Awards and Hall of Fame
President’s Message
As summer approaches, I hope your programs are thriving and in full swing! Earlier this month, we had the pleasure of gathering in Greenville, South Carolina for our Southern Conven on at the beau ful Embassy Suites and Golf Resort. If you were able to a end, we hope you enjoyed the outstanding lineup of speakers and the engaging social events that made for excellent networking and camaraderie among fellow professionals.
For those who couldn’t join us, I’d like to take a moment to highlight the value of a ending our workshops and conferences:
Insigh ul Presenta ons: Conferences offer a wealth of knowledge. Whether it's on-court training or off-court management strategies, our sessions are designed to equip you with fresh ideas and prac cal techniques to bring back to your club or facility. This year, we also embraced our new branding with sessions covering tennis, pickleball, and padel ideal for those looking to broaden their professional repertoire.
Networking Opportuni es: One of the greatest benefits of our gatherings is the chance to connect with peers. The rela onships formed at these events o en lead to las ng
By Ken Andriano
professional and personal connec ons and who knows, you might meet your next colleague or employer!
Social Events: Of course, fun is always part of the agenda! This year, we kicked off the conven on with two new Thursday evening events a round of golf with past board presidents and Hall of Famers, followed by a happy hour at the resort bar. We plan to con nue expanding our social offerings to make each conven on even more enjoyable and memorable.
Looking ahead, mark your calendars for our upcoming Summer Conven on in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, taking place in early August. Details will be shared soon we hope to see you there!
Lastly, I want to take a moment to honor two beloved members of our Southern Division whom we lost this year: Camden Riley and Rick Wille . Camden was a dedicated contributor at the state level in Arkansas and inspired many with his passion. Rick, who recently served as our RSPA Georgia President, was a long me supporter and leader in our community. I was fortunate to know Rick personally his enthusiasm and commitment made a las ng impact. On behalf of the en re board, I can say without a doubt: they will be deeply missed.
USPTA Southern Summer Conference
Update & Upgrade Your Toolset
August 1-2
LSU Tennis Center – Baton Rouge, LA
Friday Specialty Course Members $20/ Non Members $25 Conference Members $25 / Non Members $30
All a endees receive a RSPA logo hat & lunch on Saturday Registra on is through cket tailor. No login required Host Hotel is not confirmed, but will be in the area and around $135/night LUNCH provided on Saturday
Educa on Points: the Specialty Course is 6 points, the conference is 8 points.
Earn 1 1/2 pts for every hour a ended
FUTURE Info and details at www.rspasouthern.net
Current speakers confirmed Mark Kovacs & Craig Jones
Friday, August 1st
3:00-7:00pm USPTA Specialty Course
Saturday, August 3rd
9:00 am - morning seminars
Noon-1:00pm LUNCH & RSPA/USTA Update on site 1:00-3:30pm - a ernoon seminars
Call for Application to the State and Southern Board
any new or current board member should apply to the appropriate chair person
Members of the RSPA Nominating Committees are searching for candidates who are interested in serving on the State or Southern Board for the 2-year term 2026-2027. To serve on the Southern Board you must be a member in good standing with a minimum certification level of Professional. Anyone who fits these qualifications is eligible and encouraged to apply. Contact the Nominating Chairperson listed below.
DEADLINES: The application period will run through July 25. Interview period will run through August 25th, and the selections will be published by September 10. Thanks in advance to all that are interested in serving the Southern Division.
While each committee may draft its own questions, here are some basic questions you should consider. 1. What board position are you applying for? (Circle all that apply)
President 1st VP VP Sec/ Treasurer Where Needed
Your chance to serve on a state or southern board and help shape the direc on of our associa on. See below for some details and the nomina ng chair in your area.
2. What strengths do you bring to the board?
3. What is your vision for moving RSPA forward?
4. In what specific area do you believe you can most positively impact the board and why?
5. What events/workshops/meetings/RSPA programs have you participated in during the last 12 months?
6. How much time are you able to offer?
Contact the nominating chair of the board listed:
• Southern – Tom Parkestparkes@pinevalleycountryclub.com
• Alabama - Jenny Robb - jennywrobb@gmail.com
• Arkansas - Chris Stuart - stuart0632@gmail.com
• Kentucky - Tom McGrawtomgmcgraw@comcast.net
• Georgia - Allan JensenAjensen.tennis@gmail.com
• Louisiana - Bill Phillipsphillips@louisianatennis.com
• Mississippi - Emilia Viljoenstayplaytennis@gmail.com
• North Carolina - Adam Thomsona.thomson@forsythcc.com
• South Carolina - Craig Wellscwells@clemson.edu
• Tennessee - MJ Garnett - windyketennis@aol.com
Congratulations to our award winners and Hall of Fame Inductee
Not pictured: Charity Event: Ma Grayson
Industry Excellence: Alvin Varnado
Teaching Professional: Mark Schminke
College Coach: Jimmy Borendame
High School Coach: Pete Pastor
Hall of Fame Commi ee
Fred Burdick Reedy Toney Tom Daglis
Awards Chair Jason Hazley
Hall of Fame: Fred Burdick Pride of Allan Henry Pro of High Performance Coach
Mentor: Paul Pautsch Asst Professional: Jen Sinclair
Player: Carolina Blouin
Keith Swindoll the South Pat Whitworth the Year: Tom Ruth Dr. Sophie Woorons
What a Great Event - Where
Were You by
This conference had it all. Great loca on, a great city, everything contained onsite, lots of fun people, and an amazing agenda put together by Allan Jensen. WOW, you should have been there.
Highlights were everywhere. Golf with the legends got off to a fun start with Jorge Andrews claiming the top spot. We had a fun happy hour with the members that arrived early. Day 1 was just solid. Everyone received their conference gi of a hat, and a few goodies from Tennis Warehouse. BUT WAIT, THERE IS MORE!! Everyone also picked out a USPTA logo item from the storage room, and the big straw hat seemed to be a favorite.
All of the seminars have received high marks in the evalua ons, so it is really hard to pick a best of the best. A few first me speakers for us were Dale Evans, Fernando Segal, Tom
Pat Whitworth & Ken Andriano
& Ka e Ruth, Sco Hutchinson, and Frank Solana. All were excellent with great energy and material. The A.I. presenta on by Sco was very intriguing, and it seemed that a endees were ready to stay for another hour and learn the cu ng edge side of A.I.
We welcomed Keith Swindoll as the newest member of the Hall of Fame.
We owe a special thanks to Carolina Blouin, Dan Beedle, and Jeff Hawes for stepping in to fill a couple of slots that speakers were not able to a end. Great job.
Next year is not set, but plans are to be back in the Atlanta area. Stay tuned, and start making your plans.
Alabama
At the Southern RSPA Conference we had the privilege of hos ng Brian Dillman, RSPA’s esteemed CEO, who delivered a compelling na onal update. Under his visionary leadership, RSPA con nues to achieve remarkable milestones. Last year, our organiza on achieved a commendable 6% growth in membership and programs. Brian’s presenta on underscored RSPA’s rising prominence as the preeminent racket sports educa onal organiza on in the United States. Brian was adamant that there is no be er me to be a member of the RSPA or in racquet sports. Last but not least, and with immense pride, we congratulate our dis nguished colleague, Keith Swindoll, on his welldeserved induc on into the RSPA Hall of Fame.
Arkansas
Chris Stuart and Paul Pautsch proudly represented Arkansas at the Southern Conference in Greenville, SC. Chris accepted the 2025 Elevate Award on behalf of Camden Riley and his family, honoring Camden's inspiring contribu ons. Paul was recognized with the 2025 Mentor Award for his excep onal dedica on and leadership both in Arkansas and throughout the Southern Sec on. Looking ahead, the RSPA Summer Conference will be held in New Orleans, LA on August 1–2. We warmly invite all Arkansas Tennis Professionals to join us for this exci ng event.
Kentucky
This was the first conven on I can ever remember where everything was on site! What a fun way to meet more tennis pros and industry contacts. I made a lot of new friends and it was wonderful to see many old friends too. I learned a great deal from all of the presenta ons on the court and in the classroom. We are looking for RSPA Kentucky Board members so if anyone is interested send me an email at chuckb0815@gmail.com.
Tennessee
Tennessee was well represented at the Southern Conference with two presenters - Sco Mitchell from Sensa Padel in Nashville and Dan Beedle of the University Club of Memphis. Congratula ons to Middle Tennessee State University Men's Tennis Coach, Jimmy Borendame for winning the RSPA Southern College Coach of the year. Speaking of Dan Beedle, congratula ons on your new role at the University Club of Memphis. There will be an upcoming Level 2 Tennis cer fica on in Memphis, if interested contact Dan Beedle dan.beedle10s@gmail.com..If interested in se ng up a Pickleball cer fica on at your facility, contact Geoff Browne geo rowne0609@gmail.com. Good luck to all the coaches that have teams and players compe ng in the state high school tournament. Save the date for the RSPA Tennessee Winter Workshop the first week in December to be held in Nashville - more details to come!
It was great to see the pros from North Carolina support the RSPA Southern Conference. Speakers were excellent, but if you were unable to a end the RSPA Southern YouTube channel has some of the seminars. We are working on our RSPA NC Summer Workshop in the Durham area this year looking at late July/ early August. Dates will be released soon along with flyers with more informa on. Our big workshop will be in Charlo e the second weekend of December at Blakeney Racquet Club. If any NC members need help please let us know. You can contact me at chrishoshour@gmail.com
South Carolina
RSPA South Carolina recently concluded a highly successful workshop last month in Columbia, SC, drawing rave reviews from a endees. Building on this momentum, RSPA SC is excited to announce plans for two upcoming fall half-day workshops: one in the popular coastal des na on of Myrtle Beach and another near the picturesque Hilton Head area. Further details regarding dates, venues, and specific agendas for these exci ng events will be released soon. Addi onally, members should an cipate the opening of nomina ons for the pres gious 2025 RSPA State awards in the near future, with comprehensive applica on instruc ons to be provided in the upcoming RSPA SC Newsle er.
Georgia Mississippi North Carolina
Our sad news is the passing of President Rick Wille recently to cancer. Georgia is in need of board members with the loss of Rick, Carmen leaving tennis to work for the Braves, and Mike moving to LA late last year. Contact Marcus at promarcus@hotmail.com to help out.
Louisiana
Our big news is the Southern Summer Conference the first weekend of August. See you there.
Keith Swindoll Hall of Fame 2025, Indian Hills Country Club City: Tuscaloosa, AL
Give a brief descrip on of your tennis/ other career: I’ve been blessed to be in Tuscaloosa for over 40 years. During that me I’ve been the Director of Tennis at Indian Hills, coached high school and also served a couple of s nts as assistant coach at the University of Alabama.
When did you start playing tennis? I fell
Tom Ruth 2025 Pro of the Year Long Cove Club Hilton Head Island, SC
Give a brief descrip on of your tennis/other career: Played college tennis at a small Division II Saint Joseph’s College in Indiana. I started my tennis coaching career in Sumter, SC at Sunset Country Club and then moving to Palme o Tennis Center. I then le Sumter for Hilton Head Island, SC for Moss Creek and transi oned to Long Cove Club 9 years later where I am today. When did you start playing tennis? I par cipated in NJTL tennis in Indianapolis, IN as a young kid, and then took it a li le more seriously around high school age. What other sports did you play? Growing up I played baseball, basketball, and even football for a few years.
What moved you to teach tennis? I enjoy bringing people together and helping them improve. My grandpa was a well-respected youth football coach in Indianapolis and
in love with the game in college. What other sports did you play? Growing up in a small town, I played everything but in high school I ran cross country and track.
What moved you to teach tennis? I always wanted to coach. Tennis is a great way to make a difference in the lives of others.
What is something people will be surprised to learn about you? I didn't play tennis growing up, yet was #1 in South in doubles as an adult. Didn't play high school tennis yet coached teams to 12 state championships. Didn’t play for college yet coach at a D1 school. You can achieve your dreams!
What are your hobbies? Reading, spend-
even coaching the great Chuck Kriese! As a lot of us, I wasn’t sure what to do a er playing college tennis and took a summer job that somehow lasted 3 years and I haven’t looked back since.
What is something people will be surprised to learn about you? That at home I am the chef of the house.
What are your hobbies? Hobbies? I have two kids 6 and 2. I am pre y good at reading Peppa Pig books. I did take up avia on a few years ago and have obtained my Private Pilot cer ficate working towards an instrument ra ng.
Are you reading anything right now? Recently I have been reading “Surrounded by Idiots” and “The Power of Moments” What is your favorite sports team? Chicago Cubs or Indianapolis Colts. I’ll save the arguments and leave out college football. Who is your favorite player of all me? My wife Ka e!
What person would you most like to have
ing me with friends. What is your favorite movie? Bull Durham
Are you reading anything right now? The Jesus I Never Knew
Who is your favorite sports team? University of Alabama
Who is your favorite player of all me? Bjorn Borg
What person would you most like to have lunch with? My friend Curt Keeney who passed away much too young that I miss every day.
What would you be doing if you were not in tennis? Great ques on. Can’t even imagine my life without tennis. Probably a sports psychologist.
lunch with? While I understand this ques on asks for only a person and if I had to choose I would choose my mom. But really I would choose any of my friends or family that I don’t get to spend enough me with as life gets busy. I know you are looking for someone famous but I would rather spend me with those that have impacted my life. What would you be doing if you were not in tennis? I have no idea how do you think I ended up here to begin with? I needed a job for the summer and as men oned above it turned into a career. So much so that I can’t imagine doing anything else.
Pickleball Points
To Hit Hard or So - That is the ??
One of the hardest things to do in pickleball is to decide when you can hit the ball hard vs when you should hit the ball so . One of the most helpful ps for this decision -making process is if the ball is below the height of the net at your point of contact, it is definitely important to try and reset that ball or hit it so .
Following this simple p, you will increase your consistency and limit the number of balls that you pop up to your opponents. Remember, just because you can hit the ball hard, does not mean you should. Becoming good at this decision making will provide you more opportuni es to get into the net before the point ends, which is everyone's goal.
Hit the ball so if it is low contact and you will find yourself raising your game to the next level. Go out and get em!
Racquets Corner
Padel: A Sport Built on Community and Connec on
By Sco Mitchell
Padel has quickly become the world’s fastest -growing sport and now, it’s gaining serious trac on here in the U.S. But beyond the court construc on, tournaments, and curious newcomers picking up a racquet, there’s something more powerful happening: Padel is building community.
Unlike other racquet sports that o en focus on solo play or high-level compe on, Padel is rooted in social connec on. Its four-player doubles format, compact court, and emphasis on quick reac ons over brute strength make it accessible and engaging from the start. Whether you’re a first- mer or a seasoned athlete, padel draws people in and brings them together.
What’s especially exci ng is how padel is becoming the new golf when it comes to business networking. In today’s fast-paced world, professionals are looking for more ac ve and efficient ways to connect. Padel offers that in spades. In just 90 minutes, you can build rapport, read personali es, collaborate with teammates, and share laughs while ge ng in a great workout. Deals are discussed between games, partnerships are sparked over rallies, and authen c rela onships form in ways a conference room simply can’t replicate.
We’re seeing business leaders, entrepreneurs, and coworkers trading the boardroom for the court and they’re not looking back.
But make no mistake: this isn’t about replacing tennis or pushing pickleball aside. Padel has carved out a space of its own. Many who fall in love with padel are already fans of other racquet sports. Some are former tennis players seeking a lower -impact, higher-fun op on. Others are simply looking for a way to stay ac ve and feel part of something. And increasingly, players are mixing and matching sports hi ng tennis balls one day, playing padel the next, and wrapping up the week with a round of pickleball.
The truth is, all of us in the racquet industry aren’t just in the business of courts, equipment, or memberships we’re in the rela onship business. We create environments where friendships form, coworkers connect, and communi es grow stronger. Padel may be the pla orm, but people are the purpose.
That’s why it’s important to upli not compete with our fellow racquet sports. Every paddle, racquet, or ball picked up is a win for wellness, community, and connec on.
At the end of the day, I believe deeply in what Padel brings: a welcoming spirit, a fun challenge, and a sense of belonging that keeps people coming back. If you haven’t tried it yet, I hope you will. Because once you step onto a Padel court, you realize it’s not just about the points you win. It’s about the people you meet.
Earlier this year, we said goodbye to Cameron Riley from AR, who succumbed to cancer that he ba led so hard. In May, RSPA GA President Rick Willet passed away at home
peacefully surrounded by his family. Many of the Atlanta pros a ended his funeral service on May 27th.
Both of these were friends to tennis as well as friends to many of us. Camden was recently honored at the Southern Conference as the Elevate Pro of the Year.
By Mark Schminke RSPA Elite Professional
Unlocking Performance and Comfort: A Deep Dive into RTP Tennis Gear
As a dedicated tennis enthusiast and coach, I'm always on the lookout for gear that can genuinely enhance performance, comfort, and, crucially, help prevent the nagging injuries that can plague players. So, when RTP Tennis, standing for "Road to Pro," generously sent me a comprehensive sample of their product line, I was eager to put their claims to the test. For the past month, I've integrated their shocksorb vibra on dampeners, Ultragrip Non-slip socks, Heelpad shoe inserts, SuperTacky overgrips, and Ultradry Sports towels into my daily rou ne, and the results have been nothing short of impressive.
Let's start with the Shocksorb vibra on dampeners, a product specifically geared towards allevia ng elbow pain through superior vibra on absorp on. RTP Tennis offers two dis nct types, providing a though ul range of dampening from a looser feel to a very ght, muted response. I appreciated the ability to experiment with both, finding that the effec veness at reducing unwanted vibra ons was consistent across the spectrum. This customizable approach is a huge plus, allowing players to truly dial in their preferred feel and find the op mal level of dampening to suit their unique swing and sensi vity. It's clear that RTP understands the nuances of player comfort and injury preven on.
The Heelpad shoe inserts immediately stood out for their excep onal comfort and support. As a coach who spends countless hours on court, the impact on my feet and joints can be significant. These inserts provided astonishing support, cushioning each step and significantly reducing fa gue by the end of long days. They seamlessly integrated into my tennis shoes, offering a no ceable improvement in overall comfort without feeling bulky or altering my stride. For anyone spending extended periods on their feet, whether coaching or playing, these Heelpad inserts are an absolute gamechanger.
RTP's a en on to detail extends to their accessories as well. The Ultradry Sports towel quickly became a staple, par cularly a ached to my teaching cart. Its impressive absorbency proved invaluable on hot summer days, and it performed remarkably well when trying to quickly wipe off sunscreen from my hands – a surprisingly common and frustra ng task. The SuperTacky overgrips also delivered on their promise.
Even during the most intense and humid sessions, they maintained their impressive tackiness, providing a secure and comfortable hold without feeling overly thick or cumbersome. Their durability through rigorous use speaks volumes about their quality.
However, the undeniable star of the RTP Tennis lineup, in my opinion, is the Ultragrip Non-slip socks. These socks are a true innova on, featuring flat rubber grips on the sole, reminiscent of hospital socks, yet completely unno ceable when walking. The magic happens on the court: these grips provide phenomenal trac on inside your shoe, virtually elimina ng any internal foot slippage. This enhanced grip allows for more confident and efficient footwork, enabling quicker slides, sharper turns, and more precise foot placements. The subtle yet profound impact on court movement is something every serious tennis player should experience.
In conclusion, the en re lineup of products from RTP Tennis truly impresses. They are clearly cra ed from high-quality materials, with a discernible focus on addressing real-world needs and challenges faced by tennis players. It's evident that these products were "cra ed by tennis players for tennis players," transla ng into prac cal, effec ve, and welldesigned solu ons. From mi ga ng elbow pain to enhancing on-court agility and providing overall comfort, RTP Tennis has delivered a range of products that I can confidently recommend to anyone looking to elevate their game and overall tennis experience.
Top Budget Buys - Tested Tech That ’ s Actually Worth It
By the PC Mag Staff
Worried about coming tariffs on tech? Our experts review more than 1,500 products each year. We're on the precipice of a protracted global trade war, which could reverse a trend most of us have long taken for granted: That, over me, mainstream tech gear tends to get cheaper. The onset of tariffs, or even the mere threat of them, could upend the steady price decreases. Be ready to snap up hidden bargains on cool products.
Best Budget Laptop for General Use Acer Aspire 3 (A315-24P)
If you're looking for a top budget laptop, consider the Acer Aspire 3 (A315-24P), a lowerpower machine that can s ll handle basic web browsing and light office tasks with surprisingly li le difficulty. It has a plain design, but its ba ery runs for ages, thanks in part to an efficient processor. Your priority in the entry-level segment should be to find a laptop that does what it says on the n, and this Acer model does exactly that.
MSRP $399.00 $329.99
Best Budget Inkjet Printer (for Homes) Epson Expression
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Best Budget Laser Printer HP LaserJet M209d
If you don't need a network connec on, print infrequently, and never require color output, the HP LaserJet M209d is well worth its reasonable price. Its print text quality is top-notch compared with both mono lasers in its price range and in the broader segment. The lack of Ethernet and Wi-Fi support are downsides, but the printer's low cost and solid performance make it very suitable for single users with light needs. MSRP $119.00 $69.00
Best Budget TV Hisense U6N Hisense TVs are usually an excellent value, and the inexpensive U6N punches well above its weight class. Its picture quality is fantas c for a budget TV, with
wide, accurate color and very strong contrast thanks to its mini-LED backlight system. It also has Google TV with handsfree Google Assistant, Google Cast, and Apple AirPlay, and very low input lag for gaming. You can spend more to get a brighter TV, but you won’t find a be er op on for the price.
MSRP $599.99 $348.00
Best Budget Headphones Anker Soundcore Space One If you seek quality sound and
decent ac ve noise cancella on for under $100, the Anker Soundcore Space One headphones are a worthy choice. They come with a cable for wired listening, support the LDAC codec for hi-res streaming from compa ble devices, and pair with a full-featured companion app that has customizable EQ. The bu on layout isn’t ideal, but the ear pads feel comfortable, and 40 hours of playback me with ANC is impressive. MSRP $99.99 $79.00
Best Budget True Wireless Earphones JLab JBuds Mini
Just because the JLab JBuds Mini are ny doesn’t mean they don’t offer a full set of capabili es. They sound punchy, include a highly effec ve transparency mode, work well for calls, and support a companion app with
adjustable EQ. Best of all, they come in under $40 and are durable enough for workouts thanks to their IP55 ra ng. MSRP $39.99 $27.99
Best Budget Cloud Storage IDrive
IDrive is one of the fastest and most full-featured online backup players around. It's also among the cheapest. Clear interfaces in the IDrive apps for all major pla orms let you store, sync, and share cloud files easily. You also get a significantly higher storage quota than any major compe tor, with plans star ng at 5TB for under $80 per year (and that's frequently discounted). IDrive also offers full disk-cloning so ware and remote web -based backup management. Per Year, Starts at $2.95
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One Good Idea!
From the RSPA Southern Conference - The One Good Idea Seminar with Jeff Hawes & Pat Whitworth
Summer Camp Tips
Use the Freezer Pops, and use them o en. Maybe twice an hour. They are cheap and kids love them. TIP is to have a small knife handy and cut them in half. This way, you can have them more o en and you don’t have to deal with trying to open the end.
I purchased a Co on Candy machine, and the kids come to camp for this treat.
Give out lollipops at the end of camp.
Put grips on kids racquets by their experience level – kinda like a mar al arts belt.
If you have a pool, let the kids go to the pool and dunk their heads. Some will do a li le, some a LOT
Let the kids take cups of water and soak the coaches.
Counselors have helmet type s ckers, and they receive racquet s ckers for their a tudes more than performance. At the end of the week, there are special prizes for most s ckers.
Mentorship program. Have a kid that has been to camps before be a brother/sister to a new camper.
Print out some fun dollars, and kids get ‘paid’ for good behavior and hi ng, and they use their dollars at the end of the week for prizes.
Kids get to setup their playlists for the music during the day. By the end of the weeks, the kids have to create a Rap song and perform it.
What do you do during a Summer Camp Rain Day?
Have the kids watch a Pro match and discuss what they are doing and how it relates.
Setup tables with different games on each table. Monopoly, drawing, playdoh, etc.
Use the online Jeopardy game and setup a custom game.
Video tape the kids on day one. When it rains, show the videos. At the end of the week, you can send the video to the parents of their kid.
Pay Rates, Raises, etc
The club has always held a Christmas Party for the staff. They made a pivot because not only was a endance dwindling, but people were not thrilled to have to a end. The club spent a lot of money on food and gi s. About 5 years ago, the decision was to use the money for quarterly bonuses.
Bonus at an indoor club to promote larger groups. Any instructor that was able to have classes above 4 was able to net $5-6 more per person.
Incen vize staff to be cer fied. Pay their annual dues also. There are 2 check ins per year, instead of just one that can some mes be a big surprise. Once a year is not enough to make adjustments if needed. At the end of the year, the educa on report cards are pulled and have a big effect on any pay raises. This shows con nuing educa on ma ers.
How do we raise lesson rates?
It is a ques on of value. Doug Cash always advocated a small raise every year instead of a larger increase every 4 -5 years. It was skipped during Covid.
Raise rates along with the Golf and other departments if they are part of your facility
Raise privates one year, then groups the alternate years
Benchmark with other similar facili es in your area, and adjust accordingly
Increase incrementally and o en. Many fear the response from their clients. If it is just 50 cents to $1 every year, it is really not an issue.
In a club situa on, communicate to the clients that the increases largely go for pay raises to the staff.
Tips for Your Dream Job Application
By Tom Daglis RSPA Master Professional, CRSE| McMcMahon Careers Execu ve Search Consultant
Presented by McMahon Careers
So, you have found a job opportunity that piques your interest. What next steps can you take to assist you with the overall process?
Let’s begin with the obvious…the Cover Le er and the Resume!
Cover Le er:
First, make sure your cover le er is representa ve of the job opportunity you are seeking, meaning that is should be customized with the club/facility name and the appropriate contact informa on (tailored to the General Manager name, Board Member name or Human Recourses Director’ s name). A generalized saluta on gree ng o en gives the impression that the applicant has simply blanket applied to mul ple jobs!
Second, always check for spelling! An easy fix but a cover le er with misspelling can give the hiring en ty an impression that you lack the detail to necessarily run a department.
An effec ve cover le er should include key successes and highlights pulled from your resume that you want to accentuate and ensure are key representa ons of the job descrip on. Align your cover le er with the requirements of the job you are seeking. Always remember, YOUR core strengths, values and unique selling points should be reinforced in every stage of the applica on process!
Resume:
Try to avoid using the iden cal resume for every job applica on. Ideally you should have 4-5 resumes in your files that reflect exactly what type of job you are applying for, namely, Director of Racquets; Director of Tennis; Di-
rector of Pickleball; Director of Adult Programming, etc.
One- or two-page resumes work
Be vigilant not to focus on only your past responsibili es but include more of your relevant accomplishments. I always recommend comparing percentages versus just numbers because that is how club management thinks! Most experts advise against including a photo of yourself unless it is requested. Including a photo may open the poten al for bias or discrimina on!
Consider using fonts that are easy to read and deemed professional. Your name and contact informa on should be included in every form of communica on make it easy for a poten al employer to contact you!
With AI being a factor in today’s world, make sure you incorporate key words and phrases that you find within the job descrip on. Recrui ng companies like Workday, ADP Workforce, SAP, Paycor, & Indeed, all use so ware that searches for key words and assists in narrowing down applicants based on what the job descrip on is looking for.
Accuracy is important. If your resume states you are a cer fied profes-
sional, make sure you are current with your cer fica ons otherwise list them as “formerly cer fied.” General Managers do validate cer fica ons and ensure they are up to date!
Finally, if there is a ques onnaire associated with the applica on, make sure your answers demonstrate that you have given the ques ons enough thought. Oneline answers give the impression that you have not spent enough me with your thought process and perhaps are rushing through the applica on!
Congratula ons, you have been selected for an interview! How should you prepare?
First, we always recommend professional a re both for onsite and Zoom interviews. It is human nature for people who see you only in racquet a re, to view you as someone who is simply having fun and not in a “Real Job” or business environment.
If you are conduc ng a Zoom interview, choose your se ng carefully. Conduc ng a Zoom interview from your phone inside your car gives the impression that you have not managed your me accordingly and are simply looking to squeeze the interview in between lessons!
Remember that Clubs and Facili es are hiring your personality and enthusiasm. You will become the face of the membership and members and clients should WANT to interact and be around you! SMILE and let your personality shine!
Keep your answers to ques ons relevant and concise while refraining from rambling or long-winded replies.
Prior to an interview, it is your responsibility to research the opportunity thoroughly. Simple searches about the membership might include what types of memberships are offered? How large is the membership? What is the median age of membership? And is there a seasonal component to the posi on?
Know the number of courts, types of courts, lighted courts and how many racquet sports are offered.
Number of employees and/or independent contractors especially in the department you are applying for. Have an idea of the department budget and I think it is
con nued
impera ve to find out what is the percentage of your poten al departmental budget compared to the overall club/facility budget. Some mes that can give you a picture of how much your department is valued!
What does the club/facility want from their new employee? Was there a par cular weakness that the former employee had? Are there any recurring challenges the department faces?
Club personnel con nuity should also be researched. How long has the former Director been at the club and has there been a lot of turnover? This can also be applied to
the General Manager posi on. Some mes reaching out to club directors who have proximity to the club can be valuable. They might be able to give you insights into the job or have opinions that may be significant.
In conclusion, remember to highlight what separates you from the pack! Always have the mindset of what are YOU going to do for THEM vs vice versa. How do you fit into THEIR club culture? Every club has a par cular culture, and you want to able to complement that. Ul mately, you wish to become a VALUED TEAM MEMBER!
Best of luck with your searches!!
