Larry Jurovich: “What Have I Learnt in Marseille…”

Written by: Larry Jurovich

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***Larry is an international coaching consultant specializing in coach, player, and program development. He works with National Governing Bodies, Private Organizations and players supporting them in all of these areas. As the Head of Coach Education and Performance Manager for the Lawn Tennis Association he led the restructuring and development of their coach education program and tutor workforce. He also worked very closely with the UK’s top academies supporting their coaches and players on and off the court.  Larry has  served as a member of the ITF Coach Education Task force and worked closely with Tennis Canada in redeveloping and delivering their performance coach education. Larry has vast experience in program development, in addition to consulting the UKs top programs he founded the largest must successful tennis academy in Ireland developing multiple Davis Cup players and National Champions and restructured one of the largest clubs in Canada elevating it to Tennis Canada’s highest rating of junior program. On court Larry has experience with everything from leading the Tennis Canada National Training Centre U10 program in Toronto, to developing players that have won dozens of national championships, to being the personal coach of multiple Davis Cup and tour players. Larry is a dynamic speaker and has presented at International, National, and Regional conferences and workshops in 10 countries on 3 continents. He has worked with organiztions such as the ITF, LTA, Tennis Canada, USPTA, RPT, Tennis Slovenia and more.


Larry is currently on the road with the Chinese team, and will be blogging us on a regular basis.***

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Firstly and sadly, I learnt that despite all of the workshops I have given on the subject and pride I take in it, apparently my observation skills are terrible.  For those who have been to Marseille, you should know that in the middle of the main intersection by the sea there is a statue of David that stands about 40ft high. It took me until day 3 and countless jogs, walks, and car rides by it to even notice!

My new Chinese words for this week (always spelt phonetically): FonSo (defense) and shonshuay (rally). This has me up to 7 words of Chinese after working with them for 7 weeks.  At this rate in about 800 weeks I will be able to communicate!

I have two girls that are my primary responsibility. They are both decent singles players but the emphasis is on doubles to try and qualify for the Olympics next year. Last week one was hurt, the other made the semi’s of the doubles at the WTA event in Copenhagen. This week that one had to go home to sort out visa and the other who is feeling a bit better, just won her first round match at the tour event in Holland. So far, so good.

The $100,000 level of WTA event is an interesting level. Yesterday I watched a match between Canadian Wozniak and Spanish Suarrez Navarro who have both been top 25 players but have had their rankings slip due to various things. Then, there is the number one seed Pivovarova, the latest Russian IMG project. You also have the girls much later in their career that have never been able to spend much time living above this ITF level but you can hear them all talking with some excitement about Wimbledon coming up. The Grand Slams and the 128 draws giving them access to a level of money, and luxury that the ITF circuit can be the antithesis of.

Lastly, I have learnt that despite my very passionate pledge to never fly Ryanair again (those who have done the low cost travel in Europe will sympathize with me), it is really the only way from Marseille to Eindhoven, Holland for our next stop at a WTA Tour event in Hertogenbosch.

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