Addvantage 2019 April

April 2019

2018 Wilson USPTA Pro of the Year Christopher Trizzino holding the Wilson Clash racquet

USPTA FROM THE CEO

COURTS OF DREAMS as a quasi “anchor tenant” to a sports and innovation hub, the growth that is occurring in the area is truly mindboggling. As a result, I thought it would be interesting for you, especially those who have yet to visit us, to get a glimpse of the projects that are in progress.

Adjacent to the USTA National Campus is the construction of a 300 room, five-star resort hotel. This performance hotel will cater specifically to the athlete and their needs during competition. As part of this project, a fifteen-acre crystal lagoon is also being developed that will be stunning! Please see the renderings that accompany this article. And, right across the street from our HQ, retention pools are being built in order to support the infrastructure of that crystal lagoon.

By the way, there will be a total 1,300 hotel rooms on-line in the Lake Nona area by the end of 2021.

Just to the south of the USTA Florida building (our neighbor), the Lake Nona Academy is about to

#1 John R. Embree USPTA CEO

F

or those of you who are movie buffs, you recall the classic film, “Field of Dreams” with Kevin Costner. From it came one of the iconic phrases that is now part of our everyday lexicon: “build it and they will come.” Clearly in the case of Lake Nona, that is indeed what is happening.

According to Tavistock, Lake Nona is now the fourth fastest growing community in the United States. With the USTA National Campus serving

#2

break ground for opening in September 2021. For kids K-12, this private school will enroll up to 1,500 children when it is fully occupied. And they will be building a variety of athletic fields just to the west of USTA FL and USPTA buildings.

The USTA has worked out a land swap with Tavistock for 5 acres of property right next to our parking lot. Tentative plans call for a multi-sport facility to be constructed that could include an additional indoor building along with much needed office space with flexibility to host a myriad of events.

The KPMG Worldwide Learning and Innovation Center has been under construction for the better part of a year already. This monster 800,000 sq. foot facility on 55+ acres at a projected cost of $400 million is located ½ mile from the National Campus and will include an upscale restaurant and hotel facilities. KPMG is the fourth largest accounting and

#3

#4

Adjacent to the USTA National Campus is the construction of a 300 room, five-star resort hotel.

42 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine — April 2019

USPTA financial services company in the world.

When completed at the end of this year, KPMG will bring in 1,000 visitors per week for training. Over 330 jobs will be created when the doors open.

Amazon opened a fulfillment center just on the outskirts of Lake Nona by the airport. 1,500 full time jobs were established in an 850,000 sq. ft. facility.

Johnson and Johnson just opened in late January their state of the art, Human Performance Institute in Medical City near the Town Center. I have not seen it yet but I hear it is impressive. It boasts 50,000 sq. feet of corporate wellness and personal development.

Speaking of the Town Center, Phase II of the buildout has begun. Eventually, when Phase III is completed, there will be 3.8 million square feet of entertainment, restaurants, retail, etc. But for now, Phase II is intended to add 1 million sq. ft. to the existing space and is scheduled for opening late in 2021. This will be such an exciting hub for the community to congregate, socialize, shop, dine and relax. Included in the plans is a 16-story upscale hotel (see the rendering enclosed).

An interesting concept has just opened right outside the Town

#5 #6 #7

#8

We are fortunate to be here at the very beginning of what is becoming a spectacular community.

Center called Boxi Park. Using recycled ocean-going containers, Boxi Park is home to a doggie park, beach volleyball, plus the opportunity to sample different foods (lobster rolls, hamburgers, tacos, etc.) prepared in these containers/ kitchens. People will be able to stroll around the park and enjoy a variety of cuisine.

When the USPTA decided to relocate to Lake Nona, none of this was in the works. No one had any idea that so much would be developed around us.

I have been living here now for a little less than 2. 5 years and I continue to be amazed at our good fortune

Lake Nona is now the fourth fastest growing community in the United States.

for being here, both personally and professionally. It is my firm belief that had the USPTA not made this bold move to leave Houston, it would have been the biggest mistake in the history of our association.

As I write this, the NCAA Division I Team and Individual Championships are just around the corner in mid-May. The top eight Men’s and Women’s teams will compete over 10 days to seek that elusive NCAA title. The USPTA, in conjunction with USTA Player Development, will be hosting 2 mornings of education for the coaches who will be attending. And it never would have happened had we not been collaborating with USTA to do something different around this event.

This is just one example of the many joint events we have been doing with the USTA: more to come.

Yes, the Field of Dreams in Iowa is now the Courts of Dreams in Lake Nona. Until you come here, it is hard to fathom what is happening. Once you see it, you will understand why this is the tennis epicenter in the USA. We are fortunate to be here at the very beginning of what is becoming a spectacular community- it already is!

If you build it, they will come…….and they are!*

April 2019 — USPTA ADDvantage Magazine - 43

USPTA

USPTA VICE PRESIDENT MESSAGE

THE HEART OF THE MATTER

by Bill Mountford, USPTA Vice President

T

he following is not the Vice President’s Message that I had expected to share this month, but circumstances are such that USPTA members deserve explanations about the status of the agreement with the USTA regarding accreditation.

For more than a year, USPTA has touted the merits of the USTA’s involvement to raise coaching standards in the US. The USTA, as the national governing body, determined that accreditation was necessary to assure an influx of qualified professional coaches. This status would be granted to any organization that met their strict and expansive criteria. USPTA was fully accredited recently and is the only organization to earn this status. It seemed like a fruitful, mutually beneficial “partnership” (a description that has been used frequently). Unfortunately, the progress has been delayed.

Each party had one threshold point that has defined this long negotiation.

Somewhat unrelated to actually raising the standards for coaches, the USTA was determined to include mandatory Safe Play training and background checks for any applicant or member of an accredited organization. In seeing

the scandals that have transpired lately with other governing bodies, the USTA is determined to make tennis a safer sport. USPTA is the only organization positioned to support the USTA’s desire to be compliant with this initiative. The USPTA remains fully committed to supporting this Safe Play training and a background check mandate as long as the USTA would similarly support the one deal point essential to a trade association for coaches and teaching professionals.

For the USPTA, the threshold point to this agreement has always been how the accreditation scheme would affect the employment market.

If this agreement does not lead to better professional opportunities for members, then it will remain unfinished. It was determined that the best way the USTA could actually affect the job market would be to require all the USTA’s member organizations to strictly employ current members of an accredited coaching body. Status as a member organization entitles a facility to host USTA sanctioned tournaments. It does not encompass all facilities in the US, which would be ideal, but it includes many large and influential ones. However, the member orgs should know that the USPTA and USTA will be prepared to deliver exciting benefits for those facilities that comply.

When the job market becomes influenced by this accreditation, then membership to the USPTA would matter as never before. The impact upon hiring practices would be significant, so our trade association would be able to support the USPTA membership in the most tangible way: with job opportunities. The USTA would get better quality control of American coaches and teaching professionals and would also have all USPTA members Safe Play trained and background checked.

In January, the USTA’s Chief

46 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine — April 2019

Executive Officer and Chief Executive of the National Campus, Gordon Smith and Kurt Kamperman respectively, attended our USPTA Board meeting so that we could hash out final details. When they presented our agreement to the new USTA Board of Directors, some additional questions arose. The USTA did not feel ready to take this final step at that time. Shortly thereafter, the USPTA Board was informed that the USTA was not prepared to enforce these higher standards for ALL member organizations with tennis courts so a compromise was reached that would impact those member organizations with four or more courts (approximately 1,600 throughout the US). Subsequent to this compromise, further explorations are occurring.

USPTA has consistently demonstrated willingness, including two years of good faith negotiations, to accept the USTA requirements for accreditation. USPTA has been entirely compliant, despite an erosion of nearly 10 percent of the membership base due to these rising standards and expectations. No other organization showed any such commitment. USPTA has made a series of compromises to move this deal along, yet the one thing which was always most important to us has been temporarily put on hold until all segments of the USTA can embrace it.

Presuming that the USTA and USPTA can finalize this crucial detail regarding the accreditation agreement, our sport - and our trade association will be in a better place. While I wish that this monthly update included a specific start date and confirmation of a signed agreement between the USPTA and USTA, a status report was appropriate to keep our USPTA membership informed.

Your Board of Directors will maintain our transparency and keep you updated as this progresses.*

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MASTER PRO CORNER

THE TENNIS TEACHING PROFESSIONAL IN 2025 W

Alan Cutler

USPTA Master Professional Alan Cutler is one of the only dual master professionals (USPTA and RPT) that also holds two specialist degrees (computer and competitive player development). He taught tennis in municipalities, leased facilities, resorts, HOA’s and has held many levels of positions from teaching professional to president. He has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in computer science.

Jose Pastrello

USPTA Elite Professional Jose Pastrello was born and raised in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He moved to the United States in 2001 to attend college in Florida under a tennis scholarship. Jose has been an active figure in tennis in Southwest Florida. He is currently the director of racquet sports at Quail Creek Country Club, where he is responsible for all the Tennis, Pickleball and Bocce operations at the club.

hat will a tennis professional look like in 2025? What skills will they need? Who will their employers be and what will set them apart from the other sports professionals? Understanding where the industry is now and considering the following ideas might just assist you in positioning your career for 2025.

The game of tennis has evolved, and we have become a lot smarter about data, performance, trends, tactics, etc. So, what is necessary for tennis professionals to be competitive in the market in 2025?

Off-court Skills

One thing for sure -- technology has and will continue to change the way we do business. Being agile and adaptable technologically is going to be a critical skill. In general, technology makes major changes about every five years, which means that before 2025, we can expect at least one major change. The tools we use now are likely to be upgraded, improved or totally replaced by 2025. It is best to understand the purpose of each piece of technology (both hardware and software) rather than become dependent on the tool itself.

Data collection from all aspects of the business will allow tennis managers to make decisions based on facts instead of intuition. Report generation will be point and click with the ability to select specific information and information you wish to see. All of that will be in real time, meaning data will be current right now!

How we communicate to clients and employees will take many forms. Email and some form of social media will still be present. But, This is one of the more likely places for changes to occur. The tennis professional must be quick to adapt to whatever tools become available.

48 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine — April 2019

On-court Skills

The tennis professional of 2025 will have a clear understanding of biomechanics and fitness. The general population in the world now expect a lot more from fitness as it is seen as a way of living. Learning how to develop fitness programs that fit your clientele is becoming more essential that it has ever before. It will have to vary in ages and skill levels, but being injury free is necessary.

On-court technology has been long in coming to the average tennis pro.

Shot radar is becoming more common.

Additional smart court features will be a selling point for any facility. More than just playing, but having your shot select tracked, depth location and statics available could be a huge teaching tool.

And the more features available, the more attractive the facility.

It will be interesting how new coach’s education will be delivered to teaching professionals. On-demand education is already being developed and delivered.

Virtual reality coaches training will be the next step. This will allow the coach being trained to really feel what the trainer is seeing, just like if it was them giving the lesson or instruction.

In today’s game, a coach will find smart courts, radar, distance tracker, shot location, height and speed of a shot, video and internet capabilities, etc. In 2025, there will most probably be more.

Smart courts

Teaching courts will be smart with not only the ability to measure speed, but also track locations of where the student contacted the ball as well as where it bounced. These courts will also have video capacities that can be seen on the internet. Courts will be retrofitted with

MASTER PRO CORNER

Photo Credit: PlaySight

On-court technology has been long in coming to the average tennis pro. above-ground technology to monitor all kinds of different aspects of a student’s performance and automatically generate reports and statistics that a student and coach can discuss as part of their lesson. These tools will be another selling point of what a coach can provide the student along with video of the hitting session for the lesson. Also because of these capabilities, a student can send match video to the coach for evaluation.

Delivery of said education will come in many forms including life and on-demand presentations. Who will employ the tennis professional in 2025?

Country Clubs

It is unlikely the number of country clubs will increase over the next 10 years. At best, the numbers of tennis professionals employed at country clubs is likely to be flat or slightly down. This is based on population changes as well as real estate values.

Commercial Clubs

There may be an increase of tennis professionals employed by commercial clubs. The population would have shifted with a majority of young working families which will be heavily

targeted by these employers. In many ways, commercial clubs can provide high-quality leisure and recreational instruction.

Gated Communities & Home Owner’s Associations (HOA)

This category of employers is likely to increase and compete for the recreational and leisure activity dollars.

Local communities within cities are starting to provide options for leisure and recreational activities for varying age groups. The facilities are built with the idea of a complete lifestyle and will address the needs of each family member. Tennis, swimming pools, gyms, Pickleball, golf courses, green belts/parks are just a few facility offerings with approximately a onecourt (tennis court/pool) per 100 homes ratio. In the western United States, this is quickly becoming the norm, but this concept has also been adapted all over the country.

Cities, Counties & Leased Facilities

Cities, counties and governmentfunded facilities have stagnated.

Where cities once built multiple small and specialized facilities, the current

trend is now to build one large, multipurpose facility. These facilities are mostly funded by bonds or additional taxes. Remembering that cities are not in the business of making money but providing recreational services to its citizens, sometimes it is cheaper for cities to lease these facilities to private companies rather than run them.

Geography will also be a factor. The north and east coasts will probably continue to be dominated by country clubs and municipalities. The southeast coast will most likely see a reduction of country clubs and an increase of gated communities and HOAs. The midwest will likely have less country clubs, more commercial club, municipalities and some HOA-gated communities.

And in the west coast, there is likely to be far fewer country clubs, more municipalities and a lot more HOA/ Gated Communities.

As tennis professionals, it is best to continue to be proactive with your own professional career development.

Attending educational offerings, local and national conferences keeps us aware of trends, products, tools and methods as we continue to look forward to what a tennis-teaching professional might look like in 2025.*

April 2019 — USPTA ADDvantage Magazine - 49

Our Story A passionate company with unique history

Led by founder Jim Fromuth and CEO Pat Shields, we are a tennis wholesale distributor based in West Lawn, PA. We first opened our doors nearly 50 years ago. The Fromuth Family liked and played the game of tennis, so they bought a stringing machine and had a few tennis frames to sell in the shop. In the late 1970s, tennis began to be televised and business took a different direction. Fromuth Tennis was born. As the tennis industry grew, so did our selection of racquets, strings and apparel. We began helping small pro shops get the product they needed to boost their own business.

Then & Now CEO Pat Shields and Founder Jim Fromuth

Today, we have a 25,000 sq. ft. warehouse. On a busy day in August, UPS trucks are lined up outside waiting to load more than 800 packages. Although bigger, we are still a family-owned operation with more than 70 employees who share a passionate drive for tennis and helping our customers.

USTA National Campus Pro Shop

Since 2006

Fromuth is the Official Distributor of Nike Footwear and Apparel to the USPTA

We lead all operations including staffing, merchandising and stringing services at the USTA National Campus Pro Shop. This 2,800 sq. ft. store in the Welcome Center of USTA National Campus features the newest product releases from top tennis brands such as Nike, adidas, Babolat, HEAD and Wilson, as well as unique National Campus memorabilia.

For more then 10 years we have provided Nike product to USPTA members. We are proud of our relationship with an exclusive community of tennis-teaching professionals and coaches promoting excellence in the tennis industry. USPTA members receive a 30 percent discount off retail prices when purchasing Nike goods through Fromuth.

The Official Distributor of Nike Footwear & Apparel to the USPTA.

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COURT TECHNOLOGY PLAYSIGHT FEATURE

USPTA

Why Using Video Can Make You A Better Tennis Player

by Josh Graves, Head of Sales, Racquet Sports at PlaySight

W

e have heard the stories of Steph Curry and Kobe Bryant spending hours and hours after practice in the film room. We see quarterbacks on the sidelines reviewing video during the game immediately after a scoring drive to better understand the defense’s weaknesses and understand what worked and didn’t. We see golfers analyze their swing meticulously with video technology to see how they can get that extra percentage point of improvement. We see video-review used in the World Cup and professional leagues around the world to ensure officiating is as accurate as possible.

So why aren’t we using video and analytics in the tennis world more often to improve the level and enjoyment of our sport?

There appear to be two main reasons holding back the integration of video into the sport of tennis, especially compared to basketball, football, soccer and other sports: 1. Technology is still relatively new, and it’s taking time to integrate it with tennis facilities, academies and clubs, and to develop proper business models that justify the investment.

2. Figuring out how technology fits in alongside tried-and-true “old school” coaching methods.

PlaySight is working on developing the ideal solution for tennis facilities, academies and clubs to solve both of these issues.

Let’s start with the point number two: “old school” coaching. PlaySight

has developed features and products that are meant to only add to, not take away from, any existing teaching methodologies. Let’s say you’re working on mental and physical toughness with a player. The drill is a 2-on-1, running the one player side-to-side for 10 minutes, playing “out” balls with no break. How could technology help in this situation?

When the player appears tired after five minutes and the coach tells them to keep their chest up, and the player responds “it is!,” what’s better than showing them on video at the end of the practice how they were slumped over, looking dejected and tired after five minutes of the drill, and telling them that when they play a long point in the match, they can’t let that happen.

This is just one example of how the “new school” PlaySight system can fit in with old school drills and teaching methodology. Now, let’s say you

want to get more analytical – the next time you do the drill, you can keep track of exactly what percent of the player’s balls went into the court, or how many balls she or he hit deep, or how the speed of the player’s shots changed over the course of the practice. The possibilities are endless, but it all starts with simple video review.

With regards to the first point of integration and investment, PlaySight now has a full product suite – the SmartCourt PRO, PLAY, and LIVE – available at different price points and with specific features and functionality for different types of tennis facilities, pros and ultimately players. From video lessons to monetizing tournament live streaming and match recordings to increasing member engagement, tennis facilities all over the world are adding direct and indirect new revenue streams through technology.*

April 2019 — USPTA ADDvantage Magazine - 51

USPTA USPTA HAWAII DIVISION HIGHLIGHT

Decades of service to Hawaii’s tennis community

by Tommy Cardinal, USPTA Communications

F

rom teaching on an air force base to coaching for a unique high school athletic program to starting his own club, Ty Aki has had many unique ventures in his decades of teaching in Hawaii.

Aki is a USPTA professional who currently teaches women’s tennis at Chaminade University of Honolulu and is the tennis instructor at The Pacific Club in Honolulu. Aki has a long history as a tennis-teaching professional.

Perhaps his most unique venture as a teacher is when he teaches at the Hickam Air Force Base in Honolulu.

Aki heads to the air force base to teach service members tennis either as a

recreational activity or to just stay in shape.

“A lot of these clients were regular service military personnel who were getting back from Afghanistan. Some of them had post-traumatic stress disorder,” Aki said. “Some of them had minor injuries, but they were trying to get themselves physically back in shape so they could go back out and provide the service that they do to keep America going. It’s the character of that person that I certainly enjoy working with.”

Aki fell in love with tennis at a similar venue. His father was a service member, and Aki first picked up a racquet at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, a U.S. military facility outside of Aberdeen, Maryland. He would hit against a wall and get tips from service members passing by. Eventually, his brother became his hitting partner.

“On the proving ground is where I picked up the game as a summer program,” Aki said. “I just picked a racquet up and just hit off the wall.

During that, people walking by would tell me how to correct this and that.

Before long, I picked up a lot of

tips.”

Hitting with his brother made them both better, and his brother went on

52 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine — April 2019

to play racquetball while Aki stuck to tennis. Eventually, Aki would pick up a different racquet sport.

Paddle tennis is a skill that Aki teaches at The Pacific Club. He teaches young players the game of paddle tennis and said it’s a sort of training for regular tennis.

“These paddle courts are small enough to start people with paddle and then eventually switch them to big tennis,” Aki said. “You know how the USTA has the small court thing, QuickStart? We were already doing QuickStart with the kids on the paddle courts. When they got better, usually around 12 years old, we would switch them onto the big courts.”

Aki was also the tennis instructor for high schoolers in a unique athletic program. He was the boy’s and girl’s tennis coach for Pac-5, an athletic program incorporated from smaller schools which allow student athletes to compete in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu (ILH). Aki became the tennis coach for the Pac-5 when the school he was currently the tennis coach and P.E. instructor for joined the Pac-5.

“For him it was a transition, but I think he probably had an allegiance to the program,” Pac-5 Athletic Director Peter Estomago said. “He had an allegiance to the kids. He was coaching at University Laboratory School, and when it became a part of the Pac-5, it was a name change, that’s all it was.”

To give some perspective, Pac5 member University Laboratory School’s senior class in 2018 consisted of 48 students according to the Hawaii Department of Education. Compare

USPTA

that to a school that the Pac-5 program competes with in the ILH such as ‘Iolani School, which had 219 seniors in 2018 according to ‘Iolani communications.

Estomago said that coaches in the Pac-5 face challenges that a typical high school coach don’t.

“The program for Pac-5 is really unique in the sense that we don’t have any facilities. We’re not a school,” Estomago said. “It was really difficult for our coaches, no matter what the sport was, to get our student athletes together at the same time to start practice. It was a challenge for Aki as a coach.

But understanding the program, he remained with us for a while.”

Estomago said that schools joining the program not only gives students the opportunity to play against larger programs, but the smaller schools that join the conference are able to save money by avoiding uniform, facility and coaching expenses.

Matthew Westmoreland was one of Aki’s students who benefited from Pac5’s unique program. He attended Island Pacific Academy in high school and was a student of Aki’s. Playing under the Pac-5, Westmoreland was able to play alongside other students who attended small schools and compete against larger

programs like Punahou School and ‘Iolani.

“I thought that was great that the association would allow us to all play together,” Westmoreland said. “So at least we could compete and have that experience. And Aki did a great job of being able to connect all the players from different schools. We had a good team bond even though none of us ever saw each other in school or anything.”

When you teach tennis for 29 years, one of your students is bound to follow in your shoes. For Aki, one of those students was Westmoreland. He went on to play at Texas A&M, earning the second-most singles wins all time at the university. He then became a coach at Saviano High Performance Tennis in Plantation, Fla. before relocating back to Corpus Christi. At the time of writing this article, he was in the process of moving back to Texas with job interviews lined up. Westmoreland said Aki’s infectious attitude helped him stay motivated during his high school playing years.

“He always had a positive spirit,” Westmoreland said. “What stood out is that he was a great motivator and always had a great attitude to everyone on the team. I remember that about him the

most. Always laughing, always a great attitude.”

Aki said the most rewarding part of his job teaching tennis is giving students the opportunity to use tennis as an avenue to higher education and a stable career.

“That’s kind of what I was looking at when I was doing Pac-5, was ‘how can I get these kids good enough so they can play in college?’,” Aki said.

Speaking of higher education, Aki is currently working on his doctorate in 3D Virtual Learning. Aki is using the program to build three-dimensional models where forensic students can implement their knowledge from the classroom.

“I provide this virtual space where students can go in and become forensic investigators,” Aki said. “They can go inside and virtually solve these crimes.

Now, serving as the women’s head tennis coach at Chaminade University of Honolulu, Aki helps students succeed on the court and in the classroom at that higher level.

“I get so much enjoyment seeing some of these kids move on to become doctors, some are now looking at going into law,” Aki said. “I can’t even describe it with the word rewarding. It’s a different feeling.”*

April 2019 — USPTA ADDvantage Magazine - 53

Photo Credit: Chaminade University Athletics

Ty Aki talks to a student athlete from Chaminade University. Aki has more than 20 years of tennis-teaching experience in Hawaii.

USPTA NETKNACKS

love your logo

by Darlene Jefferson, Director of NetKnacks

H

ere at NetKnacks, we have focused on providing tennis awards, apparel, and promotional items to the tennis industry since 1990. Like you, we are tennis players, tennis fans and supporters of the mission to grow the sport. Quite simply, we love tennis.

Our mission is to help our customers find the right tennis award, apparel or promotional item to promote their events and programs so that they, too, can spread the love of tennis.

Will matching jackets with your team’s logo help you win more points?

Probably not.

Will club logo engraved stainless steel tumblers help your team get to the Sectional Championships?

Not so sure.

Will beautifully embroidered gear bags give your team the push they need to FINALLY win a Line 4 match?

Doubtful.

But, will having coordinated hats, pullovers, water bottles, bag tags, duffles, and even koozies with your

club’s logo instill a sense of pride in your team? Absolutely. Will that confidence spill over onto the court? Absolutely.

No matter how serious your team, whether you have a “just to get some fresh air” group of 2.5s or a trophy collecting championship dynasty, having a cohesive look is always a smart idea. You’ll come to the court with a little more swagger and feel more “official.”

Let’s begin with apparel. Show your pride by having your club logo added to any number of wearable items.

Whether your logo is embroidered or screen printed on your athletic shirts, pullovers, tanks, dresses, T-shirts, etc., we guarantee you’ll love the way you look!

Now, let’s think about club gear. This takes us beyond shirts and jackets. Why not give your team branded drawstring bags to hold all those random wristbands, dampeners and wine corks you keep with you? They have the best imprint areas for you to show off your team logo, and are generally great value items. Custom vibration dampeners die cut to your club’s logo definitely have that “ooh, that’s cool” effect. And,

54 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine — April 2019

any list of logoed items wouldn’t be complete without water bottles and tumblers. From budget-friendly plastic bottles to double wall insulated stainless steel tumblers (for your “special” beverages) to a super awesome water bottle with an integrated bluetooth speaker, branded drinkware pieces are fantastic team gifts.

Speaking of team gifts, branded merchandise can also be used as rewards.

Here are some great ideas: • Give away custom bag tags at the end of each year.

• Special towels or lapel pins for the captains.

• Premium apparel pieces, customized team branded jackets and for end-of-year awards: most improved player, best overall player, best McEnroe tirade, etc.

We are just scratching the surface here with ideas. In fact, we are full of ideas and want to share them with you! Go ahead and reach out to us and together we will figure out the best way to coordinate and reward your club players with branded merchandise.

NetKnacks has been serving up custom branded tennis products and awards since 1990, so rest assured, we’ve seen it all (yes, even the water bottle bluetooth speaker).

Our team of promotional product experts is waiting to help your team look its best on and off the court. We love tennis. It’s all we do! Visit us at netknacks.com*

MULTIMEDIA HIGHLIGHT

USPTA

The Value of Hiring a USPTA Professional E

ach year, the USPTA Multimedia Department consisting of Video Production Manager John Gerard and Video Specialist Rico Edwards produce commercials geared towards generating awareness of the USPTA for TC. For 2019, their focus is to communicate to players & facilities the value of hiring USPTA certified professionals.

“When you are looking to hire a tennis coach, you want to make sure they are educated and qualified at the highest level,” said Gerard. “That describes a USPTA tennis-teaching professional and the central message of this campaign is that if you are looking to hire a tennis coach, make sure that instructor is USPTA-certified.”

The four videos for the “Is Your Pro USPTA Certified Campaign” include “Get Wheelchair Certified, “The 2019 USPTA Leadership Academy”, “Mother Knows Best”, and the “You Wouldn’t

USPTA Multimedia Department filming the Mother Knows Best commericial.

Hire a Doctor Who Isn’t Certified.” The “Mother Knows Best” video, directed

by Edwards, tells a story of a daughter taking a lesson with a USPTA-certified professional and recalls the lesson with her mother.

“The overall message for the “Mother Knows Best” video is that we want you

to hire a USPTA Professional for your family,” said Edwards. “We highlighted the difference of hiring a USPTA professional inside the commercial by showing how much fun a student would have and the level of knowledge that is being taught by a USPTA Professional.”*

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April 2019 — USPTA ADDvantage Magazine - 55

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56 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine — April 2019

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A R O U N D T H E U S P TA MEMBER GALLERY

USPTA

USPTA Certification Experience with Universal Tennis Academy, Atlanta with National Head Tester Sid Newcomb and Southern Division Tester; Allan Jensen

USPTA Pro Kirk Anderson at the Wisconsin High School Tennis Coaches Association Winter clinic.

USPTA Intermountain President Andy Zodin ( front, third from left) poses with the 2018 Intermountain Award recipients during a reception at the Rock Bottom Brewery in Lone Tree, Colorado.

USPTA Certification Experience with Universal Tennis Academy, Atlanta with National Head Tester Sid Newcomb ( front) and Southern Division Tester Allan Jensen (second from right).

USPTA Pro Matt Previdi (right) with his high school partner at the San Diego Division High School Pro-Am, sponsored by the U30 committee.

National Head Tester Sid Newcomb (top, second from left) and testers Bunny Bruning (top left), Kent Womack (top, fourth from left) and Lane Evans (top right) testing new applicants at the Missouri Valley Division Conference.

USPTA Pros Randy Ortwein, Rosie Garza, Brenda Niemeyer headed to see USPTA Pro Stan Oley present his specialty course Teaching Advanced Stroke Production.

USPTA Pros Greg Patton, Scott Borowiak, and Dick Gould at the USPTA NorCal Division Convention in Palo Alto.

April 2019 — USPTA ADDvantage Magazine - 57

PADEL

2019 CertiÞcation Calendar TRAINING THE TRAINERS

All Racquet Sports presents the AFP Academy powered by adidas padel program that trains

professionals to improve and perfect their knowledge and teaching methods. The certiÞcationÕs methodology pushes professionals to complete padel training in technical, tactical, bio-mechanical & physical areas of the sport.

• • • • •

2019 LEVEL 1 CERTIFICATION DATES:

MARCH 21-22:

MAY 2-3:

JUNE 15-16:

JULY 18-19:

SEPTEMBER 19-20:

Houston, TX @ REAL TURF USA

Lowell, AK @ Matrix Racquet Club Orlando, FL

Central, PA

Lowell, AK @ Matrix Racquet Club

CONTENT:

• • • •

1

PROGRAM

2

DAYS

Methodology to start students in padel and build their commitment and motivation.

Analysis of shots, movements and bio-mechanical performance.

Fundamentals in both Tactical & Physical areas including movement identiÞcation and structural adjustments.

Communication Skills to teach and explain the training method.

CERTIFICATION INCLUDES: $300 Value of equipment & beneÞts. Including adidas padel racquet, adidas hat and bag tag

15

HOURS

7.5 USPTA credits

MASTER CERTIFIED TEACHING INSTRUCTOR:

SIGN-UP NOW • $799

Lifetime

OPPORTUNTY

includes registration fees

To reserve your certiÞcation course, please contact: membership@uspta.org Questions about the course, please contact marcos@allracquetsports.com

Marcos del Pilar

All Racquet Sports USA

In partnership with: TM

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Exams, Upgrades & PTCA 4 Credits for PTCA I Segment Exams, Upgrades & PTCA Apr. 5 .................................. Rochester, NY Apr. 5 – 6....................................... Laie, HI Apr. 5 – 6...............................Gulfpost, MS Apr. 6 .............................. Cottonwood, AZ Apr. 6 – 7....................................Aurora, IL Apr. 6 – 7........................... Vancouver, WA Apr. 6 – 7................................... Azusa, CA Apr. 7................................ Midlothian, VA Apr. 8 – 9................................ Orlando, FL Apr. 13 – 14.............................. Naples, FL Apr. 13 – 14..................... Johns Creek, GA Apr. 17 – 18................................. Tyler, TX Apr. 19 ................................. Harrison, NY Apr. 26 –27............. Huntington Beach, CA May. 3 ................................Rye Brook, NY May. 3 ................................ Falmouth, ME May. 4............................... Des Moines, IA May. 11 ............................ Chula Vista, CA May. 11 – 12...................... Boca Raton, FL May. 13 – 14 .................. San Francisco, CA May. 14 – 15 ....................... Las Vegas, NV May. 16 – 17 .......................... Phoenix, AZ May. 17........................ Overland Park, KS May. 17...................................... Exton, PA May. 17 – 18.................... Montgomery, TX May. 18.............................. Big Rapids, MI May. 18 ............................. Eau Claire, WI May. 18 – 19........................... Raleigh, NC May. 19 .............................. St. Louis, MO May. 19 ............................ Brentwood, TN May. 25 – 26....................... Columbus, GA May. 26 – 27 ......................... Burbank, CA May. 31................ Palm Beach Gardens, FL May. 31 – June 1 .................. Kirkland, WA Exam reservations must be made at least 21 days prior to the dates listed. Each date includes an exam, upgrade. PTCA I is included in the two day exam. 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.

USPTA LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

The USPTA Leadership Academy is laser focused coaching on key tennis industry leadership principles. Led by USPTA members Feisal Hassan, Ajay Pant, Sara Morse and Jose Pastrello, the leadership academy will use case studies, selfassessments and best practices and behaviors. Additional topics to build a strong leadership base will include time management, communication

Online education

USPTA

2019 USPTA Division Conference Schedule Division Conferences - 6 Credits May 3 – 5............................... Eastern Division Doral Arrowhead; Rye Brook, NY

May 3 – 5...................... New England Division Foreside Fitness and Tennis Center; Falmouth, ME

May 16 - 18......................... Southern Division Watch webinars, seminars, On Court with USPTA episodes, specialty courses and much more on TennisResources.com to earn your education credits.

North Hill Country Club; Raleigh, NC

May 17 - 19 ....................... Southwest Division Grand Canyon University; Phoenix , AZ

May 30 - June 2.......................Florida Division PGA National; Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Platform Tennis Apr. 21 ........................ Certification Course Stamford, CT

May 31 - June 1...... Pacific Northwest Division Central Park Tennis Club; Kirkland , WA

Aug. 15 - 16..........................Midwest Division Western Southern Open; Cincinnati, OH

Sept. 23 – 27 ...........USPTA World Conference Westgate Las Vegas; Las Vegas, NV

July. 18 – 19 ................ Certification Course Sheraton Austin Georgetown Hotel; Austin, TX

Sept. 28 – 29 ............... Certification Course

USPTA World Conference; Las Vegas, NV

Nov. 15 – 16 ................ Certification Course

WHEELCHAIR Tennis April 12 – 13 ............................... San Juan, PR May 30 – 31 .................................. Orlando, FL June. 26 ........................................ Wichita, KS Oct. 24 – 25 .................................. Orlando, FL

Atlanta, GA

Cardio Tennis Oct. 12....................Level 1 Training Course Midtown Athletic Club; Palatine, IL Nov. 9......................Level 1 Training Course Methodist University; Fayetteville, NC

IPTPA Pickleball Certification Workshop

May. 19......................................... Raleigh, NC May. 25......................... Yorktown Heights, NY June. 2 .......................Palm Beach Gardens, FL Sept. 22......................................Las Vegas, NV

skills, customer service, team building, budgets and HR issues. This is a very interactive course that will involve group participation utilizing group projects and exercises within each training module.

All sessions will be held at USPTA World Headquarters in Lake Nona, Florida.

Information and Location: • Dates: April 12-14 • Location: USPTA Headquarters, Orlando, FL • Cost: $499 • Education credits: up to 15 education credits 6 credits + up to 9 credits for the education sessions.

April 2019 — USPTA ADDvantage Magazine - 59

MEMBER NEWS

Mark Pachtner

Miko Caruk

Jack Foster

Cari Buck

Mark Pachtner, director of racquet sports at Troon Country Club coordinated the 9th Annual Tennis Fun Day event in Scottsdale, Arizona, which attracted more than 250 participants this year. Prior to his tenure at Troon Country Club, Pachtner developed Fun Day events with the local chapters of the Special Olympics in Georgia, Florida and California since 1999. Tennis Fun Day is a well-established fundraiser for the Special Olympics Arizona, raising over $18K at this year’s event. Since inception, a total amount of over $153k has been donated with a total of over 1,000 athletes and 2,400 volunteers participating.

Miko Caruk joined The ELW Tennis Pro Team from Wichita Falls, TX where he earned his master’s degree in Sports Administration. Originally from Warsaw, Poland, he started playing tennis at a very early age and played through high school. His parents decided to move the family to the United States so he could continue his education and pursue a career in tennis.

Miko graduated from the University of Montana and moved to Wichita Falls, Texas and began coaching the men’s tennis team at Midwestern State University. In the past, Miko has developed both tennis and pickleball programs while enjoying coaching adult and junior tennis programs/ tournaments.

Jack Foster will be inducted into The Latin American International Sports Hall of Fame. Foster, a native Laredoan, is a certified United States Professional Tennis Association professional since 1991. He was named the USPTA National Star in 2005, USPTA Texas division tester of the year in 2010 and 2012 and he has served on the USPTA National committees for Education, Conference, Awards and Diversity and Inclusion. In his long and impressive career, Foster is presently Director of Tennis for FCCA, a subdivision of Sugar land, Texas, a tester for potential teaching pros and serves on committees for various organizations. Foster remains an active on-court teaching professional.

Cari Buck has joined the World Team Tennis family as the new General Manager for the San Diego Aviators. The Aviators will return to the Omni La Costa Resort and Spa July 14 – August 2 for their 2019 season. Buck has held numerous other positions throughout all areas of the tennis industry including the director of marketing and communications for the USTA Southern California Section, teaching pro/tennis director (in Massachusetts, Florida, Hawaii and California), inside sales for a tennis apparel company, etc. You can follow Cari and the team this summer at www. sandiegoaviators.com.

NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS President...................................................................... Gary Trost First Vice President................................................. Feisal Hassan Vice Presidents..........................................Cari Buck, Mark Faber,

Trish Faulkner, Bill Mountford, Richard Slivocka

Immediate Past President.............................................Chuck Gill CEO...........................................................................John Embree Legal Counsel........................................................George Parnell

ADDVANTAGE MAGAZINE Editor.............................................................................John Cornell Managing Editor ................................................... DeVonte’ Martin Layout/Design........................................................... Gustavo Reyes Editorial Assistance.......................... Tommy Cardinal, Risa Epstein, Ramona Husaru, Fred Viancos, Circulation................................................................ Trevor Trudelle USPTA World Headquarters 11961 Performance Dr. Orlando, FL 32827

60 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine — April 2019

ADDvantage is published monthly by the USPTA The opinions expressed in ADDvantage are those of the authors and not necessarily those of ADDvantage or the United States Professional Tennis Association.

Copyright© United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc. 2019. All rights reserved.

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