Addvantage 1994 September

The #l Choice of Consumers and Dealers For the 6th straight year, a Wilson racquet was the highest rated racquet in the Tennis Industry Racquet Research Day consumer testing.

Consumers choose Wilson racquets as the best.

Year

Highest Rated Racquet

1989 1990

Wilson Profile 2.7 si

Wilson Profile 3.6si

1991

Wilson Pro Staff 4.5si

1992

Wilson Hammer 2.7 si

1993

Wilson Hammer 4.0si

i994

Wilson Sledge Hammer 3.8si

(Source: Tennis Industry Magazine)

•

Dealers Choose Wilson Racquets as the Best During the period january-May 1994 Wilson was the top brand with a market share of 48.6°;6

Wilson had 7 of the top 10 selling racquets! #l #2 #4 #6 #7 #8 #10 (Source: Sports Research, Inc.)

Wilson Pro Staff Classic 6.lsi Wilson Sledge Hammer 3.8si Wilson Hammer 4.0si Wilson Hammer 5 .Osi Wilson Hammer 2.7 si Wilson Hammer 6.2si Wilson Hammer 5.2si

Volume 18- Issue 9

September 1994

The Voice Of The Tennis Teaching Profession NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Gordon Collins Vice Presidents Kathy Woods Will Hoag Joseph Thompson Kurt Kamperman Secretary!Treasurer Jim Davis Past President Jack Justice WORLD HEADQUARTERS

SPECIAL SECTION This issue contains a complete program guide for running USPTA's Little Tennis"'. The pullout section includes promotional tips, press information, suggestions on how to run clinics and guidelines for competition. Pull ft out and get started on your USPTA Little Tennis program today! ·

CEO Tim Heckler Director of Operations Rich Fanning Executive Assistant Marty Bostrom Director of Shawna Riley Communications Communications Gayden Cooper Marketing/Business John Tamborello Operations Magazine Coordinator Julie Myers Sports Marketing Karen Unger Coordinator Sports Marketing Jason Pointer Assistant · Public Relations Dan Soine Assistant Corporate Services Christi Call Manager Secretary Dale Henry Computer Services and Kathy Buchanan Club Relations Educat1on Coordinator Susan A Thompson Membership/Education Sharon Duste Assistant Membership/Education Karen Mahon Assistant Membership/Education Vicky Tristan Assistant Financial Manager Renee Heckler Controller Theresa Weatherford Insurance/Merchandise Ellen Schmidt Services

FEATURES 4 The 1994-95 USPTA National Board of Directors 4 Wilson introduces racquet recycling program 11 Beginners benefit from learning tennis by the·volley method

by Don Klotz, Ph. D. 18 Convention briefs 20 Pro Penn quarterly discount

DEPARTMENTS 3 President's message: Thanks for the great 18 years

by Gordon Collins

Receptionist Cindy Sauer Director of Certification George Bacso and A:::ademies Co-Director of A:::ademies Bill Tym Advertising/Marketing Phone (713) 97-USPTA Information

5 CEO's message: Start your US PTA Little Tennis program today!

by Tim Heckler

LEGAL COUNSEL Attorney-at-Law Paul Waldman

ADDvantage is published monthly by the United States Professional Tennis Association.

For information, write the World Headquarters US PTA One USPTA Centre 3535 Briarpark Drive Houston, TX 77042 Phone (713) 97-USPTA or fax (713) 978-7780 Office hours: 8:30a.m . - 5 p.m. Central time.

Copyright © United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc. 1994. All rights reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this magazine is not permitted without written permission from the publisher.

8 Ask the professor: Light grip essential to stroke performance

by Jack Groppel, Ph.D. 9 Off-court focus: Britt Feldhausen Member grows the game with community tennis program 13 Dates that rate 16 Industry action ADDvantage September 1994

The mission of The Arthur Ashe Foundation is to educate the public about AIDS while raising funds to h e distributed worldwide to establish ed AIDS organizations involved in research , clinical trials, patient care services and education.

The Arthur Ash e Foundation for ttie Defeat of AIDS, Inc. 100 Park Avenue, New York , NY 10017 Call 212 922 0096

" We want to be ¡able to look back

and say to all concerned, that we did what we had to do, when we had to do it, and with all of the resources required."

Q)

c

c

The Arthur Ashe Foundation for the Defeat

-.aJ .l; .2 0

...r.

a...

Thanks for the great 18 years!

Gordon Collins, President

S

nee 1976, have had the great fortune to serve on the Northern California Division or national USPTA boards. This service truly has been one of the highlights of my professional career.

Eve n though the board duties were often timeconsuming and demanding, my desire and passion to see USPTA expand and excel always made the effort worthwhile.

Even though the board duties were often time-consuming and demanding my desire and passion to see USPTA expand and excel always made the efforts worthwhile. During the past 20 years, USPTA has made trem,endous progress, and it has been very rewarding to be a part of this process.

During my early years, my fondest memories are of my family, the school tennis teams and my fraternity. The foundations for all of these were camaraderie and fellowship. n my adult years, the extension of these groups has been US PTA. A major benefit of my involvement with US PTA has been the friends have made along this journey. Because of the demands of our profession most people who enter it are very caring positive-th inking and dedicated ndividuals. These are the qualities that make the democratic decision process feasible, especially when laboring on committees and projects. Even though we sometimes would disagree ardently, we always knew our common cause was to improve our Association and profession .

During my years on committees and boards with USPTA have been blessed to be surrounded by talented and knowledgeable people many of whom have become wonderful friends.

For all of you with whom have had the opportunity to interact, thank you for enrich ng my life. definitely have received more than have given to our Association US PTA is very much like the clubs at

which we work. It is composed of people with similar goals and interests.

Working together for the betterment of the whole is fundamental for an organization encourage you to get nvolved if you would like to make an impact on our profession Everyone has an ability or strength that would be beneficial to our Association

I encourage you to get involved if you would like to make an impact on our profession.

There are so many people who have had an impact on my life and career. wish could list all of them here, because they certainly deserve the recognition and praise. n particular, though thank my tremendous staff at Courtside Tennis Club for carrying the ball these past few years. couldn't have performed this job without them . And to Kathryn all can say is that you are the very best. <3 ADDvantage September 1994

3

1994-95

Australian Open Quarter Finalist MaliVai Washington uses PowerBars before tennis or anytime as a low-fat, healthy snack.

Photo: Michael Baz

There being no additional nominations for the Board of D rectors, the 1994-95 officers will be

What do the top pros eat for energy?

"In the course of a three hour match, I need something to sustain my energy PowerBar does that for me."

- Mal Washington

PowerBarÂŽ sports energy bars raise and sustain energy with-

The new national Board of Directors will be installed 1n September at the USPTA National Convention in La Quinta, Calif

out highs and lows. They're convenient, low in fat, highly nutritious and extremely easy to digest, even right before a match or between sets.

For a free, 12 page Guide to Nutrition and Energy, call 800-444-5154.

4

ADDvantage September 1994

Wilson introduces racquet recycling program I n its continuous effort to 'grow the game' of tennis, Wilson Racquet Sports, in conjunction with USPTA, has developed a racquet recycling program .

All Wilson players, coaches, advisory staff and USPTA members are asked to return their used Wilson racquets to Wilson at the beginning of each new contract year when they receive their new supply of racquets.

Wilson will accept both strung and unstrung racquets.

The recycling program will be the first of its nature, and could bring as many as 15,000 racquets into Wilson's inventory. Those racquets in good condition will be sent to various tennis organizations and promotional programs with few resources to provide new players with equipment.

Wilson hopes this will create a larger generation of new players for the future. The recycling program will go into effect in January. <3

~~-------------------------Start your USPTA Little Tennis program today!

TM

~e

tennis industry is working feverishly to develop and implement programs to' increase th e number of tennis players in the United States.

It's always been easier to get exi sting players to play more than it has been to attract new players to the game. Recruiting new players is our primary goal , since those people who still play tennis probably will continue to do so. To design more programs that target these people would be reinventing, 1he wheel , and that in itself won't help us achieve our goal. n this issue of ADOvantage, USPTA offers a new approach to growing the game of tennis. We're banking on a program that targets an entirely different group of people children ages 3 to 10. It's our hope that this population group will spur tennis' popularity now and into the future, and it's a new promotional vehicle, not the same tired wheel.

USPTA Little TennisrM is presented in a progressions format that combines teaching professionals, children , parents, lessons, leagues and other activities. It offers teachers a basic formula for implementing lessons and leagues for children , while providing us with a strong foundation upon which to build future modules for the program .

Our hope is that Little TennisTM will be the Barbie doll of the tennis ndustry.

Barbie celebrates her 35th birthday this year. And , while she's closer to middle age than her teens, she's in as much demand today as she was in the 1960s. The company that introduced Barbie didn't stop with one

doll. Mattei took an unbendable, no frills doll with a limited wardrobe and expanded its product line to include Barbie's friends, different Barbie looks, entire clothing lines, cars, homes and a multitude of other accessories.

USPTA plans to expand Little Tennis the same way. It offers a basic program through which tennis-teaching professionals can provide instruction and activities to a new group of tennis players. The program goes on to offer suggestions for age-level progressions, group events, parental involvement, equipment, awards and more. The concept of offering a tennis program specifically for younger children is terrific, but it's not the end result.

Like Barbie, who this year was reintroduced in her original1959 form , we expect Little Tennis to get better with age.

With input from teaching professionals, industry representatives, parents and ch ildren who participate, USPTA's newest program can be modified to meet specific needs. Best of all it is a concept that is designed to grow with children and tennis.

The program guide in this issue of ADOvantage is a starter kit. It includes everY.thing you 'll need to start a Little Tennis program and put this wonderful concept into practice. However, what we plan to do is add to this basic guide, just as Barbie's designers have changed her style over the years.

USPTA will continually update this guide, through subsequent issues of ADDvantage, with information and tips to help each professional improve his or her Little Tennis leagues

Tim Heckler, CEO

and activities.

Little Tennis Talk and Little Tennis Tips will provide news about additions to the program , progress reports on how specific individuals have implemented programs in their areas, and special technical information that will supplement the program guide. We encourage each professional to start. his or her own three-ring binder far USPTA Little Tennis, beginning with the program guide and adding to it with the m21thly updates.

Over the years, an individual 's binder will evolve into a history of the program .

The first supplement, which will appear in the October/November issue of ADOvantage, will feature Wilson Tennis Carnival Teaching AidesÂŽ These products are designed for children ages 3 to 7 who first need to learn basic motor and hitting skills before graduating to a smaller-sized court system , such as mr. pee Wee tennisÂŽ As tennis-teaching professionals, we have the ability to create a new generation of players and attract their families and friends to the courts while we are doing it. At the same time, this new and stronger base of players will create business opportunities for the entire tennis industry well into the future.

USPTA Little Tennis not unlike Barbie is a program designed to endure. It has the great potential to ensure both the sport of tennis and its future players. We no longer can hope for a great influx of new adult players. Many programs have targeted this group with little success. We have to build the groundwork now for future participants that will adopt our sport for a lifetime.. o ADDvantage September 1994

5

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Ph.D.

Light grip essential to stroke performance QUESTION: At the 1994 USPTA Florida Division convention, I heard you speak about grip firmness during your talk on biomechanics. I was unaware of its importance in stroke production. Could you please elaborate on this topic, its significance and any limiting factors involved in developing tennis strokes?

ANSWER: Let's begin by reviewing the research on grip firmness. Several studies examined the influence of an extremely light grip and the tightest possible grip on ball velocity off the racquet. Only one study out of approximately 10 such investigations found that a firm grip will increase resultant ball speed ; and that study determined that a 'death grip' added only 7 percent to the ball 's speed. The firm grip over the course .¡ of a match , however, severely would hamper stroke production from a fatigue standpoint.

Therefore, it is believed that a firm grip (not a death grip) at the point of impact may help increase ball speed , but only slightly.

The major focus of my work on grip firmness during the last 10 years has brought me Jack Groppel, Ph.D., is the executive vice president of LGE/Saddlebrook Sport Science Inc. He is an instruction editor for Tennis magazine, and is the author of High-Tech Tennis and co-author of The Science of Coaching Tennis. Groppel is a certi-

fied USPfA Master Professional and was named 1987 USPfA Professional Groppel of the Year.

Groppel is an adjunct associate professor in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at the University of Florida. He is chairman of the USPfA National Committee on Fitness and Health, and a member of the National Youth Tennis Development Steering Committee. He also i~ a member of the Prince and Penn advisory staffs.

8

ADDvantage September 1994

to the same findings as above, but I have observed one very important thing . Players, especially intermediate (4.0 NTRP rating) and lower, do not understand the role of the grip nor how much grip firmness to use. When examining the stroke mechanics of these players, I often see a preparation , swing and follow-through that are uncoordinated and extremely inefficient. My first thought in the early 1980s was the old adage, 'Well , some have it and some don't.

How wrong that was!

It is important to use a light grip during a backswing so that the body, As I kept examining and not the arm, prepares for the stroke. stroke production and stroke. The amount of learning that took how players learn specific tennis skills, observed that great players seem to be effortplace was phenomenal It seems that when players learn the game, less in the preparation of their strokes. A they don't understand how firmly to hold the world-class player looks totally relaxed racquet. If they hold it too tightly, the back(note the facial expression and ease of swing becomes totally uncoordinated and preparation when preparing the backswing) . the arm is used too much . If the grip in the A caveat is important here because it is backswing is totally relaxed, the body, not the obvious that if a player is rushed or has to arm, prepares for the stroke. This allows an sprint for a ball a relaxed appearance may efficient preparation of the body 's linked not be present.

At that point began interviewing some of system and enables the proper transfer of force to take place. the athletes that come through the LGE sport Basically, it's this simple: If the racquet is science program . When asked about how taken back with the arm , it is difficult to firm a grip was _in preparation, the unanimous response among 40 world-class players was, develop great strokes. When the racquet is taken back with the body via the shoulder " My grip is very light in the backswing. They turn, great strokes are possible. If the grip felt a feather-like grip was essential to stroke is too tight on the backswing , the muscles production. of the upper limb are used excessively and As applied these findings to my own proper preparation is difficult to achieve. A students on the court, began saying, 'Hold the racquet like a feather to prepare for the light grip is essential in preparation. o

Member grows the game with • • commumty tenms program U

SPTA member Britt Feldhausen is growing the game of tennis in Tucson , Ariz. by reaching children in schools whose physical education programs were cut.

Feldhausen has been the volunteer schools coordinator for the Southern Arizona Tennis Association for three years, and he founded the nonprofit Tucson Community Tennis Program (TCTP) for children in 1992. know I m making some kind of difference, even if it's only a few moments of having some fun and laughing," Feldhausen said. 'These kids often don't have many things that are fun .

As volunteer schools coordinator, he used the USTA Schools Program and worked with physical education teachers and children on the playgrounds. When the Tucson school district canceled its physical education funding because of budget shortfalls, schools without outside funding or a strong PTA had to cut their physical education curriculum Without a PE activity period or teachers, ? school did not have access to the USTA ehools Program Feldhausen decided to create the TCTP to teach academic teachers how to teach tennis at schools without formal physical education .

Through a friend, Feldhausen learned about Cavett Elementary School , an innercity school which had no PE program . He decided Cavett would be a good place to start the TCTP Many children at Cavett had never seen or held a tennis racquet. He began the program with one teacher helping him teach 30 students at half-hour intervals. The next year, there were two teachers, so he taught two classes back to back; and the third year, he had three teachers and three classes with 90 students. The third class was bilingual.

The TCTP has expanded to three schools with 90 students participating at each school.

Feldhausen received help from people and clubs in the community. Bud Minkin, a local club member, was instrumental in founding the organization . Other volunteers, including Jeanie Curtis, Judi Anderson, Jil Feldhausen , Steve Glavin, Don Hammonds, Lou ise Robbins and Roni Ashford, helped

scholarship opportunities for the children, he said.

Feldhausen saw the impact of the program very early on. One boy skipped school frequently and did not have an address, and it was suspected that his father was a drug dealer. After the TCTP started at his school, the boy began coming to school regularly, even early, so he could use the racquets and hit balls against the wall . He also stayed after school with a teacher who would hit with him.

He started coming to school regularly because of tennis, Feldhausen said . 'If I could do that for that one child, whatever did was pretty worthwhile.

'If can give all that to my students, as well as a good sense of ethics that goes along with tennis, and the confidence that goes along with doing something well that you 've worked at, I think I've given them a real gift.

Feldhausen believes that tennis programs for children are necessary for the future of tennis. would not have picked up tennis as an adult if hadn't been introduced to it as a child, he said. 'The more USPTA members can do things like this for kids, the more children will get going in the game, and the better our chances are for more people to play tennis.

Britt Feldhausen

write the manuals, format the program or teach on the courts. The USTA Schools Program donated racquets and balls, and several local clubs donated used tennis balls.

English- and Spanish-language manuals are used during the first eight weeks of the program . During that time, the children use the manual in the classroom to learn the basics of tennis rules, scoring, equipment and tennis terms. They also spend time on (continued on page 19) the playground learning basic tennis strokes.

After eight weeks, the children are transported to city courts • Director of local P where a volunteer is at each Resort 1i rograms l • \II 1 ' ucson, Ariz.

- oeWs Ventana Cany Cou rt to help them with posio Unteer sch I on tioning, scoring and playing Tennis Associa~o s coordinator, South . /On. ern Anzona tennis. This gives them the

~~~:~; aRccomptishments and

chance to experience tennis as a whole on a real court for the four remain ng weeks of the program .

Feldhausen wants his students to enjoy tennis, and realize that developing their playing skills is something they can accomplish on

. . ecreat1onal C . actiVIties outhern Arizo ommmee me b • Southwest Prof na _Tennis Association m er, USTA nit S ess1ona1 Te . · • h Y ervice Award nnls Association Com 1993 • 7i oun_der, Tucson C~mm · . mus:::/'me Winner of U~;~ Tennis Program .

1nar contest.

• F' _ Southwest Div· . mallst in USPTA N .

- IS/on nar Contest.

S

:

::llllllllllllll~~a;t;'o;n:a~I~S:e;m~i;:~:;::~...-J

their own . Tennis will help build confidence, and it provides recreational social and

ADDvantage September 1994

9

.. presents

emorative Collection ots of the game¡s greatest players sets of five postcards each.

All proceeds benefit The Arthur Ashe Foundation for the Defeat of AIDS. Please make check for $16.95 payable to: The Arthur Ashe Foundation for the Defeat of AIDS, Inc., and mail to: TENNIS magazine Postcard Collection, 5520 Park Ave., Trumbull, Conn. 06611-0395.

IASP7 A littlle 7t~1t1ti9

™

I 6 .elcome to the world of USPTA Little Tennis™, developed by the United States I'll Professional Tennis Association and sponsored by Wilson Racquet Sports. Little Tennis™ is the tennis industry's answer to youth baseball and soccer It is a comprehensive program for children ages 3-10 that combines fun activities, lessons, leagues, equipment, parents and professionals. Its flexibility also allows professionals to customize the program for their individual needs.

Little Tennis introduces children to the sport before they become entrenched in other activities, or decide that the latest video game is more important than exercise. It emphasizes fun, family involvement and physical fitness. With the younger or lesser-skilled children, the recommended lessons help develop basic motor skills. As children advance, they are introduced to racquet and court skills, and eventually league play, through a system of lesson progressions, activities and equipment that includes Wilson's mr pee Wee tennis® and Wilson's Tennis Carnival and Teaching Aides®

SPONSORED BY

UJI.Lon.

While everyone may agree that it is a good idea to get children involved in a fun tennis program, not everyone agrees on what type of program is best and what skills children can master People often disagree on the age at which children should be introduced to the game or begin to compete.

In USPTA Little Tennis, the level of competition is determined by each professional based on a child's abilities. The program offers ideas for a range of ages and capabilities. If children are not ready for league competition, other activities may be used, such as play days or Little Tennis CarnivalsSM This program gui'de offers everything professionals need to get a Little Tennis program started. Its flexibility allows professionals to use their judgment to decide how to best implement Little Tennis, so that the needs of local children are best served.

Graduated equipment, tailored for various stages of development, is important to the success of Little Tennis. Equipment should meet the physical requirements of youngsters as they grow and develop specific skills. That's why Wilson's products are ideal for teaching tennis to young children and are recommended for this program . The court package includes small racquets, foam balls, plastic net posts, short nets and more.

USPTA Little Tennis is the only nationwide program of its kind. Since it addresses the needs of a younger age group, it is an ideal feeder program for other excellent programs. Professionals may consult other resources (listed in the program guide) for information on various teaching methods and tools.

The tennis industry needs to build a player base that wi I ensure the future health of the sport. Little Tennis can help attract children who will continue to be a market in the future, and also draw other family members into the sport, creating spin-off markets to benefit al segments of the industry For tennis professionals, Little Tennis offers several benefits. It can help enhance their revenue by increasing their lesson and activities yet untapped market of younger tennis players, who wil grow and influence others . base. It also will develop the existing Many other sports offer programs for children at an early age, which allows these sports to build tremendous popularity By following these examples, we also will see our industry develop. USPTA and Wilson invite teaching professionals to grow the game by introducing children to a true lifetime sport through USPTA Little Tennis.

Copyright<> United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc . 1994. All rights reserved .

USP1 A littl!o 701t1tis

How it worlis Figure 1

SPONSORED BY

mi.Lon.

I

FLEXIBILITY ALLOWS PROFESSIONALS TO CUSTOMIZE SEGMENTS FOR LOCAL NEEDS

I

I

LEAGUE ACTIVITIES

LESSON PROGRAM

Progression format Based on age & ability mr pee Wee tennis®suggested :Other good teaching sources PROGRESSIONS: 3-year-olds • motor skill development 4/5-year-olds • motor/racquet skills 6/7-year-olds • racquet skills 8/1 0-year-olds • playing skills SCHEDULE: Year-round, four seasons or quarters 12-week season, weekly group lessons • •

5 weeks of lessons only 7 weeks of lessons and league play

RECOMMENDATIONS: At professional's discretion $95 per season/child

EQUIPMENT

PARTICIPANTS: All activities based on age and ability Tennis carnival games for all levels League play for advanced children LEAGUE PLAY· Eight teams per league (maximum) TeamTennis format suggested: • • •

3 boys/3 girls per team 1 boys/1 girls doubles teams 1 mixed doubles

LEAGUE SCHEDULE: Begins after 1st five weeks of lessons 7 weeks of league play Simultaneous with lesson series LITTLE TENNIS OL YMPICSSM Fun party/play day for kids & parents Multiple on-court stations Games for appropriate skill levels Mid- and/or end-of-season event

GRADUATED EQUIPMENT· Wilson's mr pee Wee tennis: • Nets and net posts • Small racquets and foam balls • T-shirts, caps and certificates • Banner and ball bag Wilson's Tennis Carnival and :reaching Aides® Other products listed in program guide AWARDS: Develop system for rewarding children USPTA producing national awards program APPAREL USPTA-brand clothing (available in the near future) Space for local sponsor's logo Other licensed products (to be announced)

Copyright c United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc . 1994. All rights reserved .

II

I ADMINISTRATION

I

I

I PROGRAM DESIGN:

I

I PROFESSIONALS (COACHES): Final authority on local program issues • Develop lessons and activities Determine level advancements Establish schedule and fees Select equipment and teaching aids Promote parental involvement Solicit local sponsors PARENTS (ASSISTANT COACHES): Assist professionals when needed Participate in child/parent play days WILSON RACQUET SPORTS: Primary sponsor Promote program to industry Sales force promotions mr. pee Wee tennis equipment USPTA: Marketing and promotions Additional program information Related educational courses OTHER SPONSORS:

Tennis magazine (presenting sponsor) Tennis Industry Association (TIA) (contributing sponsor)

* USPTA Little Tennis is designed to run on a quarterly system of four, 12-week seasons. The system allows students to play in one or more quarters, or rotate tennis with other seasonal sports.

Professionals may lengthen or shorten the seasons, and may offer any number of seasons (one to four) in a year Each season consists of 12 weekly lessons and supplemental activities, such as practice sessions. Play days and league play may begin after the fifth week and continue through the rest of the season, along with the lesson series. A Little Tennis OlympicsSM may be held either in mid-season to inspire the children and involve the parents, or as an end-of-season party When setting a schedule, consider the court availability and other programs at the club or facility, staff availability, possible weather restrictions and the schedules of children and parents. Since family involvement is very important to the program's success, talk with parents before making a schedule to determine the best lesson and league times.

Guidelines for developing a format for your Little Tennis program may include:

.* â&#x20AC;˘

* * *

Establishing goals for children to achieve before progressing to subsequent levels Using rewards as incentives for children to achieve established goals Expanding or altering the lesson program based on the ski Is of participants Replacing actual match play with games and activities for younger or lesser ski led children

The Progressions of Player Development chart (Figure 2) provides an abbreviated lesson system for Little Tennis. The chart offers basic developmental objectives rather than specific lesson plans.

It includes progressions for developmental objectives, mechanics, incentives and corresponding activities.

Design your own lesson plans, using the chart as a guide. Remember, lessons always should be based on the ski I level of students.

A 45-minute lesson plan may include: *Theme and objective (5 min.)

topic to be covered

and what you hope to achieve

* Warm-up

(5 min .) - gereral exercises to get ready for play and to focus attention

Games and activities (25 min.)- drills related to the theme and objective

*Cool-down (5 min.)

low intensity; goal is to calm

children

*Wrap-up (5 min.)

review main points of lesson

Ot4or aossoH COHCtlpts USPTA realizes that there are many different philosophies regarding when children should be taught various techniques (i.e., motor, racquet or playing ski Is). There also are differing opinions on the teaching mechanics used to accomplish each skill level Therefore, USPTA has included a ist of resources that professionals can use to develop their own programs (see Additional resources under League activities section) . The additional methods and tools which most ideally suit a professional's needs may be incorporated easily into the program.

Parental involvement is one of the key elements in a successful Little Tennis program. Parents may serve as Assistant Coaches, as volunteers for special activities, as practice session leaders or as enthusiastic spectators. Parents may help run carnival stations, provide refreshments after practice, or handle travel arrangements during league play All assistants should be positive, friendly and able to work well with children.

Professionals may opt to meet with parents alone, so they can review the basics of tennis, discuss the goals and objective~ of the program, and encourage at-home practice activities that might complement the formal lesson series .

Por,.issioH lor,.

US PTA recommends (your club or facility may require) the use of permission forms, which must be reviewed and approved by your employer, to acquire parental approval to play and to obtain proper medical aid in case of emergencies. The sample form included in this guide may be used for both parental approval and medical aid authorization. If you wish to develop your own form, be sure that your facility approves the form and that you have it reviewed by a legal expert.

The parental approval and medical aid forms should define clearly the parties involved (for example, children, coaches and the name of the facility). The medical aid form also should request information about specific medical conditions, prescription medications, family doctor's name and phone number, and emergency contact information. Develop a clear plan of action in the case of emergencies.

Note: A permission form or release will not be binding in cases of injury caused by the negligence of anyone administering the program, including professionals or assistant professionals.

USP1 A littao 1oHHis

Figure 2

Levell

IASP7 A littlle 7llHHiS Age Recommendations

TM

•

Developmental Objectives*

Mechanics •

Fun, exercise & camaraderie 2. Motor skills 3. Familiarity with body movements 4. Basic orientation to ball & racquet 5. Introduction to ball contact on volley forehand & backhand

2

3

4

5

I

1-5.

6.

7 8.

Continuation of above More control Basic knowledge of tennis Learn to score

1-8.

9.

Continuation of above Introduction to strokes: a) Forehand & backhand b) Volley c) Serve d) Return of serve

I

I

1-9.

10. . . . .. 11 12.

13.

Continuation of above Develop basic strokes Control & accuracy Greater mobility Consistent racquet skills

6

1 13. Continuation of above 14.

Begin play on 3/4 to full court

7

1 14.

15.

16.

17 18.

Continuation of above Basic strategy Consistent placement Sustained rallies Depth & spin

1-18.

19.

20.

21

Continuation of above Mental aspects Continued strategy Advanced shots as ready

8

• •

Bouncing, catching & tossing underhand Balance, coordination, head & body control Tracking the ball Use of imagery

• • • • •

Step, hop, skip, jump, run & pivot Toss, catch & throw skills Hitting a stationary ball Strike & track drills Use of large targets

• •

Continuation of above Pro drop & hit drills:

•

1

ProtJressioHs ol Pllayer De"ellopHteHt

a) Hitt!ng at fence targets b) Hittmg at the net • • • •

Continuation of above Throwing overhand Student drop & hit drills Pro multifeed drills

• •

Continuation of above Consistency & judgment: a) Keeping ball in play b) Movement of ball c) Aiming at large targets

1 Praise 2. Positive reinforcement 3. Awards: a) Ribbons b) Stars c) Certificates d) Stamps & stickers e) Snacks, etc.

4. Progression to next level

5.

Continuation of a~ove . mr pee Wee tenms® T-sh1rt

6.

and cap (cost covered in program price) Progression to next level

11-4.

1-5.

6.

7

• •

Continuation of above Tracking, control & movement drills: 8. a) Track ball at 3/4 & full court (System 5 STEP method) b) Movement to side, up, back & diagonal

• •

Continuation of above Improve stroke production Expanded target skills: a) Variable size targets, lanes & new heights (see ?ystem 5)

• • • • •

Continuation of above Develop a basic game plan Developing patterns Increasing spin and pace Learning advanced shots (approach, lob, overhead, passing & specialty shots)

•

Complementary Activities

Incentives

1-7

Tennis coloring book 2. Storytelling 3. Numerous games from resource materials: a) Balloon games b) 'Walk the dog" c) mr pee Wee says" ... " d) Pitch/hit/catch e) Tennis relays 4. Little Tennis OlympicsSM (Child/parent pi days) 5. Tennis birthday parties 6. Target games 7 USPTA Little Tennis CarnivaiSM 1 Dribbling ball down & up with racquet 2. Other games from resource materials: a) Ball passes b) Red light c) Tennis sandwich d) Team toss relay e) Around the world 3. mr pee Wee events with skill contests, round-robins & league play

Continuation of above Trophies & medals Badges & certificates from USTA Skill Test & sportsmanship program Progression to next level

Games from various resource materials: a) Timed drills up/down with racquet b) Drop/hit/catch game c) Alley-rally game d) Tennis baseball 2. Skill tests for beginner to advanced beginner (available through USTA), covering range of topics from shots to conduct 3. mr pee Wee tennis and league play

Continuation of above

1 Continuation of above 2. Games from various resource materials: a) King/Queen of court b) Tennis serving c) Tennis 21 d) Attack & defend e) Team lob & smash f) Consecutive rallies 3. mr pee Wee tennis or league play on 3/4 to full court

Bold type indicates main objectives for age group * Progression of objectives and mechanics always should depend on individual ability, and progression to the next level builds on and does not exclude the previous level.

Copyright

0

United States Professionall _ _ )ssociation, Inc. 1994. All rights reserved .

_)

The last seven weeks of the 12-week lesson program may include an actual league in which teams of youngsters play against each other or participate in other motor ski I activities. These activities are held in conjunction with the group lesson series. See the sample schedule (Figure 3).

An Area Director determines the schedule, team format, league fees and other league activities. The Area Director also may coach one of the eight teams. The other professionals (Coaches) are Site Directors at their respective clubs or facilities. Interested parents may serve as Assistant Coaches to help professionals with various activities.

SeoriHt;~ A recommended league consists of a maximum of eight teams, and more than one team may represent a club or facility if there are enough children Each team has six players (three boys and three girls). However, a league can have fewer than eight teams or a different format, depending on the number of children available at each ski II level Doubles competition is recommended for league matches, and a simplified TeamTennis format can be used. Two, six-member teams will create the following matches: *

Professionals determine the scoring method used for Little Tennis league play Matches may be scored as one regular set, one pro-set to eight games, or any other scoring system children can understand . For example, a 15- or 21-point match may be the easiest system. No-ad pro-set scoring is recommended for more advanced players.

After totaling all match scores, the winning team is the one that wins the most games. If a tie occurs, a TeamTennis Supertiebreaker may be played, or any form of tiebreaker predetermined by the Area Director

One boys doubles match

*One girls doubles match *One mixed doubles match Follow round-robin guidelines for establishing league matches for four or more teams.

Two or more Area Directors may organize playoffs for the winning league teams of different areas. As Little Tennis gains popularity and a national sponsor, the program may include city, state and national playoffs .

Ot4or Area Directors (USPT A professionals who coordinate leagues) and Sit~ Directors (organizers of teams at specific facilities) may deterrnjne when a league or team is capable of play with regular tennis rules and equipment.

I,.,.

ttelit~itios

A league schedule may be enhanced with Little Tennis Olympics, which can serve as mid- and end-of-season parties for children and parents. These play days may include games for the entire family or a child/parent mr pee Wee tennis tournament. A social event, such as a pizza or ice cream party, may be a good way to end the season on a positive note.

Figure 3

Aetivity lossoH

Prot;~tttlli

Structures weekly lessons for appropriate age and ability level (shaded box indicates a lesson)

AdditioHttll prttetieo sossioHs Parental involvement (shaded box indicates a practice with Assistant Coaches)

AdditioHllll pOtty dttys Little Tennis Olympics (shaded box indicates a child/parent play day)

lottf,.tl 0t ttpproprittto 1

llot~oll

Activities (shaded box indicates a league/activity day)

IASP7 A littllo 7OHHi

7DaHt rostDr Mail a copy of this roster to: ·u nited States Professional Tennis Association Sports Marketing Department World Headquarters, One USPTA Centre 3535 Briarpark Drive Houston, TX 77042

IASP1 A littiJD 7DHHiSTid SPONSORED BY

1DII6on.

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Site Director ________________________ Facility n a m e - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Address _______________________________________________ City, state, Zl P ----------------------------------------Phone (._ _ _ ---------------------------------------Sign-up dead Iine -------------------------------------Child's name (print last name first)

IGender I • Birthdate (month, day, year) (F/M)

- - - - - - to _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Return to Area Director by (date) -----------------------------

'Do14Gttls leAtlt/i OHtl)

D

Boys

D Girls D Mixed

D

Other

Address (street, city, zip)

Area Director-----------------------------------------Facility name Address _______________________________________ City, state, ZIP------------------------------------~Phone (,_ _ _ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4 '"

Phorie¥'!i!

(at~a!=~;)

*Th~ parents or legal guardians of the participants agree that they assume the risk of any injury incurred while taking part in a USPTA Little Tennis program and that US PTA and its agents bear no responsibility.

')

a> (J lJJ

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Ill

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8¡10 years old

Organized group lessons and/or leagues for children of ANY SKILL LEVEL. Little Tennisâ&#x201E;˘ is played on small courts and with equipment made just for them to make learning EASY AND FUN.

OaiJIJ lor selatJd~tiJtJ i~elor~~tatioH Contact ______________________________ Phone ______________________________ Location

-----------------------------

The United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) is the world's oldest a,nd largest association of tennis-teaching professionals. It was established in 1927 and has more than 10,000 members.

The parents or legal guardians of the participants agree that they assume the risk of any injury incurred while taking part in a US PTA Little Tennis program and that US PTA and its agents bear no responsibility.

..

Appt~rt~IJ Introducing children 3-10 years old to tennis raises many questions, including what equipment they should use. USPTA Little Tennis suggests a program of equipment progressions that corresponds with the size, strength and abilities of children as they grow and develop skills.

Wilson's mr pee Wee tennisÂŽ kit, endorsed by USPTA, is recommended for league play It is ideal for children who have racquet skills but cannot sustain a rally on a three-quarter to fu I court. A USPTA Little Tennis Carnivai5M may incorporate Wilson Teaching AidesÂŽ The availability of graduated equipment is very important to the success of Little Tennis. Wilson's mr pee Wee tennis makes the game easy and fun for children to learn and play The smallersized racquets, plastic net posts, nets and foam balls are ideally weighted and balanced, and are easy to set up and take down Wilson Teaching Aides and tennis carnival accessories provide a variety of activity stations that build tennis skills through fun, ex~iting games. The complete line of mr pee Wee tennis e uipment is available through Wilson Racquet Sports sales representatives.

mr pee Wee T-shirts are included in the court equipment kits, and also may be purchased separately USPTA plans to produce an official Little Tennis uniform in the near future, which will display logos of local, area and national ~ponsors.

littiJt~

7t~HHis eosts

Compare the following expenses and income to determine the initial cost of starting a program . After the purchase of court equipment, expenses should decrease substantially, and professionals should realize more profits.

BxptJitStJS *

Equipment (start-up cost only)

*Court time (depending on facility policy) *

Instructors (hourly rate for teaching staff)

*

Miscellaneous (refreshments, awards.' apparel)

*

Registration fees (set by professionals)

*

Local sponsorship (out-of-industry)

*

Pro-shop sales

*

Food and drink concessions

*Additional private lessons (parents and siblings)

Since the purchase of equipment creates start-up costs, Little Tennis is designed to return a// program fees to participating professionals. Tennis teachers can recover their costs by charging an appropriate entry fee. For teams competing in league play, Site Directors are encouraged to coordinate their fee schedule with the Area Director

Awt~rds With children, positive reinforcement is a key element of instruction. With Little Tennis, the Progressions of Player Development chart (Figure 2) recommends a graduated system of incentives.

Your awards system can be as simple or elaborate as you wish; however, keep in mind that children do need many different types of recognition (praise, snacks, awards).

USPTA is developing an awarqs system for Little Tennis that will be outlined in program updates in ADDvantage magazine.

Income and expenses for a program wi depend on location and type of facility, size and experience of teaching staff, and the economic environment at a club or within a city A quarterly registration fee of $50 per child may work at some facilities, while $110 may be applicable at others. Discretion and financial forecasting should be used when setting fees.

By avoiding court costs or paying clubs a smaller percentage of court fees, professionals may increase their income. Also, consider the increase in club traffic during Little Tennis activities. Pro shop sales and food concessions may benefit from the added programs.

SpoHsorsfcips Costs may be offset by local sponsorships from prominent club members or local merchants. Professionals and parents are encouraged to seek "out-of-industry" sponsors that do not conflict with US PTA's national endorsees. For more information about sponsorships and endorsements, contact the Sports Marketing Department at the USPTA World Headquarters.

USP1 A littl!tJ 1OltltiS

I I II

AdditioHaO ttJSO~tetJs

P

rofessionals may use additional resources and teaching aids for the instruction and activity progressions of USPTA Little Tennis. Many of these products and programs have been developed by USPTA members. Professionals may utilize the products and programs listed below to create a Little Tennis program that best suits children's abilities.

The 5 Keys To TennisTM (System STM)* Video, book, manual, court package that consists of: 16 color-coded & numbered zone markers, 16 target markers, one adjustable & numbered height marker, one target window

United States Professional Tennis Association World Headquarters 3535 Briarpark Drive Houston, TX 77042 (713) 97-USPTA (978-7782)

Wilson's mr pee Wee tennis® kit* Manual, net posts, net post bases, nets, racquets, foam balls, T-shirts, caps, certificates, banner, bal bag

Wilson Teachlng Aides® Include tether, tower, cables, targets

Coloring book and video 3 904 Deerpath Road Suffolk, VA 23434 (804) 539-1677

Offkort Tennis (by King Thaxton, USPTA professional) Program guide and teaching aids (footwork pads, stands and targets) 1200 S. Ocean Blvd.

Palm Beach, FL 33480 (407) 659-0795

The Small Fry Tennis Program (by George Fink, USPTA professional) Program guide for 4- and 5-year-olds Deer Creek Courts 701 Deer Creek Parkway Highland Park, IL 60035 (708) 991-4646

American Youth Tennis League (includes Tennis Buddies) Brochures, manuals, resource and educational material

American Youth Tennis Foundation im Brown, Executive Director 20311 Lake Forest Drive, Suite C-11 Lake Forest, CA 92630 (800) 622-2983

Kids Tennis (by Tennis Canada/Canadian Tennis Association)

Wilson Racquet Sports

Manual with optional equipment

8700 W Bryn Mawr Ave. Chicago, IL 60631

3111 Steeles Ave., W Downsview, Ontario, Canada M3j3H2

(312) 714-6400

(416) 665-9777

USTA publications and materials

•

Color Me Tennis (by }an Grover, USPTA professional)

Short Tennis Handbook; Teaching Tennis The USTA Way; Schools Program Tennis Curriculum; Recreational Tennis Curriculum; Guide To Teaching; Fun Tennis Formats; Ski Tests and Awards Program; Badges and Certificates

United States Tennis Association 70 W Red Oak Lane White Plains, NY 10604 (914) 696-7000

Teenie Tennis program guides and materials (by Marceil Whitney, USPTA professional) Books and manual, videos for parents and professionals, flash cards, beach balls, soap bubbles, catch buckets

Teenie Tennis Publishing P 0. Box 2285 Redmond, WA 98073-2285 (206) 881 1446

Children's Athletic Training School (CATS) (by Butch Seewagen, USPTA professional) Includes tennis module and awards program

Children's Athletic Training School 11 73A Second Ave. Box 355 New York, NY 10021 (212) 751-4876

Serve-U-Right pop-up ball machine Chili Plastics Inc. 2278 Westside Drive Rochester, NY 14624 (716) 247-0420

*Indicates those products or programs endorsed by the USPTA. This is not a complete ist of products or programs. Many others are available that may meet the needs of children in a USPTA Little Tennis program.

OtlltJr prod~ets tllttt HtttY OtJ ~stJd i~te6~dtJ:

* Balloons * Hula Hoops * Large inflatable targets * Bean bags

* * * * * * * * *

Flying disks Jump-ropes Large foam balls Fleece balls Upright adjustable tees Tape targets Plastic cones Bal machines Praise charts

The most successful community-based team sports for children are well organized and well managed. While children, parents, teaching professionals (as Site Directors and Area Directors), and local sponsors form grassroots networks, Wilson's sales force will promote Little Tennis, distribute mr pee Wee tennis products and ensure that Wilson staff professionals participate in the program .

USPTA wi create recommended guidelines, coordinate regional programs and help d_istribute the information necessary to implement the program. Some of this information may include updates of the program guide, supplemental tips, or activities and drills that enhance Little Tennis.

Teaching professionals play the most crucial role and control their respective USPTA Little Tennis programs. It is essential that professionals assume this responsibility, since the program addresses the highly sensitive issue of when and how to introduce young children to various levels of play and competition. The certified tennis teacher is able to deal with the complexities created by various age and skill levels,. and should serve as the final authority on all program issues.

* Arstt Dirsetor A USPTA profess ional in a specific geograph ic area, who assumes the -responsibility for organizing a league with four to eight teams.

â&#x20AC;˘ Functions:

* Determine format Set fees ** Oversee draw and scheduling * Collect and distribute results * competitions Determine awards, other incentives for any area

*

or activities for teams

Send team rosters and league results to USPTA Sports Marketing Department

Sits Dirsetor lOotteiO The tennis-teaching professional at a local club orfacility who runs a Little Tennis program and coordinates one or more teams of children and their parents.

Functions:

* which Establish program schedule (other than league play, is handled by the Area Director)

* *

Conduct weekly group lessons Coach teams on play days

Establish training program for Assistant Coaches (parents) to enable them to coach between lessons and play days

* Coordinate league play with the Area Director * Determine Coaches' responsibilities

*

Assist~nt

Coordinate travel arrangements with Assistant Coaches (parents)

* Communicate participant data and results to the national USPTA Sports Marketing Department

*

Send team rosters and league results to USPTA Sports Marketing Department

Assisttt11t OotteA Parents may serve as Assistant Coaches, since family involvement is critical to the success of the program.

* *

Functions: Assist in securing local sponsorships to defray cost of program Conduct team training between formal lessons and activities (or parents may work one on one with their own children at home)

* Assist with travel to other league facilities * Assist with administrative operations, such as scheduling, record keeping, equipment management, etc.

* Assist with social arrangements for Little Tennis Olympics (refreshments, publicity) 5

M

USP1 A littl!s 7OHHis

Wi8so1t Rtteq~t~t Sports

USP1A

Provides national and regional staff, all of whom are important to the production and distribution of equipment, and promotion of the program to key professionals and the tennis industry

The central administrative link to program design and implementation .

Functions:

*

Functions: Production, marketing and sales of equipment necessary for program

* participate Direct solicitation of key Wilson staff professionals to in the program, through local sales

*

representatives National promotion of the program through advertising and any other reasonable methods

* national Coordination of USPTA national committee members, and divisional staff operations

* *

Production of program guide, including all recommended formats for lesson programs, league activities, equipment and administration Marketing and promotion of program through news releases, magazine stories, advertisements, etc.

* Solicitation of national program sponsor(s) * maintenance Collection of data, team rosters and league results, and of al databases

IASP7 A littiJs 71lHHis: A wiH-WiH sitl4"tioH

The combined efforts of parents, professionals, local sponsors, Wilson and USPTA will ensure that children are exposed to tennis ~arly in life in a positive way, and wil help them be more inclined to play the game as they grow In addition, by emphasizing parental involvement, USPTA hopes to attract more adults to the courts. The end result is more lessons, more equipment sales and more use of court time.

US PTA Little Tennis is a "win-win" situation. Professionals and the tennis industry enjoy the short- and long-term benefits of an expanded player base. Parents benefit from knowing that their children are being taught by a certified professional, and from active involvement in their children's development. Most importantly, children benefit from learning a true lifetime sport in a fun, group atmosphere.

IASP7 A aHd Will soH ... "{irowiHIJ tAD IJaHtD

tftro~IJA

littiJs 7DHHis"

I I II !

PARENT'S APPROVAL FOR PARTICIPATION IN USPTA LITTLE TENNIS AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL AUTHORIZATION

I hereby certify that _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (student) has my approval to participate at home or away from home in USPT A Little Tennisâ&#x201E;˘ conducted by _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (facility) for this year and subsequent years, unless I give written notice to the contrary I understand and agree that the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ( f a c i l i t y ) and its employees and agents, and USPTA and its employees and agents, assume no responsibi ity of liability for any accident or injury as a result of any aspectof participation in USPTA Little Tennis. I understand and acknowledge that participation in USPTA Little Tennis creates the potential for receiving an injury With the knowledge of this potential risk of injury, I am giving my son/daughter permission to participate and accept full responsibility for this decision In the event of an injury, permission is hereby granted to _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (facility) representatives to render, secure, and/or authorize necessary medical treatment without further authorization from me. I understand that medical expenses for injuries wil ohly be paid according t o - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ( f a c i l i t y ) rules, and such payments do not w a i v e - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (facility) from general immunity or create any iability for injuries or damages.

I acknowledge that USPTA Little Tennis is not a USPTA-operated program, but rather is a program offered by _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ( f a c i l i t y or professional).

Date ----------------Signed (parent or guardian) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Name of parent or guardian

(please print) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Social Security No. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

Telephone(B) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (H) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Home address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

In case of emergency, contact: Name - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - P h o n e -----------Relationship _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Name - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Phone -----------Relationship _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Family p h y s i c i a n - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Phone _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ My child has the following medical conditions (i.e., asthma, epilepsy, etc.) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - My child is allergic to the following (medication, foods, insect bites, e t c . ) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

My child is

currentlytakingthe~llowing

medications _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

NOTE TO THE TENNIS PROFESSIONA:L. Have this approval form filled out in duplicate. Two signed copies of this form must be received by you before the student may participate in or practice for USPTA Little Tennis. File the original in the office of the club or facility Keep one copy for your records.

If you are a club pro or employee of a club, do not use this form without prior approval of employer 2.

If you are an independent contractor, please consult legal counsel before using this form.

IASP1 A littl!e 7tlHHiS

UNITED STATES PROFESSIONAL TENNIS ASSOCIATION, INC.

NewsReleaseNewsReleaseNewsReleaseNewsReleaseNewsReleaseNewsReleaseNewsReleaseNewsRelease

CONTACT PERSON PHONE NUMBER:

DATE:

IASP7 A litt8tJ 7tJHHisâ&#x201E;˘ olltJtS I14H aeti"ititJS lor eAi8dttJH e"IUJi"IJ "'' /lids! _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (facility) in _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (city) wi

host a new national tennis program to introduce young children to the sport in a fun, group environment. The program offers

athletic instruction and social activities for children of various ages, and is organized by local tennis-teaching professionals.

USPTA little Tennisn.c, a unique series of tennis activities and leagues for children, is beginning

---------

_______ (start date). The program combines group lessons, fun activities, tennis carnivals, leagues, modified equipment, parents and teaching professionals in the common goal of athletically developing children, ages 3 to 10. USPTA little Tennis is sponsored by Wilson Racquet Sports, and is designed by the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA), the world's oldest and largest association of tennis-teaching professionals.

The sign-up deadline is _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (date). For more information on USPTA little Tennis, or to sign up, contact _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (name) at

(phone number).

Parents also are encouraged to help organize the league.

Children of every skil level are welcome in USPTA little Tennis. Whether a child has tennis experience or not, the tennis-related games and activities provide a healthy and fun introduction to the game. League activities stress fun rather than competition, while children learn athletic and interpersonal skills.

"USPTA Little Tennis is a great way to introduce children to tennis, the sport for a lifetime," says Tim Heckler, CEO of USPTA. "Whatever a child's age, tennis offers physical and social benefits to help them develop throughout their childhood, and beyond."

Founded in 1927, the nonprofit USPTA strives to raise the standards of the tennis-teaching profession, while promoting greater awareness of tennis. Its more than 10,000 members worldwide help provide tennis programs such as US PTA little Tennis. For more information on USPTA, call its World Headquarters in Houston at (713) 97-USPTA (978-7782).

30

Beginners benefit from leanllng tennis by the volley method

by Don Klotz, Ph.D.

Before became a tennis instructor, was advised to first establish firmly the baseline groundstrokes, and introduce the supplementary strokes later. If I did not do th is, my future students would be equipped with stabbing , uncoordinated strokes, and have no future in competitive tennis. Yes, full baseline strokes must come first, was told. eventually learned that the exact opposite was true. Toss a ball to any beginner and he instinctively will take a full swing at it. It seems strange that the simplest stroke in tennis, the block or punch of the volley, must be learned, whereas the full swing is natural.

The full swing may be good or bad , but it will be full. Beginners hq.ve shown me beautiful swings immediately, but strokes of all¡ lengths will be needed if coaches are to equip their players to use the full-court game which extends from the net to the backstop.

The volley should be introduced first, since it is unnatural and all other strokes should follow. n my 23 years as head tennis coach at the University of Iowa, during which I worked with hundreds of people with different degreE?$ of ability and backgrounds, seldom encountered anyone who could volley with confidence, although they envied those who could .

'When I joined this class I was scared to death to go to the net, said one woman who attended my summer tennis class. Now feel so big up here.

Since some new approaches to tennisteaching are presented here, the techniques described should be followed closely initially.

After that, coaches may use their own judgment.

The first step in the volley method is for the pupil to bounce the ball on the court with the racquet a few times, then bounce it upward on the strings, to get the feel of it. The ease with which she adjusts to these exercises can indicate to the instructor the quality of her natural ability.

Next, the student should stand 3 feet from the net, racquet in hand. The instructor will be on the opposite side, about 15 feet from the net. The coach should toss the ball underhanded to the student at head-height and a little to the player's right (or left, for a

left-handed player). The student should place If the student 's form remains good , the the racquet face in front .of the ball stopping next lesson is the second easiest stroke it so that the ball lands just over the net. She the waist-high forehand volley. The student most likely will add a strong punch This is should continue hitting all strokes to the when the coach and player should begin to target, while the coach notes carefully any overcome the 'swing ' reflex that will be so change of form, particularly the appearance persistent. The coach should allow no more of a swing . The student should block or than a slight punch instructing the student punch a ball. If a fault shows up, the coach to meet the ball well in front of the body. should omit the target until the fault is The student's grip is the next aspect to corrected , and then go back to using the consider. prefer an eastern forehand grip target. After three or four successive good since it will serve the player well for the volley, shots, the student is ready for the next step. forehand drive and serve at the learning The low shot is the toughest forehand stage. If she has selected that grip herself volley. The student should move back two steps, and after a succession of good shots, compliment her on her 'wisdom . It is important to teach positively at every opportunity. the coach should have her hold her pose and check with her on items of good form Now, the student should assume the ready ' position for the forehand volley This will boost the player 's self-confidence, feet comfortably apart, left foot leading , (continued on page 12) knees slightly bent. The coach should feed her two to three volleys, then tell her to hold her position after the stroke to check her form . The student should meet the ball well in front of her body, arm slightly bent, with no more than a slight punch .

It is important for the student to recognize good form .

The next step involves the coach making the same toss, and instructng the student to concentrate entirely on placing the ball into the coach's hands, which will be held out as a target.

On her first try the student is likely to miss rather widely and be perturbed . The coach should reassure her that it was a typical first try, and that within a few tries, 'You will be hitting my hands consistently Within three or four more The volley method of teaching tennis involves teaching the volley efforts, she will do exactly first, then gradually lengthening the strokes as the student moves that. back on the court.

ADDvantage September 1994

11

The volley method (continued from page 11) and help her to recognize proper form .

The next stroke is the backhand (probably a two-handed stroke for beginners). The student should begin with a waist-high stroke (the easiest for the backhand) , then practice a low volley, and finally, learn a high volley (the tough one) . The coach should be alert for errors on form especially a tendency to swing .

For the next step, the student should be in the ready position , about 6 to 7 feet from the net. The coach should toss balls a little to the right or left, and tell the student to aim for the target and return at once to the ready position. The coach should 'telegraph' the direction of each toss, and make most tosses waist-high Beware of the student's swing complex wh ich might sneak into his strokes.

The coach should rem ind the beginner that during practice the ball speed is slow enough to allow him to swing at it, but in actual play, there is seldom time for more than a block or punch in this area of the court. Since the ball is coming quickly, a swing isn't needed to give it velocity.

Now the student moyes back another 5 to 6 feet and assumes the ready position. The volleys should be mixed at random until she is comfortable at this position on the court.

Instinct plays a very important role in learning . A coach can demonstrate this by tossing the ball so that it bounces three or fou r steps to the right of the player (left if he is left-handed). The student should try to place it in the coach's hands. The coach shoulq give him no other instructions. Note that we have two critical items in employing instinct an item (the ball) and the target.

The student may miss the target widely on the first try, but improvement will come within three or four attempts.

It is important to note carefully the movement of his feet. never have had a beginner fail to show me other than beautiful footwork.

Since lessons are a series of progressions from simple to more difficult tasks, the rate of progression depends on the natural talents of the individual and the length of the lessons. Move forward as quickly as possible after three or four consecutive good performances. We will return to all phases of the game for refinement later.

The next station will put the pupil at the service line. (The instructor may need to move forward in order to make the tosses with ease.) This station will introduce the approach to the net. Beginning at the service line, the pupil is fed a series of volleys, and then a mixtu re of short-swing groundstrokes and volleys. Then the approach ~s taken a stroke at a time. His first shot is a deep groundstroke from the service line. For the 12

ADDVantage September 1994

Teaching the volley method There are seven principles which are very helpful in providing a simple, efficient learning environment for the volley method.

• Keep it simple. The ultimate compliment from a pupil after a lesson is, "Coach, you make learning so simple."

• Never, under any circumstances, ask students to concentrate on more than one item in any one performance. For example, the coach should avoid saying, "Keep a firm grip on the handle, and follow through as far as you can," or "Take the racquet straight back, and drive the ball as deeply ·as you can." One item, please.

• Adjust the degree of performance difficulty to the student's level. If a lesson is just a little too difficult, it will seriously retard learning.

• Despite some common "expert opinions," coaches do not have to teach everything.

The human body is not just a hopeless mass of protoplasm, but rather a marvelous, complex, coordinated mechanism with behavioral patterns which

next stroke, the student moves halfway to the net and hits another deep groundstroke.

Next, the student goes immediately to the net where he is given a set-up volley to be put away to an appropriate target. This is preparation for the traditional approach to the net.

He likely will need several attempts to understand and apply this pattern.

Once he is able to apply this offensive move, the coach should hit balls gently instead of tossing them . The set-up volley at the net must be just that until the student masters the moves and the placements to appropriate targets. The coach constantly must watch for swings that are no longer than necessary. All groundstrokes are short in this area of the court.

At this point I like to introduce simple strategy. As we take our positions on the court, ask the student where he can place the ball to give me trouble. He has been hitting it to me. Now all friendship ceases. He is to get really mean. He points to my right sideline. OK. Then to my left sideline. OK, again . Where else? He is stumped. point to my feet. What? Right to me? Yes, sir. One of the best shots in tennis.

The coach should leave the targets wide open at first to help the student with recognition and ease of hitting. demonstrate quite a bit of play-acting of mock consternation over his great shots. The coach should teach positively to build the student's confidence.

have been established and developed over hundreds of thousands of years. It will respond to simple stimuli to shorten the learning process dramatically.

• The coach should progress as quickly as the student's talents will permit. As a general rule, when the student gives me three or four successive good performances, we move forward to the next step.

Of course, there will be endless drills in the future to refine performance.

Incidentally, I try to show my pupils the difference between "entertainment" fun and "achievement" fun.

• Targets should be used extensively. A target is a catalyst for coordinating the entire body and accelerating the learning process. Remember the admonition, "One item at a time."

• From the first lesson and beyond, the students always should be told to develop intense and sustained concentration. Without that, physical endurance and concentration endurance won't matter. A player can go from 6-0 to 0-6 instantly.

Out of this type of play, weaknesses will emerge which allow teachers to develop meaningful drills for correction.

From this position, the coach should move the student steadily back to the baseline.

Strokes should become longer, as needed .

Take every opportunity to bring the volley into

(continued on page 19) Donald Klotz. Ph.D., has been an honorary member of USPTA since 1978.

He is a member of the Iowa Tennis Hall of Fame, and he was recognized for his lifetime dedication to tennis by the USTA in 1987.

Klotz taught himself to play tennis when he was 8 years old. He played tennis at Iowa State Teachers College, where he earned Klotz his bachelor's degree in three years. He received his master's degree from the University of Iowa in 1941 , and then served three and one-half years in the military. After the war, he returned to school and earned his doctorate in physical education from the University of Iowa in 1948.

Klotz was the tennis coach and professor of physical education at the University of Iowa from 1946 to 1971 , when he retired. He has written many articles for tennis magazines and scholarly publications.

Many of his students went on to become nationally ranked players, including Mona Schallau , who was ranked No. 1 in women's doubles and No. 5 in singles, and Art Andrews. who was ranked No. 1 nationally in juniors singles an? doubles.

·Exams, upgrades and Certification Training Courses

ere

Each date includes an exam, upgrade and unless otherwise noted.

Sept. 10-11 Boca Raton, Fla. Sept. 11-12 Carmel, Calif.

Sept. 11-12 Murrieta, Calif.

Sept. 12-13 Mclean, Va. Sept. 15-16 Roosevelt Island, NY Sept. 21·25 La Quinta, Calif.

Sept. 23-24 Minneapolis, Minn.

Oct. 1-2 Goldsboro, N.C. Oct. 1-2 Fort Washington, Pa. Oct. 2·3 Parker, Colo.

Oct. 6-7 Irvine, Calif. (wheelchair) Oct. 8-9 Fort Myers, Fla. Oct. 8-9 Redding, Calif.

Oct. 8 & 10 Pittsburgh, Pa. Oct. 13 Freeport, NY (no CTC) Oct. 13-14 Mesa, Ariz.

Oct. 15 Kansas City, Mo. (no CTC) Oct. 15-16 Santa Barbara, Calif.

Oct. 15·16 Bradenton, Fla. , Oct. 15-16 Detroit, Mich.

Oct. 16-17 Richmond, Va. Oct. 22-23 Boca Raton, Fla. Oct. 23-24 Murrieta. Calif.

Oct. 23·24 Austin, Texas Oct. 29-30 Panama City, Fla. Nov. 5·6 Seattle, Wash.

Nov. 5-6 Milwaukee, Wis. Nov. 5·6 Fayetteville, N.C. Nov. 6-7 Santa Maria, Calif.

Nov. 6-7 La Jolla, Calif.

Nov. 10 Freeport, NY Nov. 12-13 Boca Raton, Fla. Nov. 12-13 Honolulu, Hawaii Nov. 13-14 Mclean, Va. Nov. 13-14 Oklahoma City, Okla.

Nov. 13-14 Los Gatos, Calif.

Nov. 17-18 Banksville, NY Nov. 19-20 Portland, Maine Nov. 19-20 Myrtle Beach, S.C. Nov. 20-21 Murrieta, Calif.

Dec. 2·3 Bloomington, Minn.

Dec. 2-3 Nashville, Tenn.

Dec. 3-4 Gastonia, N.C. Dec. 3-4 New Braunfels, Texas Dec. 4-5 Parker, Colo.

Dec. 8 Flushing, NY Dec. 10-11 Naples, Fla. Dec. 30-31 Colo de Caza, Calif.

Exam reservations must be made at least 21 da"ys prior to the dates listed. Exam cancellations must be received no later than 14 days before the exam, or a cancellation fee will be charged accordingly.

A/filiate members: late cancellation fee - $75; failure to cancel - application fee is forfeited. Certified members: late cancellation fee - $25; failure to cancel- $25 plus the upgrade fee is forfeited Regis· tration for another exam will not be accepted qntil these cancellation fees are paid.

Specialty Courses Four-hour courses are denoted by an asterisk (*). All others are eight hours.

Oct. 16 Personal & Professional Development Burnsville, Minn.

Oct. 16* Advanced Stroke Production Wichita, Kan .

Oct. 22 First Aid & CPR Wilmington , Del. Nov. 12 Competitive Singles Patterns Detroit, Mich .

Nov. 13* Competitive Singles Patterns Pinehurst, N.C. Nov. 13* Competitive Doubles Patterns Pinehurst, N.C. Nov. 13 First Aid & CPR Overland Park, Kan .

Nov. 14 Group Lessons Los Gatos, Calif.

Nov. 15 Stroke Analysis II Los Gatos, Calif.

Nov. 17* Tennis Business Management I Pinehurst, N.C. Nov. 17* Tennis Business Management II Pinehurst, N.C. Nov. 19 Stroke Analysis I Englewood, Fla. Nov. 20 Stroke Analysis II Englewood, Fla. Dec. 2 Team Coaching Richmond, Va. Richmond , Va. Dec. 4 Marketing: Promotions & Sales Dec. 31 Competitive Doubles Patterns Coto de Caza, Calif.

Conventions Sept. 17-25 Nov. 13-17

National Convention Southern Division

La Quinta, Calif.

Pinehurst, N.C.

Division meetings/activities Sept. 16-18 Sept. 22 Oct. 2 Oct. 7 Oct. 22 Oct. 23 Oct. 25 Nov. 4 Nov. 12-13 Nov. 13 Dec. 2-4 Dec. 2 Dec. 3 Dec. 10 Dec. 27

Texas Division Texas Division Midwest Division Northwest Division Hawaii Division Midwest Division Midwest Division Northwest Division Missouri Valley Division Midwest Division Middle Atlantic Division Northwest Division Texas Division Midwest Division Midwest Division

Dallas, Texas La Quinta, Calif.

Schaumberg, Ill. Richfield, Minn.

Kaliuku , Hawaii Cleveland , Ohio Cleveland, Ohio Richfield , Minn.

Kansas City, Mo. Southfield , Mich.

Richmond, Va. Richfield, Minn.

New Braunfels, Texas Cleveland, Ohio Grand Rapids, Mich.

Coaches Workshops Oct. 15 Oct. 22 Oct. 22 Oct. 23 Nov. 11 Nov. 13 Nov. 18-19 Nov. 18-19 Nov. 20-21 Dec. 17 Dec. 27

Southern Division Southern Division Southern Division Hawaii Division Southern Division Midwest Division Southern Division Southern Division Southern Division Hawaii Division Midwest Division

Lake Wylie, S.C. Birmingham, Ala. Hot Springs, Ark. Laie, Hawaii Greensboro, N.C. Southfield, Mich.

Nashville, Tenn.

Jackson, Miss.

Marietta, Ga. Honolulu Hawaii Grand Rapids, Mich.

Tennis Teachers' Courses Sept. 17-18 Nov. 10-12 Dec. 8-10

Los Angeles, Calif.

Los Gatos, Calif.

Nashville, Tenn.

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. This schedule is subject to change. Call the USPTA Membership Department at (713) 97-USPTA.

ADDvantage September 1994

13

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GEORGE BACSO, USPTA Director of Certification and Academies

Submissions for Industry Action are due the first Tuesday of the month, two months prior to the issue date. Please include the name of a contact person and a daytime phone number. Members are encouraged to send quality photos.

US PTA • USPTA member Gary Sailes is the new chairman of the USPTA Multicultural Committee. Sailes replaces former chairman Joe Edles, who recommended Sailes for the position . Sailes is an assistant professor of kinesiology and coordinator of racquet sports at Indiana University. He qlso is director of sport science at the ndianapolis Tennis Center.

Sailes The national committee was established to advise the E.xecutive Committee and board on concerns of minority members, and to give recommendations and act on issues and programs concerning minorities in the association and minority players. Sailes will chair his first committe_e meeting at the national convention .

• USPTA Florida Division President Harry Gilbert was named the Florida Division Professional of the Year at the division's annual convention . Gilbert is the director of tennis at Club de BonMont-Piantation Bay in Ormond Beach , Fla. Other award winners are Dan Warner, Coach of the Year, and Barry Curley, USTA/USPTA Service Award .

Joseph Thompson (left) and Harry Gilbert, Florida Division Professional of the Year.

16

ADDvantage September 1994

District 4 is the District of the Year, and the seminar contest winner is Howard Chodak.

Players of the Year are Pam Casalerelford, women's open ; Sabita MaharajSmith, women's 35s; Aldo Burga, men's open; Scott Espenship, men's 25s; Luiz Lobo, men's 35s; and Paul Cranis, men's 45s. District Volunteer Awards go to Jack Vinson, Molly Beardsworth, Kari Yerg, Carl Poske, Jimmie Horne, Pete Minarich, Howard Chodak, Fernando Guarachi and Cy Smith.

• USPTA professional Jaroenchai Jaikan of Bangrak, Bangkok, in Thailand coaches Tammarine Tanasukarn Thai and s h ghest world-ranked player ever Tanasukarn ranked No. 275, defeated Emmanule Zardo, Jaikan No. 51 in Spain in June.

Jaikan is the coach for the Boonrawd Brewery Co. Ltd. tennis team , and is the tennis director for the National Stadium Tennis Association in Bangkok.

• The Southbridge Racquet Club in Savannah , Ga. has been purchased by USPTA member Mark Booth. Booth was the club's director of tennis for five years. The club is a 14-court facility located in the residential community of Southbridge at Savannah Quarters.

• Scott Brown, a USPTA member, and Mike Zarraonadia, both of S.an Rafael, Calif broke the world record for continuous match play by playing tennis for 124 hours and 10 minutes at the Marin Tennis Club in San Rafael. The previous record was for 120 hours and 9 minutes of play. n addition to setting a new world record, they raised more than $2 ,000 for the Bay Area American Red Cross chapter and the Marin unit of the American Cancer Society.

• Jeff Rothstein, USPTA member, is the new vice president of international marketing and sales for Sufix USA. He develops and services the Sufix brand product lines for international accounts. Rothstein previously worked for Prince Sports Group.

• Lakeshore Rehabilitation Hospital in Birmingham Ala. hosted the Quickie International Tennis Academy with the help of several USPTA members. Bal Moore, USPTA, lectured on drill specificity, and taught drills for reverse hitting and inside and

Douglas

Moore

outside turning. USPTA member Scott Douglas spoke on the continuity of play and drills, including 'explosive mobility ' and reverse mobility.' Jim Moortgat, USPTA, presented a lecture on periodization and drills, including 'ground level zero, and showed a video of the stroke production series.

• Jeff Crowne, director of tennis at Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando, Fla., recently was named vice president of the USPTA Florida Division. Crowne will serve as editor of the division's bimonthly publication, Baselines magazine.

• USPTA Master Professional Paul Xanthos recently was added to the ntercollegiate Tennis Hall of Fame. He is the first coach from the community college ranks to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Xanthos coached at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif for 29 seasons.

• Three USPTA members coached three of the four regional tennis teams chosen by the USTA to compete in the U.S. Olympic Festival an event for top American amateur athletes. Robbie Risdon coached the north region , Tim Harvey coached east, and Chuck Kingman coached west.

• Dave Richardson, USPTA professional, organized a USPTA-USTA Field Day in Fort Myers, Fla. Approximately 750 chil dren from all of the Lee County elementary schools attended . Twenty-five other USPTA members helped teach the children .

• USPTA member Peter Burling was honored as the Midwest Region Coach of the Year by the ntercollegiate Tennis Association He also was named North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Coach of the Burling Year as a result of a vote by the nine league tennis coaches in the

Participants and staff of the Net Results tennis program.

NCAC. Burling is the head coach of the Dennis University (Granville, Ohio) men's tennis program ~ • The Bide-A-Wee Plantation Tennis Camp n Waynesboro, Ga. was .staffed by several 0 0 USPTA members this ~ summer, including Phil 2 0 Blackwelder, director & of tennis at High Vista Country Club in Asheville, N.C. John MacDonald, d rector of tennis at the Bide-A-Wee Katz Plantati on ; and Master Professional Leo Katz of Crystal River, Fla. • The sfadium announcer for the 1994 New Jersey Stars World TeamTennis organization is USPTA member Will Mcintyre of

Absecon , N.J. His job, in addition to announcing match statistics and advertising items, is to keep the crowds excited and involved in the match 'The crowds in Jersey have been great, said Mcintyre. 'Getting them to cheer a great champion like Martina (Navratilova) and the other exciting Stars players has been an easy job.

• USPTA member Kay Konove was named Major Contributor of the Year for the USPTA Eastern Division. Konove is the president of the division . Other awards went to New Jersey Tennis, Bob Riesling and family, Media of the Year· and the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadow, NY Facility/Club of the Year.

• USPTA Intermountain Division members are helping to prevent drug and alcohol abuse among elementary students through the Net Results tennis program. The program , started by Prilla O'Connell is run at Belmar Elementary School in Lakewood , Colo. The goals of the program are to enhance self-esteem via experiencing successes in the classroom and on the court; increase social status among peers due to new affiliations with other Net Results participants; and increase attachment to academic effort through new awareness and understanding of the value of persistence discovered through tennis instruction .

• USPTA member Roger McKee was the tournament director for the ninth annual USTA Mother/Daughter ndoor Championships, held in Oswego, Ore. Winners of the tournament were Joyce and Leigh Ann Tabor of Orange Park, Fla. • The 1994 Bow Brand Sweepstakes Stringing Wimbledon winner was USPTA member Robert Huang of Chicago. Huang (continued on page 18)

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Kay Konove (right), Eastern Division Contributor of the Year, and Rosemary DeHoog.

ADDvantage September 1994

17

Industry action (continued from page 17) attended two days of matches and observed special stringing techniques used in the Wimbledon Stringing Room.

Member product showcase • Play Tennis in the RopeZone'M, a target system developed by USPTA professional Joe Dinoffer, will be showcased at the USPTA National Convention With the accompanying drill book containing more than 1,000 possible variations, the RopeZone target system focuses on lessons and practice sessions for all abilities. For more information, contact oncourt, offcourt inc. at 5416 Gurley Ave. Dallas, Texas 75223, or call (214) 823-3078.

grandstand seats, either day. Two-day packages are available for $25 and $15 respectively. All tickets include admission to the Hall of Fame Museum. For more information, call (401) 849-6053.

• The RCA/U.S. Men's Hardcourt Championships officially has been renamed the RCA Championships. The tournament was named the "Tournament of the Year" for the sixth year in a row by the players on the BM/ATP Tour. Tournament Director Tony Smith accepted the award for the tournament at the ceremony in London .

Miscellany • The USPTA Texas Division is sponsoring the Southwest Fall Buying Show, Sept. 16-18, at The Woodlands Executive Conference Center and Resort, in The Woodlands, Texas, near Houston . Vendors nterested in a booth may contact the buying show chairman , Mike Doty, at (713) 622 7729 . Buyers nterested n attending may make reservations by calling (713) 367 1100, ext. 1250.

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Manufacturers • Wilson Racquet Sports was honored recently by the Chicago chapter of the American Marketing Association with the 1994 Steuart Henderson Britt award for outstand ing marketing achievement. Wilson was chosen for its successful marketing strategies implemented by the company si nce 1987 and for the development of such products as the Profile, Hammer and Sledge Hammer racquets.

• Cool Bandanas is the new name for Gurkee's Coolers, a bandana which absorbs cold water and cools the wearer.

Cool Bandanas are a product of Roll-It nternational Corp. For more information, call Don B. Nelson , at (918) 488-8600.

Pro tours • The International Tennis Hall of Fame will host the Northwest Airlines Legends of Time, Sept. 17-18. The event features top male and female greats competi [\g on the Hall of Fame's grass courts. Tickets are priced at $14 for courtside chairs and $10 for 18

ADDvantage September 1994

• Ed Serues, 77 of Naples, Fla. passed away Aug . 8 after a short illness. He was a 43-year member of USPTA, a Master Professional , and a former member of the New England Division board and national board of directors.

Serues was a mentor for many young professionals in USPTA, and was a familiar presence at USPTA divisional and national tournaments. He was ranked in several age divisions and categories, including No. 1 in the men's 75 singles divisio.n in 1993.

He is survived by his wife and two sons.

ADDvantage magazine will feature a tribute to Ed Serues in its October/ November issue.

• John Heil, 47 of Westlake, Ohio, passed away in July. He was diagnosed with cancer in June 1993.

Heil was the tennis director at the North Olmstead (Ohio) Recreation Center for 19 years, and a USPTA member for .eight. He also was the head tennis coach at St. Ignatius and Magnificat high schools. Last season , the Magnificat girls' team reached the semifinals of the Northeastern Ohio Team Tournament.

While his cancer was in remission , Heil won the men's 45 doubles division at the North Olmstead Recreational Center Indoor Tennis Tournament.

Heil is survived by his wife, two children , his mother and four siblings.

CoiWention briefs General membership forum scheduled A general membership forum scheduled for 8:45-9:45 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, will provide an opportunity for members to learn and ask questions about USPTA and its programs and activities. The forum will be broken into small discussion groups on topics such as continuing education , public relations, multicultural issues, USPTA administrative issues, tournaments, politics, sports marketing, division concerns and legal concerns. The forum is open to all USPTA members.

Multicultural activities to be held The USPTA Multicultural Committee has several activities scheduled during the convention. These include a committee meeting, 2-4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21 a multicultural divisional liaisons meeting, 7-8 a.m Thursday, Sept. 22 ; and a discussion group during the general membersh p forum , 8:45-9:45 a.m. Saturday, Sept.

24. Also on Saturday, Committee Chair Gary Sailes will present a seminar, 'Multicultural Issues in Tennis, 11'15 a.m.-12 :15 p.m

Women's committee hosts Billie Jean King Billie Jean King will participate in a panel discussion hosted by the USPTA Women's Committee. King will join Rosemary DeHoog and Bev Raws in a discussion on 'Issues Women Face on the Job and in Career Advancement," 1-2 p.m . Friday, Sept. 23. Beth Barden Marcey Cunniff Becky Desmond , Judi Stiff and Raws will present a seminar, 'Women on Court: Drills for Every Level," 11 ·15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22. There will be a divisional women's liaison meeting 8-9 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 22. Also, all members are invited to a USPTA women's open meeting , scheduled 6-7 p.m . Wednesday, Sept. 21

The volley method (continued from page 12) the practice picture, or that long swing will reassert itself where only a fractional swing is needed .

For a warm-up, both players can start inside the service lines with volleys, working their way back toward the baseline.

After a few baseline strokes, they should allow no more second bounces. All short balls should be taken with a standard approach to the net. This will help develop the all-court game.

As part of the practice picture, all rallies should begin with a second serve, playing it whether it is good or not, and continuing the rally as long as the ball can be reached .

Balls that are out a foot or more are just as good for practice as in' shots.

If our candidate should become a tournament player, she will not have to go through that painful adjustment from pure baseliner to the all-court player of today.

Adequate baseline groundstrokes can be developed with the volley method if practices are properly planned .

Less than total intensity is not fully productive. The players should play hard at any phase of the game until they begin to lose intensity. They should work hard another five

minutes, then select a different stroke on which to work.

The tournament players who came up through my program were equally good at singles and doubles, but there was no indifferent practice. G

Off-court focus (continued from page 9) Feldhausen , a 19-year USPTA member, thinks the Association should get involved extensively in the schools and offer quality, low-cost tennis to children . Getting more people in the game will take time and coaching , he said. PE coaches need to be committed to it because it's difficult to teach tennis on a playground Feldhausen suggests using a tennis program for schools, transporting children to facilities after school on a regular basis (like soccer does), and using volunteer coaches or coaches that are funded through alternative sources (school grants).

Feldhausen does not accept that the reason for the declining tennis industry is uncharismatic tennis players. Soccer professionals aren't charismatic, he said , but kids play soccer because it's offered economically with an easy-to-reach marketing plan.

Feldhausen suggests getting children

interested in tennis before they get hooked by other sports. One place to start is at day care centers, he said .

A tennis league program with trained volunteer coaches is needed, Feldhausen said.

'Anyone can coach soccer. But someone who isn't an accomplished tennis player couldn't go out with 10 or 15 kids and teach tennis, he said .

'We need trained coaches and transportation, or tennis will go right back to the country clubs. A schools program like I'm doing is a start, but there has to be a way to expand that to get more people playing after school.

'The concept of offering free tennis lessons has a lot of potential. Initial exposure is simple. Keeping them playing and taking more lessons, and being comfortable with it is even a greater challenge. G

Dual issue of ADDvantage planned USPTA will produce a combined October/November issue of ADDvantage, which will be published in early October. There will not be separate issues for those two months this fall.

The dual issue will contain coverage of the National Convention.

It's time to show off our figure.

TENNIS WEEK 1s read first; be£ re TENNIS magazine and TENNIS USTA. TENNIS WEEK comes out first efore TENNIS magaz1ne and TENNIS USTA (no need to wa1t two mo ths a er Wimbledon to read about 1t) TENNIS WEEK 1s rehed on first or t e sport's beh1nd the scenes pohtiCal and business news.

Maintaining our figure is no sweat.

lENN~S

$40 per year • 20 issues Canada & Mexico • $50 Foreign • $125 124 East 40th Street, Suite 1101, New York, NY 10016, (212) 808-4750, Toll Free 1-800-800-TENN I

ADDvantage September 1994

19

Sove 20C per Dozen on Pro Penn Tennis Bolls!

All orders shipped and invoiced during the months of March, June, September and December

HERE'S HOW WE "SLICE" THE Pill PENN DISCOUNT

USPTA Division - 10e

USPTA llolionol Heodquorlers - 10e

REGULAR PRICE

6-11411

Regular/Extra Duty/High Altitude

USPTA IISCIUNT PRICE Regular/Extra Duty/High Altitude

ij:u[1iii •

• 11 • • • 1 1 •

$10.04/Dz

6-11411 $9.84/Dz

Prepaid on 96 dozen_ (384 cans) tennis balls shipped at one time to one location.

For more information or to place an order, call your Penn sales representative or:

..

For every dozen Pro Penn Tennis Balls purchased: • 20¢ discount directly to the USPTA Pro • I0¢ cash rebate to Pro's Division • I0¢ cash rebate to USPTA Headquarters These funds are used to help support programs for your association.

(24-456 Cons)

120+ II

$2.51/Can

$9 96/Dz

(24-456 Cons)

120+ II

$2.46/Can

$9 76/Dz

liij:J8fJ

(480+ Cons) $2.49/Can

(480+ Cons) $2.44/Can

5~ ~0 days.'2% 60 days,net_90 days_. .

Pncmg subject to change Without not1ce.

1-800- BUY-PENN

FREEPmPenn Floor Mot! During the months of September - October 1994, increase your Penn tennis ball purchases by 20% over the same time period last year and receive a high quality Pro Penn Floor Mat, a $1 00 value,

FREE!

Orders must ship between September I - October 3 I, 1994 (multiple shipments allowed); combined minimum order(s) quantity of 96 dozen ( 16 cases) first line tennis balls is required. The Pro Penn Floor Mat measures 30" x 45" and has a no-slip backing for use on all types of floor surfaces. One free Floor Mat per customer For ordering information, please contact your Penn Sales Representative or call 1-800-BUY-PENN. • Additional Floor Mats may be purchasr d for $50 each.

• Limited quantities available. Offer subject to cancellation at any time.

• Toonis ball purchases do not include mezzanine or practice balls.

• Floor Mats will ship after completion of the program.

JJro

.penn.

E PlAY IT, ONLY CAN SELL IT. [JJlEmm

TOUGH

THE GET TOUGHER A NEW FELT PROCESS MAKES THE WORLD'S MOST rnoorn&OO[lE oo&rnrn ~®oornv OO&[[ EvEN

MORE

IPERFORMING

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DURABLE.

Hard Courts May Damage Your Knees BudNot Your Ball-Il---l•~

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on the MARKET TODAY..··

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......

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It For Hours With Thousands Of RPMs Of Spin And Its Playing Characteristics Will Barely Change

For the highly technical explanation of the [J)ffi@

[JJ[E[IWJ

Extra-Duty FELT ball or

11® 000011

~®llillEo call your rep

OR 1-800-BUY-PENN.

That's how many tennis publications are read before

$40 per year â&#x20AC;¢ 20 issues

Canada & Mexico - $50

Foreign - $125

124 East 40th Street, Suite 1101, New York, NY 10016, (212) 808-4750, Toll Free 1-800-TENN

BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE

PAID Tennis Professionals

UNITED STATES PROFESSIONAL TENNIS ASSOCIATION, INC. World Headquarters One USPTA Centre 3535 Briarpark Drive Houston , TX 77042-5235

Permit No. 3887 Tampa , FL