Welcome our latest ambassadors Sven Groeneveld and Nick Bollettieri to the REBOlution!
We’ve taken a timeless way many athletes have developed their skills in ball sports – practicing against a wall – and made it accessible in homes, communities, schools and sports clubs. The magic is that a wall is both a gateway into a sport, and a way for pros to improve their game. Anyone who has played against a wall knows how pivotal it can be…
Sven Groeneveld
“In all my years in tennis, there is no other method that I found that allows you to work on your technique in a more consistent, deliberate way,” says Sven Groeneveld, world-class tennis coach who is now coaching Sloane Stephens, the current US #1 and World Number #8.
“Joining REBO allows me to honour my past and countless hours working on my game against a wall as a young, ambitious kid. It’s the same for many other athletes. I’m excited to bring this opportunity to more people around the world through REBO. It’s more than a wall. It’s about creating a positive legacy for others to try out a sport with no rules or fear of doing it wrong – and for amateurs and professionals to grow and improve their game.”
Groeneveld is the co-founder of OrangeCoach and his goal is to further professionalise sports coaching and give every coach a fair chance at reaching their full potential. Internationally recognised for coaching players such as Mary Pierce, Michael Stich, Nathalie Dechy, Greg Rusedski, Fernando Verdasco, Ana Ivanovic, Maria Sharapova and now, Sloane Stephens.
Nick Bollettieri
Nick Bollettieri, who has coached 10 world champions and other top players who have cumulatively won more than 120 Grand Slam titles, says, “Reaching your potential is about training and repetitions. The backboard is the perfect place to get those repetitions and make improvements to your game. The wall is the undefeated champion. It’s a lot of fun too. With REBO, we’re creating places where individuals can hone their skills, or come together, on or off court, and experience the satisfaction of consistently connecting with the ball. You get more chances with a REBO wall. REBO has created a simple and effective solution, with great potential for development. I’m pleased to get behind its purpose and efforts.”
Bollettieri joins REBO to continue his effort to build vibrant communities around tennis. A legend in tennis, he is the founder of the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, now IMG Academy and he is a member of 10 halls of fame, including being a 2014 inductee into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Making a difference with our ambassadors
As REBO ambassadors, Groeneveld and Bollettieri join the company’s development of new ways to foster and support the sporting communities that grow around REBO walls, opening up more opportunities for people to connect and achieve.
They join current ambassadors Judy Murray, Sir Geoff Hurst and Leon Smith.
Murray comments, “I’m delighted that Sven and Nick have got behind REBO. We’re all on the same mission to get more people involved in playing and delivering tennis by showcasing our sport to all ages, stages and backgrounds. Tennis is competing with so many other things for people’s time and attention, that we need to make it fun, stimulating and do-able. REBO walls help us to do just that.”
With our ambassadors, we seek to draw more people to be active and play, whether through tennis, football and soccer or simply throwing a ball against a wall. What’s known as isolated repetitive practice yields fast improvements and spurs people on. REBO and its ambassadors endeavour to lower the barriers to play, working in non-traditional environments with no need for a pitch or court.