What It's Like to Train Like Rafa

What It's Like to Train Like Rafa

Author: Lisa Stone May 1, 2024 Duration: 1:24:37

Welcome to Season 13, Episode 16, of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network. This week, you get to hear all about my experience at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain, as well as information from the Head of Men's and Women's Tennis at the Academy, Project Manager for Avanza Sports, and several junior players who were training there during my visit. This episode is a little longer than usual, but I hope you'll watch/listen to the entire podcast as each person offers a unique perspective on the Academy.

Marc Gorriz is the Head of Men´s and Women Tennis for the Academy. He is a former 88 ATP singles and 73 doubles player as well as the former coach of ten Top 100 ATP/WTA players. Marc was brought on to help develop the tennis curriculum for the Academy at the beginning stages of its creation. He works closely with Rafael Nadal and Toni Nadal to ensure the methodology stays true to their own training regimen. My interview with Marc starts around the 13-minute mark of the podcast.

Daniel del Val is a project manager for Avanza Sports and was our point person throughout our visit in Barcelona and Mallorca. He works with coaches and clubs around the world to provide a 5-star experience to everyone who participates in a junior or adult camp or full travel experience that includes premium seats at a top professional tennis tournament (ours was the Barcelona Open). My interview with Dani starts around the 35:30 mark of the podcast.

Alayna, Millie, Ashwin, Yashwin, Nigel, and Mateo are junior players of varying levels with a variety of tennis goals. You will hear about their different experiences at the Nadal Academy, what they learned, and what they will take away from their visit. My interviews with the junior players starts around the 49-minute mark of the podcast.

Daniel and Avanza Sports have set up a nice discount code for the ParentingAces community to attend any junior or adult camps during Summer 2024. You can see the full schedule of North and South American offerings at https://rafanadalacademycampusa.com/.

For a discount to the camp (this will apply to all available camps during Summer 2024):

Junior Camp code $75 off: parentingacesjuniors

Adult camp code $50 off: parentingacesadults

For a discount on the International Travel Experience I did, which includes a city/tournament experience in addition to a week at the Nadal Academy, you will need to contact Daniel directly at dval@rafanadalacademycampusa.com. *Be sure to mention ParentingAces in your email*.

If enough people are interested, Avanza Sports will set up a trip for the ParentingAces community, so please let me know if this is something you'd like me to pursue with Dani and the rest of the Avanza staff.

Follow both Avanza Sports and the Rafa Nadal Academy on social media to see updates and new offerings.

For Avanza Sports:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/avanzasports

Website: https://rafanadalacademycampusa.com/

For the Rafa Nadal Academy:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/rafanadalacademy

Website: https://www.rafanadalacademy.com/

Here is a short promo video produced by the Academy about its Junior programs:

[youtube id="O-HB-Ibvpj8?si=WgsFAWMzw-B3i4Lr"] [/youtube]

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. If you haven’t already, be sure to become a Member of ParentingAces by visiting https://parentingaces.com/membership-join. And check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop (Premium Members received FREE SHIPPING every day!). To support ParentingAces' work with a financial donation of any size via PayPal, click here.

CREDITS

Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE

Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


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: 100

ParentingAces - The Junior Tennis and College Tennis Podcast
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