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- Written by: Lane Evans
COACH’S CORNER, Dissecting the Works of Coach Tom Parham
Volume 1-3/4/2024
Foreword
I’ve known Coach Tom Parham since 1976 when I was playing at High Point College. There has always been something very special about our relationship. I randomly took a photograph of Coach at the 1977 NAIA National Championships in Kansas City, where HPC and Atlantic Christion, now Barton College, were playing. I have been carrying that photo around with me since.
Coach Tom Parham has coached a national championship team, been inducted into just about every Hall of fame there is, mentored and given back to the game of tennis like no other.
No, he didn’t pass away. He is very much alive and well. I talk to him as much as he can stand me. Sometimes I think we were related at some point. We’ve learned from some of the same mentors. We see the sport of tennis in eerily similar ways. It’s a little scary at times. He will say thing I am thinking and vice-versa. It’s a neat experience. I cherish every second. All tennis players, coaches and professionals should be so lucky.
Our regular Summits are legendary. I embrace them whenever I can. I learn more in three hours with the ol’ coach, as I affectionally refer to him, than I learned in four years of college. I learn something new from him every time we talk or meet. It always delivers big.
He has asked me to be a part of his team of Shot Doctors to help educate high school coaches in North Carolina and beyond. It’s an honor to be alongside him on this journey. He has written a manifesto of letters, documents and books telling his stories of life, coaching, tennis, friendships, and the art of teaching.
My job, as I see it and he has directed me, is to pan through these hundreds and hundreds of pages and pan for the gold nuggets of tennis information. Once I find them, I translate them into language only mere mortals like me can understand and then distribute them to players, coaches, teaches, parents and anyone else who can benefit from their value and believe me, there is value. Stay with me…
Diving into the Driving Range of Tennis
By Tom Parham
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- Written by: Vic Ramsey
NCHSTCA is pleased to announce a partnership with Shot Doctors to provide resources for high school tennis coaches in North Carolina.
Shot Doctors is the brain-child of Hall of Fame coach Tom Parham He's assembled a variety of experienced tennis professionals to provide written resources via our website, and, perhaps, in the future, via instructional clinics or webinars
Shot Doctors material can be found on our website under Coaching Resources/Shot Doctors. Check out Lane Evans' first article: 28 Ways You Can Be A Better High School Coach.
We are so excited to partner with the North Carolina High School Tennis Coaches Association in an effort to help make all high school tennis coaches in North Carolina as good as they can be. The Shot Doctors are excited to help all coaches and those possibly looking to get involved with high school tennis. We have gathered some of the greatest tennis minds in North Carolina to help answer your questions and provide tips to help you successfully coach your high school tennis team.
Please reach out to me if you have questions or comments. Your questions will be evaluated by a team of experts in an effort to provide you with the best possible scenarios for your particular coaching situation. There are no bad questions. Your involvement is what will drive this particular part of the NCHSTCA website. All the best and we look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you again for allowing us to be a part of your North Carolina high school tennis coaching journey.
Lane Evans, Shot Doctor,
USPTA Master Professional
USPTR Level 3 Tennis Specialist
iTPA Master Tennis Performance Specialist
ISSA Master Trainer
Tom Parham, Shot Doctor,
Hall of Fame Coach, Atlantic Christian College (now Barton College), Elon University
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- Written by: Lane Evans
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Give your players your undivided attention. Listen carefully to them. If you listen closely enough, they will tell you what they want.
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Put your cell phone down. Don’t answer it. Don’t check it. Unless you are taking approved video of a player, needing emergency medical treatment for you or one of your players, keep the cell phone in your pocket.
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“Stay in your Lane.” Understand the tennis skill sets you possess and don’t. If you are a certified by the USPTA or PTR, make sure your players know that. Your valuable education is their education. If you have no tennis education, get some. The USTA has many online videos that can help you. The USPTA and PTR have entry level certifications designed for high school coaches.
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Important!! Have a teaching philosophy. Don’t have one? Develop one. Footwork, fitness, stroke production, etc. Pick one and build your players around it. It serves as a great focus point to your player development. Mine is footwork and positioning. It has never failed me.
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Make sure you have all the tools you will need on the court. Tennis balls, drop down lines, back-up racket, water, targets, cones, etc. Make a checklist and live by it.
Read more: 28 Ways You Can Be A Better High School Tennis Coach