New England Board of Directors
Division President: Lisa Wilcott metennis@comcast.net
Regional Vice President: Milan Kubala stowemiles@gmail.com
Treasurer: Christy Bennett bennett@newengland.usta.com
Secretary: Wilbur Shardlow shardlowtennis@roadrunner.com
Vice President: Kristen Gerety kdgerety@icloud.com
Vice President: Mike Hill michael hill@alumni.brown.edu
Past President: Mike Kolendo mkolendo46@gmail.com
A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT: LISA WILCOTT
Hello everyone!
I hope everyone had a great summer season and is prepared and ready for the indoor fall/winter season.
Just recently at the World Racquets Conference in Rancho Mirage on September 15th, we heard some very big news from our CEO Brian Dillman, President Trish Faulkner, and the Board of Directors. After much planning and hard work from the Strategic Planning Committee and the Board, there is a major rebranding of the USPTA. The USPTA will now be called the RSPA - Racquet Sports Professionals Association. It was well received by the Executive Committee and was presented the following day to the entire membership at the conference and live streamed. That same day, the website and most everything was updated from USPTA to RSPA. One of the keynote speakers, Allistair McCaw, had a great quote, “Leaders and organizations not willing to innovate and change, eventually become irrelevant.”
To fully understand what this means to you and this organization, please go to the website and the video where everything is explained clearly. Your dues will not increase next year, but more opportunities will be available. The vision is to elevate careers in racquet sports with a certified professional on every court, inspiring people in every sport.
Also, at the World Racquets Conference, our New England Division received 3 National Awards, which is very exciting. We received 2023 Small Division of the Year, Rob Manter from Brunswick Maine, received the 2023 Small Facility Manager of the Year, and Nestor Bernabe from Providence RI, received the 2023 Star Award.
NE Executive Director: Pam Dodman pam.dodman@rspa.net
We are working hard as a division to help and support each other and get more people to be certified in all racquet sports. In our division we have Pam Dodman as Tennis Coach Developer, Angelo Rosetti as Pickleball Coach Developer, and Mike Cochrane as the National Platform Tennis Coach Developer. In addition, we are adding many upcoming dates to the calendar in different areas of New England if you want to get certified or upgrade your status. Our State Presidents will be sending out dates for networking opportunities soon. We hope to see many of you at the USTA New England Tennis Weekend in Natick on November 8th- 9th.
Please let us know how we can help you!
Lisa Wilcott
RSPA New England President
2024 WORLD
2023 NATIONAL Small Division of the Year!!
NATIONAL
2023 Award Winners
Nestor Bernabe & Rob Manter
Nestor Bernabe, of Providence RI, was awarded the National Star Award for his charitable work with underserved youth in the state of RI.
Rob Manter, owner of Maine Pines Racquet and Fitness Club in Brunswick, ME was awarded the National Small Facility Manager of the Year.
2024 WORLD RACQUETS Conference
at
Rancho Mirage Resort, Palm Springs, CA
2024 WORLD RACQUETS Conference
Rebranding of the USPTA!
After more than a century as the USPTA, we are entering a new chapter as the Racquet Sports Professionals Association (RSPA). Building on a legacy rooted in tennis, we now extend our support to professionals across all racquet sports. The RSPA is dedicated to offering comprehensive career development, both on and off the court, ensuring our members have the tools to succeed in every facet of the industry. Our division is happy to be a part of the change.
PROS on the GO
Rossetti Brothers Achieve Guinness World Records® Title*
For Longest Pickleball Volley Rally
USPTA Elite Tennis Professionals and Certified Pickleball Professionals, Angelo
A. and Ettore Rossetti, known as The Rossetti Brothers, set a new Guinness World Records® title* for the "Longest Pickleball Volley Rally." On Saturday, August 17th, the identical twins hit 10,532 consecutive volleys without a bounce in two hours and 45 seconds Their record attempt was part of Pickleball Rally for Charity, a special event dedicated to raising awareness and funds for the global humanitarian organization Save the Children. The event took place at Pickleball America in Stamford, CT, and was livestreamed on Save the Children’s YouTube channel,
Angelo is also the USPTA New England Pickleball Coach Developer. He will be conducting a Pickleball Certification Workshop on Sunday, September 29th, at the Li’l Rhody Pickleball Club in North Kingstown, RI.
Click the image below to go to the registration page.
PROS on the GO
Paul Fein’s Paul Fein’s New Book: New Book: Game Changers Game Changers
USPTA Elite Tennis Professional, Paul Fein, has been busy writing another tennis must read! Here is what Amazon.com has to say about Paul’s book:
“In an unparalleled Golden Era, the tennis gods blessed our sport with the four greatest champions in its 150-year history—Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Serena Williams. Now in GAME CHANGERS: How the Greatest Players, Matches, and Controversies Transformed Tennis, Paul Fein treats readers to in-depth features about these legends, their rivalries, and their legacies.
This wide-ranging compendium also includes poignant portraits of New-Gen stars such as Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek, Naomi Osaka, Aryna Sabalenka, and Coco Gauff.
In probing interviews, charismatic champions Andre Agassi and Monica Seles reveal how they evolved as they overcame career-threatening adversity. A comprehensive interview with eminent historian Richard Hillway—titled “The Origin of Tennis: History, Mystery, and Myth”— about our sport’s visionary founders and 19thcentury leaders is essential reading for everyone interested in this seminal period.
Fein, an award-winning journalist, shares these and other riveting stories with the expertise and passion that infused his highly popular Tennis Confidential books, which ranked No. 1 among tennis books on Amazon.
The chapter titled The Sport We Love will especially appeal to recreational players and tournament competitors. It features essays titled “A Game of Emotion,” “What Motivates Tennis Players,” “46 Great Things About Tennis,” and “Tennis: A Game of Beauty.”
Both casual and serious tennis fans will enjoy deeply researched essays analyzing the many controversies that embroil and enliven the sport. Fein presents thought-provoking arguments about the GOAT debate, the legalization of coaching, the Wimbledon ban on Russian and Belarusian players, flawed ranking systems and seeding methods, the merits of the service let, , the importance of an Olympic gold medal in tennis, and much more.
PROS on the GO
About Paul Fein:
“Paul Fein has observed, served, and written about the tennis world from several vantage points during his eclectic career.
As a journalist, Fein has covered the most prestigious tennis events, such as the US Open, Wimbledon, and the Davis and Fed Cups, and has also written about the leading players, issues, and trends. His articles have appeared in sports, tennis, and general interest publications in 30 countries and received more than 40 writing awards. In 1991, he received Tennis Week magazine’s “International Tennis Writer of the Year” award.
Fein is also a longtime member of the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) with an Elite rating. In 2003, he received the New England Professional Tennis Association (NEPTA) “Western Pro of the Year” award, and in 2014, its “Senior Player of the Year” award.
Fein has authored four previous tennis books. Tennis Confidential, Tennis Confidential II, and You Can Quote Me on That were ranked No. 1 among tennis books on Amazon for more than six months. The Fein Points of Tennis: Technique and Tactics to Unleash Your Talent, also published by Coaches Choice, was named a Silver Winner in the Adventure, Sports, and Recreation category in the Foreword Reviews 2021 INDIES Book of the Year competition.
Fein played on the varsity tennis team at Williston Academy and then at Cornell University, where he had winning singles and doubles records under acclaimed coach Eddie Moylan. An accomplished tournament player, Fein ranked No. 7 in singles and No. 4 in doubles in the men’s open division in New England. As a senior player, he ranked No. 1 several times in New England in various age divisions and, in 2020, ranked No. 5 in the nation.
Fein has shared his expertise and experience over the years in several tennis organizations. He served as Tournament Consultant for the New England Lawn Tennis Association, Ranking Committee Co-Chairman for the New England Professional Tennis Association, and Website Editor for the National Men’s Tennis Association. Fein has also been Vice President of the U.S. Tennis Writers’ Association, President of the Springfield (Mass.) Tennis Club and the Springfield Tennis Council, and a Tennis Analyst for Continental Cablevision. He founded and directed the Springfield (Mass.) Satellite Tournament, one of the first five satellite tournaments in the world.
Fein is one of 125 experts to vote for candidates for the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
PROS on the GO
Bill Aronson Making Headlines in Northern NH
USPTA Elite Tennis Professional, Bill Aronson, was featured in the News and Sentinel publication from Colebrook, NH this summer. Below is the article from that publication written by Jake Mardin.
A tennis professional with years of coaching experience is working to expand the sport to the North Country.
In addition to offering private and group lessons for all ages and skill levels, Bill Aronson is now the part-time physical education teacher at Stewartstown Community School and plans to introduce his students to the game.
Bill started playing tennis when he was a kid attending Indian Acres Camp in Fryeburg, Maine. “I tell people how I got involved in tennis is that my parents stayed out of it,” he said. “I started at six or seven years old. My dad was the camp doctor so I went with him for two weeks, and I loved it so much I stayed the whole summer.”
He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Utah, a masters and a certificate of advanced graduate study from Springfield College in counseling and counseling athletes, an MBA from Plymouth State University and a PhD in psychology from California School of Professional Psychology, Fresno.
He completed his internship at the University of Rochester. He was the men’s head tennis coach at Springfield College, the women’s head tennis coach at the University of Lowell, and the assistant men’s tennis coach at the University of Rochester. He has coached high school tennis as well.
He served in the Air Force as a psychologist, at the rank of captain, and has taught sports psychology and human growth and development in several universities as an adjunct professor. He has also worked and coached at home and abroad, including Chile, Uruguay, Venezuela, Argentina, Cuba, Jamaica, Dominica, Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, England, Israel and Brazil.
PROS on the GO
Bill Aronson Making Headlines in Northern NH
continued
Bill has lived in the Miami area for nearly 30 years, and has been the director of tennis for the Profile Club in Franconia and for the Town of Holderness for the past 12 years. He is certified by the United States Professional Tennis Association and Professional Tennis Registry, and has also taught alpine skiing at several resorts.
Bill bought a home in Colebrook last fall, and said he is excited to introduce the game to newcomers and work with experienced players. “I’m committed to the region, and I’d like to see kids and adults playing the game,” he said. “I’m trying to promote tennis at any age and level.” There are public courts in Canaan, Pittsburg, Errol, and Stratford, and he said he wants to work on obtaining funds to build public courts in Colebrook. He is also looking for opportunities to work with students in other local schools, and with local recreation programs.
Mr. Aronson said the program will be affordable, and he has rackets to lend. He will conduct private or group clinics for any age and skill level, and can work with students who use wheelchairs or are visually or hearing-impaired. He said he will take students from anywhere and meet at any location.
“I have no problem with starting from scratch,” he said. “I want to plant the seeds next summer, and my goal is to have a tennis court in Colebrook, maybe a couple.”
Around New England
Connecticut Maine
First Serve Bridgeport is happy to announce their 9th year anniversary bringing free yearround tennis and academic enrichment to Bridgeport youth! First Serve Bridgeport is a USTA National Junior Tennis and Learning program (NJTL) that provides a path to success for children living in Bridgeport, CT. Through academic tutoring, mentoring, college support and tennis, kids are exposed to educational enrichment and life-skills that will serve them now and in the future.
Chris Nordenson will be the new state president for the RSPA New England division. Chris wears many hats. He is an Elite Professional who worked as Tennis Director for the New England Golf and Tennis Camp this summer. Chris is one of the partners of the New England Racket Services company, and he is a company scout for the National Scouting Report organization.
Around New England
Vermont New Hampshire
USTA Vermont and the Edge Pickleball and Tennis teamed up to offer a combo tennis and pickleball event to support the LGBTQ+ community. The event was called Playing With Pride. There was round robin play, instruction, food, and games. Prizes were raffled off which included 2 private lessons each for pickleball and tennis, 1 month wellness lounge and 1 month club membership, 4-$50 gift certificates to Drop The Racquet, local maple syrup, and 2 US Open visors!
The Wentworth By The Sea Country Club’s women’s 4.0 team made it to the USTA New England league sectionals in early September. They made their RSPA coaches, Chris Stevens and Kevin Christian, prod!
Don't Miss USTA New England Tennis Weekend!
Mark your calendars for November 8-9th and join USTA New England for their flagship Tennis Weekend at the Verve Hotel in Natick, MA.
Here's what you can expect:
Connect and Learn: Network with tennis professionals and participate in valuable educational sessions led by industry leaders.
Engaging Sessions: Gain coaching strategies from Craig Morris, learn about creating connections through tennis with ACEing Autism, hear from a panel with junior players, and how to welcome new players with adult red ball tennis
Continuing Education: RSPA members can earn continuing education credits by attending Register here
Tennis & Health
Tennis, A Magic Medicine!
by Jason Wen, PhD, RSPA, Founder and President of Boston Chinese Tennis Association
(Editor’s note: While we may know the benefits, having concrete information and facts to give our students and others can be beneficial.)
Being a USPTA member (now RSPA) in the New England Division and certified Professional Tennis Coach, I have been involved in tennis for more than 20 years both playing and teaching. The benefits of this racquet sport are truly significant to me and others. Tennis can prevent a lot of diseases or illness, and keep you healthy physically and mentally for a lifetime long, it is the best “medicine”!
As a former biology professor with a Ph.D. degree in Molecular Biology, I have reviewed some of the scientific research studies on the relationship of tennis and health. One well-known study titled “Various Leisure-Time Physical Activities Associated with Widely Divergent Life Expectancies: The Copenhagen City Heart Study” (Mayo Clin Proc 2018 Dec; 93(12):1775-1785), . evaluated the differential improvements in life expectancy associated with participation in various sports. Their results show that multivariable-adjusted life expectancy gains compared with the sedentary group for different sports were as follows: tennis, 9.7 years; badminton, 6.2 years; soccer, 4.7 years; cycling, 3.7 years; swimming, 3.4 years; jogging, 3.2 years; calisthenics, 3.1 years; and health club activities, 1.5 years. Tennis ranks No. 1 in expanding people’s lifespan and significantly above other sports!
This study found that individuals who played tennis had a predicted life expectancy gain of 9.7 years. A possible explanation for these findings, was social support having a strong effect on longterm survival. Belonging to a group which meets on a regular basis promotes an environment of support and community. The current investigation supports this notion that lifetime sports, specifically tennis, may be a viable means to achieve physical activity in many age groups and promote a healthier life.
The age-related decline of physical activity is a major public health obstacle. Lifetime sports, such as tennis, provide opportunities for participation throughout the lifespan and has been linked with lower risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression (“Long-term Tennis Participation and Health Outcomes: An Investigation of “Lifetime” Activities”, Int J Exerc Sci. 2020; 13(7): 1251–1261).
Tennis & Health
Tennis, A Magic Medicine!
continued
Previous research suggests tennis participation is associated with general health benefits such as improved aerobic fitness, lower body fat percentage, and decreased risks of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Research also suggests that the increased physical activity of tennis players serves as a protective influence in the maintenance of aerobic capacity and healthy body composition specifically in adults 45 years and older. Further, tennis participation has been linked to psychological benefits such as increased self-esteem and stress reduction, which may also contribute to long-term participation.
The health benefits of exercise are well established. Research has shown that regular moderate physical activity has a beneficial effect on health and is associated with a decreased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Regular exercise has a beneficial effect on cardiovascular risk factors through many mechanisms. It improves the plasma lipid profile, reduces body weight, lowers blood pressure, increases insulin sensitivity, and improves lung function, cardiac function and cardiorespiratory fitness.
The recommended type of exercise has also received attention. Jogging, cycling, and swimming are well known to have significant health benefits, but not everyone participates in these sports. Tennis is one of the most popular sports throughout the world and is played by millions of people. Furthermore, a large majority of the people who play tennis maintain the sport throughout life. Tennis would therefore be an ideal sport to improve physical activity levels of the general population. (“Health benefits of tennis” Br J Sports Med. 2007 Nov; 41(11): 760–768).
Research studied unanimously conclude that tennis was related to healthier bone structure in both sexes and across the age spectrum. This was most clearly present in load bearing bones such as the humerus of the dominant arm, lumbar spine, and femoral neck. These findings support the exercise recommendations described in the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) position stand on “Physical activity and bone health”, which recommends 20 to 40 minutes of weight bearing endurance activities, such as tennis, at least three times a week to augment bone mineral accumulation in children and adolescents, and 30 to 60 minutes of these activities at least three times a week to preserve bone health during adulthood.
Playing tennis on a regular basis (two to three times a week), either singles or doubles, meets the exercise recommendations of the ACSM and American Heart Association (AHA). Thus exercise intensity during singles tennis play is high enough to categorize it as a moderate to vigorous intensity sport. This is supported by the findings that tennis players display an above average maximal oxygen uptake compared with normally active populations of the same age and sex.
In doubles play, heart rate and oxygen uptake tend to be lower than during singles play. However, it is not the absolute intensity of the exercise that is relevant, but rather the intensity relative to the physical capacity of the individual. This means that, while singles play may be necessary to result in health benefits for the younger player, doubles play may be sufficient for the middle aged or senior tennis player, because their maximum heart rate and oxygen
Tennis & Health
Tennis, A Magic Medicine!
continued
uptake are decreased. Doubles play is therefore particularly suitable for these categories.
Playing tennis on a regular basis (two to three times a week), either singles or doubles, meets the exercise recommendations of the ACSM and American Heart Association (AHA) Thus exercise intensity during singles tennis play is high enough to categorize it as a moderate to vigorous intensity sport. This is supported by the findings that tennis players display an above average maximal oxygen uptake compared with normally active populations of the same age and sex.
In doubles play, heart rate and oxygen uptake tend to be lower than during singles play. However, it is not the absolute intensity of the exercise that is relevant, but rather the intensity relative to the physical capacity of the individual. This means that, while singles play may be necessary to result in health benefits for the younger player, doubles play may be sufficient for the middle aged or senior tennis player, because their maximum heart rate and oxygen uptake are decreased. Doubles play is therefore particularly suitable for these categories.
A positive association has been shown between regular tennis participation and positive health benefits, including improved aerobic fitness, a leaner body, a more favorable lipid profile, improved bone health, and a reduced risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In addition, long term tennis play leads to increased bone mineral density and bone mineral content of the playing arm, lumbar spine, and legs.
Playing tennis is associated with a 56% reduced risk of dying from heart disease compared to not playing the sport — a bigger impact than swimming, aerobics, cycling or running, according to a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. It’s also linked with a 47% lower risk of dying prematurely from any cause.
Tennis can be beneficial for people with Alzheimer's disease and those at risk of developing it, as it can:
a. Improve cognitive function: Tennis is a strategic game that requires quick thinking, anticipation, and concentration. It also involves using the entire body, which can improve cerebral abilities.
b. Increase blood flow and oxygen to the brain: Aerobic exercise like tennis can enhance cognitive function by increasing blood flow and oxygen to the brain.
c. Exercise motor skills and hand-eye coordination: Table tennis, in particular, can help maintain cognitive abilities by exercising motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
d. Reduce the risk of developing dementia: Research from the Alzheimer's Society suggests that regular exercise can reduce the risk of developing dementia by 30%.
Tennis & Health
Tennis, A Magic Medicine!
continued
Tennis offers a well-rounded combination of physical, mental and social advantages that contribute to a long, healthy life.
Tennis works the entire body: The sport targets muscles in the legs, core, shoulders and arms as players run around the court, twist to get a good swing with the racquet and hit the ball. It’s also teaching balance and fine motor control such as the coordination of muscles, bones and nerves to make precise movements.
Tennis boosts cardiovascular health: From running and stopping, to light jogging, tennis activates both fast-twitch muscle fibers — which provide speed and explosive quick movements — and slow-twitch muscle fibers, which help with endurance, so it encompasses all aspects of athleticism.
Tennis helps with bone health: Leisure tennis players had significantly higher bone density than people who played no sports, a study published in the German Journal of Sports Medicine found.
Tennis boosts mental health: The social aspect of playing with other people is significant. Tennis is often played outside, which feels good, and the sunlight boosts vitamin D, which can help prevent mood disorders. All of it adds up to powerful psychological benefits. The study mentioned above found tennis players live longer has a lot to do with the mental health aspects. Tennis requires intense focus, strategic thinking, even controlling your emotions and sportsmanship. That helps with mood and leads to higher cognitive function, reduced stress, better thinking skills and coping strategies.
Is tennis the healthiest sport?
Yes, the data is compelling. 4-year-olds and 94year-olds are playing it, there are not a lot of sports where you can do that!
Enjoy the healthiest sport and the best medicine in the world!
About Jason Wen: Jason Wen, Ph.D., MBA, CLP, RTTP
President of Boston Chinese Tennis Association
USPTA and PTR Certified Tennis Coach
E-mail:
BostonChineseTennisAssociation @gmail com
About the Boston Chinese Tennis Association: Boston Chinese Tennis Association (BCTA), an IRS 501 (3) (c) non-profit organization established in 2020, has about 500 active members around the greater Boston area including over 1,000 local Chinese families (ages 6 to 60s) and Chinese students who actively playing tennis year round. Dr. Jason Wen, the Founder of BCTA, is an experienced tennis coach with many years’ business management experience, who is leading BCTA to provide teaching, training, tournaments, and other events all year long
The Yankee PROse E-Newsletter| page 25
