Addvantage 1998 February

the total professional- enhancing your career

departments

10 What gets measured and rewarded gets done

3

CEO's message

4

USPTA mailbox

By Klaus Hilgers and Paul MacDonald, USPTA - Provide program participants with great service by learning to control factors that affect club.

14 Ask the professor - Benefits possible, but caution urged with use of suppl~ments

By Jack Groppel, Ph.D., USPTA Master Professional - Information on creatine, glycerol, melatonin and DHEA.

18 Badminton: The cross training alternative

By Jim McLennan, USPTA - . Study of badminton overhead gives insight into tennis serve.

23

Little Tennis tips

24

New members

25

Career development

27

Industry action

28

C lassifieds

'

20 Dynamics of a good lesson

By Scott Chandler, USPTA - Five elements make tennis lesson BRIEF.

news 6 Develop career, make contacts at The Super Show®/98 7 The Super Show/98 map

'

15 Racquet's Edge hosts second annual Tencap Pro-Am Charity Tennis Tournament 22 USP-TA seeks nominations for national board

On the cover ... The Sup~r Show/ 98 is the sports industry's biggest event of the year. US PTA will be represented, as will Wi lson, Penn and other endorsees.

VOLUME 22 • ISSUE2 ADDvantage magazine editorial offices

Editor

One US PTA Centre, 3535 Briarpark Dri-,:

Assistant editor

Shawna Riley Julie Myers

Houston, TX 77042

Circulation

Kathy Buchanon

Phone - (713) 978-7782

Advertising

Dione Richbourg

(800) USPTA-4U Fax - (713) 978-7780 e-mail - magazine@ uspta.org

Office hours: 8:30a.m. - 5 p.m. Central time

ADDvontage is published m-onthly by the United Stales Professional Tennis Association.

The opinions expressed in ADDvantage are those of the authors and not necessarily those of ADDvantage or the US PTA. Copyright© United Stoles Professional Tennis Association, Inc. 1997. All rights reserved .

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

ADDvontoge/februory 1998

AmericanAirlinesÂŽ American

tal'

A

usptao

The missing link?

A

als have come to the support of the manufacturers' lot has happened over the past five years to affect the bottom line of businesses and orTennis Industry Association's free lesson initiative to "Grow the Game." ganizations that make up the tennis industry in the United States. Obviously, there is not just one problem I could write a separate article enu.nciating how both groups serve the same consumers and how each has rebut probably many contributing factors that resulted in lied on the other. Pros have needed state-of-the-art merthe downward trends being experienced, especially by manufacturers and companies that make and market tennischandise to teach with and to recommend and sell in their pro shops. And, manufacturers have always needed related goods to the masses. An analytical observer might the credibility of pros to recommend say the problem appears to be one that adand popularize their products. The versely affects manufacturers and small tenproducts that now, of course, sell more nis retailers, such as pro shops and specialty stores, much more than other industry in mass merchant sporting goods outlets than in pro shops. groups. For example, we've seen many mass For simpliciry' s sake, I'd like to commerchants "bail out" and fill their shelf pare the relationship between teaching spaces with other sporting good items the professionals and manufacturers to the minute their spreadsheets indicate abetter great institution of marriage. In maropportuniry. riages that ultimately have problems, If you need further e~idence of this being more a manufacturer's problem than. one or both parties have invariably become complacent to the feelings or the that of other groups, ask yourself if the needs of the other. Those of us who income of other major industry groups enjoyed the fruits of the '70s will agree such as USTA, ATP, WTA, agents, magTim Heckler that the marriage analogy allows some azines, etc., has decrea·s ed proportionately. You might find that in some cases, it actually has interesting parallels for manufacturers and teaching pros who started the tennis boom together and literally drove increased significantly and, at worst, others simply feel the tennis industry to its initial success. less comfortable than before. Of course, this is not to Then, after everyone else started seeing the opporsay that, left unchecked, the circumstances and trends tunities in tennis, particularly mass merchants and dismight not swamp everybody. count store owners, an interesting dichotomy resultI am not overlooking the fact that there are fewer ed. Manufacturers' sales to mass merchants at volume regular players today than there were in the late '70s.

However, since then, the cost of products has increased discount prices virtually eliminated tennis specialty stores and pro shops (as we once knew them.) For a more than inflation plus the proportionate drop in players, so this should somewhat counter that argument. short period, this new love affair caused sales to soar.

However, eventually, without pro shop and specialty Thus, one might conclude that existing players simply store owners to establish trends and recommend prodare not buying as much as they once did. ucts, mass merchant sales also dwindled. The more Taking all of this into account, and since everyone has been entitled to an opinion on why these negative fickle mass merchant partner quickly moved on to other challenges like in-line skating, soccer, basketball, fitsales trends occurred (and no one has yet hit the jackpot) , I'll add yet one more theory to the mix. ness equipment and jogging, leaving the tennis indusI once was proud to be a "director of ten~is:· (and try without pro shops and specialty stores to rebuild the credibility in its products. Let's be realistic, who later a general manager and part owner) of proininent do you think has more c~edibility when recommendtennis facilities. I also was a pro shop owner, and since I 970 I have maintained that tennis manufacturers and , ing the proper tennis equipment, a teaching professional or a megastore salesman? tennis-teaching professionals are more comn;only bonded Admittedly, some manufacturers have done the next than most people believe or would care to acknowledge.

This determination stemmed from the early '70s, when best thing and sought the endorsement of teaching mass merchant/ discount stores didn't exist and manu.pros through an endorsement with their trade association- US PTA. In f~c;_t, the first product endorsement facturers depended more heavily on pro shops for supin tennis was between a manufacturer (Penn Racquet port. The synergy between the two groups is still readily observed, particularly in the manner teaching professionsee CEO, page 21

y

NATIONAL BOARD O F DIRECTORS President

Will Haag

Fi rst Vice President

Joseph Thompson

Vice Presidents

Townsend Gilbert David T. Porter Mark McMahon Ron Woods Harry G ilbert

SecretaryTreasurer Past President

Ku rl Ka mperma n

WORLD HEADQUARTERS CEO

Tim Heckler Rich

Director of O perations

Fon.~ing

M arty Bostrom

Executive

Assistant Shawno Riley

D irector of Communica tions Communications

Courtenay Dreves

Com munications

Jill H. Phipps

Magazine Coordinator Marketing Coordinator

Julie Myers Diane Richbourg

Public Relations

Dan Saine

Coordinator

David Rudzinski

Comp uter Systems

Administrator Web master and Christi Call Corporate Services Manager Computer Services and Club Relations

Kathy Buchanan

N ational Divisiona l Administrator

Kelly Dolan

D ivisiona l Executive Administrator

Amy Pruett

Educationa l Administrator

Melissa Stevens

Membership/ Education

Vicky Tristan

Financial Manager Controller

Renee Heckler Theresa Weatherford

Insurance/ M e rcha ndise Services

Ellen Schmidt

Director George Bacso of Certification and Academies

LEGAL COUNSEL Attorney-at-law

Paul Waldman

For information, write the World Headquarters

USPTA One USPTA Centre 3535 Bria rpa rk Drive

Houston, TX 77042 Phone (713197·USPTA Fax (713) 978-7780 e-mail ~ uspta@uspta.org

Internet - www.uspta.org

l-800-USPTA-4U O ffice hours: 8:30 a .m. - 5 p. m.

Centra l time

ADDvantoge/Februory 1998

3

USPTA mailbo Kurt, TIA helping tennis grow Dear USPTA, I have been a USPTA member for I 0 years and have been active in as many tennis industry events as possible. I have enjoyed many lectures, seminars, conventions and informal gettogethers with fellow tennis professionals over the years. I have had the opportunity to work with many top teaching professionals in the Mid-Atlantic area and the Southern Division over the past I 0 years, and .

I especially value my experiences with Kurt Kamperman, USPTA past president. I hope that other tennis professionals across the country have the opportunity to attend one or more of Kurt's "State of the Profession" lectures with regard to the research of the Tennis Industry Association, of which Kurt is president.

The TIA has formulated vital information that includes statistics relating to the number of active tennis players, the number of active tennis-playing kids in each age category, the eye-opening statistics concerning working parents , other sports and activities available to kids that were not available 20 years ago, plus other information crucially important to every tennis teacher. Aside from these important stars, Kurt and the TIA have made great strides in fixing the problem with powerful solutions. The TIA' s association with the Cartoon Network is just one avenue toward the goal of reaching young and

4 ADDvontoge/Februory 1998

Kurt and the TIA have made great strides in ·fixing the problem with . powerful solutions.

future tennis players.

The purpose of this letter is not only to urge tennis professionals to step it up and promote the sport, but also to thank Kurt Kamperman for a very innovative and spirited presidency of the USPTA. As a member, I would also like to lend my help and services in any way to our new and very able president, Will Hoag.

Once again, thanks Kurt. I hope to m ake a difference in my profession much like you have.

John E. Robinson, USPTA via e-mail

Growing the game in Daytona Dear USPTA, The Daytona Tennis Association, a newly formed group in the inner city area of Daytona Beach, Fla., is serious about doing its part to meet the USTA' s goal of 800,000 new tennis players over the next five years.

They started a Play Tennis America free lesson program that began on November is, I997, and will run every Saturday morning until the Daytona Tennis Association reaches its goal of introducing I ,000 new innercity youths to the lifetime sport of tennis. Currently, 25 children and three adults are enrolled in the program.

The Daytona Tennis Association is eve~ helping new play-

ers dress for success by implementing a program where students can earn free tennis shoes. Aftena minimum of 12 lessons , where students earn points by demonstrating the skills covered in the lessons, they are eligible for a free pair of tennis shoes.

Currently, the Daytona Tennis Association is funding the entire program out of its own pockets, but it could use your help. If you are able to donate any of the following items , please contact Johnny Van Sessions at (904) 299-2210 (phone) , (904) 2584502 (fax), Daytona Tennis Association, Inc. , P.O. Box 9026, Daytona Beach, Fla. 32120-9998.

Items needed include: • tennis balls • racquets • ball machines • targets • free lesson banners • string • grips • "a lmost new men 's and women's tennis shoes • tennis clothing for children ages 6-I6 • ball hoppers Sincerely,

Johnny Van Sessions Daytona Beach, Fla.

US PTA Personal WebsitessM are US PTA's newest free member benefit- even if you don't have a computer. z;J

US PTA pros get a free personalized site on .the Internet's World Wide Web at www.usptapro.org.

z;J

Show off your biog.raphy, color photos of you and your club, and playing tips (provided by US PTA).

z;J

Be a hero to your students, friends, club members and employers. Give them your personal password and they'll get full access to worldyvide tennis news and events, business, family fun, travel, finance, games and much more.

z;J

Looking for a tennis job? Send a prospective employer your site address and password and \\wow" them with your marketing savvy!

z;J

This web site would literally cost thousands of dollars for each member to produce independently.

Don't miss out on one of the most exciting benefits brought to you by USPTA, always first with the newest and best benefits for professionals and the tennis induยงtry. _ _ _

Call (713) 978-7782 for a Personal Website registration form. Or, check out USPTA's site at www.uspta.org for complete details.

___j

Power up your career-with a USPTA Personal Website!

Develop career, make contacts at The Super Show®/98

T

he Super Show/98 in Atlanta, Ga., is the place to be for all buyers and fitness enthusiasts. The Super Show, which is promoted as the world's largest sports products and apparel event, will be held in the Georgia World Congress Center, the Georgia Dome and the Pavilions on February 5-8.

The show will cover more than 2.4 million square feet of floor space and include more· than 3,000 manufacturers and approximately I I ,000 booths.

Visitors can expect to see sports celebrities, business seminars, fashion shows and demonstrations during the four-day show.

The various vendors and booths will be grouped into 19 differ-

ent shows that will be interconnected, including: • The Tennis Show • The Activewear Show • The Outdoor Sports Show • The Imprint and Apparel Show • The International Marketplace The Super Show is a great place to expand your knowledge and make contacts in the sports industry. A past attendee remarked, "Contacts made at the Super Show are immeasurable.

Seeing industry trends and new products alone have provided a wealth of knowledge to my business."

The USPTA February Focus

Super Show attendees visit the USPTA booth and learn about USPTA programs, such·as Little Tennis, education and the world conference.

6 ADDvontoge/Februory 1998

on Education will also be held in conjunction with The Super Show on February 3-4 at the Georgia World Congress Center. On February 3 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Master Professionals George Bacso and Bill Tym will teach twohour modules on each of the following topics: stroke analysis, private and group lessons, team coaching and strategy and tacti~s.

On February 4 , USPTA will offer the Nutrition/ Sport Physiology Specialty Course from 8 a.m. to I2:30 p.m., which will be followed by the optional USTA Level liB Sport Science Competency Exam. The Specialty Course instructors are Page Love Johnson and Michael Bergeron, Ph.D. Visitors can also find USPTA at booths 2406B in the tennis show and 3 5 04 5W in the footwear show, Level 3. A floor plan of The Super Show is on the facing page. The Super Show hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p .m . Thursday through Saturday and 9 a.m_: to 5 p.m. on Sunday. More information on the Super Show is located on USPTA's web site, www.uspta.org, and on the new Super Show site, www.thesupershow.com.

To register for the USPTA courses, call the Education Department at (7 I 3) 97-USPTA. The cost for each day is $25 for members and $30 for nonmembers. Everyone who signs up prior to January I 6 will receive a $5 discount per day.

For more information about The Super Show, call (404) 2334000.~

SHOW~ /98

THE SUPER

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It's Like Playing Indoors!

Sun Happens! And too

.

much of it on outdoor courts can take the skin off your nose, as well as years off your life. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 800,000 people in the U.S. will develop skin cancer this year due to 1mproper sun exposure .

A Perfect Match!

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No Faults! SmartShield® products are sweatproof, non-oily, Dermatologist approved and won't affect your grip. They come in a display case personalized for your organization.

Ordering and stocking is ' easy.

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Skin Research Labs, Inc. POBax 191091 Dallas, TX 75219 Approved product of lhe United States Professional Tennis Association Founding Member, National Coalition for Sun Safety, under lhe auspices of lhe American Academy of Dermatology.

What gets measured and rear management starts with someone caring about what's going on, observing ..__ _ what's going on, being aware of what's going on, evaluating what's going on and acting upon what's going on so that conditions continuously Improve.

If you haven't noticed, things don't stay the same for long. You lose a tennis professional, a new tennis program starts in town, the competition cuts the price, or the ad you ran in the newspa~ per didn't get the resp~nse you expected.

Many factors affect our clubs in both positive and negative ways. We need to control these factors so that our program participants get great service, have a quality experience and refer new participants. The key tool for keeping your finger on the pulse of the business is using statistics. Statistics show us what was accomplished. They tell us if things are getting better, staying the same or getting worse. Based on the numbers and our analysis of them, we can make decisions about the future of our programs.

Graphing production A statistic is used to make comparisons between now and an earlier time period. Do we have more group lesson students this December than last December? Are we giving more private lessons in December than we did in November?

To see these comparisons quickly and easily, you should

10 ADDvontoge/Februory 1998

graph them. It's difficult to see trends by looking at a printout of your spreadsheet. It's easy to see when the results are graphed on your wall and updated weekly or monthly.

Bob Woodberry of Clayton Valley Athletic Club says, "Since I started graphing my numbers, I have a more realistic picture of what's going on and am able to make more effective and quicker decisions."

Identifying the right statistics There are many statistics to look at in a tennis program, including gross revenue, profit, group lesson attendance, group retention and expense-to -revenue ratios. These are gross statistics and give you a good idea ofwhat's going on in your tennis program. Similar statistics can be used for other departments in your club as well.

New program participation statistics show expansion and the effectiveness of your marketing and sales. Retention and attendance figures show the quality of your teaching, service and

The key tool for keeping your finger on the pulse of the business is 0

USlng

statistics.

9,---------------------------------------, 8+-----------------------------------------2 7 +-----------~~~------------------~ 6 +-----------; 5

effectiveness of your programs .

Gross revenues show the stability of your finances and give you a prediction of your monthly cash flow. Profit numbers show your managerial skills in creating income, controlling your expenses and properly pricing your membership and products. These are some of the obvious measurements.

Now let's look at some of the not-so - obvious numbers. One of ' the keys to our success is marketing and sales. The basic idea is, "You have to send something out to get something back."

Even though we track private lessons, adult and junior group lessons and new program member participation, we don't track what we send out. In the clubs where we work, we track marketing pieces and calls out. We want to push up those numbers. Simply increasing the output here results in more walk-ins and call-ins to register for programs. If you want more business, get all of your tennis professionals and staff to make more contacts.

Have a guest day where your juniors bring a guest to tennis class. Write an article on new tennis trends and get it published in the local paper. Do everything you can to get the word out about your program inexpensively.

4

Tracking productivity

3 2

0 1st qtr

2nd qtr

Jâ&#x20AC;˘

3rd qtr

New group lesson participants

4th qtr

Another key statistic is tennis revenue divided by number of fulltime teaching professionals. (If you have two part- timers who teach 20 hours per week, for example, count them as one fulltime professional.) This is a qual-

rewarded gets done

By Klaus Hilgers and Paul MacDonald, USPTA

.

Implementation Identify your key statistics. To do this, look at each

ity assurance statistic. It tells you how productive your staff is and indicates whether you have too many, not enough or just the right number of staff When managers are disorganized and have problems, their solution is often to add a new person to solve the problem. The next thing you know, your payroll is out of line - it's over 60 percent of your income.

You want productive staff .If you add a person and income stays the same, your productivity has gone down. If it stays that way after three months, your new hire hasn't made an impact in terms of productivity. You're 'getting less done with more people.

We have often cut back staff, and by cleaning out the dead wood, we have increased productivity. In one company, we cut 14 people out of a staff of 29. Club income stayed the same, but productivity per person was way upand so were their paychecks.

Another indicator of good management is the percentage of staff who are fully trained. A fully-trained staff member can get the job done without supervision.

If only 50 percent of your staff is fully trained, you have a lot of room for improvement. It means you are not taking advantage of your staff's full abilities, you have a poor training system or you have a lot of new staff members, and that costs you money. If the staff isn't managed, the tennis director or head professional will be working long hours.

attendance trend getting better, staying the same or getting worse? If it's getting better, the strategy is to keep doing what you're doing. If it stays the same or is getting slightly worse, make a change. An old Chinese proverb says, "If we don't change our direction, we are likely to end up where we are headed."

If a trend is going down steeply, you need to change and reorganize. If you are the head professional, take over the area and manage it yourself When the regional supervisor of one chain of clubs sees a club's statistics going steeply down, he personally goes to work in that club until conditions improve and it's reorganized. This does not require a long decision-making process. The supervisor sees the numbers, and the decision is automatic. There are lots of strategies for improvement, depending on the circumstances.

Knowing what questions to ask can help you to come up with solutions:

• Is my payroll within budget?

immediate action to implement strategies for improvement .

Interpreting statistics

• Are my tennis professionals affecting the club in a negative way?

../ Update your statistics weekly, if possible, but at least monthly. Use a statistical management software package to simplify graphing the numbers.

When you manage, you manage by trends. Is the group lesson

• Am I getting enough people to try the group lesson program?

• Do I have a sales or marketing problem?

• Are my tennis professionals generating enough referrals?

• Is my staff trained?

• Am I rewarding good statis"' tics?

function of the tennis program and determine what the result should be. That expected result will show you what to track.

For example, when you look at the sales function, the result should be repeat and new program participants. For marketing, the results should be walkins and call-ins. Do this analysis for all areas of your tennis program.

Ideally, each staff member should have a goal of improving at least one statistic for his or her area. For the junior director, one goal would be to increase the number of students in each class.

Graph those numbers weekly or monthly. At the Bannockburn Club we put up a graph of private and group see Statistics, page

22

Klaus Hilgers is an internationally known consultant, speaker and trainer. He has published numerous bboks and articles on management, sales and related topics.

Paul MacDonald, USPTA, is the tennis director of The Bannockburn (Ill.) Club. His specialty is hiring and training staff, developing, selling, marketing and implementing lessons and programs.

Implementation ../ Graph your club's statistics so you can see comparisons quickly and easily. ../ Gather statistics for such items as gross income, profit, expense-to-revenue ratios and program growth rate . ../ Track your tennis professional staff productivity by dividing gross tennis program revenue by the number of full-time tennis professionals . ../ If you see a trend going down steeply, take

ADDvantage/februory 1998

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Benefits possible, but caution urged with use of supplements creatine is also sold in tablet and capsule form.

Findings of several studies show that creatine supplementation can enhance performance of short-duration, high-intensity intermittent exercises. A study by Balsom et al demonstrated that a creatine supplemental group was better able to maintain the reatine is used in the body target cycle speed than a control rm creatine phosphate group during six-second bouts of (CP) , which supplies the enerhigh-intensity exercise on a cycle gy needed for muscles in exerergometer. Other studies have cise lasting approximately 10 to suggested that lower levels of!ac15 seconds. The demand for tate accumulation with creatine creatine in working musdes is supplementation may indicate a greatest during high - intensity lesser dependency on the aerobic exercise during which it can inaspect. crease several hundred fold highNo studies have shown any er than at rest. The regeneration adverse medical effects from the of CP in human muscle is oxy- ¡ usage of creatine supplementagen dependent and has fast and tion in amounts up to 30 grams slow components. It has been for relatively short periods of found that half of the CP contime (less than two weeks ) , tent is restored within one however, the suggested mainteminute of recovery and the renance dose is 2 grams of creatmainder is restored in approximately five minutes.

CP helps to buffer the increased intracellular acidity caused by lactic acid build up.

This occurs in exercise from 15 seconds to several minutes.

CP assists in the transfer of energy within rhe muscle cell.

The liver produces about 2 grams of CP each day from glycogen and the amino acid, arginine. Dietary sources of creatine include meat and fish, but I have many members, the advanced players, ant to know about the benefits of several supplements.

Can you tell me what is known aboull such items as creatine, glycerol, melatonin and DHEA?

Jack Groppel, Ph.D ., is the executive vice president of LGE Sport Science Inc. He is an instruction editor for Tennis maga;:jne, and is the author of High-Tech Tennis and co-author of The Science of Coaching Tennis. Groppel is a USPTA Master Professional and was named 1987 USPTA Professional of the Year.

14 ADDvontoge/Februory 1998

..erâ&#x20AC;˘._.__

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ine per day for the last week before a major competition. This loading regimen should only be done three to four times a year since it is not currently known whether there are any adverse effects of long-term supplemenfation. Any individual taking more than 30 grams per day should be monitored for possible liver or kidney damage.

Glycerol Glycerol is known to athletes as "preloading with water." Glycerol should not be confused with glycerin, which should not be consumed by humans.

Glycerol is a clear, sweet syrup often used in cough syrups. Glycerol seems to act as a holding tank for water in spaces between and within the body tissues. With glycerol, there is a retention of 50 percent more fluid and an .overall lowering of body temperature.

Studies have shown a 5 percent decrease in heart rate and more stable blood volume.

The effect of glycerol drops 50 percent after 90 minutes of aerobic work. Therefore, it is recommended that an athlete drink a mixture of glycerol and water (I gram of glycerol per kilogram of body weight with 22 milliliters of water per kilogram of body weight) 60 to 120 minutes prior to an event.

Glycerol-induced hyperhydrasee Supplements, page

22

Racquet's Edge hosts second annual Tencap Pro-Am Charity Tennis Tournament USPTA professionals and club players from New England held the second annual Tencap Pro-Am Charity Tennis Tournament, Nov. 7-9, at the Racquet's Edge in Essex Junction, Vt. A free clinic for the community was offered in conjunction with the tournament.

The event, which uses the Tencap handicapping system to balance professional and amateur levels of play, raised $1,200.

The mo~ey was donated to the .

United Way's Committee on Temporary Shelters (C OTS).

Sponsors for the tournament included National Life of Vcrmont and Champion Jog Bra. The host professional for the weekend was USPTA member and Racquet's Edge Tennis Director, Daniel Bonfigli. He said he believes that USPTA professionals must make · time to get together, share ideas and compete at a high level while giving back to the local community through charity and fund raising.

Townsend Gilbert, USPTA vice president, who was also a finalist in the tournament, said, "Clubs that continue to give up court time, pro time and energy to promote the game of tennis in the community like Racquet's Edge has done will be the reason tennis becomes accessible, fun and exciting for everyone."

Winners of the pro-am division were Tammy Azur from Racquet's Edge and Tom Cosinuke of Montpelier, Vt. They defeated Gilbert of Keene, N.H., and

M.J. Mullowney of South Burlington, V.t., 6-7, 7-6, 6-4.

Other DSPTA professionals who took part in the event include Dennis Langdell and Dave Robinson, both Racquet's Edge pros, and Dudley Bell of Lyndon State College.

For more information on organizing your own Tencap pro-am charity tournament, you can contact Dan Bonfigli at (802) 8797734, extension 128 or Townsend Gilbert, National Life ofVermont at (603) 3 52-0444. '{><>

Townsend Gilbert (left) presents the priz:! money to Paul Dayton, winner of the pro division, while runner-up Jeff Waters and host" Daniel Bonfigli look on.

MARK YOUR CALtNDARS FOR THt 810 ·rvtNT! 1998 USPTA World Conference on Tennis "Growing Family Tennis" Sept. 19-26 La Quinta Resort &-Club La Quinta, Calif ...

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Career development Members recognized for credits earned USPTA members Rebecca Laughton and Jeff Johnson earned the required career development points for 1994-1996.

Their credits were not received in time to be included in the original listing of members who earned points.

Watch for more information in future issues of ADDvantage ADDvontoge/februory 1998

15

Out_ wear your opponent.

Athco, Inc. is an authorized licensee of Wilson Sporting Goods.

1-800-990-0000.

lli1 --

b!l

Wand Wilson are registered trademartr.s ot W1lson Sporting Goods Co. C 1993 Wilson Sporting Goods (;(I

Badminton: The cross training Le a r n

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as defined by Webster, is a "relatively permanent change in behavior. " In tennis terms, behavior is the actual performance, and to measure change we must ·evaluate the performance before and after the instruction, practice or whatever is used to try to im-

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we know that change is not always easy to come by. Students often resist change due to fear of failure, fear of the unknown or more often b ecause of the strength of interfering habits.

Transfer of learning describes the phenomenon in which skills from one acti vity actually improve ( or change) the skill set of another activity. Basketball serves as a conditioning tool that improves the agility and quickness of tennis footwork. Muscular strength also transfers to tennis, provid. . ed exerCises are designed specifically with tennis tasks in mind. Badminton also pro-

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Pictures of a badminton smash appear identical to Pete Sampras' service action. (See illustration on facing page.)

18 ADDvontoge/Februory 1998

training benefits for

J the serve and overhead.

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Teaching the serve is a real challenge - the swing, the grip, bending and straightening the elbow, turning the arm and forearm, and all in order to snap the racquet at impact. It is difficult to learn at best, and even more so when strong incorrect habits interfere with the desired feel of the stroke.

The key to the serve is rhythm - the coordination of the speed and direction of the racquet at ,impact. Generally, the harder and more muscular the swing, the slower the racquet. Whereas the more fluid and less muscular the.. swing, the faster the racquet. Intriguingly, to

snap a wet towel, one swings the towel and then abruptly stops the hand, which in turn accelerates the towel. The result is a loud snapping pop.

Similarly, on the serve the snap is more a result of rhythm and timing than of muscles and brute force.

Consider badminton, and specifically the " badminton clear." In a rally, the initial objective is to keep the badminton opponent as deep as possible in his court. Many of the rally exchanges feature overhead hits, and the overhead that is sent as deep as possible into the opponent's court is "clear."

The clear is met with an "up and out" snapping action, identical to the feel of the tennis serve. But because the badminton racquet is so light, and because the shuttlecock moves on a descending trajectory as it is hit, this stroke is much more readily acquired than the tennis serve.

Biomechanical liter-<i ture indicates something far more interesting. Pictures of a badminton smash appear identical to Pete Sampras' service action, specifically with a sharp, inverted V at impact.

Whereas pictures of Andre Agassi or Chris Evert, or even the. subjects routinely used in biomechanical studies of the serve*, rarely exhibit this inverted V. Consider the following practical evidence. A senior woman who practices at our

alternative

by Jim Mclennan, USPTA club serves with as smooth and efficient a service action as any I have ever seen. It is fluid, loose and effortless with a pronounced snap at the top of the swing. I asked her where she learned the serve, who taught it to her and what I could learn from her teacher about teaching the serve. She smiled and said she didn't really have a tennis teacher, but that she was a high level badminton competitor and the tennis serve was just a natural stroke from her badminton expenence.

I witnessed another example of this a few years ago when four elite Chinese players visited our club on their way to a training. camp in Sacramento. Of the four, three had terrific service hits and the fourth served moderately well.

I asked about their background and learned that three of them were badminton champions.

The fourth was just a tennis player. And yes, you guessed it, the three with the whip-like service hits were the badminton players.

So, if you stee~ your tournament players into a winter badminton league, or set up a badminton net in your back yard (as I have done) , be prepared for some excellent crosstraining benefits. The badminton overhead readily transfers to the tennis serve, as well as the tennis overhead. '!)e

Credits:

Side view of aforehand smash in badminton X's drawn along the length of

Qualitative Analysis of the Badminton Forehand Smash as Performed by International Players. Gowitzke, Barbara and Waddell, David in Racquet and Sports Sympqsium, 1979¡

the "hitting" arm and at all joint "centers" reveal the turning of the arm. The impact side of the racquet face is depicted by

A note on pronation. Tennis teachers often discuss and debatt pronation on the serve. Some say there is no pronation on the serve, while others believe that pronation occurs after impact. And finally, some feel that pronation need not be emphasi~d because we all do it to some degree anyway. The authors of the study used in this article state that "all elite players hit the forehand smash with power by invoking marked medial rotation of the upper arm at the shoulder joint and pronation of the forearm at the radio-ulnar joints just prior to contact with the shuttlecock .. . no classical wrist was employed." Translated, this means that most of the power comes from a turning of the upper and lower arm prior to impact. *A note on biomechanical research. Usually, the subjects for biomechanical analysis of the serve are chosen from intercollegiate teams of the school at which the studies are performed. The researchers assume that intercollegiate varsity performers have mastered the serve. (These players may only serve moderately well but they win because of their fitness, their groundstrokes or any number of other reasons.) The analysis of these servers indicates little similarity with the service action of the truly rfficient servers (Sampras, Gonzyles), and demonstrates that they have more in common with the average servers (Agassi, Evert). And more to the point, these average servers never experience the feel of the snap, and absent another training activity that promotes the feel of the snap, either never have or rarely will learn the feel.

crosshatch lines.

Jim McLennan, US PTA, is the head professional at the Fremont Hills Country Club in Los Altos Hills, Calif. He is past president of the Northern California Division, a member of the Wilson Advisory Staff and senior editor ofTennisONE.com.

ADDvontoge/Februmy 1998

19

Dynamics of a good lesson

by Scott Chandler, USPTA hile many pros are somewhat random in their teaching, there are basically just five elements to a good lesson.

To make them easy to remember, they form the acrostic

BRIEF. First, a good lesson has to have balance. A balance between explaining and feeding, between exercise and recovery, between forehands and backhands and between different . drills. Another word for it is variety. Variety keeps the learning process fresh. Instead of hammering away on a student's backhand until she gets it, change gears to work on a different stroke. Or supplement with drills for the backhand.

The second element of a good lesson is repetition. Repetition is the basis of all learning. And repetition can occur within the confines of variety.

What the pro knows about For example, if a student is havtennis is primarily what the ing trouble with the backhand student is payingfor. volley, the pro can begin with an explanation of the basic differences between the volley and the groundstroke. Then he can demonstrate the stroke, followed by a series of feeding drills and conclude with some live ball rallying. These different exercises focus on the repetition needed for the gross and fine motor muscle groups.

No matter the talent level or the learning

20 ADDvontoge/Februory 1998

style, people only progress m tennis by doing, so they need enough chances to fail. According to one article, even Agassi, as talented as he is, hit more than 3,000 balls a day as a kid.

Compare that with 200 balls in the average lesson. Both the student and the pro should have a tired arm at the end.

The third element IS information. This is primarily what the student is paying for: your expertise. She wants what you know. She wants your skill in diagnosing a problem and prescribing a cure. The pro needs numerous explanations, illustrations and demonstrations on every facet of the game to reach all types of people. The information can be positive, emphasizing what the athlete does right, and negative by giving feedback about what is wrong, but the information is always - constructive.

I have found that students do not mind if the pro overloads the circuits, because it shows that he is the authority. Explaining can also balance out repetition and aid in recovery.

One caution: avoid the deadly habit of saying something on every occasion. Leave room for the my"stery of brevity.

The fourth element is exercise. Because tennis is a great mind and body sport, people play not only to learn a ¡skill but to get exercise, as well. As a stu-

dent is concentrating on the mechanics of a sound forehand, she can be challenged with drills where she has to run to different positions to hit the stroke. Running and hitting drills add realism to stroke production. If little is learned during a lesson, people will still come off the court saying, "What a great lesson" if they got a good workout.

The last element of a good lesson is fun. It is almost a sin t'o make a lesson boring. Even stroke work can be fun when a little competition is added. You can say, "Ten forehands in a row deep, down the line, and we're done with the stroke." Interestingly, when athletes have fun they learn more anyway. Students like to test what they have learned in a lesson against the pro, so I 0 to I 5 minutes of game-play is a good way to end.

Lessons packed with active drills that cultivate repetition in a context of fun and purpose will benefit the student and the pro.

This BRIEF reminder can b~use­ ful to you as a pro, or to students evaluating a pro. ~

Scott

Chandler,

USPTA, has been teaching tennis for a decade and is currently working at The Camden, a luxury residential community in Sarasota, Fla. A former satellite circuit player, Chandler holds a master's degree and has authored several articles.

CEO from page]

Sports) and teaching professionals (USPTA) in the development of a pro shop-only product - USPTA Pro Penn balls. The testimonial to this multimillion-dollar annual product is that it remains an industry landmark, still in existence, 25 years later.

Three years ago, USPTA began an endorsement relationship with Wilson racquets, clothing, shoes and accessories. In that much time, Wilson racquets have shown a 20 percent positive marketshare shift with its primary competitor.

However, the complete recommendation of one's products is only partially achieved in this manner. The total attainment would come from finding ways to help pro shops and specialty stores compete with mass merchants. Ironically, this would help mass merchants as well, since any losses they incur due t<? greater pro shop activity would be more than offset by greater sales volumes stemming from the trend-setting and peripheral recommendations of the experts.

It is worth repeating - manufacturers and teaching pros are synergistic in many ways and vitally important to each other. We should always find ways to work around problems or people who might drive a wedge between us. There are many ways to rekindle a relationship.

One is for manufacturers to recreate an

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entrepreneurial environment for teaching pros through competitive pro shop pricing. This may need a little of the affirmative action rationale, but I am convinced it will benefit everyone in the long run. It may even be that elusive missing link that gets the industry (especially those who are hurting the most) back on its feet.

The Super Show issue of ADDvantage provides us with the most convenient way to speak directly to the many manufacturers and companies who market their products through retailers of every size. I am sur~ there will be many critiques of this editorial, but I am even more sure that few, if any, will come from teaching professionals. ~

Bu)! 'em, Hang 'em, anti. Forget 'em.

Our nets are the finest available anywhere; and we back 'em up with Exclusive Warranties up to 6 years.

So you do the playing; and let us do the worrying. Call us.

IN STOCKIMMEDIATE DELIVERY

Three warehouses serving the nation Call Toll Free

800-633-2354 FAX. 205-237-8816

GoldMedcil Recreational Products

AT IN

'98

USPTA seeks nominations for national board The National Nominating Committee is accepting applications from members who are interested and av~ilable to

Supplements from page 14 tion is not recommended for athletes with diabetes, high blood pressure or kidney disorders, or pregnant women. Side effects such as headaches and nausea have been known to occur.

serve on the national US PTA Board of Directors for I 99899. Applicants must submit a resume and a 250- to 500word essay outlining their opinions on the goals and directions of US PTA. These materials should be postmarked no later than Feb. I 5, and sent to: Paula Scheb Bonita Bay Club 26660 Country Club Drive Bonita Springs, FL 3 3923

Statistics from page

11

dollars taught by each tennts professional on the wall of the pro's office.

Develop a written strategy for each area. Based on the numbers, develop a strategy with your tennis professionals to improve each area of your tennis program. Make sure your strategies are achievable.

Work with the staff to implement the strategies. Coach them so they will achieve the results and have a sense of accomplishment.

Reward your tennis staff for accomplishments, or correct what's not working. A reward can be many things, from a thank-you to a bonus or promotion.

This system for working with statistics and interpreting them has been successfully used

by Bill Thomas at Willowbrook Athletic Club, one of the best run and most profitable clubs in the United States. And it works for tennis departments as well.

22 ADDvontoge/Februory 1998

A

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John Trump, head professional at Mid-Town Tennis Club in Chicago, at one time noticed all of his statistics except adult group lessons were increasing.

John gave each of his 20 teaching professionals the task of creating one more group. When this project was complete he added 80 new students to his group lesson program.

Using a statistical management software package can make - it easy to graph the statistics.

Everyone should report their numbers at an agreed upon time, for example, Friday at 6 p.m., so they can be updated in the computer and ready for discussion at the next pro staff meeting. It should take about a half-hour to collect the numbers and another hour to input them and print graphs.

Through the use of statistics, you can see what's going on, reward what's going on, correct what's going wrong and develop strategies for improvement. By tracking and reviewing the numbers on a regular basis, you will find that what gets measured, gets done. 4-!)e

Melatonin Melatonin is becoming one of the hottest pills of the decade. It is one of the most talked about supplements in health-food stores today. Melatonin's benefits are still debatable, but studies indicate that its use may help avoid jet lag, help employees adjust to shift work, ease insomnia, boost the immune system and protect cells from free-radical damage. I ' can only recommend the use of melatonin with jet lag.

Jet lag is a factual phenomenon, and as any frequent flier will tell you, jet lag can be a serious problem. Jet lag can be defined as a disturbance in body rhythms as a result of traveling through at least two time zones (such as flying from Miami to Denver).

DHEA (Adrenal Hormone Dehydroeplandrosterone) Supporters of this drug say that it improves lean body mass and makes the user look and feel younger. However, more than 4,000 scientific studies have b-ten conducted with DHEA and there is still no complete and reliable pro~ tocol for its use. This is because most studies have been conducted with animals and not humans.

DHEA is an " orphan drug," meaning that it has no parent company to guide its development through various stages of animal and human research. No pharmaceutical company will invest the money with the drug being sold over-the-counter.

At this time, I cannot support using DHEA supplementation. 4-!)e

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7

little Tennis tips

uspta A littl~ 1-eJnis.

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Spinner winners Would you like to have competitive games but leave winning up to chance? What you need is a spinner. You can buy them already made or make one yourself If you buy a blank one, divide it in half Draw a tennis can with eight balls around it on one half and a can with two on the other.

Label more or less. When a game is over, decide who the winner is by spinning the spinner. The team with more points or less points could win. All is up to chance.

Susan Marshall, USPTA Chandler, Ariz.

Crazy tennis Divide the class into two teams, one team on each side of the net. Each team gets seven balls and lines them up on the doubles sideline near the net.

The rules are that the ball will be started by doing a drop hit or serve from the service line. All balls must land in the court on the first bounce, after that anything goes. The kids can do ups and downs to get the ball close enough to the net for them to hit it over. They can pass the ball to their partners. If they nit it into the net, they can run up and save the ball by doing ups or downs and then hit it over. The team loses the point if the ball rolls, the first bounce doesn't land in the court, they touch it with their hands or carry it on their racquets.

If a team loses the point, they take a ball from their line of balls and start the next point. The team with a ball left in its line is the winner.

One day I thought it may be fun to finally catch a student to make the game appear more realistic. I chased down my son, a student in the class, and picked him up. I knew I had made a terrible mistake when the tears started flowing. He immediately got a second chance. I knew then that I would never win that game again. However, I will continue to have fun playing it.

Linda Ensign Guentert, USPTA Lilburn, Ga.

Play HORSE to improve tennis strokes When running a clinic with four to five children between the ages of 6 and IO, play HORSE with them. Just like in basketball, someone has to make a certain shot and the next child has to match the shot or they receive a letter. It's great because the children can hit a forehand, backhand, serve, volley or any other stroke. It gives the kids an incentive to hit the correct stroke.

They love the game!

Joe Capobianco, USPTA Hartsville, S.C.

Joie Rolf-Switzer, USPTA Key West, Fla.

Be an active participant My students' favorite drills are ones in which I am directly involved in the game. In "the chase ga....111e," each student takes a turn hitting IO groundstrokes. As soon as the tenth ball is hit, the student must run around the net and to the end of the line while the instructor chases them. The more theatrics the better.

Playing HORSE challenges children to hit the correct stroke.

G ADDvantage/February 1998

23

USPTA welcomes new members and educational subscribers Congratulations to the following new USPTA members who fulfilled requirements for membership ~etween June I and Aug. 3 I , l I997.

Member

Educational subscribers Gannon-Barnctt, Ginny Durkin, Frank E.

Member

California Eastern

Sponsor

California Alcini, Amy Elizabeth Alexander, David B. Bullock, Matthew A. Callaghan, Danyiel V. Dell, Donald).

~

Klinovsky, Peter A. Lee, Henry H. S. Ramey, Mai A. Terry, Bill K. Thompson, Jeff B. Turnbull, Daniel Walendy, Jeffrey P. Weiss, Gregory Scott

S. Schultz

Camilli, Don C. Oyama, Ei Santos-Coy, Fred

c. Thompson S. Brawley

Dorais, G . Scott

). Kim B. Johnston

McMahon, Lori A. Pasek, Anne E. Peterson, Adam G.

Sponsor

Flota, David Gordin, Janice A. Hobbs, Michael Bria~ Hymans, Derik E. McGinnis, Bryan A. Mix, David Jerome

H. Tacub

Intermountain Berwald, Michael A.

Member

Kuroiwa, Shintaro

Hawaii

Emerson, James

Guizar, Loesje M.

Mulligan, Michael A. Palus, Mark Rohlf, Patrick G. Shibusawa, Tsuyoshi Yoder, James E.

Sponsor

W. Damon S. Campbell

). Johnson M. Phillips

Schapiro, Adam M. â&#x20AC;˘ Webb, Jeffrey Adam

A.W. Speake

White, Emily Renee

T. Ashdown

Pacific Northwest

s. Schultz

H art, Roger B. Hawkins, Darrell G.

s. Schultz

Mendoza, Hector Gustavo

Nusser, Lee A. R. Schaub Patel, Pintu S. Schultz Pattillo, James A. S. Schultz Petersen, Stephen).

S. Schultz C. C lare North Revak, Wendy Gilles Runkle, Gary R. T. Yerian Shapiro, William F. Thomas Ph.D., Bruce W. S. Miles Vigo, Ronald E. S. Betts Walker, James A.

R. Greer G. Moran R. Bynum K. McGlynn

Missouri Volley

S. Schultz

Abraham, Sally M. Ackerman, Bradley D. Bel\, Theodore Ralph Jaquez, Santiago O'Bryan, Mark Steven Schmersal, M ark McKenna

J. Movido D. Emmerson

Yocom, Woodrow D.

B. Schrama

Tana, Marco

J. Brandes R. Rebhuhn ) . Justice

Bowman , Thomas Byron

Howes, Lara

Aivano, Diane M.

Garmong, Aaron James

)in, Su-Gil Karuppiah, Vijaya Singham M. DePalmer Wilson, Glenn M.

Bakas, Andrew J. Berman, David J. Cooper, Sidney C. D 'Ambrosio, Joshua M. Easterbrook, Raymond H .

Ebner, Merrill R. Kostiuk, Mildred I. McManus, John P. Murphy-Francis, Kim

Mid-Atlantic Bender, Raymond Thomas Elder, James R. Ellis, Jack L. Gallagher, Tate L. Gilpin, Thomas T. Gribbin, Matthew P.

Soucy, Francine A.

L. Bybee

Larson, Scott W.

Agnolin, Marcel H. D. M iller Anttila, M ichael T homas Boorse III , Gerald L. M. DePalmer Sr. Bryan III, C. Jacob Butterfield, Robert R. Caban, Kenneth L. Curtis, William D. Deffner, Matthias H. Moore DiBitonto, Stephen W. Fritz, Christopher John Freehling, Elizabeth A. B. Boutin Gabrielle, Jon E. Hafter, H arold E. Hainline, Jon S. D. Petrine Henry, Chris J. Hoag, Gary D. Horne, Victor R.

C. Brooks

Mann, Michael Marius

S. Schultz

Southern Bindlechner, Carl E.

G. Sweetnam

Brandon, Sonia K.

Florida

24 ADDvontoge/Februory 1998

K. Young

Son Diego

New Englund

H enry, Kim

Zieminski, Kevin S.

May II, William R. Medina Jr., Jose C. Morrissey, Richard E.

Tandecki, Rick August Vai, Teina T.

Todorov, Konstantin K.

International

Morris, Ethan D. Pizzulli , Anthony J. Shortt, Anthony A. Szalay-Kicin, Beatrix Townsend, Richard D.

Long, Stan

B. Roddy

Hudson, Stephen H olter

Eastern Borinsky, Rayni Sue Castronovo, Wayne P.

Moore, Curtis G.

Sponsor

Rucks, Arran

Han, Dong Hwi

Cole, Elizabeth W. Cornelius, Keith Ann A. Crook, Alan H. Deutsch, Janice S. Greenberg, Jamie D. Greenberg, Jonathan Greenwald, Scott E. Karlen, Deborah A. Magrella, AI

Member

Owens, Robert C. Potsella, James N. Royalty, James Paul Vickers, Jason C. Wolden, David Allen Woods, Benjamin H. Zopp. William B.

R. Hubbard H . Moore

Harrison, Charles

Jupin, George W.

J. Waters

E. O'Malley S. Young G. Barkley D. Dilettuso

Lazovitz, Andrew A.

Schumann, Christin Michelle S. Schultz S. Schultz Tseng, Edward

Lausic, Oomagoj

C. Baker

Lear, Kevin J.

R. Brusa

Morgan, Thomas Powell, Karla D.

C. Baker H. Somerville

C. Joslin Jr.

Richardson, Jay Seufert, Jason H .

Smith, Tyler Van Thomas Jr., C. Buck Upchurch, Todd D. Wojtkowski, M ichaelS.

R. Russell T. Dimitry V. Bilotta L. Colbert E. H arris

T. Campbell ). Langlois

Southwest Ekstrand, Patrik H .

Fassig, Ron B.

Northern California Cory, Brian).

Da Silva, Emmanuel R. Dowdy, Stephen D. Gaillard, Frank E. G illette, Jeff Hubbard, Paul M. Johnston, William P. Marmesh, Carey Mieville, Michele Preovolos, Aleco Trabert, Mike A.

R.Till

Midwest S. Schultz G. Russell

Hand, Timothy W. Lopez, Jose A. Nichols Jr., John H .

Pereira, Moni ca Isabel Puente, Rogelio

Shaull, David A. R. C louson B. Rossi S. Robinson

Vicencio, Ed uardo L. Villalobos, Martha Irene

J. Snell

Texas R. H eckelman

Cass, Paul H. Cobb, Lillian G.

D. Edmonds

Gassaway, Carey Brent

Northwest Brown, Brian Patrick

Aranda, Jordan C. Benedict, Andy J. Burleson, Jesse G. Cabral, Mario Javier Chang, Jen-Chung Cusick, Paul A. Driscoll, Caroline 0.

H adjiloizou, Louis S. H ynes, Timothy P. Johnson, Bruce Reid

M. Menzi

Gom ez, Juan

V. Datlow

Middle Stutes Baker, Kevin J. Barber, Michael C. Bradley, Kevin C. Fiore, Christopher C. Gardiner, Sue N.

Tardif, Jason Thomas Tusler, Corydon M. Urton, Valerie A. Wallace, Kirsten Rebecca Webb, Ann R. Weihl, Lauren Wilansky, Matthew Aaron

C. Baker

S. Vaughan

H anson, Amy).

Husebo, Michael John )ayapathy, Raman Krueger, Nicholas K. Leff, Christopher H. Okins, Tammy Lee Reid, Gordon B. Wert, Jacob J.

""""'

P. Colbert J. Schissel

H afer, Jeremy D. H artman, Jeff T. Kerrigan, lvi-Jaanika Oliver, Jean L. Orellana, Christian Polo Ortiz, Carlos Parten, Clay G. Vamvalis, N ick M.

K. Day

L. May

Career Development Division conventions

Specialty Courses

Coaches Workshops

( 5 credits)

(2 credits per four-hour course; 4 credits per eight-hour course)

(2 credits each)

Feb. I2-I5

Texas Division Grapevine, Texas

Feb. 2 1-23

California Division City of Industry, Calif

Feb. 27March I

Middle States bivision

Feb. 27March I

Missouri Valley Division

March I-2

Midwest Division

Lake Harmony, .Pa. Tulsa, Okla.

·

Columbus, Ohio March 6-8

Mid-Atlantic Division Williamsburg, Va.

Aprili-5

Intermountain Division Park City, Utah;'

April 3-5

Northern CalifcJinia Division Santa Clara, Cali£

April24-26

Southwest Division Albuquerque, N.M.

April 30May 3

New England Division .

May 26-3I

Florida Division

June 5-7

Pacific North~est Division

Brewster, Mass.

Sanibel Island, Fla. Lake Chelan, Wash.

Division meetings/activities ( I/2 credit and up) Feb. I2

Intermountain Division

March 6

Midwest Division

March 8

Midwest Division

March I2

Intermountain Division

Denver, Colo.

Grand Rapids, Mich.

Indianapolis, Ind. Denver, Colo.

\

March 27-28 Midwest Division Big R apids, Mich.

April 2 6

i 1:;.

~

I I

Midwest Division Aurora, Ill.

T he deadline to register and/or cancel a course is 15 working days before rhe event. •Anyone canceling lace or failing to cancel will forfeit one-half the course fee. This schedule is subject to change.

Call the US PTA Membership Department for additi onal informacion or write via e-mail to membership@uspra.org.

Strategy and Tactics, Feb. 5, Indianapolis, Ind. (4 hours) , B. Ijm Drills for All Levels, Feb. 28, Columbus, Ohio ( 4 hours) , B. Hobden CPR , Feb. 28, Columbus, Ohio (4 hours), American Red Cross

Feb. 6-7

Midwest Division

Feb. I3-I4

Midwest Division

Indianapolis, Ind. Troy, Mich.

Feb. 28March 2 March I4

Columbus, Ohio

Eastern Division DeWitt, N .Y.

The Super Show/98 courses D ay one- Team Coaching/Strategy and Tactics/ Stroke Analysis/Private and Group Lessons, Feb. 3, Atlanta, Ga. ( 4 credits), G. Bacso, B. Ijm Day two- Nutrition/Sport Physiology (Specialty Course) , Feb. 4, Atlanta, Ga. (2 credits), P. johnson, !"f· Bergeron

Midwest Division

Tennis Teachers Course (4 credits for each eight-hour segment) Aprili5-I7

Aurora, Ill.

Exams, upgrades &Certification Training Courses (2 points for CTC only) Feb. 7-8 Feb. 13-I 5 Feb. 14-15 Feb. 14-15 Feb. I 5-16 Feb. 20-21 Feb. 20-;H Feb. 28 Feb. 28-March I Feb. 28-March I Feb. 28-March I March 11-12 March I3-I5 March I4-l5 March 14-15 March 14-15 March 20-2I March 21-22 March 22-23 March 28-29 March 28-29 March 29-30 April4-5 April4-5 April4-5 April8-9 April 17- IS April 17-I 8 April 18-19

Mobile, Ala. Kansas City, Mo. Rochester, N.Y. Boca Raton, Fla. Pleasanton, Cali£ Laie, Hawaii Industry Hills, Cali£ Columbus, Ohio (upgrades only) Daytona Beach, Fla. Gastonia, N.C. Dallas, Texas Flushing, N.Y. Cedar Rapids, Iowa Louisville, Ky. Burbank, Cali£ Manchester, N.H. Eugene, Ore. Boca Raton, Fla. Atlanta, Ga. Streetsboro, Ohio Solvang, Cali£ McLean, Va. Haines City, Fla. Charleston, S.C. Augusta, Ga. North Merrick, N.Y. Bradenton, Fla. Eugene, Ore. Murrieta, Cali£

ApriliS-19 April23-25 April25-26 April 25-26 April 25-26 April26-27 April26-27 May 2-3 May 3-4 May 8-IO May 9-IO May 9-10 May I6-I7 May 23 -24 May 29-3 0 May 30-3 I May 30-31 June 6-7 June 6-7 June6-7 June 7-8 June 10-11 June 13-14 June 14-I 5 June 14-15 June 18-20 June 20-21 June 21-22 June 25-27 June 27-28

Birmingham, Ala. Mesa, Ariz.

Aurora, Ill. Beverly Hills, Cali£ Boca Raton, Fla. Aclanta, Ga. Tyler, Texas Nashville, Tenn.

Richmond, Va. Sr. Louis, Mo. Mandeville, La. Pensacola, Fla. Orlando, Fla. Fountain Valley, Cali£ Wilmington, Del. Hilton Head Island, S.C. Malibu, Calif Rochester, Mich.

Jefferson City, Mo. Austin, Texas Boca Raton, Fla. Ease Seatauket, N.Y. Burbank, Cali£ Baltimore, Md. La Jolla, Cali£ Mesa, Ariz.

Greensboro, N.C. Aclanta, Ga. Mesa, Ariz.

Ventura, Cali£

Exam reservations must be made at least 21 days prior to the dates listed. Each date includes an exam, upgrade and CTC unless noted. Exam cancellations must be received no later than 14 days before the exam, or a cancellation fee will be charged accordingly. Affiliate members: late cancellation fee- $75; failure to cancel -application fee is forfeited. Certified members: late cancellation fee- $2S; failure to cancel- $25 plus the upgrade fee is forfeited. Registration for another exam will not be accepted until cancellation fees are paid.

ADDvontoge/februory 1998

25

Career Development USPTA book, video, audiocassette and review order form Send or fax order to US PTA Gift Shoppe, 3535 Briarpark Drive, Houston, Texas 77042.

For information, call (713) 978-7782, fax (713) 978-5096, or e-mail proshop@uspta.org.

Books

Price

QTY

No.. of reviews (SIS'each)

Reading a USPTA book, listening to an audiocassette or viewing a videotaped Specia lty Course and completing the review is a convenient home-study method of obtaining your Career Development credits .

Each book and video review is eligible for 2 cred its and the audiocassette is worth 1 credit.

There is a $15 charge per review to cover , processing . If only reviews are ordered, shipping charges do not apply.

Amount

Shipping & handling charges: 1. Contiguous 48 states $4 first lb. plus $ .50 each additiona l lb.

2. Alaska, Howoii, Puerto Rico &Canedo Price from grand total plus $1 0 second-day air or $15 next-day air 3. Other countries $20 first lb. plus $6 each additional lb.

Amount

Ship to: (please print clearly) No P. 0. boxes please.

Name ___________________________________________ Address ___________________________ Apt. No. ________ City _______________________ State ZIP ____________ Daytime phone (include area code) _________________________ USPTA member No. _____________

Method of payment Visa MasterCard Check International orders must pay by Visa or MasterCard .

Name as it appears on card -----------------------------=Credit cord No. Exp. date _ __ Signature -----------------------------------------

26 ADDvontoge/februory 1998

Subtotal2

......_......

Subtotal 1 Su btotal 2 Houston (MTA) residents odd 8.25% tax other Texas residents odd 7.25% tax Shipping & handling (see above) Grand total

US PTA The 1997 Ameritech Cup not only brought 28 of the world's best women tennis players to Chicago, it also brought area USPTA professionals together for the first USPTA Night at the Ameritech Cup. They held a 15 -minute exhibition- a choreographed routine of hitting and drilling - between two matches featuring Monica Seles. USPTA pros who participated were

Hal Anderson, Mark Bey, Rob Black, Lisa Culp, Mike Lange, Keith Scott, Nancy Watland and Teri Watland. Sylvia Got~ard, USPTA, organized the event and served as master of ceremonies.

USPTA professional Tim Smith is the new head ten-

nis coach at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N .Y Previously he coached Dutchess Community College to a 68-4 record in five seasons.

US PTA Master Professionals Dave Power and Greg Grover purchased Windward Lake Club in Alpharetta, Ga. WLC is now the home of "PTA''- Power Tennis Academy and Play Tennis America.

After 41 years and 34 state team titles, USPTA Master Professional Cary Bachman retired from coaching at Nicolet High School in Milwaukee. He was hired in 19 56 to coach football, then took over the b6ys' tennis team the next year. He coached it until 1993. He coached the girls' tennis team begin.ning 1n

1979, a position. he held until his retirenient. He won 13 staEe titles with the girls and 21 ~ith the boys.

Bachman was inducted into the US PTA Midwest Division Hall of Fame in 1995.

USPTA member Robert Helmig is the new assistant coach of men's tennis at the University of Arizona. He also was named assistant director for Bill Wright Tennis Camps and head professional at Vail Tennis Center in Vail, Colo.

Donna Alexson, USPTA, hosted the Rall y for Relief Mixed DouAlexson bles Tournament in Manchester, N .H. More than $ 3,000 was raised to benefit the M anchester Police Athletic League Junior Tennis Program , Make a Wish Foundation and "a friend of the community."

Manufacturers DuPont is the new title spon-

USPTA and the Cz:!ch Professional Tennis Association joined forces to offer educational courses in the Cz:!ch ¡ Republic. Martin Baroch, founder of the CPTA and a USPTA member, conducted a 50-hour advanced course (from left) Martin Baroch, George Bacso and Karel Jandus, for coaches covering stroke production, sport science, personal CPTA president development, career planning and management. USPTA's Director of Certification and Academies George Bacso, a Master Professional, held a course on progressions and the Certification Training Course. The Certification Ex am followed the courses. Seventeen coaches from the CZ[ch Republic, Slovak Republic and Switz:!rland attended.

Ben Press ( right) , USPTA, recently presented perennial senior women's champ Dodo Cheney with her z86'b USTAgold ball. She had just won the USTA 8os women's national hardcourt championships held at the Hotel del Coronado (Calif.).

sor and official sports apparel for World TeamTennis. The multiyear deal includes title sponsorship of the eight-team DuPont WTT Professional League and the DuPont WTT Recreational League.

Associations The U .S. Racquet Stringers Association has released its 19 9 8 certification res ring schedule. The three-part test examines proficiency in all areas of racquet service and product knowledge.

The test fee is $95 for USRSA m embers and $I 75 for nonmembers.

USPTA members receive 3 career development credits for successful completion.

For more information, call the USRSA at (6 19) 481-

3545.

The USRSA is also offering its " Total Racquet continued next page ADDvontoge/Februory 1998

27

(LASSIFIEDS Service" workshop. This full-day event covers all aspects of racquet service, including restringing, regripping, handle sizing, grommet/bumperguard replacement and customizing weight and balance. The workshops will be presented by USRSA Certified Racquet Technicians. The cost is $99 for USRSA members and $ I49 for nonmembers. USPTA members earn 4 continuing education credits. For a schedule and to register, call Phyllis Zarro at (6I9) 48I-3545.

Ian Morrison, an intern~tion­ ally known author, consultant and speaker, will deliver the opening keynote address at the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association's annual International Convention and Trade Show in Phoenix, March I 8-2 I. Morrison specializes in long-term forecasting and planning with emphasis on health care and the changing business environment.

Pro tour Carlos Moya, Marcelo Rios, Mark Philippoussis, Thomas Enqvist and Todd Martin have committed to playing in the RCA Championships. The Championships will be Aug. I5-23 in Indianapolis.

Miscellany Sportsworld Travel, the offi-

28 ADDvontoge/februory 1998

cial tour operator for North America to the Wimbledon Championships, has produced a schedule of 29 tours with a choice of eight central London hotels. Prices range from $660 for a fully inclusive two-night ground package with one day of tennis and a host of other inclusions such as food, drink, merchandise and transportation.

Sportsworld's I998 program also !ncludes tours to the Grand Slam events. For more information, call Sportsworld at (800) 278-6738.

Ralleyball, a recreational tennis program for gradeschool children, can bring hundreds of hours of court time revenue and hundreds of new people to your club.

Like T-ball is to baseball, Ralleyball takes out the frustrating parts of tennis and makes it fun for ki-ds to play. The program was created by Julie Mastromarino, marketing director of West Side Tennis Club in Sinking Springs, Pa., with technical advice from Brian Wardhammer, USPTA, junior development director at the club.

The program is for sale and includes a manual, time table, instructions, publicity materials and pricing infocmation. For more information, call the JAM Marketing Company at (888) 645-592I or (6IO) 736-0595, 9:30 a.m.-4:40 p.m. EST.

AWARDS NetKnacks new 1998 catalog!

Unique silver, bt':.ss, crystal and acrylic awards, free engravings, embroidered towels, sweat shirts, socks and more. (800) 374-6153.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES Net Profit: The Business Program for Club Tennis Professionals by Dave Sivertson. 400 pages - guaranteed to make professionals more productive and profitable. Approved for USPTA Career Development points. $195. Call (512) 261-7775.

CLUB FOR SALE The Lake Jackson Racquet & Fitness Club- Lake Jackson, Texas (I hour south of Houston) . Features 14,500 square-foot clubhouse on a beautiful4 1/ 2 acres with eight clay courts, one hard court, modern fitness center, pro shop, locker rooms, snack bar, two racquetball courts, aerobic studio, 2 5-meter lap pool and jogging track. For information, please call (409) 292-0899 and contact General Manager, George Schuldberg.

Tennis club for sale in Tampa, Fla. Seven red clay courts and one newly resurfaced hard court, five lighted courts, pro shop, locker rooms, house on premises (three bedroom/ two bath) . For more information, call (813 ) 653.-0083 or fax (81 3) 653-1799.

COACHING AIDS NEW 16-page catalog from Oncourt Offcourt with eight new training aids plus FREE CASSETTE OFFER. (800) 75 2-7673.

PERFECT TENNIS GIFT! Tennis shower curtain with mental training booklet. $29.95. To reserve Bathroom Tennis Shower Kit: (2 12) 759-5 3 52.

DRILLS New, exciting clinic formats and group drill~ , plus drills for private lessons. Free samples! Our products make your job easier! Call Club & Resort Marketing, (800) 5694661.

EMPLOYMENT HOWTOGETABETTERJOB Bob Larson's magazine, TENNIS EMPLOYMENT, lists almost 100 jobs every monrh. Current issue $10. Bob Larson, P.O. Box 24379H, Edina, MN 55424.

Come to Jamaica and feel all right!

One- and two-week work/vacation for you and your guest. Contact Andrea Perelman at Sunshine Tennis in Jamaica. Phone (904) 8243472; fax (904) 824-1143.

WANTED! Tennis professionals and tennis coaches. The Professional Coaches Association offers numerous opportunities for tennis pros and coaches to participate in PCA Working Vacation Prograrvs at exclusive resorts throughout the Caribbean. Join this long-running and successful program t hat so many professionals have enjoyed.

For information, contact Mark Burns at (617) 552-3171.

The El Cid Mega Resort Tennis Academy in Mazarlan, Mexico, is offering tennis professionals an opportunity to teach "Tennis in Paradise" 25weeks during the fall, winter and spring months. The hotel provides complimentary room and board, marketing plan and materials for group promotion, 17 clay and hard courts to run your program. Make $3,200 with only 16 customers! Exchange ideas and drills with orher USPTA members. Teach a resort program and make more$$. A winter home for US PTA members! For information about available weeks in 1998 call Steve Vaughan's Wilq Wesr Tennis Operator- El Cid Mega Resort Academy, (800) 654-4168.

HEAD/ASSISTANT PROS needed for job openings at clubs nationwide. Fax resume to WTS INTERNATIONAL ar (301) 6223 373, attention Amy Seybolr or call ( 301) 622-7800.

RADAR GUNS SPEED CHEK Radar Gun only $149 plus $8 s/ h in 48 contiguous U .S. states. GUARANTEED LOWEST PRICE. Oncourt Offcourt. Call (800) 752-7673.

Rates: $30 for 20 words, minimum per issue. 50 cents per word thereafter. Pay by check, moneY order, Visa or MasterCard. Prepayment is required. Supply typed copy and include full nome, telephone number, credit card number and expiration dote. (No agency or cosh discounts.)

Issue closes 15th of month, two months preceding cover date. Fax to (71 3) 978-7780, attn: ADDvalifage classifieds. No classifieds will be accepted by telephone. No exceptions are made.

US PTA cannot verify nor be responsible for the contents of any advertisement. It reseNes the right to reject any advertisement at its discretion.

• All AlP & Wll Draws, Ranklnus and Prize money • No Ured lnslnlclion, tancv pants reson stories or self-serving equipment reviews. Our readers know how to play, where to PlaY and Willi What to play.

For lhe intense IN-YOUR-FACE player/reader onlY • l!lstant coverage of Events • 20 nmes a Year

NEED WE SAY MORE;» WE DO. BOO • BOO • TERN tenniSweell@tennisweell.com

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