Addvantage 2002 January

content the total prof

on I - enh nc n

your career

7 Ask the professor - Benefit from pre-performance rituals -by jack Groppel Ph.D. - Discover how pre-performance rituals can help prepare you for business.

departm nt 3 President's message

5 CEO's message 8 USPTA mailbox

18 Customer service begins at home - Managing your employees for increased customer loyalty by jill Fonte - Happiness in the workplace is the key to providing great customer servzce.

9 Pro to pro 25 USPTA drill 28 Classifieds 29 Career development

22 Laser grading: What time and technology have taught us about Har-Tru court maintenance and construction - by Pat Hanssen, USPTA -Find out how laser lifts can

30 Industry action

improve court playability, decrease maintenance costs and prolong court life.

ne 2

2

Online buying available to pro shops - Bolle, Babolat open first shops on Virtual T~nnis Show™

Uspt~ USPTA Florida ~~ T ~

Division 2001 USA Tennis Florida Member Organization of the Year

4 2002 Wilson/USPTA equipment program

~

4 The Super Show®/20-02 16 USPTA marks two special anniversaries in 2002

On the cover . . . USPTA celebrates its 75'h anniversary this year.

SP ADDvantage magazine editorial offices USPTA World Headquarters 3535 Briarpark Drive, Su ite One Houston, TX 77042 Phone - (713) 978-7782 (800) USPTA-4U Fox - (713) 978-7780 e-ma il - mogazine@ uspto .org www.ADDvantage USPTA.com

~.com Ed itor Showna Riley Manag ing ed itor Julie Myers Kimberly Forrester Assistant managing ed itor Circulation Kathy Buchanon Advertising John Detter Office hours : 8 :30a .m.- 5 p.m . Central time

ADDvantage is published monthly by the United States Professional Tenn is Associ ation .

m

•

1

The opin ions expressed in ADDvantage ore those of the authors and not necessarily those of ADDvantage or the USPTA. Copyright© United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc. 2002 . All rights reserved .

Reproduction of any portion of the magazine is not permitted without written permission from US PTA. ADDvantage/ Janua ry 2002

1

Online buying available to pro shops Bolli,. Babolat open first shops on Virtual Tennis Show™

W

hen you're open to buy, is the company you want to buy from open for business?

Phoning in orders works if you can match schedules with customer service.

Otherwise, after-hours faxing has been the way to go.

The Internet, though, is always open.

And the technology behind online buying can provide freedom, convenience and efficiency.

However, jumping. from one manufacturer business-to-business Web site to another, and learning all the idiosyncrasies of each, isn't necessarily the most efficient B-to-B exchange. Tennis Industry magazine said, "The ultimate situation would be an industry-wide version (B-to-B) ... that includes products from all manufacturers."

That's what USPTA has developed in the Virtual Tennis Show at www.virtualtennisshow.com. VTS is modeled after US PTA's successful International

Tennis Buying Show. Anyone who buys for a pro or specialty shop may register and have access to the prod ucts of every manufacturer on the site - one location, one easy ordering system to learn.

Order using an existing account or set up a new one, and receive a confirmation of your orders from each manufacturer on one summary statement. Orders are forwarded electronically to the manufacturer, where the transactions are completed.

Bolle products, as well as other Bushnell optics and Serengeti sunglasses - all endorsed by USPTA - may be viewed, selected by frame and lens color and ordered for your shop via VTS. Babolat strings and accessories are just a few more clicks of the mouse away in the virtual shop next door.

Manufacturer discount programs also are available.

For more information or assistance, please call the USPTA Marketing Department at (800) 877-8248 or (713) 978-7782. ~

Shopping t he Virtual Tennis Show \\),,u to rio': \'i~it \\\\"\\.\ irtualtL'Illli~~~l<l\\.ltllll c:lid.: Oil "\LlnllhLtllrLT\ & [)L·akr\ tt:q \'TS" li1r a trial ()I] tilL' kli lllL'Illl. Llick Oil "[ )L·,dn Sign L1p" RL-;Jd ti1L· tt:rnh and L(}lldirion~. click "[ aLLL·pt tLTill~ ;md Londition\" CompktL· thL· inlimlLJtion ahout :·our hu~inL·~~- i nduding kdnal ta\ l l) St:kcr \·our pa\\\HJrd

L1SPT:\ ''ill \L-ril\ tht: kgirimatL·

hu~i­

nc~~- thL·n sL·nd an t:-;nail to,thL· huH-r admitting him or hLT to \TS. Shops arc automaricall: rL·giqnnllill· hnd-;1-·l~nni~ Shop. "·hnL· comumns \\ill ht: dircctnl to hu\ tL·nnis-rL·LHcd lllLTLhandi-,L·.

• N.ctt~iil'n onlr

t!l'l' pcr111ittcrl to IJII.l' tlml/lgf, \ '/\. /1 <'llli.'iilllt'l' 11/llrllllt· to I'll'//' llli'l'l.;,tlllrlisc tlllrlfliir/ l'l'tt!ilcr.' i.< t!l't!l/,d;/c thm11gh tf,c \ 'l S ho111c j>tlgc.

USPTA Florida Division 2001 USA Tennis Florida Member Organization of the Year

T

he USPTA Florida Division was honored as the 200 1 USA Tennis Florida Member Organization of the Year during the USA Tennis Florida 52nd Annual Awards Banquet held at the Adam's Mark Hotel & Resort in Daytona Beach, Fla. This award recognizes exceptional service to the tennis community and to its members through junior and adult programs.

USPTA Florida Division is proud to be recognized for the involvement of its members in a wide range of programs and events in support of USA Tennis Florida.

The tremendous number ofUSPTA professionals participating shows the level of commitment and continued spirit of cooperation between the two associations.

USPTA Florida members provide service to the tennis community thro ugh provisions of courts to the general public for seminars, free clinics and programs, such as USA Tennis Free for All, as well as vol-

2

ADDvantage/ January 2002

USPTA Florida Division members attending the 52"d USA Tennis Florida Annual Meeting celebrate recognition as USA Tennis Florida Member Organization ofthe Year. The award presented by Doug Booth, USPTA, executive director of USA Tennis Florida, was accepted on behalfofthe division by Frank Swope, USPTA, Florida Division president and Pat Anderson, USPTA, Florida Division executive administrator.

unteer support for USA Tennis on the Move, Smash Tennis by Cartoon Network and the Girl Scouts. The division also participates in the promotion of USTA tournaments, leagues and player develop-

ment and the support of multicultural programs. USPTA members also are active through volunteer support and service on numerous USA Tennis Florida councils and committees. ~ www.AD DvantageUSPTA.com

NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS President First Vice Presiden t Vice Presidents

S

ince I've been president, I've felt an obligation to provide you with a "Stare of USPTA'' message at least once a year.

ADDvantage magazine gives me the opportunity to communicate this message to all members.

First, the state of US PTA is great!

I want to thank all of you for electing me to serve as your president for another two years. I will continue to do whatever it rakes to both represent you, the member, and rhe USPTA. I'm excited to announce this year's national Board of Directors, including their positions and responsibilities. They include:

• Ron WOods, vice president sports marketing and multicultural liaison

• Harry Gilbert, vice president conventions, tournaments and rankings

•

Tom Daglis, vice president public relations

• Randy Mattingley, vice president awards, budget and finance

• Paula Scheb, secretary-treasurer member communications, guidelines for divisional operations and WTA Tour liaison

•

Will Hoag, immediate past presidentethics, archives and hall offame

These members are some of the hardest working volunteers this association has ever had, and I'm proud to serve with them on your national board.

USPTA has more than 12,500 members and is financially stable. We continue to grow stronger as both a powerful delivery system for the tennis industry and as a trade association that provides valuable member services.

The following represents some of USPTA's Important accomplishments and programs: Renewal of Bolle agreement- This agreement, which is in effect through December 2004, now includes Serengeti high-end sunglasses, Bushnell optic products and CIBA sports contact lenses, in addition to Bolle's full line of sunglasses and tennis-specific Competivision lenses.

TM

IN'NW.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Ron Woods Harry Gilbert TomDaglis Randy Mattingley

Your board, divisional leaders and national staff will continue to offer outstanding programs and services to all members.

Joe Thompson

• David T. Porter, Ed.D., first vice president education, testing and long-range planning

Joseph Thompson David T. Porter, Ed .D.

Category II tournaments - USPTA continues to work closely with USTA's Adult and Senior Competition Committee, and is the major sponsor of USTA's Category II tournaments. These tournaments, along with our International Championships at the USPTA World Conference, give our members numerous additional opportunities to earn rankings. Also, we will host Category II tournament director training at September's World Conference in Las Vegas.

Professional development- US PTA provides more continuing education opportunities each year to ensure that its members are the most qualified and to give tennis reachers the necessary tools to succeed in a changing industry. New specialty courses will be developed to enhance our specialist categories, which allow members to specialize in various areas. Distance learning allows members to use the Internet to gain knowledge without leaving home.

We provide written and audio resources now and will be featuring more education through CD, DVD, and video.

Paula Scheb

Secretary-treasurer Past President

Will Haag

WORLD HEADQUARTERS Tim Heckler

CEO Director of Operations

Rich Fanning Marty Bostrom

Executive Assistant Director of Communications

Shawna Riley

Creative Services Director

J ulie Myers

Director of Public Relations

Diane Richbourg

Director of Marketing

John Dettor

.Sports Marketing Coordinator

Scott Bucic

Publicat ions Coordinator

Kimberly Forrester Jill Kite

Communications/ Divisional Liaison Multimedia

Andres Ballesteros

Director of Fred Viancos Professional Development Educational Ad ministrator

Donna Simeon

Corporate Janice Stollenwerck Services Ad ministrator Receptionist

Pamela Lowstetter

Computer Services/ Kathy Buchanan Club Relations Computer Services/ Data En try Divisional Executive Ad ministrator

Sylvia Ortiz Yvonne Hung

Membership and Vicky Tristan Certification Coordinator Membership Assistant

Danielle Mead

Membership Assistant

Gloria Myddleton

Payroll/Benefits Controller

Renee Heckler Wanda Lindamood

Insurance/ Ellen Weatherford Merchandise Services Insurance Services

Norma Martin

Merchandise Services Charlene Davis

LEGAL COUNSEL

Developmental Coach category - US PTA initiated a membership category for parr-time and noncareer path tennis teachers as a means of providing education and certification to this group.

Promotion of USPTA and its members - Publicizing the high standards and quality of USPTA professionals will remain a priority. Just a few highlights include: continued next page

Attorney-a t-law

Paul Waldman

For information, write the USPTA World Headquarters 3535 Briorpork Drive, Suite One Houston, TX 7704 2 Phone (713) 97-USPTA (800) USPTA-4U Fox {713) 978-7780 e-mail - uspto@uspto.org Internet - www.uspto.com Office hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m .

Central time

ADDvantage/ January 2002

3

from previous page • •

•

U.S. Open TV coverage through USPTA commercials that aired on USA Network USPTA Little Tennis® clinics held in cooperation with Lincoln at its ·Innovations building at the U.S. Open site Coverage in Tennis week, CMAA's The Board Room magazine and Tennis Industry Relationship between US PTA pros and Siebel Open, ATP event in northern California Lessons for Life fund-raising efforts for cancer

Divisional conventions - Each year, our members get the chance to visit some of the best resorts and tennis facilities while attending their annual USPTA divisional conventions. Some of this year's locations include Rancho Solano in Fairfield, Calif. (Northern California Division), Marriott at Sawgrass in Ponte Verde Beach, Fla. (Florida and Southern divisions), Renaissance Worthington in Fort Worth, Texas, (Texas Division), the Mesa Country Club in Phoenix (Southwest Division), and Denver's Greenwood Athletic Club (Intermountain Division).

As you can see, the state of the USPTA is sound. Your board, divisional leaders and national staff will continue to offer outstanding programs and services to all members.

Although the horrific events of Sept. 11 resulted in the cancellation of our annual World Conference in 2001, we hope to make up for it at this year's conference at Bally's Las Vegas.

Let us all lift our heads high for our country and continue to make the USPTA the best tennis-teaching association in the world. '§)<>

2002 Wilson/USPTA equipment program Wilson eqlllpltH'Itl co1ttmct~; for /002 will b<' m;tiled Dec. 10.

Please allow two to three WP<+s fo1 delivery.

If you have not I< ~C!'Ivud the coltllitct by Jan. 4. please contact Wilson Racquet Sports by fax <1! (773) 714 -4 581 or by e-mail to TBeyer@wilso1tspmts.net . Your lnt~~;sage should 11ld1cate that you have not receiv<~d your contr<tct <Htd include your name, mailing address and USPTA 111embe1 IHunbcr. AnotiH~r contract will be mailed to you .

The deadline to r<'llll 11 col t!I .JCh to Wilson IS Jan. 31 . Late contracts may not be IJrucessed .

The Super Show®/20-02 The Super Show/ 20-02 will be held Jan . 21-23, 2002, at the Sands Expo Center/Venetian Convention Complex in Las Vegas, where more than 2,500 companies in 300 product categories will exhibit their goods and services.

The show is open to buyers who purchase admission for $50 each.

The Super Show, owned by the Sporting Good Manufacturers Association, is in Las Vegas for the second consecutive year. It will move to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla ., in 2004.

More information about The Super Show is available at www.thesupershow.com or (800) 327-3736.

Durability, Dependability, Quality

SINCE 1973 1.800. 776.6770 matetennismachines.com 4

ADDvantage/ January 2002

wwvv.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

~E9's

message- - - - - - -

Cartoon Netvvork Tennis Club perfect fit for USPTA Little Tennis®

S

cooby-Do?, that loveable, oversized brown hound, will now be enticing children to try, learn and play tennis in the industry's newest marketing campaign. Cartoon Network Tennis Club, a promotional package offered through the Tennis Industry Association, is designed to help teaching professionals and facilities market tennis to beginner children. · The Cartoon Network Tennis Club is not another program that competes with existing tennis activities. It is a promotional tool that supports and enhances everyone's programs.

USPTA is excited about this latest marketing campaign because it targets young kids who can benefit most from USPTA Little Tennis. USPTA has always supported the new player pathway- try, learn, play, compete. This promotional package allows Little Tennis to serve as the try and learn segment of the pathway, after which professionals can move their students into the play and compete portion of the pathway through USA Team Tennis and USA League Tennis.

To demonstrate US PTA's support of the Cartoon Network Tennis Club, the Association will purchase a significant number of promotional kits to distribute free (except for small shipping charges) to USPTApros.

The promo packages will cost USPTA $49 each, so why would we buy them and then give them away?

USPTA is doing this because we believe this promotion supports T-E-N-N-I-S through a framework that will allow all organizations and individuals to grow the game in their own way.

The promotional value USPTA and its members receive from this· effort will also carry over into the other two pathway phases - play and compete. If USPTA programs are given the opportunity to develop the try and learn phases of tennis, it seems only natural that we would support USA Team Tennis and USA League Tennis as the play and compete portions of the pathway. These programs will ensure continued player participation, and will promote continued growth of the tennis business.

The most important step in attracting children to our sport starts with introductory and beginner programs like Little Tennis. These programs will benefit from promotional materials created by the Cartoon N etwork that target kids through a medium with www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

which they are most familiar -TV cartoon characters like Scooby, Johnny Bravo, Dexter, and Tom and Jerry.

The promotional kits and value-added merchandise packages that are part of the Tennis Club include: • A life-size standup figure of Scooby-Doo, with an advertising window for program information Cartoon Network posters and fliers • Youth tennis racquet with Cartoon Network logo cover Practice ball •

Club T-shirt

• Tennis activity guide Not. only do facilities get the promotional power of the Cartoon Network, but also they can entice kids into their tennis programs with the kind of"free stuff" that other sports promotions do. The promotional kit materials will also provide space for personalizing program information specific to you and your facilities.

The merchandi~e package allows you to offer kids signing up for your programs "cool" Cartoon Network licensed merchandise.

Although US PTA and its professionals know what they need to attract and sustain active tennis players, we haven't always had the means to stage a national marketing campaign that will draw participants into USPTA programs and generate excitement for new players. This promotional package and merchandise kit supplies this, and it can be used in a multitude of ways to market your facility, your programs and your skills as a tennis teacher.

For example, a club can begin this spring by using the Cartoon Network Tennis Club to promote a free children's tennis lesson through Tennis Across America™. Use the free lesson to introduce tennis and the beginner tennis skills you will cover through your more extensive Little Tennis lesson series in the late spring or summer. Then, you can move students into USA Team Tennis programs in the fall.

Try

US PTA's Tennis Across American~

Tim Heckler

F==~

Learn

Play

US PTA's Little Tennis•

USA Team Tennis

Compete

USA League Tennis

continued next page ADDvantage/ January 2002

5

from previous page By using Tennis Across America, you can encourage children (and perhaps their parents) to "try" tennis. And, by following up your free lesson with a promotion abouryour Little Tennis program, you can invite them to return to your facility to actually "learn" the skills necessary to remain tennis players for life!

The beauty of this program is that it will allow USPTA pros to use professionally produced promotional materials to promote their very own programs, and one would be hardpressed to conceive of another marketing tool that would more easily amact children than Scooby and the rest of his cartoon pals. Children and parents will be naturally drawn to the colorful posters and characters and your facility will see an increase in tennis as well as other activities as a result.

The promotional program will kick off this month, and USPTA will be ordering its packages for distribution to those members who meet specific qualifications. The following requirements will ensure that each free kit will be used in a way that most effectively promotes USPTA and the individual professionals who use it.

Recipients offree Cartoon Network Ten-

USPTA pros are the delivery system for tennis and we know better than anyone how to introduce the game and teach children, adults, beginners and advanced players how to best enjoy the sport of a lifetime. nis Club promotional kits from USPTA must: • Agree to run a Little Tennis program •

Send USPTA national the names and data on program participants

•

Pledge a predetermined number of program participants will sign up and complete the program

Other reasonable requirements may be added since we will be learning as we go in this new industry venture. Kits will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis once an application procedure is officially announced.

We will be providing additional information on how you can apply to receive a free promotional package from USPTA for the cost of shipping only. We will place this information on our main Web site and in

the next issue of ADDvantage magazine.

If you do not qualify for one of USPTA's free packages, you can purchase your own or additional ones by calling (866) TENNIS-6, or reviewing the ad on Page 24.

We're really excited about this tennis promotion, and we hope everyone in tennis will get behind this effort to attract children to our sport. USPTA pros are the delivery system for tennis and we know better than anyone how to introduce the game and teach children, adults, beginners and advanced players how to best enjoy the sport of a lifetime. The Cartoon Network Tennis Club promotional kit will help us make it more

fun fur

m;;~fa

y -~

~TENNIS

.MAKER

~TUTOR

-~

by SPORTS TUTOR #1 Selling Ball Machines WoPidwide

• Programmable • 300 ball capacity

from

$699

Portable w/Spin

r------,

TEIIIIII TITII #1 portable

1 USPTA 1 IL.DISCOUNTS ______ .JI

from

$2,800

800-448-8867 FREE

brochure www.sportstutor. com

Sports Tutor, 3300 Winona Ave., Burbank, CA 91504, fax : 818-972-9651

6

ADDvan tage/January 2002

www.ADDvantageUSPTA. com

Benefit from pre•performance rituals

Q

- Does this relate to a businessperson? This answer: Yes, it is critically important!

Has the following situation ever happened to you? Youre on the phone dealing with an important matter but there is an equally important customer waiting in your lobby to have a serious meeting with you. You complete the call and immediately fly out ofyour office to swer: For years scigreet and meet your client. On the entists have studied surface, this seems harmless, but pre-performance ritulet me pose this question: If you als in sport to understand the took a few seconds and completwhys and haws of great athletes. ed a short pre-performance ritual In our sport, Dr. Jim Loehr was to get yourself in the right emothe first to really tie together the tional and mental state, would role of rituals in players' pre-servyou or would you not respond ing outines. While examining better to that client who is waithow the best tennis players reing for you? Of course, you sponded to a point, win or lose, would! Anything that could enLoehr was able to dissect four able you to perform at a higher level would be an asset - and it only takes seconds to do.

So, what constitutes a preperformance ritual in your office? Let's go back to sport first.

Research has uncovered that the greatest athletes have incredible rituals before they perform a selfpaced activity like serving a tennis ball, shooting a free throw or putting a golf ball. And the better the athlete, often the more specific and structured the ritual. For example, let's say we record Agassi or Hingis early in a match and then later in the match to investigate the consistency of their pre-serving rituals. From the time one of these j ack Groppel Ph.D. , USPTA Master Professional great players toes the baseline to is the executive vice president ofLGE Performance serve until the serve is completSystems. He is an instruction editor for Tennis magazine, ed, what do you think the difand is the author of" High-Tech Tennis" and 'The ference is for this ritual early in Corporate Athlete. "Information can be found at the match vs. late in the match? www. mentallytough. com. uestion: I am aware of how important pre-serving rituals are for tennis players, but I have also heard that a businessperson such as myself, running an indoor center, could benefit from rituals like these. Would you please respond to this?

A

www.ADDvantageUSPTA. com

distinctly separate but related phases between points- positive physical response, relaxation, preparation and rituals. The positive physical response in effect clears your mental computer of any clutter (e.g., thinking about an easy shot you just missed).

The relaxation phase brings the heart rate down and gets breathing in control; in essence, to settle you down. The preparation phase is to plan ahead - what specifically are you going to do?

And then comes the ritual phase; that time when, in only a few seconds, the body and mind get in total synchrony. There is an internal state of rhythm and readiness that says, «What I am preparing to do is important."

Now, to your specific question ·

The answer: Very little, if any.

Let's assume that one of these players bounces the ball twice before the first serve and once before the second serve, there will be absolutely no change in this ritual throughout the match.

In fact , the timing of each bounce during a serve early in the match vs. late in the match is within hundredths of seconds relative to its spot in the ritual.

It becomes extremely specific and very structured.

This relates to you as a businessperson in much the same way. In preparing for a big meeting, you can have rituals that stem from four basic areas physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. The following are just a few things that great businesspeople might momentarily do to prepare themselves for important office matters: Going over your game plan for the meeting, stretching, reflecting on what you want to achieve, and connecting what you are preparing to do with a strong personal mission. But, whatever you choose for your pre-performance ritual, it must become consistent and automatic so you naturally repeat it before every big event.

In summary, the state of internal rhythm and readiness that an athlete achieves through specific and structured rituals can also be realized by a business professional. You would never see a great tennis player step up to the baseline, get the balls from the ball person and serve the ball as soon as he/she touches it. This, like many other lessons from our great game, can be a true asset in our professional lives as well. '§)<> ADDvantage/ January 2002

7

USPTA mailbox Positive publicity Dear USPTA, I just read the article, "Your members, your tennis pro, the USPTA and you, "published in the August 2001 issue of Club Management magazine.

I am very impressed and excited! That is a very positive piece¡ of publicity for USPTA pros, although I don't know how many of them will ever see it. To be able to put our organization in such positive light in front of club managers across the country and worldwide is a real coup. I know at the Executive Committee meeting last spring there was a goal to get the organization more publicity where it counts, and in my opinion, this is right where it counts.

My thanks and congratulations to you and whoever helped make it happen!

Sincerely, Pat Hanssen, USPTA Charlottesville, Va.

Board of Directors election e-mail Dear USPTA, The Board of Directors election e-mail is a dynamic, but simple, way to get the word out to all USPTA members. In this computer age it is vital that USPTA membership be computer literate, and what better way to reward those who are, than for USPTA to write out a simple plan of action and reach the entire computer literate USPTA membership.

Sincerely, Chad Oxendine, USPTA Charlotte, N.C.

Dear ADDvantage, My compliments for Tom Daglis' article Quly 2001), The 10 tennis commandments for the tennis professionaL In a straightforward and unabashed style, Tom has hit on the pitfalls of many tennis professionals. Lest anyone diminish the importance of any one of the 10 commandments listed, I have seen the breaking of each cost pros their jobs. From my 36 years in the tennis business, I can put a name next to each commandment for whom the breaking lost his or her job.

Well done Tom, Ken McAllister, USPTA Austin, Texas Dear ADDvantage, Mr. Daglis has made many fme points in his 10 commandments article. I must, however, take exception to No. 4, "Thou shalt not covet your member's car. " The USPTA continues to work very hard to improve the credibility of our profession. I believe that the message this "commandment" wrongly conveys is that we are still "just tennis pros. " Where exactly is the tennis pro placed on the social ladder? What other lifestyle decisions must we be concerned about so that we don't offend the members? Our house or major appliances?

I have been teaching for 39 years and have worked hard for my success. I would feel that I was in the wrong business (or club) if I was unable to freely enjoy the spoils of my labor.

Sincerely, Roger Junge, USPTA Winnetka, Ill. Dear Tim: I am just getting on an airplane to go to Mauritius, and saw your article on tennis role models and thought you did a ter-

8

ADDvantage/ January 2002

rific job. Anyone who is fortunate enough to be a part of the era 25-30 years ago, realizes that not only tennis, but also sport has changed so dramatically. However, not many people who got to play in the '60s and '70s would have traded that experience for anything. Overall, just a really nice article. Thanks.

Kind regards, Peter Burwash, USPTA Carmel, Calif.

Dear ADDvantage, I wanted to write and say thank you so much for the wonderful article that you wrote about my Little Tennis program in Tokyo, "Little Tennis Tokyo Style," (February 2001). It makes us very proud to be acknowledged by our peers and gives us a feeling that we are moving in the right direction.

Yours for lifelong tennis, Allen Krissman, USPTA Tokyo, Japan Dear USPTA: Congratulations to all of you at the national office who recently helped ADDvantage magazine win its sixth Apex Award of Excellence for publication.

ADDvantage is a first-rate magazine, which as a USPTA professional, I am always proud to see how good it looks each month.

To me, six awards since 1996 is a pretty good investment and anyone who takes the time to get something published in ADDvantage has made another good investment in his or her career. This is our magazine and we should be proud of it.

Nice work!

Mitch Adler, USPTA Vuginia Beach, Va. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Pro to pro teaching tips and techniques from USPTA members

Overhead dread or smash bash "Deep thoughts for deep overheads" Since deep lobs make it more difficult to put the ball away on overheads, many players often shy away from hitting them .

Understanding the limitations as you move away from the net can help determine where and how the ball should be played.

Two main reasons the deep lobs are harder to put away: 1. As you move away from the net, you have less angle with which to put the ball "off the court. " 2. As you move away from the net, you have to use a higher trajectory of net clearance to compensate for the distance given up.

Instead of trying to go for the short angle near the side of the court, think about your limitations as you start to move backward for an overhead and play it higher and deeper near the baseline, with less of an angle. Use the deep overheads to "set up" your next shot by giving yourself plenty of net clearance and time to recover for it. Just be ready if the result of moving your opponent backward results in the short ball you 've really been "thinking" about.

rallying with and then increase your height over the net.

Pretend there is an imaginary net on top of the real one and that you must clear both. If your ball goes through the imaginary net, notice where it lands in the court and make an adjustment on the next ball if necessary. One of the most positive side effects of this strategy is that you should now rarely ever miss in the net. The balls will land deeper in the court too.

So remember, don't necessarily think you have to hit the ball harder for depth - only higher.

Return to sender When both players should play back while returning in doubles.

Breaking serve in doubles comes down to one major factormaking returns. Too often, players either go for too much or try too hard to keep the ball away from their opponent at the net - causing one error after another. String a few of these together and one or both partners may feel like "mailing it in."

When this starts to happen or you see a negative trend in returning, back your partner up near the baseline instead of having them up near the net. With your partner back, the court is now open to return not only crosscourt, but also to the middle and down the line. Since your partner is at the baseline, you On deep lobs aim high and deep- short balls close and make do not have to worry about getting them "killed" at the net. It 'em ~eep! will now take much of the pressure off and allow the ___.-... !11;'\-.:\ struggling returner to relax and swing free.

Height

= depth

.... .

.. . ..

~ ..... •• •• ••..

Just aim higher over the net for deeper rallies. .............. •. •

..

.

•.". "• • • ••

Rallying consistently is very vital in becoming an accomplished tennis player. As your level begins to improve, opponents usually start to attack more to take control of the net. To keep your opponents near the baseline in a more defensive position on the court- you have to hit the ball with depth.

Usually if you can rally and keep the ball past the service line, opponents are less likely to attack. To do this, first realize that hitting the ball harder is not necessarily the answer. More pace can bring depth but consistency usually suffers. To more effectively achieve depth, first find a pace you are comfortable

www.ADDvantageUSPTA. com

Remember, when confidence in the returns "returns," you can then send your partner back up to the net.

-....

~

by Jan Grover, USPTA

ADDvantage/ January 2002

9

[ mi&on -INTRODUCES HV:PER-TEKTM .APPAREL Official apparel

ofUSPTA

i~ • HYPER MICROFIBER lightweight, densely woven fiber construction to resist wind and wat er

~fl

• HYPER DRY soft moisture , management fabr ication to quickly wi c k away moisture • HYPER STRETCH so ft, lightweight + adaptable fabricat ion to maximize f reedom of movement and support • HYPER VENT strateg ic plac ement of ventilation components to speed - up body cooling • HYPER MOVE engineered to provide ultimate on-court mob ility • HYPER FIT designed for a comfortable fit that exceeds industry standards of quality + functional ity

Wilson® proudly Introduces the Hyper-Tek Syatamno, part of the Wilson Tennis Spring 2001 Collection. The Hyper-Tek Systam•M Is a Tek-ology basad line of performance gear Inspi red 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-ology 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.

Athco, Inc. is an authorized licensee of Wilson Sporting Goods.

1 -800-990-0000.

Free 2002 weekly appointment calendars for all orders over $1 00 (quantities limited).

Discounts up to 10 percent, based on total purchase price.

All returns must be made within two weeks of delivery.

A. Black and white unisex warm-up with embroidered star logo on front, USPTA embroidered on back. 100 percent crinkle supplex nylon. XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL. $53.

c

B. Fleece jacket with embroidered star logo.

Charcoal with black trim or navy. 55 percent polyester/45 percent cotton brushed fleece. S, M, L, XL. $48.

C. Cotton vest. White or white with red trim with embroidered star logo. 100 percent combed-cotton knit. S, M, L, XL. $39

www.usprotennisshop.com

D . USPTA windshirt. Features 100 percent polyester brushed microfiber, water and stain repellent, set-in sleeves, forward rolled shoulders, crossover collar, striped rib knit collar and cuffs, matching rib knit waistband . Available in navy.

S, M, L, XL, XXL. $42.

E. Star sweatshirt-large logo. World class 12.5 oz. heavyweight sweatshirt features 95 percent cotton, 5 percent polyester, set-in sleeves, tubular ribbed collar, cuffs, and waistband with Lycra, coverseamed neck, shoulders, armholes and waistband. Embroidered with large USPTA star logo. Available in navy or white. M, L, XL, XXL. $44.

F. Star sweatshirt-small logo. World class 12.5 oz. heavyweight sweatshirt features 95 percent cotton , 5 percent polyester, set -in sleeves, tubular ribbed collar, cuffs, and waistband with Lycra, coverseamed neck, shoulders, armholes and waistband. Embroidered with small USPTA star logo. Available in navy. M, L, XL, XXL. $34.

G . Wreath sweatshirt. World class 12.5 oz. heavyweight sweatshirt features 95 percent cotton, 5 percent polyester, set -in sleeves, tubular ribbed collar, cuffs, and waistband with Lycra, coverseamed neck, shoulders, armholes and waistband. White sweatshirt with detailed embroidered USPTA wreath logo in gold, navy and red or, for a more subtle look, a white sweatshirt with detailed embroidered USPTA wreath logo in white. M, L, XL, XXL. $52.

G

E

A

uspta

v

ww .u protennisshop.com

H. Red, white and blue US PTA star warm-up. 100 percent polyester microfiber. XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL. Designed exclusively for USPTA. REDUCED! $79.99 I. Ladies' top, Woman, white with navy and red trim and embroidered star logo. 90 percent cotton/1 0 percent spandex stretch jersey. S, M, L, XL. $28.

J. Red tennis skirt, Player, with embroidered star logo. 90 percent cotton/1 0 percent spandex jersey. S, M, L, XL. $28.

K. Men's shirt, Pro, white with black trim and embroidered star logo. 63 percent cotton/ 37 percent polyester jersey.

S, M, L, XL. $28.

L. Men's shirt, West, white with navy and red trim and embroidered star logo.

Vertical rib and pique. 72 percent cotton/28 percent polyester. M, L, XL. $28.

M. Men's shirt, Mack, white with navy trim and embroidered star logo. 100 percent heavy cotton pique. S, M, L, XL, XXL. $28.

N. Men's shirt, Milton, navy, red (S, M, L, XL) or white (S, M, L, XL, XXL) with embroidered star logo. 100 percent heavy cotton pique. $28.

0. Men's shirt, USPTA, red, white and blue with embroidered star logo. 100 percent cotton. Designed exclusively for USPTA. XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL. $28.

I

#

P. Men's shorts, Micro, navy, red, white or black with embroidered star logo. 100 percent polyester microfiber. 4-inch inseam.

S, M, L, XL. $24.

www.usprotennisshop.com

USPTA gifts and promotional items

Q . 2002 weekly appointment calendar with USPTA 75th anniversary logo. 8 1/2" x 11 1/4". Appointment slots in 15-minute intervals for each day of the week. $8. Free with total purchase of $100 .

S . Keylight keychain. Convex metal plate in center with USPTA logo. 3 1/2" x 1 1/2" x 5 /a". Silver and blue with red light. $3. (Call for quantity discounts.)

R. Action-flip calculator. Hydraulic action flips cover to support calculator. Soft rubber sides. 2 3/4" W x 3 3/4" H. $6

USPTA Gift Shoppe, 3535 Briarpark Drive. Suite One, Houston, ifX :77042 • www.usprotennisshop.com (800) USPTA-4U • (713) 97-USPTA • fax (713) 978-5096 • e-matl: proshop@uspta .org • www.uspta.com ... . "' ,, ··~·c -~-~' .,. " '\1.\'

'

I!Eit!

DESCRIPTION

S.

stew .sweCJt.sn~vt-Lcwge Logo

COLOR

SIZE )

]

V'vClVYJ~~Wft ~\k~M

QTY ..

1_

-:,~ PRICE

-t44

-t-4-4

..

··'

'

TOTAL

., _,..

':.

.

-c:'.'-i:i-

.~{: ,''

'

'

.~]~

.-!

~

·>·.

""

F

' \,

./

·'

J

-~-

' PAYMENT METHOD:

O visa

0 MasterCard

SUBTOTAL

0 Check (payable to USPTA)

* DISCOUNT Name as it appears on credit card Credit card No.

Exp. date

U.S. orders shipping and handling: For orders less than $20, add $4.95 For orders greater than $20, add $7.95 (Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. territories and Canada - additional fee required to cover air freight) International orders: via express mail only (contact USPTA)

Signature

SUBTOTAL 2

SHIPPING ADDRESS (No. P.O. boxes, please) :

0 Residence 0 Business

Houston (MTA) residents add 8.25% tax Other Texas residents add 7.25% tax

TOTAL

Name Street City Daytime phone No.

*Discounts State

ZIP

Member No.

If subtotal is $100 or more, deduct 5% If subtotal is $300 or more, deduct 10%

www.usprotennissho .com

USPIA marks two special World Conference in Las Vegas will be highlight of 75 1h birthday celebration SPTA celebrates its 75th anniversary this year and to mark the occasion, ADDvantage will chronicle the history of the Association in stories and photos over the next 11 months.

USPTA was founded i gathered in New Yo amateur playing ran

r a small group of tennis professionals oal was to bridge the a befvt the IICJ1ec1table career as a tenms professional.

Only 15 men attended that¡ planning meeting. Chances are, most of them didn't dream that who tarted out as a small East Coast group would grow into the world's largest o nizatio tennis-teaching professionals.

The US PTA we know today was introduced o the tennis world as the Professional Lawn Tennis Association of the United States.

The group organized t further the interests of tennis, especially through professional players and instructors of the sport. Although tennis was introduced to the United States in 1874, it was not until the years following World War I that the game became popular enough to warrant professional instructors, and the majority of these instructors were located on the East Coast.

Today, USPTA's infl far reaching, ¡ more than 60

as the tennis industry's delivery force is much more than 12,500 members in 17 U.S. divisto ~nd in countries.

Tennis and U have undergone many changes over t and USPTA members have always been major "playe in t sport.

ADDv will paint a historical pidure of USPTA as i ove sue topics as membe 'p growth, past conventions, famous members, the endorsepast tournament winners and more.

US PTA will officially celebrate its diamond anniversary during the 2002 World Conference on Tennis at Bally's Las Vegas, Sept. 21-28.

If you have your own special memories of USPTA, in photo or story form, please shore them with other members by sending them to USPTA in care of the magazine department, or e-mail them to magozine@uspta.org.

Tennis and USPTA have undergone many changes over the last 75 years, and USPTA members have always been maior "players" in the sport.

16

ADDvantage/ January 2002

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

• • • ann1wersar1es 1n 2002 ADDvantage celebrates 25 years as USPTA's official magazine

U

SPTA's monthly magazine will also observe an anniversary in 2002. The magazine was first introduced 25 years ago in 1977. USPTA was celebrating its 501h birthday, Sheldon Caldwell was president, Bill Tym was the executive dire.c tor and USPTA boasted of 6,000 members.

Just as US PTA has changed over the years, so has ADDvantage. It began as a bimonthly publication, and USPTA's officers and staff had limited control over the publication.

Today's magazine is a mix of member contributions, industry news and photos and staff contributions. All pre -press work is done at the Houston headquarters.

Look for more information on the evolution of your member magazine in an upcoming issue of ADDvantage. ~

Can you identify the people in this photo? Here's a hint. The photo was taken in the mid -1960s and includes members of the board of directors and division representatives of the USPTA. Back then, the organization was known as the United States Professional Lawn Tennis Association. Members who can correctly identify all the people in the photo will be entered into a drawing for a free case of Pro Penn tennis balls. Also, the first person fo send in a correct entry will receive a gift from USPTA's pro shop. Please send your entries to USPTA at 3535 Briarpark Drive, Houston, Texas 77042, or e -mail them to magazine@uspta.org. Please include your name and phone number. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

ADDvantage/ January 2002

17

by Jill Fonte

C

liches about customer service abound. The customer is our No. 1 priority. The customer is always right. The customer comes first. We're all about the customer. We aren't happy until our customer is happy. Customer satisfaction is job one. Our customers are our reason for being here. Without our customers, we have no -you can fill in the blank here- job, business, profit.

Perhaps there's such a cliche in your club's mission statement where "customer" is replaced by "member." While customer service is a cornerstone in every successful business, the most successful clubs are those run by managers who understand that "customer service" is, first and foremost, about employee service.

... what could be more important in providing great customer service than happiness in the workplace? It is absolutely the key to providing outstanding customer service.

18

ADDvantage/ January 2002

Few managers exemplify this philosophy better than Jim Leupold, tennis director at Marriott's Desert Springs Resort in Palm Desert, Calif. "I want all of our customers to be treated with empathy and respect," explains Leupold. "How can I expect that from our staff members if I don't first treat them with empathy and respect?"

In the tennis shop at Desert Springs, that's more than just a sweet turn ofwords.

Leupold begins each day by asking his associates, 15 in total, what he can do for them. "This is a people busine s. There's a myriad of problems that can arise- from a scheduling mix-up to a court maintenance issue to a computer problem. I want my pros, shop staffers and maintenance people to know that I'm here to help them just as they need to be here to help our guests."

Nothing creates empathy and respect more than walking in the other guy's shoes.

At Desert Springs, Leupold and the other five teaching pros often help out behind the front desk. They check players in for courts, answer phones, make reservations, distribute towels and pitchers of water, and wash the pitchers when players return them. Leupold says, "How can I under-

stand what's going on behind the desk if I haven't experienced it myself? During a busy time, our front desk might handle 80 to 90 guests an hour. Add that to answering phones, advising on merchandise sales and coordinating lesson bookings, and you've got a lot on your plate. I want to know how that feels so that I'm sensitive to that associate's challenges here at work. " Leupold believes pros should work the front desk from time to time because he sees how it evokes empathy and respect for those who do it all the time. He is quick to point out however, that the gesture benefitS the pro in more tangible ways. "We're at a resort here," he says. "Resort guests book a lot of lessons during their stay. If only one pro out of five helped out behind the desk now and then, which pro do you think would get the majority of lesson bookings? The front desk people make those bookings. They'd be inclined to take care of the pro who takes care of them. " So, take care of your people and they'll take care of you, right? Actually, it's more than that. Take care of your people and tliey'll take care of your customers. This too plays out at Desert Springs. "Giving good customer service is more than just part of www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

my job, " offers tennis attendant Melissa Ramirez. "It's a way for me to acknowledge all that is done for me here. I look forward to coming to work I feel respected and listened to here; and that motivates me to respect and listen to our customers."

What goes around comes around "It's really hard to get good front desk help, " lamented one club owner. "I can't pay enough to get them to care enough to provide exemplary service. " Some tennis directors and club owners lament a lack of motivation, absenteeism, turnover, apathy or lethargy among their front-line employees. They refer to customer service as an elusive concept that escapes "today's employees."

Perhaps the maladies of today's employees originate with unhappiness at work.

Companies have profound effects on the lives of the people who work for them. If there is stress, fear and frustration at work, people might bring these feelings home at night. This can create problems at home, which people bring back to work in the morning . .. and the cycle continues. If people are concerned about job security, internal politics or other workplace frustrations, they're likely unable to concentrate on the customer. Hence, what could be more important in providing great customer service than happiness in the workplace? It is absolutely the key to providing outstanding customer service.

"Whether you're a club manager, tennis director, head pro or fill any other management position at your dub, you might continually ask yourself, "What have I done for them lately?" The way .in which you treat

your people on a day-to-day basis will reflect in how they treat your members.

The little things count. A lot. "I make more money than most people in my position," explained an assistant pro who'd been with his dub for nearly a year. "But I have a hard time getting motivated for work because my boss is so unpleasant. He's a very good teaching pro, and he's very good with our members, but when there are no members around he treats us like dirt. " "When asked to elaborate, this assistant pro continued, "He rarely says thank you for anything. He rarely consults with any of us before making decisions that affect us. He doesn't acknowledge extra effort on our part, so why should we go the extra mile? This place would run a lot more smoothly, and the atmosphere here would be a lot more positive if we were happy working for him.

People rarely begin a new job with a bad attitude. Most new employees want to do a good job. They're usually "brighteyed and bushy-tailed. " Companies, more specifically bad managers, beat that anticipation, excitement and ambition out of them over time if they have little regard for the happiness of their people.

How can you help?

"What can you do, specifically, to encourage happiness among your employees?

•

*

Thank them for a job well done. Better still, thank them in front of their co-workers and/or club members.

Walk in their shoes. Sweep the courts and empty the trash now and then.

•

•

•

• • •

Teach the junior clinics once in a while.

Help out behind the front desk. Answer the phone. Never take a "not my job" attitude.

Recognize and celebrate birthdays, anniversaries with the club, and other special occasions.

Take a page from Jim Leupold's book and ask your people how you can help them.

Stay cognizant of the fact that error rates and unhappy members are often the result of unhappy employees. Consider that member complaints might be a symptom rather than a problem.

Make your workplace a lifestyle - not just a place to work. Make it fun.

Involve people in decisions; give them a sense of ownership in their workplace.

Make your employees' happiness your priority.

For you as a manager, the customers in "customer service" are the people who report to you. For you, customer service is indeed about employee service. By putting your service focus on your people, the result is often happy, satisfied employees who can then put their service focus on your members. Providing exemplary "customer service" to your employees is the first step in putting your dub and pro shop in demand by tennis players. '§>e j ill Fonte spent 20 years in the tennis industry as the owner/ executive director of the USRSA and as a member of the TIA 's Board of Directors. Since departing the USRSA in December of1999, she has become a certified executive coach with Right Management Consultants. She now conducts seminars on "Coaching and mentoring fo r managers, " and works one-on-one with managers seeking to improve their organizational skills, people skills and business acumen.

What can you do, specifically, to encourage happiness among your employees? . . . Walk in their shoes . . . Help out behind the front desk. Answer the phone.

Never take a "not my j ob" attitude. www.ADDvantageUSPTA. com

ADDvantage/ January 2002

19

Power generated in the hoop by Wilson HammerÂŽ technology

Comfort of lso.Zorb" ' which traps 60% of shock and vibration

l

Control of a stable handle isolated f rom ball impact

:

Stable Wrap TechnologyiM It's the secret ingredient in the Crossfire.

It doesn't matter if you shake and bake on clay or pound on asphalt, the Crossfire goes well with any court. We generously applied Stable Wrap Technology,â&#x201E;˘ to give unparalleled lateral support, so you can slice and dice from the sidelines as well as the baseline. Then stuffed it with our exclusive DST 02 cushioning system, letting you cook on the court without getting burned. Finally, we garnished the Crossfire with a fresh design for an extra burst of flavor. All this combines for a shoe that is truly smokin:

by Pat Hanssen, USPTA

he modern era of tennis court construction began 10 to 15 years ago with the advent of the HydroCourt system. Standard methods of construction involved driving grade stakes into the ground and using them as a guide for building up the court surface. This had to be abandoned to protect the integrity of the liner used underneath the HydroCourt. Trying to prop up grade stakes with some sort of shim was cumbersome and difficult, not to mention inaccurate. Consequently, tennis court contractors, taking a cue from earthmovers and road builders, started using laser-guided equipment to level their sites and apply surfacing. They quickly discovered that what used to take seven men eight hours could now be done in two and a half using a crew of only three. Not only that, courts could be graded accurately within one-quarter of an inch, which represented an 80 perc~nt improvement over previous tolerances.

All current and prospective Har-Tru court owners are the beneficiaries of this revolution in construction. Courts are built more quickly and more consistently to more exacting standards. Laser graders have made tennis court contractors increasingly mobile and less dependent on manpower, resulting in lower costs for construction, renovation and maintenance. In short, thanks to laser grading technology, it is now more affordable to own a Har-Tru court than at any other time in history.

Tennis professionals in particular have a lot to gain by incorporating laser grading into their long-term planning. Laser lifts improve playability and decrease maintenance, but most importantly, they prolong coun life indefinitely.

A Har-Tru court consists of a l-inch layer ofHar-Tru built on top of a 2.5- to 4-incil stone base. Figure 1 shows a cross section of

a typical Har-Tru court. Outdoor Har-Tru courts are typically built with a slope between 1 inch in 24 feet and 1 inch in 30 feet to allow excess water to run off without eroding the surface.

The Har-Tru material itself comes &om a very hard, green, angular rock quarried in Charlottesville, Va. Crushed to different sizes, the particles mesh together through watering and rolling to form the court surface. Har-Tru contains a small amount ofbinder that serves as a construction aid during initial installation. Binder also helps when you are patching low spots on your court, but otherwise offers no long-term benefit. It typically dissolves within six months and does not aid in bonding new top dressing to old courts.

Courts start to change from the minute they are built. The obvious changes arise &om everyday use. The surface becomes worn and low spots appear, particularly along the baseline and in other high play areas. More subtly, the 1 inch of Har-Tru the court was built with starts to diminish. Some of it is blown or washed away,

Fig.u"J.r¡--------------------------------------------------------------------------~ TRADITIONAL BASE

MODIFIED SCREENING BASE

For multiple courts and courts with heavy play.

An acceptable alternative base for all applications especially where precise grade control can be achieved .

curb in mortar bed

1" Har-Tru surface 1" Har-Tru surface

1" leveling course of 1/4" stone with dust 3" of 3/4" stone with dust

approximately 2-1/2 " of 1/4" stone wtth dust

www.AODvantageUSPTA.com

but much of it gets moved from the high end of the court to the low end. & water drains down the slope it is only natural that it will carry some of the Har-Tru with it. As illustrated in Figure 2, the slope of the court is altered over rime.

Figure 2: w

0..

0 LEVEL LOW SIDE iil -------- --- - - - -- -- --~- -~

...!:1_

l'l!!l

if~ ..,u

:::>"f .,,...

A laser lift is performed on a court for two reasons - to return surface depth to 1 inch and to re-establish proper slope. The modern tennis court contractor uses a laser grader attached to a tractor or bobcat. Figures 3 and 4 show a tow-model laser. The laser generates a plane of light from the sending unit to the receiving unit.

The receiving unit actuates cylinder solenoids, which keep the grade box precisely on the target grade. The appropriate amount of material is dumped on the court and graded out through repeated passes. This technologically advanced method assures that the material is spread as uniformly and precisely as possible.

Figure 3:

~

0

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ !::_EV~L _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _LO_!ll SID~ ~

Court maintenance is designed to counter this wear and tear.

Daily grooming and rolling is performed to redistribute the HarTru and help it bond to the court surface. Surface reconditioning is conducted annually to remove and replace worn and weathered material and maintain the properly established slope of the court. If performed carefully and consistently, these routines will keep your tennis courts in peak condition for years. Eventually, however, nature wins out and the courts deteriorate faster than they can be maintained. This is the point when a laser lift becomes cost effective.

How will you know? Some key signs to look for include poor drainage, excessive drying times and stones coming through the surface, but these changes occur so slowly that they may not be noticed.

Fortunately there is a more objective way to evaluate your courts.

Step one is to check the court for proper slope. To accurately distinguish any grade changes that may have occurred, the surface should be surveyed but a simple visual examination will provide some clues. Check how well the court drains during and after a heavy rain. Poor drainage, surface erosion and excessive drying times are all reasons to have the court checked by someone with a laser.

Local contractors will often do this for you at no charge. Low spots can be corrected with annual surface reconditioning, but changes in the slope of the court will require laser grading.

Step two is to check the surface for depth. Push the end of a pocketknife into the court surface until you hit the stone screenings. Mark and measure for depth. Depth readings should be taken from four spots on the court running from the high end to the low end. Oneinch average depth is optimal. Anything less than an inch indicates the need for additional surfacing as illustrated in the chart below.

Average Depth ~inch

Y2 inch 'A inch

Surfacing required 10 tons 20 tons 30 tons

Annual topdressing is only capable of replacing up to 5 tons in ton applications. It is impossible to put down larger amounts while maintaining the proper slope. For amounts greater than 5 tons, a laser lift becomes necessary. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Figure4:

How often your courts will need a lift depends on the amount of use the court gets and how well it is cared for. Typically a lift is required every 10 to 15 years. Clubs rarely want to pay for a lift on all their courts at the same time so it is imperative to establish a capital plan that will account for a certain number being renovated each year.

I strongly encourage each of you to take the time to evaluate the courts at your facility. If this is something you are uncomfortable with, many court surfacing companies will send a representative to do a complete facility analysis for you. Use the information to educate the decision makers at your club and to establish a long-term plan that will ensure the longevity of the courts. Indirectly you may find yourself ensuring the longevity of your career. ..,.

Pat Hanssen works as a sales "presentativ~ anti technical consultant for Le~ Tennis Products of Charlottesvilk, \71.

H( also acts as company liaison to the teaching CDmmunity.

Hanssen is a USPTA Pro I and currently s~rves liS the convention coordinator for th( Mid-Atlantk Division. H( spent 12 years as a tennis professional most recently as tk director of tennis at Udtzr Point Club in Suffolk, *z.

Hanssen has a bachelor's tkgree in (COnomics ftom Colby Colkg in Watervilk, Maine.

LICENSED CARTOON NETWORK MERCHANDISE ATTRACTS MORE KIDS TO YOUR Litt\e f ennis® PROGRAMS & NETS MORE REVENUE FOR YOU. Sign up today to participate in Cartoon Network Tennis Club!

When you become a participating Cartoon Network Tennis Club Facility we provide you with everything you need to promote the tennis club and sign up more kids.

The comprehensive kits include: • Scooby-Doo Stand Up • 3' x 6' Banner • Sales Flyers • Posters • "How-To" Manual • Sample Merchandise Package including Cartoon Network Tennis Club Racket Cover, Youth Tennis Racket, Tee Shirt, Wristbands, Tennis Activity Book and Practice Ball.

ORDER NOW. QUANTITIES ARE LIMITED!

(PROMOTION KITS READY TO SHIP JANUARY 2002! ) CALL TO ORDER TODAY!

1-866-TENNIS-6

OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES ARE HERE TO HELP YOU MONDAY - FRIDAY 9 AM - 6 PM EASTERN TIME.

A

USpta ·

v

USA*TEAM

USPTA recommends TENNIS TM & 0 TURNER ENTERTAINMENT CO. TM & ®CARTOON

following Utt\e I ennis®

NETWORK"'"'~

NANNA·BARIIEI!A.

Beginner

Drop shot attack

by Mike Woody, USPTA

B

Purpose: To develop a good drop shot, footwork, ant"icipation and recovery.

Description: 1. Player "/!\' feeds from service line into "B's" service box.

2. "B" runs to the net and hits a drop shot anywhere in "A's" boxes. ¡ 3. Right after the feed , player "/!\' must run back, touch the baseline and recover, then play out the point.

4. Winner controls feed. (Any scoring system works.)

â&#x20AC;˘ A

I I I I I I I I I

\ \ \

\ \ \

''

www.ADDva ntageUSPTA.com

'

I I

\ \

I /

ADDvantage/ January 2002

25

THE WAY MOST HARD COURTS TREAT TENNIS PLAYERS IS SHOCKING. Hard courts can be brutal on players, causing 75% more injuries than soft-court play. Treat your members to a court that reduces the risk of injury, and they'll be loyal for life. The HAR-TRLJ® surface has a shock-absorbing cushion, so players can slide into shots without joint-jarring stops. For a free analysis of how to convert your courts to HAR-TRU,

HAR TRU . ......• LEE

TENNIS

RfC'REA'I'k)N.\ SOI1JllCN) g(

call 1-877 -4HARTRU.

www . hartru.com 26

ADDvantage/ January 2002

vvww.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

CLASSIFIEDS PRESENTS SPORT SURFACES

Division of SeaiMaster 1-800-395-7325

internetter [wrne~re

t[] surf

&

V[]Ue41

www.tennisweek.com Court Surface www.sportmaster.net Sources of Dail Tennis News on the WorldWide Web CNN/SI Tennis: www.cnnsi.com/tennis ESPN Sportszone Tennis News: ESPN.SportsZone.com/ten F OX Sports Net: www.foxsports.com/tennis Nando's Sportserver: www.sportserver.com Reuters Tennis News: www.sportsweb.com/Tennis/index.html 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 Or anizations ITA: www.itatennis.com ITF: www.itftennis.com International Tennis Hall ofFame: www.tennisfame.org PTR: www.ptrtennis.org Tennis Industry Association: www.tennisindustry.org USPTA: www.uspta.com USTA: www.usta.com USTA/Eastern-Metro (NYC): www.metrotennis.com Van der Meer: www.vandermeertennis.com Tennis Product Manufacturers Dunlop:Www.dunlopsports.comjUSA Gamma: www.gammasports.com/index.html Head USA: www.headusa.com Nike: www.nike.com Oncourt Offcourt: www.oncourtoffcourt.com Penn: www.pennracquet.com Wilson: www. wilsonsports.com/wilsonjTennis/tennismain.html Tennis Tour Grand Slam Tennis Tours: www.tennistrips.com Tennis School U.S. National Tennis Academy: www.usnta.com T<:.._nnis Shopping Holabird Sports: www.holabirdsports.com Sun Tennis: www.SunTennis.com Tennis Express: www. tennisexpress.com Awards NetKn~cks Tennis Awards: www.tennisawards.com Hotel The Roger Smith Hotel: www.rogersmith.com Tournament Sites Australian- Open: www.ausopen.org French Open: www.frenchopen.org U.S.Open: www.usopen.oxg Wimbledon: www.wimbledon.org USA Network: www.usanetwork.com (French & U.S. Opens )

28

ADDvantage/ January

2002

BACKBOARDS Rally Master Backboards. Lowest prices, 20-year warranry. Puncture, fade and crack proof Quiet performance. Free brochure. Dealers wanted. (800) 609-9966.

BOOKS AND VIDEOS www.TennisExpress.com: biomechanics, mental tennis, movemenr/ footwork videos. Drill books, rraining products, ball machines, coaching manuals. FREE caralog. (800) 833-6615.

www.netprofittennis.com Log on and see why NETPROFIT: The Business Program for Club Tennis Professionals by Dave Sivertson

REAL ESTATE SEEKING TO BUY A TENNIS CLUB. U.S. based with minimum of eight courts and clubho~e. Please conract barzachgo@home.com or (860) 529-3589.

TENNIS SOFTWARE iTennisSystem - New technical tennis instruction software allows tennis professionals to graphically illusrrate tennis drills and lessons.

Also, a great tool for organizing and building your tennis programs. Allows printing of your professional looking lesson reports. Register at www.InterTennis.com for free demonsuations or call (919) 740-1403.

is a must for the career development Matches 3.0 - Software for manof all tennis professionals, or call aging your own tennis events.

"Leagues, ladders and tournaments.

(512) 261-7775. www.SportsMatchSoftware.com.

EMPLOYMENT Call (919) 264-9055 for free demo ENTER OUR RESUME BANK diskette.

Post yo ur resume in our resume bank for only $10 a year! VACATION OPPORTUNITIES www.tennisresumes.com is designed WANTED! Tennis professionals to include EVERYONE in tennis! and tennis coaches. The ProfesCollege coaches, tennis pros, ad- sional Coaches Association offers rninistrators, clubs and camps too! numerous oppormnities for tennis Any tennis job category is welcome. pros and coaches to participate in Even if you aren't looking for a job PCA Working Vacation Programs now, you should be listed. It's like a at exclusive resorts throughout the directory for everyone in tennis. A Caribbean. Join this long-running great way to let your friends, cus- and successful program that so tomers and potential employers many professionals have enjoyed. know where you are and how to For information, contact Mark reach you. To be included, write Burns at (508) 945-8863. info@tennisresumes.com. It's also Vacation opportunities for tennis an ad to get more business or aware- professionals! At the No. 1 all-inness for less than a dollar a month. elusive Sandals and Beaches resorts TENNIS EMPLOYMENT and tennis news is now available from Bob Larson. For FREE one-month rrial, send your name and "Free USPTA rrial" ro circulacion@tennisnews.com.

vvvvw-. tennisjobs.com The Tennis Job Line is the ONLY International Tennis Employment Service in the world. Come by and check us out.

WANTED: Head tennis professional, Gatewood Club, Greenwood, S.C. Competitive salary.

High commission on lessons. Contact Ron Davis, director, at (864) 223-1594.

in Jamaica and Sr. Lucia for yo u and your parmer. Certification required.

For information contact Mike Rornisher (847) 207-9475, e-mail Vis 1OsPro@aol.com.

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 nome, telephone number, credit cord number and expiration dote. (No agency or cosh discounts.)

Issue closes 15th of month, two months pre¡ ceding cover dote. Fox to (713) 978-7780, attn: ADDvontoge clossifieds. No clossifieds will be accepted by telephone. No exceptions ore mode.

USPTA cannot verify nor be responsible for the contents of any advertisement. It reserves the right to rejed any advertisement at its discretion .

www.ADDvantageUSPTA. com

Ga~ee Conventions (5 cred its for divisiona l)

exams, upgrade¡s & certifi ........ n training courses (4 credi ts for CTC segment)

J an. 11 -13 Feb. 8-10 Feb. 16-18

California Division Torrance, Cal if.

Missouri Valley Division Leawood , Kan .

Northern California Division Fairfield, Cal if.

Feb. 20-24

Texas Division Fort Worth , Texas

March 1-3

Mid-Atlantic Division Williamsburg, Va.

M arch 2-4

Midwest Division Columbus, Ohio

March 8-10

Middle States Division Hershey, Pa.

Jan. 12-13 J an. 19-20 J an. 19-20 Jan. 19-20 Jan . 20-21 Jan. 20-21 J an. 21 -22 Jan. 26-27 J an. 30-31 Feb. 2-3 Feb. 7-8 Feb. 16-1 7 Feb. 15-1 6 Feb. 18-19 Feb. 23-24

Aurora, Ill. Bonita Springs, Fla. San Francisco Florence, S.C. Pal m Sprin gs, Calif.

Atlanta Houston* Gul fport , M iss.

Lynbrook, N .Y. Mobile, Ala .

Mesa, Ari z.

Dallas Rochester, N .Y. Houston* Coral Springs, Fla .

Feb. 23-24 Feb. 23-24 March 1-2 March 3-4 March 6-7 M arch 9-10 M arch 9-10 March 15-1 6 March 16- 17 M arch 16-1 7 March 16-1 7 M arch 17-1 8 M arch 23-24 March 23-24

Gastonia, N .C. Hilton Head Island, S.C .

M inneapolis Wil liamsbu rg, Va .

Flushing, N.Y. Ta rzana , Ca lif.

Lexington , Ky. Joplin, Mo. Bonita Spri ngs, Fla .

Chag rin, Ohio Los Gatos , Ca lif.

Al tanta Providence, R.I. Charleston , S.C .

* This course is held at the USPTA World Headquarters.

Activities/meetings ( 1/2 cred it and up)

Jan . 25 -26

Midwest Division Lincolnsh ire, Ill.

Jan . 26

Midwest Division Aurora , Ill.

Feb. 8-9

Midwest Division Troy, M ich .

Feb. 21-23

Texas Division Fort Worth , Texas

Feb. 23

Midwest Division Ch icago Midwest Division Columbus, Ohio Midwest Division Jackson , Wis .

Eastern Division Syracuse, N .Y.

March 2-4 M arch 10 March 15 March 23

Eastern Division DeWitt, N.Y.

Apri l 13-14

Northern California Division North Bay, Cal if.

Apri l 21

Midwest Division Chicago

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

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 cancel lations 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 - appl ication 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 .

(2 cred its per four-hour course) Team Coaching, Feb. 9, Leawood, Kan ., (4 hours), D. Porter Marketing and promotion success, Feb. 21 , Fort Worth , Texas, (4 hours), J. Dinoffer The deadline to reg ister and/ or cancel a course is 15 working days before t he event. Anyone cancel ing late or failing to cancel will forfeit one-half the course fee. Th is schedule is subject to change . Call the USPTA Membership Depart ment for add itional information or write via e-mail to membership@uspta .org.

ADDvantage/ January 2002

29

_j

J_j~~

J ~ ~J ~-~s

Members To build on the momentum of the USA Tennis Plan for Growth and to further increase tennis participation, the USTA has created a task force to formulate plans for USA Tennis Plan for Growth 2 starting in 2003. The task force includes USPTA members Pam Shriver, USTA board member, and Kurt Kamperman, TIA president.

Former director of tennis at the Sedgefield Country Club and USPTA Master Professional Kim Dillard is now the physical education teacher at Brightwood Elementary School in Greensboro, N.C. Eight USPTA professionals were named among the top 10 in the annual Best Drills Contest sponsored by the Georgia Professional Tennis Association last October. Pros included Mark Pachtner, Paul Bartholomai, Ty Fuller, Mike Greene, Alan Hartley, Brad Olson, Mark Suiter and Pat Whitworth.

The drills, designed for all skill levels, were evaluated on the basis of written presentation, appropriateness to ability level and age group, clarity of explanation, ease of execution and originality.

USPTA members Dick Gilkey and Gerald Perry were inducted into the 2001 USTA Missouri Valley Section Hall of Fame. Gilkey, a USPTA member since 1978, has served as vice president and president of the

30

ADDvantage/January 2002

I

Oklahoma District Tennis Association and has also served on the USTA Missouri Valley Section Board of Directors. Perry, a USPTA member since 1988, has captured more than a dozen National Public Parks Championships. He has also competed in several professional tournaments including Wimbledon, French Open and the Italian Championships.

Dan Bonfigli, USPTA, along with the Stars and Stripes team tennis players, recently flew to Norfolk, Va., to participate in a weekend-long USA Team Tennis Regional Championship. The players, ranging in age from 12-14 years, reached the regional championships after qualifying in Connecticut by reaching the finals of the New England sectionals in August.

Member product showcase The Dutch Touch Tennis Academy at the Pierpont Inn and Racquet Club in Ventura, Calif., has launched a new Web site, www.dutchtouch.com.

Founder and director Hans Romer, USPTA, launched the site to offer his students an additional tool to help their game.

With the help of USPTA pro Tracie Currie, the junior academy has attracted more than 60 juniors from the Ventura area.

LGE Performance Systems announces a partnership with teaching pros around the nation. Pros can offer

-l_j

~-~ ~-~-~ ~_j J

the three-day Mentally Tough® for Tennis program to their junior and adult players. It will give players a multidimensional sport science training experience consisting of individual and small group programs of up to eight players. LGE will pay commissions to teaching pros for each player signed up for the program. For more information, contact LGE at (407) 438-9911 or visit www.mentallytough.com.

Manufacturers The LBH Group recently announced it will donate 25 percent of the profits generated from the sales of its 2001 holiday collection, Stars and Stripes, to the World Trade Center Relief Fund. The holiday collection will be manufactured under the tennis apparel line Lily's of Beverly Hills. To find a retailer near you carrying the collection, e-mail the LBH Group at lbhsales@lbhgroup.com.

The United States Tennis Court and Track Builders Association has announced the publication of the second edition of Tennis Courts: A Construetion and Maintenance Manual. The book contains information on all aspects of tennis facilities including design, construction, accessorizing and maintaining tennis courts. The manual is available for $39.95, plus a $9 postage and handling fee, by calling (41 0) 4184875 or through the Web site www.ustctba.org.

Gamma introduces the new Rollerhopper 150 TM • The multifunctional ball pickup and teaching device picks up and stores up to 150 tennis balls. Simply roll over the balls for effortless ball pickup. Once ball pickup is complete, stand the Rollerhopper up and open the trap door for ball feeding or to practice your serve. It can also be used as a traveling carrier once the legs are re· moved. For more information, call (800) 333-0337 or visit www.gammasports.com.

Rollerhopper 150TM Results from an independent study of the Wilson Triad technology showed that, as for vibration dampening, conventional racquets and Triad racquets are worlds apart. Dr. Peter Bruggermann, a biomechanics professor from the German Sport University, presented research that demonstrated the tremendous dampening characteristics of Triad.

Interested customers can learn more about Triad by visiting www.wilsonsports.com/triad or by calling (800) WIN-6060 .

HT Tennis, builders of HarTru ® tennis courts, is pleased to announce its www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

141h Annual Clay Court Seminar Conference to be held at the Port Royal Racquet Club on Hilton Head Island, S.C., Jan. 28-30. The seminar provides information about the care and maintenance of clay type tennis courts. For more information, call HT Tennis at (301) 739-3077.

Wilson Racquet Sports an nounces a three-year deal to have the license for the official ball of the Davis Cup. Beginning January 2002, the new partnership aiiO'-:"JS Wilson to market tennis balls and racquet bags using the Davis Cup trademark.

To learn more about Wilson 's complete line of tennis products, contact (800) WIN-6060 or visit www. wi lsonsports.com.

USTA The USTA Florida Section has changed its name to USA Tennis Florida and is now located at the Florida Tennis Center in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Associations The Club Managers Association of America will hold its 75 1h Annual World Conference on Club Management and 25 1h Annual Exposition at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter and the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas, Feb. 3-7. This international conference brings togeth er club managers from around the world for a week of intense learning www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

and sharing of management techniques, philosophies and experiences.

Education sessions, roundtables and networking opportunities will provide attendees with cutting-edge information on club management. For ¡more information, contact the CMAA at (703) 739-9500 or e-mail cmaa@cmaa.org .

Miscellany Peter Burwash International announces the addition of Springs Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif., to its list of first -class tennis destina tions. The Springs Club was listed by Tennis mag azine as one of the best tennis facilities in the country. USPTA Pro Victor Assad has been named as the club's ten nis director.

Tennis America invites all ten nis players to log onto www. tennis4america.com any evening at 7 p.m. Pacific Standard Time for free tennis advice, answers and stimulating conversations with touring professionals, USTA and ATP officials, celebrities, authors, coaches, psychologists as well as many other tennis enthusiasts.

USPTA pros are invited to qualify to challenge world record holders Rob Peterson and Ray Miller to the $10,000 World Long Rally event , a win -

The United States has the most players ranked in the top 100 of the July 16 edition of the ITF World Junior Tennis Rankings for players 18 and younger. The United States leads all nations with 11 players in the boys' rankings and seven players in the girls' rankings.

ner-take-all, hit -untilyou-miss event. The top 10 qualifiers will qualify to enter the challenge Sept. 7, 2002, at a location to be announced .

For more information, contact tennisrecords@ aol.com or call (707) 274-2801.

Red River Information Systems has developed an online 24-hour-7 -day res ervation system to in crease club revenue, im prove member services and reduce confusion . The system offers live court sheets for court booking, private and group lesson scheduling , member check-in, management reports and more. For more information, visit www.myreserve.net.

The new video by Human Kinetics, USTA's High Performance Tennis: The Serve, allows players and coaches at any level to learn the techniques of the pros. The video features top servers of the game, Pete Sampras,

Venus and Serena Williams, Marat Safin, Lindsay Davenport and others , and shows footage demonstrating serves in action. For more information , call Human Kinetics at (217) 351 -5076 or visit its Web site at www.human-kinetics.com.

The Sports Management Group welcomes all 3.5and 4.0-skill level tennis players to participate in the All -America Chal lenge Cup. Players repre senting the United States will take to the courts for the ultimate East vs . West tennis showdown! The event gives each player the opportunity to help support the American Red Cross and victims of the tragic events on Sept. 11 . SMG will donate a percentage of the entry and sponsor fees to the American Red Cross. To participate in Portland, Ore., M iarni or Naples, Fla., call (206) 860-9815 or visit www.smgsports .com.

ADDvantage/ January 2002

31

At Penn, the ball is always in our court. Because Penn manufactures the only tennis balls still made in the USA. That's more than a point of pride. It's a competitive edge . Allowing us to call the shots with respect to quality control standards for consistency, durability and play. Because the ball never leaves our hands until delivered into yours. Ultimately delivering something else in the process : Your full potential. Game , set, match, Penn .

Official

Ball

of

the

USPTA

I

www.pennracquet.com

-fJiftftft -=····~ ®

it United tate Professional Tennis Association, Inc. World Headquarters ~~· ~,. llll~~~ 3535 Briarpark Drive, Suite One Hou ton, TX 77042-5235

PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TAMPA, FL PERMIT NO. 602