Elena L.

I possess a B.S. in Exercise and Sport Science w/ Emphasis in Teaching/ Coaching from the University of San Francisco and have been a tennis coach for over a decade. I have taught privately and in group settings at Golden Gateway Tennis Club and at the Foster City Parks and Recreation Dept. I feel blessed to be able to share my passion for the game of tennis to all ages and abilities.

* Played on the University of San Francisco's Women's NCAA Division I Tennis Team
* Current tennis instructor and coach with Youth League Tennis
* Current USTA Member and Recreational Tennis Player
* Previous instructor for Golden Gateway Tennis & Swim Club and the Foster City Recreation Center

No matter the ability/skill level, age group or goal, the main purpose of taking tennis lessons is to make all strokes and most playing patterns automatic. Because a player has no time to think about technique or analyze the situation in the 1.5 seconds it takes for the ball to come to them from the other side. The purpose of private lessons is to learn new strokes, improve or correct technique, and learn new playing patterns. The main advantage is that my players can be totally focused on a certain task without being distracted by other players and also get to hit more balls, which is necessary for learning and acquiring the fundamentals of tennis technique. Allowing me, as your instructor/coach, to focus on the most important part of training for a particular player (for example - correcting the backswing of the serve).

Tennis is an athletic sport that involves sprints at maximum speed, quick reactions, explosiveness, quick changes of direction, and endurance to sustain long matches. A player who is not physically fit, fast, strong and able to play for two or more hours without getting tired has no chance of competing in the national or international levels. Many different kinds of skills are needed for players to be able to play tennis well: coordination, balance, flexibility, hand-eye coordination, reactions, speed, stamina, strength, and agility. If a player want to play high-level tennis, he will have to move his body in ways that are not often practiced in regular tennis training. Physical training allows the player to develop a large motor base of various movements and skills, which will then be used in non-standard and standard tennis situations.

Adult and teen players, alike, need to learn how to control their emotions, their thoughts, how to calm down when they are nervous, how to build confidence, how to keep concentration throughout the match, and many other mental skills. Some examples of these mental challenges, include playing a higher ranked player, playing a lower ranked player, playing the finals in front of a crowd, coming from behind to level the score, taking advantage of a lead, dealing with gamesmanship, winning a set, and dealing with let downs. My duty is to help you (the player) understand the mental aspects and challenges of each situation and show you ways of overcoming them; without proper guidance, these negative vibes will block you from reaching a higher level.

I will help you become the best possible tennis player you can be and becoming one should also be your ultimate goal: feeling good about yourself for having mastered one of the most difficult and rewarding sports in the world.