Addvantage 2015 August

Inside this issue School of Tennis – Building and Ensuring Tennis’ Future – 46 Longevity Career Planning – 48 Departments: 52 USPTA World Conference 42 CEO’s Message 56 Beyond the Court 44 First Vice President’s 58 Career Development Message 60 Member News 46 Growing Your Business 48 Master Pro Corner Read more articles online at www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com On the cover: TGA Premier Youth Tennis franchises allow USPTA Professionals to build equity in a business, grow their clientele and facility membership, and develop a long, sustainable career. See Page 46.

CEO’s Message

The Value of Our Division Conferences

by John Embree

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s most USPTA members will ­ attest, the governance structure with our autonomous divisions is one of the USPTA’s greatest strengths. The volunteer boards in each division working alongside their respective Executive Directors and Executive Administrators are the lifeblood of our association. Without the hard work of so many (who often receive little fanfare or recognition), we would not be able to follow the strategic plan that has been created nationally nor implement the programs that are so vital to the rank-and-file member who toils away at the grassroots.

One of the most important responsibilities that each division has is to host an annual division conference where members from all parts of the division gather to network, to hear from the best that the industry has to offer, to learn about the latest trends in the industry, and to be rejuvenated when they return back to their jobs. While many divisions are looking to expand their reach with a variety of educational programs at various times of the year, there is no substitute for putting on a major event once during the year when everyone convenes in one central location. Providing a forum for division members to reconnect with colleagues, share ideas, evaluate how to perform at a higher level, and have a little fun while doing so is essential to having a vibrant association.

Upon assuming my role 2 1/2 years ago, I made a commitment to attend all 17 division conferences at least once during my first three years. Over the first weekend in June, I attended the Pacific Northwest Division Conference in Portland, which was the last remain-

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ing division convention that I had not yet Elevating the standards of tennisbeen to. Like so many of the other diviteaching professionals and coaches is sion conventions I have attended, I came our stated mission. No matter how many times we message everyone through away from the Portland conference with a renewed sense of pride about the job ADDvantage, emails, e-news, or on our that each division website about the does in putting on Providing a forum for division members importance of to reconnect with colleagues, share ideas, meeting our conthese events.

One cannot evaluate how to perform at a higher level tinuing education and have a little fun while doing so is requirements, I underestimate the hours of hard essential to having a vibrant association. am still amazed how many people work behind the are not aware of this objective. While scenes by so many to make certain that we are “preaching to the choir” at these speakers are scheduled and taken care conventions, we have to remain vigilant of during their stay, that the seminars with that segment of our membership are worthwhile, and that the host facility is accommodating to our needs. It is that does not subscribe to the value of encouraging to know that the divisions gaining more knowledge to further their take their responsibility of providperformance. ing educational opportunities to their It won’t be long before we will be membership so seriously. I understand welcoming everyone to New Orleans for that it is often challenging for many the 2015 World Conference. Those who members to take time away from family are committed to coming, thank you for and from their jobs to participate. But, doing so. I promise you won’t be disappointed. they don’t know what they are missing For those of you who can only see by not being there. Investing in one’s own personal and professional develop- your way to attending division conferment is vital if one expects to be a leader ences each year, I look forward to interacting with you as I make my rounds in his or her facility and c­ ommunity.

Being in the field, I relish the opagain. Having now completed the circuit portunity to meet professionals and talk of visiting all division conferences for about their concerns, learn about the is- the first time, it is time to get back on sues that are important to them, and to the treadmill and do it again. I cannot communicate how the USPTA is doing keep a pulse on what is transpiring nationally. I love seeing the passion that across the country from behind a desk local leadership exhibits for the USPTA in Houston. and what they are doing to grow the As always, don’t hesitate to reach game. And, how marvelous it is to see out to me directly if I or any of the staff young and enthusiastic U30 profession- in the World Headquarters can be of als embracing the cause and desirous to any assistance. I sincerely thank everyone for all that you do to promote the make a difference in their jobs and on ­USPTA. h behalf of their association!

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KEY FEATURES:

First Vice President’s Message

Raising the Bar

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s the largest trade association for tennis-teaching profession- als, the most important service we can provide our members is career assistance. After all, while we can provide numerous tangible benefits to pros in the form of products and services, the single most useful thing that we should be focused on is how to help our members get better jobs and how to make those jobs better.

Many of the discussions and debates that your leadership group (the eight board members and 52 Executive Committee members) has focused on are decisions that we feel are meaningful to our pros.

At the end of the day, we need to simply return to our clearly stated mission of “elevating the standards of tennis-teaching professionals and coaches.” If we can truly raise these standards, then all certified pros and their careers will benefit.

Following is a short update on what we are doing to raise those standards.

Almost every professional certification has some type of continuing education follow-up. What career uses the same technology and has the same level of competency that it had five, 10 or 20 years ago? Being a certified pro should

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by Chuck Gill mean more than having passed a test at some point in your teaching career.

“Maintaining” your certification and making sure that you stay current will ensure that you stay among the best in the field. Our careers are very diverse. Collectively, we coach and teach high school players, seniors, beginning juniors, elite tournament players, 10 and Under players, men’s and women’s teams, and more.

We also serve as managers of facilities, run academies, direct tournaments and events, run programs, etc. Our education needs are as diverse as we are.

Currently, we offer education ranging from local conferences, to division conventions, to our signature event, the 2015 World Conference in New Orleans.

Each has a variety of offerings that will help “elevate your standards.” If you are unable to attend these, we offer webinars and online courses at little or no cost. There are many ways to maintain your certification!

In addition to raising the bar for what we as USPTA pros are doing, we are reaching out to our allied associations and promoting the fact that our certification is relevant and important.

We have found that the Club Managers Association of America is a willing partner in supporting our education. Our

past World Conferences have featured presentations by CMAA members, and several division conferences have successfully followed suit. We will attend their meetings and continue to be a presence at their trade shows. Our association is committed to promoting TENNIS as being an important part of the club experience with the game to be delivered by certified professionals.

As the governing body of tennis in the U.S., the USTA will continue to be our biggest ally in growing the game, adding new and diverse players, and thus advancing our careers. As the delivery system for new programs, and the single largest group of tennis providers, we MUST be the most educated group of professionals possible. At the local and national level, the USTA continues to be committed to assisting with education and promoting certification for tennis professionals.

In Florida, we jointly support the U30 initiative for younger pros and will be working on programs to better diversify the teaching pro community. Elevating the standards of all USPTA members will better serve everyone's best interest.

I hope that everyone enjoys their career in tennis as much as I do, and will continue to raise “their bar” to a higher level in the coming year. h

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Growing Your Business

School of Tennis – Building and Ensuring Tennis’ Future!

Tennis professionals can have a major impact on their community through TGA's grassroots program, as well as build a successful business and develop future clients.

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SPTA Professionals are growing tennis at all levels through successful teaching and coaching careers, and a new fast-growing and innovative career opportunity for them has emerged to significantly enhance their efforts.

Bringing TGA Premier Youth Tennis franchises to communities across the country is like starting serve up 40love.

Imagine USPTA members garnering a competitive advantage in their markets by providing after-school tennis programs at every elementary school within their communities. As those youngsters age and become vested in the sport along with their parents, a future pipeline of business is created, and

46 www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

overall tennis participation is increased to foster a successful future for the sport and for the USPTA Professional.

Since partnering with the USTA and launching its school-based business model in 2012, TGA has become a leading introductory and recreational model in the tennis industry. In fact, it has been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine as a Top Low-Cost Franchise Opportunity.

TGA is also creating a pathway to discovering future elite players, something the industry has been striving to accomplish in recent years.

TGA founder Joshua Jacobs, in a revealing Businessweek.com story titled “A Franchise Wants to Train the next U.S. Tennis Star,” asked a key question:

“If you increase the number of kids playing the sport by 5 million or 10 million, wouldn’t you have a better chance of identifying and developing the next champion?”

The follow-up question of course: What to do to get more kids into the game?

The answer is the TGA method: The first step is making tennis available to the masses by introducing it at elementary schools, middle schools and community centers during the hours before and after school.

By putting tennis on the list of activities alongside mainstream sports and implementing a multilevel playbased enrichment curriculum for ages 5-10, and a play-based enrichment cur-

riculum for students 11-14, it increases ­access points into tennis for youth, grows the base of tennis players and presents the sport with a new avenue to cultivate elite talent for the future.

TGA/USTA curriculums differentiate themselves because of adding STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and academic lessons to the programs as well as incorporating life skills and character development.

The program is an extension of the classroom.

Early on the USTA recognized TGA’s successful school-based model and partnered with them to develop the curriculum and launch a program that as of 2015 has activated more than 32,000 youth tennis players at schools while making the sport available to over 250,000 families.

The model has been so successful that the USTA Southern California ­Tennis Association decided to acquire its own franchise to be run by the association. SCTA is using it to run its own in-school and after-school programs and transitioning the students to tennis facilities.

Bruce Hunt, the Executive Director of USTA Southern California and Nancy Abrams, the SCTA School Coordinator who oversees the TGA programs, have been very pleased with the TGA business model and the impact it’s having on their association.

“When we were presented with the TGA program and business model, we had a middle of the road scenario that included breaking even financially.

Our best case scenario was making a profit so that we could use the profits to provide scholarships for underresourced students,” explains Hunt. “I am very excited to say that the number of schools we run programs at and students who have gone through the program is far greater than we had anticipated after only one year, which will allow us to break even much sooner than expected and look at investing in more TGA Chapters.”

Abrams sees TGA developing a new pipeline to access tennis players within a community and a great opportunity for tennis professionals to build future business.

“We impact the tennis community in a large swath of LA County, the San Fernando Valley, which borders west Los Angeles, Hollywood, Ventura Coun-

ty, and Burbank/Glendale/Pasadena area,” Abrams said. “We have already put over 640 kids through the program in a very short time, with over a 40 percent retention rate, meaning that we are getting youth and families vested in the sport and moving them through the tennis pipeline to facilities, Junior Team Tennis, USTA competitive play and eventually high school.”

Tennis professionals can have a major impact on their community through TGA’s grassroots program, as well as build a successful business and develop future clients.

Imagine USPTA members garnering a competitive advantage in their markets by providing after-school tennis programs at every elementary school within their communities.

The TGA school-based business model targets all demographics while concentrating on households with incomes higher than $50,000, which accounts for 80 percent of the youth tennis players in America. There are 41 million youth ages 5-18 in the U.S. with only 10 percent (4 million) of them currently playing tennis. TGA is targeting the other 90 percent that do not play tennis, and their parents, too.

TGA’s franchise model is the only one of its kind in the tennis industry, and has empowered entrepreneurs and USPTA Professionals like Peter

­ unlap, a high tech and telecommuD nications executive who acquired the TGA franchise in the Boston area cov­ lymouth County. ering P Dunlap, an active tennis player all of his life, coached high school tennis and taught tennis clinics for youth and adults at his local recreational center.

“My inspiration for TGA began while teaching youth clinics and seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces and the positive impact I was having on them and realizing that I could turn this into a successful business and career opportunity,” Dunlap said.

In Raleigh/Durham, N.C., Paul Maskill, a former finance executive who brought the first TGA tennis franchise to that area in 2012, said growth and increased demand led him to acquire a second franchise.

“After growing West Wake County for the last three years, we started to receive quite a bit of demand from parents and schools in East Wake County,” he said. “As a result we have expanded our staff to include two fulltime people as well as a tennis program director, which has also allowed us to expand our territory and continue to grow.”

TGA franchisees seamlessly bring tennis directly onto elementary school, middle school and community center campuses and then execute the curriculums that TGA, USTA and education experts developed. As students advance through the program, TGA provides opportunities for them to apply the skills and knowledge they have learned through transition programs at local tennis facilities that include JTT, tournaments and Play Day Series.

USPTA members who are looking to build equity in a business and grow their clientele, facility participation and membership, as well as develop a long sustainable career opportunity, are wise to consider acquiring a TGA franchise chapter in their community.

Members can build a team to grow the business or even look at partnering with their local tennis club that might be looking to develop future business.

The options are many, and successful TGA franchise operations are discovering new ways to produce new tennis players each day. It’s match point and they hold serve. For more information, visit www.franchisetga.com. h

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com 47

Master Pro Corner

Longevity Career Planning

By Tom Sweitzer, USPTA Master Professional

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he tennis industry, being a relatively young profession, does not have a clear-cut, easy-to-follow plan for long-term career success. Your physical ability to stay in the business during your later years will require you to change your game at some point in your career. The phrase, “we are going in a different direction,” is a very common life-changing occurrence that many older tennis professionals will hear as their place of employment looks to bring in a player coming out of the circuit with a faster serve and a bigger forehand. What will you do when you face this judgment day?

Are you ready to transition your tennis career? Like financial planning, longevity career planning is something you need to do in advance so that you can do it on your terms, not the terms dictated by a new club manager or tennis committee chairman.

In addition to luck, there are many techniques to achieving long-term success. This article will focus on a technique that can be utilized at any time in your career, at any level in your profession, and for the most part, by any profession.

For many people, relationship building ends upon finding your spouse or significant other. In the business world, relationship building is the cornerstone to your ability to move through the various stages of your lifelong career. No matter how smart you are, how effective you are, or how hard working you are, your career will be greatly enhanced by your ability to build positive, effective relationships with the endless number of people who will cross your path during your lifetime.

This goes far beyond networking or just knowing names. It requires considerably more effort to actually know the person and interact with them and become a person that they are proud to associate with. It is a two-way street; you are not just taking from these people or businesses, you will be giving in return and

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Your career will be greatly enhanced by your ability to build positive, effective relationships with the endless number of people who will cross your path during your lifetime. you must be prepared to give generously.

At first, building a local professional network with your customers allows you to fill your lesson book. Don’t stop there; being satisfied often stagnates your growth. Continue by building relationships with the many business leaders in your community via charitable work or projects outside your tennis facility.

Don’t look at “what is in it for me” in terms of being paid. The knowledge and relationships you will acquire by working with community and business leaders will teach you a huge amount about teamwork, creativity and strategy. It will also give you access to these people and companies in the future. These local con-

tacts many times will open the doors to your future national contacts. At some time during this process, hopefully you will find a mentor who will provide you with intimate insight into your best future career moves.

This mentor does not have to be in the tennis profession, so be open to acquiring a couple of mentors. In effect, you are building your own personal professional team. They will be the ones who will see the icebergs in your future that you are not aware of and will counsel you to make the navigational changes necessary to survive and flourish.

Keep in mind that while building your personal relationships, you should also build laterally within that company. Many times your contacts will be moving on in their careers and although you will continue your personal relationships with them, you also want to continue your business relationship history with the old company. As in most industries, it’s a small world. Your ability to have a huge web of support may pay off in the future as you never know when a future employer will contact one of his or her associates for a reference on your behalf even though you didn’t put his name as a reference.

During my tennis career, many of my clients have said to me that, “when I retire, I want to do what you do.” Our profession is perceived as a fun thing to do for a living, which it can be if we successfully navigate the many pitfalls of any and all professions. Part of that “fun factor” is our passion for the game and the people we deal with everyday. Self-marketing is not only for politicians and Hollywood personalities, it can be the deciding factor as to what impact you make upon your personal and professional life – your legacy is the result of a successful long-term career. h

Tom Sweitzer is the tennis manager for the City of Orlando and runs the Orlando Tennis Center. He is a USPTA Alex Gordon Professional of the Year Award winner and has been named the USPTA Large Facility Manager of the Year. He has been ­inducted into four Halls of Fame and is a former USPTA Middle States President.

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USPTA World Conference

Conference Education Schedule Mon. 9/21/15 9 – 1 p.m.

Specialty Course 1: Teaching tennis successfully at the club level / Feisal Hassan

Tue. 9/22/15 Wed. 9/23/15 9 – 10 a.m.

9 – 10 a.m.

The X’s and O’s of building How to land the big job / fitness into your tennis Brett Schwartz (I) resume / Lane Evans (I) Court warrior / Mike Barrell (I) Growing your programs and bottom line through Teaching singles patterns local play / Craig Jones (I) / Joao Pinho (Ct) Solutions for your game Sophie Woorons / (Ct)

Thu. 9/24/15 9 – 10 a.m.

Pro patterns & percentages for club players / Craig O’Shannessy (I)

Fri. 9/25/15 9 – 10 a.m.

Benefits panel / Joe Koehler (Power Plate), Josh Jacobs (TGA) (I) Moving beyond lip service Choking: causes and fixes / Ajay Pant (I) / Allen Fox (I) Seminar / Do you tennis IQ? / Tom Gullikson (Ct) Stan Oley (Ct)

10:15 – 12 noon General Session: Specialization panel / Brian Hainline, Neeru Jayanthi, Tom Farrey, Paul Lubbers (I)

10:30 – 12 noon General Session: Building your brand / Mark McDonald (I)

10:30 – 12 noon General Session: Tennis panel / Darren Cahill (I)

10:30 – 11:45 a.m.

General Session: Sportsmanship panel / Jim Loehr, Nicole LaVoi, Clark Powers (I)

Lunch

Lunch

Lunch

12 noon – 2 p.m.

Awards Luncheon Keynote speaker: Rick Dickson, Tulane University Athletic Director

1 – 2 p.m.

The slice backhand: why, how and when / Hank Pfister (Ct) Beating the Tennis Demons Coaching System™ / Michelle Cleere (I) 2 – 6 p.m.

Specialty Course 2: Career planning / Greg Lappin

1 – 2 p.m.

1 – 2 p.m.

Seminar / TBD (Ct) Optimal stroke mechanics / Rick Macci (Ct) Creative ideas to enhance Injury prevention in the your tennis program / recreational athlete / Steve Tscherne (I) Stephan Esser (I)

2 – 6 p.m.

Specialty Course 3: Fitness training and periodization / Mark Kovacs 2:30-3:30 p.m.

30 years of coaching competitive tennis players – the good, the bad and the ugly / Edgar Giffenig (Ct)

2:30-3:30 p.m.

Seminar /TBD (I) Seminar: CMAA Panel / Jeff Morgan, Robert Crifasi, Lee Stall (I)

Customer service for the tennis professional / Jorge Andrew (I) Seminar / Robert Worley (I)

4 – 5:30 p.m.

General Session: USPTA Membership Meeting & Awards Presentation (I)

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4 – 5 p.m.

Seminar / TBD (I) Master Professional Presentations /Jack Newman, Bunny Bruning, Fernando Velasco (I)

2:30-3:30 p.m.

Proper warm-up progressions for Cardio Tennis / Michele Krause (Ct) Coaches & parents together: evidencebased tips to creating a positive sport climate / Nicole LaVoi (I) Project Play: What it means for youth sports, tennis and tennis professionals / Kirk Anderson (I) 3:45 – 4:45 p.m.

Manufacturer’s Ad Staff Meetings

2:30-3:30 p.m.

Large group drills / Heather Silvia (Ct) Seminar / TBD (I)

USPTA World Conference

Conference Information Registration rates:

Stay connected:

Registration is open for the USPTA World Conference.

Register by Aug. 31 and save $50.

Full registration – $375 by Aug. 31 / $425 after Aug. 31

#USPTAWC15

facebook.com/USPTA.Official

twitter.com/USPTA_Tennis

Spouse/guest registration – $200

instagram.com/uspta/

(no continuing ­education credits) Spouse/guest registration includes access to all events and education, excluding specialty courses.

youtube.com/user/TheUSPTA

Specialty courses – $50/course

Specialty course 1: Teaching tennis successfully at the club level (Feisal Hassan) Specialty course 2: Career planning (Greg Lappin) Specialty course 3: Fitness training and periodization (Mark Kovacs)

Daily registration – $150/day First-time attendee/New USPTA members – Save $75 on full registration, one free specialty course Three or more USPTA members attending from same club/facility – $25 discount on each for full registration Register at bit.ly/USPTA_registration or call 800-877-8248, ext. 111

Hilton New Orleans Riverside 2 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA 70130 Room rates – $129 per night + taxes & fees Parking – $10/day (USPTA discount) Hotel reservation deadline – Aug. 21 Make your reservation at bit.ly/USPTAhotel

54 www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

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USPTA World Conference

On a Budget in the Big Easy

N

ew Orleans is one of the top travel destinations in the country, but the city is also consistently ranked as one of the best affordable trips in the U.S. Check out a few of these budget-friendly things to do in the Big Easy: 1. Listen to the plentiful street musicians strumming on makeshift drums and stringed instruments throughout the French Quarter for free, but leave a tip if you're inclined.

2. Walk along the riverfront for a fantastic view of the Mississippi River and the French Quarter. It’s right behind the Hilton New Orleans Riverside.

3. Visit the iconic St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square, the oldest continuously used cathedral in the United States. Built in 1789 and rebuilt in 1850, it’s one of the most recognizable landmarks in the city, and it’s free to visitors to pop in or celebrate Mass.

4. You can’t come to New Orleans and not indulge in the warm, powdery goodness of a beignet at Café Du Monde. The original location is just

free and takes people back and forth from Algiers several times a day.

Café Du Monde down the riverfront from the conference hotel, or stop into the Outlet Collection at Riverwalk across the street for a quick bite. An order of three beignets and a small cup of coffee costs around $5.

5. Ride the streetcar for $1.25 each way.

Take the Canal Street line to the city’s famed cemeteries or take the St. Charles line through the city’s Uptown and Garden District neighborhoods under the stately oak trees and admire the beautiful architecture. At the end of St. Charles, grab a burger at Camellia Grill, a favorite among locals, especially after hours.

6. If you have a few hours to kill, ride the Canal Street ferry to take in great views of the New Orleans skyline. It’s

7. Sample one of most famous cocktails in the city, the Hurricane, at Pat O’Brien’s for about $8 (you can keep the glass, or return it to the bar for a few dollars back). Request a song by the dueling piano players or relax by the fire fountain in the courtyard.

8. The French Quarter is filled with art galleries and antique shops, and it’s always free to window shop. Stroll around Jackson Square to appreciate the work of local artists with their work on display.

French Quarter For more things to do and places to go while you’re in New Orleans, visit uspta.com/conference for our guide. h

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com 55

Beyond the Court

It’s Time for Tennis Pros and CTAs to Reach Across the Net, Shake Hands and Get to Know One Another

By Lane Evans, USPTA

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s Chairman of the Pro Relations Committee for the North Caro- lina Tennis Association as well as NC Area 12 Director, which oversees tennis activity in eight to nine counties in Western North Carolina, I am required to monitor tennis professionals and Area 12 (Western NC) tennis activity around the state and my area, reporting back to my NC Board of Directors semi-annually at meetings at our CDW and NC Tennis Weekend events.

The committee responsibilities are to

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“By working together, CTA volunteers and area pros will ensure that both public and private tennis participation will grow and prosper.” act as 1) an advisory committee, helping Community Tennis Associations, small communities wanting to start tennis programs, or just being available to help

where needed, when needed on any tennis-related activities in their communities, and 2) a charitable committee, once again helping where needed to raise funds or anything else for communities in their areas or outside using tennis as the v­ ehicle.

At a recent committee meeting, a guest asked a great question: He asked if the teaching pros were the ones who are supposed to reach out or if the CTAs are supposed to reach out to the pros. Well, of course, the correct answer is BOTH!

I solicited the help of some of my colleagues at the NCTA for their opinions on this issue.

NC Tennis Services Representative Cy King put it this way: “A strong working relationship between area ­USPTA Professionals and Community Tennis Associations is vital in having a thriving local tennis community. CTAs are the USTA in a given region and are charged with promoting tennis activities throughout the community. While many tennis-teaching professionals are club based, their involvement and expertise are so important in helping to develop overall strategies that will enhance not only their own facilities but the entire area. By working together, CTA volunteers and area pros will ensure that both public and private tennis participation will grow and prosper.”

NCTA Executive Director Kelly Gaines states, “Our tennis coaches and professionals at clubs and facilities are certainly on the front lines of tennis.

They have the most contact with new and returning players. With that, the Community Tennis Associations in our country are also there to grow and promote tennis. Programs are run at both the clubs and facilities by professionals, and in some cases, the CTA does that job as well. The CTA and pro relationship is essential in our cities and towns. In those places that operate together, we see our largest growth and most robust current programs. The pro needs the CTA to administer the adult and junior leagues that generate lessons, clinics and a reason for a player to play. The CTAs need pros/clubs to teach, train and host the league players and matches. This holds true for tournaments as well where both run and promote.”

Gaines concluded, “The greater good of tennis benefits from all the groups working together. Not all need to do the exact same job, but all need to know the jobs each does!”

USTA NC President Anna Martin, who is part of a very successful CTA in the Wilmington area, put it this way: “In our community, we have a wonderful relationship with our teaching pros. Our CTA has a list of all who teach at clubs and public facilities and we share them with players who are in need of lessons.

When we have tennis events, our local pros participate and typically they do

this as volunteers. I think the CTA needs the pros to help encourage players to play in leagues and tournaments, and by giving lessons, it gives the players more confidence in competition. And on the flip side of this, our local pros greatly benefit from players who play league tennis. If players are participating in a program, they are more likely to want to improve their game and skill levels.

Without a form of competition, most players will not continue taking lessons.

“Most importantly, the pros and the Local League Coordinators and CTAs need to all work well together and respect each other. Our ultimate goal is to get people playing tennis and enjoying the game.”

“You don’t get many chances in this life to truly make your mark and be remembered in the way you want to be. Here is one right here in front of you.

Don’t let an opportunity to spread your wealth of knowledge get away.”

Charlotte CTA Coordinator Carla O’Connor summed up her feelings on the subject by stating, “The ideal relationship between CTAs and tennis professionals should be collaborative. In the majority of communities, the support of tennis professionals is critical to successful implementation of community tennis initiatives and delivery of play-based programming that is often coordinated by a CTA. Play-based programs, such as Play Days, USTA Junior Team Tennis, USTA League, tournaments, etc., complement instructional programs that are led by tennis professionals.

CTAs can provide opportunities that are designed to bring together area tennis professionals for continuing education and training, for a volunteer

activity, for fun, friendly competition, to socialize, etc.

As tennis professionals are more familiar with the goals and activities of the CTA, hopefully they recognize the benefits of getting involved to provide support. In Charlotte there are many ways a tennis professional can serve a CTA: l Share information from the CTA

with members or program participants (such as information promoting Play Days, USTA Junior Team Tennis, USTA League, Pro League, CTA Challenge Ladder, tournaments, advocacy efforts, etc.)

l Host a Play Day as part of the CTA

Circuit/assist one of the Play Days events/promote Play Days events to appropriate audience

l Volunteer at a CTA-hosted

tournament

l Volunteer at local schools where

teachers are implementing tennis as part of their PE curriculum

l Volunteer to assist high school

tennis programs

l Volunteer to work with the CTA

to plan and organize special tennis events

l Volunteer on a CTA committee

Look, I know you’re busy. You’re trying to make a living. Just remember, you are the expert when it comes to tennis. The players and CTA volunteers in your communities are not. They need your help. Reach out when you can and accept help requests when they come in. That’s all I am saying. You don’t get many chances in this life to truly make your mark and be remembered in the way you want to be. Here is one right here in front of you. Don’t let an opportunity to spread your wealth of knowledge get away. Just don’t do that. h

Lane Evans, a USPTA Elite Professional and 30-year member, is the Director of Tennis & Wellness at Champion Hills Club in Hendersonville, N.C. He currently serves as the USPTA Southern Division First Vice President. He is a regular contributor to the USPTA Southern “Standard” and also sits on the USTA NC Board of Directors, is Chairman for the Pro Relations Committee for USTA NC, and Chairman of the USPTA National Sports ­ cience Committee.

S

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com 57

Career Development Exams, Upgrades & PTCA I (4 credits for PTCA I segment) Aug. 1-2 Charlotte, N.C. Aug. 2 Hilton Head Island, S.C. Aug. 6-7 Port Washington, N.Y. Aug. 8-9 Tallahassee, Fla. Aug. 8-9 Huntington Beach, Calif.

Aug. 8-9 Atlanta Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.

Aug. 9 San Francisco Aug. 10-11 Rochester, N.Y. Aug. 14 Des Moines, Iowa Aug. 15 Big Rapids, Mich.

Aug. 15-16 Aug. 23 Louisville, Ky. Columbus, Ohio Aug. 23 Aug. 29-30 Boca Raton, Fla. * 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.

Conventions (5 credits) Aug. 2-5

Sept. 21-25

Tennis Directors Conference with CMAA Orlando USPTA World Conference New Orleans

Division Activities July 31

Are you ready to learn?

(6 credits)

Rockford, Ill. Midwest Division

Aug. 20-21

Summer Symposium

(6 credits)

(Western & Southern Open)

Coach Youth Tennis Workshop (.5 credits) Aug. 6 Stanford, Calif.

Aug. 8 Tallahassee, Fla. Aug. 20 Cincinnati Aug. 29 Lakeville, Minn.

Sept. 19 Key Biscayne, Fla. Sept. 26 Boulder, Colo.

Register at uspta.com/education>education calendar.

Specialty courses Aug. 20

Cincinnati

Essentials of shot making F. Hassan; Cincinnati

Cardio Tennis Aug. 2 Aug. 15 Aug. 15 Aug. 22 Aug. 22 Aug. 23 Aug. 29 Sept. 11 Sept. 12

TRX CT CT TRX CT CT TRX CT TRX CT TRX CT CT CT

Haverhill, Mass.

Portland, Ore. Portland, Ore. Truckee, Calif.

Truckee, Calif.

Truckee, Calif.

Atlanta Alpharetta, Ga. Santa Clara, Calif.

Sept. 12 Sept. 13 Sept. 19 Sept. 19 Sept. 20 Oct. 10 Nov. 14 Nov. 14 Nov. 15

TRX CT TRX CT TRX CT TRX CT TRX CT CT CT TRX CT TRX CT

Santa Clara, Calif.

Santa Clara, Calif.

Park City, Utah Park City, Utah Park City, Utah Providence, R.I. La Quinta, Calif.

La Quinta, Calif.

La Quinta, Calif.

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.

58 www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Please visit www.cardiotennistraining.com to register online.

Education requirements All USPTA-certified Professionals must earn 6 education credits in a three-year period to remain current. Go to USPTA.com/Education for a partial list of eligible activities. Please send verification (email, letter, certificate, receipt, etc.) that shows you attended the event/activity and submit it along with the date and agenda to education@uspta.org to receive your credit. (International members, Recreational Coaches ­ uestions? Write to education@uspta.org and those over the age of 65 are exempt.) Q or call 800-877-8248, ext. 147.

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Member News • Riverhill Country Club Tennis Director Garry Nadebaum, USPTA, won the USTA National Men’s 45 Hard Court Doubles title at Westlake Village Tennis Club in Westlake, Calif.

Nadebaum teamed up with doubles partner Derek Brooks, Brooks and Nadebaum USPTA, from Florida to capture the doubles title 6/2, 1/6, 6/3 over last year’s winners and No. 2 -ranked team in the nation. Nadebaum and Brooks won three tough rounds before taking their first hard court title together.

This win gives Nadebaum and Brooks their third straight men’s 45 national title after winning the grass courts and the indoor hard courts last year. Nadebaum and Brooks have been ranked No.1 in USTA National Men's 45 Doubles for the past two years and with this title they are still ranked No. 1 and No. 8 in the World ITF tennis rankings.

• Brad Humphreys, USPTA, retired from San Dieguito Tennis Club last year after being the head tennis pro/director of tennis for 44 years. In May of 2015, he received the Ben Press Award, which is awarded annually to an individual for his “contributions and dedication to the history, growth, and tradition of tennis throughout San Diego.” ­ umphreys received the Lifetime In 2014, H Achievement award from the USPTA San Diego Division.

Prior to that, he was the division president for two terms, USPTA San Diego Division Pro of the Year, USTA San Diego Pro of the Year and USPTA San Diego Tester of the Year. ­Humphreys has unwavering commitment to tennis and is to be commended for his long tenure as a tennis professional.

• Doris Hart, an extraordinary American tennis champion who won 35 major tournament titles in the 1940s and 1950s, passed

Following is a correction to the AIM Initiative article that ran in the July 2015 issue of ADDvantage Certified members in good standing who refer first-time potential members to USPTA will be eligible to choose one of the following: l $50 discount on USPTA annual dues

(maximum of $100 – two new members) l $50 gift certificate from the USPTA Pro

Tennis Shop (maximum of $100) away at home in Coral Gables, Fla., on May 29. She was 89 years old. In recognition of her outstanding tennis accomplishments, Hart was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1969. She was the first player in the history of the sport to have won a career boxed set, meaning she won every title possible over the course of her career – singles, doubles, and mixed doubles at all four major tournaments. To this day, Margaret Court Smith and Martina Navratilova are the only other players to have achieved this feat. Her 35 major titles were comprised of six in singles, 14 in women’s doubles, and 15 in mixed doubles. She is ranked fifth in the sport’s history for most major titles. After retiring from her competitive playing career, she spent time as a teaching professional and she was the author of the book, Tennis with Hart, published in 1955. She was inducted into the USPTA Hall of Fame in 2012.

NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS President First Vice President

Tom McGraw Chuck Gill

Vice Presidents

Past President CEO Legal Counsel

Alan Cutler Jack Michalko Dan Moster Diane Selke Gary Trost

TM

Claudette Laliberte, USPTA, (right) poses with students during a TAA event held May 25 in ­Sedona, Ariz., at the Poco Diablo Resort.

The event was well attended by many locals (above).

ADDvantage magazine editorial offices USPTA World Headquarters 3535 Briarpark Drive, Suite 202 Houston, TX 77042 Phone – 713-978-7782 / 800-USPTA-4U Fax – 713-358-7794 email – magazine@uspta.org

60 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.

Tom Daglis John Embree George Parnell

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. 2015. All rights reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of the magazine is not permitted without written permission from USPTA.