Thank you Luis and Tim for the ICI Courses

Posted on 12 November, 2018

By Emilio Sanchez, CEO and Founder of the Academia Sanchez-Casal

This year is our 20^thyear anniversary, looking back it’s amazing how fast it went, I could write pages and pages of our success and relationships with amazing people. It brings a smile to my face when I hear testimonials from past players and they talk about hard work, effort, discipline, and respect. Our mission of creating opportunities in tennis, education and life is stronger than ever and it makes me proud to look back and see that base of our success and values are still intact.

Today I want to share how I started the International Coaches Institute courses for. About 20 years ago, Luis Mediero visited me and convinced me to do the first ASC-RPT coaches’ course, after seeing how we trained. Since then, many coaches, more than a thousand have been educated under those courses in Spain and USA combined. A few years later, Tim Heckler, CEO of the USPTA, invited us to attend a USPTA conference, where he became interested in teaching his coaches the ASC 360 system and he encouraged us to create the ICI courses. Tim came to every seminar and was so enthusiastic that he even sent his son to train at ASC Barcelona, with the goal that his son would gain the same inspiration and love for the game that he had. It was humbling to find out that he chose us instead of an academy in the US. It was a huge responsibility, but we succeeded, his son went to college to compete and today he works in the industry. After Tim’s untimely passing, Luis and I decided to push the ICI courses deeper and have it become his legacy. Since our first course in 2007, more than 1000 coaches have passed through our programs, we initially started with the level 1-performance training, then developed the level 2-transition from junior to pro. We teach everyone the chains of drills, our philosophy, pyramid, 4 pillars and they practice on court more than 60% of the time with our students from the academy. We’re so proud of our course and hope to continue Tim’s legacy.

For 2019 we are presenting new programs:

Our new Doubles course Level 1 will show how to use doubles to improve singles, and for coaches, how to maximize the space on court with 4 players at same time. All the experience that we used in doubles together with Sergio to become top in the history, 44 title wins, 9 masters, 14 years Davis Cup in one full course of two days or two modules of one day.

We’re also presenting new one day courses with modules of every chain and the option to choose one of the pillars. It’s going to be an exciting 2019.

Emilio Sanchez
CEO and Co-Founder of the Academia Sanchez-Casal

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Strategic dietary planning is profitable and advantageous

Posted on 2 November, 2018

By Sergi Bonillo, Food and Beverage manager at Academia Sánchez-Casal, Barcelona.

When, what, how and how much we eat powerfully affects our energy levels and, as a result, also our performance and productivity. We must be aware of what we eat, but if we want to go one step further, we must also eat with strategy.

To maintain our energy levels, we must have a snack every 3-4 hours after each main meal. Then, we should not wait more than 2 hours after a snack to have another main meal.

This strategy prevents our metabolism from slowing down and provides an appropriate level of glucose to the blood in order to keep our cells working at the best level of performance. Having an eating strategy also prevents a decrease in muscle mass.

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Therefore, at Academia Sánchez-Casal, we establish 3 main intakes per day: breakfast, lunch and dinner, which are alternated with 2 strategic snacks called “Energy Points”. The Energy Points contain solids and liquids to help maintain our student-athletes energy levels high.

The solid foods we offer in our Energy Point are usually fruit, vitamin and protein energy bars, nuts and, occasionally, non-industrial pastries. All these products are carefully selected and meet the high nutritional requirements that our nutrition department establishes, even when they are processed foods. Processed foods that are selected contain whole grains, do not have hydrogenated fats, and have the lowest possible amount of preservatives and chemical elements.

In the liquid food category, we offer whey protein shakes (Whey 00) mixed with chocolate and / or fresh fruit and skimmed milk. For our youngest student-athletes, we offer isotonic drinks composed of minerals, carbohydrates and vitamins, which help them to replenish energy levels after a hard workout. This type of drink not only hydrates but also supplies energy. At Sánchez-Casal, we only offer products from leading sports nutrition companies, who can guarantee both professionalism and rigor in the quality of their products.

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Nourish yourself to perform at your best level

It is important to know when to eat each meal or snack, and remember that breakfast is one of the main meals, as eating early in the morning helps metabolism to activate and produce energy. By eating a good breakfast, we can focus and be mentally alert for longer periods of time. Breakfast should always contain the 3 macronutrients: carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

Throughout the morning, we must use strategic snacks to maintain energy levels and increase nutritional intake. A snack will also be necessary in the afternoon, after lunch.

Lunches and dinners should be part of a balanced daily diet, which strategically distributes the consumption of carbohydrates, protein and fats appropriately according to the specific needs of each person.

Sergi Bonillo
Food and Beverage manager at Academia Sánchez-Casal Barcelona

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EXCELLENCE AND VIRTUES OF AN ASC COACH

Posted on 26 October, 2018

By Emilio Sanchez, CEO and Founder of the Academia Sanchez-Casal

COACHING SERIES: INTERVIEW WITH ASC BARCELONA HIGH PERFORMANCE TRAVELING COACH, VOVA NIKOLENKO

I want to take this opportunity to introduce you to Vovodymyr “Vova” Nikolenko, another great traveling coach who has been on the Sanchez Casal team for many years. He started playing tennis early on at the age of 7 in his home country, Ukraine and arrived in Barcelona as a student-athlete in 2003. After high school, he decided he wanted to continue being a part of ASC and started coaching in 2006.
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Vova recently reached the top of the pyramid and had the chance to accompany our ATP player Ramkumar Ramanathan to world recognized tournaments. Traveling with players is never easy but Vova has overcome the obstacles, some months he’s had to travel with his students for 30 days leaving his family behind, but he doesn’t complain. Vova is a pleasure to have close, he is always to ready to take on anything with a smile on his face. There is nothing that inspires me more than seeing my students make the transition of being student athletes to becoming coaches in the academy. They never fail to leave the ASC legacy everywhere and that makes me even more proud.

Emilio Sanchez
CEO and Co-Founder of the Academia Sanchez-Casal

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THE SPANISH PLAYER ROBERTO CARBALLÉS, I CHALLENGER SÁNCHEZ-CASAL MAPFRE CHAMPION

Posted on 19 October, 2018

By Daniel Muñoz Pozo, Head of Communications & Media at Sánchez-Casal Academy.

The nº 1 seed, Roberto Carballés, was proclaimed champion of the Challenger Sánchez-Casal Mapfre, by defeating another Spanish player, Pedro Martínez, by 1/6, 6/3, 6/0.

From the very start, Pedro Martínez, came out looking to be triumphant and there is no doubt that the 6/1 result of the first set reflected this. However, by the second set, Roberto Carballés really started to get into his stride and managed to get the leadership of the points, winning the set by 6/3.

In the final set, the nº 1 seed Carballés imposed his own rhythm with complete consistency from back of the court, allowing him to prevail in the definitive set by 6/0.

The award ceremony was attended by Marisa Sánchez-Vicario, President of the Emilio Sánchez Vicario Foundation; Sergio Casal, co-founder of the Academy and Tournament Director; Miguel Díaz, President of the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation; Jordi Tamayo, President of the Catalan Tennis Federation; Juan Pedro Perez, First Deputy Mayor of Prat de Llobregat; Ramón Pujol, Sales Manager MAPFRE Catalunya & Baleares, and Lluis García, Sales Manager Peugeot Turycar.

“The academy makes a great effort to organize tournaments, and today we must highlight its important work. For Spanish tennis, it is the final of dreams, with two Spanish players. The tournament has been a great success”, said Miguel Diaz, President of the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation.

The champion Roberto Carballés commented that “I felt at home during this week, which culminated with this important triumph, and I encourage more tournaments of this level to be organized in Spain.”

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Sergio Casal, director of the tournament, said that “It has been a very special week for every one of us. A great level of tennis has been seen, and the Academy is proud top have been able to match the effort and delivery with that of the players”.

Sergio Casal and Marisa Sánchez Vicario made special mention of the main sponsor, Mapfre, and gave also noted their great appreciation to the Sales Manager for Catalunya & Baleares, Mr. Ramón Pujol.

In addition to Mapfre as main sponsor, it is worth highlighting the other sponsorship of Locos por la Música and Head; the institutional partners RFET and ATP Challenger Tour; and official partners Peugeot, Global Caps, Leotrón, NH Hotels, Lauretana, Gatorade, Nutrisport, Schweppes, Diputación de Barcelona and El Prat de Llobregat Town Hall.

Daniel Muñoz Pozo
Head of Communications & Media at Sánchez-Casal Academy.

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‘Ivan Lendl: Sporting Greats Show’ Ft. ASC Florida Coach, Pavel Slozil

Posted on 12 October, 2018

By Angelica Garcia, Marketing Department at Academia Sanchez-Casal

This week we explore the documentary ‘Ivan Lendl: Sporting Greats Show’ which focuses on the former world #1 tennis player’s career. The documentary features testimonials of Lendl’s entourage including tennis legend, compatriot and ASC Florida coach Pavel Slozil. Lendl and Slozil grew up together in the city of Ostrava, Czechoslovakia and were part of the winning Czech Davis Cup team in 1980.

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Watch the full documentary below.

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THE 1st SÁNCHEZ-CASAL MAPFRE CHALLENGER IS BORN, THE TOURNAMENT OF DREAMS

Posted on 27 September, 2018

By Daniel Muñoz Pozo, Head of Communications & Media at Sánchez-Casal Academy.

From the 7th to the 14th of October, the Sánchez-Casal Academy will host the Sánchez-Casal Mapfre tournament, from the ATP Challenger Tour. This tournament will bring together international professional tennis players for the second most important tournament in the region.

The presentation of this first tournament took place today at the Sánchez-Casal Academy. Sergio Casal stressed that “hosting the Challenger is an important step forward for the Academy, since we organize tournaments from the base up. This tournament is an ideal opportunity for those players who are making the move towards professionalism. Without a doubt, I would define it as the tournament of dreams”.

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Miguel Díaz, President of the RFET, noted “We know that future players who continue to fill the brilliant tennis schools throughout Spain, benefit from starting their career as professionals close to home. It is a source of pride that great tennis professionals, such as Emilio Sánchez Vicario and Sergio Casal, have become involved in hosting the stars of the future in their facilities.”

Players of fifteen nationalities will meet on the clay courts of the Sánchez-Casal Academy, in a tournament organized with the support of the Emilio Sánchez Vicario Foundation.

Marisa Sánchez Vicario, President of the Emilio Sánchez Vicario Foundation, emphasizes the work of the schools that the Foundation has in Barcelona, Madrid, Seville and Toledo. She also draws our attention to the clinic that will take place during the Challenger with students from the Barcelona School of Tennis with Intellectual Disabilities.

This first edition highlights the presence of Spanish tennis players Pablo Andujar (116), Daniel Gimeno Traver (156), in a tournament that will be played with both singles and doubles.

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This tournament is another step for the Sanchez-Casal Academy, which helps young promising talent rise by organizing local, national and international tournaments. Therefore, this ATP Challenger is really the tournament of dreams, being a perfect stepping stone into professionalism.

On behalf of Mapfre, the main sponsor of this Tournament, Mr. Javier Solís, Territorial Director of Mapfre Barcelona, comments that “tennis is a key point for us, and this is the reason Sánchez-Casal and this tournament receives all our support”.

Mr. Juan Pedro Pérez, First Deputy Mayor of El Prat de Llobregat, notes that “this event is really important because the Sport always has special meaning and gives a plenty of positive feedback to the people and the citizens of this city”.

Besides Mapfre as the main sponsor, we need to emphasize the support to the tournament from other sponsors, including Locos por la Musica and Head and the institutional partners such as RFET and ATP Challenger Tour, as well as official partners such as Global Caps, Leotrón, NH Hotels, Lauretana, Gatorade, Nutrisport, Schweppes , Diputación de Barcelona and El Prat de Llobregat City Hall.

Among the attending guests, we would like to thank the president of the FCAT; Mr. Jordi Tamayo, the Sports Coordinator of the Diputació de Barcelona; Mr. Daniel Laga, along with staff and students of the Academia Sánchez-Casal and ES International School.

For more information: Daniel Muñoz Pozo. Communication Director of Sánchez-Casal Academy.
danielm@sanchez-casal.com

Daniel Muñoz Pozo
Head of Communications & Media at Sánchez-Casal Academy.

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QUALITIES OF A GREAT COACH

Posted on 14 September, 2018

By Emilio Sanchez, CEO and Founder of the Academia Sanchez-Casal

COACHING SERIES: INTERVIEW WITH ASC BARCELONA TRAVELING COACH, ALVARO PINO

This week I want to share a story about a special person on the Sanchez-Casal team, Alvaro Pino. Alvaro is the son of Antonio Pino, a former tennis player, and coach who has worked with us since the Academy was founded in Barcelona.
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There is so much I can say about Alvaro, but quite honestly, his loyalty speaks for itself. I have watched Alvaro transition from being a student to a player, to finally becoming a coach at Sanchez-Casal. Alvaro helped open the facility in Naples, Florida and today he is one of the most successful traveling coaches on the ASC Barcelona team.

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Alvaro has demonstrated his passion for tennis and coaching in everything he does. He lives, eats and breathes ASC. When he went with me to Mexico earlier this year, I watched him grow not only a coach but also as a person. He delivered great lectures and told stories from the heart. That’s when I realized that the opportunity he earned at ASC was really happening and that our mission was working. Nothing makes me prouder and happier than seeing a coach that inspires others. Having coaches like this will help us keep growing and delivering a special energy that encourages ASC players to maximize their performance.

I’m glad to introduce Alvaro to you; a special ASC traveling coach and an even better person.

Emilio Sanchez
CEO and Co-Founder of the Academia Sanchez-Casal

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An aquatic environment: one more resource for the athlete’s recovery

Posted on 30 August, 2018

By Miquel Oca, Head Coach of the Sport Science Department, Academia Sánchez-Casal, Barcelona.

All athletes should know about and appreciate the importance of recovery after practising sport. Recovery is part of the daily training of every athlete. Its objective is to reduce the stress suffered at the muscular level and the tension caused by the specific stimulation of the training. With recovery exercises, we try to avoid injuries and predispose the athlete mentally and physically for better performance in their next training session.

This concept becomes even more relevant in situations of continuous training or competition. A good example of this continuous training are the weekly training sessions. During these periods of prolonged physical activity, the Sports Science Department of the Sánchez-Casal Academy includes daily exercise in an aquatic environment to aid in recovery, specifically in shallow pools.

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The importance of recovery

The training of our young tennis players is a process split between working time and recovery time. During the training on court, the workload is designed specifically to stimulate the process of overcompensating. We need the training to cause fatigue so that there can later be recovery from that fatigue. By repeating this process over time, we force the athlete’s body to adapt to effort, which in turn improves their performance skills.

But, how does this adaptive mechanism work? During the athlete’s daily tennis training, the stimulation provided by the workout produces an alteration of the body’s balance. This alteration must be reorganized to recover the body’s equilibrium, generating a higher level of adaptation to prevent new alterations in the future. If the athlete’s body is able to restore its equilibrium, they achieve positive overcompensation. But when the athlete cannot restore their body’s equilibrium, and their body cannot recover, their performance decreases progressively and they become easily injured.

To avoid them getting injured, we must provide the player with the appropriate time and strategies to be able to recover safely.

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Recovery exercises

The main factor for proper recovery after physical exercise is the rest time between training periods. In addition, there are different strategies to accelerate this recovery. At ASC we try to offer our younger players each of the following different strategies.

For example, performing 10 minutes of physical activity at a progressively lower intensity in the final phase of training allows the athletes to accelerate the cleaning out of any lactic acid accumulated in the muscles and blood as a result of the effort made on court.

Players also perform myofascial release exercises with different training tools such as a foam roller or tennis balls, etc. to roll out the muscles. The objective of using these is to increase blood circulation in the muscle groups worked which in turn contributes to the relief of muscle tension and the recovery of mobility.

Finally, tennis is an asymmetrical sport that generates large muscle imbalances that must be taken into account in all phases of the player’s physical preparation as well as in the recovery periods. Compensatory exercises done with elastic contribute in a great way to the muscular rebalancing of the players.

Tennis players make a high number of very specific, repeated movements during the time they are on the court. Many of these movements limit the range of mobility of the joints involved. Introducing joint mobility exercises with a maximum possible amount of controlled movement during the recovery time provides great compensatory work.

Recovery in the water

Here at the ASC Summer Camp we are lucky to have the use of an outdoor pool that allows us to take some of the recovery sessions to the water.

With pool exercises we get players to perform physical activity in a different environment than usual, a fact that facilitates socio-affective relationships within training groups and the reduction of negative psychological symptoms that may arise during sport practice, such as irritability, inability to concentrate, etc.

From the physiological point of view, and especially during hot summer days, performing aquatic activities in an outdoor pool allows the athletes to lower their body temperatures instantly, with all the benefits that this entails: improvement of blood circulation, acceleration of muscle recovery, etc.

Equally, the fact of performing the exercises in the water and, therefore, with a decrease in the force of gravity, allows the athlete to benefit from the joint decompression provided by this buoyancy.

Thus, the use of an aquatic environment in the athlete’s recovery phase allows us to optimize the recovery of our players. In fact, the execution of tasks in the water predisposes the athlete mentally and physically for better performance.

Miquel Oca
Head Coach of the Sport Science Department at Academia Sánchez-Casal, Barcelona

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JERRY SHANG’S FIRST GOLD BALL

Posted on 22 August, 2018

By Victor Hugo Camargo, Director, Traveling Coach and Mentor at Academia Sanchez-Casal Florida

The week in Mobile, Alabama went by fast and was solely concentrated on the tournament. It hit me at the trophy presentation when the announcer asked Jerry which places he liked most during his stay in Mobile, and Jerry answered, “the club was very nice”. We spent eight days in Mobile with very little time to go around and explore the town, but Jerry was cooperative and willing to sacrifice his free time because he knew he was there to win. This is the type of sacrifice a tennis player must make in order to achieve solid steps in his formation, even at thirteen years old. For anyone involved in helping young players, finding balance is an everyday dynamic. A kid is a kid, but in a competitive sport and environment like this, they need to develop professional skills from the beginning without losing their playful essence and “spark” that makes them fun individuals to be around.

The National Championship is now behind us, but that is how it will be like from now on. We can’t think or talk too much about it. We have taken all the positive aspects Jerry did during that tournament so that we can work on the ones we agreed needed improvement, and moved on to the next challenge. We were focused on training well and improving things that needed more work.

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Three weeks before we started preparing for the tournament, we remembered last year’s outcome, and how we lost in the quarterfinals. This time, before we started our first practice we didn’t talk about a goal for this tournament, and by the end of that session, without saying a word, we both knew what we were aiming for: the championship. We knew it would be a big and important challenge and preparation needed to be great in order to be ready for it.

Being at the National Hard-Court Championship in Mobile with Jerry seems like it happened long ago even though it has only been 2 weeks. I am proud of Jerry and the way he handled himself throughout this tournament, especially during the last three matches. Talk about a more mature player who has learned from his past experiences! It is very important that he keeps this mentality and continues to learn from each situation and take it one point at a time. Each match is different, each match represents a different challenge, and Jerry must keep his focus in the process so that he continues to develop integrally as a tennis player.

Victor Hugo Carmargo
Director, Traveling Coach and Mentor at Academia Sanchez-Casal Florida

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Ramkumar Ramanathan Reaches his First ATP Final at the 2018 Hall of Fame Open

Posted on 10 August, 2018

By Angelica Garcia, Marketing Assistant at Academia Sanchez-Casal Florida

INTERVIEW WITH RAMKUMAR RAMANATHAN

I recently had the pleasure of catching up with ASC player, Ramkumar Ramanathan, following his first ATP final at the 2018 Dell Technologies Hall of Fame Open. We discussed everything from the outcome of the match to how he prepared for this final.

What tips can you give to tennis players hoping to reach an ATP final?

I would encourage players to listen to their coaches and give the best version of themselves whenever they step on court, even if it is only for 30 minutes. Also remember to stay professional during tournaments. Professional meaning, have everything prepared for matches, including racquets, grip changes, drinks, energy bars, book warm up courts, get enough sleep, and watch opponent matches. Things can quickly change in matches, so it is important to fight for every point and compete until the end! Know your strengths and work on your weaknesses. But above all, believe in yourself and go into a match with the belief that you can do it! Even if you have a few bad games in the beginning, hang in there, you can change the match.

How did the 4 pillars of tennis help you prepare for the Hall of Fame Open final?

The Four Pillars of Tennis: Mental, Physical, Technical and Tactical were the base of my preparation. I knew I had to go into this match mentally prepared and be ready for anything. I usually try to take a short nap or listen to my favorite songs before matches to help me relax, and this match was no different. Doing this is important because it helps me keep my mental strength in check throughout the match. During changeovers, I looked ahead and brainstormed what I would do for the next games, I also focused on my breathing between points throughout the entire match. Physical is also key. I had to make sure I was physically prepared for a long match. I went into the final giving everything I had. I fought for every point no matter the outcome. I also focused on my strengths and tried by best to keep going after long points. For technical, I focused on hitting my shots to the best of my ability and reminded myself to reach up for serves and go for my returns. I had my routines ready before the match and tried to keep the order. Tactical is very important, before going into any game, I like to watch my opponent so that I have a better understanding of what I will do during the match. I also try to have a Plan A and Plan B. Plan A is to stay aggressive and dominate the court. If I see that is not working, then I turn to Plan B, where I step back on returns and continue to fight. I have been working on dominating more and moving closer to the net when serving, if I struggle to play comfortably from the inside of the court, then I go from behind the baseline.

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How has reaching an ATP final changed the trajectory of your career?

Reaching an ATP Final was a dream come true! I am proud of myself for making it into the Final of this prestigious event. Nothing can buy this moment, it will stay with me forever. I am excited to be competing in these high-level ATP events because I am learning new things and gaining more respect from players. Coming from a family who has not played many sports (except for my dad who played a bit of badminton in his college days), this is a huge achievement for me and my family. All of this goes to show that all the hard work you put in always pays off. It is a dream to be playing in the top league. This is still the beginning of my career, and there is a long road ahead, but achieving this goal has only motivated me to push that much harder toward my future goals of reaching the top.

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In what ways did the Sanchez-Casal Academy help you reach the final?

The trophy I hold in my hand today, is because of Emilio and all the coaches at Sanchez. Having Emilio and the team by my side was a huge advantage, they have gone through every phase with me. I am grateful for their support, valuable input and for the time invested in me. By God’s grace, I am currently at a career high singles ranking of 111! My first few years at Sanchez were really tough as I was always losing in Futures Qualifiers, so I consider this the beginning of a new chapter in my life, and I hope to continue climbing higher! I would like to thank God for blessing me with good health and everyone at Sanchez-Casal for pushing me toward reaching my goals. Dreams do come true, I came to Sanchez without ranking and now I am on my way to achieving everything I imagined. Tennis has made me grow not only as a player, but also as a person, it has taught me many life lessons I don’t think I would have learned had I not played this sport.

Do you have any advice for aspiring tennis players?

I would tell current and future players to reach for the stars and believe you are capable of everything you set your mind to. The secret to success is hard work, dedication and patience. Every small detail adds up, so keep pushing your limits and enjoy every moment.

We can’t wait to see what is next for this talented player. Everyone at Sanchez-Casal wishes him the best and we hope to see him move closer toward reaching his goals.

Watch Ramkumar’s speech at the 2018 Hall of Fame Open trophy ceremony:

Angelica Garcia
Marketing Assistant at Academia Sanchez-Casal Florida

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