Addvantage 2017 January

Inside this issue USPTA Offers Health and Life Insurance Options for Members – 47 National Board Applications to be Available Soon – 48 Wilson to Launch New USPTA Tennis Ball – 51 Departments: 42 CEO’s Message 52 Inside Coaching 44 President’s Message 56 Master Pro Corner 47 USPTA News 58 Career Development 51 Endorsee News 60 Member News Read more articles online at www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com On the cover: January 2017 is the deadline for the professional development requirement of 6 credits in a three-year period for certified members in good standing and under the age of 65. For more details, see Page 42.

CEO’s Message

A New Day for USPTA

By John Embree

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an. 2, 2017, will go down in the history of the USPTA as a milestone.

For the first time in our history, all U.S.-based certified members in good standing and under the age of 65 will have had to complete the professional development requirement of 6 credits in a three-year period by that day. For those of you who completed the required 12 hours of education and development, CONGRATULATIONS! Your commitment to following our mission of “elevating the standards” of our profession will make us stronger and more credible in the industry.

Back in mid to late 2013, the USPTA Board, along with the USTA and PTR, agreed to a common goal of elevating the standards of the tennisteaching community in general. These three organizations were universally in sync with the concept of requiring a minimal level of education to further raise the abilities of professionals so that the consumer experience would be more positive. When every other industry requires continuous training in order to stay employed or to keep their certification, we in tennis mutually believed that we had to make a statement to the industry: we would work to make each and every member better at what they do.

At the same time, we knew that the implementation of this requirement would not come without its challenges.

Many people did not believe that we would stick to our guns, remembering what occurred back in the 1990s when the USPTA folded under the pressure of only having 60 percent compliance for continuing education. At that time, the USPTA feared the revenue loss it would experience while also fearing that members would leave and join another competitive organization that did not subscribe to the same requirements.

There are others who do not believe

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that continuing education is necessary since they have been successful in their jobs for many years: why should they have to learn anything new? Some even suggest that we, as a non-profit trade association, cannot mandate anything to anyone; that this is outside our charter. Many are content and satisfied with their knowledge, thinking that passing a test decades ago is enough to keep them on the cutting edge today.

We are excited about the possibilities of an engaged group of tennis-teaching professionals who all truly care about raising the bar and being better at what we do.

For those of you who subscribe to any of these notions, I can promise you that the Board and Executive Committee are absolutely steadfast in their resolve to go forward with this vision, even with the prospect of a projected loss of members and subsequent revenue. Yet, there is no equivocation from the leadership of the USPTA. As President Chuck Gill has stated often, “we cannot let the financial impact of this action deter us from doing what is right in the long run.”

On January 2, if you happen to be one of those individuals who have no credits or some credits but not all 6, your membership will be suspended and you will no longer be eligible for any USPTA benefits, period. If you procrastinated or were unable to complete this in the required time, you still have an opportunity to complete your professional development. Between January 2 and June 30, 2017, you have six months to do any combination of the following: * Attend a division conference. * Go to coachyouthtennis.com or tennisresources.com to watch the online courses

* Submit to our education department a syllabus of training or education that you may have received outside of tennis that can count toward this requirement.

If you accomplish this goal, your membership status will change from suspended to active (as long as you pay your dues for 2017) but you will only have 2 ½ years to complete another 12 hours or 6 credits by the end of 2019.

In this, the last year of this threeyear cycle, we will have sent out an email at the end of each quarter to those who have not complied. In addition, there have been postcards and letters sent by regular mail as well as phone blasts advising every person of their status and encouraging them to complete this endeavor. Suffice it to say, no one who is an active USPTA member can say that they were not aware of this requirement. The communication has been constant.

If June 30 rolls around and a member has yet to fulfill his/her obligation, their membership will be dropped altogether. Once that happens, they will need to go through the process of re-instating and paying the requisite penalties in order to get back in along with proof of the professional development compliance.

Moving forward, we are excited about the possibilities of an engaged group of tennis-teaching professionals who all truly care about raising the bar and being better at what we do. Again, thanks and congratulations to the vast majority of our members who share our vision. We are stronger and more credible in the tennis industry as a group of professionals who do not simply pay “lip service” on the importance of being better professionals ... but truly “walk the walk!” h

President’s Message

Happy New Year!

By Chuck Gill

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appy New Year to all! I wish a happy and prosperous 2017 to each of you in our USPTA family. First, congratulations to all of you who fulfilled your professional development requirements for the past three-year cycle. By engaging in our education, you have demonstrated a commitment to raising the bar, and have shown why USPTA is again leading the way in providing relevant ways for our pros to be better at what we do! As of press time, more than 85 percent of our membership had fulfilled or were on their way to completing this requirement, our remaining division workshops were showing great sign-ups, and courses online were being utilized at a record pace. In the event that you have not completed your professional development requirements, please visit coachyouthtennis.com or log into tennisresources.com for free online courses. By watching these courses for credit you will remain a member in good standing and maintain your benefits.

Each New Year gives us an opportunity to reflect on the past, and optimistically look ahead to the future.

For the coming year, I would like to share a few of my “tennis resolutions” for 2017: • Be a better professional – Much of the last three to four years, my “club job” at The Club at Ibis has required me to spend more hours off court as a part of our $36 million renovation project. Having completed this project, I can now turn my attention back to being on court more, and doing more of what I have loved doing

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the previous 30-plus years, which is teaching tennis! I am excited about getting back into the swing of team practices and lessons ... and I realize that my drills and techniques need to be current for my students. I have a personal goal of “Get 6 Every 6,” meaning that I am going to try to dedicate at least 12 hours every six months learning something new.

While it may seem like a lot of edu-

help USTA, CMAA and other associations. It gives me a much better perspective on my own sport, as well as the overall club business and business in general. As I get older, I find that when I step outside my normal realm of expertise, it gives me a totally new look at issues and challenges. The sports landscape is rapidly changing so learn to “get comfortable being uncomfortable.”

It is always wise to take stock in your personal and business life on a frequent basis, but, it should be done at least yearly. The key is following through on some of the commitments that you set out to accomplish. cation (and certainly more than is currently required), it is only two hours a month, or roughly a half hour a week on tennisresources. com. Who says an old dog can’t learn new tricks?

• Play more tennis – Last year in my travels, I tried to carve out an hour or so at each conference to play tennis when I could ... and always found willing hitting partners like John Embree, Lane Evans and Bill Mountford! I’m constantly reminded of why I started in this business – I really like to play TENNIS! This year I resolve to stretch more, take better care of myself, and find a way to improve my own game as I turn 60. A very smart friend told me that senior tennis is the only sport where every five years you move a bit better and your serve gets a bit bigger!

• Diversify my education – While I love USPTA, I look forward to more conferences and volunteering to

• Balance work and play – Most of us have busy lives and mine is no exception. I love to volunteer, but I need to balance everything better. In 2016, I made some progress.

I found some “down time” for a few trips with the family. I spent more afternoons playing tennis or golf with some buddies, and was (for the most part) able to commit one day a week to spend some time away from the busy work schedule.

We simply are not made or “wired” to run at fast speeds forever. 2017 will be the year that I keep better balance between work, volunteering, friends and family.

It is always wise to take stock in your personal and business life on a frequent basis, but it should be done at least yearly. The key is following through on some of the commitments that you set out to accomplish.

I certainly intend to do so.

Again, I wish everyone the best for 2017, and hope that this year is great both on and off court! h

USPTA News

USPTA Offers Health and Life Insurance Options for Members

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he USPTA has partnered with SelectQuote to provide exclusive healthcare, Medicare and life insurance resources for USPTA-certified Professional members.

As a strong and well-respected brand, SelectQuote has provided coverage for more than 1 million customers and more than 1.5 million policies.

The company represents more than 60 of A.M. Best’s “A” rated insurance carriers, and has offered consumers an unbiased comparison shopping experience to purchase life and Medicare supplement insurance at competitive rates since they were founded in 1985.

“Our partnership with USPTA will give members an opportunity to save time and money shopping the SelectQuote insurance exchanges for their pre-65 health care, Medicare and life insurance. SelectQuote looks forward to assisting the membership with these important financial decisions,”

said SelectQuote Vice President Paul Gregory.

SelectQuote has a strong ability to meet customer needs for an insurance product that is complementary to the USPTA’s core values. “With the complexities of ACA and the changes to come, as well as the need to provide quality health care options for those members who seek medical coverage for themselves and their families, it’s won-

derful to affiliate with one of the leaders in its space,” said USPTA CEO John Embree. “The fact that SelectQuote will also provide our members life insurance programs as well, we are fortunate to have an affiliation with this company.”

With a projected 10,000 people turning 65 every day from 2011 through 2030, SelectQuote can help individuals find the best plan for the best price.

Healthcare expenses can consume 12 to 15 percent of elder Americans’ income.

With SelectQuote, USPTA members 65 and older can compare Medicare plans and save up to $840 per year.

As the demand for health and life insurance continues to rapidly grow, the USPTA and SelectQuote will work together to inform and provide you with the best options, prices and coverage that meets your needs.

For more information, go to uspta. com/benefits and click on the Insurance, Healthcare and Retirement tabs. h

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USPTA News

National Board Applications to be Available Soon

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he USPTA Nominating Committee will be seeking candidates who are interested in serving on the USPTA National Board of Directors for the 2018-2019 term. Information and the application will be emailed to eligible members in January.

The application deadline is March 1, and phone interviews will be conducted with qualified nominees. The top candidates will then be offered a live interview during the Executive Committee in late April.

A nominating slate will be presented to the membership by June 15, and any challenges to the slate must be submitted by Aug. 1. If an election is needed, it will be held in late August so that results can be announced at the World Conference in October.

Please note that only members in good standing with a certification level of Elite Pro or higher are eligible to apply. Any candidates failing to meet these criteria will not be considered. h

2016-2017 National Board

Endorsee News

Wilson to Launch New USPTA Tennis Ball

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ilson Racquet Sports, the Official Equipment Sponsor for the USPTA, is releasing a new tennis ball, the Wilson Ultra USPTA All Court.

Scheduled to be launched Feb. 1, 2017, the new Wilson Ultra USPTA ball has three major technological advancements:

1. A thicker, tighter-weave felt for enhanced durability, engineered for all court surfaces 2. A new Hi-Visibility felt for better ball tracking 3. New logo application for longer wear

“We at Wilson are absolutely thrilled to once again be the Official Equipment Sponsor of the USPTA,” said Tim Buwick, Wilson’s U.S. Promotions Director for Racquet Sports. “Our relationship with the USPTA and John Embree spans several decades. It feels like we are back home again.”

To order the new Wilson Ultra USPTA All Court ball, contact your territory manager. A list of territory managers and regions can be found at uspta.com/wilson. h

“We at Wilson are absolutely thrilled to once again be The Official Equipment Sponsor of the USPTA.” Buwick continued, “Wilson is also excited to launch a new ball that has been in development for many months.

We are confident that USPTA pros are really going to love the new Wilson Ultra USPTA ball, with its greater durability on all court surfaces. It also has a new Hi-Visibility felt, which you will begin to see when we begin shipping this product to you in February (pun intended).”

USPTA CEO John Embree play tested the new ball. “I played with the new Wilson Ultra USPTA All Court ball on a damp clay court on a very hot and humid day,” he said. “After one hour of play, the felt wear was very consistent and there was no fluffing. It still looked new!

“I was very impressed with this ball and have no concerns about how it will play on a hard court considering how well it played under extreme conditions on clay.”

The following tennis ball booking program is available through March 31, 2017.

• All USPTA Pros are pre-approved for BASE pricing • USPTA Pros purchasing $5,000 or more annually in Wilson products are approved for 17TB Pricing

Item Number 2017 Description WRT109500

BASE Pricing

Wilson Ultra USPTA All Court $65.28

Who is eligible to participate?

• Must be a current USPTA member

17TB Pricing

CAN MAP

CASE MAP

$60.00

$3.99

$79.99

Details: • Normal account terms apply

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Inside Coaching

Coaching Nine Valuable Life Lessons from Tennis

By David F. Berens, USPTA

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oaching. What exactly is coaching? Patterns on a chalkboard? The X’s and O’s of plays and formations run ad nauseam in practice until they become second nature to the athletes on a team? Recruiting of individuals to your team? It is all of these and more.

I have been practicing my own coaching art for more than 16 years and have boiled down my technique to practicing five basic strategies – that’s it, just five. However, during those years, I came to realize that I was missing a gigantic portion of what my students needed. The mental and psychological pieces of the game of tennis became a monumental presence, overshadowing everything else I was teaching. The great baseball coaching legend, Yogi Berra, is credited as saying, “Baseball is 90 percent mental and the other half is physical.” I began to make notes and address the overlying arc of the mind and how it affected my students. Nine themes began to reoccur in such strong ways that I knew these themes were universal. During my lessons, I would not only address how and when certain strategies and techniques should be used, but how each strategy and technique would affect my players and their opponents.

These themes are simple. However, you might think them so universal that you don’t give them much attention when coaching your players. I would argue that these are just as important as the X’s and O’s, the patterns of play, and the techniques of your athletes. Teaching them is essential.

1) Recognize Your Situation: It is very easy for an athlete or team to perceive a situation during a game in a negative or positive light. But is that perception accurate? Are recent or past events clouding their notion of whether they have the advantage

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The mental and psychological pieces of the game of tennis ... are just as important as the X’s and O’s, the patterns of play, and the techniques of your athletes.

Teaching them is essential.

or if they are at a disadvantage? In tennis, I like to point to the score of deuce and ask, “How do you feel about that score?” Most tennis players will report that it is a fairly neutral situation – an even score. Then I ask them, what if you were up 40-love and your opponent had come back to tie the game at deuce. Or what if you were down love-40 and you came back to tie it up. Both very different perceptions of the same score. It is still deuce and it is important that athletes are able to deal with that situation in a way that allows them to forget the negative aspects, accentuate the positive, and use the patterns and strategies that they’ve been coached to use in that situation.

2) Make a Plan: Once you recognize your situation for what it truly is, you need a road map. Playing a game without one is essentially playing a game of chance. You’re hoping to get lucky.

This is commonly expressed during a game in phrases like, “We have to win this point.” Or one of my favor-

ites, “Come on, Dave, you’ve got this.”

These things are unactionable. I cannot take either of those and do anything with them … thus I will be even more anxious and very likely blow it!

The alternative is to actually come up with a strategy, and don’t get complicated. To make it complex makes it harder to pull off under pressure.

3) Be Consistent: When I learned tennis, my coach was a backboard. I quickly taught myself the control it would take to keep the shots rebounding off the wall at the right pace so that I could return them. Again and again and again. Many of the players I work with have never hit against a wall … and it’s readily apparent when they aren’t able to rally more than three balls in a row. So, what does consistency on the tennis court mean?

Simply, you are better than the average player if you can make three shots with the same speed, trajectory and target. Three shots … that’s all it takes.

This is true of any sport. The things it takes to win are often boring and DO

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NOT win every point. Often, athletes will execute a strategy or technique until it fails once and then they abandon it. It is important to help them understand that consistency works over time, is never flashy, and wins a higher percentage of the points played.

4) Support System: Putting a player on an island is a bad idea. The athlete needs to understand you are there for them. Champions often have a long list of people who have helped them and you always hear about it when they win. If you’ve ever seen a professional tennis player win a Grand Slam tournament, the first thing they do after they shake their opponent’s hand is head up into the crowd to his box. All of their support system is represented there, from parents to coaches to friends. And that athlete knows how important they were to his journey. Letting a player know that you are a part of their system will make them indebted to you when they are playing their game 5) Just Deal With It: As a coach, and probably a current or former player, you know that there are things that happen in a game that are completely unexpected. If players have practiced these situations, they will easily deal with it and then move on. If, on the other hand, they have not, you will hear excuses. “I can’t hit a shot from there.” “That guy is faster than me.” “She has a killer slice backhand.” Ok, I know that, you know that, we all know that. Buckle up and deal with it. See No. 2 – make a plan and Just Deal With It. Players need to know that you have put them into every possible situation so that they will be able to respond when the bizarre, unexplainable and difficult arise in their matches.

6) No Looking Back: On the tennis court, I like to tell my students that it does absolutely no good to say, “That shot stunk,” or “I should’ve done this,” or worse, “I can’t even make a forehand today.” This is all negative, past-looking visualization that reinforces the poor result. Our minds are very interesting in that they see those actual errors and the visualized errors as the same. Thus,

you are repeating mistakes over and over again, even though on court, they only happened once. We see evidence of this when a player loses a big point with a poor shot or poor strategy and then loses the next three points still reliving the point they lost in their mind.

I encourage players who’ve made an error to turn their negative emotion from replaying the poor shot in their minds to picturing and even saying out loud, “Next time I will do this.” It forces us to see the shot we want to make and hear ourselves confirm it.

Instead of several negative replays of the error in our mind, we get a few positive pictures of how we do want to play the point.

7) Dealing With Setbacks: Athletes see setbacks in every single match they play. In tennis we may get up in the set a few games and suddenly the other team manages to fight back.

We win the first set, only to lose the second set. Coaching an athlete to deal with these is again an examination of perception.

Most journeys that are worth taking have ups and downs. The best roller coasters have lots of hills and twists and turns. We love summer, but without winter, would the warmer season be as nice? Athletes must understand that a setback is part of a larger picture; part of the journey, not the end.

If you’re not ok with the unexpected, you probably won’t like sports in general. Often, the unexpected is what makes our sport so enjoyable. Take a step back from this bump in the road, examine where you are going, and find a way around it. Circle back to your plan and move on.

8) Momentum: There’s a very interesting phenomenon at work in every winner’s life called momentum. It has been referred to as different things, from being in the zone to the Midas touch. Everything this winner touches

turns to gold. I once watched Michael Jordan make free throws with his eyes closed! But how do we achieve this? Can we make this happen on purpose? The answer is yes, but the actions to take are quite boring.

The lessons we all learn in our bike riding years are that you push the pedals to move and on a hill, if you stop, it’s really hard to get moving again! It’s pretty easy to ride up a hill if you just keep pushing the pedals one at a time and don’t ever stop. But that’s difficult if you look up at the top of that hill and see how far up it is. Many long and arduous tasks are often failed before they begin because the end seems too far away.

Though we must focus on where we are going, achieving success often comes from breaking down our plan into small, actionable pieces that move us closer to our goals. In a tennis match, it might look something like this: I want to win the Australian Open. A daunting task indeed!

Simplified, it might look more like this: I must win seven matches. To do that, I must win my first match.

To do that, I must win the first set.

To do that, I must win the first game.

To do that, I must win the first point.

To do that, I must hit a better first shot. We’ve boiled down winning a Grand Slam to hitting a better first shot – over and over and over again.

9) Learning: A champion must be willing to learn. Andre Agassi learned that image wasn’t everything.

Federer learned that outdated technology wasn’t helping him win. Tiger Woods changed his swing at the height of his career to better himself.

Learning is the process you need to keep your momentum going, to bounce back from rock bottom, to experience a fuller, more rewarding life and have success for ourselves and our athletes. The mind is a powerful tool that requires sharpening. h

David F. Berens has been a certified USPTA Elite Tennis Professional since 2001. His experience in tennis has taken him from city parks to exclusive resorts and island getaways. Today he calls Knoxville, Tenn., home. He has also been a writer most of his life and went to Carson-Newman College and East Tennessee State University to obtain his English Literature degree. Berens has authored two books, “Dragon Reign: Book 1 of The One Prophecy,” and “BREAK POINT: 9 Life Lessons from the Tennis Court – Taking You from your own Break Point to a New Beginning with Specific Life Hacks from a Tennis Coach’s Perspective.” You can follow him at www.BecomingAChampion.info.

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Inside Coaching

Getting Philosophical

By Bert Poole, USPTA

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have been coaching college tennis for the past three years and it has been the most rewarding and joyful endeavor of my professional life. Working with college age studentathletes has been a great challenge and I truly love it. More importantly, my coaching experience has been very meaningful to me as I strive to instill the values in our players that will serve them well throughout their collegiate careers and for the rest of their lives.

It’s quite a responsibility and it is the primary reason that I have decided to clearly define my personal coaching philosophy that will help guide me through the challenges ahead.

Molding a group of individuals into a “team” and inspiring them to do their best is a wonderful calling.

My Coaching Philosophy Academics First It cannot be overstated that the most important aspect of a student-athlete’s career is academics. Putting academics first may seem obvious, but given a coach’s day-to-day responsibilities and the competitive environment in which we work, it can be very easy to lose sight of this. I try very hard to put this idea at the forefront of my thinking each day.

That said, prioritizing academics should not diminish the players’ commitment to their team and it is my responsibility to clearly communicate what is expected of them both academically and athletically.

Establish a “Culture of Excellence” I don’t consider the phrase “a culture of excellence” some fancy slogan. I believe that it is essential to the long-term success of a program and I work hard to continually develop and define it. Elements of this culture are excellence in the classroom, giving your best effort in practice, and having an on-court mental toughness that emphasizes winning “the right way,” which is displaying an intense fighting spirit while being respectful of your opponents, officials and opposing coaches. This culture also applies to me and anyone under my supervision. I believe that people recognize a culture of excellence when

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they see it, and are attracted to something they can be proud of … a team whose players excel in the classroom and have a “healthy attitude toward competition.”

Coaching Tenets • Be Patient, Be Fair, Be Respectful and Be Consistent – By demonstrating these qualities, trust develops as lines of communication open and misunderstandings are minimized.

• Create a Vision – Players need a vision of what they can become and this, in turn, becomes a source of motivation for them. Taking the longer view enables our players to keep things in their proper perspective, and not get too high or too low during their journey.

• Communicate Optimism – A good coach believes in his players and his players believe in him. “Belief” can move mountains.

• Focus on the Process, Not the Outcome – I go to great efforts to explain the distinction between the two to our players. As a coach, my primary efforts are focused on player development and team building, and experience has taught me that a fierce devotion to a process will produce the desired outcome over time.

• See the Good in People – The rewards of developing this habit are too numerous to list and profoundly affect the coach/player relationship ... both in the short term and down the road.

Summing Up This coaching philosophy has been shaped by my experiences as a lifelong teacher and college coach. Molding a group of individuals into a “team” and inspiring them to do their best is a wonderful calling, and even with all its challenges there is nothing I’d rather do.

I do my best to stay true to my coaching philosophy ideals every day, and hopefully our players will benefit from it to some degree. John Wooden, the great UCLA basketball coach once said, “It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.” Yep, I can relate to that … but it’s sure good to know that I’m not the only one! h Bert Poole is the Assistant Men’s & Women’s Tennis Coach for the University of Mount Olive. He was named the ITA Southeast Regional Assistant Coach of the Year for 2015. He is a USPTA Certified Elite Professional, USPTA Specialist in Competitive Player Development, USTA Certified High Performance Coach, and USTA Certified Sport Science Coach.

Inside Coaching

Handicapping Makes all Your Players Better

By Gerry Berkheimer, USPTA

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andicapping in tennis drills and games is to give the lesser player one or more advantages in order to try and equalize his chances of success with the better player. Conversely, handicapping creates a more difficult but doable challenge to the higher player. It is a more level playing field and handicapping gives the lesser player a chance to win that he would not have otherwise. This makes the better player focus more on his mission of accuracy on the court and gives inspiration to the underdog that he truly has the opportunity to win the drill or game with a little effort.

I’m sure many of you may already use the scoring handicaps of giving one player an up or down 15-0, 30-0, or even 40-0 every game, giving one player 1-4 games up when starting the set, having one serve to balance the competition, opening up the alleys for the lesser player, or a combination of these, and

they are all good starter handicapping options.

Several other player handicaps that I have found to be as effective are: allowing one player to hit the ball in the backcourt only; hitting the right or left side of the entire singles court; and stroking every ball to the back quarter of the court on the deuce or ad side – this is dividing the backcourt in half and only hitting one side. This one will test your best players; it makes them focus on their spin, speed, height, and finding the designated target area quickly in order to win the game.

In one game for the kids where I include all levels at the end of the lesson, I gave the youngest or least experienced players the entire court to hit to on the other side against the most advanced players; that’s inside or outside the lines of the court as long as the ball did not hit the side or back fences in the air first. This is a vast amount of court to cover for the advanced player Handicapping is one of the best tools a teaching professional has to push both the stronger and weaker players to new heights in their games.

and he had to read the ball direction extremely quickly to retrieve the ball, then make such a good shot back to the lesser player’s singles court. Often, I would use the above handicaps for the advanced player during this drill so that he would have to hit the ball back into the backcourt area only, the right or left side of the singles court, or the back quarter deuce or ad quadrant. I found pinpointing a difficult target area under scoring pressure in a game like this had the kids improving much faster when locating their targets in tournament match play.

Additionally, I use the handicapping system for equally-talented players to push them harder to focus and find their normal target areas; then, when they do have to play equals again, it is much easier as the handicaps have been lifted and they feel more relaxed in hitting their designated spots.

Finally, one of my favorite handicapping techniques is to give the higher player a different racquet for several sets. Whether a player breaks strings during the match or simply doesn’t have enough racquets, there will come a time when they have to use an unfamiliar one. Hitting with different racquets in practice will mentally prepare them for that situation when it occurs and they will concentrate more on the immediate match than the replacement racquet.

I consider handicapping one of the best tools a teaching professional has to push both the stronger and weaker players to new heights in their games. h Gerry Berkheimer has been a USPTA member for more than 30 years. As a coach, he worked with more than 15 top 300 players in the world and one top 30 player. Berkheimer is in his 21st year as the tennis director at The Jungle Club in Vero Beach, Fla. To contact Berkheimer regarding the article, call 772-321-7800.

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Master Pro Corner

Prolong Your Career

By Ian Griffin, USPTA Master Professional

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he USPTA is working hard to make tennis a sustainable lifelong profession. The U30 initiative along with the partnerships in insurance and retirement address both ends of the career ladder timeline.

As a lifer, I’ve at one time or another practiced every one of the following:

Take Time Off There are huge demands on a professional’s time and body. Perhaps even greater are the demands on that professional’s self: the demands of people if you’re coaching or even if you’re not.

Those people can never be overlooked – they’re your clientele, your supporters, your fans. They may not be as important as they think they are, but that’s exactly the point: everyone has to be made to feel number one.

But you need to replenish, too, to help you to stay “up.” Most of us can afford two to four weeks. You may love to travel or sit and do nothing. Fishing is ideal because it poses a different challenge and it can relax you at the same time. You might like something tennis-related, as long as you’re not working, such as a trip to Wimbledon or the Open if you can swing it. Or maybe even better, to a River Oaks or Newport-type event where the tennis is as important as “The Show.”

The low-key atmosphere and proximity to the players may remind you of tournaments the way they used to be.

Take Care of Your Body One of the most frustrating things about standing all day as a teaching professional is how you end your day feeling exhausted – when you’ve done nothing that actually counts as physical conditioning! But even if you’re restricted to hardcourts, you can do little things that make it easier on the body: thick socks and orthotics, liberal uses of massages/ saunas/muscle creams, and avoiding stop-start impact running when you can.

By all means, watch your weight and diet, and run or bicycle for cardio training, but take preventative measures, too.

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Pursue an Outside Interest/ Develop an Extra Source of Income Some work lends itself to part-time.

There’s the old standby of stringing racquets at home; maybe you’re able to work as a DJ; or my personal favorite, investing in real estate. You need an outside interest to relax the mind, and an investment provides the security that a depleting asset – the body – cannot. But mostly these can help to define you as something besides being “just a tennis professional.” If you are your job, and then something goes wrong, then you are nothing. There will be the inevitable low time, low not only for your bank account, but for your spirit. Your “friends” on the committee already have spent X years telling you how high to jump; now they think it’s time for a change. Having something extra can buoy your spirits and prevent you from compounding a low time with making a wrong decision about what to do next.

Remember Your Roots If your college or high school is close by, volunteer your time as a fundraiser, assistant coach or supervisor.

It doesn’t even need to be for tennis; there likely is a committee that can use your help. Its members will appreciate your perspective; the other graduates probably are not athletic professionals.

For your part, there’s ample evidence that pro bono work is good for the soul. Even more, you’ll profit just by being in touch with the people who were there then, helping to make you the person you are now.

Attend Conferences: USPTA/USTA/etc.

They all include some mix of seminars, food and playing; but most of all, they include friends. More than your clients or even a player you’re close to, the conference attendees are your peers and your real friends, people who’ve experienced the same ups and downs.

After 20 years, you’ll be talking with people you once wouldn’t have given the time of day, because there were no

shared interests. And after 10 more years, you’ll be seeking out those same people because you want to enjoy them in the present.

Most of All, Stay on the Court – A Little “I’ve been a tennis-teaching professional for almost 20 years and intend to be known as such for the rest of my life. An important question I always ask in selecting tennis pros with long-term potential is, ‘Do you want to be punching balls at age 45?’ … To me the best answer is ‘I hope to always keep my hand in it.’ This person believes in the product and probably gets energized and nourished from enhancing people’s lifestyles. This person is probably a good teacher and people developer. His or her answer reveals a satisfaction derived from being a successful teacher.” ~ Spike Gonzales, From “Tennis Pro to Manager,” ADDvantage, December 1989 Spike’s remarks are a reminder that most of us came into the tennis business as on-court teachers for the sheer joy of showing someone how to do something.

It can be almost better than doing it ourselves. The most successful people carry this enthusiasm over into their other pursuits in the industry.

Without a doubt, you have your own devices to keep your work fresh and sustainable. All these suggestions aren’t to replace tennis, they’re to supplement it, not ways to get out, but to stay in longer.

If you began teaching during the boom, you may remember that you couldn’t believe that people actually would pay you to do something that you love. Tennis, and teaching tennis, were our passion before they became our profession; we’ll last longer at the latter if we never lose the former. h Ian Griffin graduated from the University of Toronto Law School in 1974, where he played varsity tennis and squash. He has operated his own Beaumont-based academy for more than 35 years, and wrote the chapter “Negotiating a Contract for Yourself” for the “USPTA Guide to Municipal Operations.” He is USTA Sport Science Level II certified; directed the City of Beaumont’s pre-NJTL parks program, 1980-94; and was active in the USTA Player Development Program from its inception.

Career Development Exams, Upgrades Cardio Tennis & PTCA I

Conferences/ Activities

(4 credits for PTCA I segment)

(Division Conferences – 6 credits)

Feb. 11

Jan. 13-14

Houston*

Jan. 14-15

Boca Raton, Fla.

Jan. 16 Feb. 9-10 Feb. 12 Feb. 13-14 Feb. 17

Feb. 23 Feb. 25-26

Jan. 20

Southern California Convention Los Angeles

Jan. 27

Southwest Division Convention Phoenix

Cardio Tennis Training Course Level 1 Windyke Country Club, Memphis, Tenn.

Jan. 27

Northern Division Convention Fridley, Minn.

Feb. 3

Midwest Division Convention Troy, Mich.

Viora, Ill. Centennial, Colo.

Hilton Head Island, S.C. Orlando, Fla. Palo Alto, Calif.

Feb. 17-18 Feb. 20

Cardio Tennis Training Course Level 1 & 2 Van Der Meer Shipyard Resort, Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Feb. 19

Vienna, Va.

Jan. 20-21

Feb. 19

Feb. 20

Houston* Vienna, Va. Prairie Village, Kan. Horseshoe Bay, Texas

* 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.

Cardio Tennis Training Course Level 1 Griffin Club, Los Angeles

Cardio Tennis Training Course Level 2 Van Der Meer Shipyard Resort, Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Cardio Tennis Training Course Level 1 Crooked Creek Country Club, Alpharetta, Ga.

Intermountain Division Convention Centennial, Colo.

Feb. 17

Northern California Convention Stanford, Calif.

Feb. 23

Texas Division Convention Horseshoe Bay, Texas

March 17

April 2

Cardio Tennis Training Course Level 1 Wayside Athletic Club, Marlborough, Mass.

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.

Coach Youth Tennis Workshop

Feb. 11

Webinars (.5 credits)

Watch all recorded webinars at tennisresources.com.

For more information visit uspta.com/Education.

Please visit www.cardiotennistraining.com to register.

(2 credits) Jan. 28

Nogales, Ariz.

For more workshops, visit coachyouthtennis.com.

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

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.

Member News • Bob Love, USPTA Master Professional, celebrated the week of his 76th birthday by sharing his tennis knowledge in two different places. Oct. 10-11, Bob directed a workshop for 23 coaches at the El Sawy Tennis Academy in Alexandria, Egypt, and then returned to host a USTA Tennis Block Party in Munfordville, Ky., on Saturday, Oct. 15.

• On Oct. 1, 2016, a fundraiser was held for the “Friends of Vicki Dangelmayer,” a tennis member of the Bass Rocks Golf Club and the Manchester Athletic Club. Dangelmayer had a fall last November and suffered a broken neck. She had surgery, was in two rehab and therapy facilities, and is now home improving slowly. Avis Murray, USPTA and PTR member, organized a fundraising committee consisting of Ruth Liebermann, Joanne Hobbs, Chicki Hollett, Trish Francis and General Manager of Bass Rocks Golf Club, Peter Hood. Ruth Liebermann, Vicki Dangelmayer The event, which comprised of a tennis round robin, social and Vicki’s granddaughter. cocktail party, raffle and a silent auction as well as one live auction item donated at the last minute, raised $27,000.

Dangelmayer attended the event that evening and was overwhelmed by the support and caring and generous contributions made in her behalf.

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.

• Derek Sabedra , USPTA, was named the Maryland State High School Tennis District IV Representative for the 2016-2017 academic school year. The District IV region encompasses all high schools in the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference (SMAC).

• The Riviera Tennis Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif., welcomed Mary Pat Faley as their new director of tennis last August. Faley is a successful tennis teacher, entrepreneur, keynote speaker and published author. Her energy and programming for a diverse group of members is recognized throughout Southern California. In addition to her 25-year USPTA membership, she is the winner of the Southern California 2011 USPTA Tennis Pro of the Year, 2010 USPTA California Pro of the Year, and the 2009 USPTA California District 2 Pro of the Year.

NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS President First Vice President

Chuck Gill Gary Trost

Vice Presidents

Alan Cutler Feisal Hassan Ken McAllister Jack Michalko Diane Selke

TM

Past President CEO Legal Counsel

Tom McGraw 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. 2016. All rights reserved.

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

TI MAG AD pg.indd 2

5/26/16 12:53 PM

(FRA)

*Except in Japan

TEAM BABOLAT PRO PLAYERS MAY PLAY WITH A CUSTOMIZED OR DIFFERENT MODEL THAN THE EQUIPMENT DEPICTED.

benoite pair

BABOLAT - OFFICIAL TENNIS RACKETS, SHOES*, PERFORMANCE APPAREL, BAGS AND ACCESSORIES OF THE CHAMPIONSHIPS, WIMBLEDON