Ep. 41 - Ryan Harry and Play

Ryan Harry has established himself as an industry leader within the tennis community. His 21-year career has presented opportunities to work at some of the most established clubs within the nation. Most recently, Ryan held the position as Head Professional for the International Tennis Hall of Fame. In February, 2021 Ryan launched Play Tennis Academy, a management company designed to bring club-level programming to your neighborhood. These efforts are to provide convenient junior and adult training opportunities at affordable rates.  Ryan's career highlights include USPTA pro of the year (RI), PTR pro of the year (RI), featured in Tennis Channel magazine, Tennis Industry magazine, and two developmental videos that are currently featured on Tennis Channel Academy.  

Play Tennis Academy - https://www.playtennisacademy.net/ 

Episode highlights: 

2:40 - Ryan describes his introduction to the sport of tennis 

7:07 - The beginning of Ryan's coaching journey 

9:20 - How positive coaches surrounding Ryan influenced his coaching philosophy 

16:28 - What Ryan looks for in the coaches that he hires at Play Tennis Academy 

20:37 - The challenges and successes during the launch of Play Tennis Academy 

24:16 - Ryan's journey as a coach and business owner from a mental toughness perspective 

26:54 - The shift in Ryan's coaching philosophy over the years 

31:25 - The mission behind Play Tennis Academy 

34:19 - The importance of play, fun, and enjoyment when learning tennis 

39:29 - Making matches and matchplay fun 

42:05 - The impact that tennis can make in a child's life 

45:45 - Helping kids get more engaged into tennis and become a 'student of the game' 

49:21 - Learning from the pros and having a hero to look up to 

53:32 - Creating a team-based environment within junior tennis 

59:54 - The mentality of playing one point at a time and never taking a point off 

1:05:52 - The benefits of playing different levels of players and learning from winning and losing 

1:07:11 - Creating a positive learning environment that promotes character development 

1:09:08 - Manipulating the rules of practice to better prepare players for the challenges of matches 

1:12:17 - Final thoughts and a challenge to the listeners - get out and play tennis tomorrow!