Winter Newsletter 2020

YANKEE PROSE The Newsletter of the USPTA New England Division

WINTER 2020

Happy Holidays

I n t hi s news l e t t e r : President's Message Page 01 State News & Articles Page 5 Testing & Education Page 25

A A MESSAGE MESSAGE FROM FROM OUR OUR PRESIDENT: PRESIDENT: USPTA MIKE MIKE KOLENDO KOLENDO New England Board of Directors Dear Tennis, Racquet, and Paddle Professionals, Regional President: Mike Kolendo m_kolendo@charter.net Regional Vice President: Michael Mercier supermiketennis1@gmail.com

This year has been quite a reality check. It’s been anything but “business as usual.” I’ve been reminded again and again of something a good friend of mine, Dr. Eric Legg, from the USTA said to me many years ago: “We live inside of a bubble. And we sometimes forget that not everyone else does.” Eric was talking specifically about a USTA bubble, and he was referring to the idea that, because of his involvement, he almost always had the latest information about what is happening in our industry. He could easily forget that the lion share of the important professionals in the field don’t have access to that same information.

It’s a sentiment that I think about often.

For me, the bubble has been centered around our association; the USPTA. I was reminded of Eric’s comment the other day while talking with one of my very best friends. I’ve known him for more years than I’ve been a tennis professional and he is the very model of a quintessentially, successful USPTA New England Tennis Pro. He’s both a well-respected, full-time teaching Vice President: professional and a sectionally recognized player. During our conversation, I Christy Bennett asked him if he’d completed his USTA Safe Play training and background check. bennett@newengland.usta.com He said…“What?”

Vice President: Lisa Wilcott metennis@comcast.net

Vice President: Milan Kubala stowemiles@gmail.com Treasurer: Chris Stevens stevens10spro@gmail.com Secretary: Steve O'Connell steveoconnellrs@gmail.com Immediate Past President: Michael Mercier supermiketennis1@gmail.com Head Tester: Wayne Turner wayne.turner54@icloud.com

Obviously, he had no idea that he needed to complete them. While it was inconceivable to me that he didn’t know, I immediately thought of “the bubble.” He’s busy making a living, servicing his students, dealing with COVID, and living his life. Whose fault is it really. It’s mine of course!! I’m supposed to be leading our New England Division. But my best friends aren’t even “in the know.”

Our association needs to do better. I need to be better.

Nationally, about 4,000 members have not yet completed their Safe Play and USTA background checks. While I know that we, as a group, often take care of things at the eleventh hour, I’m very worried that many of our members are unaware that they’re memberships will be suspended on January 2nd if they haven’t completed their Safe Play and background check requirements. It is my hope that, if you read this and didn’t know about the new requirements, you’ll go straight to www.usta.com/en/home/safeplay.html and start the process. Our association needs you and understands that things are changing rapidly during these crazy times. The timing is certainly not ideal but, in the long run, we truly believe that these changes are important, necessary, and beneficial to our membership.

By now, you should have received your annual dues invoice. Members that have qualified for the dues subsidy will note a $0.00 balance on their invoice.

For members that did not qualify, the USTA has extended the deadline to receive the subsidy, for 2022 dues, through the end of December. Please note that members taking advantage of the extension will need to pay their dues in full for 2021.

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The dues subsidy will be applied to the 2022 calendar year. Here are the requirements to qualify for free dues in 2022: 1. Reside and teach in the United States 2. Be an active USPTA Certified Professional in good standing (2021 dues paid) 3. Complete the USPTA Continuing Education requirements 4. Pass USTA Safe Play training, including a background screening 5. Show "good faith" and introduce new people to tennis To be clear, you can only qualify for the free dues subsidy once. If you received the free dues subsidy in 2021, you are not eligible for the dues subsidy in 2022.

Locally, our New England Division has been working hard on your behalf. Last month we partnered with USTA New England to deliver the November Takeover, a virtual educational conference to help our members obtain continuing education credits.

Additionally, our New England Division has added a Sports Psychology Committee. Brian Lomax (chair), Josh Burger, and Milan Kubala are committed to the mission of helping tennis professionals integrate mental skills training into the tennis learning and developmental process. They plan to provide sports psychology themed educational events, quarterly newsletter articles, coaching clinics, and to developing recommendations for integrating mental training into on-court coaching. We are incredibly excited to offer our New England Division a unique, innovative opportunity which adds value to the services already provided. I know that Brian and his team are committed to giving us tools to train our students to become better competitors; in addition to being better ball strikers.

Finally, in an effort to give our membership more of a voice, we’re providing direct access to our leadership team via monthly membership Zoom meetings at noon on the last Thursday of every month. Our Executive Director, Pam Dodman, is sending our members an invitation each month, so we hope that you’ll consider joining us. We truly want to see and hear what is important to all of our members.

In closing, our entire Board of officers wish all of you a safe, happy holiday season. In these crazy times, when many of us can’t be with the family and friends we’d normally spend time with, we sincerely hope you’re able to find joy with the people you can see – immediate family, friends, students, coworkers, and colleagues. And while we’re probably all a little tired of seeing distant loved ones in two dimensions via Zoom, Google Meets, or Microsoft Teams, maybe it’s for the best for now. Here’s looking forward to a better year in 2021. I’d like nothing more than to see all of you in person at a USPTA New England sponsored event next year.

USPTA New England State Presidents: Connecticut: Paul Coorssen pcoorssen@gmail.com & Kyle Devlin kyle@DevlinRacquetSports.com Maine: Wilbur Shardlow shardlowtennis@roadrunner.com Massachusetts: Stu Lehr stuartklehr@gmail.com & Phil Hayman hayman.phillip@yahoo.com New Hampshire: Richard Lane rlaneii@comcast.net Rhode Island: Nestor Bernabe nestortennis@gmail.com Vermont: Joyce Doud jdoud@edgevt.com

NE Executive Director: Pam Dodman pamela.dodman@uspta.org

All the Best, Mike Kolendo President; USPTA New England Division The Yankee PROse E-Newsletter| page 02

Happy Holidays Chris Stevens

Christy Bennett

Lisa Wilcott

Wishing you and your family a joyful and healthy holiday, and best wishes for a wonderful New Year!

Mike Kolendo

Milan Kubala

Pam Dodman

Steve O'Connell

From Your USPTA New England Board Michael Mercier

Wayne Turner

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Coming from...Connecticut Darien Parks and Recreation Racquets Sports Programs Break All the Records!

In these challenging times with many working from home, schools closing and moving to more remote learning models, cancelling interscholastic sports, along with reduced work weeks, people are feeling cabin fever and getting out to the parks and beaches in record numbers. Also, they are looking for quality instructional programs that will get them some exercise and keep their time away from home fun and interesting. The Platform Tennis (Paddle) program at Weed Beach has been growing in leaps and bounds since Steve O’Connell took over as Director. From fall 2017 to Fall 2020 the participation in the Paddle programs has increased a whopping 99%! This fall alone saw a 53% increase in players. “There are 158+ players in our programs, held Monday through Saturday, this fall session. That is an enormous increase and it’s still growing!” says O’Connell. Mr. O’Connell is a USPTA certified racquets professional and

USPTA NE Platform Tennis Committee Planned A USPTA/NE Division Platform Tennis Committee is now being formed to address the surge in growth that Platform Tennis has experienced in the last decade and more recently.

The Committee’s mission is to favorably position the USPTA-NE division within the Northeastern United States Platform Tennis Industry and to foster a desire and passion for Platform Tennis education, instruction, and activities.

Teaching Certifications and educational events are some of the activities planned for the remainder of the October to March season.

Platform Tennis represents an opportunity for Tennis Pros to enhance their overall programs and can be an additional source of revenue. Many facilities in New England have well-established programs that are seeing a spike in participations because of the current conditions.

If you are interested in helping the committee reach its goals, please contact: Steve O'Connell 203-895-3655 steveoconnellrs@gmail.com

Steve O'Connell USPTA Elite Professional USPTA NE Secretary USTA CT Board of Officers

serves on the USPTA/NE Board of Directors.

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Coming from...Massachusetts The Pickleball Ocean and the Waves it has Created

by Phillip Hayman, USPTA Elite Pro, IPTPA, PPR Before you react, think. Before you spend, earn. Before you criticize, wait.

Before you quit, try.

- Ernest Hemingway

The game of pickleball has dramatically increased in popularity and at a pace that matches the USA tennis’s marquee popularity in the seventies. A statistical survey, conducted by Statistica, was released in February, 2020. The survey covered the years 2014-2019 and showed that 3.46 million people in the United States participated in pickleball. The starting age was 6 years old with no oldest number given.

Here is something that shouted out at me with clarity and significance: 20% were over the age of 65.

The participation rate increased close to 10% during this time period and it must certainly be increasing during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Other factors spurring growth in participation are the aggressive marketing campaigns conducted by equipment manufacturers, dedicated venues being constructed, and the advent of competitive tournaments both amateur and professional.

One projection sees participation numbers from 2020-2030 double in the U.S alone. Many of us tennis teaching professionals have looked upon the game with a high brow and indifference and perhaps even muttered “its’ for old folks.” While it is true that people over 50 years old make up the largest segment of the game which includes the baby boomers, the 30-50y ear old players are increasingly growing in numbers, as I have witnessed in my own geographical area of South Shore of Boston.

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Coming from...Massachusetts One statistic I have not come across, which would be informative and enlightening, is how many 3.0 level and up tennis players are crossing over to pickleball on an annual basis and for what reasons. I theorize that a lot of the crossover is due to the ability for people to become proficient at pickleball at a faster pace than with tennis. Tennis players who have converted to pickleball then invite their friends to play because socialization is an important reason for playing! Thus, many more people can learn to play pickleball with quicker proficiency, and their tennis playing friends find themselves trying the game, in the name of retaining their social relationships, and like it. A lot more folks are keeping one another’s company through this recreational sport that lends itself to ease of learning, modest costs, social connections, quicker pace of play, cheaper equipment and the growth of pickleball clubs.

We as tennis professionals clearly can see that this game will continue to grow and expand to all reaches of the globe. With out much effort, any business-growth-minded pro will easily enlist pickleball as a second source of income if not a primary source depending on one’s revenue model. People from a multitude of disciplines are growing the game of pickleball and you can be sure that the game is evolving rapidly because of tennis players.

Phil Hayman is a USPTA Elite Professional and IPTPA Level 2 Pro and Rating Specialist 5, as well as being a certified professional with the PTR and PPR. Phil has worked in both the private and public sectors and is currently working for the Hingham, MA Recreation Department as their Tennis and Pickleball Director. He is also the Tennis and Pickleball Director for Portland, ME and Ipswich, MA. Phil has recently acquired an additional position with the Edge Sports Group as an independent contractor directing both tennis and pickleball operations at the Thayer Sports Center located in Braintree, MA. Phil was awarded the USPTA NE 60 Pro of the Year for 2020 and is one of the Massachusetts State Presidents for the USPTA New England Division.

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Coming from...Massachusetts Diversify and Watch Your Numbers Multiply

by Stuart Lehr, USPTA Professional

Back in the summer of 2019, I started to hear about pickleball. I decided that I would give it a try and tape some pickleball courts on my tennis courts. Although we had a pretty active tennis program, I felt that we could still get more people on the courts that weren’t necessarily interested in tennis.

One day, I had one of my juniors bring a friend to the club (2019 when guests were allowed). My member had taken tennis lessons, but his friend hadn’t. After about 15 minutes of trying to rally, they came to me and asked if they could use some pickleball equipment. They played pickleball for an hour and a half! They were making up games and just having fun rallying. At this moment in time, I decided it was time to diversify.

Fast forward to this past crazy summer. I decided to put permanent pickleball lines on my tennis courts, it turned out to be the best way to get more members on my courts. I now have members of all levels and ages being able to enjoy this landscape of the club who wouldn’t have before.

Sometimes, we believe that adding something might upset people or the flow of things and we are reluctant to do it. In addition to more members, this also led to a new revenue stream for the club.

Don’t be afraid to diversify!

Stuart Lehr is a USPTA Professional with over 20 years of tennis experience.

He is the General Manager and Tennis Director of The Beach Club, in Swampscott, MA, and a Tennis Professional at the Bass River Tennis Club.

Stuart is one of the Massachusetts State Presidents for the USPTA New England Division.

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Coming from...Maine

Wilbur Shardlow USPTA Elite Professional USPTA NE Maine State President

Maine Governor, Janet Mills, Returns to Court State of Maine Gov. Janet Mills is presently taking tennis lessons at A-Copi Tennis & Sports Center in Augusta, ME from USPTA pro Wilbur Shardlow. She is a longtime tennis player who wants to "get back into the game." Wilbur says, "the rust shows a bit but she realizes the long term health benefits of playing tennis and I'm sure it's a treat just being able to get away from the demands of the job.

Shardlow and the governor have known each other since their youth. Both of us grew up in Farmington, Maine but she was a few years ahead of me in school. I used to hang out some with her younger brother. We are always reminiscing about those times. Due to the demands of her job, lessons are a last minute thing but we can and do make it work. It's always fun to see her and a good promotion for our sport." A-Copi does a temperature check of everyone entering the facility and mandates the use of masks at all times.

Job Opportunity USTA New England is seeking paid part-time coaches in Maine throughout New England for our youth and adult Tennis in the Parks programs. Help grow the game! Learn more and submit an interest form on our Tennis in the Parks webpage. If you have any questions please contact: Eric Driscoll, USPTA Elite Professional Schools & Tennis in the Parks Manager USTA New England driscoll@newengland.usta.com Cell: 207-232-6925 The Yankee PROse E-Newsletter| page 09

Coming from...Maine Kris Elien Graduate of Certified Racquet Sports Executive Program Kris Elien is one of the graduates of the inaugural Certified Racquet Sports Executive Program from McMahon 10S. McMahon 10s is the private club industry’s only Executive Search and Consulting firm focused solely on Racquet Sports. The CRSE Program is a 10-month invitation-only intensive study and experiential continuing education program designed for certified tennis and racquet sports professionals who aspire to manage, administer, and direct a private club program more effectively, professionally, and confidently. Upon successful completion of the course work and 100-point exam, graduates receive the respected CRSE designation. Graduates who are also USPTA Members are awarded 22.5 USPTA Continuing Education Credits.

“The CRSE Program is unique in the industry” says USPTA Master Professional Mark McMahon, President of McMahon | 10s, the founder of the CRSE Program. “The professionals who completed this program demonstrated a deep commitment to their personal and professional growth, and to their profession. Maybe more critically for their employer, their regular interaction with the other professionals, as well as the knowledge gained from the delivery of the curriculum from a range of successful industry leaders, ensures that their individual racquet sports programs will be at the leading edge of creativity, innovation, and professionalism. I could not be more impressed, or proud of our graduating class” Kris is Head Tennis Professional at the York Golf & Tennis Club in York, ME. He works with USPTA New England Board member and York Director of Tennis, Lisa Wilcott.

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Coming from...New Hampshire LET THE DRILL DO THE TEACHING CHOOSE THE APPROPRIATE DRILL TO TEACH THE DESIRED CONCEPT

by Lynn Miller, USPTA Elite Professional Players can figure a lot out on their own if you give them the appropriate drill to practice. You set the rules for a drill and can adjust them to fit your teaching goals/objectives.

The best two examples are drills that I have used for over 30 years (described below) have been most successful in meeting my teaching goals. The second drill is my latest “tweeked” version of the original “check drill,” which I have updated several times over the years.

Drill #1: Name of Drill-15 Second Drill (for singles) Goal: To teach players to find their control speed for baseline points.

Rules: Hit as many balls, cooperatively, over the net with a partner from baseline to baseline for 15 seconds. If you or your partner miss, you MUST stop the drill, and the last successful shot you and your partner hit is your score. Have each court call out their score at the end of the 15 second period when all players have completed the drill.

Comments: I tell my players (4.0 level players and higher) that a good score would be a rally of 12 or 13, but to stress the team concept, a decent goal would be for every two-some on each court to be able to consistently get a score of at least 10. Each person in the pair also has to be sensitive to the type of ball their hitting partner can tolerate relative to speed, spin and depth. You will be surprised how quickly players learn to control the speed of their shots, stop overhitting or hitting with more pace than they can control. Nobody likes to be the pair that has to STOP the drill while everyone else is keeping the ball in play. The coach can “tweek” this drill to suit their team’s needs. For example, all balls must be hit past the baseline, or all balls must be played on one bounce (so no “saves” allowed for balls that are going long), etc. I use this drill for singles play, but you can also try this with 2 players on each side of the net using one ball to practice doubles, or have 2 different pairs splitting the court (down the line or cross court) doing this drill for singles, if you have a limited number of courts.

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Coming from...New Hampshire Drill #2: Name of Drill-Lynn Miller’s version of the Check Drill (for doubles) Goal: To work on consistency then shifting to game speed mode and mindset for competitive doubles play Rules: This is a 3 person drill with one person positioned behind the deuce side baseline, a 2nd person on the opposite side of the net halfway between the net and service line, straddling the center line and a 3rd person in the “hot-seat” just inside the ad court service line where they would be if their partner were returning serve from the deuce side baseline (see diagram 1 below).

The baseline player (B) feeds a ball to the net player (V) who volleys it to the “hotseat” player (H) on the other side of the net. The hotseat player volleys or half volleys it back across the net to the volleyer, who then volleys it back to the baseliner. That is one rotation (4 shots). Have players do this cooperatively for 3 rotations without an error, then on the 12th hit (which is the baseliner’s hit), they get first crack in the “competitive mode” and may break the pattern, playing out the point 2 vs 1, trying to win the point (without making an unforced error on ball #12). If an unforced error occurs before the 3-some gets to ball #12, you must start again back to zero, with a new ball hit from the baseline.

Comments: If your group is not skilled enough to get to 12, move the baseliner into “no-man’s land, and have everyone hit a slower paced ball to one another. For more advanced players, they should try to do this drill cooperatively at game speed once they are warmed up, still with no put away winners until ball #12 (whereby a passing shot or lob may be attempted). This is my favorite drill for doubles since it stresses the importance of consistency in all aspects of doubles (both baseline and net play). It also teaches the hotseat person to be alert, ready to move and take a short or no backswing when someone hits the ball to you in no-man’s land.

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Coming from...New Hampshire Consistency Phase - first 11 balls Competitive Phase - begins on the 12th hit the 12th ball hit by the baseliner starts the competitive phase whereby players (B) and (H) compete to win the point against the single volleyer (V) on the opposite side of the net; 2 vs 1.

Once in competitive mode, only keep track of how many points the volleyer wins.

Rotate positions after playing out a bucket's worth of balls.

Canadian doubles boundary line rules can be used Once all players have had their chance in each position, the drill can be repeated with the baseliner feeding from the ad side and his/her hot seat partner positioned just inside the deuce side service line (see diagram 2).

Lynn Miller is a USPTA/New England Elite Professional and is also PTR Certified. She was the full-time men's and women's Head Tennis Coach at Wheaton College (1980 - 2015). She is currently semi-retired, coaching tennis at Colbey-Sawyer College, Kearsarge High School, and at several clubs in the Lake Sunapee area in New Hampshire.

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Coming from...New Hampshire Happy Retirement Robert (Bob) Kimnach, USPTA member since 1973, and owner and Head Tennis Professional of the Mt. Washington Valley Tennis School, is retiring as of January 1, 2021. In 2019, Bob received the USPTA New England Pro of the Year for New Hampshire. We wish Bob all the best in his retirement and hope to still see him on the courts in some capacity.

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Coming from...Rhode Island The Other 82.5% of a Tennis Match

by Josh Burger, MS, USPTA Elite Professional A 2013 Wall Street Journal Article titled, "How Much Tennis Is Played During a Match?", found that on average only 17.5% of a tennis match actually consists of points being played. The remaining 82.5% amounts to time spent in-between points, changeovers between games, and set breaks. As coaches, we are inclined to spend most of our time on the practice court helping players improve on their strokes (technical side) and the strategy that underlies successful tennis (tactical side). Instead, perhaps we should be spending more time helping players maximize their time in-between points and games/sets in order to help them get into an “ideal performance state” and give them the best possible chance of success in each point that they play.

In-Between Points As a coach one of the biggest ways to determine if players are demonstrating mental toughness while they are competing is by watching how they spend time in-between points. Rather than spending 2025 seconds in-between points pouting about the previous point or verbally announcing that they “can’t make a backhand,” there are proven and productive ways to get into the best possible mindset before starting the next point. Over 30 years ago, Dr. Jim Loehr established and popularized the “16 Second Cure,” which can be used to help tennis players utilize the “in-between'' time in an effective way.

Positive Physical Response - After the point ends, the player turns and transfers the racquet to their nondominant hand. Regardless of the result of the previous point, the player demonstrates positive body language by walking with their head up and shoulders back. This can also include a positive gesture/phrase like a fist pump or “come on” after a point won, or complimenting the other player’s shot after a lost point.

Relaxation - The player continues to walk back to their baseline and starts to rest the focus of their eyes on their strings, which helps the player relax. During this time the player should utilize a breathing routine and may utilize a “reset” technique to clear the previous point if necessary. The player also wants to stay loose and can shake out their arms and hands to release tension.

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Coming from...Rhode Island Preparation - At this stage players start to look up at their opponents on the other side of the court and demonstrate strong body language. During this stage the player should have a clear intention and plan for what they intend to do during the next point (where to serve/return, favorite pattern of play, etc.) and may incorporate visualization for how they intend to start the point.

Rituals - Rituals for first serves, second serves, and serve returns should be established and trained on the practice court so that they have been “programmed” before competition begins. Utilizing specific self-talk and cues to stay loose or go for their serve/return, and visualizing their serve/return can also be helpful during this stage.

Changeovers The 90 seconds that players are allotted for changeovers are rarely maximized in a way that sets players up for success. Players can use this time to calm down and reset, catch up on nourishment and hydration, and figure out what sort of game plan they intend to implement going forward. Depending on the circumstances of the match, this time should be utilized recapping what is going on in the match, or as Brad Gilbert puts it in Winning Ugly, “who’s doing what to whom.” Once it is clear what is happening in the match and why the score is the way it is, it is often easier for players to decide to stick with their current game plan or make an adjustment. The changeover can also be a great time for players to utilize breathing techniques and visualization as Iga Swiatek demonstrated during her recent French Open title.

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Coming from...Rhode Island Set Breaks These breaks are slightly longer than changeovers, and provide players with the chance to regroup after a lost set. At times it can be a good idea for a player to leave the court and use the bathroom or change their clothes to help signal to themselves that the next set is a “fresh start.” During this time a player should also utilize their breathing techniques, regroup about their game plan going into the next set, and incorporate visualization of themselves playing the style of tennis they intend to play. Rather than thinking about the set as a whole, players should focus their attention on the first game of the set and let that game set the tone for the remainder of the set.

Conclusion In order for players to implement these skills during competition, it is critical that players first learn and develop these skills on the practice court. As coaches, we should devote a portion of practice time to developing these skills, and encourage players to utilize them in practice and especially during practice matches. Players should have autonomy to design their own in-between point, changeover, and set break routines with these guidelines in mind. Having an intentional and practiced approach to the majority of time (82.5%) when players aren’t playing points will lead players to greater success during competition.

Josh Burger is a USPTA Professional, Assistant Tennis Professional at the International Tennis Hall of Fame, and the Founder and Sport Psychology Coach of Tiebreaker Psych, LLC. Josh is a member of the USPTA New England Sports Psychology Committee, and is the co-host of the Tennis IQ Podcast. To learn more about Josh's background and Tiebreaker Psych, LLC please visit TiebreakerPsych.com

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Coming from...Rhode Island Pawtucket Girls Tennis Team, Division III State Champs!

Wayne Turner, USPTA Elite Professional and New England Head Tester, coached the Pawtucket Girls Tennis Team to a victory over Classical High School in the Rhode Island High School Division III State Championships.

This was Pawtucket's first title since 1994.

International Tennis Hall of Fame Newport, RI - The International Tennis Hall of Fame is located in beautiful Newport, RI. This has been a venue for the USPTA New England's Free Lesson Days held during the ITHF Open Tennis Championships.

Despite the COVID restrictions, you can still visit the ITHF virtually! They have many digital exhibits for you to explore. Hopefully, we'll be back this summer offering free tennis lessons to the public!

The ITHF is run by USPTA Elite Professional and former touring pro, Todd Martin.

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Coming from...Vermont Vermont Senior Games Include Tennis and Pickleball

The Vermont Senior Games Association staged the second leg of its tennis tournament, the doubles competitions, back at the Burlington Tennis Club on Sunday August 30. The Pickleball Tournament was held at the Davis Park Courts in Shelburne over three days, September 11 – 13, 2020.

"In the tennis competition one of the highlights was the sharp play of the South Burlington duo Jeanne Hulsen (USPTA Recreational Coach) and Kristin Hartley in the women’s doubles pool. On their way to the gold medal in the 60 – 64 year–old age group, these fine athletes went undefeated in the round-robin, losing only two games combined over three matches."

Hulsen and Hartley were also finalists in the 60 and over pickleball competition.

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Coming from...USPTA New England Have Questions?.....Who You Gonna Call?

Your New England Executive Director, Pam Dodman, that's who. Pam is more than happy to help you in any way she can. If Pam doesn't know the answer or have the required information, she will do her best to find it.

Sometimes you may need to go directly to the national office. If that is the case, below is contact information and titles of two of the key employees of the national USPTA.

USPTA New England: Pam Dodman 207-807-7070 pamela.dodman@uspta.org .

USPTA National: Dillon Chustz: Director of Membership dillon.chustz@uspta.org 407-634-3050 x184 Ramona Husaru: Director of Education ramona.husaru@uspta.org 407-634-3050 x 147 Click on the image to go directly to the national website.

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Coming from...USPTA New England USPTA New England Committees Awards (Milan Kubala, Chair) Mission: To select awards for all different categories on a yearly basis.

Annual Awards Hall of Fame Inductions National Award Nominations Compliance (Mike Kolendo, Chair) Mission: To review and update Division’s bylaws, SOP, and election procedures. Bylaws Standard Operating Procedures Election of Next Slate Diversity and Inclusion (Lisa Wilcott, Chair) Mission: To promote the division as a more inclusive and diverse organization.U30 Wheelchair/Adaptive Women/GLTA Elevate (formerly U30) (Jacob Zapatka Chair) Finance (Chris Stevens, Chair) Mission: To be fiscally responsible and to review and manage the Division’s finances.

Quarterly Budgets With President, approving necessary expenses with ED With President, manage ED’s monthly activity reports/financial reports Membership (Steve O'Connell, Chair) Mission: To increase membership and to promote educational events.

Testing Re-engagement – past and lapsed members HS and College Coaches Pickleball and Paddle Sports Professional Development (Mike Mercier, Chair) Mission: To assist members with compliance of educational credits and to work diligently to organize all major division’s conferences.

Continuing Education – credits and upgrades Conferences – meetings, speakers Trade Show/Sponsors

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Coming from...USPTA New England USPTA New England Committees Public Relations (Christy Bennett, Chair) Mission: To promote all of the division’s activities through different media outlets.

Newsletter Social Media USTA/Net Generation Lessons for Life Sports Psychology (Brian Lomax, Chair) Mission: To help tennis professionals integrate mental skills training into the tennis learning and development process.

Podcasts; Tennis IQ Sport psychology themed educational events Sport psychology webinars Sport psychology track at annual conference Conduct on court coaching clinics Develop recommendations for integrating mental training into on court coaching Past President’s Committee Mission: To act as a sounding board and to provide guidance to the current Board. TBD

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Coming from...USTA New England USTA New England Announces Departure of Heather Anastos, Longtime Director of Competitive Tennis* It is with tremendous gratitude for her work over the last 20 years that USTA New England announces Heather Anastos will be leaving the organization at the end of 2020. It is hard to capture the impact Heather has made on the organization in a few words. When she first became the Director of Competitive Tennis Development twenty years ago, the overall registrations for New England USTA Adult League tennis were around 14,000. By the end of Championship year 2019, league participation had grown to 34,610.

While the majority of the sections showed a drop in unique league participation from 2010 to 2019, there were seven sections that showed positive growth and under Heather’s leadership, New England was third in the country. The section grew participation from 14,448 unique players in 2010 to 15,440 players in 2019. She has also delivered more than 200 championships with the support of many league players, captains and tennis enthusiasts who annually volunteered their time to make New England League championships the best event to attend.

Heather Anastos

Over the last several years she led the transition of Local League Coordinators from volunteers and independent contractors to paid employees within the department. “Heather has spent the past two decades showing a tireless passion and dedication to all things USTA League tennis. She not only cares about the program but more importantly the players, captains, volunteers and facilities who've hosted league matches and championships.

We wish Heather all the best in the next adventure in her career,” said USTA New England Executive Director and COO, Matt Olson. Prior to becoming an employee, she was a passionate volunteer for the organization for many years. She has served on many USTA National Committees. Heather’s dedication and commitment to leagues and our customers will be missed. USTA New England staff, board of directors and volunteers wish her the best in her next adventure.

“The USTA New England segment of my career life has spanned over a quarter of a century during which time I’ve had the pleasure to work with many passionate, energetic, and committed people. Our successes are the result of building a collaborative team of amazing volunteers and staff. It is with a heavy heart that I leave USTA and thank you all for your friendship and for sharing the vision to make a The Yankee PROse E-Newsletter| page 23

Coming from...USTA New England difference in people’s lives through tennis,” said Heather.

Former USTA New England Tennis Service Representative, Christy Bennett has accepted the position of Section League Coordinator and will be transitioning into the USTA League Department. Bennett is a longtime USTA League player and former captain who plays in New England and formerly played in Southern. She is also a certified official and Vice President of the USPTA New England Board of Directors. In addition, she is an Assistant Professor and Curriculum Consultant at Bridgewater State University’s Professional Tennis Management Program.

Bennett will begin a five-month training program with all staff and volunteers associated with our USTA League Program in August. "Heather's tenacious dedication for the success of leagues has produced positive increases in our flagship program during her 20-year tenure. As Christy transitions to her new role, we are grateful she has the opportunity to learn from Heather for the next several months. I look forward to seeing Christy's contributions in the years to come with the USTA League program,”' said Peter Parrotta, USTA New England President and CEO.

Christy Bennett USPTA NE Vice President

*USTA New England press release

The Yankee PROse E-Newsletter| page 24

Testing and Education New Certification Pathway to begin in 2021*

The USPTA’s mission is to “elevate the standards of tennis-teaching professionals and coaches”. On January 2, 2021, the new pathway for Professional certification and Tennis Instructor certification will begin. As of November 1, 2020, applications will be accepted for both certifications. The Professional certification is designed for full-time tennis-teaching professionals while the Tennis Instructor certification is designed for part-time tennis coaches.

Professional Certification: The USPTA Professional certification pathway takes approximately six to nine months to complete.

The process requires hands-on work experience with guidance from a USPTA-approved mentor, 300 hours of online and/or in-person education, and the completion of USTA Safe Play training and background check.

Total cost to become a Certified Professional is $698 consisting of a $399 one-time application fee that includes all online courses and required in-person workshops plus the $299 annual membership dues for Certified Professionals.

Application Process: Complete USPTA Application Pay Non-Refundable Application Fee Pay USPTA Membership Dues (prorated based on application date) To learn more about the Professional certification pathway and to begin application process – CLICK HERE . *information from USPTA National website

The Yankee PROse E-Newsletter| page 25

Testing and Education New Certification Pathway to begin in 2021*

Tennis Instructor Certification The USPTA Tennis Instructor certification pathway consists of 16 hours of online educational modules, participation in a 2-day Tennis Essentials (TE-1) in-person workshop hosted by the USTA, and the completion of USTA Safe Play training and background check.

Total cost to become a Tennis Instructor is $199 which is the cost of the annual membership dues for Tennis Instructors.

Application Process Complete USPTA Application Pay USPTA Membership Dues (prorated based on application date) To learn more about the Tennis Instructor certification pathway and to begin application process - CLICK HERE .

Upgrades: Recreational Coach to Tennis Instructor Recreational Coaches interested in becoming Tennis Instructors can do so by attending the two-day Teaching Essentials 1 workshop, completing USTA Safe Play training online, and passing a background screening. The USTA will cover the cost of the Teaching Essentials 1 workshop and background screening.

Recreational Coaches have until June 30, 2021, to convert to Tennis Instructors. On July 1, 2021, all remaining Recreational Coaches will be classified as Tennis Instructor Applicant Members.

*information from USPTA National website

The Yankee PROse E-Newsletter| page 26

Testing and Education Upcoming Testing Dates** January 16, 2021 - 11:00 am Longfellow Swim & Tennis 140 Lock Street, Nashua, NH Contact: Wayne Turner; Head Tester wayne.turner54@icloud.com

Monthly Membership Zoom Meetings January 28, 2021 - 12:00-1:00 pm With Stuart Lehr and Phillip Hayman Topic: Pickleball and Platform Tennis and Training Tips February 4, 2021 - 12:00-1:00 pm With Nestor Bernabe and Joyce Doud Topic: High Performance Tennis & Training Tips March 4, 2021 - 12:00-1:00 pm With Wilbur Shardlow and Dick Lane Topic: Professional Racquet Stringing April 1, 2021 - 12:00-1:00 pm With Paul Coorssen and Kyle Devlin Topic: Member Resources & Benefits, and New England Division Website Information updates and raffle giveaways at each meeting. zoom information can be found on the calendar at usptanewengland.com

January 23 OR 30, 2021 A-Copi Tennis & Sports Center 23 Leighton Road, Augusta , ME Contact: Wayne Turner; Head Tester wayne.turner54@icloud.com February 20, 2021 - 10:00 am New Caanan Racquet Club 45 Grove Street, New Caanan, CT Contact: Steve O'Connell; Tester steveoconnellrs@gmail.com March 12, 2021 - 9:00 am Tennis Club of Trumball 61 Monroe Turnpike, Trumball, CT Contact: Steve O'Connell; Tester steveoconnellrs@gmail.com March 14, 2021 - 3:00 pm Longfellow Tennis & Health 524 Boston Post Road, Wayland, MA Contact: Wayne Turner; Head Tester wayne.turner54@icloud.com **Testing Dates may change due to changes in COVID protocols for each individual state.

Please be sure to check the status of the test before arriving.

The Yankee PROse E-Newsletter| page 27

We are thrilled to WELCOME the following NEW MEMBERS of 2020!

We are so happy to have you join us!

Connecticut Jose Batalla Brad Harrington Julie Mazinova Danny Nguyen Massachusetts Richard Karban Leonard, Larouche Suzanne Lazzaro Sami O'Reilly Timo Seibert Bailey Ward Maine Chris Chaffee Stephan Woods Rhode Island Jessica Crimmins Martin Crimmins The Yankee PROse E-Newsletter| page 28

Just For FUN

Yankee Pros The Yankee PROse E-Newsletter| page 29