Addvantage 2013 September

contents the total professional – enhancing your career 11 Saving the planet ... one tennis facility at a time –

by Stacy Montoya, 10-S Tennis Supply Marketing Maven 13 Q&A with Dave Haggerty – by Tom Sweitzer, USPTA Master Professional 17 Mental toughness tips your players will remember –

by Peter C. Scales, Ph.D., USPTA 21 My “Game changers”: Reflecting on 30 years as a USPTA Professional – by Doug Kegerreis, USPTA 31 Former touring pro gives back to USPTA, tennis –

by Christiana Johns, USPTA staff writer

departments 3 President’s message 5 CEO’s message 7 CMAA corner 8 Classifieds 35 Staff spotlight 36 Career development 38 Industry action

news 4 USPTA announces new national board of directors for 2013-2015 9 USPTA revises membership structure – Introduces new requirements for membership 33 Set in stone: USPTA New England Honors Tim Heckler at Tennis Hall of Fame – by Christiana Johns, USPTA staff writer

convention 24 Keeping you in the loop at the World Conference 25 2013 USPTA World Conference schedule 27 World Conference speakers Q&A 29 Player development tips from the experts On the cover – Join your fellow coaches and head to Melbourne January 7 - 18, 2014, to attend the Australian Open and take part in the premier professional development event of Asia/Pacific, the Australian Grand Slam Coaches’ Conference.

volume 36 • 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 www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Managing editor Circulation

Kimberly Forrester Kathy Buchanan

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

ADDvantage is published monthly by the United States Professional Tennis Association.

The opinions expressed in ADDvantage are those of the authors and not necessarily those of ADDvantage or the USPTA. Copyright© United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc. 2013. All rights reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of the magazine is not permitted without written permission from USPTA. ADDvantage/September 2013

1

President’s message

The future looks bright for USPTA lifeblood for growing this great sport. I can only Greetings USPTA Members: My first order of business is to publicly thank remind you that when we are united as a tennis John Embree for the wonderful job he has done organization, we can accomplish great things. during his first 11 months on the job as the USPTA There is a quote that I recently came across that sparked my interest: CEO/Executive Director. I have found him to be an enthusiastic, dedicated, and engaged individual with an insatiable work “ The true meaning of life is to plant ethic. When John was interviewed for trees, under whose shade you do not this position, the search committee expect to sit.” systematically studied his background – Nelson Henderson as a previous industry leader, so we were cognizant about his leadership We are indeed in the midst of plantand production skills; however, we ing trees and our association will were amazed to find out how wellbecome more robust than ever. respected he was and continues to

In addition to USPTA being a be in the tennis world. There is sigtrade association, we are a viable tennificance to a trade association when nis business. Our tennis business is Tom Daglis your top staffer is so well received, comparable to a competitive tennis and it adds value to the merits of the organization. match: you know you want the ultimate win, you So, what can you expect from your trade as- prepare yourself for the competition, you develop sociation in the future? The answer is that USPTA the tools that will make you successful in the battle, is progressively getting stronger and that is evi- and you set your mind to be on the court for as long dent in several areas. First, we are looking at each as it takes to earn the last point. I believe USPTA component of our existing organization such as will be viable until the last point, and we have the membership categories, financial health, member structure to be industry influencers and developers. benefits, continuing education, and conference As I come to an end of my term as your national programming. Look for announcements on some president, I would like to reflect for a moment on improvements that are coming. These improve- the three platform ideas I originally presented at ments will assist our association in the way we our World Conference four years ago: market our membership categories, help streamline our operational costs, provide more value to our 1. To integrate a component of mandatory educatangible member benefits, raise the standards of our tion into our certification process. profession with more required education, and add 2. To grow our membership both domestically new life and excitement to our World Conferences. and internationally, and to increase our efforts Each of these announcements will be detailed in to work in partnership and cooperatively with specific news releases that are just around the bend! other tennis industry associations, especially in Secondly, our reputation is improving within those areas that positively impact our job market. the industry. Business partners such as TIA and USTA are pleased with the steps we are taking as 3. To form one unified tennis-teaching organization in the U.S. a trade association. Barriers are being torn down with stronger relationships replacing them. We are proving that USPTA is a very credible organization Our education program has expanded to inand is relevant to the tennis industry. We can’t ever clude a mandatory component through earning discount the fact that our members (you) are the continuing education credits toward the APC www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

continued Page 6

National Board of Directors President First Vice President

Tom Daglis Randy Mattingley

Vice Presidents

Nancy Cox Jeff Hawes Tom McGraw Dan Moster Gary Trost

Past President

Harry Gilbert

WORLD HEADQUARTERS CEO

John Embree

Director of Fred Viancos Professional Development Director of Membership and Certification

Vicky Tristan

Membership/ Melony DeLoach Insurance Coordinator Director of Computer Services

Kathy Buchanan

Creative Services Director

Julie Myers

Publications Manager/ Managing Editor

Kim Forrester

Communications Coordinator

Christiana Johns

USPTAplayer.com Manager Randy Jenks Corporate Janice Stollenwerck Services Administrator Director of Finance Controller

Kathy Ladner Ellen Weatherford

Human Resources Director Matt Stotts Director of Video Production Chris Maale Graphic Design Specialist Nick Warwick Video Editor/ Videographer

Andrew Robertson

Digital Asset Coordinator/ Ramona Husaru Tennis Multimedia Management Director of Information Technology

Dan Wilson

Information Technology/ Multimedia

Scott Bucic

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

ADDvantage/September 2013

3

USPTA announces new national board of directors for 2013-2015 The USPTA membership has elected the 2013-2015 National Board of Directors. All ballots have been received and counted by the independent accounting firm, Malone-Bailey, and the results are as follows:

President – Tom McGraw 1st Vice President – Chuck Gill Vice President – Gary Trost

Vice President – Diane Selke

Vice President – Jack Michalko

Vice President – Dan Moster

Vice President – Alan Cutler Immediate Past President – Tom Daglis 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 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 elected by the Executive Committee. 

4

ADDvantage/September 2013

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

CEO’s message Positioning the USPTA for the future ...

A

re you ready? Are you going to be there? Do tinuing education has to be an important element for you know what you will be missing if you all professionals if we are going to stick to our mission. are not?

Thus, it behooves us to simplify our structure in order

The USPTA World Conference in Orlando is to broaden our reach and bring new people into our right around the corner. I could not be more excited organization. about what we have planned for you. We have been Concurrently, we have to consider the impact that telling you for months of the changes that you will our current testing procedures have on prospective see. We continue to tweak the program professionals. Make no mistake; our tesand come up with subtle but impactful ters are the first line of communication nuances that will enhance your enjoywith anyone who wants to come into ment of our annual gathering. our association. But our testers should During our week together, we will be helping our applicants become betbe making a series of announcements ter teachers, not necessarily evaluating that will substantively improve our what they know. And, the testing expeassociation. Prior to the start of each rience everywhere in the country should morning’s General Session, we will be as consistent as possible, so that the spend 30 minutes or so updating first experience with the USPTA is you on the status of the association’s similarly positive no matter where you business, informing you of new memtake your test.

John Embree bership benefits that will commence

In order to accomplish this massive in 2014, and announcing a variety of initiatives overhaul to our existing materials, online learning that we will undertake to elevate the standards of management system, testing procedures, etc., we have tennis-teaching professionals and coaches across the hosted two meetings with board members, Education country.

Committee representatives and Testing Committee One of those major undertakings is the restruc- leadership, along with staff here in Houston on this turing of our membership classification along with a topic. The first of these meetings was held in March, revision of the testing content and process. As many which set the framework for the work that had to be of you may already know, we will be streamlining done with the second gathering just recently completthe existing categories from five groupings to four. ed last month. Both were constructive and proactive Because we have not been able to effectively com- in delving into all of the issues affiliated with these municate to consumers and potential employers the changes. There is still a lot more to do to be ready for distinction between our three professional levels (P-1, a Jan. 1 start date, but we believe we will be ready.

P-2, and P-3) in the past, it has led to confusion in Finally, our top 25 testers will be traveling to the marketplace. Many within our own membership Houston in November to get trained on what their often have difficulty verbally differentiating between new approach is going to be as of the first of the year. one level and the next accurately.

We will show them the new stroke analysis video that Additionally, if we intend to make our association we have created, discuss the revised testing procedures more attractive to the young tennis-teaching profes- for both Professional and Elite levels, and review the sional who is considering his/her career path, our cat- applicant manual for its content, along with the upegories have to be clearly defined and understandable. grading for the Elite category. Given the significance Not only that, they have to know what the pathway is of this transformation, our testers need to be fully if they wish to upgrade and add to their educational prepared to handle the variety of questions that are experience so that they may be able to improve their bound to come their way. And for those testers who earnings potential and responsibilities. After all, con- won’t be able to attend this critical session, we will

Our new structure, combined with the many membership benefits that have been announced and will be announced soon, are demonstrating the commitment that I have made to do what is right for our organization.

continued next page www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

ADDvantage/September 2013

5

from previous page hold webinars in December to bring them up to speed on what is happening going forward.

We will be making several announcements during the World Conference in Orlando as to the new structure and explain as many of the details as possible during our General Membership Meeting on Tuesday afternoon from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. For those who won’t be able to join us in Orlando, we will generate several e-blasts describing the changes along with press releases and website updates. You can also read more details on Page 9 in this issue to get acquainted with what will be new in 2014.

In the Strategic Plan, one of the five key initiatives for our association is to enhance our education and certification process.

The action steps that we are taking will do exactly that. Candidly, not everyone is going to like the direction that we are taking. I understand there might be some pushback. After all, change is not easy. But the steps as outlined were endorsed by the Membership and Education committees along with the Testing Committee prior to being approved by the Executive Committee during our April meeting. Each of these leadership groups viewed these changes as a positive development for the association as a whole.

In the long run, we have to make the USPTA membership more relevant to potential employers and more easily understood by our customer base, the tennis-playing public. Our new structure, combined with the many membership benefits that have been announced and will be announced soon, are demonstrating the commitment that I have made to do what is right for our organization. I hope you agree. 

6

ADDvantage/September 2013

President’s message from Page 3 designation, Accredited Professional Coach. Add to that additional pre-certification education and mandatory post-certification education that will begin in 2014, and we have accomplished this goal.

To date, our membership has grown and we certainly are positioned in a more cooperative environment with other tennis industry partners, specifically with the Club Managers Association of America, which is one of our larger employer groups.

My goal of forming one unified tennis-teaching organization in the U.S. has not been fully realized, yet we now have a document outlining a cooperative effort between USPTA and PTR. My confidence in the USPTA remains strong and I again summarize what I verbalized years ago: Elevate the USPTA Professional, recognize the USPTA Professional, embrace the USPTA Professional, and they will go through walls for you and the entire tennis community!

I am very pleased to see the new addition of future leaders such as Tom McGraw and Chuck Gill as President Elect and First Vice President Elect, respectively, and I know that the organization we all love will continue to prosper under their guidance. The experience these individuals possess far surpasses their acquired proficiencies as past division presidents and National Board Members as they bring to the table a clear understanding of the teaching professional, proven by years of practice as tennis directors at some of the top clubs in the country.

It is a great time to be a USPTA member! 

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

What is the Certified Club Manager Designation?

by Jason Koenigsfeld, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Professional Development, CMAA

I

n many professions, a successful career is marked by an appropriate degree of professional development, verified by a credible certification program and recognized by both the public and one’s peers. For club management, the Certified Club Manager (CCM) designation has been the hallmark of professionalism since 1965. It is a valuable and widely respected mark of an individual manager’s commitment to professional development and the club industry. To date, more than 1,500 club management professionals have obtained the designation.

The CCM title indicates that a club management professional has fulfilled rigorous educational requirements and is prepared to address the toughest challenges in club management. In order to receive the CCM designation, one must be a Professional member of the Club Managers Association of America (CMAA) actively working in the club industry for at least six years, invest time in specified education requirements, attend at least one CMAA World Conference and maintain activity within their local CMAA chapter.

As part of the specified education requirements, candidates must complete four intensive one-week programs through CMAA’s Business Management Institute. Developed in the 1980s, CMAA’s BMI program is an in-demand and flourishing series of week-long courses at the most renowned hospitality schools in the country including Georgia State University, California Polytechnic University at Pomona, Michigan State University, Cornell University, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), and the University of Houston. Each program features 35 to 40 hours of in-depth instruction from tenured hospitality faculty and business educators on the specified topic. To meet the CCM requirements, each candidate must attend: I. II. III. IV.

BMI I – Club Management BMI II – Leadership Principles BMI III – General Manager/Chief Operating Officer Either BMI Golf Management or BMI Food & Beverage Management continued next page

A group of CCMs at the Business Management Institute IV at Cornell University. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

ADDvantage/September 2013

7

from previous page Additionally, candidates must participate in a minimum of two CMAA pre-approved six-hour workshops held at the local chapter or national level. In total, candidates must accrue 300 total credits, including chapter, national and allied education.

After these conditions have been met, the individual must pass the CCM Exam. To pass the exam, a candidate must attain an overall score of 70 percent or higher, with a score of 50 percent or higher on each of the 10 parts of the exam. The exam consists of 400 objective questions covering CMAA’s 10 competency areas: I. Club Governance II. Food & Beverage Management III. Accounting & Financial Management IV. Human & Professional Resources V. Leadership VI. Membership & Marketing VII. Golf, Sports & Recreation Management VIII. External & Government Influences IX. Facilities Management X. Interpersonal Skills Allen “Bo” Picklesimer, CCM, the General Manager of Egypt Valley Country Club, in Ada, Mich., achieved his designation in January 2013. Bo shares: “ Those of us who serve in the private club industry come from a variety of educational and work experience backgrounds including finance, sports/ recreation and hospitality. Whatever our background is we all come with some part of the package that provides an opportunity for us to succeed in this business. But few, if any of us, come with the whole package. That is what makes the opportunities for education provided by CMAA, and the approach to becoming a Certified Club Manager, special. Requiring more than a superficial knowledge in the 10 areas of competency ensures that the CCM designation brings an individual who is better prepared to serve his or her club. Being a CCM doesn’t necessarily mean that you are a great manager, just that you have been prepared to be a better one.”

All CCM designations are awarded for a period of five years.

All CCMs, except those who have retired from the profession, are required to earn at least 120 certification credits during these five years to maintain their designation. The Certification Maintenance Requirement ensures that CCMs continue to enhance their skills in providing core services while keeping current with industry developments.

Attainment of the Certified Club Manager designation demonstrates an individual’s long-term commitment to professional development and club management. Managers who achieve the CCM designation are distinguished individuals who have attained a verifiable degree of knowledge and competency in club management and should be recognized as such.  To learn more about CMAA’s Professional Development for professionals in the club industry, visit www.cmaa.org. Since 1927, the Club Managers Association of America has fulfilled the educational and related needs of its members. With close to 6,500 members across all classifications, our manager members operate more than 2,500 country, golf, city, athletic, faculty, yacht, town and military clubs.

8

ADDvantage/September 2013

CLASSIFIEDS Camps TENNIS CAMP INSTRUCTOR’S MANUAL – Training tool and

resource for your summer staff.

See sample at the Coach’s Store at www.jobeasier.com.

Subscriptions FREE SAMPLE Bob Larson’s Tennis Jobs newsletter. Daily newsletter lists new tennis jobs in USA. For sample, email jobs@tennisnews.com.

Clay court maintenance

Tennis products

The Smith 3C Clay Court Conditioners are the next generation of highly engineered/ powered equipment to keep your fast-dry courts in desirable likenew condition. Manufactured in the U.S. and available for immediate shipment starting under $3,000. You can scarify a light top-dressing, mill 5/8" back to like-new powder, loosen hard packed sub-surface watered courts, or remove algae. Rejuvenate and renew your fast-dry courts. Call M. Kohlman at 805-550-0149 or email mkohlman@tcsn.net.

For more information, visit ­www. claycourtconditioner.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.

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!

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.

Rates: $30 for 20 words, minimum per issue. 50 cents per word thereafter.

Prepayment is required. Supply typed copy and include full name, telephone number, credit card number and expiration date. Email magazine@uspta.org or fax to 713-358-7794, 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

USPTA revises membership structure

Introduces new requirements for membership

B

eginning in January 2014, the USPTA professional rating structure will change. The new system is the result of the combined efforts of the Education, Membership, and Testing and Certification committees and includes approval by the National Board and Executive Committee. The purpose of this change is to streamline the categories of membership to make them easier to understand and promote to the public.

Upgrade now vs. later If you upgrade to P-1 before Jan. 1, 2014, you only need to retest in the areas in which you did not receive a P-1. If you pass all areas as a P-1, you will be classified as an Elite ­Professional in 2014.

The new structure will be: Master Professional (unchanged) Elite Professional (formerly P-1) Professional (formerly P-2 and P-3) Recreational Coach (unchanged)

Elite Professional All existing Professional 1-level members will be reclassified as “Elite Professional” and remain the highest tested level of member.

If you are a P-2 or P-3 and would like to upgrade to P-1, you should try to do so before the end of the year. After January 1, any existing P-2 or P-3 member who wishes to become an Elite Professional must successfully complete the following new exams: • Written Elite exam (online) – based on four subject areas. There are at least two specialty courses available that are associated with each topic.

• Business (budgets, management, staffing, retail, customer service, etc.)

• Programming (lessons, clinics, activities, events, etc.)

• Sport science (motor skills, biomechanics, sport physiology, sport psychology, etc.)

• Tennis operations (program implementation, program calendar, staff supervision, court maintenance, etc.)

• Feeding competency (Elite level) • Stroke analysis (revised online exam) • Required education – earn 16 specialty course credits in the four areas listed above and 24 APC credits. (Once this has been met, it doesn’t have to be repeated.)

If you do not wish to upgrade, there is no need to complete the above activities.

If you want to upgrade before the end of the year, contact the Membership Department at membership@uspta.org ASAP to find out in which areas you need to retest and to schedule your upgrade. You can view the schedule at uspta.com. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

If you upgrade after Jan. 1, 2014, you will have to complete the following: • Written Elite exam • Feeding competency (Elite level) • Stroke analysis (revised online exam) • Required education

If you did not pass the stroke analysis exam at the P-1 level, you may take the feeding exam instead if you plan to upgrade before the end of the year. Contact the Membership Department ASAP to schedule your upgrade. membership@uspta.org Professional All existing Professional 2 and Professional 3-level members will be reclassified as “Professional.” Those who wish to upgrade after January 1 will need to complete the requirements above. If you want to upgrade before the end of the year, you need only test in the areas in which you scored below P-1.

All new applicants will test into this category and will earn the Professional-level certification by successfully completing the ­following: • • • • • • • •

Written exam (online) Feeding competency Lessons Private (one-on-one, 25 minutes) Group (three to four students, 25 minutes) Grip exam Stroke production Stage 1 and 2 of the Youth Coaching Education Program* (More information about this program will be available in January.)

* Current applicants who do not complete the Certification Exam by Dec. 31, 2013 will not be required to complete Stage 1 and Stage 2. They will, however, need to meet the other professional requirements. Only those who apply after Dec. 31, 2013 will be required to complete Stage 1 and Stage 2. continued next page ADDvantage/September 2013

9

from previous page Recreational Coaches who wish to upgrade to the Professional level before the end of the year should contact the Membership Department. After January 1, they will need to complete the new Professional-level requirements.

New member requirements Also beginning Jan. 1, 2014, all new applicants will be required to complete Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the Youth Coaching Education Program prior to taking the USPTA Certification Exam. Stage 1 is an online course. Stage 2 consists of five 30-minute online courses and a 3.5 hour live workshop. More information about these courses will be available on uspta.com at the end of the year.

Continuing education In our efforts to raise the standards of tennis-teaching professionals and coaches, which is our stated mission, it is vital that every professional have some continuing education toward that end.

Starting in 2014, all Elite Professional and Professional members will be required to earn 6 credits every three years to maintain their membership. This is the equivalent of attending or watching three specialty courses (2 credits each), 12 conference seminars (.5 credits each) or attending a World Conference (8 credits) over a period of three years. To gain a better understanding of why these changes are being made, please read the CEO message on page 5. 

10

ADDvantage/September 2013

Highlights • If you are a P-2 or P-3, you will be classified as a ­Professional.

• This is not a downgrade to your current status.

• If you want to upgrade before January 2014, you don’t have to retake the entire test. You only need to retest on the areas in which you scored lower than a P-1.

• If you upgrade to a P-1 before Jan. 1, you will become an Elite Professional in 2014.

• Membership pricing will be the same for Elite ­Professional and Professional.

• All changes take effect January 1.

How to pick up 6 credits • Go to or watch on DVD three specialty courses (2 each) • Go to or watch on DVD 12 conference seminars (.5 each) • Attend one World Conference (8) • Attend one division conference (5) plus attend two seminars (.5 each)

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Saving the planet … one tennis facility at a time

by Stacy Montoya, 10-S Tennis Supply Marketing Maven

A

s time goes on, we hear more and more about ways we can help save the planet in all aspects of our lives: drive a hybrid car, recycle your garbage, eat organic/eat local. But did you know you can also help in several ways around your tennis facility? Statistics abound for ways people can reduce their impact on our environment, so try a few new things on your courts and make a step toward becoming a “green tennis facility.”

Tennis balls Landfills accumulate 20,000 tons of used tennis balls each year. If your club spends time and money reordering practice balls after only one use, that likely means those used, “flat” balls are going into the trash at your club or facility – then on to landfills. To help reduce that impact, there are a handful of alternatives for you.

If you like the idea of donating your old tennis balls, Project Green Ball may be an alternative. They will take used tennis balls and grind them up to create safe flooring used for equestrian arenas and playgrounds.

This is a safe and dust-free alternative. To learn more, check out their site ProjectGreenBall.com.

Possibly the warmest and fuzziest option is to donate used tennis balls to your local animal shelter.

Many times these shelters are in need of donations, and a used tennis ball could help bring a little joy into their pooches’ lives.

Clay tennis courts FDC HydroCourt With regard to clay court tennis, the water, material and maintenance requirements of traditional sprinkler-irrigated www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

clay courts have historically placed them out of reach for most court owners. The FDC HydroCourt changes the equation, so consider converting your conventional sprinkler-irrigated clay court to a subsurface irrigated FDC HydroCourt.

The FDC HydroCour t uses traditional Har-Tru material and is a “green” technology, developed to make clay court tennis an attainable and environmentally friendly option for all court owners.

The FDC HydroCourt system greatly reduces the amount of water, material, rolling and time required to properly maintain a clay court.

Clay court tennis is now a real alternative for almost any court owner.

Of all the leading subsurface irrigation systems, the FDC HydroCourt requires the least amount of aggregate fill material for construction, in most instances. This results in a smaller impact on our valuable natural resources and a reduced utilization of heavy machinery needed to extract and transport such material.

• Lower water usage Many environmental experts believe the next great challenge facing our planet is water usage. The FDC HydroCourt subsurface irrigation system addresses this concern and uses up to 60 percent less water than sprinkler-irrigated clay courts, making a clay court an environmentally friendly choice even in arid climates.

• Lower material costs The FDC HydroCourt system keeps the surface of the clay court continuously moist and free of blowing clay dust.

This results in 50 percent less use of clay court material, an igneous metabasalt greenstone product found exclusively in the Appalachian Mountains. The FDC HydroCourt system also extends the life of your windscreens, as they are not continuously stained by a sprinkler system.

• Lower greenhouse gas emissions & labor costs Climate change is a hot topic these days.

Regardless of your individual beliefs on the topic, we can all agree that anything we can reasonably do to cut emissions is a good thing. Sprinkler-irrigated clay courts require an extensive amount of power rolling, a process that requires significant labor time and the release of harmful greenhouse gasses. FDC HydroCourts require little rolling after the initial installation process.

ClayTech court ClayTech is a relatively new clay court surface that blends the sliding feature of Har-Tru courts with the easier, more cost-effective and environmentally safer maintenance features of a hard court. A big selling feature of these courts is how easy continued next page ADDvantage/September 2013

11

from previous page they are to maintain and how little water they require.

ClayTech’s natural, clay top layer (Har-Tru) and synthetic, polypropylene membrane create an attractive, uniform, sliding court surface. Maintenance requires nothing more than a simple sweep, even after a season of not seeing play. This reduces your carbon footprint since heavy gas or battery powered machinery, such as rollers, are not required to maintain these courts. Another bonus for planet Earth provided by the ClayTech court is that water consumption is considerably reduced because the material facilitates water absorption and drainage. All you need to do is simply spritz the court for three to five minutes before play. The clay-topped surface prevents holes and cracks and the polypropylene membrane contributes to a long life. And since the perimeter lines are painted in place when the surface is installed, the lines easily last for two or three years. That means the amount of court material ending up in a landfill is greatly reduced – no more disposing of hundreds of feet of lines!

Court amenities Signage Outpost Message Boards give you a green way to communicate with your members. All Outpost models are made with environmental recycled plastic that will not rot, splinter or crack. You also reduce waste because they never need to be painted. The Outpost Message Boards come in a variety of sizes and colors to match your facility’s needs.

Benches There are a number of benches available made from recycled materials. There is no stronger bench on the market than the Rock Island bench. The “Rock” will provide you with unparalleled support and durability. Each bench comes with a 50-year limited warranty against rot and termite damage. These benches are made from recycled plastic with no maintenance required – no painting, rot or rust damage to attend to.

Another alternative in green benches is the classic elegance of the Malibu Bench.

This bench will enhance any seating area and its contoured design provides great

12

ADDvantage/September 2013

support. Each Malibu Bench also comes with a 50-year limited warranty against rot and termite damage. These benches are made from recycled plastic, as well, and there is no maintenance required to maintain their appearance and longevity.

A third example would be the Durawood Bench that is built to last from incredibly durable recycled plastic that has the appearance of lumber. These are perfect for tennis courts since they are designed to evenly distribute weight, which prevents potentially destructive hard court indentations. They cannot rust, rot, split or warp.

Each type of bench above is available in a variety of colors to best match your existing court amenities, as well as varying sizes, depending on the amount of space you have at your facility.

Trash receptacles/ball recyclers In keeping with today’s “green movement,” the Courtserve Trash Receptacle includes a special ball hole above the trash entrance to encourage tennis ball recycling. The Courtserve Trash Receptacle is an extremely functional addition to any tennis facility. The Courtserve trash can functions very well at handling your facilities refuse, as it holds up to 40 gallons of trash. The balls roll into a separate compartment apart from the trash that can hold up to 50 tennis balls.

And if using the Rebounces “Green Tennis Machine,” your teaching pros will find a steady supply of teaching balls to replenish their carts and baskets.

These are just a handful of the ways you can help your facility on its way to being more environmentally friendly.

This can also be a great selling feature for your members and future members. When they find that you are taking additional steps to help our environment, they will understand that your facility truly cares about the impact you have on our planet and its resources.  10-S Tennis Supply is the official tennis court equipment supplier of the USPTA. To learn more about any of the products mentioned in this article, please contact 10-S Tennis S­ upply at 800-247-3907 or visit their website at 10-S.com.

Clever uses for tennis balls Put your old, used tennis balls to good use with these creative ways to make the old new again.

1. Remove scuff marks. The felt on tennis balls helps lift stubborn black scuff marks on floors.

2. Throw them in the dryer. The balls help fluff up large comforters.

3. Hammer softly. Use a tennis ball between a hammer and a nail when a rubber mallet isn’t around to soften the blow.

4. Open jars. Cut open a tennis ball along the white lines. The rubber inside of the ball will grip the lid for you.

5. Protect a padlock. Cut a slit into an old ball and slip your lock inside to protect it from the elements.

6. Get creative. Tennis balls provide a great base for a variety of arts and crafts projects from wreaths to vase filler. All you need is paint and an imagination.

7. Donate. Animal shelters, nursing homes, schools or after-school clubs are always looking for donations, so give them a call and see if they can use your old balls.

See more ideas at pinterest.com/ USPTA/uses-for-old-tennis-balls.

Got any other ideas?

Visit us on Facebook or Twitter and share what you do with your used tennis balls.

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Q&A with Dave Haggerty USPTA Master Professional Tom Sweitzer sat down with Dave Haggerty, president of the USTA and asked a few questions.

1. Where were you born and where do you call home now? I was born in Trenton, N.J., and grew up in Morrisville, Pa. I now live about 15 minutes from there in Pennington, N.J. The state used to have a marketing slogan that went, “New Jersey and you – perfect together.” I guess you could say I bought into it.

2. How and when did you get into tennis? My dad was the director of tennis at Cadwalader Park in Trenton, N.J. During the summer that I turned 6, my dad would take me to work with him and I’d watch while my older brother Dan, who was 11 at the time, would play tennis with my father. After about a week of watching them hit tennis balls, I went and asked one of my father’s assistants to hit with me. My dad saw me taking an interest in the sport, and from that day on, he hit with me every day.

asked me to join their section board where I served for six years.

After that stretch of service, I applied for the USTA national board. The nominating committee appointed me to the board as a Director-At-Large. Two years later I became a vice president, then First Vice President and now President of the USTA. It is a terrific honor and a remarkable challenge to lead such a diverse and vibrant association, with its thousands of dedicated volunteers and professional staff. I can honestly say that every day I am impressed, awed and inspired by the people who put a face on this association, and I am particularly proud to be one of them.

5. What would be on your wish list for improving the synergy between the USTA and USPTA to improve both the tennis workplace and for growing tennis in the U.S.? We believe that 10 and Under Tennis coaching education and development of players is a critical need for American tennis, and certainly the USPTA has been – and 3. Tell us about your early tennis career when will continue to be – a leading player in that you decided to work for an unknown comregard. We want to grow the number of 10 and pany called Prince and promote and sell Under players to millions so that a revolutionary product called we have a large, strong foundation the “oversized” racquet. At that I think communication and working together are so vital time, did you have any idea of the to everyone’s success in the sport. We have so many people of youth that will play tennis in high school and college, and stick impact this product would have on out there who love tennis and if we’re all going in the same with the sport after graduation. tennis? I graduated from George direction, there’s no limit to what we can accomplish.

That’s a win-win for everyone with Washington University in May an interest in the sport.

1979 and in September went to Europe to play some satellite tournaments. It didn’t take me More than anything, we want – and need – to keep the lines of communication open between all parties, and that’s too long to realize that I couldn’t make it on the pro tour, so I something I’m especially determined to make happen. We returned home and became the director of tennis and manager need to spend at least as much time listening as we do speakof a tennis center in Hamilton, N.J. I taught the president of ing; we need to really appreciate the importance of a variety of Prince, Jack Murray, and he and Jim Baugh, who was the National viewpoints in reaching our shared goals. At times it seems that Sales Manager of Prince at that time, offered me a job as Product we as an industry spend more time fighting among ourselves Manager of Accessories in September 1980. Of course, I should than we do collaborating. We’re all working toward the same also add that at the time, they didn’t have many accessories, so I goal – we want to see tennis continue to grow and continue to had to develop the line of accessories as my first job. enhance lives. And we’re only going to be able to optimize our My parents were very concerned that I was giving up a good efforts when we work together. career as a club manager and teaching professional to work for a fledgling company with a “big racquet,” which they saw as risky. When I went to Europe to play tournaments, I was given 6. As the governing body of tennis in the U.S., how does the USTA differ from other national governing bodies of tennis? Every national assome Prince Pro racquets and I realized there was something sociation is vital to the health and growth of the sport in their revolutionary about them, but I didn’t expect the wildly sucrespective countries, and the USTA is the caretaker of the sport cessful ride that we had. in the U.S. at a variety of levels, from the game’s grassroots to its grandest stages. We’re involved in a vast variety of community4. What motivated you to become involved with the USTA and how did based initiatives and programs for people of all ages and abilities, you parlay that into becoming president of the organization? About we have a strong membership base, we run the 90-event USTA 13 years ago, then-USTA Middle States President Anne Humes continued next page ADDvantage/September 2013 13 www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

from previous page Pro Circuit, the Emirates Airline US Open Series and of course, the US Open, which generates the revenue for all that we do.

Our philanthropic arm, USTA Serves, funds tennis and education programs for kids in need and people with disabilities, and offers grants and scholarships to help them succeed in life.

We have an outstanding professional staff, but our lifeblood is, without doubt, our unparalleled corps of passionate and dedicated volunteers. They are the people who are responsible for the growth and success we’ve achieved through the years, and if there’s one thing that I think truly sets us apart, it’s our volunteers.

11. When your USTA President term ends, how do you plan to impact tennis next? That’s a good question for which I don’t really have a well thought-out answer. I will remain on the USTA board for another two years after my term ends. I’ve been fortunate to make my livelihood in tennis and I have always been around the game. I also serve on the board of a for-profit company and enjoy being able to contribute in a strategic way with them, so perhaps serving on one or two other boards might be a consideration. But tennis has always been such a huge part of my life, and I’m sure I’ll remain involved in whatever capacity I feel I can add value.

Tennis is the sport for a lifetime – certainly for my lifetime.

7. How do you feel your personal tennis background has provided you 12. Can you talk about plans for the 2014 Tennis Teacher’s Conference? with a different insight into leading the USTA than your predecessor?

Everybody’s time today is valuable and it is becoming increas Jon Vegosen did a terrific job as president and was a mentor for ingly more difficult to get people to leave their jobs and families me. He still is a valuable resource. to attend professional meetings and My background is pretty extensive conventions. That said, for more than We’re all working toward the same goal – as a player, teaching pro, manufac25 years, the TTC, held annually we want to see tennis continue to grow and continue turer and volunteer. I’ve been lucky during the US Open, and the USPTA to enhance lives. And we’re only going to be able to have been around tennis for so Convention have taken place within to optimize our efforts when we work together. long and to have seen the USTA three weeks of each other. So we have, and our sport from many angles. in effect, been competing for many of And because I’ve been involved in the sport for more than the same pros and coaches as attendees, and the current schedule 30 years, I’ve had the opportunity to meet and get to know so forces the manufacturers to have two trade shows. many people who share my love of the sport and want it to In 2014, the USPTA will shift its World Conference to New continue to grow and succeed. I’ve seen the value of listening York and encourage their pros to attend a bigger industry-wide and learning from various viewpoints. My experience in the Tennis Teacher’s Conference. The TTC, which has always been manufacturing side of the sport taught me that you don’t just open to all teaching professionals (USPTA, PTR, international, call on the customers who think you’re great, you need to pay etc.) will hopefully attract more USPTA Professionals and the just as much – if not more – attention to those who think USPTA will have its board and executive committee meetings you’re not so great. You may not always want to hear what in conjunction with the TTC. We will work collaboratively they have to say, but most of the time, you’ll learn something on a lineup of educational offerings so that it best serves the from listening. teaching community here in the U.S. 8. What career advice would you give to anyone considering going into the tennis industry and/or already in the tennis industry? I would encourage them to follow their passion, because tennis is a great sport and can be a great way to make a living. I’ve found the people who work in our sport – at every level – to be among the most dedicated and enthused individuals you’ll ever come across. I know I always have felt particularly lucky to be able to work in a field where you get paid to do what you enjoy.

9. Tell us about your family. Do you require them to play tennis? It’s not technically listed as a requirement on their birth certificates, but they do all play tennis; it’s a family activity that we can enjoy together. Some of my kids play more regularly and seriously than others but the best summer memories are the weeks at the beach when we get to play together as a family. There is some serious competitive positioning both on and off the court.

10. What is the coolest thing about being USTA President? The people that you meet are pretty amazing. I could go on and on about the people I’ve met and the remarkable things that they do every day to help our sport grow. They inspire me to do my best in this position.

14

ADDvantage/September 2013

13. What do you hope is your tennis legacy? My great hope is that we can make the USTA more approachable, more accessible and more of an association that is seen as inviting and as a unifying force in the sport. At times, I think we’re viewed as the 800-pound gorilla and I think people tend to think the worst about our intentions rather than give us any benefit of the doubt. But I don’t see it as something we can’t overcome. I see this as a cultural shift that we can have by having big ears and small mouths and being able to listen to and learn from each other. That would define success to me.

It’s hard to measure, because a lot of it is perception, but I think communication and working together are so vital to everyone’s success in the sport. We have so many people out there who love tennis and if we’re all going in the same direction, there’s no limit to what we can accomplish.  Tom Sweitzer is a USPTA Master Professional who works for the City of Orlando, managing the Orlando Tennis Centre. He was named the USPTA Alex Gordon Professional of the Year, and was inducted into the USTA Middle States Hall of Fame as well as two other Halls of Fame. He is Chairman of the National USPTA Job Market Committee and a member of the HEAD Penn Speakers Team. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Mental toughness tips your players will remember

by Peter C. Scales, Ph.D., USPTA

T

ennis coaches know that the mental aspects of the game are some of the most important tools to develop in our players. We’ve all seen players with better technical shot-making skills and better athleticism lose to players who weren’t as technically or physically skilled, but who were better at keeping calm and having a positive attitude throughout the inevitable ups and downs of a match. Unfortunately, mental toughness too often is an afterthought in practices and clinics. So, how can you make mental toughness a noticed and memorable part of your coaching?

Parkway South High School JV2 girls go over mental toughness tips every day. Photo by Sheldon Kolawole.

For several years now, we’ve been intentionally emphasizing mental toughness during our high school JV2 tennis seasons (that’s our second JV team, many of whom go onto JV1 and Varsity) and summer tennis camps for beginners through high school varsity and college players. We do this by sharing a daily mental toughness tip over the first four weeks of the season or camp. We cover 20 tips, but as with anything we teach, some concepts seem to get remembered and used more readily than others.

Here are the nine mental toughness tips out of the 20 that seem to be the ones that stand out and that stick with our players. These are the tips we hear them saying to each other on the court and during water breaks, when they’re not even aware we’re watching or listening.

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Adjust, adapt, survive The U.S. Marine Corps uses those three words to train new recruits to become ­Marines. Adjust your attitude to the situation you are in. Adapt your behavior to handle what’s coming at you. If you do, you have a better chance of staying alive.

Have you ever heard someone say, ­“Tennis is a game of emergencies?” What does that mean? It means that things happen – at fast speeds – that you don’t expect.

Be calm when things don’t go your way.

When that happens, you’re experiencing tournament tennis. At a tournament, you might suddenly find yourself assigned to a different court than you expected, at a different time than you planned on, enduring all sorts of weather or scheduling delays,

maybe even facing a different opponent than you thought you’d be playing. People who get upset when such things happen have not adjusted and adapted, and they tend not to do very well in tournaments.

You have to adjust and adapt in order to survive!

No excuses Winners are not those who take the most sets. Winners are those who take personal responsibility for their game, win or lose. Here is the only acceptable reason you can give for losing a match: “My opponent was better than I was today.” You didn’t lose because your opponent cheated (even if he did), or because it was windy or sunny or cold (your opponent faced the same conditions), or because of your grip, your strings, your shoes, your parents, your coach, or that there were too many people watching, or too few, or because you “just can’t play against” pushers, hard servers, moonballers, overly chatty opponents, opponents who are too serious, etc. Do you get the idea?

What matters is right now – this shot, this point The quickest way to lose a match is to be thinking about the point you just played, or how the match will turn out (“Only two more points and I win!”).

Odds are you won’t win those two points if you say that to yourself. The only point that matters is the one you’re playing right now, and the only shot that matters is the one you’re hitting right now. Once a point is over, turn your focus to the next one you’re going to play. You can say to yourself, “OK, that was a little short into the net, so I’ll swing more from low to high to get the ball over the net.” But then get into ready position and prepare for the next point. continued next page ADDvantage/September 2013

17

from previous page Improving is more important than winning When you tell someone you played a tennis match today, they’ll usually ask, “How did you do?” The best mental toughness answer is not, “I won” or “I lost.” The best mental toughness answer is “I played hard and to the best of my ability.” If your goals are about constantly improving, you will almost always be able to reach many or most of your goals, and so tennis will remain a fun and satisfying thing to do, something that helps you grow as an athlete and a person and that you can do your whole life. If your goals are mostly about winning, or not losing, then you will very frequently feel frustrated and stressed, not have much fun, and have a better chance of quitting the game you once loved. What a shame.

All points are big points Watch how Rafael Nadal plays. He doesn’t just play with intensity and focus on game, set or match points – he plays that way on every point. You have to be physically fit to do it, but playing all points as if they’re big points will give you a consistency of focus that will keep you energized and positive. And it sends a big message to your opponent – you don’t ever let down, so if she does, she’s in big trouble.

That thought alone could cause a few errors by your opponent.

Never give up Playing all points as if they’re big points and focusing on right now will also help you never to give up. Try to reach all balls, no matter how hard it is to get to them – don’t give up on shots either physically or mentally. And don’t assume the match is over just because you are down by a lot or that it’s over because you are up by a lot. People can lose a match they are leading 6-0, 5-0, and they can come back and win a match they are losing 0-6, 0-5. Make your opponent earn every point, every game, each set and the match. If you play positively with energy and focus, and show a belief that you can always win no matter what the score is, your opponents know they will have to earn it. You never know when they will start getting nervous and tight or careless. And momentum is a powerful yet fragile force – continued Page 23

18

ADDvantage/September 2013

Playing all points as if they’re big points will give you a consistency of focus that will keep you energized and positive.

Photo by Harvey Rubin, USPTA.

Coach Scales’ top 20 mental toughness tips for tennis players 1. Adjust – Adapt – Survive 2. Physical fitness leads to mental toughness 3. Improving is more important than winning 4. All points are big points 5. What matters is right now – this shot, this point 6. Never give up 7. Show positive body language 8. Have a game plan and routines 9. Love the battle, solve the puzzle (adapted from Jim Loehr, Ed.D., noted sports psychologist) 10. No excuses 11. Respect all opponents, officials and coaches 12. Mistakes are necessary to improve 13. Use positive self-talk 14. Learn one new thing every time on the court 15. If you gave your all, your last loss makes you tougher for your next match 16. Think during practice – feel during the match 17. Lose yourself – humility allows you to learn 18. Do not strive for victory – strive for balance, gracefulness, calmness, patience and clarity 19. Proper breathing leads to relaxed body and clear mind 20. Mental toughness is not something you are born with – it’s something you develop The full description of each tip can be downloaded at http://sites.google.com/site/parkwaysouthhighjv2tennis www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

My “Game Changers”:

Reflecting on 30 years as a USPTA Professional

by Doug Kegerreis, USPTA

I

t was September 1982, I was in graduate school at West Virginia University earning my master’s degree in sport management. This career field was just in its infancy at the time. It was a step I was taking toward my career in the tennis industry.

Alongside my master’s degree, I determined it was necessary to become certified by the tennis industry’s leading trade association, the USPTA. So I tracked north to Fort Washington, right outside of Philadelphia where USPTA Pro Drew Sunderlin was a great host for a weekend of testing. I had to wait a few weeks, but I still remember the excitement of receiving the notice that I became certified as a USPTA Professional.

What a “game changer” for me! Since then, I have been fortunate to experience other “game changers” in my career. The game has evolved and grown in many ways, and I suppose that many tennis pros will have their own story. Here are my most memorable “game changers” since I passed the USPTA exam 30 years ago.

Jim Loehr and the “Ideal Performance State” My first hands-on exposure to USPTA Pro Jim Loehr’s Mental Toughness program was at the 1985 USPTA National Convention at Saddlebrook. I attended the mental toughness seminar he presented at the convention. I had read articles and books regarding mental toughness in sports, and I even took a sport psychology course in grad school. However, Loehr’s theories were unique. He broke sports psychology down so that it was easy to teach and easy to understand for my students. In addition, he had years of hands-on research and interviews with world-class athletes to base

Game-changers benefit young players. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

and prove his theories. Overall, he brought sport psychology out of the theoretical lab and onto the practical court. He shared discussions that he had with pros such as Tom Gullikson and Tim Mayotte regarding what they were thinking and feeling when they played at the top of their game. He then gathered all of these discussions and created a system. It was what he called the “Ideal Performance State.”

This seminar was a definite game changer for me. I immediately went home and bought his “Mental Toughness Training for Sports” book along with his Mental Toughness video, which consisted of 12 ba-

sic training tips on improving one’s mental toughness. Again, these tips included easyto-understand, practical ways to improve mental toughness on the court. Since 1985, I have consistently included his information in my teaching. I believe it is a fundamental building block in tennis development. I coach a high school tennis team, and watching this video remains a preseason team tradition. Interestingly, I’ve tried to find a more recent video to use but have found nothing that introduces the basics of mental toughness training in a more practical way than his game-changing information that I came across 27 years ago.

System 5 In 1991, the USPTA, along with Nick Bollettieri, introduced System 5, the five keys to tennis. It was a logical, commonsense approach to learning and teaching tennis. At the time it was controversial.

Questions were asked such as, “Are USPTA Pros being asked to all teach exactly alike?”

I believe I have used it through the years as it was meant to be utilized: as an additional tool in my “tennis-teaching toolbox.” I have incorporated System 5 concepts into my own teaching system. I appreciate the way System 5 links the backswing, followthrough, court position, and net clearance into an interconnected five-part system. It is a logical and organized way to teach these important parts of the game. It is also an easy and understandable way to learn it.

Twenty-one years later, rarely does a day go by in which I don’t use the System 5 method when giving feedback regarding the backswing or follow-through, especially when it comes to groundstrokes, approach shots and volleys. The book, which outlines the system, is called “The 5 Keys to ­Tennis.” Although now out of print, I would highly recommend finding a copy as it may present some game-changing tips for your own students! continued next page ADDvantage/September 2013

21

from previous page USTA Junior Team Tennis In the early ’90s, the USTA began a national junior team tennis program. Prior to that, the USTA focus had primarily been adult leagues. Many tennis professionals at this time may have been lucky enough to have a local junior tennis league. For others, interclub competition consisted of calling up pros at other clubs and individually organizing matches. There was almost no organized junior league play through the winter. USTA junior tournaments, with most being of the single elimination variety, were the only other option available to junior tennis players.

Then came the USTA Junior Team Tennis program, as it was called at the time, which became a cornerstone of my winter junior program. The kids and parents loved the fact that the indoor program no longer only consisted of instructional clinics. They could apply their skills in a match setting to supplement the teaching and learning in the instructional setting. The format also allowed coaching on changeovers! What a terrific hands-on learning tool at the early stages of match play. Further, they had more opportunities to play doubles. This program became a stepping stone to USTA tournament play. As soon as the juniors could play real tennis, they could be playing USTA league tennis. I believe this game changer for me was the initial lead-up to the 10 and Under Tennis program that we utilize today.

Joe Dinoffer and Oncourt Offcourt My first encounter with Joe Dinoffer came at the USPTA Palm Springs convention in 1996. He utilized his Rope Zone system as he gave a presentation on creative drill design. Dinoffer’s style was unique, to say the least! However, his content was rock solid. I believe his contribution was very similar to Jim Loehr’s and Nick ­B ollettieri’s. Their contributions were simple, logical, easy to understand and easy to learn, and they created organized systems to teach and learn the game of tennis. The Rope Zone brought visualization to learning and was all about targets.

Ropes were laid out, usually in the form of runways, and gave a tennis player feedback based around visual targets. Moreover, they could observe where their ball went in relationship to the designated target. Next, 22 ADDvantage/September 2013

they could formulate what to do differently to get the next ball closer to the target. By easily maneuvering ropes around the court, all kinds of new and interesting drills and activities can be ­created.

But Dinoffer didn’t stop with just the ropes. He created an entire company based on teaching aids that made teaching and learning the game more fun, visual and easy. Dinoffer was, and still is, on the cutting edge of new instructional trends

working with a good group of juniors at the time, several of whom went on to play Division I college tennis. The Directionals tied all of these elements together. Wardlaw developed the directional system, which is included in his book, “Pressure Tennis.”

His book is a must-have, in my opinion, for every tennis professional’s library. It is an organized system (do you see a pattern here?) of teaching and learning where to hit the ball based on where you are standing on

Research continues to point to tennis as one of the great activities to keep one both physically fit and mentally sharp. The game ... will continue to evolve with v­ arious game changers, but sharing our love for the sport of tennis will never change. in the tennis-teaching industry. One of my first teaching aids – a slower, softer ball (more to come on this later) – was a ball that I purchased from him. He also was ahead of the game when it came to explosive performance training for tennis.

He saw the game changing before most of us did. He recognized that this type of training would need to become a staple in our programs, not just at the professional level. Similar to what he did with the Rope Zone and other teaching aids, Dinoffer delivered for explosive training as well.

Today, he continues to offer equipment to make this type of training fun, interesting, and most of all, effective. Along with the instructional support aids, Dinoffer was one of the first to offer a full array of tennis-specific explosive training activities. A good friend of mine in the tennis industry once observed all the gadgets I purchased from him and remarked, “Gee, you are paying for his children’s college education.” My reply was, “Thanks to Joe, he has helped put my kids through college!” With his industry leading training techniques and training aides, Dinoffer was a game changer for the industry and myself.

Paul Wardlaw and “The Directionals” In 2000, coming across Paul Wardlaw and “The Directionals” was a “perfect storm” for my tennis career. By now, I was several years into using the Rope Zone on a daily basis for teaching targets. In addition, I was integrating explosive performance training into most of my programs. I was

the court, where the ball came from, and where you are hitting the ball in relationship to your body. It is primarily based on when to change the direction of the ball.

The combination of Wardlaw’s “Directionals” with Dinoffer’s Rope Zone made for highly effective teaching and learning sessions, especially for advanced juniors.

Wardlaw’s theory in a nutshell was to only change the direction of the ball when you are standing on or inside the baseline, you are on balance, and you can hit the ball in your strike zone. How often have we all had discussions (sometimes heated) with our students regarding shot selection? If you teach your students the directionals, you both now have a proven system as a reference to frame your discussion. Do you always have to follow the directionals?

No, but like so many things in tennis, the percentages are in your favor when you do.

Therefore, whether changing directions or not, Wardlaw’s system was a game changer for myself and my advanced players.

Scaled-down balls Call it what you like. Scaled-down tennis. QuickStart tennis. 10 and Under Tennis. It works. It is right. If you are not on this train yet, you need to get on it right now! I can clearly remember trying the large foam ball with a 10-year-old student back in 2000 for the first time. I was amazed! After she completed the longest mini-tennis rally of her life with this ball, I knew this ball was a game changer! Like I said earlier, I purchased my first softball size foam balls from Dinoffer. I progressed to www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Mental toughness from Page 18 using low-compression balls, too. ­Dinoffer called them “Champs Balls” back before the industry standardized them as “Orange 60” balls. The results are inarguable.

Players who use them are more successful starting out in the sport of tennis because they have more fun and their rallies are longer.

This is an exciting time to be part of junior tennis development. This generation of tennis professionals are trailblazers for junior development when it comes to scaled-down tennis. This will be normal for the next generation of tennis pros and young children learning the game. Right now some of us are confronted by questions such as, “Why are we using these balls? When are we going to play ‘real tennis’?” These questions won’t be asked in a few years. These will be the normal balls for younger children. This will be real tennis for 10 and Under players. For most of us in the industry, this game changer already is a part of our instructional ­practice.

Conclusion Has the game and tennis industry changed in the past 30 years? You bet is has! The experiences I have given in this article are but a tip of the iceberg regarding the changes that have taken place. I didn’t even touch on other game changers such as racquet and string technology, consumer purchasing patterns, or even the Internet!

However, in other ways the tennis industry has stayed the same. We are still trying to grow our piece of the recreational pie. Tennis is an easy sell for us because we know of all the great lifetime benefits the game provides.

Research continues to point to tennis as one of the great activities to keep one both physically fit and mentally sharp. The game probably will continue to evolve with various game changers, but sharing our love for the sport of tennis will never change.  Doug Kegerreis is a 30-year USPTA Professional who lives in Fairfax, Va. He is president of Chantilly International Tennis, providing tennis services to facilities and organizations in Northern Virginia. His website is www. cittennis.com. He is also an elementary physical education teacher in Oakton, Va. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

when you’re way down in the score, winning even one point can put the brakes on your opponent’s momentum, start getting them to feel tons of pressure to close you out, and suddenly produce more errors.

Mistakes are necessary to improve Everyone makes mistakes. Yes, practices should be harder than matches, so you’ll make even more mistakes in practice! But most points end when someone makes a mistake, whether it is an unforced error or one your opponent forces. Tennis players make errors all the time. So the goal is not to eliminate mistakes. That is impossible.

The goal is to increase how quickly you can diagnose what your mistake was, how well you can make adjustments for the next time you face that situation, and how calmly you react to your error. Mistakes also are a necessary part of improving your game. No one develops a more powerful serve or a more

studios, painters, musicians and dancers try all sorts of things that don’t work, purposely, and think about what they’re doing and why.

But at some point, they allow inspiration to take over and guide their hands or voices or feet. That’s when their “match” begins, when they start to feel instead of think.

Learn one new thing every time on the court Set it as a goal. In practice, in private lessons, in matches – make a resolution to walk off the court having learned something. In practices, ask your coach questions – he or she knows more than you do and wants to share that knowledge. Most coaches love to get questions because it shows you have motivation, and it helps coaches give you something you can use right now. In private lessons, too, tell your pro what you’d like to work on (but then accept it and run with it if he uses that to teach you something else – that’s why he’s a pro!). Maybe it’s about

If your players do even one or two of these things regularly, they will improve their mental toughness. If they do them all, they might get scarily tough, and win or lose, they will enjoy the game even more.

sharply-angled backhand without trying new techniques that initially lead to a lot of mistakes. So go out and practice hard and practice often. But take the mistakes as an inevitable part of the game and of growing.

Think during practice – feel during the match Practice is the time to break things down, get mechanical about your strokes if you have to, rehearse how you want to move, and remind yourself about proper footwork, balance, strategy and tactics. You still should think quickly and efficiently during changeovers and between points of a match as you continually analyze what is going on. But during the actual playing of a point, you should be playing as much as possible on instinct and feel, without second guessing yourself. Feel your breathing, the heat, cold, wind, or stillness of the air, the weight or lightness of the ball as it hits your strings, your breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth, the smell of the ball, etc. Be a painter or a musician or a dancer on court during the match – in their

technique or strategy. Maybe it’s about your opponent that day. Maybe it’s about how the wind or sun felt and how you want to deal with it the next time. Maybe it’s about your breathing or noticing when you attacked and when you were afraid to attack. Maybe it’s realizing that you need to drink more water before you get on the court. There are unlimited things to learn every time you are on the court. Learn one of them, every time.

If your players do even one or two of these things regularly, they will improve their mental toughness. If they do them all, they might get scarily tough, and win or lose, they will enjoy the game even more.  Peter Scales, Ph.D., is a developmental psychologist and the senior fellow for Search Institute in Minneapolis, where he has conducted extensive research on positive youth development. He is a USPTA P-3 and a volunteer assistant tennis coach at Parkway South High School, Manchester, Mo. ADDvantage/September 2013

23

Keeping you in the loop at the World Conference

I

f you’ve ever been to the USPTA World Conference before, you know about the “daily board” – the big daily schedule in the USPTA registration area where last-minute changes are marked. If it rains and an outdoor session gets moved, if a meeting gets cancelled, or if a speaker can’t make it and someone else is filling in, it is written on the board. Attendees are advised to check the board frequently throughout the week.

This year, USPTA has two new ways to keep you in the loop that come straight to you. The first is Bloodhound, a free smartphone app that features an up-to-date and customizable schedule, a list of exhibitors and a list of attendees who are also using the app.

To get the app, go to http://bloodhound.com/download-the-app or use the QR code below. Once you have the app installed on your phone, open it and create an account. On the “Scan Type” screen, click the three bars icon in the upper left corner, then click “Events.”

Search for USPTA, click on the listing, then click “Load this event.”

Bloodhound is compatible with iPad 3 or newer, iPad Mini, iPhone 3GS or newer, iPod Touch 5th generation or newer, and Android 2.3.3 and above.

The other method is a text alert service. We will send you a text about changes in the schedule and will also send important reminders. To sign up for this, text USPTAWC to 84483 or go to http:// rainedout.com, search for USPTA, then click on USPTA under Preferred Results. On the next screen, enter your phone number and agree to the terms of service. A validation code will be sent to the number you entered. Once you enter your validation code, be sure to click “Subscribe” next to USPTAWC. After you click Validate Code, you will receive a text from rainedout.com confirming your subscription. Regular text charges apply.

Welcome to the World Conference Cardio Tennis has moved to 6:30 a.m.

The 2:30 Specialty Course has been moved to Room 13

You can also follow us on Facebook (facebook.com/USPTA. ­Official) or Twitter (twitter.com/USPTA_Tennis) for updates. 

24

ADDvantage/September 2013

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

2013 USPTA

World Conference Schedule

Key: [I] - Indoor [O] - On court

Speakers and times are subject to change.

Monday, Sept. 23

Tuesday, Sept. 24

Wednesday, Sept. 25

Thursday, Sept. 26

Friday, Sept. 27

10 & Under Tennis

Club Operations

Teaching/Sport Science

High Performance

6:30 – 7:30 a.m.

Cardio Tennis

6:30 – 7:30 a.m.

Cardio Tennis

6:30 – 7:30 a.m.

Cardio Tennis

6:30 – 7:30 a.m.

Cardio Tennis

8 – 8:30 a.m.

USPTA updates

8 – 8:30 a.m.

USPTA updates

8 – 8:30 a.m.

USPTA updates

8 – 8:30 a.m.

USPTA updates

8:30 – 9:45 a.m.

General Session (I) Positioning youth tennis for success – Dr. Brian Hainline with Kurt Kamperman and Patrick McEnroe

8:30 – 9:45 a.m.

General Session (I) CMAA Panel Discussion – Jim Singerling, Mike Leemhuis, Richard LaRocca with Tom Daglis moderating

8:30 – 9:45 a.m.

General Session (I) The professional forehand return – John Yandell

8:30 – 9:45 a.m.

General Session (I) A total lesson: on and off court– Nick Bollettieri

9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Specialty Course 1 **Cardio Tennis – Michele Krause

10 – 11 a.m.

Seminar (I) Linking TAUT competencies with long-term player development – Paul Lubbers, Ph.D.

10 – 11 a.m.

Seminar (I) Event programming on steroids – Paula Scheb

10 – 11 a.m.

Seminar (I) The healthy tennis teacher – Jane Savage

10 – 11 a.m.

Seminar (I) Guide to injury prevention – Kinesiotaping – Chris Baker

**Cardio Tennis Training follows from 1-4 p.m.

There is a separate registration fee of $85

Seminar (I) Mechanical and tactical: How to maximize development in 10U – Julio Godreau

Seminar (I) Management: A learned skill – Ajay Pant

Seminar (I) Stroke mechanics in 3D technology – Brian Gordon, Ph.D.

Seminar (I) Skill acquisition in tennis – Warren Pretorius

11:15 a.m.– 12:15 p.m.

Seminar (I) Pro shop profitability – Pat Shields

11:15 a.m.– 12:15 p.m.

Seminar (I) Revolutionary match analysis – Brett Hobden

Seminar (I) The next generation of teaching professionals – Glenn Arrington

Seminar (I) Learn how to eat like the pros – Page Love, Erin Cubick

Lunch

Lunch

Lunch

1:30 – 3 p.m.

General Session (O) To the red court & beyond: Navigating your players along the 10U pathway – Rita Gladstone

1:30 – 3 p.m.

General Session (I) Customer service through great leadership – Peter Burwash

1:30 – 3 p.m.

General Session (O) Corrective techniques for the forehand, backhand and serve – Rick Macci

2:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Specialty Course 3 10 and Under Tennis: Teaching progressions using kid-friendly buzzwords – Feisal Hassan

2:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Specialty Course 4 Leadership: Strategies for the workplace – Barbara Fackel

3:15 – 4:15 p.m.

Seminar (I) Police Athletic League Kids & Police Tennis Association – Ira Peskowitz

3:15 – 4:15 p.m.

Seminar (I) Budget & financials: Know what to expect & if you are getting it – Doug Cash

Seminar (O) When can I play again? – Mike Barrell

Seminar (O) Creative doubles drills for all levels – Joe Dinoffer

4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

USPTA Membership Meeting

4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Seminar [I] USPTAPlayer.com – Randy Jenks and Nancy Biggs

11:15 a.m.– 12:15 p.m.

Seminar (I) Linking training and competition for 10 and Under success – Craig Jones Seminar (I) Becoming a double-goal coach – Eric Eisendrath

2:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Specialty Course 2 Tennis footwork and movement – Mark Kovacs, Ph.D.

6 – 7:30 p.m.

Battle of the Divisions

Seminar [O] 50 shades of gray – Kathy and Ron Woods 7:30 – 9 p.m.

Tournament Players’ Party

7:30 – 10 p.m.

Welcome Party

6:30 – 9 p.m.

Division Parties

Noon – 2 p.m.

Awards Luncheon Keynote speaker: Pat Williams 2:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Specialty Course 5 Mental Training – Lorenzo Beltrame *** HPI Mentally Tough Certification Course

3:15 – 4:45 p.m.

Manufacturers Ad Staff Meetings

2:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Seminar (I) The key techniques of motivation – Antoni Girod Seminar (O) Drills for mental skills – Spike Gonzales

5 – 10 p.m.

USPTA Reception and Buying Show

3:45 – 4:45 p.m.

General Session (O) Technique and other skills – Jeff Salzenstein

*** HPI Mentally Tough Certification Course will be held after the Mental Training specialty course on Friday, which is part of the HPI program.

The course continues Saturday, Sept. 28 from 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 29 from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Attendees can either sign up for just the Friday specialty course or the entire program. There is an additional charge to do the entire program. The specialty course is $40.

World Conference speakers Q&A Rick Macci Founder of the Rick Macci Tennis Academy, USPTA Master Professional Rick Macci has coached several No. 1 players and continues to coaches players from age 3 to 93. Macci was inducted into the USPTA Florida Division Hall of Fame in 2010.

Why did you start the Rick Macci Tennis Academy?

I started the academy because of the demand back in the late ’80s of kids wanting me to coach them. Through the enormous success of Tommy Ho, others wanted to come to Grenelefe Resort in Haines City, Fla., where I was director of tennis. It took on a life of its own and the academy just evolved. I had no intentions of just helping juniors and pros at the highest level; I just wanted to help anybody. I just loved to teach and mold and make a difference in people’s lives.

Where does your passion for tennis come from?

My passion comes from my desire to be the best I can be. I try to improve every day. It has been my mindset ever since I was a kid growing up in Greenville, Ohio. I was always very dedicated and loved to work hard. I wanted to outwork the competition, even though the real competition is you. I always felt I had a gift and tennis has given me the platform to do my thing.

Your session is titled “Corrective techniques for the forehand, backhand and serve.” What specifically will you be discussing and why did you feel this was an important topic to cover?

In my session, I feel very few really understand correcting errors and finding the true culprit of what is really going on. Most see the symptom and not the cause. Because of always wanting to know exactly what is going on and why, and through my friendship/partnership with Brian Gordon, Ph.D., I have crystal clear facts of the

cause and the effect on why the student misses or makes an error. I feel sharing this with others is what it is all about.

You have a very hands-on approach to your teaching methods and spend a lot of one-on-one time with your students. Why do you think this has been so effective?

I teach still today 60 hours a week one-on-one. I have been blessed and fortunate. I feel one-on-one you can cover more ground, dive in head first, and most of all the public wants the personal service. I’m in the trenches – I love the trenches – and because of the passion and dedication to improve every day and be available seven days a week to any level from age 3 to 93. That has created a niche globally that when you come to the Rick Macci Academy, he is available. He is here. He can help you one-on-one. At the end of the day, remember we all are in the service business and having that inner understanding of wanting to help others. It’s the bottom line. When I teach one-onone, I can connect the dots quicker and see the picture in every way and communicate the game plan a lot different than most. It is just a gift of the way I’m wired; everything is just really expedited big time.

What do you think is the biggest challenge for tennis-teaching professionals today?

The biggest challenge is staying up with the ongoing evolution of stroke mechanics and the changing game. It is quicker, faster and the speed is getting more accelerated. Understanding the biomechanics of what really is going on I feel is something every teacher has to have in the tool box.

What is one of your favorite memories as a tennis-teaching professional?

I don’t have one favorite memory, but believe it or not I guess doing the corporate tournaments at Grenelefe Resort [are my favorite]. I took an ordinary round robin event and put together a dog and pony show with crowd cheers, crowd boos, creative awards, the theme from “Rocky,” the Olympic theme, photos, music, ball kids, mannequins, a logoed hurricane shutter that went up with a push of a button timed perfectly with the “Eye of the Tiger” song and all the theatrics of a major league Disney World presentation. I used to do 80 of these a year and kept shining it up brighter and brighter. Everybody was blown away. The resort guests and corporate execs would always say it was a presentation like no other. It was the best of the best, and the pinnacle. It was just my wiring. I wanted to be different and better.

Which makes for a better vacation: relaxation or adventure? What is your ideal travel spot?

My vacation is being here with the USPTA. I don’t go on vacations.

If I do ever take a few days, it would be to go home to Ohio. I feel what I do for a living is so great and I enjoy it so much, I rather work. I don’t look at work as work.

What is it that you absolutely couldn’t live without?

I couldn’t live without (ESPN’S) SportsCenter! continued next page

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

ADDvantage/September 2013

27

from previous page

John Yandell John Yandell is the creator of Tennisplayer.net online tennis magazine. He is widely acknowledged as one of the world’s leading high-speed videographers and analysts and has worked with dozens of world-class players as well as tour and college coaches.

inside the professional technical game that will show the forehand returns of the best players – Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic – in high speed video at 250 frames a second.

What really happens is too fast for the human eye to see. When we break the strokes down using these cameras we invariably come to new and amazing understandings. We’ll see the commonalities these guys share and also their variations.

What made you decide to create and produce Tennisplayer.net?

The motivation was mainly personal. I wanted to learn everything I possibly could about the game of tennis. I wanted to understand the views of the best coaches and analysts. I wanted to find new voices – coaches and writers who had something original to contribute in a sport with a limited number of media outlets.

As a working teaching pro it became obvious to me that much of what happened in the strokes was a mystery – especially at the professional level. The high-speed filming we started doing in the 1990s and the data bases we have built allow us all to see the realities behind the technical issues we pontificate about every day on the court.

You did Ph.D. work in history and religious studies. What made you switch to teaching tennis?

Let’s just say that, although I am still working on a book on early American history, I found that temperamentally I was not well suited to bureaucratic structures such as professional academia.

When I dropped out of Stanford I knocked on Dick Gould’s door and he gave me a job teaching at a gorgeous public park in Palo Alto.

How has technology changed how tennis professionals teach?

Learning a sport is visual and kinesthetic, yet the medium for most traditional lessons is still verbal. We feed balls and we feed tips from the other side of the court. Using high-speed video on court with the new incredibly affordable cameras allows teaching pros to give students direct visual feedback. It allows them to see and feel what they are doing in comparison to imagery of high level technique.

Your session is titled “The professional forehand return.” Go into more detail about what we can expect and what the benefits to attending your session are.

This talk will be the continuation of a series of presentations going

28

ADDvantage/September 2013

Where did your love of tennis originate from?

I was lucky to play on an amazing high school tennis team with a number of nationally ranked junior players and a charismatic coach named Bill Austin who was far, far ahead of his time.

What goals do you have for your business and tennis-teaching career?

To continue to forward my understanding of the game by working with the best coaches I can find and to study the invisible game of professional tennis using the ever-evolving technologies.

What would you place in a time capsule that would tell a relative 100 years from now who you were?

A picture of myself with my wife and our dog.

How would you describe your perfect day?

A morning bike ride at our house near Mount Lassen. A broccoli and cheese omelet. Catching a wild trout on a dry fly in the Sacramento River and having it for dinner. Watching Federer win another Slam final on the DVR and celebrating a day like that with a glass of red wine in the hot tub. 

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Player development tips from the experts Learn how to maximize your players’ potential on Player Development Day, Friday, Sept. 27, at the World Conference with these tips from a few of the experts.

A small step to mental toughness

by Spike Gonzales, USPTA A challenge for coaches of competitive junior players is to instill in their charges a realistic outlook of what effectively wins tennis matches.

Often junior players develop unrealistic outlooks on how they should be trying to improve. Two reasons for this are:

To help players develop a more realistic playing outlook, have them play with “absolute scoring.”

A player wins a positive point only when he or she hits an outright winner or forces an error.

When the player makes an error, he or she loses a point (rather than awarding the point to the opponent). A game is completed when a player reaches a positive or negative four points.

1. They see the great shots of world-class players and think that emulating those shots is their path to success. (A high school basketball coach once said to me, “My job became much harder after ESPN started showing highlights of great plays!”)

This, of course, works mainly for players who are competitive with each other. The outcome will help the development of patience and mental fortitude.

2. They always “remember” their great shots, and overlook the times when they won points with routine placements or because of opponents’ errors. Great shots become the Holy Grail!

Learn some drills for mental skills at Spike Gonzales’ seminar on Friday, Sept. 27, at 2:30 p.m. (ET) at the USPTA World Conference.

You can make a change and have an impact on every single person that you work with. ~ Nick Bollettieri Nick Bollettieri will be speaking on “A total lesson: on and off the court” on Friday, Sept. 27, at 8 a.m. (ET)

Train your brain for mental toughness

by Lorenzo Beltrame, USPTA Tennis players’ success depends on their ability to bring to life their very best during crucial times when it counts the most. It is common knowledge that the best players are the best competitors; those players that under any circumstances are able to express their talent to the fullest. The best players are mentally tough.

should schedule time to train this extremely important area of his or her game.

Emotional control is the direct consequence of thought control. If players can control the content and the tone of their private voice, they have control over their emotions.

Although there are several techniques to train thought control, we found that the most effective way is to handwrite or journal the exact way one desires to be thinking in the future. Repeating the exercise several times enforces that the scripted thought will eventually become the most likely to occur, even under pressure.

Most players spend endless hours refining their technical skills, improving their decision making, and increasing their physical capacity. All those hours essentially go to waste when players lose control over their emotions.

The interesting part of this process is that once the athletes learn to control their emotions in practice and competition, they can then transfer the skill to anything else they do in life, making competition a priceless gift.

Mental toughness, like all other skills, can be learned and can be mastered through systematic training. Every competitive player

Sign up for Lorenzo Beltrame’s specialty course on Friday, Sept. 27, at 2:30 p.m. (ET) to learn more about mental training.

Mental toughness is the ability to create and sustain a specific state of mind, the signature of players competing at the top of their game.

Such a state of mind includes a sense of confidence, determination, calmness, positive energy, effortless execution and awareness.

continued next page www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

ADDvantage/September 2013

29

from previous page

Motivation vs. determination

by Antoni Girod

Determination is motivation’s inseparable partner. Plenty of players are motivated. Few of those are determined.

Motivation is measured by words. Determination is measured by actions. Motivation is an intention oriented toward the future. Determination is to act in the present. Motivation is purely mental. Determination is visceral.

When you’re motivated, you have an objective, a goal. It’s a motor pushing you into action.

However, you can have the most powerful motor in the world, but if you decide not to turn the key to start, your motor is of no use at all. To be determined is to decide to act. To be determined is to engage yourself 100 percent in the action you planned.

Determination is the physical and moral engagement of a complete individual. Every cell of your body, every drop of your blood, every neuron of your brain, every one of your thoughts should be directed toward the achievement of the goal on which you’re focused. Determination is a complete and unconditional engagement with every second.

Every second that passes can bring you closer or further away from your goal. Determination is measured point by point, ball by ball.

How do you know if you’re really determined? Just ask yourself after each point: “Did I put all my energy into the point I just played, was I engaged 100 percent? Did I give 100 percent of my concentra-

tion, 100 percent of my physical ability, 100 percent of my strategic thinking, 100 percent of my will?” The response to these questions is a matter of being honest with yourself. It’s not about a scientific measurement. This amount is entirely subjective. But have confidence in your intuition. Give credit to how you feel.

Get in the habit of intuitively measuring your energy level on a scale of one to 10. Get in the habit of measuring your energy level after every point. If you are at 10, don’t stop there. You haven’t achieved anything yet. You just played only ONE point at 100 percent. Keep going point after point, no matter what the outcome. Whether you’ve won or lost the point, keep engaging yourself at 100 percent. And if after a point you feel like your energy level’s gone down, work to bring it back up right away. Don’t let apathy or laziness set in. Be generous with your energy. Expend yourself limitlessly, from the first ball to the last. The final score doesn’t matter. Losing or winning a match doesn’t mean anything. The only thing that matters is total and unconditional engagement on every shot. That is where true victory is found. It’s a victory for yourself, a victory over your own personal limits.

Hear about the key techniques of motivation from Antoni Girod on Friday, Sept. 27, at 2:30 p.m (ET).

Bridging visual and kinesthetic learning

Making it stick

by Warren Pretorius

by Chris Baker

In order to help a player improve faster, a good coach will try to involve as many of the learning processes as possible.

Players learn in four ways: visual, kinesthetic, auditory and digital/ logical. Anytime you can bridge or involve all of these learning processes, your student will learn and improve faster. Up until the age of 12, visual learning is at its peak, so you need to take advantage of this stage in a player’s development.

In addition to demonstrating strokes, using video is the most powerful way to stimulate visual learning. After showing a player her stroke, she can “feel what she sees” out on the court. Video should be a standard part of your teaching toolbox. You do not need any software (your cell phone already has video capability), and many apps, like Dartfish Express, are available for less than $5. Not only is it easy to record a player’s strokes, but you also have the ability to mark important moments, add drawing tools and audio comments, and then share this with the player.

Video also helps with the goal-setting process. It is an objective evaluation tool (player, parent and coach see the exact same stroke), and it allows for documenting improvement (film today and compare your performance to last month’s).

Kinesiology tape has numerous benefits and applications for the tennis athlete for improved performance and recovery. Its use is pervasive on the pro tour as athletic trainers and physios learn more about the latest trend in taping technology. The most common problem I encounter with my patients is that the tape falls off prematurely. In order to get a therapeutic effect, it needs to stick. RockTape advertises adherence for an average of three to five days, but that is definitely not a guarantee. Here are my top 10 tips for making sure your kinesiology tape sticks to your skin like white on rice!

Learn more from Warren Pretorius in his seminar, “Skill acquisition in tennis,” on Friday, Sept. 27, at 10 a.m. (ET).

Join Chris Baker on Friday, Sept. 27, at 10 a.m. (ET) to learn about injury prevention using kinesiotaping.

30

ADDvantage/September 2013

1. Shave or trim long hairs over target area.

2. Remove oils/creams/lotions with isopropyl rubbing alcohol.

3. Use “tuf-skin” on palms of hands and soles of feet (those regions exude more oils).

4. Don’t touch the sticky side of tape with your fingers during application.

5. Never apply stretch to the last 1-2 inches (anchors) of the tape.

6. Rub the tape vigorously on the skin to create friction and heat, which activates the adhesive.

7. Wait 30 minutes to one hour after application to begin athletic activity.

8. Pat dry with towel after showering/swimming, avoid rubbing into the edges.

9. Be cautious when putting on and removing clothing.

10. Trim ends of tape if they roll up slightly to prevent premature peeling of the bulk of the application.

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Former touring pro gives back to USPTA, tennis

by Christiana Johns, USPTA staff writer

J

eff Salzenstein won a national championship by the age of 12, but by the time he entered college, he said he “had one of the worst serves in college tennis.”

However, between his freshman and sophomore years on the men’s tennis team at Stanford University, his hard work improving his serve paid off; he helped lead the Cardinal to back-to-back national team titles as captain at the No. 1 singles position in 1995 and 1996 and was a two-time all-American before turning pro.

Salzenstein played on the pro tour for more than a decade and became one of the top-100 tennis players in the world.

“When I was a professional tennis player – I broke the top 100 for the first time at the age of 30 – the serve was my big shot,” he said. “That was the shot that allowed me to actually be able to play professional tennis. I became good at it as a player, so I feel comfortable enough with it to coach.”

Now that Salzenstein is a USPTA-­ certified Professional, he is giving back to the sport he loves by sharing what he’s learned. The former touring pro visited the USPTA World Headquarters in March to film two episodes of “On Court with USPTA” – one on serve progressions and another on transition approach to footwork – to air during the US Open Series in August. He focuses on techniques to improve the serve, from maintaining the proper platform stance to racquet drop and contact.

“I’m very passionate about teaching the www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

serve,” he said. “I think it’s a mysterious, often challenging stroke not only to teach but to hit for most players, so if I can move it forward with instruction a little bit more, then I’m doing my job.”

Salzenstein also filmed an episode focusing on how to move around the court. He chose to focus on this because he said it’s a challenging part of the game to teach and understand, and there is a certain way to teach exactly how to move the feet.

“I think tennis is a dance. If you learn to move with rhythm and grace and with ease, tennis is more fun,” he said.

The two episodes of “On Court with USPTA” aren’t Salzenstein’s first foray into filming instructional videos. After moving back to his hometown of Denver when his touring days were over, he began learning about monetizing the Internet for his business. He launched jeffsalzensteintennis. com, a site where he blogs and is able to

market informational products and launch his own instructional videos. His YouTube account has more than 2.4 million video views with nearly 8,000 subscribers. The Web presence allows him to help players globally instead of just locally.

“Instead of reaching 25 juniors in Colorado, we’re reaching millions of people all over the world,” he said. “I really feel that I’m fulfilling my mission to share with the world what I’ve learned.”

Salzenstein spent 11 years on the pro tour, but after battling injuries and living out of a suitcase, he said he knew it was time to go home. He felt that he would have a fairly easy transition from the role of player to coach. That’s when he turned to the USPTA. Salzenstein’s father was a USPTA Professional, so he was familiar with the Association and its benefits to tennis teachers.

“I knew that the USPTA was the leading organization for teaching professionals,” he said. “It seemed like a no-brainer to get involved, to connect with coaches and move into the coaching world. It just made sense.”

Since becoming a member and reaching P-1 status, Salzenstein has leveraged his platform as a USPTA Pro to share his expertise by speaking and presenting at regional events and conventions along with networking with like-minded pros.

“I never worked at club or in that setting, but I knew if I could get connected with more professionals and receive more education and use via being a USPTA Professional to continue to share what I’m doing, I thought it could be a win-win: that I could help the USPTA and the USPTA could help me with what I’m doing privately,” he said.

Salzenstein said his transition from a playing career to a coaching one has been fulfilling not only because he sees how players improve through his instruction but also just enjoying the game of tennis.

“I always knew that I was going to give back all of the information and knowledge and passion that I had learned as a player.

Somehow I would give back.”  ADDvantage/September 2013 31

Set in stone:

USPTA New England Honors Tim Heckler at Tennis Hall of Fame

by Christiana Johns, USPTA staff writer

T

“The USPTA New England board unanimously felt that Tim was a great leader, and he made us all proud of our membership,” said Steven O’Connell, USPTA New England Past President. “All of the board became members and activists for the USPTA, and a large part of that was Tim’s influence.

“We all know of the positive impact that Tim had on our profession. It just made sense.”

The ceremony for laying the brick took place during the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships on the grounds of the Hall of Fame in Newport.

Several members and representatives to the Hall of Fame were present, including CEO Mark Stenning and tournament referee Sean Sloane, a lifelong USPTA member and the best man at Heckler’s wedding.

USPTA NE board members in attendance included Stevens, Faulise, O’Connell, Regional Vice President Doug Eng and Vice President Stephen Thuot in addition to other USPTA members Mike Michaud, Tim O’Neill, Tom Callahan, Spritely Roche and Anne Schwartz. Several tournament spectators also stopped by the ceremony.

“Everyone had a memory of Tim to share. Some were personal, some professional, and some were to thank Tim for his leadership and service to the USPTA,” Faulise said. “We had fond memories of the few times that Tim visited our conventions playing softball and making sure that he introduced himself to each and every attendee.”

O’Connell said honoring Heckler at the Hall of Fame was important because of his impact on the tennis industry and the way his leadership elevated tennis-teaching professionals to higher levels. “His vision for the USPTA was transformational in the tennis industry. His goal of establishing the USPTA as the oldest, largest, and premier organization that trains and certifies tennis-teaching professionals became a reality.”

Stevens echoed that sentiment, stating that Heckler will be remembered as a leader for the tennis professional.

“He fought for pros to be recognized not simply as ‘ball feeders,’ but as businessmen. He took a small group of tennis professionals and turned them into the leading tennis-teaching Left to Right: Mark Stenning, Sean Sloane, Chris Stevens, Jacques Faulise, Steve O’Connell, Anne Schwartz organization in the world.” 

im Heckler’s legacy is cemented in the hearts and minds of those whose lives he touched, but now the former USPTA CEO’s legacy is actually set in stone.

On July 9, the USPTA New England division honored Heckler by laying a brick in his name at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I., along the Legends Walk outside of the museum. Heckler’s engraved brick, which reads “Thank you Tim Heckler, USPTA/NE,” was placed at the head of the other bricks representing the USPTA. USPTA New England Past President Jacques Faulise said since Heckler was instrumental in having 19 bricks put in – one for each USPTA division and the national office – when the walkway was first created, it made sense to place his brick among the others representing the association.

“It’s a place where the best of the best in tennis are recognized for their accomplishments. It seemed appropriate that Tim and his legacy are remembered here,” current USPTA New England President Chris Stevens said. “It is a gesture which is lasting and would remind people of all he accomplished when walking around the Hall of Fame.”

The idea for honoring Heckler came about during a conference call last winter. As the USPTA’s liaison to the Hall of Fame, Faulise suggested a brick on the Legends Walk and began to inquire about the process of purchasing one. Although the $500 cost was not a part of the division’s budget, when the idea was put to a vote, the board members were all on the same page.

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

ADDvantage/September 2013

33

• How long have you worked at USPTA and what do you do here?

I have worked here for 14 years as director of professional development. I oversee the Education, Certification and Testing, Membership and Multimedia departments, essentially the areas of USPTA that bring in new members and have contact with them during their membership.

• Talk about your tennis playing background. How did you get involved with the sport? When I was about 9, my mother began taking tennis lessons and would take my brother and me along. We began taking lessons while she would take a lesson. One thing lead to another and I was hooked.

• What is the most memorable match that you played in?

I’ve had the good fortune to play in enough matches that some became memorable at least to me. I played (and lost to) Eliot Teltscher when he was No. 7 in the world in a tournament in Louisiana; my partner Eric Korita and I beat Andres Gomez and Slobodan Zivojinovic to get to the quarterfinals of the Tournament of Champions in Forest Hills; my first match as a professional at the Lipton (now Sony Open in Key Biscayne), which I won. Some matches are memorable for different reasons, but one that stands out is a doubles match I played in a men’s open doubles tournament while in college. I was playing with a college recruit named Henner Lenhardt (now a USPTA Pro). In the match, I hit nine aces in a row to hold twice and be up 15-love in the next game, then double faulted. What, you think after nine I wasn’t going to try to ace the guy on a second serve to make 10? Henner and I won the tournament. I hope he remembers, if not, this just became a “fish” story. Winning state in high school, my last college match, my last pro match. Wow, I guess there are too many to name one as most memorable. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

• Who were your favorite or least favorite pros to play against on the tour? My least favorites pros were the ones I lost to, who were most of them. I was lucky to get to know most of the players, especially when I went to work for the ATP World Tour. I have some great memories from those days spending time with Pete Sampras, Ivan Lendl, Boris Becker, Andre Agassi and many others. Jim Courier and I played doubles a couple of times together and always did well (rule No. 1, always pick a good partner). I had more than a few dinners with Patrick McEnroe, Rick Leach, Paul Annacone and so many more. Very good times.

• Tell us about your family and what activities you enjoy together. We’re very active and sports oriented. My wife was a collegiate swimmer so we enjoy sports. Our two boys play baseball and our daughter plays softball. Our middle son also loves soccer so he divides his time with that sport. They all play tennis recreationally. We also love movies.

Fred with wife Jodi and kids Cooper, Avery and Lucas.

• If you’re not playing tennis, what do you like to do in your free time? I’m very much a home body, which may be a byproduct of all the traveling I’ve done. I enjoy music and play the guitar.

• What event in your life would you like to live over and why?

My honeymoon, 10 days in Surfer’s Paradise on Australia’s Gold Coast, enough said.

• Word is that you have a secret guacamole recipe. Care to share? It’s really not a secret since I stole it from Rosa Mexicano, which is a Mexican restaurant in New York (1st and 58th). It has the best guacamole in the world. You can find the recipe at www.rosamexicano.com. Every time I’m in New York, I have at least one dinner at Rosa. I’ve turned on many tennis friends to this restaurant and it never disappoints. Enjoy!  ADDvantage/September 2013 35

Career Development

conventions ( Division conventions, 5 credits; World Conference 8 credits; dates subject to change) Sept. 23-27 USPTA World Conference

Orlando, Fla.

Nov. 1-2 New England Division

Woodstock, Vt. Nov. 15-16 Middle States Division

Princeton, N.J.

taut workshops Oct. 12

Pacific Northwest Division Portland, Ore.

Nov. 1

New England Division Woodstock, Vt.

Nov. 9

Nov. 15

Northern California Division Larkspur, Calif.

Nov. 15

Mid-Atlantic Division College Park, Md.

Dec. 6-7

Southern Division Atlanta

Middle States Division Princeton, N.J.

exams, upgrades & certification review courses

(4 credits for PTCA I segment) Sept. 7-8 Sept. 8 Sept. 10 Sept. 14 Sept. 14-15 Sept. 15 Sept. 16 Sept. 24

Sept. 26-27 Oct. 4-5 Oct. 5-6 Oct. 5-6 Oct. 6

Wayland, Mass.

Birmingham, Ala. Minneapolis Des Moines, Iowa Aurora, Ill. Midlothian, Va. Redwood City, Calif.

Orlando, Fla. (upgrades only) Orlando, Fla. Las Vegas Atlanta Huntington Beach, Calif.

Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Oct. 6 Oct. 6 Oct. 6 Oct. 12 Oct. 14 Oct. 14 Oct. 15 Oct. 17-18 Oct. 18-19 Oct. 19 Oct. 26-27 Oct. 26-27 Oct. 27-28

Fort Worth, Texas West Bloomington, Mich.

Richmond, Va. Paradise Valley, Ariz.

Rockledge, Fla. San Diego Oklahoma City Chatham, N.J. Houston* Kansas City, Mo. El Paso, Texas Mountlake Terrace, Wash.

Frederick, Md.

* 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 Cardio Tennis, Sept. 23, Orlando, Fla., M. Krause Tennis footwork and movement, Sept. 23, Orlando, Fla., M. Kovacs 10 and Under Tennis: Teaching progressions using kid-friendly buzzwords, Sept. 24, Orlando, Fla., F. Hassan Leadership: Strategies for the workplace, Sept. 25, Orlando, Fla., B. Fackel Mental training, Sept. 27, Orlando, Fla., L. Beltrame

cardio tennis Sept. 23 Oct. 11 Oct. 20

Orlando, Fla. Atlanta Fayetteville, N.C.

accredited professional coach Register your Accredited Professional Coach (APC) and specialty course credits earned with the USPTA SmartCode Education System. This uses your smartphone to instantly register your attendance to all seminars and specialty courses earning APC. To use the system at a seminar, general session or specialty course, you must scan two QR codes. One QR code is on your conference badge. The second QR code will be in your conference notebook and cannot be scanned until the end of the session or the beginning of the next session.

If you do not have a smartphone, you may use someone else’s. Forms are available upon request.

Please visit www.cardiotennis.com to register online.

36

ADDvantage/September 2013

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

ADDvantage/September 2013

37

Industry action Member news

Once again the USPTA/NE, with the help of USPTA/E, conducted a successful USPTA TAA FREE Lesson on the grounds of the Connecticut Tennis Center. This year’s FREE Lesson far exceeded last year’s participation. Christie Cole of the New Haven Open accepted a check for $500 on behalf of the Smilow Cancer Center as the New Haven Open Emcee Wayne Bryan, USPTA Divisional Past Presidents Mark Savage and Steve O’Connell, participating pros and New Haven Open FREE Lesson participants were in attendance. USPTA/NE and USPTA/E pros who helped make the 23rd Annual FREE Lesson a success are Steve O’Connell, Skip South, Bruce Angeli, Ken Alrutz, Tom Quagliano and Mark Savage.

USPTA Master Professional Paul MacDonald was inducted into the USPTA Midwest Division Hall of Fame on Aug. 15 at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati. He is the head pro at Schuamburg Tennis Plus where he is very involved throughout the tennis community. He continued in tennis after his playing days as a Blue Demon at DePaul University.

He is married with two daughters who also are involved in the sport.

In 2011 Paul and his daughter were ranked in the top 25 in the country for father/daughter combos.

Avis Murray, USPTA Master Professional, organized a Play for Pink fundraiser for breast cancer research at Bass Rocks Golf on July 30. The Lessons for LifeTM event raised more than $1,000 for “Play for Pink” Breast Cancer Research.

Riverhill Country Club Tennis Director Garry Nadebaum, USPTA, grabbed two gold balls with singles and doubles title wins at the USTA National Men’s 45’s Grass Courts Tennis Championships held at The Germantown Cricket Club in Philadelphia. Nadebaum was seeded No. 1 after winning the tournament in 2012 and this year won five rounds of singles all in straight sets. This was a great week of tennis for the Riverhill Country Club tennis director, winning the singles title for a second straight year and adding the doubles title to his list of many national championship wins.

USPTA members Liz and Dick Stockton held a T3 event at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, N.C., in July. The T3 program, which stands for “Thanking our Troops through Tennis,” was the first of what will be many tennis outings to military bases across the country. The basic idea is to thank our military personnel and their families for their sacrifices and efforts by offering them a fun day of tennis clinics and activities. A total of 175 people signed up to participate in one of four clinics that were offered; the event was a huge success. Pictured are USPTA pros Steve Contardi, Pam Casale-Telford, Mario Contardi, Dick Stockton, JoAnne Russell and Ira Peskowitz along with world No. 5 Eddie Dibbs. Not pictured: USPTA members Jaime de Carvalho and Liz Stockton. All T3 events are held at different military installations; all the tennis activities take place right on the base.

Peachtree Station Swim & Tennis Club held its first U10 High Performance Camp this summer. The participants had their ground strokes video-analyzed, working on different footwork patterns, serve and return, conditioning and match play. The greatest part of this camp was that most of these kids began playing tennis at PSST with the red balls on a 36’ court, and now they are looking forward to soon be playing in USTA tournaments. Paul Bartholomai, USPTA, coached the camp.

38

ADDvantage/September 2013

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Industry action Member product showcase

Manufacturers

USPTA Master Professional Jorge Capestany announced that his website, www.tennisdrills.tv, launched an upgraded version on Aug. 19. Created in 2008, the website will now be available for tablets and mobile devices. It has more than 1,000 videos of tennis drills and tips that can be viewed online and printed in diagram form.

New features include a simple search and advanced search to help viewers easily find what they need. A favorites feature will allow subscribers to build their own list of favorite drills. The new site will allow all future videos to be filmed in high definition. “The idea for the website came from my speaking experiences at tennis-teaching conventions. It quickly became apparent that coaches and tennis pros are desperate for new drills. That is when I decided to create the website,” Capestany said. Longtime friend and French Open doubles champion, Luke Jensen, was enthusiastic about the idea and helped Capestany film many of the early videos in the “Tips for Players” section. Tennisdrills.tv has become the world’s largest website for tennis drills, with more than 1,500 current and former subscribers in 35 countries. More than 25 free samples are available to nonsubscribers.

Ball Magnet is an innovative tennis net overlay that captures 80 percent of balls hit into the net.

Designed for when dozens of balls are in play – such as with coaching, Cardio Tennis or ball machines – Ball Magnet significantly improves oncourt safety. With fewer stray balls, tennis pros and players can focus more on actual play with the result that the overall coaching experience is enhanced. Ball pick-up is much faster, too. Ball Magnet retains balls approximately 1-3 feet from the net, leaving them more concentrated for ball hoppers as opposed to scrambling all over the court.

Ball Magnet is adjustable for different types of play. It retains balls either at the base of the net (match play) or within 1-3 feet of the net (drilling, cardio, ball machines). Composed of a series of three lightweight nets that are cinched around the tennis net poles, Ball Magnet hangs almost invisibly on both sides of the net. The Ball Magnet nets overlap like Venetian blinds so that as the ball hits the net, it is slowed and drops behind the Ball Magnet.

For more information, visit www.ballmagnet.com.

Israel Tennis Centers and long-standing USPTA member Frank Giampaolo teamed up to provide tennis parent workshops, coaches seminars as well as high performance junior workshops across Israel. For the remainder of 2013, his workshop will take him across the U.S., New Zealand and Australia. For more information about tennis parents workshops, contact Giampaolo at 949-933-8163 or email at FGSA@earthlink.net.

Brad Minns, USPTA, has written and published his first book, “Never Give Up.” In the book he shares some of the challenges associated with growing up deaf and how tennis and the World Games for the Deaf helped shape his life. Pat Williams, Kirk Cousins, Stan Smith and David Wheaton are a few who have endorsed the book. “Never Give Up” is available on Amazon. www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

There’s a new app that tennis players are taking on the court to gain a competitive advantage. The Spark Motion app is used to evaluate and correct inefficiencies in a truly authentic environment and remotely via the HIPAA compliant cloud. Coaches, trainers and athletes are able to record video with their iPads and then instantly analyze the data. Trainers can take advantage of the Screen Recorded Video function to create videos capturing their verbal and on-screen visual aids as they analyze their athletes’ video clips. In addition, the app has features such as the frame-by-frame analysis, overlaying videos and the side-byside comparison tool. The e-commerce option is what sets Spark Motion apart in the industry. Trainers can not only share videos with their recorded feedback via the HIPAA cloud, but now they can also attach a price and charge for the analysis video via a secure credit transaction – the same level of tech security used in hospitals.

This unique function gives players of all levels the ability to receive critiques from professional trainers around the world. For more information, visit http://www.sparkmotion.com.

Passings USPTA Master Professional Bill Bond passed away in August. A long-time USPTA member, he served as president of the USPTA San Diego Division from 1982-83, and also was a tester.

Bond retired from his tennis career in 2005 after years of competing on the world tour and teaching as the head pro at La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club.

Bond was a second-generation legend and gentleman in tennis. Like his father, Bill Bond Sr., Bond took on a life of tennis, with the net result of a 34-year career: a three-time Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-American at USC; three consecutive NCAA title teams; winner of the NCAA doubles title in 1964 with Dennis Ralston; 11 U.S. National Titles and three Foreign National Titles. Bond Sr. and Bond Jr. were also a five-time winning combo as the USTA’s National Father and Son Hard Court Champions, along with Wimbledon and a national ranking that had Bond listed in front of such greats as Jimmy Conners, Michael Chang, Stan Smith and Pete Sampras. Bond’s accolades also included achieving a USPTA Master Professional status and later being named the USPTA Pro of the Year, an honor relegated to the best of the best.

ADDvantage/September 2013

39

$13,000 USPTA Hard Court Championships

Oct. 18-20, 2013 – 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 Regional Airport.

Events:

MOS, MOD, M35S, M45S, M55S, M65S, M75S, M40D, M50D, WOS, WOD, W40S, W50S, W40D, 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. Call 903-581-7788 to enter with credit card. 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 http://www.courtsideusa.com/club/uspta-championships/

by Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2013.

Extras:

Limited free housing available. Please email housing requests to jsciarro@gmail.com.

Players must be registered for tournament to request housing. Hotels: Holiday Inn South Broadway 903-561-5800, USPTA rate $89; Country Inn & Suites 903-561-7459, USPTA rate $80; 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, TCMC Inc., McMillin Holdings, Yvette Brunette State Farm Insurance

For more information, please contact Jim Sciarro at 903-581-7788 or at jsciarro@gmail.com.

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

ADDvantage/September 2013

41

42

ADDvantage/September 2013

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com