contents the total professional – enhancing your career 5
Cardio Tennis set to hit new highs in 2012 – Ever-expanding program benefits you, your players and your business – by Michele Krause, USPTA, national Cardio Tennis manager and speakers team director
7 Make concentration part of your players’ game plan – by Michelle Cleere, Ph.D.
departments 2 Executive Committee 3 Vice president’s message 20 Classifieds 22 Career development 24 Industry action
11 Outlaw Tennis – by Alice R. Goldfinger 17 Dynamic warm-ups improve tennis performance – by Alan L. Hammond, TennisMD News 19 The gift of tennis – Taking it to the streets brings joy to both teacher and young learners – by Katie Kinsella
On the cover – Player Drew Fontenot hits a shot in a scene from an episode of “On Court with USPTA.” This show, “Improved Forehand Technique,” features Rick Macci and will be available on DVD in the U.S. Pro Tennis Shop. Photo by Joe Birkmire.
volume 35 • issue 2
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com ADDvantage magazine editorial offices USPTA World Headquarters 3535 Briarpark Drive, Suite One Houston, TX 77042 Phone – 713-978-7782 800-USPTA-4U Fax – 713-358-7794 email – magazine@uspta.org
Shawna Riley Kimberly Forrester Kathy Buchanan John Dettor
Office hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Central time
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
Editor Managing editor Circulation Advertising
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 USPTA. Copyright© United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc. 2012. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion of the magazine is not permitted without written permission from USPTA. ADDvantage/February 2012
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USPTA Executive Committee Division presidents, regional vice presidents and past national presidents:
National Board of Directors: Tom Daglis
President 910-630-7147
Randy Mattingley First vice president 281-358-2181
Nancy Cox Vice president 503-409-2567
California Division Pierre Mareschal President 626-744-1650 Mike Gennette Regional vice president 805-495-0111
Eastern Division Joe Roediger President 914-373-6232 Warren Lem Regional vice president 631-766-2318
Middle States Division Bill Sember President 484-888-8329 Wilson Pipkin Regional vice president 717-898-3102
Midwest Division Paul Marcum President 248-626-9880, ext. 4006 Mark Faber Regional vice president 419-381-9661
Jeff Hawes Vice president 504-482-4084
Tom McGraw Vice president 502-895-4646
Dan Moster Vice president 260-249-9424
Gary Trost Vice president 405-848-2994
Harry Gilbert Immediate past president 386-793-0084
Past presidents Ron Woods
(2005-2007) 361-991-7501
David T. Porter, Ed.D.
(2003-2005) 808-675-3755
Joseph Thompson
(1999-2003) 720-470-6550
Florida Division Jeff Cohen President 561-995-5213 Richard Centerbar Regional vice president 561-487-7070
Hawaii Division Ken Nakama President 808-679-3197 Bruce Nagel Regional vice president 808-262-2057
Intermountain Division Andrew Booth President 970-349-6127 Cary Hodges Regional vice president 303-771-0055
Mid-Atlantic Division John Cleary President 301-340-6185 Carl Clark Regional vice president 804-287-1300
Missouri Valley Division Kendell Hale President 816-436-1608 Angela Koumaris Regional vice president 405-848-2994
New England Division Christopher Stevens President 603-610-0183
Northern Division Brian McCoy President 763-656-1590 John Schollmeier Regional vice president 952-232-1334
Northern California Division John Sharpe President 925-283-5448 Andrea Barnes Regional vice president 650-736-7272
Pacific Northwest Division Hunter Lipscomb Regional vice president 541-753-1043
San Diego Division Dophie Poiset President 858-756-4459 Nelson Alapi Regional vice president 858-382-6571
Southern Division William Phillips President 337-849-5821 Pat Whitworth Regional vice president 800-438-7782
Southwest Division Vicki Foster President 602-930-8423 Christopher Brewer Regional vice president 623-215-6500
Texas Division Charlotte Wylie President 817-427-6680 Jim Sciarro Regional vice president 903-581-7788
Vice president’s message 2012 USPTA National Awards
The division that works together wins together!
T
he time has come for each USPTA division health of it! SM Award, which were both introduced to begin the process of creating an annual in 2011. The Diversity Award recognizes USPTAdivision report (scrapbook) and soliciting certified members who have demonstrated an nominations for a variety of USPTA and tennis outstanding ability to use tennis to unite diverse industry awards. This task of creating a division populations within their community. The Tenscrapbook and submitting nominations for all the nis – for the health of it! Award spotlights certified awards takes a lot of teamwork and a large com- members who have created the most unique Tenmitment by each division. nis – for the health of it! event. USPTA started Just this past month, each division executive this initiative in 2008 to raise public awareness of director and scrapbook chairman the tremendous health, fitness and received the scrapbook application psychological benefits of tennis, and and all of the information necessary encourage people to get out and play for the competition. The most covthe sport as a part of their regular fiteted honors include Division of the ness regimen. In addition, USPTA Year awards for both large and small members are the delivery force for the divisions. The Large Division of the lessons and other tennis activities that Year is chosen from the top nine diprovide those benefits. visions (based on membership size), But that’s not all … We have more while the Small Division of the Year is awards! Based on all the information one of the eight divisions with lower that is submitted in division scrapmember numbers. Each scrapbook books and reviewed by the Awards Dan Moster chairman needs to collect a lot of Committee, divisions and individual information for their division to be a viable com- members are recognized for continuing education, petitor for one of the Division of the Year awards years of service, division membership growth, or Most Improved Division, although the latter is participation in Tennis Across America and money not necessarily chosen every year. The 2011 win- raised for Lessons for Life charitable programs. ners included: Large Division of the Year – Texas The last but not least of the awards and one that and Small Division of the Year – Southwest. The has always been considered a big win is Newsletter scoring for these awards is very straightforward, of the Year. There is, and should be, great pride but the required information is quite detailed. taken with each division’s newsletter. The 2011 The goal for each division is to max out or come winner of this award, the Southern Division, and as close as possible on the points in each category, past winners of this award, would attest to this. A so that they will be considered in one of the above lot of effort goes into creating a division newsletter, categories. A key part of these awards is also the whether it’s in print or an online-only newsletter. inclusion of national award nominees. The criteria for this award are very simple and The national awards that recognize our fellow should be a guide for every division to follow when USPTA members – or maybe you – include Player creating their newsletter. While the awards comof the Year awards in eight different categories, mittee members look at overall production of the College Coach of the Year, High School Coach newsletter, they pay particular attention to aspects of the Year, Touring Coach of the Year, Facility such as originality, creativity, quality of writing, Manager of the Year (large and small facility), use of pictures and graphics, quality of content Tester of the Year and Pro of the Year. (such as instructional articles/drills, continuing Other categories include Lessons for Life, Ten- education, certification and upgrade information, nis Across America, USPTA Industry Excellence new-member lists, member features, tournament Award and USPTA Star Award, as well as the news, job openings, required endorsee ads and Diversity Award, and USPTA’s Tennis – for the logos, and national news). continued next page
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
National Board of Directors President First Vice President
Tom Daglis Randy Mattingley
Vice Presidents
Nancy Cox Jeff Hawes Tom McGraw Dan Moster Gary Trost
Past President
Harry Gilbert
WORLD HEADQUARTERS CEO
Tim Heckler
Director of Operations
Rich Fanning
Administrative Director
Marty Bostrom
Director of Communications
Shawna Riley
Creative Services Director
Julie Myers
Publications Manager/ Managing Editor
Kim Forrester
Director of Public Relations
Poornima Rimm
Communications
Jill Phipps
Director of Marketing
John Dettor
Digital Asset Director
Timothy Heckler
Digital Asset Coordinator/ Ramona Husaru Tennis Multimedia Management Video Production Director
Joe Birkmire
Video Editor
Nick Warwick
Video Editor/ Flash Designer
Aisha Nelson
Video Editor/Videographer Chris Maale Director of Fred Viancos Professional Development Corporate Janice Stollenwerck Services Administrator Director of Information Technology
Dan Wilson
Information Technology/ Multimedia
Scott Bucic
Director of Computer Services
Kathy Buchanan
Director of Membership and Certification
Vicky Tristan
Membership/ Certification Coordinator
Sylvia Ortiz
Membership/ Melony DeLoach Insurance Coordinator Director of Finance Payroll/Benefits Controller Merchandise/ Accounting Assistant
Kathy Ladner Renée Heckler Ellen Weatherford Shelina Harris
Legal Counsel Attorney-at-law
Paul Waldman
For information, write the USPTA World Headquarters 3535 Briarpark Drive, Suite One Houston, TX 77042 Phone 713-97-USPTA 800-USPTA-4U Fax 713-978-7780 uspta@uspta.org www.uspta.com Office hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Central time
ADDvantage/February 2012
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from previous page 2012 USPTA Awards – Key points of interest 1. The awards period is from July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2012. 2. Nominations may be submitted by a division or a certified member. Selfnominations are accepted. 3. All material to be judged for Division of the Year can now be submitted as PDFs and sent via email. Please submit as one PDF document. Large PDF files may be burned to a CD/DVD and mailed in. While divisions may still submit a hard copy of the application in one three-ring binder, the Awards Committee encourages divisions and applicants to submit their applications and all supporting materials in one of the above electronic formats. 4. Individual Nominations – A certified member may nominate himself or herself, or another certified member, as long as the application form provided by USPTA is used. Applicants who complete the application using a
TENNIS CUBE
computer should take care to keep all questions in their original format. ALL applications can now be submitted as PDFs and submitted via email. Large PDF files may be burned to a CD/DVD and mailed in. The awards committee encourages applicants to submit their applications and all supporting materials in one of the above electronic formats. Applications and related materials may be emailed to pr@uspta.org. 5. The awards will be presented at the USPTA World Conference on Tennis in September. Applicants should be prepared to attend, and each division should make an effort to ensure that nominees attend. 6. The World Headquarters must receive all applications and division yearly reports (scrapbooks) by the July 2 deadline. (Having an application postmarked July 2 is not acceptable and those applications will not be considered by the Awards Committee). Applications submitted via email must be emailed by
July 2 at 11:59 p.m. central time. The entire application and ALL supporting materials must be received on or before the deadline date to be considered. The Awards Committee will not accept applications received after the deadline. 7. The Awards Committee not only judges the award nominations, but also is available to answer questions throughout the year. If you have any questions, please email Dan Moster, awards chair, at danmoster@usptapro.com or call him at 260-249-9424. Questions also may be directed to Poornima Rimm at the USPTA World Headquarters at 800-877-8248 or 713-978-7782, ext. 125. Members are also encouraged to contact their USPTA division executive director or scrapbook chairman for individual award information and application forms. 8. All applications must be mailed/shipped to: USPTA World Headquarters, 3535 Briarpark Drive, Suite One, Houston, TX 77042 Attn: Awards Committee or emailed ro pr@uspta.org.
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ADDvantage/February 2012
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Tips from the pros Cardio Tennis set to hit new highs in 2012 Ever-expanding program benefits you, your players and your business by Michele Krause, USPTA, national Cardio Tennis manager and speakers team director
C
ardio Tennis has come a long way in just six short years. Thanks to the support of many, including the USPTA and its teaching professionals, more than 1.5 million people are now playing Cardio Tennis at 1,800 sites around the country. And Cardio Tennis, which is managed by the Tennis Industry Association, is now growing the game in 30 countries. Both domestically and internationally, the program has been spreading rapidly. Delivery of the Cardio Tennis product has evolved considerably, too. And as we come up on the program’s seventh birthday, we continue to raise the bar, improving the Cardio Tennis experience for tennis -teaching professionals, facilities and consumers.
In 2012, you’ll see some exciting enhancements in the Cardio Tennis program and in the tools, resources and education available to providers – all with the hope that we can continue to spread the positive benefits that CT brings to consumers,
while helping to boost your business and your bottom line. The new CardioTennis.com CardioTennis.com has been revamped and improved and is now the website portal for both consumers and providers. (The original provider site, partners.cardiotennis.com, is no longer accessible.) The new website is loaded with detailed information and offers enhanced functionality and technology features that are crucial components to growing Cardio Tennis. For tennis consumers, the new CardioTennis.com site makes it much easier to find CT providers, as well as learn more about the program. An updated “Frequently Asked Questions” covers highlights and details, and the library of videos allows consumers to see Cardio Tennis in action. The site explains the benefits of playing Cardio Tennis, shows how to properly train using a heart-rate monitor, offers success stories, and more. Consumers can now search for – as well as sign up and pay for – a Cardio Tennis session online, right from the CT website, making their Cardio Tennis experience a seamless transition from learning about the program to hitting the courts. For tennis providers, the website is the place to get started in Cardio Tennis and realize all the benefits it can bring to you and your facility. You’ll be able to explore the CT curriculum and tools for providers, and you’ll find out more about becoming a Cardio Tennis Authorized Provider (see
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continued next page ADDvantage/February 2012 5
from previous page below) and registering for Cardio Tennis Training. Providers log into their personal CT accounts right from the website, where they can easily manage everything that has to do with the program. Cardio Tennis Authorized Providers Cardio Tennis terminology also is changing. We’re no longer promoting “official sites,” but will now have “Cardio Tennis Authorized Providers,” a newly developed platform for tennis- teaching professionals and facilities. If you have been an official site in the past, now you’ll need to go through the simple online registration process at CardioTennis.com to become an Authorized Provider. Authorized Providers can be tennis-teaching professionals (providers who travel to multiple facilities to conduct Cardio Tennis classes) or facilities. Authorized Providers have full access to all areas of CardioTennis.com, the use of the Cardio Tennis name and logo, a new marketing toolkit, and access to the “Authorized Provider Dashboard” on the website for more CT education and drills, as well as many other benefits, for a $100 annual fee. Cardio Tennis Invitation System One of the key benefits you receive as an Authorized Provider is access to the new technology tool, the Cardio Tennis Invitation System (CTIS). The CTIS has three primary features: • It will help pros market and manage their Cardio Tennis sessions and fill their programs more easily, more regularly and to capacity. • It will help players register and pay for your Cardio Tennis classes, freeing you from these administrative tasks. • It will get players more engaged in their tennis community – and hitting the courts more frequently. For providers, CTIS automates many administrative functions, allowing you to do more productive things, such as teaching tennis and running programs. The CTIS technology easily creates electronic invitations that can be sent to members, non6 ADDvantage/February 2012
members, the public or any combination. You can also choose to collect payment online through the system. With the invitation system, you set the size of the Cardio Tennis classes you want to run, and the system takes it from there, sending out invites, tracking registrations, sending out reminders to players, inviting different groups at different times based upon registration, etc. Think how many hours a week this can save you and your staff – no more phone calls, or keeping track of emails and responses. To find out who has signed up for your CT classes, you simply need to check online with your Authorized Provider Dashboard. Tools and education It is our priority to ensure that coaches have the training and education to deliver a proper, safe and healthy Cardio Tennis class. Historically, we’ve provided advanced education in Cardio Tennis through workshops and the USPTA specialty course – we haven’t “certified” Cardio Tennis instructors. In 2012, tennis professionals who are current with their education (have completed a Cardio Tennis workshop or USPTA specialty course since 2009) will be designated a “licensed Cardio Tennis professional.” This designation will be noted on their profile on CardioTennis.com so consumers know they are getting the true Cardio Tennis experience by a properly trained professional. TRX Cardio Tennis Another exciting addition to the 2012 Cardio Tennis lineup is the introduction of TRX Cardio Tennis. TRX is a suspension training system designed to facilitate an enormous range of body-weight training movements for the entire body, and it is the ultimate system for adding strength, muscle endurance, balance and flexibility. Cardio Tennis has always been about elevating the heart rate and training “in the zone,” and TRX Cardio Tennis will provide the best ball-striking, calorie-burning workout you can find anywhere. TRX Cardio Tennis classes can accommodate up to 16 players on one court. The
TRX Cardio Tennis class is very structured, with precise lesson plans that combine Cardio Tennis activities and TRX exercises in a 90-minute class (a traditional Cardio Tennis class is 60 minutes). In TRX Cardio Tennis classes, all tennis and TRX exercises are defined; unlike original Cardio Tennis, there is no room for interpretation – the rotations are timed and are critical to the success of the class and to a healthy and safe result for participants. To offer TRX Cardio Tennis, in addition to being an Authorized Provider and keeping current with Cardio Tennis education, you also must complete the TRX Cardio Tennis training course. Details are available at CardioTennis.com. As many USPTA professionals have found out in the last six years, Cardio Tennis not only keeps your players and customers healthy, but it can also keep your business healthy. As an Authorized Provider, your listing on CardioTennis.com and access to CT drills as well as the Cardio Tennis Invitation System will all help to grow your business and increase your revenue. With current education, you will be designated a licensed Cardio Tennis professional, which will add to your credibility in the eyes of the consumer. And with TRX Cardio Tennis you can take your programming to another level with a unique product that consumers want. In 2012, make sure you take advantage of all that Cardio Tennis has to offer you, your customers and your business! Michele Krause, a USPTA P-1 professional, is the Cardio Tennis Manager for the Tennis Industry Association. She oversees the Cardio Tennis program in the United Sates and internationally and is responsible for the day-to-day operations, including curriculum, event planning, training and marketing. She is responsible for the 40 members of the National Cardio Tennis Speakers Team and travels to many industry conventions, meetings and events to provide ongoing education on the Cardio Tennis program. On an international level, Krause works directly with tennis federations in various countries to deliver a business plan for the teaching professionals and consumers specific to their needs. She also trains coaches on how to deliver the product through national and international workshops. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
Make concentration part of your players’ game plan by Michelle Cleere, Ph.D.
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any different factors can affect a player’s match-related concentration. But tennis-teaching professionals can help their students develop strategies to combat nerves and other negative distractions before and during the match.
A pre-performance routine helps prepare an athlete for competition by putting the focus on the match. It can involve any number of things: imagery (related to strategy, one’s opponent, or the court), eating, drinking, positive self-talk, deep breathing, muscle relaxation, etc. The content of this routine depends on what works best for that individual, but any pre-performance habits should be productive and fairly systematic. Most players know the factors that adversely affect them before tournaments: You don’t want to be out in the sun too much, you want to make sure you get enough sleep but not too much, you want to eat the right foods (it’s not a great time to start experimenting with food), you want to go through your normal physical and psychological routines, and you don’t want to make any major changes to your game. Distractions, whether before or during a match, can be categorized as internal and www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
external. Internal distractions are the things that players say to themselves; both positive and negative. Negative thoughts include: I am losing, I can’t do this, and I’m never going to be able get my second serve in. They also include should-haves and whatifs. All of these break concentration and sometimes increase anxiety to the point of not being able to play at all. Try to make sure your student never plays from a place of fear, which stiffens muscles and makes breathing shallow. Fear controls everything, particularly your concentration. It makes you late and tentative on your strokes and leaves you secondguessing the placement of your first serve. Instead of thinking about the score, a player should be watching the opponent’s serve and getting ready for the return. Players also need to avoid getting depressed about missing three consecutive forehands instead of preparing early for the next shot. They can’t go back and change the fact that
they’ve already missed a series of forehands, but they can control hitting a winner on the next forehand. Players also need to deal with external distractions, such as the media, coaching staff, friends, family and spectators. Concentration is really all or nothing. For example, if a player is focused on a comment that a spectator made, he or she will not be focused on the game. It’s also distracting to see or hear extraneous sights or sounds that have nothing to do with the game. The best plan of action to deal with concentration busters during a match is “simulation training.” This can be used in practice to simulate experiences we want to have happen during match play. Simulation training can help players learn to identify and deal with internal and external distractions, to the point that it becomes automatic. Other methods of dealing with distractions include controlling breathing, using cue words, positive phrases, specific imagery and a pre-serve routine. If your students have practiced regularly and followed a constructive routine, there is nothing left other than to play their game. They may play better than they have before, but they could also play worse. If they start off slow they need to bring their concentration back to where it needs to be and finish strong. With your skilled guidance, it is in their control. Michelle Cleere, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist who specializes in breaking emotional patterns that hold people from achieving their physical goals; whether the motivation is to get healthier or beat the competition. With a doctorate in clinical psychology and an MA in sports psychology, Dr. Cleere is one of the leading experts in exercise and sports psychology. She serves on the faculty of JFK University, works with Doctor Oz and has written for Triathlete magazine and the National Academy of Sports Medicine. ADDvantage/February 2012
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Outlaw Tennis by Alice R. Goldfinger
T
here are certain laws of nature and tennis. The earth revolves around the sun. Right-handed people play tennis with their right hand – that was until USPTA Professional Harvey McCartney broke the laws of tennis. McCartney, of the Woodlands Club in Falmouth, Maine, created a phenomenon among his students that has had an impact both on and off the court. For Harvey it started when he was 25 and ranked No. 1 in the state of Oklahoma. Injury ended his present and his future, or so he thought. A right-handed player who began playing with a $20 racquet at the age of 15, he made his way in the world of tennis unconventionally. He had no coaches, lessons or even a tennis court at first. He played by hitting a ball against a cement wall. When tennis seemed to be finished with Harvey, only then did he begin to make his serious contribution to the sport. He started playing with his left hand. In the world of science it is called Disruptive Innovation. Being from Oklahoma, Harvey prefers to call it “Outlaw Tennis.” I know how significant his discovery is because he got me back in the game after a traumatic brain injury using this technique. The theory is quite simple. When a righty uses the left side of the body to engage in activities that would normally be done with the right (dominant) side, new pathways are created in the brain. The brain wants to serve the ball by tossing with the left hand and swinging with the right hand. Imagine now, the opposite. The righty tosses with the right hand and swings with the left. The racquet and ball are in the wrong hands and the brain must adapt. This technique allows for play during periods of injury because the player can switch to the nondominant side while resting the dominant, injured arm. M cCartney’s first experiment was on himself and about 30 students. He moved from dabbling in theory to serious innovation with a teen
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
Coach Harvey McCartney has created excitement among students with his unconventional brand of tennis.
named Aidan. Aidan broke his right arm and was in a cast for three months. He continued to play but with his left side. When the cast was removed, Harvey discovered a secondary gain from having Aidan play throughout his injury. For some reason, he was able to play better tennis with his right hand than before the injury. The brain had absorbed the switch in hands and transferred that knowledge to the other side of Aidan’s body – and his tennis game. He was markedly improved on his right side without having used it for three months. Outlaw Tennis is also an exciting way for teachers to understand the experience of a new player. Teaching from the non-
dominant side adds an element of challenge for the instructor – much like the concept of a handicap in golf. This is simply more fun. Having less mastery, less control and less experience brings out the beginner in the teacher. The instructor can share the new player’s pure joy in making contact with the ball for the first time. The rush of connecting all the elements of a serve is new once again. Outlaw Tennis brings laughter to the court. It also creates longevity for broken players, which creates longevity for the players’ relationships with their club or team. For me, it has deepened my bond with the club and allowed me to keep playing while navigating the murky waters of brain trauma. I could no longer read, speech was difficult, I had to sleep most of the day, but I knew I would play tennis at least twice a week every week, just like I would go to rehabilitation. I am not an athlete. I did not play sports as a kid. I do not enjoy exercise. I used to get my joy from books, conversation, learning and teaching. But doing what I had always done would not help my brain injury. Now that I am a year and a half out, I realize I may never again do what I always did. Outlaw Tennis taught me how to embrace becoming a beginner again. It opened my mind and my life to possibilities I could not have imagined if I had continued to pursue only my former expertise. Outlaw Tennis created doors in my life where there were none before and gave me the courage and humor to cross the threshold, laughing with joy. Rabbi Alice R. Goldfinger is the former spiritual leader of Congregation Bet Ha’am in South Portland, Maine. When she is not in rehabilitation at Bayside Neurorehab, or taking a nap, you can find her and her children on the courts at the Woodlands Club in Falmouth, Maine. She also writes a blog called “Brainstorm” about her experiences with traumatic brain injury. You can find it at www.rabbibrainstorm.blogspot.com. ADDvantage/February 2012
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Dynamic warm-ups improve tennis performance by Alan L. Hammond, TennisMD News*
I
n the sport of tennis, agility and power are very important. Improved agility will allow you to change directions quickly, get to a ball that is hit to the other side of the court, or move back and forward to the net for strategic positioning. Because most of the movements in tennis are short-duration bouts, lower-body power is integral to better performance. Improvement in power and agility requires proper warm-up. A recent study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research shows that even the type of warm-ups athletes do can impact the level of fitness they achieve.
The study tested highly trained individuals using different kinds of warm-up routines prior to power and agility testing to determine the effects of each kind of warm-up on performance. The three types of warm up routines were classified as: d ynamic, static, and no warm-up. Each participant in the study performed a warm-up followed by testing in each of the warm-up and testing categories on three consecutive days. The study was carefully performed to be sure outside variables would not impact the results. Toward that end, ensuring proper form and technique, randomizing the order of participation in warm-up and performance testing, instructing participants to refrain
from exercise or heavy activity throughout testing, performing the testing at 6 a.m. to ensure the same time of day, removing study participants who did not meet the criteria, and so on. Dynamic warm-ups consisted of 10 repetitions of the following: bend and reach, rear lunge and reach, turn and reach, squat, rower, power jump, prone row, push-up, windmill, diagonal lunge and reach. Additionally, the following drills were performed at 25-meter segments: verticals, laterals, crossovers, skips, and shuttle sprints. Static warm-ups consisted of the following: overhead arm pull, turn and reach, rear lunge and reach, hamstring stretch, calf stretch, posterior hip stretch,
and trunk flexion/extension stretch. Most of these stretches were performed one time for 20 to 30 seconds. Three performance tests used included: five-step jump (test for leg power), T-drill (test for agility), and medicine ball underhand throw for distance (total body power). Dynamic warm-ups were shown to significantly improve performance in both power and agility. The factors most likely contributing to increased performance include: decreased stiffness of muscles and joints, increased transmission rate of nerve impulses, other glycolysis-related changes, increases in muscle twitch force, and rate of force development. Though there are probably other factors that also improve performance, these were cited as some of those that could impact the differences in the two warm-up methods. It is important to note that because dynamic warm-ups are more aggressive than static warm-ups, there is also an increased possibility of injury. The study did not test dynamic and static warm-ups used in conjunction with one another and therefore the combination of these types of warm-ups could also be considered. In general, more and more tennis coaches are including some type of dynamic warm-up in their training programs to help individuals make the “rest” to “full activity” transition in tennis. Whatever type of warm-up you choose, make sure to consult a physician about its impact on and benefits to a training routine. Reference: Dynamic vs. Static-Stretching warm up: The Effect on Power and Agility Performance, McMillian, D. J., Moore, J. H., Hatler, B. S., and Taylor, D. C., Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, Volume: 20(3), August 2006, 492-499. *Article from TennisMD.com
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The gift of tennis
Taking it to the streets brings joy to both teacher and young learners by Katie Kinsella
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hat if the love of a sport could inspire a better quality of life? What began as a simple idea in my head turned into a beautiful reality recently in the streets of Coquimbo, Chile.
Katie Kinsella (second from right) poses with her Chilean tennis students.
It was quite a journey, though, from concept to reality. Within my first week living in Chile, I quickly realized that tennis – the sport, the culture, and most importantly, access – belonged solely to a small population of Chile’s elite. Comments from the nonelite went like this: “Soccer is our sport, tennis is theirs ... I have never seen a racquet in real life, only on the TV... You have to be rich to play tennis in Chile...” But I was ready! I brought 13 racquets, 15 tennis balls, one rolled-up net, and 100 yards of rope in my luggage to prove that tennis can be a street sport. I left Colegio Diego de Almeyda at 3 p.m. on a Tuesday, carrying the enormous duffel bag full of tennis racquets that I literally transported all over the country, quietly repeating in Spanish the instructions for how to hit a forehand. I had been up late the night before memorizing words and phrases like topspin, slice, strategy, let the ball bounce, forehand, volley, serve, on your toes – tennis vocabulary that I don’t use in my everyday Spanish conversations. I was excited, I was www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
nervous, I was hoping that enough kids would show up to be able to play the games I had planned for the afternoon. The week before, I saw some kids playing soccer in an open court filled with trash and grafitti in the heart of Tierras Blancas (the barrio where I work) and immediately pictured its potential as my future tennis court. Today would be the day I tested it out in Miss Katie’s first “Taller de Tenis” (tennis workshop) with a few of my seventh-grade students I had invited. I was not prepared for what awaited me as I turned the corner of the dirt road two blocks behind my school. There, standing in the court, were 40 of my students who were visibly giddy for their first introduction to tennis. I was completely overwhelmed in the best way possible. I could almost feel their energy pulsing through the air and their pure excitement was evident in their faces. That moment will forever be frozen in my mind. “Miss Katie! Enseñanos!” (Teach us!) And so began the tennis revolution in the humble little town of Coquimbo.
Little Carlos was in the front of the group and he had been the one to spread the news about the tennis clinic to literally half of the town. When I opened up my duffel bag, the boys whooped and shouted at just the sight of so many tennis racquets. We worked as a 40-man team in craftily tying the net to the sides of the surrounding fence with rope to create our tennis court. We ran a quick lap through the streets of Tierras Blancas and the whole time I couldn’t hide the smile plastered on my face. During that run, I was quickly trying to figure out how one person (me) was going to handle 40 Chilean seventh-grade boys who have never played tennis a day in their lives. By the time we finished our run, Sebastián (who was one heck of a problem inside the classroom) suggested we work in shifts – 15 kids at a time for 45 minutes each to make sure that everyone got a chance to play. I will never fully be able to express the magic that happened on that court for the next four hours. Without hesitation, I began handing out the racquets and explaining how happy I was to share this sport that I love with them and I started to explain the warm-up drills we would play but was quickly stopped. I held the racquet out in front of Carlos for him to take it and he giggled happily. The look on his face when he held that racquet for the first time in his life is something I will never forget. It was as if I was giving him the key to life itself. And then I handed out each racquet one by one and I’ve never seen a group of 12-year-old boys suddenly become so quiet. In that moment, everything was clear and perfect. I was giving these kids the gift of tennis and I knew in my heart I wanted to devote my life to this. After the initial shock wore off for them, we started with games I had watched my dad teach for years to his group of tiny tots on Saturday mornings. We quickly went over form (“Pretend like you’re shaking hands with someone... finish the stroke kissing your bicep like this …”) and then jumped right
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from previous page into everyone’s favorite game, La Carcel or Jail, as we know it. I was quickly blown away as no one missed a shot! These kids were scrappy, quick, and hit a forehand like they had been hitting one their whole lives. I had to find ways to make the game harder by rallying with them because you can’t play Jail if no one misses! The boys were hooting everytime I sent someone to jail and although to me this game is the oldest one in the book, they added new life to it and to them, it was genius. Our group grew as passers-by stopped to watch the “gringa” teaching tennis in the most unlikely of places. We worked in shifts and, three hours later, everyone had a chance to play jail and couldn’t get enough. I boldly decided to introduce a new game (Olympics) and as I explained the rules and instructions in Spanish, I was worried that maybe it was too much too fast and that asking them to play doubles was expecting too much. But then again, what do we ever accomplish if we play it safe and don’t demand more? Every pair chose a country and we began with Chile against the USA, best out of 3 points. These boys rallied back and forth, never let a ball bounce twice and hit the ball with purpose and conviction – all the while with faint smiles still etched on their sweaty faces. It was beautiful to watch and moved me so deeply, I didn’t know if I wanted to laugh or to cry. I felt so alive on that court and so inspired by the evident joy on their faces. Kids who were total troublemakers in my class took on a completely different role on the court. Sebastián quickly became the leader of the pack, making sure everyone got their turn, chasing down balls that went in the street, running to the nearest street stand to buy Miss Katie a water bottle and also dominating at Olympics. He became my little helper, which gave him the confidence he lacked in other aspects of his life. We played Olympics till the sun went down. Some boys had to leave after four hours but some stayed and we added a few secondgraders and fourth-graders along the way. On the court, things like reputation, age, and popularity didn’t matter. When 7-year-old Fabián couldn’t hit a ball to save his life, Carlos stood behind him and hit the ball he had missed so they could play out the point while Sebastián fake-missed his shot so that Fabián would get a point in Olympics. These were the subtle, unspoken acts that together formed an inspiring picture of how tennis has the potential to unite, and to build, and to create bonds that didn’t previously exist. Tennis is so much more than the physical sport itself. Tennis teaches a strong work ethic, mental toughness, confidence, discipline, respect, creativity and independence. The boys walked me to the bus stop, the whole time talking a mile a minute about how tennis is their new favorite sport just after one day of playing it. I told them my dad is a tennis pro in my hometown, Santa Barbara, and now their new life goal is to become a tennis pro “como el papá de Miss Katie.” I hopped on the bus and watched them walk off down the street till I couldn’t see them anymore and my heart was full. I was on such a high, I felt something so real, so moving, something growing that was so much greater than myself or the sport of tennis. This is my heaven, I thought, Chilean students, tennis, Spanish, inspiration, passion, independence. This is what life is all about. I couldn’t wait to tell my dad, the man who has championed spreading the gift of tennis to those less fortunate in Santa Barbara through his schools program and who has inspired me. We have always talked about breaking the country club stereotype of tennis and making it a street sport that teaches so much more than the strokes themselves.
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I want the kids in Chile to develop an excitement for tennis that will spill over into all aspects of their lives. My desire is to use the sport of tennis as a means of creating joy amidst a lot of poverty and suffering in Tierras Blancas. I got home with all these beautiful faces in my head, my passion amplified, and a renewed sense of purpose shining in my eyes. I went fast to sleep, only to wake up and do it all over again the next day. Katie Kinsella, of Santa Barbara, Calif., is the daughter of USPTA Professional John Kinsella. She spent six months living in Chile and working for the Chilean Ministry of Education in a program called “English Opens Doors.” Her primary role was to teach English in a rural, low-income school, but she also started the tennis program. After a trip home, she is now back in Chile for a few months, expanding the tennis program to an orphanage and continuing to teach tennis on open courts in the streets. Kinsella graduated from UCLA in 2011 and plans to begin working on a Master’s of Education in Bilingual Education in June 2012.
CLASSIFIEDS Drills NEED TENNIS DRILLS? USPTA Master Professional Jorge Capestany’s new website has more than 700 videos of tennis drills and tips. Log on to www. tennisdrills.tv to see (and print) more than 18 free samples.
Employment TennisJobs.com – The tennis industry’s ONLY international tennis professional employment service. Subscribe today!
Subscriptions FREE SAMPLE Bob Larson’s Tennis Jobs newsletter. Daily newsletter lists new tennis jobs in USA. For sample, email jobs@tennisnews.com.
Tennis products STICKERS For Your Racquet. Spice up your spin – Stickers affix to bottom of racquet for fun spin options. Match reminders – Stickers affix to sides of racquet for between-point referrals. Kids love to spice up their racquet! Visit www.thtenniscenter.com. COACH PRICING on racquets, apparel, shoes, bags, balls, strings and accessories. Get baskets, carts, training equipment, books, videos and more. www.TennisExpress. com/800-833-6615.
QM-1 Portable Camera Support. Extendable pole, precalibrated system places on fence, from either side, quick and easy. MyTennisTools.com. GRIP COACH is a brilliant product that has simple and easy to follow guidelines making it ideal for adults and kids to learn tennis grips. Players and Coaches love the Grip Coach because it maximizes coaching time for every one. Visit: www.gripcoach.com.au. iPad application for tennis professionals. Designed for the iPad 2, the 10sPro application schedules students, creates lesson plans and incorporates video. See a demonstration at www. portland10s.com and click the YouTube link for more information. Available at the iTunes app store. Developed by Mike Stone, USPTA Pro 1; tennisinportland@ gmail.com.
VACATION OpportuniTIes Five-Star Caribbean Resorts are Waiting for You! Working vacations available for certified tennis professionals. Family and couple resorts available. Contact: www.fitbodiesinc.com or call Denise Cox, 678-778-4673.
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 name, telephone number, credit card number and expiration date. (No agency or cash discounts.) Issue closes 15th of month, two months preceding cover date. Fax to 713-978-7780, attn: ADDvantage classifieds. No classifieds will be accepted by telephone. No exceptions are made. USPTA cannot verify nor be responsible for the contents of any advertisement. The USPTA is committed to the policy that all people have equal access to its programs, facilities, employment and membership without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, marital or veteran status. USPTA is an equal opportunity employer. USPTA reserves the right to reject any advertisement at its discretion, or to edit the advertisement to be certain that any employment requirements set forth in it conform with the law.
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ADDvantage/February 2012
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Career Development
conventions (division conventions, 5 credits)
Feb. 9-12
Texas Division Grapevine, Texas
Feb. 17-19
Northern California Division Stanford, Calif.
Feb. 17-19 Missouri Valley Division Wichita, Kan. March 2-4
Mid-Atlantic Division Charlottesville, Va.
April 27-29 New England Division Woodstock, Vt. May 17-20 Southern Division Suwanee, Ga. May 18-20 Middle States Division Landisville, Pa. May 28- June 3
Florida Division Port St. Lucie, Fla.
specialist degrees Little Tennis® Facility Management Computer Technology Sport Science Competitive Player Development Pro Shop Operations
Wheelchair Tennis
CPD (Competitive Player Development) – Gained through the USA Tennis High Performance Coaching Program a dministered by the USA Tennis Coaching E ducation Department.
exams, upgrades & certification review courses (4 credits for PTCA I segment) Feb. 9-10 Feb. 9-10 Feb. 11-12 Feb. 11-12 Feb. 12-13 Feb. 16 Feb. 17 Feb. 18-19 Feb. 24-25 Feb. 25 Feb. 25-26 March 1-2 March 1-2
Port Washington, N.Y. Las Vegas Atlanta Destin, Fla. Dallas Wichita, Kan. Palo Alto, Calif. Ramona, Calif. Houston* Gastonia, N.C. Memphis, Tenn. Minneapolis Colorado Springs, Colo.
March 2 March 4 March 9 March 11 March 16 March 17-18 March 17-18 March 18 March 19 March 23-24 March 25
Charlottesville, Va. Hilton Head Island, S.C. Rochester, N.Y. Jackson, Miss. Oklahoma City Boca Raton, Fla. Boston Birmingham, Ala. Santa Clarita, Calif. Houston* Columbus, Ohio
* This course is held at the USPTA World Headquarters. Exam reservations must be made at least 21 days prior to the dates listed. Each date includes an exam, upgrade and PTCA I unless noted. Exam cancellations must be received no later than 14 days before the exam, or a cancellation fee will be charged accordingly. Applicant: late cancellation fee – $95; failure to cancel – application fee is forfeited. Certified members: late cancellation fee – $25; failure to cancel – $25 plus the upgrade fee is forfeited. Registration for another exam will not be accepted until cancellation fees are paid.
specialty courses Maintaining a tennis complex, Feb. 9, Grapevine, Texas, R. Heckelman Teaching effective strokes, Feb. 12, Grapevine, Texas, A. Pant Developing a team program, Feb. 17, Wichita, Kan., B. Bruning Teaching in progressions, Feb. 18, Palo Alto, Calif., T. Mayotte 10 and under 10s, Feb. 19, Palo Alto, Calif., T. Dissly Anticipation for tennis, Feb. 25, Memphis, Tenn., D. Hagler
For more information about USPTA’s specialist degrees, including applications, please visit our website at www.uspta.com or contact the USPTA Education Department at 800-USPTA-4U or education@uspta.org.
cardio tennis Please visit www.growingtennis.com (workshops) to register online.
Earn education credits from World Conference DVDs Receive your education credit report card via email by visiting the members-only section of uspta.com.
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The deadline to register and/or cancel a course is 15 working days before the event. Anyone canceling late or failing to cancel will forfeit one-half the course fee. Schedule is subject to change. Call the USPTA Education Department for more information or email education@uspta.org.
accredited professional coach To receive APC credits, professional members must accurately fill out APC attendance forms with the seminar/course number, their name, presenter’s name, and they will have the ability to rate the seminar/course. The form must then be turned in at the end of the seminar/course. The forms will be available as members arrive at seminars or courses and must be turned in as members leave. If members arrive late or leave early, then they will not receive credit for attending.
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Industry action Members Rosemary DeHoog, USPTA Master Professional, received the 2011 Citation of Merit given by the Emeritus Club of Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, Mich., during a homecoming ceremony last October. The Citation of Merit honors emeritus graduates who have demonstrated a commitment to the activities and programs of the college, as well as civic, church, school and community activities. DeHoog is a four-time Western Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association No. 1 singles champion and is a charter inductee into the Kalamazoo College Athletic Hall of Fame. Methodist University, Fayetteville, N.C., has hired Tom Daglis, USPTA president, as an assistant professor and director of Professional Tennis Management. Daglis is the former director of tennis at Lakewood Country Club in Rockville, Md., and has a previous background in professional tennis management. He brings both business experience and an extensive tennis network to the Methodist
PTM program. Methodist University is one of a select few universities in the nation to specialize in a PTM program, preparing students for a career in the tennis industry. For more information, visit www.methodist.edu/ptm. USPTA Master Professional Hans Römer has begun hosting a radio show on a talk-radio station in Carmel Valley, Calif. “Talk10s with Hans” airs on Sundays from 5 to 6 p.m. PST on KRXA 540 AM. Live streaming is available on www.krxa540. com. Garry Nadebaum, USPTA, tennis director at Riverhill Country Club in Kerrville, Texas, recently competed in the Australian National Senior Tennis Tournament held in Perth, Western Australian. Nadebaum was runner-up in men’s 45 singles, having to default in the finals due to an injury. In doubles he and his partner John Campbell fell to the No. 1-ranked team of Simon Arms and Bruce Ferguson in the semifinals in three sets, 6/4 5/7 6/0, due to injury. Nadebaum currently is ranked No. 8 in Australia and No. 109 in ITF world rankings for 45 singles, and No. 4 in the world in 45 doubles.
Greg Prudhomme, right, USPTA men’s and women’s tennis head coach at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, recently received the 2011 Intercollegiate Tennis Association Men’s Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year award at the ITA Coaches Convention in Naples, Fla. MaliVai Washington (pictured) presented the award. Prudhomme was also named the Men’s and Women’s 2011 ITA West Region Coach of the Year. Under his leadership, the Grand Canyon University men’s squad progressed from zero wins in 2009 to 11 victories and a winning record in 2011. Prudhomme also led the women’s team to a 16-5 record last season, highlighted by an NCAA tournament appearance and third-place finish at the Pacific West Conference Championships. PRO technology and is now available in vibrant new color combinations. The V-PRO All Court takes its cue from the Propulse line for high-end performance. The 100 percent tennis Exact PRO System in Babolat’s adult shoes caters to the lateral and diagonal movements on the court, as well as propulsion on the forefoot.
Manufacturers Babolat, a leading manufacturer of tennis equipment, has introduced its footwear collection for 2012 with upgrades to the Propulse 3 and V-PRO All Court. The Propulse range for men and women features Exact
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Tennis Australia, California Products’ Plexipave Division and Australian Plexipave Inc. announced an extended designation of Plexicushion Prestige as the surface of the Australian Open through 2017. Australian
Plexipave has been a key component in Tennis Australia’s effort to revitalize tennis facilities and player development throughout Australia. Since 2008, Tennis Australia has invested more than $12 million building or resurfacing more than 1,100 courts. Plexipave is the world’s largest manufacturer of acrylic sports surfacing systems and surface preparation products. Plexipave Systems are also used at ATP and WTA tournaments such as Del Ray Beach, Memphis, Indian Wells and Los Angeles. Plexipave’s tennis surfaces are known for durability, low maintenance, vibrant long lasting colors and overall customer value. For more information, visit www. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
Industry action plexicushion.com or call 978-623-9980.
Miscellany The beautiful BallenIsles Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., will host the 2012 USPTA National Clay Court Championships. The event will start Friday, March 23, and finish Sunday, March 25. Tournament director Trish Faulkner is expecting a large number of entries this year, with the earlier dates and beautiful March weather. Sign up now at http://www.courtsideusa. com/championships/
Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club in Ocala, Fla., will host a Tennis and Rockin’ Blues Event featuring One-on-One Doubles®, the new game of tennis sanctioned by the USTA, on Saturday, April 21. The halfcourt, serve-and-volley singles game will be the featured tournament format from 4-6 p.m. This will be a four-man, round-robin competition, played on one court with two matches at the same time. This prize-money shootout will feature Murphy Jensen, 1993 French
USPTA Professional Diane Fishburne Barker, of Charleston, S.C., has been selected for induction into the USTA Southern Hall of Fame. Barker is the No. 1 women’s 50s player in the world and has been one of the top American senior players for more than 14 years. She has won more than 26 USTA national singles titles and has held the No. 1 ranking in the United States several times in the 35s-50s. At the College of Charleston she won the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women Small College National Championship in singles in 1978. She later played professional tennis in Belgium. Barker currently teaches at the Country Club of Charleston and hosts fund raising events such as “Rally for the Cure,” participates in the “Darkness to Light” program for the prevention of child abuse, and is active in the growth of Special Olympics and wheelchair tennis across the South. She is also a member of the board of the International Club of USA, which works to promote tennis and friendship around the world. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
USPTA National Surface Championships set for 2012 Clay Court Championships March 23-25 BallenIsles Country Club Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Indoor Championships April 20-22 Fridley LifeTime Fitness Fridley, Minn. Hard Court Championships Oct. 19-21 Hollytree Country Club Tyler, Texas Only Professional-level members may compete and must register through CourtsideUSA.com. Open doubles champion; Donald Johnson, 2001 Wimbledon doubles champion; Johan Kriek, 1981 and 1982 Australian Open singles champion; and Tim Wilkison, former ATP singles champion with wins over John McEnroe, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. This One-on-One Doubles shootout will be televised on Tennis Channel. Each match will be first to win five games, no-ad scoring, with a tie-breaker at 4-all. Each player will compete against the other three players in this unique twohour tournament format. There also will be a proam, prize-money doubles tournament featuring the area’s top tennis talents, from 12:00-2:15 p.m., and a USTA 10-and-under program presentation featuring One-on-One Doubles from 2:30-3:15 p.m. Club doors open at noon. Food, beer,
wine and soda will be sold. There will be a live, rockin’ blues concert after-party from 7-9 p.m., with the legendary Jimmy Hall and Friends. Hall leads the Southern rock band, Wet Willie, and is also the band director for Hank Williams Jr. A portion of the event’s proceeds will benefit the Interfaith Emergency Services of Ocala. General admission tickets are $30 in advance, $40 day of event. VIP Tickets are $150 in advance, $170 day of event, and include admission into VIP parking, VIP seating, and VIP areas including food, beer, wine and soft drinks. To purchase tickets online, go to www. ticketweb.com and type in “Tennis and Rockin’ Blues Event.” For more information, call (813) 864-9031 or visit www. tennisandrockinblues. com. ADDvantage/February 2012
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