Addvantage 2012 January

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ADDvantage/ September 2000

contents the total professional – enhancing your career 7 Build a great 10-and-Under Tennis program with the right people and proper planning – by Craig S. Jones, USPTA

departments 3 CEO’s message 5 First vice president’s message

13 USPTA retools testing process to maintain standard 23 Classifieds of service – by Bunny Bruning, USPTA 27 USPTA drills 15 Broad ‘principles’ can help fine-tune technique –

by Phil Trahan, USPTA

32 Career development 34 Industry action

24 Get your game on track with meditation and yoga –

by Eric Hinchman, USPTA

news 10 2012 USPTA HEAD staff contract

20 2011 USPTA tournament player ranking points and tentative rankings 23 USPTA and ThanksUSA join forces to Thank the Troops 29 USPTA Player Development conference

On the cover – Christina McHale of the United States competes with a HEAD racquet.

See inside this issue for details on your HEAD contract for 2012. Contract deadline is Jan. 31!

Photo courtesy of HEAD Penn Racquet Sports.

volume 35 • issue 1

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/January 2012

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Nike ad

CEO’s message USPTA and Pro Penn celebrate historic partnership as new Pro Penn Marathon ball arrives in tennis shops this month

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s the new year begins, USPTA and Pro Penn celebrate the 39th anniversary of one of the longest running endorsements in the tennis industry – USPTA’s sponsorship of the Pro Penn ball.

Since we signed our first agreement in 1973 that linked USPTA’s initials and the Pro Penn ball, Penn has been a true partner to USPTA, maintaining a product that is synonymous with quality, longevity and performance.

making Pro Penn Marathon Penn’s most durable ball on the market.

In addition, the new Pro Penn Marathon features LongPlay® felt for the ultimate in durability and visibility. LongPlay® felt is a blend of premium wool and high-tenacity fibers that give these balls the perfect combination of endurance and playability. And the Smart Optik® treatment in the felt keeps the balls cleaner on the court, picking up less dirt particles and making the felt highly visible for longer periods of time.

It’s no secret that to be successful a company or a product must evolve Jeff Ratkovich, senior business manager with the times and the demands of for Penn tennis balls, says that HEAD the marketplace. USPTA probably had Penn Racquet Sports is extremely only 1,000 members in 1973, and as a proud of its designation as official ball new product, the Pro Penn ball had to Tim Heckler of the USPTA for so many years. “The earn the support of teachers and tennis players alike. After 39 years, USPTA serves more than USPTA membership expects and deserves the highest 15,000 members and the Pro Penn ball has a history of quality tennis balls available in the market, and HEAD being the top selling premium tennis ball at specialty Penn Racquet Sports is very pleased to continue to earn the decades-long USPTA exclusive endorsement with shops throughout the country. our new Pro Penn Marathon ball.”

Pro Penn continues to build on its success with the next generation – the new Pro Penn Marathon ball. It Pro Penn Marathon is offered in Extra-Duty, Regularoffers enhanced longevity, durability and visibility to Duty, and Extra-Duty High Altitude, and begins all tennis players. It features Encore Technology™ for a shipping to pro specialty shops in January. USPTA longer-lasting bounce and high-tenacity LongPlay® felt members are strongly encouraged to contact their local for extended play. These innovations take this popular, HEAD Penn representative to take advantage of the tournament quality ball and make it even more tech- aggressive 2012 order booking program. nologically advanced and beneficial for tennis players who want to get the most out of their game.

I hope you’ll use the new Pro Penn Marathon ball in your lessons, stock it in your Encore Technology™ is the core compound in Pro shops and encourage your Penn Marathon that maximizes its longer-lasting play- players to play with it. It’s ing properties. By using a proprietary blend of natural been an honor to be asand man-made polymers, ball softening is limited. sociated with a company The core retains its inner pressure longer and therefore that has supported the “plays like new” for a prolonged period of time. Pro efforts of tennis-teaching Penn Marathon has a 22 percent longer-lasting core professionals for so many compared to Penn’s original Pro Penn+ tennis ball, years.  www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

It’s no secret that to be successful a company or a product must evolve with the times and the demands of the marketplace.

ADDvantage/January 2012

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Human Kinetics ad move from Page 17

Playmate ad

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ADDvantage/January 2012

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

First vice president’s message

On a roll

National Board of Directors

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President

nyone who has been around tennis are they? Water in large puddles should be pushed courts for any length of time has had downgrade so that it can also drain off the court. the opportunity to dry hard courts after a rain. We all have had the need to either get Weather and drying conditions tournament matches started or get Drying conditions is the most imporour own match underway. Even tant factor to consider. The weather though many people have spent conditions will determine if that hundreds if not thousands of hours court will dry in 30 minutes or three in this pursuit, it is interesting that hours. Wait a while after a rain to we’ve not seen an article dedicated to allow drainage to move most of the drying tennis courts. Before you can water and wait for drying conditions teach the modern game or develop to improve. Water will evaporate a sophisticated training session, you when its temperature rises above the have to have a dry court. After many dew point. A good time to begin is years of personal contemplation and when you start to see dry areas on the extensive practice, I thought it time court. This gives the court a little time Randy Mattingley to reflect on the various aspects of to drain much of the water off rather court drying and supply my own thoughts and than spreading it over the court. It also allows time considerations for the benefit of those who for the humidity levels to drop and the dew point have struggled to find the best practices for to rise to a level more conducive to drying. this daunting endeavor. There are a number of The wind and sun are your biggest allies when considerations before beginning that include the drying a tennis court. You really don’t dry a court, condition and grade of the courts, weather condi- but help with the drying process. A breeze will tions, and various techniques that may help you increase air flow over the surface of the water and develop a deeper understanding and passion for the sun heats up the court and water to further this skill that is critical to our industry. speed the drying process.

From late fall to early spring in the northern Court conditions and drainage hemisphere, the sun is low in the southern sky and Courts should be as flat as possible, but not level. temperatures are cooler. This time of year there are For many years, courts have been designed to drain longer shadows from the windscreens and trees. in one direction or another. The typical grade to a Areas without direct sun will be the slowest to dry court is around 1 to 10. This means that the court and should be your primary focus. will have a one-inch drop for every 10 feet, either from end-to-end or side-to-side. This slight grade Tools is unnoticed by the players, but makes a huge dif- Roll dry versus squeegee: Squeegees are good for ference when considering the drying rate. If the pushing water. They are inexpensive and can be court is “flat” with the proper grade, then there purchased at the local hardware store. However, will be very few “birdbaths,” or puddles, left on by far the best tool for drying hard courts is a roll the court after water has drained off. If the court dry. A tennis court has roughly 7,200 square feet of is relatively level, it doesn’t drain as well and it is surface area. Water will only evaporate on a tennis more likely to have puddling. court that is in contact with the air. If used properly, If it drains, which direction does it drain? You a roll dry works by spreading water over the court would likely want to start roll drying on the high to increase the water’s surface area. The larger the side, where much of the water has drained off, surface area, the faster water will evaporate. Roll before working your way over to the low side. drys help spread the water more quickly and more Does it have “birdbaths” and, if so, how deep efficiently than a squeegee or a towel.

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

continued next page www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

ADDvantage/January 2012

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from previous page Techniques Technique is the topic that creates the most debate. Back in college, my buddies Robert Cox, Ray Anders, and I would critique each other’s technique. Should you follow a straight line or walk in circles, use a crisscross pattern or diagonals, or make circles or seashell circles from the center?

Any technique is better than sitting on the side waiting for the court to dry on its own. My high school coach, Novice Kniffen, would have us out on the courts shortly after a rain. He would make an agreement with the tournament director that would give court assignments to those who helped dry courts. He didn’t care what technique we used. He knew that it would get the matches on sooner and that we would be warmed up from walking while also getting mentally ready to play the match.

Methodology Pushing down hard on the handle of a roll dry turns an expensive roll dry into a simple squeegee. I will typically apply a little pressure to a roll dry when in a dry area of the court to remove some of the water from the sponge before walking over a wetter area again. Sometimes you have to pick up a roll dry to change directions or move to another court. Otherwise, do not carry a roll dry

around the court. The best practice is to push the roll dry and spread the water by rolling it over dry areas, while also removing water from the sponge so that it will pick up more water in the wet areas. Only on large puddles or puddles near the edge of the court will I use the roll dry briefly like a squeegee to push the bulk of the water downgrade or completely off the court.

Patterns My favorite pattern often includes a spiral pattern (Figure 1). This is due to the courts staying wet longer on the south end from the shading I referred to earlier. The spiral helps move water from the shaded areas out to the sunnier areas and is a very good method for spreading the water as thinly as possible. As the sun heats up the court from direct sunlight, the increase in temperature along with the greater surface area speeds evaporation.

By following straight lines similar to mowing grass (Figure 2), it ensures that the entire surface of the court is covered.

However, pay attention to the particular areas of the court that may have more water and make sure that your pattern includes continued focus on these areas.

Making the seashell circles from the center of the court outward (Figure 3) is a very effective technique on courts that

Figure 1

Figure 3

Figure 2

Figure 4

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ADDvantage/January 2012

are level. Water is not going to drain off well and must be pushed off the court.

Large puddles will dramatically hinder this technique and should be pushed or spread first to prevent flow-back behind you as you make your seashell circles.

For small puddles, it seems to work well to push and pull the roll dry back and forth over the puddle while slowly walking in a circle around the puddle in a star pattern (Figure 4). It will help spread the water quickly in the deepest part of the puddle.

There is a law of mathematics that I’m not sure Einstein considered in his time.

If one roll dry works well, two roll dries are twice as good. The faster the water is spread, the sooner the escalated evaporation process will begin. Whichever pattern you use, walk fast and spread the water till it is very, very thin and let the sun and wind finish the job.

The slope of the court, drying conditions, and your methodology are important considerations when developing your plan.

Through years of experience, many of us have had ample opportunity to contemplate the techniques that work best. There are a number of things to consider when planning your attack. With a good plan, you will be “on a roll” to getting back on the courts playing tennis. 

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Build a great 10-and-Under Tennis program with the right people and proper planning

by Craig S. Jones, USPTA

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he 10 and Under Tennis initiative is gaining momentum every day. The USTA has invested millions of dollars into this program in an effort to grow the number of youth players, retain them, and develop the next generation of world-class players. The key to success with this program is people who make their living in our sport – USPTA Professionals.

It’s all about the people Creating a comprehensive system is important for an outstanding 10s program.

However, having the right people on board is the most important component. Let’s explore the key players:

no longer allow a yellow ball on the 78-foot court. All 17 sections in the United States now have USTA Junior Team Tennis and USTA-sanctioned novice tournaments that are played on a 60-foot court with an orange ball.

Stakeholders Convincing the club owner, board of directors or management is the first step in establishing a successful program. With the amount of advertisement and resources for 10 and Under Tennis, this is easier than ever before. The most compelling argument is that the rules of tennis are changing on Jan. 1, 2012. All 10-and-under competition will

Bus driver As Jim Collins mentions in the book Good to Great, “you need the right people on the bus,” but someone has to drive it. This could be the manager, director of tennis, head pro or assistant pro. Someone at the facility has to be passionate about 10 and Under Tennis and drive the instructional and competitive aspects of the initiative.

Once in place, the “driver” must have total control of the teaching curriculum to keep quality high and feed play opportunities.

Staff After the driver, the right people need to be on the bus. In Good to Great, Collins talks about some of the most successful companies of the 20th century. These companies did not focus on the exact job description; they just wanted the right people with the right qualities. In this case, it is people who love working with younger kids and have the type of personality that makes kids want to keep coming back.

When the 10 and under Tennis program takes off, there will be a disproportionate need for instructional help for four to eight hours per week. Hiring part-time certified professionals can be tough, so look for help from high school players and/or tennis enthusiasts.

• If the teaching methodology supports kids working cooperatively, great ball feeders are no longer needed.

• Look for people who can communicate and are enthusiastic, not necessarily the best players.

• Take advantage of free coaching workshops from the USTA for the new instructors. They offer a Recreational Coaches Workshop or 10 and Under Tennis Workshop that has no cost and can save on overhead.

The No. 1 goal for teaching 10-and-under players is to instill the love of the game.

Coach education When the right people are on the bus, ongoing training is essential to keep the quality high. Ten-and-under players may be the most difficult group to work with, but this age group tends to get the least continued next page

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

ADDvantage/January 2012

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from previous page amount of attention at staff meetings.

Whether 10 and Under Tennis is part of an overall staff meeting or a separate 10 and under meeting, this subject must be a top priority for every club. Once the staff understands the importance of 10 and Under Tennis, the culture will start to change.

Familiar faces and places Kids just want to play, and with 10 and Under Tennis, kids are able to start playing faster than ever before. Developmentally appropriate competition is the key to a successful program, and creating in-house play opportunities is the key to controlling the environment. Hosting a play day gives the pro complete flexibility and will help bolster the bottom line.

• Play Days are low-pressure events, run similarly to men’s/ladies’ nights or a mixed doubles round robin.

• Kids play matches with shortened scoring against multiple opponents in a two- to three-hour span.

• Pros are able to determine the appropriate court size and ball for their students – beginner 12-year-olds can play on a 36-foot court with a red ball, and an outstanding 7-year-old can play on a 60-foot court with an orange ball.

• Kids of different ages and levels can play on the same team.

• A specific fee can be charged, bundle the cost with instruction or make it free to draw kids into the program.

• Play Days are crucial to connect instruction to play and also to bridge the gap to USTA Junior Team Tennis and tournaments.

Teaching methodology 10 and Under Tennis has not only changed the rules, it has changed the way we work with children. There are many different reasons to change your methodology: • Now that kids can serve, rally and score faster than ever before, teaching pros can utilize a games-based approach to instruction.

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“ If a child can’t learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson • Technology has taken away from spontaneous play, which has created a deficit in tracking and reception skills, along with general athletic skills.

• Ten-and-under players have different needs, characteristics and abilities than older players, and the teaching must be aligned accordingly.

So what specifically needs to change?

• Rolling, tossing, throwing and catching must be worked on at every clinic.

• Cooperation – let kids work in pairs or groups of three. It may be more random this way, but tennis is an open-skill sport and random can be good.

• Culture of control – incorporate boundaries into all drills and games, establish quantitative goals for all tasks, and emphasize cooperative before competitive play. Make the kids realize that everything they do has a purpose.

• 3-D coaching – get away from the cart!

Once kids can roll, toss and catch, the pro is able to roam and individualize instruction.

• Progressions – understand the “road map” for every skill to challenge kids and simplify the lesson plans for the instructors.

Ignition The No. 1 goal for teaching 10-and-under players is to instill the love of the game. If kids fall in love with tennis, practice is no longer a chore. So how is this done?

• Take-home tennis – review skills during clinic that can be practiced at home. No lectures needed, just encourage kids to try different things.

• Play in the neighborhood – get kids to build their own nets and recruit their neighbors. This is spontaneous play at its best.

• Hang at the club – make the facility a place where kids want to be. Designate a junior area, have a challenge court available, specify certain courts as junior-only and offer other sports.

• Take a trip – go to a college or pro match, take a group to a movie, go bowling. Do anything as a group that makes kids feel they belong to something bigger.

• Mix the ages – create facility events where 10-and-under players can be around older players; form teams of all ages at a Play Day, create a mentoring system, utilize teenage volunteers for 10-and-under clinics, etc.

A place for everyone Once the 10 and Under Tennis program evolves, there needs to be a track for the more committed players. Instead of focusing on talent, reward and challenge the players who are excelling because they are practicing and playing more than others.

Some of the components can be: • Separate the players within the clinic or create another group for them one day a week.

• Promote private lessons to develop technical and tactical skills.

• Increase the amount of deliberate practice.

• Focus on athletic development by encouraging other sports and offering a component in every clinic.

• Require participation in Play Days, USTA Junior Team Tennis and tournaments.

10andUnderTennis.com Did we mention advertisement and resources? 10andundertennis.com is the go-to site for parents and providers. The millions of dollars spent on advertisement www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

direct potential customers to this one site.

Once a facility is registered, parents will be able to locate the program, connect to the website and learn what is offered. This is free advertisement for the instructional program, pro shop, Play Days and other competitive opportunities that facilities offer.

After signing up at 10andundertennis. com, facilities can register Play Days as well. Once a play day is registered, facilities will receive various resources including balls and downloadable materials. Also, coming soon, parents will be able to search on 10andundertennis.com for a play day in their area.

Blended lines or permanent courts With blended lines or permanent 10 and Under Tennis courts installed, the perception of a tennis facility changes.

The place is now “kid-friendly” and gains more credibility with parents and potential customers. Complaints from members are now minimal with the awareness in the tennis community of the 10 and Under Tennis initiative.

Make sure to factor in your competitive and instructional needs when deciding to incorporate blended lines. There are many different options that can be checked out at usta.com/facilities/ and also through the help of your USTA section office.

• Set up a continuing parent-information program that is comprehensive and progressive. Start with an orientation, offer an initial competition portion and progress to a “performance track” session.

Putting it all together Once all the elements are in place, now is the time to connect the dots. Publishing a developmental pathway to serve as a “road map” for parents and players is a must.

• The pathway should be seamless and transparent – parents want to know how their child can move through the program and that the rules are fair.

• Pros need to be consistent and held accountable for decisions to move kids up into another group.

• Kids need incentive to practice and improve.

Now that the key elements to developing a top 10 and Under Tennis program are in

place, take the time to do this right. Find the best people, gather your resources and make 10 and Under Tennis a top priority.

For more information, go to 10andundertennis.com or contact your state/district or sectional USTA office. 

Craig S. Jones is the director of youth play and competition for USTA and is considered an industry leader in the QuickStart Tennis Play Format. Jones is a USPTA P-1 and is the owner of the Petersburg Racquet Club in Martinez, Ga. Jones has received numerous awards for his work with QuickStart, including the 2007 USTA/USPTA Community Service Award and the 2007 RSI Magazine Junior Champion of the Year. He is a frequent speaker at industry events and no stranger to the USPTA World Conference.

Tennis Life ad

Working with parents Traditionally, teaching professionals have viewed parents as more of an enemy than an ally. In order to develop an outstanding 10-and-under program, pros must embrace and work with parents.

Here are some tips in helping to make parents partners in your program: • Include an orientation packet for new players to the program. This should include policies, the pathway and ideas to help parents practice with their kids.

• Offer an on-site orientation for new parents; one time in the fall and spring should suffice.

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

ADDvantage/January 2012

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2012 USPTA HEAD STAFF CONTRACT Dear USPTA Professional: It’s certainly been a challenging year on the business side with economic uncertainty concerning us all. However it has been a banner year for both HEAD and Penn so while others may be taking a conservative approach, we plan on attacking and continuing to gain market share to help you and our retail partners.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE USPTA HEAD STAFF CONTRACT! HEAD Penn Racquet Sports will continue to handle all contracts electronically. You can easily submit your contract via the website link: http://uspta.head.com. The site will be open on November 1st. You can also log onto the USPTA.com website, go to Benefits, then the HEAD section for the link.

You are part of the BEST TEAM in TENNIS and WOW – the TEAM just keeps getting better. Novak switched to the YOUTEK IG Speed and has had one of the best years of all time: # 1 in the World – 3 Grand Slams – 5 Master Series 1000 Titles – Currently 64 – 2 (after the US Open). Andy Murray is # 4. Robin Soderling is # 6. HEAD has 4 of the Top 10, 8 of the Top 15 and 15 of the Top 50 on the ATP Tour. Maria Sharapova joined the HEAD TEAM, introduced the YOUTEK IG Instinct and rose to # 2 in the World. Victoria Azarenka is # 3 in the world.

HEAD is a leader is social media, getting unbelievable exposure for the brand. Novak Djokovic played tennis on the wings of an airplane, Andy Murray launched a “Like” Facebook campaign and Maria Sharapova caught Novak imitating her. All of this helped HEAD gain more than any other brand since year-end 2010. The momentum is strong for HEAD right now. And we’ve got more of the same planned – in 2012 we are introducing the YOUTEK IG Prestige & the YOUTEK IG Radical with new S versions and an all new Radical Pro model. We are on a roll and 2012 is going to be a GREAT year!

HEAD’s 2011 launch of FXP Tour string has been a homerun while Sonic Pro, FXP and Synthetic Gut PPS are all in the top 25 selling strings. The new Tour Team, Prestige and Murray bag lines for 2012 are outstanding and have been very well received.

To learn more about HEAD strings and accessories visit our website at: www.head.com.

Our Pro Penn tennis balls continue to be a dominant brand on the courts. Pro Penn has been the official ball of the USPTA for almost 40 years, and we are proud to present our new PRO PENN MARATHON premium tennis ball that will begin shipping in January 2012. The new Pro Penn Marathon has an enhanced Encore Technology core that lasts 22% longer than our current Pro Penn +, as well as our long-wearing High Tenacity LongPlay Felt. This is the next evolution in premium tennis balls for the pro specialty market, and you’ll be blown away by the exciting new packaging and advertising support accompanying our new Pro Penn Marathon ball. Thank you for making Penn balls the US market leader year after year, and please contact your DSM or visit www.pennracquet.com for additional information.

We’re proud to be partners with USPTA and we take our relationship seriously. This sponsorship is our single largest investment and we appreciate you and your efforts to grow the HEAD Penn brands and the game of tennis every day when you step on the court.

All the best,

Greg Mason Amy Wishingrad Roger Petersman V. P. Sales and Marketing National Promotions Manager Senior Category Manager

2012 USPTA HEAD STAFF CONTRACT PROCEDURES How to place your HEAD Penn contract:   



Complete the HEAD Penn Contract online starting November 1st, 2011 at: http://uspta.head.com or log onto USPTA.com, go to Benefits, choose HEAD. Your order will be confirmed instantly with a number on screen and a complete recap of the order to a valid email address you supplied.

You can also follow with one reorder at this site for additional equipment you may wish to purchase.

Complete your contract as soon as possible and no later than January 31st, 2012.

Please call TEAM HEAD at (800) 289-7366, Option #1, if you have any questions.

PLEASE NOTE: 1. “*” If a member who has a contract with HEAD purchases $1,000 worth of HEAD products through his shop, to be sold at retail, he will receive one additional HEAD racquet free. This is to be documented by HEAD and the retailer. If the facility has more than one member on a HEAD contract (i.e. three pros), and that facility purchases several thousand dollars in HEAD product, the additional member pros at that facility (who have a HEAD contract), will also receive one free racquet for the additional $1,000 increments of product purchased (i.e. $3,000 purchase will cover three pros at one racquet each).

This offer is limited to one racquet per member.

- - OR - -

A USPTA member who has a contract with HEAD but does not have a pro shop and works at a facility that does not have a pro shop can also benefit from a different program. HEAD will offer a “Friends and Family Program” a minimum of twice a year. This program will allow any USPTA member to purchase up to $600 worth of HEAD products during each of these promotional periods at Preferred Player Price. If that member, with a HEAD contract, purchases a cumulative $1,000 worth of product during the promotions, they will receive one free racquet. This offer is limited to one racquet per member. The above options cannot be combined.

2. All contracts are due on or before January 31, 2012.

3. All contracts must have a U.S. address. We do NOT ship internationally.

4. Product will start shipping in March 2012. For contracts and other orders with credit card information, your card does not get charged until your order is shipped.

5. Contracts vary for the different levels of Master, Pro 1, Pro 2, Pro 3 and Recreational Coach. The system will recognize your current level based on your USPTA member number and last name.

6. Pro 2 Contracts require Credit Card information to receive the “buy one, get one free” contract (one time only). You do not receive the free product portion without a racquet purchase.

7. Pro 3 & Recreational Coaches are eligible for preferred pricing as are all other levels when ordering additional product.

Credit card information must be complete for the order to be processed.

8. Please check your order confirmation received by email for correct product and address information. An email address must be noted when filling out the contract.

9. There is a “No-Exchange” policy on racquets and equipment. If it is a shipping error, we will exchange up to 30 days of receipt of product.

10. HEAD Penn is not responsible for product shipped to an address that is no longer valid. It is your responsibility to notify Team HEAD of any changes to the address once the contract has been submitted.

11. HEAD Penn is not responsible for lost or stolen goods.

Human Performance ad

USPTA retools testing process to maintain standard of service

by Bunny Bruning, USPTA

T

esting and certification can be considered the most important component of USPTA membership, so we make any changes earnestly. We are currently updating and improving the process for our members, aided by the full involvement of our testers.

We require our testers to be among the most educated members in our association.

At the recent USPTA World Conference at Saddlebrook, the Testing Committee – led by co-chairs Tommy Wade and Dave Porter and including Gary Trost, myself, Feisal Hassan, and Glen Howe – met with the divisional head testers to review many new features of testing and certification. Since then, all testers have been provided with a new educational DVD, as well as the testing DVD. The main change is that the stroke analysis test was put on hold as of Nov. 1.

Feisal and Dave are currently working on a better educational and testing format.

Toward that end, Gary’s new feeding test is also being implemented. Feeding, which includes tossing, is obviously a huge part of how tennis professionals conduct lessons and is now reflected on our professional exam.

If you need to upgrade on the stroke analysis you will now be responsible for upgrading on the feeding exam. Also, a new applicant will not be required to take the stroke analysis, but will be tested on the feeding exam instead. However, the Testing Committee has every intention of having a new and improved stroke analysis exam.

USPTA is constantly studying the possibilities for improving its testing program. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Additionally, we are very aware that many of our testers would like to resume the two-day testing format. We would also like to accommodate those applicants who may have time and travel limitations.

Therefore, a two-day test may be conducted under the following conditions: • Seven people are registered for the exam (when a tester has to travel).

• Similarly, five candidates must be signed up for a test when there are no travel expenses for the tester.

• If there is a financial shortfall, the division agrees to pick up the difference.

Finally, we require our testers to be among the most educated members in our association. Therefore, each tester will earn the Accredited Professional Coach designation by accumulating at least 20 educational credits by the next World Conference. Testers must have taken and passed the Professional Tennis Coaches Academy I course and competency exam in order to continue testing in 2012. APC educational credits can be earned through many USPTA and industry-sponsored experiences and online education. Vicky Tristan, director of membership and certification, will send each tester a link to the information, and the normal $50 fee will be waived. Also, the Testing Committee will be sending all testers educational and helpful information designed to enhance the testing experience.

If anyone has any questions, suggestions, or ideas about the certification and upgrading process, please seek out one of the Testing Committee members. Our association is only as good as the professionals who represent it as members.  ADDvantage/January 2012

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Broad ‘principles’ can help fine-tune technique

by Phil Trahan, USPTA

T

he conventional – and once well-deserved – perception of tennis as a difficult sport to learn is changing. In today’s game of high-tech tools and a wealth of natural athletes, tennis coaches are able to consider new methods of instruction that aid beginners and advanced players alike in their quest to sharpen their skills.

“Performance principles are very broad ... and a broad understanding helps pave the way for the objectives and executions necessary for success.”

One such paradigm that has proved successful for me over the last couple of years is best described as principles-based coaching. This approach is designed to release players and coaches from the shackles of the “mental checklist.” Traditional instruction has been primarily execution-based (“do this”; “don’t do that”) and has given rise to an impossible checklist of items, most of which the player is destined to forget in the heat of battle.

Performance principles, on the other hand, are very broad, and a broad understanding

helps pave the way for the objectives and executions necessary for success. So once a player understands the principles, corrective actions often occur naturally with no need for reminders from coach to player or even player to self.

Example – Balance is Principle No. 1 Tennis Principle No. 1, and the foundation for every stroke, is balance. A balanced opportunity to hit the ball is the most important ingredient in any successful shot. Therefore, the player should be taught how to move before being taught

Phil Trahan, front and center, finds success in communicating the basic principles of the game to all levels of players. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

how to hit. So, if balance is the goal, how will we know if we have achieved it? The indicators of success are best expressed as objectives. In the case of the balance principle, the primary objective is to keep the head up and still, whereas leaning and reaching will indicate an out-of-balance condition. Whenever a shot is missed, the player should replay the shot mentally, looking for an out-of-balance condition; many more times than not, one will be found. Don’t be fooled by the ugly stroke that often accompanies an out-of-balance condition, as the ugly stroke almost always is the result of the imbalance and not the cause of the missed shot.

Armed with an understanding of the balance principle and objective, some players (new and experienced alike) will naturally succeed at keeping the head up and still.

However, most players will benefit from a little help identifying executions (actions) that will ensure the objective is met. If this is the case for you or your student, just imagine that you are playing defense in a basketball game, using shuffle steps to avoid crossing your feet. Shuffle to the side for wide balls, back for deep ones, and forward for short ones. If the ball is more than one shuffle step away (for advanced players) or two shuffle steps away (for beginners and intermediates), another basketball-related execution is required – the pull-up jump shot. When the jump shooter reaches his shooting position on the basketball court, he takes a stutter step to gather his balance before leaving the floor. So the tennis player will run to the spot on the court from which he can gather himself with a stutter step and hit a balanced shot. And what if the ball is too far away to allow a stutter-step balance act?

In this case the player simply hits the ball continued next page ADDvantage/January 2012

15

from previous page on the run and proclaims himself dynamically balanced.

Properly balanced, the student is ready to hit – Control is Principle No. 2 Once the student has learned to give himself a balanced opportunity to hit the ball, control (in this case, of the racquet head) may be introduced as Principle No. 2. To achieve control on groundstrokes there should be no independent forward movement of the racquet head, i.e., the racquet should move as one unit.

Two objectives will be required to test adherence to the control principle: 1. Start objective – The start objective for the forward swing on the forehand (and two-handed backhand) should be to have the wrist set back in the hitting position (the angle created between arm and racquet when a ball is met at the front foot). From the ready position, beginners generally will set the racquet straight back to reach the start objective; intermediates and above typically will use a tight circular motion to reach the Start Objective.

2. Finish objective – the finish objective on the forehand is to have the knuckles of the hitting hand against the ear on the opposite side. If you try this a few times you will see that the wrist (and consequently the racquet head) must remain in the hitting position and cannot have sprung forward. Two-handed backhands work the same way (for right-handers), as the left knuckles will finish against the right ear.

With the control principle and objectives in place, is there any need to teach executions? The only requirement in this instance is to help the student get his racquet from the ready position to the start objective. If the start and finish objectives are properly achieved, no further execution instructions are necessary.

The student can hit, but how does he play? – Time management is Principle No. 3 We have now built a tennis player who can move and hit, but who may lose points due

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to faulty thinking and decision-making. An understanding of the time management principle will eliminate a large percentage of the errors that players, especially beginners and intermediates, make. For this purpose we will assume that the player has made a proper recovery from the previous shot and that time begins when his opponent strikes the ball.

Two objectives will determine how well the player uses his time. Note that our player now has graduated from physical principles and objectives to mental ones requiring the proper mindset and correct decision-making: 1. The available time that begins with the opponent’s shot should be used to prepare to hit, not to create more time.

2. Never compromise on-time contact to struggle for better position. When the ball presents itself at the front foot it is ready to be hit and positioning, for better or worse, is complete.

Violations related to Objective 1 above are particularly destructive and offer great opportunity for immediate improvement.

When a player tries to create more time, I can be sure of two things: 1. He wants to procrastinate in getting ready to hit, and 2. If – and it’s a big if – he is able to create any extra time, he will waste it all and be equally late from an inferior position on the court.

Objective 2 violations manifest themselves when, for example, the player screeches to a halt and gives himself whiplash on a ball that could have been smoothly hit on the run or with an open stance; or when the player is too diligent about getting away from a ball hit right at him, thinking that he must complete his textbook positioning and live with the late hit. Volleys in particular are missed in this manner.

Now that we are in the mental realm, good fortune has come our way in that executions are moot! Even an execution failure such as not getting the racquet back timely should be addressed as a Principle 3 violation. The student should be told to

get prepared to hit during his allotted time (Objective 1 above) and allowed to figure out what that means; the executions will follow naturally.

Principle 4 – The Unitary Point Principle My students regularly emit body language that indicates violation of the Unitary Point Principle, which means: The point should be viewed as one unit, not a series of individual shots. The value of the Unitary Point Principle can best be understood by considering the problems it can eliminate. Some that I see are: failure to recover in a timely manner for the next shot; overinvestment in a shot that bears no relation to winning the point and is only my student’s attempt to show me how good a forehand he can hit; and shots hit with no regard for the recovery implications they create.

Let’s look behind each of these Principle 4 failures, determine a cause, and create an objective that might promote improvement. For example, failure to recover for the next shot most often results from the player making evaluations about his opponent’s shots and his own shots …. “Is mine going in? What about his return to me?” The time lost due to these errors is harmful, but the mindset that created them is devastating. An objective that will help is to make sure your players play all balls, in or out, one bounce or two bounces, during practice; in other words, stop making any evaluations and play! I always rush to assure my students that they will not fail to call every out ball properly in a match, as the self-interest instinct will kick in.

Overinvestment in shots and shots hit without regard for their recovery implications are similar in that both often result from a preoccupation with how the shot is being hit. A much better objective in match play would be to focus on where and why the shot is being hit. A subset of the where and why objective that would be a helpful exercise is to require players to play an entire set hitting the ball to the spot requiring the shortest recovery distance.

So the development of tennis players using a principles-based approach looks like www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

this: Begin with a principle (law), establish an objective (indicator) to test adherence to the principle, and execute (act) so as to achieve the objective. Whenever possible, stop short of entering the world of executions and let your student use his athleticism and creativity. I often tell my students that my job is to keep them “between the ditches,” allowing a little individuality as long as the principles are followed. Another helpful construct is to make the student understand that 95 percent of what I will do is to show him or her an easier way of doing things, not complex techniques requiring months or years to master.

During the course of lessons and practices, I refer to errors by citing the principle that was violated and allow the student to make the correction as I re-create the situation on the next several rallies.

This encourages independent thinking and will be much easier to replicate in a match than an execution-based correction.

Perhaps the best way to contrast principlesbased versus execution-based coaching and playing is to consider the following alternatives for spending the next hour of practice time. If I hit 1,000 forehands (execution), my forehand will improve; if I change the way I think (principle), my whole game will improve. 

Phil Trahan, USPTA Pro 1, is a regional teaching professional serving three public facilities in Northeast Louisiana.

In addition to private and team coaching, he runs Tennis Life Camps at Lake D’arbonne State Park, offering tennis, nutrition, fitness, and finance skills development to adult campers. Trahan is a lifetime tennis player and coach who captained the University of Louisiana-Monroe tennis team to a 16th place NCAA Division 1 finish in 1974 and is a member of the University’s Athletic Hall of Fame. He also is a monthly contributor to Delta Style magazine, writing a column titled The Tennis Life.

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Ever wanted to publish an article? This is your chance! Send us your tips or articles on coaching children, high school players, recreational adults – any level – or other subjects such as economic challenges, popular programming, player development, ethics, job security – any tennis-related topic you want to address.

Remember, having an article published in ADDvantage can enhance your career or add to your resume. Also, being published in ADDvantage is worth 25 points toward USPTA Master Professional certification (a maximum of 50 is allowed).

Send articles to the attention of the managing editor at the USPTA World Headquarters or via e-mail to magazine@uspta.org.

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2011 USPTA tournament player ranking points and tentative rankings* Men’s Open Singles 1 Adrians Zguns 500 2 Franco Mata 380 3 James Daly 360 4 Tony Larson 350 5 Nathan LeFevre 315 6 Kurt Pessa 270 7 Oren Motevassel 225 8 Alamgir Wali 200 T9 Paulo Barros 150 T9 Jamie Feagan 150 T9 Ronny Gould 150 T9 Abdul Idi 150 T9 Tye Myers 150 T9 Valter Paiva 150 T15 Jason Holland 120 T15 Paul Kolenich 120 T17 Jermaine Smith 115 T18 John Cook 100 T18 Christopher Fletcher 100 T18 Anthony Franco 100 T18 Lance Hagan 100 T18 David Irvin 100 T18 Eric Kent 100 T18 Joshua Rollins 100 T18 Matthew Shoptaugh 100 T18 Milos Vasovic 100 27 Keith Ginnetti 50 28 Simon Jim 45 29 Hamish MacKay 30 T30 Stephen Crim 15 T30 Juan Garcia 15 T30 Chris Singer 15

Men’s 35 Singles

1 Marcin Rozpedski 300 2 Denny Rager 225 3 Joel Tennison 200 T4 Matt Grayson 180 T4 Richard Spurling 180 6 Douglas Matuska 150 7 Spencer Jones 30 T8 Brook Boyd 25 T8 Joe D’Aleo 25

Men’s 40 Singles 1 Oren Motevassel 300 2 Mark Palus 225 3 Kamil Kuchta 200 T4 Dexter MacBride 180 T4 Greg Neuhart 180 6 Frank Vermeer 150 7 Adam Zastempowski 120 8 Pat Hanssen 25

Men’s 45 Singles 1 Jeff Cohen 425 2 Rill Baxter 300 3 Michael Vidmar 270 4 Micky Navarro 250 T5 Bryan Biever 200 T5 Val Wilder 200 T7 Kevin Gillette 180 T7 Rob Horsch 180

T9 Glenn Britzius 150 T9 Jeff Guerin 150 T9 Albert Hernandez 150 T9 Jack Steyn 150 13 Girin Barretto 135 14 Rupert North 50 15 Scott Smith 25 16 Cory O’Brien 15

Men’s 50 Singles 1 Greg Neuhart 300 2 Michael Lawver 225 3 Stephen Bucar 200 4 Don Caprio 180 5 Carlos Triana 150 6 Tom Breece 25 Men’s 55 Singles

1 Stephen Shortridge 450 2 Greg High 225 3 George Maurtua 205 T4 Harlan Hopchik 200 T4 Frank Swope 200 6 Ricky Barrera 150

Men’s 60 Singles

1 Kimm Ketelsen 300 2 Tommy Connell 225 T3 Gewan Maharaj 200 T3 Robert Green 200 5 Rich Causey 180 6 Terry See 25

Men’s 65 Singles 1 Geoffrey Moore 300 2 Fernando Velasco 225 T3 Hank Brenner 180 T3 Gustavo Castillo 180 5 Charles Van Middlesworth 25

Men’s 70 Singles

1 Algis Juodikis 300

Men’s Open Doubles 1 Kurt Pessa 500 2 Franco Mata 420 3 Tony Larson 400 4 James Daly 320 T5 Cary Lothringer 225 T5 Jonas Lundblad 225 7 Micky Navarro 210 T8 Roy Bryan 200 T8 Jamie Feagan 200 T8 Alamgir Wali 200 T11 Neal Castillo 180 T11 Ronnie Gould 180 T11 Valter Paiva 180 T14 Paulo Barros 150 T14 John Bougon 150 T14 Jory Ereckson 150 T14 Albert Hernandez 150 T14 Brian Notis 150 T14 John Pratt 150 T14 Winifield Stephens 150

T14 Bradley Werner 150 T22 Spencer Jones 135 T22 Joel Tennison 135 T24 John Cook 120 T24 Jason Eckles 120 T24 Christopher Fletcher 120 T24 Lance Hagan 120 T24 David Irvin 120 T24 James Kucera 120 T24 Stephen Poorman 120 T24 Matthew Shoptaugh 120 T24 Lee White 120 33 Hamish Mackay 30 T34 Stephen Crim 15 T34 Abdul Idi 15 T34 Douglas Matuska 15 T34 Chris Singer 15

Men’s 35 Doubles T1 Cary Lothringer 300 T1 Jonas Lundblad 300 T3 Jeff Diggs 225 T3 Denny Rager 225

Men’s 40 Doubles 1 Mark Palus 450 2 Page Buck 300 T3 Dave Freiman 225 T3 Jason Gilbert 225 T5 Jeff Cohen 200 T5 Frank Vermeer 200 7 Bruce Kurtz 150

Men’s 45 Doubles T1 Kevin Gillette 300 T1 Rob Horsch 300 T3 Joe Biedenharn 225 T3 Tim Brueggeman 225 T5 Rajan Keswani 200 T5 Michael Olson 200 T7 Glenn Britzius 150 T7 Raman Jayapathy 150 T9 William Kron 15 T9 Michael Vidmar 15

Men’s 50 Doubles 1 Frank Swope 425 T2 Greg Neuhart 300 T2 Carlos Triana 300 4 James Katterfield 225 5 Gewan Maharaj 200 T6 Lee Adams 180 T6 Bill Rublee 180

Men’s 60 Doubles

T1 Tommy Connell 300 T1 Kimm Ketelsen 300 T3 Gewan Maharaj 225 T3 Terry See 225

Men’s 65 Doubles

T1 Francisco Castillo 300 T1 Gustavo Castillo 300

Women’s Open Singles 1 Agata Cioroch 2 Marina McCollom 3 Ristine Olson 4 Zdena Rebekova 5 Lori Robertson

Women’s 35 Singles 1 Robin Keener

Women’s 45 Singles T1 Julie Farina T1 Kathy Vick T3 Carolyn Franca T3 Lori Robertson

Women’s 50 Singles 1 Kathy Vick 2 Tamara Vezina

Women’s Open Doubles T1 Vicki Foster T1 Sara Stablein T3 Jeanne Schwartz T3 Lindsey Schwartz

Mixed Open Doubles T1 Agata Cioroch T1 Marcin Rozpedski T3 Robin Keener T3 Denny Rager T5 Tony Larson T5 Marina McCollom T7 Ristine Olson T7 Stephen Poorman T9 Micky Navarro T9 Kathy Vick T11 Jory Ereckson T11 Michelle King

Mixed 45 Doubles T1 Micky Navarro T1 Kathy Vick T3 Carolyn Franca T3 Gewan Maharaj T5 Holly Chomyn T5 Terry See

300 230 200 150 120

500

200 200 150 150

300 225

300 300 200 200

300 300 225 225 200 200 150 150 120 120 15 15

300 300 225 225 180 180

*as of 10/5/11

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ADDvantage/January 2012

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

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Correction In the International Championship results in the November issue of ADDvantage, the results of the Men’s 65-and-over Doubles Finals should have said Gustavo Castillo, Potomac, Md., and Francisco Castillo, Miami, def. Hank Brenner, Lookout Mountain, Tenn., and Fernando Velasco, Austin, Texas, 1-6, 6-4, 6-3, not Hank Brenner, Lookout Mountain, Tenn., and Fernando Velasco, Austin, Texas, def.

Gustavo Castillo, Potomac, Md., and Francisco Castillo, Miami, 1-6, 6-4, 6-3.

We apologize for the incorrect statement.

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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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USPTA and ThanksUSA join forces to Thank the Troops

A

s part of “Tennis Thanks the Troops,” the United States Professional Tennis Association and ThanksUSA have teamed up to encourage USPTA professionals to fund scholarships for the families of military men and women.

How will USPTA members be able to help? By donating a portion of their lessons or clinic fees taught during Memorial Day Weekend 2012 (or any other weekend/date). USPTA Professionals can provide the opportunity for their students and club members to donate $5 for the cause; or they can run a simple round robin or other event with all or a portion of the proceeds being donated to ThanksUSA. For more information visit uspta.com or ThanksUSA.org.

“We encourage our teaching pros to give to important causes through tennis and Lessons for Life and I can’t think of a better way to show the troops how much we appreciate their sacrifice than providing them with the gift of education for their families,” said USPTA CEO Tim Heckler.

Through Lessons for Life, which became USPTA’s national charitable program in 1999, the USPTA encourages its members to use tennis as a vehicle to help others through fundraising activities in their communities. For 2012, the collaboration with ThanksUSA is a new component of the program, and one that strives to mobilize USPTA members to raise funds to help families of military personnel, specifically by providing scholarships.

In the past year alone, ThanksUSA received 1,800 applications from the spouses and children of our armed forces. While ThanksUSA was able to provide 300 scholarships valued at $3,000 each, the organization could only meet a small portion of the need among deserving applicants. In 2012, ThanksUSA seeks to award at least 500 scholarships totaling $1.5 million.

ThanksUSA’s scholarship program is unique in that both spouses and children of active-duty men and women can apply to the same organization for support. The scholarships are need-based – enabling those who most need and deserve the opportunity to transform their lives through higher education the opportunity to do so. Since ThanksUSA’s inception in 2006, it has awarded 2,500 scholarships for a total value of almost $7.5 million.

“The generous support of USPTA’s tennis pros and their students will allow ThanksUSA to award even more scholarships,” said Michele Stork, executive director of ThanksUSA. “We applaud their contribution to a program that has benefited thousands of military families.”

Scholarship recipients represent all military branches – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, National Guard and Reserve – and come from each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.  ADDvantage/January 2012 23

Get your game on track with meditation and yoga

by Eric Hinchman, USPTA

T

he mind of a tennis player is the craziest thing. Consider the 1975 Wimbledon men’s final when Arthur Ashe defeated Jimmy Connors 6-1, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4. Ashe was a 10-to-one underdog playing the world’s No. 1, who was nine years his junior. Ashe took with him a piece of paper with five or six key points to remember, which he focused upon during changeovers.

The game plan involved switching from his normal style of big-serving shot-maker to spin-serving soft-baller, and worked to perfection the first two sets. In the third set, Ashe began going for more on his serve and straying from his plan, playing right into Connors’ strengths. Connors took the third set and was up 3-1, serving at 40-30 in the fourth when Ashe escaped disaster by returning to the calculated play that had won him the first two sets. He came back to win the fourth set and the Wimbledon title.

That match begs the question: Why would Ashe abandon a strategy that was working so perfectly? Who knows? Maybe

it was ego. Maybe he thought, “I’m up two sets, now I’m gonna beat him my way.”

Whatever his reasoning was, Ashe was able to get his mind back on track in time to save the match.

The idea that a player who was as cerebral and level-headed as Arthur Ashe could get distracted from his game plan – with a Grand Slam title at stake – shows just how tricky it is to hold the mind steady.

This fact is not lost on Lawrence Eyre.

His team meditates before every practice.

Eyre is the boys’ tennis coach at The Maharishi School in Fairfield, Iowa, and was named 2009 USPTA National High School Coach of the Year. Since 1991, his

teams have won 17 Iowa state championships in singles, doubles, and team tennis.

They were also the only team in state history to sweep singles, doubles, and team tennis in consecutive years. This is no small accomplishment considering theirs is the smallest school in the state that fields a tennis team.

Eyre does not claim to possess a secret potion or magic bullet, but acknowledges his players bring certain qualities to practice after doing yoga exercises and meditation.

“What we notice is that the kids’ receptivity and wakeful ability to take in what I’m teaching or coaching or what we’re working on is a lot higher. It’s like cleaning the slate before practice,” Eyre said.

This ability to be restfully wakeful, calmly alert, and quietly active transitions naturally from practice to competition.

Eyre’s team was featured in the book “Body, Mind and Sport” by John Douillard. The author highlights a tough doubles match at the state championships that two of Eyre’s players lost in a third-set tie-break and how composed and calm they were when despondency or anger would be a more expected response.

The conclusion that this type of attitude is a result of meditation is “without any question,” Eyre said. “The people who usually comment are the coaches, other players and the parents; that our kids seem to remain composed under fire. That’s a tradition, that people expect our players to be calm when it comes to crunch time.”

The use of meditation and yoga in the world of tennis is not confined to a high school team in Iowa. Remember Torben Ulrich? The Inner Game of Tennis? However, it seems that outside of a smattering of anecdotal tidbits (Andy Murray doing

Practicing yoga and meditation can help tennis players find “the zone” during competition.

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ADDvantage/January 2012

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Bikram yoga; Serena Williams in triangle pose), these disciplines are largely untapped by tennis players. Or are they?

“There are definitely world-class players who do TM,” (Transcendental Meditation) Eyre said. “If they choose to give away their competitive advantage, that’s their choice.

There’s been a whole bunch that haven’t identified themselves and I respect their privacy.”

Though it may be elusive to quantify the meditation-yoga-tennis connection, it has obviously made inroads in the field of athletic training, evidenced by increased offerings of “yoga for golfers” classes, and specific “yoga for athletes” programs such as the classes that Sage Rountree teaches.

Rountree is a yoga teacher and endurance sports coach from Chapel Hill, N.C. She is also yoga instructor to several University of North Carolina teams, including football, men’s lacrosse and distance runners. There is no doubt how she feels about yoga and sport. The first sentence in her book, The Athlete’s Guide to Yoga, reads, “Yoga will make you a better athlete.”

If tennis players wonder if this means them, Rountree says, “It will make you a better whatever – fill in the blank. Especially with a reaction sport like tennis, yoga can have a huge effect on the ability and to maintain focus under pressure.”

Rountree explains in her book that “…yoga’s approach to concentration and breath awareness will improve your mental focus and mental endurance – the intangibles that become so important at the end of a long training session or race” (or, in the case of tennis players, a long match).

Since the words “yoga,” “meditation” and “concentration” are so often used in conjunction with one another, it may be helpful to clarify their differences. Yoga can be thought of as an umbrella that covers physical poses, breath work, meditation, and concentration. In the United States, yoga is commonly associated with the physical poses done in classes and seen in books and DVDs. Actually, the physical aspect (hatha yoga) comprises only one of the eight “limbs” of classical yoga. The other limbs, to name a few, involve personal conduct, breathing exercises, concentration and meditation.

Back in the day, as in 2,000-plus years continued next page www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

The meditation-yoga-tennis connection has obviously made inroads in the field of athletic training.

“Yoga’s approach to concentration and breath awareness will improve your mental focus and mental endurance.

For tennis players taking a yoga class at their club or fitness center, it would almost certainly be a hatha yoga class – one using physical poses and movements.

ADDvantage/January 2012

25

from previous page back, the physical poses were used to prepare the body for long periods of sitting meditation. Initially, yoga asanas, or poses, were part of the path of raising consciousness, as they no doubt still are for many practitioners. Yoga as a path to ripped abs came much later.

For tennis players taking a yoga class at their club or fitness center, it would almost certainly be a hatha yoga class – one using physical poses and movements. However, the attention to breathing, to the body, alignment, and sensations, brings the element of strengthening the body and mind connection to the practice. Whether the benefit is more physical or mental depends upon the athlete.

“If you took somebody who was deconditioned, or a little bit out of shape, you’d start to see huge physical gains,” said Rountree. “But if you take someone who is at the top of the field to a yoga class, they will pretty much be able to do most of the asanas, but the approach to focus and presence will probably be really useful, so for them the benefit might be more weighted to the mental than the physical.”

Also dependent upon the athlete is which style of class is best. One would assume that highly conditioned endurance athletes like the ones Rountree works with, or competitive tennis players, would require a more intense, power-yoga workout, but this is not necessarily so. What she doesn’t want to do is pile even more resistance or isometric work on somebody who’s already training hard.

“The physical practice is designed as a complement to training instead of just an extension of it,” Rountree explains. “People are sometimes surprised that it is not a super-sweaty, vigorous class. There are times when it is, when people are generally in their off-season.”

Recreational players would want to consider how hard they’re training on and off court and where they are in their league or tournament season in determining what type of class to take.

The more physically demanding styles of yoga include vinyasa (flow), power, hot, and Bikram. Gentler styles with longer holds include restorative, yin, or more beginning-level classes. There are many other levels within those styles. With a

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“ ... with a reaction sport like tennis, yoga can have a huge effect on the ability to focus to maintain focus under pressure.”

little inquiry, finding a suitable class is not difficult, given the choices available.

One thing that is paradoxical about yoga/meditation and tennis is the competitive aspect. Yoga is a decidedly noncompetitive pursuit. Letting go of competition, comparisons, and judgment are central to a yoga practice. Such principles might seem downright heretical when trying to put a beat-down on an opponent. After all, competitive tennis players, regardless of their level, are by and large driven and pragmatic. The statement that being less focused on winning can result in more winning sounds like a brain teaser, but no doubt makes perfect sense to those who have practiced it, like Lawrence Eyre’s teams.

“My emphasis is on the process of improvement. If you focus too much on the outcome, it’s going to inhibit the way you play. I think winning is a natural outcome when people are playing their best,” Eyre said.

To that end, John Douillard writes in “Body, Mind and Sport,” that “Winning from the inside out means being more dedicated to the cumulative development of mind/body coordination than to momentary victories.”

When the mind and body are in perfect coordination the tennis player finds himself or herself in that wondrous place that athletes call “The Zone.” Most tennis players can recall a time when they’ve had a peak performance experience on the court.

They might also recall wondering, “Why can’t I play like that all the time?”

No one has developed a formula for creating the zone experience at will, but there are common denominators among athletes who describe being in the zone.

Some of these traits are: a complete calmness and stillness of mind, an effortless feeling in the body, and a relaxed sensation in both body and mind, even in the midst of a high output performance. These are

the same traits that are cultivated through the practice of yoga and meditation.

Any foray that a tennis player makes into achieving zone-like qualities and mindfulness on court begins with the breath. Among tools to bring the mind and body into a focused and calm state, no other is given near the importance or attention as conscious breathing.

When it comes to his players’ breathing, Eyre is much more concerned about how they breathe when they aren’t playing. As he points out, 75 percent of match time isn’t actually playing, so it only makes sense to use that time in the best possible way; what he describes as “mastering the gaps.”

He wants his players to use the gaps as an opportunity to scale back and return to a state of equanimity between points and on changeovers.

Eyre has his players practice two things to master the gaps; he credits Jim Loehr, Ed.D. (USPTA Master Professional and renowned performance psychologist) for the first technique. The beauty of his tip lies in its simplicity; anyone can do it, just like anyone can watch the ball, just like anyone can breathe.

“Put your racquet in your nondominant hand, and the thing we add to that is breathe through your nose between points.

We do this in practice and we use it in our matches,” said Eyre. “That (the space between the points) is the most grossly underutilized time in tennis.” 

Eric Hinchman, USPTA, lives in Sarasota, Fla. He is a pro at the Longboat Key Tennis Center and a Registered Yoga Teacher, conducting classes at several local venues. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

USPTA drills Ice cream drill (10 & under 10S)

Type: Singles Levels: Beginner

prepared by Maria Mood-Brown, USPTA

Description and goals: The goal of this drill is to practice direction and low-to-high swings on groundstrokes.

Organization: Have players line up along the baseline on the 36-foot court.

Using red or orange level balls, pro feeds ball to player, who calls out an ice cream flavor and then hits shot back to pro. Pro catches ball using cone target, giving that player one scoop of ice cream. Pro then feeds ball to other players in the same manner.

King of the Court (Sampras) drill

Description and goals: This is a competitive “King of the Court” drill that works on all areas of a player’s game. Players should focus on patterns to control the point after hitting a forehand down-the-line and defending against it.

Organization: Player A starts as King of the Court. Pro feeds ball to player B, who must hit a running forehand down the line. The point is then played out. If “King” loses the point, then the winning player replaces him and another ball is fed to the next player, who hits a running forehand. Play until a player reaches 10 points. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Category: Groundstrokes Time/players: 5 minutes/1-4

Variations: Keep score as a team. Hit backhands. Do it as a cooperative drill with the kids catching the balls with the cone either in the air or after a bounce.

Key points: Have players focus on direction and low-to-high swing pattern on groundstrokes.

Type: Singles Levels: Intermediate/adv.

prepared by Eric Winn, USPTA

Category: Forehand/strategy & tactics Time/players: 15 minutes/2-6

Variations: Adjust winning score to lower number to keep drill moving. Feed ball to backhand side. Feed ball so player must hit approach shot. If winner is hit against “King” then he goes back to zero.

Key points: Keep players focused on hitting a running forehand and defending against it. Have players rely on strategy and tactics by practicing patterns.

Generated by iTennisSystem – www.InterTennis.com

ADDvantage/January 2012

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Career Development exams, upgrades & certification review courses

conventions (division conventions, 5 credits)

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* This course is held at the USPTA World Headquarters.

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specialist degrees Little Tennis® Facility Management  Computer Technology  Sport Science  Competitive Player Development  Pro Shop Operations

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.

cardio tennis specialty courses 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.

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CPD (Competitive Player Development) – Gained through the USA ­Tennis High Performance Coaching Program a ­ dministered by the USA Tennis Coaching E ­ ducation Department.

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.

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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ADDvantage/January 2012

Please visit www.growingtennis.com (workshops) to register online.

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.

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

USPTA ad

Industry action Members Randy Bernard, USPTA, was inducted into the South Carolina Tennis Hall of fame in December.

He was honored at the USTA South Carolina annual meeting and his portrait will hang at the Hall of Fame in Belton, S.C. Bernard played on the Southern Conference championship team (1975-’76) at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C., and has been a teaching pro for more than three decades. He served as president of the South Carolina Professional Tennis Association for four years. His honors include the Lucy Garvin Award for his service to the sport and the 2004 Southern Tennis Association State Volunteer Service Award.

He has coached junior players at developmental camps, and helped underprivileged children participate in tennis activities as a member of the S.C. Tennis Patrons Foundation Board of Directors.

Ricardo Mena, USPTA applicant from Key Biscayne, Fla., outlasted Ft. Lauderdale’s Carlos Gomez-Diaz, 7-5, 6-1, to grab the title at the USTA Men’s 35 Clay Court Championships held at Midtown Athletic Club in Weston, Fla., Nov. 11-16. Mena defeated consolation winner Diego Brunicardi, USPTA, 6-2, 6-3 in the semis, while GomezDiaz defeated Justin Touchstone, USPTA, 6-2, 6-4. In doubles action, the team of Gomez-Diaz/Brunicardi

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ADDvantage/January 2012

lost a hard-fought battle for the title to champions George Bezecny of Boca Raton and Andrew Lake, USPTA, of Davie, 6-2, 6-7(9), 7-5. Maury Bozman, USPTA, is director of tennis at Midtown.

USPTA Professional Robert Greene Jr. has been elected to serve as a delegate to USTA National by the Board of USTA New England.

Greene was USPTA’s 2009 Alex Gordon Professional of the Year and emcee of the awards breakfast at the 2011 World Conference. He is the general manager of the historic 1907 Worcester Tennis Club in Massachusetts.

The USTA Eastern Section will honor 28 volunteers, tennis pros, players and organizations at its Annual Awards Dinner on Jan. 21 at the Renaissance Westchester Hotel in White Plains, N.Y. The award recipients will be recognized for helping to grow tennis and serving their communities.

Honorees include USPTA Professionals Daria Pascale (Service to People with Disabilities Award) and Jeff Rothstein (George Seewagen Award). Also, the USPTA Eastern Division will receive the prestigious Corporate Service Award, primarily for its introduction of TennisFest 2011. The dinner marks the end of USTA Eastern’s Annual Meeting and Volunteer Development Workshop, Jan. 20-21. The meeting this year will feature sessions on grant writing, running USTA-sanctioned

The United States Tennis Association recently celebrated the construction and renovation of 3,000 tennis courts in 2011, the most ever by the USTA in a single calendar year. The celebration was held Nov. 30 with the unveiling of five new 10 and Under Tennis courts in a public park in Atlanta. Grove Park is one of 502 facilities that have been built or upgraded across 45 states. The courts were either refurbished by painting permanent 36- and 60-foot lines on existing 78foot tennis courts, or constructed as 36- and 60-foot courts. This effort reflects the International Tennis Federation’s new rule requiring all youth tennis courts to be specially lined or built for use of the 10 and Under Tennis play format.

The USTA also joined forces with First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” initiative in 2011 to encourage young people to lead active and healthy lives.

One component was the USTA’s commitment to encourage 200,000 children to participate in the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award; it actually had more than 226,000 kids complete the PALA challenge. For more information on the USTA’s 10 and Under Tennis initiative, please visit www.10andundertennis.com. tournaments and teaching 10 and Under Tennis. To register for the meeting or the dinner, visit www. eastern.usta.com.

Vineyard Youth Tennis on Martha’s Vineyard in Oak Bluffs, Mass., will celebrate its 10-year anniversary on July 21, 2012. Vineyard Youth Tennis is a nonprofit organization that provides free tennis instruction, court time, clothing and equipment to the residents of the island.

“Thousands of children have participated in the program over the years and both the local boys and girls high school team are state contenders each year,”

said executive director Scott Smith, a 27-year USPTA member. The anniversary festivities are to include a professional tennis exhibition, carnival fun day, free hot dogs and celebrity pro-am.

Vineyard Youth Tennis is also in the middle of an expansion project to include two more clay courts and two hard courts. For more information visit www. vineyardyouthtennis.org

Member product showcase The Tennis Parent’s Bible e-book offers insights to parents of young players, and gives coaches a www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Industry action means to raise funds for their junior development programs. USPTA Professionals receive a 25 percent commission (about $10) from each book sold. Also, clients of USPTA pros receive two free e-booklets as a thank-you with their direct download purchase. The booklets are titled “How To Attract A College Tennis Scholarship” and “The Tennis Parent’s Match Log Book.” Frank Giampaolo, USPTA, is the author of The Tennis Parent’s Bible: A Comprehensive Survival Guide to Becoming a World-Class Parent (or Coach). For more information, visit www. thetennisparentsbible. com; email Frank@ thetennisparentsbible.com or call 949-933-8163.

Miscellany The Women’s Tennis Association recently made a donation of $25,000 to the “Ace Out Hunger” program of USANA Health Sciences (NYSE: USNA). All of the funds raised will go to Children’s Hunger Fund, a global nonprofit organization fighting hunger in impoverished regions around the world. During Wimbledon, USANA Health Sciences, the official health supplement supplier and official partner of the WTA, donated $10 for every ace served at a WTA event. To date, more than 3,500 aces have been hit by WTA players at tournaments!

The United States women’s tennis team collected three medals at the Pan American Games in

Jada Robinson, a 12-year-old junior player from Reisterstown, Md., received the first Pauline Betz Addie Scholarship. Robinson is No. 18 in the USTA 12 and under national rankings and maintains a 4.0 grade point average. The announcement was made by the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Md., where Robinson trains. The scholarship provides her with up to four hours of intense tennis training plus one hour of fitness training weekdays at JTCC, a USTA Regional Training Center. The scholarship is renewable annually provided that Robinson continues to excel in both tennis and academics. The Pauline Betz Addie scholarship recognizes highly motivated young girls who aspire to play intercollegiate tennis. It is named for the legendary tennis champion and USPTA member, who passed away in May 2011. The former world No. 1 helped usher in an era of increased popularity for women’s tennis and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1965. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Guadalajara, Mexico, an international multisport event that was held October 14–30. WTA player Irina Falconi won the gold medal in women’s singles by defeating Puerto Rico’s Monica Puig, 6-3, 6-2 in the finals. It was the first time in 20 years that an American woman won the gold medal at the Pan Am Games. Among the other medal winners were fellow American Christina McHale, who captured the bronze medal in women’s singles by defeating Argentina’s Florencia Molinero, 6-1, 6-1.

Passings Dave Saxe of Mukwonago, Wis., a longtime USPTA professional, passed away in his sleep early on Nov. 10. Saxe, 68, was the head tennis pro at Chenequa Country Club in Hartland, Wis., for 39 years before retiring in 2009. He gave tennis lessons to thousands of kids from the Lake Country area over the years. He also headed up the tennis program at the Lake Country Racquet and Athletic Club in Hartland since the facility opened in 1977. He was still working there at the time of his death. He also taught tennis at The Brook Club in Brookfield.

Tim Shaw, USPTA, who assisted and then replaced Saxe at Chenequa, said when Saxe retired: “He not only teaches players of all ages and ability levels how to play tennis, but also teaches them lifelong lessons on how to succeed in life. Dave is a great teacher, mentor and friend and he will be missed at Chenequa.”

Brian Christopher Newcomer, a USPTA member from Palm Beach, Fla., was killed in an earlymorning traffic accident on Nov. 26 in Boynton Beach, Fla. He was 27 years old.

Newcomer, who was on the way back to work from the Thanksgiving weekend, was an assistant professional at the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo in the winter season. In the summer season he worked at the Waccabuc Country Club in Waccabuc, N.Y. This eight-year member of USPTA worked with and was admired by many fellow teaching pros. He began his career as a tennis professional at the Palm Beach Rec Center and worked at various clubs in Florida and New York (besides Ocean Reef and Waccabuc), including Fisher Island, Boca Grove Tennis Club and North Palm Beach Country Club. Survivors include his parents, Dr. Jack (Jay) Newcomer and Margarita GonzalezNewcomer; a brother, sister, grandmother, extended family, a beloved girlfriend and dear friends.

To express condolences go to http://www. legacy.com/guestbook/ palmbeachpost/ guestbook.aspx?n=briannewcomer&pid=1548 14890&cid=gbsrchres PalmBeachPost.com/ obituaries

ADDvantage/January 2012

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ADDvantage/ September 2000