John Hallal's Schools

• Bucknell University Bachelors

• Boston College Law School Bachelors

John Hallal's Publications

• Little League Tips: Batting, John Hallal December, 2010 As a Little League coach in Andover, Mr. John Hallal understands that many young players struggle with batting more than any other basic baseball skill. In order to become a great batter, you must choose a bat that is the correct size and weight for you. It is important to ensure that you are comfortable handling the bat for prolonged periods of time. Learn the strike zone in practice by swinging at all balls until you know which pitches are bad. When batting, always tuck in your shoulder and chin while keeping your hands and arms back. Keep your eyes locked on the pitcher and turn your head so that your nose is not in your line of sight. Stay limber, keeping your weight on the balls of your feet. Move your arms backward as the pitcher winds up, preparing for the throw. Follow through with a short step and maintain your balance. Don’t be afraid not to swing if you don’t like the pitch. Excellent batting takes daily practice and commitment from the player. To strengthen your swing, here is a great drill: place a plunger in a batting tee and practicing swinging at a soccer ball or basketball. By hitting something with more weight than a baseball, you develop the muscles in your arm. A good drill for improving reaction time is to have someone pitch different colored baseballs to you. Don’t look at the color before the pitch, and have a third party choose a color at random. You are only allowed to swing if the ball is the declared color. This should sharpen your reactions.

• Skiing, John Hallal December, 2010 by John Hallal As an avid skier, I strive to improve my technique as much as I can. Skiing is a complex and rewarding hobby, and it certainly takes effort and practice to complete the sort of runs champion skiers seem to do with ease. Below, I have compiled a few tips to assist the beginning skier in his or her practice. As with any sport, a solid foundation ensures an enjoyable journey. First, remember that you are more likely to enjoy yourself if you are comfortable. Skiing is most definitely a cold-weather sport, and being prepared is essential. Bring along lip balm, sunscreen, and a garment to keep the wind out of your face. Also, be sure to bring plenty of layers. If you are even the slightest bit cold, chances are you will enjoy yourself significantly less. In the beginning, a confident stance you feel comfortable in is everything. Keep your hands just below your hips and your knees bent; this way, they will be more prepared to react to changes in the course. Almost all beginning skiers find they are most comfortable with their skis pointed inward, a position often called “the pizza.” Upon descent, it is helpful if you trust gravity, even though this may be scary. Let the slope take you at first; then, as you slowly begin to react, keep your poles in your line of vision at all times. To turn right, bring your pole up with your hand so that it is in line with your shoulders, and turn your head slightly. Do the same when turning left. If your body feels in sync, you are more likely to begin trusting the instincts you develop as a skier. As you gain more experience, you will find it useful to develop a rhythm. It may sound silly, but many skiers find it helpful to mentally recite a pattern. This can be as simple as “one and two, one and two, one and two,” but it will assist you in forming strong patterns and maintaining your focus. Finally, remember that everyone falls. Don’t worry about looking silly. Instead, attempt to bring your body toward the slope, backside first.

• United States National Lawn Tennis Association, John Hallal January, 2011 by John Hallal I am an avid tennis player and an active member of the United States Tennis Association (USTA), competing in the New England geographical section. With more than 700,000 individual and 7,000 organizational members, the USTA is the national governing body of U.S. tennis and the largest tennis organization in the world. The USTA was formed in 1881 as the United States National Lawn Tennis Association. As playing surfaces changed, “Lawn” was officially removed from the organization’s name in 1975. The USTA operates a diverse number of leagues aimed at all ages and abilities of play, from Juniors to Super Seniors. Adult leagues are organized around single-gender singles and doubles play, while Mixed leagues allow men and women to play together in doubles competitions. Senior leagues are composed of members 50 and older and feature doubles play exclusively. Some USTA leagues offer diverse formats; for example, the Tri Level leagues feature doubles play, with teams comprised of three single-gender doubles positions, each at a different level of play. The three positions in the team compete separately, against other Tri Level team members of the same gender and level. Match outcomes at the three levels are combined for an overall result. Another important aspect of the USTA is its National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP). NTRP fosters more competitive play by classifying players into compatible levels. Players are responsible for rating themselves in accordance with NTRP guidelines; the USTA recommends that players err on the side of higher ratings to avoid tournament disqualification. NTRP ratings extend from 1.0 to 7.0, with a 4.0-player having good general consistency in serves and returns, adequate power, use of spins, and returns with depth. A 5.0 player has strong control, excellent use of spins, consistent passing shots, and aggressive backhands. Player past the 6.0 level do not generally require NTRP ratings, as their national rankings define their standings. Players at level 6.0 tend to be competitive athletes with extensive experience training for national tournaments at the junior or collegiate level. Athletes at the 7.0 level can expect to support themselves on their international tournament winnings. This level of play is something that we middle-of-the-pack tennis players can only dream of.

• MassMEDIC, John Hallal January, 2011 In addition to his work as an Attorney and Business Consultant, John Hallal has served as a Panelist for the Massachusetts Medical Device Industry Council. Also known as MassMEDIC, the council consists of medical device manufacturers and associated companies throughout the state of Massachusetts. The only voluntary grassroots organization of its kind in New England, the Massachusetts Medical Device Industry Council seeks to advance the interests of the medical device industry. To accomplish this, MassMEDIC attempts to bring new businesses to Massachusetts, encourage the growth of young companies, and support the continued expansion of established medical device companies. According to its mission statement, the Massachusetts Medical Device Industry Council seeks to “make Massachusetts the medical device research, development, and manufacturing capital of the world.” To help member companies communicate in an effective way, the Massachusetts Medical Device Industry Council provides a unique forum to articulate and align interests. MassMEDIC also sponsors a number of programs aimed at creating a business climate geared toward growth and competitiveness in domestic and international markets. To improve the quality of the workforce within the medical device sector, the Massachusetts Medical Device Industry Council supports industry-specific education, training, research and development, clinical testing, and technology transfer. To advance its goals, the Massachusetts Medical Device Industry Council publishes a number of publications and newsletters. One publication, The Massachusetts Medical Device Journal, highlights the importance of innovation in the sustained growth of the medical device industry. Several Massachusetts Medical Device Industry Council members, such as Capaccio Environmental Engineering, Inc., also prepare publications for distribution. Additionally, MassMEDIC sponsors a number of programs designed to educate members about new business opportunities. One recent seminar, titled Programs for Financing MedTech Sales Overseas, addresses many potential questions concerning the expansion of a medical devices business into international markets. For more information on the services offered by the Massachusetts Medical Device Industry Council, visit the website at www.MassMEDIC.com.

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