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ADDvantage/ September 2000
contents the total professional – enhancing your career
departments
7 College Tennis – A new opportunity for lifetime players – by Mary Helen Sprecher
20 Classifieds
13 Tennis pro goes full court in the name of love – by Jill Phipps, USPTA staff writer
24 Career development
23 USPTA drills
26 Industry action
17 Learning experiences from 25 years of coaching high school tennis – Part 2: Some things change, some stay the same – by Lawrence Eyre, USPTA
ews n 3 New member benefit 4 USPTA Florida Division and USTA Florida sign tennis growth partnership agreement 4 Scan QR code with smartphone at World Conference 4 Take USPTA survey to provide data 11 10-S Tennis Supply becomes official court equipment supplier of USPTA 20 Sun safety 21 Hard Court Championships On the cover – Harvey Rubin, USPTA, uses the tools of the trade to propose to fiance Joanna Gibbons at the Braemar Tennis Club in Tarzana, Calif.
volume 35 • issue 9
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
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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. 2012. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion of the magazine is not permitted without written permission from USPTA. ADDvantage/September 2012
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New member benefit –
Get access to your USPTA certified professional logo today!
The USPTA certified professional logo is now available to all professional-level members in good standing. You can use the logo to promote yourself as a USPTA professional, promote your events and build the USPTA brand. Here’s how you can use the logo: • On email signatures
• On promotional fliers for your club/facility
• To promote your tennis programs, etc.
• On your personal Facebook page or with Twitter and other such social media platforms
Visit this link http://documents.uspta.com or go to the member login page, sign in and click on the My Membership tab and then click on membership documents. Scroll down to the bottom of the page where you will find the link to the certified member logos. Please follow the instructions to sign the logo agreement form and then you should have access to the logo. Please note all of the documents pop up in a new window or tab. Make sure you have allowed popups from the site (look for a yellow bar at the top or bottom of your browser window with the option to allow popups for the site). **You must be a professional-level member in good standing with dues paid for the current year in order to gain access to the logo agreement form and logo. In addition, if you are current on dues and are also a Master Professional and/or tester, you will gain access to those logos as well once the logo agreement form is signed.
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USPTA Florida Division and USTA Florida sign tennis growth partnership agreement
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he United States Professional Tennis Association Florida Division and United States Tennis Association Florida signed a formal partnership agreement in June during the joint USPTA Florida Annual Convention and USTA Florida Semiannual Meeting at the Club Med-Sandpiper resort in Port St. Lucie, Fla. “It makes complete sense for USPTA Florida and USTA Florida to be working and growing in the same direction, and trying to achieve the same goal, which is growing the game of tennis,” said Jeff Cohen, USPTA Florida Division president. “It’s unique, and by signing this agreement, it will hopefully lead to the other divisions and sections following.” The partnership was approved by the boards of both organizations and is recognized through December 2014, with an option for a two-year renewal. The partnership includes supporting each other’s programs and events, sharing information about opportunities available to members and facilities, and involvement in leadership groups/committees/boards. “We at USTA Florida are excited about formalizing our agreement with the USPTA Florida Division, which will ultimately prove to be a win-win situation for the two associations,” said Dan Casey, USTA Florida Section president.
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Scan QR code with smartphone at World Conference Conference attendees who are participating in the APC program will be able to confirm their attendance at seminars and specialty courses using their smartphone instead of filling out the APC credits form. Using your smartphone is quicker and easier than filling out the form, is more accurate, and registers your credits instantly. To use this new method, you will need the following: • A smartphone (Android or iPhone/iPad) with a data connection to your wireless services provider. • A QR barcode reading application for your smartphone (For iPhone/iPad we recommend Qrafter or the AT&T Code Scanner, for Android we recommend Barcode Scanner). To test whether your scanner application is installed and working correctly, the QR code above should take you to the USPTA.com website. More details on QR scanning will be available at the World Conference.
Take USPTA survey to provide data As we prepare for the upcoming USPTA World Conference on Tennis, we need your help to gather data for one of our featured seminars. Jim McLennan, USPTA, will speak on “Developing the Junior Serve.” Part of his presentation on Sept. 17 at 9 a.m. will include results from an online survey. Please help us out by going to the link below and filling out the survey. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/J6XDKP8 Thanks for your help.
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College Tennis – A new opportunity for lifetime players by Mary Helen Sprecher
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ew things are as rewarding as seeing a kid really take to tennis. There’s nothing better than knowing the sport has another enthusiastic participant – until it comes time for that kid to go off to college. Then, suddenly, that kid – the same one who couldn’t wait to play – drops off the radar or, more accurately, out of the sport. Maybe it’s because they don’t make it onto the school’s varsity team. Maybe it’s because they’ve been convinced by well-meaning parents that they should concentrate on their studies instead. Whatever the reason, the end result is the same: That player isn’t playing, and if the pattern continues, he or she might not pick up a racquet again until after college – if ever. “It’s difficult because so College tennis: the kind of club life many kids want to go to we want our kids to discover. Division I schools for the academics, but the reality is that many don’t have the skills necessary to play tennis at a Division I level,” says Shane Wells, a USPTA pro who has been the director of tennis and high performance coach at North Hills Club in Raleigh, N.C. “The game definitely loses a number of kids between high school and college,” says Harry Gilbert, USPTA national past president. Gilbert, currently those at all levels of play and in all college the director of tennis at Hammock Beach divisions – investigate the option of Tennis Resort in Palm Coast, Fla., has seen at least On Campus or club tennis in order to stay a few varsity players become disenchanted active in the sport. At many schools, particuwith overly rigorous programs and want a larly large colleges and universities, there’s more flexible schedule. While there’s no a thriving network of club and recreational concrete figure for post-high school attrisports, held outside the parameters of varsity tion, the sport does suffer – often because activities. In fact, the National Intramural we didn’t have available options for these and Recreational Sports Association estiplayers. mates there are 5.5 million students who actively and regularly participate in campus Good news on the horizon: Increasingly, recreational programs. pros are recommending that students – www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
The USTA’s Tennis On Campus program has been a highly successful collaboration between USTA, NIRSA, World TeamTennis and the Intercollegiate Tennis Association to increase recreational tennis participation among students on college campuses. Currently, the program is offered on more than 600 college and university campuses and services more than 35,000 students. Tennis On Campus also offers section, region and national championship competition for students who want to continue to play on a co-ed team without the rigors of a varsity program. In addition, says Glenn Arrington, national program manager, the Tennis On Campus model can include tennis leagues, intramural tournaments and physical education classes. Students can select a level of play that fits their schedule and their personal level of commitment. “We want teaching pros to be well aware of this opportunity and be able to recommend TOC as an opportunity to junior players and their parents,” Arrington says. “Sometimes, we hear parents telling new college students they shouldn’t play a sport right away because they should concentrate on making friends, or because they should concentrate on their class work. But what we’re finding out is that kids who play a sport like tennis actually do better for themselves in college. They immediately have friends with a common interest, and they get better at managing their time.” In addition, students who remain active have a better chance of avoiding the
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from previous page ‘freshman 10’ weight gain, or getting into unhealthy habits with too much partying. Both are traps many new college students fall into, being without adult supervision for the first time. “The value of this kind of program is that it bridges that gap,” says Harry Gilbert. “Kids learn to structure their time.” And, says Gilbert, awareness is growing, with some students voluntarily choosing rec sports over varsity before their freshman year even starts. “I’m seeing it becoming a much more mainstream option. Kids are saying, ‘I’m going to play club tennis.’ And obviously, we’re encouraging them. We want to keep people in the game for the next few years so that they keep on playing after that. It’s always better to keep a customer than try to develop a new one. All you have to do is provide the play. It’s a great success story.” Jim Reffkin (former USPTA national president) and director of the Jim Reffkin Tennis Center in Tucson, Ariz., sees Tennis On Campus as providing a pathway that transitions students into adult play – sometimes, during the summer, as well as after college is over. “We do want them to play in college,” Reffkin says, “and after that, we want them to play in leagues, to have a lifetime sport.” Because many colleges give priority court time to their school’s varsity program, TOC club teams often have to seek out public courts and other facilities in order to get practice time. Meghan Houk, assistant director of tennis at Reffkin’s facility, noticed this problem with at least two schools near the tennis center. “She saw there was really a difficulty for these sort of transitional teams,” says Reffkin. “The schools’ athletic departments seemed to think, ‘You’re either going to be a varsity player, or you’re not.’ They weren’t doing much for those other players.” Reffkin and Houk worked to contact the club and recreational players at several nearby colleges, and offer them specific blocks of court time on all 25 courts free of charge. What resulted was the formation of
There’s nothing better than knowing the sport has another enthusiastic participant.
Tucson Team Tennis, which drew a strong attendance in its first year, and has grown each year since. Other public tennis centers and even semi-private clubs have opened their doors to TOC club teams. Some offer court time free or at discounted rates, and some work out arrangements to have the students help out with various tasks such as assisting with the management of tournaments, helping
pros give lessons to large groups, or doing minor court upkeep following play. Because not all colleges currently offer club tennis, Tennis On Campus provides start-up tools for students. It encourages outreach to local clubs and other facilities, should colleges not be able to provide court time for students. (See the shaded box at the end of this article for more information). “We see this program as not only keeping students healthy and active during their college years, but providing a necessary transition from youth to adult play,” says Glenn Arrington. “Some of the Tennis on Campus players will get involved in local summer leagues to keep their skills sharp, and that means they’ll be ready to play in adult leagues and tournaments after graduation. If they’re already familiar with a tennis facility in their immediate area, then there’s a likelihood they’d look to join and become a paying member once they land in the workforce.”
Players from the University of California-Berkeley proudly display their top-club trophies as winners of the 2012 USTA Tennis On Campus National Championship.
Want to help point students in the direction of college club programs? Check out the following: • www.tennisoncampus.com: Official website of the USTA’s Tennis On Campus program. Includes information on schools offering the program, as well as contact information for TOC coordinators, start-up toolkits for new clubs, and more. • www.nirsa.org: Official website of the National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association. In addition to tennis, NIRSA activities include student leadership, development, and personnel management; wellness and fitness programs; intramural sports; sport clubs; recreation facility operations; outdoor recreation; informal recreation; and aquatic programs.
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10-S Tennis Supply becomes official court equipment supplier of USPTA
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he United States Professional Tennis Association announced the start of a partnership with 10-S Tennis Supply, making 10-S Tennis Supply the official tennis court equipment supplier of the USPTA.
As part of the partnership agreement, 10-S Tennis Supply’s Six Star II tennis net will become the official tennis net of the USPTA. The Six Star II net features a tapered, extra-duty, braided polyethylene net body with UV stitching, double mesh on the top six rows, a double vinyl headband, six rows of stitching on the headband and a five-year warranty. Stephen C. Dettor, President of 10-S Tennis Supply, stated, “We are extremely excited about this partnership with the USPTA. 10-S Tennis Supply has been a longtime supporter of the USPTA Florida Division and we are eager to increase the visibility of our offerings to the rest of the membership. We look forward to providing USPTA members around the world with high-quality products and first-class customer service.” “We are very pleased about the partnership with 10-S Tennis Supply,” said USPTA CEO Tim Heckler. “We know that 10-S Tennis Supply provides superior products and we are proud to have them as our official court equipment supplier.”
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ADDvantage/September 2012
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Tennis pro goes full court in the name of love by Jill Phipps, USPTA staff writer
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arvey Rubin spent 40 years working as a cameraman in the motion picture industry before he “segued” from camerawork into his other passion – teaching tennis.
Harvey Rubin on his unique proposal: “Penn receives suggestions and requests every week from all over the globe on how to use their tennis balls, but they had never heard of this application.” So it’s really no surprise that Rubin (A) made a big scene when he proposed to his true love, or (B) that he took her to a tennis court to pop the question in his own creative way. Rubin spelled out the message, “Joanna, Will you marry me?” with 450 Pro
Harvey Rubin looks up from his work in progress. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
Penn tennis balls on a court at Braemar Tennis Club in Tarzana, Calif., a district of Los Angeles. It was truly a labor of love – 2 ½ hours in 90-plus-degree heat, carefully laying out the tennis balls with the help of a friend. The other accomplice was his brother, who
acted as a “spotter” and also captured the event on video. The 65-year-old Rubin spent 40 years in the movie business; 35 of those years as a camera operator in Hollywood. He worked on movies, as well as TV shows such as Monk, Beverly Hills 90210, Chicago Hope, and Moonlighting. Rubin, who earned his USPTA certification in 2005, switched from Hollywood cameraman to professional tennis photographer. He has photographed some of the game’s biggest stars at Grand Slam tournaments and other major venues. He is currently teaching tennis in the Los Angeles area and is very involved with a non-profit organization, ACEing Autism, as an instructor and public relations director. His new fiance is involved in the group now too. Rubin laid his heart on the line – actually between the lines – on July 6, the third anniversary of the day he met Joanna Gibbons during jury duty at the Beverly Hills Courthouse. Not only is Joanna a successful Los Angeles real estate agent, but she sports “a great backhand.” His unique idea for proposing was a lot easier to come up with than the message was to prepare. “No sooner had I made the decision to ask her to marry me, the thought popped into my head of spelling out JOANNA WILL YOU MARRY ME? on a tennis court using tennis balls,” Rubin recalled. His good friend, Richard Spurling, a USPTA teaching pro at the Braemar Tennis Club and cofounder of ACEing Autism, jumped in to help. He talked to Braemar’s director of tennis, Rick Werkman, who graciously gave Rubin access to one of their beautiful show courts for however long he needed it on the designated day. “I did some calculations and realized that it was going to take hundreds of balls to spell out the message,” Rubin said. “At that point, being public relationscontinued next page ADDvantage/September 2012
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from previous page oriented, I contacted the HEAD Penn Racquet Sports company and told them of my plan. “Jeff Ratkovich, senior business manager of Penn Tennis Balls, contacted me and told me that Penn receives suggestions and requests every week from all over the globe on how to use their tennis balls but he’d never heard of this application. He got behind the idea big time and generously donated the balls I needed for the undertaking. “On the big day I lured Joanna to the club under the guise of her attending a meeting for our ACEing Autism fundraiser,” Rubin recounted. “As she parked in the rooftop parking lot I casually asked her to come to the area that overlooked the courts, telling her there’s a view there that’s so impressive it just might change her life. “When she approached the guard wall I asked her to cover her eyes. When she opened them she just kept saying, ‘Oh my God, oh my God!’ Since there were quite a few people waiting below for her response, I asked her to call out her answer. ‘YES,
Rubin, center, and Joanna Gibbons, to his right, celebrate their engagement with a few collaborators.
YES, YES!’ was the response loud and clear. I then pulled out the ring and the bottle of champagne (a good year) and we all toasted the event. I know I had done well when that night Joanna told me that this was the best day of her life!” When asked why he turned to tennis as the means for delivering his special message, Rubin said that tennis balls elicit some very positive emotions for him.
“I associate tennis balls with almost 40 years of exercise and fun through competition and practice … with helping people to enjoy and improve their game … with seeing kids smile from the innermost parts of their hearts when playing with them.” So it’s no surprise that he wanted to use tennis balls to express his very personal feelings of love. Besides that, he said, “It sounded like lots of fun!”
Harvey Rubin’s romantic gesture left his beloved speechless – until she said yes, that is.
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Learning experiences from 25 years of coaching high school tennis Part 2: Some things change, some stay the same by Lawrence Eyre, USPTA
This is the second of two articles based on Eyre’s 2011 DVD series, High School Coaching Academy (ChampionshipProductions.com).
I
have seen several important changes in both training and philosophical approaches to the game during my quarter century as a high school t ennis coach.
To recap my first article: 1. The ‘no pain, no gain’ model of matchplay fitness training is gradually being replaced by a new paradigm: ‘train without strain.’ This approach emphasizes building adequate recovery techniques into conditioning, practice and competitive routines for high school players to prevent overtraining, repetitive overuse injuries and burnout. 2. In recent years the eroding of sportsmanship in high school athletics has infected tennis. Fortunately, sustained teaching of sportsmanship by many coaches is restoring respect to our game. The notion that opponents are enemies
Coaches help their players improve most when both compliments and corrections are concrete and match the needs of the moment.
is giving way to the traditional view of opponents as temporary adversaries who challenge us to display and develop our skills. “Do unto others before they do unto you” is being rejected in favor of a return to the Golden Rule. 3. After decades of dominance by a “winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing” philosophy, high school tennis coaches are quickly adopting an emphasis on continuous improvement that is challenging stress on match outcomes as the sole basis of player assessment. Coaches are discovering that when improvement rather than outcome is foremost in athletes’ minds, high school tennis players are free to take on – and grow
from – challenges they might otherwise avoid. With an improvement-centered approach, even outcomes are enriched – wins, trophies and championship banners are easier to come by when players’ primary focus is on specific quality-of-play goals. In other words, when players commit themselves to improvement, outcome goals tend to take care of themselves. By contrast, I also have seen 10 aspects of high school tennis that have remained constant for coaches and players over the past 25 years. This list is admittedly preliminary; I look forward to watching it expand through feedback from fellow USPTA coaches: 1. High school players still compete best when they consistently practice with the energy and focus required for successful match play. As the old saying goes, “Practice the way you play, or you’ll play the way you practice.” 2. Players still improve most when coaching balances encouragement with challenge. Some players thrive on challenge, while many live for heartening ‘attaboys.’ Actually, all players benefit from an appropriate blend of both. The essence of effective high school tennis coaching has always been finding and maintaining the elusive balance between encouragement and challenge that best promotes improvement for each player, each doubles tandem and every team as a whole. 3. Coaches’ feedback is still most helpful when it is both specific and proportional to the actual accomplishment or need for correction. Vague compliments (“Way to be out there!”), no matter how continued next page
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from previous page enthusiastic, diminish communication with each repetition. Likewise, sweeping criticisms (“What’s wrong with you today?”) are quickly tuned out. Coaches help their players improve most when both compliments and corrections are concrete and match the needs of the moment. Specific advice still works well: “Finish your swings freely – it will give you more depth and help bring back your confidence.”
full-court rally with a serve and return instead of simply drop-hitting.
4. High school tennis players’ listening skills are still reliably unreliable: It always helps to keep coaching points simple, particularly during match play. Having players repeat coaching advice during breaks confirms their understanding. “Please say those two points back to me” still helps players maintain or regain their focus during competition.
7. Serves and returns remain the two most important shots in tennis. Accordingly, they should be practiced more than any other shots. Incorporate more of both into team practices by starting every
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9. “Don’t know much about history…” High school players still enjoy learning and linking themselves to school team
For high school coaches, the fundamentals still apply: Practice with focus; make feedback count; work those serves and returns; play games – have fun; and share your own tennis history when you have a chance.
5. Consistency still trumps power in high school match play. Variety in placement, depth, spin and velocity, while less exhilarating than crushing serves or monster forehands, remains the recipe for competitive success. The “one more good shot” approach may not make nightly highlight reels or YouTube, but it still wins tennis matches. 6. Serving depth is still more important than serve velocity. To illustrate this I place two balls in a service box – one (ball A) on the service line and the other (ball B) 10 feet closer to the net. After reminding players of the rule of thumb that a served ball travels only half as fast after the bounce as before the bounce, I ask them, “Which serve reaches the receiver first – ball A, served at 60 miles per hour, or ball B, served at 80 miles per hour?” Most players initially opt for ball B. It’s fun to see players’ facial expressions change when they do the math; serve A, 20 miles per hour slower, actually reaches the receiver slightly sooner.
In “Ping-Pong Doubles,” for instance, a two-versus-two game where partners alternate in striking the ball using singles court boundaries, every point can begin with a serve and return, with pressure taken off the serving and returning teams by specifying that the point is simply co-operative until the third shot (or fourth or fifth, if skill levels permit), at which stage the point becomes competitive. “Fourth shot can win or lose it,” is often the signal I’ll give as the game begins.
tiebreaks in practice. I’m delighted by such high-octane events. Every serve and return counts; everyone battles for every ball; each player competes with sustained focus; everyone gains useful experience facing people with different styles of play; everybody becomes second-nature familiar with a format that is frequently unnerving in actual match play; everybody has fun; everybody improves. Tiebreak round robins are a coach’s dream.
Playing games that feature serves and returns exclusively also helps players improve both shots. “Get There First” is a serve/return game where players score points by directing shots to specific target zones – servers score 10 points for every serve hit into the proper service box, but 30 points instead for “called-shot” serves – serves that successfully reach pre-announced target zones: zone A (Alley side), zone B (at the receiver’s Body) or zone C (toward the Center ‘T’). At the same time, receivers score 10, 20 or 30 points for returns hit into the crosscourt service box, deep crosscourt singles quadrant or crosscourt doubles alley respectively. (Coaches can reassign point values for return locations, awarding 30 points for the deep singles quadrant, for example, if emphasizing crosscourt singles returns with high net clearance.) First player to 200 points wins; servers and returners switch roles for the next game.
traditions and general tennis history. Like many a veteran coach, I try to give my players a feeling for that history. At the end of the season we often have “Old-School Day” – everyone has to play with wooden racquets. (I get ’em at garage sales and thrift shops.) Sometimes we’ll watch the video Kings of the Court, which features footage from more than 80 years ago. (You think topspin began with Bjorn Borg? Check out Little Bill Johnston’s full western forehand grip and huge low-to-high cut at the ball as he dukes it out with Big Bill Tilden in 1926.)
Sometimes I tell players’ stories from my own wooden racquet days while driving the team van home after away meets. Often the stories convey points not only about tennis tactics and rules, but also about how we should conduct ourselves on court. Because they are stories and not coaching sermons – exhortations tend to fall on deaf ears nowadays – kids listen and absorb the lessons. If I’ve already told the story in previous seasons to older players in the van, the veterans are to let me know; I invite them to help with the telling, which keeps the ‘oral tradition’ lively. Here’s one of those stories:
“It’s spring, 1967 – my freshman year
Note: In “Get There First,” two pairs of players can duke it out in simultaneous crosscourt contests on the same court.
8. Playing tiebreaks also helps players upgrade their serve and return skills, with the added bonus that tiebreaks function as matches in miniature. Our team routinely plays a round robin of
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One of the cadets retrieves the ball. With an apologetic shrug, he says, “We’re used to that around here, but you guys aren’t. You can play a let – first serve.”
I’m usually asked, “Why did he give you first serve instead of second?”
“Any time there’s a let, you replay the whole point,” I reply.
“Who won your match?”
“My partner and I did, though I don’t recall the score.”
“Who won the team event?”
“Yale did, but I don’t remember the score.”
“Coach, what else do you remember from that day?”
“I remember that cadet was a gentleman…and I remember the name and rank of Army’s assistant coach: Lieutenant Arthur Ashe.”
10. Let’s face it: 21st century high school tennis players, like their counterparts of yesteryear, would much rather develop skills through playing games than by drilling. Who can blame them? Games are fun; drills are too often dreary.
Instead of shuffling mechanically through lines, dutifully hitting forehands and backhands toward stationary targets, why not try a game like Bull’s Eye, a toss-hit-catch game that as many as 16 people can comfortably play sideways across a single court? “Sideways Bull’s Eye” is a great
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hitting warm-up, a multiteam race that develops groundstroke accuracy, partner communication and hand/eye coordination.
Here’s how it works: Players operate in pairs, with one partner tossing underhand feeds to the other, who returns forehands and/or backhands to the feeder, who must catch the ball before it bounces without stepping over the designated sideline to complete the toss-hit-catch “loop”. The feeder/ catcher calls out the pair’s ongoing total of loops with each catch, so rival pairs know how far along they are. Depending on players’ skill levels, coaches can vary the distance – 18 feet (doubles alley line to singles center line), 27 feet (singles sideline to singles sideline) and 36 feet (doubles alley line to doubles alley line) work well as graduated intervals. When a team reaches a pre-announced total of toss-hit-catch loops (10, 15, or 20), the feeder and hitter exchange positions and roles, repeating the initial cycle as quickly as they can. First team to finish the double cycle shouts, “Bull’s Eye!” For high skill levels, the lengthwise version of “Bull’s Eye” fits six players per court, with 42 feet (service line to service line) and 60 feet (service line to opposite baseline) distance options. It’s both challenging and rewarding – lengthwise “Bull’s Eye” provides a useful match play payoff, since players who can send the ball precisely to a partner can easily hit the ball away from an opponent. Entire squads can play games like “Bull’s-Eye” that simultaneously upgrade shot-making, communication, and competitive skills. When they do, such all-in events become the stuff cohesive teams are made of. Lawrence Eyre, Professional 1 since 1991, was the 2009 USPTA National High School Coach of the Year. He developed the High School Coaching Academy DVD series. He may be contacted at lawrenceeyre.usptapro. com or maharishischooliowa.org.
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at Yale. We’ve traveled to West Point for a match versus Army on a sunny Saturday. They’ve just concluded a dress parade welcoming top military brass to the Academy – full regalia, 21-gun salutes and all. My partner and I are playing No. 3 doubles. We’re down 0-1, first set – my turn to serve. Since I’m a lefty and the deuce court receiver is right-handed, I open with a slice serve to the center ‘T’– barely long. As I’m about to strike my second serve – BOOM – a cannon fires nearby; startled, I blast the ball into the opposite fence above our opponents’ heads.
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Sun safety The Skin Cancer Foundation is endeavoring to raise skin cancer awareness among tennis players, since these athletes are often exposed to the sun without proper protection for prolonged amounts of time. The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Top Sun Safety Tips for Tennis Players: 1. Play during the early morning or evening, or seek a shady court between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun’s rays are strongest. 2. Wear tightly woven or knit fabrics that are bright or darkcolored. This type of clothing offers the best defense against the sun. 3. Use sunscreen and reapply frequently. Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of a water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to the entire body 30 minutes before playing. Reapply every two hours or immediately after excessive sweating. 4. Wear a hat. While broad-brimmed hats offer optimal protection, a baseball cap or visor offers limited protection, and can be used in tandem with UV-blocking sunglasses and sunscreen. 5. Pay special attention to protecting hard-to-reach or easy-to-miss areas including the back of the neck and tops of the ears. 6. Protect the lips, where skin cancers often appear – choose a lip balm with an SPF of at least 30. 7. Apply petroleum jelly to the eyebrows to prevent sunscreen from migrating into the eyes. Skin cancer facts (you might not know): • Over the course of a lifetime one in five people in the United States will develop skin cancer, the most common form of cancer in the nation. More than 3.5 million skin cancers in over 2 million people are diagnosed in the U.S. annually. • While skin cancer can result in disfigurement and death if allowed to progress, it is important for people to know that the disease is curable if diagnosed and treated early. • Skin cancer is also highly preventable, and the Foundation recommends a complete sun-protection regimen that includes covering up with protective clothing, hats and sunglasses, seeking shade and wearing sunscreen. The Foundation’s full-length Prevention Guidelines can be found at SkinCancer.org; click on Prevention. The Skin Cancer Foundation, founded in 1979 and based in New York City, is composed of distinguished physicians and laypeople dedicated to reducing the incidence of skin cancer. 20 ADDvantage/September 2012
CLASSIFIEDS Business Opportunity Tennis/Health Club for sale. Four Indoor Tennis Courts with pro shop, Nautilus and free weight rooms. Three racquetball courts, basketball and aerobics room. Outdoor facility with clubhouse, garage, four hydro clay courts and two hard courts. Located in Bristol, Tenn. 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! Looking for: attractive women tennis players (4.5 to 6.0 collegiate to tour-level) to play a character (age range: 20-26) in a video/film shoot in Los Angles. Acting experience not necessary but a plus. There is pay. Interested parties – please email to the following address: nathan@inroadproductions.net.
Income Need more students and income? Sign up with the tennis industry’s ONLY rewards program and watch your student base and income grow! www. adpointtennis.com.
Subscriptions
Tennis Drills We do the things you don’t have the time, staff or resources to do! Free samples: www.jobeasier.com, discount code: s-uspta.
Tennis products PREFERRED PRICING for USPTA coaches/pros on Golden Set racquet string and grip. We are the exclusive distributors of Snake-Bite co-polyester. 1-888865-3202 / www.goldensettennis. com. 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 practical product that has simple and easyto-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 everyone. 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.
FREE SAMPLE Bob Larson’s Tennis Jobs newsletter. Daily newsletter lists new tennis jobs in USA. For sample, email jobs@tennisnews.com. Rates: $30 for 20 words, minimum per issue. 50 cents per word thereafter. Pay by check, money order, Visa or MasterCard. Prepayment is required. Supply typed copy and include full 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
$13,000 USPTA Hard Court Championships
Oct. 19-21, 2012 • Tyler, Texas
Location: Tyler, Texas, is located 90 miles southeast of Dallas and 80 miles west of Shreveport, La. American and United offer regional jet service into Tyler Pounds Field Airport. Events:
MOS, MOD, M35S, M45S, M55S, M40D, M50D, WOS, WOD, W35S, W50S, W35D, OPEN MXD, 40MXD
Eligibility:
Must be Professional-level USPTA-certified member in good standing at time of entry. Recreational Coaches and applicants are not eligible. USTA membership is not required.
Entry fees:
$80 for each singles event and $40 per player for each doubles event entered. Enter and get more information at www.courtsideusa.com/surface. It’s easy to set up a free CourtsideUSA account to enter online at no additional cost to you!
Entry includes: Tournament T-shirt, Friday evening courtside pasta party and Saturday courtside breakfast and lunch. Consolation offered in all events with a minimum of $100 to winning teams. Deadline:
Entries must be received through www.courtsideusa.com/surface by Monday, Oct. 8, 2012.
Extras: Limited free housing available. Please email housing requests to jsciarro@gmail.com. Players must be registered for tournament for guaranteed housing. Hotels: Holiday Inn South Broadway 903-561-5800, $89; Country Inn & Suites 903-561-7459, USPTA rate $79; Hilton Garden Inn 903-509-1166; Comfort Suites 903-534-0999; Marriott Courtyard 903-509-4411; Quality Inn 903-597-1301; Priceline options also available. Prize money: Prize money based on number of entries in each event. Men’s and women’s open singles winners are guaranteed a minimum of $1,900 with full 16 draws. We will offer first match loser consolation in all events and prize money to consolation winner.
Sponsors:
The Original Evans AC, Quality Investments, Texas Spine & Joint Hospital, Lago del Pino, Tyler Beverages, Hossley & Embry Attorneys & Counselors, Daniels Partners, TCMC Inc., McMillin Holdings
For more information, please contact Jim Sciarro at 903-581-7788 or at jsciarro@gmail.com.
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
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USPTA drills Approach shot and volley drill
Type: Doubles/singles Levels: Beginner/Int./adv.
prepared by David T. Porter, Ed.D., USPTA Master Professional
Description and goals:
Category: Approach/volley Time/players: 10 minutes/1-6
The goal of this drill is to practice forehand and backhand approach shots and moving in to volley.
around the outside of the court to the other line. Players C and D then rotate in to play.
Organization:
Variations: Have players begin with approach then hit “air” volley. Vary volleys for more realistic practice.
Players form two lines on either side of the court. Pro feeds a short ball to player A, who hits a forehand approach shot and then a short ball to player B, who hits a backhand approach shot. Pro then feeds second ball to A, who hits a volley then touches the net and then feeds second ball to B, who hits a volley then touches the net. Both players rotate
Volley up and back
Key points:
Have players focus on making a good approach shot and firm volley to the target area.
Type: Singles/doubles Levels: Beginner/Int./adv.
prepared by David T. Porter, Ed.D., USPTA Master Professional
Description and goals:
Category: Volley/warm-up/stretching Time/players: 15 minutes/1-4
This warm-up drill focuses on volleys. The goal is to warm up while hitting easy-paced balls using forehand and backhand volleys. Players will also hit volleys from below the net and from the service line.
and then working their way back to the baseline while the other players move forward.
Organization:
Have volleyers stay at the net, moving forward to touch the net and back to the service line.
Two players start on the baseline and two players start on the opposite side at the service line. The players on the service line hit volleys while slowly making their way to touch the net. Once they touch the net, they begin to move back to the baseline, hitting volleys and then transitioning to groundstrokes. The other players then make their way forward, transitioning from groundstrokes to volleys, finally touching the net,
Variations: 1. Make the volleyers hit 10 volleys before moving back.
Key points:
The focus of the drill is on the volleys. Players should hit groundstrokes at medium pace to allow net players the opportunity to hit all types of volleys during the warm-up session.
Generated by iTennisSystem – www.InterTennis.com www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
ADDvantage/September 2012
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Career Development
conventions (World Conference, 8 credits)
Sept. 16-21 USPTA World Conference on Tennis Monterey, Calif.
specialist degrees Little Tennis® Facility Management Computer Technology Sport Science Competitive Player Development Pro Shop Operations
exams, upgrades & certification review courses (4 credits for PTCA I segment) Sept. 8 Sept. 8-9 Sept. 9 Sept. 9 Sept. 9 Sept. 9 Sept. 15-16 Sept. 18-21 Sept. 30Oct. 1 Oct. 5-6 Oct. 6-7 Oct. 7 Oct. 7 Oct. 7 Oct. 11-12 Oct. 12 Oct. 15
Lexington, N.Y. Boston Clearwater, Fla. Midlothian, Va. Columbus, Ohio Hilton Head Island, S.C. Aurora, Ill. Monterey, Calif. Los Angeles Seattle Atlanta Fort Worth, Texas Richmond, Va. West Bloomfield, Mich. Chatham, N.J. Oklahoma City San Diego
Oct. 19-20 Oct. 20-21 Oct. 21 Oct. 27-28 Nov. 1-2 Nov. 4 Nov. 5 Nov. 10-11 Nov. 10-11 Nov. 11 Nov. 17 Nov. 17-18 Nov. 18 Nov. 26-27 Dec. 2 Dec. 6-7
Houston* Lafayette, La. Phoenix Frederick, Md. Minneapolis Birmingham, Ala. Claremont, Calif. Fayetteville, N.C. Boca Raton, Fla. Indian Wells, Calif. Mequon, Wis. Boston Greenwood Village, Calif. San Francisco Midlothian, Va. Port Washington, N.Y.
* This course is held at the USPTA World Headquarters.
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.
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 Vision training, Sept. 17, Monterey, Calif., H. Ratner Biomechanics: The serve and strokes in 3D, Sept. 17, Monterey, Calif., J. Shaughnessy Modern tennis technique for doubles, Sept. 18, Monterey, Calif., F. Hassan Creative programming, Sept. 18, Monterey, Calif., P. Scheb
cardio tennis Oct. 6 Sept. 14 Nov. 4
Indian Wells, Calif. Boyds, Md. Okemos, Mich.
Please visit www.growingtennis.com (workshops) to register online.
Earn education credits from World Conference DVDs Receive your education credit report card via email by visiting the members-only section of uspta.com.
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Strategy and tactics: How to serve and volley in today’s game, Sept. 20, Monterey, Calif., H. Pfister How to be a better head pro or tennis director, Sept. 20, Monterey, Calif., P. MacDonald Group lessons, Sept. 21, Monterey, Calif., K. DeHart Leadership strategies for the workplace, Sept. 21, Monterey, Calif., B. Fackel
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.
accredited professional coach 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.
www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
Industry action Members John Trinity, USPTA, has received the degree of Doctor of Education from Walden University, in Minneapolis. He has served in the past on the USPTA Eastern Division as New Jersey vice president and education director. He has spoken at USPTA division conferences and at the World Conference. He is also a health and physical education teacher at Dover High School in Morris County, N.J., and an adjunct professor in the department of kinesiology at William Patterson University in Wayne, N.J. His research focuses on the role of physical activity in weight control. Ken Olivier, USPTA, has been hired as tennis director at The Club, a brand new facility in the Woodlands area of Texas, north of Houston. Northgate Tennis Academy will operate The Club Tennis Academy with coaches working at both facilities. The Club is a $4.5 million tennis facility offering three clay courts, nine hard courts, three 10-and-under short courts, world-class court lighting, comprehensive fitness center, daycare, indoor swimming, outdoor playground for kids, pro shop, restaurant, locker rooms, showers, jacuzzis, steam room and more. For more information about membership and programs contact The Club at 832559-7443 or Northgate Tennis Academy at 281210-4544. John Shade, USPTA, recently was inducted
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into the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame in Fargo, N.D. Shade was joined by 28 other inductees in various sports from across the country. He started coaching tennis at Grosse Ile High School in Grosse Ile, Mich., in 1972 and has logged 40 seasons as the boys’ coach and 39 as the girls’ coach. His boys’ teams have won two Division 4 State Championships and the girls have ranked as high as sixth in the state. He has served on the Michigan High School Tennis Coaches Association board of directors since it was founded and has been inducted into its Hall of Fame. He also has served on the boys’ and girls’ state seed committee for many years and on the Michigan High School Athletic Association tennis rules committee. Andrew J. Minnelli, USPTA, is the new director of tennis operations at the Riviera Tennis Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif. He has been the associate director of tennis at the historic Atlanta Athletic Club. He is the former head tennis professional at the Country Club of Roswell and The Landings Club. Minnelli previously worked for the ATP Tour and Stan Smith-Billy Stearns Tennis Academy. He currently serves as president of the Georgia chapter of the USPTA Southern Division. He was voted the USPTA Southern Pro of the Year (2012), won the USPTA Georgia Industry Excellence Award (2011) and was honored as the USPTA Georgia Pro
of the Year (2010). He is a popular speaker and writer, and a member of the U.S. Racquet Stringers Association, the USTA and the Babolat Advisory Staff. More information about the Riviera Tennis Club can be found at www. therivieracountryclub.org. USPTA Master Professional Nick Bollettieri is the newest member of the Tennis Industry Hall of Fame. He was inducted Aug. 24, during the Tennis Industry Association Tennis Forum, at the Grand Hyatt New York. This is the Hall of Fame’s fourth annual induction. He joins previous inductees Howard Head (2008), Dennis Van der Meer (2008), Alan Schwartz (2009) and Billie Jean King (2010). Bollettieri, a coach, motivator and educator, coached 10 world No. 1 players and founded the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in 1978.
Member product showcase Todd Martin, two-time Grand Slam singles finalist and USPTA Professional, has launched Todd Martin Tennis, a unique offering of tennis instruction and consulting services for players of all levels. TMT will include three programs: TMT Regional Development, TMT Global, and TMT Schools and Recreation. Martin, who is a USTA board member, will host TMT at Sawgrass Country Club in Florida, one of the world’s premiere tennis destinations. TMT’s experienced coaches will instruct players of all levels, from beginners to Division I athletes, to elite professionals. TMT Regional Development will begin in September in the local Jacksonville area for athletes who are interested in advancing their skills, competitiveness and love for the game. Martin also will continue to
U S P TA Pro f e s s i o n a l Ma rc y Rubinstein, executive director of Bridgeport Community Tennis in Bridgeport, Conn., was recently honored with the Ned Weld Award at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I. The award is given by USTA New England’s Youth Tennis Foundation to an outstanding contributor to the sport and is named after a longtime foundation supporter. Bridgeport Community Tennis has provided more than 15,000 children with tennis equipment, lessons and otherwise-unavailable opportunities. The organization follows the USTA’s 10 and Under Tennis initiative and has received a $50,000 grant over three years. With the award through the Youth Tennis Foundation, Rubinstein also received $4,000 to give to an organization of her choice. She will put that back into BCT. Rubinstein serves on the boards of both the USPTA New England Division and the USTA New England Section and owns Marcy’s Tennis Academy. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
Industry action
Har-Tru Sports (http://hartru.com), the leading manufacturer of clay courts, recently teamed up with USTA NorCal to provide some of California’s top juniors the unique opportunity to train on clay courts. Har-Tru’s NorCal Clay Court Workout events were open to players who had qualified for the Clay Court Nationals and Northern California players who ranked in the top 20 of each age division. The two-day event took place at the Napa Valley Country Club and the Flora Vista Inn. Approximately 20 young players ranging in age from 12 to 16 attended the workouts, where they learned clay court strategy, tactics and footwork. The goal was to give West Coast players the experience of playing on clay as they head East for the biggest tournaments of the year, said Pat Hanssen, director of sales and marketing for Har-Tru Sports, based in Charlottesville, Va. introduce young children to the game through TMT Schools and Recreation. More information on TMT programs is available at www.toddmartintennis.com.
Manufacturers HEAD USA Racquet Sports Division has achieved its best-ever sales for the first half of the year in company history. A 20 percent increase in HEAD branded racquet sport sales and a 12 percent increase in what was already a dominant Penn brand contributed to the strong first-half income. “With a strong team and strong products, we have incredible momentum for both brands to post record results for the full year,” said Greg Mason, vice president of sales and marketing, Racquet Sports U.S. HEAD’s new www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com
marketing campaigns have focused on digital and social media marketing tactics. HEAD is now the racquet sports leader among Facebook fans. Also, some of the world’s best tennis athletes – Djokovic, Murray and Sharapova – have been instrumental in the company’s gains. For more information, visit Head.com
Miscellany Jim Loehr, Ed.D., worldrenowned performance psychologist and USPTA Master Professional, has worked with his team at the Human Performance Institute to develop a new program for tennis coaches: the Mental Toughness Certification Program. Coaches learn how to convey the vital mental toughness skills
necessary to help players overcome adversity, develop character, and succeed on and off the court. The Mental Toughness Certification Program was chosen as the official Mental Toughness program of the USTA. The program is offered at the Human Performance Institute’s campus in Orlando, Fla., and is delivered by Lorenzo Beltrame. A certification program will be offered Nov.13-15. A special West Coast program will also be offered in Monterey, Calif., Sept. 21-22. Special discounts are available for USPTA teaching professionals. Attendees earn 5 USPTA Continuing Education credits. For more information, visit www. mentallytough.com. Click on the ‘Certification’ tab.
Passings Frank Kenney, who served the USPTA for 73 years, passed away Aug. 5 at the age of 93. Kenney, who lived in his hometown of Newport, R.I., held the second longest membership in the Association (one year shy of Don Marz). Member No. 567 joined the fledgling PLTA in 1939. He also was a longtime member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. According to an obituary on NewportRI. com, Kenney taught tennis from 1939 to 1971 and after retiring, he helped with local tennis tournaments and a high school girls’ tennis team. His son, Jack Kenney,
and brother Bill Kenney, both deceased, were also members of the USPTA, as were an older brother, father, uncle and two cousins. The Kenneys taught families with famous names such as Astor, Lynch and Vanderbilt. “I met a lot of nice people – ambassadors, presidents and senators,” Frank Kenney said in a 2002 interview for ADDvantage. “I taught Jacqueline Kennedy how to play tennis in Newport.” He spent his winters in Palm Beach, where pros played doubles with club members on Sunday afternoons. “I’ve had a great life,” he said. Mervin A. Heller, Jr. USPTA Professional and former president of the USTA, passed away on Aug. 21 after a battle with cancer. Merv Heller, of Wyomissing, Pa., was 65. This longtime volunteer served as USTA president from 2001-02 and was dedicated to making tennis accessible to as many people as possible. He was an attorney for 30 years and a shareholder at the law firm of Leisawitz Heller since 1997. He was inducted into the USTA Middle States Hall of Fame in 1998, and received the Mangan Award, given to an individual who has made significant contributions to the sport of tennis in the Middle States Section. Heller had been a member or chairman of numerous local groups, including the Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
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