Leyda & 10is

Pedro, Millie 

Millie was on the Beach High's tennis team and practice was starting at North Shore Park. Millie's sister Leyda came to practice and I asked her did she want to try out for the team. "I don't play tennis", she said.  It was very apparent she had a self image problem.  Sister Millie was not only on the tennis team she was a year younger, she was taller, they were both in the same grade and class and Millie's grades were better. Leyda took all these things as personal short comings.  I spoke to the coach and we mapped out a strategy to try to help her. When I asked her to go on the court, she refused at first but then she reluctantly agreed to try.  Her first time on the court went well and she was agreeable enough for us to make an appointment for her second lesson. 

Marc had finished high school a few years ago, he did not have a job  at the time but he knew most of the kids because along with Waldo they were the two best table tennis players in the park. Try as I would I couldn't get Marc to go on a tennis court.  He saw how the younger kids were playing, some very well, and he didn't have any confidence in his ability.  When I did a favor for him I insisted he come on a court for 10 minutes to repay the favor.  On court, #13, I suggested we play like ping pong.  "Its just a bigger court with a net and much larger balls."  That seemed to appeal to  him and then I said, 

"No hard shots, just get the ball over the net."   We stood way inside, close to the net and began to play points, and Mark won the game.

On Monday when team practice started, Leyda was there and I got her on court 13 and we started playing like ping pong too.  Marc was there so I called  him over and asked him to continue the game with Leyda while I made a phone call.  When I came back they had split 2 games and both of them were smiling and having fun.

It was much easier after that.  She got better quickly. In a short time she had a decent forehand, a back hand and a serve.  Coach Michelle helped by getting her involved and by having other team members, boys and girls, practice with her.  Then the coach said,

Millie, HGK, Leyda

"I have never seen anything like it.  Leyda just blossomed" She began mingling with the other kids in other activities and even played a game with Pedro, Millies' boy friend. And yes, she made the team.  And she got Marc to play with her so she could practice.  As a result his game also improved.
Marc also came on the court more willingly and one weekend when a fourth for an adult foursome didn't show, he filled in. It went so well he became a regular weekend doubles player and eventually assisted in teaching kids in the park's summer program.

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