Rincon Brothers Make the Most of Careers on the Court How We’re Serving You During the Coronavirus Pandemic John R. Embree, USPTA CEO
Practice (At Home) Makes Perfect
Joe Dinoffer, USPTA Master Professional
USPTA From the CEO
How We’re Serving You During the Coronavirus Pandemic John R. Embree, USPTA CEO
B
The first was an internal USPTA Task Force spearheaded by Patrick Kearns, our Mid-Atlantic Division Executive Director. Under President Feisal Hassan’s leadership, we were able to engage a dozen USPTA leaders from across the country who have met regularly and accomplished the following: 1. Offer free education on TennisResources.com so members can knock off their continuing education requirement for this cycle and use the time to improve how they would deliver instruction to their customers when we begin to recover. This gesture was very well-received by our members. Additionally, Master Professional Jorge Capestany generously offered members access to the educational content on his website, TennisDrills.tv.
Photo credit: Kevin Karczewski / USPTA
y the time you read this, it will have been over two months since I sent out my first message about the coronavirus and how it was impacting our staff, our membership and the industry as a whole. It is almost impossible to comprehend what has happened in our country over the last several months, let alone what our sport is facing. Our goal during this unprecedented time is to provide as much information as possible while exhibiting proactive leadership. I would like to share with you what steps we have taken to guide our membership as best as we can and help answer as many questions as possible. Two task forces were created with the intent to bring opinion leaders and subject matter experts together to provide assistance to tennis-teaching professionals and the industry at large.
42 - ADDvantage Magazine
June 2020
2. Create a support group on Facebook where members can socialize, ask questions of their peers and see postings of articles and information that could help them during this crisis. 3. Post information on uspta.com/HowToPrepare on the coronavirus, how to file for unemployment, applying for SBA loans and more. Over the last several months, this page has become a virtual library of facts and best practices for our members. The USPTA task force continues to gather information and will remain intact until it is deemed to be no longer necessary. A series of webinars were conducted in late April with mental health experts and with one of the best leaders in our sport, Doug Cash, about what members can do to navigate the complex process of filing for unemployment and SBA loans. He also spent time advising pros how to prepare for the “new norm” for clubs and facilities and what to expect when we are back in action. I want to personally thank those members that have contributed so mightily to this task force. The second task force was pulled together by the USTA and involved key stakeholders in our game (USTA, USPTA, PTR, ITA and TIA). This group has worked diligently to provide useful
“
“
From the CEO USPTA
...the USTA is developing a plan to provide financial aid where it is needed the most.
T
I could not have said it better myself. Well done, Andy! *
Photo credit: USPTA
June 2020
A
ain Preside ount nt A erm nd t y In
din
At a time like this, I realize that leadership is critical, but summoning the proper words and advice doesn’t come easy. Pretending to have all the right answers is not an option, because nobody has them. Saying that everything will be fine, or back to normal by so-and-so date, would likely be very inaccurate, so forget that, too. BUT....saying we’re in this together, and that our sport has helped us become stronger physically, mentally and emotionally...those are words I can stand by. Tennis pros, by and large, are fortunate, because our sport continually forces us to deal with adversity, which in turn teaches us HOW to battle through tough times. Down a set and a break? Dig deep, come up with a sound strategy
and break back. Do we always break back and win? No, not always. But in this case, I do feel that we will compete our butts off, which we have no choice but to do right now. So here’s the sound strategy: don’t be a hero, don’t force it, stay close to home, wash your hands, respect your opponent (we’ll call him COVID-19), and be patient! It’s now time to play our best version of high IQ tennis, where playing smart is paramount to victory. Our careers AND lives depend on it. You got this. Let’s go!
US P
One thing is certain: when we do come back, tennis is going to look much different than it did before the pandemic. We may have to take a different approach with large groups in programs such as cardio tennis and junior camps, and social gatherings on the court or in the clubhouse as we know them may also change. We will look to experts in the medical community for guidance so we can keep our clients safe when we return to normalcy. Finally, I want to quote Intermountain Division President Andy Zodin, who wrote the following in his President’s message in the latest Intermountain newsletter:
Zo
information for facilities, teaching professionals and players. Leaders with expertise in these respective areas were gathered into smaller groups with specific deliverables to accomplish. Three pulse surveys were created that provided insight into what is happening in the marketplace. One was distributed to the entire industry, a second dedicated to just tennis-teaching professionals and third to specialty retailers. The response rate was fantastic from each segment of the business and has helped identify areas of need. Based on the feedback, the USTA has developed a plan to provide financial aid where it is needed the most. As of this writing, we are in the initial stages of developing a holistic approach to support the infrastructure responsible for delivering our sport. But by the time this has been printed, you will have heard how we will help clubs, facilities and teaching professionals get back on their feet. In addition, there was a medical task force that worked as a subset of the larger industry group. On April 3, the USTA issued a statement recommending that tennis play be “paused” until further notice. The USPTA supported this decision and, at the time of this writing, continues to recommend that tennis professionals stop teaching until the medical community advises otherwise.
ADDvantage Magazine - 43
USPTA From the CEO
SUMMER 2020 NIKECOURT
SHOP THE KEY LOOKS
NikeCourt handcrafted prints to match your persona, while sweat-wicking, breathable fabrics deliver Nike performance.
The Official Distributor of Nike Footwear & Apparel to the USPTA. USPTA Members Receive Preferred MEMBER Pricing. uspta.fromuthtennis.com
USPTA
The Peak of Our Profession Has So Much to Offer Gary Trost, USPTA Past President
Photo credit: Gustavo Reyes / USPTA
T
he USPTA Master Professional rank continues to be the pinnacle of tennis-teaching and has no equal in the profession. When I became a Master Professional, I was amazed at how welcoming and passionate this group was and how much they wanted to give back to the USPTA. Their commitment and sense of duty to our Association was clear. I remember when I decided that I wanted to become a Master Professional. I was at the USPTA World Conference and attended seminars by several esteemed speakers and Master Professionals. I knew then that these were indeed masters of the profession and I made it my mission to join them. I started working on my education requirement and serving on division boards, but honestly, it wasn’t until I became a USPTA Tester that I started compiling the documents I would need for my Master Professional application. I always believed USPTA Testers were the “Top Guns,” and I saw it as my duty to achieve this level of certification. I was intimidated as I first began the process. I needed to find records and documents, and I needed to write educational articles. So I enlisted the help of two colleagues – Bunny Bruning and Alan Cutler – to help me along. As is the case with all our members, the Master Professionals were there to guide me, and since then, I have always offered a helping hand. Currently, I chair the Master Professional Committee alongside
USPTA CEO John Embree (left) presents Jason Hazley (right) as a new Master Professional at the 2019 World Conference in Las Vegas.
Mark Centrella. But as I look back, I wish I had started compiling my application materials and gotten involved in volunteering with the USPTA earlier in my career. I hope you will see all the opportunities becoming a Master Professional provides and that you will take on the challenge. So, how do you apply? You can view the Master Professional application requirements at uspta.com. When I started my application, I was surprised that I already had enough materials in a few areas to start. Make sure you keep track of articles you’ve written and had published. Check your continuing education report by logging into My USPTA. It’s also important to reach out to a Master Professional as a mentor. The USPTA has several wonderful mentorship initiatives to connect young members with more experienced fellow coaches to guide you. We Master Professionals would be happy to help
you get to the finish line. Becoming a Master Professional will open career opportunities to you that weren’t there before, as many successful general managers look to us to fill important leadership roles. There are many Elite Professionals that don’t realize how close they are to becoming Master Professionals. I hear from many members that the requirements to complete the application are too demanding, or that they don’t have time. They’re right, the application is demanding. But to reach the very top, it must be demanding. So to you Elite Professionals, I hope you start working on your applications! And to all other Professionals, start keeping track of any articles you write, education you earn and other opportunities to volunteer with the USPTA. I hope to see your application soon! *
June 2020
ADDvantage Magazine - 47
USPTA
Rincon Brothers Make the Most of Careers on the Court E
started holding their own against them. Then, he started sending them to tournaments around Colombia and South America, and from there came attention from colleges and universities in the U.S. “He wore many hats in the process of us becoming college tennis players, professional tennis players and teachers of the game,” Mario said. “We owe our tennis careers to him pretty much.” The brothers eventually made it to North Greenville College in South Carolina, where they won the junior college national championship in 1986 and 1987 along with another Colombian, Augusto Solano, a USPTA Elite Professional. Jose played two years at USC Upstate in Spartanburg. Mario went on to become an All-American at Kentucky and played 10 years on the ATP Tour. He earned a career-high world ranking of 193 and played in all four Grand Slams, including the main singles draw of the US Open. “It was a great ride,” Mario said. “Tennis brought us very far and it’s been wonderful.”
Photo courtesy of Jose Rincon
duardo Rincon doesn’t remember when the members at his local tennis club complained about his older brothers taking up too much court time. He was too young, but the complaints motivated his father to build his kids a tennis court at their countryside home in Duitama, Colombia. “This wasn’t your Roland Garros type of clay court,” Eduardo’s older brother Mario said. “It was dirt with some rocks and your basic machinery to flatten it out and some red clay on top of it and lines and a very basic net and fences. That was crucial in our development.” “He came up with his own style of building different layers of different materials and then the top layer, of course, it was ground brick,” added eldest brother Jose. “It worked out beautifully, actually. It was all his invention.” Jose and Mario, 50 weeks apart in age, spent formative years on that court. Their father served as coach and sparring partner. He seized opportunities to put his boys on the court with adults, and soon they
Eduardo ( left), Jose (middle) and Mario (right) at the 2019 Orange Bowl in Miami.
48 - ADDvantage Magazine
June 2020
Photo courtesy of Jose Rincon
Lucas Casás, USPTA Communications
Eduardo Rincon practices on the court his father built at their home in Duitama, Colombia
A great stepping-stone
As Mario played professionally, Jose put his degree in physical education to use and started working at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Meanwhile, Eduardo, who is almost 10 years younger than Jose, attended the academy as a student, and Mario came in periodically to train. “It was such a great steppingstone for all of us,” said Jose, a USPTA Elite Professional. “That’s where [Eduardo] developed his game,” Mario added. “We were doing different things while at the academy and I tell you what, that was so valuable. To this day, we keep in touch with many of our friends.” One of them was Raul Ordoñez, a close friend of the brothers who passed away in March after a long battle with ALS. “Raul is one of the greatest players to play the game who never won a Grand
Eduardo ( left), Mario (middle) and Jose (right) at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Fla., in 1992.
Slam,” Mario proclaimed. “That guy left a mark on everybody’s life, certainly on the three of us.” At Bollettieri’s, Jose trained the likes of Tommy Haas, Petr Korda, Anna Kournikova and so many more. Mary Pierce, just beginning her illustrious career, hired Jose to be her fitness coach. He joined Sven Groeneveld and Bollettieri himself on her coaching staff and was with Pierce when she won the Australian Open in 1995. Pierce was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in September 2019, and Jose was among her invited guests at Newport, R.I. “It was a magnificent event,” he said. “That is something I will never forget.”
4-and-a-half to 84
Eduardo earned a scholarship to Valdosta State in Georgia, where he was a two-time All-America selection, and enjoyed a seven-year career on tour. He represented Colombia at five Davis Cups. When his playing days ended, he still felt that competitive flame inside. After watching his father and older brother succeed as coaches, the next step in his career was obvious. Eduardo, a USPTA Professional, spent three years as a women’s assistant
coaching, but the brothers agree that their father, Mario Sr., now 83, instilled in them his passion for tennis. Today, tennis helps maintain strong family bonds. In addition to the three brothers, they have a sister, Maria Cristina, the third of five kids, in Colombia, and Juan, the fourth, in Argentina. Juan’s son “is going to be a terrific tennis player,” Jose said. Eduardo is married with two daughters that both “love the sport,” he said. Mario has three daughters, and his middle daughter’s team won the Georgia high school state championship in 2018. “[Eduardo’s] little girls cannot get enough tennis,” Mario said, his voice beaming with pride in his nieces. “If they don’t have access to a tennis court, they are going to play on grass, they’re going to hit volleys out of the air. You cannot keep these girls away from playing tennis.”*
coach at the University of Alabama and spent time at Arkansas, Kennesaw State and Georgia Tech before taking over as head coach at Presbyterian College. Mario, USPTA Elite Professional, is an assistant coach at the University of Louisville after 12 seasons as head coach of the Miami Hurricanes. “There has never been a doubt in my life about wanting to do something [other than coaching] after I finished playing competitively,” Mario said. For the last 12 years, Jose has run the Magnolia Lakes Tennis Club in Port Saint Lucie, Fla., where his “youngest student is 4-and-a-half and my oldest is 84.” He’s also coached junior teams at USTA zonals and nationals. “I’ve never seen a coach handle as many players as my brother Jose has on the court,” Mario said. “Sometimes he has 18 players and he manages for every player to be on the move, to be enjoying the game, to be engaged. That’s something very difficult to do.” Eduardo mentioned his Eduardo with his daughters Ana Maria (12) competitive spirit and love for and Kathryn (9) at the USTA National Campus in Lake Nona, Fla. the game as his motivation for
June 2020
ADDvantage Magazine - 49
Photo courtesy of Jose Rincon
Photo courtesy of Jose Rincon
USPTA
Nike TRAINING Essentials
for Men and Women
Advanced cooling fabrics and flexible fits will keep your game sharp off or on court.
Featuring sweat-wicking, compressive fabric to help keep you dry, comfortable and supported during your workout.
The Official Distributor of Nike Footwear & Apparel to the USPTA.
USPTA Members Receive Preferred MEMBER Pricing.
Master Professional Corner USPTA
Practice (At Home) Makes Perfect Joe Dinoffer, USPTA Master Professional
or decades, golfers have been hitting plastic balls into a net in their backyards for practice. They have also been putting in their living rooms and offices. They work on their swings and invest in training aids to improve. With the recent spread of the coronavirus, many tennis clubs and school programs are closed for a prolonged period of time, leaving tennis players to look for ways to practice at home. If golfers can do it, so can we! Before any teaching professionals think, “But, Joe, then fewer people will take lessons!” consider these two points:
like to play better. The challenge is that all of us plateau or get stuck at one point or another. It may just be someone’s forehand that stagnates, or their serve or possibly even their whole game. This lack of improvement comes from a limitation in technique, movement, mental strength or all three. Therefore, if we as tennis professionals can help players improve, the water
level of the whole industry rises and everyone experiences more success. You might say, “Well, I am a good teacher. And, if they want to improve, they need to pay for lessons.” Sorry to be blunt, but this is NOT the right attitude. Let’s list a typical tennis club’s revenue sources: memberships, lessons, court fees, pro shop sales, racquet stringing, ball machine rentals, tournament entry fees, league play and more. continued on page 53 Photo coursety of Joe Dinoffer
F
1. One of the main reason people stop playing tennis is frustration. They don’t improve quickly enough, stagnate at one level of play and then quit. 2. The longer someone stays in the sport, the healthier the industry becomes. The more people play, the more our own tennis businesses grow. We need to work together to keep them playing! How? By helping them feel good about themselves. How? By helping them improve as much and as fast as possible. I am sure we can all agree on these two points. They are universal truths in tennis and in life. Every player would
June 2020
ADDvantage Magazine - 51
OFFICIAL COURT EQUIPMENT SUPPLIER OF THE
2020 Catalogs AVAILABLE! FuLl pAgE Ad
REQUEST YOUR COPY TODAY! Tennis Nets | Windscreens | Benches Clay court equipment | Water Removers & Squeegees Divider Netting | Court Organizers | Net posts Shoe cleaners | AND so much more!
SHOP ONLINE OR GIVE US A CALL!
10S.COM
800 247 3907
Master Professional Corner USPTA Photo courtesy of Joe Dinoffer
combination of visual and kinestetic learning styles. When we focus on just one of these learning styles, we are hampering our students’ ability to fully grasp what we are teaching. This is why aids, or guidance systems, can be so important.
Here are real-life examples:
• When we are led to stand in line to enter a concert or check-in at the airport, this is visual guidance. • When we demonstrate proper stroke technique and have the student emulate and “feel” the movement, this is primarily kinesthetic guidance. • When we give our players instructions on using positive words and self-talk, this is auditory guidance.
proactive to help our students learn faster, both during lessons and by seriously emphasizing some amount of practice at home in addition to oncourt practice sessions. Here’s what I found out after 40 years of research and clinical testing on literally thousands of tennis players in lessons that I have taught: Each one of us learns most efficiently with one of or a combination of the three predominant learning styles: visual (seeing), kinesthetic (feeling), and auditory (hearing). My own clinical study with 50 tennis participants revealed that 98% of all tennis players learn best in an environment that taps into a
Photo courtesy of Joe Dinoffer
The conclusion? More players result in more revenue in many different areas. Over the course of the last 100 years, golf pros have encouraged golfers to practice at home. By and large, tennis pros have not. I believe that we, as the heart of the tennis coaching industry, have failed our industry in this way. But there’s good news – there are solutions! They are readily available and really work. Several studies have proven that training aids accelerate learning and improvement by 200% compared to just hearing verbal instructions. This is a fact. How does this work? We, as teaching professionals, need to be more
A quick online search for tennis training aids will bring up dozens of options for players to practice. You can check out more great training aids at www.OnCourtOffCourt.com. *
Joe Dinoffer is a USPTA Master Professional and has won numerous regional and national awards of distinction. He is the author and editor of nine books and more than 20 DVDs, as well as 500 video clips on YouTube. Joe has been a frequent speaker at national and international tennis conferences, having presented at more than 300 different conventions. He is the founder and president of www.OnCourtOffCourt.com.
June 2020
ADDvantage Magazine - 53
G A M E . S E T. M ATC H .
2oz es e l S iz a r T v ow N ! a b le A v a il
An All-Natural, Made in America, product to protect you and your loved ones during your favorite game!
Use your USPTA M ember Login @
csoluspta.com
For Exclusive Discounts & Free Shipping
Teach, Train, and Play with the Best
USPTA members: Get a 3% discount on all HOAG ball products when you order online. Enter USPTA when completing your order to get your discount.
hartru.com
Har-Tru is the official provider of Teaching Carts, Ball Mowers, and Ball Baskets for the USPTA 877-4-HAR-TRU (877-442-7878)
hartru@hartru.com
TM
USPTA
FAQ: USTA Support for Certified Teaching Professionals The USTA announced they are going to help certified tennis-teaching professionals with their membership dues renewal moving into 2021. What does that mean? The USTA wants to help certified tennis-teaching professionals recover from the impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. To this end, the USTA announced they will be supporting certified tennis-teaching pros with their dues renewal moving forward into 2021. There are many details still to be worked out over the next several weeks; however, the USPTA, PTR and USTA are already engaged in these discussions. More information will be forthcoming.
How do certified tennis-teaching professionals qualify for this support? Many details still have to be finalized but... 1. The offer is for certified tennis professionals in good standing who are actively teaching tennis and reside in the U.S. 2. Safe Play compliance (including a background screen) will be a requirement. 3. Certain continuing education requirements will need to be met. 4. There will be a good faith effort requested of those certified professionals who qualify to help rebuild our game by bringing in new players.
... ?
Will the USTA be sending a check to each certified tennis professional to help cover their membership dues renewal? No, the USTA is working directly with USPTA and PTR and will be subsidizing member dues renewal through those two national organizations.
What about the other USPTA/PTR categories - are they eligible? No, this is for certified tennis professionals that are actively teaching. Master Professionals and other elite categories will be included, but this is not meant for Honorary, Retired or Recreational Coaches and other non-teaching categories.
Statement from USPTA CEO John R. Embree USPTA Members – On April 16, the USTA announced its plan to provide significant financial support towards 2021 membership dues for certified professionals of fully accredited tennis-teaching associations. We applaud USTA’s foresight in helping tennis-teaching professionals with their certification and professional development. This grant will help our pros as they get back to work and focus on attracting and retaining more tennis players. We realize that there will be a number of questions surrounding this announcement. We will be working collaboratively over the next few weeks to work through those details and we’ll keep you apprised as soon as there are definitive plans. If there are further questions, please contact me at John.Embree@uspta.org. We believe that these are strong steps that will help the tennis community at large, and specifically tennis-teaching professionals.
!!!
June 2020
Thank you.
ADDvantage Magazine - 55
Tuffy WINDSCREEN 速
Now available with CHROMA-BOND速 DIGITAL IMPRINTING
Utilizing the latest, state-of-the-art, wide format digital printing equipment, your windscreen can display intricate, lifelike images not possible with other imprinting processes. Chroma-Bond Digital Imprinting on Black Tuffy Windscreen
Add our exclusive Chroma-Bond速 Digital Imprinting to make any court or facility look its best for many years. Simple or dramatic imprinting that is so durable, it lasts as long as the fabric.
Tuffy BALLASTED WINDSCREEN 速
Protects chain link fences from high wind damage. SAVES COSTLY LABOR TIME in last minute pre-storm preparations. ACTUAL
ACTUAL INSTALLATION ACTUAL INSTALLATION
DEPICTION
DEPICTION DEPICTIONS
NORMAL POSITION: In calm to low
winds, units stay in vertical position. Ballasted PVC pipe is in the reinforced pockets at bottom, and only the top is attached thru grommets.
STORM
POSITION: As winds exceed 20 mph, units billow to allow potentially damaging high wind velocities to blow through, helping to PROTECT FENCE and WINDSCREEN.
TIE-UP FEATURE: Built-in hook & loop strips at top allow one person to roll up and secure entire unit in less than 30 seconds. Also useful for better tournament viewing.
PATENTED Thousands installed by schools, government operations, and private clubs over the past 7 years. Official Windscreen of the United States Professional Tennis Association
AERFLO.COM
SOLD BY THE BEST TENNIS & SPORTS EQUIPMENT DEALERS
USPTA
How to Manage Scoreboard Pressure Joel Myers, USPTA Elite Professional
P
oints in tennis are not created equal. Within each game, there are multiple score variations that require the careful navigation of risk and reward. Players often use two types of patterns: primary and secondary. Each is important in creating and capitalizing on scoreboard pressure. Primary patterns of play are low risk, high reward sequences that hurt your opponent the most. It could be a triedand-true slice serve wide to the deuce court followed by a groundstroke to the open court, or an inside-out forehand approach shot to your opponent’s backhand, or a body serve and then attacking the backhand. These patterns of play are your go-to when you need a point. The downside is that you can’t run these patterns all the time or your opponent will get smart and predict these attacks. Secondary patterns of play are counter sequences that are usually a little bit riskier, but yield a high reward and get your opponent thinking about when you will use it again. Paul Annacone has referred to these as “investment strategies” because using them even once can pay off big later in the match, as your opponent will be thinking about when you will use them again, sometimes even if you are unsuccessful. Examples of secondary patterns are the kick-serve-and-volley wide to the ad court and volley to the open court, or chip-and-charge to the backhand on a second serve return, or running
58 - ADDvantage Magazine
around a second serve and attacking big with the forehand. Although these tactics are unlikely to win you the match if you use them as your primary patterns, mixing them in at the right time can win you the big points at the crucial moments of a match. So how do you keep your opponent off the scent without totally abandoning a pattern that is successful? You let the scoreboard dictate when you will use a primary or secondary pattern. Let’s look at the implications of winning any given point. I have grouped the game scores into three categories: base points, set-up
points and ad points. Base points have the least significance to the outcome of the game and ad points are obviously the most important, but it is often the player who plays the best set-up points that wins the match. Why? Because winning the set-up points puts your opponent at risk of losing the game and that adds pressure. As Brad Gilbert writes in his must-read book Winning Ugly, “All players are tense when something is at risk. Pressure will be layered on your strokes and confidence, and to some degree pressure paralyzes most recreational players.” When a set-up point arises, most
Base Points 0-0
Win the first base point.
15-0 or 15-15
Win to create a set-up point.
Set-Up Points 30-30 or Deuce
Win to create game point.
30-15
Win to create 2 game points.
30-0
Win to create 3 game points.
Ad Points
June 2020
40-30 or Ad-In
Game point.
40-15
Double game point.
40-0
Triple game point.
Graphic courtesy of Nuanchan Aphichanyatham
USPTA
hesitant using signals, especially under the pressure of a third-set tiebreaker, but this is exactly where they can be most effective. At the business end of the tiebreaker and having not used any signals leading up to this point, the ladies used a fake sign on a big point
Roger Federer (left) strategizing with doubles partner Stefanos Tsitsipas (right) at the 2019 Laver Cup in Geneva, Switzerland. Graphic courtesy of Sonia Alves-Polidori
of the time you will want to use your primary patterns of play to give yourself the best chance of winning. If you can do that and get to an ad point, you have the option of using a secondary pattern knowing that your opponent will be playing less freely and more timidly under the pressure that any miss will lose them the game. Certainly, you must weigh your position in the set score and how much you need the game, but the more you are ahead in the set, the more secondary patterns of play you can use. This will keep your opponent off their game and allow you to keep winning points when you need to. Ad points create scoreboard pressure on your opponent and keep it off you. This is the time to take advantage of your opponent’s position in the game knowing they will not be swinging freely. Especially with recreational players and inexperienced juniors, mixing up the play and using secondary patterns often leads to unforced errors and free points. Recently, two ladies I coach found themselves serving on an ad point in a third-set tiebreak for their USTA doubles match. Over the last year, we have been working on using signals on the serve (poach or fake) to get into their opponents’ heads a little bit and create some easy volleys or errors from the returner. Most players can be
and influenced the returner to go for low-percentage line alley, resulting in an unforced error. Debbie and Vivian used scoreboard pressure to perfection and stole the match. Developing winning primary and secondary patterns of play are the beginning stages of becoming a smarter tennis player. Recognizing the score and when to use those patterns gives you the best chance to put your opponent under scoreboard pressure. Good luck and see you on the courts.*
Joel Myers is the Tennis Director at Manchester Grand Hyatt and Sheraton Hotel & Marina in San Diego. He is also a teaching professional for the City of Coronado. Originally from Australia, Joel is a USPTA Elite Professional and has been a member for nine years.
June 2020
ADDvantage Magazine - 59
USPTA Career Development
Career Development USPTA Certification Testing Dates
June 1.............................................. Omni La Costa Resort and Spa Carlsbad, CA June 4-5.................................. West Hills Racquet and Fitness Club Portland, OR June 5-6..........................................................Tanoan Country Club Albuquerque, NM June 6....................................................................... Wakonda Club Des Moines, IA June 6-7.......................................................... Atlanta Athletic Club Johns Creek, GA June 6-7................................................. San Antonio Country CLub San Antonio, TX June 6-7..................................................... Rush Copley Healthplex Aurora, IL June 7....................................................... Haig Point Tennis Center Hilton Head, SC June 13........................................................................ Atlantic Club Manasquan, NJ June 14-15................................................... Burbank Tennis Center Burbank, CA June 15-16.................................................... Claremont Club & Spa Berkeley, CA June 19-20...................................................... Tucson Country Club Tucson, AZ June 20-21...................................................Biltmore Tennis Center Coral Gables, FL June 21................................................................. ACAC Midlothian Midlothian, VA June 22...................................... Reed Sweatt Family Tennis Center Minneapolis, MN
Exam reservations must be made by calling the USPTA World Headquarters at 407-634-3050 ext. 2 at least 21 days prior to the dates listed. Each date includes an exam and upgrade. PTCA I is included in the two-day exam. Exam cancellations must be received no later than 14 days before the exam, or a cancellation fee will be charged accordingly.
NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS President................................................................. Feisal Hassan First Vice President.............................................Richard Slivocka Vice Presidents...............Lane Evans, Mark Faber, Trish Faulkner, Jason Gilbert, Bill Mountford Immediate Past President............................................ Gary Trost CEO...........................................................................John Embree Legal Counsel........................................................George Parnell
60 - ADDvantage Magazine
2020 USPTA Division Conferences
May 1-3 Eastern...................International Tennis Hall of Fame. . POSTPONED - Newport, RI May 1-3 New England.......... International Tennis Hall of Fame . POSTPONED - Newport, RI May 14-16 Southern.................................... Atlanta Athletic Club . POSTPONED - Johns Creek, GA May 15-17 Southwest........................... Grand Canyon University . CANCELLED - Phoenix, AZ May 28-31 Florida...................... Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club . POSTPONED - Naples, FL June 5-6 Pacific Northwest............................... Linfield College . CANCELLED - McMinnville, OR June 13-14 Hawaii...............................................Punahou School . CANCELLED - Honolulu, HI Sept. 21-25 USPTA World Conference...................Hilton Riverside . New Orleans, LA
Visit www.uspta.com for a complete listing of certification and educational opportunities • Wheelchair • Padel • Platform
• Pickleball • RacquetFit
Visit TennisResources.com to find hundreds of exclusive educational and instructional videos, audio material, articles and drill diagrams related to all levels and aspects of the game of tennis. The user friendly video interface is great for watching on a desktop or mobile device and makes it easy to #GetYourSix wherever you are!
ADDVANTAGE MAGAZINE Editor..................................................................................Lucas Casás Layout/Design............................................................Kevin Karczewski Editorial Assistance ............................Alegna Hollis, Ramona Husaru, Sid Newcomb, Fred Viancos, Ellen Weatherford Circulation.................................................................... Trevor Trudelle USPTA World Headquarters 11961 Performance Dr. Orlando, FL 32827 800-887-8248- www.uspta.com
June 2020
ADDvantage is published monthly by the United States Professional Tennis Association. The opinions expressed in ADDvantage are those of the authors and not necessarily those of ADDvantage or the United States Professional Tennis Association. Copyright© United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc. 2020. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion of the magazine is not permitted without written permission from the USPTA.