ADDvantage June 2019

June 2019

USPTA FROM THE CEO

OUR VALUED PARTNERS John R. Embree USPTA CEO

I

t has been some time since I chatted in my column with our members about our endorsees. They play an incredibly valuable role in our association and the contribution that they make to us corporately and to the individual members is noteworthy.

There is not enough space in my article to delve into the many details of what each brings to the table, so I will only be able to hit on the highlights. If you think this is going to be a commercial message, you are correct.

Wilson - Our largest and most important contributor, the big “W” continues to be a leader globally in the racquet sports arena. With the launch of the new Clash

racquet, they have developed a cuttingedge technology that was three years in development. While I have yet to hit with it, the reviews are superlative. It has been several years since a new racquet technology has come out that will truly make a difference in how people play.

The Ultra Ball has now been out for a little over two years. I personally love the product and won’t play with anything else.

Unfortunately, the ball has not gotten the kind of traction that I had hoped when it was first introduced. I highly encourage that you give it a try. It now has updated packaging and you will be pleased with how it performs on any court surface. Also, don’t forget all the accessories and Under 10 equipment that Wilson has included as a part of our endorsement.

Nike/Fromuth- No company does

a better job in customer service than Fromuth Tennis. In my many years in the industry, they have always outshined everyone when it comes to taking care of their customers, our members. As our longest standing partner, we may be taking for granted the great work that they do on our behalf. They deserve more of everyone’s attention. With summer

USPTA Vice President Cari Buck with Wilson U.S. Grassroots and Promotions Manager - Racquet Sports Cy Dofitas.

36 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine — June 2019

around the corner, it makes sense for you to look your best with the latest Nike outfits and to stock your shops with Nike footwear and apparel.

10-S Tennis Supply and Aer-Flo

Whether you have windscreens that need to be replaced, new nets to be installed for your upcoming season or court equipment to be updated, 10-S Tennis Supply is your “go-to” supplier. Even if you are in the western half of the U.S., 10-S Tennis Supply will take care of whatever you need. The Six Star Net is the “official tennis net” of the USPTA, so why go to any other source for this product?

Har-Tru - Boy, they have just introduced

a cool new technology for managing the water flow on a hydra court that will dramatically improve the consistency of the moisture on your clay courts. You ought to check it out. Meanwhile, Har-Tru manufactures quality hoppers, teaching carts and mowers that will make your job as a teaching pro so much easier. They are more than just a material company for clay courts.

Metaltek/Playmate - Is there anyone

in the industry who is more enthusiastic about our game or who works harder than Stan Oley? I suspect a good deal of you have seen Stan give a presentation at various division or World Conferences.

His on-court expertise with the ball machines is outstanding. We often forget how effective training sessions/lessons can be when a Playmate ball machine is used. Why stand on the other side of the net feeding your students when you can be positioned right next to them and communicating more effectively? Give Stan a call so he can help you become more effective plying your trade.

USPTA SportMaster - is the “official”

court surface of the USPTA. Over a year ago, SportMaster rolled out a program called Fix-A-Court to incentivize USPTA pros to repair the hard courts at their clubs. Whether it be for a full-size tennis court or

reefs in the ocean. Caribbean-Sol does not contain this harmful chemical. And now, they are offering USPTA members a 25 percent discount on all purchases and have recently launched a USPTA member only website! Visit csoluspta. com for more information.

CEO James Fromuth and staff at the 2018 Tennis Teachers Conference in New York.

U10 tennis courts, basketball courts, pickleball courts, etc., SportMaster will pay pros for any referrals that they receive to do this work. If the referrals turn into completed projects, that stipend actually doubles in value.

For example, if you have six hard courts and SportMaster does the preliminary evaluation, plus ends up doing the contract work (thanks to your involvement), the check would be for $600. Before your peak programs crank up, you would be smart to call SportMaster about fixing up your hard courts and get rewarded for doing so.

Caribbean-Sol - The toll that the

sun takes on our professionals and consumers alike is alarming. We must raise the awareness to all players about the importance of using sunscreen.

And because Caribbean-Sol uses only natural ingredients, it is by far the most environmentally safe sunscreen in the industry. In fact, the assembly in the state of Florida has recently introduced a bill to ban all sunscreen products that use Oxybenzone which damages coral

NetKnacks - Every pro needs

promotional items and trophies for tournaments or club events. As a division of Pinnacle Promotions, one of the largest specialty product companies in the U.S., NetKnacks can procure just about anything you could possibly want- you just have to ask. I realize that many of you may well have relationships with local suppliers- I respect that. Nonetheless, I ask that you give NetKnacks a try for any event that you have upcoming; they deserve our business.

Summer is here. As the season kicks into high gear, we owe it to our endorsees to get behind each of these categories.

And don’t forget: each will contribute to a Supplemental Savings Account based on your volume of purchases. Why are you leaving money on the table that can help with your retirement down the road?

If I can answer any questions that you have about the brands with whom we have partnered with, don’t hesitate to contact me. Thanks for your support of the USPTA and of our friends who believe in what you do and the impact that you have in the marketplace. *

June 2019 — USPTA ADDvantage Magazine - 37

USPTA

CLASH IS CONFIDENCE ON-COURT CONFIDENCE IS ABOVE ALL ELSE. CLASH INSTILLS THAT CONFIDENCE WITH A PLAYING EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER. THE ONLY WAY TO FIND OUT? TRY IT.

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USPTA PAST PRESIDENT MESSAGE

THE PRO OF THE FUTURE

by Chuck Gill, USPTA Immediate Past President

W

hen I started my term as USPTA President in 2016, I took a stab at predicting what the future of the tennis industry ( and the teaching professional) would be like in 2020. As with most predictions I make, there were a few misses but most were pretty accurate.

Social programming, tennis as exercise, more technology and increased need for education have been realized. As I enter the proverbial “home stretch” of my time on the board, it seems that it would be time again to look forward and see what the future might hold for the tennis profession in the years ahead. So here’s a prediction to what USPTA 2025 will look like.

Education

The single biggest change will be how the profession will need and DEMAND a more qualified and educated professional. The next generation of USPTA members will be required to have exponentially more hours of oncourt experience, classroom learning, and training under an experienced and respected mentor. Asking for 12 hours of documented education credits was a good start, but the pro of the future is going to need so much more in order to

grow the game, and most importantly, grow their business. The education of the future pros will need to be as diverse as the jobs themselves. Our members work with all ages and abilities, as well as the all important new players.

Expect more education about how to make tennis fun for entry level playersthat is the future of growing the game.

Regarding education, expect to see more and more education online! With society becoming more and more “time constrained,” pros are going to have less time to travel and take time away from their work and families.

Bringing education to them at a place they want, at a time they want is the future.

Job Market

of the tennis director becoming more of a “play facilitator” and not just the person that runs instructional programs. Expect to see more emphasis ( and financial rewards) for pros that grow tennis with active social play programs as well as fix your serve.

Who better to help develop and add value to entry-level leagues and social play than the professional? Many professionals need to see the bigger

If tennis is to improve its place as the “sport of choice” for tomorrow’s consumers, expect the standards of the job market to become higher.

Formal training to become Safe Play compliant for anyone who teaches a sport will become the norm.

Everyone has seen the news and tragic stories of how things can occur when employers are asleep at the Expect more emphasis on entry-level wheel and fail to have accountability play. when hiring staff! Regarding hiring practices, expect more employees picture…or the “play pathway” that can and fewer contractors. Recent labor help a new player become a frequent rulings have made it clearer who and player, not a professional “lesson taker.” what legally constitutes an employee Going back to education, expect more vs an independent contractor. Future emphasis on entry-level play, large employers will need to review their group lessons, and helping players see hiring practices and be compliant or the FUN and FITNESS aspects that risk serious consequences. Discussions tennis offers. have already started on how to ensure As I come to the end of my term on that the next generation of tennis the national board of directors, I would professionals can be the best possible like the thank the national staff who candidates to deliver our sport, and work tirelessly on our members behalf hand in hand with that effort is making as well as the incredible group of board sure that employers support higher and executive committee members who standards by hiring the best! give of their time each year to provide programs at the national and division Growing the game levels. It’s been quite the experience and At a recent workshop in USPTA serving our membership has been and Southern, I spoke briefly on the role honor and a pleasure!*

40 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine — June 2019

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MASTER PRO CORNER

3D DATA WEIGH IN ON PRO TOSSING Plagenhoef, Ariel went on to invent the first 3D motion analysis system on a PC available to coaches and athletes: The Ariel Performance Analysis

THE BALL WHEN SERVING. Plagenhoef’s data shows most of the accomplished players were letting the ball drop 15 inches or less to Figure 2

James R. Shaughnessy USPTA Master Pro

T

he first tennis book inclusive of tennis biomechanics, “The Fundamentals of Tennis” was authored by Stanley Plagenhoef, Ph.D., in 1970. The book gives some quantified data on the strokes of many legends from the 1950s and 60s, (e.g.

Pancho Gonzales, Rod Laver and Roy Emerson) from live match play.

Olympic athlete Gideon Ariel studied with Plagenhoef and advanced to earn Ph.D.'s in both exercise science and computer science, and to win the International Society of Sports Biomechanics most prestigious lifetime achievement award.

During his career, employing his expertise in computer science coupled with the skills learned from

System (APAS).

And as Dr. Ariel later became my own mentor in 1989, his pioneering work has inspired my own work over the past 3 decades in tennis and in 3D motion analysis.

The goal has been to develop teaching systems designed to collect, process and employ live 3D data at every level that will be beneficial to tennis coaches and players.

Most recently, we have analyzed a topic, contentious since the inception of tennis – HOW HIGH TO TOSS Figure 1

42 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine — June 2019

impact. Employing the use of APAS technology, we analyzed and can share some revealing data we have collected and processed from players contemporary to Dr. Plagenhoef’s collection.(see table on the left Fig. 1) Utilizing the SCiO 3D Sports Library we studied 20 first-serves from tour matches that were aces or winners from seven male players who have been ranked No. 1 on the ATP tour, won Grand Slams, won Master’s 1000 events or served 149 mph. Also studied were serves with the same criteria on fifteen serves from 88 contemporary players from the WTA. (see table above Fig. 2) In the SCiO Lab we ran statistics on racquet tip velocities, the distance of ball drops to impact, vertical ball velocity and outgoing ball velocity on the contemporary players and their tosses. Anatomically there is a 4.5-inch significant difference in the average height of male vs female players (p<.05). Therefore, we broke the data into a male and female group for analysis.

MASTER PRO CORNER There was a significant difference in the average drop of toss from the ball’s peak height to contact between elite men and women professionals (p<.001). It followed that we should look for the advantage or disadvantage of the toss difference.

One argument I often hear when coaches tell players to toss higher is, “the player isn’t contacting the ball high enough”.

The data in this study showed, however, that, there is no correlation between the height of the toss and the height of ball-racquet contact in the men’s group, the women’s group or in combined grouping.

The take away is that tossing the ball higher does not mean the player will impact the ball higher.

Another argument I hear for tossing higher is that “you will get more power on your serve.” (See my article in Tennis Industry Sept/Oct 2018 page 48, “A New Direction for Racquet Head Speed” for an explanation on the misuse of the word power).

Coaches tend to use two reasons for insisting higher ball tosses give more ball speed toward the target. First, the ball is coming down faster and it will go out faster. Second, the higher toss will give more time to load the body.

Research at the SCiO lab at Racquet and Health 91 in Tulsa state shows there to be no correlation between higher tosses and outgoing forward ball velocity.

Another commonly heard argument for tossing higher is that the player will get more topspin. There are two alleged reasons. First, it is alleged that the increased downward velocity of the ball will cause it to scrape against the strings faster creating more topspin.

Second, that there is more time to load the body which causes increased ability to swing up stronger with the racquet and thus get more topspin.

The first reason alleges you will get more topspin by tossing the ball

higher and therefore, tacitly concludes that tossing higher is productive.

In further reflection one might question, however, why one would want topspin. Topspin is productive for consistency. Topspin curves the ball downward. Topspin gives a player a larger window over the net in which to be successful and topspin in most cases causes a trickier bounce. The greater downward velocity on the ball created by a higher toss theoretically gets a little more topspin on the ball.

But, should we consider the trade-offs required to get this small amount of extra topspin? As an example, let’s compare a serve by Dinara Safina and Venus Williams.

Safina’s toss drops 58 inches to contact. Venus’s drops 16. Safina’s ball arrives at impact going down 12.01mph while Venus’s is going 6.4 mph. Depending on the strings and the overall coefficient of friction, Safina might gain a little topspin here. What is the price? Safina’s toss must travel 6.5 feet farther than Venus’s. If we assume the racquet has a nine-inch vertical area in which the players can meet the ball on the string bed, the ball will be in this region 79 milliseconds for Venus compared to 42 milliseconds for Safina. That puts the ball in Venus’s strike zone almost two times longer.

To check the validity of the second reason, we checked the upward velocity of the racquet tip which is correlated with topspin on serve in other research. We found no correlation between toss height and upward racquet tip velocity. Since the

purpose of the high toss is to allow one to better load the body than a low toss, and the purpose of loading the body, is to swing the racquet swiftly upward, and the racquet is not swinging more swiftly upward, the argument that a higher toss better loads the body fails.

From our data we were able to confidently determine a strong correlation of success when male and female professional players impact the ball at 1.5 times their height (p<.001).

And comparing our two charts, we see the lion’s share of Grand Slam Championships are won by players whose ball tosses drop a maximum of 20 inches.

In conclusion, our study using data from Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Pancho Gonzales, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson Serena Williams and Maureen Connolly has shown agreement that tossing higher will not facilitate hitting the ball towards your target with more speed.

Tossing higher will not give you an advantage in upward racquet velocity to cause greater topspin. Even though small gains of additional topspin due to friction will occur when tossing much higher, it will cost you increased exposure to wind, require you to be very accurate with a riskier and larger toss distance and cause a need for your timing to be substantially more precise to make solid contact. There are other kinesiological advantages to tossing lower not discussed. However, when it comes to the toss, historic and contemporary 3D data reveals less is more.*

James R. Shaughnessy MSS, CSCS, is a USPTA Master Pro specializing in the application of sports biomechanics to elite tennis players training at Tucker Tennis Academy a USTA Regional Training Center Racquet and Health 91 located in Tulsa. He is an award-winning professional with 30 years of experience as a speaker, researcher, analyst and consultant in tennis biomechanics, 3D motion analysis and computerized exercise prescriptions. He is the founder of SCiO 3D Sports. Special thanks to Hank and Molly Pellegrini who make this work possible.

June 2019 — USPTA ADDvantage Magazine - 43

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INSIDE COACHING My Top Ten Tips to Tennis Parents

by Marianne Werdel, USPTA Elite Professional

I

look at this next young generation of upcoming tennis players with mixed emotions. The excitement of knowing what they will experience and the heartache of knowing what they will experience is unnerving for a parent. Some of my very best memories of life are from junior tennis. By competing at a young age, I was able to travel the world, interact and build relationships with players from different countries, experience hands-on how to deal with tough competition and, yes, most of all, the high of winning tennis matches.

It was exhilarating and I loved every second of it. However, it was also one of the toughest times for my parents, my family and myself.

We all know as parents, parenting isn’t an easy task if you are parenting an elite athlete, especially one in an individual sport like tennis. It is safe to say that the children who are able to walk on a tennis court by themselves, perform in front of family, peers, strangers, agents and recruiters, make all the strategic decisions by instinct and then the kicker… to deal with you, the parent when they come off the court, that is difficult. Yeah, you didn’t tell them all of that when you talked them into their first tennis lesson did you? This takes a unique child. I can honestly say, there is nothing normal about teenagers in the first place, let alone one that has chosen to pursue sports. Get ready for a bumpy ride, because kids can be hell on wheels to raise!

So here are my “Top Ten Tips For Tennis Parents” from Marianne Werdel, the 14-year-old girl who was ranked No. 1 in the country, fiercely independent, intensely competitive, cunningly smart, somewhat (or very) precocious, driven and

determined to be the best:

#1

#3

I AM A TEENAGER.

Please remember I am a teenager.

I have a teenage brain. I will make teenage mistakes. I have teenage wants and needs. I want to go to the beach, the movies, the mall and to just hang out with friends. I see everything and everyone on the sidelines and I can do this all while I am playing a match. It is called multi-tasking and I hear it is a much-needed skill later in life. When I get into high school, I want to go to the football games and dances and yes, I want to stay to the end, even if I have an 8 a.m. practice. And by the way, does it have to be 8 a.m. every Saturday morning? Oh, and when you are thinking about letting me travel in a group to coed tournaments, please don’t think back to what you wanted to do as a teenager because as athletes, we would never ever do any of that. No, never.

#2

DON'T MICROMANAGE ME.

I want to organize my own practices, sign up for my own tournaments, manage my own homework, write my own essays, etc. Managing all these things will help me with all the moving pieces I juggle on the tennis court. Believe it or not, I am capable of setting my own alarm, packing my own suitcase and responding verbally to adults. Now, that doesn’t mean that I will always get up on time, pack all the right stuff and not embarrass you with what comes out of my mouth. But hey, I am a teenager and we can only learn from our mistakes, right?

HIRE GOOD COACHES AND LET THEM COACH.

Help me find good coaches that work well with ME. And then, let them coach.

Let them do their job so you don’t have to do it. And by the way, I need a tough coach. I am a tough personality and need an equally strong person to be in charge. I need someone to teach me, push me to my limits, enforce the boundaries, hold me accountable to my goals, teach me discipline with my shot selection (good luck with that one), correct my mistakes and to be there for me when things aren’t going well (believe me, things will get ugly now and then).

#4

I NEED A BREAK FROM TENNIS.

Please don’t talk about tennis all the time. The same way you don’t want me checking Instagram at the dinner table.

I don’t want to hear a play-by-play from my match or practice at the dinner table. Also, please let me take one day off a week, not just on a rare southern California rain day. My body and my brain need a break. I actually play better after a day off and chances are, I will have fewer injuries. Oh, and a day off means “a day OFF”. Not a bucket (or five) of serves, or a workout, or a run, or reading a tennis book, or watching tennis on TV, etc. You get the picture.

June 2019 — USPTA ADDvantage Magazine - 45

USPTA INSIDE COACHING

#5

I AM THE ONLY ONE ON THE COURT.

Nothing is more annoying than hearing you say, “WE did this and WE did that.” Last I saw it was “me, myself and I” out on that court. Funny that when I don’t do well it is always, “you didn’t do this, you didn’t do that”. And the way you talk to people about “our” match as if “we” played and “I” am not standing right next to you.

#6

DON’T INTERFERE WHEN I AM ON THE

COURT.

It is my job to handle things on the tennis court. This is my playground, my sanctuary and my place with my peeps. I don’t need you to correct the score or correct my opponent’s line call, or my line call, or try and tell me what to do from the bleachers. Let me handle it. I GOT THIS! Even if I don’t always get it right. I need to learn how to do it myself. Call me crazy but chances are I may even have more experience at this than you do.

#7

MY TENNIS IS NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN LIFE.

I know my tennis can be all consuming but remember that our family is most important. Trouble starts when my tennis takes over. You see, I know this (I am smart) and I will manipulate you all day long with it. Yes, I know when I can get away with everything because I won my last tournament and an even bigger one is around the corner. By the way, rumor has it that I will also need a good education, some social skills along with other interests to make it through life. Just so ya know!

#8 THERE.

I KNOW IT CAN BE HARD TO WATCH ME OUT

Well, not really. I am a teenager and my world is rather myopic. It is all about me, myself and I. You have to

wait until I am a parent myself for me to truly appreciate the hell you go through driving all over the place and waiting endlessly at tournaments. Just to watch me compete, choke matches, get crushed and behave like an imbecile all the while my tennis expenses siphon your bank accounts dry. Having fun yet?

#9

SOMETIMES TO LOVE ME, YOU MUST LET ME LOSE.

I need to play all the tough tournaments, all the tough opponents and in the tough conditions. Manipulating my schedule, avoiding competition and playing the Werdel (right) with her student, Nicole Mossmer. system won’t help me in the long run. You don’t want to sweat and tears into the preparation. see me struggle any more than I have No one knows better than I do how to, but please make me earn my way. badly I messed up and chances are I will be stronger in the end. I’m sure no one wants to win more than I do. that when I lose or behave badly on the Remember that I am a teenager, who court, it’s embarrassing to you. Please needs a parent. You can always hire tell me “no” and teach me what is coaches, but I only have one mom and acceptable and unacceptable behavior. dad. When I come off the court after I might say hurtful things to you but a tough match, I don’t always need a trust me when I say I am immature and coach, or nutritionist, or trainer, or trying to avoid the tough life lessons sports psychologist—I just need a mom that competitive tennis teaches me. and a dad to give me a hug and let me know that losing isn’t the end of the world.

BE A PARENT FIRST. Be the parent we run toward for Please don’t bombard me with all the support after a tough match, not the things I did wrong as I come off the parent we run away from in tears. We court from a match. I was the one out won’t promise you it will be easy, but there after all and I put all the blood, hopefully, it will be worth it!*

#10

Marianne Werdel is a former professional tennis player on the WTA Tour and an All American at Stanford University. As a junior player, she won 19 USTA Junior Championships, and as a student-athlete at Stanford, she was an All American and a member of the 1986 NCAA National Championship team. She went on to enjoy an 11-year tour career from 1986 to 1997. During that time, she reached a career-high ranking of #21 in singles and #29 in doubles.

46 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine — June 2019

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U S P TA W O R L D C O N F E R E N C E 2 0 1 9 EXPERIENCE THE PREMIER TENNIS EDUCATION EVENT OF THE YEAR The 2019 USPTA World Conference will make its triumphant return to Las Vegas September 23-27 at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino. The USPTA World Conference is the world’s largest gathering of tennis professionals, industry leaders and representatives, manufacturers, wholesalers and media. In addition to the educational offerings, USPTA hosts its board and Executive Committee meetings, evening parties, industry meetings, awards presentation, and more. Register now for the early bird registration price of $349.99 before September 1. After the deadline, the price for the full four days is $399.99. Day passes for the World Conference will be $175 and non-members will be able to purchase tickets to the conference for $449.99.

FEATURED SPEAKERS PHOTO CREDIT: ROBERT LABERGE/GETTY

MARIANNE WERDEL

Former Top 50 WTA Pro

GIL REYES

Former Strength and Conditioning Coach for Andre Agassi

DEBBIE GRAHAM SHAFFER

Former Top 30 WTA Tour Player

CRAIG O’SHANNESSY

Strategy Analyst for Novak Djokovic

TO REGISTER VISIT USPTAWC.COM 48 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine — June 2019

LEARN FROM THE BEST 0VER 30 TENNIS PROFESSIONALS From Craig O’Shannessy to Emma Doyle, attendees will be able to learn from some of the best and brightest minds in the tennis industry during the four-day conference. Attendees will be able to participate in roundtable discussions, oncourt seminars, classroom settings and panel discussions.

Q&A WITH ANDRE AGASSI

LEARN THE ROLE OF COACHING FROM A GRAND SLAM CHAMPION Along with the 30+ speakers scheduled to present, the USPTA is proud to have eight-time Singles Grand Slam Champion Andre Agassi to present during the World Conference. Andre will present on the role of coaching during his session and bring a wealth of knowledge that attendees can take back to their respective careers.

RECOGNIZING OUR MEMBERS

AWARDS LUNCHEON

During the Awards Luncheon, the association will recognize those deserving professionals who are growing the game of tennis. The Awards luncheon will take place on Wednesday, September 25 at 12 p.m. The 2019 Awards Program recognizes accomplishments of USPTA members during 2018.

TO REGISTER VISIT USPTAWC.COM June 2019 — USPTA ADDvantage Magazine - 49

EXPERIENCE THE TENNIS INDUSTRY

MERCHANDISE AND TRADE SHOW RETURNS

The USPTA Merchandise and Trade Show will be held on Monday, September 23 from 5 p.m.9 p.m. The show features exhibitors that sell tennis equipment, apparel and footwear, video analysis, web-based programs and software, teaching aids, court surfacing and lighting, awards, educational materials, nutrition bars and vitamins, etc. It is a great opportunity for attendees to network with hundreds of tennisteaching professionals, club managers, industry experts and pro shop buyers around the country and the world.

BOOTH & ADMISSION PRICING BOOTH PRICING:

• $1,195 – Includes: One 8’ x 10’ booth with a 6’ table, two chairs, wastebasket, pipe and drape, WiFi • Two full-conference admission passes • Listing in Merchandise and Trade Show directory • 15% discount on advertising in the conference program

CONFERENCE ADMISSION:

• Full registration $399.99 • One-day pass $175 • Non-member pass $449.99 • Early-bird registration $349.99

MORE INFORMATION LOCATION:

Westgate Las Vegas 3000 Paradise Road Las Vegas, NV 89109

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact DeVonte’ Martin at devonte.martin@uspta.org or call 407-634-3061

TO REGISTER VISIT USPTAWC.COM 50 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine — June 2019

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USPTA USTA ACCREDITATION FAQ

uSTA Accreditation FAQ W

ith the USPTA receiving USTA Full Accreditation status earlier this year, we have had many inquiries about what the USTA Accreditation Program means to the USPTA, tennisteaching professionals in general, PTM programs and facilities that hire USPTAcertified coaches. We have compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions for this issue of ADDvantage Magazine concerning the USTA Accreditation process and the new certification pathway.

What is the USTA Accreditation Program?

The USTA Accreditation Program is focused on raising the standards for the way in which tennis is delivered in the U.S. Recognizing that certified teaching pros deliver the majority of tennis programs in the U.S., one of the goals of the accreditation program is to increase the quality and quantity of certified teaching professionals in this country.

The program is administered by the USTA Accreditation Review Committee (ARC). This independent group was established for the primary purposes of: (1) supporting continuous improvement of the tennis professional certification programs offered by accredited organizations; (2) contributing to the uniformity of the U.S. tennis teaching profession by increasing conformity to general minimum expectations for tennis professional coaching quality by certified professionals working in the United States; (3) improving certified tennis professional preparation and continuing education practices; and (4) elevating the status of certified U.S. tennis professionals in the U.S. workforce to better meet the needs of employers, tennis players and the public.

How did the USPTA receive USTA Accreditation?

After almost a year of having provisional accreditation, the USPTA provided further documentation of our capabilities to the ARC which included a comprehensive self-study. After reviewing the self-study and conducting a site visit, the ARC voted to approve the USPTA’s application and grant the Association full accreditation in January 2019. The accreditation status exists for a period of three years, making USPTA the first and, to date, only fully-accredited tennis-teaching certification association in the United States.

What does USPTA receiving USTA accreditation mean to USPTA pros and the facilities that hire USPTA tennisteaching professionals?

Clubs and facilities that hire certified tennis-teaching professionals from USPTA (as a fully accredited organization) will receive a host of benefits. USPTA’s full accreditation provides, among other benefits, the following: • USPTA-certified tennis professionals and the facilities they work at will receive priority listing on the USTA Net Generation Coaches Search website.

• Co-branded promotions to the public and employers that hire tennisteaching professionals will highlight the new standards and detail how certified pros from an accredited organization will be Safe Play compliant and background checked.

It will be provided at no cost to the individual clubs or pros • USPTA division conferences and the World Conferences will offer reduced

52 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine — June 2019

fees for first-time attendees & new members.

• USPTA professionals will enjoy access to an array of online education via the new platform that will be hosted on Blackboard ULTRA. • Consumers will enjoy improved customer experience on-court when taught by USPTA Professionals.

• New professionals entering the market will be better prepared and more knowledgeable about the profession How does USTA Accreditation affect USPTA Professionals?

All members in good standing are exempt from the new certification standards. However, new certification candidates will have to meet the newly instituted standards starting in January 2021. The USPTA’s mission is to elevate the standards of tennis-teaching professionals and coaches. Under the USTA Accreditation, USTA member organizations and tennis facilities will look to hire USPTA tennis-teaching professionals exclusively, thus having a significant impact on the job market.

New applicants beginning in 2019 already are required to be Safe Play compliant.

If I am already certified by the USPTA, will I have to get certified again?

Existing USPTA-certified tennis-teaching professionals do not need to certify again but must meet the continuing education requirements in the future. Currently, the requirement is 12 hours (or six credits) over three years but the requirements will likely increase in 2020.

USPTA However, starting in 2021, all members in good standing will be required to be Safe Play compliant and get a background screen every two years.

This cost will be covered by the USTA. Can PTR-certified professionals take advantage of the benefits from the Accreditation program?

At present, the USPTA is the only fully-accredited teaching organization.

The USPTA, at the recommendation of its board of directors, has initiated an equivalency pathway to membership for current and former “certified” Professional Tennis Registry members who may want to join the USPTA. The program, which will run through December 31, 2019, would allow PTRcertified tennis professionals who have an interest in becoming USPTAcertified an expedited process that will consider their current and former certified membership status.

In order to be considered for the PTR Equivalency Pathway, applicants must have been a certified PTR member prior to October 1, 2018.

For more information, visit http://uspta.com/default. aspx?menuitemid=2488.

What will the continuing education requirements be for existing certified pros who are USPTA members in good standing?

Starting in 2020, a new three-year education cycle will begin. While the exact number of hours and credits of continuing education has yet to be determined, there is a strong likelihood that there will be a modest increase over the current requirements of 12 hours or six credits. An announcement will be made at the end of 2019.

What are the requirements for the new certification pathway?

Starting sometime in 2021, professionals seeking certification will go through a comprehensive education

The USTA Accreditation Program is focused on raising the standards in which tennis is delivered in the U.S. and training program of approximately 1,500 hours, with 1,200 hours of on-thejob training and 300 hours of courses and workshops. This will typically last between six months and one year. The program will include online education courses, face-to-face workshops, conferences, teaching experience and mentorship while working in their current position.

What competencies will be achieved when a professional goes through the new certification program?

The primary purpose of the new certification program is to help professionals succeed in a career in tennis and give them a competitive advantage in the job market. Therefore, competencies achieved through the program need to include the following: • Ability to plan, organize, and manage group and private lessons for beginner through intermediate-level players of all ages.

• Ability to plan, organize, and conduct competitive and social events for players of all ages and levels, including USTA tournaments, and in-house play.

Demonstrate a basic understanding and foundation of the sports sciences with the ability to apply the principles of growth and development when working with youth.

• Ability to string and re-grip racquets and recommend equipment to customers.

• Understanding of tennis facility business operations and the importance of providing a safe environment for all customers How will the mentorship aspect of the program work?

Each certification candidate will have to have a sponsor/mentor. Typically, this will be the person they work for or a person at their tennis facility. Pros who are unable to identify a sponsor/mentor will be assigned one.

The mentor will be responsible for helping the certification candidate choose online courses that best fit the needs of the pro and their club, supporting the candidate going through the program by giving frequent feedback, and ultimately assessing and assisting the candidate through the certification pathway.*

June 2019 — USPTA ADDvantage Magazine - 53

USPTA USPTA MID-ATLANTIC HIGHLIGHT

PAYING IT FORWARD

by Tommy Cardinal, USPTA Communications

T

tennis-teaching staff at the Princess Anne has become closer, Fraser said.

“We’re in a pretty unusual situation, I think, as far as teams go, we’re all good friends, not just colleagues,” Fraser added. “We do stuff together – concerts, movies, go out for a beer. We do other activities besides work together and certainly have a really good time going to the conferences and learning.”

Continuing education, a weekend off and staff bonding are just a few of the benefits these trips have to the Princess Anne staff. There’s also the networking.

Fraser even hired Nathan Bolling after they met at the Mid-Atlantic conference eight years ago. Bolling is an Elite Professional and is the assistant pro who

him. When we got back, I interviewed for the job and he gave me the job immediately, but it was largely in part due to the exposure at the conference itself.”

A staff from different backgrounds and different teaching styles can mean discrepancies in teaching strategies, and Fraser said that attending the conferences has helped the staff with teaching consistency.

“With teaching tennis, we all have our similar styles,” Bolling said. “We say things the same way, but we don’t always say them in the same language, and sometimes that other language is what helps the student get it. What the USPTA conference really does is it gives us some

John Fraser (middle) poses with his family. Fraser and his wife, Charmagne, (right of middle) both work at the Princess Anne Country Club in Virginia Beach, Virginia. is head of junior programming at the Princess Anne.

“We’ve been going to these things since I’ve been employed at the Princess Anne,” Bolling said. “I actually met John [Fraser] at one of these conferences.

Feisal Hassan had an on-court demo that I participated in. From there, it really gave John a pretty good idea of who I was, spending that weekend with

54 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine — June 2019

gems. It gives us these little things to hold onto, whether they’re analogies or just ways to communicate the material.”

Technically, the staff hasn’t left town every year for the last 15 years because the Princess Anne hosted the conference recently.

“We actually hosted it three years ago and I gave a presentation. My wife also gave a presentation because she owns the

PHOTO CREDIT: PRINCESS ANNE COUNTRY CLUB

here are six tennis-teaching professionals at the Princess Anne Country Club, and when there’s a divisional conference nearby, they all pack up to go, including Tennis Director John Fraser.

Fraser is an Elite Professional and director of tennis at the Princess Anne.

He pitched the idea of bringing the entire staff to USPTA Mid-Atlantic Conferences 15 years ago when he first started at the club in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He and his staff have returned each year since.

The club pays the bill to send the staff out of town for these conferences.

“That’s how progressive our board of directors is,” Fraser said. “They see a huge value in being able to have their staff continue their education so they’re at the top of their game, and they feel like it’s a win-win in terms of them putting forth the best product in terms of our teaching staff.”

An entire teaching staff packing up and heading to a conference for a weekend might seem problematic to clients back home, but the stars align every year so that Fraser and his staff can attend without leaving membership teacherless for the weekend.

“It’s that first weekend of spring break for our private schools. That means our club turns to a ghost town that week,” Fraser said. “I think it’s somehow just the perfect storm because there’s so many people gone that even if we stayed, we’d be twiddling our thumbs anyway.

“We’re really only gone from Friday through Sunday and back to work on Monday, and we usually do a good job of letting everyone know that it’s coming up.”

Through years of attending conferences and working together, the

USPTA

Fraser and the staff of Princess Anne Country Club at the Mid-Atlantic Division Conference this March at the Trump National Golf Club in Washington D.C. to see what was out there and saw the Princess Anne job,” Fraser said. “I said to my wife ‘Hey, check out this place on the beach!’”

Fraser grew up in South Africa and started playing tennis at 10-years-old

when his grandmother bought him a tennis racquet for his birthday. He got a feel for the game by hitting with his father, who played in high school. He then got lessons at a public court nearby and has been playing ever since. *

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June 2019 — USPTA ADDvantage Magazine - 55

PHOTO CREDIT: Princess Anne Country Club

pro shop here and has done well with it, which is not something you see a lot in our business. Pro shops in this day and age are not thriving typically.”

Tennis is a family affair in the Fraser family with John as tennis director and his wife, Charmagne, running the pro shop. The two have been together for 30 years. Their three children, Ian, Cameron and Zoe, all play tennis as well.

His tennis-teaching career started at a club in Huntsville, Alabama. He became a tennis director after four years there and has been a director for 25 years. Fraser found his current position at the Princess Anne while browsing the USPTA website’s job openings page on a rainy day.

“I was just surfing the job listings just

USPTA USPTA ELECTION

2020-2021 National Board Proposed Slate The National Nominating Committee has completed its task and proudly submits the following slate for the 2020-2021 USPTA National Board of Directors.

President • Feisal Hassan

First Vice President • Rich Slivocka

Vice President • Lane Evans • Mark Faber • Trish Faulkner • Jason Gilbert • Bill Mountford

Past President • Gary Trost

M

embers seeking to challenge a nominee proposed by the Nominating Committee must notify the National Office by July 1st of their intention to challenge and must specifically designate whom they are challenging for the Board. In soliciting signatures from the membership, the Membership Nominee must use the official notification process proscribed by the national office. In order to qualify as a candidate or challenge a candidate nominated by the Nominating Committee, an individual must have applied to be a candidate to the Nominating Committee during the then

current election cycle. The challenger must present their credentials confirming that they have secured the “requisite support” from the membership before August 15th of the election year. Only one nominee per office will be added to those persons nominated by the Nominating Committee and the one name added will have received the greatest number of nominations from the membership (“Membership Nominee”). In order to qualify as a Membership Nominee, the candidate must be endorsed from at least one hundred and twenty (120) members (which shall be deemed the “requisite support”). In the event there is a tie in the number of nominations obtained by the Membership Nominees, the Membership Nominee with the highest number of continuing education points during the ten (10) year period prior to and through July 1st of the then current election year, shall be added to the ballot. In the event the Membership Nominees remain tied after counting the number of continuing education points, the Board shall select the name of the Membership Nominee to be added to the ballot. A Membership Nominee may not run against the person nominated by the Nominating Committee for President or First Vice President.

Once the slate and Membership Nominees, if any, has been determined, each candidate shall be permitted to submit an approved video in support of their candidacy which shall be made available to the Membership of the Association. All videos will be two minutes total, and will be filmed during the general membership meeting in Las Vegas. All videos will be prepared utilizing the same production requirements to be promulgated by the National Office.

For the first time this year, members shall cast their votes electronically. In the event a Member cannot cast their vote electronically, the Member may request a paper ballot from the National Office.

In the event the candidates receive the same number of votes, the proposed nominee that has the highest number of continuing education points, as provided in subsection 1 above, shall prevail. In the event the nominees remain tied after counting the number of continuing education points, the nominee presented by the Nominating Committee shall be declared the winner.

Any slight variances from the above deadlines or procedures may be authorized by the Board and will be based on reasonableness and fairness to all candidates. *

President

Vice President

Vice President

Vice President

Feisal Hassan

Lane Evans

Mark Faber

Trish Faulkner

First Vice President

Vice President

Vice President

Past President

Rich Slivocka

Jason Gilbert

Bill Mountford

Gary Trost

56 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine — June 2019

RAISING THE STANDARD TO

RAISE OUR GAME USPTA is the ďŹ rst and only USTA accredited tennis teaching professional organization.

Together, we will set a new standard of excellence and provide even more opportunities for those who teach tennis to grow and advance.

To learn more, go to usta.com/raisingstandards Š 2019 USTA. All rights reserved.

USPTA USPTA FINANCIALS

2018 uspta Financials

T

he USPTA publishes financials to the membership on an annual basis in ADDvantage Magazine. Revenue in 2018 was budgeted to be about $4.2 million, but came in at over $4.5 million, while expenditures were anticipated to be slightly over $4.2 million and came in at close to $4.5 million. Below are four charts that show the breakdown of actual revenue and expenses. As you can see, we ended the year with a modest surplus. This is six consecutive years where revenue has exceeded expenses.

USPTA REVENUE AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2018 $4,597,419.30 1.35%

Actual

MEMBERSHIP

1.35%

Budgeted

1.34%

USPTA REVENUE AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2018 $4,597,419.30 28.97%

USPTA BUDGETED REVENUE AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2018 $4,245,506.79 USPTA BUDGETED REVENUE AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2018 $4,245,506.79 MEMBERSHIP

1.34%

29.12%

SPONSORSHIP/ENDORSEES

SPONSORSHIP/ENDORSEES

EDUCATION/TESTING WORLD CONFERENCE MEMBERSHIP DIVISIONS SPONSORSHIP/ENDORSEES OTHER EDUCATION/TESTING

53.51% 1.81%

28.97% 6.75% 7.62%

1.81%

WORLD CONFERENCE

53.51%

55.13% 1.29%

29.12%

5.95%

OTHER

55.13% 1.29%

USPTA EXPENSES AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2018 $4,495,864.91

4.36% 0.00%

29.77% 61.53% 29.77%

1.05%

$4,270,603.38

EDUCATION/TESTING

58 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine â&#x20AC;&#x201D; June 2019

0.00%

2.50% 28.95%0.50%

63.99% 28.95%

MEMBERSHIP SPONSORSHIP/ENDORSEES EDUCATION/TESTING WORLD CONFERENCE MEMBERSHIP DIVISIONS SPONSORSHIP/ENDORSEES OTHER EDUCATION/TESTING WORLD CONFERENCE

WORLD CONFERENCE OTHER

2.50%

$4,270,603.38

4.06%

SPONSORSHIP/ENDORSEES

DIVISIONS

0.00%

USPTA BUDGETED EXPENSES AS0.50% OF DECEMBER 31, 2018

MEMBERSHIP

WORLD CONFERENCE MEMBERSHIP DIVISIONS SPONSORSHIP/ENDORSEES OTHER EDUCATION/TESTING

DIVISIONS

USPTA BUDGETED EXPENSES AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2018

3.30%

3.30%

WORLD CONFERENCE

7.16%

4.06%

1.05% USPTA EXPENSES AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2018 $4,495,864.91

WORLD CONFERENCE MEMBERSHIP DIVISIONS SPONSORSHIP/ENDORSEES OTHER EDUCATION/TESTING

OTHER

5.95%

7.62%

4.36% 0.00%

7.16%

DIVISIONS

6.75%

61.53%

EDUCATION/TESTING

63.99%

DIVISIONS OTHER

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Exams, Upgrades & PTCA

2019 USPTA Division Conference Schedule

Online education

4 Credits for PTCA I Segment Exams, Upgrades & PTCA June 1 – 2...................................Aurora, IL June 1 – 2......................... San Antonio, TX June 1 – 2................Hilton Head Island, SC June 3.................................... Carlsbad, CA June 3 – 4................................ Orlando, FL June 6 – 7.................................Dorado, PR June 7 ........................... Sinking Spring, PA June 7 – 8..................................... Lehi, UT June 7 – 8...................... Albuquerque, NM June 8 ............................... Portsmouth, RI June 8 ................................Des Moines, IA June 8 – 9......................... Johns Creek, GA June 14........................... Minneapolis, MN June 15 – 16 ...............................Destin, FL June 17 – 18 ................... San Francisco, CA June 21 – 22 ............................. Tucson, AZ June 22 – 23 ...................Mission Viejo, CA June 22 – 23 .............................. Rome, GA June 22 – 23 ..................... Coral Gables, FL June 22 – 23 .............. Rancho Santa Fe, CA July 8 – 9 ................................ Orlando, FL July 12 – 13 .................................Dallas,TX July 13...............................Indianapolis, IN July 14................................... Clayton, MO July 15 – 16 ............................Berkeley, CA July 20 ....................................Boston, MA July 20 – 21 ....................Mission Viejo, CA July 26...............................Wilmington, DE July 26..............................Nichols Hills, OK July 26 – 27 ........................... Lafayette, LA July 27 – 28 ............................... Rome, GA July 27 – 28 ...........................Gulfport, MS 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.

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

USPTA

Division Conferences - 6 Credits June 2................................................... Hawaii May. 30 – June 2......................Florida Division PGA National; Palm Beach Gardens, FL

May. 31 – 1 ..............Pacific Nortwest Division Central Park Tennis Club; Kirkland, WA

Watch webinars, seminars, On Court with USPTA episodes, specialty courses and much more on TennisResources.com to earn your education credits.

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

Sept. 23 – 27 ...........USPTA World Conference

Westgate Las Vegas; Las Vegas, NV

Nov. 8-9........................ Middle States Division Wilmington Country Club; Wilmington, DE

July. 18 – 19 ................ Certification Course

WHEELCHAIR Tennis

Sept. 27-28 ................. Certification Course

June 26 ......................................... Wichita, KS

Sheraton Austin Georgetown Hotel; Austin, TX

USPTA World Conference; Las Vegas, NV

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

Oct. 24 – 25 .................................. Orlando, FL

Atlanta, GA

Cardio Tennis

IPTPA Pickleball Certification Workshop

Oct. 12....................Level 1 Training Course Midtown Athletic Club; Palatine, IL

June 2 ........................Palm Beach Gardens, FL Sept. 22......................................Las Vegas, NV

Nov. 9......................Level 1 Training Course Methodist University; Fayetteville, NC

Spanish Tennis

Padel 2019 Level 1 Certification Dates June 15 – 16............................ Orlando, FL July 18 – 19 ..............................Central, PA September 19 – 20 ....................Lowell, AK

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: November 8 - 10 • Location: USPTA Headquarters, Orlando, FL • Cost: $499 • Education credits: up to 15 education credits 6 credits + up to 9 credits for the education sessions.

Teaching System At Academia Sanchez-Casal USPTA professionals can earn 10 Education Credits by participating in the Level 1 or Level 2 course of the Spanish Tennis Teaching System hosted by the International Coaches Institute.

May. 31 – June 2........................ Naples, FL

Competitive Coaching Course Level 1

June 2 – 4.................................. Naples, FL

Pro Coaching Course Level 2

Nov. 13 – 15............................... Naples, FL

Competitive Coaching Course Course Level 1

Nov. 15 – 17............................... Naples, FL

Pro Coaching Course level 2

June 2019 — USPTA ADDvantage Magazine - 59

MEMBER NEWS

Anton Mavrin

Roger Follmer

Paula Miller

Peter Juarez

Anton Mavrin was named the new tennis director at the Redding Country Club in Redding, Connecticut.

As a teenager, he represented the U.S. national team in the World Youth Cups and most recently was the tennis pro at Darien’s Wee Burn Country Club, with a focus on junior programs. He brings over 12 years of experience in the country club business in which he has run and administered highly active programs at elite clubs in Long Island, New York as well as the state of Connecticut.

Roger Follmer was named the tennis director at Algonquin Golf Club in St. Louis, Missouri for the summer. Roger is currently the head coach at Washington University in St. Louis. He guided Washington University in St. Louis to the 2008 NCAA Division III Men’s Tennis National Championship, establishing the Bears as one of the premier programs in Division III. His previous experience includes serving as the men’s tennis assistant coach for two seasons at the United States Naval Academy and the assistant coach at Purdue University.

Paula Miller guided the Quinnipiac Bobcat women’s tennis team to their sixth consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular season championship.

Quinnipiac is now 54-1 in conference play since joining the MAAC in 2013.

The Bobcats have won 43 consecutive regular season MAAC contests (longest active Division I streak). In 2018, Quinnipiac women’s tennis reached their 11th NCAA Tournament appearance in the Division I. Miller is a four-time MAAC Women’s Tennis Coach of the Year.

Peter Juarez will retire from the Oak Park Tennis Center in Stockton, California. For the past 21 years, Juarez has been the head professional at the Oak Park Tennis Center.

Juarez has been more than just a teacher of the sport, but also a tournament director, independent businessman, nonprofit organizer, an advocate of junior tennis and caretaker for the 11-court public facility. In addition to teaching, Juarez could be found stringing racquets, making court reservations for individual players and the center’s various league teams or doing maintenance on the courts.

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, Sid Newcomb, Ellen Weatherford, Fred Viancos Circulation................................................................ Trevor Trudelle USPTA World Headquarters 11961 Performance Dr. Orlando, FL 32827

60 - USPTA ADDvantage Magazine — June 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. ..