Addvantage 2016 February

Inside this issue Rainy-day Tennis on the Racquetball Courts – 50 Trip of a Lifetime to the US Open – 54 Departments: 48 Endorsee News 42 CEO’s Message 50 Inside Coaching First Vice President’s 44 54 Beyond the Court Message 58 Career Development 45 Master Pro Corner 60 Member News 46 USPTA News Read more articles online at www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com On the cover: In 2015, the USPTA Foundation gave a grant to ACEing Autism, one of 18 programs that support the mission statement “to help economically disadvantaged people learn tennis.” See Page 47.

CEO’s Message

Game Changing!

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s many of you know, the USTA is developing the “USTA­ National Campus” in Lake Nona, Fla., (in the city of Orlando), which will be the single largest tennis complex in the world (102 courts). It will house both the USTA Community Tennis operations and Player Development.

Scheduled completion date is anticipated to be in late 2016.

In an attempt to make this location the epicenter of tennis in the U.S., the USTA has invited allied organizations and tennis companies to join them in order to create a dynamic and vibrant “Home of American Tennis.” Tavistock Development Company, part of the international investment organization Tavistock Group, is the full-service development company working with everyone who is considering a move to this location. Think of it this way: ­Tavistock is the owner of a giant mall, the USTA will serve as the anchor tenant, and Tavistock is trying to attract other storefronts to build out what will be a huge tennis mecca.

Since learning about the USTA’s intentions and what their plans were more than 18 months ago, the USPTA Board of Directors believed it to be its fiduciary responsibility to examine the opportunity of relocating to central Florida to be a part of this endeavor.

Would a move like this make sense, both from a financial as well as a business perspective? What would it mean to the USPTA to leave our home for the last 25 years and relocate? What would the impact be on the staff? Could we afford to sell our building and lose the rental income, or could we even keep our building and be an absentee landlord? What would the upside be of moving to this complex? What would it cost us to operate in Lake Nona vs.

Houston? What would our relationship be with the USTA, knowing that we are steadfast about remaining an independent trade association right in their backyard?

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by John Embree These, along with many other quesUSPTA would be foolhardy not to make tions, were all part of the due diligence another leap of faith as was done more that the Board undertook to develop a than two decades ago. game plan that was finally presented to I readily applaud the bold thinking the Executive Committee for consider- and the strategic vision of the USPTA ation last September during our World Board of Directors and Executive ComConference in New Orleans. Months of mittee for this decision. It is gamenumber crunching, financial analysis, changing for the USPTA. Without a doubt, we have to do everything that we evaluation of various real estate options, design and schematic preparacan to manage the downside risk and tion, construction budgets preparaThe leadership of the USPTA desires to always be tion, etc., all played on the front lines of innovation for our sport, and the a huge part in defulcrum for that innovation will clearly be at this new termining a proper “Home of American Tennis” for decades to come. course of action.

After considerminimize any financial concern that able deliberation, the Executive Committee overwhelmingly voted to sell our comes with making this commitment.

But, we will dedicate every resource existing building in Houston and move to Lake Nona. Turn the clock back to possible to ensure that the USPTA will the early ’90s when the then-Executive come out of this stronger and more relevant than before.

Committee decided that it would be Now, the heavy lifting begins. We best for the association at that time will be selling our building shortly, to move from Florida to Texas and to purchasing the land from Tavispurchase a building in a commercial tock, constructing a state-of-the-art, real estate area in Houston. It was a 10,000-square-foot building right at the game-changing decision at that time.

The senior leadership of the association base of the USTA National Campus and then handling a relocation of staff and knew that it was a bit of a leap of faith operations sometime in early 2017, asto make that commitment because no suming everything works according to one could look into a crystal ball and plan. But, you know how construction know how everything would play out.

Without question, it proved to be a pru- timelines typically go. dent decision.

Naturally, we will attempt to do so We are all aware of the incredibly without any interruption of services rapid pace of change happening in the provided during the transition. It is not world today. Technology and innovation going to be easy to manage through this are driving businesses and changing scenario, but the staff is professional organizations quickly, some in a good and understands its obligation to first way, some in a not-so-good way. One serve our membership in the best possible fashion. I cannot promise that thing is clear: those entities that do not there won’t be some hiccups along the embrace change and proactively look way, but we hope to keep them to the to prosper in the new world will fall behind and eventually become irrelevant. bare minimum.

The leadership of the USPTA desires to The Board and I would be happy always be on the front lines of innovato answer any questions that you may tion for our sport and the fulcrum for have. You can look forward to getting that innovation will clearly be at this regular updates from me as we progress new “Home of American Tennis” for through this game-changing time in the decades to come. With that in mind, the history of our association. h

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First Vice President’s Message

Our Financial Future Depends on Every Member

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n 1990, the USPTA Board of Directors had the foresight to move the national headquarters from Florida to Houston and buy our existing building. A great deal of hard work by the staff during these subsequent years has given us an opportunity to make this exciting move back to Florida.

We need to thank all of the past board members and staff for their efforts. It was not easy to move to Houston, and it will not be easy to move to Lake Nona.

I believe that we are going to surge ahead as an association, our brand will be recognized and we will grow throughout the industry.

As I take the chair of the Finance Committee in the coming months, there are many things that we can all do to help the USPTA make this move and surge ahead.

by Gary Trost

Support our endorsees and partners be part of our association, tennis players Every USPTA member should be will want to take lessons from USPTA stocking and using Prince racquets Professionals, and general managers and balls, Nike will want to employ Host a test or educational workshop shoes and clothing USPTA Professionat your facility and encourage others from Fromuth, tenals. Host a test or to get certified and engaged. We all nis court equipment educational workneed to pitch in and work together. from 10-S Tennis shop at your facility Supply, and products from our other and encourage others to get certified endorsees. Not only does it help you and engaged. We all need to pitch in and by increasing your sales and products work together. that you receive, it is sending money to your retirement account. The Do the simple stuff USPTA will make extra money with The easiest way to help us out is by bonuses and continued support from doing the basics, get your dues paid as our endorsees. soon as you can, and get those 6 hours of education! Remind your staff and Be an ambassador of USPTA USPTA colleagues to continue their Your efforts as an ambassador will support of our association – the future always multiply through the industry. is bright for us and you can help us on Other tennis professionals will want to our way. h

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44 www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Master Pro Corner

Master Pro by the Numbers

By Pat Whitworth and Bob Love, USPTA Master Professionals

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o you ask, what is the deal with these Master Pros? Read on for interesting facts about USPTA Master Professionals.

that he would welcome Love creating a point system, and then would review it.

Love created a 600-point system with 150 points in each of four a­ reas

The Master Pro program has evolved a great deal over the years in a very positive ­direction, and any Master Professional today is highly deserving of the honor. The basic concepts of honesty, service, devotion, and passion for tennis that the early Master Professional possessed are still exemplified by the Master Professionals of today.

In 1983, the USPTA – publications and Current Master Pros announced a new class research, service to in divisions: of membership – Master industry, coaching and 5 – California Professional. The problem competing and service 7 – Eastern was that the requireto USPTA. For each item 29 – Florida ments were a bit vague. he indicated the type 2 – Hawaii The general fields were of support material the 6 – Intermountain service to tennis, service Master Pro Committee 3 – International to the ­USPTA, demonwould require for veri12 – Mid-Atlantic strated coaching and playfication. Items included 4 – Middle States ing skills, education and articles published in 17 – Midwest training, contributions local newspapers or 8 – Missouri Valley to professional developmagazines, radio and TV 8 – New England ment, and publications. tips, graduate research 1 – Northern At the convention in projects, theses, and 4 – Northern California Saddlebrook, Bob Love doctoral dissertations. A 2 – Pacific Northwest went to George Bacso, naperson needed to score 4 – San Diego tional awards and testing 450 points with a mini25 – Southern mum of 75 in each area chairman, and expressed 7 – Southwest for acceptance. Love was concerns about the lack 14 – Texas asked to be the commitof specificity in the requirements. For example tee chairman, a position there were no apparent “places” for the he held for the next six years. officiating, or articles written for news The Master Pro program has evolved papers and magazines. His response was a great deal over the years in a very posi-

The first USPTA Master Professional class, 1983. Front Row: Tim Heckler, Bill Tym. Middle Row: Dick King, John Verde, Nick Bollettieri, Newton Cox, Gary Wilensky, Bob Love, Ted Withall. Back Row: George Bacso, Les Longshore, Paul Gagon, Jack Justice, Don Henson , Gardnar Mulloy, Don Leary. (Not pictured: Peter Burwash, Fred Earle.)

Master Pro Stats:

• 1983 The year the Master Pro level began • 18 Number of pros in the first class • 156 The current number of Master Pros • 42 The age of the youngest members • 102 The age of Gardnar Mulloy, our oldest member • 28 The youngest age that anyone achieved Master Pro status – Ed McQuillin.

• 65 The median age for current Master Pros • 10 Years certified at Elite Professional before you can apply

tive direction, and any Master Professional today is highly deserving of the honor. The basic concepts of honesty, service, devotion, and passion for tennis that the early Master Professional possessed are still exemplified by the Master Professionals of today.

Our newest Master Professionals, honored in 2015, are Michael ­Chamberlain, Christopher Chopra, Stan Oley, James Shaughnessy and John Trinity. This group exhibits a continued desire to help others and contribute to both USPTA and the tennis profession.

Many of the Master Professionals have submitted materials for the Business Essentials section on the USPTA website. This is a collection of documents and information in several categories, from interviews to operations.

The group also presents at the World Conference, and will continue to share at the division level. All it takes is a call, and most (if not all) of these professionals are ready to help. Please keep that in mind whenever you have a chance to chat with a Master Professional. While it is a great honor to become a Master Professional, you will rarely find a group more willing to help and share. h Pat Whitworth, left, is the tennis professional for the River Club in Suwanee, Ga. He is a past president of the USPTA Southern Division. Bob Love, right, has been a national clinician for the USTA and at USPTA conferences. He has made presentations in Spain and Egypt and has been a tennis teacher for 48 years.

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com 45

USPTA News

2016 USPTA Annual Awards Program Open for Nominations

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SPTA is now accepting nominations for its 2016 National Awards Program. As the leader in tennis-teacher education and certification, each year the USPTA honors members who are committed to excellence as tennis teachers and as ambassadors using tennis to impact people and communities.

This year the awards period has moved to a calendar year, and the nominating period has been moved up to accommodate the new schedule. The awards period for 2016 is from Jan. 1, 2015 - Dec. 31, 2015. All Professionallevel members are eligible. USPTA is accepting nominations until the Feb. 28 deadline. These changes were made to allow the Awards Committee more time to review applications and give award recipients more time to make travel arrangements to accept their awards in person. Recipients will be recognized during the USPTA World Conference, Sept. 25-29, at the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa in Indian Wells, Calif.

In addition, the USPTA will no longer recognize Players of the Year based off of USPTA player rankings.

Instead, winners of the USPTA Masters Invitational will be awarded during a ceremony after the completion of the tournament.

The Awards Committee voted to rename the College Coach of the Year award after Steve Wilkinson, a USPTA Hall of Fame inductee who retired in 2009 after 39 years as the head coach at Gustavus Adolphus College’s men’s tennis program, where he was the winningest coach in the history of men’s collegiate tennis with 923 victories.

Also new in 2016, nominations may be submitted via an online form along with supporting documents. Online forms can be accessed at uspta.com/ awards.

46 www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Jorge Capestany, 2015 Alex Gordon USPTA Professional of the Year

As the leader in tennis-teacher education and certification, each year the USPTA honors members who are committed to excellence as tennis teachers and as ambassadors using tennis to impact people and communities.

The awards categories are as follows:

• USPTA U30 Award

• Alex Gordon Award for Professional of the Year

• USPTA Diversity Award

• USPTA Stars • USPTA Industry Excellence Award • Steve Wilkinson College Coach of the Year • High School Coach of the Year • Tim Gullikson Touring Coach of the Year • George Bacso Tester of the Year • USPTA Lessons for Life™ Award

• Manager of the Year, Large and Small Facility Award nomination forms and guidelines are available at uspta.com/awards or by sending a request to pr@uspta.org.

Since changes have been made to some individual categories, as well as Division of the Year criteria, be sure to read the general rules and requirements for each award carefully. Also there are changes to the awards format at the conference, so please note that while all awards will be announced in writing at the conference, not all awards will be presented formally as they have in the past. h

USPTA News

USPTA Foundation Raises Goal for 2016

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he USPTA Foundation, Inc., completed its second year of operations awarding grants to needy tennis programs nationwide. In 2015, the Foundation selected 18 programs that support the mission statement “to help economically disadvantaged people learn tennis.” Programs include wheelchair, veterans of war, and inner city youth. Grants exceeding $32,000 were awarded to programs that have ­USPTA-certified members on the staff.

A’s and Aces, ACEing Autism, Harper for Kids, Mardy Fish Foundation, Milwaukee Tennis & Education Foundation, Tennis Success, Upstate NY Cerebral Palsy Down the Line, Serving for Success, and Tennis 4 Every 1 are just some of the programs your USPTA Foundation supported in 2015. If you are involved with a program that fits

the mission statement, please apply for a USPTA Foundation grant online at uspta.com/Foundation.

The Foundation is responsible for raising its own funds, primarily at the silent auction. The World Conference in New Orleans raised its highest total ever. Many divisions stepped up and added valuable prizes that helped generate nearly $20K for the foundation.

As we move into 2016, the foundation target operational budget is $50,000. This increased budget will allow your foundation to fund more programs across the country. Most of the budget is allocated to funding grants since the Board of Directors and committee members are all v­ olunteers.

How can each USPTA member help the foundation? You can make a tax-deductible contribution and join other USPTA members on the Foun dation Recognition ladder. h

USPTA Foundation Gift Recognition Ladder l l l l l

Platinum Donor = $2,500 and above Gold Donor = $1,000-$2,499 Silver Donor = $500 - $999 Bronze Donor = $250 - $499 Patron = $249 or below

Your generous donation will support programs that help economically disadvantaged people learn tennis. Please make your tax deductible check out to and mail to:

USPTA Foundation 3535 Briarpark Drive, Suite 202 Houston, TX 77042

USPTA Foundation Board of Directors: Warren Lem, Nancy Cox, Christin Thurston, Kristen Wilson & Pat Whitworth

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www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com 47

Endorsee News

Up Close & Personal: Q & A with Prince Brand Manager Miguel Rosa on Prince-USPTA Member Benefits

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rince regional Brand Manager Miguel Rosa is passionate about his job and the opportunity it brings for him to work directly with USPTA members.

Covering Florida and parts of the Caribbean gives him a large area to cover and plenty of opportunity to help edu­ SPTA members on the Prince cate U ­benefits.

“I honestly enjoy being able to meet and help the many diverse ­USPTA Professionals that live and work in my territory. Besides being able to help educate them on the Prince TeXtreme line, I also help promote the many terrific Prince benefits that are available to them through the USPTA,” said Rosa.

We had an opportunity to talk with Miguel and ask him a few questions about what he thought were the highlights of the Prince-USPTA r­ elationship.

Q: Does Prince provide special incentives or programs for USPTA members?

direct financial responsibility for their shops. Many members don’t know that Prince was the first major USPTA endorsee to contribute to the retirement plan.

Q: What do you believe is the top benefit that many USPTA members should take advantage of but perhaps are unaware of that Prince offers?

Q: Do USPTA members have the opportunity to access new Prince equipment ahead of the general market?

A: Without a doubt, the USPTA’s Retirement Gold+ Plan has to be the top benefit. It’s one I would take advantage of. Prince contributes 5 percent on the purchase of racquets and accessories, and 2.5 percent on both Tour and Play & Stay balls* to the USPTA’s Retirement Gold+ plan for any USPTA Professional who is a club shop owner or who has

A: Absolutely. At Prince we are committed to ensuring all players are always “fitted” for the optimum equipment for their game. I will hold demo days for any USPTA pro that requests one and provide the pros and their members an opportunity to test our TeXtreme line while educating them on the benefits of this breakthrough ­technology.

A: That is probably one of the most obvious benefits of the PrinceUSPTA partnership. We provide USPTA members access to several Team Prince equipment packages that are sure to fit every member’s needs. Additionally, we provide very competitive industry pricing to our USPTA members who would like to enhance their shop with the Prince TeXtreme line. The ­TeXtreme technology has been wildly successful and when I hold a Prince demo day, club members are always excited to experience firsthand the improvements that these new racquets actually make to their game.

Q: What would be one last feature of the Prince-USPTA partnership you would share?

A: I think many USPTA members are surprised when I share with them that Prince offers a Friends & Family program. What a great way to share their love of the game by giving USPTA pros’ friends and family access to some of their Prince- USPTA benefits! h * All USPTA Professionals may receive contributions to their Retirement Gold+ accounts for purchases of tennis balls.

For more information on the many Prince-USPTA benefits, contact your local Prince Brand Manager or visit the USPTA Prince page on the USPTA website at uspta.com/Prince.

48 www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Inside Coaching

Rainy-day Tennis on the Racquetball Courts

By Gerry Berkheimer, USPTA

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arly on in my career I added racquetball and squash to my list of sports just because they were related racquet sports and because I could get a racquet workout indoors on a rainy day. The obvious next step for me, since tennis was my main sport, was to play tennis on the racquetball courts on rainy days. I created some simple rules and began a long and productive journey to improve the tennis games for my clients on the racquetball courts.

The courts I access now are fullsize racquetball courts at our club and not just a couple short side walls and a front wall. The three-sided walls are fine in a pinch and will help warm up all the strokes, but they give you only a fraction of what the six-sided* courts can. Do what you can to find any available indoor or covered outdoor full courts and you will begin to see the improvement every time you and your clients/friends use the racquetball courts to play tennis. Have the clients pay for the indoor time or work a deal with the club that has the courts – the benefits will be worth it to both your adult and junior programs.

The six-sided racquetball court is about half the length of a tennis court and I use the first line up from the floor on the front wall as the “net.” All serves must hit above the first line on the front wall first, then may bounce off the floor or side walls. (I would not recommend serving and hitting the front wall then the back wall in the air). Once the serve is in play, you may hit any wall you like as long as the ball hits above the first line on the front wall during that sequence of shots. You may also use the back wall during the rally after the serve.

The benefits to tennis from the racquetball court are numerous:

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I tell my kids on rainy days that they are the only ones playing tennis today anywhere in the county because we are the only club with racquetball courts. If you have access to indoor racquetball courts, there are no rained-out tennis days.

1. Since the length is about half the distance of a tennis court and has a solid wall at that point, the player’s reaction time in preparation increases dramatically – I would say doubling in quickness would be safe. Keep in mind the floors are wood or another very fast surface so the player must respond faster to stay with the court, wall and hitting speeds. When the player goes out to a regular tennis court, the quickness in preparation shows immediately – the player preparing to hit the incoming ball is extremely early and waiting to address the ball as now he has twice the distance to get ready.

2. The enhanced reaction time in reading where the ball is being hit by the opponent also is valuable. As the player is in a smaller space on a racquetball court, he has to follow the ball much more quickly from various angles to make the shot. On the tennis court the player arrives earlier to the designated hitting point as he has a longer, straighter surface and more time to run to that particular shot.

3. Reaction time is also increased by the smaller six-sided court and its angles as opposed to watching a single linear ball path on a larger tennis court. Initially a player will miss many of the angles on a racquetball court as he is accustomed to linear training on a tennis court, but once that player has learned to respond to shots off several walls and seemingly an infinite number of possible angles in the shortest amounts of time, that player automatically becomes faster and believes he is faster when back with only the linear path on the tennis court.

(Note here that players will smack their racquets against the side and back walls until they adjust to the distance, then that problem virtually disappears. I would recommend using older or used racquets until they find their range. To date I have had no racquets broken on the racquetball court walls).

4. Playing tennis points on a racquetball court will improve fitness

rapidly. The rallies are significantly longer as players improve and learn the wall angles. We play games to 50, 75, or 100. I’ve had games to 75 with 30-50 shots on many points on the racquetball courts and this fitness, intensity, and focus will definitely carry over to the tennis courts. If the score is 75-60, you have played 135 points – 5 ½ “golden” sets or about three competitive sets. Playing this game to 75 takes about 45 minutes to one hour. That quick burst of speed needed to retrieve the ball on racquetball courts really helps on the quick first step needed at the tennis baseline and at the net as well.

I would only recommend two tennis players on the racquetball court when playing competitively, although after 35 years of using racquetball courts, I have had only two or three minor

ates and advanced players. The dead or well-used balls have the pace for the slower game and less experienced players while they get accustomed to the multi-walled court and speed of the surface. The new balls will boost the adrenalin levels of your best players by creating an extremely quick and often reflexive game of strokes and footwork.

Games are where the fun really begins. There is a game for the advanced kids where they have to call the shot they are going to make before they make it. Calling the shot in advance makes them think ahead. I include games where one player hits the most number of balls he can, then switches with one of several kids I have standing against the back wall. The highest number of hits wins. Another game is each player hits one ball and rotates to the back wall until it is his turn again. If a player wins 10 points, he wins the game.

I have seen such immediate improvements with my kids’ speed and reaction times from the racquetball courts to the tennis courts that I have considered going to the racquetball courts once or twice a week on ‘nice’ days and/or if I have extra kids or adults. injuries with three to eight juniors running around. The question of safety has come up often over the years and I recommend the racquetball safety glasses to concerned players; however, I do believe a unique self-preservation kicks in on close quarters of the racquetball court. I have had many more accidental injuries on the tennis court with colliding doubles partners, players misgauging incoming lobs, or getting hit by overheads than hitting one another on the racquetball court.

I also utilize the racquetball courts for individual shot improvement on serving, the serve and volley routine, groundstrokes, volleys, overheads, half-volleys, swing volleys, and drop shots. Even Bucharest Backfires and “tweeners” can be practiced on the racquetball court. Each shot can be honed individually then used in different sequences and combinations to reflect those same shot patterns on the tennis court.

Another point to consider is the type tennis ball to take on the racquetball court. It is here that I select almost dead tennis balls for beginners and advanced beginners and new balls for the fastest game with my intermedi-

The kids love the games and the number of games are up to your imagination.

I have seen such immediate improvements with my kids’ speed and reaction times from the racquetball courts to the tennis courts that I have considered going to the racquetball courts once or twice a week on “nice” days and/or if I have extra kids or adults. For the record you may use a squash court for these games and strokes too.

I tell my kids on rainy days that they are the only ones playing tennis today anywhere in the county because we are the only club with racquetball courts. If you have access to indoor racquetball courts, there are no rained-out tennis days. h * I include the floor as a side as it is so valuable in the training Gerry Berkheimer has been a U ­ SPTA member for more than 30 years. As a coach, he worked with more than 15 top 300 players in the world and one top 30 player. Berkheimer is in his 21st year as the tennis director at The Jungle Club in Vero Beach, Fla. To contact Berkheimer Photo by Brian Walters Photography regarding the article, call 772-321-7800.

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com 51

Beyond the Court

Trip of a Lifetime to the US Open “

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he vibrant atmosphere of the US Open was highlighted by the suite we enjoyed on the mezzanine level of Arthur Ashe Stadium,” Chuck Poteet recalls, “with great food and unbelievable seats to view the matches.”

He’s referring to the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity he and his wife Freda enjoyed at the US Open after winning the grand prize in the Tennis Thanks the Troops contest.

Tennis Thanks the Troops is a campaign organized by ThanksUSA, which since 2006 has provided more than $11 million in educational scholarships to the children and spouses of our servicemen and women. Awardees represent all military branches—Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, National Guard and Reserve—and come from each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Tennis Thanks the Troops campaign offers a reward to the club or pro that raises the most money: two tickets to the US Open along with airfare and lodging.

For the third year in a row, the grand prize trip was awarded to Berkeley Hills Country Club in Duluth, Ga. Tennis Director Todd Assini began his 2015 push by hosting a Memorial Day tennis mixer and

Chuck and Freda Poteet at the US Open, courtesy of Tennis Thanks the Troops.

concluded by hosting a Wimbledon viewing party and silent auction. “It is the least we can do for all those who sacrifice every day for our freedom,” he said.

The Poteets’ son from Berkeley Hills Country Club decided to turn the trip over to his mother, an avid tennis player for years. Freda, who plays in USTA, ALTA and league tennis in the Atlanta area, was able to turn a dream into reality during this astonishing trip. She was thrilled

Tennis Thanks the Troops provides “a trip of a lifetime that she and I will always remember.” “… the highlight would have to be the suite we e ­ njoyed on the mezzanine level of Arthur Ashe Stadium…”

54 www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

when Martina Hingis, her favorite player, and partner Sania Mirza continued their run by winning the US Open women’s doubles title without losing a set.

Chuck and Freda Poteet know the stresses military service can mean for families. Chuck’s father was in the military. He came of age on the heels of the Vietnam War and went into law enforcement in 1979, where he continues to be active today.

“This was a trip of a lifetime that she and I will always remember,” ­Poteet said. “I think your [Tennis Thanks the Troops] campaign does great things for the families of our service men and women, and I appreciate any organization that recognizes the sacrifices made by so few to protect so many.” h ThanksUSA in partnership with the ­USPTA continues to support scholarships for military families. To join our team, visit www.ThanksUSA.org.

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March 11 Rochester, N.Y. March 12-13 Boca Raton, Fla. March 12-13 Huntington Beach, Calif.

March 12-13 Rye, N.H. March 15 Jackson, Miss.

March 18 Nichols Hills, Okla.

Paradise Valley, Ariz.

March 19-20 Columbus, Ohio March 20 March 24 Minneapolis March 25-26 Houston* April 9-10 Aurora, Ill. Orlando, Fla. April 9-10 April 10-11 Lakewood, Calif.

Present challenges in

running a tennis complex Fernando Velasco March 10

TBD Craig O’Shannessy

Watch all 2015 recorded webinars at youtube.com/ user/TheUSPTA. For more information visit uspta.com/ Education>Education Calendar.

Cardio Tennis Feb. 21

Cardio Tennis Training Course Shipyard Racquet Club, Hilton Head Island, S.C.

* 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.

Please visit www.cardiotennistraining.com to register.

Feb. 18

USPTA Texas Convention Horseshoe Bay, Texas Feb. 19 USPTA Southwest Convention Phoenix Feb. 19 USPTA California Convention Los Angeles Feb. 25 USPTA Missouri Valley Convention Kansas City, Kan. March 4-5 USPTA Mid-Atlantic Convention Rockville, Md. March 6 USPTA San Diego Convention La Jolla, Calif.

April 24-25 USPTA Eastern Convention Chatham, N.Y. May 1-2 USPTA New England Convention Norwich, Conn.

May 12-14 USPTA Southern Convention Atlanta May 15 USPTA Hawaii Convention Honolulu

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.

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.

58 www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Education requirements All USPTA-certified Professionals must earn 6 education credits in a three-year period to remain current. Go to USPTA.com/Education for a partial list of eligible activities. Please send verification (email, letter, certificate, receipt, etc.) that shows you attended the event/activity and submit it along with the date and agenda to education@uspta.org to receive your credit. (International members, Recreational Coaches and those over the age of 65 are exempt.) ­Questions? Write to education@uspta.org or call 800-877-8248, ext. 147.

Member News • On Aug. 22, a Pro/Am Tournament was held on Williams Island, North Miami, Fla., to assist a fellow USPTA member, Antony Emerson. Emerson, the son of legendary Roy Emerson, was diagnosed with brain, lung and liver cancer in 2015. His friends led a team of volunteers to organize and facilitate the event. A record number of pros and amateurs were on hand for an exciting competition, all sporting “Go Emmo” T-shirts and wristbands.

Those who did not play were still included in the day’s festivities as participants partook of a benefit lunch and silent auction, all making for a very successful fundraiser. Emerson is receiving treatment at home in California with his family and friends. If you would like to contribute to his ongoing battle, a site has been set up for him: www. gofundme.com/AntonyEmerson • Lane Evans, Director of Tennis & Wellness at Champion Hills Club in Hendersonville, N.C., had a busy November giving and helping others. After receiving the 2015 USPTA Industry Excellence Award, which came with a $1,000 grant and a new Tennis Tutor ball machine package valued at around $3,000, Evans decided to go on a little giving spree. He first gave the $1,000 grant to the tennis program at West Henderson High School where the money will go toward court resurfacing or other team needs. Evans then went to the Methodist University Professional Tennis Management program in Fayetteville, N.C., for his next phase of giving. “They had an old broken down ball machine that was being held together with spit and scotch tape so I decided the next gift should go to them,” Evans said. Finally, he had one more item of giving business to attend to. Annually, he spearheads a food drive to help the Hendersonville Rescue Mission. Through the tennis and fitness programs as well as Champion Hills Club member generosity, many hundreds of pounds of food have been collected and donated over the years for the mission.

• Four USPTA members were named 2014-15 Wilson/ITA Coaches of the Year at the awards banquet during the ITA Coaches Convention in Naples, Fla., in December: Mark Goldin, NAIA Women’s Coach of the Year, Cardinal Stritch University; Hendrick Bode, NCAA Division II Men’s Coach of the Year, Hawaii Pacific University; David T. Porter, NCAA Division II Women’s Coach of the Year, BYU-Hawaii; and Kelly Stahlhuth, NCAA Division III Women’s Coach of the Year, Washington University in St. Louis.

ADDvantage magazine editorial offices USPTA World Headquarters 3535 Briarpark Drive, Suite 202 Houston, TX 77042 Phone – 713-978-7782 / 800-USPTA-4U Fax – 713-358-7794 email – magazine@uspta.org

60 www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Managing editor Circulation

Kimberly Forrester Kathy Buchanan

Office hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Central time ADDvantage is published monthly by the United States Professional Tennis Association.

• Art Thomson (February 10, 1947 – December 19, 2015), lost his battle of over four years to ALS. ALS robbed him of his ability to walk and talk and thus removed him from the sport of tennis in September of 2013. Thomson, a Colorado native, competed for George Washington High School. Graduating from the University of Colorado-Boulder at No. 1 singles position, he finished third in the Big 8 Conference. He captured the 1981 Colorado State Open singles title at age 34 and holds three major Colorado open doubles titles – two Denver City Open crowns (1971 and 1972) and one Intermountain Championships (1973). He was runner up at the Denver City Open twice (1970 and 1973). Over a 30 year period, Thomson was named USPTA Intermountain Player of the Year in various age brackets, between 35 – 65. Thomson amassed 23 “triple titles” (singles, doubles and mixed) as well as numerous individual singles and doubles titles. In 1993, Thomson was named USPTA National 45 and Over Singles Player of the Year.

In 2014, he was a Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame inductee. During his 50+ years as a USPTA Elite Professional, he worked at Arapahoe Tennis Club, Mount Vernon Country Club, Vail Racquet Club and was owner/director for Loves Acre in Colorado. Thomson has shared his love and passion for the game of tennis with countless students. He is survived by his wife and tennis partner, Laura (also a USPTA Professional), two stepsons, Garth (Katie), Marc (Britta), and grandchildren, Sophie and Cooper Miles.

NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS President First Vice President

Chuck Gill Gary Trost

Vice Presidents

Past President CEO Legal Counsel

Alan Cutler Feisal Hassan Ken McAllister Jack Michalko Diane Selke

TM

Tom McGraw John Embree George Parnell

The opinions expressed in ADDvantage are those of the authors and not necessarily those of ADDvantage or the USPTA. Copyright© United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc. 2016. All rights reserved.

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