The Centercourt Shootout presented by Saint Barnabas Medical Center, July 12-14

Centercourt Chatham

Only 13 days away, we’re so excited to present the Centercourt Shootout, presented by SBMC at Centercourt Chatham, in Chatham NJ.

The brainchild of Managing Partner Clay Bibbee, this is the sequel to the Saint Barnabas Medical Center $15K Prize Money UTR Men’s Singles Championship, in what turned out to be an extremely successful weekend, filled with high intensity tennis and fun-filled extracurriculars, Long Island’s own Noah Rubin claimed the first place prize with a 6-1, 6-3 victory in the final.

This years event is bigger and bolder with an 8-player, winner takes all, $50,000 Prize Money Men’s Professional Shootout, and a player field that includes Sam Querrey, Quentin Halys and Victor Burgos.

The week-long event will have several opportunities for all levels of players, with the $50,000 Men’s Professional Shootout and the UTR Junior Tournament playing the leading roles.

Two wildcards for the $50,000 Men’s Professional Shootout will come from the Qualifier Event and the Junior UTR Tournament.

There will be a Qualifier Event preceding the main event for UTR levels 13.5 and below, UTR levels 13.5 and above can register for the main event directly. The winner of the Qualifier Event will receive a wildcard to the main event. For the Junior UTR event, all levels and all genders are welcome. Players will be placed in divisions based on their UTR and the winner of the Elite Division will receive a wildcard to the main event

I wanted to create a special event to bring some high level tennis to our area and see more engagement within the tennis community. I hope you’ll join us in either playing one of the auxiliary events preceding the Prize Money Event or for the finals on July 14th on Court 12 for a spectacular event with food, drinks and a live band.

– Clay Bibbee

This event will be live streamed. Follow our blog for updates. For more information and registration, please click on this link: Centercourt Shootout

Have you downloaded the new UTR App yet? Download now from the App Store.

Centercourt Times Interviews CRYSTI FOOTE, a 4X Canadian National Team Player, 2X Silver Medalist, Bronze Medalist, Professional player for the Baltimore Ride, National Attack Player of the Year, Notre Dame 2006 about Centercourt Girls Lacrosse.

Centercourt Lacrosse and Crysti Foote is excited to announce two brand NEW and UNIQUE unique lacrosse programs in Box Lacrosse Facility in Mt. Olive starting January, 2018 : MINI STICK  Instructional field box program and Real Canadian BOX FIELD LACROSSE for Girls. 

Why Box Lacrosse?
Crysti: Growing up in Canada and being part of a lacrosse family I really had no other option but to start my lacrosse career playing box lacrosse. At the time, I was the only girl on the team, and had no idea how to catch and throw. By learning field lacrosse in a box setting players learn to play at a fast pace, indirectly increase agility, increase lacrosse IQ, teamwork, fitness, and overall discipline.

What is the Box?
Crysti: The box is the size of a hockey rink without ice!

What is the benefit to playing lacrosse in the Box?
Crysti: The decreased space increase, stick skills, decision making, allows more touches, and increases fitness as players will transition from attack to defense quickly.

Tell us about The MINI STICK Instructional Field Box Program at Centercourt Mt. Olive Box Facility.
Crysti: My program with mini sticks is a new and Innovative approach to elevating the player’s lacrosse game to the next level.

What are Mini-Sticks?
Crysti: Mini-sticks are smaller and lighter than a traditional girl’s stick and provide a boy’s style pocket which is deeper than girls pockets.

Can you give us a little more insight into this Mini-Stick program and the benefits of participating?
Crysti: I have developed a systematic approach to developing top notch stick work and shooting. Incorporating mini sticks into training, players will be forced to train outside of their comfort zone, and increase all aspects of their game. Additionally, the Benefits of using Mini Sticks are to improve wrist control, increase hand-eye coordination, work on one handed skills and to increase lacrosse IQ both offensively and defensively.

In addition to your Mini Sticks Program you have a second program: REAL CANADIAN BOX LACROSSE FOR GIRLS. Can you tell us more about this New Program?
Crysti: As with the mini stick program, the benefits of Box Lacrosse is to Increase Stick Skills. As a coach one of the biggest complaints parents have in girls lacrosse is that their daughter hardly touches the ball. By decreasing the space, players are guaranteed more touches in both practice and games. By forcing players to play in a tighter space, they will learn how to use their body correctly to help protect their sticks.

What can I expect my player to learn in your REAL CANADIAN BOX LACROSSE FOR GIRLS program?
Crysti: In short my program players increase their lacrosse IQ, decision making, and communication skills. Learning the x’s and o’s of lacrosse is an important aspect that is often overlooked. Players are taught off ball concepts including picks, screens, and flips. Additionally, players learn timing of cuts, and how to become deceptive. Players learn that chemistry with teammates will help excel their game. Also, my program players learn how to properly feed and make smart decisions with and without the ball. Adhering to my philosophy that players need to learn to play all positions, my program participants improve and develop both offensive and defensive skills.

How important is speed in the girls lacrosse game?
Crysti: “Lacrosse is the fastest sport on two feet”. As the game continues to grow and evolve, the speed continues to increase. Playing fast is a skill. During my Canadian Box Program players learn to play fast while also making the smart play decisions! Additionally, by playing 5v5 in a small field the players improve their overall fitness. The program challenges players to get up and down the field fast! This is hands down the best way to get in Lacrosse shape!

“Centercourt Welcomes the Sakurada Tennis Club Players to Pre Orange Bowl Training . We are excited to have them and for Head Coach and National Coach Daisuke Watanabe to have a chance to work with our Elite Players also.”

“So much of the training over the last year was apparent when adversity hit or the pressure of the moment did not produce the best tennis and Evan was able to sort through the situation with a response that gave him advantages. This usually happened during times where advantages were not apparent.

In a day where coaches spoon feed information, protect kids and never allow them the opportunities to push through adversity so kids “feel comfortable” training, creating a culture that does not produce champions, instead creates low hanging fruit – Thank you Clay for allowing us to train in an unpopular way and thank you to all the coaches at Centercourt who sacrificed for an unknown.”

This Fall has already seen other Centercourt players such as recently Yale University acceptee, Michael Sun, competing in a prestigious ITF event down in Austin, TX, putting up impressive results along the way. Other notable recent highlights coming from our Performance Academy, included visits from three major names within the college tennis world. Ty Tucker of Ohio State University, Sam Paul of North Carolina University, and Josh Goffi of South Carolina all paid the players and coaches of Centercourt a nice visit with their words of wisdom to our aspiring players.