Hey all

I have just finished training Christina and Stefi with Jimmy in Bolton before they go on to Bath and Jersey! It went really well and after such an intense training camp in America they have come on leaps and bounds, just need to keep up all the strength training and putting in the hard work and we will all keep seeing big improvements in their games. The big thing now is for the players to use all of this training and mental strength on the match court and bring the confidence from the training camp to the match court!

I loved my time working along side Jez. It opened my eyes to new ideas and ways of training and I now feel confident on what my goals are for the players physically in the year to come. It brought back funny memories of when I did the 400s and all the other tough sessions and how sickening and tiring it can be! I was really pleased how both of them approached the camp and were so hard working with no moaning and as they got more confident the competitiveness started to show. I was extremely lucky to get this experience and work hands on and learn from one of the best and I soaked as much information up as I could. What was funny is how much food the girls had to take in because of all the calories they were burning. One time Stefi was sat by the pool and was stuffing the last bit of her sushi in her mouth and was talking to us saying how she used to love eating and now she is never hungry because she always has to eat and it’s just something she has to do. I felt sympathy thinking of how much food they were eating just to keep level with the energy they were putting out (around 3500 calories a day). If they didn’t you were punished out in training because if you don’t intake the right amount of calories you will start feeling light headed and weak when half way through a 400s session (as Christina experienced) and you have to finish it somehow.

It was important part that the girls learnt what was right to eat before running and weights and what’s not and how much their body’s need, which is very good for an athlete to know not only the physical coach. Teaching them to be more aware and more in control of there own journey as a tennis player.

The whole team had a day off to go to South Beach which was so much fun and the best day of weather we had all trip, couldn’t have been more perfect! I love the sun and the sea so I was pretty much in heaven. We also went out for dinner to the Cheesecake Factory, one of my favourite places to eat when I go to Florida. You have to order a main course between two or with the huge portions you would have to be rolled out of the restaurant, which Stefi, Anna and Christina basically did and all suffered a bit after!

Costa Rica went well and Christina showed signs of what she can really do and I was pleased to see that the windy weather conditions didn’t get to her! She found it hard at first to find her rhythm but managed to get through the first round. Her focus was excellent and that is what got her through the next round as her opponent was a tough fighter, but Christina's talent and ability to keep the ball in the court pulled her through. That gave her confidence for the quarter-final and she played her best match finding her rhythm again. It was a shame she lost in the semis but she had a good week and hopefully can take the confidence she built here to the next few tournaments.

The people in Costa Rica were very friendly and the tournament was very well organised which makes it a lot easier when travelling. It is still very third world and very dry from the hot climate but apparently the volcano and rain forest are amazing to go and see, but as you all know with tennis you don’t get time to see much. That is the job and I love it especially when one of the players is getting far in a tournament, which is very rewarding and you can also see exactly how much they have improved the next step. This trip also added to my experience being the official coach, one on one with the player in a tournament which builds confidence. I look forward to going away with David again because I always keep learning when away with him and he knows so much about the game. Anything I am never quite sure on he’s the man to ask.

I  just went to watch him do a presentation with CHELSEA FC which was great and they seemed very interested in what he had to share with them about mental tactics and the famous David Sammel LOCKER ROOM POWER which I think any athlete in any sport needs to know about and work on!

My next trip will be in Turkey which will be with Jim Edgar (always good work and fun with Jimmy).