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USPTA Executive Committee TM
Division presidents, regional vice presidents and past national presidents:
National Board of Directors: Tom McGraw
President 239-262-4701
Chuck Gill First vice president 561-624-8900 ext. 8932
Alan Cutler Vice president 562-908-3495
California Division Mike Gennette President 805-495-0111 Cari Buck Regional vice president 310-314-9492
Eastern Division Joe Roediger President 914-804-9699 Warren Lem Regional vice president 631-766-2318
Middle States Division Bill Kurtain President 609-731-0505 Wilson Pipkin Regional vice president 717-898-3102
Midwest Division Paul Marcum President 248-626-9880, ext. 4006 Mark Faber Regional vice president 419-381-9661
Pacific Northwest Division Bill Fletcher President 503-612-2411 Ross Eaton Regional vice president 206-949-7105
San Diego Division Dophie Poiset President 858-756-4459 Nelson Alapi Regional vice president 858-382-6571
Jack Michalko Vice president 602-740-0126
Dan Moster Vice president 260-249-9424
Diane Selke Vice president 303-693-1546
Gary Trost Vice president 405-848-2994
Tom Daglis
Immediate past president 910-630-7147
Past presidents Harry Gilbert 386-793-0084
Florida Division Brad Leu President 772-231-3102 Jeff Cohen Regional vice president 561-995-5213
Hawaii Division Bruce Nagel President 808-262-2057 Lee Couillard Regional vice president 808-944-5835
Intermountain Division Andrew Booth President 970-349-6127 Cary Hodges Regional vice president 303-771-0055
Ron Woods
(2005-2007) 361-991-7501
David T. Porter, Ed.D.
(2003-2005) 808-675-3755
Mid-Atlantic Division Joni Hannah President 703-938-5510 Jamie Peterson Regional vice president 410-987-0100
Missouri Valley Division Angela Koumaris President 405-848-2994 Richard Slivocka Regional vice president 620-662-1140
New England Division Christopher Stevens President 603-610-0183 Doug Eng, Ed.D., Ph.D. Regional vice president 617-281-8368
Northern Division John Schollmeier President 952-232-1334 Bruce Gullikson Regional vice president 952-830-7900
Northern California Division Andrea Barnes President 650-736-7272 Monty Basnyat Regional vice president 916-316-7577
Southern Division Todd Upchurch President 704-258-7220 William Phillips Regional vice president 337-849-5821
Southwest Division Vicki Foster President 602-930-8423 Christopher Brewer Regional vice president 623-215-6500
Texas Division David Webb President 817-427-6680 Jenny Gray Regional vice president 512-291-8846
CEO’s message Game changers
National Board of Directors
I
President
would hope by now that you have read or to purchase a health care plan for his/her family. heard various comments that I made (either For so many of our members who are independent at division conventions, at our World Con- contractors, it has been a nightmare to navigate ference or in previous CEO messages) about the through the maze of options and the extreme significance of growing our membership. Of the complexity of medical insurance plans to find an five initiatives within our Strategic Plan, this may affordable and suitable program. For anyone who be the most vital long term. A critical piece to ac- has a pre-existing condition and has found it next complishing that goal is to make tennis teaching to impossible to find coverage because of underan admirable career choice among writing rules, the ACA eliminates that a younger segment of the marketobstacle. place, whether they are varsity col Thanks to the persistence of a lege tennis players, enthusiastic TenUSPTA member in the Northern nis on Campus chapter members, California Division, Jason Blum, and/or high school players/coaches. we were introduced to a firm that However, in order for this audispecializes in medical insurance proence to be motivated to becoming grams with a particular expertise on tennis professionals, they have to this issue. After months of hard work look at the big picture to see that and lots of conversation, we were a career in our industry and as a able to come to an agreement with potential member of the USPTA Woodruff-Sawyer & Company out of John Embree will be a worthwhile road to take. San Francisco, a 90-year-old company Without having quantithat is one of the nation’s Be proud of your affiliation with the USPTA fiable, tangible benefits largest independent broand let your friends and colleagues know it. that will protect them kerage firms. Using their There is no better time to become engaged if they are injured/get extensive network of prowith the USPTA than right now. sick or without having a viders, the USPTA medisavings vehicle that will cal insurance program help them when it comes time to retire, teaching will be carried by Digital Insurance, the largest tennis may not appear today to be a viable option and most technologically advanced benefits-only for talented individuals, even though they possess agency in the USA. Together, they will provide a a strong passion for the game. best-in-class solution to this incredibly complex Realizing this critical concern, I have been problem. undeterred in finding solutions that provide both Please see the article on Page 11 that will ina universal health care platform for our members form you how to get started with understanding and a retirement program that will motivate our the various options available to you. Depending entire membership to begin saving for their future on where you live, and what you need to cover and that of their family. I am so pleased that we yourself and your family, Digital will do much have been able to secure willing third parties to of the work for you by researching a host of local help us with each starting January 2014. It was companies (all “A” rated) and offering you three an added bonus to be able to make the announce- to four attractive options from which you can ments at our World Conference in Orlando and choose. And, you don’t have to wait until January to introduce the experts who will be responsible to enroll. Digital can sign you up today between for delivering these two new fabulous benefits. one of four different levels that will be the uniform Whether or not you are a fan of the Affordable nationwide. By getting in early (before January), Care Act (ACA), the fact remains that it will give you might be able to lock up a lower rate for one every member of our association the opportunity year from the time that you commit. It is likely
Tom McGraw
First Vice President
Chuck Gill
Vice Presidents
Alan Cutler Jack Michalko Dan Moster Diane Selke Gary Trost
Past President
Tom Daglis
WORLD HEADQUARTERS CEO
John Embree
Director of Fred Viancos Professional Development Director of Membership and Certification
Vicky Tristan
Membership/ Melony DeLoach Insurance Coordinator Membership/ Kimberlee Ablahat Certification Coordinator Director of Computer Services
Kathy Buchanan
Creative Services Director
Julie Myers
Publications Manager/ Managing Editor
Kim Forrester
Public Relations Coordinator
Christiana Johns
USPTAplayer.com Manager Randy Jenks Corporate Janice Stollenwerck Services Administrator Director of Finance Controller
Kathy Ladner Ellen Weatherford
Human Resources Director Matt Stotts Director of Video Production Chris Maale Graphic Design Specialist Nick Warwick Digital Asset Coordinator/ Ramona Husaru Tennis Multimedia Management Director of Information Technology
Dan Wilson
Information Technology/ Multimedia
Scott Bucic
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/November 2013
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from previous page that rates will increase after the first of the year. As for the retirement program, it made sense to contact the PGA of America to find out what program they provide for their members. Since its inception more than 12 years ago, they have enrolled more than 7,000 PGA members into the program. And here is the kicker: when a PGA member makes a golf purchase for his/her pro shop from a vendor who supports the PGA Retirement+ program, a percentage of that purchase is contributed to the pro’s respective savings vehicle. Why shouldn’t USPTA members be afforded the same opportunity? Like the health care benefit, it took a great deal of time and research to finally secure a collaboration with the right entities to make this a reality. We owe USPTA member Charles Wadlington from South Florida our sincerest gratitude for all of his efforts to get the support of his financial services firm, Paloma Financial, and for pulling together the interest of Goldleaf Partners (out of Kansas City) and High Street Securities (Hot Springs, Ark.) to jump on board. To learn more about how this program will be constructed, more details are outlined in the article on Page 7. However, in order for this concept to work, we need the support of our endorsees. The PGA has 42 participating companies that contribute to each pro’s retirement account based on the purchases made of their products. While the golf industry is much larger and has more manufacturers in the game, there is no reason why all USPTA endorsees cannot do exactly the same. Thus, I am proud to announce that starting in January 2014, the USPTA will have a similar program, but better! Those endors-
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ees who agree to participate will make a contribution, depending on the category, on the purchases of merchandise in all categories to the retirement savings account for those USPTA Professionals who either own their own pro shops or have management/fiscal responsibility for the shops at their respective facilities. While not every brand will be prepared to start at the beginning of the year, my goal is to have every new company that comes on board in the future and all existing sponsors to agree that their support of the pro’s retirement will be a vital part of their affiliation with the USPTA. Stay tuned until Jan. 2 when we will be making a series of exciting new announcements that will illustrate what I am saying. For those of you who have wondered what you get for your membership besides the liability insurance, you have something to cheer about beginning in two months. For those young professionals who have wanted to get in the game but were reluctant to do so because they were uncertain if tennis teaching would offer them a creditable career path, today they have a clear choice. For those of you who may not have encouraged your own staff members to become certified because you were not sure what value the USPTA membership would have, don’t hesitate to do so from now on. Be proud of your affiliation with the USPTA and let your friends and colleagues know it. There is no better time to become engaged with the USPTA than right now. These two benefits have been the most requested by our membership for years. Well, now you have them! That is why I have titled this message “game changers” because these new programs are exactly that for our association.
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
Q&A with new board members Introducing Alan, Jack and Diane Alan Cutler Alan Cutler is a USPTA Master Professional with more than 25 years of teaching, coaching, and programming experience. He is the founder of Playtennisforlife. info in Whittier, Calif., a program that supports schools and public parks by supplying them with expert resources in developing programs, offering education, and working with the instructors and coaches to provide positive experiences to the student. He was a USPTA California Division officer for more than eight years, including serving as president. He also sits on the USPTA national education and trends committees as well as many regional ones.
How did you get started in tennis? Just before my fifth birthday, my parents got me a racquet (Tad Davis) and I took lessons from the Whittier Parks and Recreation program. Both my parents played and I would go with them and hit against the wall for hours, pretending I was a great player. As time went on this became my special time with my Dad. I was lucky, not only did he teach me to play but also to love the game. What a gift! Looking back on your career, what do you think has been your most significant accomplishment? Ironically, I worked for about 10 years in the same Park and Recreation program that started me. I was able to introduce thousands of people to the sport. So although I did not help develop one the of tennis greats, I was able to share my love of the sport with many people who continue to play. One of the things that brings a smile to my face is kids who started in my presport classes as 3- to 5-year-olds playing high school tennis 10 years later.
What are your hobbies, passions and interests outside of tennis? I build furniture out of rustic or burl wood slabs. Most of what I build are tables, but I like to do things with my hands. Taking a piece or pieces of wood and making something practical of it gives me a creative outlet. Right now I am making end-grain cutting boards. Tell us about your immediate family. I have been married to Andrea for 29 years, and have two great daughters. Christina, the older one, graduated from USC with a master’s in accounting. She works for a large cosmetic company as an auditor and travels all over the world for her job. Marinna has a master’s in education, did two years for Teach for America in Las Vegas, then was recruited by Google where she taught school for the kids of their employees. Currently, she is back in Las Vegas working with inner city kids. We have a Bichon Frise (fancy poodle) that has taken over the house. I’m not sure the dog does not think it’s a human. When you have time to relax and kick back, what do you like to do? I like to deep sea fish. On the West Coast we have some great fishing options, and I have tried to take advantage of them. I have fished in Alaska for king salmon and giant halibut, in Mexico for tuna and marlin, and out of a small town called San Felipe, Mexico, for grouper and yellowtail. Some days have had better results than others, but that’s why they call it fishing instead of catching. Someday I would like to try fishing on the East Coast and in Costa Rica.
Jack Michalko Jack Michalko served on the executive committee for eight years as president and regional vice president (two terms for each) for the Southwest Division. He has served as the division’s executive director for 23 years. He served as chairman of the USPTA National Nominating and National Awards committees, and is currently on the USPTA National Jobs Committee. Michalko retired from the Phoenix Country Club as director of tennis in 2009 after 39 years of service.
Tell me about your immediate family. I am married to Rita, my wife of 44 years, and we have two grown children, Jake (a confirmed bachelor) who just turned 40, and Jenny, who is 37. Both kids live in Phoenix, and I would say we are a very close family. Rita and I met in high school and then went to Colorado State University together before getting married after graduation (1969). What was the best job you have had in tennis? The only job I ever had in tennis was as director of tennis at the Phoenix Country Club. It was the perfect job for me, and I never saw any reason to move on. I was at the club for 39 years, and when Pictured from left: Jake Michalko (son), Rita Michalko (wife), I retired they made me an honorary member so I’m still down there a couple of Jack Michalko, Jenny Clemson (daughter), Randy Clemson days a week playing tennis and doing yoga. I consider myself a very lucky guy. (son-in-law). continued next page ADDvantage/November 2013 5 www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
from previous page Looking back on your career, what do you think has been your most significant accomplishment? Being at the same club my entire career and setting up the Women’s Interleague of Phoenix. I started with less than 150 women and built the league up to 1,700 women. I designed the play format and wrote their bylaws. The league is now run by the women and is still going strong today! What are your hobbies, passions and interests outside of tennis? My passion is reading. I love mysteries. My favorite author is Lee Child. I never read before retiring in 2009; now I read almost every day. I hike three days a week and spend a lot of time in the garden. I also go to yoga classes when I can. When you have time to relax and kick back, what do you like to do? We like to travel. Since our retirement we have been to New England to see the leaves fall, Italy, Cuba and we leave for Vietnam in November. We also spend time in Denver visiting Rita’s mom and Woodland Hills visiting my mom.
Diane Selke Diane Selke is the head tennis professional at Valley Country Club in Centennial, Colo. She has been a USPTA Professional for 29 years and Master Professional since 1996. She served on the Intermountain Board for 15 years, including two as president and three times as regional vice president. Selke was the USPTA National Women’s Chairwoman twice and currently serves on the USPTA Master Pro Committee. She has been a speaker at the Intermountain, Missouri Valley, Eastern and Texas Division conventions and at the USPTA World Conference.
Tell me about growing up and your family. I grew up in Detroit with five brothers and two sisters. All played tennis except one brother. We played on cement courts with fence nets! I never played indoors until I was a senior in high school. I was fortunate to have an instructor, Jim Kerwin, who cared and wouldn’t advance us to the next level unless we had proper strokes. How did you get started in tennis? I began tennis because my big sister “Sue” at age 12 brought home another trophy and Mom would say how “wonderful” she was. I said I could do that, too, and I never looked back. When my big sister won the Big Ten Conference Championships at No. 1 Singles for Michigan State, three years in a row, I knew I wanted to be a Spartan because she was my big “sis” and I loved MSU. I won the Big Ten at No. 1 doubles and No. 5 singles and was captain four years. What was the best job you have had in tennis? My current job as head tennis professional at Valley Country Club in Centennial, Colo. Since 1997 I have built the tennis program up to 45-plus juniors in lessons ages 4-10, 60-plus juniors on 11 JTT teams (three were state champion teams), and women’s teams from 2.5 - 4.0 levels (three were state champion teams). I teach them all and am in the trenches about 20-40 hours a week on the court. That is what keeps me busy and keeps me young! 6 ADDvantage/November 2013
Do you have a favorite vacation spot? We houseboat on Lake Powell a couple of times a year. We’ve been doing this since the early 1980s. Our children make at least one trip a year with us. If you could have the chance to have lunch with anyone, who would it be? Vincent Bugliosi, L.A. Prosecutor in the Charles Manson trial and author of the book “Helter Skelter.” I did have lunch with him about 15 years ago. The best man in his wedding was a tennis-playing member at my club, and when I mentioned in passing that Bugliosi was my hero, he set up a date for us to have lunch and flew him from L.A. into Phoenix. It was a very special day in my life! Is there anything else that you would like to share or close with? Although my Dad passed away in1986 at the age of 69, he taught me several very important life lessons through his example: to be honest, to always have humility, to work hard, to live within my means and to surround myself with winners! He was a very wise man. What are your favorite tennis tournaments? The US Open by far is my favorite tournament, and I have attended this event 15 years. It’s fun to watch the upcoming juniors, seniors, the practice courts and main draws. Best seats in the house are the GRANDSTAND courts. Looking back on your career, what do you think has been your most significant accomplishment? In 1973 Title IX gave me the opportunity to play on the boy’s high school team. I played doubles with two of my brothers; we were undefeated. I won regionals with another player, we went to state and won one match. Then I played singles my senior year and only lost one match. Practicing with the boys team for three years improved my tennis game and prepared me for college tennis. I wasn’t out to prove anything; I just wanted to play against better competition. I still keep in touch with my coach, George Ginger. When you have time to relax and kick back, what do you like to do? This really never happens. Type A’s don’t kick back but if I do have time, I enjoy a round of golf with friends, get a massage or make it a spa day, work in my garden or just chill out and catch up on sleep! What is something people would never guess or know about you? I learned how to crochet in high school from my PE teacher, Diane Pomish. I have crocheted since and have made more than 60 afghans for friends, neighbors, babies and relatives. I love to crochet; it relaxes me! Is there anything else that you would like to share or close with? Tennis has taken me places, allowed me to meet people from all walks of life, and taught me many things. We influence people every time we step out onto our showcase, the tennis court. I’d like to thank four people who have influenced me in my tennis career: Jim Loehr, Judy Courtney, Joe Thompson and Mike Hall. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
USPTA launches retirement program Participating vendors to make contributions to individual accounts based on pro shop sales
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lanning for retirement is something that far too many Ameri- This is a concerted effort to bring a benefits program to USPTA cans overlook today. Eighty-five percent of Americans retire members that provides options, knowing that each member’s finanbroke. Why? They fail to understand that every financial cial situation is unique, as are their individual goals and dreams for decision is a spending decision. You either spend it all now or defer the future. Rather than a “one size fits all” approach, the USPTA retirement program provides you with a menu of benefit options, spending until a later date. While overlooked, retirement planning is perhaps one of the each bringing their own unique opportunity for growth, principal protection and income. The benefit opmost important elements of a successful tions include Retirement Gold+, along financial plan. Today’s retirees will spend Retirement planning is perhaps one of the most with IRA, Roth, 401(k) and more. one-third of their lifetime in retirement, important elements of a successful financial The USPTA benefits program will also and ensuring that they don’t outlive plan. Today’s retirees will spend one-third of their provide a broad array of insurance options, their income is a very real concern. This lifetime in retirement, and ensuring that they don’t including life insurance, annuities, longessential component is often missed in outlive their income is a very real concern. term care and disability income. Helping the planning process. ensure an income should a professional die Inflation is another factor that impacts prematurely, or a pool of money should retirement planning. At a mere 3 percent a professional suffer a prolonged illness annual growth rate, the cost of living douor injury, are important aspects of planbles every 24 years. As many retirees will ning that will be an integral part of the live 18-25 years in retirement, ensuring benefits program available to the USPTA their income indexes for inflation can be membership. the difference between living the lifestyle The USPTA flagship program, Rethey are comfortable with and having to tirement Gold+, will feature a vendormake difficult choices late in life. supported retirement plan, with select With this in mind, USPTA sought to vendors providing concessions to the secure a relationship with an organization USPTA for the benefit of participating that could help USPTA-certified memmember pros who sell their products bers prepare for their retirement, as well through their pro shops. At this time, as identify and partner with key strategic only those pros who own a club or resort pro shop, or have fiscal vendors who would help provide a unique funding opportunity for professionals who own or manage a club or resort pro shop. These or managerial responsibility for the shop are eligible for this feature of the plan. With a 5 percent concession on racquets and key relationships were presented when a new retirement benefits accessories, along with a 2 1/2 percent concession on balls, program for USPTA-certified Professionals was announced this can mean thousands of dollars being made available at the USPTA World Conference amid much fanfare and to USPTA participating members to be contributed excitement. to their personal retirement plans over the course High Street Securities, a FINRA registered of a teaching career. broker/dealer, was tasked with developing a For example, if a professional spends program that mirrored, in part, the retire$1,000 a month on hard goods with ment program available to PGA memour endorsed products to resell to bers. Building upon that premise, students and club members, he/ High Street sought to expand she receives a $50 retirement plan the opportunities available to contribution each month, or $600 USPTA members by provida year. Factor in string, tennis balls, ing a number of retirement plan ball hoppers and other accessories and options, each customizable to the that number can easily reach $1,000 a year unique needs of the USPTA tennisor more. Professionals may also contribute to teaching Professional. continued next page www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
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The USPTA flagship program, Retirement Gold+, will feature a vendor-supported retirement plan, with select vendors providing concessions to the USPTA for the benefit of participating member pros who sell their products through their pro shops.
from previous page their own retirement plans, and depending on the type of plan offered, employers may also make contributions. Under this arrangement, vendors who elect to participate will regularly pay a concession (royalty) to the USPTA based upon the sales of each participating professional for approved product lines. These monies will be placed in an omnibus holding account with a third-party custodian for the benefit of the participating members. Each vendor will provide a detailed accounting of the monies to be credited to each participating member’s individual account, based on the sales during the period. Once the accounting is reconciled, the monies in the omnibus account will be allocated to each member’s individual account. We anticipate this reconciliation and distribution will take place on a monthly basis. Each participating member will receive a regular statement outlining the dollars being credited to his or her individual retirement account, along with the performance of previously invested dollars in the account. High Street has aligned itself with GoldLeaf Partners, a third-party administrator, to provide accounting and administrative services for specific portions of this benefits program. The services of a TPA are invaluable in helping us ensure that qualified plan provisions (such as a 401(k) option) are followed
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and that proper accounting and crediting of member accounts are done accurately in a timely manner. At the member level, providing good customer support is essential for plan selection, implementation and ongoing guidance and support. Paloma Financial is uniquely suited for this task, having Charles Wadlington, a USPTA Professional, on staff. Paloma President Steve Sandberg and his staff are well-suited to work with the USPTA membership, helping match program options with the individual goals, needs and risk tolerance of each participant. High Street launched a Web-based platform for the USPTA benefits program that will serve as a resource to educate the membership on available plan offerings, as well as contact and enrollment information. This interactive site will be an excellent tool to acquaint the members with current and new programs, as well as provide general financial education and information to help them make informed decisions as they navigate “real life.” This site will be continually updated with new content to keep the USPTA Professional aware of updates, changes and enhancements to the USPTA benefits program. To access the site, log into http://documents.uspta.com. Contact information for High Street and Paloma Financial can be found on the USPTA retirement website.
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
Election results ... The accounting firm, MaloneBailey, LLP, collected and counted ballots that were mailed directly to their offices from our eligible members. MaloneBailey examined 1,601 ballots and confirmed that each ballot had a unique confirmation number and each member was in fact a valid USPTA member based on the member list provided by the USPTA World Headquarters as of May 6, 2013. A total of 61 invalid ballots were collected due to various reasons. The total votes based on the 1,540 valid ballots are listed below. Jeff Hawes – 712 Nancy Cox – 628 Bunny Bruning – 753 Raul Saad – 721
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
Jack Michalko – 815 Winner Diane Selke – 892 Winner Alan Cutler – 767 Winner Dan Moster – 800 Winner
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USPTA to offer health insurance for certified members
W
e were excited to announce a health care platform for USPTA-certified Professionals at the World Conference in Orlando. Recognizing we are not health care experts, USPTA sought to partner with organizations that had an unflinching focus on customer service, communication, technology, industry experience and the ability to walk our membership through the complicated world of selecting a health care plan today. USPTA chose the combination of Woodruff-Sawyer, a nationally recognized full-service insurance brokerage and consulting firm, and Digital Insurance, one of the country’s leading providers of health exchanges and access to individually purchased health care plans. This combination will allow our certified members to be supported fully during the research, examination and eventual purchase of health insurance should they not already be covered. It was important that we have an option in place to provide health insurance effective Jan. 1 so that members would be able to avoid the tax penalties imposed through health care reform by not having essential minimum coverage. Woodruff-Sawyer and Digital Insurance will continue to provide guidance, education, communication and up-to-the-minute information on the ever-evolving health care landscape. “Working with the United States Professional Tennis Association, we’ll help members understand the impact of health care reform and the new individual mandate to enroll in health care coverage,” said Sheila Villaroman, Vice President of Woodruff-Sawyer. “Digital’s partnership with USPTA alongside Woodruff-Sawyer is a testament to our collaborative commitment to providing a bestin-class solution to the membership and their families.” Digital Insurance combines the commitment of experienced, local market advisers with the sophisticated technology and innovative resources of a respected national company. Associations receive access to a broader variety of dynamic tools, proprietary products and enhanced services. This exclusive benefit is the first of its kind for USPTA-certified Professionals. Beginning in October, USPTA members were eligible to qualify for coverage at a lower rate before premiums are expected to increase in 2014. Approval is subject to medical underwriting.
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
“Offering a health care plan has been one of the two most requested benefits by our membership for years,” said USPTA CEO John Embree. “This partnership empowers our members and their families to make better health insurance decisions starting in 2014. This is one of many new, tangible and quantifiable benefits of being a USPTA member.”
Individual major medical insurance • “A” rated insurance carriers (highest rating possible) • Customized based upon your needs, situation and type of insurance you want to carry • Within 24 hours of receipt of your questionnaire, Digital Insurance will provide up to four plans/quotes for your review (changes can be made if necessary) • Some states will not work directly with brokers (e.g. Digital Insurance). These include: NY, VT, RI, NJ, MA, ME and HI. For individuals in those states, Digital Insurance will provide contact information and an email link for next steps. • Endorsed by USPTA • High-level member education & support Go to USPTA.com to get started.
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ADDvantage magazine to be incorporated into Tennis Industry magazine Agreement between USPTA and TI (formerly RSI magazine) will expand the reach of both publications and help to raise the profile of tennis teaching professionals.
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SPTA and Tennis Industry magazine are pleased to announce an agreement in which each issue of TI will incorporate the USPTA’s official member magazine, ADDvantage. The agreement will start with the January 2014 issue. Tennis Industry is the former Racquet Sports Industry magazine, the largest tennis trade publication in the world, which recently announced its name change to start in 2014. Both the print and digital editions of TI will contain ADDvantage. All U.S. subscribers as well as USPTA members in the U.S. will receive the printed edition. International USPTA members will receive the digital edition. “Tennis-teaching pros are one of the most important segments of this industry, and we’re excited to reach an agreement with the USPTA that will ensure every USPTA member receives a free subscription to Tennis Industry magazine,” said David Bone, TI’s co-publisher. Tennis Industry will continue to publish 10 issues a year. The USPTA ADDvantage section will appear in each issue and average 16 pages, except for a 36-page section in the August issue that will preview the annual USPTA World Conference. “We’re pleased to be working with TI, which is a key resource in the tennis industry,” said USPTA CEO John Embree. “This agreement will expand the reach of our member publication and expose the USPTA, its programs and its initiatives to a wider industry audience while helping to raise the profile of tennis-teaching pros.” “Both Tennis Industry and USPTA will benefit from this agreement,” added TI co-publisher Jeff Williams. “The USPTA will have complete control of their ADDvantage pages and will reach their members and beyond in a cost-effective way, while TI will broaden its overall audience and further reach into the key teaching pro segment of the industry.”
CLASSIFIEDS Clay court maintenance The Smith 3C Clay Court Conditioners are the next generation of highly engineered/ powered equipment to keep your fast-dry courts in desirable likenew condition. Manufactured in the U.S. and available for immediate shipment starting under $3,000. You can scarify a light top-dressing, mill 5/8" back to like-new powder, loosen hard packed sub-surface watered courts, or remove algae. Rejuvenate and renew your fast-dry courts. Call M. Kohlman at 805-550-0149 or email mkohlman@tcsn.net. For more information, visit www. claycourtconditioner.com.
Club for sale Charlotte Racquet Club North has a 4,400-square-foot clubhouse on 10.7 acres with a 4,000-squarefoot covered deck and patio. The clubhouse includes a fitness center, pro shop, restrooms, kitchen, offices, storage, and large club room. The clubhouse overlooks 12 lighted underground watered clay courts, and two lighted hard courts. The club also has a Junior Olympic pool with large slide and connected kiddie pool with water function machines. The club received national recognition as new club of the year in 2003 from the USTA and the club currently hosts five USTA sanctioned tournaments including the NC State Closed Clay Court Championships (8 yrs). Sale price 2.5M, loan assumption available. Email: crcnrs@bellsouth.net.
Drills NEED TENNIS DRILLS? USPTA Master Professional Jorge Capestany’s new website has more than 700 videos of tennis drills and tips. Log on to www. tennisdrills.tv to see (and print) more than 18 free samples.
Jeff Williams with RSI magazine.
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Employment TennisJobs.com – The tennis industry’s ONLY international tennis professional employment service. Subscribe today!
Subscriptions FREE SAMPLE Bob Larson’s Tennis Jobs newsletter. Daily newsletter lists new tennis jobs in USA. For sample, email jobs@tennisnews.com.
Tennis products Playmate Genie with 2 programmers. Remote, plus a Playmate ball sweeper. Pristine condition (in Ohio) $3,900. Pictures and more info: ghdredge@ctcn.net. PRO/COACH PRICING on racquets, apparel, shoes, bags, balls, strings and accessories. Get baskets, carts, training equipment, books, videos and more. www.TennisExpress.com/800833-6615. QM-1 Portable Camera Support. Extendable pole, precalibrated system places on fence, from either side, quick and easy. MyTennisTools.com. GRIP COACH is a 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. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
Build them and they will come! Training and teaching seniors in today’s market as a second career by Lane Evans, USPTA
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“
uild them and they will come” was an idea I had in an effort to convey a story that to this day still puzzles me and is sometimes hard to tell. I still get a lot of puzzled looks when I talk about this. I think because it is an unknown. In some ways it is similar to the way 10 and Under Tennis was at one time. Teaching, training and working with a senior population was the furthest thing from my mind. However, as the great and powerful Wizard of Oz put it, “times being what they were, I accepted the job.” Over the next several paragraphs, I will try and give you the “Reader’s Digest” version of how I have managed to pull off this major career change of direction that has been rewarding on so many different levels. I will try to give you the basic framework for installing such programming in your clubs and virtually creating a career within your already existing career.
I grew up in North Carolina and followed a fairly traditional tennis pathway. I learned to play on public courts, played junior tennis and tournaments, played college tennis, dabbled on the old American Express tour and quickly made the transition into tennis teaching as a profession. I loved working with mostly juniors and ladies, as most pros today do. Back in the day, if you had mentioned putting a fitness center into a country club, they would have laughed you out of www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
town. Today, that, of course, is a different story. During the ’90s and early 2000s, I lived in Northern California. I stayed very active in the tennis profession, became a club GM and discovered the fitness industry. Fitness in California is like beer in Australia, pasta in Italy or rice in China. They just go together! Day after day I saw and realized how much fitness and health mattered to my club members. They were true fitness fanatics. I got it!
In 2007, I moved back to my home state of North Carolina and landed in Hendersonville, a small town in the mountains near Asheville. I knew very little about the area. One day I started looking up clubs in the area to find a place I could teach tennis. After a few failed attempts, I discovered Champion Hills Club – a beautiful Tom Fazio designed golf course, a nice clubhouse, a small fitness center and two much underutilized tennis courts. I convinced management to give me a chance to show my stuff. I taught lessons, clinics, had social events and interclub matches. It was all good and the members were thrilled. However, it seemed that my numbers were small. The same people were playing in my events. I had maybe a dozen or so players, and I needed more. Where would I get them? Our club only has 240 members and they are mostly golfers. And oh, by the way, did I mention their ages are, for the most part, over 60? They were right in front of me the whole time. I had a major hurdle I had to get over. I started thinking back to my days in California in the fitness business. I wasn’t a trainer. I am a tennis professional. I thought trainers were dropped off by the fitness fairy and were named “Bruno” and “Thunder” and talked about “flactoid” muscles (not real muscles by the way). Such was my mania that I came up with continued next page ADDvantage/November 2013
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from previous page a plan that, if carried out correctly, just might work. If I got certified as a trainer and could whip some of these people into shape, they would be able to play tennis again. Many of my students were people who played in college 35 years ago and who played up until they had knee surgeries and hip replacements. I had to make the game accessible to them again. I had to take that fear away from them and make them believe they could play again. If I could do that, they just might come back. I went through the International Sports Science Association for my fitness certification and Senior Fitness Specialist certification. I went through the USTA and USPTA for my Sports Science certification and the International Tennis Performance Association for my Tennis Performance Specialist certification. The work was hard! It was time-consuming. There were a lot of late nights of reading, studying and testing. Oh yeah, just as a side note, I was also completing my bachelor’s in English from High Point University at the time. So it was a busy time. I knew, however, that it would all pay off, and pay off it did. Champion Hills has a beautiful new fitness center. It is not huge but very functional. They had no one to show members how to exercise or train for their activities. In March of 2009, I announced that they now had a person to reach out to for training and fitness instruction. But would they do it? Remember James Earl Jones in “Field of Dreams?” He said, “People will come Ray, people most definitely will come.” And came they did! I was amazed. Who would have thought it? My age demographic is between 60 and 87 years of age. I have equal numbers of men and women. I work with both the men’s and women’s club champions in both golf and tennis. Since I started training, I have done nearly 3,000 hours of fitness instruction alone. I charge the same for fitness training as I do for tennis lessons. You can do the math. My tennis player data base has gone from a dozen to more than 100. Lessons have increased. I have developed competitive fitness programs, started group exercise classes and also have a steady stream of golf clients learning and training on their stability, flexibility and range of motion. I am also very involved with the local or-
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My top-10 tips and advice for teaching and training seniors in your clubs 1. Know your club’s age and gender demographic. If you don’t know it, ask your GM or marketing staff person. They have to know. It is their job. 2. Become certified in something other than tennis. Fitness is a great area to go into. Check with Mark Kovacs at the ITPA at www.ITPA-tennis.org about Tennis Performance Certifications. That is a great resource. Check with ISSA at www.ISSAtrainer.com. 3. Don’t be afraid of seniors. They can be intimidating. Don’t fall victim to this. They want to be helped and heard. When they say they are too old, show them why this is not so. Never underestimate them. 4. Become knowledgeable of differing health conditions and physical issues, such as joint replacements. 5. Remember…we are not doctors! 6. Make seniors establish fitness, tennis or other sport goals. Clearly define how you will get them there. 7. If you hire an assistant or an outside trainer to help with this, be proactive in their development and training! 8. Be very astute when it comes to programming for them. Make sure exercises, lessons and other training are appropriate for their age and ability level. 9. Listen carefully! When I ask my clients if they have any physical ailments it will usually start off minor and twist its way into a much larger picture. Just listen carefully and ask questions. 10. The most important: be patient! Senior training and teaching is a very cumulative process and will not happen overnight. Patience will be your guiding force. They will sense your patience level so don’t even try to hide or mask it in any way.
thopedic surgeons, assisting with pre-hab and rehab processes before and after joint replacements. I have done it! I have managed to identify and start from scratch my own client base. I have been able to create a career within a career. Many pros will say they don’t have time for this or they don’t like working with seniors. That’s OK. Hire an assistant who can do both things. One of the most important facts I have learned during this journey is that we are in hard economic times. Clubs and general managers are trying to save every penny and spend as wisely as possible. If one or two people could create this much member satisfaction, they are going to opt for it. My journey here at Champion Hills has been a fascinating and rewarding one and it’s still going. New challenges are popping up all the time. By the way, I still teach tennis as well. I get a laugh when prospects walk in the fitness center and I ask them about playing tennis. “Well, I use to play 25 years ago and I had a knee replacement,” they say. I say, “That’s perfect, you’re exactly who we are looking for.”
One final thought. Remember what I wrote about needing to calm their fears about getting back in the game again because of hip or knee replacements along with many other physical impairments? Well, I can relate. I have had two complete tear-in-two Achilles tendon injuries and surgeries, rotator cuff shoulder surgery and have had both hips replaced. I still train, teach and play tennis at a fairly high level. Never say never. Lane Evans will present this topic at the 2014 Australian Grand Slam Coaches Conference during the Australian Open, Jan. 9-12, in Melbourne. He is the only American on the list of speakers. He is the award winning Director of Tennis & Wellness at Champion Hills Club in Hendersonville, N.C. He is president of the USPTA NC Chapter. He is a Certified Fitness Trainer, Senior Fitness Specialist, ITPA Certified Tennis Performance Specialist, USPTA Sports Science Specialist and a member of the USPTA National Sports Science Committee. He has been in the tennis and fitness industry for more than 30 years. He is a regular presenter at workshops and conferences on senior fitness and tennis. He is also a consultant for tennis/fitness centers and operations. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
Revolutionizing club industry education with CMAA University
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he Club Managers Association of America has recently launched CMAA University. This dynamic online learning platform delivers useful education to professionals in the club industry as well as their club staff. The all-new CMAA University is a Webbased, interactive tool that allows 24/7, on-demand access to industry-leading education and training. Free to CMAA members, this state-of-the-art technology features more courses, more content and more vital training than ever before to further your professional and club management goals. Individuals can access more than 150 online professional development and training courses; recent expert-led webinars covering the latest club management topics; subject matter expert-led courses from leading industry professionals; the updated, interactive Manager in Development program; and more. What’s available? Professional Development and Training Courses – Organized into 10 subject areas, participants have access to interactive courses. Subject areas include governance; club safety; customer service; effective communication; facilities management; food and beverage; golf, sports and recreation; leadership; membership marketing; and health and wellness. Most courses range from 20 to 60 minutes in length, and include a 10-question quiz at the end. It is done at your pace and on your schedule. With more than 150 courses across these categories, there is a wealth of learning options available. Webinar Archives – CMAA’s bi-monthly webinars, led by industry experts on the most pressing topics in club management, are archived in CMAA University so that members who cannot attend the live webinar may review the presentation on their own schedule. Recent webinars have included “Health Care Reform’s Pay or Play Rule Action Items for Employers,” “Demystifying Club Governance” and “Managing the Club in the Cloud.” Manager in Development – First introduced in 2000, Manager in Development is a mentor/mentee program to educate entryand mid-level managers through exposure to diverse departments within a club operation. Now available online, this interactive 12 -module program can be completely in its entirety, by specializawww.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
tion or by individual topic. Each module is accompanied by a PowerPoint presentation to supplement the education from the mentor. This new modular program is designed to take approximately two years to complete, while working under the professional guidance of a sponsoring Certified Club Manager mentor, and now addresses all 10 club management core competencies. New topics have been added and all of the materials have been reviewed and edited to reflect current practices in the industry. Subject Matter Experts – Further online professional development is available from subject matter experts and industry insiders. CMAA has teamed up with internationally recognized experts such as Mark Jeffries, Dr. Tony Alessandra, Shep Hyken and others to bring you their most current insights and theories in the fields of communication, leadership and human resources. This premium content is available a la carte for a small fee. Club Staff Training – Not only can club industry professionals use this incredible system to develop their own education and skills, but it is now available to train and educate club staff and track, measure and monitor all of it, in real-time! Imagine, having your entire staff trained and skilled in the areas that are necessary to help you manage a successful club more easily. It is a great way to centralize your staff training and ensure an educated workforce. Courses designed specifically for club employees include essential safety training for employees and managers; specialized safety for employees, including courses in Spanish; and even training from industry service providers like Jonas Software. How to get started CMAA University can be accessed anytime from anywhere that has Internet access. Take a tour and learn more at www.cmaauniversity.org. The Club Managers Association of America is the professional association for managers of membership clubs. CMAA has close to 6,500 members across all classifications. Our manager members operate more than 2,500 country, golf, athletic, city, faculty, military, town and yacht clubs. ADDvantage/November 2013 17
New benefits for 2014 announced at World Conference
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ou asked, we listened. In an effort to offer you more for your membership and provide tangible and quantifiable benefits – and to educate the public about the quality of our professionals – we made some exciting announcements at the World Conference. Here’s a quick wrap up for those who missed it:
Membership changes The National Board, along with the Testing and Certification, Education and Membership committees, have implemented an overhaul of the current membership structure. The goals for the new structure are: • More education prior to testing and more job-related education • Enhance certification, with testers taking on a larger role in teaching applicants how to teach • Raising the standards of teaching professionals (our mission) • Delineating membership categories with a more defined career path • Opportunity to attract younger teaching professionals The new structure will consist of the following categories: • Master Professional • Elite Professional • Professional • Recreational Coach • Applicant
USPTA President Tom McGraw (center) signs an agreement with TGA alongside USPTA CEO John Embree (left) and TGA founder and CEO Joshua Jacobs.
Elite Professional All existing Professional 1 members will be converted to Elite Professional members. Starting in January, anyone wishing to become an Elite Professional must: • Pass a written exam (online), which includes questions on: m Business (budgets, management, staffing, retail, customer service, etc.) m Programming (lessons, clinics, activities, events, etc.) m Sport Science (motor skills, biomechanics, sport physiology, sport psychology, etc.) m Tennis Operations (programs, staff supervision, facilities, etc.) • Obtain the highest Professional level in Lessons and Stroke Production • Pass a more comprehensive feeding exam • Pass a new online stroke analysis exam • Earn 16 specialty course credits and 24 APC credits Professional All existing Professional 2 and 3 members will be renamed Professional members. New applicants must successfully complete the following to attain this rating: • • • •
Written exam Grip exam Feeding competency Lessons m Private (one-on-one, 25 minutes) m Group (3-4 students, 25 minutes) • Stroke production • Stage 1 and 2 of Coach Youth Tennis Conference attendees packed the room to hear the daily USPTA updates.
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More information about this will be available in January. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
ADDvantage magazine to merge with Tennis Industry magazine USPTA and Tennis Industry magazine have made an agreement that will expand the reach of both publications and raise the profile with USPTA tennis-teaching Professionals. The USPTA ADDvantage section will appear in each issue of Tennis Industry magazine and will average 16 pages, except for a 36-page section in the August issue that will preview the annual USPTA World Conference. The first combined issue will be the January issue. All U.S. subscribers as well as USPTA members in the U.S. will receive the printed edition. International USPTA members will receive the digital edition. The digital edition of ADDvantage will continue to be online at addvantageuspta.com.
National Family Tennis Championships USPTA has a new collaboration with the National Family Tennis Championships – a national family doubles tournament that puts families at center court. This program provides members with an opportunity to host a local round tournament and represents new revenue opportunities – both from tournament commissions and potential lesson revenue. USPTA is seeking 250 USPTA members to host local round tournaments. Teams advance from local to regional play on to the National Championships, and regional winners receive an expense paid trip to the Championships held in New York in late August. Divisions of play: Age 18 & Under / Age 18 & Older • Mother-Daughter • Mother-Son • Father-Daughter • Father-Son Benefits to you • No sanction fees • Online tournament and player registration system • All marketing, premiums, balls and finalists awards provided at no cost to you • $612 to you for successfully meeting the minimum tournament requirements • Additional revenue from lessons, merchandise and concession sales Local host requirements • Host a minimum of three divisions with a minimum of 36 teams participating • Utilize online registration system • Run tournament between May-July 6, 2014* • Utilize recommended play and scoring formats • Utilize NFTC marketing materials and distribute event sponsor materials *Local tournaments can be run over the two month period by hosting a different division each week or a couple of divisions each week.
If you are interested in hosting a tournament, go to familytennis. com/sanction to complete the sanction application. Once approved, you will receive your marketing materials in early March, followed by tournament materials 10 days prior to your tournament date. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
Health insurance for USPTA-certified Professionals An important goal for USPTA is to be able to offer health insurance to certified Professionals effective Jan. 1 so that members will be able to avoid the tax penalties imposed through health care reform by not having essential minimum coverage. USPTA chose the combination of Woodruff-Sawyer, a nationally recognized full-service insurance brokerage and consulting firm, and Digital Insurance, one of the leading providers of health exchanges and access to individually purchased health care plans in the country. This combination will allow the membership to be supported fully during the research, examination and eventual purchase of health insurance should they not already be covered. For more information, go to uspta.com. Retirement plan for USPTA-certified Professionals Retirement Gold+ is a USPTA vendor-supported retirement program allowing for tax-deferred growth until funds are withdrawn at retirement. Depending on the plan type selected, benefits receive favorable tax treatment at retirement. In addition, members will have a choice of investments that include fixed interest or indexed products, variable products, mutual funds, stocks, bonds and managed money. Read more about this on Page 7. TGA Premier Youth Tennis USPTA and TGA Premier Youth Tennis have formed a strategic partnership to introduce TGA’s innovative business ownership opportunity and school-based activation model to USPTA members. The TGA will create a blueprint for USPTA Professionals to take their skills and scale a self-sustaining model to introduce the sport throughout their community, impacting thousands of students and families annually. The TGA model will then transition the new tennis players to local tennis facilities, and youth programs creating new clients and future business for USPTA Professionals. For more information about TGA Premier Youth Tennis and its franchise business opportunities, go to www.franchisetga.com. 2014 USPTA World Conference Next year the USPTA World Conference will be held in conjunction with the Tennis Teachers Conference Aug. 22-25 in New York. The format will be different than in the past because of the location and shortened schedule. All attendees will receive tickets for the first day of the US Open. More information will be available as details are finalized. You don’t want to miss this one! ADDvantage/November 2013
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2013 Honorees Nick Bollettieri, USPTA Tim Heckler Hall of Fame Award – Nick Bollettieri has been one of the most influential people in tennis. He founded the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy (now known as IMG Academy) in Florida in 1978, which was the first full-time tennis boarding school to combine intense training on court with custom-designed academic curriculum. His approach led to 10 No. 1 players in the world: Andre Agassi, Boris Becker, Jim Courier, Martina Hingis, Jelena Jankovic, Marcelo Rios, Monica Seles, Maria Sharapova and Venus and Serena Williams. Vic Braden, USPTA Tim Heckler Hall of Fame Award Vic Braden has impacted tennis as a player, teaching professional and broadcaster. He is the founder/director of the Vic Braden Tennis College in Coto de Caza, Calif., co-founder of Vic Braden Tennis College at Star Island Resort in Kissimmee, Fla., and cofounder of Vic Braden Tennis College in St. George, Utah. He and Jack Kramer co-founded the Jack Kramer Tennis Club in Palos Verdes, Calif. He has authored numerous books including “Tennis for the Future,” “Teaching Children Tennis the Vic Braden Way,” “Quick Fixes” and “Mental Tennis.” As a professional player, he was invited to play in the World Tennis Championships three times. Steve Wilkinson, USPTA Tim Heckler Hall of Fame Award Steve Wilkinson was the head men’s coach at Gustavus Adolphus College for 39 years from 1971-2009 and is the winningest coach in the history of men’s collegiate tennis with 923 victories. He has coached 46 players to 87 All-America honors (including current ATP tour player Eric Butorac). He founded the Tennis and Life clinics/camps more than 25 years ago and has dedicated his time and effort to improving tennis performance of youth and adults while teaching life lessons that can be used off the court. Avis Murray, Alex Gordon Award for USPTA Professional of the Year Avis Murray has been a USPTA member for more than 40 years. The Master Professional was on the USPTA National Awards Committee; USPTA New England Board from 1993 to 2012 and served as President from 2008-2010; and was the chairwoman of the division’s Women’s, Diversity, Nominating, Public Relations and Tennis Across America committees. She was also in charge of the division scrapbook from 1987-2010. In addition, she has served on the USTA Hall of Fame Committee since 1996 and is presently treasurer of the USTA New England Eastern Massachusetts Board. Murray has earned several No. 1 rankings in singles and doubles with the USPTA and has participated in the association’s International Championships at the annual World Conference since 1986. In addition, she was named the USPTA Women’s 45 and Over Player of the Year in 1996 and earned a No. 1 ranking in doubles in the New England Division for many years. Murray was also on the 2009 USTA national championship team for Super Seniors. She has earned many awards, including being named USPTA New England Eastern Massachusetts Pro of the Year, Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Senior Player of the Year, Division Pro of the Year and also the Ed Serues President’s Award for outstanding and long-term service. Murray’s dedication and service earned her spots in the Gloucester High School Athletic Hall of Fame and the USTA New England Hall of Fame, had the courts at Manchester Athletic Club and Bass Rocks Golf Club named in her honor, received the New England Youth Tennis Foundation Ned Weld Award, and the AMVETS Sports Award. Additionally, the Gloucester Fisherman’s Athletic Association has named an award in her honor to be given to an individual for extraordinary contributions to Gloucester Athletics. Mark Faber, USTA/USPTA Community Service Award Mark Faber has been in the tennis industry since graduating from Methodist College (now, Methodist University) in 1994, and has been a USPTA member since the year prior. He is currently the director of tennis at Laurel Hill Swim and Tennis Club in Toledo, Ohio. In his 19 years as a high school tennis coach, Faber has coached teams to state team and individual championships and amassed more than 300 wins. His success was recognized when he was named the USPTA Midwest High School Coach of the Year in 2001 and 2002, and
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Master Professionals Craig Bell, Ian Griffin and Adrian Rattenbury were all honored for achieving Master Professional status, the highest professional rating within the tennis profession. Bell is currently the director of tennis at Bent Tree Country Club in Dallas where he has worked since 1997. He has been a USPTA Professional since 1985, is a Master Professional with the United States Racquet Stringers Association and is a Life member of the USTA. He was named the USPTA Texas Division Professional of the Year in 2009. He has served as treasurer of the division and is currently first vice president. Griffin has been the owner of his own tennis academy for 33 years. He is a USTA schools clinician, and has achieved USTA Sport Science Level 2. In Texas, he ran the City of Beaumont’s pre-NJTL summer program from 1980 to 1994. He also ran school in-services and assemblies in South-East Texas, Wisconsin and in Oakville, Ontario. Rattenbury has been involved in tennis for more than 32 years. He was the United Kingdom’s first Tennis Development Officer, was instrumental in introducing wheelchair tennis in the UK, coached the National Deaf team, and developed a program that offered free coaching to more than 2,000 children per week. He also has traveled to many countries working as a National Coach and Davis Cup coach, and has developed world-ranked players on the ATP and WTA Tours and ITF Juniors. For the past 25 years he has overseen the training of more 5,000 coaches.
From left: Bell, Griffin and Rattenbury
USPTA Boys’ National High School Coach of the Year in 2003. As a USPTA specialist in high performance coaching, Faber has developed players that went on to become collegiate All-Americans with some later playing on the professional tour. Faber is the USPTA Midwest Regional Vice President, chairman of the USTA/Midwest Coaches Commission and an Ohio Tennis Coaches Association Vice President. Gerry Maingot, USPTA Industry Excellence Award As the director of tennis and swim at the Corpus Christi Country Club for the past 10 years, Gerry Maingot coordinates active adult and junior programs. He has been a USPTA member since 1987. He is heavily involved with the South Texas Pro Association where he runs the Fall USPTA league, and he also coordinates and runs several leagues as a board member of the Corpus Christi Tennis Association. Maingot is generous with his time, volunteering at 10 and Under Tennis events and most recently running the Kids Club at Carroll High School. Additionally, he serves on the Executive Committee for the USTA Texas Section, is the Chairman of the Leagues Committee for Texas and is also a member of the Junior Team Tennis Committee. David Pack, USPTA Star Award David Pack, Ph.D., of West Jordan, Utah, works with children in his community by incorporating tennis into physical education in schools. As a USTA School Clinician for the Utah Tennis Association for the past 16 years, Pack has had a tremendous impact on the mental and physical education of children of all ages and abilities by offering training and curriculum to students, teachers and volunteers. He has gone into numerous schools throughout the Salt Lake Valley to teach both teachers and students basic tennis skills so that tennis can be incorporated into physical education as well as before and after-school tennis programs. Many of his students have gone on to play high school tennis, www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
obtain college scholarships and teach tennis. He enthusiastically demonstrates to teachers and students how to make their tennis experience fun, which in turn helps kids of all ages and abilities fight childhood obesity. He has been a USPTA member since 1996. Matt Grayson, Lessons for Life Individual Award Matt Grayson is the athletics and tennis director at Ansley Golf Club in Atlanta and has been a USPTA member for nearly 18 years. He helped establish the Ansley Tennis Pro-am benefit for the South Eastern Brain Tumor Foundation and Bert’s Big Adventure through a multi-day event that incorporated more than 250 kids and 100 parents participating in a tennis tournament. The event raised approximately $40,000 for local charities in the Atlanta area. John McWilliams, Tennis Across America Individual Award John McWilliams founded Tennis Across Montgomery, a program that combines a charity event with outreach to inner-city youth. Now in its 17th year, the event in Montgomery, Ala., brings children of diverse backgrounds together for lessons on tennis and life by encouraging kids to make smart choices while learning how to play tennis. The main event of the program, the Servathon, raised $31,000 for the Family Sunshine Center, which helps abused children and victims of domestic violence. He has been a USPTA member since 1978. Cindy Benzon, USPTA Diversity Award Cindy Benzon, a USPTA Professional for the past 28 years, began working with the intellectually disabled in 1984, with a program called Shoestring Tennis at Copperfield Racquet Club. In 2003 she became involved with the Special Olympics and helped the Houston area games. She then became even more involved in 2006 when she started working for USTA Texas, where she is in charge of running the tennis portion of the State Games. Two years ago, she became the adaptive program manager at USTA Texas and currently works with the Special Olympics, School for the Blind, and people with prosthetics. Benzon also recently introduced tennis at the National Dwarf Games with modified equipment and smaller courts. She credits one of her former coaches, Harry James, who was in a wheelchair, for her passion to spread the game of tennis. Philip Farmer, Tim Gullikson Touring Coach of the Year Philip Farmer is the director of tennis and athletics at Stonebridge Ranch Country Club in McKinney, Texas, and has been a USPTA Professional for the past five years. Farmer began playing tennis at age 7, and went on to play at the University of Oklahoma. For the past 11 years, he has coached on the professional tour with many highly ranked players. Farmer coached three touring professional players inside the top 50 in singles – Tara Snyder, Corina Morariu, and Sam Querrey – and three different doubles players who were No. 1 in the world – Morariu, Bob Bryan, and Mike Bryan. Farmer coached the Bryan Brothers from 2003 through 2005 and was with them in their first Grand Slam win at the French Open and in finishing the year as the No. 1 doubles team in the world for the first time in 2003. In 2012, Farmer coached Querrey and saw him move from No. 100 to a top 50 world ranking. He also reconnected and coached the Bryan Brothers to a doubles title in 2012 in Nice, France. Later on that year, Farmer traveled to Las Vegas to coach Samy Martinelli to a level 3 USTA Junior National title in the girls’ 16s division. Martinelli was only 14 at the time. Farmer has also worked with Andre Begemann and Martin Emmrich from Germany. He started coaching this doubles team in March and they recently won the ATP event in doubles in Dusseldorf, Germany in May. They also played in the French Open but were eliminated in the second round. The award was renamed in April after Tim Gullikson, a USPTA member from 1989 until his death in 1996, who played professionally and coached other world-class playing professionals, including Pete Sampras. Randy Stephens, High School Coach of the Year Master Professional Randy Stephens coached the Stratford Academy tennis teams in Macon, Ga., to an outstanding season in 2012. The boys’ team not only finished the 2012 season undefeated, they went on to win a regional and state championship. The girls’ team enjoyed similar success, earning a regional title and reaching the semifinals of the state tournament. Stephens has been a USPTA member for more than 37 years and has served as a past president for the USPTA Southern Division, which inducted him into www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
its Hall of Fame in 2006. He has attended more than 20 division conventions and World Conferences and was a featured speaker at many of them. Paul Settles, College Coach of the Year In 10 seasons at the helm of the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges tennis team in Claremont, Calif., Paul Settles has led the Stags to 75 consecutive conference matches and eight consecutive conference titles along with leading the team to its first NCAA Championship match since 1994 in 2013. For his efforts, he was named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association 2013 National Coach of the Year. CMS has finished ranked in the top five in all but two seasons under Settles’ leadership. Settles has been a USPTA Professional for the past eight years and is a graduate of the USTA High Performance Coaching Course. He has coached Team USA in the International University Challenge – leading six top collegiate American players in an eight-team international competition in France – and the Southern California Maze Cup Team (Boys and Girls 16s and 18s). Settles has served as a volunteer member of two USTA national committees, the Collegiate and Adult & Senior Competition committees. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, is co-chair of the ITA Small College Operating Committee, and is on the task force for NCAA Legislative Issues. In 2006, Settles received the USPTA Collegiate Coach of the Year Award from the California Division, and he has twice been honored as West Region ITA Coach of the Year. Before coming to CMS, Settles served as director of player services of the Association of Tennis Professionals, the governing body of men’s professional tennis. At the ATP, Settles’ wide range of responsibilities included supervision of the Player Services Department, staff liaison for the ATP Player Council, Player Leadership Committee, and Board of Directors; and serving as founding committee member of the ATP Medical Services Committee. From 2004-2012, Settles served on the Player Services staff for the Farmers Classic in Los Angeles, an ATP World Tour event. Jack Foster, George Bacso Tester of the Year Jack Foster is the director of tennis at First Colony Community Association in Sugar Land, Texas, and owns Jack’s Tennis/She Strings with his wife. Foster has previously won several association awards, including the USPTA Star Award in 2005 and the Texas Division’s Tester of the Year Award in 2009. He was also in the top 10 among education recipients from 2005 through 2009 for continuing education and career development. He has been a USPTA member for 22 years and has served on the USPTA Texas board as well as on numerous divisional and national committees. He has also been a member of the HEAD Penn Advisory Staff since 2005. Tom Sweitzer, Manager of the Year – Large Facility Tom Sweitzer is the general manager of the Orlando Tennis Center and a USPTA member for the past 28 years. Beginning in July 2012, he began a total renovation of the facility, which is the oldest recreational site in the City of Orlando, having opened in 1932. With the renovation of the facility, the USTA approved the OTC’s application to host a $10,000 USTA Pro Circuit Women’s Tournament. All OTC teaching professionals must be certified by USPTA or PTR. Not only has there been a substantial movement toward certification, but also toward upgrading certification by which pros are rewarded by an increase in pay. This teaching program change, in addition to creating a wide variety of activities for different levels and ages, resulted in an increase to the teaching and pro shop income by 400 percent. Fernando Velasco, Manager of the Year – Small Facility Fernando Velasco became the General Manager of the Grey Rock Tennis Club in Austin, Texas, in 2001. The club had a total of 80 members and was losing $66,000 annually. With hard work, faith and dedication, and by surrounding himself with an incredible staff, Velasco turned the club around. It now has more than 150 members and has been profitable for the past three years. The club’s success includes offering beginners’ classes that contributed to the membership growth and the positive bottom line. His background with CCA in Phoenix, Houston and Dallas, and later as a director of tennis in Savannah, Ga., and Boca Raton, Fla., has helped him to not only teach tennis but also run a successful business operation. His ability to organize tennis tournaments and to continue to look at opportunities to offer the sport of a lifetime has created an amazing atmosphere and culture at Grey Rock Tennis Club. He has been a USPTA member since 1970. ADDvantage/November 2013
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Years of Service
Player of the Year Awards Men’s Open Player James Daly
Men’s 50s Doubles T.A. Niles Frank Swope
Men’s Open Doubles Cary Lothringer Jonas Lundblad Men’s 35s Singles Juan Garcia Men’s 35s Doubles Cary Lothringer Jonas Lundblad Men’s 40s Singles Oren Motevassel
Men’s 55s Singles Sal Castillo
Women’s Open Doubles Julie Farina Marina McCollom
Men’s 55s Doubles John Holladay Angel Lopez
Women’s 35s Doubles Athena Cajas Michelle King
Men’s 60s Singles Gewan Maharaj
Women’s 40s Doubles Susie Brown Cindy LePrevost
Men’s 60s Doubles Tommy Connell Kimm Ketelsen
Men’s 40s Doubles Kie Foreman Bill Quario
Men’s 65s Singles Fernando Velasco
Men’s 45s Singles Jeff Cohen
Men’s 65s Doubles Max Pavon Fernando Velasco
Men’s 45s Doubles Jeff Cohen Louis Ballantyne Men’s 50s Singles Kie Foreman
Women’s Open Singles Ristine Olson
Women’s 45s Singles Julie Farina Women’s 45s Doubles Kathy Barnes Kathy Vick Women’s 50s Singles Kathy Vick
Men’s 70s Singles Max Pavon
Women’s 55s Singles Kathy Barnes
Men’s 75s Singles Don Neu
Mixed 45s Doubles Kathy Vick Micky Navarro
Men’s 80s Singles James Ridgley
Division Awards Large Division of the Year – Texas Small Division of the Year – Southwest Newsletter of the Year – Midwest
Division growth Greatest number of new members – 1. Southern 2. Florida Greatest percentage of new members – 1. Southern 2. Eastern
Tennis Across America™ Greatest number of participants – 1. Texas 2. Midwest (tied) 2. San Diego (tied) Greatest percentage of participants – 1. Texas 2. San Diego 3. Midwest
2012 Lessons for Life™
Most money raised – Florida Most money raised per capita – Pacific Northwest
Specialist Degrees USPTA Specialists in Competitive Player Development Steve Adamson Cris Bacharach Peter Benko Anna Bielen-Zarska Mandy Gamble Mike Griffith Josh Jorgensen Mark Milner Allen Overland Eduardo Vicencio
Eldon Wilson Mark Jeffrey Jan Steenekamp Meg Bandy Lynn Bybee Bob Bynum Nico Englebrecht Gigi Fernandez Travis Fields David Grow
Nick Hummel Brett Kraft Jeremy Speicher Kenneth Powell Bora Gerceker Robb Julian Danny Kantar Ilyar Khammadov Craig Law Hamish Mackay
Jason Wass David Poole Mathieu Soto Matthew Cook Kevin Criscoe Christopher Fletcher Michael Phillips Billy Uelze Bryan Whitt
USPTA Specialist in Sport Science
USPTA Specialist in Youth Tennis
Lane Evans
Ian Thomson
USPTA Specialists in Facility Management Feisal Hassan
Ian Thomson
Education Awards
Top education participants – 2012
Josh Jorgensen – Top credit earner Nico Engelbrecht Jeff Rothstein Feisal Hassan William Phillips Lane Evans Jack Foster
Mark Faber Bill Mecca Rick Calton
Education merit award for 10 years of continuing-education participation Jeff Cohen
Chuck Gill
2013 Awards Committee: Dan Moster, chair; Rich Slivocka, Allan Grossman, Jack Foster, Tom Ingram
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30 Years
Barbara Lemberg Dale Long Ed Adams Brian Lusson Goro Akashi Ted MacBeth Naoki Akita Joy Macci Carlos Alvarado Douglas Martin Akira Aono Yoshio Matsuda Akira Asano Yoshihiro Matsuda Mark Belman Sadataka Matsui Gerry Berkheimer Jeffrey McCardle Joanne Bleckinger- Jim McDonald O’Bryan Tim McGettigan Elizabeth Bohac Bob McKenna Bob Boutin Carol Menefee Tom Breece Bal Moore Chris Brown Jiro Mori Gregg Buchko Masatake Morimoto Andrew Bustamante Kiyoshi Morioka Thay Butchee Tsuneki Morita Steve Carter Shigeru Moriwaki Francisco Castillo Greg Moussette Tokiharu Chino Rob Muir Bob Cianchetti Floyd Munson Lowell Coffman Yoshiyuki Murakami Leoncio Collas Mike Muscare Tad Connerton Kris Najdovski Eddie Copete Yoshitaka Nakano Shawn Craig David Neuhart Charles Darley Shoji Niina Steve Daugherty Masato Nishi Kimberly Dean Kazuichi Nishigawa Jim Dempsey Ken Noel Kim Dillard Masato Nonogawa Joseph Dinoffer Hiroyuki Nukariya Hiroshi Doi David Ochotorena Carol Duffy Kimio Ogata Tom Dundis Koji Ohmori Derek Edmonds Kozo Ohta Hideo Eshima Andris Olins Philip Flanagan Desmond Oon Kuang Fong Mike Oransky Kris Foote Mitsuo Otsudo Steve Franklin Daryl Paluch Claude Frazer Walter Paz Frank Froehling Steve Pekich Makoto Fukushima Mike Pfisterer Shoji Furukawa Miguel Phelps Spence Garo Michael Pizzat Bo Gray Peter Regan Doug Greenwald Victor Reimer Jim Gregor Larry Rizzo Charl Grobler Phillip Rodriguez Toshio Hagiwara Tom Rohrbacher Todd Harris Deborah Romero Geoffrey Harvey Dessie Samuels Tim Harvey Akira Sasa Kenichi Hayashi Hitoshi Sato Craig Heinberg Makoto Sawada Yasuaki Higaki Paula Scheb Mike Higgins Bob Scott Ron Hilburn Garry Seymour Andreae Hoosty Ryan Shaffer Akira Igarashi John Sharpe Masafumi Ikeshiro Jack Sheehy Keiko Inoue Kazuyuki Shibata Raul Iriarte Hiroyuki Shimizu Katsuji Iwata John Simmons Lee Jennings Rick Smoliak Russell Jilot Jonathan Solari Jan Johnson Buster Stewart Kohichi Kabasawa Kristine Stofey Kurt Kamperman Yuji Sugaya Chris Kaskow Akira Sugiura Takumi Kato Knute Syvrud Marilyn Katz Katsumi Takasawa Hideaki Kawakatsu Hideki Takayama Tom Kern Kenji Tamura Scott Kidd Naoki Tamura Mary Beth Kilian Toru Tanaka John Kinsella Susan Toler Paul Kostin Shinya Tomioka Adi Kourim Reedy Toney Toshiyuki Koyama John Trinchitella Toshiji Kumagai Jack Vinson Yukiko Kumakura Jeff Walters Hisao Kunisaki Betty Sue Welch Masanori Kuriyama Hiroshi Yamaki Bob Lake Yoshikata Yamamoto Jerry Leavitt
Shiro Yasukawa Kiyoshi Yasuno Charles Yerrick Toshihiko Yogo Nobuyuki Yoshida Barry Young Shogo Yuasa Michael Zavacky
35 Years
Erick Baer Henry Banaszak Bruce Barr Don Bennett Bruce Boland Roger Boyer Chip Brooks Marcia Brown Rob Castorri Richard Centerbar Barney Chadwick Billy Chadwick Robert Chiene John Cook Richard Cote Corky Cramer Keith Cullen Bill Delaney Dennis Dellinger Juan Diaz Tim Eiff Brian Engel Bruce Gould Greg Grover Chris Hall Jim Head Marvin Henderson Peter Hoopes Allen Hopp Tom Ingram Roger Kahn Richard Kobleur Jim Laughlin Sperry Lee Dale Light Larry Loeb James Love Vishnu Maharaj Sewsankar Maharaj Hilde Manhardt Don Martin Bernie McGuire David McLean John McWilliams Simon Meredith Jay Morgan Wallace Norwich Rex Nyquist Suzanne Ornstein Steve Pennington Jim Prittinen Mark Rearden Gary Richey Mimi Roberson Mike Rocheleau Randy Ross Robert Sasseville Lyle Schaefer Arthur Smith Jeff Smith Patricia Stewart David Strebel Frank Swope Philip Weil Doug Welsh Amy Wishingrad Kathy Woods
40 Years
Kirk Anderson Chan Bearce Joe Bouquin Chris Bovett Cindy Brady Peter Burwash Paul Christian Robert Davis Ken de Koning
Mike DePalmer Yale Estrin Richard Ferman Roald Flater Bill Frost Spike Gonzales Theodore Gordon Jeff Gray Benjamin Hanks Will Hoag Geoff Hodsdon Ed Jacques Tom Jaklitsch Kimm Ketelsen Terence Killen Harry Kraly Greg Lappin Hank Lloyd Sam Mascitti Patrick Mason Sarah Mayo Don Monroe Mike Morgenstern Jim Musgrave James Nelson Larry Oxford Tom Pasquale Skip Pilsbury Jim Poling Jim Provines Dennis Reblin Jim Reffkin Mike Roberson Dave Romberg Joel Ross Eugene Russo Denny Schackter Butch Seewagen William Serues Robert Shafer Bill Shivar Ed Smith Jim Stocker Lynette Turek Charles Van Middlesworth Rick Vetter Mike Ware John Williams
45 Years
Jeff Abbey Dave Beerman Charles Bleckinger Steve Contardi Samuel Dibbins Trish Faulkner Jerry Geyman Richard Halpine Billy Higgins Mary Johnsen Dick King Peggy Lynch Fritz Schunck Jim Schwitters Joseph Szucs Steve Zalinski
50 Years
Les Longshore Gardnar Mulloy Harry Parten Jack Roach Bob Sassano Pamela Stewart Jerry Strang Hugh Waters
50 Years
Skip Howard Bob Ryland
60 Years
Allie Ritzenberg
65 Years
Jimmy Evert
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
International Championships MEN’S SINGLES FINALS Men’s Open – Adrian Zguns (Orlando, Fla.) def. Paulo Barros (Winter Garden, Fla.) 6-1, 6-1 Men’s 35 and Over – Paulo Barros (Winter Garden, Fla.) def. Marcin Rozpedski (Palm Desert, Calif.) 6-3, 6-3 Men’s 45 and Over – Richard Schmidt (Orlando, Fla.) def. Jeff Cohen (Boca Raton, Fla.) 6-3, 0-6, 6-3 Men’s 50 and Over – Kie Foreman (Pebble Beach, Calif.) def. Todd Wise (Fort Myers, Fla.) 6-2, 6-4 Men’s 60 and Over – Gewan Maharaj (Tampa, Fla.) round robin winner Men’s 65 and Over – Geoff Moore (Boynton Beach, Fla.) round robin winner Men’s 75 and Over – James Ridgley (Washington, D.C.) def. Louis Shackelford (Pompano Beach, Fla.) 6-4, 6-2
Adrian Zguns, Men’s Open Singles winner
WOMEN’S SINGLES FINALS Women’s 45 and Over – Kathy Vick (Lubbock, Texas) round robin winner MEN’S DOUBLES FINALS Men’s Open – Kamil Kuchta (Boynton Beach, Fla.)/Adrian Zguns (Orlando, Fla.) def. Marcin Rozpedski (Palm Desert, Calif.) /Juan Garcia (San Diego, Calif.) 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 Men’s 40 and Over – Louis Ballantyne (Jacksonville, Fla.)/Jeff Cohen (Boca Raton, Fla.) (1) def. Kie Foreman (Pebble Beach, Calif.)/Bill Quario (Marina, Calif.) (2) 6-2, 6-4 Men’s 60 and Over – Gewan Maharaj (Tampa, Fla.)/Geoff Moore (Boynton Beach, Fla.) (2) def. Kimm Ketelsen (Tyler, Texas)/Tommy Connell (Houston, Texas) (1) 6-3, 6-0 MIXED DOUBLES FINALS Mixed 45 and Over – Robin Keener (Melbourne, Fla.)/Richard Schmidt (Orlando, Fla.) def. Kathy Vick (Lubbock, Texas)/Miguel Navarro (Tyler, Texas) 6-3, 6-0
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
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Florida’s Zguns and Louisiana’s Falcon take home USPTA Hard Court Championships Titles
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or the third consecutive year, Adrian Zguns of Orlando, Fla., won the men’s open singles title at the $13,000 United States Professional Tennis Association Hard Court Championships at the Hollytree Country Club in Tyler, Texas. Megan Falcon of Baton Rouge, La., won the women’s open singles title after going undefeated in round robin play. Zguns defeated Piotr Banas of Lafayette, La., for the second straight year 6-2, 6-3 to take the tournament’s top prize on the men’s side. He also topped Banas at the same tournament a year ago in straight sets with a 7-6, 6-0 victory. Zguns also won the USPTA International Zguns Championships this year in his hometown of Orlando during the 2013 USPTA World Conference in September. Zguns partnered with Banas to win the men’s open doubles crown with a 7-6, 6-3 in the final over Rudy Obregon of San Antonio, Texas, and John Walter of College Station, Texas. Falcon defeated 12-time surface champion Marina McCollom of West Des Moines, Iowa, in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2 to win her first USPTA women’s open singles title. Falcon and doubles partner Christoffer Fasth, also of Baton Rouge, were runnersup in the mixed open doubles final. McCollom and Tony Larson of Minneapolis won their second USPTA mixed open doubles title of the year with two straight-set victories. The tandem also won the mixed open doubles tournament at the USPTA Indoor Championships in Fridley, Minn., earlier Falcon this year. McCollom, who was named one of the USPTA Women’s Open Doubles Players of the Year, also won the women’s open singles title at the USPTA Indoor Championships in April. The USPTA Hard Court Championships were held from Oct. 18-20 and included events in the following categories: men’s and women’s open singles, men’s open doubles, mixed open doubles, and men’s 35 and 45 singles. Following is a complete list of results from final-round matches: www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
Men’s Open Singles Final – Adrians Zguns (Orlando, Fla.) def. Piotr Banas, (Lafayette, La.) 6-2, 6-3. Women’s Open Singles Final (round robin play) – Megan Falcon (Baton Rouge, La.) def. Gayle Prejean (Dallas, Texas) 6-0, 6-2 Marina McCollom (West Des Moines, Iowa) def. Gayle Prejean (Dallas, Texas) 6-0, 6-2 Megan Falcon (Baton Rouge, La.) def. Marina McCollom (West Des Moines, Iowa) 6-2, 6-2 Mixed Open Doubles Final (round robin play) – Megan Falcon (Baton Rouge, La.)/ Christoffer Fasth (Baton Rouge, La.) def. Gayle Prejean (Dallas, Texas)/James Daly (Tyler, Texas) 7-5, 6-4 Marina McCollom (West Des Moines, Iowa)/Tony Larson (Minneapolis, Minn.) def. Gayle Prejean (Dallas, Texas)/James Daly (Tyler, Texas) 6-4, 6-4 Marina McCollom (West Des Moines, Iowa)/Tony Larson (Minneapolis, Minn.) def. Megan Falcon (Baton Rouge, La.)/ Christoffer Fasth (Baton Rouge, La.) 7-5, 6-4 Men’s Open Doubles Adrian Zguns (Orlando, Fla.)/Piotr Banas (Lafayette, La.) def. Rudy Obregon (San Antonio, Texas)/John Walter (College Station, Texas) 7-6, 6-3 Men’s 35 Singles (round robin play) Guillaume Gauthier (Camarillo, Calif.) def. John McCarthy (Bernice, Okla.) 6-0, 6-0 Paulo Barros (Winter Garden, Fla.) def. John McCarthy (Bernice, Okla.) 6-0, 6-0 Paulo Barros (Winter Garden, Fla.) def. Guillaume Gauthier (Camarillo, Calif.) 6-1, 6-3 Men’s 45 Singles Pat Serret (Alexandria, La.) def. Miguel Navarro (Tyler, Texas) 6-2, 6-0 This tournament was the final event for 2013 as part of the USPTA National Surface Championship Series. Full tournament results are available at USPTAplayer.com. The national tournaments are open to USPTA-certified Professionals in good standing. For additional information, please contact the USPTA at 800-USPTA-4U. USPTA Professionals may also log in to the “members only” section of the USPTA website at uspta.com. ADDvantage/November 2013
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Pro to pro – tips and techniques from USPTA members
Top 10 clauses to spice up your drills by David Kamisar, USPTA
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he key to good drilling is to get players to play hard with intensity and get their competitive juices flowing. To do this you need to award incentives. Clauses are a great way to add incentives. They make players try harder and force them to attempt things they wouldn’t ordinarily do in matches that are needed to get to the next level. The key is to make points more important, or award more points if they do what you want them to do. There are hundreds of possible clauses, but listed below are our top 10 that work. Although some of these clauses you may have seen before, I guarantee there are some you have not: 1. Clean Winner Clause – You can award a certain amount of points for a clean winner (a shot that is hit in the court and your opponent can’t touch) or put the challenger as champ immediately if they hit a clean winner. Note: winners can be specialized to be a clean winner volley, overhead, angle, lob, drop shot, etc. 2. Split the Middle Clause – You can award a certain amount of points for a clean winner up the middle (a shot that is a clean winner between and beyond your opponents) or put the challenger as champ immediately if they hit the clean winner up the middle.
3. Zeroization – If the champ hits a clean winner against the challenger, the challenger goes to zero regardless of how many points they had (in our drills involving the zeroization clause, usually the challenger needs 5 points total to become champ). 4. Wager Clause – If the challenger has 3 points (in our drills involving the wager clause, usually the challenger needs 5 points to become champ) they can announce the wager clause. The wager clause means that the challenger is betting 2 points. It is great if the challenger wins, since they become champ. However, if the challenger loses, they go to 1 point.
Incentives make players try harder. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
5. Consistency Clause – After the rally goes 6 times or more, either side can announce “4 pointer.” Once the 4 pointer is announced (after the ball goes 6 times or more over the net), the rally is worth four points. 6. Do what you want them to do, or don’t want them to do clauses – examples: A. If baseline players take over the net and win the point with a volley or overhead, it is worth 2 points. B. Two points if the ball goes in the net. C. If you serve and volley or return and come in and win the point two times in a row, you get the game. 7. Lucky 7 Clause – When players keep track of their points, they sometimes reach the magic number 7. When this happens, they announce lucky 7. If the player (who has 7 points) wins the next point (note they must announce the lucky 7 clause before the point starts) they get an additional 3 points (if the player that announces lucky 7 loses the point, they still keep their 7 points). Note: you could also have a defense of lucky 7 clause. This happens when the person announcing lucky 7 loses the point. When this happens, the opposition would get an additional 2 points. 8. Go Backward Clause – When doing drills where a player needs a certain amount of points to become champ, you should always have the challenger announce championship point before they feed the ball for that big point to possibly become champ. This will make the players (especially the champ who could get dethroned) play harder. For more incentive, you could add the Go Backward Clause, continued next page ADDvantage/November 2013
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from previous page which states that on that championship point, if the challenger wins they become champ; however, if the challenger loses, they go backward one point. 9. Jet Express – Most programs do drills where, when time is called, the player with the most points moves up and the player with the least points moves down. Moving up and down courts based on points is a great way to drill since everyone wants to move up and play potentially stronger players. The problem is, each round may take 5 to 15 minutes before time is called and the person with the most points finally gets a chance to move up. The Jet Express solves this problem by having the player who hits a clean winner volley or overhead (or any other theme you want to add) move up immediately at that instant. 10. Bonus Clause – If a player wins 3 points in a row, they get an additional 3 points. Players must announce “Bonus Clause.” when they are in the bonus situation (when they have won 2 in a row). Alter any of the clauses to fit your needs. You will find that with special clauses the group as a whole will try harder and get better. It is even possible the players will play beyond what you thought was their potential. David Kamisar is the Match Play Director at Sports Club of Novi in Novi, Mich., and also works as a tennis club consultant for clients seeking to buy or sell tennis clubs.
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Clean Winner Clause – Hit a clean winner on your overhead and become the champ.
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
• What is your title and what do you do at USPTA? Director of Human Resources and Building Manager. As director of human resources some of my duties include administering the employee benefits, payroll processing, and providing guidance on employee relations issues. I also act as the building manager for the USPTA World Headquarters. We currently have 14 businesses located inside our 70,000-square-foot building so one of my main jobs as the building manager is to try to keep the tenants happy so that they remain tenants in our building. I try to do that by responding to any of their requests in a timely manner and checking in on them often to make sure there are no issues that need to be resolved. The building was built in the early 1980s and needed some updating so we just completed an energy savings project where we installed new energy-efficient lighting in the USPTA offices and all the common areas of the building.
• Where have you lived besides Houston? I was born in Plantation, Fla., so technically I lived there for a few months. My parents moved to Lake Jackson, Texas, where I grew up and lived the majority of my life. I also lived in Nacogdoches, Texas, when I was attending SFA. • What would people be surprised to know about you? I think some people would be surprised to know that my wife and I were featured in a 2011 issue of Texas Weddings. • If you could go anywhere in the world or do anything, where/ what would it be? I would like to go to Oktoberfest in Germany. I have been to Munich, Germany, before and I really enjoyed it but I have always wanted to go during the Oktoberfest festivities. If I ever get to go I do plan on going all out and strapping on the lederhosen.
• What are your hobbies? What do you like to do outside of work? When I am not at work I enjoy playing golf and pitching washers. • What’s your education backI also spend a lot of time with my ground? I attended Stephen F. wife fixing up and refinishing Austin State University where old furniture or “home projects” I received a bachelor’s in psyMatt and Ashley Stotts as she likes to call them. I am a chology with a management huge football fan so when football minor. I also received my Professional in Human Resources season comes around I am usually glued to the T.V. (PHR) certification from the HR Certification Institute. • What event in your life would you like to live over and why? • What do you like best about your job? What I like best about I can’t really think of an my two roles at the USPTA is that I get to do a variety of things event that I would like to and no two days are ever the same. In the human resources role live over again. I am the I enjoy being able to work in several different areas of human type of person that is always resources and I am not just limited to one. The building managelooking forward to my future ment role gives me a chance to work on something completely endeavors. If you made me different, which can be refreshing at times. choose one though, I guess I would have to go with my • Do you have a specific work ethic or personal philosophy that first birthday because I don’t you live by? The personal philosophy that I like to live by is to remember it at all but from always take pride in the work that I do. I have always watched the pictures it looked like I my dad take pride in anything he did and he did whatever it really enjoyed the cake. took to get the job done right, so I guess it rubbed off on me. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
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SSV rates control and power, supports TAUT by Neil Johnson
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or the past three years I have successfully implemented a youth competition program in San Diego based on placing juniors in small groups of similar ability without regard to age or gender. The SSV Tennis Rating (Serve, Stroke & Volley) is a simple oncourt basic skills test. It involves players hitting balls to specified target areas. Points are then scored for the first and second bounce of the ball. The placement of the first bounce represents control and the depth of the second bounce represents power. The combination of these two factors, control and power, is a very accurate measure of the quality of the stroke. In a golf stroke, direction represents control and distance represents power. The same is true in throwing a football or baseball. Better players have better control and power. With SSV, kids can be quickly screened for these basic skills and easily placed in ability groups for instruction, competition, or both. A benefit of ability grouping is that it significantly increases the pool The SSV Tennis Rating for 10 and Under Tennis has 12 levels of play, which of competitive players. are great stepping stones. Regardless of a player’s initial level, with practice he SSV’s value for 10 and Under Tennis is that on the very first or she can see improvement. day you can screen all the kids and imUsing the SSV Tennis Rating, the mediately place them in the right ability San Diego SSV Junior Tennis program groups. The SSV score is objective, and has provided the competitive experience thus reduces stress from organizing a needed for juniors to go from beginning new group of kids and keeps parents tennis to mainstream USTA competition. happy. “SSV has made it easier for the kids in The SSV Tennis Rating for 10 and our academy here at La Jolla Beach and Under Tennis has 12 levels of play, which Tennis Club to compete at the most apare great stepping stones. Regardless of a propriate levels of kids their same level,” player’s initial level, with practice he or said Conan Lorenzo, tennis director at she can see improvement. Even though La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club and San players may not be ready to maintain a Diego USTA Team Tennis League Corally or play a competitive match, their ordinator. “I realize that all our players basic skills improve, and the ratings must play kids better than their level of reflect their improvement. Frequent retesting shows continuing improvement. With SSV, kids can be quickly screened for basic skills and easily play, lower than their level of play, and at the same level of play in order to become The SSV rating provides the recognition placed in ability groups for instruction, competition, or both. an all-around complete competitor. SSV kids need to gain confidence. is a great component in order for them to accomplish such a task.” More information about the SSV Tennis Rating format can be found at www.ssvtennis.com. Coaches who register for the website will be able to download the SSV Tennis Rating Guidebooks for 10 and Under Tennis that include score sheets. On the SSV Pro Page coaches can do the following: 1. Enter players’ SSV scores 2. Get a national, state and club ranking and compare with others their age 3. Keep records and measure each player’s progress 4. Print out an individual player’s card and record. For more information, contact me at 760-781-5182.
La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club juniors. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
ADDvantage/November 2013
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Career Development
conventions ( Division conventions, 5 credits; World Conference 8 credits; dates subject to change) Nov. 1-3 Nov. 9
New England Division Woodstock, Vt. Northern California Division Larkspur, Calif.
Nov. 15-16 Middle States Division Princeton, N.J.
taut workshops Nov. 15
Middle States Division Princeton, N.J.
Nov. 15
Mid-Atlantic Division College Park, Md.
Nov. 22-23 Southern Division Atlanta
exams, upgrades & certification review courses (4 credits for PTCA I segment) Nov. 8 Nov. 9 Nov. 15 Nov. 15-16 Nov. 16 Nov. 16-17 Nov. 16-17 Nov. 16-17 Nov. 17 Nov. 24 Nov. 25-26 Dec. 1 Dec. 1
Kansas City, Mo. San Francisco Princeton, N.J. Houston* Mequon, Wis. Boca Raton, Fla. Fayetteville, N.C. Big Rapids, Mich. Collierville, Tenn. Greenwood Village, Colo. San Francisco Midlothian, Va. Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Dec. 2 Dec. 5-6 Dec. 7 Dec. 7 Dec. 7-8 Dec. 7-8 Dec. 7-8 Dec. 7-8 Dec. 8 Dec. 9 Dec. 10 Dec. 13-14
San Diego Port Washington, N.Y. Gastonia, N.C. Nashville, Tenn. Brunswick, Maine Atlanta Boca Raton, Fla. Huntington Beach, Calif. New Braunfels, Texas Redwood City, Calif. Minneapolis, Minn. Houston*
* 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 Creative drill design, Nov. 3, Woodstock, Vt., F. Hassan 10 and Under Tennis, Nov. 9, Larkspur, Calif, A. Pant
cardio tennis Nov. 8 Dec. 13
Blue Springs, Mo. Duluth, Ga.
accredited professional coach Register your Accredited Professional Coach (APC) and specialty course credits earned with the USPTA SmartCode Education System. This uses your smartphone to instantly register your attendance to all seminars and specialty courses earning APC. To use the system at a seminar, general session or specialty course, you must scan two QR codes. One QR code is on your conference badge. The second QR code will be in your conference notebook and cannot be scanned until the end of the session or the beginning of the next session. If you do not have a smartphone, you may use someone else’s. Forms are available upon request.
Please visit www.cardiotennis.com to register online.
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ADDvantage/November 2013
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com