Addvantage 2011 October

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www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

contents the total professional – enhancing your career 13 Make tennis as easy as A, B, C! Take negative emotions out of tennis for beginner player –

by Kevin Braun, USPTA

departments 2 Executive Committee 3 Vice president’s message 7 Cardio Tennis

17 Creating lifelong pros – by Colby Jager, USPTA

8 Classifieds

19 Pro to pro – Have game, will travel 22 Career development Does your club welcome traveling players? –

by Bob Schweid, USPTA 24 Industry action

news

9 USPTA announces new national board of directors for 2011-2013 10 USPTA grant to QuickStart Tennis organization benefits local students 15 2011 USPTA tournament player ranking points 21 USPTA welcomes new members

On the cover – A junior player concentrates on a shot during an oncourt general session at this year’s World Conference.

volume 35 • issue 10

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 – 713-358-7794 email – magazine@uspta.org

Shawna Riley Kimberly Forrester Kathy Buchanan John Dettor

Office hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Central time

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Editor Managing editor Circulation Advertising

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. 2011. All rights reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of the magazine is not permitted without written permission from USPTA. ADDvantage/October 2011

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USPTA Executive Committee Division presidents, regional vice presidents and past national presidents:

California Division

National Board of Directors: Tom Daglis

President 301-340-6185

Randy Mattingley First vice president 281-358-2181

Tom McGraw Vice president 502-895-4646

Nancy Cox Vice president 503-409-2567

Jeff Hawes Vice president 504-482-4084

Dan Moster Vice president 260-249-9424

Gary Trost Vice president 405-848-2994

Harry Gilbert Immediate past president 386-793-0084

Past presidents Ron Woods

(2005-2007) 361-991-7501

David T. Porter, Ed.D.

(2003-2005) 808-675-3755

Joseph Thompson

(1999-2003) 720-470-6550

Pierre Mareschal President 626-744-1650 Mike Gennette Regional vice president 805-495-0111

Eastern Division Joe Roediger President 914-373-6232 Warren Lem Regional vice president 631-766-2318

Florida Division Jeff Cohen President 561-995-5213 Richard Centerbar Regional vice president 561-487-7070

Hawaii Division Ken Nakama President 808-679-3197 Bruce Nagel Regional vice president 808-262-2057

Intermountain Division Kim Davis President 719-536-0797 Alden Bock Regional vice president 303-232-6272

Mid-Atlantic Division John Cleary President 301-340-6185 Carl Clark Regional vice president 804-287-1300

Middle States Division Bill Sember President 484-888-8329 Wilson Pipkin Regional vice president 717-898-3102

Midwest Division Molly Card Beckmann President 317-582-1550, ext. 229 Paul Marcum Regional vice president 248-626-9880, ext. 4006

Missouri Valley Division Kendell Hale President 816-436-1608 Angela Koumaris Regional vice president 405-848-2994

New England Division Jacques Faulise President 401-952-7000 Christopher Stevens Regional vice president 603-610-0183

Northern Division Brian McCoy President 763-656-1590 John Schollmeier Regional vice president 952-232-1334

Northern California Division John Sharpe President 925-283-5448 Andrea Barnes Regional vice president 650-736-7272

Pacific Northwest Division Hunter Lipscomb Regional vice president 541-753-1043

San Diego Division Nelson Alapi President 858-382-6571 Dophie Poiset Regional vice president 858-756-4459

Southern Division William Phillips President 337-849-5821 Pat Whitworth Regional vice president 678-482-6357

Southwest Division Sara Stablein President 602-636-9840 Vicki Foster Regional vice president 602-930-8423

Texas Division Charlotte Wylie President 817-427-6680 Jim Sciarro Regional vice president 903-581-7788

Vice president’s message Indirectly speaking, let’s start benefiting

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NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS President First Vice President

ave you ever asked yourself, “What do I get for my USPTA membership dues?”

Let me assure you, you are not alone. Even we loyal “lifers” have, at one time or another, entertained this question. It is only natural that from time to time people seek to assure themselves that their discretionary spending is worthwhile. And, in a struggling economy, many of us are searching for reasons to justify this expense in our club or personal budgets. Well, I have got some good news to share: There are many benefits to USPTA membership. While the direct benefits are plentiful, the indirect benefits may be even more valuable.

divisional and national conventions, club managers (CMAA) meetings, and at USTA functions. More importantly, however, interacting with members – whether on-court or in a board room at my club – has become totally comfortable for me. I have no hesitations about teaching large groups, making a presentation or giving a report. I attribute this to my early USPTA experience.

Member (client) communication: At a USPTA workshop, I was discussing various ideas with peers. When the topic of communication came up, a fellow professional introduced me to an online company that specialized in mass telecommunications for groups and organizations. I quickly realized not only how much time it would save Direct benefits my tennis staff, but also the tremenMost of us are aware of the major dous savings in budgeted money for benefits in being a member of the mailed fliers and postcards. My memJeff Hawes USPTA. They include continuing bers loved it and my general manager education opportunities, special deals on HEAD racquets and Pro Penn balls, online started using it to contact all the various comresources and tools, and ADDvantage and Tennis mittee members for meetings each month. This magazines. While each of these is fairly well known, was a win-win for everyone – not to mention the they are very much underutilized. Individually, these “brownie points” I gained. And it all came about benefits would be enough to justify annual member- because I attended and participated in discussions ship dues. Collectively, they serve as appreciated assets at a USPTA workshop. in the pockets of tennis professionals. Another huge benefit is the $9 million on-court liability insurance 10 and Under Tennis/QuickStart: In the early policy that members receive. If for no other reason, 2000s, the USPTA leadership approved and started this should provide the assurance that you and/or your promoting the Developmental Coach (now Recfacility manager needs. This is definitely something reational Coach) membership. The focus here to think about – it is a no-brainer. But wait, there was to go after the high school, part-time and assistant coaches who did not really fit the full-time is more! instructor mold of the professional level status. I was asked to conduct several of these workshops Indirect benefits Public speaking skills: Early in my career, I chose including one as part of the USTA Missouri Valto enter the seminar contest at a USPTA divisional ley annual meeting. They were well attended with convention. Although I was disqualified for going favorable survey results. But more importantly, this over the allotted time, the experience was extremely was instrumental in helping to forge an agreement valuable toward gaining confidence in speaking pub- between the USTA and USPTA. Their collaboralicly. Since then, I have spoken numerous times at tive efforts resulted in the creation of the Recre-

Tom Daglis Randy Mattingley

Vice Presidents

Nancy Cox Jeff Hawes Tom McGraw Dan Moster Gary Trost

Past President

Harry Gilbert

WORLD HEADQUARTERS CEO

Tim Heckler

Director of Operations

Rich Fanning

Administrative Director

Marty Bostrom

Director of Communications

Shawna Riley

Creative Services Director

Julie Myers

Publications Manager/ Managing Editor

Kim Forrester

Director of Public Relations

Poornima Rimm

Communications

Jill Phipps

Director of Marketing

John Dettor

Digital Asset Director

Timothy Heckler

Digital Asset Coordinator/ Ramona Husaru Tennis Multimedia Management Video Production Director

Joe Birkmire

Video Editor

Nick Warwick

Video Editor/ Flash Designer

Aisha Nelson

Video Editor/Videographer Chris Maale Director of Fred Viancos Professional Development Corporate Janice Stollenwerck Services Administrator Director of Information Technology

Dan Wilson

Information Technology/ Multimedia

Scott Bucic

Director of Computer Services

Kathy Buchanan

Director of Membership and Certification

Vicky Tristan

Membership/ Certification Coordinator

Sylvia Ortiz

Membership/ Melony DeLoach Insurance Coordinator Director of Finance Payroll/Benefits Controller Merchandise/ Accounting Assistant

Kathy Ladner Renée Heckler Ellen Weatherford Shelina Harris

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 uspta@uspta.org www.uspta.com Office hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Central time

continued next page www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

ADDvantage/October 2011

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from previous page ational Coach Workshops. The training for this was phenomenal. We used the high-density foam balls on short courts over miniature nets with modified-length racquets. A short time later, the 36- and 60-foot courts were introduced, as were the lower-compression balls.

Indirect benefits ... are realized when members testify to their value and explain to the younger generation why we do what we do. Shaking hands, sharing ideas, and helping others may pay in ways we never imagined. In the end, it all adds up to a strong value in being a member of the USPTA.

As all this was developing, I was implementing these new tools and learning skills at my club. As most of us realize now, that was the beginning of great things to come.

Today, it is known as U10 Tennis. I am proud to have been there in the beginning and to be a big supporter of the program.

And I attribute it all to my connection with the USPTA.

Find-a-Pro site, I immediately inquired about it through contacts, then decided to apply. I was offered and did accept the job. However, I will honestly say that while my background was good, I am not sure I would have been offered this job without the endorsement of two solid individuals in the area. These two gentlemen vouched for me and my abilities – all because of a history I developed with them through the USPTA.

ber, the indirect benefits are important also. Because we cannot point directly to them on paper or a website does not mean they do not exist. They are realized when members testify to their value and explain to the younger generation why we do what we do. Shaking hands, sharing ideas, and helping others may pay in ways we never imagined. In the end, it all adds up to a strong value in being a member of the USPTA.

Finally, my sincere hope would be for more of us to use the benefits we have available as USPTA members. Although each of us is different with regard to skills, ambitions, and motivations, our association has a lot to offer. And, it will continue to provide more. Just remem-

Please feel free to contact me (wjhawes@ aol.com) or any other member of the board or executive committee to offer feedback, give suggestions or make recommendations. We want you to take full advantage of your membership as a valued member of our association. ď ¨

Business Savvy: Several years ago, I was chatting with a fellow professional about the USPTA endorsement of Head racquets and Pro Penn balls. During the conversation, he mentioned an ingenuous program that one of our peers had implemented at his club. Simply stated, members could buy a whole case of Pro Penn balls (at a slight discount) and he would store them for the member. This was good for the member because they were not paying full price for the balls anymore. Plus, the professional stored them for free. In all actuality, the professional just tracked the number of cans given out to each member on a spreadsheet and ordered more cases from Penn as needed. His ball sales increased 30 percent over the previous year. Needless to say, I liked the idea and continue to use it to this day. And it all happened because I was conversing with a fellow professional about the USPTA. Networking: While I attribute being offered my last job to my accomplishments within the USPTA and a dedicated work ethic, I directly attribute my current position to my strong connections developed over the years in USPTA leadership, relations built at USPTA workshops, and friendships formed through common interests in tennis. In 2007, with financial conditions changing at my last club, I kept my eyes opened for other opportunities within the profession. Seeing an appealing job advertised on the USPTA

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Tips from the pros Benefits abound when pros-turned-students take to the Cardio Tennis court

by Eric Alexon, National Cardio Speaker and director of Cardio Tennis

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idtown Athletic Club in Chicago continues to offer one of the strongest Cardio Tennis programs in the country with 25 classes per week, a Cardio Tennis pathway for development and successful Cardio Tennis social events.

Always trying to improve and expand the program, Midtown Athletic Club has been holding biweekly Cardio Tennis training sessions for approximately one-third of our teaching professionals. Everyone, including myself, has been pleasantly surprised with the results.

Pro education is paramount for a successful Cardio Tennis program. It offers the chance to not only introduce new drills and games and refine feeding techniques, but also serves as a great team-building activity and cardio regimen for many pros who don’t have time in their busy schedules to work out.

Most importantly, it gives the (12 to 15) Midtown pros whom I rely on to lead

Cardio Tennis a chance to put themselves in the students’ shoes. To be the best Cardio leader it is critical to know what it feels like to be on the receiving end.

Having Cardio Tennis training twice a month as part of its monthly schedule, our staff is able to stay in tune with what’s going on in the world of Cardio and we’ve more than doubled the percentage of Midtown pros who are qualified to lead a class. Now, if I’m pulled away from the club or out of town for a meeting, I have confidence that the classes will operate seamlessly.

By experiencing the same thing that our members do, we’re all learning so many important aspects of Cardio Tennis, especially when it comes to proper lengths for certain

games and drills. Having the student’s perspective has reminded us that some drills, games and progressions can be reduced in length and still be effective. It also helps us to better manage heart rate and provide the ultimate workout for individuals based on their fitness and ability level.

From a member standpoint, there’s plenty of excitement on the days when we hold Cardio Tennis for Pros. We hold the session on our famous Court 5, where Andre Agassi won his first USTA junior event when he was just 12. This court offers great viewing areas and we invite our members and associates to come watch. It brings a high level of energy to the club because it gives onlookers a chance to see our pros showcasing their talents; in essence it is a super-fast exhibition and party. What a great way to showcase the big differentiating factor of Cardio Tennis from traditional tennis, which is “intensity level.” With the pro class it can get pretty intense in an upbeat atmosphere where everybody can see the standard being set and leading by example.

It also demonstrates our pros are having a lot of fun and if they’re having fun, then you know the members are going to have fun, too. One of the many reasons for the overall success of Cardio Tennis at this facility is because it is strongly supported by our general manager, Michael Mahoney.

From day one back in 2005 he recognized the potential of the program for generating revenue, creating new members and getting current members to play more frequently.

Another huge benefit has been it’s making our pros all better teachers. You can see evidence of this when observing non-Cardio continued next page

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from previous page Tennis classes, such as Adult Instructional classes as well as our Junior Development and Competitive programs, as the essence of Cardio Tennis can be seen throughout. I have the privilege of leading Cardio Tennis workshops throughout the country as a national speaker and I would highly recommend attending one of these courses because even if you never lead Cardio Tennis sessions it will help you to be a better tennis professional on court.

Cardio Tennis has simply given our staff, across the board, a deeper drill and game base to choose from and has reminded them to teach with great energy and passion – two things that are a must when leading a Cardio Tennis class.

From an industry standpoint, Cardio Tennis for pros allows us to strengthen our relationships with area contacts in the tennis industry. For example, Wilson Sporting Goods is headquartered in Chicago so we invite Wilson staff to participate in the Cardio Tennis for Pros sessions and they have a blast. Make sure you invite local industry manufacturers, retailers and USTA staff, many of whom are great tennis players and are looking for an opportunity to train for tennis.

Schedule-wise, we have a biweekly pro meeting and biweekly Cardio Tennis for Pros session on the weeks we don’t have our meeting. I’ll send an email a week before to ensure a class count and also so I know how many courts to book.

Lastly, the Cardio for Pros session has reminded our staff of the many uses of the red, orange and green balls for warm-up activities, games and cool-down. These balls stay in play longer, therefore the points last longer so that everybody gets a better workout. When using the orange or green ball with the pros it makes it difficult for them to hit clean winners so, again, the ball stays in play longer and the workout is that much better. And if the members and employees see the pros having long, dynamic points using these balls, it helps demystify the use of these balls in the regular Cardio Tennis session. In other words, if the “pros” are training with them then these balls are beneficial for everybody!

I like to think of Cardio Tennis as a “spin class for tennis players.” Our pros have quickly learned there is so much knowledge needed to lead great Cardio Tennis sessions including; • The right music with high beats per minute (like music used in spin classes) • Appropriate sideline activities, timing and when to implement • The right games for the number of players and how to effectively rotate • Engaging partner warm-up and cool-down activities • A great understanding of heart rate zones, heart rate monitors and heart rate recovery.

As a result of this knowledge, they become better teachers and help their students become better and healthier players, and, in the end, happier members and satisfied customers. 

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CLASSIFIEDS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR SALE: Specialty Tennis Store in Louisiana. Tired of the long hours on court? Looking for a fun, profitable business opportunity? Offers high income potential and a great lifestyle!

Contact Carson Bankston at 225-572-7992 or email carson. bankston@gmail.com.

TENNIS HEALTH CLUB FOR SALE: Four indoor courts, six outdoor, racquetball, nautilus and free weights. Will also consider partnership. Visit www. toddsmith.usptapro.com or call 423-764-8444.

DRILLS NEED TENNIS DRILLS? USPTA Master Professional Jorge Capestany’s new website has more than 700 videos of tennis drills and tips. Log on to www. tennisdrills.tv to see (and print) more than 18 free samples.

EMPLOYMENT TennisJobs.com – The tennis industry’s ONLY international tennis professional employment service. Subscribe today!

TENNIS PRODUCTS PRO/COACH PRICING on racquets, apparel, shoes, bags, balls, strings and accessories. Get baskets, carts, training equipment, books, videos and more. www.TennisExpress.com/800833-6615.

QM-1 Portable Camera Support.

Extendable pole, precalibrated system places on fence, from either side, quick and easy. MyTennisTools.com.

GRIP COACH is a brilliant product that has simple and easy to follow guidelines making it ideal for adults and kids to learn tennis grips. Players and Coaches love the Grip Coach because it maximizes coaching time for every one.

Visit: www.gripcoach.com.au.

VACATION OPPORTUNITIES 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.

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.

Tell us what’s on your mind or what works for you!

Ever wanted to publish an article? This is your chance! Send us your tips or articles on coaching children, high school players, recreational adults – any level – or other subjects such as economic challenges, popular programming, player development, ethics, job security – any tennis-related topic you want to address.

Remember, having an article published in ADDvantage can enhance your career or add to your resume. Also, being published in ADDvantage is worth 25 points toward USPTA Master Professional certification (a maximum of 50 is allowed).

Send articles to the attention of the managing editor at the USPTA World Headquarters or via e-mail to magazine@uspta.org. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

USPTA announces new national board of directors for 2011-2013

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he United States Professional Tennis Association installed its new national board of directors that will serve the ­association until September 2013. The new board took office during the USPTA World Conference on Tennis, Sept.

19-24, at Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel, Fla.

All new board members were elected by vote of the general membership. The USPTA bylaws do not allow additional nominations for the positions of president and first vice president, therefore, the choices of the Nominating Committee for those two offices were final prior to the election.

The USPTA board of directors includes:

The USPTA board manages the association’s affairs between meetings of the larger USPTA Executive Committee, which includes the board, three past national presidents, and two elected leaders from each of the USPTA’s 17 domestic divisions.

Board members are nominated by a committee composed of Executive Committee members.

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President Tom Daglis

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First Vice President Randy Mattingley

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New board member and Vice President Nancy Cox

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board member an d Vice President Jeff Hawes

The chief executive officer of the USPTA since 1982 is Tim Heckler.

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New board member and Vice President Tom McGraw*

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New board member and Vice President Dan Moster

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New board member and Vice President Gary Trost

Founded in 1927, USPTA strives to raise the standards of the tennis profession while promoting greater awareness of the sport. For more information visit uspta.com. 

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Immediate Past President Harry Gilbert

* Tom McGraw is new to the board for this term, but has previously served on the board.

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USPTA grant to QuickStart Tennis organization benefits local students

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he United States Professional Tennis Association presented a grant to QuickStart Tennis of Central ­Virginia for its Jump Start QuickStart Tennis initiative, which made it possible for several local schools and thousands of kids to receive kid-sized racquets, lowcompression QuickStart balls and portable nets.

QuickStart of Central Virginia, a grassroots community tennis association, made equipment grants to Bacon District, Eureka and Phenix ­elementary schools and the Charlotte Early Learning Center in Charlotte County. QCV trains, equips and supports schools and PE teachers who commit to teaching QuickStart Tennis, the USTA’s “play-to-learn” format, in PE classes and out-of-school programs. Since QuickStart Tennis was first introduced

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in early 2008, QCV has trained almost 700 people and helped 105 schools in 18 Central Virginia counties add QuickStart to the PE curriculum. More than 49,000 students in those schools now have an opportunity to learn the “sport for a lifetime.”

Through its Jump Start QuickStart Tennis Initiative, QCV trains, equips and supports schools, parks and recreation departments and other community organizations that are committed to teaching and running self-sustaining QuickStart Tennis programs.

The USPTA Foundation provides grants and donations to programs and organizations that help economically disad-

vantaged people learn tennis. All proceeds from the annual USPTA silent auction held at the World Conference on Tennis go to the foundation.

For more information on this and other USPTA programs, please visit uspta.com and click on “USPTA Foundation” under “About USPTA.” 

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Make Tennis as easy as A, B, C! Take negative emotions out of tennis for beginner player

by Kevin Braun, USPTA

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earning to play tennis can be frustrating. Players deal with different grips, movement, positioning, the rules, how to keep score, and so on.

It can be an uphill battle for a lot of beginner players as well as adults who have taken some time off and are getting excited about the sport again.

As coaches we should always try to instill a love of tennis in the players who learn from us.

The grips, racquets, and now with QuickStart, even the courts have changed, but the basic fundamentals of the game have not. I have found that keeping the game simple for all levels and types of players will help them achieve success as well as keep negative emotions at bay.

By teaching the “ABCs” we can concentrate on not only technique but also the emotional and mental sides of the game. The ABCs have been broken down into two different categories: mental and ­physical.

The mental side of the ABCs is Attitude, Belief and Competition, while the physical or technical side is Aggression, Balance and Control.

When teaching it’s important as a coach to figure out which one of these tags your player will gravitate toward. If you are dealing with someone who is very analytical, the technical side of the ABCs is a great starting point. But, if you are dealing with an emotional player, the mental side might be more effective. Either way, this method gives us clear-cut plans of attack when trying to help our players reach the next level.

Let’s take a closer look at the ABCs. A1 – Attitude. This is the foundation for all the other categories. If a player isn’t having fun or their attitude isn’t a positive one, they will approach this game with feelings of self-doubt, anger and frustration.

Attitude is incredibly important, especially

with younger players. Before the lesson even begins, it’s important to convey the message that for the next hour the court is going to be a place of fun. I make sure to start with a game or some kind of dynamic warm-up that gets the players in the frame of mind that tennis is exciting. I try to ensure that each player knows it’s not the result that matters but the effort. There is a reason this is a lifetime sport; it can take a lifetime to figure out. But in the meantime, let’s hit the ball and have FUN. A2 – Aggression. Aggression is the word that I associate with racquet speed. If a player’s aggression is too high, that person is swinging at the ball too fast. And accordingly, if a player’s aggression is too low, he or she is swinging at the ball too softly.

The swing aggression can mean different things for each player. For instance, if one of my 4.0 ladies is looking at a short put-away shot and her aggression is too low, that shows me a lack of confidence toward that particular shot. Alternatively, some of my junior players might have too high of an aggression level or their swing speed might be too fast for a put-away shot and I can simply tell them to control their racquet speed.

I like to use scales when teaching, as I feel it can help both the student and the coach to be on the same page. I typically want a player’s aggression to remain around a 6-8 if the scale is based on 1 to 10; 1 being the lowest aggression level and 10 being the highest. The relationship between coach and player can be challenged by a difference of language and understanding. By providing a scale, we are able to see eye-to-eye on problems so together we can create the best solutions. continued next page

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from previous page B1 – Belief. We all remember the shoes Melanie Oudin wore in her debut US Open in 2009. They bore the message, “Believe.” She had put in the work, the talent was clearly there. The only thing needed was belief. She needed to believe that she was as good as the other players.

We can teach our players to have the most beautiful strokes, but if they ultimately don’t believe that they will make the shot of choice then we have only helped them half of the way. As the professional we need to create games and drills that will help with confidence. If you are hitting and playing a game with your players don’t give them any line calls or free points. Make them earn and work for it. They will respect you more as their pro, and that work ethic will help create a self-belief that might have been lacking.

B2 – Balance. Balance to me equals footwork. When we watch tennis on television we see some of the most talented athletes hitting the most amazing shots. But what the typical club player or developing junior player doesn’t understand is these shots were hit due to outstanding balance and footwork. With the introduction of QuickStart into the mainstream of tennis, it’s going to be crucial to equip each young player with the foundation of strong footwork and balance. I always insist that a player needs to be on balance before, during and after the shot. As coaches, we offer a unique perspective to examine where the balance is being lost and to develop drills and exercises to help in their area of need.

C1 – Competition. Winning and losing are only results. We must forget about the hoopla that comes with winning and losing and remind our players that improvement is the bigger goal. Yes, winning and losing are important concerns, but they are not the only reason why people play tennis.

For a lot of players tennis is a great way to exercise, socialize and have a meaningful Sunday afternoon with the family. But for those players who are geared more toward competition, we need to encourage that pursuit.

I like to tell my tournament-level junior players and my adult players who are in

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leagues that competition lies in balance.

We can be too competitive or not competitive at all. If a player is too competitive or what I call hyper-competitive, they will believe the match was won or lost on their racquet. They will tend to call lines in their favor and cheer only for the good shots they have made. On the contrary, if a player continually plays out balls or says “nice shot” to an opponent without ever giving themselves a pat on the back they are under-competitive. In each instance the scales are tipped. To be competing correctly we need to be both taking and giving.

Taking means telling ourselves “nice shot” or saying “come on,” while giving means telling our opponent “nice shot” or clapping our hand on our strings for them. It’s important to tell our players that winning and losing will happen, but competing will carry them all through life.

QuickStart court trying to make sense of this game we have come to love.

Winning and losing are only results. We must forget about the hoopla that comes with winning and losing and remind our players that improvement is the bigger goal.

Trying to teach the game the right way while still making the game fun and enjoyable is always going to be my No. 1 priority as a tennis professional. I have really been able to see a huge difference in how my players react on the tennis court while using the ABCs.

C2 – Control. Whichever way you decide to teach technique to your players is up to you; you are the coach and that’s what makes our profession so exciting. But each of our players needs to be exhibiting some kind of racquet control. I focus on followthrough. You can hear me barking from courts away, “control the follow-through” or “control the ball, don’t let the ball control you.” I want my tournament-level players to control the point, or control the middle of the court. I emphasize technique for my QuickStart players, telling them to control the ball over the net with the proper follow-through or to control the racquet take-back by turning their shoulders.

There are so many ways to hit a tennis ball – from the classic strokes of the game’s best, Roger Federer, to arguably the man who might surpass him, Rafael Nadal, to the club player who hits every shot with the same grip or to the youngster on a

So why are we trying to fight over what a tennis shot should look like? We should focus our attention on the player at hand.

Technique is very important in our sport but it’s not the be-all and end-all. As we look back in time we can see the graceful forehand of Chrissy Evert transformed into the lethal forehands of today’s best players such as Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters.

Styles, racquets, balls and now, even courts, have changed. But what will not change is what the game is all about and what it always will be about: improving ourselves to be the best we can be. Regardless of success and regardless of level, tennis is one of the few games that can challenge us for a lifetime.

As coaches we should always try to instill this love in the players who learn from us.

One of my most dedicated juniors has really gravitated to this. He is able to fix a problem analytically now, whereas before his emotions would cloud his judgment. I can look at him after a point and he will simply tell me the letter of what he could have improved on. It’s no longer a battle of ambiguity; I have shown him something that is tangible. By being able to address the problem quickly and effectively he and other players are able to regain their focus and channel their energy toward the goal at hand – becoming better tennis players.  Kevin Braun, USPTA, is the current head professional at Homestead Country Club in Prairie Village, Kans. In the past 12 years he has been a camp director for high-level junior programs in Germany and California, as well as the director of junior tennis at Kansas City Racquet Club. His extensive teaching career has allowed him to work with both juniors and adults of all ages and skill levels. He also serves on the board of the USPTA Missouri Valley Division.

Braun was an All-American at Johnson County Community College and while playing for Colorado Christian University was named to RMAC’s all-conference team for two consecutive years. He played his junior tennis in Kansas, where he was ranked in the top 15 in the Missouri Valley and won a state championship in boys’ singles for Maranatha Academy. He has recently been ranked second in the country for men’s 30 singles. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

2011 USPTA tournament player ranking points* Men’s Open Singles James Daly 240 Tony Larson 200 Franco Matta 200 Alamgir Wali 200 Paulo Barros 150 Jamie Feagan 150 Abdul Idi 150 Nathan LeFevre 135 Paul Kolenich 120 Kurt Pessa 120 Jermaine Smith 115 John Cook 100 Christopher Fletcher 100 Eric Kent 100 Joshua Rollins 100 Milos Vasovic 100 Juan Garcia 15 Men’s 35 Singles Joel Tennison 200 Douglas Matuska 150 Spencer Jones 30

Men’s 40 Singles Kamil Kuchta 200 Frank Vermeer 150 Adam Zastempowski 120

Men’s 45 Singles Bryan Biever 200 Jeff Cohen 200 Val Wilder 200 Glenn Britzius 150 Albert Hernandez 150 Girin Barretto 135 Michael Vidmar 120 Cory O’Brien 15 Men’s 50 Singles Stephen Bucar 200 Carlos Triana 150

Men’s 55 Singles Frank Swope 200 Stephen Shortridge 150 Men’s 60 Singles Gewan Maharaj 200 Robert Green 150 Men’s Open Doubles Roy Bryan 200 Jamie Feagan 200 Tony Larson 200 Kurt Pessa 200 Alamgir Wali 200

Paulo Barros 150 John Bougon 150 Albert Hernandez 150 John Pratt 150 Winifield Stephens 150 Bradley Werner 150 Spencer Jones 135 Joel Tennison 135 John Cook 120 James Daly 120 Jason Eckles 120 Christopher Fletcher 120 James Kucera 120 Franco Mata 120 Lee White 120 Abdul Idi 15 Douglas Matuska 15

Men’s 40 Doubles Jeff Cohen 200 Frank Vermeer 200 Bruce Kurtz 150 Mark Palus 150

Men’s 45 Doubles Rajan Keswani 200 Michael Olson 200 Glenn Britzius 150

Raman Jayapathy William Kron Michael Vidmar

150 15 15

Men’s 50 Doubles Gewan Maharaj 200 Frank Swope 200

Women’s Open Singles Marina McCollom 200

Women’s 35 Singles Robin Keener 200 Women’s 45 Singles Julie Farina 200 Carolyn Franca 150

Women’s Open Doubles Jeanne Schwartz 200 Lindsey Schwartz 200

*as of 8/30/11

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

ADDvantage/October 2011

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Creating lifelong pros

by Colby Jager, USPTA

A

tennis player recently said to me in passing, “You tennis coaches are like glorified ball machines.”

After biting my tongue at the first thing I wanted to say, I politely responded with, “I certainly hope I mean more than that in the minds of the many students that I coach.”

Colby Jager shown with a group of juniors, knows that tennis coaches prepare students for life, as well as the game.

Walking away, I thought to myself, “Is this really what people think is the extent of a tennis coach’s influence?” A tennis coach can be so much more than a figure who simply teaches you how to hit a top-spin groundstroke, hit a harder serve, or have the correct grip on a volley. What if clubs around the country knew the true value of a tennis coach, and what if tennis-teaching professionals around the world visualized the opportunity each one of them has to change a player’s life forever?

Anyone who has been in this sport for a considerable amount of time would agree when I say, “tennis is a tough sport!” To be the best, you must have much more than technically good looking strokes. You must hold a set of characteristics that are not only found in the best tennis players, but also some of the most influential leaders around the world. If you study individuals who are the best at what they do, you will find these characteristics radiating from almost each one of them: www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

• Unfathomable work ethic • Perseverance to overcome any form of adversity • Positive attitude to turn any defeat into a learning opportunity • Quality goal-setting • Passion for their endeavor • Emotional control under pressure School is a great place to learn many of these characteristics, but it is by no means the only place within a young person’s life.

Tennis can be an excellent source for practicing and perfecting these characteristics within a junior tennis player’s life, but it takes the guidance of a coach to bring these characteristics to life on the court.

At the Timberhill Tennis Club, in the small town of Corvallis, Ore., we have made it our mission to train players to be “professionals of life” through the sport of tennis. Each time a player trains with

us, rather than focusing all of our coaching on concepts very specific to tennis like stroke technique, shot execution, or match-play strategy, we discuss with them the importance of a strong work ethic, overcoming adversity, goal-setting, passion for the sport, a positive mental attitude, and emotional control under pressure.

We often begin training sessions with an inspirational quote emphasizing the importance of a characteristic like perseverance by a non-tennis player figure who has contributed immensely to society, then discussing how using perseverance in tennis can make a player both physically and mentally stronger. Using this technique, players begin to see patterns in other aspects of their lives where a characteristic like perseverance would be beneficial such as raising their grades at school, receiving an award, or applying to colleges. As a coach, there is nothing more rewarding than knowing your students will grow up with a set of characteristics they learned through tennis that can lead them to success in whatever they set their mind to.

A tennis coach has the chance not only to instruct a student on becoming a better tennis player, but also has the opportunity to turn that person into a “professional of life” who can succeed with anything they put their mind to. But it is the job of the coach to bring to life those characteristics that lead to success, and it is my hope that coaches across the country direct more of their coaching in the direction of growing those qualities so that junior tennis players transform into the next generation of leaders.  Colby Jager, USPTA, is assistant tennis director for the Timberhill Tennis Club and owner of Beyond Fitness Northwest physical training center for tennis players, both in Corvallis, Ore. He also is a Certified Personal Trainer.

He has directed a high-performance junior academy and was captain of his NCAA Division I team in college.

ADDvantage/October 2011

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Pro to pro – tips and techniques from USPTA members

Have game, will travel Does your club welcome traveling players?

by Bob Schweid, USPTA

W

e, as a group, do a lot of things very well. One thing we do not do well is service the traveling tennis player.

I just finished a nine-day car trip across the country. In each city that I stopped, or planned to stop, I called several tennis facilities. During each call, I identified myself as a USPTA pro traveling through the area, looking for a chance to hit. Result: In nine days of travel, I did not hit one ball!

Before I go into what I ran into and what I suggest, I will mention that there are exceptions. Since 1999 I have traveled crosscountry at least twice a year and I have found a few clubs that made an effort to help. These notable exceptions that I found were: the Amarillo Country Club in Amarillo, Texas; the Millennium Club in Joplin, Mo.; the Lake Charles Racket Club in Lake Charles, La.; Sea Colony in Bethany, Del.; and Tops’l in Destin, Fla. That’s five in more than 20 trips. To those clubs, their directors, pros and staff goes my profound thanks.

Here’s what usually happens. I plan to be in an area. I call a club. Usually a young desk person answers. I identify myself as a USPTA pro, tell them when I will be in their area and ask what the chances are of finding someone to hit with, a clinic or a social to join. Most of the time this person has no idea what the USPTA is or what events are www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

on the tennis schedule. I usually hear, “we have a pro you can take lessons from.” I then ask if the pro can return my call, the desk person takes my name and number, and that’s usually the end of it – no call back, no nothing.

Sometimes I get to speak to a pro, usually because they are standing next to the desk. The feeling is that they can’t get rid of me fast enough. The actual conversation goes along the lines, “We have no events in that time frame, and I don’t know any members who are available. But I can book a lesson.” Frankly guys, I can’t afford a lesson every day I’m traveling.

OK, you say, this guy is looking for something for nothing. Not so, I don’t mind a clinic fee or guest fee, even though I never charge a USPTA pro at my club. I just want to get on court and hit a few balls. A little professional courtesy would be nice, even

if that courtesy was only to call back in a timely manner. We are all members of the same association.

There are a couple of things that I have found to be true. Smaller clubs are more likely to be helpful than famous resorts or clubs that are fronted by a “big name.” I have actually found the big-name clubs are the least helpful. This is not because of the name, because the namesakes are hardly ever on site. Just seems like policy. Many of these big-name pros are in our association and the fact that I am a USPTA member has no effect.

We can do a better job. If a person in the business, and in our association, can’t get a game, what shot does a recreational player passing through town have? If I were a golfer, I could play anywhere I stopped my car. We gotta do a better job.

Here’s what we do at our club. My director defers to me in most matters of traveling players. Unless they specifically ask for a lesson, which goes to the next person up, the travelers are directed to me. If I am not at the desk, the desk personnel know to get the message to me and that I will get back as quickly as possible.

I know all of our programs, know enough members at different levels who are available and at what times. I talk to the traveler, find out what they want and most of the time I can make an arrangement.

This is not rocket science. It takes about 5 minutes.

I would really like to hear what some others have to say on this subject, if only from a personal standpoint, because I plan to travel again and I want to hit some balls.

But, from where I stand, we need to do a better job.  Bob Schweid may be contacted at schweidbob@yahoo.com.

ADDvantage/October 2011

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USPTA welcomes new members Congratulations to the following new USPTA members who fulfilled requirements between May 25 and Sept. 25.

Certified members California Yushi Ayabe Ryan Blanchette Jason DeCosta Rex Kehoe Daryll O’Donoghue Kenneth Puvogel Kenneth Reveteriano Rachael Stone Trevor Thorpe Jeremy Tuite Jon Wood Stacy Wood China Annabel Montgomery Joshua Robinson Eastern Nathaniel Buckley Jarett Cascino Gavin Costanzo Christian De Los Rios Frank Geiger Rodrigo Goncalves Charles Guerrier Iva Gyurgina Robert Janecek Timmy Leon William Meakem Wayne Mitchel Paul Saputo Stephen Thirolle Paul Wallack Florida Hisham Abaza Frank Acierno Steve Allison Osvaldo Benitez Jay Berman Creighton Blanchard Luca Bonomi Rachel Crismond Juan Cruz Rita Dotson Alexander Herwig Matthew Maloney David McNair Michael Mickelson Tye Myers Jack Najjar Danielle Nickerson Rodolfo Nunez Natalie Palmenter Trevor Rankow Brock Sakey Andrea Schutte Paul Segodo Stephanie Skarwecki Mathieu Soto Heather St. John Peter Storm Danae Valderrama Janet Wilson Benjamin Wirth Hawaii Brendon Pacheco Intermountain Beth Ann Baker Benjamin Jones Bridger Mahlum Dane McQuivey

Jaylen Musselman Nick Provenza Micah Rideout Zach Rideout Katherine Riebe Jacob Stringer International Arnel Berdan Duma Boloto Arturo Cano Siu Hung Chan Andres Dunner Pelayo Fernandez-Canteli Andy Flores Kar Chun Fong Raul Laroya Kwok Wing Lee Wai Kei Donovan Lo Oscar Lopez Martos Carlos Munoz Gonzalez Luis Munoz Gonzalez Juan Ordenes Barbany Rodel Pablo Tomislav Peric Alberto Puerto Perez-Vico Ma Pilar Santibanez Gomez-Ullate Piotr Szulc Ming Wai Wong Wing Hing Wong Zi Jun Yang Gonzalo Zabala Fuentes Christina Zgera Mohamed Faisal Zniber Benkirane Ivan Barrera Andres Garriga Carlos Megias Eduardo Nicolas Ravi Tiwari JPTA Kazuki Kasai Yasuhiro Nakajima Masaya Nakamura Fumio Shima Hideyuki Tanaka Naoki Terui Norifumi Yamamoto Masaki Yamane Mid-Atlantic John Alexander Mitchell Duque James Engles Wendy Heger Andrew Majett Eric Minor Sandor Orban Hillen Smith Phillip Taylor Richard Zeng Middle States Sherri Bell Nick Cisik Andrew Deckert Mandie Rutt Andrew Wapowsky Midwest Robert Kleeman Richard Knipper Joseph Leo Zach Long Nicholai Petrick

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Joshua Rifkin Derrick Spice Tracy Trunck Missouri Valley William Brown Nicholas Doll Molly Hannagan New England Kendyl Ahlgrim Thomas Callahan Dai Edwardes-Evans Roxana Enica Samuel Fecteau Tommie George Shane O’Reilly Jonathan Pivor Northern Andrew Bryan Jonathan Martin Northern California Christina Griffith Robert Shawhan Pacific Northwest Margot Charlton Hannah Hollister Julian Johnson Farhad Roshanaie Sunny Samuel San Diego Brian Gill Onnaca Heron Stacy Schrader Southern Brian Amero Matthew Bacon Grayson Blanchette Michael Blass Iztok Bombac Will Borders Theodore Callow Kristin Chamberlain Justin Cobb Gregory Crosby Douglas Donald Vance Exley Robert Fly Jordan Funkhouser Scott Gates Brian Glass Thomas Greggs Mitchel Harmon Glen Hill Roger Hotmer David Irvin Lauren Isenhour Mark Jacobson Scoville Jenkins Gerald Kahle Jonathan McLaughlin Lane McNulty Molly Molony Andrew Nelson Jon Pastorek Vijay Paul Brian Pena Michael Pereira Sam Pirani Gary Pittman Michael Ridenhour David Russell Daysi Salazar

Matthew Shoptaugh Adam Silverstein William Simpson Ashley Skrabut Barry Tamarkin James Thortsen Joey Unkenholz Medina Walsh Davor Zink Southwest Charles Joyce James McVay Texas Kevin Byers Jason Cooney Jose Farias Patrick Fitzgerald Alexander Johansson Jacob McMindes Mark Meyers Trip Norkus Brian Permenter Marc Pijoan Jeffrey Savage Chase Tutor Ruben Vasquez Julie Voss Matthew Winters Paul Zachry Recreational Coaches California Sarah Anderson Keith Coleman Jorge Garcia Amy Garrity David Giannandrea Chris Harradine Christy Le Duff Jason Le Duff John Mano Minh Otis Vu China Jinmim Bao Wenya Bao Xiaoping Bao Aiqi Cheng Jiubin Cui Guangyun Feng Lianghua Gong Yuqi Gu Jinhua He Xuanyan Jiang Haitao Jin Ke Jin Tianli Li Hongyu Pan Junyu Pan Yiqin Shangguan Yu Shi Zhongyang Shi Zhenni Su Anni Wang Junliang Wang Qiyali Wang Tengyuan Wang Xinyang Wang Qizheng Wu Mengxing Xiao Tao Xie Ruofeng Xu Chongye Yang Hai Yin

Lisha Ying Yifeng Yu Dan Zhang Richao Zhang Xinyuan Zhou

Thanh Nguyen Jack Riley Ryan Villacrusis

Eastern Donald Beal Matthew Burke Martin DeVito Alexander Langbein Jose Lara-Henriquez Christopher Lee Ryan Litwin Ajay Narayanan Norman Riback Mauricio Rodriguez Ramirez James Shapiro Chinyen Tseng Sharon Valencia Florida Verna Alduino Kara Borromeo Efrain Hernandez Willie Johnson Taylor Kalister Miles Ransom Alan Salgo Marko Sorovic Michael Williams

Middle States Joel Irwin Midwest Brian Anderson Earl Beebe David Beilinson Lloyd Hernandez Zachary Kerr Carolyn Smith Ray Williams Missouri Valley Mason Bear Faith Bliss Nicholas Sanchez New England Scott Donovan Anthony Fortunati Robert Hurley David Newton Jason Pressberg Dennis Scarpa Matthew Vaughan Michael Von Vogt Northern Paul Barry

Hawaii Michael DeWitt Austin Marr Intermountain Kara Bowman Patricia Fey Joseph Frasca Henry Hopkins Victor Kollock Dawei Liang Taylor Nguyen Matthew O’Connor Sean O’Connor Jess Olavarria Matt Rotter Kurt Smith Edward Wood International Dwight Alivio Fung Fu Chan Man Chun Chan Ying Leong Cheung Chi Wang Chiu Siu Kei Chun Yuekee Chung Efren Delgado Man Chi Fong Ryan Guasis Chuen Yun Hui Wai Sing Ko Chi Ching Lam Shing Fung Lui Wai Chung Man Jarryd Manduriao Joselito Tenepre Nestor Toledo Kin Fat Yap Ka Hing Yiu Lung Wa Yu

Northern California Augusto Acosta Johanna Bradford Alexander Doan Judy Fazekas Jonathan Sun Tom Veach Pacific Northwest Brett Hendrick San Diego Jessica Rigney Denise Winsett Southern Mitchell Bennett Craig Clark Kethan Darbar Anne French Matt Garman Michael Hess Richard King Oleksandr Klyuyenko Thomas McCormack David Overstreet Robert Taylor Cathy Vandiver Benay Weintraub Texas Caleb Basinger Shane Conroy Matthew Gaynor Jorge Jimenez Alexis Torres Casey Wharton Tony Wynn

Mid-Atlantic Agnes De Weerd Christopher Fu

ADDvantage/October 2011

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Career Development conventions

(division conventions, 5 credits; World Conference, 8 credits)

exams, upgrades & certification review courses (4 credits for PTCA I segment)

Nov. 12-13

Northern California Division Gold River, Calif.

specialist degrees Little Tennis® Facility Management

 

Computer Technology Sport Science

 

Competitive Player Development Pro Shop Operations



Oct. 13-14 Oct. 14-15 Oct. 21 Oct. 21 Oct. 22 Oct. 22-23 Oct. 22-23 Oct. 29-30 Nov. 5 Nov. 6 Nov. 6 Nov. 6 Nov. 7 Nov. 12 Nov. 12-13 Nov. 12-13 Nov. 13 Nov. 14

Port Washington, N.Y. Houston* Phoenix Rochester, N.Y. Brunswick, Maine Rockville, Md. Fayetteville, N.C. Lafayette, La. Mequon, Wis. Hilton Head Island, S.C. Birmingham, Ala. Winter Springs, Fla. Claremont, Calif.

Sacramento, Calif.

Big Rapids, Mich.

Boca Raton, Fla. White Bear Lake, Minn.

Williamsburg, Va.

Nov. 18-19 Nov. 20 Nov. 21 Nov. 28-29 Dec. 2 Dec. 3 Dec. 3-4 Dec. 4 Dec. 4 Dec. 4 Dec. 4 Dec. 4-5 Dec. 8-9 Dec. 9-10 Dec. 10-11 Dec. 11 Dec. 11 Dec. 11

Houston* Indian Wells, Calif.

Greenwood, Colo.

San Francisco Minneapolis Gastonia, N.C. Atlanta Nashville, Tenn.

Richmond, Va. Hilton Head Island, S.C. Lexington, Ky. Los Angeles Port Washington, N.Y. Houston* Rockville, Md. San Antonio White Bear Lake, Minn.

Rome, Ga.





Wheelchair Tennis

CPD (Competitive Player Development) – Gained through the USA ­Tennis High Performance Coaching Program a ­ dministered by the USA Tennis Coaching E ­ ducation Department.

For more information about USPTA’s specialist degrees, including applications, please visit our website at www.uspta.com or contact the USPTA Education Department at 800-USPTA-4U or education@uspta.org.

cardio tennis

* This course is held at the USPTA World Headquarters.

Exam reservations must be made at least 21 days prior to the dates listed. Each date includes an exam, upgrade and PTCA I 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 – $95; 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 No troubles in this doubles, Nov. 13, Gold River, Calif., G. Patton

Oct. 15 Boston Oct. 23 Orlando

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 email education@uspta.org.

Earn education credits from World Conference DVDs

accredited professional coach

Receive your education credit report card via email by visiting the members-only section of uspta.com.

To receive APC credits, professional members must accurately fill out APC attendance forms with the seminar/course number, their name, presenter’s name, and they will have the ability to rate the seminar/course. The form must then be turned in at the end of the seminar/course. The forms will be available as members arrive at seminars or courses and must be turned in as members leave. If members arrive late or leave early, then they will not receive credit for attending.

22

ADDvantage/October 2011

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Industry action Members The Intercollegiate Tennis Association has announced the national award winners for NCAA Division I tennis.

USPTA Professional Bob McKinley, who is already a member of the ITA Hall of Fame, was named the Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year. McKinley is in his fifth year at Texas A&M University in College Station. McKinley served as the head coach at Trinity University from 1974-84, twice reaching the NCAA finals. He has coached an individual champion as well as an NCAA doubles championship pair. McKinley served as the director of John Newcombe Tennis Academy in New Braunfels before joining Steve Denton on the Aggie staff. In his playing days at Trinity, McKinley helped lead his team to the 1972 NCAA Championship. He also reached the Round of 16 at Wimbledon in 1973 and the doubles semifinals at the U.S. Open in 1972.

Former world No. 1 tennis player and past U.S. Open and Wimbledon champion Stan Smith, USPTA, has been named president of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum.

Smith, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987, will succeed fellow Hall of Famer Tony Trabert, who has served as president since 2001.

Trabert has been named a Life Trustee of the nonprofit organization, which is dedicated to preserving the rich history of tennis.

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ADDvantage/October 2011

Smith was the coach of the 2000 U.S. Olympic tennis team. He previously served as director of coaching for the USTA Player Development Program and as associate director. Smith is the cofounder and manager of the Smith Stearns Tennis Academy at Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island, S.C. He currently serves as chairman of both Stan Smith Events and Stan Smith Design.

Member product showcase Championship Productions has just released three tennis DVDs featuring the 2009 USPTA High School Coach of the Year, Lawrence Eyre, who has coached his players to 16 Iowa state titles and 10 runner-up titles. The new tennis series features three topics targeting the high school-level coach – conditioning and quickness training, a look at two full practice sessions, and an “all-access” filming of an actual high school tennis match that shows how Eyre coaches his players in the midst of match play – between points, after sets, etc. Championship Productions offers more than 2,000 products in 20 different sports.

Oncourt Offcourt president Joe Dinoffer, USPTA, has introduced a new design on the company’s USTA tested and approved greenlevel, lowcompression ball. The balls will be available

Francois “Francky” Vignikpo, an independent tennis instructor in Dallas, held several successful Tennis Across America clinics for all ages this past summer. One event in May, for juniors and adults, was at Churchill Park, a city of Dallas public park, and another May clinic served seniors in the Churchill Way community. In June, this USPTA pro introduced tennis to more than 75 pre-K and kindergarten students at the Dallas International School. He conducted the clinic in French for the children from this private school, where most of the students are French. He turned the basketball court into a tennis court with a HEAD junior-size net and more than two dozen racquets were given to parents to encourage them to start playing as well. “It was great fun,” Vignikpo said, and because of the TAA clinic’s success, “tennis will be an official after-school program on the DIS campus.” in two different hinged bucket sizes for easy access and storage.

These low-pressure balls meet all USTA and ITF specifications for both training and competitive play for sanctioned 10 and Under Tennis events.

Contact information: www.OncourtOffcourt. com or call toll-free, 1-88-TENNIS-11.

Tennis Skills & Drills by Joey Rive and Scott Williams, USPTA, describes the steps used by successful players to develop winning skills.

Rive played on the ATP tour for eight years, competing in each of the four Grand Slams, and earned a top 60 ranking in singles and top 50 in doubles. He also played Davis Cup tennis for Puerto Rico.

The book, with 312 pages

and 140 illustrations, is scheduled to be released in late November. The price is $24.95 and will be available at www. humankinetics.com.

Miscellany Har-Tru Sports will hold a Maintenance Certification Seminar Oct. 22 - 23 at Pelican Landing Tennis Center in Bonita Springs, Fla. The purpose of the seminar is to bring together leading experts on clay courts to discuss the construction and maintenance of clay. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Industry action The seminar will also include information on the causes of court surface compaction and what techniques are being used to alleviate it. The event will include classroom presentations, panel discussions and on-court demonstrations.

This seminar is designed for anyone managing, maintaining or considering installing clay tennis courts including club managers, teaching professionals, court builders and maintenance professionals. USPTA pros receive 6 continuing education credits for attending both days.

For more information contact Ed Montecalvo at 877-4HARTRU or emontecalvo@hartru.com.

Apricot Lane Boutique is supporting October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Throughout the month, support from various brands of clothing, accessories and specialty gift items will lead up to a “Pink Party” in store on Oct. 20. Owner Cristi Hargroves has pledged 20 percent of sales during this party to the Breast Cancer Society. Apricot Lane offers fashion lines such as Free People, Chaser, Good Works Make a Difference and many more. For more information, visit www. apricotlanedfw.com.

High school tennis players will get a chance to show off their talents and learn about opportunities to play college tennis from coaches at USTA Eastern’s 25th Annual College Showcase Day. The event, to be held Oct. 30 at Saw Mill Club www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

in Mount Kisco, N.Y., will include drills and workshops for high school juniors, while seniors will play in a round robin tournament, have lunch with college coaches and attend a College Showcase. High school students interested in attending the showcase can register at www. eastern.usta.com. For more information, contact Julie Bliss, Director of Competition and Player Development, at 914-6972229 or bliss@eastern. usta.com.

Dunlop has announced the introduction of its most technologically advanced racquet ever, the Biomimetic 700. Aimed at players looking for a frame that’s both powerful and comfortable, the 700 uses all of Dunlop’s Biomimetic technologies, plus an advanced grommet system that allows more string movement and greater power and spin.

The Biomimetic 700 also features an aerodynamic shape that cuts down wind drag. The new racquet hit retail and cyber shelves Oct. 15.

Passings The tennis community still mourns the loss of Bill Van Lieshout, who died on June 16 at the age of 57. Van Lieshout joined the USPTA in 1978 and served for 30 years as a physical education teacher at Merrill Middle School in Oshkosh, where he coached basketball, volleyball, wrestling and

track. He also was the boys’ and girls’ tennis coach at Oshkosh North High School for 27 years, advancing an entry to the WIAA state tennis tournament 26 of those years. He coached one of his teams in a tournament a few days before he passed away. Van Lieshout was an active member of the Wisconsin Tennis Association. As a volunteer with the Oshkosh CTA, he and other chaperones led members of the high school girls’ team on a trip to experience the 2010 US Open. He was a past president and hall of fame inductee of the Wisconsin State High School Tennis Coaches Association.

Van Lieshout was the proud father of the USTA Midwest Tennis Family of the Year. He is survived

by Sandra Van Lieshout, his wife of 30 years, their two sons and a daughter.

He was awarded the 2010 Dick Arnold Wisconsin Tennis Association Award.

Van Lieshout also received the 2010 Hometown Hero Award in Madison.

According to an article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “he was humbled by awards he received for working hard and following his passion.”

Winston Cham-A-Koon, a 38-year member of the USPTA, died of a heart attack on Sept. 28.

He was 67. A celebration of his life was held at Meadow Lark Country Club in Great Falls, Mont., where he worked as the head pro for 28 years. His wife, Bonnie, was his teaching

assistant. Their two sons, Warren and John Michael Cham-A-Koon, are USPTA Professionals and a daughter, Kerstin Leighland, is a former University of Montana tennis player. For nearly 50 years, Cham-A-Koon was a passionate tennis professional who was known for helping shape the lives of young players.

According to an article on greatfallstribune.com, he was very supportive of high school tennis.

Cham-A-Koon started teaching the sport in his native Guyana, South America, in 1962. He came to the United States to attend Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, in 1964 and began teaching tennis in the summers during college.

He moved to Montana in 1983 after teaching in Georgia. He had also worked in Ohio, Vermont, Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois. Over the years, Cham-A-Koon achieved USPTA national rankings as a player and excelled in the continuing education program. He also was a Master Racquet Technician with the U.S. Racquet Stringers Association.

Michael Bowman, general manager at Meadow Lark Country Club, is quoted in the Great Falls Tribune article as saying that “Winston was just always the gentleman, very soft-spoken, a yes-sir, no-sir kind of guy – just the epitome of a class professional.”

Condolences may be posted online at www. croxfordfuneralhome.com and/or www.gftribune. com/obituaries.

ADDvantage/October 2011

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