USPTA Mid-Atlantic Service Lines - Spring 2024

MESSAGE President’s

Dear fellow USPTA Mid-Atlantic professionals,

My name is Glenn Gerbino, and I am very proud to be serving the USPTA Mid-Atlantic Division as your President.

A little bit about me: I’ve been playing tennis since I was nine years old and teaching since 1991. My teaching career has taken me from my home on Long Island to Florida, Texas, Arizona and, now, Washington, DC, where I teach privately while contributing to the sport by being active in the USPTA.

My goals as President are to create strategies and directions for the Board, the State Representatives and Executive Director to follow in order to improve the organization’s efficiency and performance. So far this year, we have been

working on opportunities for meaningful engagement of our members, introducing updated ways to communicate, and providing more ways for the members to be engaged. We have restructured our committees to provide a better member experience.

Thank you, members, for your continued enthusiasm and participation in the USPTA Mid-Atlantic Division.

Sincerely,

Glenn Gerbino President, USPTA Mid-Atlantic

UPDATE Executive Director’s

SAVE THE DATES:

May 10 – 12, 2024 - USPTA Level 2 Professional Certification

Georgetown Preparatory School 10900 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, Maryland 20852

September 15 – 19, 2024 - 2024 USPTA World Conference

The Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort and Spa 71333 Dinah Shore Drive, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270

USPTA Mid-Atlantic Division Welcomes the Following New Members!

Flurry Yanez, Norfolk, Virginia

Oliver Crawford, Charleston, West Virginia

Carlos Arias, Rockville, Maryland

Nebyou Minassie, Alexandria, Virginia

Let’s Connect

The USPTA Mid-Atlantic Division is interested in connecting with you. If you have news you would like to share with the division, job postings, a promotion, tennis/pickleball tips or an upcoming event, then please send the information to me at Joni.Hannah@uspta.org . Also, please follow us on Facebook and on X (formerly Twitter) twitter.com/usptama

2024 USPTA Mid-Atlantic Annual Conference

February 23 – 24, 2024. Westwood Country Club, Vienna, Virginia

By Glenn Gerbino, President, USPTA Mid-Atlantic Division

We had a great turnout for the 2024 USPTA Mid-Atlantic Division Annual Conference held on February 23rd and 24th at Westwood Country Club in Vienna, Virginia. As President of the Mid-Atlantic Division, I could not be prouder of the Board, the State Representatives and our Executive Director for all of their efforts to make the conference such a tremendous success. Teamwork truly makes the dream work!

Our Board meeting held on Thursday, February 22nd, got the conference off to a great start. We had three guests from two other Divisions, Southern and Florida, who gave helpful input on ways to make our division stronger for the future.

Starting early Friday morning and finishing late Saturday afternoon, the conference was jam-packed with great presenters and fun events. Thank you to all our presenters! Your contributions were instrumental in making the event such a huge success. Some of the topics presented include: “GM Expectations for Transitioning to Head Pro/Director,” “Financial Planning 101 for Tennis Professionals,” “Increase Your Confidence Teaching Wheelchair Tennis,” “Taking Control

of Our Careers Beyond the Court,” “Making Tennis Fun and Accessible for Children with Autism” and “Elements for a Successful High School Season.” Westwood Country Club instructor Ivan Ronaldson treated us to an explanation and demonstration of Court Tennis—giving our members a glimpse of how tennis was played in the 1500s.

With over 80 participants, attendance for this year’s conference was up 30% over last year’s event and we had a much more diverse and younger crowd than in years past with double the number of female attendees and four times the number of female speakers.

Finally, at our annual Award Luncheon held during the conference, we honored the 2023 Mid-Atlantic Division award winners, welcomed our Class of 2024 Hall of Fame inductees, Lee Adams and Tom Hawkins, and celebrated Class of 2020 Hall of Fame inductee, Drew Robinson. Congratulations to all our Annual Award winners and our Hall of Fame inductees.

We are off to a great start in 2024.

2023

MID ATLANTIC HALL OF FAME & AWARD WINNERS

Congratulations to the following division members who were recognized for their commitment to excellence at the Annual Awards luncheon during our recent USPTA Mid-Atlantic Division Annual Conference:

LEE ADAMS TOM HAWKINS DREW ROBINSON

Mid-Atlantic Division Hall of Fame

Mid-Atlantic Division Hall of Fame

Mid-Atlantic Division Hall of Fame

BRUCE LIPKA

ARUN PANT

KARIM NAJDI

MARK DICHIARA

JULIUS

MASHONGANYIKA

Touring Pro of the Year

Maryland Pro of the Year

High School Coach of the Year

Large Facility Manager

Star Award

HYON YOO

Mid-Atlantic Professional of the Year

Recent USPTA Mid-Atlantic Division

Happenings

Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase, Maryland, introduced their “Glow in the Dark Pickleball Mixers” this winter season in their tennis bubble. Adult and Junior members experienced indoor pickleball in a new way! All the lights were turned off to create an interstellar atmosphere, literally. Players looked "glow-tastic" out on the courts and it was a big success! Columbia also had a record number of platform tennis enthusiasts participating in their men’s and women’s league with approximately 150 women in the Monday and Tuesday night leagues and 220 men in the Wednesday and Thursday leagues.

Columbia Association, Columbia, MD, hosted its Rome themed EKT (Evolution Kids Tennis Event) on February 19, these events are themed around tennis tournaments around the globe. The event saw over 40 kids competing on court and off the court with activities such as board games. Before the event a quiz is sent to all players with questions around the sport and they are encouraged to bring it in for extra points for their team!

Bethesda Country Club, Bethesda, MD, has expanded its racquet offerings to include three outdoor paddle courts, two dedicated outdoor pickleball courts and four indoor pickleball courts on two hard courts. The club has also recently added “Introduction to Liveball” to their programming. These sessions are more relaxed and perfect for the newer players and have been well received by their C and D team level women.

Christopher Newport University, Newport News, Virginia, has named Daniel McCain, USPTA Elite Professional and Tennis Director at Cape Henry Racquet Club in Virginia Beach, Virginia, as the new Assistant Coach. Daniel was also recently inducted into the Springfield (Illinois) Sports Hall of Fame on February 19, 2024. REGISTER FOR LEVEL 2 IN-PERSON WORKSHOP →

Let’s Meet Our DC Representative

ANGELA MCDOWELL, DC

Representative for the USPTA Mid-Atlantic Division

Greetings Mid-Atlantic Crew! My name is Angela McDowell and I recently joined the USPTA Mid-Atlantic Division team as the DC State Representative and I want to introduce myself to my fellow professionals.

Born: I am a DC Native! We still exist!

Residence: Deanwood, NE (Ward 7) District Species

My Club: St. Albans Tennis Center (NW DC)

Job: St. Albans School - Asst. Director of Summer Programs & Club Administration. In addition to managing the tennis club, I also string & support the tennis teams.

Years in Tennis Industry: About 18 - all at St. Albans School

USPTA Membership: 3 years

1st Racquet Owned: I believe it was a two-toned Wilson (likely from Kmart)

Favorite Player: Pete Sampras

Playing History: NONE, unless we are counting this winter’s DPR 3.0 Sunday doubles matches :)

On-Court Demeanor: Sometimes, my racquet departs my company and may not recover from the trauma

Fun Fact: I attended UNC-Chapel Hill at the same time as Nick Monroe (former tour player, current broadcaster). We even had a communications class together, though we don’t know each other.

Born: Receiving a wonderful email from a team player’s dad, recalling how his son shared at dinner how cool and fun it was that I participated with the boys during practice. …when you’re not a super skilled player or coach, it’s nice to know your presence can still be valued.

In the future, especially any DC-based pros, please reach out so we can shine a light on you and what you’re doing!

To connect with Angela: angelalmcd@gmail.com

Let’s Meet Our Maryland Representatives BETSY HEIDENBERGER

Maryland Representative for the USPTA Mid-Atlantic Division

My Club: CCRA Swim and Tennis Club and Chevy Chase Club

Job: Director of Racquet Sports at CCRA. The main reason why the club keeps me is because of my various costumes I display on the courts such as grape suit, banana suit, wigs, etc. This is a seasonal position and during the winter off-season, I organize tennis and pickleball trips and run a cardio tennis program at the Chevy Chase Club and enjoy platform tennis.

USPTA Member Since: 1982

Fun fact: I lived in the same dormitory as Michael Jordan while in college at UNC - Chapel Hill.

Best Coaching Experience:

My best experience as a tennis coach after all these years is too many to narrow down! A true highlight are the times when a junior player in my Wimpleton class, ages 5 to 7, hits a target. The excitement is priceless!

To connect with Betsy: betsyracket@gmail.com

Sam Stone

Maryland Representative for the USPTA Mid-Atlantic Division

Greetings Mid-Atlantic Crew! My name is Sam Stone and I recently joined the USPTA MidAtlantic Division team as the Maryland State Representative. The state representative role has been around for a while, but I’m excited to work with the new Board in rejuvenating this position! My job description is to help all the Maryland

professionals showcase their talents and milestones within their clubs and get the word out about your events and happenings! Please keep me posted as you host tournaments, charity events and anything else you’d like to share with your peers in our region and the greater tennis community.

Residence: Annapolis, Maryland (recently relocated from sunny San Diego)

Current Coaching: Freelance around Annapolis/Anne Arundel County

My 9-5: Financial Advisor for Northwestern Mutual

Side Hustle: San Diego Tennis Center, a 2-court facility in Point Loma that I co-founded in 2018

Years in Tennis

Industry: About 17, which have brought me from the green mountains of Vermont to California and now back to the East Coast

USPTA Membership: 6 years

Alma Mater: Franklin & Marshall College (Lancaster, Pa), 4-year starter

Singles or Doubles: Doubles specialist!

Favorite Player: Juan Martin del Potro

On-Court Demeanor: I once had a referee tell me “I don’t give a rat’s a** how many warnings I’m supposed to give you!”

Best Coaching Experience: Teaching kids living at the US-Mexico border in Otay Mesa, California who had never heard of tennis, much less held a racket before. It’s my mission to grow our game and the best place to do so is in our community parks!

To connect with Sam: samstone09@gmail.com and LinkedIn

Let’s Meet Our Virginia Representatives MIKE CABOY

Virginia Representative for the USPTA Mid-Atlantic Division

Hello from the Hampton Roads area in SE Virginia. Wanted to take time to introduce myself to you as one of the Virginia State Representatives for the USPTA Mid-Atlantic Division. I have had the pleasure of working with many of you and look forward to working with those of you in the area I have not yet had the opportunity to do so.

Just a little about me: I learned to play tennis from my grandfather starting at the age of 4. My grandfather had played at a high level and used to play with Pancho Segura, Jimmy Conner’s coach. I could beat my mother by age 10, but could not beat my grandfather until I was a senior in high school and preparing to play in college.

My first job after college was at the Contemporary Resort at

Walt Disney World as the assistant tennis pro. I spent a total of 14 years at Disney in a variety of roles before moving to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. I became the Director of Tennis at Spanish Wells Club, where I worked for 15 years. I held numerous exhibitions for the members, in which I lost 12 straight matches against tennis legend, Stan Smith! (No one beats me 13 times in a row!!) I have been the Director of Tennis at the McCormack Nagelsen Tennis Center at the College of William & Mary since 2016.

Favorite Player: Stefan Edberg (great backhand, no forehand. Just like me!)

Favorite Statement: To me from Stan Smith, in front of 100 members, “Hey Mike, your serve is very deceiving………. It’s a lot slower than it looks! HAHA

Memorable Match: Getting to play doubles with Alan Alda and Sugar Ray Leonard on my 5th wedding anniversary!

Please feel free to reach out to me at any time. I would love to connect with you! See you on the courts!

To connect with Mike: - mlcaboy@wm.edu

JOSEPH CARUTH

Virginia Representative for the USPTA Mid-Atlantic Division

Hello, my name is Joseph Caruth and I am currently serving the USPTA Mid-Atlantic Division as one of two Virginia State Representatives. The Mid-Atlantic Division seeks to modernize and determine how we might better serve our USPTA members, and we ask that you share any future plans and activities that you would like to have showcased in our USPTA Mid-Atlantic Division newsletter.

I was born and raised in a military family in Colorado Springs Colorado, home of the US Olympic Training Center and USAF

Academy. My wife, Rosario, and I traveled here to the Fairfax County area from Navarre, Florida about 8 years ago to be closer to our grandchildren. We have a family membership at Fairfax Racquet Club where I currently work as a volunteer coach.

Job: Owner of GR77 Solutions LLC a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business specializing in Education and Training and USTA Certified Tennis Provider

First Racquet: Wilson T2000

Favorite Players: Andre Agassi and Steffi Graff

To connect with Joseph:

Web: www.gr77solutions.com

Email: jc@gr77solutions.com

Mobile: 850 855-7797

USPTA Tennis Professionals INDUCTED

into USTA Mid-Atlantic Hall of Fame

The USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation held its Centennial Gala at the National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian American Art Museum to celebrate the USTA Mid-Atlantic’s 100 years of growing tennis in the region and to induct its Centennial Hall of Fame Class, including four of our own USPTA MidAtlantic Division tennis professionals – Gus Castillo, Vicki Datlow, Joni Hannah and Jim Thompson. The black-tie event was hosted by Pam Shriver and had over 500 guests, raising financial support for the USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation’s mission to grow tennis and vision for increased access to the sport in the community through outreach programs such as the USTA Mid-Atlantic Junior Player Scholarship, the Facility/Court Restoration Grant, and the organization’s Girls Rule the Court program.

Gustavo “Gus” Castillo

For nearly six decades, Gustavo “Gus” Castillo has been an enduring force in the world of tennis. Starting as a humble ball boy in Bogota, Colombia, he worked after school until dark to help support his brothers and sisters after his father died. A self-taught player, Gus rose to prominence, becoming Colombia's No. 1 junior and senior player. His journey as a professional tennis player took him to prestigious heights, representing Colombia three times in Davis Cup competition and playing the professional circuit for seven years. Later Gus dedicated himself to teaching some of MidAtlantic’s greatest players. Many decades later, Gus remains a dedicated tournament competitor, a committed teaching professional astute in the latest best practices and certifications, and the owner of a premier court construction and maintenance business. He generously shares his personal clay and grass courts for aspiring Mid-Atlantic players to prepare on these surfaces prior to their competitions, showcasing his enduring dedication to the sport he has grown for more than 60 years.

The highlight of the event was the USTA Mid-Atlantic Hall of Fame induction ceremony, the first hall of fame class in 10 years! The inductees were selected for their significant achievements in tennis as outstanding players and/or contributors to the growth of the sport in the region and beyond. Existing Hall of Fame members include area tennis legends like Arthur Ashe, Pam Shriver, Pauline Betz Addie, Mark Ein and Donald Dell. In addition to our four USPTA MidAtlantic pros, the current inductees included #17 worldranked superstar, Frances Tiafoe, Page & David Crosland and Sara Fornaciari. Below is additional information on the USPTA Mid-Atlantic members of this prestigious group.

Jim Thompson

Since 1998 while serving as the head men’s tennis coach at Virginia Tech, Jim Thompson has led the team to impressive heights. The Hokies have seen postseason success 15 times and achieving 24 qualifications for the NCAA singles/ doubles field. Under Jim’s guidance in the ACC, Virginia Tech has achieved a national ranking every season except for one and has had at least one player ranked in the singles standings every year since 2002. His impact extends beyond the courts, emphasizing character and sportsmanship, evident from his Sportsmanship awards both as a college player at Davidson College and as a coach. An active contributor to the tennis community, he conducts weekly tennis clinics and launched a Wheelchair program in Blacksburg. In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Jim has served on the ITA Rules Committee and has been a member of the ITA Operating Committee. Currently, he serves as the Chairman of the ITA Atlantic Region -- embodying a commitment to the sport and its accessibility.

Vicki Datlow

Vicki Datlow’s passion for tennis began in Baltimore during summers playing tennis wherever she could. These early days were the foundation to a legacy of giving back to the sport. Following her collegiate tennis career at Rollins College, she played a pivotal role in establishing and growing renowned tennis academies such as Dennis Ralston’s Tennis Camp, the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, the Harry Hopman Tennis Academy, and working with visionaries Donald Dell and Ray Benton.

In the Mid-Atlantic region, Vicki was a trailblazer as one of the nation’s first female tennis leaders. In the early 1970’s she was at the helm of a newly developed tennis club in Columbia, MD and later in that decade opened and established programs at the Aspen Hill Club. Vicki’s impactful journey involved spearheading tennis development at prominent centers such as Bullis Tennis Center, Regency Sport & Health, and the Montgomery TennisPlex. She was instrumental teaching tennis, hosting and running substantial tournaments and programs, leagues, and special events that broke barriers and gave people an introduction to tennis. Her work influenced thousands of players.

Vicki’s passion to grow tennis and make it easily accessible inspired her to organize innovative events and programs such as the first College Night with Dede Allen and Early Development Camps that helped hundreds of young players. She partnered with tennis industry leaders such as Wilson, Dunlop, Head, and the Washington Kastles to support grassroots tennis.

Vicki actively contributed to the USTA Mid-Atlantic as a volunteer, serving on committees for nearly 30 years. She received the USTA Maryland Award for Outstanding Lifetime Contribution to Maryland Tennis and Award for Junior Development. Vicki began tournament play as a teenager, quickly rising to No. 1 in the Mid-Atlantic and twice had a semifinals finish at the USTA National Indoor Championships. As an adult, Vicki competed in area and national tournaments, club leagues and USTA Leagues for more than 50 years, obtaining national rankings in many age divisions. Currently Vicki is working with the Montgomery County Tennis and Education Foundation promoting and teaching in middle school after school tennis programs.

Joni Hannah

Joni Hannah was a nationally ranked junior tennis player who won USTA national championships in the 14s Nationals and the Sugar Bowl, was a finalist in the prestigious Easter Bowl championships, and won a silver medal in the National Sports Festival.

Joni attended Rollins College on full scholarship as four-year starter on the varsity tennis team and competed in the NCAA Division I national tennis championships. Later, Joni was also a top player on the women’s senior tennis circuit, achieving #1 national rankings for both singles and doubles and a #7 world ranking in singles in her age group, winning numerous national titles, and representing the United States in international team competitions throughout the world.

As a tennis teaching professional, Joni was the Director of Tennis at Westwood Country Club in Vienna, Virginia for 25 years, during which time she was the recipient of the USTA Virginia Division Teaching Pro of the Year and USPTA Mid Atlantic Tennis Professional of the Year, and was the first female tennis professional inducted into the USPTA MidAtlantic Hall of Fame.

Joni was recognized as one of the Washington DC area’s ten greatest tennis players and contributors in The Great Book of Washington, D.C. Sports Lists, written by Andy Pollin & Leonard Shapiro. Joni is also the very proud past recipient of the Margaret Russo National Sportsmanship Award given by the National Senior Women’s Tennis Association. Joni is currently the Executive Director of the USPTA Mid-Atlantic Division and a tennis teaching professional.

Congratulations to our outstanding USPTA Mid-Atlantic Division tennis professionals!

DUNLOP

We’ve

USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation Volunteer Program

Coaches, there’s a great resource waiting for you – the USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation’s Volunteer program!

With more than 200 local volunteers in the program, if you have a special event or a need for volunteers you can use the USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation’s Volunteer Hub to connect with and recruit individuals who can help make your event a success. You can publish your volunteer opportunities by completing this request form.

Our Volunteer Program isn't just about finding volunteers; it's a dual-purpose initiative. You can also give back by volunteering with the USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation. Whether your passion lies in coaching, event planning, or simply sharing the love of tennis, there's an opportunity waiting for you. Create an account and find available volunteer opportunities now!

Don’t forget, you can earn extra money by becoming a USTA Official! Sign up TODAY.

Making Tennis Fun and Accessible for Children with Autism

By: Rachel Bloch & Lynn Gertzog, Co-Directors ACEing Autism - Washington, DC Washington@aceingautism.org https://aceingautism.org

How Do Autism & Other Neurodiverse Conditions Such as ADHD or Anxiety Present on the Tennis Court?

• Restrictive or repetitive behaviors. Must follow certain routines. Impulsive behaviors. May hit balls when supposed to be listening.

• Low frustration tolerance (Don’t like losing, overstimulation.

• Different ways of learning (e.g., Visual prompting, modeling).

• Anxiety. Reluctance to participate or need to know what comes next.

• Inflexibility. Transitions difficult.

• Social and Communication challenges (limited eye contact, limited speech)

Motor skill, hand-eye coordination, and spacial deficits. Unique Strengths: superior creativity and focus, long term memory, visual memory, enjoyment of routines, attention to detail, consistency, aptitude for patterns/shape/math.

Strategies: Adapting Your Teaching for More Successful Outcomes (i.e., happy, relaxed, engaged kids who love learning tennis)

Lower ratios (use volunteers - high school service learning hours).

• Visual supports - lines, spots, cones, buckets with specific number of balls in them.

• Highly structured, visual curriculum.

• Less talking, explicit/simplified directions and demonstrations. Ensure success - use different types of balls based on ability, need, space

• Physical assistance with eventual ‘fade out.’

• Break down skills into smaller more manageable components.

• Start with activities inclusive to all and modify as needed.

• Learn Interest - Reward System - use “if, then” language for motivation, redirection.

• Allow for choices.

• Positive reinforcement - Frequent, specific praise and high 5s.

• Be aware of environment and sensory distractions; offer breaks/ quiet space.

Cooperative games/drills that facilitate social interaction, peer modeling

Varsity Futures MIDDLE SCHOOL TEAM TENNIS

Developing Junior Competition and Future Coaches

David Robinson, 2023 USPTA Mid Atlantic Education Committee Chairman

Co-ed, no-tryouts, no-cut, no-bench, everybody plays!

For the last decade my staff and I have been providing after-school PTSA sponsored beginning and intermediate tennis classes at most of the public middle and elementary schools in Bethesda and Chevy Chase, Maryland. We try to use interns from the cluster high school tennis teams, preferably to assist the same elementary and middle schools they once attended for their fall season. The school system allows Student Service Learning (SSL) education credits for coach interns.

Montgomery County Public Schools have four tennis courts at each of the middle schools. In Fall of 2023, I reached out to the principals, athletic directors and PTSA’s of the middle schools I manage regarding an ad-hoc intermural team for students aspiring to play on their future high school varsity teams. MCPS has limited intermural sports in the middle schools due to budget. The programs are basketball, cross country, soccer, and softball.

After getting the green light, I set up a pilot with three geographically close middle schools to play each other, and to have a multi-team end-of-season tournament at a cluster high school. There would be at least one practice per week. I used the USTA SERVE software to set up my registrations under WTN MATCH PLAY so that all the kids would have a World Tennis Number by end of season and inspire competitive play with WTN ladder matches.

In the first week of registrations, I had waitlists large enough to offer a second session at each school. Pyle Middle School ended up with four sold-out sessions per week. 8.3% of Pyle total student body enrolled in after school tennis setting a school record for single sport participation. Pyle, with over 1600 students, is the largest middle school in the state of Maryland. The Varsity Futures program enrollment was 23 of the 108 Pyle enrollments.

Startup Competitions

As the practices began, I realized that we had significant disparity of skills, but everyone was eager to play other schools. Some of the kids had limited match experience, and some had none, never having played an actual set of tennis and vague on the rules.

Serving would be a primary practice goal for that subset and I used my beginner/intermediate game-based method to develop. Basically, the kids play points in champs’n’challengers format, the politically safe retitle for “kings and queens”. They initiate points with serves that don’t have to land in the box, but they get a bonus point for each time they do get a serve into the correct box. There is no second serve. The doubles challengers have both players serve simultaneously in dingles format so more serves are hit, and the chances of longer rallies increase. In a few weeks, almost all the kids could get more than half their serves in the correct box, and I tightened up the rules to serves in box only.

I used USTA SERVE WTN Match-Play module to setup micro round robins using modified match-tiebreaks and/or 4 no-ad games with regular tiebreaks. I anchored one player who already had a WTN into a flight with those without WTN to begin the process of generating WTNs and improving the accuracy of WTNs known in USTA SERVE software as “confidence level” which can be low, medium, or high. I learned the low confidence level was skewed towards higher rather than lower skill.

A modified tiebreaker for kids who are just playing their first few tiebreakers uses 2-2-2-2 format rather than the official 1-2-2-2 format which adds confusion. Also noting, serving first in rotation is not an advantage at this level but why the 1-2-2-2 was created for professional tennis. I explained to the anchor players why we were doing this modified scoring format and they immediately understood and organically became assistant coaches. It might be one of my most gratifying experiences during these sessions was watching the anchors become coaches.

I was concerned the anchors would not be challenged in the matches, but they seemed to embrace the challenge of coaching and I see this as not just Varsity Futures, but USPTA Futures! The winners from each flight, usually the anchors, then played each other in second round robin for ladder positions.

The Intermural Dual Meets

I wanted a lot of matches in the 90-minute window. I set up doubles for the first half of the session in a 4-game no-ad + tiebreak if needed. Singles were match-tiebreaks and all the kids that wanted to play both singles and doubles did that, and others just played doubles or singles to their preference. I think it is very

important that these early tastes of match-play are as positive as possible, and we can be flexible in our coaching approach. The team winner was decided by most matches won, ranging between 22-26 total mini-matches. I had originally envisioned the dual meets to mirror a truncated high school format but opted out of lineups to matchups closer to drop-in event.

The End-of-Season Singles Tournament: packing 16 court-hours!

Although the dual meets were co-ed match-play, the singles tournament had a boys 16 draw and girls 16 draw plus two feed-in rounds to boys’ draw. Both events had back draws. With eight courts and two hours, we crunched with match tiebreaks as matches. This allowed extra available courts in the last half of the event for the kids who lost twice to get yet another round in and/ or doubles play. After making 4 seeds in each draw, I filled the draw by spacing kids from same school away from each other.

A match won in the main draw earned 10 points for their school and a match won in back draw earned 5 points as did the bonus doubles and any triple elimination singles. Since the schools had different volumes of players, I averaged the total points of matches played for team standings. There were individual trophies for boys’ and girls’ winners, RUs and third place in both main and back draws. Pyle won the team event and received a plaque with each of their players named. Pyle also won the dual meet season undefeated and received a plaque for that. Both plaques hang in the school sports trophy wall to further inspire these kids and others.

I still need more coaches, so if interested, please email me: Tennis. DMV@gmail.com . Programs are 6-8 weeks Spring and Fall at 3pm.

2nd Annual Doris Briggs Invitational Tournament

New Year’s Day, 2024 Fairfax Racquet Club, Fairfax, Virginia

Karen Rice , Tennis Professional, Fairfax Racquet Club

“In the mid-1960s, Doris Briggs and her four children drove the 700 miles from Chicago to Virginia in her Chevrolet in pursuit of a new life. Briggs would later recall, “Everybody said, ‘Don’t do it, don’t do it, you have no friends.’ I said I have friends everywhere. And I had my faith, had my four children, and I knew it was going to be a better life for me.”

Their destination, Reston, Virginia, promised a community-centered alternative to modern suburbia that was inclusive of black families like the Briggs’s — well before the Fair Housing Act of 1968 made housing discrimination illegal. Doris has been a stalwart of the Fairfax Racquet Club and the MLK Jr. Christian Church for over 40 years. Her dedication to promoting tennis in the community and teaching both young and adult players for so many years is admirable.”

The Making of Reston and Columbia (richmondfed.org)

The tournament was held to benefit the Martin Luther King (MLK), Jr. Christian Church in Reston, Virginia. Many people were involved with organizing and sponsoring the tennis tournament, including, Tournament Director, USPTA Professional Joseph H Caruth Jr., Doris Briggs, Fairfax Racquet Club, Race2Dinner and the MLK, Jr. Christian Church. Proceeds from the event will help support the MLK, Jr. Christian Church’s various outreach and other programs.

The 16 Team Double Elimination Draw began at 11am 8-game pro sets featuring Mixed Doubles teams. Some were seasoned doubles veterans with many years of USTA competition experience while other teams being introduced for the first time at their first match! Most entrants were members of Fairfax Racquet Club, but that was not a requirement to enter. For those needing partners, Doris Briggs was able to match them with comparable players to allow the best matches.

The ages of players ranged from 11 years old to 65+. Just after meeting her partner for the first time, Ms. Camelia, Cami McIntosh (11 years old and a serious junior tournament competitor) and Charlie Tellis, (a veteran USTA 4.5 NTP player) stepped onto the court after meeting each other for the first time. After a few games and some very fine rallies, this duo found their “groove “and went on to win the tournament. Trophies were given to the overall tournament winners and the consolation winners. All players received a custom-designed tournament t-shirt.

In addition to the double elimination tournament there was a silent auction. Auctioned items included Tennis lessons from USPTA Professionals Riley King and Natasha Dziamidzenka, as

well as baked goods and a raffle for cash prizes. A buffet of sandwiches, snacks and desserts quenched the hunger from a match or the excitement of watching the matches. The spectators in attendance were fortunate to be able to see 6 courts of play at once from the upstairs viewing gallery at Fairfax Racquet Club.

Players and spectators enjoyed an afternoon of fun, food, competition and celebrating our community in a positive way. There was even competition for a slice of Ms. McIntosh’s homemade lemon pound cake!! Everyone left with a smile on their face, excitement for a fresh beginning to the New Year and anticipation of next year’s tournament.

Pictured: Joseph Caruth and Doris Briggs

Pictured: Charlie Tellis, Joseph Caruth and Cammi McIntosh

GREAT WAYS 7 Proactively to

Prevent Injuries

David Starbuck Smith, Whole Mind & Body Coach. Author. Speaker.

DavidStarbuckSmith@gmail.com

davidstarbucksmith.com

Amazon: “Ageless Painless Tennis”

As far as I know, no one has the superpower to prevent all injuries. Despite this obvious declaration, it’s much better to be proactive when attempting to limit injury occurrence and there are several highly effective ways to maintain some control over your own destiny.

1

Restore Postural Balance

Your postural alignment is a like a roadmap pointing the way to where you’re most vulnerable to injury. Restoring musculoskeletal balance is therefore paramount to preventing it. Here are a few easy questions to ask yourself while looking in the mirror to identify your own imbalances:

• Are your shoulders level or does one shoulder rest below the other? If one shoulder sits lower it means you have a shoulder blade and back muscle imbalance all the way to your hips which increases stress one side of your spine and on one hip.

• Do your shoulders look slumped when you look at yourself from the side? Slumpy shoulders indicate your upper back is rounded forward and creating excessive stress on your lower back and neck muscles to counterbalance. Shoulder issues are also possible because a rounded upper back can negatively impact the mechanics of your shoulder joint.

• When you look at your feet does one foot point out more than the other or is one foot sitting ahead of the other? Imbalanced feet indicate rotated hips and uneven weight distribution between right and left sides. The side that’s overloaded is almost always the first to be injured.

There are many books and modalities that deal with restoring

postural balance including my book, “Ageless, Painless Tennis,” and Pete Egoscue’s book, “Pain Free.” Additionally, Rolfing, Egoscue and/or a good chiropractor are all possible routes to explore for further help.

2 Vary Your Training

Our bodies respond and adapt to the stimulus we provide which is why it’s imperative to vary your training. By vary I mean mix up your weight and strength routines to avoid developing muscle imbalances (see above section on restoring postural balance). Weights can help OR harm, so train your body in all planes of motion and function, never do the same weight routine or the same weight machines two days in a row (unless you’re specifically targeting a weakness), and work with a knowledgeable trainer so you can learn new exercises and new ways to stimulate your entire body. Also, don’t just be a runner or a cyclist or follow one singular activity as your mode of exercise. Add swimming, dancing, Nordic skiing, yoga, squash, or anything else that sounds fun. The varied stimulus will keep you much more functional than just one sport or activity alone.

3 Maintain Flexibility

Flexibility is another term for joint function. Maintaining full joint range of motion in your shoulders, spine and hips is imperative for staving off injury. Therefore, when weight or strength training, never compromise overall flexibility and joint mobility for strength. The only exception is when the goal is to strengthen an unstable joint (e.g. if recovering from an injury or surgery). Most of you already know where you’re “functionally challenged” so don’t accept limitations if you

don’t have to. Rolfing, Egoscue, Muscle Activation Technique (MAT), and yoga are a few examples of modalities or techniques that work to enhance your joint range of motion and overall flexibility.

4 Stay Connected to your Body

Our bodies are equipped with warning signs that injury is possible, which makes it imperative to pay attention and stay connected at all times. Muscle or joint pain is the body’s biggest warning system but it’s usually the last step. Before pain sets in there are other blinking red lights of various intensities to wisely heed before it’s too late:

• Excessive fatigue might mean you’re overtraining or that your immune system is under attack, leaving you vulnerable to breaking down.

• Chronic tightness in one muscle group like one hamstring, calf or achilles tendon can often indicate those muscles or tendons are too overstressed and close to giving way.

• A general sense that you don’t want to play today might be your body’s subliminal message it’s not up for the task because it senses an issue even if you’re not consciously aware of one.

As a general rule, if you don’t feel like exercising or playing on a given day, then don’t!

5 Get Plenty of Sleep

Our brains and bodies restore, renew and repair through sleep and rest but especially through REM sleep. Some people need more sleep than others but we all instinctively and experientially know how much we need to operate optimally. The key word there is optimally rather than just getting through the day without drinking five cups of coffee. One or two restless nights is usually not a big deal and fairly common especially before a big competition, but repeated failure to get enough sleep is a recipe for injury. So, get your z’s and keep your mind and body at their peak state.

6 Stay Hydrated

Our muscles and vertebral discs are made up of about 70% water while joint cartilage found in the knees and hips is about 60% H 2 O. Suffice to say that if any of those structures are dehydrated they lose their ability to absorb shock and to move optimally. Many muscles strains and tears are directly correlated to dehydration so remaining hydrated can help you avoid pulled hamstrings or disc ruptures. Recent studies have found that drinking milk is one of the fastest ways to rehydrate and next in line is a decent electrolyte drink (try to avoid sugary ones though). Water will eventually do the trick too, so drink up!

7 Meditate

Your body and mind are inseparable. This is clearly illustrated any time you get nervous and your heart and breathing rate increase, or when your neck aches when you’re stressed. Emotional stress creates and amplifies physical stress, so if you charge the field or court while angry or under

emotional duress you enhance your chance of injury. Meditate and focus on your breath… – breathe in and let your stomach expand and breathe out to the count of 10. Let go of your worries, fears and anger for a minute and reset your mind. Your body will likely reward you by carrying you through another day healthily and happily!

In summation, give yourself the best chance of avoiding injuries by becoming your own guide, pay attention to your body’s messages and remain as proactive as possible. It’s also crucial to seek out and recruit knowledgeable and skilled people to your health and healing team while trying many different healing modalities. The more traditional and “alternative” therapeutic roads you test the more you’ll learn what works best for you and your body. You’ll be rewarded physically and mentally, and you might even improve your performance along the way!

THE POWER OF PUSH NOTIFICATIONS:

Enhancing Communication in Tennis and Pickleball Facilities

Ashley Owens , CourtReserve. Co-Founder & Director of Sales and Marketing

In today’s digital age, effective communication is critical to the success and growth of any organization. Tennis and pickleball facilities are no exception. To streamline communication and keep players informed, facilities should leverage the power of push notifications. These instant messages sent directly to players’ smartphones can revolutionize how facilities interact with their players. We will explore why tennis and pickleball facilities should adopt push notifications as a primary communication channel.

Instantaneous Updates

One of the most significant advantages of push notifications is their speed. With a single tap, facilities can instantly reach all players, ensuring timely and relevant updates. Whether it’s changes in court availability, registrations, upcoming events, or facility closures, push notifications deliver real-time information directly to players’ devices. Facilities can ensure that players receive critical updates promptly by eliminating the delays associated with emails or phone calls.

Increased Player Engagement

Push notifications have a remarkable ability to capture players’ attention and engage them with facility activities. Unlike emails that can quickly go unnoticed in overflowing inboxes, push notifications appear directly on players’ screens, demanding immediate attention. Facilities can leverage this advantage to promote upcoming tournaments, social events, and clinics or even share tips and advice related to the sport. By providing valuable and personalized content, facilities can keep players engaged and foster a sense of community.

Personalized and Targeted Communication

Push notifications offer a highly personalized communication approach. Facilities can segment their player base and tailor messages based on specific criteria such as skill level, age group, or preferred playing times. This level of customization allows facilities to send targeted notifications, ensuring that players receive relevant information that matches their interests and needs. For example, a facility might notify advanced players about an upcoming high-level tournament, while beginners might receive notifications about beginner-friendly clinics or workshops. Such targeted communication enhances the overall player experience and helps build lasting relationships.

Schedule Reminders and Updates

In a busy world, players often need help to keep track of their schedules. Push notifications can be friendly reminders, helping players stay organized and on top of their commitments. Facilities can send notifications about upcoming matches, league schedules, or lesson reminders, ensuring players never miss an important event. Additionally, in unforeseen circumstances such as inclement weather or sudden court closures, push notifications provide a quick and efficient way to update players, reducing confusion and inconvenience.

In today’s fast-paced world, effective communication is vital for tennis and pickleball facilities to thrive and maintain a strong connection with their players. By harnessing the power of Push Notifications technology, CourtReserve can help tennis and pickleball facilities foster stronger player relationships, create a sense of community, and enhance the overall player experience.

“StringPing has acted as the centerpiece within our membership communication strategy. The StringPing platform is dynamic, easy to use, and most importantly has propelled our membership engagement and revenue streams to new heights. The StringPing team has been a joy to work with and I deeply believe the platform is an indispensable tool to any club.”

— Dmitri Diakonov GPYC Director of Tennis