Tag Archives: tennis

Rich Neher, Author of ‘Drop in Tennis Secrets’



Rick is joined by longtime tennis teaching professional and organizer, Rich Neher this week on “Tech of Sports.”

Tennis Pros hurting during Covid-19 can develop a second income stream thanks to his new book, “Drop-In Tennis Secrets.”

Neher talks the publication of his new tennis book “Drop-In Tennis Secrets,” which is now available as a paperback and in a Kindle version. He set out to find an answer to the question, “Can you make money in tennis when your name is not Roger or Rafa?” The answer is, yes! Drop-In Tennis Secrets is a handy guide for those seeking to organize tennis matches for local players and make some money in the process. Neher says, “This manual is suitable for tennis professionals that want to add a second income stream to their regular business, and for entrepreneurial tennis players who want to start a business in the sport they love.”

All the steps for starting and conducting a successful drop-in tennis business are covered. All aspects of a new tennis business, from start to finish, with plenty of tips and best practices, are presented in an easy-to-read, clear, and precise style, including Neher’s “Secret Sauces” to keep players coming to your group week after week.

Delaine Mast, National Director for World TeamTennis Community Leages, writes, “As I read your book, it reinforced for me how there is no replacement for experience. Your vast experience and passion for tennis, and people have made you successful and uniquely qualified to help others. I hope that others will read this booklet and realize it can help them create their own success story!”

Rich Neher is a tennis writer and publisher of a monthly newsletter titled TENNIS CLUB BUSINESS. Rich has organized and personally conducted thousands of drop-in tennis events in Southern California since 1998.

Equipped with a German engineering degree, Rich emigrated to the United States in 1985. After 5 years in Philadelphia, he moved to Southern California where he pursued his passion for tennis; he started to play tennis, and learned the business of tennis. Rich was a Board member of the San Diego District Tennis Association and received the Community Tennis Award from the USPTA San Diego division. It was in 1994, at the Bobby Riggs Tennis Club in Encinitas, California, when Rich began organizing drop-in Tennis events for local, recreational players.

As Team Lead for Adult Leagues and NTRP Ratings on the USTA Tennislink Team, he taught the ins and outs of league tennis to coordinators in all 17 USTA sections. In 2008 he moved from San Diego to the Los Angeles area and in 2009 he started his consulting business, TENNIS MEDIA GROUP, and became a tennis sports writer for Inside Tennis and the Examiner Group. Rich began publishing TENNIS CLUB BUSINESS in January of 2014.

He is the recipient of the 2003 Community Service Award from the USPTA San Diego Division and of the 2019 PTR Media Excellence  Award.
In 2020, after creating and organizing almost 3,000 drop-in tennis round robins, he wrote and published the booklet “Drop-In Tennis Secrets – a manual for creating a second income stream with tennis.”

 


Rodrigo Almeida, North Texas Assistant Women’s Tennis Coach Talks Tennis and Online Fitness



Rick is joined by his friend, Rodrigo Almeida this week on “Tech of Sports.”

Rodrigo is an assistant tennis coach and the Tennis Health Program Coordinator at the University of North Texas.

One of the top young coaches in the nation who is widely respected for player development, Almeida helped lead the Campbell men’s team to the 2018 Big South Conference championship. He spent a season at UTEP with the women’s team and helped develop freshman Kristen Prelle into an all-conference No. 1 player in the Miners lineup and one of the league’s top players overall.

Almeida talks about tennis fitness, college tennis and answers Rick’s questions about the online fitness industry as quarantine is still a thing in many parts of the country.

Almeida was a standout player for Western New Mexico from 2010-14. On two occasions he was named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Player of the Year. He climbed as high as 26th in the ITA’s NCAA DII rankings, and was also the top-rated player in the central region as a senior.

Upon the conclusion of his playing career, Almeida served as a student assistant coach for both the men’s and women’s teams at WNMU. Both teams advanced to the RMAC Championships. Additionally the men’s team secured a ranking of 27th.

Almeida served as an instructor and group chaperone for 15 nationally-ranked American juniors who toured and played in cities like Amsterdam, Prague, Barcelona and Paris. He then went on to serve as a tennis professional for Cliff Drysdale Tennis, instructing individuals with skill levels ranging from beginners to semi-professionals. Following his time Cliff Drysdale Tennis, Almeida accepted the position at Campbell.

Make sure you follow Rodrigo’s tennis page on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/almeida_tennis/


Manny Diaz, University of Georgia Head Men’s Tennis Coach



Rick is joined by the Head Men’s Tennis Coach at the University of Georgia, Manny DIaz, this week on ‘Tech of Sports.’

With the cancellation of NCAA spring sports, Coach DIaz has some time on his hands, as do his players. Find out what Coach has told his players in the time of COVID-19 and how he’s handling things. He reflects on former UGA All-American, Jog\hn Isner’s career and more!

Diaz, this season, surpassed the legendary Dan Magill as the winningest men’s tennis coach in SEC history. The penultimate victory – number 707 – surely would have made Magill proud. It came on a Sunday in a big upset of No. 3 Ohio State on UGA’s Henry Field Stadium courts.

Diaz has been the Head Coach of the Bulldogs for 32 years. His careernumbers speak for themselves — 28 Southeastern Conference Championships in 32 seasons at the helm of the Georgia men’s tennis program.

He  has led Georgia to six national championships – four NCAA titles (1999, 2001, 2007 and 2008) and two ITA National Indoor titles (2006 and 2007). He is one of only three active coaches with multiple NCAA titles.

A great conversation with Coach Diaz, who is one of the nicest and most respected faces in tennis at any level.


Danielle Lao, Professional Tennis Player on Sports and Tennis Taking a Break



A second “Tech of Sports” this week and Rick is joined by friend and co-author of The Invaluable Experience and WTA player, Danielle Lao.

Danielle, like Rick has been grounded with the COVID-19 situation and we find out what she is doing to stay in shape for a return to tennis.

They talk hobbies, what will Danielle do when tennis returns and as Danielle stays close to college tennis, what the abrupt ending to the NCAA college season would’ve meant to her.

Rick and Danielle chat for about 15 minutes. Enjoy this episode.

 


Carlos Silva, CEO of World Team Tennis (WTT)



Rick talks tennis with the CEO of World Team Tennis, Carlos Silva this week. Recorded at the Racquet Sports Expo in Orlando.

Silva is planning big things for the summer, World Team Tennis season.

Silva took over the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2019.

Prior to joining WTT, Silva served for four years as League President of the Professional Fighters League (PFL), and CEO of World Series of Fighting (WSOF). He was the architect of the turnaround at PFL with the creation of the first MMA League Format and subsequent rebrand following the sale of WSOF to a new ownership group led by Donn Davis.

“Tennis has been a cornerstone throughout my life and I look forward to working hand-in-hand with the tremendously talented men and woman at WTT to achieve our common goal of linear and digital growth and promoting WTT‘s fantastic format in 2019 and beyond,“ said Silva.

Silva launched and served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and President of NBCU‘s Universal Sports Network, and Senior Vice President (SVP) with AOL Time Warner. While at AOL he was responsible for developing AOL Sports, News, and Money into top premier digital destinations. Silva also remains as a Board Advisor for PARK LANE, the premier sports investment bank in Los Angeles, where he previously served as Partner.

His production expertise includes hundreds of live major sporting events, including a wide variety of Olympic and International Events. He holds a BS from Boston College and a MS from George Washington University. Carlos also has a passion for tennis and played for Boston College before playing on the pro tennis satellite tour.

Have a listen to Rick and Carlos.


Danielle Lao, Professional Tennis Player and Writer



Rick is joined on this special Thanksgiving week episode of ‘Tech of Sports’ by his co-author of The Invaluable Experience, and WTA tennis pro, Danielle Lao.

Danielle, a former USC All-American is wrapping up the 2019 tear on the WTA Tour and is now in the off-season until she heads to Australia to start out 2020.

Rick and Danielle talk her tennis and her favorite gadgets and tech. She candidly answers some rapid-fire questions and talks about her love of podcasts and blogging. Danielle gives great insight what it;s like to be a top-200 player on the WTA Tour.

Good luck to Danielle and enjoy this episode.

Danielle gives and honest recap of her 2019 in here blog here.

As an Author:

Danielle Lao, a two-time All American tennis player at USC explains why playing college tennis was a time in her life she will never forget and why playing college sports is an “Invaluable Experience.” .

As a Player:

Danielle has played at all four Grad Slam tournaments, has has success on the ITF Pro Circuit and currently has a WTA ranking of No.196.