Addvantage 2013 February

contents the total professional – enhancing your career 7 Cardio Tennis Interactive – by Brian O’Donnell, USPTA, and TIA Business Manager 14 USTA Tennis On Campus – USPTA holds open houses to connect Tennis On Campus with USPTA conventions and career opportunities in the sport

departments 3 CEO’s message 5 Vice president’s message 12 Classifieds 30 Career development 34 Industry action

16 USTA Tennis On Campus – Q&A with Glenn Arrington 18 Courtside USA benefits pros, club and members –

by Josh Vissman, USPTA, director of tennis at Eagle Harbor in Fleming Island, Fla.

21 Pro to pro – Mental skills for coaches –

by Robert Heller, Ed.D., USPTA 22 Game of a lifetime – by Michael Olds, USPTA 23 Tennis can be tool to turn back time 26 How do I handle bad line calls? – by Steve Wilkinson, USPTA

news 2 USPTA mourns the death of former CEO Tim Heckler 9 YouthTennis.com – Host a tennis festival 11 Staff spotlight 25 USPTA members give back to help those affected

by Hurricane Sandy 29 2012 USPTA tournament player ranking points and tentative rankings

volume 36 • 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 www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Managing editor Circulation

Kimberly Forrester Kathy Buchanan

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

On the cover – USPTA and USTA are partnering to host open houses that connect USTA Tennis on Campus (TOC) participants with exciting career opportunities as tennis-teaching professionals. See inside for more details.

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. 2013. All rights reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of the magazine is not permitted without written permission from USPTA. ADDvantage/February 2013

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USPTA mourns the death of former CEO Tim Heckler Tim Heckler, former chief executive officer of the United States Professional Tennis Association, passed away February 4 in Houston after suffering a heart attack. He was 71 years old.

“We are shocked and saddened by this loss,” said Tom Daglis, USPTA President. “He will be sorely missed in the industry as the single largest contributor to the USPTA in its entire history. Our deepest condolences go out to his wife, Renee, his children, and the rest of his family. They are all in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”

Tim will be sorely missed in the industry as the single largest contributor to the USPTA in its entire history.

Heckler retired from his position as chief executive officer of the USPTA in December 2012, after 30 years in the position. When Heckler was tapped as USPTA CEO in 1982, the organization had approximately 2,400 members and an annual budget of $700,000. He grew the association to the world’s oldest and largest organization of its kind, serving more than 15,000 members in 66 countries, and operating on an annual budget of $6.5 million.

Heckler, who began playing tennis at age 3, started his tennis-teaching career in 1970, the same year he joined USPTA. He was elected president of the USPTA Texas Division in 1974 and served as national president of the organization from 1980 to 1982.

With Heckler’s guidance, USPTA became one of the first tennis organizations to embrace technology, first through the computerization of the business itself as early as 1982, and then later through its use of the Internet and email-based communications and education. USPTA introduced its first website in 1995.

The USPTA honored Heckler in 2000 by naming him a grand inductee in the Association’s Hall of Fame. He also received the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Tennis Educational Merit Award in 2002 and was inducted into the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2008 he received the highest honor awarded by the United States Professional Tennis Association, the George Bacso Lifetime Achievement Award.

He attended Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, on a tennis scholarship and played on the international circuit, including Wimbledon in 1959 and 1961, and the U.S. Open in 1960.

Please look for the March issue of ADDvantage for a tribute to Tim Heckler. 

CEO’s message

Getting younger

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suspect some of you are wondering, “Why are Knowing this, it is incumbent on each and every we promoting the USTA’s Tennis On Campus USPTA member to seriously consider succession program on the front cover of our USPTA plans for their respective clubs and facilities. Who on ADDvantage magazine?” It’s a fair question, so let your current team is going to be able to step up and me explain. fill your shoes? And who behind them will take their One of the biggest challenges that we face as an responsibilities as your current team moves up into association are the changing demographics of our more senior or management positions? membership. It is no secret that our ten Unfortunately, we currently do not nis industry (across the board) is facing have a big pipeline of fresh faces that will a universal problem that is shared by become the USPTA of the future. As society in general: that is, the “graying” a result, we have to develop a pathway of our sport. Quite simply, the baby for high school and college-aged tennis boomer generation is getting older and enthusiasts who have a passion for the the USPTA is seeing the same trend game and who might very well have an within our ranks. interest in joining our profession. This is In digging into our membership where our new, collaborative arrangement numbers, the facts bear this out. Fifteen with the USTA’s Tennis On Campus year ago, the average age of our memberprogram comes into play. USTA’s Tennis ship was 39. Today, it is 47. Back in the On Campus program is fertile ground to John Embree late 90’s, we had more members between recruit and engage our next generation of the ages of 30-39 than any other category. As of 2012, teaching professionals. the largest membership category is between the ages of I have admired the efforts by the USTA to create a 50-55. And finally, we have more members between dynamic program for college kids who either are not 70-75 years old than ever. quite good enough to play varsity for their school or The good news is that our membership is staying have elected not to make that commitment of time but committed to supporting the association longer. We still want to fuel their passion for tennis by playing at remain an active and vibrant the club level. So, over the past organization with veteran USTA’s Tennis On Campus program 10 years, the USTA’s Tennis is fertile ground to recruit and leadership because of that On Campus has grown from fact. The other side of the a fledgling grassroots effort to engage our next generation coin, however, is plainly oba wildly successful nationwide of teaching professionals. vious: there is not the influx endeavor boasting more than of new blood flowing into our ranks that 35,000 players at more than 600 instituthere must be in order to sustain our protions. Because TOC chapters have limited fession long term. funds for matches and travel, chapter Who is going to step in and fill the jobs organizers and their respective teammates of our senior leaders when they retire, leave have to fundraise to help fund their activithe sport entirely or move on in the next ties, schedule their own matches with other five to ten years? Where is the next wave clubs and figure out a way to make ends of enthusiastic professionals who will be meet with very limited institutional supthe caretakers of our sport when we are all living out port. Bottom line: these players are playing because our “golden” years? After all, none of us can expect to they love the game and relish the team experience. work forever, right?

They are entrepreneurs in their own right and have an continued next page

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from previous page overarching will to enrich their collegiate experience by participating in Tennis On Campus.

There is no better group we could tap to be our future tennis professionals! With this in mind, we have been able to create a multilayered partnership with the USTA to facilitate greater interaction between our two organizations. Please see the article inside which discusses the opportunity that exists and how this collaborative effort will work going forward. It really is a terrific model that will have a huge impact on our association for years to come.

We have to develop a pathway for high school and college-aged tennis enthusiasts who have a passion for the game and who might very well have an interest in joining our profession.

I strongly suggest that you contact the USTA Tennis On Campus leadership in your local area. Find out if any of the registered club participants might like to earn some extra spending money during the school year by working with you at your club or facility. See if you can’t embrace a young tennis enthusiast to mentor (as you once were mentored) so that he or she might seriously consider teaching tennis as a career choice. Not only will you be helping yourself fill a need, but you will be making a difference in a young person’s life while also contributing mightily to our association and its future.

You will be glad you did. 

Tennis On Campus participants might fill a gap now, and become future tennis professionals.

The graying of the USPTA membership: 30.0%

Percentage of Total Membership

25.0%

20.0% 1983 1988 1993

15.0%

1998 2003 10.0%

2008 2013

5.0%

0.0% <20

20-25

25-30

30-35

35-40

40-45

45-50

50-55

55-60

60-65

65-70

70-75

75>

Age Group

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Vice president’s message 50 sites to be selected for HEAD G Days

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t’s time to help this great association and our prime endorsement company, HEAD Penn, with the launch of new and exciting technology, Graphene. You can make a huge difference, and I am hoping that you will try. We have all benefited from our friends at HEAD in many ways, and we are hoping that you will join in with this specific initiative.

Fifty sites across the nation are being selected for G (Graphene) Days – demo days to be held between Feb. 1 and mid-March at influential clubs that will attract the maximum amount of players to test the new product. Here’s where you can help.

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

President

Tom Daglis

First Vice President

and respects your knowledge and expertise.

Promotion of this event will be the key to its success, so take a group with you to the G Day site, making it your event, too.

• Reach out and contact your local HEAD representative and merely offer your service. This is a great sign of support to your rep and I know that they will appreciate it. Every representative is listed on the back of the HEAD catalog or on their website.

Social media plays such an important role and HEAD has led the field in great videos that are fun and interesting. Share these and post them on your webpage or Facebook page to get everyone excited about the event and the new product.

• Know of a great site for a G Day? Gary Trost Let your divisional president/ board member or your local HEAD representative know about it. Although it would be great Divisional leaders, testers and ALL HEAD adviif everyone would host a G Day, our first step sory staff members will be asking for your help in the near future, if they haven’t is to get rolling with some already. Reach out to them if you larger facilities. The initial haven’t heard from them. This goal is to get a least 25-50 is our strength – networkparticipants at each G ing, looking out for each Day. other, and delivering our support in the industry.

• Volunteer at one of these The continuous support sites. This is a simple of all of our endorsements, sign of support for a by product discounts for us fellow pro, and the goodand our families, etc., should will that you show will be acknowledged. If you are be greatly appreciated. loyal to a different racquet brand, Encourage other members simply take a HEAD racquet and of your staff to help out – your company’s racquet on the court especially if they are HEAD for your client to demo. advisory staff members.

• Advertise the G Day to your members and encourage them to go and try this great product. Be confident that the club member is loyal to you

National Board of Directors

The entire National Board of Directors of the USPTA are advisory staff members of HEAD and we stand together to make this happen – let’s all get together on this! 

Randy Mattingley

Vice Presidents

Past President

Nancy Cox Jeff Hawes Tom McGraw Dan Moster Gary Trost Harry Gilbert

WORLD HEADQUARTERS CEO

John Embree

Creative Services Director Publications Manager/ Managing Editor

Julie Myers Kim Forrester

Director of Public Relations

Poornima Rimm

CourtsideUSA Manager

Randy Jenks

Digital Asset Coordinator/ Ramona Husaru Tennis Multimedia Management Graphic Design Specialist Nick Warwick Director of Video Production Chris Maale Video Editor/ Videographer

Andrew Robertson

Director of Professional Development

Fred Viancos

Corporate Services Janice Stollenwerck Administrator Director of Information Technology

Dan Wilson

Network Administrator Director of Computer Services

Scott Bucic Kathy Buchanan

Director of Membership and Certification

Vicky Tristan

Membership/Insurance Melony DeLoach Coordinator Director of Finance Controller

Kathy Ladner Ellen Weatherford

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

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Tips from the pros

Cardio Tennis Interactive®

by Brian O’Donnell, USPTA, and TIA Business Manager

C

ardio Tennis® was initially created as the tennis industry’s answer to the growing demand for fitness activities. It has steadily increased in popularity with nearly 1,800 sites in the U.S. and in more than 30 countries around the world, most notably Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan and the LTA in Great Britain who have started national Cardio Tennis programs.

As demand has grown so has the need for additional Cardio Tennis programs to respond to the ever-changing appetite for new and creative fitness programs. We were looking to create a tennis fitness program that would offer USPTA tennis-teaching professionals and their facilities a complete wellness program for their tennis participants. The program also had to be fun, social, engaging and purposeful. In our quest to explore what the newest and latest fitness programs were doing to create this type of experience, we were introduced to Total Health Interactive (THI), which provides advanced, easy to use technology to clients in the Health, Wellness and Fitness Industry.

THI was offering online fitness challenges to their clients, which seemed a perfect fit for Cardio Tennis. In addition, these challenges already incorporated the use of Polar heart rate monitors, an integral part of the Cardio Tennis program. For Cardio Tennis, THI’s suite of interactive tools allowed participants to remain healthy, motivated and engaged in the Cardio Tennis program. We could now offer a program that all tennis providers, coaches and USPTA teaching professionals could use as a complete health maintenance tool for their members, teams and players.

Called Cardio Tennis Interactive™, the new tennis wellness program ran several

trial programs across the country before the official national launch in February 2013.

The program will also allow Cardio Tennis locations to have their own custom-branded online experience, extending a tennis facility’s brand online with Cardio Tennis participants and providing an additional revenue opportunity for facilities and pros.

Cardio Tennis Interactive™ will allow Cardio Tennis locations to have their own custom-branded online experience ... and provide an additional revenue opportunity for facilities and pros.

With each Cardio Tennis Interactive online health and wellness account, participants will be able to: n Track their exercise, nutrition, goals and results. n Upload their Polar Heart Rate Monitor data directly into their account to track results. n Participate in Fitness Challenges that will be specific to Cardio Tennis. n Receive customized programs designed for enhanced Cardio Tennis enjoyment, weight loss and more. n Gain reward points for using the site, participating in challenges and more, which can be used in the Cardio Tennis Rewards Store for discounts on healthand-fitness-oriented products.

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continued next page ADDvantage/February 2013 7

from previous page Now, all Cardio Tennis Authorized Providers have the op- To further enhance the Cardio Tennis Interactive program and portunity to host a ­Cardio Tennis – Get Fit® Challenge at their offer a more complete health and wellness experience, the Cardio facility! The inaugural challenge will roll out nationwide from Tennis Healthy for Life™ Challenge was created and will be Feb. 11 – March 22 in conjunction with National Heart Month. making its trial debut this spring. This challenge will consist of As part of the new online Cardio Tennis Interactive experience, an eight-week interactive tennis, fitness and wellness program the Get Fit Challenge is designed to help that incorporates three primary elements: participants get even better results, stay Healthy Diet (using the Healthy for Life engaged with the program for longer wellness program), Cellular Nutrition Now, all Cardio Tennis periods of time, and increase the enjoy(incorporating the USANA nutritional Authorized Providers ment of the health benefits associated with products) and Exercise (using the Cardio have the opportunity to Cardio Tennis via an online Web portal Tennis on-court, tennis/fitness program). host a ­Cardio Tennis – that tracks calories burned, participant Cardio Tennis will be the main fitness ® activity, provides healthy eating guidance, component of the program that involves Get Fit Challenge and much more. an on-court warm-up phase, cardio phase at their facility!

During the six-week challenge, parand cool-down phase throughout the one The inaugural challenge ticipants will compete against each other hour program, the core of all Cardio Tennis and/or other facilities to reach their fitness programming. Participants will also have a will roll out nationwide and weight-loss goals. Get Fit Challenge choice of other fitness programs and activifrom Feb. 11 – March 22 participants each receive an online health ties available through the Cardio Tennis in conjunction with and wellness account that enable them Interactive site for which they will receive National Heart Month. to have full access to all the online tools a certain number of reward points. they will need to help them reach their The Healthy for Life portion involves personal fitness goal. At the completion of each participant in an online, eight-week the challenge, winners will receive prizes donated by participat- interactive eLearning program, online journal with lesson and ing industry companies and all participants can use their Health activity tracker, online meal-planner with recipes and printable Reward Points in the online “Store” toward product discounts grocery list, and live webcasts along with a private social network. and other items.

Each week participants will be presented with a new set of tasks to Participating facilities in the Cardio Tennis Get Fit Challenge help them focus on developing new health habits and lead them receive the following: down a path to improved personal wellness.

After completing either of the Cardio Tennis Interactive programs, participants are encouraged to stay with their tennis fitness n Free marketing materials program by becoming part of the Cardio Tennis Interactive system n A referral fee for every participant in the challenge on a monthly basis. In addition, any Cardio Tennis Authorized n The ability to participate in fitness challenges that will be specific Provider interested in running their own challenges will have the to Cardio Tennis opportunity to purchase a branded site through the TIA. n The opportunity to have their own branded Total Health Thanks to the USPTA and its Tennis – for the Health of It!™ ­Interactive site at a discounted price once their facility completes initiative, the door has been opened for programs such as Cardio Tennis Interactive to be well-received by not only tennis-teaching the challenge. professionals but also the entire health and fitness community.

If you would like more information on Cardio Tennis Interactive, the Get Fit Challenge or the Cardio Tennis Healthy for Life™ Challenge, please contact Brian O’Donnell at brian@ tennisindustry.org.  Brian O’Donnell is the Business Manager for the Tennis Industry Association (TIA) based out of Hilton Head Island, S.C. He promotes such initiatives such as Cardio Tennis, Tennis Welcome Center, the USTA’s 10 and Under Tennis (a national program for 10 & under junior players) and the Growing Tennis 50/50 Coop Marketing Program. Brian graduated from UWWhitewater in 1982 with a BBA in Marketing. He is a certified teaching professional with both the USPTA and PTR and has worked in the tennis industry for over 28 years. Prior to the TIA, Brian was the director of tennis for Moss Creek Tennis Center on Hilton Head Island for 10 years where he specialized in developing innovative tennis programming for seniors.

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HOST A TENNIS FESTIVAL FROM MARCH 1ST – 31ST In 2012, more than 2,000 youth tennis events took place across the country giving tennis organizers the opportunity to showcase youth programs while attracting new players. This March, invite parents to participate and experience first-hand how tennis is now sized right for age and ability.

BE ONE OF THE FIRST 1,200 REGISTERED TENNIS FESTIVALS and receive an event pack including a YouthTennis.com banner and giveaway items for event attendees.

AS A HOST YOUR FACILITY WILL RECEIVE: • Publicity: Tennis Festivals will be promoted within the YouthTennis.com searchable database

enabling parents to easily find your event.

• Exposure: The Tennis Night in America television broadcast on ESPN2 will drive viewers to

YouthTennis.com to search for local events.

• Membership Offers: Promote the Free 1-Year USTA 10 and Under Junior Membership to

increase participation in your programs.

• Customizable Promotional Materials: Download customizable flyers, posters and press release

templates to promote your Tennis Festival and increase attendance.

• Partnership Opportunities: The USTA will drive consumers to YouthTennis.com through

advertising on Nickelodeon, a network seen in more than 100 million households and the #1 entertainment brand for kids.

TO HOST AN EVENT VISIT © 2012 USTA. All rights reserved.

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• How long have you worked at USPTA? A total of 12 years – four years as the sports marketing coordinator and eight as a network administrator in the IT Department. I also assisted the Multimedia Department on camera for about five years during the beginning of the “On Court with USPTA” TV show.

• What is your work and educational background? I went to ­University of the Incarnate Word on a soccer scholarship and to pursue a degree in sports administration. However, I decided to come back to the University of Houston for school and to explore other soccer opportunities that were presented to me in the Houston area.

USPTA is really the only significant job I have had other than my previous soccer-related jobs.

• Can you describe, basically, what you do here? My largest function is probably supporting the staff with their computer hardware and software needs. Some of my other roles include most of the Microsoft Stacy, Braden, Ben and Scott Bucic.

Exchange server administrator functions; DVD duplication; assisting with the CEO’s technology needs; and supporting the multimedia department’s editing computers and other IT functions at the annual World Conference.

• This past February, you and Dan Wilson, USPTA’s director of information technology, formed your own company, Full Dimension IT Solutions, LLC. You now contract with the association and lease an office at the USPTA World Headquarters building. Has your role with USPTA changed much since then? Our duties have really not changed at all. We started Full Dimension IT as a way to share some of our experiences with other companies that need the IT support but that could not afford a full-time IT professional of their own. However, USPTA always has and always will be our No. 1 priority. In fact, we lease an office from USPTA just so we can remain on site to meet their needs. We designed Full Dimension IT Solutions in a way that mutually benefited everyone.

We are thrilled to still be part of the USPTA “team” in the same capacity we have always been. When the opportunity presents itself, we will hire other IT staff to help us support other clients while leaving our primary focus on USPTA. • When you and Dan were full-time USPTA employees, it was kind of a running joke to end emails with the quip, “Your friendly IT Department.” You actually turned that into Full Dimension’s slogan, “Your company’s friendly IT department!” Is this business, for you, really about the people and providing great customer service? Absolutely it is. Dan and I have always tried to change the typical view of the “IT guy” whenever possible.

We enjoy our job and would prefer to help the USPTA staff with a smile rather than talking down to a computer user needing help. That is one area our company tries hard to differ a bit from the stereotypes.

• What do you enjoy about your job, and does it have its challenges? I really enjoy computer technology and working with people. Those are the two most important things in my job as an IT professional.

There are probably two main challenges in IT consulting. The first is staying familiar with the rapidly changing technology. The second challenge is prioritizing; in most cases people need your help for an important issue for them. However, in some cases the issues seem to inconveniently overlap from time to time.

• Can you tell us about your athletic career with the former indoor soccer team, the Houston Hotshots? After playing college soccer, I played three years of professional indoor soccer with the Houston Hotshots. I have always played goalkeeper and really enjoyed the pressure and unpredictability of that position.

• Did your professional soccer career lead you into coaching youth soccer? Most indoor soccer players have to also coach in order to make a living. I trained Division 1 competitive club teams and the St. Thomas High School teams in Houston. This was a

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from previous page really easy thing with professional practice in the mornings and the youth teams in the evenings.

• How did you transition from the sports world into IT work? I actually went to school for sports marketing. USPTA has always been very comfortable to me with my roots having been in sports. USPTA had a need for more help in IT with all of its new technology.

So, I transitioned to IT after four years as sports marketing coordinator at USPTA. This was actually easy for me because I had always had an interest in computers. I would do a lot of tinkering on personal time to learn as much as I could about computers and networks. Working in IT with Dan Wilson was also comfortable. It was back to feeling like a team for me since we needed to accomplish things together.

I really would just like to just do my best in my personal life and in business.

I try to just be as happy as possible and never have regrets.

• Is the teamwork at USPTA in any way akin to an athletic team environment? Yes, I think that the staff at USPTA is relatively small for the size of the membership and the World Conference each year. The staff seems to work very well to accomplish all of the members’ needs.

• Can you tell us about your family? Would you like for your kids to play sports? I have been married to Stacy for nine years and we have two boys. Ben is 7 and really enjoys being active and learning.

Braden is 4 and appears to be very social and likes technology or at least playing games. They are both playing soccer by choice.

Coming from soccer-playing parents, we wanted to make sure that we did not pressure them into soccer specifically. We all enjoy watching the Houston Dynamo as a family.

• Do you have any life goals that you have not yet realized? I really would just like to just do my best in my personal life and in business. I try to just be as happy as possible and never have regrets.

• On a lighter note, you have been known to be somewhat of a cut-up.

Is that just a nasty rumor? (Or does it help to have a sense of humor in the IT business?) I am sure that must just be a rumor! However, I do appreciate a good funny movie! 

Scott, (back row, third from left) pictured with the Houston Hotshots in 1997.

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QM-1 Portable Camera Support.

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GRIP COACH is a practical product that has simple and easyto-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 everyone. Visit: www.gripcoach. com.au.

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. Prepayment is required. Supply typed copy and include full name, telephone number, credit card number and expiration date. Email magazine@uspta.org or fax to 713-358-7794, 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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USTA Tennis On Campus USPTA holds open houses to connect Tennis On Campus participants with USPTA conventions and career opportunities in the sport

T

he USPTA and the United States Tennis Association (USTA) have partnered to host open houses that connect USTA Tennis On Campus (TOC) participants with exciting ­career opportunities as tennis-teaching professionals. The program officially kicked off in January during the USPTA Northern, Southwest, California and Hawaii division conventions.

A major objective of the alliance is to get USPTA pros to partner with local TOC chapters. As such, every USPTA division will invite registered local TOC club participants to attend the division convention free of charge. At these conventions, TOC participants will get a glimpse into all that the tennisteaching profession has to offer and will be introduced to the benefits of becoming a certified USPTA Pro. They also will have the opportunity to sit in on all of the educational seminars at the convention, network with USPTA members who have made a successful living from teaching tennis, and socialize with other attendees.

This collaboration with TOC is vital for USPTA to tap into a network of passionate players who might very well want to make teaching tennis a career choice,” said USPTA CEO John Embree.

“We see this opportunity as a great first step toward improving our efforts to recruit the next generation of teaching pros and

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coaches in America,” said USTA Chief Executive of Community Tennis Kurt Kamperman.

USPTA Pros can use this collaboration to link-up with local TOC clubs as a potential source for part-time or seasonal teaching expertise for summer jobs, off hours during the school year, and weekend work. It’s an ideal way to introduce TOC members to the profession with the chance of making extra money on the side. This could ultimately lead to full-time employment as a tennis-teaching professional for TOC participants.

The coordinated efforts between the USTA and USPTA also will include honoring one male and one female TOC player at the USPTA annual awards ceremony with the TOC Teaching Award for demonstrating exceptional ability and talent in teaching tennis in their respective communities. In addition, the partnership includes sharing editorial produced by both organizations that will be featured in the TOC newsletter and USPTA’s ADDvantage magazine, as well as providing the tools and resources for USPTA pros to connect with local TOC clubs and participants, so that the pros can help mentor those who are enthusiastic about a career in tennis, and help them prepare for USPTA Certification Exams when they are ready to take the next step. 

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

USTA Tennis On Campus Q&A with Glenn Arrington – USTA National Manager, TOC 1. What are the key goals of this partnership from the TOC perspective? We see this as being a mutuallybeneficial partnership with several important goals. We want first to make TOC participants aware of the career opportunities that exist within tennis – either as a USPTA-certified tennis professional or in another capacity within the tennis industry.

It’s also important that we raise awareness among USPTA pros that this interested and talented group of young adults exists. Achieving those two things, we then want to help foster a simple pathway that connects the two parties so that the pros can benefit from the talents of this passionate group and the TOC participants can benefit from the expertise and mentoring of the pros.

When we achieve that, everyone will benefit – as will the sport itself.

2. What do you envision TOC participants learning by attending USPTA division conventions and open houses? It’s my hope that they capture the genuine sense of camaraderie within our profession and the welcoming attitude that accompanies it. Additionally, they should learn more about how to get started in teaching tennis and the importance of becoming a certified tennis professional, as well as the types of facilities in which USPTA pros work and the types of programs and activities in which they’re involved. I love the open house idea – it’s a great way to expose these young adults to the teaching profession and the business of tennis in a non-threatening environment.

3. How do you see USPTA tennis-teaching professionals interacting with local TOC chapters/ participants? There are TOC programs on college and university campuses all across the country, so I see local collaborations and mentoring opportunities across the board.

Since our club teams are non-varsity, often times they can’t get adequate court time or developmental training on their campus.

By connecting with local professionals, everyone wins. I see pros connecting these passionate players to social match play with their club members, etc. and hosting these young leaders at special events. In turn, I see the TOC players offering a new revenue stream and/or trading out services like social media or website development, or entry-level coaching in programs

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like 10 and Under Tennis to help support the local teaching professional. We’ve recently created an informative piece that helps USPTA professionals understand how to approach their local TOC program and get connected, and we hope that will help get the ball rolling.

4. How do you see TOC participants benefitting from this new collaboration? Apart from the things I’d mentioned earlier, I see tremendous potential for TOC players to secure part-time or summer teaching opportunities assisting USPTA professionals.

Those opportunities will help keep them in the game and could well open doors to even more opportunities within the sport. I also see benefit for pros and their facilities, in that our TOC alumni will likely feel an allegiance to a local facility through this relationship. Some of our research indicates that 60 percent of our former players don’t know where to play after graduation – we need to fix that.

I believe this kind of collaboration will help fill that gap over time. We want to make sure these players find themselves in the game for years to come.

5. If a USPTA professional reading this is interested in participating in this initiative, how should he/she get started? There are five simple steps for connecting with TOC and its participants: 1. Do Your Homework – Visit www.tennisoncampus.com to learn more about the program and the schools that are participating near you.

2. Contact your USTA Tennis On Campus Section ­Coordinator (listed on the website) – Ask for assistance in connecting with the program or our teams.

3. Make an Offer – Invite your local TOC program leaders to meet with you at your facility so you can get to know one another.

4. Discover the Opportunity – Find out what shared needs you and the TOC club have and where a potential collaboration with mutual benefits can take place.

5. Develop an Action Plan – Outline the details of your ­collaboration and execute.  www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Courtside USA benefits pros, club and members

by Josh Vissman, USPTA, director of tennis at Eagle Harbor in Fleming Island, Fla.

A

t the Eagle Harbor Tennis Park in Jacksonville, Fla., tennis is a way of life. There are more than 600 registered tennis members and 12 Har-Tru tennis courts. There are ladies country club teams, working women’s teams, men’s and women’s USTA teams, junior teams, and even some of my own Eagle Harbor leagues.

I account for all of these people, teams, and the events that go along with normal operations by using the USPTA’s online program, Courtsideusa.com.

This program not only benefits me with efficient and effective management of my facility, but also benefits my members by giving them constant, easy access to any clinic or event that is offered. Courtside USA gets my members involved, makes them aware of the policies at my club, and keeps them up to date with any changes or league seasons that are approaching.

By listing my entire program online, it keeps my members current with the program and allows them to plan ahead, which creates better attendance for events and clinics. I keep an annual event calendar readily available on my club page. This eliminates phones calls and emails questioning when an event will be and also saves me time by not having to heavily advertise events because members know what’s ahead. Advertising becomes as simple as selecting my entire membership in a message, typing a quick note to them about what’s on the horizon, and Courtside USA can send the note right to their inbox.

In all business, time management is important but I would say that importance doubles in the tennis-teaching business because there are only so many instruction hours in a day. In order to maximize your profits as a teaching pro, you have to maximize your time, which is much easier said than done. With Courtside USA’s online registration, my pros and I have lessened the gaps in our days. It is easy for the members and allows my pros to plan ahead. By closing registration for morning clinics the night before and afternoon clinics the morning of, my pros can see if they need to be available for a clinic or they can go ahead and book their time with lessons. To go a step further, my pros also use the online clinic registration to fill gaps in their day. They can create their own clinic, post a description of the clinic to make it sound inviting,

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message the members, and watch the clinic fill up.

This also works for social events. No more calling the pro shop and keeping hand-written lists that could get lost or misplaced.

It is easily tracked and accessed online, which helps the members register without picking up the phone and allows the pros to keep a full book of business.

Jacksonville is a large, spread out city. When playing a league match against another club, you are going to have to travel at least 25 minutes and sometimes as much as an hour to get to the match.

People are busy and travel can be a deal breaker when considering entering a league. By creating my own Eagle Harbor leagues, members have the advantage of having competitive tennis in their own backyard. I create the league on Courtside USA and set up the teams.

The Courtside USA program makes the schedule and allows my members to post their own scores. I oversee that everything is in order but I do not have to constantly monitor the results or input all the information.

In closing, Courtside USA benefits my club program by not only helping me manage my club, it also helps with time management for my pros and it pushes my members to be more proactive in the program. Courtside USA helps everyone get the most out of the program. 

Josh Vissman and tennis shop manager Kristina Bowden. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Pro to pro – tips and techniques from USPTA members

Mental skills for coaches

by Robert Heller, Ed.D., USPTA

C

oaches need to have a lot of different kinds of skills to do Coaches need to look for opportunities to make a difference beyond a good job. Mental skills for coaches are among the most teaching technical and tactical skills to their players. Mental skills important, but rarely taught. Now, I am not suggesting for coaches may include knowing when and how to speak to a that coaches should be junior psychologists. But I am suggesting player who seems more lethargic or less motivated than usual, when that coaches should, among other things, have the ability to know and how to respond to a player who reacts negatively to a mistake, how to recognize problems players may be experiencing, how to perceived poor performance or a bad call and how to interact with parents whose behaviors may, at times, talk to them about their problems and Coaches need to look present a negative influence. when they should refer that player to be for opportunities to make evaluated by a particular specialist. a difference beyond teaching Another type of mental skill for coaches is looking for a teachable moment.

As coaches, you have frequent day-totechnical and tactical skills day contact with athletes, and can often For example, when a coach witnesses a to their players. student reacting negatively to a missed tell when something is off with a player.

You can observe differences in their effort, motivation, mood and shot, a poor decision or falling behind, the coach could ignore the performance. You may not know the reasons for the difference behavior or choose to intervene and make a difference. Stopping but you can show interest and concern and ask questions to better play and taking time to evaluate what’s going on in the student’s head can be a valuable intervention. Ask questions like, “ John, determine what’s going on. what did you just do?” “How did you feel when you missed that shot?” “Do you think it helps you or hurts you when you react that way?”

Awareness training and self-reflection are some of the key mental coaching skills first talked about by author and tennis instructor, Tim Gallwey in his class book, “The Inner Game of Tennis.” He was an advocate of the Socratic method of teaching where he would ask the student questions in a way that would encourage them to figure out a better way of doing something on their own.

Another mental coaching strategy might be reading excerpts of “The Inner Game” with students and discuss how they might apply it to themselves both on and off the court. 

As coaches, you can often tell when something is off with a player. You can observe differences in their effort, motivation, mood and performance.

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Robert Heller, Ed.D., is a psychologist, sport psychology consultant and USPTA Professional based in Boca Raton, Fla. He is the author of TENNISMIND. For articles and information on related topics visit him at www.mentalskillstennis.com.

ADDvantage/February 2013

21

Gameof a lifetime

by Michael Olds, USPTA

I

t’s a game of a lifetime! What does that really mean to you?

Do you exercise consistently? Participate competitively in age group triathlons? Play golf on a regular basis? For many tennis members at Life Time Fitness in Colorado Springs, it means much, much more.

into playing tennis when he was 41 years old, and Ralph started playing tennis in 1932 at the age of 10 with his three brothers in Elkhart, Ind. The four of them not only love playing the game, but the memories and friendships they have built over the years have lasted a lifetime.

Life Time Fitness member Ron Lockwood walks onto the court Colorado Springs LTF member Dave Wilson manages a men’s group that plays two hours a every Tuesday and Friday for an day, twice a week with more hour and a half of doubles with “Tennis has kept us physically healthy, 40 active players. The averthree of his buddies. What’s but the relationships we have made and kept than age age of the group is 72 years amazing is that Ron started playall these years mean just as much.” of age, including; two 90-yearing tennis less than three years old men, six men in their 80’s, ago and now at the age of 75 he is considered the baby of his tennis group. At the time of writing 18 in their 70’s and 20-plus in their 60’s. Many of these players this article, the combined age of Ron and his playing partners play in club events and local tournaments as well as play golf is 337 years. Ron and his partners, Robert Conover (84), Ray and spend time on the fitness floor to be able to keep up with Spaccarelli (88) and Ralph Le Fevre (90), have enjoyed many the younger players. sports over their lifetime, but tennis is the one thing they look forward to every week to keep themselves active and healthy. We can’t forget about the women. LTF member Marthe Schwartz Robert started playing tennis when he joined the Lynmar Rac- (72) organizes weekly groups of ladies for singles and doubles. quet Club (now Life Time Fitness – Colorado Springs) 34 years Besides dominating on the tennis court, you can find Marthe up ago. Besides tennis, Robert exercises four times a week, plays on the fitness floor working out on the machines or on daily walks golf regularly with Ray, and goes snow skiing in the winter time. around her neighborhood. She started playing tennis in 1980, while Ray was a handball player in Chicago before a friend talked him living in Seattle, Wash., and was quickly addicted. S­ he was playing

Colorado Springs LTF men’s group that plays two hours a day, twice a week with more than 45 active players.

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www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Tennis can be tool to turn back time

W

hy not make tennis your exercise of choice to help you boost physical fitness? This lifetime sport is ­especially great for seniors for many reasons because it improves:

n

Ray Spacarelli, Robert Conover, Ron Lockwood and Ralph LeFevre have a combined age of 337 years.

five times a week and in 1982 she decided to give up a different addiction. She gave up smoking to help her fitness on the tennis court and she has never looked back.

Ron and his partners have enjoyed many sports over their lifetime, but tennis is the one thing they look forward to every week to keep themselves active and healthy.

Cliff (82) and Elena (76) Jensen are a couple staying fit on the courts together. Cliff was a multisport athlete at Arizona State University where he played football and basketball. In 1980, Cliff and Elena started playing tennis and snow skiing so they could spend time with their kids. Since then, Cliff has won multiple senior tennis events and continues to play singles and doubles three to four times a week. You can often find him beating up on players 30 years younger. Elena plays two times a week with Marthe Schwartz’s groups and loves to get out and going dancing when she can drag Cliff on the dance floor. The two make a formidable mixed doubles team and often play together in club events. They also enjoy taking walks together to try to stay healthy. When asked what tennis has meant to them living a healthy way of life, Elena summed it up perfectly, “Tennis has kept us physically healthy, but the relationships we have made and kept all these years mean just as much. The name Life Time (Fitness) is the perfect name, because tennis is a sport of a lifetime.” 

Aerobic fitness

n

Leg strength

n

Coordination

n

Balance

n

Flexibility

n

Improved immune system

John Ratey, a Harvard psychiatrist and author of the book “SPARK” (2008), was quoted in USA Today (Feb. 19, 2008) as saying, “I recommend seniors work out five or six days a week. A heart-thumping game of tennis ... can keep the older brain in top shape.”

Find out more in an article from the Active ­Living newsletter (March 2002), that highlights yet another study that demonstrates how exercise can literally turn back the clock as we age. Just another reason to play ­Tennis – for the health of it!

Michael Olds grew up playing junior tennis in the Missouri Valley, graduated from Washburn Rural High School in Topeka, Kan. (5A state champs his senior year), and eventually went on to play college tennis. He graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in advertising.

Olds has been teaching tennis for more than 23 years, and has been a USPTA member since 1994 when he earned a Professional 1 certification. Michael has also been a past member of the USPTA Intermountain Division Board of Directors as the 2nd Vice President, Treasurer, Membership Coordinator and Divisional Convention Co-Chair. Olds and his family moved back to the Denver area in the spring of 2005, and he is the tennis department head for Life Time Fitness in Colorado Springs. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

ADDvantage/February 2013

23

USPTA members give back to help those affected by Hurricane Sandy

I

n an effort to help fellow tennis-teaching professionals affected by the impact of Hurricane Sandy, the United States Professional Tennis Association launched a national campaign to assist its member tennis-teaching professionals and their families who were displaced by Hurricane Sandy. To date, the fund has raised $4,970 thanks to the generous contributions of many USPTA members!

Since many are dealing with damage to/loss of their facilities and homes, donations of cash or assistance with temporary or permanent jobs have been accepted and recorded by the USPTA World Headquarters and will be distributed by USPTA’s New England, Eastern, Middle States and Mid-Atlantic divisions and districts. The divisions will continue to work with individual USPTA members in the affected areas to distribute 100 percent of the donations re-

ceived. Donations may be used to help members obtain temporary housing, food, water and other essentials.

“We truly appreciate the generosity of our members so far, and the funds will certainly help some of those who have been impacted by Hurricane Sandy,” said USPTA Vice President Nancy Cox. “There is still a need for more assistance and even the smallest amount will help. It is the sum of all the parts that will make a difference. So I ask you to consider donating to the Sandy relief fund so that ALL of our affected pros can rebuild.”

It’s still not too late to help. Donations may be made on USPTA’s website at www.sandy.uspta.com or by clicking here. If you are in need of assistance or know of someone who is, please contact the ­appropriate person in your division (see below). 

Bill Mecca, USPTA Eastern Division, at allstartennis@optonline.net Jerri DiCamillo, USPTA New England Division, at jerridicamillo@cox.net Tim Irwin, USPTA Middle States Division, at usptaexdirms@comcast.net John Cleary, USPTA Mid-Atlantic Division, at john.cleary@lakewoodcc.org

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

ADDvantage/February 2013

25

How do I handle bad line calls?

by Steve Wilkinson, USPTA

Should I challenge?

Many tennis coaches are convinced that challenging bad line calls in nonumpired matches is necessary. The Code, the authority on rules and sportsmanship, used to recommend the question, “Are you certain of that call?” By asking the question politely, a player let his opponent know that he disagreed. Putting pressure on the opponent encourages him to call lines correctly, when otherwise he might feel comfortable making questionable calls.

When I played high school tennis for Sioux City Central and collegiate tennis for the University of Iowa, I agreed with this line of thinking. However, I had my own special way of letting my opponent know he had made a mistake. While I didn’t go ballistic or yell, I would stare at him and smile. At the time I thought this was sportsmanlike, but now I realize it was not.

I do not worry about things outside my control, such as my opponent’s line calls or whether I will win. Instead I prioritize things within my control, such as full effort, positive attitude, and sportsmanship. This keeps me from getting nervous or upset. As a consequence, I play better.

Sometimes when my opponent made a bad call, I would retaliate. I always waited for a shot close to the line, but some of my friends took retaliation to a more obvious level. On the next point, no matter where the ball landed, they would call it out. This could produce a confrontation, followed by mutual accusations and demands for an umpire.

Challenging bad line calls seemed logical and fair. I did not want points taken away from me that were rightfully mine. I had worked too hard and made too many sacrifices to have it undermined by bad calls.

However, my way of thinking changed dramatically the first summer that I competed on the national Eastern Grass Court Circuit. At the Merion Cricket Club in Philadelphia, I watched Arthur Ashe play a first-round match that was not umpired. I saw him get at least three bad calls, but each time he did not respond.

There was nothing said and no accusing body language. Afterwards I asked him why. Arthur responded, “My father taught me to never challenge line calls.”

Given my previous perspective, his answer was unsettling. I had admired Arthur from our first meeting at a junior tournament in Omaha, Neb. His tennis skills, graceful movement on the court,

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My trusting approach has helped make competitive tennis fun.

humble demeanor, and caring attitude toward others impressed me greatly. Therefore I decided to try his approach.

Does a trusting or nontrusting approach help me more?

Certainly many coaches are convinced that a nontrusting approach works best. I thought so until I used Ashe’s approach. I continued to compete in national and international tournaments all the way to the 60-and-over division. During my career I encountered players with reputations for bad line calls. Friends would caution me, but virtually every opponent struck me as being honest and fair with his line calls.

How could this be true? How could my experience be so different from my friends? Was it possible that my trusting approach toward supposed cheaters contributed to better line calls?

My experience confirmed that opponents make good calls when I communicate trust, and poor calls when I challenge them and make close, questionable calls myself.

My trusting approach has helped make competitive tennis fun. I do not worry about things outside my control, such as my opponent’s line calls or whether I will win. Instead I prioritize things within my control, such as full effort, positive attitude, and sportsmanship. This keeps me from getting nervous or upset. As a consequence, I play better. Deciding to use a trusting approach helped my tennis play more than any other decision I have made. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

What specific things can I do to communicate trust?

1. Never challenge opponents’ line calls, either verbally or with body language. Trust on the tennis court begins with this commitment. If an error is obvious, I still do not question the call. “Are you certain of that call?” even when spoken politely, communicates distrust. So does my question of an opponent’s double bounce, of an opponent’s racquet ticking an out ball, or an opponent touching the net with his foot. All of these calls are ones that my opponent needs to make. If he does not, and I question him, I convey distrust.

2. Start the match with a friendly introduction and handshake.

Also I learn my opponent’s name and I use it frequently. I pay compliments to my opponent, at the beginning and end of the match, and whenever he hits a good shot. I avoid putting myself down when I make an error or my opponent hits a winner.

Becoming negative communicates self-absorption, which does not foster a trusting relationship.

3. Call my own balls out on my opponent’s side of the net. I could remain quiet and say nothing, since the rules require my opponent to make these calls. This is what many others do. When my opponent experiences me calling my own balls out, he may be surprised. He will be pleased that I have put accurate line calls above winning. This will encourage him to do the same.

However, there is one important exception to calling my own ball out. I cannot do this when I hit a first serve that my opponent returns successfully. By calling my serve out I am giving myself a second chance to win the point. This is the only situation where this can occur. However, if my first serve is not returned successfully, then I can call out.

4. Follow The Code on all of my line calls. Bad calls are one of the biggest deterrents to an atmosphere of trust. The Code requires me to call the ball in, even when I am 99 percent sure that the ball was out. If there is any chance that the ball was good, I must play it. If my opponent makes questionable calls, I may be tempted to do the same thing, even though the rules prohibit it. Retaliation always undermines trust.

5. Ask my opponent to overrule my call if he has a better view of where the ball landed. By doing so I increase the chance for an accurate call and communicate trust that my opponent will not try to take advantage of me. I can be 100 percent certain that my call was correct and still be wrong. A moving head or a bad perspective can badly skew my accuracy. Whoever is looking straight down a line usually can make the best call. continued next page

Communicate trust by starting each match with a friendly introduction and handshake.

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

ADDvantage/February 2013

27

from previous page 6. Ask for help in situations when I am not 100 percent sure. Do so realizing that I must call the ball “good” if my opponent cannot help me. Also, if an opponent should challenge my call in a situation where I clearly had the best view, I politely refuse to change my call. However, inappropriate challenges decrease significantly when a clear environment of trust already has been established.

7. Call the score clearly before every point that I serve. When playing an opponent who is reluctant to call the score on his serve, I ask politely, “Is the score 40-30?” or whatever I think the score is. In response all he has to do is nod. For some reason, some opponents have a strong aversion to calling the score.

Nothing destroys trust more quickly than arguments over the score. Avoid such conflicts by calling the score on every point.

If they occur anyway, realize that I might be wrong. A pleasant, accommodating manner builds trust, but an insistent “I am right” attitude does the opposite.

8. Do not correct my opponent. He may be foot faulting, grunting too loud, taking too much time between points, talking too much, not calling “out” soon enough, etc., but I do not say anything or communicate my disapproval through body language. Any criticisms destroy an atmosphere of trust.

9. Do not teach my opponent the rules. In most cases he will not appreciate being taught, even when it is clear that he does not know a particular rule. My motives will be questioned, unless my suggestions produce an advantage for him. Keep all comments positive and affirming, and trust will grow.

When challenging line calls became cheating Recently, some tennis coaches have encouraged their players to challenge opponents’ calls on any ball that is remotely close to the line. This can be 20 or 30 times a match! It is intended to intimidate the opponent and to make him unwilling to call any ball out, no matter how certain he might be. If a player wilts under the constant barrage of challenges, the line challenger has found an illegal way to win.

This is cheating and poor sportsmanship. “Are you certain of that call?” was supposed to be used politely and infrequently. Nick Powell, the original author of The Code, never dreamed that the question would be used to intimidate and cheat. He saw it as part of a plan that would promote honesty, mutual respect and good sportsmanship.

However, the development of a cheating mentality in other sports may be having its influence on tennis. Basketball players are taught to pretend they were fouled when they were not, thereby tricking the referee into awarding them free throws. Soccer players are counseled to fake injuries near the end of a game to kill time on the clock when their team is ahead. Also, baseball batters are coached to fool the umpire.

For example, in 2010, Yankees’ baseball star Derek Jeter put on a cameo performance, pretending that a Tampa Bay pitch had hit 28 ADDvantage/February 2013

him. The umpire was duped, earning Jeter a place on base, rather than an easy ground out to the pitcher. Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon argued too vigorously against the call and got thrown out of the game. Jeter ended up scoring while Tampa Bay fans chanted, “Jeter Cheater.”

Afterwards a video showed clearly that the ball had not struck Jeter’s hand. He unashamedly admitted that the ball had not struck him. “It’s part of the game,” he claimed. “I need to do whatever I can to get on base.” After Tampa Bay rallied to win the game 4-3, Maddon praised Jeter’s acting skills. “There are several thespians throughout baseball. I thought Derek did a great job, and I applaud it, because I wish our guys would do the same thing.” He went on to admit that he teaches batters to pretend that pitches have hit them when the balls just missed.

The Code’s intent is trust, respect and integrity In contrast, The Code expects integrity, not trickery. It elevates competitors who call rule violations on themselves, even when they are unintentional and undetected by others. For example, Mark Kruger, a former All-American doubles player for Gustavus, reached the doubles final of the Midwest Regional tournament. At match point he hit an overhead smash that bounced over his opponents’ heads. They came to the net to shake hands, thinking the match was over. Instead Mark pointed out that his racquet had touched the net accidentally on the final smash. No one had noticed except Mark.

Consequently the closely contested match continued. The outcome could have gone either way. Mark’s desire to win was trumped by his honesty, commitment to the rules, and respect for his opponents.

The Code in 2011 no longer recommends the question “Are you certain of that call?” Considering the manner in which this question has been abused, this is a welcomed development. However, The Code needs further modification. Most tennis players and coaches still believe that the question is appropriate when used properly.

Therefore The Code needs to specifically prohibit all challenges of opponents in non-officiated matches. That includes double bounces, net touches, line calls, and all judgments that The Code delegates to the opponents.

Also, The Code needs to eliminate the language that now permits the service receiver or his doubles partner to warn and then call foot faults on an opposing server. This is contrary to the spirit of The Code, which relies on the mutual integrity of both opponents.

If the receivers can do this, then why should they not be able to overrule an opponent’s call when it is obviously wrong? The answer is simple. Everything in The Code needs to build mutual trust, respect and harmony. Challenging, correcting or overruling the opponent does the opposite.  Steve Wilkinson, USPTA, retired in 2009 as the all-time winningest coach in men’s college tennis history with 929 victories during his 39-year tenure at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn. Wilkinson was twice named the NAIA National Coach of the Year and the NCAA Division III Coach of the Year three times. He was inducted into the Intercollegiate Tennis Hall of Fame in 2010. Wilkinson also has been an internationally competitive tennis player, ranked No. 1 in the United States in the 45, 50, 55 and 60 age divisions. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

2012 USPTA tournament player ranking points and tentative rankings* Men’s Open Singles 1 James Daly 2 Tony Larson 3 Oren Montevassel T4 Paulo Barros T4 Adrians Zguns 6 Christopher Trizzino T7 Piotr Banas T7 Juan Garcia T7 Tye Myers T10 Johannes Brink T10 Diego Brunicard T10 Jason Holland T13 Michael Birzon T13 Angelo Faustino T13 Guillaume Gauthier T13 Rudy Obregon T13 Kurt Pessa T13 Erik Turnquist T13 Jeff Zenisek T20 Gabe Higgs T20 Thiago Oliveria 22 Hamish Mackay T23 Jacob McMindes T23 Dural Morris T25 Aaron Brown T25 Brenton James T25 Matt Moreman T25 Chris Singer

325 320 300 200 200 180 150 150 150 120 120 120 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 80 80 45 30 30 15 15 15 15

Men’s 35 Singles 1 Juan Garcia 2 Marcin Rozpedski 3 Kamil Kuchta 4 Rich Slivocka T5 Andy Lake T5 Doug Matuska T7 Mark Palus T7 Scott Pukys 9 Edward Shanaphy 10 Denny Rager T11 Christian Clark T11 John Pratt

425 300 200 180 150 150 120 120 30 25 15 15

Men’s 40 Singles 1 Oren Motevassel 2 Kamil Kuchta T3 Bill Quario T3 Richard Spurling 5 Monty Basnyat 6 Matt Grayson

300 225 180 180 50 25

Men’s 45 Singles 1 Jeff Cohen 2 Micky Navarro 3 Kevin Gillette T4 Bryan Biever T4 Horacio Rearte T6 Louis Ballantyne T6 Rob Horsch T8 Cory O’Brien T8 Jon Stitt T8 Frank Vermeer T11 Barry Brady T11 Stephen Bucar T11 Brian Dahlstrom T11 Jack Steyn 15 Richard Waterfall 16 Johann Saurbier 17 Robert Green 18 Adam Zastempowski

300 250 225 200 200 180 180 150 150 150 120 120 120 120 100 30 25 15

Men’s 50 Singles 1 Kie Foreman 2 Mark McMahon 3 T.A. Niles T4 Tom Breece T4 Mark Ray

300 225 200 180 180

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

T6 T6 T8 T8 10 11 12

Chris Cummings Albert Hernandez Greg Neuhart Tomas Ollestad David Cordrey Paul Cole Arup Dutta

150 150 120 120 50 30 15

Men’s 55 Singles 1 Sal Castillo 2 John Guevara T3 Kimm Ketelsen T3 Craig Wittus T5 Gary Machholz T5 Mark Ray T7 Karl Akkerman T7 Paul Soliz T7 Frank Swope 10 Roosevelt Nash T11 Jeremy Berlin T11 William Frost 13 Brad Lowe 14 Howard Chodak 15 Pete Kelly 16 Harlan Hopchik

300 225 200 200 180 180 150 150 150 135 120 120 50 30 25 15

Men’s 60 Singles 1 Gewan Maharaj 2 Kimm Ketelsen 3 Tommy Connell 4 Roger Kahn T5 Joe Bouquin T5 Rich Causey T5 Brian Engel T8 Jared Chase T8 Stephen Shortridge 10 Bob Raedisch 11 Ken DeHart T12 JonMichael Cook T12 Dru Ackert

380 300 225 180 150 150 150 120 120 50 25 15 15

Men’s 65 Singles 1 Fernando Velasco 2 Geoffrey Moore 3 Jimmy Parker 4 Charles Van

Middlesworth Men’s 70 Singles 1 Max Pavon 2 Rafael Fuentes

Men’s 75 Singles 1 Don Neu

300 200 150 15

300 225 300

Men’s 80 Singles 1 James Ridgley

300

Men’s Open Doubles T1 Cary Lothringer T1 Jonas Lundblad 3 Tony Larson T4 Matt Grayson T4 Kip Layman T6 Diego Brunicardi T6 Juan Garcia T6 Erik Turnquist T9 James Daly T9 Kurt Pessa T9 John Pratt T9 Reven Stephens T9 Jeff Zenisek T9 Adrians Zguns T15 Ben Adrian T15 JonMichael Cook T15 Jason Holland T15 John Nallon T15 Mark Odgers

500 500 320 225 225 200 200 200 150 150 150 150 150 150 120 120 120 120 120

T15 T15 T22 T22 T22 T22 T22 T22 T28 T28 T30 T30 T32 T32 T32 T32 T32 T32

Edward Shanaphy Jack Steyn Lance Hagan Max Kourim Jacob McMindes Micky Navarro Rudy Obregon Jon Stitt Jory Ereckson Guillaume Gauthier Thiago Oliveira Joshua Rollins Piotr Banas Brent Fugit Taylor Hanson Gabe Higgs Dural Morris Mike Vidmar

Men’s 35 Doubles T1 Cary Lothringer T1 Jonas Lundblad T3 Kamil Kuchta T3 Marcin Rozpedski T5 Kip Layman T5 Mark McMahon

120 120 100 100 100 100 100 100 45 45 30 30 15 15 15 15 15 15 300 300 225 225 180 180

Men’s 40 Doubles T1 Kie Foreman T1 Bill Quario T3 Emile de Cuba T3 Patrik Segfeldt T5 Kamil Kuchta T5 Horacio Rearte T7 Mark Harrison T7 Mark Palus T9 Albert Hernandez T9 Andy Lake

300 300 225 225 200 200 150 150 120 120

Men’s 45 Doubles T1 Jeff Cohen T1 Louis Ballantyne T3 Kevin Gillette T3 Rob Horsch T5 Raman Jayapathy T5 Marc Miller T7 Rajan Keswani T7 Michael Olson T9 William Kron T9 Mike Vidmar T11 Timothy Burke T11 Dave Mathews

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

Men’s 50 Doubles T1 T.A. Niles T1 Frank Swope T3 Paul Cole T3 James Katterfield T5 Arup Dutta T5 Steve Yankello

200 200 150 150 30 30

Men’s 55 Doubles T1 John Holladay T1 Angel Lopez T3 Sal Castillo T3 Wayne Pickard

300 300 225 225

Men’s 60 Doubles T1 Tommy Connell T1 Kimm Ketelsen T3 Roger Kahn T3 Gewan Maharaj T5 Ken DeHart T5 Fernando Velasco

300 300 225 225 180 180

Men’s 65 Doubles T1 Max Pavon T1 Fernando Velasco

300 300

Women’s Open Singles T1 Callee Conda 200 T1 Ristine Olson 200 T1 Marina McCollom 200 T1 Kathy Vick 200 T5 Michelle King 150 T5 Lori Robertson 150 T5 Marine Spiegel 150 8 Athena Cajas 120 Women’s 35 Singles None Women’s 45 Singles 1 Julia Farina 2 Robin Keener

200 150

Women’s 50 Singles 1 Kathy Vick 2 Judy Newman 3 Carolyn Franca 4 Lori Robertson 5 Athena Cajas 6 Tamara Vezina

425 300 180 150 120 25

Women’s 55 Singles 1 Kathy Barnes

300

Women’s Open Doubles T1 Julia Farina 200 T1 Marina McCollom 200 Women’s 35 Doubles T1 Athena Cajas T1 Michelle King

200 200

Women’s 40 Doubles T1 Susie Brown T1 Cindy LePrevost T3 Elizabeth Burger T3 Kim Franklin

200 200 150 150

Women’s 45 Doubles T1 Kathy Barnes T1 Kathy Vick T3 Carolyn Franca T3 Sabita Maharaj

300 300 225 225

Mixed Open Doubles T1 Callee Conda T1 Taylor Hanson T1 Andrew Lake T1 Jonas Lundblad T1 Ristine Olson T1 Ioana Paun T7 Tye Myers T7 Marine Spiegel

200 200 200 200 200 200 150 150

Mixed 40 Doubles T1 Mark Harrison T1 Robin Keener T1 Lori Robertson T1 Jon Stitt T5 Trish Faulkner T5 Frank Swope T7 Susie Brown T7 Bob Grossman

200 200 200 200 150 150 120 120

Mixed 45 Doubles T1 Micky Navarro T1 Kathy Vick T3 Mark Fairchilds T3 Sara Stablein T5 Kathy Barnes T5 Chuck Gill

300 300 225 225 180 180 *as of 12/17/12

ADDvantage/February 2013

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Career Development

conventions (division conventions, 5 credits; dates subject to change) Feb. 8-9

Midwest Division Troy, Mich.

Feb. 8-10

Northern California Division Stanford, Calif.

Feb. 13-15 Academy Sanchez-Casal

and RPT Coach Course

Mahwah, N.J. Feb. 14-17 Texas Division

Grapevine, Texas Feb. 21-23 Missouri Valley Division

Wichita, Kan. March 1-3

Mid-Atlantic Division Charlottesville, Va.

March 3

San Diego Division Workshop La Jolla, Calif.

March 25-26 Tennis Teaching Professionals

Conference

Weston, Fla.

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



Wheelchair Tennis

CPD (Competitive Player Development) – Gained through the USTA ­Tennis High Performance Coaching Program a ­ dministered by the USTA 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.

exams, upgrades & certification review courses (4 credits for PTCA I segment) Feb. 2-3 Feb. 3 Feb. 3-4 Feb. 8 Feb. 9 Feb. 9-10 Feb. 9-10 Feb. 13-14 Feb. 16 Feb. 16-17 Feb. 16-17 Feb. 16-17 Feb. 21 Feb. 22-23 Feb. 28 March 1

Edmonds, Wash.

Hilton Head Island, S.C. Los Angeles, Calif.

Palo Alto, Calif.

Troy, Mich.

Atlanta Milford, Conn.

Port Washington, N.Y. Gastonia, N.C. Orlando, Fla. Ramona, Calif.

Dallas, Texas Wichita, Kan. Houston* Las Vegas

March 2-3 March 4 March 10 March 12 March 12 March 15 March 15 March 16-17 March 16-17 March 16-17 March 18 March 22-23 March 24 April 7 April 7 April 7

Memphis, Tenn.

La Jolla, Calif.

Clearwater, Fla. Birmingham, Ala. Minneapolis Rochester, N.Y. Oklahoma City, Okla.

Jackson, Miss.

Boston Boca Raton, Fla. Santa Clarita, Calif.

Houston* Columbus, Ohio Hilton Head Island, S.C. Midlothian, Va. Big Rapids, Mich.

* 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 TBA, Feb. 8, Palo Alto, Calif.

Strategy and tactics, Feb. 14, Grapevine, Texas, L. Jurovich Developing players, Feb. 15, Grapevine, Texas, L. Jurovich Technical solutions to tactical problems, Feb. 17, Grapevine, Texas, D. Eng Modern tennis technique, Feb. 22, Wichita, Kan., B. Hobden

cardio tennis Feb. 18 Feb. 24 March 16 April 13 April 18 April 21 May 11 May 17 June 1 June 7 June 8

Dallas Memphis, Tenn.

Wilmington, N.C. Orlando, Fla. Darien, Conn.

Wheaton, Ill. Mountlake Terrace, Wash.

Aurora, Ill. Williamsburg, Va. College Park, Md. College Park, Md.

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.

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

30

ADDvantage/February 2013

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Industry action Manufacturers Based on a large number of responses to a November 5th release from the team at Har-Tru Sports, which offered their services to storm damaged facilities affected by Hurricane Sandy, Ed Montecalvo (Consulting Services Manager) and Roy Hey (Product Specialist/ Consultant) will conduct Court Analysis Surveys (CAS) for 45 Har-Tru tennis courts spanning Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey.

Har-Tru’s (CAS) offers customers a thorough inspection of their tennis courts. Each survey will gauge proper slope, thickness, and base material. Equipment, amenities, and irrigation systems will also be examined. According to Hey, “The CAS will provide each club a current-state snapshot of existing court conditions along with short- and long-term recommendations for rebuilding their facilities.”

A CAS typically costs a facility approximately $195 per court. Yet in the wake of the destruction from Hurricane Sandy, the team at Har-Tru elected to provide their services at no cost to their customers. “We will be conducting surveys at no cost to help ensure the success of at least five facilities where over 45 courts were damaged or completely destroyed” said Montecalvo. “Our interest in contributing

32

ADDvantage/February 2013

to the success of our community and customers is inspired by our company’s focus to positively impact the lives of others. Our commitment to actively analyze and assess our customers’ courts is founded on our belief that these are our courts, too.

We want nothing more than to ensure that our customers are safe on our courts and able to perform to their maximum potential” said general manager, Pat Hanssen, USPTA. If your tennis facility was affected by Hurricane Sandy and you want to have a Court Analysis Survey done

by Har-Tru consultants, contact them today. HarTru consultants have surveyed more than 1,700 tennis courts in the past six years. To see an example of a Court Analysis Survey or to learn more about Har-Tru Consulting Services, contact them at emontecalvo@hartru. com for Ed Montecalvo and rhey@hartru.com for Roy Hey or call 877-4427878.

Miscellany The ATP and HEAD Penn announced the extension of their partnership for a further five years in London.

Under the agreement, HEAD Penn will continue to be the official tennis ball of the ATP World Tour, as well as the official ball of

the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, through 2017. The agreement marks an extension to a partnership which started in 1994 and will celebrate its 20-year anniversary on Jan. 1, 2014, making HEAD Penn the longeststanding partner of the ATP. Tennis participation in the U.S. grew 4 percent in 2012, topping 28 million players for the first time since 2009, according to an annual survey by the USTA and TIA. It’s the second highest total number of players recorded since the survey began in 1988.

The age demographic that saw the greatest percentage increase in 2012 was young players aged 6 to 11, which increased 13 percent from 2011. For the past two years, the USTA has invested significantly in 10 and Under Tennis, along with long-term commitments from the tennis industry. More than 6,500 U.S. tennis facilities now offer 10 and Under Tennis programs, and in 2012, the USTA helped install or build more than 4,400 youth-sized tennis courts in 371 markets.

(In all, the USTA has helped develop more than 10,000 kid-sized courts since 2010.)

In addition, through three quarters in 2012, wholesale shipments of red, orange and green tennis balls were up 41 percent. Several other key segments of the tennis-playing population

saw significant increases in 2012. The number of “frequent” tennis players, those who play at least 21 times a year, grew from 4.8 million in 2011 to 5.3 million in 2012. The number of “rejoining” players, those who left the game then decided to come back, also increased in 2012, up 6 percent over the previous year to 7.3 million – the largest number in the last 10 years. Since 2006, there has been a generally steady increase in the number of former players coming back to tennis, as the number of rejoiners has increased nearly 50 percent in the last six years. “Continuing” players showed an 11 percent increase from 2011 to 2012, to 14.7 million, halting two years of decline in this player segment. The survey also noted a sharp increase in participation among African-Americans and Hispanics. Participation among AfricanAmericans reached a 10-year high in 2012, and among Hispanics, participation was at the third-highest level in the last 10 years.The USTA/ TIA tennis participation survey, conducted by Taylor Research and Consulting, is one of the largest annual surveys in sports. It was conducted via telephone (both landline and cell phones) and includes observations from more than 7,500 individuals. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Industry action Passings Tim Heckler

Clarence Mabry

Walter Timothy ­Heckler passed away on Monday, ­Feb. 4, in Houston.

He was born on Jan. 30, 1942, in Kimberley, South Africa, to Mavis and Walter Heckler.

Tim attended Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, on a tennis scholarship. He played Wimbledon in 1959, 1961 and the U.S. Open in 1960. In 1973 Tim directed the Battle of the Sexes match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs at the Astrodome. He recently retired from his position as CEO of the USPTA after 30 years. The USPTA honored Tim in 2000 by naming him a grand inductee in the Association’s Hall of Fame. He also received the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Tennis Education Merit Award in 2000 and was inducted into the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2008, he received the highest honor awarded by the USPTA, the George Bacso Lifetime Achievement Award.

After graduating with a degree in biology, Tim worked at M.D. Anderson Cancer Research Institute from 1963-1968 where he reached the position of chief research surgical technician. He then went to La Jolla, Calif., to work under Dr. Jonas Salk who hired him to establish a research animal care and surgical department at the prestigious Salk Institute.

Tim was an incredible sportsman. Besides tennis, he was an avid scuba diver and instructor and loved boating and snow skiing. His passion for sports and teaching young athletes was evident in the hours he spent coaching and strategizing his own children’s interests. His dedication to his sons, Chris, Timothy and David was evident in the hours he spent mentoring them on the court. He continued to share his love of tennis with his children and grandchildren through the creation of USPTA Little Tennis.

Tim was also intrigued with technology, and as with all things he pursued, he excelled in learning and acquiring the latest and most innovative advancements. His knowledge and expertise in this area was impressive. His interest in IT and social media was shared by his son, Timothy. Together, they worked tirelessly on manifesting his dream of bringing USPTA to the forefront of the tennis industry through ­cutting- edge technology.

Tim will always be remembered for his devotion to the ones he loved, his sharp intellect and business acumen, along with his love of knowledge and the joy of sharing what he learned with others.

Tim was an adoring husband of 28 years to Renee Tamborello Heckler and a devoted father and grandfather.

Memorial contributions may be made in his honor to the American Diabetes Association www.diabetes.org or the HITS Theatre, 311 W. 18th Street, Houston, TX 77008, www.hitstheatre.org/donate.

Clarence Mabry, known as the “Father of Trinity T ­ ennis,” died Saturday, Jan. 26, at the age of 87.

Mabry, who coached the Tiger men’s tennis team for 18 years (1956-1974), developed the Trinity tennis program into a national power. His teams amassed a record of 319-36.

Mabry guided the Tigers to the NCAA Division I Team Championship in 1972, and to the runner-up position in 1970 and 1971.

Teams coached by Mabry produced 10 All-Americans, including the late Chuck McKinley, the Wimbledon champion of 1963, and 1972 NCAA singles champion Dick Stockton, who became a topranked pro. Butch Newman, Trinity’s director of tennis, and former men’s and women’s tennis coach also became an All-American under Mabry’s leadership.

In 1999, Mabry was inducted into the inaugural class of the Trinity University Athletic Hall of Fame. He was also a member of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Hall of Fame (1984), the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame (1985), the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame (2001), and the United States Professional Tennis Association Hall of Fame (Grand Inductee, 2006).

A former University of Texas standout, Mabry captured the 1946 Southwest Conference singles and doubles titles while playing for the Longhorns. He was inducted into the University of Texas Hall of Honor in 1997.

A native of Alice, Texas, Mabry was the head pro at the former San Pedro Tennis Courts, now known as McFarlin Tennis Center. He was a founder of the John Newcombe Tennis Ranch in New Braunfels, Texas. In addition, Mabry coached the San Antonio Racquets of World TeamTennis.

The Mabry Pavilion, named in his honor, was dedicated in 2008, and stands at the Butch Newman Tennis Center on the Trinity campus.

The two-level pavilion serves as a centralized hub for Tiger matches, team meetings, and a site to display Trinity tennis photos and memorabilia.

Coach Mabry is survived by three daughters: Teri Mabry, Sandy Mabry Hill, and Dena Mabry; a granddaughter, Talia Hill, as well as a brother and sister.

In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made in memory of Clarence Mabry, Trinity University, One Trinity Place, #49, San Antonio, TX 78212.

Gifts will be for Trinity Tennis.

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

ADDvantage/February 2013

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