Spring is here, and anticipation is building for the upcoming outdoor racquet sports season I am thrilled about the future of the USPTA and for our members As many of you are aware, we have a new CEO, Brian Dillman, who has succeeded John Embree, a true industry ambassador; his presence will be missed. However, change often brings opportunities, and I sense that the USPTA is headed the right direction under Brian's leadership. In the short time since assuming his role, Brian has been actively engaging with key organizations in our industry and nurturing relationships that will pave the way for our success
I want to express my gratitude to my predecessor and friend, Matt Davis, for his leadership, guidance, and vision for the USPTA Midwest Division. In January, I shared with our board my aspirations for the division's future, which align closely with Matt's. We are committed to thinking "outside of the box" and soliciting feedback from our membership This division belongs to you, our members What can we, as a Board/Association, do to advance your careers and elevate the profession?
Our streamlined Certification Pathway is now operational, offering different levels to cater to all professionals. Level 1 Certification is available virtually, while Level 2 Certification is conducted in person. Our Coach Developers, Mike Lange and Amy Nestle, are ready to assist and will be conducting Level 2 workshops throughout the Midwest in 2024 Additionally, our Level 3 (Elite Professional) and Level 4 (Master Professional) pathways are in place. Are you ready to become the best professional you can be?
In 2024, we are introducing our Pickleball Certification for current nonmembers, with plans to add additional levels to the Pickleball Certification Pathway in future As we evolve into a Racquet Sports Certification organization, we also offer certifications in Platform, Padel, and Director of Racquet Sports (through the University of Florida) We will be highlighting these certifications in our quarterly newsletter.
Our recent 2024 Winter Forum, held in conjunction with the Wisconsin High School Tennis Coaches Association, was a success Special thanks to the Wisconsin Athletic Club (WAC) and its staff for their support Our Summer Symposium will return to the Cincinnati Open this August, mark your calendars for August 11-12, 2024. Our Regional Vice President, Cathy Thomas, and Executive Director, Greg Aten, are working diligently to ensure a great event. We will also team up with the USTA Midwest and USPTR to promote the Women’s Coaches Summit, building upon last year's success.
Stay tuned for more information Here's to a successful year ahead!
Best regards,
John Frausto USPTA Elite Professional USPTA Midwest Division President
Adam Ford, USPTA Elite Professional, is currently the Director of the Hope College Professional Tennis Management (PTM) program Where students study and learn to build a career in the tennis industry. Ford formerly served as the Director of the Tournament Training Program (TTP) and Director of Junior Tennis at the Greater Midland Tennis Center He spent four years as Hope College men’s and women’s tennis coach and his teams earned three Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association titles and four NCAA Division III Tournament appearances in his four seasons He played college tennis for four years at Division I Northern Illinois University. He and his doubles partner were ranked as high as 33rd nationally among Division I players He is a USPTA Elite Professional, PTR Professional, PPR Professional and United States Tennis Association (USTA) High-Performance Tennis Coach He is also a Certified Human Performance Institute Mental Toughness Specialist, Racquetfit Certified Coach and an Etcheberry certified speed and agility trainer. His teaching prowess was recognized by the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR), which named him the 2011 and 2022 Michigan Tennis Pro of the Year He was also named the USPTA Michigan Pro of the year in 2022 as well Ford also appeared in Racquet Sports Industry Magazine's "30 Under Thirty" list of those in the tennis industry who are helping move the industry forward Ford serves on the USTA Western Michigan District Board, Tournament Committee, Junior Competition Committee and Referee Committee.
Brock Orlowski, USPTA Elite Professional is originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan and is a graduate of Kuyper College in Grand Rapids and holds an MBA from Indiana Tech Brock is the Director of Tennis at Fort Wayne Country Club and has over 15 years of experience coaching and teaching tennis as well as being a PPR certified professional in pickleball Brock is a member of the Director’s Club of America and is set to finish his Director of Racquet Sports certificate from the University of Florida this spring
Prior to his time at FWCC, Brock was the Head Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach at Indiana Tech for four years He has also worked at Huntington University as the Assistant Coach of Women's Tennis and at Empowered Sports Club as a Tennis Professional. He has also been the Head Girls' Tennis Coach at Blackhawk Christian High School and Head Boy's Tennis Coach at New Haven High School Brock has been married for eleven years to his wife, Abby, and they have five children
Lucas Waak
Indiana President
lwaakwirc@gmail.com
Sonth avong
Illinois President
sonthana thongsithavong@gmail com
K i
Michigan State President
kgyulai@oakland-hills com
Wisconsin President costinfink@gmail.com
Greg Aten Executive Director
greg.aten@uspta.org
April/ 24
5th - 6th Ferris State PTM Spring Seminar & Awards Banquet HERE
19th a, IL. RE
May 3rd Falls ERE
Jun 20th apids RE
Aug 11th ati, ERE
Sept 15th Dece
6th - 8th Level 2 In-Person Workshop (Teaching Groups), Big Rapids, MI. HERE
How many racquets pros can you think of that put in 40+ hours per week on court? How about any that put in 50+ hours? 60+? The status quo and default for racquets pros is to be on court – putting in the hours within the four lines on the court –producing income for themselves and/or their respective clubs
But what happens outside the lines? For a profession that requires such significant investment within its specific arena (the court), how much engagement takes place outside of said arena?
Since I joined the industry 15 years ago, I have quickly drawn one very important conclusion: The industry is about people.
The racquets industry at its very core is an industry that revolves around people Serving people –investing in people – teaching people That’s the value of the industry, that it’s not simply how to best hit a forehand or backhand slice, it’s seeing the growth of students and getting to be a part of their lives.
Often, we see racquets pros fall into the rhythm of teaching in volume and missing the opportunity to engage with their students/members on a deeper level. Pros get lulled into a high production-based model with no gaps in lessons or time off court to delve deeper with their students. A phrase I use often with my members is, “I’m here for you. My job doesn’t exist without you ”
If you give an individual a lesson once a week for one hour, you will have spent 52 hours with them
over the course of a year One on one –uninterrupted – for 52 hours How many professions lend themselves to such specific, intentional time to spend with one person? How many of us spend one hour uninterrupted with our spouses, kids, friends every week? Racquets pros have the privilege of that specific on-court time, it makes the off-court interactions have an even higher possibility for impact
The other side of that coin is: your student might be with you for one hour per week inside the court, but they are living another 167 hours per week outside the court Our lessons or classes should certainly look to help our students on court, but if we are able to engage with them in those other 167 hours, how much deeper might our relationship with them go?
If pros forget to engage the person they’re teaching outside the court, it simply becomes a transaction –not an interaction
How can we put this into practice and stay focused on the people? Here are three simple rhythms/ideas:
1
Keep a journal or log about your students Know more about your students than just their game within the lines.
Include lesson notes or development plan a. Include personal details about them that you can follow up on b.
Family news, vacation follow-ups, school assignments i
2
1.
Send notes or messages to your students
3
a Example: I send periodic txts to individuals about things that are specifically not related to a racquet sport (ie, school, work, family, fun)
Example: I send a weekly txt to individuals from groups or lessons letting them know what they did well that week.
b. Send updates about you and your life to your students
Two of the biggest compliments we can receive in our industry are:
1. A singular lesson transitioning to a regular lesson.
2. A new student who was referred by an existing student.
a. Your students want to know more about you and your life outside of the lines. If you don’t have anything to tell them unrelated to the industry, then maybe that’s the problem.
Example: I send a Christmas card (digitally) every year to anyone I gave a lesson to or had in a group lesson that year. If you keep a log (see point 1) you should have a list already
b The above examples are not exhaustive or perfect examples, but merely replicable ideas that might lead to a more impactful experience for students
As racquets professionals we all know our members/students are the ones who ultimately pay our salaries/wages We owe it to them to give them a holistic experience when they enter our clubs/facilities If it’s a singular lesson, our investment and interactions before and after that lesson could easily help it to move to a regular lesson – the stuff in between the lines can easily be overshadowed by the student experience before or after their court time
Racquets sports pros are much like barbers, hairdressers, or bartenders. We have a captive audience who, through our sports, have an increased level of comfort to confide in us about what is happening in their lives. We must take seriously the responsibility and privilege we have to make positive impacts in those moments and seek opportunities to have more moments like them.
Both things speak to our work inside the lines, but I would venture to guess you will see a higher volume of these two things happening if you put a heavy emphasis on how you interact and invest in your students outside the four lines.
A question I ask myself all the time is: in 20 years, what will my students remember about my lessons or classes? It’s possible they remember how I taught them how to hit an overhead or how they mastered their net game, but my hope is that they remember how much I cared about them OUTSIDE of the four lines of our shared court One quote that always convicts me to do this better in my life is from the Bible in Philippians chapter 2 verse 4, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but to the interests of others.”
What a privilege and joy it is to work in our industry, but let’s not be quick to forget the best part of our industry: the people.
Coach Bey started by emphasizing the importance of identifying your own coaching style He described himself as a Cooperative Coach who can transition into command mode when necessary
During his presentation, Coach Bey underscored the significance of establishing a healthy and productive exchange between coach and player. Coaches must recognize the need for employing various communication approaches to effectively convey messages.
When working with new players, Coach Bey contacts their past coaches to gather background information on both the athlete and the coach. He also assesses the players' personalities, adapting his approach accordingly. For example, if a player is upbeat, he strives to maintain that positivity. Additionally, he highlighted the importance of active and passive listening, as well as the value of silence. Active listeners process information without immediate commentary or reaction Furthermore, Coach Bey discussed the development of a unique language with his players to establish a cohesive communication framework, using catchy, humorous, and upbeat terms.
Coach Bey proceeded to address common buzzwords and phrases often misused in tennis, stressing the necessity of providing context and definitions for effective communication. His "Dreaded List" includes terms like "Out in front" (in relation to what?), "Bend your knees," "Turn," "Short punch," "Step In," and "Racket Back "
Drawing from his experience in a Davis Cup match in Lithuania, Coach Bey provided specific examples to illustrate communication strategies during competition and post-match discussions with the team members. He employed different approaches tailored to each player: maintaining a calm and positive demeanor with Fritz, simplifying his communication with Korda, using statistics and analogies with Eubanks, adopting a pragmatic approach with Ram through bullet points, and offering words of affirmation and additional repetitions on the court for Krajicek
Celebrating Black History Month, we want to highlight one of our Midwest Teaching Professionals for his many contributions not only in our division but all over the US
Mark Bey, the director of the Championship Training Academy at Glenview Tennis Club and Midwest Hall of Fame Member Mark recently returned from Lithuania where he was an assistant coach for Team USA during the Davis Cup Qualifier USA vs Ukraine “It was really fun working with the guys,” stated Bey The US team came away with a 4-0 win that clinched the Americans spot in the 16 nation Davis Cup finals group stage, to be played across four to-be-determined cities from Sept 10-15
You can read a USTA article by clicking below to see more on Mark • USTA com
In Tim Cleland’s segment “Drills that HS players can do without a coach feeding a ball” he talks about different drills that players are able to lead themselves. These drills are some of the drills that he has used over the years to help him become the winningest coach in Indiana High School Tennis history. From the warmup, to different skill mastering drills, to high intensity games, these are all things that players can do to improve their game without the need of a coach feeding a ball in to start.
To start in the warmup, the players are to run a “one ball warmup”. This drill is just as it sounds, the players will have only one ball to complete the warmup. If a player misses he/she will need to run that ball down to continue hitting again. This will help the players truly focus on the importance of consistency because if they want to get a solid warmup in, they will need to make sure they can hit as many shots as possible (the fewer misses, the less chasing down the ball, the more swings the players take). This drill really helps work on players’ focus as well. Knowing that if they miss another ball will not be fed in immediately makes them put their full attention into each swing
One of my favorite skill mastering drills that Tim talked about had to do with the volley
The volley today is becoming a bit of a lost art with the speed of the game and many junior players wanting to focus on the power behind each shot In this volley drill, the players start by underhand tossing the ball back and forth to each other The player catching the ball must step with the opposite foot and catch the ball as far out in front of them as possible This is a great representation to the technique on hitting a volley Once players have become comfortable with the toss and catch, one player will pick up the racquet One player will toss the ball to the side of the player with the racquet and the will step across and lightly pop the ball back to their partner After a few minutes they will switch positions and repeat the same process. The final step of the drill is to volley lightly back and forth between the two players. This step is all about proper technique, touch, and ball control. For a few minutes the players can go forehand volley to forehand volley, then backhand volley to backhand volley, and then finally transitioning to alternating with one player hitting cross and the other player hitting straight ahead.
My favorite high intensity game that Tim talked about was a game called “Speed Singles”. In this game there will be teams of two or three players. One player from each team will start out playing with the others waiting off of the court, out of the way of the players but ready to jump in at any moment. To start the game one player will courtesy feed the ball in to their opponent and they will play out the point. When one player loses the point they will rotate out and a new player will rotate in and they will “mean feed” the next ball in. What that means is they can feed the ball in wherever they want, however they want (as long as it is below the shoulder), anything goes. The losing player always rotates out and the winning player will stay in and try to win three points (feeds) in a row. When a player wins three points in a row they will score one point for their team and will then rotate off with new players coming in to start the next point with a courtesy feed once again. This drill will keep the players moving the whole time as well as helping them understand court awareness and how to work a point to get their opponent out of position. It will also help players to really remain focused and working until the point is officially over This is a great game for players to work on many different skills while also having a fun time in the process
This segment was an incredibly informative session for coaches who have large teams or clinics A coach may not always be able to have their eyes on everything happening on every court and the drills that Tim discussed are perfect for maintaining a high level of practice when he/she can not be on every court to feed a ball in
Sydney Patin, USPTA: After finding out that Mark Bey was giving a presentation on specific drills and games to solve common problems, I knew I was going to learn information to grow as both a tennis player and professional, and this held true By providing demonstrations on-court in a setting that emulated a private lesson and sharing helpful tips in between working with me and my fellow PTMers, Bey gave me new tools to incorporate during my internships and throughout my career.
First, he called me out onto court where he had me hit a few forehands. After watching me hit, he helped me through drills which worked specifically to improve the spacing on my forehands Thanks to Mark Bey, I have more ways to help players through this same common technical problem Something else Mark Bey spoke on was the value of silence While working with another student, Kyle, on his groundstrokes, he remained silent throughout the whole time he was feeding the ball. Bey, instead, used non-verbal communication to help Kyle become a better player. He used this as a reminder that showing players what to do can be more effective than telling them. Sydney is the president of the Ferris State University PTM student association and a junior in the program there.
Kyle Pipkin, USPTA: Being a part of Mark Bey's presentation at the USPTA Winter Forum in Milwaukee Wisconsin, helped provide me with some additional coaching tools that I can bring the next time I'm on the court! His specialty course was on specific drills and games to fix common problems I specifically got to demonstrate playing the net during Bey's presentation, and he pointed out my grip tension on my volley being too tight. Some of the helpful cues that he used to improve my volley (and that I can use with my students) was to loosen my grip by pretending I was playing an instrument This forced my fingers to move gracefully on my racquet, which naturally loosened my grip tension. We also discussed my to move gracefully on my racquet, which naturally loosened my grip tension We also discussed specific movements with the volley and moving in a "Y" pattern to better cut off angles and take time away from my opponents. Using tennis balls as a runway, Bey helped me to use effective movement to better cover the net. Throughout his presentation Bey provided visual and symbolic "cues" that we, as coaches, can easily deliver to our students to positively impact their development as players. Kyle is a Junior at Hope College and is in the PTM program there.
Shimwe Sentya, USPTA: I had a wonderful learning experience during Mark Bey’s presentation During the process I concentrated on executing the drills but once one of the other PTM students was up there, I noticed how much attention he gave to the player and not the execution of the drill. He had a way of teaching that resonated with me, I hope to run into him at other conferences. Shimwe is a Senior at Ferris State and is currently looking for a full-time position in the Racquet Sports industry..
Autumn Ferris, USPTA: I had a very good experience being a part of Mark Beys presentation He had a very good way of coaching students by providing helpful information When we were asked to hit in during his presentation, he helped with my footwork and swing path. He shared many solid ideas about how to teach kids and adults that I will be able to use in my future as a tennis professional.
I enjoyed listening and was excited to have a chance to be a part of it Autum is a freshman attending Ferris States PTM program
It was a beautiful, warm day in Heartland, Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Athletic Club was active and lively, with junior classes in session below us as we walked in. Above, on the second floor, you can see members working out through the glass window. The club was not new but had a modern twist, with a bar area, comfortable seating, and a bigscreen TV for members to mingle after class or for parents to watch their children in class simply. The tennis courts were all on the lower floor, which is where the conference was being held.
The second speaker of the day was Greg Aten, USPTA Elite Professional and Midwest USPTA Hall of Fame member who spoke about “Ins and Outs of Pressure Doubles.” With the help of Ferris State University students, Greg went through a series of drills and keyed in on winning points without touching the ball. The movement of the net players can dictate where opponents hit the ball and get an unforced error by simply moving and putting pressure. There were drills that showed movement during rally play and movement during service games. He went through hand signals a doubles team can use to disrupt the return with the net player poaching, staying, or faking. The message was clear: being a good partner and winning as a double team doesn’t mean you have to hit aces or winners all the time Sometimes, causing your opponent to hit unforced errors simply by moving and communicating with your partner where you are going is all that it takes
The key is to change your mindset and understand that in paddle, defense wins matches. Unlike tennis, where you get rewarded for big serves and punishing groundies, in paddle the opposite is true most of the time. When you watch the best paddle players play, you will see that most of the points come from a forced mistake and not an outright winner from the back of the court. However, the key to getting to this point is a patient and well thought defensive play. An integral part of your defensive play is your lob and your ability to use the screens to keep the ball coming back but most importantly your patience to look for the right time to drive the ball and force a mistake. A great drill to work on your patience and defensive skills is:
Team A starts at the baseline, Team B at the net.
Player A starts the point with a crosscourt lob.
Player B hits an overhead or volley to the same player A who started the point.
Player A Hits a down the line lob to player B.
Player B hits overhead/volley to same player A.
Player A hits another lob and the point starts. Team B can hit anywhere in the court!
Alternate the feeds, start from the deuce court and next point from the ad court and so on
Teams can only score points once team A hits their third lob (Lob feed counts) The team that gets to 11 points first wins
As you can anticipate, you must be able to use the screens to your favor so you can hit the lobs to the right place Eventually, once you hit a good enough lob that forces your opponents to leave a short ball, then you can drive the ball and force their mistake at the net
As I said before, the key is patience and knowing that in paddle good defense is really good offense!
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The game of Padel is a combination of Tennis, Racquetball and Squash. More than 25 million people play padel in played in 110 countries. It was first played in 1969 in Acapulco, Mexico. USPTA Padel Certification Workshops can be found HERE.
What if we could empower high school students to pursue a career in racquet sports, and equip them quickly (within a year) with the knowledge, education, and initial experience to consider a wide range of careers, and take the first steps towards that career?
What if we determined that one of the most concrete and successful approaches to career identification is aspirational modeling? What if each of us were to take every opportunity to help create the coaches and directors of tomorrow by counseling our junior players to consider our industry as a viable career option?
What if we let these young players know that education is important and that industry-specific, targeted education that introduces the business skills needed to pursue senior roles within the racquet sports industry does not necessarily require a traditional, 4-year, on-campus degree program, or a significant and often debt-laden financial commitment?
McMahon Careers recently announced the launch of the Certified Racquet Sports Management (CRSM) Certificate program. The program was created to help develop the next generation of energized, entrepreneurial, and wellequipped racquet sports professionals. The CRSM program will help students take the first steps in preparation for a long and successful career, as well as help the industry become better resourced for continued growth, and sustainable, long-term success. Initially
through launching the program, and over time as we celebrate CRSM graduates, the program will advocate for the amazing career opportunities in the racquet sports industry.
The CRSM Certificate program curriculum prepares students for introductory positions as Tennis, Pickleball, Platform Tennis, and Padel teaching professionals, as well as other entry-level racquet sports industry roles in operations, management, and administration.
The business skills introduced and developed through the program will also prepare students for other racquet sports industry positions that can include manufacturer sales representatives, pro shop and retail managers, college or high school coaches, tournament directors, and racquet sports industry administrators.
In addition to 270 hours of live virtual classroom learning over 9 months, each student will prepare for, and complete the Level 1 Instructor Certification requirements administered by USPTA and PTR. Students will also participate in and complete a 400+ hour, paid summer industry lab internship.
My hope is that those of you with a passion for our industry and a desire to see its long-term success and sustainability will start to share information about the new CRSM Certificate program with those whom you influence.
The United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA), Inc is the global leader in tennis teacher certification and professional development As the oldest and most recognized tennisteaching organization, the USPTA has over 14,000 members worldwide, with 17 divisions nationally. Our mission is to “elevate the standards of tennis-teaching professionals and coaches and to promote greater awareness of the sport ”
There is no better way to begin or advance your racquet sports career than by joining the USPTA. USPTA certification is the industry standard and provides professionals and coaches with the most credible certification available.
• Earn money teaching the sport you love
• Make a difference in people’s lives
• Fuel your personal passion with a lifelong career in tennis and other racquet sports
• Network with the industry’s best professionals
• Access to top-notch mentoring
• Attend exceptional educational events
• Get the gold standard of certification clubs and facilities are looking for
$6 million of on-court and in classroom liability insurance coverage
Health insurance selection assistance
Ability to purchase additional insurance products
Full access to education at TennisResources com
Free monthly webinars
Annual USPTA World and Division Conferences
Exclusive USPTA discounts from our endorsees
Subscription to Racquet Sports Industry magazine, which includes USPTA ADDvantage magazine
Career servics through USPTA Find-A-Pro and USPTA DirectorSearch
Discount for University of Florida Director of Racquet Sports Certification
Free USTA Safe Play background screening
USPTA Supplemental Savings Program
Refer & Earn: refer an applicant and earn Tennis Warehouse gift cards
Conferences, seminars, specialty courses and webinars discussing teaching, business, sports science and facility management are offered by divisions and at a national level.
The USPTA’s online education library includes:
• Lessons and drills
• On Court with USPTA episodes
• Recorded seminars
• Specialty courses
• Recorded webinars
The United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA), Inc is the global leader in tennis teacher certification and professional development As the oldest and most recognized tennisteaching organization, the USPTA has over 14,000 members worldwide, with 17 divisions nationally. Our mission is to “elevate the standards of tennis-teaching professionals and coaches and to promote greater awareness of the sport ”
The USPTA Instructor certification pathway consists of 4 (16 hours) online educational modules, participation in two 4-hour Level 1 virtual workshop sessions, completing USTA Safe Play training with a background check, proof of CPR certification and submitting and passing a video lesson.
The cost to become an Instructor includes a $225 one-time application fee. It also includes the prorated amount of the $225 annual membership dues.
Application Process
• Complete USPTA Application
• Pay Non-Refundable Application Fee
• Pay USPTA Membership Dues (prorated based on application date)
The USPTA Professional certification pathway takes approximately 75-80 hours to complete. Requirements include all Instructor requirements, 16 online courses, Teaching Privates webinar series, Private Lesson video submission and the Level 2 workshop (a three-day face-to-face workshop including group lesson and stroke production testing).
The cost to become a Certified Professional includes a $425 one-time application fee, the prorated amount of the $325 annual membership dues, all online courses and required in-person workshops.
Application Process
• Complete USPTA Application
• Pay Non-Refundable Application Fee
• Pay USPTA Membership Dues (prorated based on application date)
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• Elite and Master Professional
• Pickleball
• Padel
• Platform Tennis
• Wheelchair Tennis
• Director of Racquet Sports
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Greg Aten
Midwest Executive Director
United States Professional Tennis Association
Kings Court Copley, OH 44321