USPTA ADDvantage Magazine - February 2022

February 2022 is Black History Month

(Left) Dayday Kay, Certified USPTA Professional (Right) Daytri Campbell, Certified USPTA Professional

From the CEO USPTA

Strength of the USPTA

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hroughout my nine-plus years as CEO, I have always said that one of the true strengths of our association is the democratic process by which our leadership is chosen. Every two years, nominating committees select a slate of their respective boards of directors, which will govern our association nationally or at the 17 divisions.

This is a relevant matter with this writing because we have just completed naming those USPTA professionals who will lead for the 2022-2023 term.

We welcome a new national board that has three new members. The most diverse board that I can recall, three spots out of the eight total are held by women, including First Vice President Trish Faulkner, who will become only the second female president in the history of the USPTA in two years’ time.

In addition, two of the eight are from diverse backgrounds: Feisal Hassan, our immediate past president, and Tracy Almeda-Singian, new to the board in her first term as a vice president, will bring different perspectives to the discussions.

Under Feisal’s leadership — Diversity, Equality, & Inclusion has come to the forefront of our thinking and are the guiding principles of our association.

And it will continue to be so in the years to come under Rich Slivocka’s tenure as president. I look forward to working with the new board to tackle the issues we face coming out of the pandemic.

I would be remiss if I did not thank two previous board members who have rotated off. Gary Trost served our association admirably as a vice president

John R. Embree, USPTA CEO

before becoming first VP, president, and recently as immediate past president. It was a pleasure to work hand in hand with him over the past six years. Additionally, Bill Mountford served four years as a vice president. I appreciated his perspective, which he often eloquently projected when dealing with complex matters. Thanks to both for their contribution to the national board and the organization as a whole.

At the division level, nominating committees were keenly aware of the need to diversify their slates to be more inclusive. They sought candidates with varying ethnic, gender, and geographic backgrounds — with a keen eye to target new leaders to serve. I can honestly say that the new division boards and our latest executive committee reflect that approach. In fact, 20 percent of the new executive committee will be women, which is a considerable increase from the previous term and more reflective of our USPTA female population. On top of that, other than the immediate past president, the senior officers in the Southwest division are all female. In my time here, that has never happened previously.

Indeed, we can do better across the board, but we are on the way to being more representative of the American population in general.

As a footnote, Tom Daglis has been on the USPTA Executive Committee for 26 years. Can you imagine? If you were not aware, we have three past presidents who serve on the executive committee once their term as president and immediate past president on the board of directors concludes. Well, Tom’s time has now come

to an end, much to his relief! But, I will always be personally indebted to Tom as he was president of the board at the time of my hiring.

My hat goes off to the current nominating committees for the difficult tasks they faced during this process.

The pandemic created a unique set of circumstances that these volunteers had to wrestle with in selecting our future leadership. With almost all board meetings held virtually and division business being done remotely since March of 2020, it was almost impossible to gauge how effective their boards were and what they could accomplish.

However, our association across the country had few challenges to the slates presented by their respective nominating committees. That is a testament to effectively doing their due diligence and producing exceptional division leadership teams.

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to everyone who served in this capacity these past six-to-eight months. You had the unenviable task of choosing the direction of our trade association for the next few years. It is a heavy responsibility that should never be taken lightly.

It certainly is not lost on me how vital our governance is to creating a worldclass organization of which we can all be incredibly proud. I encourage all members to get involved at the division level, serve on local committees, and let their voices be heard. We need new leaders to step up and offer different opinions on how we should be moving forward. Thanks for doing so! *

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Vice President’s Message USPTA

The Real Value of USPTA Membership Kevin Theos, USPTA Vice President

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nited States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) members sometimes ask, “what do I really get for my membership?” The question itself strongly suggests that association membership is transactional; I pay money and “get” products and/or services in return that are valued at or above what I paid. In reality, association memberships are more complicated, but before describing that in more detail, here are a few benefits of USPTA membership: 1. Employment - There are exceptions, but generally, tennis positions that pay salary and provide benefits require pros to be currently certified. In addition, the USPTA provides a powerful employment platform for both employers and USPTA job seekers.

2. On Court Liability Insurance – 6 million dollars of coverage for certified tennis instructors and certified professionals.

3. Supplemental Savings Program – USPTA members receive contributions from participating endorsees based on the member’s sales of the endorsees’ products.

4. Product Discounts - Many USPTA endorsees provide discounts to members. For example, members receive a 30% discount on apparel and footwear from Tennis Warehouse.

5. Education Discounts - Attendance at industry workshops and conventions as well as online learning is offered at a reduced rate to USPTA members.

6. Networking – The USPTA offers many in-person workshops that provide members with opportunities to meet and develop mutually beneficial and long-lasting friendships with other pros.

7. Career Growth – The USPTA’s organizational structure provides members with opportunities to present at conferences, write articles for newsletters, mentor younger pros, and lead at the chapter, division, and even national levels.

A full list of our substantial benefits may be found at uspta.com, and while these benefits are fantastic, the real value in membership runs deeper and is relational rather than only transactional. The USPTA provides members with ongoing opportunities to develop and maintain lifelong and supportive relationships with pros who have common challenges and concerns. Whether it’s finding a new job, getting advice on court maintenance, dealing with difficult members and/or parents, or addressing other matters, members who take advantage of relationship-building opportunities with USPTA gain personally and professionally.

There are numerous ways to build relationships with other pros in the USPTA, and one way is to attend live workshops and the annual world conference. More than just giving members the chance to ask questions to presenters on-court and in real-time, live events allow members to catch up with old friends, make new friends, and learn from each other. This combination of benefits leaves many pros energized and inspired to return home and try out new ideas.

A second way to build relationships within USPTA is to volunteer at the chapter, division, and/or national levels. Whether it is in writing articles, sharing drills, making presentations, or contributing in other ways, we always want to improve and welcome those who have insights and experience to share. Because it is early in the year, now is a great time to contact your

division representatives and ask about getting involved.

For pros who find it difficult to travel, there are other options to connect. Our Career and Leader Mentoring Program gives members a chance to engage with other members without the need for travel. This program has impacted hundreds of pros over the last few years and offers a way for experienced pros to share their knowledge and positively impact the career trajectories of other pros. Moreover, industry veterans who have served as mentors have often learned from mentees on topics like social media, emerging technology, etc. Few things are as personally satisfying as seeing mentors and mentees who were paired years ago spend time together at workshops and conventions. I am confident that all these members would say their USPTA membership has proven to be more than “worth it.” Additional information about the mentoring program is available at uspta.com.

Joining our Elevate Program is yet another way to get involved and connect with other members without having to travel. Elevate exists for pros who have been members for five or fewer years and provides participants with powerful support, education, and networking to advance their careers. Each USPTA division has an Elevate contact listed at uspta.com who can guide members toward accessing this powerful member benefit.

Fundamentally, this connecting and knowledge/experience sharing with other members truly makes USPTA membership impactful. While some teaching professionals may feel like they can get by without achieving or maintaining USPTA certification, I would ask, why go it alone? The USPTA offers a strong network and community and provides pros with countless opportunities to develop personally, professionally and contribute their wealth of experience to the broader industry. We are stronger together than alone, and I invite you to embrace all the USPTA has to offer. We are here for you, so please reach out and get involved. *

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Member Feature USPTA

The Holy Grail of Tennis Training is Found in Cardio Tennis Seth Redelheim, USPTA Elite Professional

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they need to gain an advantage. But what if there was a specific program that allowed players to practice all those elements, and students never even knew that they were receiving complex technical training?

This example is perfectly illustrated in the curriculum of games used in Cardio Tennis. And no, I don’t mean “that class” where the coach hand-feeds two lines of players for 60 minutes while they run through ladders and cones and get a good sweat. I mean REAL Cardio Tennis ™.

The true Cardio Tennis curriculum, with

its game-based design, low-compression balls, zero-consequence competition, continuous point-to-point play, and use of movement on and off the court with a variety of rotations and different rules, creates the PERFECT environment for players to develop their court awareness.

The teaching points are endless.

Live-ball training has become an invaluable part of every coach’s arsenal.

We know that players enjoy it more, and it is undoubtedly the best way to put together all of the elements that we label under “court Cardio Tennis was played each morning at the 2021 USPTA World Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was an exhilerating awareness.” But there and healthy way for all of our members to start the day before numerous education session! are two main reasons why I say that Cardio Tennis has found the holy grail for training this skill. The first is in the continuous playing design. One point ends, and the next begins. There’s no time for players to catch their breath, get back into a comfortable position, or look up at the people watching on the sideline!

NEXT BALL! The second is using lowcompression balls to create longer rallies, fewer misses, less clean winners, and more thoughtful shot

Photo Credit: Kevin Karczewski

or years, coaches have debated the best training methods to develop players’ court awareness, which is the ability of a player to anticipate, react, and recover.

Some coaches focus on the movement cycle, others on swing shapes and timing, and more so on complex footwork patterns.

In addition, we talk about reading the ball’s height, speed, and spin — and controlling our body’s position, spacing, and balance — and watching our opponents’ body language and swings. All this intends to give our players the extra milliseconds

February 2022 ADDvantage Magazine - 47

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selection. That huge overhead that you’re used to blowing past someone? It’s coming back. That big forehand that you love to rip right at the net player? They’re not scared of you anymore. This is a great secret of training court awareness that we often ignore. You don’t have to tell players what the shot patterns are supposed to look like in a “perfect world” or when “the pros do it.” Make the rallies long enough for them to see it unfold, and you will immediately notice the wheels turning as they choose better and more consistent shots.

While those two activations may be my favorites, the other aspects of an excellent Cardio Tennis class are still extremely valuable when used correctly. Everything is a game and contains elements that players either immediately love or love to hate. The rules of each different game are used to intentionally force students out of position so that they can practice regaining it. Telling students that they have to sprint to the net, fence, or the sideline immediately after winning a point may solicit an eye roll or even an audible groan. But this is where the coach’s enthusiasm and positive energy can push them to try something they didn’t know they were capable of. When the coach

feeds that next ball high over the students head and they chase it all the way to the baseline and hit it back over their shoulder, or they manage to execute a couple of crossover steps and a scissor-kick overhead poorly, the coach shouts, “Let’s go!,” all of a sudden they are all smiles and they get to be the star of the show (for one-shot). Suppose the student misses it — no worries. They simply rotate out and will be back on the court in a matter of seconds to try again.

The increased pace of play and enthusiasm of the coach doesn’t allow players to overthink their shots or get down on themselves after a miss. Reflexes and resilience are at the forefront, and players are allowed to figure it out as they go.

Tennis is an open-skill sport, after all.

Photo Credit: Kevin Karczewski

Member Feature USPTA

The importance of court awareness is not an easy thing to describe to a beginner or an intermediate player. As much as we talk about individual pieces of the puzzle, it can take a long time and a lot of reps to put it all together. But, the decisionmaking process that we call “court awareness” sets apart the great players from the good ones, and it is something that CAN be trained. Making this difficult skill acquisition into an exciting and fun exploration through Cardio Tennis games is one of the most fun and effective ways to let players do it! *

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Master Professional’s Corner USPTA balance,” what do they mean? The ability of an object to balance in a static situation is related to the position of the center of mass (or CG) and the area of the base of support (BS) of that object.

Tennis Off-Balance Matias Marin & James Shaughnessy

oaches use the term balance to increase their players’ tennis performance. Evidence-based analysis demonstrates the imprecision of “balance” related to tennis instruction.

It indicates its use can lead to confusion and possibly set up a player for difficulty attaining peak performance. Evidencebased sports science can suggest ways to improve the precision of coach-to-player communications and provide exercises to improve player performance. A valid definition of coaching terminology is fundamental to forming evidence-based practice and the provisions of an optimal player learning environment. It is crucial for us, as tennis coaches, to understand the proper terminology and the concepts behind them to develop our players to their highest potentials. We must be precise to avoid empty rhetoric that sounds like coaching but has no applicable meaning.

What is balance?

In tennis coaching, tennis science, and physical therapy literature, the term “balance” does not have a clear, consistent meaning. For example, Webster’s Dictionary defines balance as physical equilibrium. Meanwhile, Webster’s defines equilibrium as a state of balance between opposing forces or actions.

In Nashner’s, practical biomechanics and balance physiology is…” a complex process… involving the coordinated activities of multiple sensory, motor, and biomechanical components.” But what is this process, and what does it do?

In his book, “Successful Coaching,” the author, Martens, defines static balance

as the ability to maintain equilibrium in a stationary position. He defines dynamic balance as the ability to maintain equilibrium when moving the body. But the Star Excursion Balance Test requires one foot planted firmly on the ground to measure dynamic balance. In ITF Strength and Conditioning for Tennis, dynamic balance is the ability to keep the center of gravity (CG) over the base of support while the body is moving. The authors clearly state dynamic balance requires a base of support. In “Basic Biomechanics” by Susan Hall, the base of support is defined as the “area bound by the outermost regions of contact between a body and support surface.” According to these definitions, a player must be in contact with the ground to have dynamic balance.

Therefore, airborne players do not have dynamic balance or equilibrium. Despite its widespread use, there is no universally accepted term for human balance. When a coach tells a player, “stay on balance,” “move with balance,” or “swing with

Examination of the elite tennis players using 3D motion analysis of live match play on the ATP and WTA tours show that at impact, players commonly have both feet off the ground or only one foot on the ground. Suppose we use the mechanical definition for balance derived from Newton’s 1st Law — in conjunction with data from more than 20 world No. 1 ranked players in the SCiO 3D Library of the World’s Greatest Players. In that case, we find the best players in the world hitting routine shots off-balance. The greatest players of all time can be shown to have their center of gravities outside their base of support at impact, causing a net moment of force that is not zero.

Furthermore, most shots hit in routine rally positions are contacted with both feet off the ground and, thus, no support base. If we accept the definition of the international coaching literature, Nadal does not have a static or dynamic balance.

His center of gravity is moving in the opposite direction of his outgoing ball, and he has no support base. The shot in Figure 1 was an inside-out winner.

Photo Credit: James Shaughnessy

C

The world’s best players opt to hit routine shots, by definition, off-balance.

Figure 2

February 2022 ADDvantage Magazine - 51

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Master Professional’s Corner USPTA

We suggest that what coaches are trying to say is that a player’s quality of motion interferes with one of three separate but related outcomes. When a player arrives in a final loaded stance to execute a stroke, there are three objectives: 1. Swing optimally to impact the ball (SIB).

3. After the forces from the SIB have dissipated, arrive in a position to recover to the optimal position to respond (ROPR) to the opponent’s next shot.

Photo Credit: Janet McIntyre

During high-speed SIB, it is usually necessary to unweight the feet to avoid twists that may cause injury to the knees 2. If airborne or on one leg, land in an and ankles. Once the feet and legs are upright stance without falling (LUWF). unweighted, the airborne player has a

fixed amount of momentum until they land. This momentum will cause motion.

The direction that the legs tend to go depends on the velocities of the CG and the number of muscular forces a player utilizes while airborne to SIB. When the pro is airborne with no support base, the SIB will affect the body’s position in ways that could cause the player to fall. At this point, players are forced to make body contortions that place the landing leg in a position to oppose the gravitational force, accelerating the CG toward the ground. It appears pro players can better control unwanted airborne muscular reflex actions in the limbs that can occur to avoid falling until after SIB. The strategic placement of the landing leg needs to oppose the line of action of the CG upon landing to avoid falling and prevent injury.

The line of action of the body force is represented by the speed and direction of the CG (See Figure). When the landing leg is placed and braced in opposition to the player’s falling CG, the ground will push the player back in the opposite direction with an equal force.

February 2022 ADDvantage Magazine - 53

Master Professional’s Corner USPTA Figure 3

Left- most coaches would call this balanced. Center- the player’s upper body is rotating her toward a fall. Right- the right leg kicks back to keep her CG closer to her left leg which upon landing is her base of support. Note she will need the right leg to swing under and toward the net to fully neutralize the forward falling line of action caused by the upper body torque from the SIB.

Coaching cues and guidelines to enhance tennis balance Encourage players to: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Lift the toes 3-to-6 inches off the ground during the split-step.

Land the split-step 200 milli-seconds after your opponent meets the ball.

Land the split-step on one leg opposite the side to which the ball will arrive.

Move to get to the ball early enough to stop your lateral motion completely.

Perform an initial hip and shoulder separation immediately upon landing the split-step, then MTI. Drive the CG straight up during SIB to avoid falling forward or backward.

Drive-up from a completely coiled position if not pressed for time.

Land with a laterally extended outside leg with as little bend as possible (braced leg).

Try to maintain postural control until after SIB by practicing the following exercises.

Coaches: 1.

2.

3.

4.

When an aggressive airborne SIB is used, accept that an ideal ROPR may not be achieved because the high angular momentum can cause the body to avoid falling and might not allow a perfect landing to ROPR. Avoid the use of the term balance. Instead, specify why the player did not execute SIB, LUWF, or ROPR. Whether or not a player falls will look different from different vantage points.

Use video recordings from multiple angles regularly to show your player what you observe and solidify your understanding of the terminology.

Coaches want to see a smooth SIB and a landing that promotes ROPR. Ideally, coaches want the ground reaction force against the players landing to be in the direction of ROPR (Fig. 2). However, the player’s natural instincts may interfere by prioritizing landing without falling and possibly getting injured above a landing for optimum ROPR. This is where a coach and player must understand what the player did before takeoff affected the SIB. The SIB affects the landing. The landing quality determines if a player falls and the ability to ROPR. Additionally, if the body senses the combination of the takeoff and the SIB will cause the player to fall, the player’s automatic reflex actions to prevent falling [16] can interfere with the SIB and cause an error in ball placement and velocity.

The need to avoid a fall upon landing can override the position for ROPR. It is not good enough to tell the player, “land on balance” or “you are off-balance.” As coaches, we need to teach the player how to prepare or load to optimally execute SIB to launch the ball in the right direction with the right speed. All this will allow for the player’s optimal landing for ROPR without interference from the player’s reflex actions.

We propose that a working definition of the concept of tennis balance is: The execution of the intended stroke to impact the ball (SIB) while landing in optimum stance from which to execute recovery to the optimum position to respond (ROPR), without opposition from reflexive muscle contractions to prevent falling. *

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Master Professional’s Corner USPTA

Exercises to improve tennis balance 1.

One leg lateral lunge jump with coiled landing followed by upward CG drive and an optimal landing: Exercise 1 trains a player to stop the CG’s lateral movement and launch straight up, which allows a smoother SIB without interference from reflexes that keep you upright.

2.

Unstable postural control strokes teach the body to inhibit and override reflexes that interfere with the SIB.

3.

Box Jump Crossover with coiled landing followed by explosive upward CG drive. To train the fast-twitch motor units and improve bracing against landing for faster ROPRs and SIBs.

4.

Box step-up and step-down hand feed. This works the players’ ability to stop the lateral movement and drive straight up.

Driving straight up keeps the body from unwanted postural reflexes that interfere with the stroke.

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USPTA From the CEO

Rex Caujunco, USPTA Elite Professional

Why Participate in the USPTA Mentoring Program?

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arly in my career as a tennis-teaching professional, I was fortunate enough to have certain industry veterans (longtime directors of tennis and head professionals) unofficially mentor me. Not only did they guide me in the way of job-related aspects, but how to conduct myself off the court, around sales reps, how to get involved with local pros’ associations, and volunteering for the USTA at all levels.

After becoming a USPTA member through the influence of some of the industry mentioned above vets, I moved along the tennis professional career pathway, eventually being promoted to a director position in my early 30s.

As more than a few of my peers, Generation X-aged teaching pros that had been in the business for about a decade, give-or-take a few years, started to ask how I got so “lucky,” I realized my luck was more than just being in the right place at the right time. My luck was having multiple Baby Boomeraged teaching pros (the group that my generation of professionals aspired to be) take on a young newbie and demonstrate the ins and outs of the tennis business.

Kevin Theos, Chair of USPTA Career & Leader Mentoring Program

58 - ADDvantage Magazine

February 2022

Member Feature USPTA Once I realized that was one of the keys to my professional success, I decided that I wanted to pay it forward to those new to our industry. Whether it was one of my assistant pros or someone that came to me for career advice, I felt an obligation to give them as much information as possible — to stimulate their professional growth & personal well-being.

As USPTA-member teaching professionals, we’re tasked with “growing the game.” For some of you, that means filling your private lesson book, maxing out your student-teacher ratio for group lessons, or taking an aspiring junior to a sectional or national event. Besides doing those things (for money, job security, professional prestige — which are understandable), perhaps we should also grow the game from within our own ranks?

• From the mentor’s perspective — spend time grooming other pros, whether on the same staff as you or at another club/facility. Do so without worrying that they will take your job or clients, but instead, increase the number of tennis players in your area, which will benefit everyone.

• From the mentee’s perspective — instead of thinking you already know it all and that the generations of pros in the queue before you are doing things in an outdated manner, take the time to understand why they do certain things. Then ask their thoughts on the ideas you might implement and why they would or wouldn’t work.

Why becoming a Mentor can be a reminder of how you became successful and how it can help re-energize your career Often, less-experienced or egodriven pros and coaches measure their professional self-worth by the number of adult league teams they’ve worked with that have gone to district, sectional, or

national playoffs. That’s certainly one way to measure success in our industry. But how about using a different metric, such as the number of pros that have worked for you — or that you’ve helped through the USPTA Mentoring Program that go on to become head pros or directors. You should google who’s worked under legendary coaches Bill Parcells or Nick Saban. Now there’s a legacy!

Sometimes in the middle-to-end of one’s career arc, pros get caught up in making their numbers or plotting what’s next at the club/facility, and they lose sight of how they became successful in the first place.

Revisiting the past and sharing anecdotes with a mentee may remind seasoned pros of concepts they have since forgotten about that are still relevant in today’s tennis marketplace.

Even if one loves their job or what they do, things can get stale occasionally.

Becoming a mentor is a gentle way of hitting the refresh button without a complete reset or possibly re-energizing your daily activity (maybe even your career). In addition, having a mentee will give a USPTA professional a renewed sense of purpose. Instead of thinking only of themselves, a mentor-pro now has an extra responsibility — much like a significant other, child, pet, etc.

How becoming a Mentee can help land your dream job Some people get into teaching tennis because they don’t see themselves getting a “real” job after finishing their professional or collegiate studentathlete playing career. Others want to do something “fun” before settling into life (like a gap year after completing a degree). Then a few think they’ll be able to sustain being on court teaching tennis into perpetuity. These folks put blinders on because the money can be too good to pass up.

After the honeymoon phase is over (i.e., the cool factor of being a teaching pro, getting paid to hit tennis balls, working on

a year-round tan) and reality sets in that being on-court 40-plus hours a week is less than ideal for both the body and mind, thoughts turn to how one can continue to monetize a sport that they’ve always loved.

Young coaches may wonder how a veteran USPTA member has managed to stay in the game longer than the inexperienced teaching pro has been alive. They may also become envious of others in their peer group who “got lucky” or “sold out” to get a higher-paying tennis job or one that doesn’t require as many on-court hours.

Instead of sulking about why Lady Luck hasn’t found you yet, why not take the extra time to find out how to put yourself in a better position to succeed? Becoming a humbled mentee can lead to becoming a better version of yourself while potentially making the career shift you’d like to make to stay in tennis long-term.

Too busy to better yourself, you say?

What would you tell an aspiring junior that wants to be No. 1 on their school team or an adult that wants to win the club championship? Spend more time on your craft — take more lessons — is among the advice you’d give, correct? Think of the USPTA mentoring program as self-paced lessons in self-improvement and that you have access to almost anytime. Besides, why not get your money’s worth from the organization to which you pay annual dues?

As one who’s served informally as both a mentor and mentee throughout my career, I can extol the value of being on both sides of the relationship. Since the advent of the USPTA Mentoring Program a few years ago, it should now be even more accessible for others to get involved in either role.

Instead of arguing about which teaching pro, club/facility, adult, or junior program is the best in your area, maybe we should all focus on helping every USPTA member get a little better to truly “grow the game.” Let’s do it at all levels and from multiple perspectives through our own in-house mentoring program for the tennis industry! *

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USPTA What’s The Dill?

Membership Department Update

O

Dillon Chustz, USPTA Director of Membership

ne idea permeates nearly every profession, and that is: a hunger for knowledge will always propel you towards success. The USPTA’s mission to elevate the standards of tennis-teaching professionals starts with members who crave improvement both on and off the court. Regardless of where you’re from, who you know, or how well you perform, there is always another level to reach on the ladder of success. USPTA Elite Professional Christopher Champion strives for success and doesn’t look back. Whether coaching, networking, or volunteering, he refuses to settle on past accomplishments, and it’s paying off big time!

A native of Miami, Florida, Chris’ family was the first family of color to be members of the Royal Palm Tennis Club in Pine Crest, Florida. He attributes much of his passion for growing the game of tennis to the opportunities and mentorship that he received from Royal Palm starting at

just three years of age. “Learning in such a supportive environment made a tremendous impact on me,” Chris recently told me. He has utilized that same supportive model in his fifteen years of work with First Serve Miami. His creative and holistic approach to coaching made him an invaluable contributor to grassroots tennis.

I recently came across pictures of Chris dancing with his students on court. If you would like to see one of the many ways his programs feed our sport, look at the joy on his student’s faces. “Working in the non-profit arena gave me the ability to adapt to more learning styles,” he recently told me. “Working with underserved students presented me with a challenge. It fed my hunger to always be a better pro than I was the day before.”

Chris would use these acquired skills as Head Tennis Professional for Play Tennis Gainesville, one of the non-profit facilities managed by USTA Florida.

I asked Chris how his experience as a USPTA member has served him on and off the court. It came down to networking.

His volunteer work with USTA Florida connected him with Jason Gilbert, who currently serves as Vice President of the USPTA National Board of Directors. Being an incomparable advocate for professional certification, Jason helped usher Chris into our association and set him up for success as an industry professional. Since becoming USPTA certified, Chris has also used his work in Gainesville to create Diversity and Inclusion opportunities, including hosting a Juneteenth tennis clinic, working with

the youth development program Aces in Motion, and connecting with 100 Black Men of America, Inc. His efforts have helped introduce over 300 new youth and adult players to tennis since 2019. Chris is certainly not wasting time in his pursuit of professional growth.

It is of the utmost importance that our members be mindful of what exactly it means to be a USPTA member. Aside from the great benefits such as liability insurance coverage and discounts on products, the ability to connect with fellow teaching pros often helps to kickstart our members’ careers. According to Chris, “I would not be where I am today if I had not paid attention to and taken advantage of the networking opportunities at USPTA.” Networking is just one example of Chris’ drive to improve and learn continually. Chris was recognized with the USPTA Diversity Award in 2019 and with the USPTA Florida Star Award in 2020. Is it a coincidence or destiny that his last name is Champion? Whatever it is, the USPTA is extremely proud of Chris, as well as all of you out there doing similar work in the name of the USPTA. Keep up the good work, everyone! *

NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ADDVANTAGE MAGAZINE

President.............................................................Richard Slivocka First Vice President................................................ Trish Faulkner Vice Presidents...................... Tracy Almeda-Singian, Mark Faber, Jason Gilbert, Kevin Theos Immediate Past President.......................................Feisal Hassan CEO...........................................................................John Embree Legal Counsel........................................................George Parnell

Editor...................................................................................... Jim Burke Managing Editor......................................................... Mike Calendrillo Layout/Design.............................................................Kevin Karczewski Editorial Assistance .......................... Fred Viancos, Ellen Weatherford Circulation..................................................................... Trevor Trudelle USPTA World Headquarters 11961 Performance Dr. Orlando, FL 32827 407-634-3050 – www.uspta.com

60 - ADDvantage Magazine

February y2 2022

ADDvantage is published monthly by the United States Professional Tennis Association.

The opinions expressed in ADDvantage are those of the authors and not necessarily those of ADDvantage or the United States Professional Tennis Association.

Copyright© United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc. 2022. All rights reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of the magazine is not permitted without written permission from the USPTA.