A HIRE CALLING
A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR OUR MEMBERS
SOCIAL TENNIS
RSPA PROUD
PROFESSIONAL COURTESY EXPECTATIONS
CERTIFICATION CALENDAR
LOSING FRED STOLLE MAKES
TENNIS A LESSER PLACE
JAMMIN’ WITH JIM
Hire
A Calling
At the Racquet Sports Professionals Association, we are—and always will be—a members-first organization.
Every day, we discuss how we can help you grow, support your development, elevate your career, help you earn more and set you up for lasting success. This month’s issue is all about member appreciation. And I want to say this clearly and sincerely: thank you.
Thank you for being leaders. Thank you for lifting others up. Thank you for giving your time, talent, and energy to this association. Thank you to our Board of Directors for your dedication to our mission.
To our division leaders and executive directors—thank you for your daily commitment to serving our members.
To our past national presidents— thank you for building the foundation we continue to grow from. To our Hall of Famers—thank you for inspiring us with your lifelong service. To our critics— thank you for challenging us to be better. And to everyone I may have missed— thank you for your passion for racquet sports, and for your drive to share your knowledge with players, students, clients and peers. You are the reason the RSPA exists.
Alongside member appreciation, we’re proud to declare May as Career Month at the RSPA One of the most consistent themes I hear from members is about career growth—and our mission is to elevate careers in racquet sports with a certified professional on every court, inspiring people in every sport.
If you’ve heard me speak recently, you’ve heard our roles as racquet sports professionals must be seen as serious, meaningful career paths. We’re not just coaches, we’re leaders, educators, mentors, and innovators.
That’s why this May, we’re launching a free, four-part webinar series—one each week in partnership with our
friends at the McMahon Group (and longtime RSPA members). Each session is built to boost your career, with topics including Setting Goals & Creating Your Online Profile, Job Discovery & Preparation, The Difference Factor, Preparing for the Interview and Closing the Deal. Plus, we’ve included some great incentives if you complete the full series!
This year has been full of movement: major tournaments, trade shows, division events and more. Racquet sports are growing and the energy is electric. Tennis is our core and it remains the foundation of our industry. But let’s not get complacent. Keep reimagining your tennis programming. Look at what other racquet sports are doing and bring fresh ideas back to the court.
Pickleball participation booms and its business model evolves. As an entry point into racquet sports, it’s a powerful tool in our fight against inactivity, obesity and screen time. Padel is rising fast. Manufacturers are planning to build over 1,000 new courts in 2025 alone. We need certified professionals to meet the demand. Squash and platform tennis are gaining from the rising tide. And with the 2028 Olympics approaching, squash is gaining new visibility and momentum.
At the center of all of this? You. Keep listening. Keep learning. Keep adapting. When you serve your community with intention and innovation, you lead the industry forward.
Why We’re Built to Lead
With all this growth comes competition—for talent, for courts, for members, for attention. And that’s good. Competition forces us to sharpen our message, deliver more value and stay true to our mission.
So, why is the RSPA uniquely positioned to lead?
We are the only organization uniting tennis, pick-
Brian Dillman | RSPA CEO
leball, padel, squash and platform tennis under a single membership. With expert coach developers, trusted certification and support at every stage of your career, we have remained the gold standard for 98 years in an industry we invented. We understand what it truly means to build a career, not just a job—in racquet sports.
We’re promoting the RSPA brand like never before. That means more visibility, more credibility and more opportunity for you. We’re expanding globally. We’re growing our partnerships. And we’re working every day to make sure the value of your certification continues to rise.
A Promise We Keep
I wake up every day grateful—and motivated—by the possibilities in front of us. But I also know we have work to do improving our communication, expanding our service, enhancing your experience and increasing our value to you.
At the World Racquets Conference last September, we made a promise: We will give you more tools, more support and more value. And we’re just getting started.
As we celebrate our members this month—and every month—I invite you to take part in Career Month. Let’s position you for the future you deserve. Let’s grow your career, your confidence and your impact in this incredible industry.
We appreciate you. We believe in you. And we’re here to serve you.
Let’s keep building—together.
Brian Dillman RSPA CEO
Introducing Career Month
Our Changing Industry
A Bright Future for Our Members
Milos Vasovic | RSPA Vice President
The last few months have been very exciting for our association. We have heard overwhelmingly positive feedback about rebranding and we are looking forward to a great and productive future. I feel very proud to be involved in that historic event for our association and looking forward to working with our great national staff, EX Comm and the board on new ways to improve and provide more value to our members.
Our membership is our bloodline, and we will do everything we can to make sure we provide the best service and benefits to them. We also need to find ways to get younger as an association and find creative ways to recruit new and younger members so we can be prosperous and sustainable for many more years to come.
Recent organizational chart changes and additions in the national office will go a long way toward those goals. In my opinion we currently have the best team assembled and they are available to help with any question or concern you might have.
The national board, Ex Comm and Brian are working tirelessly to create better value and experience for our members.
World Conference in Hawaii is one of the steps in that direction. We never had a conference in Hawaii and our hope is that it will be well attended and create a memorable experience for attendees and their families.
Division conferences are another way we provide great educational and networking opportunities for our members. I had a chance to attend the Missouri Valley Conference in Oklahoma City and it was a very positive experience and a great event. Looking forward to visiting the Pacific Northwest Conference in Yakima, WA in June.
Membership and certification committee are working on ways to improve certification pathway and add new member benefits. More information to come as soon as it is available.
We are also looking into possible ways to cooperate with international tennis federations and potentially get them involved in some of our events in the future and attend their events also.
Another area we are looking to make an impact on is career services and all options are looked at. We need to be a resource to our members and help them progress in their careers and get their dream jobs in the future.
I personally would like to thank all our division board members and EDs for their dedication, active participation and the efforts they put in daily to provide the best events, division conventions and to be a great resource for their members. The RSPA would be nothing without their contribution, and we must recognize that and let them know how much we appreciate them. It is work that doesn’t go unnoticed.
Another group of people that deserve to be recognized are our coach developers. They are first contact new applicants have with the RSPA, and they are doing an amazing job to help them through their pathway and over the finish line. They are passionate about what they do and those are the people we need in a position like that, to transfer their love of the game to the new generations. They are very encouraging, supportive and a great resource. They stay involved in their student careers and I know I always love seeing Ben Rakusin during World or Florida Conference; he was my tester when I initially got certified.
Finally, I want to say thank you to all our members that are serving on national committees, from membership and certification to awards. They are engaged, supportive, offer great and constructive feedback and are huge assets in making our association better than it has ever been. It has been a pleasure working with everyone and I am looking forward to further interactions and seeing new ideas coming to fruition.
Thank you all for everything you do to promote tennis, pickleball, padel, squash and platform tennis and bringing more people in.
The future of racquet sports is bright, and I am proud to be a part of it.
See you on the courts, Milos
Social Tennis
Looking for a purely recreational tennis activity for your tennis community? Here is a tried and true, self-managed drop-in program that has flourished for 22 years at my club. The players call themselves “The Golden Rotators.” They’ve been meeting at 9 a.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, weather permitting, since 2003. They play doubles using the rotation system. Everyone gets to play as much as they want and can rest anytime. By the middle of the morning, players are rotating in and out on all four courts reserved for this weekly program. They stay in touch with group emails and texts, and can join and leave at their convenience. The system allows players to play every doubles position and makes for a welcoming environment for men and women of all ages and skill levels.
Michael Friedman | RSPA Elite Professional
• The only competitive scoring is during the game. Points are only counted to know when the game is over and then players rotate.
• The player who has been waiting becomes the server. The player who finished serving moves to play the net for the next server. The player who returned serve on the ad court either rotates out for a game or, if no one is waiting, becomes the server. The deuce court returner moves to the ad court and the serving team’s net player moves to return on the deuce court.
Social Environment:
• If more than two players are waiting, two players are rotated into the serving side, and they decide between themselves who will serve.
The Golden Rotator’s Rules Benefits for New & Returning Players:
• Play begins with two doubles teams. Players show up and leave at their own convenience. The serving team is always on the shady side. First-one-in on both deuce and ad sides the first game one serves.
• Whether there is a player waiting or not, the players rotate positions after every game. If there are players waiting and the game goes to deuce the second time, it becomes the deciding point, receiver’s choice.
This system can also help adult and junior players who are learning doubles. It is an easy way to get members to meet and welcome new players. If a member wants to play tennis without rounding up a game, this is for them. If a housewife or househusband wants to get back into the game while the kids are at school, this is a way to get them back on the court. There isn’t any pressure to win. Just play!
The competitive nature of the points allows the waiting players to enjoy watching and commentating, fostering a fun and social atmosphere. A great time is had by all, exercising while socializing, knowing you are all there just to have fun. Then there is the good hearted “trash talking” building friendships and great comradery. Try it at your facility and create a whole new Social Tennis environment!
Michael Friedman, RSPA Elite
Professional
RSPA Proud!
Simon Paek, RSPA Regional Vice President Southern California Division
As most know by now, the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) is now the Racquet Sports Professionals Association
There are those who oppose this change and those like me who choose to embrace it. I am not here to persuade one way or the other; I just want to share my thoughts on this matter in the hopes that it may shed some light on anyone who hasn’t yet formulated a perspective of their own.
I have been an active member of the RSPA for 30+ years and am going strong. From 1997 to 2004, I was actively involved with the RSPA California Division Board. In 2022, after taking a break, I became active again.
I have taught tennis professionally since 1986 and received my RSPA certification in 1993. I was a dual member with PTR for many years and then 12 years ago decided to go all-in with the RSPA. Roughly five years ago, Angelo Rossetti, Nigel O’Rourke and I, under the direction of Sid Newcomb (former national head coach developer) helped develop RSPA’s still-evolving pickleball certification curriculum.
I want to start with a personal story from 2019. I’m lucky enough to be able to spend my days at the beautiful Mission Viejo Country Club in Southern California. When I first started working at MVCC, our lights needed to be upgraded, the clubhouse needed remodeling, courts resurfaced, blowers purchased and some safety issues needed to be addressed. We needed quite a bit of funding to be pumped into the tennis facilities. Those of you in the country club setting know this would be a hard road ahead.
During this period, pickleball started gaining in popularity and participation. After trying it myself, I thought adding pickleball as an amenity to our
tennis offerings would be the perfect vehicle to get our “golf and non-tennis playing members” onto the tennis facilities side of the club. The idea was simple: get our equity members to use the tennis facilities and this would be the catalyst to help make the improvements needed. With only eight tennis courts, I had to figure out how to add pickleball courts without disrupting our tennis programs. I chose to add eight blended pickleball courts (one court on each side of the net on our four upper tennis courts). Yes, it’s a constant struggle, but we manage to keep pickleball and tennis in a cooperative state with many of our tennis players playing pickleball. We are fortunate enough to get some pickleball players to convert to tennis!
As the demand for pickleball grew, I needed to hire a pickleball professional. I heard from many I spoke with that, “Pickleball should be only taught by pickleball pros.” With that sentiment in mind, I started playing more in my free time, playing tournaments on Sundays, etc. The more I played, the more I thought that we tennis professionals could and should teach pickleball as well. I won’t get into the similarities of the two sports in terms of teaching, but I will tell you that potentially, I could see tennis professionals losing jobs to make room for pickleball professionals. I have nothing against pickleball-specific teaching professionals, but with my limited number of courts, it made sense for my situation to have “dual” professionals who could teach both tennis and pickleball.
Tennis has been and continues to be my true love, with pickleball close behind. I’m now starting to play padel and have planned to get my padel certification in April of 2025. I am not just a tennis professional and haven’t been
for some time. I have evolved, pivoted and even changed for the better. Having been in this industry since 1996, as I mentioned earlier, I’ve been fortunate to have worn many hats – I’ve even owned and operated a full-service retail store for over 30 years now!
The rebranding from the USPTA to the RSPA represents my personal evolving story. The leadership of any organization must find ways to stay relevant, to spearhead new thoughts and ideas, even when knowing that these new thoughts and ideas are often met with opposition. The RSPA is no different, some think that the leadership sold out to pickleball, in particular.
I see it differently; the current leadership of the RSPA has taken a bold step in creating new opportunities for tennis-teaching professionals to stay relevant in an ever-changing sports industry. The rebranding represents ways to gain more knowledge, to grow our client base and to inject newfound passion into what we do every day.
Yes, we are losing tennis courts to pickleball, there’s no denying that. I hate seeing that happen just as much as anyone. I fight it every day by maintaining strong and cohesive tennis programs. I
have embraced pickleball, and it has paid off. We have seen our fair share of growing pains, conflicts between tennis and pickleball, etc. At the end of the day, I’ve added another amenity to our club’s offerings to our membership. We have been successful in getting our “golf widows,” social members as well as other members who just weren’t
utilizing their membership to come out, get a workout and enjoy their facilities.
As the director of racquet sports, I work hard every day to maintain the integrity of our programming—juniors, ladies’ leagues, men’s leagues, quality lessons, facilities, socials, etc. We hold inner club tournaments for pickleball, have social events multiple times a year that incorporate both tennis and pickleball players mingling and playing together on the same teams. It takes a lot of work, but I have surrounded myself
with quality people to help me every step of the way, but I must tell you, it truly is a labor of love. My members played a critical part in the success of our journey as well, without their support and encouragement, we wouldn’t be where we are today. The bottom line for me is that pickleball is not the enemy, it has been the shot in the arm that afforded my tennis program the opportunity for our many improvements, including the LED lighting as well as a complete remodeling of our clubhouse!
The RSPA has taught me over the years to continue to learn, evolve, strive to improve myself through education and to network!
I’ve met countless professionals who I’ve not just learned from but can now call friends. To the national leadership and our CEO, Brian Dillman, thank you for continuing to push the envelope forward for all teaching professionals. Thank you for representing
our interest in all racquet sports. Thank you for having the courage and foresight to think outside the box, for giving all of us more opportunities to improve our craft, for giving us access to new areas to further develop not just our knowledge, but our client base. To put it simply, my staff and I have doubled our lesson base with tennis and pickleball. I just wish now that our club had room enough for me to add a couple of padel courts…stay tuned —remember, a good RSPA professional adapts, figures it out and gets things done; this story isn’t over yet!
Proud RSPA Member, Simon Paek, Elite Professional Regional Vice President Southern California Division, Coach Developer – Tennis and Pickleball, Director of Racquet Sports and Mission Viejo Country Club.
Professional Courtesy Expectations
FThe Tennis Professional
Joe Noth | RSPA Elite Professional
rom office maintenance and janitorial staff to tennis and pickleball instructors, we all play different rolls at the clubs and facilities we call our place of work or job. Currently on my team of staff there are: high school and college students working around classes, part time contributors with other full-time careers, retired career professionals who choose to take part-time hours, non-certified full-time instructors and certified full-time teaching professionals.
All these team members come from different playing, teaching, educational and development backgrounds. They all have different levels of experience, from first time jobs to seasoned professionals with thousands of lesson hours. But all these team members deserve the same level of respect, attention, acknowledgement and common or professional courtesy as any other member of the team.
Basic Workplace Courtesy
Say please, thank you, excuse me and no thank you-smile! Hold the door open for others, follow organizational rules, keep your workspace tidy and clean up your messes. When given the opportunity, acknowledge each other with a simple ‘hello,’ or ‘good morning.’ Ask what you can do, as opposed to telling others what they can do. It is not your job to be the courtesy police or point blame on one another. But it is your job to always conduct yourself in a professional manner and respect the individuality of your teammates. We want you to feel comfortable working with all team members and when not we want you to feel free to express any concerns you have with your direct supervisor.
“People don’t care how much you know; they care how much you care.” –Master Professional, Ajay Pant
Research shows that we are judged 85 percent on our social skills and 15 percent on our technical ability. The perceived culture of any organization begins at the first point of contact a person receives. A positive patron experience is essential to maintaining student retention and creating a great company. In the same way with staffto-staff engagements, your perceived impression of your teammates will likely be based on how well you respectfully address, greet and communicate with one another.
“We like people who like people.” - Lifetime Activities CEO & USTA NorCal Hall of Fame Inductee - Dana Gill
Communication is Key:
Take time hear what others say and hear what they are not saying. We communicate in many ways: our tone of voice, facial expressions and hand gestures (or even how a ball is fed: aggressively/ gently) can impact a team member or patrons view of you and the company that employs you. We’re communicating with others all the time. Make it positive and make it count! If you’re with a member or patron (on or off site), you are at work. If you’re on site and not in uniform, you’re at work and should conduct yourself in a professional manner regardless of being clocked in or not.
It’s easy to see how important and powerful common and professional workplace courtesy can be. Be a team player, be friendly, be encouraging, respect your teammates, give people the benefit of the doubt and even if on paper you are not a certified professional, that doesn’t mean you can’t act like one.
Meet Dominique!
Each month, the RSPA will use this column to select someone who helps our association run to give better insight into what the many faces of our association do to grow racquet sports. This month we are featuring Dominique Lemperle, RSPA Pickleball Lead Coach Developer.
Dominique
Lemperle has had a 15 year career that left an incredible mark on the racquet sports industry. She served as the director of sports at Esplanade Golf & Country Club, and managed a thriving program, overseeing more than 450 pickleball players and 750 bocce ball enthusiasts. Prior to this role, she was an assistant at Bonita Bay Club, managing several staff members and collaborating on youth golf camps, demonstrating her commitment to the betterment of future talent. Previously, as the director of programming and instructor development at The Pickleball Club, she led with tremendous initiatives to elevate the sport, bringing success to the club and it’s members. Lemperle recognized the potential of pickleball, early-on, understanding the opportunity it presented for racquet sport professionals. Her extensive knowledge and tireless dedication is what makes her a phenomenal coach developer. As an RSPA Elite Professional, Lemperle has earned numerous certifications and awards, including 2023 George Basco Coach Developer of the Year. In March 2025 ,Lemperle shared valuable insights on club success with CEOs at the Racquet X Club Summit. She is now applying her expertise as Head Pro at Lakewood National in Bradenton, FL, teaching tennis and pickleball, and pursuing a Director of Racquets role at an equity country club. Her vision goes far beyond individual players, focusing on the growth of sustainable programs and building a strong community with a passion for racquet sports. She actively shares her expertise, inspiring soon-tobe professionals and ensuring the continuation of the industry.
CERTIFICATION CALENDAR
MAY 2025
JUNE 2025
JUNE
Losing Fred Stolle
Makes Tennis a Lesser Place Losing Fred Stolle
PHOTO
IMakes Tennis a Lesser Place
Steve Flink, International Tennis Hall of Fame
CREDIT: Fred Mullane, CameraworkUSA
include myself among many longtime members of the tennis community who were aware that Fred Stolle was struggling inordinately with his health over the last couple of years. Be that as it may, the news of his death at the age of 86 on March 5 was awfully difficult to accept. Stolle was a man of immense stature and congeniality, a very accomplished individual, and one of a long line of redoubtable Australians who enhanced tennis incalculably with the way they wore success and how they dealt with defeat.
Stolle took home a lot of high honors in his time as a top flight player in both amateur and professional tennis. His two most impressive triumphs came at the French Championships in 1965 and the U.S. Championships the following year. In the former, competing on his
least favorite surface, Stolle captured the world’s premier clay court title at Roland Garros in Paris.
Seeded fourth at that major, he pieced together some terrific victories on the dirt, defeating the tenacious American Cliff Richey in the third round, countryman John Newcombe in the quarterfinals, No. 8 seed Cliff Drysdale in the penultimate round and the left-handed Tony Roche in a four set final.
As Stolle told me in a 2010 interview, “My victory at the French was a bit like Andre Agassi winning his first Grand Slam event at Wimbledon in 1992. You felt that Andre was going to win a major somewhere at one stage, but it was not supposed to be on grass courts, which he had said he hated. The French was not the one I was supposed to win. I was lucky that the weather was warm and we were playing with pretty light Slazenger balls. And the courts were quick to the point where I served-and-volleyed pretty much every first serve.”
That was Stolle’s brand of tennis. He was one of the premier serve-and-volley stylists of his era at a time when three of the four majors were played on grass. That is why his triumph at the 1966 U.S. Championships on the lawns at Forest Hills in New York was fitting and very rewarding.
Despite having reached the final at Wimbledon three years in a row from 1963-65, the seeding committee overlooked Stolle at the last major of 1966. He was infuriated by that indignity. But that slap in the face may have
been a blessing in disguise. Determined to prove that the men in suits who made that seeding decision were embarrassingly wrong, Stolle went determinedly to work and played beautifully.
He upset No. 3 seed Dennis Ralston in the round of 16, cut down No. 7 seed Clark Graebner in the quarterfinals, defeated No. 2 seed and close friend Roy Emerson 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 in the semifinals and then ousted John Newcombe in a four set final. It was indisputably the finest fortnight of his life.
Was a quiet rage from within what won that championship for Stolle? He told me in 2010, “There is some truth to that. In those days, they seeded only eight players. I had lost to Bob Hewitt in the second round of Wimbledon so they thought I was over the hill and finished. When I beat my nemesis Emerson in the semifinals at Forest Hills, I remember hitting every line on the court that day, particularly on my return of serve. It was just one of those days when nothing could go wrong for me.”
Stolle celebrated a stellar career. He was not cut out to be a Rod Laver, a Ken Rosewall or a Lew Hoad. He was not the equal of John Newcombe despite some
big wins over his countryman. They were all icons from the land “Down Under.”
But Stolle was at least a finalist at all four majors in singles but his doubles record sparkled even more. In an era when the leading players almost always played doubles and often competed in mixed doubles, he took another ten majors in men’s doubles and six in mixed for a total of 18– not including the 1969 Australian Open Mixed Doubles crown when he partnered Ann Haydon Jones. When the final was canceled, they shared the title with Margaret Court and Marty Riessen. Stolle was victorious at the majors with Emerson, Bob Hewitt, Ken Rosewall, Court and Lesley Turner Bowrey. Meanwhile, he played a pivotal role in leading Australia to three straight Davis Cup victories from 1964-66.
Stolle moved into professional tennis in 1967 at 28. As he told me, “It was a lot tougher than I thought it would be. Open Tennis came along in 1968 and I did all right at the Grand Slam tournaments, but playing the WCT Tour was a grind. I got to the stage where I went through the motions during some matches. It amazes me that today everybody expects the top players to go out and win every match they play, which was true in my day as well. You would try, but you didn’t always have your heart and soul in it.”
33 after an unexpected run to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open, Stolle shifted to commentary and was one of the best in the booth for more than two decades, working for ESPN in the U.S. and Channel Nine in Australia.
I met Stolle in 1967 and got to know him well as a reporter in the 1970s. Starting in the early eighties, I worked with him on monthly instruction pieces for World Tennis Magazine. Sometimes
Most of the time, however, he competed forthrightly. Stolle was a thorough professional. Once he retired in 1972 at
we collaborated on these articles in person at tournaments. Otherwise, I would track him down by telephone from my New York office.
When Stolle would answer my calls at hotels all over the planet, he would laugh and say, “I can’t believe it. It doesn’t matter where I am. You can reach me anywhere in the bloody world. How do you manage to do that over and over again?” I answered, “Because it’s my job.” We would catch up regularly at the Grand Slam tournaments long after we stopped working together. What made Stolle such a superior human being was his uncommon decency and candor. If we had a difference of opinion from time to time, he would let me know exactly how he felt without being disagreeable. Then he would inevitably break into that infectious laugh he loved sharing with friends.
Stolle was completely comfortable in his own skin, and he could get along with different types of people who did not always like each other. I will miss his flinty integrity, his words of wisdom and his sense of humor. Fred Stolle was an Australian through and though, and one of the most honorable individuals I have ever known in tennis.
His tennis mind was nimble. Stolle would invariably offer sagacious tips to readers. It was a pleasure working with him. Stolle travelled so widely that it was not always easy to find him. Somehow, I always did in the days when cell phones were not in circulation and the internet did not exist.
From Interest to Interview
Get More out of YOUR
Mark McMahon | RSPA, CRSE – President, McMahon Careers & Rachel Stofan | McMahon Careers Director of Communications
When the USPTA rebranded to RSPA at the 2024 World Conference, it marked the beginning of a new chapter for its members. This rebrand is more than just a name change. The new RSPA is focused on offering members targeted professional development, accessible certification opportunities, and specialized educational webinars to help them grow and advance in their careers.
One of the key initiatives under the rebrand is RSPADirectorSearch, powered by McMahon Careers, which focuses on career advancement. This service is designed to help members navigate the competitive job market, providing a streamlined experience when applying for or posting director-level positions in racquet sports leadership. Whether you’re actively job hunting or just considering a career change in the future, RSPADirectorSearch can support your journey.
Being proactive in managing your career is a strategy that pays off. RSPADirectorSearch offers several resources to help members better prepare for job applications and interviews. These include:
Members can access detailed job postings that include estimated total compensation (base salary and variable income from instruction and other sources), expected on-court hours, program size, and current staffing structure. With this transparency, members can apply to one or more positions and track the status of their applications through a secure, personalized Candidate Portal.
Evolved RSPADirectorSearch
Powered
by McMahon Careers
Complimentary Career Resources: Young Professionals Group (YPG):
For those ready to take the next step in their careers, RSPA members have access to several free career-enhancing tools, including:
• Resume and Cover Letter Resources: These resources provide guidance on crafting documents that highlight your unique skills and experiences, helping you stand out to potential employers. They emphasize the importance of creating a balance of ‘confidence and curiosity’ in your application materials.
• Interview Preparation: The Interview Preparation tools help members make a strong, positive impression during interviews, whether in person or virtual. By following the outlined steps, members can ensure they’re fully prepared and confident for each stage of the interview process.
• Career Planning & Career Discovery: Just as players have coaches to guide their development, career professionals can benefit from career coaching. RSPADirectorSearch offers a complimentary Career Discovery Call with an RSPA Master Professional, where members can discuss their career paths and receive personalized advice on next steps.
The YPG is a network for professionals with less than 20 years of experience in the racquet sports industry. This group meets quarterly via Zoom to share experiences, discuss career progressions and provide valuable insights into career growth. Additionally, the group maintains ongoing conversations on its LinkedIn page.
In 2025, RSPA DirectorSearch will host a four-session webinar series called “From Interest to Interview – How to Identify Your Next Role and Compete for a Job as Only You Can.” Recognizing May as “Careers Month,” this series will focus on helping members identify career opportunities and position themselves for success in their job search.
The future of racquet sports is bright and RSPA members looking to advance their careers can rely on RSPADirectorSearch, powered by McMahon Careers. To access these valuable benefits and learn more, visit RSPADirectorSearch.net.
Job Posting Transparency:
NO.1 BALL ON TOUR*
SAME GREAT PERFORMANCE
PAPER LABEL RECYCLABLE PAPER LID
Elevate Your Career with Member Benefits!
Jim Stockwell | RSPA Chief Service Officer
Becoming a certified member of the RSPA is more than just a credential—it’s a mark of excellence in the world of racquet sports instruction. As an RSPA-certified professional, you gain a trusted certification that validates your teaching skills, giving you a competitive edge when attracting clients and securing employment. But our support doesn’t stop at certification. We provide a range of benefits designed to help you grow, thrive and succeed in your career, whether you’re just starting or looking to take your coaching to the next level.
Professional Development
• Full Access to TennisResources.com, the RSPA’s online education resource library.
• RSPA World Conference discounts and division conventions.
• Free monthly webinars and online educational opportunities.
• Discounts/complimentary tickets to US Open Series tournaments.
Insurance
• $6 million of on-court liability insurance.
• Ability to purchase additional insurance products such as facility, sexual and molestation and non-member assisted coverage to qualified members.
• Health insurance options via Lighthouse Insurance Group partnership.
Tennis Warehouse
• Apparel and Footwear: 30 percent member-pricing discount; brands included: Nike, adidas, Asics, FILA and 40 percent discount off MSRP for inventory purchased for pro shop distribution on adidas products.
• Equipment: 20 percent discount on Babolat, Tecnifibre and Prince and 40 percent off Prince products for pro shop retail accounts.
Dunlop
• Order tennis balls directly from Dunlop and receive a 15 percent discount on retail pricing on all orders on the Dunlop website. Receive low shipping costs of $5.95 per case through the Dunlop website.
Selkirk
• Receive discounts on Selkirk pickleballs, nets and equipment. Wholesale pricing for facilities with ARP accounts.
• Free educational content on SelkirkTV.
Swing Vision
• Get $30 off the Pro subscription or Bundle, plus early access to Remote Coaching. Elite and Master Professionals save $80.
Elite Private Online
Education - Powered by ICL Academy
• RSPA children grades 6-12 get 10 percent discounted tuition. Students enrolled in ICL Academy and recommended by an RSPA pro gets 20 percent discounted tuition.
Nyberg, Fletcher & White
• 10 percent member-pricing discount.
Sports Ed TV/Kliq
• Free membership includes access to a digital learning platform and exclusive discounts on Kliq, a remote coaching app that helps you deliver instruction and engage students online.
10-S Tennis Supply
• Purchase court equipment product at a special discount.
AER-FLO
• Exclusive discounts on TUFFY windscreens and nets by contacting 10-S Tennis Supply.
SportMaster
• Official Playing Surface of the RSPA. For court surfacing needs, contact SportMaster directly for information and support.
SES Lighting
• 5 percent discount on the purchase of products.
Greenset Padel
• Exclusive discounts on padel court installations and priority access to new facility developments.
RacquetDesk
• 5 percent discount on the purchase and use at their facilities.
CourtReserve
• 5 percent discount on the purchase and use at their facilities.
String Ping
• RSPA members get a free month of texting service at 500 SMS level including 1 free phone number and 30 minutes of free onboarding.
Play Your Court
• Receive a free PlayYourCourt PLUS account ($120 per year value).
Playmate
• Official Ball Machine and Pickleball Ball Machine of the RSPA.
Break the Love
• Gain expanded access to courts, programming opportunities and educational resources.
Racquet Sports Management
• Access exclusive discounted resort stays in exchange for 10 hours of coaching per week.
USA Padel Directory
• Members receive discounts on USA Padel Directory memberships, gaining networking opportunities, visibility and job listings within the padel community.
Putterman
• Access exclusive discounts on high-quality windscreens, netting, and court equipment designed to elevate your facility.
Sports Interiors
• Preferred LED lighting and ceiling liner solutions for RSPA members to enhance indoor court performance and visibility.
Recycle Balls
• Members receive discounts on reused tennis balls, access to a virtual sustainability course eligible for recertification credits and involvement in sustainability education initiatives.
Mindspring Padel
• Unlock exclusive financing solutions for Padel court construction—designed to support clubs in expanding their facilities and bringing the world’s fastest-growing sport to more players.
DirectorSearch
• Gain access to exclusive director-level job opportunities and personalized placement support through a nationwide network and expert career consultants.
Additional Benefits
• Tennis Industry Magazine with ADDvantage.
• Refer & Earn – Membership referral dues discount program.
• Avis Car Rental – Save up to 30 percent at participating locations.
• Enterprise Rent-a-Car – Save up to 5 percent at participating locations.
• National Car Rental – Save up to 10 percent at participating locations.
• FTD Florist – 20 percent product discount.
At the RSPA, we are committed to your success as a racquet sports teaching professional. From certification to ongoing professional development, networking opportunities, and exclusive resources, we provide the tools you need to elevate your career. By joining our community, you’re not just gaining a certification—you’re becoming part of a network dedicated to the highest standards of teaching and coaching excellence. Let us help you build a rewarding and successful future in racquet sports. To learn more about these and other membership benefits, go to rspa.net or contact our membership team at 407634-3050, option 2.
President. Trish Faulkner
First Vice President Mark Faber
Vice Presidents Jason Gilbert, Jenny Gray, Kevin Theos, Milos Vasovic
Immediate Past President Rich Slivocka