Midwest Connection Summer 2024

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PICKLEBALL CERTIFICATION, Western Racquet Club, August 11th, 10:00-2:00 pm

SUMMER SYMPOSIUM, LINDNER FAMILY TENNIS CENTER, August 11th, 3:00-6:00 pm

MIDWEST SOCIAL EVENT, Lindner Family Tennis Center, August 11th, 6:00-8:00 pm

MIDWEST HALL of FAME/ AWARDS BRUNCH, Delta by Marriott, August 12th, 10:0012:00 pm

CINCINNATI OPEN TOURNAMENT Group Outing, August 12th, 1:00-4:00 pm

LEVEL 2- IN PERSON WORKSHOP (Teaching Groups), August 12-14, The Club at Harper’s Point

Kati Gyula
Aldrin Campos
sh Faulkner
Adam Ford

A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT: John Frausto

We are fast approaching Summer, and many of you are in full programming mode. Hopefully, you have a lot of momentum coming out of the Spring session As an organization, we have a lot of momentum both in the Midwest and Nationally. Below is a breakdown of our upcoming activities and new programs coming to the USPTA

2024 Summer Symposium As an organization, we pride ourselves on our education opportunities. As many of you know, we offer two educational events in the Midwest: each year; our Winter Forum and Summer Symposium (SS). This year, we will be returning to the Cincinnati Open on the grounds of the Lindner Tennis Center for our SS The dates are August 11-12, 2024. We have a great slate of presenters, so make sure to come out and take in a great day of education! A reminder that USPTA members can receive a FREE Grounds Pass for the tournament. You can print a copy of your membership card on the USPTA website

NEW USPTA Non-Member Pickleball Certification We have offered our Pickleball Certification to our current membership base, but we are now offering the certification to non-members There are a few criteria new applicants must keep in mind. Coaches must have a 3.5-4.0 ability level. They must have 6-12 months of teaching experience and must be 18 years of age or older. The cost is $249 for the application fee, and annual dues will be $325 per year

USPTA World Racquets Conference (WRC) Our WRC is fast approaching. This year, it will be held in Rancho Mirage, CA at the Westin Rancho Mirage Golf and Spa The dates are September 15-19, 2024. We will have more information in this newsletter. As a division, we will be hosting a networking breakfast on Monday, September 16 at 7 am We would love to have you join us and share what you would like to see from us as a division and board We are also bringing back the Division Olympics this year. We need your support so we can bring home the gold!

USPTA Apprentice Program New to the USPTA and set to debut soon is our USPTA Apprentice Program The program is geared towards juniors who are ages 14-17 years old. Think about juniors who assist with your club programming or with recreation departments The cost for the certification is $50, and the juniors must complete 2 online modules. Look for more information coming out on this exciting program We want to be pioneers in the Midwest; let's see if we can get as many of our juniors who help you with your programming certified!

Enjoy your summer, and I can’t wait to see you at one of our events soon!

USPTA Illinois State Vice President

Jake Wilson, USPTA, RPT, has been coaching juniors and adults at Oak Park Tennis Center since graduating from college Growing up, Jake was one of the top tennis players in the Chicagoland area and led Oak Park River Forest High School to 3rd and 4th place finishes at State. At Illinois State University, he earned top spots on the team and finished with a degree in statistics.

Since graduating, Jake has been coaching all levels and ages in the Chicago area with a special passion for junior development. His high energy, positivity, and philosophy that hard work beats talent have helped countless players reach their tennis goals, In the off season, Jake coaches the high-level junior program at Five Seasons in Burr Ridge

USPTA Wisconsin Vice President

Manolito Kehoss is a USPTA Midwest past award winner as our Fay Tooley Memorial Award Winner for outstanding community service in the tennis industry, as well as the Midwest Small Facility Manager of the Year

He played college tennis for the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. When not at the Wisconsin Athletic Club, Lake Country, Mano

spends his time as a dad, running his 11 and 14 year old daughters to their passion sports of choice!

Pre-covid our tennis team was the leader in community outreach in the Midwest. We worked closely with local schools and physical education departments to bring tennis into gym classes with our certified tennis professionals.

I’m super excited to be involved with my local community to grow the game of one of the few lifetime sports: tennis!

I lead by example Try to be a leader in the community and never stop learning! The success of our program does not come from one individual, but what each of us brings to the table and how we all communicate and learn from one another.

3:00pm

2024USPTAMidwestSummerSymposium

August11th,3:00-6:00pm-LindnerFamilyTennisCenter,Mason,OH.

RegistrationHERE:

KatiGyulai,USPTAEliteProfessional&AldrinCampos,USPTAEliteProfessional Topic:"UnderstandingMomentumandItsApplicationinTennis"

KatiGyulai,istheDirectorofRacquetsatOaklandHillsCountryClubinBloomfieldHills,MI SheisaUSPTAEliteProfessional,USPTAPlatformTennisEliteProfessional,USPTAPadelHeadCoach,USTAHighPerformanceCoachandPPRcertifiedPickleballcoach.Sheisa formerNCAADivision1HeadMen’sandWomen’sTennisCoachwithanoverallrecordof175-144.CoachKatiservedastheHead Women’sTenniscoachatSouthernMethodistUniversityinDallas,TXfor8seasons,attheUniversityofWyomingfor4seasonsandas HeadMen’sandWomen’sTennisCoachattheUniversityofLouisianafor3seasons.SheistheUSPTAIntermountainCollegeCoachofthe Year.SheservesastheUSPTAMichiganPresident.

SheisaformerlivebroadcastcommentatorattheTexasOpenPickleballChampionship,guestappearedAttheNetPodcastandpresented atseveralconferences ShehasanMBAandisfluentisseverallanguages

Aldrin Campos, serves as the Head Racquets Professional at the Birmingham Athletic Club in Birmingham, MI He holds various certifications, including USPTA Elite Professional, USPTA-Platform Tennis Elite Professional, USPTA Padel Head Coach, USTA High PerformanceCoach,andPPRcertifiedPickleballcoach WithabackgroundasaformerNCAADivision1headmen’sandwomen’stennis coach, he brings extensive experience, including multiple NCAA tournament appearances Aldrin served as the Director of Player ExperienceattheDallasOpen250ATPtournament Additionally,heholdsamaster’sdegreeinbusinessadministrationandcurrently holdsthepositionofUSPTAMichiganVicePresident

4:00pm

TrishFaulkner,USPTAEliteProfessional Topic:“FromYouthtoHighPerformanceandMastersTennis,Howshouldweadaptourteachingskillstoaccommodate ourstudents?”

TrishFaulkner,originallyfromSydney,AustraliaandaformerAustralianJuniorTennisandSquashChampion,hasbeeninsportsand specificallytennisherwholelife WhilelivingandworkinginLondon,playingontheInternationaltennisandsquashcircuit,Trishwon seventourtitles,includingtheBritishCoveredCourtsDoublesandMixed TrishmarriedandmovedtotheUSAlivinginMichiganfor18 years

WhileinMichigan,TrishplayedfortheDetroitLovesWTTandbecameacertifiedUSPTAprofessionalin1968teachingtenniswhennot playingcompetitively TrishwashiredbyWJRRadioinDetroittoreportonInternationalRacquetSportsandshewashiredtodolocalTV colorcommentaryfortheVirginiaSlimsofDetroit Shetaughtfor18yearsintheDetroitareaandownedanindoortennisclub Trishwas alsotheNorthAmericanWomen’sSquashChampionandcoachedtheCanadianWomen’sSquashTeam AsaworldrankedSeniortennisplayerTrishhaswon36goldballsandanITFWorldChampionshipaswellasbeingpartoffourUSAITF WorldChampionshipTeams TrishisintheUSPTAFloridaHallofFameandtheUSTAFloridaHallofFameaswellasthePalmBeach CountyHallofFame TrishisalsointheAustralianSquashHallofFame ShehasbeennamedUSPTAFemalePlayeroftheYeartwice A formerPresidentofUSPTAFlorida,andnowservingasPresidentontheUSPTANationalBoard,TrishservesontheUSTA/USPTA Foundationasaliaison. TrishalsoservesastheliaisonfortheUSPTAtotheandtheWTCTandFCN(Bothstrongorganizations promotingwomenintennisandtenniscoaching)

TrishhasrecentlyretiredfromherpositionasTennisDirectorandProfessionalEmeritusafter28yearsatBallenIslesCountryClubinPalm BeachGardens,Florida.SheisexcitedtoworktirelesslyfortheUSPTABoardandfortheUSTAFloridaBoard/Foundation.

5:00pm

AdamFord,USPTAEliteProfessional

®

Topic:"AthleteCenteredCoaching:ModificationsforyourPlayer'sNeeds"

AdamFord,iscurrentlytheDirectoroftheHopeCollegeProfessionalTennisManagement(PTM)program.Wherestudentsstudyandlearn tobuildacareerinthetennisindustry FordformerlyservedastheDirectoroftheTournamentTrainingProgram(TTP)andDirectorof JuniorTennisattheGreaterMidlandTennisCenter HespentfouryearsasHopeCollegemen’sandwomen’stenniscoachandhisteams earnedthreeMichiganIntercollegiateAthleticAssociationtitlesandfourNCAADivisionIIITournamentappearancesinhisfourseasons HeplayedcollegetennisforfouryearsatDivisionINorthernIllinoisUniversity Heandhisdoublespartnerwererankedashighas33rd nationallyamongDivisionIplayers HeisaUSPTAEliteProfessional,PTRProfessional,PPRProfessionalandUnitedStatesTennis Association(USTA)High-PerformanceTennisCoach HeisalsoaCertifiedHumanPerformanceInstituteMentalToughnessSpecialist, RacquetfitCertifiedCoachandanEtcheberrycertifiedspeedandagilitytrainer HisteachingprowesswasrecognizedbytheProfessional TennisRegistry(PTR),whichnamedhimthe2011and2022MichiganTennisProoftheYear HewasalsonamedtheUSPTAMichiganPro oftheyearin2022aswell FordalsoappearedinRacquetSportsIndustryMagazine's"30UnderThirty"listofthoseinthetennisindustry whoarehelpingmovetheindustryforward FordservesontheUSTAWesternMichiganDistrictBoard,TournamentCommittee,Junior CompetitionCommitteeandRefereeCommittee HealsocurrentlyservesastheUSPTAMichiganVicePresident

6:00-8:00pm-MidwestSocial,LindnerFamilyTennisCenter

USPTA MIDWEST DIVISION

MIDWEST Professionals Making a Difference with programs all around the Division

Buddy Up Tennis in Green Bay Wisconsin

That’s a wrap, just like that, the 2023-2024 Buddy program wraps up with a bang! During the 3 sessions 30 athletes participated in each of the 3 sessions, over 40 active volunteers came year-round to have new friendships being built. The program saw growth throughout the state as athletes are traveling from all around the state to be in our Saturday program.

Humana became part of our sport as well for the year as well! Our season ended on May 4th with the iconic Pie the Coach at the end. Our next event will be on June 29th at a local park in which it will be open to the Green Bay Down Syndrome community where Buddy Up Tennis will partner up with the program to bring tennis to more families.

The program will come back to Green Bay Tennis Center in the Middle of October! For more information or a chance to see our program check out our Instagram page @gbtc buddy up tennis

Ohio Special Olympics Event

The 11th Annual “Serving It Up for Special Olympics” Benefiting Special Olympics Ohio May 18th, at The Club at Harper’s Point

Sponsored By Prasco, Calvary Industries, Cincinnati Open, The Club at Harpers Point, Cassinelli and Shankar & Associates.

The clinic held for the 41 Special Olympics athletes was held in the afternoon, followed by a pizza party and awards with touring Pro Caty McNally as the guest speaker.

Then the round robin and social in the evening for the fundraiser brought on over 120 people to eat and drink and bid on silent auction items and raffles, raising over $43,000

Special Olympics Cuyahoga County:

When Coach Brian Smallwood, Executive Director of Thrive Through Tennis Foundation, attended the Special Olympics Tennis Regionals as a volunteer in 2023, he realized the need for representation from Cuyahoga County. Brian dedicated countless hours laying the groundwork for creating Thrive’s Cuyohoga County tennis team

in collaboration with Special Olympics MBB Chapter (Middleburg, Berea, Brookpark).

Thrive’s Special Olympics MBB Tennis Team played its inaugural event at the Special Olympics Northeast Ohio Regional Event held June 1 at Paramount Tennis Club in Medina. The 16 players competed in both singles and doubles matches, with on court support from Special Olympics Certified coaches and volunteer ball persons.

What made the day so special was the true spirit of the athletes. In the end, it wasn't about winning or losing, but about coming together, pushing boundaries, defying expectations and most of all…having fun!

Info about the USTA Midwest Unified Doubles Qualifier:

THRiVE will be hosting the USTA Midwest Unified Doubles Qualifier at Center Court Tennis Club in Broadview Heights on August 3. Unified Doubles teams pair an athlete with a cognitive and/or developmental disability and their partner without a cognitive and/or developmental disability, called a unified partner. The winner of the Midwest Qualifier will get a bid to play in the USTA National Unified Doubles teams pair an athlete with a cognitive and/or developmental disability and their partner without a cognitive and/or developmental disability, called a unified partner. The winner of the Midwest Qualifier will get a bid to play in the USTA National Unified Doubles Tournament at the USTA National Tennis Center in Orlando in October. This is the first time this event is being held in Northeast Ohio, so please sign up and come out to support our local athletes!

USTA MW Jr. Wheelchair All-Comers Camp

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) Midwest Section, with the help of volunteers and coaches, was the host to its 6th annual wheelchair tennis camp for junior athletes June 14-16 at the DeWitt Tennis Center in Holland, Mich. There were 28 participating players, ranging in age from 6-18 years old, some learning the sport of tennis for the first time. Made possible by grant funding from the USTA at a national and section level, and a few local, generous sponsors, the camp provides a unique opportunity to learn a variety of skills including how to push the sports chair There is a great focus on enhancing mobility on the court through a variety of drills and games. After learning how to score, the camp ended with a mini tournament. Camp Director, Lynn Bender, USPTA said, “It was simply an opportunity for kids to be kids and try a new sport, or see if this is an opportunity for them to take it to the next level. We are always looking for that next Paralympian if that’s the route they want to go, or it can be as simple as letting a kid experience friendships, exercise and a normal camp experience to meet others with similar disabilities ” Lynn Bender is the USTA Midwest Section’s Wheelchair Tennis Committee Chair and also a USTA National Regional Youth provider for the Midwest Section At the camp, USTA Midwest gave away a new sports chair valued at $3,000 to one attendee. Many kids do not have their own sports chair or borrow used ones from other programs. Bender said, “We compare it to having the right size tennis shoe to play tennis. You can’t play tennis in sandals or flip flops, and you must have the right equipment. For our kids, they need tennis chairs that fit them properly so they can play the sport. We want to thank the Lugers Foundation and the City of Holland Visitors Bureau who stepped up to help us give away a new chair to a kid we feel was the most deserving from the weekend ” If you are interested in donating towards the cost of a sports chair for a future camper, please reach out to Lynn Bender. Many kids do not have these large ticket items covered by insurance companies and parents are left with many out-of-pocket costs to pick up. There will be an adult wheelchair tennis player on each court, helping coach and mentor these young players. Many of the coaches are adult players from the local wheelchair tennis 1 program; others are local tennis pros who offered to help coach and be a part of this amazing experience Coaches and players come from all over the Midwest Section to be a part of this event “This is our 6th year and the camp has grown each year,” said Bender “This is going to be a great opportunity for young athletes to learn what they can do and how tennis is a sport they can play with their friends and family. The only different rule is they are allowed two bounces. So, it’s such an easily integrated game to be inclusive with the community and their peers and opens the door for many future opportunities for these kids from playing high school tennis, collegiate wheelchair tennis and even Paralympics if that’s their goal. This event will help prepare many kids who would like to gain some extra skills and then take it back to their own local summer wheelchair tennis programs ” The campers come from all over the Midwest Section, including Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan “The camp was amazing and we had our highest ever kids this year it’s an amazing camp! It’s all sponsored and we offer a one-night free hotel and a free camp! On the beautiful campus of Hope College,” said Bender. Special thanks to USPTA professionals Lynn Bender, Brian Dean and Dave Richmond for their leadership during the camp.

More information can be found about camps, training sessions and tournaments by visiting the USTA Midwest Section’s Wheelchair Tennis Facebook page here or at usta com/midwest ### About USTA/Midwest Section USTA Midwest, founded in 1895, has one mission: "To Innovate, Promote and Grow the Game of Tennis." Serving five states (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin) and 13 districts, you will always be able to find the perfect fit for your game! Check out exciting opportunities happening near you at usta.com/mid

Are You Prepared?

Recently I assembled all the information available to me as a very part-time tennis teaching professional. Certainly, the plethora of websites provide me with all kinds of ideas for stroke production, customer relations, the business of tennis, and of course, equipment and fashion! There are websites that tell you how to deal with tennis students struggling mentally on the court; some are comments by

tennis pros, others by sports psychologists. Hence, for the most part, we as tennis pros can find answers to our challenges by searching the web. My younger collogues flatter me by asking my advice on things. When those questions are finished, I ask them, “what can you do when you cannot feed tennis balls anymore, or what’s you value to this club, when you can no longer teach?” There is puzzlement on their faces as many of them do not think bad things can happen. I recommend that they start looking at taking classes online that can increase their value. Taking an accounting class or learning a second language are two things I often state. One thing I regret is not gaining a master’s degree in counseling and guidance Why? Most tennis pros have methods to help interested tennis players What about the player who loves the game but has trouble achieving success because of mental roadblocks or are in conflict with themselves Sometimes, we see great practice players, but not great match players Counseling and guidance would have helped me understand the human mind to a greater extent in my career as a teacher, coach, industry rep, and pro. In addition, had I stayed in education, I would have been able to help students find their way. As you look to your future when feeding a ball is not in the cards, take some time to think about the “what’s next?” so you are prepared when it happens.

High Performance Coaching Education at the Miami Open

Sports

After a four-year break due to Covid 19, the USTA renewed its High-Performance Program and re-engaged with their graduates. The USTA seeks to reignite the Team USA Pathway to support established coaches and recruit and enlist the next

generation of junior development coaches. The continuing education program was conducted on the grounds of the Miami Open on March 18-20. The invitation to apply was sent to graduates of the USTA High-Performance Coaching program. Twenty coaches were selected to attend.

The three-day program focused on analyzing the professional game using the USTA Player Development Coaching Philosophy as a guide Coaches were involved in lectures, meetings, match analysis, and discussions, with the goal of showing the trends in the professional game and understanding how to apply the lessons learned to our daily high-performance coaching.

The education session started with a revision of the USTA Player Development Coaching Philosophy which is defined as Person First. This coaching philosophy was developed by Jose Higueras in conjunction with the USTA Player Development staff and is based on the many years of collective coaching experience and interaction with the international tennis community. This approach to coaching and teaching focuses on positive coaching, coaches character, age and stage, accountability for behavior, mental and emotional wellness and health, and long-term approach with the goal to develop players who compete like champions Players who compete like champions are confident, determined, engaged, professional, resilient, respectful and tough For more information on the USTA Player Development Coaching Philosophy visit s3.amazonaws.com/ustaassets/assets/689/15/philo2020.pdf

The session continued with discussion about how the game has changed in the last 5 years. The most significant change was identified to be that players have less weakness. Because of that today's players are more focused on their opponents than themselves, due to the lack of weaknesses in the game.

The USTA accomplishes this through performance analytics, distinguishing itself as the sole federation worldwide with a Performance Analytics Division offering match statistics via Tennis Analytics, Tennis Viz, and Swing Vision This enables the players and national coaches to access current and pertinent data from the world's leading players Furthermore, the USTA endorses Swing Vision and encourages integration into our daily programs

Our daily on court assignment included match analysis. We were briefed on specific players and what the national coaches are working on and expect to see during the match. We evaluated those specifics and followed it up with analytics the next day.

The following day National Coaches Dean Goldfine and David Nainkin presented to the group They emphasized collaborative coaching approaches tailored to individual players, focusing on technique, mindset, and player communication. They discussed strategies for improving returns, maximizing ball speed, and refining defensive shots. Goldfine stressed simplicity and trust-building in coaching relationships, while Nainkin advocated for a systematic approach to on-court coaching.

Former National Coach Diego Moyano highlighted the evolution of tennis and coaching strategies, with a focus on developing young players' mechanics, adaptability, and mental toughness He emphasized personalized player development plans, character building, and long-term progress over shortterm results.

At the conclusion of the education sessions, the USTA asked us the following questions and went around the table for discussion.

How do you systematically use our Philosophy or your program Philosophy to evaluate play and have you players more clearly identify their identity?

How can you apply the Performance Team approach in your program in a way that helps you to take better care of your athletes and will help you to differentiate your program?

The USTA is recruiting the next generation of junior development coaches to keep the success and momentum going Coaches interested should contact a USTA High Performance Coach and ask to refer or send me an email at kgyulai@oakland-hills.com

For coaching resources, visit : https://www.playerdevelopment.usta.com/coaching resources/

Cincinnati Open Kids Day

NEEDED- USPTA Professionals-

Kids Day will be returning to the Cincinnati Open on Sunday, August 11th.

The on-court fun will take place from 9:30-11:30am with additional offcourt activities happening on the grounds until 2:00pm.

Date: Sunday, August 11th

Arrival Time: 8:45am

Departure time: 11:45am (after cleaning up)

Must be SafePlay compliant.

Pass to enter grounds will be provided, if needed

We want to make this year’s event the best yet, but this can’t happen without your assistance.

Please RSVP at the following link, space is limited. https://form.jotform.com/241416276848161

Directors’ Club of America – 2024 Retreat Recap

In industries built upon the service of people, those that are leaders within them rarely gather to share ideas, vision, and time The racquets industry is no different Getting leaders from around the country in one room is a tall task Getting them together to share with one another about topics such as compensation, recruiting and hiring talent, best industry practices…almost impossible. Yet, this is exactly what took place at the 2024 Directors’ Club of America retreat in Boca Raton, Florida this past April

Behind the scenes at every racquet club in America are directors, head professionals, racquets professionals, general managers, and more, connecting the dots and building clubs that members can delight in and grow racquet sports From commercial clubs to country clubs, municipal programs to exclusive member-only programs, the Directors’ Club retreat saw some a unique compilation of leaders in the racquets industry gathered in one room.

USPTA Master Professional Kyle LaCroix said this of the event and the club itself, “The Directors’ Club of America retreat was the largest gathering of the racquet and hospitality industry’s best and brightest leaders. The crème de la crème from the nation’s best clubs, resorts and service providers came out in a show of camaraderie and enthusiasm for what was an incredible three days of first-class service, conversations and networking It was a sea change moment for our profession Anyone in our industry that is not involved in the Directors’ Club is simply missing out.”

racquets pros across the country began to buy into this new community within their beloved industry. It was finally a place where hard questions could be asked, sensitive topics could be discussed, and strangers could become friends over a shared passion of racquet sports without any hoops to jump through.

What Is the Directors’ Club?

The Directors’ Club of America (DCA) was developed by a trio of directors of racquet sports from top-tier clubs in Texas: Jarrett Chirico, Chris Gale, and Michael Jordan Their vision, spearheaded by Chirico, was simple: Do Better Go Further Together! They wanted to see the racquets industry grow, see it become more collaborative, and to change people’s mindset when they hear the word “racquet”.

Through the vision and tireless efforts of these three leaders, the club began to grow With emphasis on, “Targeted Workshops, World Class Speakers, and being, “A Network Like No Other,”’

The workshops and speakers vary within the continuous string of videos, ranging from former ATP World #8 Janko Tipsarevic to the owners of Selkirk Sport pickleball, from former Navy Admiral Brian McCarthy to USPTA CEO Brian Dillman. All with one common goal: build the community of racquet sports through the people that comprise it. Though a club in name, the DCA is purposefully positioned to embrace new members and welcome them into this unique community with every intention and effort to help individuals and clubs grow and thrive.

The Retreat Itself:

This three-day retreat covered a myriad of topics during its time at the beautiful Boca West Country Club (if you’re unfamiliar, Google it and let your mind be blown) Topics ranging from the value of certifications, the value of mentorship, a deeper look into racquets industry compensation, and the evolution of sports leadership. There was truly something for everyone within the racquets industry whether it be a tennis pro teaching forty hours a week, or the upstart pickleball fanatic looking to break into the sport It was truly an amalgamation of talent and backgrounds.

The racquets industry often draws proverbial lines in the sand within itself which can lead to an unnecessary hierarchy. Are you USPTA or PTR certified? Are you a head professional or a director of racquets? Do you work at a private or commercial club? Do you rep HEAD or Wilson? The DCA completely washes away the lines of demarcation between those within the industry, and the retreat was the embodiment of that practice. Complete unity and lockstep among the attendees to learn from each other and focus on the growth of the entire industry Titles didn’t matter in Boca All that mattered was that the group was together, and a new wave of energy and vision could be palpably felt by those in attendance.

Throughout the retreat the attendees were showered with overwhelming hospitality from Boca West, but even more so experienced an opportunity to network with like-minded colleagues. There are 1000 ways to teach someone how to hit a forehand and innumerable opinions on the racquets industry, but the DCA retreat focused on how we can band together in pursuit of industry advancement

A common thread from Chirico throughout the retreat was his emphasis on people. We serve people, work for people, and work with people. The racquets industry cannot grow and thrive without intentionality on the investment of the people within it You can have all the certifications in the world, but without an understanding of who you work with and serve, it’s all for naught. The retreat was designed to be exactly that, a retreat from the day-to-day grind that all racquet pros endure, with the purpose of having encouraging and thoughtful conversations with other attendees

As USPTA members, we should be in alignment with the organization’s motto or, “Elevating the Standards of Racquets-Teaching Professionals.” The DCA not only believes in that message, but the group, through things like the retreat, are actively finding ways to put it into practice

Personal Reflections:

As an attendee of this retreat, I was left with three main takeaways: 1. If I’ve forgotten the people, I’ve forgotten my purpose.

Much of the racquets industry is centered on competition. Clubs producing better programming that other clubs. Pros producing better players than other pros We often don’t stop for a moment to think how we might be able to help each other because we are too consumed with beating each other. Our goal should not be to merely coexist or compete, but it should be to collaborate. Iron sharpens iron, and we are often reinvigorated by collaboration, not demoralized. Who is currently investing in you? Who do you currently invest in?

We spend hours upon hours on court with students and fellow pros, and if our mindset isn’t on how better to serve or support those we are involved with, we miss a major opportunity Are we, am I, taking the opportunities in front of me for granted? How am I maximizing my potential impact on those I teach, or those I teach with? If my chief goal as a racquet pro is to make money or gain notoriety, I have missed the mark Take the extra time to truly invest in those you teach and take the time to ask for advice or to give advice to those you work with If we all practiced a bit more humility as professionals, we would find there are far more people ready to help than we may have thought. 2. Industry collaboration is paramount to industry growth.

The DCA has provided me with countless interactions and relationships that have immediately impacted my career in a positive way. But…it took me stepping out in humility to ask for help, or in this case, to join the DCA with an open mind in hopes of learning new things

3. Gratitude to be in an industry that not only challenges me but brings me joy.

Finding purpose in your profession is what allows us to go into work each day. I often remind myself that I chase around a yellow ball every day and get to call it a job. My life can’t be that bad. If I didn’t enjoy my work, I would be miserable There are always more educational opportunities available to us in the racquets world, but if we cannot find joy in what we do, it would be difficult to do it 50, 60, 70 hours per week.

Attending the DCA retreat helped to put additional wind under my wings as I came back to my club with new ideas, new strategies, and new industry confidants I came back to Fort Wayne, Indiana from Boca Raton, Florida not with envy of the weather or scenery, or playing the comparison game after hearing about other professionals’ clubs, but rather with a grateful heart that the experience I had in Boca validated my career path It helped me to clear my head from the fog of my day-to-day to remind me why I do what I do and to give me additional tools to maintain that focus and mindset as long as I can.

I would encourage anyone seeking to learn and grow within their career, or looking to find career revitalization, to join the Directors’ Club of America It’s not another box to be checked or tag to your LinkedIn page, but rather a wellspring of opportunity because of the people within it.

How To Join:

There are multiple membership opportunities for students, individuals, and clubs to join the DCA See the link below for more information and how to find a new home within the racquets industry Home | The Directors Club 1 (thedirectorsclubofamerica.com)

Facility: Town of Sweden, NY Installer: Super Seal Sealcoating

Midwest Job Opportunity

Wildwood Racquet Club, in Fort Wayne IN. is seeking to fill full time job positions for the titles below: Compensation and Job Description to be discussed with appropriate candidates.

1 Director of Pickleball

2 Tennis Teaching Professional

A brief summary of the positions are listed below

The Director of Pickleball (DOP) is responsible for overall operation of the Pickleball department, including pro shop, programming, lessons/clinics, and staff. The DOP is a highly visible position requiring strong presence, leadership and communication skills with both members and staff. The DOP is expected to be the leader of the program by passionately promoting the sport of Pickleball. These traits must resonate through his/her team and to do so as well. The working environment of the organization is one of professionalism and respect, and the Club prides itself on the positive relationships it maintains with its staff, members and community. The DOP will need to emulate standards based on the Core Values of the Club and the vision of the Club.

The primary role of the Tennis Professional will be to assist the Director of Tennis in management of all facilities and activities related to tennis The focus will be working in the junior development program as well as teaching private and group lessons to juniors and adults of all ages and abilities We are looking for a USPTA or PTR certified coach with a 4.5+ NTRP rating. Having played collegiate tennis would be a plus. The right candidate should be able to work independently as well as be a solid team player. A Full-time position will be starting with 30+ hours and able to build upwards of 40+ hours.

Please inquire to Josh Rifkin for Director of Pickleball position at: jrifkin@wildwoodracquetclub.com

And inquire to Director of Tennis Michael Parker for Tennis Teaching Professional at mparker@wildwoodracquetclub com

Visit www wildwoodracquetclub com for more information about the club

WORLD-CLASS WINDSCREENS

Our proprietary Tuffy® and Tuffy® Closed Mesh Windscreens are an ideal choice for any place you need a visual barrier. Both offer superior sun/UV resistance and are perfect for use on any tennis or pickleball court when extra protection or privacy is necessary.

REFER A NEW APPLICANT, EARN A $50 TENNIS WAREHOUSE GIFT CARD!

The process is easy! If you are an existing USPTA member, active and in good standing, refer a new applicant! Once the new applicant completes the USPTA application online to become a Certified Instructor or Certified Professional (which includes payment of the one-time application fee and prorated portion of membership dues for the current calendar year), then you will earn a $50 Tennis Warehouse gift card!

Each existing member can refer up to six applicants and earn a maximum of $300 in Tennis Warehouse gift cards per calendar year! To qualify, the new applicant must list the referring members’ name in the “Refer & Earn Referring Member” field on the online application.

Scan here to learn more.

July/ 24

MIDWEST DATES that RATE

2024 2024

9th Midwest Executive Board zoom call, 9:00 EST

August/ 24

11th Pickleball Certification (Register Here), Western Racquet Club, 10:00 - 2:00 pm

11th Midwest Summer Symposium (Registration HERE), Cincinnati OH

11th - 14th Level 2 Certification Workshop (Group Lesson), The Club at Harpers Point Register HERE

September/ 24

15th - 18th USPTA World Conference, Rancho Mirage, CA. REGISTER HERE

(Division Olympics, Midwest Networking Breakfast, Midwest Social included)

December/ 24

6th - 8th Level 2 In-Person Workshop (Teaching Groups), Big Rapids, MI. HERE

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