contents the total professional – enhancing your career
departments 3 CEO’s message 5 Vice president’s message
Ask the Professor
8 Classifieds
7 Tennis Across America a perfect fit for Tennis – for the health of it! SM – by Jack Groppel, Ph.D., USPTA Master Professional
12 USPTA drills 24 Career development 26 Industry action
9 Emilio Sánchez serves up Spanish-style training at new U.S. academy – by Luis Mediero, USPTA Master Professional and former USPTA Professional of the Year
news 2 USPTA Certification Exams scheduled nationwide 14
USPTA’s TM
Tennis – for the health of it!
Get involved in USPTA’s Tennis Across America™– Free poster inside
Join the fun in a Free Clinic
Date: _______________________ Time: _______________________ Location: _________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ For more information, contact: ___________________________________________________________ Phone: ___________________________________________________
17 Membership has its benefits! – USPTA is great value, smart choice 21 2008 Certification Exam schedule SM
On the cover … Emilio Sánchez, USPTA, and Luis Mediero, USPTA Master Professional, at the Sánchez-Casal Academy in Barcelona, Spain. See Page 9 for Mediero’s interview of Sánchez.
volume 32 • issue 3
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com ADDvantage 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 Managing editor Circulation Advertising
Shawna Riley Kimberly Forrester Kathy Buchanan John Dettor
Office hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Central time ADDvantage is published monthly by the United States Professional Tennis Association.
The opinions expressed in ADDvantage are those of the authors and not necessarily those of ADDvantage or the USPTA. Copyright© United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc. 2008. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion of the magazine is not permitted without written permission from USPTA. ADDvantage/March 2008
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USPTA Certification Exams scheduled nationwide
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ennis-teaching professionals will have the opportunity to earn the sport’s most respected certification by participating in one of more than 140 USPTA Certification Exams scheduled nationwide in 2008. (See schedule Page 21.)
USPTA’s Certification Exam includes an on-court evaluation of tennis strokes and playing skills, stroke and grip analysis, private and group lesson instruction, and other skills needed in the tennis-teaching profession. The exam also includes a twohour written test covering teaching, playing and business management skills, rules, club activity programming and other topics. The exam process also offers a Certification Review Course that covers test topics. The course is also useful to current USPTA members who wish to review specific exam areas before upgrading their certification ratings. CRC topics include student psychology, developing student rapport, class organization, lesson progression and a review of teaching techniques. The USPTA is excited to announce its new online certification review course, making it easier for tennis professionals to earn USPTA certification.
The online CRC will completely replace the six-hour classroom review session after May 18, except for exams held at the Regional Testing Centers, USPTA World Conference and divisional conventions. “Today’s tennis players have come to expect a high level of professionalism and knowledge from their tennis professionals,” said USPTA CEO Tim Heckler. “Becoming certified through USPTA demonstrates that a teaching professional has skills necessary to excel in the game, and business, of tennis. USPTA certification also shows club owners and managers that a professional is committed to excellence and growth in the tennis and club business.” Contact USPTA at 800-877-8248 or e-mail membership@uspta.org to register for an upcoming exam. Advanced registration is required. The total fee for the exam and CRC application is $175, plus prorated USPTA membership dues. K
Regional Testing Centers (RTC) are facilities that will hold USPTA certifications every other month on the same weekends. These exams will not be canceled. The CRC is designed to prepare an applicant for the USPTA Certification Exam. All exams listed include the CRC, unless otherwise noted. Exam cancellations must be received no later than 14 days before the exam, or a cancellation fee will be charged accordingly. Applicants: 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 these cancellation fees are paid.
Calling 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 is worth 25 points toward USPTA Master Professional certification (a maximum of 50 is allowed). 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
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Articles should be approximately 2,000 words long. Articles should cover some aspect of a teaching professional’s job. Articles must be typed in a narrative form. The article should not be an outline or written as notes. Contributions will be edited for magazine format and focus, and a copy will be sent to the author to review. Please send good quality, in-focus photos related to the topic, if available. Digital files should be sent as TIFF or JPEG files and must be at least 300 dpi. Articles submitted to ADDvantage are forwarded, with the name of the author removed, to the USPTA Technical Review Committee for approval. 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. Please include a brief biography and a black and white photo (bust shot). Send articles to the attention of the managing editor at the USPTA World Headquarters or via e-mail to magazine@uspta.org.
5 ADDvantage magazine does not pay authors for their articles.
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CEO’s message New academy dedicated to USPTA goals for player development
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ver the last several years, USPTA has worked diligently to build its Player Development Program and offer our members the most extensive tennis education possible. To do this, we’ve aligned ourselves with the world’s best teaching professionals, fitness experts and sports psychologists to present you with the latest trends that will help you build your teaching skills and, in turn, enhance the playing skills of your students.
current Spanish Davis Cup captain and USPTA World Conference speaker. He is joined in the cover photo by Luis Mediero, USPTA Master Professional, president and founder of the Registro Profesional de Tenis and past USPTA Professional of the Year. Luis has also been a frequent speaker at USPTA World Conferences and our Competitive Player Development Conferences in Houston.
In an effort to get an exclusive look at the Sánchez-Casal Academy and We’re very proud to call many of Emilio’s personal coaching style, the best experts in tennis USPTA we asked Luis Mediero to travel to members. Nick Bollettieri and Rick Barcelona, Spain, to conduct an inMacci are perhaps two of the bestterview with his fellow countryman known coaching personalities and and friend. During their conversahave been profiled in past issues of tion, Emilio explains why he and his ADDvantage. These coaches and partner, Sergio Casal, who are already Tim Heckler many other experts in other areas of known for being top player developers player development have graciously volunteered at their academy in Spain, decided to open a second their time to help us build an educational program academy in the United States in Naples, Fla. that is unprecedented for tennis and teaching professionals. We have in the past profiled these people Emilio and his group of teaching professionals are and their teaching facilities in our magazine and not only building a loyalty to the development of explained some of their personal insights on their U.S. players, but they’re also building a loyalty to teaching philosophies. USPTA and its certification. Every teaching professional on the Sánchez-Casal staff is required to earn One of the newest members of our Player a USPTA certification, and to date this includes 50 Development Advisory Council – Emilio Sánchez coaches at his Spain and Naples locations. – graces this month’s cover of ADDvantage and is the subject of an interview on Page 9. Emilio is the USPTA is excited that players and their local most recent world-renowned member to serve on teaching professionals will have an additional our player development team, and we were excited outlet when it comes to enhanced competitive to welcome another high-profile name to our coun- training. The Sánchez-Casal Academy hopes that cil. His involvement will benefit USPTA members by building more successful U.S. players it will through his contributions to our player development also contribute to an increased public interest in curriculum, his speaking engagements at USPTA our sport. conferences and through magazine articles and other educational opportunities. I think you’ll enjoy reading the interview and agree with me that it demonstrates that Emilio and his Many of you probably already know that Emilio coaching staff want to positively influence the level is a USPTA member, former touring pro, former of professional play in the United States and help Spanish Davis Cup player, academy owner, the all the players be the best they can be. K www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
The SánchezCasal Academy hopes that by building more successful U.S. players it will also contribute to an increased public interest in our sport.
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Vice president’s message Little Tennis®, QuickStart Tennis Play Format offer kids more opportunities
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his spring begins the unveiling and marketing I have adapted the Little Tennis Skills Challenge of what the USTA describes as a new plan for using the QuickStart Tennis Play Format using the 10-and-under tennis, the QuickStart Tennis following age divisions, format and point system. Play Format. The goal of QuickStart is to help young juniors start playing games sooner, which will in turn Age Divisions and Format aid in increasing and retaining the number of players The 5- to 6-year-old division uses a T.I.P. 1 ball on a 36-by-18-foot court. Participants will hit eight forebetween the ages of 5 and 10. QuickStart is not a teaching program, but rather a hands, eight backhands, four forehand volleys, and play format that can be incorporated into any existing four backhand volleys. (This division does not serve.) program. It provides young players with The 7- to 8-year-old division uses a additional opportunities to participate T.I.P. 1 ball on a 36-by-18-foot court. in games, team practices and beginner Participants will hit eight forehands, competition. It shares the same phieight backhands, four forehand vollosophy on the use of graduated courts, leys, four backhand volleys, and eight equipment and low compression balls serves (four from each side). as USPTA’s Little Tennis program. Since 1994, Little Tennis has been The 9- to 10-year-old division uses a an incredible teaching program used by T.I.P. 2 ball on a 60-by-21-foot court. many professionals to attract young playParticipants will hit eight forehands, ers. The 10-and-under junior is a highly eight backhands, four forehand volimportant segment for professionals to leys, four backhand volleys, and eight focus on and embrace. We need to have Tom McGraw serves (four from each side). a renewed interest in the teaching and retaining of young players before they choose one of Point System the many alternate sports that are available to them. Groundstrokes and volleys Junior participation in older age groups and adult Participants will receive 2 points for hitting the ball programs are often fueled by strong teaching programs into the service boxes and 7 points for hitting into for this young age group. the back court. Players get 10 points if they hit the In the September issue of ADDvantage magazine, targets that will be placed in the corners of the back USPTA CEO Tim Heckler wrote an article on how court. Target areas should be approximately 2 feet USPTA has expanded Little Tennis to include the by 2 feet. QuickStart Play Format. There is a tremendous amount of information for professionals and parents Serves concerning drills, lesson plans, and activities on the Participants will receive 7 points if the serve is in the Little Tennis Web site, www.littletennis.com. proper service box, and 10 points will be awarded if The Little Tennis Skills Challenge is a new activ- the participant hits the targets that will be placed in ity that will soon be added to the Web site. This idea the corners of the service boxes. Target areas should in its original form was presented several years ago by be approximately 2 feet by 2 feet. Kim Dillard, a fellow Southern Division Professional. I’ve tweaked and made slight changes to the Skills I’m excited and look forward to the upcoming Challenge and now use it for my 5- to 6-, 7- to 8-, season and incorporating the QuickStart Play Format and 9- to 10-year-old club championships. into my Little Tennis program. The Little Tennis Skills Because of the Little Tennis Skills Challenge, we Challenge has many possibilities and I encourage you have had the opportunity to keep these juniors involved to schedule an event at your club. By implementing and make them feel part of the overall program since both QuickStart and a Skills Challenge event you will the older juniors and adults participate in the season- revitalize your Little Tennis program as well as your ending club championships. The Little Tennis Skills staff. The 5- to 10-year-old player and their parents Challenge would also work well as an income-produc- will enjoy the new ideas and you will enjoy them ing event as well as a city- and statewide contest. supporting your program week after week. K www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS President
Harry Gilbert
First Vice President Vice Presidents
Tom Daglis Mark Fairchilds Jack Groppel Randy Mattingley Tom McGraw
Secretary-treasurer
Paula Scheb
Past President
Ron Woods
WORLD HEADQUARTERS CEO
Tim Heckler
Director of Operations Executive Assistant
Rich Fanning Marty Bostrom
Director of Communications
Shawna Riley
Creative Services Director
Julie Myers
Publications Coordinator Public Relations Coordinator
Kimberly Forrester Poornima Rimm
Communications
Jill Phipps
Director of Marketing
John Dettor
Sports Marketing Coordinator
Rick Bostrom
Digital Asset Coordinator/ Clair Maciel Technical Writer Video Production Manager
Joe Birkmire
Video Editor
H.R. Topham
Director of Fred Viancos Professional Development Corporate Janice Stollenwerck Services Administrator Receptionist
Erin Ortbal
Director of Information Technology
Dan Wilson
Information Technology/ Multimedia
Scott Bucic
Computer Services/ Kathy Buchanan Club Relations Membership and Vicky Tristan Certification Coordinator Membership
Sylvia Ortiz
Membership/ Melony DeLoach Insurance Assistant Financial Manager Payroll/Benefits Controller
Kathy Ladner Renée Heckler Ellen Weatherford
Merchandise/ Shelina Harris Accounting Assistant
Legal Counsel Attorney-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
ADDvantage/March 2008
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Tennis Across America™ a perfect fit for Tennis – for the health of it! SM by Jack Groppel, Ph.D., USPTA Master Professional
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I’m always looking for new ways to entice non-tennis-playing members onto the courts. Tennis – for the health of it! SM seems like a great way to do this. I have some ideas, but what would you suggest as a means of promoting this initiative for USPTA?
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Since USPTA introduced Tennis – for the health of it! in January, I’ve had many members ask me about it. It’s our newest public relations initiative in our overall campaign that focuses on “Who We Are” as USPTA and USPTA Professionals. Tying together the messages of health and fitness and “Who We Are” is very easy. We are, after all, the tennis delivery force that provides any and all types of tennis programs. They may be structured, fitness-based events and just plain fun activities for our facility members or the public. It’s important that you use your tennis expertise to promote the message that tennis is good for you and that you can deliver the programs to help your
customers get fit and healthy. There are many ways to make the health and fitness connection as we deliver tennis to the masses. As outlined in my January column, you can choose to promote the physical or psychological reasons to play tennis – or both. For example, if you want to entice a group of seniors to take lessons, you might provide information on how tennis can increase bone strength and density and, therefore, combat osteoporosis. Or, you might decide to target young kids and their parents by promoting tennis as a way for children to get some much needed exercise. Everyone knows childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions and that most school-age children don’t get enough exercise in school-run physical education classes. Tennis lessons and activities offer great ways to help prevent and conquer obesity while at the same time teaching sportsmanship and teamwork. The great thing about ten-
Jack Groppel, Ph.D., USPTA Master Professional, is co-founder of the Human Performance Institute. He is the author of The Corporate Athlete and co-author of World Class Tennis Technique. Information can be found at energyforperformance.com. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
Tennis lessons and activities offer great ways to help prevent and conquer obesity while at the same time teaching sportsmanship and teamwork.
nis is that it can be tailored to meet anyone’s fitness needs, from those of the very youngest players to the oldest and for everyone in between. Don’t forget the junior programs, adult clinics and league opportunities and a mix of all of these for every age, gender and playing level at your facility. Anyone who wants to improve his or her health through tennis can do it
with the programs you provide to your clients on a daily basis. It’s up to you to promote tennis as a means of getting fit and staying healthy. Not only is USPTA the largest group of deliverers of tennis, we’ve also got programs – developed especially for us – that give us the perfect opportunities to highlight our sport and our profession. continued next page ADDvantage/March 2008 7
from previous page The first one that comes to mind is USPTA’s Tennis Across America™. This year we celebrate the 19th anniversary of this program and it presents us with the perfect chance to spread the news about tennis and fitness to people at our clubs and within our communities. Here’s how you can do it. Schedule a free clinic to kick off the spring and summer tennis seasons. If you’re at a private facility, invite golf and fitness members – and anyone else who hasn’t tried tennis. If you can invite the public and have the capacity to host a large group, that’s great too! Of course, you can include current tennis clients.
Not only is USPTA the largest group of deliverers of tennis, we’ve also got programs – developed especially for us – that give us the perfect opportunities to highlight our sport and our profession. You might want to ask interested people to sign up in advance to help with your planning, and you can also decide whether to open the clinic to adults, juniors, young children or anyone who is interested. You just need to make sure you have enough teachers and courts to address their various needs and questions. Start your free clinic with an introduction about tennis and its health benefits. Use the “Why play tennis?” list that was published in the January ADDvantage or go to USPTA’s Web site and click the Tennis – for the health of it! SM link to see another copy. You can even print it off and make copies for your clinic participants. While it will be difficult to go into details about all of the reasons, select a few of the reasons based on your audience. If you’ve got lots of fitness and golf members, elaborate on the great crosstraining benefits tennis can deliver that will help them in their other athletic pursuits. If you’re speaking with a group of working mothers who have little time to get exercise, you might discuss how tennis can help them control stress and get an aerobic workout at the same time. From here, you’ll know what to do. Provide instruction based on their skill level and try to get them hitting some balls. Use some fun drills to get them running a little. When the lesson winds down, review what you’ve told the group and invite them to come back for more tennis fun and fitness. You can find a program guide that includes an outline for a clinic and some other ideas on our Web site in the “Quick Links” box and then under “Tennis Across America.” If you want other program ideas, just log into the members-only area of the USPTA Web site and click on the tab for “Programs.” These include USPTA Little Tennis®, USPTA Junior Circuit™, USPTA Adult Tennis League SM, USPTA Member-Beginner Guest and USPTA Lessons for Life™. There you have it. Good luck with your programs. As USPTA members, we’ve got the materials and resources to promote Tennis – for the health of it! and some wonderful programs through which to deliver tennis and the message. K
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EMPLOYMENT USPTA’s Find-a-Pro. The best job-posting service so you can find the best jobs, free. For more information, visit uspta.com.
TENNIS PRODUCTS SLINGHOPPER DRILL BAGS. Feed with Speed! USPTA Pros receive 20 percent off by going to www.slinghopper.com and entering “USPTA” in the promo code.
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iTennisRound-Robin & iTennis Ladder. New ladder and roundrobin software. Run and manage multiple tennis ladders and round robins simultaneously. If you are not running a ladder at your tennis facility, it’s time to get started. Let us show you how: www. interTennis.com. Automate your tennis events and save hours each week. Call 919-740-1403 or e-mail sales@interTennis.com to order.
VACATION OPPORTUNITIES Vacation opportunities for tennis professionals at the No. 1 allinclusive Sandals and Beaches resorts in Jamaica and St. Lucia for you and your partner. Certification required. For information contact Mike Romisher at 847-207-9475 or e-mail Vis10sPro@aol.com. Vacation/Exchange Program. Stay at the Iberostar in Mexico in exchange for tennis lessons. www. vacationingcoaches.com. Telephone 937-885-0468. Five-Star Caribbean Resorts are Waiting for You! Working vacations available for certified tennis professionals. Family and Couple Resorts available. Contact: www.fitbodiesinc.com or call Denise Cox, 678-778-4673. EGYPT- Tennis pros travel free. Organize your own group or join ours, 2-3 week trips year round, combine tourism with playing tennis at local clubs. For additional information, www.egyptgrouptours.com, TEL 416-727-1040.
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: ADDvantage classifieds. No classifieds will be accepted by telephone. No exceptions are made. USPTA cannot verify nor be responsible for the contents of any advertisement. The USPTA is committed to the policy that all people have equal access to its programs, facilities, employment and membership without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, marital or veteran status. USPTA is an equal opportunity employer. USPTA reserves the right to reject any advertisement at its discretion, or to edit the advertisement to be certain that any employment requirements set forth in it conform with the law.
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
Emilio Sánchez serves up Spanishstyle training at new U.S. academy
by Luis Mediero, USPTA Master Professional and former USPTA Professional of the Year
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he tremendous success of Spanish tennis is the result of a combination of many important factors. These include great weather that permits players to play outdoors and on clay year round, numerous clubs with tennis schools, an assortment of multilevel tournaments, and the involvement of many former professional players as coaches at the club and academy level. Then there’s the fact that Spain has produced many of the world’s top players in the past 20 years. The likes of Carlos Moya, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Rafael Nadal are great role models for today’s aspiring players and serve as a strong testament to where Spanish tennis has been and will continue to go into the future.
Spanish Davis Cup captain Emilio Sánchez and his partner, Sergio Casal.
Spanish Davis Cup captain Emilio Sánchez and his partner, Sergio Casal, established the Sánchez-Casal Academy as one of the elite academies in Europe when it opened almost 10 years ago in Barcelona, Spain. Since then, the training center has enjoyed great success with its player development program, begun to work closely with the Registro Profesional de Tenis for the accreditation of its coaches, and instituted a similar accreditation program to certify its teaching staff through the United States Professional Tennis Association.
With the opening of the U.S. branch of the Sánchez-Casal Academy at the Naples Tennis Club and Resort in June 2007, player development in the United States will add world-renowned Spanish methods of training to our country’s other famed private academy systems. The Naples complex features 37 clay courts, one hard court and several coaches who have worked at the Barcelona branch of the Academy. Working with what they characterize as one shared vision, top competition combined with intensive training and personalized continued next page
from previous page
coaching, produces a player’s best tennis. According to Sánchez, the USPTA’s support of the private academy system and now adding his academy’s player development program is a validation of its successful method of training many junior and professional players. It is his hope that with the support of U.S. teaching professionals and players, the academy can assist in the development of American tennis by recruiting new players and offering a distinctive teaching perspective. There are currently seven American men ranked in the top 100 and Sánchez said he believes his academy can help improve those numbers. “The United States has not produced many male or female top 100 tour players in recent years,” he said. “We hope to help America maintain itself as a tour leader along with countries such as Spain, Russia, Argentina and the upcoming Chinese.” At the professional level, American players’ weaknesses on clay have been well chronicled. The surface has been a sink hole for many American pros, who grew up learning to play on faster hard courts where power and pace are key components to success. Sánchez believes Americans can benefit by responding to the demands clay courts place on players. In this interview, the Davis Cup cap-
tain discusses his philosophy of player development, examines reasons why Spain has been more successful than the United States in developing top players in recent years and gives his opinion about a potential Davis Cup semifinal this year between the United States and Spain. Luis Mediero: Why did you decide to establish a new branch of the Sánchez-Casal academy in Naples? Emilio Sánchez: The deal came about because we wanted to do something abroad and the best place to do it was where the best academies in the world are located – the United States. The United States also has the biggest potential in terms of both tennis and academic studies for juniors because the college level is so good in America. Our main focus was to provide players with the best opportunities to study and play tennis at the same time, and we think the United States is the best place to do both. We had a couple of offers from facilities in California and we looked at a few different places. Then the possibility of doing something in Naples came up from the club. They were very keen on doing something big with us and we really liked the facility. We didn’t open the academy there until June 2007 and the response from the kids has been
very good. We’re looking forward to the future in Naples; we really believe we have a great opportunity there. Mediero: There are 12 Spanish men in the top 100, including four in the top 20. The United States, a larger country with a much greater population, only has seven men in the top 100, with Roddick and Blake the only Americans in the top 20. What are the biggest reasons for that disparity? Is it the way Americans train? Sánchez: In my opinion, learning to play the game on clay does give you advantages that I think can be huge in today’s tennis. When I played 20 years ago, you still had more specialists and people who were more strictly fast-surface players. If you see the tournaments today on the faster surfaces, everybody is playing the same type of tennis. The people who grew up on clay have a much bigger advantage because they have more knowledge and experience in actually constructing points. They have more patience, they understand what shots to play, how to use spins, and how to put points together. As the game becomes faster and players adjust to the pace these are all very important skills because it is very difficult to just serve someone off the court now. You have to know how to build a point. Mediero: Kuznetsova, Murray and Hantuchova are among the players who have trained at the Sánchez-Casal Academy in Spain. What kind of competitive culture do you aspire to create in Naples?
Players who attend the academy in Naples will have access to one of Europe’s most successful player development programs right here in the United States.
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Sánchez: We have worked with all of the players you name, but it’s important to know we also have players at all levels – not only at the very high, elite levels, but also the junior levels. If a player comes to us at a medium under-14 level of play, this player will get the kind of professional treatment an elite player would receive if the player is willing to put in the hard work necessary. I can tell you the secret to improving as a tennis player is really not a big secret at all. The secret is to work as hard as you can work in a professional setting with top coaches and to have a high level of practice and competition. Competition and intensive training together are www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
the best way to develop tennis players. If, for instance, you have a talented junior player and you keep him at the academy practicing at that level without competing at a higher level, then you’re not teaching and challenging him how to succeed and reach his highest level. So it’s very important to have the right people, experienced coaches who know how to train a player and how to create a productive program for that player. Mediero: The USTA has partnered with the Evert Academy to open an 18,000-squarefoot facility that will serve as a national headquarters for player development. Have you met with the USTA about possibly partnering with the Sánchez-Casal Academy for a player development program? If so, what has their response been? Sánchez: We had a visit about a year ago from the USTA. Paul Roetert and Jay Berger came to Barcelona to meet with us. We discussed some things and I believe they were impressed with the personal approach we have and how intensive our academy is for the players. I think it will be good for the USTA in moving from Key Biscayne to Evert’s Academy and that should help the players because if you take the best players and isolate them, then they’re not going to improve. When the USTA met with us, we discussed a collaboration, but they decided to partner with Evert’s. It was very disappointing because I believe that such a large organization as the USTA should work with all of the best academies, not be restricted to just one. On the other side, I’m very proud and honored to be part of the player development committee from the USPTA, to share the room with some of the greatest like Groppel, Macci, Loehr, Porter, Bollettieri, Heckler and Mediero. It was a great experience and they were really keen in pursuing all of the ideas we discussed regarding American tennis. This is the way American player development should operate as they are the first ones interested in keeping tennis levels high. We need to do the following to improve the overall game of tennis for the future: 1. Promote more clubs with tennis schools and tournaments www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
Sánchez-Casal Academy in Naples.
2. Help raise the competition level at clubs 3. Create a new player development program in coordination with all institutions and academies 4. Work in all geographic areas – don’t focus only on Florida and California 5. Collaborate with academies and/or competition coaches 6. Use all of our resources to improve the game If we work diligently in all of these areas, the United States will gradually develop more players who can take a shot at the top 100. The United States used to have 50 of the top 100 in the 1980s, but it has continued to drop since then. Mediero: Maybe in 2008 Spain and the United States could play again in the semifinals of Davis Cup. Last year, Spain lost, but how do you see your chances this year? Sánchez: Well, the United States is the defending champion, so they are confident, but it is a very demanding schedule and they had the support of Roddick and Blake. Hopefully they will maintain the same drive and determination, and we both can win and get the chance to play each other again – this time in Spain on very slow clay. We are looking forward to that after last year’s hard loss.
Mediero: Last question. What can the academy at Naples offer to the USPTA members? Sánchez: We can promise that the players who attend our academy will have access to one of Europe’s most successful player development programs right here in the United States. In the event the members want to come with their students, we can offer some specific weeks of coaching with us. We will conduct a conference on Spanish tennis together with the RPT and the USPTA November 27-29, 2008. You can review all of our programs at our Web site at www.asc-florida.com or contact Arantxa Gallastegui at 239-2615777 for more information. We will also have some special programs for Easter, spring break, the Orange Bowl, etc. We are able to personalize any training program based on the requirements from the USPTA membership or any of their groups. Naples is a beautiful place, a great club and a great place for us to have our academy. So, we are looking forward to our work there. When people come to our academy they will be taken care of in a very personal and professional way. We have eight or nine coaches who played Davis Cup in the past, who have knowledge and experience in tennis and we’re looking forward to doing great and positive things in the United States and for U.S. players. K ADDvantage/March 2008
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USPTA drills Get to 30 first
prepared by Bernard Gusman, USPTA
Type: Doubles Levels: Intermediate/adv.
Category: Strategy/tactics Time/players: 10 minutes/1-4
Description and goals:
Competing in a game situation while experiencing the benefits of “getting to 30” first. Four out of five games are won by the player achieving the score of 30 first.
Organization:
Players A and B alternate as servers playing best two-out-of-three points with players C and D as the receivers. If players A and B win 2 out of 3 points they have earned the right to become the receivers. Players C and D would then become servers. Other players are waiting servers. If receivers win 2 out of 3 points from servers, then receivers earn a “permanent point” on their score and stay as the receivers. Losing players are replaced by waiting players and play continues. Have players call out score (i.e., 15-love) and serve from proper side. Variation: Play with two sets of players as receivers and keep score as a team.
Key points:
After 10 minutes and a changeover (water) break, the players with the most permanent points from court No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 all play on court No. 1. Players with the second most points on each court go to court No. 2 and players with the lowest number of permanent points go to court No. 3. Rotating this way players are constantly competing against different players.
No repeat groundstroke warm-up prepared by USPTA
Type: Singles Category: Groundstrokes/warm-up/stretching Levels: Intermediate/adv. Time/players: 5 minutes/1-6
Description and goals:
A drill that emphasizes all types of groundstrokes during the warm-up. Players cannot repeat a shot/stroke twice in a row.
Organization:
Players will rally from baseline to baseline. Since this is a warm-up, the speed of the shots should be at a pace to sustain the rally. If Player A has just hit a forehand crosscourt with topspin, if he receives another forehand on the next shot, he must either hit a down-the-line shot or hit a slice forehand crosscourt. Have both players follow this theme for 5 minutes. Variations: With multiple players, have them rotate in every three to four shots in the rally or use half the court to have four players hitting at the same time.
Key points:
Focus on making good contact and sustaining the rally while never repeating the same shot twice in a row. Players must remain aware of both prior shot and direction.
Passing shot drill
prepared by David T. Porter, Ed.D., USPTA
Type: Singles Levels: Intermediate/adv.
Category: Backhand/forehand/passing Time/players: 15 minutes/1-6
Description and goals:
Drill to improve passing shots and movement. The goal is to make a passing shot down the line within the target area.
Organization:
Players are on one side of court with pro/coach feeding the first ball from the other. Players start in the ad side and hit backhands down the line back to pro/coach who then hits volley crosscourt into open court. Players run and hit a forehand passing shot down the line into the target area. Rotate players after passing shot. Variations: Work on crosscourt passing shot. Do drill for backhand passing shots (down the line and crosscourt). Have players take turns in the net position hitting volleys.
Key points:
Focus on good movement to the ball and hitting within the target area. On crosscourt passing shots, focus on adding topspin to create the angle. Keep feeds fast to make players work on conditioning also.
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Generated by iTennisSystem – www.InterTennis.com ADDvantage/March 2008
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
USPTA drills Rally and attack
prepared by Brett Hobden, USPTA
Type: Doubles/singles Levels: Intermediate/adv.
Category: Strategy/tactics Time/players: 15 minutes/1-8
Description and goals:
To have players increase their decision-making skills by determining their shot selection well in advance. When players call out “Go” anytime during the rally they can hit an offensive shot. The goal is to call “Go” more often than your opponent.
Organization:
Players start with either a baseline feed or serve. During the rally if the players are receiving a weak ball, they call “Go” and are allowed to hit an aggressive shot. They may hit a big shot from the baseline or an approach shot and go to the net. If they receive a neutral ball, then they must keep the rally going and not allow their opponent to say “Go.” Variations: With fewer players use the entire court. Do it as a doubles team. Use only second serves to start point.
Key points:
Focus on shot selection. Players will learn that going for a more aggressive shot is a decision that must be made well before the ball has bounced on their side. Make sure opponent does not call “Go.”
Swinging volley (five ball) prepared by David T. Porter, Ed.D., USPTA
Type: Singles Levels: Intermediate/adv.
Category: Volley Time/players: 15 minutes/1-6
Description and goals: A drill that will work on moving forward to attack a floating ball by taking it out of the air with a swing volley. The goal is to work your way into the net by playing an aggressive swinging volley. Organization: Players start at the baseline and move in to play a backhand approach shot off the first ball. Pro/coach will then feed a floating ball that players must take out of the air with a swinging forehand volley. Players then continue to the net and play another forehand volley, then a backhand volley and finally an overhead or another swinging volley. Rotate players after five feeds. Variations: Do it for swinging backhand volleys. Vary feeds so there is no pattern. Key points: Focus on making aggressive swing volleys with appropriate margin for error. Keep feeds fast paced to challenge your players.
Traffic light
prepared by Brett Hobden, USPTA
Type: Doubles/singles Levels: Intermediate/adv.
Category: Strategy/tactics Time/players: 15 minutes/1-8
Description and goals:
To improve players’ awareness of the type of ball they are receiving from their opponents, red (difficult), yellow (neutral), green (easy). This awareness dramatically affects the shot selection process of a player.
Organization:
Players start the rally by hitting a neutral (yellow) ball to their opponents. Players only call out “Red” or “Green” if the incoming ball changes from a “Yellow” ball. If they call “Red,” then they should choose a defensive shot, if they call “Green,” then the choice would be an offensive shot. Since the default ball is yellow, if they receive this type of ball they say nothing and continue the rally by trying to make their opponent say “Red.” Rotate after a predetermined number of points. Variations: Do it as doubles teams. With multiple players, rotate after a player is forced to say “Red” two times in a row.
Key points:
Focus on calling out the type of ball so players are aware of their shot selection, and have players force their opponents into “Red” calls.
Generated by iTennisSystem – www.InterTennis.com www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
ADDvantage/March 2008
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Get involved in USPTA’s Tennis Across America
U
Tennis Across America has grown over the years to reach hundreds of thousands of people through three distinctive program segments. The three-phase program provides opportunities to grow the game of tennis through special multicultural clinics, nationwide free clinics hosted by volunteer professionals, and a follow-up program of lessons and league play designed to retain player interest. Tennis – for the health of it! is a public relations initiative that ties tennis with health and fitness, and since May is National Fitness Month, it’s an ideal way to celebrate Tennis Across America. Each spring, thousands of your fellow professionals and volunteers conduct free clinics, some targeting people who might not otherwise have a chance to play
tennis, such as inner-city children and handicapped adults. Clinics are hosted in hundreds of communities, and thousands of children and adults hit millions of tennis balls, coast to coast, drawing national, regional and local media attention. Several times during the 1990s, the USPTA was allowed access to the White House tennis court in May to hold an hour-long Tennis Across America clinic for a group of local children. Former President George Bush, who has been a Tennis Across America honorary co-chair for many years, visited the clinic in 1992. Tennis stars Pete Sampras and Pam Shriver have also participated. Following are some of the honorary co-chairs who have served the program over its 18-year history.
Tennis Across America honorary co-chair Zina Garrison has served the TAA program over the years.
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TAA honorary co-chairs:
SPTA celebrates its 19th annual Tennis Across America™ this May. This multifaceted program was established in 1990 to bring more people into tennis and promote a healthy lifestyle and this year it’s the ideal program to promote Tennis – for the health of it! SM
1. Leslie Allen 2. Nick Bollettieri 3. Mike and Bob Bryan 4. Wayne Bryan 5. Peter Burwash 6. President George Bush 7. Mary Carillo 8. Cliff Drysdale 9. Zina Garrison 10. Jack Groppel 11. Tom Gullikson 12. Franklin R. Johnson 13. Billie Jean King 14. Steve Largent 15. Rick Macci 16. Todd Martin 17. Patrick McEnroe 18. Chuck Norris 19. Alan Schwartz 20. Gene Scott 21. Brenda Schultz-McCarthy 22. Pam Shriver 23. Stan Smith 24. Randy Snow 25. Harold Solomon 26. Fred Stolle 27. Tony Trabert 28. MaliVai Washington
Though the official day of Tennis Across America is May 10 this year, we encourage you to run a Tennis Across America event any time of the year. It is a great way to market both you and your facility and showcase what you are doing in and around your communities. There is an online Tennis Across America registration form available on our Web site at www.uspta.com. All registration forms must be in by July 1 in order for you and your division to receive credit for participating in Tennis Across America for 2007. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
There are many marketing tools to take advantage of if you register your Tennis Across America event ahead of time. 1. We will be airing a Tennis Across America commercial on The Tennis Channel during our TV show, “On Court with USPTA,” during the months of May and June. All prospective participants who call in response to the commercial will be referred to our Web site, which lists all the current and past Tennis Across America events open to the public. 2. There will be a program guide available on our Web site that gives a sample of a Tennis Across America event as well as sample press releases and public service announcements. 3. A Tennis Across America poster is included in this issue of ADDvantage magazine to help members promote their events. 4. Tennis Across America fliers are available on our Web site in the Tennis Across America section. The fliers are in a Word document format and can be edited to fit the time, location and day of your event. 5. You can purchase Tennis Across America banners, for $25, again this year. These banners are a great way to promote your event at your club or in surrounding areas all year long. The banners are 34 inches by 52 inches and will help bring attention to your event. The Tennis Across America banner is available by calling the USPTA merchandise department at 800-877-8248 or by visiting our online U.S. Pro Tennis Shop at www.usprotennisshop.com. Don’t forget, clinics usually begin in March and continue throughout the summer. A member can get involved in the multicultural segment by contacting his or her divisional liaison, a member of the Multicultural Committee or the World Headquarters. Start planning to host or volunteer in a 2008 Tennis Across America event today. For more information please contact Rick Bostrom at 800-877-8248, ext. 137, or e-mail sports@uspta.org. K www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
Free tennis clinics for Girl Scouts were held during USPTA’s Tennis Across America month in Colorado Springs, Colo., last May. The clinics were held at the Colorado Springs Park and Recreation Woodmen Valley Park site. USPTA Intermountain TAA coordinator, Kim Davis, headed the clinics. There was lots of exercise, fun and excitement with a total of 35 Girl Scouts attending the free clinics. More free lessons are scheduled for TAA month this May.
Tennis – for the health of it! is a public relations initiative that ties tennis with health and fitness, and since May is National Fitness Month, it’s an ideal way to celebrate Tennis Across America.
USPTA Kentucky, Kentucky Tennis Association and Cardinal Hills Rehabilitation Hospital united to have a Tennis Across America wheelchair camp at the University of Kentucky last July. USPTA pros Bob Love, David Hartsek and Jannine Soldan provided the instruction. ADDvantage/March 2008
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Membership has its benefits! USPTA is great value, smart choice
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hy bother to join a professional association? After all, association membership usually involves a commitment of time and money and, with so many other obligations pressing in on your busy life, is one more commitment really worth it? You along with 14,500 other tennis-teaching professionals clearly see the importance of the USPTA, the oldest and largest association of tennis-teaching professionals. You have made an important investment in the future of your tennis-teaching career by becoming a USPTA member and getting USPTA-certified. While each of you may have joined because of different motivating factors, of you recognized the value of joining the USPTA.
Education Web site – Members can receive valuable information in the education section of the members only Web site at www.uspta.com. An extensive library of educational seminars is offered online in audio format. The seminars are grouped into five basic categories: teaching, business, sport science, facility management and Spanish. This site also features online lessons with video and graphics. This area is continually updated as USPTA builds the library from previous World Conferences, recent seminars and other special presentations.
We at the USPTA are proud to now offer our members more than 55 professional benefits. However, in case you’ve forgotten what your association membership is all about – here are some key reasons for becoming involved. If you’re already convinced of your association’s value, pass this article along to a friend or acquaintance who might benefit from membership. Advocacy. An association represents your interests before the business community and government. And if your business or industry faces major threats, your association is right there, fighting for you. The USPTA has executives and representatives at all key industry meetings and events to serve and represent all of you, the tennis-teaching professionals, and it’s a role that our executives and representatives take very seriously. Free personal Web site – USPTApro.com is a personalized Web site for USPTA members. It allows you to input content and market yourself and your accomplishments in the broadest sense, and it’s free to certified members of USPTA. You may promote yourself to owners, managers, potential employers and students. The site features your biography, information on your facility, tennis tips, and links to tennis, business and family-related sites. There are also pages for your lessons, events and news. Once you visit the home page of your site, you may personalize your site after using the login in the upper left-hand corner. Follow the easy-touse instructions for adding content.
Benefits. Many associations offer a variety of tangible benefits to members and their employees: purchasing discounts, liability insurance, continuing education and more. We at the USPTA are proud to now offer our members more than 55 professional benefits. Friendship. Your association’s members are people who have many of the same concerns, needs and interests as you. They’re the kind of people you’ll enjoy meeting. And they’re the kind of people who will probably end up as your friends. If you haven’t yet, get out there and meet some of your fellow USPTA Professionals at the next USPTA convention or tournament near you! Give-and-take. An association provides members with the opportunity to discuss their mutual problems, probe new directions, and share and debate each other’s thoughts, all with a high degree of respect and candor. What better way to grow the tennis industry and your personal influence in it than by sharing thoughts and solutions on issues facing the tennis-teaching industry? Happenings. Associations sponsor a variety of enriching events and activities: conferences, receptions, luncheons, forums, parties and more. The USPTA offers numerous divisional conventions, a World Conference, tournaments and other local and online educational and networking opportunities. Leadership. Your business or trade needs leaders – people who can actively mobilize you and your peers toward industrywide action, and who can chart your industry’s future. An association produces voluntary leadership that can make a difference. The USPTA is proud to be able to bring you a Board of Directors with continued next page
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from previous page some of the most knowledgeable names in the tennis industry and an Executive Committee made up of a very competent group of tennis-teaching professionals. Networking. Networking is today’s buzzword. Association events, meetings, member directories and information exchanges make networking a reality for you and your peers. Start building your network today by meeting local USPTA tennis-teaching professionals near you! Profit. Face it: You’re in business to make a profit. Your ability to generate profit is your association’s primary concern, and the association’s programs are ultimately geared to help you survive and prosper. The USPTA offers several programs and new initiatives to help enhance your tennis business, bring in new students and grow the game.
The USPTA offers several programs and new initiatives to help enhance your tennis business, bring in new students and grow the game.
Quality. In this quality-conscious age, the degree to which you’re able to sustain high standards of product quality and customer service will strongly influence your ability to grow. An association provides you with tools and examples of best practices and gives you the chance to learn from them. The USPTA continually strives to raise the standard for tennis-teaching certification and education. Seminars. One of the greatest pleasures of association membership is participation in annual or biannual seminars – thoughtprovoking educational sessions led by successful peers as well as regionally and nationally recognized business experts. Seminars are offered throughout the year at all of the USPTA divisional conventions and at the World Conference featuring top names in the tennis industry. Unity. You’re never alone when you join an association. Membership gives you and your peers the opportunity to speak with a single voice on matters of importance to your industry. Vision. A wise sage once said that the characteristic of a true leader is the ability to mobilize toward the future. An association helps you visualize the opportunities that lie ahead and find the tools necessary to turn those opportunities into sound business plans. The USPTA truly prides itself in being the future of tennis especially as one of the most technologically advanced companies in the industry and is proud to be able to bring this vision to all of our members through the vast technologically driven educational resources.
Find-a-Pro – Find a job or hire an employee, free, with Find-a-Pro at uspta. com. This valuable benefit allows employers to post job openings for tennis professionals, and USPTA members to view the nationwide and international listings whenever it’s convenient. Also, members of the public may find professionals in their local areas by typing in a city name or ZIP code and viewing a list of USPTA members, along with their personal Web sites. Parents and members of the public are also encouraged to call a local professional for help finding playing partners. USPTA gives you the products, programs and services to enhance your career in the tennis industry. (www.usptafindapro.com)
Public relations tools – Career center An important part of your career is self-promotion. These public relations tools can be helpful at both the job search stage and when you want to increase your value to current employers and customers. This area provides you with suggestions on how to promote your skills and business to employers, your local community and more through the media with press releases and hints on how to use your USPTA membership to build brand recognition and image with all the markets you wish to reach.
High School Coaches Resource Center – This is a registration-based site full of information that will be helpful to high school coaches and their players. It is free to USPTA members. The cornerstone of this site is a set of tools coaches can use to streamline team practices. There are tips, drills, links and other USPTA resources every coach will find useful. USPTA members do not need to subscribe. USPTA members enter the site by clicking the Enter button under “USPTA login” (http://highschoolcoaches.uspta.com/).
The USPTA is excited to bring you numerous benefits, so look for articles in upcoming issues that will announce exciting new benefits and remind you of some of your existing benefits that you may not be using to their fullest potential to benefit you and your tennis business. K
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Player Development inserts The USPTA Player Development Program is designed to serve as an educational resource center for the ever-evolving game and help all tennis teachers introduce new techniques to their players. It has the potential to change the way people teach and learn tennis, and its direct results will be better teachers, more educational resources, and an increased interest in and enthusiasm for the sport among all players – from beginners to touring pros. USPTA introduces and explains the numerous components of its Player Development Program in a series of special inserts that appear in ADDvantage magazine and on USPTA’s Web site.
Job search tools – Career center Finding a job can be a difficult task. These tools may help alleviate some of the stress associated with finding that first job or finding that new job after years with one club or facility. This section of the Career Center includes sample resumes and tips for producing eye-catching documents that will get you in the door. Also, you’ll need the right introduction, and that’s a good cover letter. This area has a sample cover letter and some tips for producing effective communications to prospective employers. Once you get the call for an interview, you may want to scan the interview tips, and brush up on how to prepare for the meeting and talking with the various people who will be a part of the hiring process.
Friends & family promotion Don’t miss out on the chance to buy gifts for friends and family for 2008! Purchase up to $600 worth of HEAD merchandise at preferred player prices during the promotional period. For more information, please contact Team HEAD at 800-289-7366 or email Teamhead@us.head.com. *Not available for international shipments. (Due to licensing agreements worldwide, HEAD USA cannot ship products internationally.)
DVDs
Tennisplayer.net Founded by USPTA member John Yandell, Tennisplayer. net offers extensive online information and visual resources that are now available to USPTA Professionals and Developmental Coaches at no cost. The site has hundreds of instructional articles illustrated with digital photography and state-of-the-art video. The stroke archives, which contain more than 20,000 stroke clips, allow you to examine the complete technical game of more than 60 great players. The site also provides coaches and tennis-teaching professionals with the digital resources for cutting-edge video analysis. Access tennisplayer.net through your USPTA personal Web site.
Drills View a variery of drills in two areas at http://highschoolcoaches.uspta.com/ or http://www.addvantageuspta.com/.
USPTA DVDs feature instruction and drills by top USPTA-certified tennis-teaching professionals, as well as interviews with them. These great educational resources will retail for just under $20. No other tennisteaching organization produces the volume and quality of instructional DVDs that the USPTA does. The contemporary content incorporates both modern and time-tested tennis techniques. To assure quality, each DVD goes through an intensive review process that includes evaluation by a USPTA Master Professional and two Pro 1 level USPTA tennis-teaching professionals. The DVDs, produced in-house by the USPTA’s own multimedia department, feature lessons by highly qualified USPTA instructors. The instruction is current and correct in order to guarantee a successful lesson.
Sprint shuffle Type: Multiple court Suggested time: Varies Prepared by: Dave Gary
Category: Conditioning Level: All levels Tennis organization: U.S. Pro Tennis Association
Drill description and goals
Players start on the doubles sideline of court one. Coach says go and players sprint toward the end court. Coach will say “Stop” and players will stop, face the net and shufÀe back towards the start line. Coach will then say go and players will sprint towards end court. Keep repeating until players get to end court. Coach decides how long this takes. Repeat from the end court back to the start. Make sure players face the same direction when shufÀing so as to work the shufÀe step in both directions. Drill organization
Top half of courts show how all the players work their way from right to left. The bottom half of the courts show how all players work their way back from left to right.
Generated by iTennisSystem – www.InterTennis.com
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
ADDvantage/March 2008
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2008 Certification Exam schedule California
March 24-25 April 6-7 May 5-6 June 8-9 Aug. 10-11 Oct. 5-6 Nov. 10 Dec. 7-8
Eastern
April 10-11 May 23 June 19-20 Aug. 7-8 Oct. 2-3 Dec. 4-5
Florida
March 29-30 April 12-13 May 31-June 1 June 22 July 13 Aug. 9-10 Oct. 11-12 Oct. 19 Nov. 9 Dec. 13-14
Intermountain March 30-31 Aug. 3-4 Nov. 23-24
Mid-Atlantic
April 5-6 April 13-14 May 4-5 May 18-19 June 8 June 21-22 July 14 Aug. 9-10 Sept. 15 Oct. 25-26 Dec. 8 Dec. 13-14
Middle States May 3-4
Midwest
March 15-16 April 19-20 April 26-27 June 7-8 Sept. 6-7 Nov. 2 Nov. 15-16
Missouri Valley March 14-15 April 25-26 May 16-17 May 17-18 June 7 Aug. 23 Oct. 11 Nov. 15
New England April 5-6 May 15-16 June 19 Aug. 2 Oct. 25
Valencia, Calif. Los Angeles, Calif.* Seal Beach, Calif. Los Angeles, Calif.* Los Angeles, Calif.* Los Angeles, Calif.* Claremont, Calif. Los Angeles, Calif.*
Paseo Club Braemar Country Club Seal Beach Tennis Club Braemar Country Club Braemar Country Club Braemar Country Club Claremont Country Club Braemar Country Club
Flushing, N.Y.* West Orange, N.J. Flushing, N.Y.* Flushing, N.Y.* Flushing, N.Y.* Flushing, N.Y.*
BJK National Tennis Center West Orange Tennis Club BJK National Tennis Center BJK National Tennis Center BJK National Tennis Center BJK National Tennis Center
Orlando, Fla. Boca Raton, Fla.* Delray Beach, Fla. Tallahassee, Fla. Orlando, Fla. Boca Raton, Fla.* Boca Raton, Fla.* Pensacola, Fla. Orlando, Fla. Boca Raton, Fla.*
Lake Noona The Oaks at Boca Raton Delray Beach Tennis Center Forest Meadows The Villages The Oaks at Boca Raton The Oaks at Boca Raton Roger Smith Tennis Center Tuscawilla Country Club The Oaks at Boca Raton
Greenwood Village, Colo. Greenwood Athletic Club Denver, Colo. Meadow Creek Greenwood Village, Colo. Greenwood Athletic Club College Park, Md.* McLean, Va. Williamsburg, Va. Frederick, Md. Richmond, Va. College Park, Md.* Frederick, Md. College Park, Md.* McLean, Va. College Park, Md.* McLean, Va. College Park, Md.*
Tennis Center at College Park Regency Sport & Health William & Mary West Winds Dominion Tennis Center at College Park West Winds Tennis Center at College Park Regency Sport & Health Tennis Center at College Park Regency Sport & Health Tennis Center at College Park
Wilmington, Del.
Greenville Country Club
Chagrin, Ohio Aurora, Ill.* Big Rapids, Mich. Aurora, Ill.* Aurora, Ill.* Mequon, Wisc. Big Rapids, Mich.
Chagrin Valley Athletic Club Rush Copley Healthplex Ferris State University Rush Copley Healthplex Rush Copley Healthplex Mequon Racquet Club Ferris State University
Oklahoma City, Okla. Des Moines, Iowa Kansas City, Mo. St. Louis, Mo. Des Moines, Iowa Des Moines, Iowa Oklahoma City, Okla. Kansas City, Mo.
Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club Wakonda Club Oakwood Country Club Frontenac Racquet Club Wakonda Club Wakonda Club Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club Oakwood Country Club
Northern
April 13-14 June 6-7 Sept. 14 Oct. 5 Nov. 8 Dec. 7
San Francisco, Calif.* Pebble Beach, Calif. San Francisco, Calif.*
San Francisco Tennis Club Spanish Bay San Francisco Tennis Club
St. Paul, Minn. Minneapolis, Minn. St. Paul, Minn. (upgrades only) St. Paul, Minn. Minneapolis, Minn. St. Paul, Minn.
White Bear Racquet & Swim Reed Sweatt Family Tennis Center White Bear Racquet & Swim
Pacific Northwest April 12-13 May 30 Oct. 12
San Diego
May 17-18 July 20 Oct. 12 Nov. 9
Southern
March 23-24 March 30 April 5-6 April 20 April 27 May 4 May 4 May 4 May 17-18 June 8 June 8 June 14-15 June 22 July 6 July 6 July 20 Aug. 3 Aug. 10 Aug. 16-17 Aug. 24 Aug. 25 Sept. 7 Oct 11-12 Oct. 12 Oct. 26 Nov. 9 Nov. 8-9 Dec. 7 Dec. 6-7 Dec. 7 Dec. 13-14
Southwest June 13 Oct. 30
Texas
April 18-19 June 7-8 July 12-13 Aug. 3 Oct. 12 Dec. 14
White Bear Racquet & Swim Reed Sweatt Family Tennis Center White Bear Racquet & Swim
Seattle, Wash. Yakima, Wash. Seattle, Wash.
Forest Crest Yakima Tennis Club Forest Crest
San Diego, Calif. San Diego, Calif Carlsbad, Calif. Indian Wells, Calif.
Morley Field Barnes Tennis Center La Costa Spa & Resort Indian Wells Tennis Gardens
Baton Rouge, La. Birmingham, Ala. Atlanta, Ga.* Fayetteville, N.C. Lexington, Ky. Charleston, S.C. Nashville, Tenn. Conway, Ark. Charlotte, N.C. Greensboro, N.C. Mandeville, La. Atlanta, Ga.* Hartsville, S.C. Myrtle Beach, S.C. Birmingham, Ala. Lexington, Ky. Colulmbia, S.C. Meridian, Miss. Atlanta, Ga.* Gastonia, N.C. Nashville, Tenn. Greensboro, N.C. Atlanta, Ga.* Hot Springs, Ark. Fayetteville, N.C. Charleston, S.C. Birmingham, Ala. Gastonia, N.C. Nashville, Tenn. Lexington, Ky. Atlanta, Ga.*
Independence Park Hoover Country Club Peachtree City Tennis Center Methodist College Lexington Tennis Club The Club at Dunes West Williamson Country Indoor Sports Complex Hendricks College Carmel Country Club Lake Jeanette Swim & Tennis Club Pelican Athletic Club Peachtree City Tennis Center Hartsville Country Club The Dunes Golf & Beach Club Hoover Country Club Lexington Tennis Club Lexington County Tennis Complex Northwood Country Club Peachtree City Tennis Center Racquet Club of the Carolinas Williamson Country Indoor Sports Complex Lake Jeanette Swim & Tennis Club Peachtree City Tennis Center Hot Springs Athletic & Racquet Club Methodist College The Club at Dunes West Hoover Country Club Racquet Club of the Carolinas Williamson Country Indoor Sports Complex Lexington Country Club Peachtree City Tennis Center
Mesa, Ariz. Mesa, Ariz.
Mesa Country Club Mesa Country Club
Tyler, Texas Austin, Texas Mansfield, Texas Corpus Christi, Texas Ft. Worth, Texas San Antonio, Texas
Tyler Junior College Westwood Country Club Walnut Creek Country Club Corpus Christi Country Club Colonial Country Club San Antonio Country Club
USPTA World Headquarters Providence, R.I. Stratton Mountain, Vt. Dixville Notch, N.H. Hamden, Conn. Brunswick, Maine
Northern California April 21-22 June 2-3
Aug. 25-26 Nov. 7-8 Dec. 1-2
San Francisco, Calif.* San Francisco, Calif.*
Providence College The Tennis Center at Stratton Mountain The Balsams Resort Quinnipiac University Maine Pines Club San Francisco Tennis Club San Francisco Tennis Club
March 17-18 May 19-20 June 23-24 July 21-22 Oct. 20-21 Nov. 17-18 Dec. 15-16
Houston, Texas Houston, Texas Houston, Texas Houston, Texas Houston, Texas Houston, Texas Houston, Texas
* Regional Testing Centers (RTC)
Now available 2007 USPTA World Conference seminar set on CD-ROM All seminars in MP3 format
$69.95 The audio set will include the following seminars:
The 10,000-hour journey to becoming a player – Jack Groppel, Ph.D./Jim Loehr, Ed.D./David T. Porter, Ed.D.
Welcome back the 50-plus player to tennis – Anne Davis
Control your mind to win – Anne Smith, Ph.D.
Footwork, focus and flow – Michael Friedman
Developing a solid foundation, balance and movement – Nick Bollettieri
How to develop a forehand weapon for hard and clay courts – Luis Mediero
Training the genuine all-court player – Todd Martin
Developing world-class fundamentals for young players – Nick Saviano
Patterns of play and specific training – Emilio Sanchez Vicario
The serve and volleys – Dr. Martin Baroch
America’s plan for 10-and-under tennis – Paul Lubbers, Ph. D./ Anne Pankhurst
Como diseñar una clase de tenis para adultos incorporando aspectos tecnicos, tacticos, fisicos y mentales – Luis Mediero
Dealing with food and exercise obsession with tennis players – Page Love
The journey of molding a player from day one to the pros – Rick Macci
Guidelines to an expert lesson – Sophie Woorons-Johnston, Ph.D.
Grant writing – Linda Mann
A traditional approach to the modern game – Bill Tym/ Tommy Wade
Adultennis: un nuevo programa de enseñanza de tenis para jugadores adultos de inciacion y avanzados – Luis Mediero
High school coaches seminar – Team practices for multiple players and limited courts – Jason Jamison/Kirk Anderson
On court with Jose – Jose Higueras
High performance drills for all ages – Kim Davis/Diane Selke
Maximizing your productivity and efficiency with Microsoft Office – Kevin Jackson
Exploring the myths: Video and the truth – Warren Pretorius
Help! I have it all, but I have no life – Barbara Braunstein
Combining technique and tactics to develop players – Lorenzo Beltrame
Developing character through tennis – Bob Heller, Ed. D.
Dynamite doubles – Helle Viragh
Todd Martin
Rick Macci
Emilio Sanchez Vicario
PRICE: $69.95 + shipping (includes all recorded seminars in MP3)
Name:_______________________________________Member No._________
SHIPPING: $7.95
e-mail:___________________________________________________________
Orders must be accompanied by full payment to:
Address:_________________________________________________________
USPTA 3535 Briarpark Drive, Suite One • Houston, Texas 77042 Telephone: (800) USPTA-4U • Fax: (713) 978-7780
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Cash Visa
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Career Development conventions (division conventions, 5 credits)
exams, upgrades & certification review courses (4 credits for CRC segment)
May 15-17
Southern Division Charlotte, N.C.
May 15-18
New England Division Stratton Mountain, Vt.
May 19-20
Eastern Division Mt. Kisco, N.Y.
May 27June 1
Florida Division Delray Beach, Fla.
May 29June 1
Pacific Northwest Division Yakima, Wash.
Aug. 21-23
Texas Division Houston
specialist degrees ■
Little Tennis®
■
Facility Management
■
Computer Technology
■
Sport Science
■
Competitive Player Development
■
Pro Shop Operations
■
Wheelchair Tennis
CPD (Competitive Player Development) – Gained through the USA Tennis High Performance Coaching Program administered by the USA Tennis Coaching Education Department. For more information about USPTA’s specialist degrees, including applications, please visit our Web site at www.uspta.com or contact the USPTA Education Department at (800) USPTA-4U or education@uspta.org.
cardio tennis April 13-14 May 3-4 May 17-18 June 8-9
March 14-15 March 15-16 March 17-18 March 23-24 March 24-25 March 29-30 March 29-30 March 29-30 March 30-31 April 5-6 April 5-6 April 5-6 April 6-7 April 10-11 April 12-13 April 12-13 April 13-14 April 14-15
Oklahoma City Chagrin, Ohio Houston* Mandeville, La. Valencia, Calif. Birmingham, Ala. Lexington, Ky. Orlando, Fla. Greenwood Village, Colo. Atlanta College Park, Md. Providence, R.I. Los Angeles Flushing, N.Y. Seattle Boca Raton, Fla. St. Paul Minn. McLean, Va.
April 18-19 April 19-20 April 19-20 April 21-22 April 25-26 April 26-27 April 27-28 May 3-4 May 3-4 May 4-5 May 4-5 May 5-6 May 5-6 May 10-11 May 15-16 May 16-17 May 17-18
Tyler, Texas Fayetteville, N.C. Aurora, Ill. San Francisco Des Moines, Iowa Big Rapids, Mich. Lexington, Ky. Wilmington, Del. Hilton Head Island, S.C. Nashville, Tenn. Conway, Ark. Williamsburg, Va. Seal Beach, Calif. Orlando, Fla. Stratton Mountain, Vt. Kansas City, Mo. St. Louis
* This course is held at the USPTA World Headquarters. Exam reser vations must be made at least 21 days prior to the dates listed. Each date includes an exam, upgrade and CRC unless noted. Exam cancellations must be received no later than 14 days before the exam, or a cancellation fee will be charged accordingly. Applicant: 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.
specialty courses Managing a tennis complex, March 16, in Northern California, R. Heckelman Technical solutions to tactical problems, April 14, Houston, B. Hobden Teaching Little Tennis®, May 16, Stratton Mountain, Vt., T. Gilbert
Midtown Athletic Club at Windy Hill – Atlanta Houston Racquet Club – Houston Sport Fit Bowie – Bowie, Md. Home Depot Center – Los Angeles
Please visit www.growingtennis.com (workshops) to register online.
The deadline to register and/or cancel a course is 15 working days before the event. Anyone canceling late or failing to cancel will forfeit one-half the course fee. Schedule is subject to change. Call the USPTA Education Department for more information or e-mail education@uspta.org.
Earn education credits from World Conference DVDs (Seminar DVDs, ½ credit/specialty course DVDs, 2 credits) Receive your education credit report card via e-mail by visiting the members-only section of uspta.com.
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ADDvantage/March 2008
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
industry action Members The University Club in Palo Alto, Calif., recently named longtime USPTA Pro Dan Miller as the new general manager. The University Club is located next to Stanford University and includes 10 lighted tennis courts, multiple restaurants, and an aquatics and fitness center. The tennis staff is led by USPTA director of tennis Bryden Yemm and fellow USPTA pros Todd Edwards and Jennifer Taylor. The USTA announced that USPTA member Mark Kovacs, Ph.D., of Hoover, Ala., has been named manager of USTA Sport Science, Boca Raton, Fla., where he will report to Paul Lubbers, director of Coaching Education and Sport Science, USTA Player Development. Prior to joining the USTA, Kovacs was an assistant professor of exercise science and wellness at Jacksonville State University. Kovacs, 27, had an accomplished junior career, winning over
Lleyton Hewitt at the 1996 Australian National Championships and playing doubles with Andy Roddick at the 1998 Junior U.S. Open. He graduated from Auburn University in 2002 as an All-American and NCAA doubles champion.
Member product showcase USPTA members Paul Roetert and Todd Ellenbecker share exercise and practice drills that translate to optimal on-court performance in the new book, “Complete Conditioning for Tennis,” written in collaboration with the USTA. Paired with an instructional DVD, the book features exercises, sample programs and footwork drills that develop speed, flexibility and strength as they relate to the game. The book covers every facet of conditioning from fitness testing and warming up to designing a program that meets a player’s individual needs and performance goals.
Manufacturers
Guy Parks and Bob Love, USPTA Master Professionals, conducted a USPTA specialty course on “Movement and Footwork” for more than 50 coaches and pros at the Indiana High School Tennis Coaches Association Workshop.
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ADDvantage/March 2008
More than 60 Orlando area Special Olympics athletes, six wheelchair athletes, and numerous community volunteers celebrate a successful Tennis Fun Day at Tuscawilla Country Club in Winter Springs, Fla. On January 19, nearly 140 athletes and volunteers participated in tennis clinics and exhibition matches on the award-winning courts of Tuscawilla Country Club. The event raised $1,200 for Special Olympics and was organized by the club’s director of tennis, Mark Pachtner, a USPTA-certified professional. Sports Attack introduces the Ace Attack ball machine. It sets up in minutes; simply roll it onto court, plug it in, and dial in your ball speed, spin, velocity, interval and oscillation using simple control panel dials. Three-wheel design provides an infinite spectrum of ball spins simulating any shot in the game at actual speeds of 105-plus mph. The throwing head easily raises to a serving height of 9 feet, delivering left- or right-handed serves and second serves with authentic high kicks. There’s no need to raise the entire machine on an expensive, cumbersome lift. The throwing head quickly lowers from serving height to deliver all groundstrokes including volleys, forehands, backhands and lobs. It quickly adjusts to cover the entire width of the court and sets to several training positions. Contact Sports Attack at 800-717-4251 or
visit its Web site at www. sportsattack.com for more information.
Miscellany USPTA-certified tennis instructors who would like to take a “working” vacation at a magnificent resort in the Caribbean or Mexico should consider Upswing Pro Sun Getaways. Upswing offers the unique opportunity for qualified trainers to take an all-inclusive vacation with a guest in www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
industry action exchange for instruction at the resort. Vacations typically run from Sunday to Sunday, with clinics Monday through Saturday. Instruction time is usually two to three hours per day. Upswing Pro Sun Getaways was founded by Mark Sobieralski, USPTA. Upswing charges a placement fee to cover operating expenses for organizing and scheduling. There is also a small membership fee to sign up with Upswing. For more information visit the Web site at www.upswinggetaways. com or call Sobieralski at 313-580-6742. The International Tennis Hall of Fame has announced an open call for nominations for the induction Class of 2009. Hall of Fame nominations can be submitted online at www.tennisfame. com. Nomination forms may be obtained by contacting the International Tennis Hall of Fame at 401849-3990 or newport@ tennisfame.com. Players are elected based on a distinguished record of competitive achievement at the highest international level, with consideration given to integrity, sportsmanship and character. The International Tennis Hall of Fame has two categories for players. The Recent Player category is for those who were active in the sport within the last 20 years, but not a significant factor on the ATP (men’s) or WTA (women’s) tour within five years prior to induction. The Master Player category is for those players who have been retired from the www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
sport for at least 20 years. In addition, a Contributor category recognizes administrators, coaches, officials and members of the media, whose exceptional contributions have furthered the growth, reputation and character of the sport. Nominees in the Contributor category do not need to be retired from their activities related to the sport. Nominations must be received on or before April 1, 2008, for induction eligibility in 2009. The ballot for 2009 induction will be announced during this year’s U.S. Open, and those elected by the Hall of Fame’s voting panels will be announced early next year. The official induction ceremony will take place in July 2009 at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I. This year’s Hall of Fame Class of 2008 honors Michael Chang, Mark McCormack (posthumously) and Eugene L. Scott (posthumously). The 2008 Induction Ceremony is scheduled for July 12 in Newport. One-on-One Doubles, the new game of tennis sanctioned by USTA/Florida, will be played at the SonyEricsson Open, April 2-5, as part of the USPTA/ Florida Invitational. This half-court, serve-and-volley singles game played on the doubles court will showcase 16 of the best USPTA/Florida professionals competing in a prize-money tournament. The new game was played at the USTA National Men’s 35s Claycourt Championships in 2006;
at an ATP tournament, the BMW Championships, in 2007; at the USPTA World Conference on Tennis in September 2007; and at the ITA Coaches Convention in December 2007. The organization conducting One-on-One Doubles business is Advancing the Game Inc. The organization’s mission is to advance the new game within the tennis industry and to create programs for disadvantaged youth groups. For event sponsorship opportunities or for more information, e-mail oneononedoubles@yahoo.com or visit oneononedoubles. com. USPTA member Ed Krass is founder and executive director of One-onOne Doubles. Peter Burwash International recently convened at the Naples Grande Resort & Club in Naples, Fla., for the company annual meeting. PBI directs the tennis program at the Naples Grand Resort, chosen by Tennis Resorts Online as one of the top 50 tennis resorts for 2007. Ninety PBI Professionals from around the globe came together for craft sharing and continuing education during the annual meeting. Seminar topics ranged from coaching tour players and innovative teaching techniques to communication and program marketing. Tennis industry leader Alan Schwartz made an educational presentation and delivered the keynote address at the banquet. USPTA member Scott Anders was named Rookie of the Year at the company’s award banquet.
Passings Gloria Lorraine Kramer, wife of USPTA member Jack Kramer, passed away Feb. 13. All who knew Gloria were attracted to her generosity, kindness, loyalty, sense of humor, infectious laugh, and deep love for her family. Gloria will be greatly missed by her loving husband of 63 years, Jack Kramer; her five “perfect” sons and four daughters-in-law: David (Rosie), John, Bob (Katrinka), Mike (Sandra), Ron (Hollie); her grandchildren, Amber (Chad), Scott, Joanna, Andrew, Michael, Jack, Kodi, Kylie, Samantha (Nick), Brandon, and Blake; her brother, Bob (Bonnie) and sister, Muriel. Memorial contributions may be made to the Pacific Southwest Youth Tennis Foundation in Los Angeles. Sharon Wagner, a USPTA member for nearly 20 years, passed away in San Antonio on Feb. 18. She taught tennis independently in Florida until she moved to San Antonio in 1990. In 1991 she taught tennis at Northern Hills Country Club (a CCA club), and in 1992, she became the director of tennis at the club until her retirement in 2000. She was the former treasurer of the San Antonio Professional Tennis Association. She was very active in the development of junior tennis in San Antonio as an area coordinator for the Texas Section. ADDvantage/March 2008
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