Sharlene Jerome
SunBird Tennis Club Holly Jolly Activities
We had an event-filled holiday season packed with victories, celebrations, lessons, drills, and, oh, so much more.
Congrats to club members James Morgan and Mel Terechenok who won gold in the annual Veteran’s Classic 3.5 Mixed Men’s event. Woo Hoo!
We hosted our Christmas Dinner Party on Dec. 16 with Springfield. The event was catered by Julie and her team at the Horizon Room. Club member Jack Barber provided karaoke for entertainment, and Sunchix captain Joan Boyle orchestrated the main event. Great job to all!
We treated ourselves to an early Christmas present, as the HOA supplied us with a new net for court 1. Thanks to Club President JD Stephenson and Melissa Craig for installing it.
The Sunchix held their annual party as well, hosted by team captain Joan Boyle. I am sure we will have stories to share next month, as these ladies are sure to have included some shenanigans.
We implemented a new theme for social events, so you might be paired with someone of equal ratings from outside clubs. The overall goal is to meet more players, initialize new strategies, learn additional tactics but, first and foremost, be more social and have fun!
Rowland Tegio has graciously offered free Friday coaching drills from 3 to 4:30 p.m. This is a great time to try tennis for the first time, hone your skills, stay active, and, most of all, have fun! Does anyone else see a pattern here?
The Benefits of Strength and Conditioning for Tennis and Healthy Aging
Strength and conditioning is one of the most powerful tools to elevate your tennis performance while protecting long-term health as you age. By building muscle, improving endurance, and enhancing mobility, you not only sharpen your game but also safeguard against the natural declines that come with aging.
Tennis is a demanding sport that requires agility, speed, endurance, and resilience. As we age, muscle mass naturally declines by about 5% per decade after age 30, and aerobic capacity can drop by up to 10% per decade. Without proactive training, these changes can lead to slower reactions, reduced stamina, and higher injury risk. Strength and conditioning helps counteract these effects, keeping players competitive and healthy.
Key Benefits for Tennis Players
• Improved Power and Stroke Efficiency
• Enhanced Endurance and Recovery
• Better Balance and Coordination
• Joint Protection and Flexibility
• Bone Density Maintenance
Strength and conditioning is not about training like a 20-year-old. It’s about training smart to stay strong, agile, and resilient at any age. For tennis players, this means longer rallies, fewer injuries, and a healthier lifestyle well into the golden years. In short: Use it or lose it truly applies here.
See you on the courts and in the gym!