Yarlin's 2020 Tennis Campaign

Hey guys and girls, family and fans.  I started this go fund me to help my parents and family with the costs and stresses of having a 12-year-old tennis player daughter like me.  I really need your help this year to go the extra distance.  But most importantly thank you to all of those who cheer me on and wish me the best, that will be good enough. 

I put the issues or items in order of most important and I tried to explain as much as I could and I got my Dad's help on figures.  If you have questions just ask.   BTW none of this includes coaching, group lessons or other travel expenses.  

 Thanks again.  


2020 Yarlin Tennis Fundraising Itinerary

1.      Tournament Fees – estimated between $1400-$1700 Per Year/Season  

a.      During the first 5-7 years of my playing tennis, my family's budget for tournaments has only allowed on average 3-5 tournaments per year... While slowly building up my level and using tournaments of higher level and older age groups as a gauge of my progress, I have been getting nicely accustomed to the higher and faster levels of play and me and my Dad believe I'm primed for the stage I'm in now. In 2018 I increased the # of tournaments played from (3 tournaments) 2015-2017 -  and played 8 tournaments ending with what I thought was then my best record (9W-6L).  In 2019 I competed in 11 tournaments with a final record of 23W and 13L having reached the final rounds 6 times and taking home the championship trophy twice.     



b.      This type of experience and playing higher level players more often is what I needed to consistently reach the latter rounds of tournaments such as the QF’s, SF’s and Finals. 

c.      Now that I am of age, playing in my natural age group I am loving tennis life’s pursuit to improve and gain more ranking points that allow me to qualify for better tournaments, visit different places and people and so on…

i.     I and my Dad have decided that increasing the number of tournaments from my usual average of 3-5 per season (year) to 18 per season or 2+ tournaments per month in my usual 9 month period could possibly...

1.       Open up an untapped potential in my "fight" or competitiveness that wasn’t previously available due to budgetary constraints and timing.

2.      Allow me to exponentially build a much higher ranking than what I've been able to do in the previous years. 

a.      I finished 2017 unranked, 2018 – #529 standing,  2019-#214 final standing and I finished the year with a final ranking of #55 in Florida for Girls 12 and under.    I cut my standing in half and I'm one of the top 100 players in Florida.   


3.      Play and learn to beat and win points against more players of higher levels – which in turn aids development.



a.      To have an idea – higher level tournaments (like sectionals and nations) that test my potential have entrance fees in the range of $90-$145.  I feel ready to compete in about 6 of those per year.   The rest of the non-sectional Tournaments are in the $55-$60 range, are held 1-2x per month and serve the purpose of contributing to a good opportunity for me to get better at beating players of similar and lesser level and ranking.  (learning how to win despite all odds)

I start competing again in March 2020, God willing.  <calendar coming soon>



2.      Ball Machine - $400 

a.      I have trained for tennis for over 6 years improving my strokes and getting accustomed to different styles and shots from a variety of players, however, the journey has reached a slow down in a part of my practices that require me to build consistency.  A player of my level needs to not only be able to respond to a variety of shots with different speeds and spins but also much more to begin to identify my “game’s” strengths and weaknesses and make strides to hone weapons and shore up apparent weaknesses. 

It sounds more complicated than it seems but unfortunately in the tennis world, this is done a few ways.  3 of which are most available to us

  i.     A very good Coach and Hitting Partner (1 to speak corrections and adjustments in my “ear” while I'm hitting and a hitting partner that is so seasoned and so in-tune with his/her strokes that he functions as a ball machine with utmost consistency so as to help me “groove” my strokes into fluid repeatable weapons.   Both are out of our reach financially...

1.      A higher level coach is another hourly, weekly or monthly recurring expense that we simply can’t afford.

2.      A hitting partner charges about ½ to 1/3 the price of a coach but in order to maximize the benefit and improve consistency, a player must hit with that partner at those levels of intensity for 2-3 hours a week.  That’s approximately $60+ week for the hitting partner with no instruction other than moderate or apparent feedback. 



b.      The ball machine we have in mind is the most modern, most affordable and most practical ball machine that we could source – it also has a great resale value

i.     It will allow shots up to 80MPH
ii.     It allows for up to 72 balls to be held for “launch”
iii.     It is cord-free, portable and the charge lasts 5 hours
iv.     The ball machine comes from a reputable engineering team and is backed by a one year warranty


 
3.      New Tennis Balls  - $400 per season/year

a.     Now that I'm playing at a higher level and for ranking points, I am no longer competing in children’s tournaments with used or low compression balls.

b.      It’s important that during Tournament or competition season; my stroke, arms, and body are accustomed to hitting roughly the same ball(s) that will be used to actually compete.  In the past we’ve tried used balls only to spend the early parts of matches suffering to accustom to higher bounces, different speeds and all the variances between an old used ball and a brand new out of the can ball.  My ball machine or current hopper holds 75 balls.  That’s 25 cans of “3” balls that sell as low as $2.50 each. 

c.      I practice 3-4 times per week for 1.5 hours each session regularly at hits those balls repeatedly to the point that within 45 days the balls are either flat and have lost compression or the felt has been worn off with my hitting.

d.      A new set of 75 balls every 45 days can help me achieve a greater consistency with the conditions that are likely to be present at my tournaments which in turn leads to quicker starts, better feel and touch throughout the season and tournaments.



4.      Shoes and Treadwear - $250 per season/year

a.      When I first started playing tennis, I was given some New Balance Cross Trainer shoes to start with – the soles and sides of the shoes were worn down to holes, fluff, and threads within 3 weeks.  Since 6 years old my footwork has been leaving skid marks and smoke trails on tennis courts all around Kendall.  Currently @ 6-9 months of training and just 3-4 tournaments per year I am burning through minimum 2 pairs of shoes per year. 




b.      An additional (2) pairs will really supply the tread life and durability needed for me to compete for longer, harder and without worrying about wardrobe malfunctions.

c.      (4) Pairs of very affordable, late or past season tennis shoes @ < $65 each should more than suffice.
e.      Gift Cards or Certificates from Midwest Sports would be great too.  that's where we save the most. 



5.      Tournament Maintenance Discretionary Fund - $1000 or $85/month

a.      Physio Massages & Yoga

 i.     Since tennis players are mostly one arm dominant -  muscle tightness, soreness and other complexities are starting to arise in my right leg, back, shoulder, and arm now that I am putting more hours on the court.  Hitting over 1500 different shots per week and hundreds of serves in a 5 day period is my norm.  This year I started getting knots and getting sore and learning a lot more about my body and recovery and cool down..etc



1.      Denying or dismissing these obvious body mechanic issues can lead to long term problems such as posture imbalances, muscle imbalance, shortening of the non-dominant muscle(s) and much more, and this coming season we’ve decided to put more emphasis on curbing those problems by adding massages, regular stretching, and left side only mini workout/strengthening sessions with lightweight. 

2.      The problem is there is no Yoga Trainer or Masseuse in our family – that’s where we need your help.

3.      We have researched high and low and found some of the best most known places for sports massage – but Between distance and time constraints the costs are about $70-$80 an hour.  At best.  $35 for ½ session if the therapist allows that arrangement.  We estimate spending up to $1000 per year on physiotherapy or sports massage or up to 1+ hour of massage per month. 

b.      Health Food at distant Tournament Sites –When the family is on the road or far from familiar territory eating out and healthy can get pretty expensive. 



c.      Court Fees (clay or club courts) – As you can see in our upcoming calendar many times the tournaments are on clay and training on clay costs upwards of $7/hour per person. 

i.     (2) 1.5-hour clay training sessions per week is $40 per week on the weeks of clay-court tournaments for acclimation purposes. 

d.      Fundraising Fees – Transaction Fees are 3% just to send me back what you guys have so generously offered. Paypal charges 3% and all of these companies will IRS 1099 Yarlin’s parents as if this was income earned leaving taxes due.



6.      Clothing Supplement - $250

a.      The nature of tennis and its sweatiness leaves one with much laundry and an operations bottleneck.

i.     I re-wash, dry, sort and fold the same 3-4 tennis outfits and hats sometimes 3x per week.  Visors and hats even more often.  All of this so that I can wear my “favorite” gear on my days and on tournament days I like to use my nicer tennis dresses or gear to really dress for the occasion.  This has always been purchased and gifted by my grandparents and much appreciated. 

Unfortunately, I've come to learn that when the same clothes are washed 2x per week for 6 months an inevitable faded, fabric fuzz and stitching will start to wear and tear the clothes into destruction. 

 ii.     To compensate for the additional training hours and tournaments in 2019 and to wash the clothes less or just once per week which will allow her to keep her clothes looking at its best, we think an additional 3 visors and 6 outfits (skirt and shirt or dress) will facilitate this change, extend the life of my wardrobe and provide more peace of mind to focus on tennis vs laundry.