ParentingAces - The Junior Tennis and College Tennis Podcast

Welcome to Season 15 Episode 41 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this episode, Lisa Stone welcomes longtime tennis leaders Barry Buss and David Fish for a conversation about reimagining junior tennis competition in the United States. Barry and David unpack the pressures families face on the junior tennis pathway—from constant travel, rankings, and point-chasing to the emotional strain placed on players, parents, and coaches. They make the case for a more sustainable model: one that develops confident, resilient young people alongside stronger competitors. They introduce Match Zone, an approach to local, affordable competition that combines meaningful match play with education around self-awareness, emotional regulation, parent support, and community. Rather than sending families home with another ranking update, the goal is to give players practical skills they can carry into their next match—and beyond tennis. Tennis Parent Takeaways Focus on development, not just results. A ranking or rating can be useful information, but it should not become the measure of your child’s worth, progress, or future in the sport. Help your child build a healthy relationship with competition. Winning and losing are part of tennis. The lasting skill is learning how to respond to nerves, mistakes, tough calls, and disappointment. Be intentional about your role. Your body language, words, and energy matter. Support your player without trying to coach every point, solve every problem, or argue every call. Protect room for a full life. Travel, school, friendships, rest, and family time all matter. A sustainable tennis journey should leave space for your child to grow as a person, not just as an athlete. Look for meaningful match opportunities. Variety in opponents, ages, styles, and levels can help players develop confidence and tennis IQ more effectively than repeatedly facing the same small group. Make the ride home a safe place. Ask your child what they learned, what felt good, or whether they want feedback—rather than leading with the score or a technical critique. It’s a thoughtful, big-picture conversation about making competitive tennis healthier, more accessible, and more developmentally meaningful for families. Connect with Barry and Dave To learn more about Barry Buss, Match Zone, and upcoming events designed to create healthier, more developmental competition for junior players, visit https://barrybuss.substack.com/ and follow Match Zone on social media. David Fish welcomes questions from parents, coaches, and community organizers interested in building more accessible, community-based tennis opportunities. Reach David at [email protected]. Be sure to check out Barry and David’s articles for a deeper look at the ideas behind Match Zone and their vision for the future of American player development.Connect with Lisa As always, Lisa is available for one-to-one consultations to work with you as you find your way through junior tennis and the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through the ⁠ParentingAces shop⁠. If you’re so inclined, please share this—and all our episodes—with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Be sure to check out our logoed merchandise, as well as our à la carte personal consultations, in our ⁠online shop⁠. Credits Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNEAudio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Welcome to Season 15 Episode 40 of the ParentingAces Podcast!Most families misunderstand what college tennis actually demands, and that misunderstanding can cost a player the right opportunity. Eric Dobsha pulls back the curtain on the reality of high-level Division I tennis, why international recruiting is not a new problem, and how parents can make smarter college choices for their children. Eric is the owner of Dobsha Tennis, a private academy in Tampa, Florida, known for developing junior players into college-ready competitors. His background as a player, coach, and academy owner gives him a rare, no-nonsense perspective on what junior tennis families need to know before they chase the dream. From growing up in Titusville, Florida, and hitting against a fence to playing for the Florida Gators, Eric shares the path that shaped his coaching philosophy and the mindset that defines true high performance. He explains why intent matters as much as UTR, why some players thrive in elite environments while others need a different fit, and how the best junior players are often the ones willing to do the work no one else wants to do. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why college tennis has always been global What it really takes to compete at a powerhouse program How training, conditioning, travel, and missed classes affect the college experience Why the “best” school is not always the best fit How smaller programs can offer bigger roles, better development, and a stronger college experience Tennis Parent Takeaways Look beyond rankings and UTR when evaluating a college opportunity. Assess whether your child is prepared for the physical and mental demands of college tennis. Focus on fit, playing opportunities, coaching, academics, and overall quality of life—not just the school’s reputation. Understand that development can happen at smaller programs, not only at nationally recognized powerhouses. Help your player build the work ethic and consistency required to succeed beyond junior tennis. Prepare for the culture shock that can come with transitioning from junior competition to a college team environment. Eric also breaks down the culture shock many juniors face when they arrive on campus, including the physical grind, mental pressure, and gap between junior tennis effort and college tennis expectations. If your family is weighing college recruiting, wondering about Division I tennis, or trying to understand what high performance really means, this conversation is essential listening. Learn more about Eric and his academy at https://www.dobshatennis.com/. Also, be sure to follow them on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/ericdobshatennis/ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TeamDobsha/. As always, Lisa is available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through junior tennis and the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Welcome to Season 15 Episode 39 of the ParentingAces Podcast! Tennis should build confident kids, not exhausted robots. Adriana Dino shares the coaching philosophy that helps young players grow into thinkers, leaders, and lifelong fans of the game—while showing parents exactly when to step back and when to lean in. Born and raised in Romania, Adriana started with a wooden racket, a straight-talking father, and a coach who changed her life. After playing, studying physical education, and coaching for nearly 20 years in the United States, she brings a rare perspective to the parent-coach-player triangle that drives junior tennis. Tennis Parent Takeaways Support your child with unconditional love rather than constant technical instruction. Learn to recognize when encouragement has become pressure. Gradually transfer responsibility for preparation, performance, and problem-solving to your child. Help your player develop routines for resetting after mistakes and bad line calls. Focus on resilience, confidence, and personal growth—not only wins and rankings. Accept that high-performance tennis may not be the right path for every talented player. Keep your child’s love of tennis at the center of the experience. Lisa and Adriana also break down the mental side of junior competition, including what to do after a bad call, how to reset between points, and why tournaments are one of the best classrooms for resilience. Adriana’s approach is simple but powerful: coach the person first, develop the player second, and keep the love for tennis intact for life. She also shares the unforgettable influence of playing Monica Niculescu as a 14-year-old in Bucharest, and why exposure to higher-level tennis can shape a junior’s mindset long before they’re ready for the professional circuit. This episode is essential listening for tennis parents, junior players, and coaches who want more than wins—they want growth, confidence, and a healthier relationship with the sport. Adriana is based in the DC area and coaches players from beginner to advanced, with a focus on bringing out the best in each athlete as a human being first. Connect with Coach Adriana To get more information on Coach Adriana, visit her website at www.adrianadinutennisacademy.com. You can email her directly at [email protected]. Be sure to follow her on Facebook and Instagram. Connect with Lisa As always, Lisa is available for one-to-one consultations to work with you as you find your way through junior tennis and the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through the ParentingAces shop. If you’re so inclined, please share this—and all our episodes—with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Be sure to check out our logoed merchandise, as well as our à la carte personal consultations, in our online shop. Credits Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Welcome to Season 15 Episode 38 of the ParentingAces Podcast! What if the biggest mistake in college tennis recruiting is treating tournament results like player development? Lisa Stone and tennis parent Jennifer Faulkner unpack the hard lesson every tennis family needs to hear: UTR, rankings, and constant travel are not the same thing as real growth. Jennifer shares the full arc of her family’s tennis journey, from her daughter Melanie’s gymnastics recruiting experience to her son TJ’s path from a late-start tennis player to freshman engineering major and team member at Rose-Hulman. Along the way, she reveals what happened when they lived far from strong tennis training in Austin, Texas, why they were on the road three to four weekends a month, and how they learned the difference between staying busy and actually getting better. You’ll discover: Why a higher tournament load did not always move TJ’s UTR the way they expected How video, match play days, and academy changes helped them see development more clearly Why engineering schools changed the entire recruiting search What Jennifer wishes she had asked coaches before committing How the “student-athlete” reality can look very different from the recruiting pitch Jennifer also explains the thinking behind TennisCourtGuide, the app she built to help families find college tennis programs that fit both academic priorities and athletic goals. Instead of forcing families to start with brand-name schools, TennisCourtGuide uses a smarter, wider funnel approach so parents and athletes can compare options based on the balance that matters most to them. This conversation is especially valuable if your player is entering high school, you’re trying to make sense of UTR and recruiting timelines, or you’re wondering whether your child’s development plan is actually moving the needle. If you want a clearer, calmer way to approach college tennis, this episode delivers practical guidance, hard-earned perspective, and a powerful reminder that the right fit is about far more than tennis alone. If you'd like more information on TennisCourtGuide, you can email them at [email protected] or: https://www.tenniscourtguide.com/ https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tenniscourtguide.app&pcampaignid=web_share https://www.instagram.com/courtguide?stkn=YzhvMTN3em4wcHU%3D&utm_source=qr https://www.facebook.com/share/1D7o23T6np/?mibextid=wwXIfr As always, Lisa is available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through junior tennis and the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Welcome to Season 15 Episode 37 of the ParentingAces Podcast! What can stepping into the unknown teach you about life beyond tennis? Lisa Stone and Levi Hecht talk about the courage to do difficult, scary things when you cannot predict the outcome - because the biggest opportunities often begin outside your comfort zone. Drawing on Levi’s experiences in Brazil and Argentina, the conversation looks beyond competition and technique to a mindset that applies everywhere: taking a chance, embracing uncertainty, and trusting that an unfamiliar path can lead somewhere meaningful. Whether the result is a breakthrough in tennis or a completely different kind of growth, the willingness to begin matters. Levi shares the lesson he wants to carry into the rest of his life, while Lisa helps connect that insight to the choices athletes and anyone facing a new challenge must make. It is a candid glimpse at how travel, uncertainty, and difficult decisions can shape more than performance. Key Takeaways for Parents: Waiting for certainty protects you from immediate discomfort but also removes many paths to unexpected upside. The lasting lesson from an experience is often not the specific outcome, but the behavior that made the outcome possible. If you would like to get more information on Levi's South American training, you can contact his coach, Todd Widom, at [email protected]. As always, Lisa is available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through junior tennis and the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone