Addvantage 2015 June

Inside this issue Make the Most of Your Prince Benefits – 46 Building Champions of Character Through Tennis – 48 Magic Seven – 56 Departments: 42 44 46 48 52 56 58 60

CEO’s Message Past President’s Message Endorsee News Inside Coaching USPTA World Conference Master Pro Corner Career Development Member News

Read more articles online at www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com On the cover: USPTA Heads to New Orleans in September.

See Page 52.

CEO’s Message

A Look Ahead

by John Embree

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s is our custom, April is a time My intent here is to provide a summary when our entire association’s of the meetings so that you are versed leadership gathers here in in the direction we will be heading, Houston for our two-day both short and long term. semi-annual Executive Committee

meeting. Made up of 43 people repre1) Governance – thanks to the hard senting the past national presidents, work conducted by Tom McGraw the Board and two representatives from and the Bylaw Steering Committee, each division, this group is the governwe now have a set of bylaws that is ing body of our asupdated and The future of the USPTA looks incredibly relevant to sociation. It takes its responsibility of exciting. With the support of the Board our current and Executive Committee, I look forward operations. charting the path for the USPTA very to leading the charge.

To have a seriously. fluid and dynamic document that allows for While our agenda was full of important changes to be made two times per topics, we had hoped to have a little year based on the prevailing environfriendly competition among the diviment is sound business practice. At sions with a round-robin doubles tourthe same time, the Executive Comnament playing 10-point tiebreakers mittee voted to update the ­USPTA on Friday evening. Unfortunately, the Articles of Incorporation, which had weather “gods” did not play nice and not been altered since 1977. the skies opened with severe storms.

Nevertheless, the venue threw together 2) Financials – First VP/Treasurer an enjoyable dinner that allowed us to Chuck Gill painted a positive pichave lots of social interaction and conture of our financial well-being, vivial conversation. Next year ... reporting a surplus of revenues over

expenses in 2014 that mirrored our performance in 2013. Between a solid balance sheet of assets and continued prudent managing of expenses, the association is on very solid financial footing.

3) Endorsements/Benefits – 10-S ­ upply and Aer-Flo will reTennis S new their agreement starting in July and will be contributing 4 percent of purchases to individual Retirement Gold+ accounts. We are delighted to have them continue our relationship. We also have struck a new deal with a nutrition company that will be announced and launched this summer that will offer incomeenhancing programs to supplement your on-court revenue. In addition, there will be a new partnership with procoachtennis.com, a member benefit that will give our members and their clients/students access to some of the most respected coaches in the world (Darren Cahill, Brad Gilbert, Paul Annacone and Roger Rasheed) for tennis-teaching tips, instructional videos, live chats during major professional tournaments worldwide, etc.

And finally, we have established an affinity association with Liberty Mutual Insurance for home and auto insurance along with other coverages that will aid in protecting our members. Stay tuned for more details on each.

4) Membership Categories – o ­ wing to the hard work done by Jack Michalko and our Membership Committee, the Executive Committee passed a motion to establish a School Coaches category to help high school and middle school coaches get more education and elevate the standards of their team play. We actually had a High School

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category in the past but the difference this time around is that institutions will be encouraged to pay the annual fees (rather than the coach) and a portion of the dues will be split back to the respective local/ statewide high school association.

Secondly, I am pleased to announce that the Professional Platform Tennis Association (PPTA) will be merging with the USPTA. They are the certifying body of platform tennis coaches/professionals. Since many of ­ SPTA members have platform our U tennis at their facilities, it only makes sense to combine forces. This announcement was made publicly May 1 and will be activated by this fall.

The Membership Committee also rolled out a plan called AIM (Admire, Invite, Mentor) as a thank you to the current professionals who recruit new members. Applicants will acknowledge a member for referring them to the USPTA when they submit their application and the referring member will have a discount applied to the following year’s dues. Help grow our association by bringing new people in and get rewarded for doing so.

5) Testing – in an effort to make our testing process more consistent across the country, Gary Trost, the Testing/ Certification Committee and the Board recommended that a full-time national tester and a part-time regional tester be hired in the back half of the year. These individuals will assist tests that are already in the field, travel to locales where we have been unable to conduct tests in the past, train new testers who want to come on board, and help recruit professionals to join the association. We will be posting the job descriptions, before long.

6) Continuing Education –Many of our pros have already completed their 12 hours (6 credits) to comply with the three-year requirement and we are expecting the remaining members to fulfill theirs as well. The industry and our allied associations have been extremely supportive of our mission to “raise the standards of tennis-teaching professionals and coaches.”

Kudos to Alan Cutler and the Education Committee for helping to make our education both accessible and affordable.

7) The Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa was selected as the site for our 2016 World Conference the last week of September.

8) Lake Nona – The Board and Executive Committee were updated on the possible relocation of our World Headquarters to “the home of American tennis.” Discussions with Tavistock, the real estate development company that owns the property, have been ongoing. Our due diligence will continue over the summer and a final presentation will be made to the USPTA leadership in September at the World Conference.

Finally, a REVISED Strategic Plan called “Imagine 2020” was unveiled that will map the course of the association over the next five years. Space in this article does not allow me to cover some of the other terrific initiatives that are on the horizon. You will be hearing about them as they are rolled out.

The future of the USPTA looks incredibly exciting. With the support of the Board and Executive Committee, I look forward to leading the charge. Think big! h

GAME, SET,

NEVER MATCHED!

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www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com 43

Past President’s Message

Be First to Communicate at Your Facility

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s a manager supervising per- surround yourself with, therefore, make sonnel, I often give out task sure you treat your staff and colleagues assignments, communicate with respect and gratitude. Consider givto staff, and oversee projects ing a complimentary tennis clinic to the that mandate results. When something facility staff, both in your department doesn’t go the way I planned it, or if a and the crossover departments. Put on a staff member works on a task and does fun tennis mixer to build team camaranot complete it to my derie. These are things expectation, the first Good communication is an art. we are good at and are Master that art and see how person I look at is second nature to us, myself. I ask myself, it helps your performance and to some staff, if “Did you thoroughly and longevity at your facility! may be construed as a communicate exactly real treat. what you wanted accomplished and The same can be true for the comthe means on how to complete it?”; munication channels with your su“Did you explain your expectations and pervisor or general manager and your come to a meeting of the minds with tennis committee members. Someyour staff member?” times GMs and tennis committees are Misinterpreted or incomplete too busy to keep those communicacommunication is usually the main tion channels active, and if that is the problem when both parties have differ- case, take it upon yourself to schedule ent expectations and when a job is not face-to-face meetings. It is in your best performed to satisfaction. interest to be transparent and keep all Take the time to properly communi- stakeholders “in the know.” cate with your staff. Consider conduct Your communication should include ing staff meetings during the morning of at a minimum, monthly reports that the first day of the week and again late indicate what problems or concerns in the day during the last day of week. came about in the last 30 days, the This is the time to have a dialogue on all method(s) used to solve or relieve the the necessary expectations of the week problem/concern, and a detailed list of and discuss what did get accomplished accomplishments. In an era where “you and what did not materialize. are only as good as what you did yes You are only as good as those who you terday,” this list will document all your

Take the time to properly communicate with your staff.

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by Tom Daglis contributions to the club/facility. It may also come in handy when you are called in for your annual review!

Tennis committees are often comprised of individuals who wish to push through an agenda that is particular to them or their family. Keeping good records may be good ammunition for you when questioned, “What are you doing for ‘my interest’?”

Finally, I recommend that you attend club/facility board meetings as an observer. It is an excellent way to find out the “real story” on certain issues that may concern you and/or your department. Even as an observer, you will often be asked questions by board members to inquire about your opinion on certain matters. This will keep you “in the know” and build relationships with some of the decision makers at your workplace. I also recommend attending other department committee meetings. The decisions that these committees vote on may influence your business and it is important to be abreast of all the latest assessments and choices that are discussed.

Good communication is an art.

Master that art and see how it helps your performance and longevity at your facility! h

Endorsee News

Make the Most of Your Prince Benefits

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ave you made the most of all the benefits available to you as a member under the USPTA/Prince partnership?

Prince is committed to ensuring all players are “fitted” for the optimum equipment for their game, and working with skilled, motivated USPTA tennisteaching professionals plays a critical role in achieving that goal.

The first and obvious benefit of the Prince partnership is the Team Prince equipment package available to USPTA Professionals. There are currently four Prince equipment packages available that are sure to fit every member’s needs. To get more information contact your local Prince representative.

As the official ball supplier for the USPTA, Prince also provides preferred pricing for all USPTA members in good standing. Cases can be mixed and matched across all ball types for each delivery. To order balls, contact inside sales at sales@princeglobalsports.com.

In addition to providing racquets and accessories to USPTA-certified Professionals, Prince will also make contributions to the USPTA’s Retirement Gold+ plan to those USPTA members who qualify, such as club pro shop owners and/or those who have direct fiscal responsibility for their respective pro shop.

The first major USPTA endorsee to contribute to the retirement plan, Prince will contribute 5 percent on the purchase of racquets and accessories, and 2.5 percent

on both Tour and Play & Stay balls to qualifying USPTA members.

As an added exclusive benefit, Prince provides special pricing on a quarterly basis on racquets, strings, accessories and more to USPTA members. Under the Prince Friends & Fam-

ily offer, USPTA members may purchase up to $1,000 of Prince equipment at player pricing for themselves, friends and family. Be sure to visit the website beginning in June for the next quarterly promotion or go to the USPTA Prince page at uspta.com/Prince. h

Prince is committed to ensuring all players are “fitted” for the optimum equipment for their game, and working with the skilled, motivated USPTA tennis-teaching ­professionals plays a critical role in achieving that goal.

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FRIENDS + FAMILY PROMOTION

*

SUMMER

CLEARANCE

Another exclusive benefit for all USPTA members!

Purchase up to $1,000 worth of merchandise at preferred player pricing during the promotional period.

princetennis.com *Not available for international shipments. (Due to licensing agreements worldwide, Prince cannot ship products internationally.)

Inside Coaching

Building Champions of Character Through Tennis

By Kim Bastable, USPTA

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emember the story of the frog in water? If you drop a frog in boiling water, it will hop right out. But if the water is heated slowly enough, the frog will not jump out. He will never realize what’s happening until it is too late.

Well, that actually happens in tennis, too. The evolution of the junior tennis player occurs so slowly that no one realizes it’s happening. We start a junior in beginner clinics at 8 or 9 years of age and before we blink, they are smacking 100 m.p.h. serves and looking at colleges.

And like the frog, sometimes the heat of competition, pressure and scholarships ends up killing spirit, fun and joy along the way. We even lose a few talented players between 9 and 17 because “it’s just not as much fun as it used to be.”

You may look back and ask, “What happened and when did it happen?”

“Why didn’t someone tell me (or her) (or him) (or his parents) that this was going to happen?”

You haven’t changed the clinics.

They are still fun and you still laugh, but some players don’t anymore. They just feel pressure to win or to get better or to impress peers or, ____________ (you fill in the blank).

The goal of an 8-year-old who is out for fun once or twice a week is easy to identify. At some point, however, the slow evolution happens and the hours on court increase. With that time and effort, the expectation of ability and outcome increases, and the frog starts feeling the heat.

When some “special talent” and ability begin to emerge, we, as coaches, encourage competition because it’s the “next step.” We encourage Little Jimmy at 8 or 9 or 10 to play in a league or tournament “just for fun.”

Except that the “fun” part gets left out. The opponent is often bigger or stronger or older. Or, the opponent

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We should not be emphasizing that it’s ONLY ABOUT – or even largely about – WINNING. It’s about enjoying the match and learning to do their best – to focus, to problem solve, to fight and to reach levels they never knew existed within themselves.

knows the rules better so Little Jimmy feels overmatched and sort of “stupid.”

The opponent wins, by a lot.

Now, what has happened to Little Jimmy’s tennis experience?

It’s not as fun.

He may quit all together or more likely, since he didn’t win, he decides to practice more. Maybe we encourage private lessons. And maybe Jimmy’s parents start taking him out on court more.

Or, the other scenario emerges: Jimmy dominates his first opponent.

He shows skill beyond his years, and he shines in victory. His next steps? Play more, compete more and, hopefully, WIN more. Now, the expectations of him and his parents and maybe you are for him to do well – to WIN. Jimmy enters the next tournament with ONE thing in mind: TO WIN. Oh, and everyone says he should

“have fun,” too, but does Jimmy really think there is fun in losing?

Not usually.

It’s a pattern we all see daily, weekly, annually. It’s our way of increasing our bottom line, building our programs and growing our club rosters. But it’s sometimes flawed. It’s flawed if Jimmy learns first and foremost that winning matters THE MOST. Sure, we encourage sportsmanship and attitude, but don’t we really put a lot of emphasis on results?

And if WE don’t put emphasis there by asking “who won?”, someone else does: Mom, Dad, a best friend, the neighbor, the neighbor’s dog … well, you get the point.

And, so the player begins to value winning first and foremost, and they often put pressure on themselves. “Selfexpectation” pressure looks like this:

“I have put in all of this time practicing, and I won my last few matches, so I should win again.”

And if you, as a small junior player, believe at age 9 or 10 or 11 that winning is the ultimate scorecard for a positive outcome, how/when/why would you decide to change that belief?

But when you are 15, if you have your full focus on winning, you may likely play with a fear of failure that causes you to freeze up under pressure.

Or maybe you have social approval issues that cause you to try to “mind read” what your coach or parent is thinking on the sidelines. And mindreading diminishes your ability to concentrate and focus.

If you miss growing up with a healthy perspective around competition, you may well be headed for the pitfalls of a mentally fragile player: fear of failure, fragile confidence, anger outbursts, meltdowns, tanking, lack of healthy self-esteem, etc. When we emphasize winning as the ultimate goal, this mental frailty and selflimiting pressure often is the ultimate outcome.

But this is avoidable, so let’s be the first to start the new wave of emphasis on a new scorecard. And be the loudest voice in Little Jimmy’s ear.

Help him learn that winning is great and it’s one large marker for success, but the other markers are the life skills and character that can be built by playing sports. All athletes benefit from good physical health, hard work, team work, discipline, resilience, calm under pressure, concentration, personal growth, respect, strong confidence and finding the way out of the competitive jungle with their head held high for “giving it all.”

We should not be emphasizing that it’s ONLY ABOUT – or even largely about – WINNING. It’s about enjoying the match and learning to do their best – to focus, to problem solve, to fight and to reach levels they never knew existed within themselves.

Sports is the greatest stress test for measuring how someone is doing on the hard work of “growing up” and “growing character.” College coaches look for it, Fortune 500 companies look for it, and strong families are led by people who learned strong character through the battlefield of sport.

Building an atmosphere where focus, positivity and character rule will create an impressive program of “champions” who reach far closer to their potential in life, but they may or may not actually win the day’s match.

“Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.”

– UCLA coach John Wooden So when do we teach Little Jimmy this character toughness and growth that should go with sports? At what age is he capable of getting the big picture?

THE BEGINNING. We must talk about body language on court, how to respond to errors and about what the real goal of playing matches is: To grow leadership and character traits

through competition.

We can talk about this in the red ball clinic games. And we should.

How about we ask Little Jimmy, on that first tournament experience and any later tournaments, to grade himself on a scorecard that you can both learn from later. It might look something like the chart below.

Try it out and see what happens.

Building an atmosphere where focus, positivity and character rule will create an impressive program of “champions” who reach far closer to their potential in life, but they may or may not actually win the day’s match. h

Kim Bastable, USPTA Elite professional, is certified as a Mental Toughness Specialist (from the Human Performance Institute) and as a Mental Game Coach (Peak Performance Sports). She also has a Certificate in Leadership from Notre Dame University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida. As an athlete, she played golf, volleyball and basketball as a youth, but excelled in tennis and was selected to the NCAA All-America team and was a two-time SEC champion at Florida. After a coaching career, she now runs Vital Leadership, www.vitalleader.org, and is dedicated to teaching leadership and helping athletes compete without anxiety and reach their full potential, on and off the court.

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com 49

USPTA World Conference

Tulane’s Rick Dickson to Headline USPTA Awards Luncheon

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Stadium. Why are facilities so important in sports, especially college athletics? Cost and commitment of sponsoring Division I sports has exploded over the last decade (primarily facilities and salaries).

SPTA’s annual awards celebration held during the 2015 USPTA World Conference will feature Rick Dickson, athletic director for Tulane University in New Orleans. Now in his 15th year in this position, Dickson has not only sustained Green Wave Athletics, but has led its transformation to a model Division I athletics program.

In this Q&A, he talks about his background, college athletics today and good food in New Orleans.

You’ve served as athletic director for several schools.

How did you get involved with college athletics as a career? After earning a bachelor of science from the University of Tulsa (’77) and having an enjoyable experience as a student-athlete (football and baseball), I coached for four years (football and baseball), then entered into private business.

Then in 1988 I was hired as an Associate Athletic Director at the University of Tulsa and then became their Athletics Director in 1989.

What do you enjoy most about working in sports? I enjoy most the role of managing an organization that prepares students to compete and excel in three areas: scholarship, sport and service.

Over the last several years, some colleges have been forced to cut their tennis programs. What are your thoughts on this, and what can be done to keep these programs going? Collateral damage as a result of the Power 5 conferences wanting to direct even more resources to football and men’s basketball – likely to see 16-sport minimum reduced to accomplish this. Tennis needs to be extremely proactive and interactive on campus.

“Be Relevant.”

ALL collegiate events and the US Open in New York.

Outside of sports, what is your favorite pastime? I enjoy fly fishing and playing tennis.

What is the most pressing issue in college athletics today? Creating a sustainable model (financially and right values).

Who has been the most influential person in your career? Multiple people have been very influential to me during my career: my parents, teachers and mentors.

What would you like to see change/ improved in college athletics? Move football and men’s basketball into an organization separate from rest of intercollegiate sports (professionalism vs. amateurism).

What is your favorite sporting event? My favorite sporting events are

Tulane opened a new, on-campus football stadium last fall, Yulman

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You have faced many challenges since becoming Tulane’s athletic director: Hurricane Katrina, building a new football stadium, joining the American Conference, etc.

What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your career, and what advice would you give for overcoming those obstacles? Hurricane Katrina forced us to suspend eight sports and affected 100 studentathletes losing their sport (we honored scholarships). The toughest day was telling them “their opportunity was gone.” Advice – create a solution and commit fearlessly to achieve it!

Tell us about your athletic/tennis background? Mediocre (played three sports in high school) and football and baseball at Division I level. Picked up tennis in 2000 after moving to New Orleans and joined the New Orleans Lawn and Tennis Club (oldest club in

the U.S.). I try to play when at home on the weekends.

From Oklahoma to Washington to Louisiana … what do you find that student athletes across the country have in common? What are the biggest cultural differences? Common thread between kids is they love to be teammates, set goals, and compete to accomplish them. Cultural differences: Tulsa (traditional, conservative); Washington State University (deep history w/Pac 10 (12)); Tulane (historically great academics).

What advice do you have for coaches of juniors who would like to play college tennis? Encourage and expose them to “competition” (develops mental toughness and desire to excel).

Can you give us a favorite quote/ life verse to leave our readers with?

“Non sibi, sed suis” – Not for one’s self, but for one’s own.

If someone only had 24 hours in New Orleans, what should they do and where should they eat? Ride the streetcar out of the French Quarter, through the Garden District, to “Uptown” New Orleans and see Audubon Park.

Eat here: l For breakfast – Satsuma Cafe l For lunch – Guy’s Po-Boys l For dinner – GW Fins or Gautreau’s l For oysters – Pascal’s Manale h

Hilton Riverside New Orleans Room rate: $129*/night + taxes & fees + Parking: $10/day (USPTA discount) *The rate in the May issue was incorrectly written as $121. We apologize for any inconvenience.

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com 53

USPTA World Conference

Silent Auction Returns to World Conference

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he USPTA Silent Auction benefiting the USPTA Foundation will return to the USPTA World Conference in New Orleans this September. This annual event is held in conjunction with the Buying Show on Thursday, Sept. 24, and provides the largest contribution to the USPTA Foundation.

Past items up for bids included tennis equipment, products and apparel; signed memorabilia from top tennis stars such as Roger Federer; event tickets; trips; gift certificates; and donations from local companies in the USPTA World Conference host city.

The mission of the USPTA Foundation is to help economically disadvantaged people learn tennis. Through collecting donations and the annual silent auction at the USPTA World Conference, the USPTA Foundation aims to spread the sport to various segments of the population that have never played the game. In 2014, the USPTA Foundation donated a record 31 grants to tennis programs and organizations around the country, the most grants awarded in the history of the foundation, for a total of more than $44,000.

Some of the many tennis programs that have benefitted from the donations distributed by the USPTA Foundation include: l

The Blue Sky Foundation was created by Liz and Dick Stockton as a vehicle to host a variety of events (tennis, golf, baseball, etc.) that would serve as fundraisers for different children’s charities.

Last year, the organization visited military bases in Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland and Texas as part of the T3 program – Thanking our Troops through Tennis – which had an average of 125 participants at each event, ranging from ages 3 to 87.

The program travels to military bases and offers a fun, stress-free

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MFCF funded Sunday Play Days where children received free tennis lessons from USPTA-certified Professionals and learned about healthy lifestyle habits.

afternoon of tennis clinics and other on-court games and activities to active military personnel, spouses, children and veterans. l

The Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation works to provide children with access to after-school fitness, nutritional and enrichment programs to prepare them for healthy, productive and successful lives.

Former ATP world No. 7 Mardy Fish founded the organization in 2007, and with help from a grant awarded through the USPTA Foundation,

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President Tom McGraw with Tim and Peanut Harper, 2014 USTA/USPTA Community Service Award winners.

Recipients of the 2014 USTA/USPTA Community Service Award, Tim and Peanut Harper’s Harper for Kids foundation provides children with educational and enrichment programs to cultivate, inspire and develop leadership skills and promote healthy character development.

Donations for the USPTA Silent Auction are tax-deductible and go toward supporting these tennis programs and more. Donations are being collected now through Aug. 15 and may include event tickets, products, gift certificates, autographed items, airfare, etc.

To make a donation, contact the USPTA World Headquarters at 713-978-7782, ext. 142 or uspta@ uspta.org.

For more information on the ­USPTA Foundation, visit uspta. com/foundation.

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

USPTA World Conference

REMINDER: Awards are due July 7

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he USPTA is accepting nominations until the July 7 deadline.

All Professional-level members are eligible. Recipients will be recognized during the USPTA World Conference, Sept. 21-25, at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside in New Orleans.

Award nomination forms and guidelines are available at www.uspta.com/ awards, by calling 800-877-8248 or by sending a request to pr@uspta.org.

Since changes have been made to some individual categories, as well as Division of the Year criteria, please be sure to read the general rules and requirements for each award carefully. Also there are changes to the awards format and presentation at the conference, so please note that while all awards will be announced in writing at the conference, not all awards will be presented formally as they have in the past. h

Deadline for submitting nominations for the USPTA Annual Awards program is July 7. Visit uspta.com/awards for categories, rules and nomination forms.

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com 55

Master Pro Corner

Magic Seven

By Bob Anderman, USPTA Master Professional

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hen I started teaching tennis more than 60 years ago, I never came across anyone who was instructing on how to teach tennis. Instead I just taught like I was taught. Instruction was teacher centered, not student centered.

Just do what I do. If the student didn’t understand what you were saying it was his fault. He was not listening or just not athletic enough to play tennis. This was a simple approach, but not effective. Of course in those days tennis teaching was not a profession, but only a summer job.

There were very few full-time tennis positions and they did not pay very well.

My present day theory on teaching tennis has evolved from my experiences while serving in the military, being a high school/college teacher, and also an educational consultant with the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet. This was followed by my position as director of classroom programs for the Mortgage Bankers Association. I learned a lot about how to give a presentation and conduct a lesson based on educational best practices. During all those experiences, I played and taught tennis. It was extremely beneficial to have two careers that simultaneously reinforced each other. Along the way I have come up with a formula for teaching that I call “Magic Seven.”

One. Most importantly I should know the primary learning modality of my student. There is a simple test for this. I ask the student to give me directions. If she first moves her hands, then I know she learns kinetically. If she gives me visual references, then she learns best by watching. If she gives the directions without moving her hands or giving visual clues, then she learns by listening.

It takes less than a minute to figure out but it is critical to good teaching.

Two. I only use positive references. Research indicates that people remember negative statements more than positive. They remember that you were negative, not that they learned anything, so I state everything in a

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The challenge of lesson plans is to give instruction in a variety of different ways so that the student stays engaged.

positive way. An example of a positive statement: “You can achieve more top spin by going low to high” versus the negative “Don’t hit down.”

Three. My vocabulary is specific.

I never say great shot, sweet, good stroke, good follow-through, and the rest of the words we tend to use. Instead I am specific with my comments.

For example, “That follow-through ended over your left shoulder just like I asked you. Well done.”

Four. I use behavioral objectives for my lesson plans. I teach what I can test and always test my students before moving on to the next thing. For example, if you want to work with the student on his inside-out forehand, then my lesson plan indicates he has to be able to do it 10 successful times in a row before moving on.

Five. My lesson plan is always based on the end result. What is it I want the students to remember when they leave my court? What is the most important message I am giving them today and is

my lesson plan reinforcing that idea?

This allows me to be clear on what I am doing for the whole hour.

Six. I only try to give one instruction at a time. It takes a human .02 second to process a thought and we process thoughts exponentially so that the more new ideas we give students, the less time to process, learn and remember. The challenge and why lesson plans are so important is that you have to be able give that one instruction in a variety of different ways so that the student stays engaged.

Seven. I always thank my student(s) for the opportunity to be with them, remind them what we worked on and give them a homework assignment.

My Magic Seven has a few basic assumptions built into all my lessons. I provide a safe environment, my equipment is new and clean, I dress and act professionally, and I model the strokes and behavior I want my students to follow. Following the Magic Seven has allowed me to find teaching an exciting, interesting and rewarding profession. h

Bob Anderman has had two careers spanning 60 years. He started teaching tennis in 1954 and teaching school in 1968. He taught high school and college and served as an educational consultant for such companies as the Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, and the Mortgage Bankers Association. He actively competes in tennis, and in 2011 and 2012 he was ranked No. 1 in doubles, and he teaches 30 hours a week in Maryland.

REGISTER YOUR PROGRAMS

GROW YOUR BUSINESS PLAY DAYS Host an event to introduce kids to competitive play and grow your programs.

JUNIOR TEAM TENNIS Flexible structures make it easy to start a team and get more kids playing.

ENTRY-LEVEL TOURNAMENTS Host an event to attract players and parents to your programs and facility.

FORMAT

Non-elimination formats such as self-rotating round robins, escalator, up and down the river, and musical courts.

8 and Under: All formats guarantee three matches; doubles is optional

Non-elimination formats: round robins and compass draws 8 and Under and 10 and Under: Minimum of four matches

10 and Under – 18 and Under: One doubles and one singles round each for a total of four rounds. Each player participates in a minimum of two matches

12 and Under - 18 and Under: Minimum three matches

RECOMMENDED AGE & GENDER FORMAT 8 and Under – 18 and Under: Coed or single gender

8 and Under and 10 and Under: Coed 12-18s: Single Gender Can merge age groups or allow new players to play down an age group

8 and Under – 10 and Under: Coed 12 and Under – 18 and Under: Single Gender Can merge age groups or genders if needed

SCORING FORMAT Designated number of points, shortened tiebreak games, One no-ad game, timed matches

10-minute timed matches or 7-point tiebreak games

10-15-minute timed matches, One tiebreak game or Two-out-of-three tiebreak games

Designated number of points or games, tiebreak games, timed matches

20-minute timed matches or One short set

20-minute timed matches, One short set or Two-out-of-three short sets for smaller draws

Tiebreak games, timed matches, designated number of games, one short set

30-minute timed matches or One regular set

30-minute timed matches, One regular set or Two-out-of-three short sets for smaller draws

Tiebreak games, timed matches, designated number of games, one short set

30-minute timed matches or One regular set

30-minute timed matches, One regular set or Two-out-of-three short sets for smaller draws

RULES AND REQUIREMENTS Flexible according to the skill level of players.

Results are not documented and participation is registered. Play Day hosts can register events and players can sign up to attend events on YouthTennis.com. No USTA membership required.

Follow guidelines for appropriate age groups and specifications. Rules may vary according to local community. Results are documented and participation is registered. USTA membership is optional depending on location.

Kids must play in an appropriate age group with approved balls, courts and specifications. Results are published, no ranking points awarded and participation is registered. USTA membership is optional depending on location.

© 2015 United Stated Tennis Association Incorporated. All rights reserved.

Career Development Exams, Upgrades & PTCA I

Conventions

Free Webinar

(5 credits)

(.5 APC credits)

May 14-16

Pacific Northwest Division Convention Tualatin, Ore.

June 3

The art of winning 2 p.m. EST

(4 credits for PTCA I segment) June 1-2

San Francisco

June 4-5

Tualatin, Ore.

June 6-7

Aurora, Ill.

June 6-7

Greenville, R.I.

June 7

San Antonio

June 8

Carlsbad, Calif.

June 11-12

Register at uspta.com/education>education calendar.

Mt. Kisco, N.Y.

June 11 Minneapolis June 13 June 13-14

Quogue, N.Y. Paradise Valley, Ariz.

June 13-14 Atlanta June 14

Baton Rouge, La.

June 20-21

The Villages, 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.

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

TAUT Workshops

June 13

(2 credits)

Bedford, N.H.

June 13

Wauwatosa, Wis.

June 20

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

June 4

Lake Oswego, Ore.

June 20

Columbia, Md.

June 6

Barrington, Ill.

June 20

Schunectady, N.Y.

June 6

Edina, Minn.

June 20

Portland, Maine

June 6

Mayodan, N.C.

June 20

Philadelphia

June 6

Midland, Mich.

June 26

San Francisco

June 6

West Palm Beach, Fla.

June 28

Westlake Village, Calif.

Go to www.coachyouthtennis.com for more workshops or to register.

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.

STRINGS FOR SUCCESS

PREMIER WARRIO princetennis.com

Member News • Nina Bramhall, USPTA, has been appointed the girls’ high school tennis coach for Martha's Vineyard Regional High School on Martha's Vineyard off the coast of Cape Cod. Nina has been a member of the USPTA for four years and is currently a teaching pro at Vineyard Youth Tennis where most of the team's players train throughout the year. "Nina will do a great job with these girls as she sees most of them throughout the year and has a great relationship with them," said longtime USPTA member Scott Smith and the Executive Director of Vineyard Youth Tennis.

• USPTA Elite Professional Robert Greene has been appointed to the USTA Strategic Planning Committee by USTA President Katrina Adams. He has also been elected to the position of Delegate by the board of the USTA New England Section. Greene is a former USPTA National “Pro of the Year” and serves as the General Manager of the Worcester Tennis Club.

• The Second Annual ACES for Warriors Tennis Tournament, sponsored by the St. Mary’s County Tennis Association, Opera-

tion Warrior Refuge, and Calvert Family Advocates, was held on March 15, as 48 players and 12 teams battled the wind and cold at Great Mills High School. Tournament Director and head boys’ tennis coach at St. Mary’s Ryken, Derek Sabedra, USPTA, reported that the 48 players exceeded the 32 players from last year. Both divisions had six teams and the World Team Tennis format was a huge success.

The event raised close to $1,935 with shirt sales still pending.

• The International Tennis Hall of Fame is pleased to announce John Austin, USPTA, recently joined the Hall of Fame Tennis Club as the Director of Tennis. Austin will draw on his extensive tennis background ranging from ATP Touring Professional to ATP Coach to director of tennis at some of the most prestigious resorts on the West Coast. In his new role, Austin will oversee all tennis programming at the Hall of Fame Tennis Club, a year-round facility that has a highly active membership of adult and junior players and is also open to the public for drop-in play. The club of-

fers an extensive tennis instruction program, social play, USTA leagues, and, in his new role, Austin will continue to build and grow the club's tennis programming.

• Oncourt Offcourt President Joe ­Dinoffer, USPTA Master Professional, recently announced the creation of the smallest quality portable tennis net in the world at only 6-feet wide. According to Dinoffer, “When you drive by neighborhoods, you see small soccer goals everywhere, in front yards, backyards, and driveways. Before now, portable tennis nets have been too big.” The 6-foot MultiTarget Net sets up in seconds and features the Oncourt Offcourt patented hinged frame system with telescopic poles to allow families to use it for tennis, badminton, and even lead-up volleyball. The net is available separately for as low as $79, and a “Driveway Tennis” package is available for $99 which includes two 21-inch Quick Start Racquets, 6 Quick Start Foam Balls, and a MultiTarget Net. For more information, visit OncourtOffcourt. com or call toll free in the United States 888-366-4711.

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

• USPTA Professional Andy Ventress and the South Suburban Tennis Academy recently held a free tennis clinic in Orland Park, Ill. The 38 participants were divided into groups based on age: 4-6, 7-10, 11-14, and adults. The event included Easter egg hunts for each group.

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.