Building Confidence & Resilience in Jr Players ft Simone Spigner

Building Confidence & Resilience in Jr Players ft Simone Spigner

Author: Lisa Stone July 22, 2026 Duration: 41:09

Welcome to Season 15 Episode 29 of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week we hear from the Program Director of the Harlem Junior Tennis & Education Program (HJTEP), Simone Spigner.

Simone, a graduate of HJTEP herself, is a head coach of entry-level programs for its youngest players. She is a PTR-certified teaching professional with more than 10 years of experience in coaching. She attended South Carolina State University on a 4-year tennis scholarship. Simone was promoted to Manager of Tennis Programming in 2021 and was named USTA Eastern's Woman of the Year in 2025. She works closely with former USTA Chair/President Katrina Adams to bring both tennis and education opportunities to school-age children in and around Harlem, New York.

HJTEP accepts children ages 5-18 at any stage of tennis development. Its metrics for success in the tennis program include striving for 100% player retention while qualifying 36% of players for tournament play and at least 13% of HJTEP athletes competing at the national level. HJTEP's most advanced players will have also gained tournament experience at the international level with many going on to successful college tennis careers.

For more information on HJTEP, visit its website at https://hjtep.org/. You can reach out to Simone directly via email at coachsimone@hjtep.org. If you are interested in making a donation of time or money to HJTEP, visit https://hjtep.org/ways-to-give/.

To get information on NJTL programs in your community - or to start one! - visit https://www.usta.com/en/home/coach-organize/organization-facilities/national-junior-tennis-learning.html.

As always, I am available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through junior tennis and the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

CREDITS

Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE

Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone


For anyone navigating the complex journey of youth tennis, ParentingAces-The Junior Tennis and College Tennis Podcast serves as an essential weekly conversation. Host Lisa Stone guides these discussions, moving beyond just forehands and backhands to explore the entire pathway a young athlete travels. The focus here is on development, from a child's first swings all the way through the high-stakes juniors circuit and into the nuanced world of college recruiting. Each episode brings a different voice to the table. You'll hear from seasoned coaches, sports psychologists discussing mental resilience, and specialists in fitness and nutrition tailored for athletic growth. Practical topics like navigating technology and equipment or understanding the ever-changing recruiting landscape are broken down with clarity. This isn't just theory; it's actionable insight drawn directly from experts in the field. Whether you're a parent trying to support your child, a player aiming for the next level, or a coach shaping future talent, this podcast offers a trusted resource for the questions that aren't always answered on the court. Lisa's approach creates a space where the challenges and triumphs of building a tennis player are met with experience and genuine understanding.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

ParentingAces - The Junior Tennis and College Tennis Podcast
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