probably had the most impact.  Other changes have been more gradual, from lifting weights on a year around basis, running workouts in the off season, and creating a club program over the summer to give the athletes more opportunities to play.  As we have improved, I have challenged the teams with a tougher strength of schedule every year, and I think they have benefitted a lot from playing high level competition.

Another huge change for us was the construction of the Sullivan Aquatic Center. About four years ago, Jack and Joanie Sullivan donated the money for this pool and it has made a huge difference for us.  We went from having a non-regulation, too shallow, too short, and too narrow of a pool to having one of the best facilities to play college water polo.  Practices are better, recruits are more interested, and we play 10-15 home games a year whereas we used to average about 2 home games a year.

SZ: Highlights of your athletic playing career include playing for Princeton University, being on the U.S. National Team (1997-98), and competing at the 1997 World University Games in Italy. What useful experiences in training and playing have you brought into your collegiate coaching role?

KW: I learned a lot from the different coaches that I have had from high school to club to college to National teams.  I have definitely drawn lessons from the best coaches I had, but I also learned from negative experiences I had with other coaches, and I try not to do the same as them.  Tim Hugar was the coach at Princeton my freshman year, and he was the best coach I ever had in terms of getting the team psyched up to play games.  I just remember his pre-game talks, and by the time we hit the water, everybody was so amped up to compete.  I felt like we exceeded our potential in every game we played that year.  Paul Nelson was the coach at Princeton my last two years.  I really like the strategies that he taught, and the relationships he developed with the players.  I think there is a fine line to being a coach where your players can like you, but also need to respect you.  Paul was able to balance the two very well.  I also thought he was great at identifying his player’s strengths and putting them in the best situations to excel.  

SZ: As coach of both the men’s and women’s teams how would you describe the mental/emotional difference of coaching/communicating with players? Is there a noticeable difference?

KW: I am asked this question a lot and I definitely notice a difference coaching the men and women. I truly enjoy coaching both teams and regardless of gender there are many different personalities with all the player’s. I really like the challenge of figuring out the best coaching approach for each personality and how to get those personalities to mesh well to work as a team. I find need to talk more when I coach the women. Whether it’s constructive help or positive feedback, they like to know what I am thinking and how they are doing. If I am not doing this they feel ignored. The men do not desire as much constant feedback. If I let them go without saying much, they usually assume they are playing well until I point something out.

SZ: Besides a player possessing athletic skill what are the clues you look for that demonstrate a player will be a good fit for the team dynamic?

KW: Outside of athletic skill I look for work ethic, responsibility, intelligence, competitiveness, maturity, the ability to work well with others and leadership. 

SZ: What types of team building exercises do you set up for the player’s to promote team chemistry?

KW: I have been fortunate to have a sport psychology consultant, Adam Saucedo work with both programs and he does a lot of these type of team building exercises. Adam started with us three years ago as part of his final project for his Master’s, and now works with over half the teams at Santa Clara U. One of my favorite exercises that he does each week with our team is having every player stand up and pick a teammate that they appreciate and explain why. This is not something I expected my player’s would buy into right away, but they were totally into it. I think it is a great skill to be able to recognize another person for a job well done. It also means a lot to receive that recognition from a teammate. I find this exercise really opens up communication between player’s, motivates them to work hard for each other and builds our team chemistry. 

SZ: What are your duties as a coach during the summer months? Is there down time or is it recruiting time?

KW: In water polo we are actually allowed to run club teams over the summer that include our college players.  Most college teams in California also have summer club teams, and we have practice throughout the summer and play in a league with games most weekends.  I run practices from 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at night, so the players can still get summer jobs and internships that work with our schedule.

I also do a lot of recruiting over the summer.  There are lots of club tournaments with great opportunities to see players from all over the country.  The biggest summer tournament is Junior Olympics, and it is a four-day event for the boys, and then another four days for the girls.  Every year I camp out at JO’s, watch about 10 games a day and see a ton of players.  This year Stanford is hosting JO’s, so I do not have to travel very far.  Boys JO’s are July 28-31, and Girls JO’s are Aug. 2-5.

SZ: You have a very busy schedule what do you do to recharge your energy to avoid burn-out? 

KW: This may sound funny but I still like to play water polo. I find playing is a great break from coaching. I have a master’s group called BAM and we practice a couple of times a week. I usually go with them to a couple of tournaments a year. My master’s team has asked me to coach them, but I refuse because it is my break from coaching and I really just want to play. I just returned from a World Master’s tournament in Italy and had a great time. I feel totally recharged for coaching and recruiting this summer. 

SZ: Do you have any favorite quotes, stories, tips that have guided you on your path to success as a water polo coach?

KW: I have read a lot of books and quotes by John Wooden, and I really like his approach and the life lessons that he taught while coaching. I also feel that I benefitted a lot from coaching all levels.  Right after I graduated from college, I came back and coached my high school (Menlo School) junior varsity team, then the varsity team, then club teams, and then college.  I learned every step of the way, and I am still learning.  

SZ: Keith thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule for this interview.

Go Broncos!

*This article can also be read @ The Examiner
*Featured guests are not former nor current clients of Susan Zaro

Tim Hanley - Houston Dynamo's

Houston Dynamo’s assistant coach Tim Hanley has coached in Major League Soccer for 13 seasons and in American soccer for more than 20 years. Over the years Hanley coached three Goalkeeper of the Year winners in a four-year spread  from 2002-2005. Hanley worked in MLS with the San Jose Clash and San Jose Earthquakes and has coached in the A-League, in the Premier Development League, and at Stanford University (2002-2005).

As a player, Hanley participated for six seasons in the United States and the United Kingdom. He began his professional playing career with the Blackpool and Coventry City in England, later returning to the United States to play in the North American Soccer League. He played with the Tampa Bay Rowdies, San Jose Earthquakes and Golden Bay Earthquakes.

SZ: Besides the obvious, keeping the opponents kicks from going through the goal posts, what’s a goalies job description?

TH: The modern goalkeeper is pretty much today’s quarterback in football. His job is to organize and command the entire field.

SZ: What are the top 3-4 mental physical qualities of successful goalies?

TH: Absolute mental toughness and the physical attributes of a NFL Defensive back. Size is important now. Technology has changed the equipment forcing a change in the athlete. Leadership capability. The position is like a sports version of a Navy Seal.

SZ: You began playing goalie at age fourteen. Did the role come naturally to you or did you have coaches that opened up your awareness to help you become a force as a goalie?

TH: Growing up I played every sport imaginable, wrestling, track, baseball, volleyball and basketball. I played football my freshman and sophomore years in high school and ran track-cross country. There were no mentors or coaches for a sport that was so new at the time in the United States. I sought out resources to learn on my own. I felt that the goalkeeper position combined everythingI liked in every other sport.

SZ: What helped you gain awareness as a goalie in ways that enhanced your skill development?

TH: Back in the late 60’s and early 70’s there were no soccer coaches per say. I watched a PBS show called “Soccer made in Germany” that was on one night a week for an hour. I watched and tried to emulate the actions of a few of the goalkeepers. 

SZ: What is the role of a goalie coach? Your season is very long. How do you stay sharp and motived through-out the season?

TH: My daily work involves the entire team day to day but my ultimate responsibility is the goalkeepers. Our training sessions reflect the long and arduous regular season. We take time off, play games that are not related to soccer and then play games that are specific to the match environment. 

SZ: How were the San Jose Earthquakes connected to the current Houston Dynamo’s?

TH: The ownership group in San Jose felt that they could not get a stadium built so they moved the team to Houston after the 2005 season. The Earthquakes name, logo, and statistics were not transferred and remained inactive in San Jose until 2007 when the Earthquakes were reactivated. The Houston Dynamo’s officially became a new team.

SZ: The Dynamo’s have moved into the new beautiful BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston. Does this mean that soccer is on the rise as a spectator sport? 

TH: Houston is the fourth largest city in the U.S. The Earthquakes were moved to Houston in 2005 because of the stadium possibility. When the Dynamo’s moved to Houston the club originally played home games at Robertson Stadium on the University of Houston campus. The club moved to BBVA Compass Stadium during the 2012 MLS season. MLS has always felt that it is vital for each team to have it’s own soccer specific venue. Soccer in the U.S. is growing but I do not feel it will eclipse the top four sports, NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL. Those sports are some of the big guns because of their T.V. deals.

SZ: The Dynamo’s playing schedule runs from Feb - Nov. As a coach how do you help the goalies stay mentally engaged, motivated yet manage their rest and recovery periods during that long stretch? How many days off do player’s typically have during a week?

TH: Our schedule actually runs from Feb. through Nov. with the final in December. We play at least once a week for the most part and have stretches where we play a lot games. A few weeks ago we played four games in eleven days. The MLS schedule calls for thirty-two games. In addition we have ten reserve matches, US Open Cup matches,  Concacaf Champions League and friendlies-exhibitions. We will play close to 50 games not including the reserve matches. We qualified for the CCL matches because we made the MLS Cup Final last year. CCL home and away in Mexico and El Salvador in the 1st rounds. 

We have to manage not only the players mental state but their bodies as well. I try and keep things light and in perspective. Our work reflects the players current state of mind and their physical capacities. There are days when we just do light ball work without ever diving or jumping around. By the end of the season there are a lot of keepers around the league whose keeper coaches have them flying around all season and their performances suffer. We joke around, have silly exercises and do a few things off the field.

SZ: Is there a specific training protocol that the player’s are exposed to to aid their performance?

TH: We do some film/video work with the keeper’s breaking down situations and the decisions that were made. Goalkeepers are inevitably going to make mistakes be embarrassed etc. So we keep it light, make sure they can laugh at themselves. Everything is brought out in the open. Part of my job is to see that they can recover immediately after making an error. We cannot afford to have a keeper stuck on what just happened in a match.

SZ: What advice do you have for up and coming player’s aspiring to become professional soccer goalies or play professional soccer. How challenging is it to be a successful player in this game?

TH: I am one of those that believe professional athletes are born not made. Your genetic package will determine a great deal of your success in sports. Combine the physical attributes with passion and playing a sport at the professional level is possible. I have always felt that in America, if one can play a sport that allows them to leverage themselves into a college that otherwise they would not have been able to attend; then they have done something right.

SZ: Tim thank you for making time in your very busy schedule for this interview. 

Go Dynamo’s!

*Featured guests are not former nor current clients of Susan Zaro

*This article can also be read @ www.examiner.com

United States Gay Open

Memorial Day Weekend means many things to many people. For many gay and lesbian tennis players from the U.S. and around the world, Memorial Day Weekend has come to mean tennis. For thirty-two years San Francisco’s Gay & Lesbian Tennis Federation has, on Memorial Day Weekend, hosted the United States Gay Open. In recent years the tournament has been held at Stanford University’s Taube Tennis Stadium. This year the tournament will be in full swing May 25th to May 28th once again at Taube Stadium. 

Steve Nugent is this years tournament co-director and responsible for registration and scheduling.

SZ: What is the history of the tournament? 

SN: The first year the USGO was held was in 1981. It was created by a group of guys who got together because they wanted to play tennis but with their gay and lesbian brothers and sisters in an environment where they felt safe. Back in 1981 the political climate was a lot different. Even though San Francisco had Harvey Milk fighting for equality you also had things like the Briggs Initiative which was trying to ban gay and lesbian school teachers from the classroom. All these things were going on and these guys just wanted a safe stage to play tennis. That group of guys turned into what’s now known as the Gay and Lesbian Tennis Federation (GLTF) of San Francisco. At a certain point in time when that group became solidified as an organization it took over running the USGO. 

SZ: The USGO is based in San Francisco?

SN: Yes, it’s always been based in San Francisco although the tournament has been held in various venues in the bay area. The last few years we’ve been holding the tournament at Stanford University. The venue is very nice and it solves a few logistical issues for us because there are a lot of courts on the Stanford Campus. There are not a lot of large facilities in San Francisco that are cost efficient to rent.

SZ: How has the tournament developed since its inception in 1981?

SN: It began very small and was from what people know the very first gay and lesbian tennis tournament that billed itself as such. Over the course of the years as the tournament became more popular the USGO was born which was followed by another organization called the Gay Lesbian Tennis Alliance which is kind of a governing body of an entire world tour of Gay and Lesbian tennis tournaments. There are about forty tournaments on the calendar and at least one tournament is held on every continent, except Antarctica. You can pretty much travel the world and play on the tour. The tour schedule can be accessed at GLTA tour schedule.

SZ: Are the tournaments held on all different court surfaces? Is there a Grand Slam of GLTA tennis?

SN: They have what’s called a Master’s Series. Every year certain tournaments are designated as Master’s Series Tournaments. There isn’t a Grand Slam but there are what people call the Crown Jewel Tournaments. Many of those are the oldest most established tournaments like the USGO. 

SZ: There are forty tournaments around the world?

SN: There are around forty tournaments now. All across the United States, Canada, all through Europe and Asia. The most recent tournaments have been coming up in Asia. There is a new tournament in South Africa. It’s the first GLTA tournament to be held in South Africa. 

SZ: The GLTA is the governing body for these tournaments?

SN: Yes, countries can apply for sanctioning under the GLTA to hold a tournament. 

SZ: Why did you become involved in the tournament?

SN: I love tennis. I’m like the guy who you see playing in the rain. I love the game and I’ve always been a doer. I like to be involved so I’ve been on the board of directors of the GLTF before and on the board of directors for other tennis organizations. I think it’s a lot of fun. It’s high pressure and intense but I get a rush out of that. Most of all I like being with the people and like the community feel of it. 

SZ: What level player are you?

SN: I play at the “B” level which is the U.S.T.A. (4.0). I’ve been working hard to get in better shape so I can move up to (4.5). I need a serve though.

SZ: Do you play in the tournament? 

SN: I do and actually I’m a very competitive person. I play lots of tournaments and GLTA tournaments on the GLTA circuit. I also play a lot of the U.S.T.A. tournaments that are held through-out the bay area.

SZ: Where do the entrants that play in the USGO come from?

SN: It’s world wide. This year I am director of registration and scheduling. We’ve received entries from USA, Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Italy, New Zealand, Switzerland, Chinese Taipei and in past tournaments players have come from South America. 

SZ: Does the USGO have its own ranking system different from the USTA? 

SN: The USTA has its own ranking system and the GLTA the governing body has a ranking system that it uses. You can check out the the ranking system on GLTA.net. The rules are basically a mirror of the USTA rules as far as play, conduct, scoring. The GLTA point system is a little bit different. 

SZ: Is it set up as (3.0/3/5 etc.) or A/B/C?

SN: It depends on the tournament. The different countries and the different tennis organizations have different rankings. When you are a tournament director you receive a chart that tells you how to translate the different countries rankings.

SZ: Is there prize money in the tournament?

SN: No there’s no prize money. The GLTA mandates that whatever profit is brought in the tournament donates a percentage of that profit to a charitable organization. The GLTF is a non-profit organization.

SZ: Do players need to be LBGT to participate? 

SN: No they don’t. Anyone can play in USGO tournaments. A lot of times what we do have is like gay parents and their children play. We had a lesbian mother and her son play. This year we have a veteran GLTA player who’s going to play doubles with his fourteen year old son. Everyone is welcome to play as long as they are respectful.

SZ: How did the tournament organizers make the decision to let anyone play?

SN: It’s decided by the tournament directors who have certain leeway as far as how the tournament is constructed.

SZ: How would a player’s experience be different playing in the USGO than any other tennis tournament?

SN: The main difference is that a lot of the GLTA tournaments are structured like big events. It’s a lot different from a USTA tournament that you would have a match on the weekend, you’d play your match, chat a little bit with people you know and then go home. When you’re not involved in the tournament you would leave and the day is over.

With the USGO and other tournaments there are things going on besides the tournament. For instance for the USGO this year on May 10th there was a GLTF shopping day at the Sports Basement in downtown San Francisco. On May 17th there is a USGO draw party at City Racquet Shop in San Francisco. There is a welcome party for all the players on Thursday, May 24th at The LookOut in the Castro. The players receive participation gift bags, it’s just kind of a big party. On Friday, May 25th is the Women’s Social. On Monday May 28th is the tournament banquet. There’s a DJ, raffle, entertainment, it’s a lot of fun.

SZ: So it’s a big party with some sports.

SN: It really is. A lot of people who play GLTA tournaments aren’t necessarily competitive people. They play they lose and then they enjoy themselves, watch tennis and hang out rooting for their friends still in the tournament. They have a lot of fun. There are also hard core competitors who come to win. For both types of players it’s a social event and great tennis.

SZ: Tell me a story or incident that highlights what the tournament is all about.

SN: A great example is a GLTA veteran coming from San Diego will be playing playing doubles with his godson. That really kind of encompasses what these tournaments are all about. Be proud of who you are and sharing that with your friends, family and building that community. 

Personally I remember the first time I played a GLTA tournament. It was the USGO, I believe in 1998 or 99. I was really nervous but once I saw it was a real tournament and it turned out to be a lot of fun and in an environment where I didn’t have to worry about anything other than playing tennis, I just knew there and then this was what I wanted to be involved in. Most of my circle of friends have been born out of the GLTF and playing on the GLTF circuit. I’ve built this world wide tennis community and I feel I can go anywhere and play.

SZ: That’s the cool thing about tennis, forty tournaments around the world is not localized and isolated. You play all over the world which is fabulous.

SN: Right I can go anywhere and feel at home because I know I am part of this thing. It really allows me to be free in a lot of ways and share that with people. The GlTF fields thirty-three USTA teams a year through-out all the different leagues offered.

SZ: Are there tournament sponsors? I know that you talked about Stanford donating their tennis courts. 

SN: We pay Stanford for the use of the courts that they rent to us but they are extremely welcoming and easy to work with. Dick Gould is the Sports Director there he’s very open to having the tournament. Sports Basement is a sponsor. Over the years we’ve had airline sponsors and they’ve given us free round trip tickets to raffle. Mainly what we receive from sponsors are items we can raffle off to generate some money to donate to a charity.

SZ: What’s your favorite part of being involved in the tournament. 

SN: I love everything even getting up early to fill the water buckets and dragging them out to the courts. What I like the most is seeing my friends who don’t live in the bay area  but who come and play in the tournament. For four days I’m enclosed in this bubble of gay tennis. There’s a community feel and I feel good about the whole environment  the intensity, the fun, mixed with seeing old friends, meeting new people, having a sense of being together in this fun, crazy, community of gay tennis.

Steve thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk about the upcoming USGO tennis tournament at Stanford. 

*Featured guests are not former nor current clients of Susan Zaro

*This article can also be read @ 
http://www.examiner.com/article/united-states-gay-open

Alexis Levi - Sports for Life

Sports for Life is a non-profit 501(3)-c organization formed to bring public awareness, education and community empowerment to combat Hypertropic Cardiomyopathy (HCM). Alexis Levi co-chairperson of Sports for Life wears many important hats, including mother, registered nurse, entrepreneur, and former athlete; she is proud to be the first African American woman to own a professional basketball team, the Las Vegas Stars. Alexis’s goal is to raise awareness in the athletic area as well as to educate every athlete to the signs and symptoms of HCM.  The Sports for Life Mission: To provide a high profile avenue for coaches, students and parents to learn about the signs and symptoms of HCM the leading cause of Sudden Cardiac Arrest among athletes and children. 

SZ:  In layman’s terms define Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM). 

AL: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the leading cause of sudden death or cardiac death (SCD) in young athletes. HCM is a disorder that causes the heart muscle to become thick. The thickening makes it harder for blood to leave the heart, forcing the heart to work harder to pump blood. HCM is frequently asymptomatic until SCD. Prevention requires screening. Screening by medical history and physical exam are ineffective. HCM is detected with 80% accuracy by echocardiograms, combined with pre-screening by electrocardiograms (ECG’s). 

SZ: What percentage of the youth athletic population in the United States is affected by this condition? 

AL: It varies. In the last few years the incidences of HCM have risen. I was doing some research the other day and discovered that at the end of January 2012 there had been ten deaths from HCM that were noted. It seems to be increasing. What we are trying to do at Sports for Life is to hone in on the kids from second grade at ten years old and then follow their health into high school. While younger kids are likely to have a more severe form of HCM the condition is seen in people of all ages. HCM is generally regarded as the most common cause of SDC in athletes. 

SZ: What are the most common symptoms that parents, athletes, and coaches need to be aware of regarding this condition? 

AL: Shortness of breath, dizziness, the athlete was exerting him/herself at a regular rate and becomes more fatigued than usual. Those are common symptoms and those symptoms can be created by many things. So a lot of the time the coaches, parents and  kids don’t recognize the symptoms to be tied to something wrong with their heart. There is an assessment form that can be downloaded through the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association (HCMA). 

SZ: Are the symptoms significant enough that they would prompt the child to say to their parent that, “It’s not just that I’ve run really hard but it feels like I am exerting myself and getting light-headed.”

AL: Light-headed and dizziness seem to be symptoms that are talked about because the blood is not getting to the heart. Younger kids just don’t really know how to add that up. I have a friend whose son just passed away not too long ago and that’s what kind of pushed me into hyper gear to begin working on this education for athletes, parents and coaches. We’ve put together a great board of people and I’ve been talking to a lot of ex-pro athletes as well as pro athletes. These people are coming on board to for us because sometimes awareness only comes when you know people that have the media’s attention are saying something. 

SZ: Is this disorder age related?

AL:  There are two different points of view. In some instances it’s said that it’s age related and they are seeing more incidences in high school. But when you begin doing research then you notice it is happening in younger children. There isn’t yet a registry for reporting this death. A group of us are trying to start a registry. But there is no real registry that says these are all the kids struck down by HCM. There are estimations. 

I was talking to people at Parent Heart Watch and they told me that most of the time when HCM is reported if it’s not reported by a physician in a hospital or a Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) then it usually doesn’t show up. If it’s reported in a camp or summer camp those numbers don’t necessarily show up as having passed from this disorder. 

SZ: Which organizations are conducting studies or following studies of this disorder?

AL: The one that I’ve seen that has the most in-depth research is the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association (HCMA). We use their questionnaire for the kids we work with. HCMA participates on the legislative side of things. They are trying to get legislation passed that every athlete that plays an organized sport whether it’s in a high school or an athletic association would also have to be tested to participate.  HCMA is working at the legislative level along with the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association (SCAA). Our organization SFL on the other hand is more focused on the grass roots level. One of the things that we are doing that’s different from other organizations is we are trying to get face to face with the kids - athletes. SFL is focusing solely on the athletic population because of my background and the folks we have on our board it is a natural fit for us. 

SZ: What events prompted you to take up the call to educate, parents, athletes and coaches about this condition?

AL: A few things happened. I own a basketball team  Las Vegas Stars and had received quite a bit of publicity and made a lot of relationships in the sports world. It happened that when I became aware of HMC a few people had sent me some articles and prompted me to take a look at this issue. Coinciding with this Good Morning America did a big story on the subject. That prompted the sports community to take a look at this issue. I already had an organization along with an associate of mine called Sports for Life.  One of the things we found is that there were many people who thought this outreach needed to be done. What really prompted me to take more steps forward to put together this program was I met Lisa Salberg, Founder and CEO of the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association. When we met she told me things that were happening on the legislative side and what the challenges are. Our fights are different but similar. She’s fighting on the legislative side and I’m fighting to get into schools and to get coaches to recognize that they need to know more about this condition, as well as get information to parents and athletes. 

SZ: Are there medications for this condition?

AL: There are medications. This link at the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association will offer readers information regarding current drug medications that are given when a person has some or all the symptoms of HCM.

SZ: Do you have any favorite tips, quotes or stories that guide you on your path to educate people about HCM?

AL: The guiding light for me if you will, is that kids deserve to live. They deserve to live in a way where they aren’t afraid. I would love for the sport community to embrace this cause.

Alexis thank you for taking the time to chat with me about HCM and your programs effort to bring awareness to this condition.

Alexis Levi can be contacted at  http://www.wix.com/alseg1/alexislevi

sportsforlifeintl@gmail.com

702.517.9990

*Featured guests are not current nor former clients of Susan Zaro
*This article can also be read @ www.examiner.com

Susan Wright - Senior Tennis Star

Susan Mehmedbasich-Wright grew up in Nor. Cal. and began playing competitive tennis at eight years old. During her junior competitive years she was consistently highly ranked both in Nor. Cal. and nationally. At seventeen years old she turned professional and competed on the Women’s Professional Tennis Tour (WTA). At nineteen years old she decided to quit the professional tour and tennis altogether. Twenty-five years after leaving the sport she began to play and compete again. She started back playing some state tournaments in Colorado where she now resides with her husband. Since refocusing on tennis this time as a senior player Wright has won more than 50 U.S.T. A. senior championship titles in singles and doubles.

In 2011, she was a member of the winning U.S.A. Bueno Cup W/50’s, and this year was a team member for the U.S.A. on the winning Maureen Connolly Cup W/55’s played in San Diego in February. Wright won the “Gold Slam” in 2007, and 2008 winning all four national doubles championships in a calendar year. Wright was ITF World Doubles Champion in 2005, 2009 and 2012. She finished 2011 ranked second in the United States in singles winning two national singles tournaments. She is currently ranked number seven in the world in women’s 55’s.

SZ: What were the events that brought you back to the competitive arena?

SW: I moved from California to Grand Junction, Colorado. My dad lived there and I didn’t know a soul when I moved except for my dad and his wife. When my dad invited me to come and hit with him it was a natural way to spend time together.

SZ: It was a way to acclimate to the community and meet new people?

SW: Yeh. I didn’t know a soul in Colorado when I moved there. I moved in November and began hitting with my dad. In April there was a tournament about 300 miles away from where I was living but I didn’t know it was that far away. My dad was going to play in it so I entered it as well. I drove myself and I began to think to myself that I was driving to another state because it took me five hours to get to the tournament.

SZ: Was it physically challenging after putting tennis aside for twenty-five years to begin running around on the court again?

SW: I began playing people at whatever level I began at and it was hard. I don’t have a specific memory but people say when they come to Colorado with the thin air and altitude it’s a little harder to breathe. But I got back into tennis slowly. It wasn’t like I went from not playing very much to a high tournament level.

SZ: A year after restarting tournaments you played the National Hardcourts at the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club.

SW: I couldn’t really walk for about a week after I played that tournament.

SZ: You put a lot of effort into it?

SW: I played a match against the first seed in the quarter-finals and lost 6-3, 7-5 which surprised me. Although the opponent I lost to didn’t win the tournament. I went into the back draw and lost in the first round. I remember that night I couldn’t put the sheet over my toes they hurt so much. My feet were just throbbing. All my toes, the toe nails everything was just throbbing. At first I didn’t put the two together I didn’t know it was because of playing the matches. I just thought this was really odd.

SZ: You didn’t make the connection between your playing and your body's pain.

SW: It was really bad. I had driven from Colorado and when I got out of my car after driving home it was about ten days before I could function again.

SZ: How long did it take for you to know you were going to remain in senior tennis and at what point did you discover you enjoy playing?

SW: I don’t really know that there was a point. The first year back playing I played some tournaments in Colorado. I played a few national tournaments and the following year I only played tournaments in Colorado again.

SZ: What age group were you playing in?

SW: It was my first year in the W45’s. I played a category two national tournament in Marin, CA. and my husband came along so we played mixed doubles. I won the singles. I wasn’t in great playing shape so it was tough in that I couldn’t put the ball away. In the finals I thought I was going to die because I was running all over the court and my legs were tired and I was out of breath. But I won.

SZ: But you didn’t quit.

SW: No, I didn’t quit.

SZ: A lot of people would have given up. But you have a stick-to-it-ive-ness.

SW: You mean during the match, or quit tennis afterwards?

SZ: Many people would have gone “this is too much work.” But you have this wonderful stick-to-it-ive-ness.

SW: I was hanging in there. Because of that tournament win I was chosen to play on the Margaret Court Cup Team for the W/45’s. I kept playing national tournaments and began playing better and getting physically back into it. That was kind of the beginning. I was married on a Saturday in 2003, and left on Wednesday for the Margaret Court Cup in Germany. Becoming a member of the Cup Team was a pivotal point because now I was competing with the big girls (world players). I was beginning to meet people and was reaching the semis and finals of tournaments. In 2003 at the Indoors my doubles partner at the time Phyllis Zilm from Colorado and I won the tournament and that was my first gold ball as an adult.

SZ: For ten consecutive years you’ve been selected to the International Tennis Federation Seniors World Team Championship representing team United States. What the best part of competing for the United States?

SW: It’s really cool when everyone is wearing their uniform it’s kinda like the Senior Olympics. We all work together as a team. The Cup is probably my favorite part of playing now.

SZ: Does participating as a member of a team have unique challenges different from competing as an individual?

SW: I enjoy that my team members are on the side-lines watching and pulling for me. Team members also serve as coaches. They can talk with you during change-overs. Sometimes they offer advice. Sometimes we chat about whatever. It’s just really fun.

SZ: You experience the team as all benefits.

SW: Yes. You’ve got people on the side-lines when you are playing and if you need ice, a towel, a banana the coach is running around providing whatever the player requests. 2005 was the first year that I played singles on a Cup Team and then I played in The Worlds which is an individual tournament the following week. It was a huge let down afterwards. After my first experience of competing with team members then returning to compete as an individual it was hard. One reason it was hard was because I was completely exhausted from The Cup Tournament. I hadn’t played two tournaments back to back since competing on the pro circuit. I had played five days in a row then to try and compete again at that high level the following week, I was mentally and physically exhausted.

That was 2005 and in 2006 it was a similar experience. I remember beating a player in three sets that I had beaten the week before during the Cup Matches. We were in South Africa playing on clay. At the end of the match there were about forty stairs I had to walk up from the court. I looked at the stairs and I put my tennis stuff down and almost began crying. I thought my legs would not get me up those stairs. I sat at the bottom of those stairs for about thirty minutes.

SZ: Had you experienced that level of physical fatigue as a junior player?

SW: No, that’s what I remember because I played all the time. I began playing at eight and there was no time to get out of shape. The last five years of competing have been easier for me because my play and physical conditioning have picked up.

SZ: As a junior player you played in multiple age groups and women’s tournaments occasionally at the same time. You can be described as having “heightened court sense.” Do you think this instinctual ability developed through the early coaching you received or through the variety and volume of matches you played in your junior years?

SW: It’s probably a little bit of a lot of things. A lot of people who play no matter how much they are coached their ability only takes them so far. There were lots of kids growing up that were good but in their heads they couldn’t do it. I think it’s a bunch of factors and you’ve go to have several of them to succeed. When I play father/daughter tournaments I can identify some components that will distinguish teams that are successful.

SZ: What are the components?

SW: Experience, physical mobility, age, physical ability - (shot production), chemistry between the father/daughter. Do they build each other up with their on court communication? Or do they become angry at each other or themselves? There is an intuitive sense I have for the court. When there is a space to hit into whether I am playing singles or doubles I just feel it.

SZ: You can tell if an opponent doesn’t have this intuition on the court. When you watch a match you can tell if the players aren’t clued in by the way they are handling the court.

SW: Players learn a lot of things when they are young. I played at least fifteen tournaments a year all through the juniors and into the pro’s.

SZ: In what ways had the game changed when you returned after twenty-five years that has made playing more fun or interesting for you physically, technically, mentally?

SW: The game today is just faster. Everyone is stronger, taller, fitter at least in the professional arena. We never went to the gym. All the gym work is making players faster and stronger.

SZ: Do you have a work-out program you do with a trainer?

SW: For ten years I went to the gym and just did a little bit. Everyone laughs at me, even my non playing friends. They would say, “ Are you kidding? That’s all you can do?” I used to think a trainer just sat there and counted reps or motivated you to go to the gym. Recently I hired a trainer and I’m giving it a good go this year to see how much stronger I can become.

SZ: How is working with a trainer going?

SW: It’s been fun. I didn’t think I would like going to the gym. The trainer makes these little programs for me that I do with him. I came home from the clay courts this year and I wasn’t really as tired as I have been.

SZ: Of the current top 20 WTA professional players pick one that you would love to play and why.

SW: Maria Sharapova. I would love to hit with her because we could hit the cover off the ball with each other. Have a slug fest. It would be really fun.

SZ: Which tournament win in recent years has had the most meaning to you and why?

SW: The Cup in New Zealand a year ago. We were there during the 6.3 earthquake. There were three different sites and we were not at the epicenter of the earthquake but we were walking down the street when the earthquake hit. Winning the Cup in New Zealand made the whole trip interesting and meaningful.

SZ: How many weeks out of the year are you traveling as you prepare and play?

SW: Last year I was away about 12-14 weeks. My next event is May 18th, the Chicago Indoors.

SZ: You are in business as a Mary Kay Cosmetics consultant and now sales director. How do you juggle playing the schedule you keep and your business career?

SW: There are not sales quotas at Mary Kay. It’s up to me to grow and sustain my business. There are no “have to’s.”

SZ: The job allows for flexibility.

SW: A lot of player’s are now using Mary Kay Cosmetic products. I bring product with me every where I go. Most player's know I am a consultant and if they show interest I connect with them at tournaments. Everyone needs sunscreen.

SZ: Do you find there is carry over in discipline/organization of work and playing?

SW: I’ve become much more organized in the last 7/8 years. Otherwise I couldn’t do what I am doing. I am away for a month playing then home for 2-3 weeks then leave again. The new technologies help. I have an I-phone that keeps me more organized.

SZ: Do you have any favorite quotes, tips, stories that have guided you on your senior tennis journey?

SW: I try to maintain a positive outlook on life. It all depends on how you look at things. On the court I just play each point. When I play each point I don’t have to pay so much attention to the score.

SZ: It keeps you focused.

SW: It’s been fun. Tennis has kept me healthy and strong.

Susan thanks so much for taking time out of your busy life to chat about your tennis playing days in the seniors


*Featured guests are not former nor current clients of Susan Zaro
*This article can also be read @www.examiner.com

Dr. Kevin Stone - The Stone Clinic

Dr. Kevin Stone is an Orthopedic Surgeon at The Stone Clinic and Chairman of the Stone Research Foundation in San Francisco. The clinic treat athletes and people with arthritis and focuses on knee, shoulder and ankle injuries. The Foundation conducts research on advanced surgical techniques and tissue regeneration for orthopedic sports medicine. Dr. Stone has lectured around the world as an expert in cartilage and meniscal growth, replacement and repair. Dr. Stone is a physician for Smuin Ballet. He has served as a physician for the U.S. Ski Team, the U.S. Pro Ski Tour, the Honda Ski Tour, the Jeep 48 Straight Tour, the Old Blues Rugby Club, Lawrence Pech Dance Company, Marin Ballet, the modern pentathlon at the U.S. Olympic Festival and for the United States Olympic Training Center.

SZ: What sports did you participate in growing up?

KS: I competed in soccer and rowed crew. I participated at the high school and college level.

SZ: Did you incur any serious injuries through your sport activities that influenced your decision to become an orthopedic surgeon?

KS: Yes, I was a college freshman and I tore my meniscus. I admired the surgeon who took it out and I admired the role he played in the process. This influenced me to become an orthopedic surgeon.

SZ: Did the injury prevent you from participating in soccer?

KS:Yeh, it stopped me from playing soccer and I switched to rowing full-time.

SZ: The Stone Clinic website has an Athletic Injury Recovery page that lists tips to encourage recovering athletes to remain connected to their sport mentally and physically in modified ways while they heal from injury. Share some of the emotional and physical benefits you notice when athletes take this advice.

KS: The most important thing is that when people are injured they often see themselves as patients in rehab. What we try to do is to stimulate them to think of themselves as athletes in training to use the injury as an excuse to become fitter, stronger, faster than they’ve been in years.

SZ: Do you find resistance at first? Or are people eager to jump in and have an opportunity to be active and moving again?

KS: The patients that are motivated become motivated to recover quickly. Patients who don’t hear that message don’t do as well.

SZ: You are currently the Smuin Ballet physician. Through the years you’ve served as a physician for several ballet companies as well as U.S. Pro and Olympic Ski Teams. Elite performers begin intensive training early in their lives. What advice/guidelines do you offer to parents and coaches regarding youth injury prevention?

KS: The most important thing is cross training. Playing multi sports especially as kids. Kids that get into trouble are those that play a single sport year round. Number two, there is superb professional training even for kids that are very young. By taking advantage of professional training including weight training and conditioning they are less likely to be injured. There are knee ACL injury prevention programs and a host of things that educate kids better than we were able to do before.

SZ: Do you have an favorites? Or any suggestions that parents could look for in terms of a good program?

KS: It depends on the child’s age and their sport interests. I think programs at Cross Fit
are becoming more directed towards youth sports as well as teaching kids proper technique for weight lifting and strength training. Getting kids involved in activities they wouldn’t normally do as kids such as yoga and pilates helps broaden their flexibility and body awareness. But the whole concept is really providing multi-sports rather than a single sport.

SZ: In 2008 the Stone Clinic hosted the StoneFit Pro Women’s Athlete’s Career Conference. What was your inspiration for presenting this well attended conference?
Do you anticipate reviving this event in the future?

KS: The inspiration developed because I work with so many top level multi-national athletes who have so few career opportunities and who didn’t really have any training in creating those career opportunities. So it seemed like a clear need and it was part of my passion for helping athletes choose their goals professionally and career wise. The event was expensive to host so we may do another one if we find the right partners to do it with.

SZ: During your career you’ve invented numerous products and hold 50 patents on novel inventions to improve health care. Which invention has been most successful and why?

KS: It depends on how you define success but the one’s that are focused on making animal tissues useful for people have been some of the most satisfying. They are being allowed in clinical trials in Europe right now and will most likely change the way we are able to do ACL surgery by providing pig ligaments rather than human ligaments for people that injure their knees.

SZ: Do you have any favorite quotes that have guided you on your professional path as an innovative orthopedic surgeon?

KS: People ask me how I get so much done and I answer, I find a lot of time in every second.

SZ: Anything you would add?

KS: Most of the injuries that we see are from mental errors. Mental error most of the time is from the athlete not having their head in the game. So the purpose of stretching or warming up before sport activities is mostly to clear the brain of other distractions and to focus on the athletic activity that’s about to start. Athletes who are very good about doing that are able to focus and get their head in the game. They tend to make fewer mental errors that lead to injuries. I think that’s maybe one of the most important parts.

SZ: Dr. Stone thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to have this conversation regarding sport injury and prevention tips.

*Featured guests are not former nor current clients of Susan Zaro
*This article can also be read @ www.examiner.com

Challenges of Parenting an Elite Athlete

Robert Chiang and his wife Fumie made the decision to move their family from Malibu, Ca. to Ojai, Ca. when their youngest daughter Yuki was eight years old. The decision was made to give Yuki an opportunity to train with her then coach, Takeshi Ozaki at the Weil Tennis Academy in Ojai. In the following years the Chiangs settled into Ojai. Robert bought a Giorgio’s Pizza Sports Bar and Yuki now 16 years old commutes two or three times a week two hours away to train at the USTA Training Center-West in Carson City. Yuki’s current coach is former tour player Lori McNeil.

In the next few years the Chiangs are coming to a fork in the road where their daughter will need to make the tough decision whether to continue to develop her skills by turning professional or accept one of the many offers she has received to play college tennis. The decision is not easy and the choices are not as obvious as one might think. Most successful singles players in women’s tennis skip college to hone their skills on the tour. The difference of playing, watching and learning from the pro’s by competing on the tour week to week versus playing college tennis is a completely different training experience.

Young players who turn professional often depend on support from their countries Tennis Federation which provide training, coaching and at times financial support while the player is developing. The USA has a vast amount of promising juniors that are working to achieve professional level tennis. But due to selective funding players need to have a high ranking before the USTA will commit full time coaching resources to a player.

SZ: You and your wife Fumie relocated from Malibu to Ojai so Yuki could train with Takeshi Ozaki at the Weil Tennis Academy. Is Yuki still training with Takeshi Ozaki?

RC: No, she’s now training at the USTA Training Center-West in Carson City. Takeshi was a Japanese coach that my wife and Yuki felt comfortable with.

SZ: Is this why you moved to Ojai?

RC: Yes, I took an early retirement from my job as an airline pilot and there was no sense of living in Malibu so we moved to Ojai.

SZ: Who coaches Yuki now?

RC: Yuki is currently training with former tour player Lori McNeil. We drive 2 or 3 times a week to Carson City. We used to drive there everyday but now we are going at least two times a week to make use of the USTA player development training being offered to Yuki. From time to time touring pro’s Sam Querrey, Mardy Fish, Ryan Harrison, to name some player’s, come to train at Carson for a few days Yuki watches them. She has trained with Sam Querrey and he always teases her when they train together.

SZ: What are the decisions that you as a parent weigh to enable Yuki to continue developing her skills at a high level?

RC: That’s a dilemma right now. There are so many options. She was training with Ivan Lendl for about ten days at the Ivan Lendl Tennis Academy in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Day to day Yuki is training at the USTA Training Center - West in Carson City. But I think for Yuki to reach the next level she needs to just work with a coach who can be solely dedicated to her. A dedicated coach can see her development through and through in full detail and help her work through to the next level.

SZ: How do you sort through the different coaches to find the right relationship?

RC: I didn’t know how much it was going to cost to do these kind of things. It’s expensive and these coaches need to be paid. We need to travel. We have interested coaches in Sweden, Czechoslovakia, Czech Republic, Spain, Japan, they all love to work with Yuki. There are many different options but it’s difficult to choose which road to take. It’s confusing. She can’t train with just anyone and expect to do well. She’s a top player at the USTA Training Center-West. Yuki’s quite athletic and we’ve worked with so many coaches. Coaches have many differences of opinions. At this point we’ve decided to pull back a bit and do some of the training ourselves.

SZ: She’s certainly gained knowledge working with the variety of coaches.

RC: It’s been good. It’s just that right now Yuki needs guidance to reach the next level. She wants the opportunity to play in the pros. Yuki is 16 and is still involved with the U.S.T.A. The U.S.T.A. has been a great help especially giving Yuki access to Lori McNeil as her current coach there. Lori is a hard worker, as a player she fought her way through and up the rankings. But as a U.S.T.A. coach she works with many of the players. She is not able to dedicate herself soley to coaching Yuki.

SZ: Developmentally during the teens there are big life changes. What are some positive surprises you didn’t anticipate in the process?

RC: We try to give our children exposure to the things that they are interested in. We understand that when children are young they already have ideas of what they want. So we feel it’s up to the parent to support them. If it doesn’t work it doesn’t work. Yuki has such high motivation to participate in tennis. I can see she wants to be doing this. It takes 2 hours to commute to Carson and she is always ready to go. We don’t have to remind her to get her things ready. She’s ready. Yes, she is 16 and there are times someone is doing something that she wants to participate in from school and she says she is missing out. I remind her that there are sacrifices you have to make. Sometimes we talk about her travels and she’s been to so many places in the United States. I tell her few kids have had this type of experience. If nothing else happens she’s had this experience and she’s doing great. We keep plucking away and if it works it works.

SZ: Who arranges Yuki’s tournament schedule, practices, lessons, travel arrangements?

RC: I do. She has invitations to travel to Sweden and Latvia. There is a coach who used to train Li Na, the player from China. This coach is currently training his niece and they live in Sweden. He has invited Yuki to come and train with his niece and play the ITF tournaments. The coach has seen Yuki play and appreciates her style of play. I keep in contact with him. Yuki has shown some interest in going but I’m not sure this is the right choice.

SZ: You and your wife are not able to extensively travel with Yuki. Does the U.S.T.A. provide a traveling coach?

RC: This past summer Yuki’s current coach, Lori McNeil traveled with her and other players to Georgia, and South Carolina. Some parents of other players went but my wife and I had other obligations here in Ojai.

SZ: Who helps you out with some of the big decisions regarding Yuki’s future and the path to take?

RC: I want to give the U.S.T.A. credit for their help. We’ve been working with the U.S.T.A. for two years but we don’t depend on them. You learn as you go. I learn quickly. I look on the computer for information and you’ve got to read the rules and understand them. Because the rules change. For example, the rules of qualifying for tournaments sometimes change. Sometimes I don’t hear about it. Now I am trying to learn the requirements for I.T.F. and the U.S. to qualify for the WTA pro circuit. This year I am helping Yuki play some W.T.A. qualifying tournaments. Some players travel to Mexico, Costa Rica, Jamaica and other places to play some of the $10,000 entry level qualifying tournaments.

SZ: It sounds as though you include Yuki in the conversations regarding her athletic future. Has that become more prominent as she’s become older?

RC: Yes. Before it was like let’s just keep giving her training opportunities. Now we are coming to an unknown place of which direction to take. There is light at the end of the tunnel. But whether that light is going to college, playing on the tour, or life in general we don’t know.

SZ: Is there anything you would do over. I know it’s an ongoing process but is there anything you would do over?

RC: I wouldn’t do things over. I would do them better. Financially you have to be sound. If you are not you cannot continue this pursuit unless the player is extraordinarily talented or if you receive support from the outside. We are receiving support from the U.S.T.A., Lori McNeil is a great coach, and Wilson is her product sponsor.

SZ: Yuki is in the position of needing to win the opportunity to reach a place where the exposure is better to allow her to move forward with more resources.

RC: Right.

SZ: What general advice would you offer to parents making the decision to commit to their child’s elite athletic development?

RC: I think parents have to do whatever their kids are driven to do. If their child’s drive is to play tennis, don’t hold back. Take them to tournaments. You’ve got to have the finances, patience, tenacity and know there will be mundane things to do. At the same time you’ve go to help your child become independent.

SZ: Build self-reliance which connects to self-reliance on the tennis court.

RC: Right. Yuki knows she can play and win with or without me being at the tournament.

SZ: Do you have any favorite quotes, tips, or stories that have guided you and your family?

RC: I tell Yuki never give up. If Yuki wants to play professional tennis in the coming years that’s okay with us. If she wants to go to college and study it’s also okay. I have a contract with Yuki that says she will at some point go to college. We will always be here to help and support her.

SZ: Robert thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk with me. I look forward to watching Yuki's promising career develop.

*Featured guests are not former nor current clients of Susan Zaro

*This article can be read @www.examiner.com