Executive Director Angie Koumaris angela.koumaris@rspa.net
VValley iewpoint
Aloha RSPA Missouri Valley Pros!
I hope everyone is having a great summer! I wanted to make you aware of a few things that the RSPA offers that you may not have been aware of!
Refer and Earn:
If you are an existing RSPA member, active and in good standing, refer a new applicant! Once the new applicant completes the RSPA application online to become a Certified Tennis Instructor or Certified Professional (which includes payment of the one-time application fee and prorated portion of membership dues for the current calendar year), then you will earn a $50 Tennis Warehouse gift card!
Junior Racquet Sports Apprentice:
A membership category for young racquet sports players, ages 14-17, who would be interested in learning more about a racquet sports teaching career.
Junior Racquet Sports Apprentice members receive:
*Education opportunities, including the RSPA's introductory module and access to our entire educational database on TennisResources.com
*A subscription to Racquet Sports Industry magazine, which includes RSPA ADDvtange magazine
*Networking opportunities at RSPA divisional conferences and national's annual world conferences
*RSPA conference discounts
*Mentoring opportunities
*There is no application fee and no testing is required. The annual dues of $50 will be prorated in the first year.
Lastly, please remember to check your Safeplay status and background check! This is important for maintaining your RSPA membership status! You can check your status here at www.usta.com/safeplay
We are excited for the World Conference in Hawaii in September and hope to see you there!
Missouri Valley President,
Tom Jennings
The 49th annual NAITA (North American Indian Tennis Association) Tennis Championships were held in Oklahoma City on Memorial Day weekend at the Oklahoma City Tennis Center. With close to 100 youth and adults competing, it was a celebration of tennis and Native American culture. This year’s tournament was directed by Anthony Miller, a Native American tennis coach working on his RSPA certification. Native players from around the United States gathered together for tennis, community, cultural activities, and a kids' clinic. Beginner players up to current college tennis players participated in the tournament.
We are proud to announce that NAITA member, Brady Matthews, was just named the Head Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach of Division II Southwest Baptist University.
The NAITA is working to grow the game of tennis in Native communities and provide Native Americans with the healthy benefits of tennis. The 50th annual NAITA tournament will be held in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 2026, at LaFortune Tennis Center. The 2027 NAITA tournament will be held in Reno, Nevada, and will be hosted by Craig Pasqua from North Cal.
“The greatest part of the NAITA is the community and connection to culture. Our elders have done a great job of ensuring that this tournament survived and thrived over the last 50 years. I’m excited to see the next generation of Native Americans grasping that tennis can be more than just a recreational activity; they see it as a viable job opportunity.” -Tony Mullican
If you have a story of tennis pros or tennis programming in Native American communities that needs to be highlighted, please send it to Tony Mullican, RSPA Native Task Force Leader, at coachmullican@gmail.com. If you know of a Native American tennis coach who is looking to become RSPA certified, have them send Tony a message so that the Native Task Force can help them and provide resources.
MISSOURI VALLEY PROFESSIONAL
CALEB BOW COMPETED IN THE NATIONAL CARDIO TENNIS FEEDING COMPETION
The RSPA Florida trip with beyond being just helpful. It was a paradigm shift in the reorganization of the association. No longer is it to focus on Tennis, but truly an organization focused on racket sports. The speakers ranged from Steve Johnson, former number 21 in the world on the ATP tour, to passionate Pickleball instructors and directors of various facilities. The information was useful in an immediate sense as well as in a future one. Whatever I felt like I wouldn’t use immediately, I felt like it was an investment I would use at a future point in my career. All were valuable and I took extensive notes for every speaker; however, I will only highlight the three speakers I, Coach Caleb, got the most out of and believe will sprinkle the right amount of variety for this article.
#1 - Tim Brueggeman delivered a strategic vision for padel that perfectly captured the crossroads we’re facing. His insight into ownership models, demographic targeting, and long-term sustainability wasn’t just theoretical—it was actionable. His framing of padel not as a trend but as a transformative opportunity for clubs was eye-opening. When he said, “This means strategy with change—and not getting left behind (FOMO),” it struck a chord. We’re not just adding courts—we’re redefining identity. His breakdown of design, management, and membership models lit a clear path forward, and for clubs like ours, the timing couldn’t be more perfect.
#2 - Hearing from Stevie Johnson, former world #21 and one of the most decorated college players in NCAA history, was nothing short of elite. With a 72-match win streak at USC and ATP titles under his belt, you’d expect bravado— but what we got was precision, purpose, and process. His coaching philosophy hit home: “This isn’t checkers—it’s chess.” Every drill had intent, every pattern a plan. From breaking down footwork fundamentals to emphasizing user error and mental reps, Stevie’s message was clear: know what you have, and use it. Don’t copy—construct. Control the chaos. His presence reminded me just how much tennis is about clarity of identity—your style, your purpose, your vision.
#3 - The final standout moment came from Kim Bastable, whose session struck a deep chord. With a background in Positive Coaching and Athletic Leadership, she challenged us to look inward before leading outward. Her framework wasn’t just motivational—it was a mirror. “Progress is impossible without change,” she quoted, and from there, walked us through self-awareness, perfectionism, social media habits, and even how our health needs to evolve as we age. Her message was crystal clear: if we want to lead others—whether on a court or in a community—we have to first do the work ourselves. It wasn’t just about professional development; it was personal.
Combining all of these presentations with the insider information provided by my fellow RSPA professionals (along with many inside jokes) made the time fly by in the sunny state of Florida. I came to compete in a cardio feeding competition (3rd place) and left with far more friends and information than I anticipated. Shout out to bruddah John Koahou and Cy for hanging out with me for the weekend and making an out-of-towner feel welcome. To all other RSPA members, know the community you are in. They are good people and the old adage of “It’s who you know, not what you know,” rings true. Know your community. It is worthwhile.
Level 1 certifications are now offered online and in person! There are two upcoming Missouri Valley opportunities to complete the Level 1 workshop in person.
All applicants must complete the Level 1 prior to attending the Level 2 workshop.
If you are an applicant needing to complete the L1 register today!
Three Level 2 opportunities throughout Missouri Valley.
If you are a certified Professional and would like to upgrade to Elite register for one of these three workshops. Retaking the group or private lesson, and the stroke production portion for Elite certification.
