Jo to DivisionPresident johnefrausto@gmail.com
CathyThomas RegionalVicePresident Cthomas6@cinci.rr.com
Ma g ton 2ndVicePresident zmboughton@ymva-cv.org
AndrewCoon 3rdVicePresident andrew.coonstl@gmail.com
K i Treasurer/Secretary kgyulai@oakland-hills.com
M s PastPresident tenace4@gmail.com
Dear Midwest RSPA Members,
The New Year is off to a great start for the Midwest RSPA! Our annual Winter Forum, held in conjunction with the Illinois High School Tennis Coaches Association at the Five Star Tennis Center in Plainfield, IL, was a huge success. We had over 340 coaches and pros attend, participating in events like the Cardio Shootout, a four-hour tennis/pickleball specialty course, and Level 1 Tennis and Pickleball Certifications. It was a busy but rewarding few days, filled with excellent networking and educational opportunities. I want to thank our fantastic Midwest Board for their hard work and dedication in making the Winter Forum a success.
Please mark your calendars for our upcoming Summer Symposium. We are returning to Cleveland this year, working alongside Tennis In The Land. We will be recognizing our 2024 RSPA Midwest Award recipients and inducting new Hall of Fame Members. We are planning to offer a Pickleball Certification, Level 1 Tennis Certification, Platform Social and 3 hours of education. The dates are August 20-22, 2025. More information will follow.
Registration is now open for the 2025 World Racquets Conference at the Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa in beautiful Kona, Hawaii. This will be a once-in-a-lifetime conference with great education and networking. The Midwest RSPA will host several socials and networking events After winning the RSPA Olympics title last year in Palm Springs, we're hoping to repeat in Hawaii. We encourage you to bring your family and join us for this incredible conference!
During our recent monthly call with the National Office, Brian Dillman shared a thought that resonated with me: "What does
being an RSPA Professional mean to your members?" Brian emphasized that being an RSPA Professional provides security, peace of mind, and safety. We are more than just an organization that offers liability insurance. Let the RSPA train your teaching staff so you can focus on other day-to-day activities. We can guide your pros and staff down a career path where they can grow and help your club reach new levels. Let us provide the peace of mind and certainty you deserve by certifying your racquet sports professionals.
Regards,
John Frausto
RSPA
Elite Professional
Midwest RSPA President
Call For RSPA MIDWEST EXECUTIVE BOARD Nominations:
Would you like to contribute more to the RSPA Midwest Division? Have you been interested in serving on the Midwest RSPA board? Well, here is your opportunity. This year's RSPA Midwest Division board term ends on December 31, 2025. The next term will run from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2027. If you are a Master or Elite level certified professional and interested in running, you can run for these offices (Regional Vice President, Second Vice President, Third Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer, or a State President).
Please submit the following material to be considered for one of the above offices to Matt Davis (tenace4@gmail.com) by August 15, 2025, if you have an interest.
1. Pro's name and office of interest
2. 200 words on why you are interested in serving
3. Best contact info and email
APRIL/25 APRIL/25
4th - 4th - Ferris State University PTM Spring Seminar & Awards Banquet Ferris State University PTM Spring Seminar & Awards Banquet Ferris State University Spring Awards
18th - Platform Tennis Certification, Bloomfield Hills MI. 18th - Platform Tennis Certification, Bloomfield Hills MI. - Platform Tennis Certification, Bloomfield Hills MI.
MAY/25 MAY/25
12th / 13th - Level I Tennis Certification, Big Rapids, MI.
12th / 13th - Level I Tennis Certification, Big Rapids, MI. / Level Tennis
JJUNE/25 JUNE/25 UNE/25
20th - 22nd - Level 2 Tennis Certification, Aurora, IL. 20th - 22nd - Level 2 Tennis Certification, Aurora, IL. - 22nd Level 2 Tennis Aurora, IL. August August August/25 /25 /25
21st - 21st- RSPA RSPA RSPA Midwest Midwest Midwest Summer Symposium Summer Symposium Summer Symposium, Cleveland, OH. , Cleveland, OH. , OH.
- 24th -
- 24th
- 24th
RSPA Midwest Winter Forum, February 7, 2025, Illinois high school tennis coaches and RSPA professionals gathered for an insightful presentation titled Best Drills for Teams led by Jorge Capestany, the esteemed founder of Tennisdrills tv and Pickleballdrillshq com Known for his innovative approach to tennis instruction, Capestany shared a wealth of knowledge and encouraged coaches to make sure the drills they use in their practices get players as many "touches on the ball" as possible
The session focused on practical drills that coaches can easily integrate into their training sessions. Capestany emphasized that "all tennis drills can be modified to fit a coach's/player's specific practice needs, but it is okay if the drill is challenging for a player. If they are struggling, that means they are learning." He showcased a range of drills and games to address shot accuracy and strategic play, all while keeping training sessions fun and dynamic.
He also highlighted the importance of fostering a positive team environment and encouraging coaches to focus on building strong relationships with their players. With Capestany's expertise, attendees left inspired and equipped with fresh strategies to elevate their coaching and improve their athletes' skills on the court.
Amanda put on a great presentation called “I Got You Babe” at the RSPA Midwest Winter Forum in Plainfield, IL on February 7th. Amanda talked about her approach to the doubles game and how you ’ re always supporting your doubles partner.
First, you must find out what your job is as a partner. The baseline player must make his/her partner look good and not get them hurt up at the net, where the net player needs to be moving with the ball to be in the right position to put the ball away.
Second, the different things you can do like playing staggered when you ’ re both at the net. The person that hits the volley has the right to move forward, where your partner takes a few steps back
Finally, figuring out whose job it is to cover the lob Also, if you ’ re getting lobbed all the time then you're hitting the wrong shot which is allowing them to lob you Somebody always must look to cover the lob, and it can be the person who’s back in the staggered formation.
Amanda was a great speaker, and everyone really enjoyed her perspective on the doubles game!
by Jack Stuart, RS
During lunch at the RSPA Winter Forum, RSPA Vice President, Jenny Gray, shared updates from the RSPA national board. Member retention and growing membership has always been a key focus. The Midwest has been a leading division in these categories for the last year. Coaches have continued to get their education credits and workshops have been filling up. A big key to continuing this success across the board for all divisions is getting to know the members better. It was at this point when coaches broke off into groups to discuss and answer questions that Jenny had brought with her
The first question of discussion was “what does being an RSPA member mean to you?” The groups all agreed on two main things here The RSPA has allowed us all to have a chance to help grow the game that we all are passionate about and share that passion with others. It is also great knowing that we are all part of a group that has high standards and expectations for the industry. We all hold each other accountable.
The next topic was “what product or service would you like to see the RSPA provide?” More emphasis on the mentorship program was a big topic. This is something already provided, but growing this could help many new and younger professionals find their way in the industry. It is another way that could bring us all closer and continue to bring about great ideas.
“What do you feel is important in recruiting new or younger members?” was the next topic. In discussion the groups agreed that it is important for these younger pros to connect. Have conferences and events focused on them and helping them find their career path. Many pros enter the industry and need some guidance to find their way
The final topic for discussion was “how has the RSPA helped you personally or professionally?” Unanimously the groups agreed that networking has been the biggest help Having so many conferences and workshops for pros to come together and collaborate has been a key to the organization’s success. Discussions with one another is how new ideas come about and how people grow as an industry professional.
Johnny Kent gave an insightful talk on coaching and practice structure titled “Doing Basic Better. Building effective practices that build consistency for all players (and coach) ability levels. His focus on mastering the fundamentals through consistency and attention to detail is key to developing both players and coaches. The idea of emphasizing “ordinary things better than anyone else" ties into the importance of repetition and honing basic skills over time.
The structure of Johnny's practice plan seems very well thought out, with a good balance between different types of activities. The way he breaks down time for each part of the practice (warm-up, fundamentals, drills, match play) likely helps keep players engaged and provides clear objectives throughout the session. The inclusion of small groups and individual work is also a great way to ensure that players receive more personalized feedback.
Also, I love that he emphasizes the importance of having a routine and being prepared ahead of time Planning and sticking to that routine seems like a great way to build consistency and confidence for everyone involved
In his presentation at the 2025 RSPA Midwest Winter Forum, Coach Jerry Morse-Karzen explained his coaching philosophy and how it has helped him lead the New Tier Varsity Girls tennis team to multiple state championships. Before coaching, Coach Karzen, himself, had an illustrious tennis career, playing in 3 grand slams after playing college tennis on the University of Michigan Men’s team. Karzen originally got into high school coaching because he enjoyed the team atmosphere and loved the idea of being able to coach kids during matches, a freedom not possible in traditional junior coaching.
Karzen’s coaching philosophy boils down to a few key items. He believes in maintaining large teams to give more kids positive experiences and opportunities. This past season, there were over 100 students in the New Tier girl’s tennis program. As a coach, Karzen believes in the importance of getting his players to learn to do what is good for the team instead of the individual, or as he phrases it, “buying into the ‘ we ’ , instead of the ‘ me ’
There are three main principles that Coach Karzen expects the athletes on his teams to follow:
We are good people 1
We work hard 2.
We play to win 3.
Karzen wants his athletes to present themselves as good citizens. Being respectful to opponents and anyone they encounter on trips helps to foster a positive environment. His vested interest in his players becoming upstanding people has led him to require that all his teams do one big service project each year. In addition to his attitudes about his students being model citizens, Karzen expects his players to give it their all during practice and matches. To create a hardworking environment, Karzen expresses the importance of shorter but efficient one and a half hour length practices compared to longer low quality practices.
Coach Karzen’s strong belief in the power of team unity was evident as he discussed the many opportunities his players have to bond together Every season, he chooses to schedule a big road trip early on because players learn about each other and build relationships on those long bus rides Students who are new to the team get an opportunity to chat and hang out with other students who they may otherwise not get a chance to talk to during practice or at school As the season goes on, he tries to schedule team hangouts and parties.
A final tenant of Coach Karzen’s philosophy is his dependence on team captains. As he put it, team captains hear and know things that the coach doesn’t. After each practice, he has a short meeting with captains to discuss how the practice went and to receive any input and suggestions the captains may have. These brief but impactful meetings help Karzen maintain a connection with his players he otherwise would not have.
Whether it was a state championship season or a rebuilding year, Coach Karzen always ends the season with a team banquet. During this banquet, he plays a video with clips and photos from all throughout the season. He noted that this film is often one of the most fun moments of the season for players and it’s easy to see why. More than anything else, Coach Karzen says players remember the relationships that are built on his teams At the end of the day, being on the New Tier Girls tennis team is about making memories that will last a lifetime
refine their skills. It became evident that ball feeding is a skill that requires dedication, practice, and mastery. The competitions of that era led to noticeable improvements in ball feeding techniques across the country. Now, more than a decade later, the competition is being brought back, under the new RSPA banner.
Wisconsin Illinois
Ohio
Indiana Michigan Elm Grove Aurora Columbus Indianapolis Saint Joseph Har tland (3) Cincinnati (2) For t Wayne Big Rapids Green Bay Cleveland (3) Appleton
The RSPA began the process of pickleball cer tifications in December of 2021 by sending a team of future Coach Developers to Orlando for an intense 3 days of training Since then, we have added more CD’s and upgraded the cer tification process to include SafePlay, online video courses, an in-person workshop, and more As you can see above, I’ve put in a lot of miles in the car driving across the Midwest, visiting new clubs, and meeting new coaches
Below are the requirements for hosting an event and the process of getting it on our national calendar
Court Needs
Two Indoor Pickleball Cour ts (possibly more pending registration)
If you would like the workshop to be outside, that is great but we require indoor backup cour ts.
We accept 8 par ticipants per Coach Developer, if we have two of us, we can take more students.
Equipment Needs
Pickleball Teaching car ts if available, if not, we will bring our own. How Long Do They Take?
The course is designed to take 4 hours, with larger groups we sometimes go a bit longer. How To Be a Great Host
Allow par ticipants to use your locker room facilities. Communicate with your members about what is going on that day
Have your cour ts clean and ready for the workshop
Use of a lobby or meeting area for a few minutes prior to the star t
Invite your favorite members and employees to be our students for the group lesson por tion
Build in a few extra minutes at the end of the scheduled time in case we go longer than expected
Call me at 414-704-5562
Text me at 414-704-5562
Email me at scottfickstennis@gmail com
Fill out our online request form: RSPA PB Cer tification Request Form
Find me on Instagram and Facebook: @scottfickstennisandpickleball
2024 RSPA Midwest Professional of the Year
2024 RSPA Midwest Illinois Pro of the Year
2024 RSPA Midwest Wisconsin Pro of the Year
2024 RSPA Midwest Indiana Pro of the Year
2024 RSPA Midwest Michigan Pro of the Year
2024 RSPA Midwest Fay Tooley Award
2024 RSPA Midwest Nancy Mickler Award
2024 RSPA Midwest Elevate Award
2024 RSPA Midwest High School Coach of the Year
2024 RSPA Midwest Individual Jr. Coach of the Year
2024 RSPA Midwest Large Facility Manager of the Year
2024 RSPA Midwest Small Facility Manager of the Year
2024 RSPA Midwest Charity of the Year (10K or less)
2024 RSPA Midwest Dan Oliver State Presidents Award
Kati Gyulai
Mike Lange
Scott Ficks
Lucas Waak
Amy Nestle
Dallas Aleman
Mar y Herrick
Kyle Pipkin
Andrew Shipp
Joe Stafford
Stuar t Nett
Jason Nor ville
Kristen Harrison
Costin Fink
The Buddy Up Pickleball program,
by Brian Shoman, RSPA Elite Professional
The program here at the Paramount Medina Tennis Club takes place every Wednesday from 5-6 PM. We have about 10 great volunteers that help with the program. If pros are interested in helping, then they can contact Brian Shoman at bshoman@paramounttennisclub.com.
This has been a great program for Paramount because it has gotten a lot of members involved and the athletes have been a great addition to the club.
Motor City Squash Tournament hosted by Birmingham Athletic Club in MI & Squash in the Land at Playhouse Square in Cleveland, OH
By Matt Davis, RSPA Elite Professional, PRCC Director of Racquets
The Park Ridge Country Club in Park Ridge Illinois just had an exciting platform tennis event with over 60 members participating. The Paddle Blitz which took place on February 23rd from 4-8pm was filled with vendors, raff les and fun paddle play. Ladies from all 11 Paddle teams attended and we had prizes for the winning players. The format was a blitz of 24 players with 16 playing and 8 checking out the vendors each round. Each player played two out of the three rounds with a 20 min per round time frame. Scoring was calculated with a plus and minus system so for example one team wins 5-2 then they would have plus 3 and the other two would have -3 We played 9 rounds with the winner having the highest positive score at the end.
Two tournaments were completed on that day with the Lowest level starting at 4pm and then the best players at 6pm. Congratulations, to all the winners of the Paddle Blitz and for a successful lady’s paddle event.
Greg Aten
Executive Director
