Addvantage 2015 July

Inside this issue Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler at the USPTA World Conference – 50 Things to do in New Orleans – 54 Departments: 50 USPTA World Conference 40 CEO’s Message 60 USPTA News 42 President’s Message 62 Career Development 44 Inside Coaching 64 Member News 46 Endorsee News 47 USPTA Benefits Read more articles online at www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com On the cover: Join USPTA Pros in New Orleans for the USPTA World Conference, Sept. 21-25. Read more on Page 50.

CEO’s Message

Ole Stomping Grounds – “N’awlins”

by John Embree

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s we prepare for our annual Racquet and Fitness Club. This facility World Conference this year will be the host for all of our on-court in New Orleans, aka presentations as well as the Masters “N’awlins” (as some call it), Invitational. And being indoors, evthis issue of ADDvantage is dedicated eryone will be comfortable sitting in a to promoting much of what will be hap- climate controlled environment. With pening during this very exciting week. I eight indoor courts, squash, racquethave a personal attachment to the city, ball, fitness and a salon, it is an ideal which is one of the reasons why we are venue for our conference. going there.

There is a reason why the city’s slo When evaluating the location for gan is “Let the Good Times Roll!” but we 2015, several facare there to learn tors came into play No location can outdo New Orleans from subject matter for three to four days of food, drink, experts on some of in selecting New Orleans. The World and craziness. There is so much to the more important see and do: the restaurants, the Conference has topics impacting music and entertainment, the never been (or at our members each least in a very long history of the city and the tourist and every day. The sites are worth experiencing. time) in the mideducation schedule section of the counthat Fred Viancos try. We believed this destination might and the Education Committee have put encourage many members who reside together is outstanding with a variety of in the South and in Texas to drive speakers, some who have never spoken where previously they would have to at our conference before. fly. We may see a whole new audience For example, I am excited to have of attendees. Second, a HUGE percent- another panel of CMAA leaders, inage of our membership has never been cluding the new CEO of CMAA, Jeff to New Orleans but has always wanted Morgan, and two other club managers an excuse to go. Third, I have always to talk about issues facing their assosaid that no location can outdo New ciation and the importance of tennis to Orleans for three to four days of food, the club experience. We also will have drink, and craziness. There is so much a panel discussion of thought leaders to see and do: the restaurants, the mutalking about early specialization in sic and entertainment, the history of all sports and what the medical data the city, and the tourist sites are worth suggests that we do to change our apexperiencing. Oh yeah, don’t forget the proach with kids. How about a panel fagambling that is right across the street cilitated by Jim Loehr, Ed.D., to discuss from our host hotel at Harrah’s Casino! what is happening to sportsmanship Speaking of the Hilton New Orleans in America and how we can change beRiverside, it happens to be the place havior of kids, parents and coaches to where I spent four and a half years of improve the character of our athletes? my early professional life (from 1982Darren Cahill of ESPN along with an1986) as the Director of Tennis and other of his colleagues (TBD) will join eventually General Manager of the us to give their perspective on the pro

40 www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

tour. Another seminar will feature a labor lawyer who will talk about the pros and cons of being an independent contractor versus an employee. And at our awards banquet on Friday, besides the Hall of Fame induction ceremony of two deserving tennis teachers/ coaches and the announcement of the Alex Gordon Professional of the Year, you will hear a keynote speech from Rick Dickson, Director of Athletics at ­Tulane University. He serves as one of 14 ADs on the NCAA Task Force on tennis and you will want to hear what he has to say about the changing landscape of college athletics and the impact it will have on nonrevenue generating sports like tennis (see his Q&A in last month’s ADDvantage).

Finally, I hope to have Mayor Mitch Landrieu open our festivities with a welcoming address on Tuesday morning. That will be a special kick-off to an incredible day, capped off by a visit to The National WWII Museum for our opening reception. There, you will stroll through the European and Pacific wings and take in the mind-blowing, 50-minute film produced by Tom Hanks called “Beyond All Boundaries.”

It may just go down as the most memorable opening event in the history of USPTA World Conferences!

Without a doubt, it is going to be an action-packed week! The hotel is ready, our staff is ready, and the city is always ready for an invasion of tennis professionals ... are you ready? Please check out some of the other plans that we have in store for everyone in the pages of this issue. There is no better place to invest in your own professional development while having a ton of fun along the way. See you there! h

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President’s Message

Financial Outlook Good for 2015

I

n April of every year, the governing body of the USPTA – the Executive Committee – gathers for a face-toface meeting at our headquarters in Houston. This year’s meeting was jam packed with information, discussions and decisions that will shape the future of the USPTA for both the short and long term. I always leave the meeting amazed at the wealth of talent and thankful for the dedicated group of individuals that represents the USPTA membership in such a positive way.

In the June CEO message, John ­Embree summarized the meeting and provided general information on where we are headed as an association. We also feel that it’s important to be transparent and continue to provide updated information on our financials on a yearly basis. After all, every decision that we make and direction we head in has an effect on our current finances as well as our future budgets.

The financial charts on Page 43 provide the actuals for revenue and expenses for 2014 and the budgeted revenue and expenses for 2015. As you can see, the

by Tom McGraw

charts show the various departments and cash, savings and investments. It was the percentages of the income or expense imperative that we grow our assets after associated with each area. The division having net losses the previous four years, portion is the 35 percent of membership which had taken away from our reserves. dues that go to the divisions to fund all We are on track for 2015 and expect to of the division activities throughout the finish close to our budget. year. Membership The USPTA The USPTA leadership and staff are leadership and dues and endorsements continue to be committed to controlling expenses, staff are commitour largest sources of increasing current revenue streams, ted to controlling revenue and the areas and searching for new opportunities expenses, increasing current revwhere members can that will have a positive impact on enue streams, and help and contribute the association. searching for new to the association’s financial stability. We ask that you support opportunities that will have a positive our endorsees whenever possible and impact on the association. Our budgets support the AIM (admire, invite, mentor) need to reflect our long-range plan and initiative. This initiative thanks you with our priorities by directing monies to a discount on your next year’s dues when the areas that will guarantee the future you recruit new members. Just imagine success of the USPTA. There are an incredible number of volunteers and staff how it would positively affect our association if 50 percent of the membership working hard on your behalf to grow and improve our association. Never would bring in one new member over the next two years. hesitate to reach out to any of the leadership team with questions or concerns.

We have shown a positive financial We thank you for your continued suppicture with a net income for the past port and thank you for being a member two years. That has been critical for the of the USPTA! h association to allow us to increase our

TAKE YOUR COACHING TO

THE NEXT LEVEL

The Coach Youth Tennis online courses and interactive workshops will enhance your teaching skills.

Highlights include: • Teaching tennis skills and fundamentals • Organizing age appropriate games and activities • Communicating more effectively with children

Learn more at CoachYouthTennis.com 42 www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

USPTA Revenue as of Dec. 31, 2014 $5,209,920

USPTA Expenses as of Dec. 31, 2014 $4,704,616

USPTA 2015 Budgeted Revenue $5,457,450

USPTA 2015 Budgeted Expenses $5,322,654

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com 43

Inside Coaching

Musculoskeletal Injuries in TennisTeaching Professionals

By Dr. Ricardo E. Colberg

T

ennis is the most popular racquet sport in the United States.

On average 21,000 players sustain a tennis-related injury every year. Tennis-teaching professionals and coaches are also at risk of various injuries related to teaching the sport.

While tennis-teaching professionals may have better playing technique since they understand the proper biomechanics for playing tennis, they also have a higher risk of overuse injuries due to the greater exposure time participating in the sport, spending six to eight hours teaching every day. These injuries frequently become chronic lesions that sometimes require surgery, such as a rotator cuff repair.

The American Sports Medicine Institute together with the USPTA completed the first epidemiologic study on the occupational risk of musculoskeletal conditions in tennis-teaching professionals.* A total of 1,176 USPTA members participated in the study.

More than 83 percent of respondents reported actively teaching every week, with more than half of them teaching five to seven days per week. On average, 42 percent of participants reported having an ongoing musculoskeletal injury or condition. Injuries predominated in the knees, shoulders and low back. Most injuries were related to tendons, ligaments and the cartilage in the joints.

About 55 percent of participants felt that the injury or condition did not significantly interfere with their teaching, 26 percent were moderately limited, and 15 percent were severely limited. Actual teaching time lost due to the injury was minimal, with 75 percent of participants returning to work within one week of the injury. Less than 10 percent lost more than six months of teaching time.

Looking at causes of injuries, most participants identified “overuse” as their primary cause of injury. Sudden

44 www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Tennis-teaching professionals have a higher risk of overuse injuries due to the greater exposure time participating in the sport, spending six to eight hours teaching every day.

movement or change of direction while teaching was the second most common cause of injury. Other identified causes include court surface, racquet weight or stiffness, string type, and fitness level.

It appears that fatigue and inadequate rest may be the biggest contributing factors to overuse injuries in this population. Limiting court time would be a simple fix to the problem, yet not practical given that less court time leads to less income. Coaches need to seek creative ways to teach their students while minimizing their risk of injury.

Five recommendations are: 1. Avoid teaching past the point of fatigue. Each coach could tailor this recommendation to his or her individual physical condition. Tennisteaching professionals should learn the signs and symptoms of overuse injuries so they can recognize them earlier and prevent further injury

and lost teaching time. If there is pain while the activity is performed or if there is pain that persists for more than three days, see a sports medicine physician.

2. Implement a personal training program in order to stay physically fit. The average Body Mass Index in this study showed a tendency for participants to be overweight or obese, especially in men. This is frequently justified with “having more muscle mass from being an athlete;” however, the statistics suggested that it is related to actual obesity, which is an ongoing epidemic in the United States. The fact that a coach spends a considerable amount of time teaching athletes does not necessarily mean that he or she is obtaining the required amount of cardiovascular exercise they need to stay in shape.

The American Heart Association

recommends exercising a total of 150 minutes per week at a moderate intensity or higher.

rect, the coach can show the student the proper technique using the ball machine, too.

3. Get involved with your students.

Participate in the warm up, drills and playing lessons. Actively playing tennis with the students as the lesson is carried out allows the coach to get a moderate intensity workout. We encourage coaches to start a forum or internet blog for sharing ideas on ways to stay physically in shape while minimizing risk of overuse injury.

5. Maintain proper posture when feeding balls. Tennis-teaching professionals perform hundreds of rotations and back bends as they turn around to grab balls from the ball hopper. These movements cause an excessive force transmitted into the low back and hips, which can lead to degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis of the hips. Rotating by moving the feet to face the ball hopper and maintaining a neutral posture in the low back decrease the risk of these injuries.

4. Use ball machines. They substitute the repetitive movement of the coach’s dominant arm with feeding balls. This could lead to a drastic decrease in rate of injuries, considering that the overwhelming majority of shoulder and elbow injuries were in the dominant arm. Ball machines allow the coach to stand by his or her student and focus all of his attention on the student’s technique. When the coach identifies a flaw in technique that he or she wishes to cor-

Tennis-teaching professionals have a significant risk of musculoskeletal injuries or conditions related to their occupation. We encourage coaches to maintain a healthy lifestyle and stay in shape. If injuries do occur, medical attention is advised as soon as possible in order to minimize the risk of acute injuries becoming chronic ­conditions. h

Acknowledgements: The author would like to thank the USPTA and the USPTA members for their voluntary participation in this study and hopes that further investigations will take place to benefit the tennis-teaching professional population.

Dr. Ricardo E. Colberg is a non-surgical sports medicine physician at the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center and the American Sports Medicine Institute in Birmingham, Ala. *MS Propst, RE Colberg, KT Aune. The Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Injuries in Tennis-Teaching Professionals. Oral poster presentation at the 24th Annual Meeting of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, April 14-19, 2015; Hollywood, Fla.

Endorsee News

Prince Serves Up Family Fun At BB&T Atlanta Open

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rince® Global Sports is set to take center court at the BB&T Atlanta Open, an ATP Global Excursion 250 tournament, as the presenting sponsor of the BB&T Atlanta Open Family Zone. Staged in Atlantic Station’s Central Park, just outside the tournament's main gates, the Family Zone will feature the new Prince Sport Court® as its centerpiece.

“When we were presented with the opportunity to become the sponsor of the BB&T Atlanta Open Family Zone, it was clear that this was the perfect fit with the Prince commitment to growing the game by introducing future generations of players to the joy of tennis,” said Paige Miller, Director of Brand Marketing, Prince

Global Sports.

The BB&T Atlanta Open Family Zone presented by Prince is expected to draw thousands of participants throughout the entire tournament, and will give children and adults alike the

opportunity to play tennis for free in a fun, family-friendly environment. Participants will be able to play with Prince racquets and even take part in free on-site clinics.

“We are excited to bring a wide array of fun, familyfriendly activities to the Family Zone, for both children and adults, where everyone can try our Prince racquets and reimagine the game of tennis,” said Miller.

The Sport Court and accompanying attractions will be tentatively open for 69 hours over the tournament’s nine days. In addition to the Family Zone events, Prince will be the tournament’s official racquet, string and grip and will provide the official string service at the event. h

USPTA Benefits

Emirates Airline US Open Series Adds Benefits for USPTA Professionals

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or the third consecutive year, USPTA will partner with the USTA to make the 2015 ­Emirates Airline US Open Series available to the USPTA and its members.

The partnership began in 2013 to provide USPTA Professionals access to the U.S.-based tournaments in the Series and was modeled after other successful agreements already in place in Stanford, New Haven and Cincinnati.

This year, the tournaments are offering an additional benefit to USPTA division leaders. Each division’s president and Professional of the Year award winner will both receive two box seats to an available session at the tournament in their area. Both the division president and the Pro of the Year will be recognized during the tournament.

Now in its 12th season, the ­Emirates Airline US Open Series continues to serve as a true regular season of hard court tennis, linking seven summer tournaments to the US Open.

In the past, the Series has reached more than 30 million television viewers and totaled nearly 400 hours of broadcast coverage throughout the summer on ESPN2, CBS Sports and Tennis Channel.

“Over the past two years, we have received such a positive response from USPTA members attending these tournaments that we are excited to continue this partnership with the US Open Series to provide this professional benefit to our members,” said USPTA CEO John ­Embree. “USPTA is committed to promoting the growth of tennis and supporting these professional tournaments in the U.S.” USPTA professional-level members must present their current membership card in order to receive access to the available sessions at each tournament. Tickets or grounds passes are subject to availability and determined at the discretion of the tournament. h

2015 Emirates Airline U.S. Open Series Schedule:

Availability to USPTA Professionals are in italics; Subject to availability in the U.S. only (Canada excluded). Members must present their USPTA membership card to claim ticket.

BB&T Atlanta Open

July 27 – Aug. 2 | Atlanta, Ga. Monday through Wednesday (July 27-29), all sessions

Bank of the West Classic

Aug. 3 – 9 | Stanford, Calif.

Complimentary bronze level tickets for Monday and Tuesday (Aug. 3-4) day and evening sessions. 10% discount to Wednesday and Thursday sessions (Aug. 5-6) for gold, silver and bronze level tickets. Bank of the West will provide a promo code to USPTA members for advance purchase of discounted tickets.

Western & Southern Open

Aug. 16 – 23 | Cincinnati, Ohio Tickets or grounds passes to any session, depending on availability. Must pick up at Will Call on day of event only.

Connecticut Open at Yale

Aug. 23 – 29 | New Haven, Conn.

Grounds pass only Sunday through Tuesday (Aug. 23-25) *Any USPTA Pro who assists on Monday, Aug. 24 at the USPTA Free Lesson event from 1-4 p.m. will receive a ticket for the Monday evening session (Session 3).

Winston-Salem Open

Aug. 23 – 29 | Winston-Salem, N.C. Monday through Thursday (Aug. 23-27) all sessions For more information on the Emirates Airline US Open Series please visit www.emiratesusopenseries.com.

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com 47

USPTA World Conference

Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler at the USPTA World Conference

T

he USPTA World Conference in New Orleans is shaping up to be a great event. With new speakers at a new location and new activities, this is sure to be one you don’t want to miss.

Monday, Sept. 21 kicks off the week with two specialty courses, “Teaching tennis successfully at the club level,” by Feisal Hassan and “Career planning” by Greg Lappin. Then a full array of education is planned for Tuesday through Friday. Speakers new to the World Conference include Robert Worley, Joao Pinho, Jack Newman, Michelle Cleere, Craig O’Shannessy, Darren Cahill, ­Nicole LaVoi and Heather Silva, with more to come. Some of our returning speakers are Jim Loehr, Hank Pfister, Tom ­Gullikson and Sophie WooronsJohnston. See the schedule on page 51 for more information.

USPTA members will earn 8 continuing education credits for a full registra-

50 www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

tion, plus additional credits for sessions reception. To see the current Masters attended. All sessions will fall under one standings, go to uspta.com/tournaments. of four categories: business, teaching, This year’s host hotel is the Hilton facility management and sport science.

New Orleans Riverside, which is within This year, the Welcome Reception on walking distance to the French Quarter Tuesday night will and Harrah's Casino, USPTA members will earn 8 be held off site at as well as shopping, The National WWII continuing education credits for dining and counta full registration, plus additional less other things Museum. This will to do. (See page 54 be an incredible ex- credits for sessions attended. perience for all who for things to do in attend. In addition, the first 700 conferNew Orleans.) The hotel has a variety ence attendees at the door will receive of spacious guest rooms, many of which free tickets to the Tom Hanks’ docuhave views of downtown New Orleans mentary, “Beyond All Boundaries.” Read or the Mississippi River. There is also a more about the museum on page 56.

90,000-square-foot full-service health Also new this year is the Masters and fitness facility – the Health Club Invitational – a tournament for the top

by Hilton. It has a fitness center, exercise classes, and indoor tennis, squash point earners in the four USPTA Surface and racquetball courts. Follow up your Championships leading up to it. The workout with a dip in one of two outdoor finals will be held Wednesday afternoon swimming pools. prior to the division parties, and all attendees are invited to come cheer on Learn more about the conference at their favorite players and enjoy a light uspta.com/conference and register. h

USPTA World Conference

Convention Schedule Monday, Sept. 21 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Specialty course 1 – Teaching tennis successfully at the club level – Feisal Hassan

2 – 6 p.m.

Specialty course 2 – Career planning – Greg Lappin

Tuesday, Sept. 22 9 – 10 a.m.

The X's & O's of building fitness into your tennis resume – Lane Evans Solutions for your game – Sophie Woorons-Johnston

10:30 a.m. – Noon

General session: Specialization panel – Brian Hainline, Neeru Jayanthi, Tom Farrey, Paul Lubbers

1 – 2 p.m.

The slice backhand: why, how and when – Hank Pfister Beating the tennis demons coaching system – Michelle Cleere

2:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Customer service for the tennis professional – Jorge Andrew

4 – 5:30 p.m.

General membership meeting and awards presentation

6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

Welcome party at The National WWII Museum

Wednesday, Sept. 23 9 – 10 a.m.

Management: How to land the big job – Brett Schwartz Court warrior: Developing competitive skills in 10Us – Mike Barrell Teaching singles patterns – Joao Pinho

9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Masters Invitational Championships

10:30 a.m. – Noon

General session

1– 2 p.m.

Creative ideas to enhance your tennis program – Steve Tscherne

2 – 6 p.m.

Specialty course 3 – Fitness training and periodization – Mark Kovacs

4 – 5 p.m.

Master Professional presentation: Teaching character through tennis – Jack Newman; From "character" to leader – Bunny Bruning; New challenges managing a tennis complex – Fernando Velasco

7 – 9 p.m.

Division parties

Thursday, Sept. 24 9 – 10 a.m.

Pro patterns for club players – Craig O'Shannessy Choking: causes and fixes – Allen Fox Do you teach tennis IQ? – Stan Oley

10:30 – Noon

General session: Tennis panel – Darren Cahill

1 – 2 p.m.

Optimal stroke mechanics – Rick Macci

2:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Proper warm-up progressions for Cardio Tennis – Michele Krause Project Play: What it means for youth sports, tennis and tennis professionals – Kirk Anderson

3:45 – 4:45 p.m.

Manufacturer's advisory staff meetings

5 – 10 p.m.

Tennis Buying Show

6 – 8:30 p.m.

Silent auction

6:30 – 8 p.m.

Tennis Buying Show reception

Friday, Sept. 25 9 – 10 a.m.

Benefits panel No nonsense training: Moving beyond lip service – Ajay Pant

10:30 – 11:45 a.m.

General session: Sportsmanship panel – Jim Loehr, Ed.D., Nicole LaVoi

Noon – 2 p.m.

Awards Luncheon – Keynote speaker – Rick Dickson

2:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Large group drills – Heather Silva

Schedule is subject to change. More education to be added as speakers are confirmed. Go to uspta.com/conference to check for updates.

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com 51

USPTA World Conference

Q&A with Speaker Nicole LaVoi

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icole M. LaVoi, Ph.D., is a senior lecturer for the College of Education & Human Development, School of Kinesiology, at the University of Minnesota; associate director for the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport; and co-founder of the Minnesota Youth Sport Research Consortium. She will be joining USPTA Master Professional Jim Loehr, Ed.D., in a panel discussion on sportsmanship. In this Q&A, she talks about her panel discussion, making a difference in the lives of young athletes, and college tennis.

barrier and she illustrated that women can be, and are, great coaches. Lastly, we also need to see more women’s sport in the sport media. Women’s sport only gets 2 to 4 percent of all sport media coverage, despite the fact that about 43 percent of all athletes are female. Who and what is seen communicates value, worth and importance, and we have a long way to go before we achieve representational, proportionate and respectful coverage for women’s athletics.

You will be participating in a sportsmanship panel discussion with Jim Loehr. What can we expect from your session? I anticipate our session will be an engaging, thought-provoking discussion around character and moral development in sport from various perspectives. I will be sharing new research around developing coaches as moral exemplars and how to teach coaches to create a moral atmosphere within their teams, which will complement Jim’s newer work on this topic.

they want to 1) be good at what they do and to continually get better, 2) feel cared about as a whole person, and 3) feel self-determined and not controlled.

When coaches meet an athlete’s needs, regardless of gender, the athlete will be more likely to experience well-being, satisfaction and optimal performance, and enjoy their tennis experience.

What is the best piece of advice you can give to tennis-teaching professionals with regard to coaching girls? I get asked this question very frequently given my work with coaches and my role in the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport at the University of Minnesota. There are two schools on thought on “coaching girls”: 1) coaching girls is different from coaching boys, and 2) coaching is coaching regardless of athlete gender.

Based on the data, there aren’t many psychosocial differences in coaching girls and boys – good coaching is good coaching. However, nearly all coaches perceive and believe there are many differences, but in reality coaching the individual is what makes a coach effective, and gender of the athletes is just one piece of the puzzle. In short, coaches should know their athletes and take an approach that works for that individual.

All athletes have three inherent needs;

Your biography says you “strive to answer critical questions that can make a difference in the lives of coaches and youth athletes—particularly females.” What have you learned will make the biggest difference for them? There are a few big takeaways I can share. First, girls and women want to play sports and love sports just as much as boys and men. When females are given opportunities to play sports, they do, and it’s important they do because it can lead to positive developmental, health, academic and economic outcomes for them throughout lives.

For female coaches, the big take-away is that we need more of them! Women coaches are role models that matter as they challenge stereotypes about gender and leadership (i.e., “who” is a coach) and show girls that coaching is a viable career pathway. When Amelie Mauresmo was hired by Andy Murray, it created discussion because she was breaking a gender

52 www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

What are some of your hobbies? I like to do anything outdoors. Given I live in Minnesota and half of the year it is very cold, when spring hits I like to be outside walking, biking, golfing and playing tennis. I’m an avid reader, and also write a blog. In addition I’m a huge women’s sport fan, especially of the WNBA, and college basketball and softball, so when women’s sport is on TV I’m usually tuning in.

If you could meet anyone in the world, who would it be and why?

Amelia Earhart, because she seemed like a woman ahead of her time in terms of gender equality and challenging the status quo, and the mystery surrounding her disappearance fascinates me.

What did you like best about playing college tennis? There is nothing I didn’t like about playing college tennis! I made lifelong friends whom I still count as my most cherished people in my life.

I got to travel the U.S., and after college, the world due to tennis. I learned many valuable lessons during my college playing days that I didn’t fully appreciate until much later – for example, the process and how you treat others is more important than the outcome and winning, a lesson I learned from Steve Wilkinson (former men’s tennis coach at Gustavus). I was fortunate to play on a very successful team in a great program, and while the success we earned was fun, it really became more about what we learned about ourselves that I carry with me, and for that I am grateful as I continue to learn from my collegiate playing days. h

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USPTA World Conference

Things to do in New Orleans

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aissez les bons temps rouler! That’s Cajun for “Let the Good Times Roll!” From the world-renowned cuisine to the ­famous nightlife on Bourbon Street, New Orleans knows how to show you a good time.

Take advantage of everything the city has to offer while you’re in town for the USPTA World Conference with a few tips on things to do:

1

2

3

4

New Orleans Nightlife: It may not be Mardi Gras time, but there’s always a party in New Orleans.

The Hilton New Orleans Riverside is just a 10-minute walk to the famous Bourbon Street where you can experience the city’s nightlife, or take a quick cab to more local areas of town such as Frenchmen Street, the Garden District or Uptown.

Harrah’s Casino: Just across the street from the Hilton is Harrah’s Casino. With 113 table games, 20 poker tables, 1,873 slot machines, weekly tournaments and regular promotions, Harrah’s Casino New Orleans offers an endless array of options to try your luck.

54 www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Live Music: The Big Easy is well-known for its rich music heritage. Stroll the French Quarter during the day to listen to street musicians jamming on the sidewalk or pop into Preservation Hall on St. Peter Street to catch some jazz. For more of a local vibe, take a quick cab ride to Frenchmen Street to catch live music at jaunts such as the Blue Nile or the Spotted Cat Club.

Ride the Streetcar: Getting around New Orleans by streetcar is a great way to see the city. There are three different lines: St. Charles, Canal Street, and the Riverfront, each of which originates downtown but takes you different parts of the city – for only $1.25 each way!

5

French Quarter Walking Tour: The Vieux Carré – better known as the French Quarter – is the largest and best-preserved district of predominantly 19th century architecture found in an American city. It is a unique treasure that millions of people the world over flock to see. You can explore the Quarter on your own or you can experience it while learning about it from a knowledgeable tour guide. If you dare, take one of the haunted walking tours to hear ghost stories along with the history of the famed neighborhood.

6

Eat: You can’t visit New Orleans and not get a taste of its authentic Cajun and Creole food.

There are endless possibilities. Try one of the city’s well-known establishments such as Galatoire’s or Commander’s Palace, or sample a po-boy at Mother’s just down the street from the Hilton. Take a look at our online guide for dozens of options from fine dining to cheap eats.

7

Take a Swamp Tour or River Cruise: South Louisiana is lush with swampland and surrounded by waterways. If you plan to stay the weekend after the conference, schedule a swamp tour or take a ride on the Natchez Steamboat. The classic Mississippi riverboat cruise sails three times daily and traditional New ­Orleans jazz is featured.

8

Shopping: Whether you’re looking for a souvenir, local goods or a great deal, there are tons of shops near the hotel. Window shop along Royal Street in the French Quarter for unique antiques, or head up to the French Market for fresh produce or flea market-type finds. The recently revamped Outlet Collection at Riverwalk is just along the banks of the Mississippi River behind the Hilton.

For a more detailed listing of places to go and things to do in New Orleans, see our guide at uspta.com/conference.

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com 55

USPTA World Conference

World Conference Welcomes Attendees at National WWII Museum

T

he first full day of the 2015 USPTA World Conference will be capped by a welcome reception at The National WWII ­ useum, just a few blocks away from M the Hilton New Orleans Riverside.

Conference attendees will be treated to a visit at one of the city’s top tourist destinations with the opportunity to mingle and meet other guests.

Designated by Congress as the official WWII museum of the United States, the museum offers an unforgettable way to experience World War II – from industrial efforts on the home front to the combat experience of the American soldier abroad – and honor the generation that sacrificed so much to secure our freedom.

The first 700 conference attendees

who check in at the museum will receive a complimentary ticket to one of three showings of the Tom Hanks' narrated documentary ­“Beyond All Boundaries.”

Attendees are invited to stroll through the European and Pacific wings, taking in the immersive exhibits, state-of-the-art multimedia experiences, and an expansive collection of artifacts and first-person oral histories to take visitors inside the story of the war: why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today.

The first 700 conference attendees who check in at the museum will receive a complimentary ticket to one of three showings of the Tom Hanks' narrated documentary, “Beyond All Boundaries.” Showing exclusively in The National WWII Museum’s Solomon Victory Theater, the film is a 4D journey through the war that changed the world. The film features dazzling effects, CGI animation, multi-layered environments and first-person accounts from the trenches to the home front read by Brad Pitt, Tobey Maguire,

56 www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

Gary Sinise, Patricia Clarkson, Wendell Pierce and more.

The National WWII Museum is located at 945 Magazine St. within walking distance from the Hilton New ­Orleans Riverside. The welcome reception will begin at 6:30 p.m., and drinks

and hors d'oeuvres will be served.

When registering for the USPTA World Conference, check that you will attend the welcome reception and you will receive one ticket in your registration packet. For more information, visit uspta.com/conference. h

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USPTA World Conference

Technology to Play Biggest Role yet at World Conference

S

taying connected at the USPTA World Conference will be easier than ever thanks to new technology this year. Attendees will have up-to-the-second information and greater accessibility to education and offers from our exhibitors right from their computers and mobile devices to enhance their convention experience.

Crowd Compass Conference App USPTA is introducing a smartphone app through Crowd Compass exclusively for the World Conference and sponsored by TuringSense. Attendees will be able to create a custom schedule and personalized stream for the events and seminars they attend, find out more about speakers and exhibitors, give instant survey feedback after sessions, and much more.

Not only can attendees receive notifications for reminders and room changes, they will be able to receive individual notifications tailored to their experience.

They can get a reminder about an upcoming seminar, when to head to the Buying Show or receive exclusive offers from sponsors and vendors.

Interactive maps make navigating the conference easy and intuitive. Find out how to get around New Orleans, learn the layout of the hotel, or explore the Buying Show floorplan. Click on a part of the map to zoom in and out, tap on pins for exhibitor and session information, and click on links to full profiles.

The app makes staying social a cinch.

Meet up with old colleagues or manage new connections with the ability to message other attendees right through the app. Social sharing is even easier. Attendees can also update their social media status and monitor their feeds and the #USPTAWC15 hashtag during the conference.

The app will be available for iPhone, Android and tablets. Search Crowd Compass in the app store, and then search for “USPTA World Conference.” Visit uspta. com/conference for further details on how to download and use the app.

Virtual Event Bag USPTA is introducing the Virtual Event Bag, a “green” way for our attendees to take advantage of all the offerings from exhibitors and enhance the Buying Show experience. Conference goers will get an email invitation to go online and visit their “event bag” and explore all of the

58 www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

offerings from our vendors. Similar to online shopping, attendees will add items to their “bag” and either redeem the exhibitor’s offer at the show or save for later.

The bag also allows vendors to reach an even greater audience than the Buying Show. The virtual event bag will open to the public and be available for 30 days after the show for tennis professionals and coaches to take advantage of information, discounts and other offers.

Live streaming With education as the association’s top priority, USPTA wants to reach out to those professionals who may not be able to attend. For the first time, USPTA will offer live streaming access to give USPTA members an opportunity to earn education credits from their home or facility.

USPTA members will have the option to purchase live-streaming of general sessions (not seminars or specialty courses) and view through YouTube. Tennis pros will be able to hear about the latest happenings in the organization and still earn continuing education credits.

Also, attendees can connect with USPTA on social media through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Search #USPTAWC15 to monitor the conversation or join in and share the experience.

For more information on the 2015 USPTA World Conference, visit uspta. com/conference. h

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USPTA News

New Initiative Rewards USPTA Pros who Recruit New Members

T

he timing could not be better to promote membership in our association to uncertified, highly regarded prospects already teaching in our profession. Being that we have “membership growth” as one of our core pillars in addition to several new benefits to offer, we are now more than ever ready to reach out to these prime candidates. The AIM initiative is designed to reward USPTA-certified members who do just that.

AIM u Admire the reputation of the

prospective member

u Invite them to join our respected

organization

u Mentoring for those interested

in professional guidance

Beginning July 1, USPTA members are asked to recommend admirable teaching professionals in their local area or region who are currently instruct-

ing but not USPTA certified. The World Headquarters will contact those people and let them know that they have been recommended by a current USPTA Professional in their area as a highly regarded tennis instructor and invite them to join our association – highlighting the many USPTA benefits. If they decide to join, the association will assign, or allow the applicant to choose, a current USPTA Professional to help guide them through the certification process.

Ideally, the member who recommends another for membership will help them through the process, from filling out the application to answering questions about the testing procedure. As an option, applicants will have the opportunity to request mentoring if interested in obtaining valuable advice from a veteran professional.

New Member Referral Incentives (choose one for each new member that joins) l $50 discount on USPTA annual dues (maximum of $100 – two new members)

l

$50 gift card from the USPTA Pro Tennis Shop (unlimited)

n

The incentive awards will be issued to the current referring member upon payment of applicant’s application fees and first year’s dues.

n

The divisions will be sent a list of new applicants (weekly, bi-monthly, etc.) to ensure the proper communication with guidance to test.

n

It is up to the referring member to make sure the new incoming member puts his/her name on the application form in order to receive the incentive(s).

Eligibility: Only certified members in good standing will be eligible and they may only refer first-time potential members.

For more information, contact the membership department at membership@ uspta.org. h

The AIM initiative is designed to reward USPTA-certified professionals who recruit new members to the association.

60 www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

USPTA News

Opposed Slate of 2016-2017 National Board

I

n accordance with the provisions contained in the USPTA bylaws ­Article VII, Section 3, the following individual has been added to the ­ allot for election to the 2016-2017 Board b of Directors: Vice president Ken McAllister to oppose R.J. Tessier The remainder of the nominated slate is unopposed (see box at right).

Ballots will be sent out on July 13 and must be returned by Aug. 17. h

President

Chuck Gill

First vice president

Gary Trost

Vice presidents

Alan Cutler Feisal Hassan Jack Michalko

TM

Diane Selke Immediate past president

Tom McGraw

As submitted by Molly Card Beckman, USPTA Nominating Committee Chair.

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com 61

Career Development Exams, Upgrades & PTCA I

Conventions

Free Webinar

(5 credits)

(.5 APC credits)

Aug. 2-5

(4 credits for PTCA I segment) June 20-21

The Villages, Fla.

June 21

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

June 22

Fresno, Calif.

June 27

Des Moines, Iowa

July 11

Clayton, Mo.

Sept. 21-25

Tennis Directors Conference with CMAA Orlando USPTA World Conference New Orleans

Fort Worth, Ind.

July 12

USPTA High

Boca Raton, Fla.

(2.5 credits)

Performance Workshop

Jackson, Miss.

Vienna, Va.

Todd Upchurch 2 p.m. EST

Division Activities

July 11 July 12

Social Media Marketing

Register at uspta.com/education>education calendar.

July 11-12 July 13

July 29

Aug. 20 (6 credits)

Workshop Cincinnati, Ohio

Skillman, N.Y.

July 17-18 Houston* July 19 Aug. 1-2

Coronado, Calif.

Charlotte, N.C.

* 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.

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.

62 www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

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 and those over the age of 65 are exempt.) ­Questions? Write to education@uspta.org or call 800-877-8248, ext. 147.

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Member News • USPTA Professional Fred Kangwa, director of tennis at The Forest Country Club in Fort Myers, Fla., with club member Lorraine Guile and tennis activities director Jennifer Owenby at The Forest's Second Annual Hope Hospice Tennis Slam, which raised more than $10,000 for Hope Hospice.

• The Intercollegiate Tennis Association recognized three USPTA tennis-teaching professionals for their achievements during the 2014-15 collegiate tennis season.

USPTA Elite Professional Martin Parkes (Saint Leo University) was named the Division II Men’s ITA Assistant Coach of the Year; Master Professional David T. Porter (Brigham Young University-Hawaii) was named the Division II Women’s Wilson/ ITA Coach of the Year; and Professional Mark Goldin (Cardinal Stritch University) was named the NAIA Women's Wilson/ITA Coach of the Year. For a full list of winners, visit www.itatennis.com.

• Nick Bollettieri, USPTA Master Professional and founder of the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy (now IMG Academy), and mentor and coach to 10 world No. 1-ranked ATP/ WTA tennis champions, is giving fans around the world access to his personal and formerly private library of plans, notes, photos, videos and published articles. His new website, www.nickbollettieri.com, is complete with personal stories, images and the secret training techniques he used to cultivate some of the biggest names in tennis, including Andre Agassi, Monica Seles, Jim Courier, Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Boris Becker, Martina Hingis, Marcelo Rios and Jelena Jankovic. Through an annual $99 subscription, users will gain access to all of the materials, including information from trusted peers and staff members who coached and trained athletes through more than 170 Grand Slam championships. New content will be added to the site each week.

• Ryan Bauman, a USPTA U30 Elite Professional and director of club operations at Brandywine Tennis and Fitness Club, represented USPTA and his club at Stetson's Spring Spotlight Event hosted by the Sports Business Association at Stetson University in

April. Stetson's SBA invited several leaders of the sports industry in Central Florida to attend this event, including the NASCAR Foundation, LPGA, Orlando City Soccer, Daytona Tortugas, Orlando Solar Bears and more. Bauman participated on a panel regarding the importance of internships and ran a booth for USPTA U30 and Brandywine Tennis and Fitness Club.

• The South Suburban Tennis Academy’s (Orland Park, Ill.) 10 and Under classes, led

by USPTA Elite Professional Andy Ventress, ended its lessons with Derby Day (prior to the Kentucky Derby) with more than 50 participants. To help determine which horse would win the Derby, the four classes (4-5 year olds, two classes of 6-8, and 9-10) ran their own “horse” race featuring the top four favored horses. As it turned out, American Pharaoh won two of the four runnings. The students formed teams and each member of the team was required to run with their horse while carrying their racquet balancing a Koosh ball or tennis ball (for the older group), deposit the item in a basket, and then run back to their next teammate in line, giving the horse to them to do the same. The first to deposit all their balls was the winner.

NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

• Griff Lamkin (USPTA Elite Professional), tennis director for McLean Racquet & Health, ran his 25th trip to the Port Royal Racquet Club in Hilton Head, S.C. Lamkin, his wife Barbara, USPTA, and (in the last six years) their 16-year-old son Bradley have coordinated these intense individually oriented club trips that ranged from 12 players (in the inception) to up to 44 players.

The trips consist of tennis clinics, Cardio Tennis, a doubles specialty course, a stroke of the day lesson, the opportunity to work on specific needs of the members attending, social play, round robin and competitive play.

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

64 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.

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

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.