contents the total professional – enhancing your career
departments 5 Vice president’s message
Ask the Professor
9 Classifieds
7 Help your students find their inner ‘fun’ on court – 34 USPTA mailbox by Jack Groppel, Ph.D., FACSM , USPTA Master Professional 8 Farewell to the Professor – Groppel column a highlight in ADDvantage for nearly three decades 9 So Long, Jack
35 USPTA drills 36 Career development 38 Industry action
21 A teaching mom’s guide to life with kids – How I juggled the ‘Big Book,’ child care, and a desire to teach – by Anna Marie Gamboa, USPTA 25 What is your real job? Educating your members on the importance of your role at the club – by Scott Ficks, USPTA 29 A champion till the end – by Jill Phipps, USPTA staff writer
news
2 Important information – New proposed slate
32 USPTA’s APC competency exam now available
convention 11 2011 USPTA World Conference 13 Conference schedule 15 Award nominations due July 1 – Nominate an inspirational USPTA Professional today! 16 Registration form 17 Hotel form 18 International Championships form On the cover – Saddlebrook Resort, Wesley Chapel, Fla., location of the 2011 USPTA World Conference.
volume 35 • issue 5
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com ADDvantage magazine editorial offices USPTA World Headquarters 3535 Briarpark Drive, Suite One Houston, TX 77042 Phone – 713-978-7782 800-USPTA-4U Fax – 713-358-7794 e-mail – magazine@uspta.org
Shawna Riley Kimberly Forrester Kathy Buchanan John Dettor
Office hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Central time
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
Editor Managing editor Circulation Advertising
ADDvantage is published monthly by the United States Professional Tennis Association.
The opinions expressed in ADDvantage are those of the authors and not necessarily those of ADDvantage or the USPTA. Copyright© United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc. 2011. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion of the magazine is not permitted without written permission from USPTA. ADDvantage/May 2011
1
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
May 10, 2011 Dear USPTA Member: The USPTA Executive Committee, during its April semiannual meeting, voted to present the membership with a new slate of officers for the 2011-13 National Board of Directors. The Nominating Committee’s proposed slate for the 2011-13 Board of Directors is as follows: President
Tom Daglis
First vice president
Randy Mattingley
Vice presidents Mark Fairchilds Bunny Bruning Chuck Gill Bill Mountford Jeff Hawes Past president
Harry Gilbert
The Nominating Committee’s proposed slate replaces the slate published in the March issue of ADDvantage. Additional nominations may be made by the general membership in accordance with the USPTA Bylaws, Article VII, Section 3. In order for a new candidate to be added to the ballot, he or she must be nominated by at least 120 members. Only one nominee per office will be added to the slate, and the deadline for submission of signature forms has been extended to June 19. Sincerely, UNITED STATES PROFESSIONAL TENNIS ASSOCIATION INC.
Tim Heckler CEO
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
ADDvantage/May 2011
3
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ADDvantage/May 2011
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
Vice president’s message Creativity, unity, good for business – and the game
T
he USPTA is like a complex jigsaw puzzle; Can you give something away to increase each piece in a puzzle is unique. Our associa- participation? Tennis Across America™ is a great tion has members in all 50 states and many early-season program for this. Also, USPTA has the countries – people of every race, religion and age. banners and logos to help you sell this event. Invite We are married, divorced, single, gay, straight; some the public or guests of members, and partner with a community event or with the USTA to gain more teach in wheelchairs, others don’t. The intriguing thing is that the USPTA, over exposure. the past several decades, has made it all fit together. Joe Roediger of Eastern puts on a huge Tennis Sure, there have been times of uncertainty and Fest at Saw Mill for the public with Cardio Tennis, fast-serve competition, speakers, change. Sometimes it seems like we a band, and on-court games. Geoff are putting the puzzle together in Griffin and his fellow San Diego pros the dark and it is very stressful and also have a Tennis Fest, in May, with frustrating. But one thing the USPTA 60 pros involved in promoting tennis. can be counted on doing is standing If there ever was a great time to up for what is best for the teaching grow your business by teaching Little professional and growing the game Tennis with the QuickStart format, of tennis. it’s now. The USTA is putting lots of So how do we connect the pieces? marketing dollars, grants, and inforWhat is best for us? First, we need to mation into this initiative. So jump think about growing our own busion board and ride the wave of 10 and nesses. It doesn’t matter if you’re at a Bunny Bruning Under Tennis! Thank you, USTA, for resort, commercial club or country elevating people’s perception of tennis. club, or if you’re the owner, the director or an assistant professional. And when you Even the first lady, along with Andre Agassi and Steffi build your own business, you are growing the game Graf, is helping out. In addition, the USPTA is developing a certias well. In these times of financial insecurity, we need to fication for 10U tennis that will be available soon. make adjustments, develop a new niche. Which par- Not everyone can teach small children; it takes ticular market could be better served at your facility: patience, creativity, and enthusiasm. But many of us who have been teaching for more than 20 years seniors, beginner teens or 10-and-unders maybe? Do you need more play formats or leagues for have been growing our base market in this manner various ages? Re-educate yourself in order to make for some time. these adjustments or hire someone who loves to You can also add competition programs through teach 5-year-olds or 70-year-olds. Consider chang- USPTA Junior Circuits. You can run these events ing the progressions, the drills, the games. Add with your own creative rules and formats – whatever music, take pictures, celebrate accomplishments, fits the children’s abilities. You can choose all the parameters and make money from these contests. no matter how small! USPTA’s sports marketing programs can help This is a wonderful pathway before kids enter us in these efforts to grow our business and the sanctioned tournaments. game. Our Tennis – for the health of it! ™ initiative By partnering with other associations, including is the perfect platform for new events. Along with the TIA and ITA, we can support each other and adult Cardio Tennis, consider teen cardio or a 10U grow the game of tennis. cardio program. Think about all the physical fitness The Tennis Industry Association has a lot of data stations you could have with kids. Jam with some about the sport’s growth that you can present to your owner or general manager. The Intercollegiate music and hand out a healthy snack.
National Board of Directors President First Vice President
Tom Daglis Randy Mattingley
Vice Presidents
Bunny Bruning Mark Fairchilds Chuck Gill
Past President
Harry Gilbert
WORLD HEADQUARTERS CEO
Tim Heckler
Director of Operations
Rich Fanning
Administrative Director
Marty Bostrom
Director of Communications
Shawna Riley
Creative Services Director
Julie Myers
Publications Manager/ Managing Editor
Kim Forrester
Director of Public Relations
Poornima Rimm
Communications
Jill Phipps
Director of Marketing
John Dettor
Sports Marketing Coordinator
Rick Bostrom
Digital Asset Director
Timothy Heckler
Digital Asset Coordinator/ Ramona Husaru Tennis Multimedia Management Video Production Director
Joe Birkmire
Video Editor
Nick Warwick
Video Editor/ Flash Designer
Aisha Nelson
Video Editor/Videographer Chris Maale Director of Fred Viancos Professional Development Corporate Janice Stollenwerck Services Administrator Receptionist
Erin Ortbal
Director of Information Technology
Dan Wilson
Information Technology/ Multimedia
Scott Bucic
Director of Computer Service
Kathy Buchanan
Director of Membership and Certification
Vicky Tristan
Membership/ Certification Coordinator
Sylvia Ortiz
Membership/ Melony DeLoach Insurance Coordinator Director of Finance Payroll/Benefits Controller Merchandise/ Accounting Assistant
Kathy Ladner Renée Heckler Ellen Weatherford Shelina Harris
Legal Counsel Attorney-at-law
Paul Waldman
For information, write the USPTA World Headquarters 3535 Briarpark Drive, Suite One Houston, TX 77042 Phone 713-97-USPTA 800-USPTA-4U Fax 713-978-7780 uspta@uspta.org www.uspta.com Office hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Central time
continued next page www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
ADDvantage/May 2011
5
from previous page Tennis Association has College Days; your juniors can participate on campus at university programs. And of course, we need to work with the USTA. Our president, Tom Daglis, wrote in his December 2010 editorial that we want to “find compatible solutions where there are differences in opinions.” He continued: “At the same time, I also believe it is important for the tennis industry to understand that USPTA does exist to help our membership enjoy an acceptable standard of living as teaching professionals, and many of our decisions on how we operate and move forward deal directly with not compromising the financial success of USPTA members.” I totally agree with these statements!
Think big with industry partnerships and creative sports marketing programs. Partnership is wonderful, and, at the same time, we need to keep our autonomy. Compliance leads to control; autonomy leads to engagement, which leads to the desire to improve and enhance ourselves, our programs, our lives. We become creative, innovative, and “in flow.” The USPTA encourages us to be “autonomous individuals, not individual automatons.” While these times may be perplexing and problematic, we can engage our problem-solving skills and our own sports-marketing programs to find new sources of income and players to help build our business. I love my USPTA family and believe in the individual members uniting for tennis.
Tell us what’s on your mind or what works for you! Ever wanted to publish an article? This is your chance! Send us your tips or articles on coaching children, high school players, recreational adults – any level – or other subjects such as economic challenges, popular programming, player development, ethics, job security – any tennis-related topic you want to address. Remember, having an article published in ADDvantage can enhance your career or add to your resume. (Plus you may get some interesting feedback.) Also, being published in ADDvantage is worth 25 points toward USPTA Master Professional certification (a maximum of 50 is allowed). Send articles to the attention of the managing editor at the USPTA World Headquarters or via e-mail to magazine@uspta.org.
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ADDvantage/May 2011
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Help your students find their inner ‘fun’ on court by Jack L. Groppel, Ph.D., FACSM, USPTA Master Professional
Q
Question: As a tennis-teaching professional, I often hear that tennis should be fun. What exactly does having “fun” mean in the context of learning and playing tennis? Specifically, how can we help our players enjoy the process and gain a sense of fulfillment, regardless of whether they’re winning or losing?
A
Answer: What a great question! This is a subject that is getting a lot of attention lately, and I am sure that many of you will want to weigh in with your own thoughts as well. But we should probably begin with some general definitions of fun and several other concepts that figure into this discussion so we can start on the same page. According to Webster’s C ollegiate Dictionary, fun is defined as a mood for finding or making amusement; happiness is a state of well-being and contentment; joy is the emotion evoked by well-being, success or good fortune; and contentedness refers to satisfaction with one’s situation.
Now let’s see what the field of positive psychology, which some like to call “happiness research,” says about these. The latest research indicates that people who focus on living with a sense of purpose have better mental health than those who focus on achieving feelings of happiness. It is also said that the pleasure one feels after an important win in sports is often short-term and fleeting. Can a player, in fact, find something more – a sense of purpose – on the tennis court, whether taking a lesson or competing? My answer is yes! Dr. Cariem van Reekum, at the Centre for Integrative Neuroscience and Neurodynamics at the University of Reading in the UK, has stated that people with a strong sense of wellbeing (fulfillment) are able to convince themselves that even though a task may be difficult, they can do it. In other words, they don’t avoid a tough situation; they see it as challenging. Can you imagine if all your students took that attitude into a tennis lesson or match?
Jack Groppel, Ph.D., USPTA Master Professional, is co-founder of the Human Performance Institute. He is the author of The Corporate Athlete and co-author of World Class Tennis Technique. Information can be found at energyforperformance.com. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
Encourage your players to have fun by sharing your love for the game.
It could really put a positive spin on their game. And the bigger picture is that those who are intrinsically motivated tend to be happier than people who seek extrinsic rewards (money, winning at all costs, status, etc.). Over the years, we see our players wear their emotions onto the tennis courts, some nervous to the point of fear. What causes this fear? It is a form of self-absorption that usually stems from one of two things: worrying too much about whether they will win or lose, or way too much concern about what other people might think of them. And when either of these two thoughts kicks in,
that player is definitely not having fun! Both issues are basically out of a player’s control. Yes, I just said that winning is out of a player’s control, and so are others’ feelings about him or her. So, what is in a player’s control? The answer is: how well he moves, how quickly he processes what to do during a point, how well he hits the ball, etc. Basically, how a player thinks and acts are totally in his control. Here is why I say this: Could Rafael Nadal (currently No. 1 in the world) play a great match and still lose? Of course, especially if someone like Djokovic or Federer plays his absolute best as well. Before walking continued Page 9 ADDvantage/May 2011 7
Farewell to the Professor Groppel column a highlight in ADDvantage for nearly three decades
I
t was in May 1983 that I answered the first question submitted to me by a USPTA member. This article in the May 2011 issue of ADDvantage marks the 28th anniversary of that first column – and is my last. As wise observers have said, “there is a time and a season for everything.” And the time is now to bid farewell to the Ask the Professor column. Interestingly, the theme of this month’s question/answer is having a sense of fulfillment, from whatever endeavor one undertakes. That seems to fit, so I’d like to share my own story. Back when I was an 11-year-old baseball player, my parents made me take tennis lessons from the local YWCA. I really didn’t like tennis, as baseball was my love. But, after two years, I took tennis up again, and I fell in love with the game. I would play five hours a day with a person who is a good friend to this day, Bill Wicks, on the local courts in Alton, Ill. Even in winter, he and I would shovel snow from the courts, keep the cars running with one can of tennis balls in the car so they would stay warm, then change cans of balls about every 30 minutes. That’s how BAD I had the tennis bug. I never had a professional lesson until I played in college at the University of Illinois, where Dr. Fay Tooley (well known to many of us) was our assistant coach. Doc and I would laugh often over the years about how I was “wet behind the ears” in terms of the game. But I had so many other influential people and mentors to whom I will be eternally grateful. As you read the next paragraph, bear in mind that you could have the same impact on a student or a colleague that these people had on me during my journey through life. In 1974, I was lost! I was a master’s student in population genetics, and really unhappy. I was graciously admitted by Dr. Rollin Wright into the master’s program in physical education. Coincidentally, the department needed a tennis teacher for its undergraduate class! While taking human anatomy, exercise physiology, and kinesiology during my first semester, I fell in love with the field. Dr. Charles Dillman took me under his wing as a master’s student, and
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ADDvantage/May 2011
told me that, because of my love for tennis, I could really make a mark in scientific applications to the game. How grateful I am to him for that incredible advice. In 1975, Dr. Robert Singer, world-renowned, and president of the International Society of Sport Psychology, admitted me as one of his doctoral students at Florida State. Then, even though I still had to complete my doctoral dissertation, the men’s varsity tennis coaching job at I llinois, along with a professorship, opened up in 1977. I was named the youngest NCAA coach in the nation (at that time) at age 25. In 1977-78, I met two men who would forever change As teachers of the game, never forget your responsibility – to teach, to lead, and to mentor!
my involvement in the game – Vic Braden, who invited me numerous times to his tennis college to speak, and Jim Loehr, who would become one of my closest lifelong friends and my business partner. In 1987, I gave up tenure at Illinois and moved to Saddlebrook, where I was hired to become director of player development for the Saddlebrook/Hopman tennis program. There are so many others who played an incredibly important role in my tennis life: Tim and Tom Gullikson, Stan Smith,
Tim Heckler, Dennis Van der Meer, Paul Roetert, to name just a few. And, there are innumerable others; all of you reading this column right now have impacted my life in a very positive way! I have been blessed by so many things over the years during which I have written this column. You have always challenged me to do my best, and at the same time, you have supported me. The joy I have received by writing this column and answering your questions (to the best of my abilities) has surpassed my wildest dreams. I am also blessed to have a great family, with a wonderfully supportive wife and two young sons, who give me incredible joy as well. In this season, I intend to devote my deepest energies to them. As an example, I recently returned from a speaking engagement, and was running late as I arrived home from the airport. Still wearing my suit, I rushed our 6-year-old to his soccer game, where he scored his first goal ever! (Yes, he hits a tennis ball too). The absolute joy on his face was truly something to behold, and I never want to miss any of those moments! Not least is being employed by a great parent company, the Wellness and Prevention Division of Johnson & Johnson. Each day, as it is with you, I have the opportunity to positively influence someone’s life. Who could ask for more in a career? Although this is my final Ask the Professor column, I look forward to continuing to contribute to the great game of tennis in other ways. The game has given me a lot, and I’ll never forget that. As teachers of the game, never forget your responsibility – to teach, to lead, and to mentor! As teaching professionals, we are stewards of the game of tennis. A familiar bit of wisdom tells us that “to those much is given, much is expected.” Hold that phrase close to you, and stay positive in all that you do. I’m sure our paths will cross again, but until then, enjoy the journey you are on, and always maintain the passion you have to improve people’s lives through tennis. As we have shown time and time again, tennis is more than a game; it is a metaphor for living life to its fullest. I wish you well on your journey. God bless you! www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
Professor from Page 7
on the court for a big match, all great players focus on what they must do to give themselves the best opportunity to win. In fact, I invite you to watch any interview prior to a big match in today’s game. When asked what they think about their chances of winning, almost every player compliments his or her opponent and says, “I will have to play well to win.” What do we know, anecdotally, about great players? We know that Jimmy Connors absolutely loved the competition, saying that “I left my blood out on the court.” Then there are the players, like Marcos Baghdatis, who almost always seem to have a smile on their face, while others don’t seem very happy at all (we don’t need to go into names here). A revealing moment came during the finals of the 2011 Sony Ericsson Open, when Novak Djokovic defeated Raphael Nadal in three sets. The match was tough, the weather was hot and humid, and both players were said to be “gutting it out.” Djokovic and Nadal, who were both mentally and physically spent, didn’t just shake hands;
Classifieds they hugged each other at the net in a true sign of mutual respect. Is this happiness or joy, or is it a sense of fulfillment, even in the face of a disappointing loss? I would wager that it is this very sense of fulfillment that enables a player to lose one week and then bounce back to play extremely well the next week. To improve how you live your life, Dr. Ed Diener, a retired researcher from the University of Illinois, said, “Focus on something you love. Quit sitting around worrying about yourself and get focused on your goals.” And that’s why you are so important as a coach. You encourage your players’ love for the game of tennis and help them set their goals accordingly. If they follow the game plan that you set out for them, they might – just like Nadal at the Sony Ericsson – overcome the disappointment of a lost match with a larger sense of fulfillment because they love tennis and what it represents in their life. In other words, they might have as much fun playing as you do teaching.
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Employment USPTA’s Find-a-Pro. The best job-posting service so you can find the best jobs, free. For more information, visit uspta.com. TennisJobs.com – The tennis industry’s ONLY international tennis professional employment service. Subscribe today!
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Rates: $30 for 20 words, minimum per issue. 50 cents per word thereafter. Pay by check, money order, Visa or MasterCard. Prepayment is required. Supply typed copy and include full name, telephone number, credit card number and expiration date. (No agency or cash discounts.) Issue closes 15th of month, two months preceding cover date. Fax to 713978-7780, attn: ADDvantage classifieds. No classifieds will be accepted by telephone. No exceptions are made. USPTA cannot verify nor be responsible for the contents of any advertisement. The USPTA is committed to the policy that all people have equal access to its programs, facilities, employment and membership without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, marital or veteran status. USPTA is an equal opportunity employer. USPTA reserves the right to reject any advertisement at its discretion, or to edit the advertisement to be certain that any employment requirements set forth in it conform with the law.
So Long, Jack USPTA – specifically its staff – is sad to say goodbye to Jack Groppel as he pens his last official “Ask the Professor” column in this month’s issue of ADDvantage magazine. He’s been much more than the author of a regular column over the years; he’s been one of us! True, he is a world-renowned expert in exercise physiology and nutrition, shares a speaker’s podium with some of the world’s most famous people, and has served on USPTA’s national board of directors, but he’s just “Jack” to the USPTA staff. Always modest, he’s willing to do anything for USPTA and for our members. In an e ffort to enhance the awards program many years ago, he started to emcee the event when we asked for his help. He didn’t mind that we also asked him to wear some pretty crazy costumes, work in sweltering conditions, or make special trips to Houston to record videos for the awards ceremony. That’s a measure of his tireless commitment to the Association. But the real magic of the man is his creative energy, his volunteer spirit, and his passion for improving lives through tennis. “Dr. Jack” and Shawna Riley, ADDvantage editor. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
All we can say now is, thanks, Jack. We’ll miss you! ADDvantage/May 2011
9
HEAD ad
2011 USPTA World Conference
T
he USPTA World Conference on Tennis will be held Sept. 19 – 24 at Saddlebrook
Resort in Wesley Chapel, Fla.
The conference is the premier educational event for the tennis industry with general sessions, seminars and specialty courses offered. It is the country’s largest tennis gathering with approximately 1,500 attendees expected, including tennis professionals, industry leaders and representatives, manufacturers, wholesalers and media. Also during the conference, USPTA hosts its International Tennis Championships, board and Executive Committee meetings, nighttime parties, industry meetings, the nation’s largest tennis-only buying show, silent auction, awards presentation and more.
Attire for conference events Attire for all conference events is resort casual or tennis attire. Please wear a collared shirt or socially casual attire to the awards breakfast on Thursday, Sept. 22. Room share USPTA members who would like to find a roommate for their stay at the conference should contact Janice Stollenwerck at the USPTA World Headquarters at 800-USPTA-4U, or janice.stollenwerck@uspta.org. Airport and transportation services Taxis, limousines and shuttles can be arranged to transport you and your group to and from Tampa International Airport. Please contact Ambassador Limo at 813-907-4455 for rates and information. Car rental Avis and Enterprise will offer discounted rates.
Avis: Call 800-331-1600 and use discount code U353920
Enterprise:
Call 800-593-0505 and use discount code L060268 (PIN: USP)
Main registration Main registration fees include all educational programming (except specialty courses), admittance and meals at parties and the awards breakfast, admittance to the USPTA Tennis Buying Show, early-morning cardio workouts and conference giveaways. Tournament registration is not included. Save up to $100 by registering by Aug. 21. Guest registration Guest registration includes all educational programming (except specialty courses), admittance and meals at parties and the awards breakfast, admittance to the USPTA Tennis Buying Show, early-morning workouts, conference giveaways, and admittance to the spouse/ guest luncheon. Specialty course registration Attendees may sign up for specialty courses on the official conference registration form. Specialty courses are worth 2 USPTA Continuing Education Units and APC credits and cost $40. Outlines will be available at the conference registration desk. Tournament registration The USPTA International Championships will be Sept. 19-22. The entry fee is $50 for singles and $20 per person for doubles. The deadline to enter is Sept. 10. Professional-level members in good standing who preregister for the World Conference are eligible. All certification www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
requirements must have been completed by June 27 to allow for exam grading and application processing. The tournament is sanctioned by the USTA. Players who would like to represent their divisions may compete in the USPTA Team Championships, Sept. 23. It will be a prizemoney event and will include a team entry fee. Contact your division president or executive director/administrator for more information. USPTA conference check-in The USPTA conference registration desk will be open during designated hours from Sunday, Sept. 25, at 1 p.m. to Friday, Sept. 30, at 5 p.m. Resort check-in Check-in time is after 3 p.m. Check-out time is noon. For your convenience, we recommend that you carry a change of clothes in your carry-on bag in the event that your room is not ready when you arrive. Tax deduction Education expenses incurred to maintain or improve skills required by a person in his or her employment are generally tax-deductible. Educational expenses include tuition (conference registration and specialty courses), books, local transportation and travel, meals and lodging while away from home when the trip is primarily to obtain education (Treasury Regulation 1.162-5). Consult your tax preparer for details regarding deductions. Visit uspta.com for more information.
Testing/upgrading Members interested in taking the PTCA1 or upgrading their classification must register by Sept. 7 by calling the USPTA Membership Department. The exam and PTCA1 will be offered in portions over a four-day period. The PTCA1 will be available in English and Spanish. Anyone interested in becoming certified must meet the requirements for membership before registering for the exam. Spouse/guest programs Spouses and other guests who would like to take a free private and/or group tennis lesson may do so by calling the USPTA Membership Department. You may also sign up on a spaceavailable basis at the registration desk. The following times are available: Tuesday, Sept. 20, 1 – 6 p.m., Friday, Sept. 23, 3 – 5 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 24, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. A spouse/guest luncheon will be held Wednesday, Sept. 21, from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. To be eligible for the luncheon, spouses and other guests must be registered for the convention. Education Conference attendees may choose from a large number of education sessions that vary in subject matter. All sessions will fall under one of the following four educational tracks: teaching, facility management, professional development and sport science. APC forms will be available for all presentations and must be completed and returned at the conclusion of the presentation in order to receive credit.
ADDvantage/May 2011
11
Conference schedule Please note: This is a tentative schedule for planning purposes only. Speakers and times are subject to change.
Monday, Sept. 19 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Registration
9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
International Championships
7:30 – 9 p.m.
Tournament player party
Tuesday, Sept. 20 7 – 8 a.m.
Cardio Tennis TennisCize – early-bird tennis aerobics, Donnia Bondallian
7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Registration U.S. Pro Tennis Shop
7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Executive Committee meeting International Championships
11 a.m. – noon
Seminar Seminar
1 – 2:30 p.m.
General session
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
On-court upgrading
2:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Specialty course 1 Specialty course 2
3 – 4 p.m.
Seminar Seminar
4:15 – 5:15 p.m.
Seminar Seminar
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Seminar Seminar
7 p.m.
Division parties
Wednesday, Sept. 21 7 – 8 a.m.
Cardio Tennis TennisCize – early-bird tennis aerobics, Donnia Bondallian Diversity division liaison meeting Division EA/ED meeting
7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Registration U.S. Pro Tennis Shop
8 – 9 a.m.
Special populations committee meeting
8 a.m. – noon
PTCA I (written, grips, stroke analysis, English and Spanish) Specialty course 3 Specialty course 4
8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
International Championships
8:30 – 10 a.m.
TennisCize – spouses tennis aerobics, Donnia Bondallian
9 – 10 a.m.
Seminar Seminar
10:30 a.m. – noon
General session
11:30 a.m.
Spouses luncheon
1– 2:30 p.m.
General session
1 – 4 p.m.
Certification Exam (on-court portions)
3 – 4 p.m.
Seminar Seminar
4:15 – 5:15 p.m.
Seminar
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
continued next page
ADDvantage/May 2011
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from previous page 4:15 – 5:15 p.m.
Seminar
5 – 6 p.m.
Diversity committee open meeting
6 – 7 p.m.
HEAD/Penn Advisory staff meeting
6:45 – 7:30 p.m.
Team captains meeting
7 – 10 p.m.
Welcoming party
Thursday, Sept. 22 8 – 10 a.m.
Awards breakfast
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Registration
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
U.S. Pro Tennis Shop
10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
International Championships finals
10:30 a.m. – noon
General session
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
TennisCize – Spouses tennis aerobics, Donnia Bondallian
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Buying show setup (exhibitors)
noon – 1 p.m.
Cardio Tennis feeding contest qualifying
1 – 2:30 p.m.
General session
1 – 4 p.m.
Manufacturers on-court demos
3 – 4 p.m.
Seminar Seminar
4:15 – 5:15 p.m.
Seminar Seminar
5 – 10 p.m.
Tennis Buying Show
6 – 8:30 p.m.
Silent auction
6:30 – 8 p.m.
Tennis Buying Show dinner
Friday, Sept. 23 7 – 8 a.m.
Cardio Tennis TennisCize – early-bird tennis aerobics, Donnia Bondallian
8 a.m. – noon
Specialty course 5 Specialty course 6 Certification Exam (on-court portions)
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Registration U.S. Pro Tennis Shop
9 – 10 a.m.
Seminar Seminar
10 – 11:30 a.m.
TennisCize – spouses tennis aerobics, Donnia Bondallian
10:30 a.m. – noon
General session Seminar
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Past president’s forum
Noon – 1 p.m.
Cardio Tennis feeding contest finals
1 – 2:30 p.m.
General session
1 – 4 p.m.
Written exam (written, grips, stroke analysis, English/Spanish)
1 – 6 p.m.
International Team Championships
3 – 4 p.m.
Seminar Seminar
4:15 – 5:15 p.m.
Seminar Seminar
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Seminar Seminar
Saturday, Sept. 24 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Certification Exam (on-court portions)
8 a.m. – noon
Specialty course 7 Specialty course 8
Award nominations due July 1 Nominate an inspirational USPTA Professional today!
U
SPTA is looking for deserving tennis professionals who are growing the game of tennis as it accepts nominations for the 2011 national awards program. Awards are presented in every facet of the tennis business in which USPTA members work. Don’t let your fellow USPTA professional – or yourself – go unnoticed! USPTA is accepting nominations for the 2011 National Awards Program through July 1. All Professional-level members are eligible. Award category definitions, nomination forms and guidelines are available at www.uspta.com, by calling 800-877-8248 or by sending a request to pr@uspta.org. Award categories include: USPTA Stars are members who have dedicated many years to volunteering in grassroots tennis, and bring the sport and sportsmanship to the players they touch. Their giving spirits have made them heroes in their own communities. You may not have heard of the people who receive this award, but their stories are inspiring, and almost all of us know at least one person who deserves a nomination. The USPTA Industry Excellence Award is given to teaching professionals who take both an altruistic and entrepreneurial attitude toward their jobs. They use their own resources and those offered by the industry to build programs that bring tennis to more people. At the same time, they are successful in growing a tennis business. The recipient of this award will receive a $1,000 grant from the Tennis Industry Association and a Tennis Tutor ball machine from Sports Tutor for use in his or her grassroots programs. The Alex Gordon Award for Professional of the Year recognizes a member who, over a career, has demonstrated exemplary achievement in seven areas, including: contributions to USPTA and USTA; as a teaching professional, player and coach; in education, research and publications; and with other organizations, achievements and contributions. The Large- and Small-Facility Manager of the Year is the only USPTA award available to nonmembers. Applicants/nominees must be the general manager (in function, if not in title) of a club or tennis facility. College Coach of the Year and High School Coach of the Year award recipients are usually selected based on their results as team coaches, however individual coaches may be considered. The Touring Coach of the Year is selected on the basis of his or her work with playing professionals on the ATP tour or the WTA tour and/or touring juniors. Players who have been the most successful at the USPTA International Championships, as well as international, national and sectional competition may apply for the Player of the Year award. The eight categories for this award are: Men’s open, women’s open, men’s
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
2010 awards breakfast in La Quinta, Calif.
35-and-over, women’s 35-and-over, men’s 45-and-over, women’s 45-and-over, men’s 55-and-over and women’s 55-and-over. The George Bacso Tester of the Year award recognizes the USPTA tester who does the most to advance certification opportunities and the certification process. The USPTA Lessons for LifeTM Award recognizes those USPTA members who have done the most to raise money for charities through tennis events. While the award spotlights individuals who have raised large amounts of money, it also honors those hosting the most creative, original or unique tennis event to raise money for charities. An individual hosting an event raising the most money will not necessarily receive this award. The USPTA Tennis Across AmericaTM Award recognizes those USPTA members who have done the most to get people to play tennis. Established in 1990, TAA is the original, free, grassroots lesson program. It also has a multicultural segment that targets various communities and potential players who may not otherwise have the opportunity to play. While the award does look at individuals who have held the most free clinics with the greatest number of participants, it also looks at individuals hosting the most creative, original or unique free tennis event to get people to play the game. The USPTA Diversity Award recognizes those USPTA members who have demonstrated an outstanding ability to unite diverse populations within their community through tennis. Division award recipients are not automatically nominated for national awards. Division award recipients should ask division leaders if they should complete their own nomination form. All nominations and supporting materials must be received at the World Headquarters by July 1. National awards will be presented Sept. 22 during the World Conference on Tennis at Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel, Fla. ADDvantage/May 2011
15
USPTA conference registration form Register by August 21 and save up to $125.
Main registration Name _____________________________________ USPTA member No. _____________ Division ______________ Nonmember Address ___________________________________ City ______________________________ State _________________ ZIP_________ Daytime phone number (____) ____________
Fees
e-mail ______________________________________
Member Nonmember
Please indicate parties you plan to attend:
By Aug. 21
$350 $395
After Aug. 21
$425 $470 Subtotal 1 _______
Wednesday night Thursday awards breakfast
Thursday night
Vegetarian meal option.
Specialty course fees
Specialty courses No. 1
No. 2 No. 3
No. 4
No. 5
No. 6 No. 7
No. 8
Guest registration
$38 ea. X
____ =
Subtotal 2 ________
Must be registered to attend parties.
Name _____________________________________ USPTA member No. _____________ Division ______________ Nonmember Please indicate parties you plan to attend: Wednesday spouse/guest luncheon
NOT attending the luncheon? Let us know and we will reduce your registration fees by $5. Wednesday night Thursday awards breakfast Thursday night Vegetarian meal option
Fees
By Aug. 21
Guest
After Aug. 21
$150
$200 Subtotal 3 _______
Child registration Fees per child
Child 1____________________________________________ Age ________ Child 2____________________________________________ Age _______
Payment options Visa
MasterCard
Age 5-12 Age 13-18
____X $70 _____ ____X $120 + _____ Subtotal 4 ______
Check or money order payable to USPTA, or charge my:
American Express
Name printed on card ________________________________ Card No. __________________________________________ Exp. date ____________
Total fees Subtotal 1
___________
Subtotal 2
___________
Signature _________________________________________
Subtotal 3
___________
Arrival date: __________ Departure date: _________
Subtotal 4
___________
Are you staying at Saddlebrook Resort? yes
Total
___________
no
If not, why? _______________________________________________________________________
Return this form with payment to: USPTA World Headquarters, 3535 Briarpark Drive, Suite One, Houston, TX 77042 or fax to 713-358-7785 or register online at www.uspta.com
Hotel room reservation Please use this form for reservations
Please complete this form and return it to the Saddlebrook Resort no later than August 16, 2011. You may also make reservations by calling and identifying yourself as a USPTA conference attendee. Send to: Saddlebrook Resort Tampa 5700 Saddlebrook Way Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 800-729-8383 813-973-4504 (fax)
Conference: USPTA World Conference on Tennis Saddlebrook Resort Tampa Sept. 19-24
Last name (print legibly) ________________________________________First name ________________________________ Middle initial________________ Address ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City ___________________________________________________________State ______ ZIP ______________ Telephone (
) _________________________
Hotel arrival time ___________________Share a room with ________________________________________________________________________________ e-mail __________________________________________________________________________ Fax: (
) __________________________________
Please indicate choice of accommodations. All rates are European plan (no meals included). Arrival date: ______________
Rates:
$110 – Deluxe guest room
$135 – One-bedroom suite
$200 – Two-bedroom suite
Departure date: _______________ The published room rates do not include a 9 percent tax or a $10 per room daily resort fee. Any additional gratuity to the hotel staff is at your discretion.
Please reserve ______ room(s) for ______ person(s). Requests:
Smoking room Nonsmoking room
King Double/double
Crib
Please note, requests are honored based on availability upon arrival. Deposit:
Check
Credit card:
___ AmEx
Children age 13 and under may share a deluxe guest room or one-bedroom suite with an adult at no extra charge. These rooms and suites can accommodate two adults. An extra charge of $20 per person per day will be assessed for each additional guest age 14 and over. The two-bedroom, two-bath suites can accommodate four guests. Most of these suites have two beds and a pullout. ___ MC
___ VISA
___ DC/CB
Card No. ________________________________________________________________________Expiration date __________________________ Name printed on card ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Billing address __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Authorization signature _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Check-in time is after 3 p.m. – Check-out time is at noon
General information • All reservation requests must be received by August 16, 2011. Requests received after this date, or for dates other than the main conference period, will be accepted on a space-available basis only.
• Cancellation notice of seven days prior to arrival is required for a refund. Changes and cancellations should be done in writing. When canceling or changing your reservation by telephone, be sure to obtain a cancellation number in writing.
• Please include a deposit for the first night’s room revenue and 9 percent tax as a deposit in the form of credit card (with an expiration date valid through date of departure) or check, which will hold your room until midnight of the arrival day.
• The hotel will make every effort to honor requests for specific types and locations of rooms. However, on occasions when such requests cannot be met, the hotel reserves the right to provide alternate accommodations. • Early departures will be charged one night’s room/tax.
2011 USPTA International Championships Sanctioned by USPTA and USTA
What: Singles and doubles competition, open and age categories When: Sept. 19-22. Where: Saddlebrook Resort Surface: Clay courts Entry fees: $50/singles, $20 each/doubles. Tournament players must register for the World Conference on TennisSM; tournament and convention fees must be paid separately (see conference registration form). Singles entry and fees deadline, September 9 . Doubles may register at tournament site, preregistration encouraged. Match scoring: Regular match scoring, two of three tiebreaker sets. Rules: USTA. 15-minute default rule in effect. Players allowed minimum one-hour rest between singles matches, 30 minutes between singles and doubles matches or two doubles matches. Dress code: Proper tennis attire. No T-shirts, tank tops or Capri tights. Player eligibility: Current USPTA-certified professional members in good standing who preregister for World Conference on Tennis. All certification requirements must be completed by July 1 to allow for processing application and grading exam. USPTA will not be held responsible by any individual or division if entry is not accepted due to not fulfilling requirements before the 60-day deadline.
of entries. For more information, go to www.usptaworldconference. com. Player/event regulations: Each eligible player is limited to two events. An event is two players or teams competing. Men’s open limited to a 128-draw. Mixed doubles rule: Players may play regular doubles and mixed doubles. Starting schedule: Sept. 19: Monday 9 a.m. Start all singles Noon Sign-up ends for all doubles Sept. 20: Tuesday 1 p.m. Start all doubles & MXD Players are advised to arrive one day before first scheduled match. Tournament staff: Frank Kelly, tournament director; Todd Ruedisili and Gary Scanlon, Tournament Committee. Registering online: If you would like to sign up online, go to www. usptaworldconference.com.
All tournament play will be on-site. No transportation will be needed.
Prize money: Each event will have a minimum fixed amount of prize money. Additional prize money for each event will be based on the number
Name ___________________________________________ Street ___________________________________________ City ___________________ State ______ ZIP __________ Phone ( ) _____________________________________ e-mail __________________________________________ Birthdate _______________ SS No. __________________ USPTA No. _____________ USTA No. ________________ Doubles partner ___________________________________ Birthdate ______________SS No. ____________________ Mixed doubles partner _____________________________ Birthdate ______________SS No. ____________________
I, _____________________________________, hereby release the United States Professional Tennis Association, its officers, directors and employees, including those of the USPTA divisions and tournament sponsors, from any and all liability for injury to me, including illness, resulting from my participation in the USPTA International Championships. I assume all risks inherent in my participation. Date
Signature
Mail this entry, along with your payment, to: USPTA International Championships 3535 Briarpark Drive, Suite One, Houston, TX 77042
Ranking
ATP/WTA _________________ USPTA ___________________ USTA sectional _____________ USTA national ______________ State______________________ W/L record ________________ Attach past and current ranking information if needed.
Fees
Singles $50 Doubles $20/person Mixed doubles $20/person Total enclosed
Men’s
$________
$________ $________
Entry deadline Sept. 9 Convention registration and hotel reservations by Aug. 16
Women’s
$________
MOS M35S M40S M45S M50S M55S M60S M65S M70S M75S M80S M85S
WOS W35S W40S W45S W50S W55S W60S W65S W70S W75S
Wheelchair
MOS WOS
MOD M35D M40D M45D M50D M55D M60D M65D M70D M75D M80D M85D WOD W35D W40D W45D W50D W55D W60D W65D W70D W75D MOD WOD
Mixed doubles Mixed 45 doubles
SPORTMASTER ad
A teaching mom’s guide to life with kids How I juggled the ‘Big Book,’ child care, and a desire to teach by Anna Marie Gamboa, USPTA
M
ama, is there tennis camp today?” Our 5-year-old son usually climbs into bed with us in the mornings and most days he starts with this question. His idea of going to work with mom is called tennis camp.
“
I’m a full-time mom who is now a second-career teaching pro in a town just east of San Francisco. The process of becoming USPTA certified was way more complicated than I originally anticipated. It took me a while to see that I was being pulled by the tennis gods, that immovable force that gets you hooked on the game and playing every day. Laundry suffered. Dry cleaning did not get picked up. School volunteering became a conflict. Groceries were scattered. Dust accumulated. Husband annoyed. I started paying a babysitter so I could go play. Husband more annoyed. And so I decided to turn it into something more, something legitimate. I grew up in the Bay Area playing tournament tennis, high school, and college.
But then life struck in my 20s and I started a career in high tech, got married, got laid off during the dot com bubble, and then had babies. There was no time for tennis during those years. And as you know, it takes time to come back from an extended layoff. I dusted off the old Wilson that my dad had given me (the HyperHammer?) and started to play again. It was ugly, it was painful, it was illiotibial band strain. I continue to work on my game – the process of tennis is the goal, right? When I was a kid there were no foam balls, no short courts, no tiny nets, no QuickStart, no sunscreen, no 23-inch racquets. It was just my wooden Futabaya, my childhood coach Lynne Rolley, my favorite (and only) Ellesse skirt, and my desire.
Gamboa has learned how to juggle two successful careers as a tennis pro and working mom. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
Anna Marie Gamboa, proud USPTA Professional.
And then last year Lynne offered to sponsor me for USPTA certification, and I was off and running. I worked for Lynne while I studied the Big Book (aka The Complete Guide to USPTA Membership). My husband quizzed me on the grips. I made sample lesson plans. I shadow hit in my living room. My kids tiptoed around (is that possible?) while I crammed and tried to learn the history of tennis. I learned to say “badmiNton” and not “badmiTon.” I became intimate friends with my club’s ball machine, spending weekends hitting deep to the two corners and practicing a drop shot that bounced three times before the service line. I hit flat serves, spin serves. It was insane. I had to keep my secret intact in case I failed. Only a handful of people knew what I was doing. Meanwhile, I waited for a testing date and location close to home. This took a few months. I started to get nervous about the test – should I do it online? Super continued next page ADDvantage/May 2011
21
from previous page convenient, but what if my kids grab the mouse or interrupt while I’m taking it? Do I need a babysitter or can my husband help out and stay home while I do the two, eight-hour days at San Francisco Tennis Club? How do I organize a group lesson? What do I wear? How do I get there – should I take BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit)? Should I be businesslike on the court or should I be fun? How am I going to remember to say four people’s names eight times? Endless doubt. The testing days arrived and sure enough, I walk in and sit down at a table with eight men. And then to prove that tennis politesse is alive and well, they all proceeded to stand up, introduce themselves, and shake my hand. They were more polite than a kindergarten teacher; they were more polite than a job interviewer. I had heard that the teaching profession was predominantly male-dominated and here was my first taste! Day one was the classroom review, written test, and video portion. So far, so good. During breaks I went to the women’s locker room and sat down and watched the news. I jogged in place. I looked at the hair dryers. I went to the roof and checked out the outside courts and the view. I ate the snack I had packed in my very full tennis bag. Why did I bring my racquets this first day? I wondered if I would get through the process, especially the on-court portion on day two. Meanwhile I fielded texts and voicemails from home about what the kids were eating for lunch, when would I be home, what’s for dinner, what am I doing, the usual. I had to focus. I had to take off my mom hat and put on a new tennis hat that was more like a visor – a big hole on top that was unknown. Day one ended with the written exam. Tension was high among the group. No one spoke to me. As we finished, the tester gave out the next day’s court times and assignments for the on-court portion of the exam. I started planning the next day’s schedule in my mind as I left the facility, knowing that I would have to get up super early in order to spend time with the kids and make their breakfast before I left again. I don’t ever leave after breakfast so it’s a definite shift for them to not have me home for two days. Everyone tells me
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ADDvantage/May 2011
it’s good for them not to have me around as much, makes them independent. I don’t like it. Day two was definitely the pressure day. Everyone was high strung, the guys were jumping around trying to keep warm. It was pretty quiet except for the echoing of balls hit indoors. I was there in my skirt trying not to feel self-conscious and not succeeding. One man – a new person to the group who was upgrading – looked at me with utter shock on his face and almost laughed as he asked me if I was there for the testing. Finally the tester called me up and it was my time for the private lesson. He reminded me that if I go over the 15-minute time limit it is an automatic failure. I run through all the easy points in my mind – saying the name eight times, doing the warm-up, asking three questions and telling three things about myself. I get on the court and of course I go blank. I watch myself numbly, as if in third person. I am teaching the backhand volley so we run through a couple drills and manage to pick up balls, all within the tiny time frame. We complete the lesson. Homework! Damn! I forgot to assign homework. Meanwhile the tester is following me around with his clipboard. It’s over. Now to the group lesson. Group lesson doesn’t go as well. I’m nervous and have to teach four very big men who hit very hard balls. I get hit in the leg, ouch. But I play it cool and pretend it doesn’t hurt when really I wanted to cry. I am waiting for the empowerment, the ease, that is supposed to arrive when we are in our zone. It’s not there! I get through the lesson but I can tell it was not as up-tempo as I wanted. I will have to wait on that result. The final portion of the day is the shot execution. We divide into two groups, ropes go down on the court, ball carts arrive, tension is high. Serving begins, crosscourts are hit. We try and cheer each other on. I’m slightly caught on the drop shot but manage to recover and execute. Groundstrokes are smooth, easy. There is obvious surprise from the group when I nail it. I hear a few cheers. Whew, I defended womanhood! Empowerment is mine! I feel slightly high as I leave the
court, wanting to hit some more and further prove that I have what it takes. But the test is done now and the high crashes down. I go home. The kids are ecstatic when I arrive. They are not used to me being gone for two WHOLE days. My husband is relieved I’m back. It’s all about homework, T-ball, ballet. Life goes back to pretest normalcy. I wait. My results show that I did not pass the group lesson portion, by a few points. Now what? OK, so I need to retake that one portion, which of course takes a few months to wait for another test date. I refocus and get some court time teaching. Let’s just say that I passed the group lesson and received my certification. Say hallelujah! Now what do I do with it? Today I am an assistant pro at a local tennis club. It is the perfect job. I get to be out on the court giving instruction to other moms, juniors, and folks in between. My daily challenge is to time it right so I can be in the carpool line at school to pick up my kindergartener and second-grade daughter. It is often a mad dash. I tell my son it’s like tennis camp every day. I grocery shop in my tennis clothes. I go to ballet class in my tennis clothes. I attend soccer games in my tennis clothes. I attend parent/teacher conferences in my tennis clothes. I’m usually in tennis clothes until 9 o’clock at night. Indeed, the pace of our family life has become a bit hectic. Now that I am teaching I am not always around for after-school homework and playdates. We have a part-time babysitter. I feel that we are still transitioning to mom’s new job but each week that goes by it gets a little easier, a little more normal. Tennis has become the fifth member of our family. I wonder sometimes how I got here, the long path that brought me here. Now when my kids are out on the court with me I have yet another new role to play. The kids are getting used to Coach Anna Marie. That’s mom!
Anna Marie Gamboa is the associate pro at Orindawoods Tennis Club in Orinda, Calif. She believes that good tennis fundamentals will carry you through life. She can be reached at gamboa.tennis@yahoo.com. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
AER-FLO ad
Human Performance ad
What is your real job?
Educating your members on the importance of your role at the club by Scott Ficks, USPTA
R
ecently, while teaching a high school class, a player asked me what my real job was. I laughed and told her that this was my real job and my only job. She was somewhat shocked and seemed curious how I was possibly able to survive “playing tennis” all day. This conversation reminded me of another I had while standing in line for lunch several years ago. I happened to be waiting next to the father of a high school player who participated in one of my club’s programs. He somewhat awkwardly turned to me and said, “Can you make a living doing your job?” I was a little frustrated with the question, but casually answered with the following: “Well, if being able to own a home and allow my wife to be a stay-at-home mom to our three children is making a living, then I guess I am.” I quickly tried to educate him on the fact that we do so much more than just “play tennis” all day.
There is a perception that we tennis professionals spend our days playing tennis and having a good time – that our life is full of competitive tennis matches where we are battling it out to be the champion of the world. Most tennis pros rarely get to play at all anymore. Members of our facilities tend to only see their pros on the tennis courts teaching lessons. There are many things we can do to raise the awareness among our members and the public that our jobs are real jobs. As a director of tennis at my facility I have adjusted a
few things about my daily work schedule to highlight the variety of responsibilities required by my job.
Let them see you in action (off the court) Spend time working behind the front desk and in the lobby of your facility. Show your members that you can handle the front desk by taking phone calls, scheduling courts, doing the billing, and any other front desk staff duties. Proving you can do it all is very important. You are the one person in the building who should be
Wearing real work clothes on occassion allows members to see you in a different light. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
able to handle every aspect of the business from folding towels to running the pointof-sale system. Do daily maintenance jobs while your building is full of players. I always change out old tennis balls, change light bulbs, clean the courts, and even change the court clocks in plain sight of our members. It is important that they see us doing some of the day-to-day maintenance activities that we all are responsible for. Let them see you 30 feet up on the ladder fixing the divider nets. I have found one of the most surprising things is when the members catch me shoveling the snow from the entranceway. I always receive positive responses from my members when they realize it is their tennis director in the snow and ice and not the front desk employee. All of these activities show that you are not afraid of hard work and that you are getting things done.
Appearance (don’t always dress like a tennis professional) Wear “real” clothes to work. I always make it a point to wear regular clothes to work on days when I am not on the court or don’t have any lessons until later in the day. Members need to see tennis professionals in a different look sometimes. By wearing khakis and a nice shirt, or even jeans and a jacket, members see a new side of you and will almost always make the usual comment “I didn’t know you wore regular clothes.” This new appearance gives the idea that you must be doing something important this morning. Or it brings up the question of why. That is easily answered by letting them know you have a meeting with the tennis committee or the board of directors regarding the future of the club and your clothes show that it is important continued next page ADDvantage/May 2011
25
from previous page ergy used to make things look so smooth. Members also talk, so try and choose the ones who will spread the word for you.
to you. There is one more positive to the non-tennis clothes. By not having the proper tennis attire on, you cannot be asked to fill in for a group that is missing a player. Although it is nice to do occasionally, we all have office work that needs to be done and we cannot be jumping on the court for every group that needs a fourth.
Emphasize your family life Let your members know you have a life outside of work. Don’t be afraid to let people know you have a home and family and especially children. These things are signs of success to many people. My members know I have three children and that my wife is a stay-at-home mom. Using your outside interests is also a great way to show your members that you have a successful career in the tennis business. I have completed my two marathons and used my club as motivation to continue training. By telling everyone I could at my club, there was no way I could stop training and not complete the race. I received a tremendous amount of support from our membership and they were very excited for me come race day. These outside activities are very important to the perception your club members have of you. Educate them Use club resources to inform your members. Use club resources such as emails and newsletters to help educate your members in what your job description is. Take a small section of your next newsletter and dedicate it to one aspect of your job that not many people know about. You are not bragging about these things, just informing. Write an article about the daily maintenance that goes on behind the scenes at your club or that you negotiated a contract to bring in higher quality towels and linen supplies. Don’t hesitate to discuss with your members what things you are doing for your facility to make it better. Let them know what new plans are in the works and see if they have any good suggestions. A good idea is to send out regular emails regarding upgrades to the building. I always send a quick email when we get court lights repaired, new nets, or even install motion-sensored towel dispensers. Prove to them that you are on top of your job outside of the tennis court. 26
ADDvantage/May 2011
Scott Ficks can be seen “running a business, not just hitting balls.”
Have a visible office Allow people to see you working in a different environment. I have a unique situation with my office space. My office is directly next to the front entrance to my club. My office is also completely floor to ceiling windows on three sides. I am basically in a fish bowl and can be seen by anyone entering our building. This has turned out to be a very positive setup for me. Members consistently see me working on my computer or working the phones. I am also extremely accessible to everyone if they need help or just want to say hello. The point here is that they see me running a business, not just hitting balls. My office is usually covered in papers or other promotional items and always looks as if there has been some major work going on in there. I prefer to keep it looking worked in and not spotless. Use members as volunteers Let them get up close to the action to see what you do. Another great idea is to use your members as volunteers for special events and other club functions. Choose people who have supported you and your goals at the club, as well as using high school players who have shown a positive attitude toward the club. Have them help you plan and prepare for big events so they can see just how much work goes on behind the scenes. They will be amazed at the amount of time and en-
How do you respond to the real-job question? Have a clear and quick response when people question your career. As tennis professionals we must have a clear idea of exactly what we do and what our job descriptions are. Think about what you do on a daily basis as well as what you are responsible for on a long-term basis as well. We all need to have an understanding of what we do. Be able to quickly respond to members who question what you have chosen as your career. Let them know that your responsibilities include developing budgets, promotions, hiring and training staff, marketing, selling memberships and all of the other facets of your job. Try and make it clear that although teaching is still a priority for your facility, there are many other aspects just as important. You don’t need a fancy sports car Just be yourself and focus on why you chose to do what you do. A long time ago, when I was in high school, I remember a scene in which a local tennis pro pulled up to the courts in his sleek black convertible. He had the top down and the music blaring, along with his collar all the way up. I remember thinking that he must live the good life. He popped out of his little black sports car with his racquets and tennis balls and hit the courts. At the time, that is what I thought tennis professionals were. The cool guys who drove the fancy cars, hit a few balls, and partied all night long. Now I realize that is not what I strive to be. Focus on what you believe should make a quality tennis professional on the court and off and let that guide you. Those things that are important to you need to be important to your members as well. Try some of these subtle tricks to gain more respect for your profession. Scott Ficks has been a USPTA member for more than 15 years and is currently the director of tennis at the Moorland Park Tennis Center in New Berlin, Wis., and at the Merrill Hills Country Club in Waukesha, Wis. He was named Wisconsin State Pro of the Year in 2008 and received the Faye Tooley Award for his service to the USPTA in 2006. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
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ADDvantage/May 2011
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
A champion till the end by Jill Phipps, USPTA staff writer
As we have shown time and again, tennis is far more than a game; it is a metaphor for living life to its fullest.” … Jack Groppel, Ph.D., in this issue’s “Ask the Professor” column.
K
evin Manning loved his job, and he was blessed with a faithful team of friends, colleagues and customers. Making the most of this support and his own inner strength, Manning refused to give up. As one friend said, “He was a champion right till his last day.” This USPTA Professional lost his three-year battle with cancer on the night of May 2. His longtime girlfriend, Mary Jane Evertz, was by his side.
“Tennis has helped me be strong,” he said a few weeks before his death. The 53-year-old director of tennis was still going to work – including the day he died – at Shipwatch Tennis Club in Largo, Fla. (Tampa Bay area). “I love my job – it’s a beautiful club – and I love tennis. I can’t see doing anything else,” he said. “I’m fortunate that I can go to work every day instead of feeling sorry for myself.” Manning faced surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy sessions after his diagnosis in the spring of 2008. The cancer started
in his mouth, forcing the removal of half his tongue and affecting his speech. He also lost lymph nodes in his neck and one lung, causing him to get winded easier. Just 11 days after surgery on his tongue, he left for Turkey to represent his country in the 2008 Fred Perry Cup, an international tournament for players 50 and over. The U.S. team took third place out of 21 teams. And although he played in pain, his teammates never knew he was sick. Then came a devastating blow. In November 2009 his right arm broke while he was serving during a lesson. A tumor was
Manning, right, with USPTA Professionals Jeff Davis, left, and Terry O’Grady, third from left. Ed Jagger, a top Florida player, is second from left. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
Kevin Manning, doing what he loved, at Shipwatch Tennis Club in 2009.
discovered and his dominant arm eventually had to be amputated, so he learned to teach and play with his left arm. He retrained himself by visualizing left-handed pros in his mind and taking his best shot. “I believe that when you lose a limb your mind compensates and says ‘Yes, you can do it,’ ” Manning explained. He also knew he didn’t have to go it alone. “People really step up for you,” he said. One of those friends in need was Jeff Davis, a fellow USPTA Professional and Manning’s final-round opponent in his successful bid for the men’s 50 singles title at the 2007 USPTA International Championships. “In recent years, with Kevin’s medical issues, he’s called on me to assist with his club’s exhibitions,” Davis said. “On Jan. 29, Kevin played left-handed in our doubles exhibition – a risk I’m not sure many of us would take. He displayed incredible courage and I believe he did it because of his love of tennis and the importance of tennis in his life.” When David Eddy, Manning’s former coach and fellow USPTA Professional, continued next page ADDvantage/May 2011
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from previous page paid a visit just days before his good friend died, they sat together at courtside while Manning taught. “You could hardly hear him,” Eddy said. “His ball feeder friend would come over to hear Kevin’s instructions, then each player would come over for his advice.” As weak as he was, he still managed to laugh at Eddy’s “stupid jokes.” Manning maintained not only his sense of humor, but also his stoic work ethic. “Even while he was feeling miserable, he was groomed and professional, teaching and doing the job,” Eddy said. “He was concerned about his students’ progress and promoting the game of tennis. He was the same way as a competitor when I coached him.” Manning, who took up tennis at the age of 7, gave his all to competition, whether it was open doubles at local charity tournaments or men’s singles at USTA national tournaments. Within the last few months, he was also still playing high-level exhibitions at the club. He played on the pro circuit for a while, earning a world ranking in the 1980s. In USTA competition he won a gold ball and a silver ball in his 30s and was a top contender in men’s 50s. Even with those coveted accomplishments, Manning said he always wanted to be a teaching pro and earn his USPTA certification, which he did in 2005.
Kevin Manning, third from left, and teammates show off their bronze medals at the 2008 Fred Perry Cup competition in Turkey.
The day before he passed away, on a Sunday, Manning taught at least four hours of clinics, Eddy said. They talked by phone the next day and his friend was about to leave for work on what would be the last day of his life. “People tell me how strong I am,” Manning said in the interview weeks before. I say, ‘Look, I’m (only) as strong as you. You do the same thing. I think it’s a great asset that I play tennis because I can draw
on that strength; it’s invaluable what I’ve learned from tennis.’ ” Memorial contributions may be made in Manning’s name to the Suncoast Tennis Foundation, 1482 Caird Way, Palm Harbor, FL 34683. The foundation plans to establish a youth scholarship and a local “Tournament of Champions” in his name because he helped raise money for youth.
2011 USPTA National Surface Championship Series schedule: Clay Court Championships – May 19-22 Ibis Golf and Country Club, West Palm Beach, Fla.
Grass Court Championships – TBA Philadelphia Cricket Club, Philadelphia
International Championships – Sept. 19-22 Wesley Chapel, Fla. (Clay Courts)
Hard Court Championships – Oct. 21-23
Hollytree Country Club and Tyler Tennis & Swim Club, Tyler, Texas
All USPTA Professional members in good standing are eligible to compete in any of the surface championships . Visit uspta.com for more information.
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ADDvantage/May 2011
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USTA AD 1
USPTA’s APC competency exam now available
E
arlier this year, the USPTA announced the launch of its Accredited Professional Coach classification, a new category that includes mandatory education. The competency exam required for this classification is now available to members through the USPTA’s Learning Management System. To apply for this new accreditation, a member must be certified at one of the USPTA professional levels, take the Professional Tennis Coaches Academy I and pass a competency exam at the 80th percentile or higher. Those members who have already taken the PTCA I and scored 80 percent or higher on the exam do not need to retake it. The competency exam includes 20 questions and members will receive immediate feedback on their score through the LMS. Members who have already signed up and paid for the exam will receive an e-mail notification from the national office. If a member wants to take the competency exam, the cost is $50 and members may e-mail education@uspta.org for more information on how to sign up. This classification is open to Professional 1, 2 and 3 members and Master Professionals. USPTA Professional members are required to take continuing education in order to earn and maintain APC status. The benefits of APC designation include opportunities for career enhancement through a commitment to tennis and tennis education and demonstration of expertise, and building the image of tennisteaching professionals and tennis as a profession overall.
The APC is earned by accumulating 20 APC continuing education credits within a two-year period. The designation is maintained by continuing to earn 20 APC credits over every two-year period. APC credits can be earned in a variety of ways including attending the USPTA World Conference, USPTA division conventions, USPTA specialty courses, USTA High Performance education, viewing DVD seminars, and more. Two hours of qualifying education will constitute one CEU. The opportunity to earn credits at USPTA World Conferences and division conventions will require members to fill out a form for credit at the beginning of the seminar or specialty course (that is collected at the end of the session), in order to verify attendance for credit. For more details regarding qualifying credits, e-mail education@uspta.org. Once members achieve this distinction, they will be issued a special certificate with an expiration date and the designation will be added after their professional rating. The certificate will be available online to print from the member management area of www. uspta.com, where members can log in with their name and member number. While the APC classification did not become effective until January of this year, those members who attended specialty courses at the World Conference in September 2010 and completed the forms for credit will have those credits count toward their APC classification.
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ADDvantage/May 2011
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
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USPTA Mailbox USPTA Headquarters history Dear USPTA, I read Randy Mattingley’s article about the history and function of the World Headquarters, in the January edition of ADDvantage magazine. I would like to correct him in that the first USPTA Headquarters was, in fact, located in Houston. My late father, Ray Bovett, was the first executive director. He took over the position after the National Convention at Lakeway, Texas. At that point in time, Tex Schwab, the USPTA president, had been running the Association. In order to build the Association, the board of officers thought it would benefit the Association to hire an executive director who was a business man as well as a tennis fan. My father was hired and established the first USPTA Headquarters in Houston at Greenway Plaza. There were two employees, my
father and his secretary, and they occupied, I believe, two rooms. My father held that position until his death in 1975. He died of a heart attack while addressing the Eastern Division of the USPTA in New York City. I believe this is the point in time where Randy’s account of the history of the USPTA Headquarters begins in his article. I would like the members of the USPTA to know these facts because they are usually left out. Thank you. Chris Bovett, USPTA Missouri City, Texas Earthquake relief We recently sent out an e-blast that encouraged members to make donations to help with the relief efforts in Japan following the major earthquake and tsunami. While there is an immediate need in Japan, we also want to remind everyone of the earth-
quake in Christchurch, New Zealand, in February. This area also faced devastating destruction and loss and the people of Christchurch are still very much in need of assistance. Below are members who responded with donations: Thank you. Great reminder. I will encourage my fellow pros to do so as well! Thanks. Kevin Ryan, USPTA Norristown, Pa. Glad to see Red Cross and Salvation Army are on your list. I’ve already donated to both this past week (50 percent of all lessons Saturday and Sunday). Thank you! Adrien Chabria, USPTA Dallas, I have emailed all the parents on my high school team regard-
ing this email. I have offered a free tennis lesson to any parent who pays for a lesson, with the full amount going to the relief fund. Stan Cartwright, USPTA Woodside, Calif. Thank you for bringing attention to the quake victims in New Zealand. It particularly hit home for me as a native New Zealander and knowing friends were affected by the earthquake. I am proud to be a part of an organization that cares about others in far-off places. Thanks Again Scott Potter, USPTA Missoula, Mont. Send your letters to the editor, along with a daytime phone number or e-mail address, to ADDvantage, USPTA, 3535 Briarpark Drive, Suite One, Houston, TX 77042; fax to 713-3587794; or via email to kim. forrester@uspta.org. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.
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ADDvantage/May 2011
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
USPTA drills Five-ball drill (doubles)
Type: Doubles Level: Intermediate/adv.
prepared by USPTA
Description and goals: Develops approach shots, volleys and overheads, helping players move to net and finish off points. Also assists in shot selection and court coverage. Organization: Player A and B start on the baseline. Pro will feed five balls from the other side. Player B hits return/groundstroke crosscourt on the first ball then pro feeds a short ball. Player B hits a crosscourt approach shot and comes in (Player A should come in at the same time to move as a team). Pro then feeds Player A a volley, then Player B a volley and finishes with a lob to Player A, who hits an overhead. Incoming ball dictates which target Player A and B hit to during the point. Next players rotate in.
Loop to backhand
Variations: Start feeds to other side of the court. Have players line up one up, one back. Add to the number of feeds depending on player ability. Do it as a live-ball drill with players on the other side playing out the point. Key points: Players should focus on making good approach shots and hitting volleys and overheads to proper targets. Make sure players move as a team when transitioning to and while at the net.
Type: Singles Category: Backhand/groundstrokes/volley Level: Beginner/int./adv. Time/players: 10 minutes/1-6
prepared by USPTA
Description and goals: The goal of this drill is to hit a deep looping shot to the backhand, forcing a short ball from your opponent that players can take out of the air, or hit a groundstroke for a winner. This drill is particularly effective against one-handed backhand players. Organization: Player B starts the rally with a deep ball up the middle. Player A hits a deep loop ball to player B’s backhand and moves inside the baseline. Player B returns the ball. Player A moves in and takes the ball in the air if she can with either a crosscourt swing volley or a traditional volley to finish the point or a crosscourt groundstroke if she can’t. Rotate players after each sequence. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
Category: Approach/overhead/volley Time/players: 15 minutes/1-6
Variations: Focus on the player hitting the backhand. Switch to the forehand side. Do it as a doubles drill with all four players starting on the baseline. Key points: Offensive player should focus on getting loop ball deep and moving in to take the ball out of the air. Defensive player should focus on hitting a neutral ball to keep offensive players back.
Generated by iTennisSystem – www.InterTennis.com
ADDvantage/May 2011
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Career Development conventions
(division conventions, 5 credits; World Conference, 8 credits)
May 12-14
Southern Division Baton Rouge, La.
May 15-16
Eastern Division Mount Kisco, N.Y.
May 20-22
New England Division Newport, R.I.
May 31- June 5
Florida Division Port St. Lucie, Fla.
June 2-5
Pacific Northwest Division Portland, Ore.
Sept. 19-24
USPTA World Conference on Tennis Wesley Chapel, Fla.
exams, upgrades & certification review courses (4 credits for PTCA I segment) May 14 May 14-15 May 14-15 May 16 May 20-21 May 22 May 22 May 22 May 27 June 2-3 June 3 June 5 June 5 June 5 June 3-4 June 5-6 June 6-7 June 11-12 June 11-12 June 11-12 June 13
St. Louis Boca Raton, Fla. Baton Rouge, La. Frederick, Md. Houston* Columbia, S.C. Tupelo, Miss. Hilton Head Island, S.C. West Orange, N.J. Portland, Ore. Minneapolis Richmond, Va. Austin, Texas Des Moines, Iowa Port St. Lucie, Fla. Los Angeles San Francisco Rockville, Md. Aurora, Ill. Atlanta San Diego
June 16-17 June 17 June 17 June 19 June 24-25 June 26 June 26 June 26 July 9 July 9-10 July 10 July 11 July 17 July 17 July 17 July 17 July 22-23 July 24 July 24
Port Washington, N.Y. Phoenix Worcester, Mass. Winter Springs, Fla. Houston* Pensacola, Fla. Birmingham, Ala. Charlotte, N.C. Fort Wayne, Ind. Boca Raton, Fla. Myrtle Beach, S.C. Frederick, Md. Memphis, Tenn. Ocala, Fla. New Orleans, La. San Diego Houston* Hilton Head Island, S.C. Jackson, Miss.
* This course is held at the USPTA World Headquarters.
specialist degrees Little Tennis® Facility Management
Exam reservations must be made at least 21 days prior to the dates listed. Each date includes an exam, upgrade and PTCA I unless noted. Exam cancellations must be received no later than 14 days before the exam, or a cancellation fee will be charged accordingly. Applicant: late cancellation fee – $95; failure to cancel – application fee is forfeited. Certified members: late cancellation fee – $25; failure to cancel – $25 plus the upgrade fee is forfeited. Registration for another exam will not be accepted until cancellation fees are paid.
specialty courses
Essentials of shotmaking, May 13, Baton Rouge, La., F. Hassan
QuickStart, May 15, Baton Rouge, La., B. Staples
Competitive Player Development Pro Shop Operations
From tennis professional to business manager, May 20, Newport, R.I., T. Daglis
Computer Technology Sport Science
Wheelchair Tennis
The doubles connection, June 2, Port St. Lucie, Fla., M. Fairchilds
CPD (Competitive Player Development) – Gained through the USA Tennis High Performance Coaching Program a dministered by the USA Tennis Coaching E ducation Department. For more information about USPTA’s specialist degrees, including applications, please visit our Web site at www.uspta.com or contact the USPTA Education Department at 800-USPTA-4U or education@uspta.org.
cardio tennis May 13 June 12
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Pittsburgh
(Seminar DVDs, ½ credit/specialty course DVDs, 2 credits)
The deadline to register and/or cancel a course is 15 working days before the event. Anyone canceling late or failing to cancel will forfeit one-half the course fee. Schedule is subject to change. Call the USPTA Education Department for more information or e-mail education@uspta.org.
Earn education credits from World Conference DVDs Receive your education credit report card via e-mail by visiting the members-only section of uspta.com.
Please visit www.growingtennis.com (workshops) to register online.
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ADDvantage/May 2011
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
USPTA DVD Resources USPTA is the world’s largest producer of broadcastquality tennis instruction on DVD. These are just a few of the more than 100 titles available. For easy ordering, go to www.usprotennisshop.com.
Otis Sadler $24.95
Mark Bey $24.95
Shirley Gearon $24.95
World Conference seminars – $19.99 each. Bonus! Earn education credits while watching!
Mark Kovacs
Nick Bollettieri
Kim Davis and Rachel Mayer
Specialty courses – $44.95 each. Bonus! Earn education credits while watching!
Feisal Hassan
Brett Hobden
Drew Sunderlin
Industry action Member Jeff Abbey, USPTA, celebrated his 85th birthday and tennis retirement in April after 72 years on the court. He was Abbey honored at a combination birthday and retirement party. Abbey has helped approximately 6,000 people sharpen their backhands and put more pop in their volleys, according to one student, who adds that he always has a waiting list of prospective students. A Kansas native, Abbey earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Tulsa. In 1954 he moved to California, where he began work at the city of Redondo Beach Recreation Department. From 1963 to 1988, he taught tennis in Manhattan Beach, and for the past 23 years has been teaching in Hermosa Beach. Abbey, also an accomplished musician, has a son and daughter, three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Doug Browne, USPTA Professional and director of tennis at Hideaway Beach Club in Marco Island, Fla., received his 25-year service award from president John Barto and human resources director Alice Adams. Browne began his work at the Hideaway Beach Club in 1986 and is still going strong. He won the District Pro of the Year Award in 2006 and 2010. Browne and his wife, Leslie, live on Marco Island and have been coaching together at Hideaway Beach for most of the last 25 seasons. Pictured below: Doug Browne (left), Alice Adams and John Barto of the Hideaway Beach Club.
On March 5, USPTA New England Division President Jacques Faulise presented the Joseph Dietz Bowl
Matthew Morillo, USPTA, head tennis professional at Spanish Bay Club/ Pebble Beach on the Monterey Bay Peninsula in California, got a headstart by holding his Tennis Across America event in early March. With a multicultural group on different levels, the QuickStart format, prizes, T-shirts and ice cream, all participants had a blast! And with the assistance of USPTA Professionals Jimmie Brooks and Hans Römer, the event attracted more kids than expected. Pictured: TAA at Spanish Bay with Matthew Morillo, USPTA (red shirt, far right standing).
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The Florida USPTA Junior Team Tennis League held its Winter Season Jamboree at Woodfield Country Club in Boca Raton, Fla., on March 26. More than 80 juniors participated in a fun afternoon of games run by teaching professionals from Woodfield, Palm Beach and Broward County. The juniors and parents were treated to a doubles exhibition match with Woodfield pro Eric Godin, USPTA, along with Piotr Kryznowski and Matt Braunworth, plus the talented Jonas Tomilia, a member of Woodfield Country Club’s Power Tennis Academy. The Jamboree wrapped up with a raffle and awards presentation to the league’s three divisional champions. Woodfield teams were champions in both 12-and-under and 14-and-under divisions. Emile Cohen and Chris Marinoff from Woodfield were also presented with the valued Sportsmanship medals. USPTA members who participated in the USPTA JTT League were Eric Godin, Ken Hine, CW Lewis, Kim Fyfe, Kevin McCarthy, Dan Smithyman, Ed Sposa, Jacquie Turpie, Keith Lipp, Geoff Cobb, Diego Marquina, Patrick Sheahan, Tom Turpie (USPTA Junior Team Tennis League coordinator), and Jeff Cohen, director of tennis at Woodfield Country Club and incoming president of USPTA Florida Division (currently first vice president). to USPTA Master Professional David Zeutas-Broer, citing his talent for building industry relationships and helping every student improve. The Joseph Dietz Bowl is given by the USPTA New England Division to the USPTA member who exemplifies the highest standards in his involvement with the USPTA and the USTA. The award is presented
Zeutas-Broer, left
annually at the USTA New England Section Awards Luncheon. USPTA Master Professional Tommy Wade was inducted into the Alabama Tennis Hall of Fame for his outstanding Wade contributions to tennis. The induction ceremony took place on March 26 at the Vestavia Country Club in Birmingham, Ala. Wade has been a member of the USPTA since 1993 and has served as a tester since 1999. He currently serves as chair of the Testing and Certification Committee and head www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
Industry action tester for the USPTA Southern Division. He also has served as president of the Southern Division. Wade is director of tennis for the City of Decatur, Ala., and a teaching professional at Jimmy Johns Tennis Center. He has coached at the University of Kentucky and the University of Alabama and every team during his tenure at Alabama was nationally ranked. As a player, he received the first full tennis scholarship to the University of Kentucky. His accolades include USPTA Southern Division Pro of the Year and threetime National Tester of the Year. Henner Lenhardt, USPTA, concluded the Orlando Junior Grand Prix Series with a successful tournament March 19 at Tuscawilla Country Club in Winter Springs, Fla. This QuickStart event drew 65 players, with 8-year-olds playing on the 36-foot court, 10s on the 60-foot court, and 13s on a regular court. Lenhardt received a USTA Florida “Share the Love” grant in 2010 to promote these one-day, round-robin tournaments, which exposed players
to introductory-level competition. The events were held at eight clubs in the Orlando area. Trophies and sportsmanship awards were presented. Lenhardt, who also started a no-cut tennis program for high schools in Central Florida, was named the January 2011 USTA Florida Volunteer of the Month.
Member product showcase Arseya Publishing has released “Beyond Winning, A Guide to Happiness and Fulfillment in Tennis and Our Competitive World.” This new book is authored by USPTA Professional Larry Katz and combines his experiences of a lifetime in tennis and 30-year background in yoga. The inspirational book is designed to help players at all levels enjoy the experience of competition while growing as individuals through “relaxed participation.” Katz holds a master’s degree in behavioral
Chuck Whitnell, USPTA Professional and Graves County Community Tennis Association leader, hosted a USPTA Tennis Across America clinic on March 19. Bob Love, USPTA Master Pro, was the guest speaker for the junior tennis gathering in Kentucky. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
Michael Friedman, a 21-year USPTA member, Northern California Division past president and 2002 Nor Cal USPTA Pro of the Year, has joined the tennis-teaching staff of USPTA Pros at the Tiburon Peninsula Club in Marin County, Calif. Scott Potthast, tennis director, Matt Holt, head pro, and USPTA applicants Keith Pollak and Tarrin Dougery make up the TPC staff. Friedman has been teaching tennis for more than 40 years. He was the tennis director for the Jewish Community Center of Greater San Jose and at Rancho Solano in Fairfield, Calif., where he hosted two Nor Cal Division conferences and the USTA’s $10,000 Senior Grand Prix for seven years. sciences from Kean University. He is a senior staff professional at the West Orange Tennis Club, located in West Orange, N.J., and the seasonal head tennis professional at the Cedar Hill Country Club, Livingston, N.J. The book is available for purchase on amazon.com or arseya.com. John Sharpe of the Rancho Colorados Club in Orinda, Calif., was named Pro of the Year for 2010 at the 35th Sharpe Annual USPTA Northern California Division Convention at Stanford University, held Feb. 11-13. The award recognized Sharpe’s work at his club, in East Bay and Northern California. Sharpe has been a teaching pro in the Lamorinda area since
1985 and has worked at Rancho Colorados Swim and Tennis Club since 2000.
Miscellany Positive Coaching Alliance is a nonprofit founded at Stanford University in 1998 with the mission of giving all youth and high school athletes nationwide a positive, characterbuilding experience. PCA has impacted roughly 3.5 million young athletes, working with schools and youth sports organizations to provide live-group workshops and online courses for coaches, parents and teen athletes themselves. PCA, which strives to teach life lessons through sports, would like to extend its workshops and courses to USPTA members. For more information, visit www.PositiveCoach.org. ADDvantage/May 2011
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