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Hello New England Pros! As you are in the midst of your summer season, I imagine you are busy with tennis activities. However take the time to mentor an uncertified fellow pro. USPTA has a national under 30 initiative to inspire and train young pros. If you are a tennis director or head pro, you are in a perfect position to help them become certified. One of the new requirements to USPTA certification is the Coach Youth Tennis workshop (coachyouthtennis.com). Workshops have both online and on-court components. Even if you are a seasoned pro, you can do the online course, and receive double the credits, six educational credits! Please try it online. Also hosting a workshop and inviting young faces for training is one way of bringing the next generation into USPTA. Although the season is almost over, it is still possible to host or just encourage your fellow pros to do the online course. If you have not signed up to host a Tennis Across America event or have not participated in one, please do. USPTA New England has a TAA event with the Boston Lobsters and the Connecticut Open. Remember, as part of the US Open Series, all USPTA pros receive access to CT Open grounds free of charge by showing their USPTA membership card to the ticket office and can attend sessions 1-5 (Sunday, August 17 - Tuesday, August 19). Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and Wimbledon Finalist Gene Bouchard head the field. Our CEO John Embree has also worked hard at creating a Retirement Gold+ program and recently, Fromuth become the fourth company along with Prince, Hop-a-Razzi and NetKnacks to contribute to retirement plans for participating professionals. In the Retirement Gold+ program, vendors contribute 3-5% of sales towards your retirement plan! Please support these vendors. Another new benefit for you is Digital Insurance, which can offer health care plans for you if you don’t qualify for the Affordable Health Care Act or if your club does not provide health insurance. For many of your benefits, go to your USPTA member documents page. If you are unsure of how to use your page, contact the World Headquarters in Houston at 800-421-USPTA4U. Finally, we have two major conventions coming up. The Tennis Teachers Conference is in August just before the US Open. The Tennis Teachers Conference will replace the traditional World Conference in September. The deadline to register in advance is July 24. And we have our own New England Convention November 7-9 at the fabulous Chatham Bars Inn on Cape Cod. We secured great room rates so please don’t miss the fun and education! Yours in Tennis, Doug Eng President, USPTA New England
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Developing the Right Attitude at the Net By Edgar Giffenig The following is reprinted with permission from Edgar’s blog. Edgar is the author of Developing High Performance Players and is based in Connecticut. He will be speaking at the USPTA New England Convention Nov 7-9. In my lesson today I worked with a 16 year old girl that I frequently teach. She likes to play doubles and was getting ready for a mixed doubles tournament. My job was to get her used to the different shots that she could expect to see from his male opponent. After a short warm up in the service boxes she moved back and we worked on rhythm from the baseline by rallying crosscourt and down-the-line - me at the net and she back. Then, I moved to the baseline and hit her some shots with heavy topspin, then some with slice, followed by some hard and flat ones and some slow and high ones. After that, I mixed up every shot and we moved in for some quick volley exchanges; first close to the net then standing on the service line. After a few minutes, I moved back and hit lobs to her. She had to hit my deep lobs back deep to me and angle off my short lobs. This exercise was followed by her standing at the net and me hitting fast balls at her. (I am always a little nervous about this drill because I have hit some players, but I have not been able to figure out any other way to work on managing fast balls at the body). During this exercise I like to use the advice that my fellow national coach at the USTA, John Benson, would frequently use: When practicing at the net: 1.
Never miss in the net.
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Aim at the baseline.
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Be in control of the rally.
I am especially fond of point number 3. The biggest mistake players make when at the net is to think defensively, as if their only job was to avoid letting the ball pass them. Taking a passive approach at the net will always get you in trouble. You are not a goalie defending. You need to see yourself as the aggressor. You are the one pushing the baseline player back. This change in mentality makes all the difference. It helps players relax and constantly move forward to meet the ball, which is exactly what you want. Finally we finished by practicing returns, where I mixed up my serves – flat, slice, kick.
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The Purpose of a Business By Greg Lappin Greg is the National Director of Tennis for the Lifetime Fitness, the largest group of indoor tennis facilities in the nation. Greg will be speaking at the USPTA New England Convention November 7-9. It is important to ask questions to learn and move forward. We must, also, ask the right questions. If we ask the wrong question, we will end up with an answer that may not be helpful or accurate. The wrong question will give us the wrong answer that will take us down the wrong path. The place to start is the correct answer to this question, “What is the purpose of any and every business? Many people mistakenly think the purpose of a business is to make money. A necessary outcome is to make a profit for a commercial tennis club or meet budget for a nonprofit club. An outcome is not an original purpose. The purpose of any business is “to stay in business!” No one would go to all the work to start an enterprise if they believed it would fail. Making a profit, therefore, is the goal- the end product- not the purpose. The next question to answer is: “How does one stay in business?” The answer is to fulfill an unfulfilled need or seize an opportunity. In another words- to solve someone’s problem. If we solve problems well we will secure enough customers to stay in business. A more positive way to state this is to give great service or seize an opportunity. Give someone the result or solution they are looking for and you will stay in business. The purpose of a business is to solve problems. Do this better than the competition and you will make money. This is where the focus should be. An entire strategy, direction, and emphasis on certain values can now be established. Other questions that demand the correct answer are: • What is the purpose of a tennis match? (It is not winning!) • What is the essence of every tennis lesson? • Can you motivate your students? (95% of people will be surprised by the answer!) • What is the most important concept to teach? (Billie Jean King believes this!) • What are 2 critical skills every tennis professional must master?
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Wheelchair Certification in August By Michael L. Mercier Michael is secretary of USPTA New England, is Head Tennis Professional at Harvard University and a USPTA National Wheelchair Tester. Good things are going on with wheelchair tennis in New England in 2014 and USPTA New England has played a big role. Certified USPTA wheelchair tennis pros Dick Lane and Joe Sullivan are competing this summer with able-bodied players in the USTA 3.0 adult men’s team out of Harvard University. This is the first time that wheelchair players have participated in a USTA adult league in New England, but as exciting as that fact is, that isn’t the only way that USPTA NE is facilitating wheelchair tennis. This summer, USPTA members will be conducting on-court wheelchair exhibitions at the Boston Lobsters, the Newport Hall of Fame Championships, and the New Haven Open. In addition, from August 8-10 the USPTA New England Wheelchair Tennis Camp will be held at Harvard University. The camp will provide instruction to wheelchair players from all over the country, and also features a USPTA Certification specialty course for professionals who want to become USPTA-certified wheelchair tennis pros. The intensive training provided by the class consists of in-chair movement, ball-feeding, private and group lessons, identification of disabilities, and on- and off-court training and testing. The camp has been running for over twenty-five years and is the only one of its kind in New England. Wheelchair tennis is an important part of the mission of our division. The area has a large network of rehabilitation hospitals and veterans’ organizations, and the USPTA can provide an important way for disabled people to stay active and enhance their lives. More information about ongoing wheelchair tennis programs facilitated by the USPTA are listed on the New England Wheelchair Tennis website as well as the New England Wheelchair Sports Facebook page.
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In Memoriam USPTA NEW ENGLAND lost two bright stars recently: Errol Coard and Daniel Murray. Both men were dedicated to the game of tennis and devoted a great deal of time to volunteering in their communities as well as being actively involved in USPTA New England. We have included their obituaries below.
COARD Errol Ira, 81 of Boston, June 17, 2014. Beloved husband of Sonia Coard of Dorchester.COARD Errol Ira, 81 of Boston, June 17, 2014. Beloved husband of Sonia Coard of Dorchester. Cherished daughters Megan and Kayla Coard both of Dorchester, Cheryl Coard of NJ, and Monica Coard-Emrich of CA. Loving sons; Theodore Coard of Randolph and Jason Hunter of GA. Brothers, Floyd Coard of CA, Leonard Coard of NJ, Bernard Coard of Grenada(West Indies) and Jamaica. He is also survived by 7 grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews and extended relatives and friends. MURRAY, Daniel John 25, died unexpectedly on Sunday, April 13, 2014. He was the son of John and Kathi Murray, of Coventry, RI. Daniel attended Fr. John V. Doyle School in Coventry, RI, Bishop Hendricken High School in Warwick, RI, and Endicott College in Beverly, MA where he graduated with a degree in Business Management. Dan played baseball, soccer, and basketball in Coventry recreational leagues, but his passion was tennis. At Bishop Hendricken, he played on successful teams and achieved first team all state honors his senior year. Dan competed on the varsity tennis at Endicott College and was named to all-conference teams in singles and doubles all four years. Dan made tennis his career. He taught summers at Abbott Run Valley Club in Cumberland, RI, Conanicut Yacht Club in Jamestown, RI, Bailey's Beach in Newport, RI, and, most recently, at Warwick Heights Tennis Club in Warwick, RI. He had been a professional at Rally Point Racquet Club in Greenville, RI for four years. Dan continued to compete in the Rhode Island Tennis leagues and several USTA teams most successfully on the Rally Point 4.5 Men's team where he was undefeated in national competition. Dan loved teaching tennis and was influential with students of all ages and abilities. As a player, he possessed power, speed, and finesse but, most notably, uncanny "tweeners". Dan made a lasting impression on everyone he met. He had a sense of fun, style, conscientiousness, and endless energy. He was a good friend to his friends and a loving son to his parents. Dan had found the love of his life, Meghan Rowey. They were about to be reunited and would soon be starting the rest of their lives together. They loved each other very much and were perfect together. We all will miss Dan dearly. Besides his parents, Dan is survived by aunts and uncles, Ronald and Patricia Beck, of Chepachet, RI, Mark and Kelly Murray and Mary Ellen Murray, of Cumberland, RI, and Jeffrey and Lou Ann Murray, of North Smithfield, RI, and cousins Chrissi and Steve Beck, Sheena, Kyla, and Brendan Murray, and Moriah Russell.
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My name is Megan Hall and I recently became a part of the USPTA community. I would like to work hard and be a Masters Professional in the field, but more importantly make an impact on the sport and the people who I encounter. I’ve
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had two important people who have nurtured my love and knowledge of the game; my recreation coach who I’ve known since I was 8, and my significant other who made me realize my career should be what I love; tennis. In the future, I want to attend all four Grand Slams (hopefully with good seats), explore as much of the world as possible and have a family. My favorite movie is Grease, I enjoy all music but especially music from the 90’s and staple foods for me are bagels and lox. My name is Fernando Paiva, I am 24 years old and I am from Sao Paulo, Brazil. I am an Athletic Training Education Program’s Alumnus, from University of Mobile. During the academic year I am the Men's Assistant Coach at Delta State University, located in Cleveland (MS), and during the summer I am the Tennis Director of Camps Kenwood & Evergreen, located in Wilmot (NH). My career goal is to one day coach a program that will be able to compete for, and hopefully win, a national title. I love working with tennis at the competitive level and in the collegiate environment, where you see and guide young men and women to become better players, better adults, and better people.
Welcome New USPTA Professionals! Jake Ryan Eliot Potvin Megan Hall Brian Carlson Happy Simberashe Fernando Paiva Dana Parziale Bryce Warren William Wiseman Dermot Caffrey Brooke Faulkner Lannell Beckles Under 30 years old are in italics. Congratulations on joining the USPTA!
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Prince Ball Grants Recipients of the Prince Ball Grant are: Patrick LaSalle, Bill Mountford & Hans Romer. Patrick runs the tennis programs for the town of Coventry, RI. In the summer, Hans is the Head Pro at The Dunes Club in Narragansett, Rhode Island and spends his winters as the Director of Tennis at the newly revamped A-COPI Tennis & Sport Center in Augusta, Maine. Bill runs a successful fundraiser, Match Point for Mikey in Darien, CT, as part of the Mikey Czech Foundation.
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DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS JULY 24TH … JOIN US IN THE BIG APPLE !
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USPTA NEW ENGLAND FALL CONVENTION This fall our Division Convention will be held at the fabulous Chatham Bars Inn on Cape Cod. This five-star luxury resort will be home to some of the best education (and relaxation) in our business. Speakers are being finalized and we think you’ll love the lineup this year - from D1 Coaches to Club Managers to Technology to Publishing, we are putting together a multi-faceted convention that will kick start your efforts in building or enhancing your tennis career. Whether you are a novice pro, U-30, seasoned professional or somewhere in between, there will be a variety of educational and networking opportunities that you’ll want to be a part of. If you have never attended a convention before, this is your chance to learn from your peers, make contacts and socialize in one of the most beautiful resorts on the Cape. Registration flyer and link will be sent out at the end of the summer. We hope you ‘Save The Date’ ; November 7-9, 2014.
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NOMINATIONS DUE USPTA New England Hall of Fame Inductee Requirements: Must have resided in New England as a USPTA member for a minimum of 15 years. USPTA certified tennis professional for a minimum of 20 years (Must be a current member at time of induction, unless deceased). Held a certification of a P-1 or Master Pro. Have a good character and reputation as a role model for teaching professionals. At least 50 years old at time of enshrinement. Active participant in the USPTA, either on the board, attending conventions or other Active or former demonstrated involvement with the USTA, either running tournaments, volunteering or working with JTT or school programs. Worked in the tennis industry as a full-time (minimum of 7 months of the year) tennis teaching professional, administrator, coach or manager for a minimum of 20 years Significant contributions or outstanding achievements to the tennis industry in two of the following categories: 1) teaching/coaching, 2)playing or special servicejournalism, invention, 3)leadership/administration.
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TAUT Workshop in New Haven, CT June, 2014
Front Row: Craig Jones (USPTA/Presenter), Meaghan Angeletti (USTA), Beth Melina (USTA) Back Row: Steve O'Connell (USPTA), Jennifer Myatt (USTA), Skip South (USPTA), Jim Mauri (USPTA), Anne Neely (PTR), Alex Dorato (USPTA) 18
Did yo hear the news? The NEW HAVEN OPEN IS NOW THE ….
AND DID YOU KNOW: USPTA pros receive access to NHO grounds free of charge by showing their USPTA pass to the ticket office personnel from Sunday, August
17-Tuesday August 19 (Sessions 1-5) 19