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ADDyantage
contents
the total professional - enhancing your career 8 Ask the professor - Practice to enhance your strengths and improve your weaknesses - by Jack Groppel, Ph.D., USPTA Master Professional — How to help players improve at a more effective rate.
departments 3 CEO's message 4 Executive Committee 5 Vice president's message 10 Teaching pros share tennis tips
features
26 USPTA drill
16 How to establish, maintain and grow any junior program — by David W. Smith, USPTA - Tips to help develop a first-rate junior program.
30 Classifieds
20 Mental toughness: the champion's edge - by Gary
32 Industry action
31 Career development
Sailes, Ph.D., USPTA — Mental reprogramming can help your players perform at higher levels.
news 7 USPTA welcomes new members 11 Awards program recognizes effort of USPTA professionals
On the cover ... USPTA's redesigned Web site has new look and an easy navigation system.
12 Redesigned USPTA.com has clean look, easy navigation 14 Pros make a difference - Lessons for Life participants 15 USPTA members raise $96,000 through Lessons for Life 18 12th anniversary of Tennis Across America™ is part of first George Bacso Month celebration USPTA's
TENNIS
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com ADDvontage magazine editorial offices USPTA World Headquarters 3535 Briarpark Drive, Suite One Houston, TX 77042 Phone-(713) 978-7782 (800) USPTA-4U Fax-(713) 978-7780 e-mail - magazine@uspta.org www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
Editor Shawna Riley Managing editor Julie Myers Kimberly Forrester Assistant managing editor Circulation Kathy Buchanan Advertising John Dettor Office hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Central time ADDvanfage is published monthly by the United States Professional Tennis Association.
volume 25 * issue 4 The opinions expressed in ADDvontage are those of the authors and not necessarily those of ADDvanfage or the USPTA. Copyright© United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc. 2001. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion of the magazine is not permitted without written permission from USPTA. April 2001
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C O M P E T I V I S I O N
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CEO's message USPTA's redesigned Web site opens up a world of opportunities for tennis pros, tennis businesses
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f you've visited USPTA's main Web site re- search for Web sites of suppliers, manufacturers, cently, you already know that it has a new look. distributors or sales reps. About 70 percent of the After months of preparation, we unveiled the retailers also use this technology to research their new site March 1, and this issue of ADDvantage competitors. gives us the first chance to formally introduce the SGMA also reports that an astounding 90 perrevamped design and offer you some cent of the manufacturers and 80 tips on using it. Pages 12 and 13 propercent of the retailers polled said vide a quick tour of the site and tell they had a Web site. Both groups you how to find some of the indususe their Web sites to sell directly to try's most requested information. consumers, conduct consumer or When USPTA introduced its first customer promotions, and link their Web site in 1995, we were one of the sites to vendors or suppliers. first tennis-related sites on the World As you can see, the Internet has Wide Web, and we promoted our evolved into much more than a dipresence as a comprehensive site for version. It has opened up a whole all tennis information. This remains new world for anyone who runs or the case today. works in a business. USPTA's new USPTA's site remains one of the Web portal offers at least seven difTim Heckler most valuable resources for tennis ferent Web-based sites or tools deenthusiasts, and it's even more important to the signed specifically to help you do your job better. people who are in the "business" of tennis, and that These include: means YOU. If you thought computers and the Internet were • USPTA.com • USPTA division sites just part of a passing fad, think again. According to various research groups, almost half of all Ameri- • Find-a-Pro • ADDvantageUSPTA.com can households have access to the Internet, and the United States currently boasts more than 135 mil- • USPTApro.com - personalized sites that lion individual Internet users! promote individual pros While the Internet has been a wonderful source • LittleTennis®.com of fun and entertaining information, it is now a • VTS™ - USPTA's Virtual Tennis Show very powerful business tool. coming soon According to a recent survey of sporting goods USPTA has been gearing up for years to ensure manufacturers and retailers by the Sporting Goods Manufacturing Association, 86 percent of the re- that we offer you the latest and most usable techspondents said they conduct business through the nology. Each of USPTA's Web sites continues to Internet. That's an incredible statistic that demon- deliver this and much more. Please take the time to visit your new site. We strates that you must get online if you want to stay think you'll like the look and find something that competitive as a tennis retailer. The survey went on to point out that both will help you enhance or build your tennis business. Happy USPTA surfing.'^ manufacturers and retailers use the Internet to
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
USPTA's site remains one of the most valuable resources for tennis enthusiasts, and it's even more important to the people who are in the "business" of tennis, and that means YOU.
April 2001
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Executive Committee
National Board of Directors
Division presidents and regional vice presidents
Joseph Thompson President (303) 278-1130
California Division Pam Austin President (626) 854-2360 Nick Getz Regional vice president (310) 300-6135
Middle States Division Glen Howe President (302) 995-1500 Tom Sweitzer Regional vice president (717) 533-5995
Pacific Northwest Division Barry Sterett President (541) 342-4414 Nancy Cox Regional vice president (503) 581-7062
Eastern Division Daniel Burgess President (516) 623-2929 Steve Diamond Regional vice president (973) 822-1900
Midwest Division Mary Herrick President (440) 282-4416 Guy Parks Regional vice president (614) 457-5671
San Diego Division Melissa Porzak President (858) 487-6498 Kim Funk Regional vice president (760) 753-7266
Florida Division Kevin McCarthy President (954) 344-1840 Len Simard National delegate (561) 482-5000
Missouri Valley Division Jeff Hawes President (913) 345-1661 Kim Sunderland Regional vice president (913) 341-7771
Southern Division Tom McGraw President (502) 897-0673 Tommy Wade Regional vice president (205)879-4611
Hawaii Division Bruce Nagel President (808) 262-2057 David Temple Regional vice president (808) 879-6060
New England Division Bob Greene President (207) 864-2540 Becky Wendler Regional vice president (508) 358-7355
Southwest Division Dick Johnson President (505) 821-4860 Ruth Ann Gardner Regional vice president (602) 589-2813
Intel-mountain Division Judy Courtney President (303) 670-3417 Alden Bock Regional vice president (303) 674-6884
Northern California Division Michael Friedman President (209) 836-2504 Ken DeHart Regional vice president (510) 656-2250
Texas Division Mike Doty President (713) 622-7729 Gerry Maingot Regional vice president (361) 643-6057
Mid-Atlantic Division Patrick Kearns President (804) 245-0670 Kate Mills Regional vice president (703) 524-3227
Northwest Division Chris Combs President (651) 426-1308 Michael Stenquist Regional vice president (612) 887-5001
Mark McMahon First vice president (770) 392-7788 David T. Porter, Ed.D. Vice president (808) 293-3755 Ron Woods Vice president (361) 991-7561 Harry Gilbert Vice president (904) 437-2427 Tom Daglis Vice president (770) 784-1699 Randy Mattingley Secretary-treasurer (806) 762-3430 Will Hoag Immediate past president (954) 564-7386
Past presidents Kurt Kamperman (1997) (843) 686-3036 Kathy Woods (1996) (203) 226-8259 Gordon Collins (1994) (408) 395-7111
4 April 2001
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
Vice president's message ^j Staying on the cutting edge
A
;hort three years ago researchers at Johns lessons first. I would prefer to have my students Hopkins University found that when learntired and hot and erase all their other lessons rathng a new motor skill, it takes six hours to er than have them fresh and cool with little chance store the memory in the brain. Practice, practice, for successful learning. After tennis I suggest they practice, is no longer the answer to successfully learngo home for lunch, take a nap, and then play with ing a skill, but simply a part of the answer. their friends in the neighborhood. I can remember scheduling summer lessons with It is not activity that interferes with long-term anxious parents and pleading with them to bring their storage of motor skills, it is new activity. If the new children to me early in the morning activity is followed by routine acbefore it became too hot or the chiltivity there appears to be no interdren's other activities had worn them ference of the storage process. out. In the past three years I have Sounds like a pretty good case for made a 180-degree turn. the "games approach" doesn't it? AfAccording to Dr. Henry H. Hoiter introducing a new skill, let the stucomb, the psychiatrist who headed the dents put the skill into practice in a research team, it takes between five and playing situation. This can happen at six hours for the information learned any level. From beginner to elite athin a new motor skill to be transferred lete, playing tennis, not just hitting from a temporary storage site in the fed balls, is necessary for favorable front of the brain to a permanent stordevelopment. Students need to play, age site located in the back of the brain. to learn to compete, and to integrate David T. Porter new knowledge and/or technique There is more. According to the into actual game situations. They need to allow time research, during those six hours of information transfor the lesson to be consolidated in the memory, "to fer, the brain experiences a "window of vulnerability" render the memory invulnerwhen any new skill could be PREFRONTAL CORTEX able and permanent." Practice eroded if a student attempts to short-term memory sets under match conditions learn a second new skill. can aid in the process of longI think of all the lessons I have term retention, especially taught in the past where my stuwhen following a "new skill" dent seemed to have learned in learning session. 45 minutes what I had planned Sometimes I have tried to during an hour lesson. I decided teach too much in one lesson. to get a "jump" on the next CEREBELLUM = long-term memory In doing so, it would seem week's lesson by introducing a that, in fact, I have taught less. new skill and giving my student It appears that the old axiom, "Inch by inch life's a something to think about until next week. cinch, but by the yard it's hard" is really true. If, as According to Holcomb, "If we teach one task and tennis professionals, we focus on one new area only, then immediately introduce a new task, we know that our students will learn and retain more than if we try will largely erase any learning gained from the first to teach or introduce two or three new skills in a task. But if we wait five to six hours and then give single session or even halfday. them a new task, then we don't erase what was learned This information has made it much easier for in the first lesson." me to implement the "games approach." Once I Without understanding how the brain processes have introduced a new skill, I rally with the student information for long-term storage, I had been erasing my own lessons. Now, when I discuss summer allowing them to merge the new task with their already learned skills. For homework I assign them schedules with parents, I ask them to bring me their to play sets or games that involve point play. It is children last. I tell parents to take their children to understandable and justifiable. It has made it easier swimming lessons, soccer practice and gymnastics See Edge, Page 23 www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS President
Joseph Thompson
First Vice President
Mark McMahon
Vice Presidents David T. Porter, Ed.D. Ron Woods Harry Gilbert Tom Daglis Secretary-treasurer Randy Mattingley Past President
Will Hoag
WORLD HEADQUARTERS CEO
Tim Heckler
Director of Operations Executive Assistant
Rich Fanning Marty Bostrom
Director of Communications
Shawna Riley
Creative Services Director
Julie Myers
Director of Public Relations
Diane Richbourg
Director of Sports Marketing
John Dettor Kimberly Forrester
Publications Coordinator Communications/ Divisional Liaison
Jill Kite
Communications
Shannon Kopp
Director of Fred Viancos Professional Development Educational Administrator
Lynn Lazarz
Corporate Janice Stollenwerck Services Administrator Receptionist
Pamela Lowstetter
Computer Services/ Kathy Buchanan Club Relations Computer Services/ Data Entry
Sylvia Ortiz
Computer Systems Administrator
Quincy Kwok
Divisional Executive Administrator
Yvonne Hung
Membership and Vicky Tristan Certification Coordinator Membership Assistant Danielle Mead Payroll/Benefits Controller
Renee Heckler Wanda Lindamood
Insurance/ Ellen Weatherford Merchandise Services Insurance Services
Norma Martin
Merchandise Services Charlene Davis
LEGAL COUNSEL Attorn ey-at-law
Paul Waldman
For information, write the USPTA World Headquarters 3535 Briarpark Drive, Suite One Houston, TX 77042 Phone (713) 97-USPTA (800) USPTA-4U Fax (713) 978-7780 e-mail - uspta@uspta.org Internet - www.uspta.com Office hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Central time
April 2001
5
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USPTA welcomes new members Congratulations to the following new USPTA members who fulfilled requirements for membership between Nov. 1, 2000, and Feb. 28, 2001.
Corporate RSN Promotionals Inc. Indianapolis Tennis Center
Said, Jean-Noel Schlagel, Kim Schulte, Alison Simmons, Christopher Stifel, David Willers, Elizabeth
California Cohen, Stacey Harris, Scott Johnston, Daniel K. Milmeister, Jared Nip, Ying Peters, Talitha Rivera, Percival Roux, Lome Watkins, Jack E.
Intermountain Clark, Colin Croft, Bill Parlade, Robbie Roglitz, Lori Todd, Mary (Beth)
Eastern
International
Abrams, Mike Hysaj, Gjek Rhodes, Addrian Rueda, John Sak, Marian
Alvaro, Manuel Arenas, Josep Avalos, Antonio Aznar, Jorge Juan Budo, Xavier De La Fuente, Boris De La Fuente, Jose Antonio Frazao, Pedro Garcia, Mario Raul Huelves, Pedro Imboden, Thomas Lescano, Daniel Prats, Enrique Revuelta, Gonzalo Riba, Lluis Sciorilli, Miguel Tarapiella, Fernando Trujillo, Antonio Vigon, Juan Jose
Florida Aguirre, George Antolic, Alan Buerkle, David Caputo, Andrew Gary, Chris Danolic, Petar Dimitrova, Silvia Feldman, Brandon Garcia, Victor Gjurich, Martha Goldfarb, Jonathan Goldhaber, Marty Grass, Michael Hatori, Anthony Ingles, John Jacobson, John Kotze, Eon Kutac, Jeff Lambert, John Merrigan, Kevin Pacheco, Mario Peshkin, Sandy Pivarci Jr., Jaroslav Pohls, Erik Quick, Jeffery Restrepo, Al
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
Hawaii
Saeki, Seizo Suzuki, Toshifumi Takayama, Jun Tanaka, Akio Washisu, Masaya Yamamoto, Kouji Yamashita, Sachiko Yonetani, Michiko
Miller, Diane Mid-Atlantic Galieva, Alina Laub, Hans
Middle States Esz, Michael Midwest Brothers, Matt Carrithers, Kelly Crutchfield, Jason Durham, Jeff Frost, Ellen Fuhrmann, Brent Jaffurs, Nicholas Johnston, Cris Liefert II, Charles C. Lindstrom, Jeff McCrory, William Russell, James Siddiqui, Zeeshawn Stone, Sarah Strauch, Craig Thompson, Kristin Tofteland, Erik Tylutki, Amy Wentz, Erika Will, Chip
Ennis, Christine Garascia, Kurt C. Gray Jr., Spencer Kennedy, Barbara Morrissey, Paul Ritucci, John Shifrin, Joshua Stern, Jerry Stonecipher, Timothy Thomas, Chad
Northern California Carrillo, Fred Castromalaga, Ricardo Guanzon, Jeanne Ivan, Anna Maunupau, Louis Ouye, Debra Podesta, Chris Powell, John Watson, David Wilson, Jeffrey Zenopian, Sevan
Southwest Northwest Carlson, Cathy Diehl, William Hughes, Clayton Obourn, Michael Ryman, Duane H. Wyatt, James Pacific Northwest Hibbs, Derin Mon, Severino Nelson, Anthony Waddle, Brent
Missouri Valley JPTA Chiba, Tatsuya Fujimura, Takashi Hana, Naoki Ikegaya, Atsushi Inamoto, Masayuki Katsuya, Sumiyo Mano, Masaomi Mori, Atsusi Nishimoto, Akito Oribe, Singo Ozawa, Tetsuya
Bosch, Leslie Brodhagen, Angela Cundy, Meurig Lashley, Ryan Maier, Bryan Oxler, Jack
New England Beckmann, Tom Combe Marchand, Fabienne Courtney, Jeffrey
Chase, Sarah Cooke, Shawn Einck, Karen Farrow, Paul Filben, Steven Hale, Herb Healy, Craig Kitt, Josephine Layrisse, Alberto Middleton, Todd Pearce, Brent Pickett, Erik Ruchka, Virginia Smith, Brett Smith, Ray Stanley, Margie Tassone, Elizabeth Williams, Donald Willinsky, Shay Witherow, Neil Yates, Leigh (Toni) Zaher, Karim Zerbe, Larry
San Diego Chandler, Tate Esguerra, Raoul Jordan, Todd Southern Andrews, Steven Antequera-Garcia, Raul Arnold III, Malcolm (Trip) Brooks, Jimmie L. Chapman, Herbert
Bellmaine, Robert Douglas, Gordon Hicks, William Texas Bennaji, Moncef Cole, Andrew Cole, Donald Echols, Bradley Fugit, Mark Goldstraw, Ralph Harper, Christina Hill, Matthew Innerarity, Sarah Kaiser, Maurice Ledbetter, Donna McKenna, Scott Pendleton, Solomon Phan, Tri Piskura, J. Eric Probey, Matthew Speer, Fawn
uspta April 2001
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Ph.D
Prattle* to onhanco your ttrtngthi and Improve your woafenoito* uestion: I have an organized group of juniors who play at a fairly high level, but I want to keep them striving for higher levels of performance. Does sport science have any information about how to effectively facilitate a skilled player in learning new things: improving tactics, strokes, competitiveness, etc.? nswer: This type of question is probably the most popular one I receive: How can I help my players improve at a more effective rate? We have all heard the overused phrase to "practice with a purpose," but I will try to take that phrase to another level as it relates to learning. Let's begin with what I have termed the "five limiting factors" of tennis. These factors are limiting only in that they are the reason you win matches, and also the reason you lose matches. If you truly practice to enhance your strengths and improve your weaknesses, you also should improve how competitive you are. These five factors are: Strokes, movement, general fitness, mental toughness and tactics. I will briefly examine each area.
Strokes — Theories abound about the best way to improve one's technique. The skill level of the individual plays a role in this, but assuming that you are working with a skilled player, there are several factors with which to be concerned. How long has the player used the technique in question? How motivated is the player to make a technique change? Is the player truly willing to work at making a change? For example, assume you have a player who has a pretty strong forehand but a much weaker two-handed backhand. Many people make the mistake of just drilling and drilling and drilling to improve the weaker backhand but nothing happens. Learning a new technique doesn't have to be like pulling teeth. Here is a simple drill that I have used many times in this situation. Have the player hit a solid forehand and literally try to "feel" what it was like - the speed of the racquet, position of the body and arm, rotation of the trunk and so on. Then, immediately grip the racquet with the twohanded backhand grip but take the base hand off (the right hand for a right-handed
Jack Groppel, Ph.D., USPTA Master Professional, is the executive vice president of LGE Performance Systems. He is an instruction editor for Tennis magazine, and is the author of" High-Tech Tennis" and 'The Corporate Athlete. " Information can be found at www.mentallytough.com. 8
April 2001
player) and try to duplicate the feel of the forehand the player just hit with a forehand on the opposite side (a lefthanded forehand in our example). Then, no matter what the result of the ball flight, have the player duplicate the feel again with the two-handed grip. This kinesthetic method of learning works very well in many situations for learning tennis technique. • Movement — There are two fundamental types of movers in tennis, good and not so good. Speed in tennis is dictated by the first step toward the ball. After all, the distance a player moves per stroke is only about four meters so the first step is critical. Teach the player that as the ball is struck on the other side of the net, be ready, read it immediately, react to what has happened and explode to the ball. This visual concept of ready, read, react, explode can be enhanced by the teacher in an auditory way by speaking the word at the time the athlete is to be experiencing it. • General fitness - Athletes need to be programmed on the needs of their body. Often, tennis players believe they can just play tennis to get fit. As we know today, that is not enough; a player must get fit to play tennis. This means having a sound aerobic foun-
dation. The aerobic base needs to be developed four times per week over a sixweek period. Then intermix interval work to the point that the off-court training becomes mostly tennis specific. Ball reaction drills, agility drills and other sprint drills lasting anywhere from 6 to 30 seconds followed by 20 to 30 seconds rest train the body to explode during the point and to recover quickly between points. Combining this form of tennis-specific training with good strength and power training techniques can help the athlete improve performance and prevent injury better than anything else. Just remember, safety is key in any form of fitness training and recovery for the athlete's body is just as important as any type of stress the athlete encounters. Mental toughness — Possibly the most important factor related to an athlete's success in a match is how "tough" the athlete is when performing under pressure. How well does the player manage mistakes? How easy is it to get through a crisis like high winds or a bad line call? And how does the athlete prepare between points? Shadow tennis, where no ball is in play but the athlete mimics the actions and rehearses the response to making a great shot, missing an easy ball, while also learning www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
how to use the time between points and on the changeover, can help immensely in this area. Again, how realistic the actions are and how specific the drill is to what really happens in a match is important. Of primary concern is that players learn to be process-oriented and not overly resultsoriented as competitors. Obviously, any tennis player wants to win but when the competitors focus is only on the result and not on the process of playing each specific point with high intensity, the individual can often have a difficult time. â&#x20AC;˘ Tactics - Many skilled players make performance errors when playing because they simply haven't practiced cor-
rectly how to set up and finish a point. Again, drills should be designed to accomplish realistic situations in a match. For example, I have seen many athletes make major competitive mistakes because they didn't understand the geometry of the tennis court or couldn't make a decision quick enough about how or where to hit a certain shot. This is readily seen when an easy sitter in the middle of the court causes major stress for a player. A skilled but inexperienced player often thinks he can do anything with the easy shot - deep down the line, deep crosscourt, short angle crosscourt, drop shot down the line, approach down the line and so
on. Interestingly enough, the higher the skill level of the player, the fewer choices the player usually has at his disposal. I have always found this interesting since a world-class player truly has the ability to hit almost any shot but may only have two choices for the sitter in the middle of the court (for example, down the line deep or sharp angle crosscourt). That great player has learned to use his strengths in that situation and will finish the point with his weapons. You, as the coach, can conduct drills where the athlete must learn to make decisions that limit what he can do in certain situations. Again, it is all about being specific to the needs of the player.
TENNIS TUTOR
In summary, practices must be geared around the words "structured" and "specificity." I am a big believer that each player on your squad or junior group should be profiled and evaluated as to where each one is with strokes, movement, general fitness, mental toughness and tactics. Strengths and weaknesses should be openly discussed. Once the limiting factors are identified and the players are instructed on expectations, each practice session becomes purposeful and the player has the chance to see improvement at a more effective rate. It is this type of structure and need response that will challenge the athlete to improve. So, to overuse another phrase, only "perfect practice makes perfect."^
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April 2001
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Teaching pros share tennis tips Junior teaching objectives by Laird Dunlop, USPTA
Player
coring Fun and games
5-7 years
8-10 years
11 and older
Forehand, backhand, volley, overhead/serve
Add forehand and backhand volleys, serve toss, lines and net
Add approach shot and spin serve
Introduce ready position, start sideways at service line to hit
Add starting in ready position, hitting on run at service line
Add hitting on the run at baseline
Step with left foot forehand, right foot backhand
Add volley footwork (left forehand, right backhand)
Add shuffle to overhead and return to middle after hitting
Dominant hand lower on backhand grip, "shake hands" grip
Add proper racquet face angles
One- or two-hand backhand serve grip mentioned
Low to high lifting swing
Add finish above shoulder
Add topspin and closing racquet face, racquet back early
Toss balls from same side of net
Hit from other side of net
Hit from service or baseline
No-ad scoring, but introduce 15-30-40 for each shot over the net
Regular scoring, but with no ad
Regular with ad and tiebreakers
Jail, relay races (dribble ball with racquet, hot potato, racquet
Swedish tennis, jail, relay races, alley rally, racquet switch team groundstroke contests
court, up and back, war
sandwich)
Doubles positioning, king of the
Clean the barbecue on floating volleys by T.J. Cardwell, USPTA
O
ne of the toughest shots for the average player to master is the high floating volley at the net. We all watch the pros put these balls away routinely and, therefore, assume that it should be an easy shot. No such luck. The common error is to try to play them as overheads and drive them into the net or into the back fence. Try not to get suckered into play10
April 2001
ing this shot with the wrong stroke. At most, it is an elongated volley. Most players make the mistake of either taking too large of a backswing or finishing their stroke down instead of forward. This is one of the shots in tennis where the ball will tend to go wherever the racquet goes. In other words, if the player's followthrough ends up below the level of the net, it's a good bet the
ball will end up there as well. One visualization that helps keep the racquet on the correct plane is to imagine driving your racquet through the length of a barbecue skewer full of goodies. Try to keep your racquet on the skewer until it is completely cleaned off (missing the last piece of steak or tomato means you have pulled off the shot prematurely). Watch players like
Sampras or Henman â&#x20AC;&#x201D; two players who hit the shot perfectly â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and look at how forward their racquets move through the ball and how compact a stroke they use. By driving through this shot toward the target, the player will not only eliminate the common errors, but will generate far more power and penetration through the court. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
AWARDS PROGRAM RECOGNIZES EFFORT OF USPTA PROFESSIONALS CERTIFIED MEMBERS MAY APPLY BY JULY 13
r
romoting members is one of the Association's vital jobs, and an important component of the promotional plan is the USPTA national Awards Program. Not only do the award recipients receive recognition, the image of all USPTAcertified teaching professionals is boosted when recipients are promoted to club owners and managers, the entire tennis industry and media nationwide. The national Awards Program acknowledges the dedication and professionalism employed by USPTA members in all the areas in which they work and play. It also highlights the work professionals do every day to increase player participation and build excitement about the game. Awards are presented in the following categories: • • • • • • • • • •
_r
World Conference on Tennis larco Island, Florida« Sept. 12-18
HIGH SCHOOL COACH OF THE YEAR COLLEGE COACH OF THE YEAR TOURING COACH OF THE YEAR MEN'S OPEN PLAYER OF THE YEAR MEN'S 35 AND OVER PLAYER OF THE YEAR MEN'S 45 AND OVER PLAYER OF THE YEAR WOMEN'S OPEN PLAYER OF THE YEAR WOMEN'S 35 AND OVER PLAYER OF THE YEAR WOMEN'S 45 AND OVER PLAYER OF THE YEAR GEORGE BACSO TESTER OF THE YEAR
One of the Association's highest honors is the PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR AWARD, which recognizes a member who has shown outstanding initiative in seven areas: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Contributions to USPTA Contributions to USTA As a. teaching professional As a player As a coach Education, research, publications Organizational affiliations, special achievements, contributions to the community
The FACILITY MANAGER OF THE YEAR AWARD is the only award that is not reserved for USPTA members. It acknowledges a general manager who hires USPTA-certified professionals, supports development opportunities for staff, promotes tennis in the facility environment and contributes to the tennis community. Applications for these awards may be requested from the World Headquarters by calling (800) USPTA-4U or writing to pr@uspta.org. Nominations may be submitted by a division or certified member. Self-nominations are accepted. Completed applications must arrive at the headquarters by July 13, www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
nother special award is the USPTA INDUSTRY (.EXCELLENCE AWARD, which recognizes professionals who have done the most to promote tennis at the grassroots level and thereby increase participation in the sport. Tennis-teaching professionals and coaches may apply. Sports Tutor will deliver a ball machine to the award winner for use in a grassroots program he or she supports. The Tennis Industry Association is supporting the award with a $ 1,000 grant for the recipient. April 2001
11
Redesigned USPTA.com has clean look, easy navigation
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f you haven't yet seen the redesigned USPTA.com, take a look. Visitors are welcomed to the site with a dramatic Flash presentation, leading to the USPTA Web portal. From here you can click to any of USPTA's Web sites USPTA.com, ADDvantageUSPTA.com, USPTApro.com, LittleTennis.com, Finda-Pro, VTS and USPTA divisions. USPTA.com was restructured into six main menu groups, making it easier for readers to find information. Each button on the USPTA star logo page pops up a listing of what is in that section when you move your mouse over it. There are also corresponding buttons to the right of the logo.
About USPTA I I ere you will find information about the Association, including USPTA's history, the national board and Executive Committee, staff listing and contact information, division Web sites, news and tennis tips.
Membership a USPTA member, the categories of membership and member benefits. It also contains a dues schedule, member application and schedule of testing dates.
lareer Development his section includes informaon on USPTA specialist egrees, professional tennis management programs, and thcr areas that are still being eveloped. For example, distance learning will include an audiotape catalog of seminars available in a Web-based format.
United States Professional Tennis Associa
Pro shop
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Spotlight This includes the USP award winners, touruai
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April 2001
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Programs Read about USPTA's sports marketing programs, such as Tennis, Tennis Across America and Lessons for Life. This section also includes divisional contact information ch program.
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
The USPTA Web portal page offers links to all ofUSPTA's Web sites.
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About USPTA Founded in 1927. USPTA is the world's oldest and largest association of tennis-teaching professionals. With more than 12,000 members worldwide, USPTA strives to raise the standards of the tennis profession while promoting greater awareness of the sport. The association offers more than 30 professional benefits for its members, including certification and extensive educational opportunities. Mission statement The purposes of USPTA shall be to raise the standards of teaching tennis as a profession; to increase interest and awareness in the sport of tennis; and to do all acts in accordance with such purposes or to effect any other purposes that may be determined from time to time by the Association. Š2007 United States Professional Ttnnis As sortition Inc. AH rights res,
Left menu options
This is the first page you will come to when entering the redesigned site, if you skip the Flash movie introduction. (The conclusion of the movie also offers a page with the same links.) The USPTA divisions button sends you to the divisional Web site section ofUSPTA.com, where each division has its own distinct site. Find-a-Pro opens a site that allows people to search for pros, pros to search for jobs and employers to list jobs. The buttons for ADDvantage, Little Tennis and USPTApro.com link to those sites. USPTApro.com is a working sample of the personal Web site program that is offered as a member benefit. This site has numerous links to helpful tools, as well as promotes the member and his or her facility. The VTS button will link to the USPTA Virtual Trade Show site, coming soon. This site will offer a "virtual storefront" where buyers can view manufacturers' products and receive special discounts. There is also a consumer site where viewers can search by product and view merchandise from all participating manufacturers. Then they can search for dealers with the Find-a-TennisShop feature. This is similar to Find-a-Pro, in that it will provide a list of retailers in their area who sell the products they are interested in. Stay tuned for more information about VTS.
USPTA specialist degrees Achieving higher levels and enhanced skills
Within USPTA.com, the left menu option will help the reader find various topics within a particular area of the site. For example, in the About USPTA section (above), clicking on the buttons on the left will provide information about each topic listed. In the Career Development section (right), clicking on the Specialist degrees button brings up a page with information about the program along with links to more details about each ofUSPTA's specialist degrees.
The Association has taken education one step further with the introduction of Specialist degrees. This training will allow members to specialize in one or more specific areas of the tennis-teaching profession. The Specialist degrees will: 1. Create a market demand for certified members who become Specialists. 2. Promote and recognize USPTA professionals as the most elite in the profession. 3. Create an ongoing career track for USPTA members. 4. Offer advanced education to improve more specific competencies. Specialist areas initially will include degrees in Little Tennis, computers, event and activity planning, lesson programming, facility management, tour coaching, college coaching, developing competitive players, sport science, and teaching wheelchair tennis. For more information you may e-mail the Career Development Department or call (BOO) USPTA-4U.
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Bottom navigational menu _ home | Site map | Contact us j USP The navigational tool has buttons for the USPTA homepage, a site map, contact information, the USPTA Web poitalpage, USPTA World Conference and other helpful links. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
We'd love to hear your comments about the new look. Please send e-mails to uspta@uspta.org. April 2001
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Pros make a difference for Life participants California Trent Aaron Barbara Johnston Simon Pack Eric Stephens
Judi Stiff Frank Swope Lew Wolfe Adam Zastempowski Robert Zipay
Eastern
Hawaii
Bob Bynum Mike Casey Scott Collins Steve Diamond Peter Heffernan Steve Pekich Martin Vinokur
Dino Bondallian Donnia Bondallian Mario Celarie Lee Couillard Bernard Gusman Jerome Kailiwai Randy Kop Bruce Nagel David T. Porter, Ed.D. David Yamauchi
Florida Dave Brown Doug Browne Willie Cakans Don Caprio Richard Centerbar Lowell Coffman Jeff Cohen Bob Cooper Conrad Cowan Dennis DeRome James Evert Trish Faulkner Harry Gilbert Chuck Gill Thad Hawkes Greg High Will Hoag Mike Johnson Whitney Kraft Tom Krukiel Calvin Le Blanc Paul Lederman Tom Kelly Dave Kozlowski Paul McNulty Craig McSmythe Pat Mason Brenda Mertz Jim Mertz Albert Mora Wallace Norwich Winston Owen Tara Puc Chandra D. Rajakar Ben Rakusin Andy Scavuzzo Len Simard David Spital
14
April 2001
Intermountain Alden Block Paula Coulter Judy Courtney Kim Davis Pam Dodman Brian Hauff Gretchen Maloney Rob Merriman Holger Nickel Dave Romberg Ann Slocomb Barbara Thompson
Mid-Atlantic Jane Borden John Cleary Kate Mills Nicholas Molloy
Midwest Todd Ashdown Jon Barker Lee Ann Berning Carol Bulfer Jack Engelke Jim Gelhaar Mike Hobbs Aziz Hoosenally Dean Pocock
Jim Demos Sig Garnett Jason Grubb Rich Halpine Jake Hannas Jeff Hawes Dick Johnson . Ryan Lashley Tim Leos Garry Nadebaum Warren Rohmfeld Russell Warner Jodi Schiller Kim Sunderland Ken Veney
New England Donna Alexson Chan Bearce Dan Bonflgli Jessica Berman Susan Carmeris Tad Connerton Elaine Cosseboom Sue Doyle George Haley Claudia Hawkes Milly Kostiuk Stuart Lehr Jack McKenna Michael Mercier Adam Molda Kim Murphy-Francis Avis Murray Barry Parker Kent Parrot Chris Stevens
Northern California Paul AJlam Rosie Bareis Richard Cardiff Corky Cramer Ken DeHart John DeMartini Michael Friedman Ruben Meza Wayne Street
Missouri Valley Ann Bartek Jeff Bianco Angela Brodhagen Bunny Bruning
Pacific Northwest Nancy Cox John DeVorss Brett Hall
Tommy Wade Washington Racquet Club Richard Weaver Pat Whitworth
Barry Laing Brian Loomis Don Paitrick Barry Sterett Bobby Troup Gary Wheeler
Southwest Dennis Dellinger Ruth Ann Gardner Dick Johnson Kathy Kolankiewicz Mike Van Zutphen
San Diego Frank Chaboudy
Southern Charlie Badger Sue Bartlett Ed Baxley Walter Campbell Sarah Chase Chuck Cooper James N. Cox Tracy Daspit Hap Davis Steve diFeliciantonio Peter Doohan Fred Earle III Helyn Edwards Kelli Eubanks Greg Grover Jonathan Hains Betsy Hedgecoe Will Hoag Mark Jacques Edwin Johnson Craig S. Jones Tim Kelty Robert King Larry Kline Sue Kline Jim Krimbill Kip Laymar Suzzanne Laymar Meri Lobel Tom McGraw Mark McMahon Lisa McManus James Markert Jose A. Ogeo Bill Ozaki Mark Pachtner Michael Pizzat Loydd Price Robert Russell John Scanling Kate Sharp Greg Stephenson Adam Thomson
Texas Sheryl Behne Kevin Clark Mike Collins Mike Doty Stephen Gordon-Poorman JeffHerr Katie Johnson Gerry Maingot Tanner Moore Dennis Reed Diane Richbourg Craig Willefbrd Stan Willefbrd
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USPTA members raise $96,000 through Lessons for Life
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he final numbers are in: In 2000, USPTA members raised nearly $96,000 through the Lessons for Life program. To be exact, $95,977 of Lessons for Life earnings were donated by USPTA professionals to local chapters of the American Cancer Society. The figure is nearly twice what was raised in 1999, the first year of the program. "USPTA members should be proud of the effort they have
made in the fight against cancer," said USPTA President Joe Thompson. "They have quickly come to support Lessons for Life and the Association's official charity, the American Cancer Society." ACS became USPTAs official charity in 1999. USPTA has raised more than $150,000 for the charity in two years. USPTA professionals conducted single lessons, special tournaments, teaching marathons, auctions, barbecues and
fashion shows as fund-raising events. Most events were held during October, Tennis Against Cancer Month. In 2001, Tennis Against Cancer Day is Oct. 20. It always is a Saturday near George Bacso's birthday, Oct. 27. Bacso was USPTA's longtime director of certification and academies. He passed away in 1998. Although Oct. 20 is promoted as Tennis Against Cancer Day, members are welcome to run events throughout the
month of October or whenever it is most convenient during the year. Activities should be reported to the Lessons for Life liaison in a member's division so that the donations can be recorded. More information about Lessons for Life is on USPTA's main Web site at www.uspta.com or can be obtained by calling the World Headquarters at (800) USPTA-4U. Plus, additional articles will appear here as October approaches.^
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USPTA has the best job posting service so you can find the best jobs. (And, it's free.)
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www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
April 2001
15
MOliif WO ESWHBI.ISM,
by David W. Smith, USPTA
f you are a coach, a teaching pro, head tennis professional or a tennis club director, chances are you probably deal with the development of junior tennis players on one level or another. Perhaps you have the talent, knowledge and experience to produce junior champions at every level. Yet, you may get only a trickle of local kids who want to learn tennis (or kids whose parents insist that they learn to play!). Hence, the number of quality athletes you are privileged to teach is scarce at best. Maintaining beginner players long enough for them to "get hooked" on tennis is yet another dilemma for the tennis instructor. Motivating teen-agers to try out for a school's tennis team, or even attracting enough students to field a team, is challenging for many coaches. Is there a secret to overcoming these ventures? Psst ... Yes there is! For years, the USTA and other grassroots programs have tried to attract juniors (and adults) to tennis courts across our great land. Some have had mediocre to moderate success. A few programs, some
highlighted in USPTA's ADDvantage magazine and other tennis publications, have created incredible interest in junior programs. Why? Or, perhaps the better question is, "How?" Most teaching professionals are happy to share their impressions on just how some programs succeed so admirably, while others do not. "It takes a special individual ... someone who has no other life," some suggested. "A person who is a true philanthropist of their time might make it work," others presumed.
Good news! I have news for you. While these attributes are certainly helpful in achieving such goals, they are far from necessary! The following information represents some personal anecdotes and experiences that have helped me create successful junior programs.
What Is the secret?
Juniors will try harder when they know successful players will be honored permanently at their club or school. 16
April 2001
First, more than 100 students have joined my junior program in the past nine months. I have six clinics a week, some filled with as many as 25 juniors at one time. I have coached one of the most successful high school tennis teams in the country, where I had teams that consisted of no less than 30 tennis players per squad.
(We averaged more than 50 kids each season!) These figures demonstrate that junior programs can be successful. Here's the secret.
Wall of fame I learned long ago from my father (the late Bruce Smith, 1984 California Tennis Coach of the Year and 1984 Runner-up National Tennis Coach of the Year) that kids (and adults for that matter) feel a sense of immortality when they are recognized on something that is permanent. This is why trophy and photo cases in school gyms are so popular. Oftentimes, a boy or girl will recognize that successful players get to be remembered for a very long time. Who wouldn't want to see themselves as a local hero, their name emblazoned on a trophy for all their friends to see? At the high school level, we took this hall of fame idea and built a "Wall of Fame" that consisted of 3 feet by 5 feet Plexiglas frames highlighting players, team results, newspaper articles, player action shots, scoring records and such for each season. Placing each year's collage of memories permanently in the school hallway became an enticement for new players who wanted to become part of those memories. As our success grew, more players observed this success as they passed through the halls and wanted to be part of our dynasty. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
At the club level, I have instituted a "year in review" on the wall near our entrance. (Not just a bulletin board with a handful of pictures tacked up!) Adults and juniors alike enjoy seeing themselves with fun captions and trophies in hand. Newcomers stop and take in the information; the permanency of each year's review gives the observer the message that the tennis program has real meaning. Each year the wall grows with new pictures and highlights.
Individual player pictures If you are at a club, find a logical and noticeable wall on which you can start a "Junior Hall of Fame." Invest in a digital camera and take clear, up-close pictures of all your junior players. Purchase inexpensive picture frames or simply paste each player's picture on large poster boards and attach these to your wall. Be sure to put the full names of each player on or next to their photos. This very small investment of time and money will reward you in ways you might not imagine. First, you are showing the kids (and their parents) that each player is important to you and your club. Second, it is an impressive sight for others, especially potential junior players, to see such a team of players all taking lessons from you or other pros at your club. Third, it is an undeniable human trait to want to see oneself recognized in any way, shape or form. I have kids who drag their parents to our wall, just to say, "Look, Mom ... there I am!"
Tennis ladder This is one of my favorites and is another carry-over from my coaching years. A tennis ladder is one way to help keep kids interested in playing tennis. By tennis ladder, I don't mean a frayed and creased cardboard ladder you stick on a clipboard. I mean a large, wooden adornment with at least 40 or 50 places for names in a numbered ladder format. Include club or school logos, past team records or champions, etc. Taking the cue again from the idea of permanency, your ladder should be solid yet mobile. My two ladders, one for boys and one for girls, are each an inch-thick piece of wood, about 2 feet by 3 feet and framed with aluminum, and include a sturdy handle centered at the top. Players' names are sewww.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
cured on 1-inch-square pieces of Velcro, so players can move up or down, and set in rows of 12. I have 48 names on each ladder in four groups, A to D. (This way, a player isn't number 37 on my ladder, they are No. 2 in group D. This gives each player an interim goal of reaching No. 1 in their particular group.) Players love to look at the ladders and see who is above them. You can almost see the determination build in their eyes as they recognize, simply by this ladder and where their name is, that they can move up by working harder on their game. You can create a "Challenge Day Clinic" for players,
The most important tool for creating motivation for player development is the tennis ladder. charging a nominal fee, which most parents are more than happy to pay since they get to see their kids actually playing tennis! Your beginner clinics can feed right into the ladder as those kids learn to rally, keep score and serve ... giving them something to shoot for! Setting up team matches with other clubs or within a club is simple since everyone knows where they stand. At the high school level, the ladder is, in my opinion, the single most important tool used in creating motivation for player development. Again, the ladder entices players to want to improve. They know that someone is below them coming after their spot; they can see, quite literally, where they want to go with their tennis!
Build It. Will they come? There are three action items that are essential to building your program. But if you are a club pro or director, the logical question is, "How do I get kids to come see what I have to offer?" I did one simple thing that got the proverbial snowball of junior players rolling: (1)1 went to my nearest elementary school. After contacting the school principal and some 4th to 6th grade teachers who were teaching physical education units, I put on a short half-hour demonstration in the school multipurpose room with the help of one of my assistant pros. We did quick volley sequences and demonstrated what a 100 plus mile-per-hour serve looked like. The "oohs" and "aahs" told me these kids wanted to be able to do what they were witnessing. (A 100-mph serve in a multipurpose room sounds like a howitzer cannon!) After the short demonstration, (2) we handed out letters for the kids to take home to their parents introducing them to our junior programs, and outlining the many advantages tennis has to offer their kids. The kids couldn't wait to get their hands on our information! This alone generated the first 20 or so juniors to our beginner program. (3) We followed up on the letter campaign with a field trip for the kids to our club where we had all our pros spend an hour teaching about 50 kids in a fourcourt instructional rotation. (I had purchased about 40 racquets through proceeds generated through local business contributions and sponsorships.) This was really the extent of our recruiting effort. Friends told friends, parents told parents, and the rest is, as they say, history. Within six months my junior program had blossomed into six classes with four different ability levels, some taught by myself or others offered to assistants. If you are good with kids, be ready for the parents who insist that only you can teach their kids. In terms of what to charge, we only charge $45 per child for each nine-week session. Each pro is making anywhere between $30 to $80 per hour depending on their percentage and number of children in each class. I try to maintain no more See Grow, Page 23 April 2001
17
12th anniversary of Tennis At is part of first George Bacsc
T
ennis Across America was the first nationwide free, grassroots lesson program when it was begun in 1990, and it was one of the many projects that USPTA's George Bacso heavily influenced. This year, when USPTA members offer free tennis clinics as part of Tennis Across America, Tennis Around the World™ and Little Tennis®, they also will be taking part in a larger event — George Bacso Month. "For nearly half a century, George Bacso taught thousands of tennis-teaching professionals how to be better teachers and improve their livelihood through the tennis profession," said USPTA CEO Tim Heckler. "At the same time, he worked with countless players of all ages and skill levels. It's fitting that USPTA remembers his spirit and dedication to the sport through this monthlong celebration." Bacso was a 32-year USPTA member, national president and longtime director of certification and academies. As the Association's "teacher of teachers," Bacso encouraged many USPTA members to become better instructors. Consistent with the theme of Tennis Across America, Bacso's goal was that every new player would receive the best first lesson possible from a USPTA professional and become a lifelong player. Bacso, who passed away in 1998, also was instrumental in developing what is today one of the world's most comprehensive systems for certifying tennis teachers and traveled the world training them. He is one of only five members of USPTA's Hall of Fame and was a recipient of USTA's Educational Merit Award. In 1998, USPTA's Executive Committee awarded Bacso with the inaugural George Bacso Lifetime Achievement Award, developed to honor individuals who set the highest standards in volunteerism on behalf of tennis teachers. In 2000, the committee designated May as George Bacso Month so that all the month's activities could be celebrated in one special occasion: • May 12 is celebrated as Tennis Across America Day, however, the free clinics are held by individual USPTA members throughout the month of May and the whole spring season. More than 2,000 USPTA professionals and instructors and volunteers ran clinics in more than 300 cities in 2000. • Run in conjunction with Tennis Across America and George Bacso Month is Tennis Around the World. USPTA asks its international members and international teaching organizations to participate in the promotion of tennis to new, former and current players of all ages throughout the world. Last year, Tennis Around the World was celebrated in countries including Bahrain, England, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Japan, Malaysia and many more. • The third component of George Bacso Month is USPTA's Little Tennis. Little Tennis clinics may be run as part of the Tennis Across America program as promotional clinics kicking off a springtime children's program. 1 8 April 2001
The late George Bacso is seen here at a Little Tennis® clinic he hosted at USPTA's World Headquarters. Bacso was most at home on the court and children loved his animated teaching style.
Tennis Across America™ stands alone to promote USPTA professionals 12 unique seasons Tennis Across America is the original nationwide, grassroots, free lesson program. Now in its twelfth year, it is no longer the only such program. While other programs have similar goals for bringing new players into our sport, Tennis Across America still is the only one designed to bring recognition to the USPTA professional. By introducing the sport to new players, rekindling the interest of former players and getting winter dormant players back out in the spring, Tennis Across America encourages thousands of people every year to play tennis. To support individual members, USPTA conducts a nationwide public relations campaign to publicize Tennis Across America. It includes news releases sent to national, regional and local media, plus advertisements placed in national tennis magazines. As a result, Tennis Across America has appeared not only in tennis publications, but also in national media such as Prevention magazine and television's "Today" show. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
ross America™ Month celebration By focusing on a single event like Tennis Across America, publicity and public appreciation for pros can be generated at a level unattainable on a daily basis.
Program components Tennis Across America, the original grassroots free lesson program designed for pros by pros, is broken down into three segments:
Tell us about it When tennis professionals register their events with USPTA, members of the public can find the clinics closest to them by checking USPTA's main Web site at www.uspta.com for a list by city and state. The World Headquarters also takes many phone calls on its toll-free number to refer people to members' clinics. These national efforts combined with member promotions at the local level — fliers, listings in newspaper calendars, news releases sent to local media, articles in facility newsletters, etc. - bring recognition to USPTA member professionals from a variety of audiences, including: •New players •Community leaders •Facility managers •Media •Current players
*** Free clinics held during the month of May at public and private facilities across the nation. These are meant to work for pros as kickoff events for spring clinic series and other events Multicultural clinics to introduce the sport to groups that do not normally have the opportunity to play. Hosts of these clinics may apply for commemorative balls and leaner racquets donated by manufacturers. V
Follow-up programs to provide players with an opportunity to pursue their new enthusiasm for tennis
How to register To get the full benefit of this program, please fill out the form below and mail or fax it to USPTA, or complete the online form at uspta.com. The form has been simplified to include only the information that is required in order for your clinic(s) to be listed on the Web site. We continually update the site, so send us the registration when you know all the details.
When it's over When events are over, we love to hear how they went. Please feel free to send us fliers, newspaper clippings, pictures or news releases. «^»
Register for USPTA's Tennis Across America! Copy this form, complete every line and mail to the address below. To sign up online, go to www.uspta.com. Yes, I will participate in USPTA's Tennis Across America as a/an Name
D host professional USPTA member
Contact number
D yes
D no
Member number
Date of clinic and time City
D assistant
My clinic/social will be open to State
D the public
D members only
Zip.
Facility name Street address Facility phone he following people will assist at my event: USPTA member USPTA member USPTA member USPTA member
a a a a
yes yes yes yes
a a a a
no
Member number
no
Member number
no
Member number
no
Member number
USPTA World Headquarters, 3535 Briarpark Drive, Suite One, Houston TX 77042 Questions? Call (713) 978-7782 or (800) USPTA-4U, fax (713) 978-7780 or send e-mail to marketing@uspta.org
I www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
April 2001
19
MENTAL TOUGHNESS nn LL
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Gary Sailes, Ph.D., USPTA
MENTAL REPROGRAMMING IS NOT THAT DIFFICULT AND WITH A LITTLE READING ...AND IMPLEMENTATION, ANY COACH CAN HELP HIS PLAYERS REACH THEIR MENTAL SKILLS GOALS.
ost athletes do not perform at their highest levels because they spend the majority of their time preparing for competition in ways that do not maximize their full potential. They concentrate primarily on the physical components of their training in areas such as conditioning, stroke production, quickness and agility. The athletes compete, never really achieving the success they dream about because they don't know how to tap into the vast potential that lies buried deep inside all of us, in our minds. Unfortunately, far too many coaches and athletes deal with slumps in performance by training harder on physical skills or working out more in the gym. This will usually intensify the slump, leading to greater complications because the real problem, which is usually a mental or emotional factor, remains unaddressed. Sport psychology and human performance technology research confirms that thoughts and feelings directly affect performance (see reference at end of article). Sports competition often takes place in a stressful environment. The pressure to win can sometimes be enormous, causing athletes to either succumb or become challenged. The challenged athlete is probably thinking about what he needs to do to win match point and is convinced he will be successful. The other athlete is probably fearful of losing match point and finds it difficult to focus on anything. The difference is the motivated
20
April 2001
athlete is mentally programmed to love the thrill and challenge of reaching match point while the fearful athlete is threatened by the pressure of match point, perhaps because he is more focused on the consequences of losing the point. The contrasting performances of these two athletes are directly effected by what the players respectively thought and felt about match point. The good news is that athletes can be trained to be challenged by, rather than become fearful of, pressure situations in sports competition. What we think, how we feel and their affect on our performance is called "neuro-associations" (Robbins, 1991). I prefer to call them Cognitive Affective Programs or "CAPS" (cognitive-what you think; affectiveâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;what you feel; programsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;conditioned responses based on what we think, feel and believe). Mental toughness, the ability to control one's thoughts and feelings to maximize performance, cannot and should not be left to chance where an athlete figures out what works by trial and error. This process takes longer and can be very painful if the athlete experiences a series of failures. Athletes can and should be taught how to avoid performance slumps by developing specific thought patterns www.ADDvantageLJSPTA.com
that enable them to compete at a consistently higher level. Sport psychologists, or mental skills coaches as they are sometimes called, are trained to help athletes develop the skills to control and direct their thoughts and emotions so only their best performances emerge. Mental skills training of athletes is initiated by talking with the athlete and getting him to talk about and describe his oncourt mental and emotional breakdowns. This can also be accomplished by having the athlete complete a comprehensive questionnaire that asks specific questions about the competitive experience. After this first diagnostic meeting is completed, the mental skills coach should have the information necessary to construct and implement a strategy to help the athlete resolve or overcome his mental and emotional collapses. While strategies vary depending on the athlete's needs and the mental skills coach's specific training, most mental training programs utilize different written and on-court exercises, as well as continued dialogue until the mental and/or emotional breakdowns are eliminated. The solution to developing mental toughness is reprogramming, that is, changing the athletes' CAPS, their way of thinking and feeling (Orlick, 2000; Dorfman, 1995; Rotella, 1995; Sailes, 1995; Loehr, 1995). Knowing which CAPS to change is the challenge. When I take on a client, the first thing I do is to make sure that a series of CAPS are present in the athlete's foundational belief system, and that he learns, accepts, believes and identifies with them. It has been my experience as a sport psychologist, and it is consistently reported in sport psychology and human performance technology literature, that successful elite athletes believe and practice the following CAPS (Orlick, 2000; Dorfman, 1995; Rotella, 1995; Sailes, 1995; Loehr, 1995;Nideffer, 1992): 1. Become a fighter. Don't just show up to compete, search inside yourself, raise your level of intensity and determination. Give all you have during the competitive experience. Don't just compete, play with passion and what Billie Jean King called "the killer instinct!" Balance that emotion with good ball control. Love the battle more than winning! 2. Become "performance oriented" and let winning take care of itself. Take more www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
pride in your performance than in winning the match. Focus more on tactics and strategy, and not holding back. Let this philosophy be what motivates you as an athlete. This will help to manage pressure and stay focused on the moment. Your intent should be to pursue your best performance, which ultimately provides the greatest potential for winning the contest. 3. Understand that your confidence is your greatest weapon. You cannot achieve peak performance nor win the contest without it. The energy and power inside your body cannot be liberated and utilized without your confidence. It is the foundation for success in the competitive arena. Believe in yourself. 4. Have an unrelenting desire to improve no matter what your skill level is. Develop long-term, short-term, immediate and daily goals. This will serve as your motivation, provide challenge, help keep you inspired and serve as the foundation for improvement. 5. Don't forget that tennis is just a game and should remain a fun experience. However, becoming a successful elite athlete takes hard work, discipline, dedication and discomfort. Be willing to do the work. 6. Play instinctively. Get out of your own way. Trust your training and let your tennis skills come to bear during competitive matches. Don't try to manipulate or mentally control your effort. Let it flow. Develop a kinesthetic sense and feel your targets, and let that be what guides you, not how to hit the ball. Focus on what and where, not how. The time to be mechanical is during practice, not during matches. 7. See it in your mind before you actually do it on court. Practice imagery before your match and during breaks in play. Visualize yourself playing like a champion. See yourself executing with confidence â&#x20AC;&#x201D; relaxed, focused, consistent. In your mind's eye, see yourself playing like your favorite professional player (modeling)! Learning to control or change one's CAPS is the focus of mental toughness training. Turning negative perceptions and thoughts into empowering, positive ones requires mental reprogramming. Leaving mental training to chance or relying on a
quick motivational talk from the coach are not nearly as lasting, permanent or effective as focusing on an athlete's CAPS. Once you change an athlete's belief system, what he thinks and how he feels about himself, he will change his own behavior or performance and it will become improved, consistent and permanent (Orlick, 2000; Dorfman, 1995; Rotella, 1995; Sailes, 1995; Loehr, 1995; Nideffer, 1992; Robbins, 1991). There are several things coaches can do to help their athletes become mentally tough. By augmenting their coaching philosophies and behavior to accommodate the athlete's mental reprogramming, coaches can speed die process of getting their athletes to play better tennis. For example, coaches should de-emphasize winning and focus more on performance. Discontinue asking players if they won or lost their tennis matches. Instead, ask performance-oriented questions like: "How did you play? What was your service percentage during the match? How often did you serve and volley? How were your passing shots today? Did you give 100 percent effort out there today?" and so on. Rewards and punishment should be determined by effort, performance, sportsmanship and die like and not by whether a player won or lost his match. Coaches should also strive to build dieir athletes' confidence by offering constructive criticism instead of verbally beating them down. Use words of encouragement. For example, if a player goes for too much power and makes a lot of unforced errors, offer a suggestion like, "I like the way you go after your forehand shot, but you might want to put more topspin on the ball to keep it in play more consistendy." Avoid yelling at your players when they make mistakes. Make corrections and offer encouragement when you feel the need to criticize. If a player needs to be chastised, do it in private and provide opportunities for them to get out of the proverbial "dog house." Make practices fun with a variety of challenging drills. You can improve your players' mental readiness by making oncourt drills more challenging than what they will experience during an actual match. My favorite drill is to play two on one. Have three players compete in a singles match and after every game, rotate so that one player plays against the other two. continued next page April 2001
21
from previous page Boundaries are the singles sidelines on both sides of the court. Players keep their individual scores whether playing alone or with a partner. First player to win six games wins the set. I used this drill extensively when I felt we were playing against a stronger team. I remember my college basketball coach using this drill with our basketball team. He made the starting line-up play against eight players in a scrimmage. Needless to say, when we played against five players during a game, it was much easier. I applied this drill to my college tennis team and it worked to build my players confidence. Playing against one player was far easier mentally, emotionally, and physically than playing against two players. Sit down with your athletes and construct concrete performance-oriented goals that challenge them and provide them the opportunity to develop as players. Reaching challenging goals is a very effective way in which to develop players' confidence. Some examples of performance-oriented goals are: improve first or second serve percentage, develop one or two weapons,
April 2001
improve consistency, get stronger on the weights, improve time in the two-mile run, move up in the line-up, get to practice ahead of time and strive to achieve all-state, all-conference or All-American honors. During matches, have the players working on one or two performance goals to keep their focus on their play and not the outcome, which will add more pressure. Imagery training is an important tool that I find most coaches and athletes ignore, yet it is clear that visualization improves performance. External imagery, where the player watches a videotape of a professional tennis match or a match in which the player performed well, is an excellent way to prepare for matches. Just prior to walking on court and during breaks in play, players should mentally visualize (internal imagery) consistent aggressive play, making their shots, maintaining confidence or virtually any aspect of their performance. Coaches should provide the opportunity for imagery practice and encourage their players to engage in this important mental practice skill. It is crucial that the coach's actions be consistent. If you, the coach, embrace the importance of mental toughness training and want to help your athletes improve in this important area of development, it should be reflected in your conversation and your actions on court all the time. Start looking for mental errors and not just stroking errors. In fact, random errors are more of an indication that an athlete is struggling to maintain mental and/or emotional control. Failure to get a second serve in or going for too much on the first serve can sometimes be an indication of nervousness. Droopy shoulders, head down, negative self talk, over hitting and pushing the ball over the net can sometimes be indications of loss of confidence. Be sure to look for these telltale signs and try to coach the athlete to make mental adjustments to eliminate any performance collapses. I remember a player seeded No. 1 at a national tournament who was struggling in the quarter-finals. He won the first set easily and lost the second set in a close tiebreaker. The player's father, a close personal friend, asked me to intervene. I saw tenta-
tive play and that the player was holding back, playing without confidence. During the break in play, I asked the player why he was holding back. Why was he playing not to lose instead of playing to win? Where did his confidence go? I instructed him that he was probably thinking too much about the outcome of the match and not on the business at hand. I told the player to just focus on playing hard, not hold back, and to play with confidence. In the third set he won a few successive early points, recovered his focus and confidence, and won the third set easily. The player went on to win the tournament without losing another set. I don't think any coach will disagree with the notion that mental toughness training is just as important as physical training. Mental reprogramming is not that difficult and with a little reading (see the references from this article) and implementation, any coach can help his players reach their mental skills goals. Reaching peak performance requires balancing physical and mental training. All it takes is desire, effort and commitment. If you are truly motivated by your desire to help your players, then let mental training become a part of your coaching philosophy. Teach your players to "change their CAPS."^°
Gary Sailes, Ph.D., USPTA, is a professor of human performance in the department of kinesiology at Indiana University and president of Success Technologies, a sport psychology/peak performance consulting company. References: Dorfman, H. & Kuehl, K. (1995) "The Mental Game of Baseball," Diamond Communications: South Bend, Indiana. Loehr, J. (1995) "The New Toughness Training For Sports," Stephen Greene Press: Lexington, Mass. Mackenzie, M. (1991) "Tennis The Mind Game," Dell Publishing: New York. Nideffer, R. (1992) "Psyched To Win," Leisure Press: Champaign, Illinois. Orlick, T. (2000) "In Pursuit Of Excellence," Human Kinetics: Champaign, Illinois. Robbins, A. (1991) "Awaken The Giant Within," Simon & Schuster: New York. Rotella, R. (1995) "Golf Is Not A Game Of Perfect," Simon & Schuster: New York. Sailes, G. (1995) "Mental Training for Tennis," Kendal Hunt/Publishers: Dubuque, Iowa. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
Grow from Page 17 than 10 juniors per pro in these types of programs, except in my "competitor's level," where the children are half challenging and half drilling with me. I actually have nearly 30 kids in this class alone, and I teach it by myself. Most of the kids look forward to being in with the "good kids" and working with the head pro. It is an honor to get accepted into the competitor's class.
Final thoughts In each of my classes, I print up a single page of tips on the particular stroke(s) we are working on. I have each player keep a notebook for these and other tennis-related handouts. (Every player receives my recommendations on how to set up a player notebook.) For many, this notebook becomes a prized possession. In addition to tip sheets, players collect magazine pictures of players, record post practice/match notes and include a personal tennis journal in their notebooks. As a head pro, I outline all my junior classes for my assistant pros so that each pro knows what is being taught in each session. This ensures that my teaching beliefs are being followed (I do allow for flexibility among teaching styles, however, there are certain fundamentals that I insist be covered and taught), and that there is a sequential beginning and end to each session, ensuring that all that should be taught is taught. Some of these things take a little time initially. However, the long-term rewards are abundant. In addition to these programs mentioned above, I also run our entire adult program, direct four of the largest tennis tournaments in Utah, and publish a fourpage newsletter each month. Yet, I still work less than 40 hours per week (by choice) and feel I am having the time of my life! So, be advised, it need not take a life of social celibacy to develop a first-rate junior program. Follow these tips and you will have a program that you will be proud of and one in which your community will want to take
Edge from Page 5 for me, as a teacher, to focus on one skill and to then incorporate that skill into an already learned or developing game. It has made it easier for me to plan and schedule lessons. It has made it easier for me to organize and put into operation successful camps and clinics. And it has made it easier for me to require homework that includes playing tennis. I believe that one of the purposes of USPTA's Continuing Education Program is to keep professionals updated on the latest developments, research and trends in sports science and teaching methodology. Dr. Holcomb's research at Johns Hopkins University is a good example. Look for more information through USPTA's many world-class Web sites and stay on the cutting edge of our great profession. For more information contact Fred Viancos, USPTA Director of Professional Development at viancos@uspta.org. Mahalo and Aloha!<sS*» Bibliography • Holcomb, Henry H., Shadmehr, Reza. "Neural correlates of motor memory consolidation. Science 277.5327 (August 8, 1997): 821-825. • Recer, Paul. "Brain takes 6 hours to encode new skills." Associated Press Release. The Honolulu Advertiser (Friday, August 8, 1997): A-8.
Our technical review committee will review submissions and if approved, they will be printed in ADDvantage magazine and the USPTA Web site. 0 Articles submitted to ADDvantage are forwarded with the name of the author removed to the USPTA Technical Review Committee for approval. 0 Authors must sign a release form for any work submitted to us. This form assures us that the article is your original work, that you have not released the article previously to any other publication and prevents you from releasing it for further publication for a period of six months from the date of the agreement. 0 Contributors will be given full credit for their submissions. 0 Please send good quality, in focus photos related to the topic, or diagrams if available. 0 Send articles to the attention of the Publications Coordinator at the USPTA World Headquarters or via e-mail to magazine@uspta.org. 0 ADDvantage magazine does not pay authors for their submissions.
ONE TOUGH PLAYER Just ask anyone who owns one.
1.800.776.6770 David W. Smith, USPTA, is head tennis pro at Green Valley Spa and Tennis Resort in St. George, Utah, and has been involved in tennis instruction for more than 25 years. He has had many articles published in magazines, newspapers and trade journals. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
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Wilson® proudly introduces the Hyper-Tek System™, part of the Wilson Tennis Spring 2OO1 Collection. The Hyper-Tek System™ is a Tek-ology based line of performance gear inspired by the super lightweight Hyper Carbon™ Space Flight technology used to construct Wilson® racquet products. This true innovation in sports apparel, combines advanced fabric tek-oiogy with the physical mechanics of racquet sports to create the lightest, softest, most comfortable and functional performance gear that science has given to the game.
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Intermediate/Advanced
Shoot-out
Georgia Professional Tennis Association's 2000 Drill Contest first-place winner by Brad Wolverton, USPTA
Purpose: To practice deep overheads and quick-reflex volleys; create a memorable, up-tempo contest for kids.
Description: 1. Split kids into two teams. 2. On offense, players will "shoot" four overheads and try to score between two cones in no-man's land, where a defensive player guards the goal by splitstepping and volleying away the overheads.
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3. Pro feeds from behind goal. 4. Each player must guard goal for one round.
Options: 1. Instead of overheads, have offensive team hit forehand and backhand volleys, moving cones up to net.
26
April 2001
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
5th Annual
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FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE IMPORTANT
Rolling Hills Country Club 15707 West 26th Ave. Golden, CO 80401 (303) 278-1130 • fax (303) 279-2165 josephthompson@usptapro.com www.josephthompson.usptapro.com united states professional tennis association
Printed with traditional red and blue colors. Wt. Ibs.
69.95
2
uspta
Director of Tennis, Master Professional
Enhance your image with USPTA personalized business cards, notecards and stationery.
500
Certified member ^^m
Joseph Thompson
Item/Quantity
250
Wt. Ibs.
Business Cards
59.95
1
Notecards & Envelopes
129.95
5
149.95
8
199.95
16
Stationery & Envelopes
139.95
7
169.95
13
229.95
26
Wt. Ibs.
Pkg. price
Wt. Ibs.
Package No. 1 500 Business Cards, 250 Notecards & Env., 250 Stationery & Env.
289.95
14
Package No. 2 1,000 Business Cards, 500 Notecards & Env., 500 Stationery & Env.
349.95
24
1,000
3
89.95
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(Print or type EXACTLY as you want print to appear on your items.)
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Send completed form to: (Allow 4-6 weeks for delivery) USPTA GIFT SHOPPE 3535 Briarpark Drive, Suite One, Houston, TX 77042 Tel (800) USPTA-4U (713) 97-USPTA (978-7782) Fax (713) 978-5096 proshop@uspta.org
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This order form and price list supersedes all previously listed prices, including those stated in the Gift Shoppe catalog. We will honor only the prices indicated. All orders must be in writing.
First impressions are import ant I Enhance your image with personalized USPTA business cards, stationery & note cards The business cards, stationery and envelopes are gold-foil embossed with the USPTA logo and imprinted with your name and address; the matching envelopes also are gold-foil embossed and imprinted with your name and address. USPTA uses high-quality, 24-pound, white linen paper and 80-pound matching card stock. Navy blue ink is used for imprinting stationery, note cards and matching envelopes. High-quality thermographic navy blue raised lettering is used for imprinting business cards.
SAVE MORE THAN 10 PERCENT WITH THESE SPECIAL PACKAGE OFFERS (No substitutions on packages) SPECIAL PACKAGE 1 $349 Includes:
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500 business cards, 250 sheets of stationery with envelopes and 25 second sheets, plus 100 note cards with envelopes.
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100
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SP901 Special package 1 ($349) 121bs. SP902 Special package 2 ($5 19) 21 Ibs. BC914 Business card N/A N/A SE912 Stationery* & envelopes $125 4 Ibs. NE912 Note cards' & envelopes $129 3 Ibs. * Includes 10 additional second sheets per
Includes:
1,000 business cards, 500 sheets of stationery with envelopes and 50 second sheets, plus 100 note cards with envelopes.
250
Ship wt.
500
Ship wt.
1,000 Ship wt.
$75 $190 $199 100
1 Ib. 7 Ibs. 51b.
$90 2 Ibs. $125 $280 13 Ibs $450 $289 8 Ibs. $459
Qty.
Total weight
Price
3 Ibs. 26 Ibs. 16 Ibs.
SUBTOTAL Houston (MTA) residents add 8.25% tax. Other Texas residents add 7.25% tax Shipping and handling (see rate chart) TOTAL PERSONALIZATION AND SHIPPING Print or type exactly as you want information to appear on your items. If shipping address differs, please include shipping information with this form. Name Title Club/business Address City, state, ZIP Phone ( Fax(_
SHIPPING CHARGES (check one) Contiguous 48 U.S. states - no charge Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico & Canada $14 for first Ib. and $1.50 for each additional Ib. Other Countries $20 for first Ib. and $6 for each additional Ib. Please allow four to six weeks for processing.
) _)
PLEASE NOTE All orders must be in writing. This order form supersedes all previously listed prices.
Make check or money order payable to USPTA, or charge my Q MasterCard Q Visa International orders must pay by MasterCard or Visa. Card No. Exp. Cardholder name Signature
Joseph Thompson Director of Tennis USPTA Master Professional
Phone USPTA Gift Shoppe 3535 Briarpark Drive, Suite One Houston, TX 77042 tel (713) 97-USPTA • fax (713) 978-5096 proshop@uspta.org • www.uspta.com
Rolling Hills Country Club 15707 West 26th Ave., Golden, CO 80401 (303) 278-1130 • fax (303) 279-2165 josephthompson@usptapro.com www.josephthompson.usptapro.com
Jl£)0vantag£ BACKBOARDS Rally Master Backboards. Lowest prices, 20-year warranty. Puncture, fade and crack proof. Quiet performance. Free brochure. Dealers wanted. (800) 609-9966.
BOOKS AND VIBEOS www.TennisExpress.com: biomechanics, mental tennis, movement/ footwork videos. Drill books, training products, ball machines, coaching manuals. FREE catalog. (800) 833-6615.
EMPLOYMENT TENNIS EMPLOYMENT and tennis news is now available from Bob Larson. For FREE one-month trial, send your name and "Free USPTA trial" to tennisnews@aol.com. WTS International requires qualified professionals for "seasoned" positions from May — September 2001. Please mail or fax resume to (301) 622-3373, and visit our Web site at www.wtsintl.com.
www.tennisjobs.com The Tennis Job Line is a tennis professional's employment service. It advertises tennis openings at country clubs, tennis clubs, resorts, public facilities, colleges and summer camps.
LIGHTING Court lighting at wholesale prices. Save big money with easy-to-install bulbs shipped directly to your courts. (800) 953-7737.
REAL ESTATE Piedmont, N.C., private tennis/ swim club. 8.5 acres prime residential area. Six clay courts, clubhouse, pavilion. 200+ families. $595,000. (336) 674-1194 or e-mail laurelwd@asheboro.com.
CLASSIFIEDS Private tennis/swim club for sale in the Southeast. Thirteen lighted tennis courts (clay and hard), two pools, 2,500-square-foot clubhouse. Appraised $1.1 million to $1.3 million. $850,000, financing 80 percent. Serious inquiries (717) 319-8707.
SOFTWARE AddVantage\burs Inc., a tennis software company, club management system. The Tennis Professional Management System (new for Spring 2001). Custom database programming. Call (914) 533-5189 or visit our Web site at wwwAddvantageyours.com.
VACATION OPPORTUNITIES Vacation Opportunities for Tennis Professionals! At the No. 1 allinclusive Sandals and Beaches resorts in Jamaica for you and your partner. Certification required. For information contact Mike Romisher (847) 207-9475, e-mail VislOsPro@aol.com. "WANTED! Tennis professionals and tennis coaches. The Professional Coaches Association offers numerous opportunities for tennis pros and coaches to participate in PCA Working Vacation Programs at exclusive resorts throughout the Caribbean. Join this long-running and successful program that so many professionals have enjoyed. For information, contact Mark Burns at (508) 945-8863. Rates: $30 for 20 words, minimum per issue. 50 cents per word thereafter. Pay by check, money order, Visa or MasterCard. Prepayment is required. Supply typed copy and include full name, telephone number, credit card number and expiration date. (No agency or cash discounts.) Issue closes 15th of month, two months preceding cover date. Fax to (713) 978-7780, attn: ADDi/antage classifieds. No classifieds will be accepted by telephone. No exceptions are made. USPTA cannot verify nor be responsible for the contents of any advertisement. It reserves the right to reject any advertisement at its discretion.
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[where ta surf B vallELj] www.teiiiiisweek.com Court Surface www.sportmaster.net Sources qfJDaily Tennis^News on theJWorldWide^iVeb CNN/SI Tennis: www.cnnsi.com/tennis ESPN Sportszone Tennis News: ESPN.SportsZone.com/ten FOX Sports Net: www.foxsports.com/tennis Nando's SportServer: www.sportserver.com Reuters Tennis News: www.sportsweb.com/Tennis/index.shtml Sportsline USA: www.sportsline.com/u/tennis/index.html Tennis Week: www.tennisweek.com Professional Tour News ATP: www.atptour.com Success Magazine Tour: www.championstour.com World TeamTennis: www.worldteamtennis.com WTA Tour: www.wtatour.com Tennis Organizations ITA: www.itatennis.com ITF: www.itftennis.com International Tennis Hall of Fame: www.tennisfame.org Tennis Industry Association: www.tennisindustry.org USPTA: www.uspta.com PTR: www.usptr.org USTA: www.usta.com USTA/Eastern-Metro (NYC): www.metrotennis.com Van der Meer: www.vandermeertennis.com Tennis Product Manufacturers Gamma: www.gammasports.com/index.html Head USA: www.headusa.com Nike: www.nike.com Penn: www.pennracquet.com Scor-Post: www.hierathproducts.com Wilson: www.wUsonsports.com/wUson/Tenms/tennismain.htrnl Tennis Tour Grand Slam Tennis Tours: www.tennistrips.com Tennis School Ferris State University: www.hello.to/FSUPTM Tyler Junior College: www.tjctennistech.com Tennis Shopping Holabird Sports: www.holabirdsports.com Tennis Direct: www.tennisdirect.com Awards NetRnacks Tennis Awards: www.tennisawards.com
Hotel The Roger Smith Hotel: www.rogersmith.com Australian Open: www.ausopen.org French Open: www.frenchopen.org U.S. Open: www.usopen.org Wimbledon: www.wimbledon.org USA Network: www.usanetwork.com (French & U.S. Opens) April 2001
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Career Development Conventions (5 credits)
May 17-20
New England Division
exams, upgrades & certification training courses (4 credits for CTC segment)
Stowe, Vt. Florida Division Naples, Fla. Pacific Northwest Division Walla Walla, Wash.
April 4-5
Merrick, N.Y.
April 7-8 April 7-8
Birmingham, Ala.
April 7-8 April 14-15 April 21-22
Aurora, III. Burbank, Calif. Pleasanton, Calif. Boca Raton, Fla.
Activities/meetings
April 22-23 April 28-29
V/2 credit and up)
April 28-29
Fayetteville, N.C. Nashville, Tenn.
Intermountain Division Highlands Ranch, Colo.
April 28-29
Big Rapids, Mich.
April 28-29
California Division City of Industry, Calif. Intermountain Division Denver
May 2-3 May 4-5 May 5-6 May 5-6 May 7-8 May 12-13 May 17-18 May 18-19 May 18-19 May 19-20 May 19-20 May 21-22
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Midwest Division Indianapolis, Ind.
Certification testing (3 credits)
K
May 19
Atlanta
Bradenton, Fla. Mandeville, La. St. Louis Evergreen, Colo. Fremont, Calif. Stowe, Vt. Laie, Hawaii Wilmington, Del. Conway, Ark. Burbank, Calif. Houston*
May 27-28 May 30-31
May 31June 1 June 2-3 June 3-4 June 7-8 June 8-9 June 9-10 June 9-10 June 9-10 June 17-18 June 14-15 June 14-15 June 16-17 June 17-18 June 22-23 June 23-24 June 23-24 June 25-26 July 7-8 July 14-15 July 14-15 July 14-15
Hilton Head Island, S.C. West Orange, N.J. Walla Walla, Wash. Rochester, Mich. Naples, Fla. Banksville, N.Y. Minneapolis Austin, Texas Ojai, Calif. Ormond Beach, Fla. La Jolla, Calif. Mesa, Ariz. Dixville Notch, N.H. Greensboro, N.C. Atlanta Columbia, Mo. Florence, S.C. Albany, N.Y. Houston* Fort Wayne, Ind. Birmingham, Ala. Flushing, N.Y. Fountain Valley, Calif.
Englewood, Colo. * This course is held at the USPTA World Headquarters.
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For more information, call the USRSA at (858) 481-3545.
Exam reservations must be made at least 21 days prior to the dates listed. Each date includes an exam, upgrade and CTC unless noted. Exam cancellations must be received no later than 14 days before the exam, or a cancellation fee will be charged accordingly. Affiliate 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. Registration for another exam will not be accepted until cancellation fees are paid.
certification testing
specialist program
(3 credits) June 7
Boulder, Colo.
June 21
Boston
Aug. 9
Cincinnati
Nov. 17
Dallas
Date/location
Deadline
Aug. 16-22/Southern California
May 15
Nov. 12-18/New York
Aug. 15
Applications are available by contacting the USPTA Education Department or education@uspta.org. ' CPD - Gained through the USA Tennis High Performance Coaching Program administered by USA Tennis Coaching Education Department.
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
April 2001
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Members
Associations
USPTA Pro 1 Ed Freeman received the 2000 Eastern Division Tex Schwab Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2001 Freeman Eastern Tennis Seminar in January. He has coached six players who have turned pro, including his son, Marcel Freeman. Freeman currently is a tennis pro and owns Ed Freeman's Tennis Academy in Long Island, N.Y. Gary Grawe, USPTA, has been named adult program coordinator for IMG/Bollettieri Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Grawe will coordinate and develop new adult programs at the academy. He was formerly the head pro and program development coordinator at Seabrook Island, S.C.
The USRSA announces a new team of MRT Stringing Instructors to replace the previous stringing workshops that have been offered. With more than 80 locations in 28 states and four countries, the new team will provide easy access to stringing lessons for many people in the United States and abroad.
complement the company's current line of racquets. The Intelligence Series collection is available in a light gray and charcoal color combination and ranges in price from $40 to $90. The collection is currently available at tennis specialty and sporting goods stores.
Manufacturers NetKnacks Tennis Awards has released its 2001 product line. NetKnacks has a 100 percent satisfaction product guarantee, quick turnaround time and free engraving. For more information, call (800) 374-6153 for a free catalog or visit www.tennisawards.com. Head/Penn Racquet Sports has updated its sports luggage collection to
USTA The USTA and Express Tennis announced that the IGA Tennis Classic Championships in Oklahoma City will now be renamed the IGA U.S. Women's Indoors.
Miscellany
USPTA member Sylvia, Swartz (far right), at the 2000 Massachusetts Special Olympics last June, was honored as Eastern Professional of the Year by USPTA New England Division. Swartz was honored for her dedication and lengthy service to Handi-Racket Tennis, the longest running instructional tennis program for handicapped people in New England, and her work with the Special Olympics. 32
April 2001
Jack Kramer, USPTA, and Wilson Racquet Sports have agreed to donate $20,000 of equipment to organizations supporting youth tennis as a result of sales from the Jack Kramer Autograph racquet. Youth racquets, peeWee teaching equipment, Tennis Carnival equipment and other teaching aids and tennis balls will be donated to several community programs such as Youth Tennis San Diego, Kern County (Calif.) Community Tennis Association, and Orange County
Community Tennis Association in California. The RCA Championships have partnered with Circle Centre, the Hampton Inn and the Westin Hotel to create an exciting package aimed at sports fans, tennis enthusiasts and event-goers. Both adult and youth groups can take advantage of an attractively-priced day trip or overnight outing to the 2001 RCA Championships tennis tournament to be held Aug. 11 19 in Indianapolis. Prices range from $25 to $140 and are available to any group of 40 or more. Season tickets for the championships benefit the Riley Hospital for Children. For more information, call (317) 6324100 or (800) 622-LOVE, or visit the RCA Championships Web site at www.rcatennis.com. Philadelphia-based RHB Ventures, which manages the Champion Tour senior men's tennis circuit, and Quintus Group of London have merged to form Quintus Incorporated. The Tennis Network (TTN), a broadband television network that features live and recorded tennis tournaments, events, instruction and news, has reached a milestone, signing its 100th club to an exclusive contract to receive the network's 24hour broadcast. Mid-Town Tennis Club, the flagship facility of the Chicagobased Tennis Corporation of America, was the 100th club. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
For the first time at the Eastern Tennis Seminar, the USPTA Multicultural Committee and the USTA Multicultural Participation Committee met to exchange ideas and discuss possibilities for collaboration. By working together, the committees realized they can better achieve their common goal of ensuring that anyone who wants to play tennis is treated equally and given equal opportunity to advance. The January meeting of these two committees produced several positive results: The MCC received important feedback about the structure of its committee and began identifying steps to address the issues; the MPC agreed to use MCC professionals as instructors for their youth programs, when possible; and, the two committees agreed to continue the dialogue through conference calls and other forms of information sharing. Finally, members of the two committees adopted the following common charge: If we proceed with our objectives and exceed expectations we will only succeed. For more information or to get involved in the MCC, e-mail Ron Dyson at: RdysonO! @rochester. rr.com.
Joe Thompson, USPTA president (left), with David Dinkins, former mayor of New York City and USTA board member, at the Eastern Division Tennis Seminar in Stamford, Conn., in January.
2000 Texas Division High School Coach of the Year Thinus Verdoes College Coach of the Year Ann Nealon
High School Coach of the Year Dale Eshelbrenner Kansas Pro of the Year Rex Coad
Professional of the Year Tommy Connell
Male Player of the Year Alex Dias
Open Men's Player of the Year Guillaume Gauthier
Female Player of the Year Abbi Neuthaler
Open Women's Player of the Year Julie Cass
Senior Female Player of the Year Shizue Iwai
Senior Women's Player of the Year Sue Bramlette
Media of the Year Tennis Talk on the Web Kirk Moritz and Bob Litwin
Senior Men's Player of the Year Jim Parker
Male Player of the Year Darin Weidenheimer
The Charlie McCleary Community Service Award Kevin Foster
35-and-over Player of the Year Paul Smith David Bryant
Tex Schwab Lifetime Achievement Award Ed Freeman Professional of the Year Daniel Burgess .. -
www. ADDvantageUSPTA.com
College Coach of the Year Jim Giachino
Senior Male Player of the Year Bob Litwin
George Bacso Major Contributor Award Steve Diamond Steve Pekich John Bregin Bunny Bruning Earl "Butch" Bucholz Sr. Rich Halpine Don Klotz Colin Robertson
Greg Patton, USPTA, was the keynote speaker and David T. Porter Ed.D., USPTA national vice president, presented a specialty course at the annual Texas Tennis Awards Banquet in February.
â&#x20AC;˘ issouri Valley
The USTA Development Coach of the Year Todd Taylor
Oklahoma Pro of the Year David Bryant Missouri Pro of the Year Ken Veney Nebraska Pro of the Year Jim Jensen Assistant Pro the Year John Glover
Facility of the Year Millennium Tennis and Fitness Club
Texas Division Coach of the Year Chris Bovett
Facility Manager of the Year Russell Warner Philcrest Hills Tennis Club
The Texas Proud Award David Davis
MVPTA Pro of the Year Jeff Hawes April 2001
33
all writers Writing for ADDvantage magazine offers USPTA members numerous benefits. They can share knowledge from their field of expertise, such as coaching, pro shop management, sport science and club management. Having an article published can enhance a pro's career or add to a resume. Also, being published in ADDvantage isworth 25 points toward USPTA Master Professional certification (a maximum of 50 is allowed).
affordable tennis training tool
0 Articles should be approximately 2,000 words long.
that provides
0 Article should cover some aspect of a teaching professional's job.
realistic repetitive practice against
0 Articles must be typed in a narrative form. The article should not be an outline or written as notes.
any serve or shot in the game.
0 Contributions will be edited for magazine format and focus, and a copy will be sent to the author to review.
Ball release point can be instantly elevated from
0 Please send good quality, in focus photos related to the topic, if available.
ground strokes to realistic serving heights delivering
IZI Articles submitted to ADDvantage are forwarded with the name of the author removed to the USPTA Technical Review Committee for approval.
left or right handed serves and second serves with authentic high kicks.
0 Authors must sign a release form for any work submitted to us. This form assures us that the article is your original work, that you have not released the article previously to any other publication and prevents you from releasing it for further publication for a period of six months from the date of the agreement. 0
Ball release point can be instantly lowered from serving heights for all ground strokes including volleys, forehands, backhands and lobs.
Please include a brief biography and a black and white photo (bust shot).
0 Send articles to the attention of the Publications Coordinator at* the USPTA World Headquarters or via e-mail to magazine@uspta.org. 0 ADDvantage magazine does not pay authors for their articles.
34
April 2001
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