Addvantage 2017 March

Inside this issue Tennis and Fitness go Hand in Hand – 42 Continuing Education is a NeverEnding Journey – 44 Diagnose, Then Cure: Doing Your Best for Your Students – 56 Departments: 42 CEO’s Message 52 Beyond the Court 44 Vice President’s Message 56 Master Pro Corner 46 USPTA News 58 Career Development 49 Endorsee News 60 Member News Read more articles online at www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com On the cover: Tennis on Campus should be part of our future. See Page 52.

CEO’s Message

Tennis and Fitness go Hand in Hand

By John Embree

T

o be a good tennis player, you have to be in good shape. And tennis is a great way to maintain your physical fitness. In 2008, USPTA launched a public relations initiative, Tennis – for the health of it!, to identify USPTA and its members as the means through which the public could receive the many health benefits from tennis. While this is no longer an active program for us, it doesn’t diminish the fact that tennis and fitness have always gone hand in hand.

The American College of Sports Medicine has just released its 11th annual survey of worldwide fitness trends. I am going to highlight a few of the top 20 that I believe work well with tennis, in hopes that you can incorporate some of these trends into your tennis programs and continue to grow your business. To view the full list, go to bit.ly/2017acsmtrends.

No. 1 – Wearable technology, such as activity trackers, heart rate monitors and smart watches. This is mainstream now, but Cardio Tennis trainers have been using them for years. If you aren’t a certified Cardio Tennis trainer, consider adding this to your repertoire and offering a program at your facility.

Encourage your students to track their steps and monitor their heart rate as they practice and play.

No. 3 – High-intensity interval training. This is ideal for tennis players as it involves short bursts of high-intensity exercise followed by a short period of recovery. Training should be done by

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a professional as there can be an increased risk of injury. Again Cardio Tennis is a good program for this, or work with a fitness professional at your facility or in your local area to provide nontennis training for your students.

No. 4 – Educated, certified and experienced fitness professionals. In golf, the Titleist Performance Institute was created several years ago to certify golf professionals, fitness providers and the medical community to advance the fitness levels of the golf population. The USPTA is partnering with TPI for a tennis-specific certification program that will link tennis-teaching professionals with local fitness and medical experts to help tennis playing consumers prevent injuries, stay on the court more and improve performance. You can expect to hear more about this new and exciting initiative later on this year.

No. 6 – Group training. As Paul MacDonald wrote in the February issue of our magazine, group lessons are a better use of club resources than private lessons (The Key Principles to Operating a Profitable Tennis Program). Be motivational, make your lessons fun, and when necessary, design your programs for players of different ability levels.

No. 7 – Exercise is Medicine®. This is a global health initiative managed by the ACSM that is focused on encouraging primary care physicians and other health care providers to include physical activity when designing treatment plans for patients. Talk to local doctors,

especially those who are club members or tennis clients, about the health benefits of tennis (see No. 10) and encourage them to “prescribe” tennis to their patients.

No. 10 – Exercise and weight loss.

As recently shown by the British Journal of Sports Medicine, tennis players have a 56 percent lower risk of death from heart disease and stroke, and a 47 percent lower risk of death from any cause. In addition, competitive tennis burns more calories than aerobics or cycling, according to studies in caloric expenditures. Read more about the BJSM study in the February issue of ADDvantage and share this information in your community as a way to promote your tennis programs.

No. 11 – Fitness programs for older adults. Tennis is a great sport for seniors, and as Baby Boomers continue to age and enter retirement, this is a growing market. Health-wise, playing tennis can help seniors improve balance as well as develop bone strength and density by helping prevent osteoporosis. It’s also a great social sport. Develop group programs and offer league play at your facility for this active age group.

As teaching pros, we all know that tennis is a great sport that offers so many health benefits to those who play.

It is vital that you keep it in the forefront of people’s minds as an important part of their fitness regimen by incorporating the top fitness trends into your tennis programs. h

Vice President’s Message

Continuing Education is a Never-Ending Journey

By Feisal Hassan

T

he best professionals in our industry are the ones who continue day after day, year after year, seeking to improve. Every pro, from the best in the country to the entry-level novice, should want to keep growing and improving.

Research has found that adults need to know why they need to learn something before they will attempt to learn it. Typically in a learning environment, adults will invest a considerable amount of time weighing the benefits of learning something against the consequences of not learning it. Also, adults may already be aware of the “need to know” after an on-the-job performance appraisal and job shadowing. (Learners: Considerations for Education and Training, Adult Education & Retraining, February 2011, Mark J. Kistler) The USPTA is all about education with our mission being to “elevate the standards of teaching-teaching professionals and coaches.”

In the past, we tested and certified with the goal being predominantly about “testing” the applicant’s level: Recreational Coach, Professional or Elite Professional.

As our applicants proceed along the Certification Pathway, we need to educate them on how to get better in their profession.

Moving Forward When people join the Association and want to become certified, we will educate and evaluate them in their pursuit to obtain the Professional Certification. This evaluation is for members seeking to be employed

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and teach on court. As these new members gain experience, use their membership, and attend division and national conferences, we encourage them to upgrade their membership to the next level.

The Elite Professional level is now designed for Professionals who are ready to transition to a role that has more “off-the-court” responsibilities, such as management, budgeting, court maintenance, etc. This category is for those interested in becoming head professionals and/or directors of tennis.

l Score Elite level on the certifica-

tion exam – private lesson, group lesson, stroke production and grip.

l Pass the online Elite stroke analy-

sis exam with a score of at least 75 ­percent.

l Pass the online, 29-multiple-

choice Elite written exam with a score of at least 75 percent. The time limit is 90 minutes to complete the exam.

Wherever you are in your tennis career ... the USPTA wants to help you continue to learn, grow, and strive to get better. We want to help you to elevate your standards as a tennis teacher.

Our new evaluation and education process will be to: l Educate applicants on how to do

their job better

l Inform applicants on how to con-

tinue to get more education (tennisresources.com, division and World Conferences, networking, etc.)

l Offer customer service and be there

as a resource, mentor and/or contact point

l Evaluate the applicant’s skills and

identify where more training is needed, which the evaluator can provide

The revised Elite Professional level went into effect on Jan. 1, 2017. The new requirements are:

l Watch three specialty courses and

one webinar on tennisresources. com. Required courses are:

m Using Your Coaching Skills in a

Manager’s Role (specialty course)

m Tennis Business Management

(specialty course)

m Management: A Learned Skill

(specialty course)

m Budget webinar

Wherever you are in your tennis career – a part-time Red Ball teacher, high performance junior coach, director of tennis, or anything in between – the USPTA wants to help you continue to learn, grow, and strive to get better.

We want to help you to elevate your standards as a tennis teacher. h

USPTA News

USPTA History Shows Growth of a Profession, the Start of an Industry

O

n Sept. 23, 1927, a small group of tennis professionals gathered in an upper-story room of the Spalding building in New York City. Their mission: to bridge the gap between the amateur ranks and a respectable career as tennis professionals.

When the group emerged from its first meeting, the Professional Lawn Tennis Association of the United States was born. The group sent out the following notice to all recognized tennis professionals: “For some time there has been a very strong feeling among lawn tennis professionals that there is a need for some organization to protect and promote their interests, and to assist them in obtaining a proper and recognized status in the tennis world. A meeting was held on September 23 and it was decided to form an Association ... An initiation fee of $10 will be charged to all new members. Dues are to be $5 ­annually.

“An executive committee has been elected and a constitution adopted. It is the desire of this executive committee to have all tennis professionals of accepted standards become members of this Association. As one of these, you are cordially invited to fill out the enclosed application blank for membership.”

Little did they know their plan

would materialize into today’s United States Professional Tennis Association – a worldwide organization of more than 15,000 teaching professionals dedicated to promoting the sport and raising the standards of their profession.

This year, the USPTA is celebrating its 90th anniversary, and in recognition of our rich and diverse history, this magazine will feature the leaders of the association over the next several issues.

The anniversary will be officially commemorated at the 2017 USPTA World Conference in Orlando.

USPTA Presidents

George Agutter (1927-1935) was a charter member and the USPLTA’s first president, serving seven terms. He was a teaching professional at West Side Tennis Club at Forest Hills in New York City. He previously worked at the Queen’s Club in London.

Edwin Faulkner (1936-37) was a charter member of the association and also served as president of the Middle States Division. He coached tennis at Swarthmore College in Delaware County for 41 years. He USPLTA officers, clockwise, from bottom center – Louis Ballato, Mickey Phillips, Thomas Byrne, Lillian Martin, George Agutter, James Bernson, Herb Walker, Richard Barrow, Claudia Long and Arthur Condon (1958)

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was named head coach of the Spanish Davis Cup team in 1923, and from 1924 to 1926, he coached the United States to three consecutive Davis Cup victories.

Henry Geidel (1938-39) was a charter member and also served as secretary of the association. He was the tennis and squash coach for the Nassau Country Club on Long Island, where he worked for more than 32 years.

James Pressly (1940-41) was the fourth president of the association, and he was a club pro for Jupiter Island Club in Florida and Bedford Golf and Tennis Club in New York for more than 30 years. He was a captain in the U.S. Army during WWII. Before he was a teaching professional, Pressly earned a master’s degree in history from Columbia University. All five of his children played college tennis and two went on to earn national titles.

Charles Wood (1942-46) was a charter member of the PLTA and was the first amateur to turn professional. He played in the first National Professional Tennis Championships in 1927 and won the National Professional doubles title in 1933 and 1936. He was the owner and manager of the Coral Beach Club in Palm Beach, Fla., for many years.

Frank Rericha (1947) served as executive secretary of the association from 19451946 before serving as president. He was the tennis professional for Greenwich Country Club in Greenwich, Conn., for many years and then later worked at the Wilmington Country Club. h

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USPTA Timeline u

1927 – Professional Lawn Tennis Association of the United States was formed 1957 – Association name changed to United States Professional Lawn Tennis Association u 1969 – First certification exams were administered u 1970 – Association name changed to United States Professional Tennis Association u 1974 – Ray Bovett, first full-time executive director u 1974 – First national office in Houston u 1975 – Bill Tym becomes second full-time executive director after the death of Bovett. USPTA has 1,000 members. u 1975 – National office moves with Tym to space outside of Chattanooga, Tenn. u 1977 – USPTA celebrates 50th anniversary and launch of ADDvantage, USPTA’s own magazine, under president Sheldon Caldwell. u 1978 – USPTA strikes endorsement agreement with Colony Beach & Tennis Resort near Sarasota, Fla.,

to move its headquarters there. Michael Fryer hired as executive director. Membership is up to 2,000. u 1982 – Tim Heckler becomes executive director/CEO u 1982 – Japan Professional Tennis Association becomes first international division u 1983 – USPTA moves headquarters to Saddlebrook Resort u 1983 – Computerization of USPTA begins u 1984 – Membership totals 4,000 u 1990 – USPTA begins original free grassroots lesson program, Tennis Across America u 1990 – USPTA moves its headquarters back to Houston and its own building u 1992 – Membership grows to 10,000 u 1993 – USPTA officially opens its Hall of Fame with induction of the late Arthur Ashe u 1994 – USPTA introduces Little Tennis®, a new program targeting young players from 3 to 10 u 1995 – USPTA launches www.uspta.com u 1997 – USPTA offers free personal websites to every member u 1999 – USPTA launches Find-a-Pro service u 2002 – USPTA celebrates 75th anniversary u 2003 – USPTA launches TV show “On Court with USPTA” that airs on the Tennis Channel u 2004 – USPTA introduces Player Development Program u 2007 – USPTA has 14,500 members u 2010 – USPTA China Division is formed u 2012 – Tim Heckler retires as CEO and John Embree assumes the reins u 2015 – USPTA has 15,000 members u 2015 – USPTA begins certifying platform tennis instructors u 2016 – USPTA breaks ground on new World Headquarters in Lake Nona, Fla. u 2017 – USPTA relocates to Lake Nona, Fla. u

1975 – Bill Tym becomes USPTA ­Executive Director.

1978 – USPTA moves to Colony Beach & Tennis Resort near Sarasota, Fla.

1983 – USPTA moves to Saddlebrook Resort. 1990 – USPTA moves to Houston.

1982 – JPTA becomes first international division.

1982 – Tim Heckler ­becomes USPTA CEO.

2017 – USPTA moves to Lake Nona, Fla.

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com 47

Endorsee News

Wilson Offers Special Pricing for New Ultra USPTA Ball

L

ast September, the USPTA was thrilled to announce a comprehensive endorsement relationship with arguably the biggest name in the racquet sports industry – Wilson. For the last four months, both Wilson and the USPTA have been gearing up so that beginning in 2017 they could hit the ground running with a variety of initiatives that should be exciting to the membership.

Equipment contracts are now being offered to those who qualify based on the ability of USPTA members to help drive sales of racquets, strings, grips, bags and 10U equipment. In addition, Wilson announced the development of a new ball specifically made for the USPTA, the Wilson Ultra USPTA All Court that arrived in inventory in early January. This ball was developed with the USPTA Professional in mind, to be durable for both hard court play yet equally playable for indoor or clay courts. Yes, you heard that right: this product can be played on any court surface with the desired results of an extra duty or regular duty felt.

How is this possible, you ask?

Because of a unique combination of woven and wool felt that does not fluff up on moist clay court and also lasts incredibly long on a hard court. The playability is outstanding. And you only have to buy one SKU if your facility happens to be multisurface.

What a concept! In addition, the logo is slightly larger than previous Wilson logos, which means the proprietary ink can better penetrate the felt, contributing to longer logo wear. The USPTA logo will be included on the ball, which will help market the USPTA brand to consumers all across the country.

“Trust me, as an avid player myself and having in-

The Wilson Ultra USPTA All Court ball was developed with the USPTA Professional in mind, to be durable for both hard court play yet equally playable for indoor or clay courts.

troduced the Wilson US OPEN ball to the marketplace in 1992 when I was employed at Wilson, I know a little something about tennis ball performance,” said John Embree, USPTA CEO. “As a result, I can heartily put my stamp of approval on this product.

You will not be disappointed. Wilson Sporting Goods is known for making a quality tennis ball. The Ultra ALL Court ball follows in that fantastic tradition.”

While it would be ideal if all members could playtest the product before ordering, that may not be possible. Reps have samples and are prepared to seed a can or two to members as they make their rounds in their respective territories, but it may be a challenge to get it quickly to every member.

“You should feel confident changing over your current orders to this particular product, even if you are currently with another brand,” Embree said.

In an effort to make the transition to the Wilson Ultra USPTA ball, ­Wilson has an incredibly generous 16+4 introductory offer that ensures special pricing for 2017. Visit uspta.com/Wilson or contact your local Territory Manager for details. This offer is good through March 15.

Finally, you should be aware that the more the USPTA does to get behind the sales of this product, the more the association is rewarded financially.

“Wilson deserves our support for making the commitment to produce a tennis ball just for the USPTA and the pro/specialty market,” said Embree.

“And they did so in a truncated timeline which was a feat unto itself. You will not see this ball in distribution in any sporting goods stores or mass merchants. It is for us and for us alone.”

Thank you in advance for embracing all of the products being offered by our new partner. Contact your local Wilson territory manager for more information and how to order the Wilson Ultra USPTA All Court tennis ball. h

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Beyond the Court

Tennis on Campus Should be Part of our Future

By Dave Neuhart, USPTA

F

or most people who grew up playing tennis, it seemed there were only two paths to take: (1) Work your tail off in the hopes of getting a college scholarship to a university, large or small, or whoever would take you, or (2) Play as much as you could through high school and then hang up the racquet for a future of recreational tennis to concentrate on studying for your future career in the main stream work force.

Those two scenarios are still alive and well, but there is another very viable option – playing a club sport called Tennis on Campus (TOC) at the university of your choice. The USTA came up with this program in 2000. Tennis on Campus also uses the World TeamTennis format. A typical match consists of five no-ad sets and includes men’s singles and doubles, women’s singles and doubles, and one set of mixed doubles.

Teams add up the cumulative number of games won to determine a winner.

There is also an opportunity for the trailing team to come back in the mixed

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doubles and get into overtime. Collegeaged players love the drama where every game counts.

Under the watchful eye of Glenn Arrington, the program has continued to flourish. While not as rigorous as varsity tennis, it is often nearly as competitive. Now a prospective student has the option to concentrate on their future career and maybe even go to that large university they wanted and play competitive tennis on a club team

using those finely tuned skills honed in USTA junior competition. However, TOC doesn’t require all the travel, time away from school and long practices. It is co-ed, too, and students love to have fun with a meal or two together, lots of laughter, and a whole lot less stress.

Oftentimes you see teams who just played against each other in very aggressive matches, eating together after their competition. What varsity teams do that? There is so much excitement and energy at their matches and tournaments. Many of the players could play for very solid university varsity

programs, but they choose to keep their competition when and where they want it. As a matter of fact, recently two Tennis on Campus female players on the University of Georgia Club Team were recruited to play on the varsity women’s team. That shows you the level of play these players have accomplished.

What does all of this mean for tennis professionals and directors in our industry? We all have a responsibility to train those who will take our place and keep the industry solid and growing.

Where are these professionals coming from? The large majority of current tennis professionals are aging up and there is not the large influx of professionals and coaches that there used to be. Often varsity tennis players aren’t ready to stop playing right after college and have not had the training time to jump into a tennis teaching or tennis professional position. Because they have spent so much time on their own game and playing skills, they have not learned how to do what we do as tennis professionals. If they keep playing for a while, they don’t always come back to the game as the stress on the tour and challenger/lower pro levels is very high, and they might want to do something else.

What can we do to help? By creating Tennis on Campus, the USTA has taken the first step in an effort to retain junior tennis players by providing an outlet such as club tennis in college. This might be a very good answer to the problem of keeping more high school players in the game. Tennis on Campus players have not had that stress that varsity players have juggling schoolwork, homework, practices, road trips, strange travel hours and worrying about keeping your scholarship with new players coming in each year. These TOC players have spent lots of time gaining experience in organization, planning, fundraising, people skills, networking, managing travel and developing relationships.

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com 47

The very skills we would like our future tennis professionals to have might have already been taught or learned by these outgoing students through this valuable USTA tennis program. In addition, if the TOC player has spent any time as a captain, co-captain or any part of helping organize the club team, they have developed these skills and have a head start in the areas we need them to have. I have heard from many of those who have hired a former TOC player for their tennis staff who said, “I look to see if they have played TOC on their resume first, and if they do, they go to the top or at least make the short list. There is less they have to be trained to do and can jump right into job-ready positions.

They also have great attitudes and love to come to work every day and are hungry to be a part of tennis.” It appears that the service aspect of our industry that is so important is already embodied within them from the start. Helping each other and those around them is part of their personality and passion.

However, don’t forget the other important side of TOC that we all need to be a part of. We should direct those we teach and coach who may not be able to make university varsity teams to consider TOC. This will keep tennis as a big part of their lives in college.

We can encourage them to play for an established club team or start a team on their future college campus. Many schools have as many as 80-100 players on their club teams. They often help support varsity teams and organize grassroots programs for kids on their campuses and even host high school teams to play in fun events with them.

Everything they do helps keep or introduce players to this game we all love.

Other areas that some rec departments and clubs have taken advantage of makes use of open court time for these players. This team effort is a winwin for all as they can fill empty courts and provide some financial benefits, not to mention that it shows the tennis facility has more activity during those slow times. They say, “activity breeds more activity.” Sometimes those facilities even benefit from seeing how the TOC players manage their teams, react to regular players at the facility, interact and can easily see them working there in the future in kind of an exploratory way.

In addition, many facilities need extra support staff for their own events and when schedules permit, the TOC players are usually ready to step up and help.

There are quite a few new under-30 tennis programs that have started from this same group of TOC players after they graduate. Some of these include one that started in Atlanta called Sets in the City and has since spread all over the country. Others include Casual Sets, Fireball, Sip and Serve, as well as many others. You may have heard about the missing link in tennis between high school and 40+ year old players. These TOC players give high school players a chance to stay in our game longer and hopefully never take a break from the game or leave altogether. This could have a far-reaching effect and fill our young adult leagues across the country.

Who knows, they may come up with a format many never thought of. It wouldn’t surprise me to find that they help fuel the next tennis boom in the U.S. and maybe the world. h

Dave Neuhart is the Director of Tennis at Reynolds Lake Oconee in Greensboro, Ga. He is also the North America East Regional Manager for Peter Burwash International.

He is President of USTA GA, Chairman of USTA Southern Collegiate Tennis Committee, serves on USTA National High School Committee and recently Tennis on Campus Committee. Neuhart has coached high school and collegiate teams and visiting tourlevel professionals. He is an industry speaker, USRSA Master Racquet Technician and tester, and recipient of USTA Facility of the Year and Professional of the Year awards.

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com 53

Master Pro Corner

Diagnose, Then Cure: Doing Your Best for Your Students

By Dave Hagler, USPTA Master Professional

S

omething is wrong with your car. You suspect it is the transmission, but from your perspective cars operate via magical principles. Which mechanic would you trust to fix your car?

Mechanic 1 explains at great length how a transmission works and then goes on to describe the physics behind the internal combustion engine. He’s billing you for his time and you want him to start repairs.

Mechanic 2 says when transmissions have problems it usually it because of “X.” He then takes your transmission apart and replaces part X. Mechanic 3 asks about your car – how much do you drive and under what conditions? He checks the age and mileage. He asks why you suspect it is the transmission. Specifically he asks, “What happens when you drive, shift, or go up hills?” Based on your answers he may ask more questions. He then either drives your car (assuming it is safe to drive) or asks you to drive around the block. He diagnoses the problem and suggests there are two likely scenarios and proceeds.

I think it is pretty safe to say we would feel best about going to Mechanic 3. All too frequently I see tennis teachers who try to help a student or group of students in a manner similar to that employed by Mechanic 1 or Mechanic 2.

If you are meeting a student for the first time, ask questions! If you listen to his words, you will get a sense of his learning style and personality. You can begin to build an environment of trust, and a student who trusts you will be inclined to try what you ask. The student will also be more relaxed, and more likely to succeed.

If he wants a lesson on his backhand, you might want to ask some of

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the following questions: “What happens when you hit your backhand well?

What happens when you miss? Where do you most frequently miss (long, in the net, wide)? What kinds of balls (fast, slow, high, low, etc) are most difficult for you? What would you like to be able to do with your backhand that you can’t? Are you better at hitting crosscourt or down the line? Are there areas of the court (behind baseline, ¾ or midcourt) where you are more or less effective?

You probably won’t want to ask all of these questions. This is especially true if he has difficulty assessing or it is your sense he feels at all threatened by this process. Remember – his assessment may not be accurate and you will need visual verification for what you’ve been told.

It is then vital that you watch the student hit. You may know (or think you know) the issue after one or two shots but it is a good idea to let the student warm up and hit several shots as at times what you initially observe may change as the student warms up and relaxes. It is almost always a good idea to watch a student hit groundstrokes crosscourt, down the line and inside out (even from mid- or ¾ court) when you are assessing mechanics. It is wise to have a player serve from both the deuce and ad sides when you are giving a serving lesson. If there is a difference (and there frequently is), you can determine why and use the stronger side to help the weaker side. For example, if a player hits a forehand inside out

more effectively than when he tries to hit crosscourt, the issue may be one of spacing, contact point, stance, racquet swing path or something else. If a player serves more effectively to the ad side than the deuce side, it may be a matter of stance, balance, swing path, contact point, or something else.

There are times when a student is doing four things wrong and correcting the root cause of the problem will cure the other three. It is your job to learn to identify root causes – in other words you have to figure out what matters and what doesn’t. This is student and situationally specific.

You should then share with the student what you see, and explain what you would like him to try. It is almost always better to tell him what you want them to do (i.e. “do this”) while showing him what you want. Then ask the student to show you to assure he understands the goal. Another common mistake beginning teachers make is to tell the student, “Don’t do this.” If I say, “Don’t think about purple cows,” I’ve probably made it more likely that you will think about purple cows.

At a USPTA National Tester’s meeting I attended I asked other testers where applicants had the most difficulty on the exam. Every one of them said, “Diagnosis and Cure.” It is impossible to diagnose a problem a student has with a backhand without seeing him hit.

You may find if you spend a bit more time on diagnosis it is much easier to find a cure.

Good luck! h

Dave Hagler is a USPTA Master Professional, National Tester and graduate of the USTA High Performance Coaching Program. He works with players of all ages but has a special passion for Junior Development and has spoken at conventions on a wide variety of topics. Hagler has received service awards from the Southern California and Intercollegiate Tennis Associations, is a two time Los Angeles District and 2007 ­California Division Pro of the Year. He is a member of the Head/Penn Advisory Staff.

Career Development Exams, Upgrades Cardio Tennis & PTCA I

Conferences/ Activities

(4 credits for PTCA I segment)

(Division Conferences – 6 credits)

March 10

March 4 March 4-5 March 6 March 11-12 March 17 March 17-18 March 18-19 March 19 March 19-20 March 23 March 25-26 March 31 April 2 April 3-4 April 7-8 April 8-9 April 8-9 April 9-10 April 17-18 April 21 April 21-22 April 22 April 22-23 April 23

Haverhill, Mass.

Rome, Ga. La Jolla, Calif.

Boca Raton, Fla. Nichols Hills, Okla.

Houston* Charlotte, N.C. Columbus, Ohio Midlothian, Va. Minneapolis Phoenix Henderson, Nev. Hilton Head Island, S.C. San Francisco Lakewood, Calif.

Atlanta Aurora, Ill. Orlando, Fla. Tyler, Texas Harrison, N.Y. Darien, Conn.

Des Moines, Iowa Albuquerque, N.M. Midlothian, Va.

Level 1 Training Course ACAC; Midlothian, Va.

March 17

Level 1 Training Course

Crooked Creek Country Club; Alpharetta, Ga. March 19

Level 2 Training Course

March 2 March 5

Park Crossing; Charlotte, N.C. March 26

Level 2 Training Course

May 5

Rosen Shingle Creek; Orlando, Fla. April 2

Level 1 Training Course

May 18

Wayside Athletic Club; Marlboro, Mass.

April 8

Level 1 Training Course

May 31

Hoover Country Club; Birmingham, Ala. April 8

Mid-Atlantic Convention Alexandria, Va. San Diego Division Workshop La Jolla, Calif.

New England Convention Stowe, Vt. Southern Division Convention Lafayette, La. Florida Division Convention Naples, Fla.

Level 1 Training Course Greenwood Athletic & Tennis Club; Greenwood Village, Colo.

April 28

Level 1 Training Course Twos Athletic Club; Toledo, Ohio

May 13

Level 2 Training Course

Cedardale Health & Fitness; Haverhill, Mass.

Webinars (.5 credits)

Watch all recorded webinars at tennisresources.com.

* 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.

For more information visit uspta.com/Education.

Please visit www.cardiotennistraining.com to register.

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.

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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 • USPTA Tennis Professional Yann Thefaine and Matthews Tennis Club in Matthews, N.C., hosted a fundraising tournament for Parkinson’s Disease as well as to honor two of their longtime members, Elmer and Mary Gau. The Gaus may be not be able to play anymore due to the disease but they showed that tennis is the sport of a lifetime in their spirit as they supported over 40 players in a one-day tournament named in their honor.

The money raised was given to the local YMCA’s Beyond Limits program. ­Pictured from left is Tony Gray (YMCA board chair), Debbie Inman (YMCA Financial Development Director), Steve Norman, Yann Thefaine (Director of Tennis Matthews Tennis Club, owner Tennis Academy North Carolina), and Jim Nance (Owner Matthews Tennis Club).

• Wade Lanning Herren passed away December 7, 2016. He was born on June 7, 1927, in Birmingham, Ala., the younger of two sons. He graduated from Ramsay High School and served in the Navy during World War II (1945-1946). Herren’s older brother introduced him to tennis, shaping the course of his life. He attended Tulane University and Birmingham-Southern University on tennis scholarships. He won more than 200 tennis titles, including an SEC Championship in 1948 while at Tulane and four national championships. He later founded Highland Racket Club and contracted to build tennis courts all over the South. He was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, the Southern Tennis Association HOF, the Alabama Tennis Association HOF, and the Birmingham-Southern HOF for his achievements and influence in the sport of tennis. He married Vivien Stretton Smith on December 16, 1961, and they welcomed three children into their family. He joined Briarwood Presbyterian Church in 1966 and served there as an elder and Sunday school teacher. He served on the board of Better Basics and Young Business Leaders and as President of the Alabama Tennis Association. In his retirement years, Wade carefully kept a series of notebooks in which he chronicled his many blessings – especially the people God had placed in his life – and thanked God for every single one.

• Dr. Sydney Brass, retired podiatrist, tennis pro and 25-year resident of Key Biscayne, died November 6, 2016. Dr. Brass was born and raised in Boston, Mass. After graduating from Temple University in Philadelphia, and serving in the U.S. Navy in World War II and the Korean conflict, he married Yetta Gitelson in San Francisco in 1945. They settled in Newton, Mass., in the 1950s to start a podiatry/sports medicine practice. For almost 30 years, Brass operated a tennis camp on the grounds of Pine Manor College in Chestnut Hill, Mass. Beginning in 1975, they vacationed regularly in Key Biscayne, moving there permanently in 1993. For many years, the Brasses volunteered at the Miami Open tennis tournament at the Crandon Tennis Center in Key Biscayne. Bras was a 45-year member of the USPTA and was a dedicated member of the Key Biscayne Tennis Association, where he developed many friendships and lifelong associations. In addition, he helped to form the Round Table Tennis Group, where he served for many years. The family requests donations be made to USPTA in his honor.

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

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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.

• Ajay Pant will be leaving his position as Senior Vice President of Operations at JTCC to take on a new role as the National Tennis Director of LifeTime based at the company’s national headquarters in Minneapolis. “Ajay has made an invaluable contribution to our operations in the five and a half years he has been with us,” commented Benton.

“He will be missed in many ways but this is a wonderful opportunity for him to use his abilities on a national stage.” JTCC’s Senior Director of Tennis, Vesa Ponkka, added, “It has been a pleasure to work with Ajay to develop a true pathway for youngsters to enter our programming as young as three years old and have a seamless path right through to earning a tennis scholarship to a major university.”

• USPTA Professional Dave Power, a coach of four national champions during his 45-year career, is offering his teaching system free to all USPTA Professionals. The teaching system is divided among the following topics: Basic Concepts, Miscellaneous Articles, Tips, Games, Drills, Doubles, and Private Lessons. Visitors will need to sign in first before printing the articles, which are located on the website, theinnercoach.org. The website is a companion to his book, “The Inner Coach,” which is a resource about the mental side of tennis. The book can be purchased through the website.

NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS President First Vice President

Chuck Gill Gary Trost

Vice Presidents

Past President CEO Legal Counsel

Alan Cutler Feisal Hassan Ken McAllister Jack Michalko Diane Selke

TM

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. 2017. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion of the magazine is not permitted without written permission from USPTA.

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