EXECUTIVE BOARD EXECUTIVE BOARD
PRESIDENT
SCOTT BURTON
REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT
SIMON PAEK
1ST VICE PRESIDENT
EVAN PARRY
TREASURER
GABRIEL JACOB
SECRETARY
MATTHEW JONES
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CARLOS CRUZ-AEDO
PAST PRESIDENT
MIKE GENNETTE
DISTRICT 1
Karl Akkerman
DISTRICT 2
Kevin Finkelberg
DISTRICT 3
Search In Progress
DISTRICT 4
Russell Alger
DISTRICT 5
Michael Chantos
DISTRICT 6
Stephen Loreto
By Simon Paek, Regional Vice President Southern California Division, Coach Developer – Tennis and Pickleball Director of Racquet Sports, Mission Viejo Country Club
I have been teaching tennis professionally since 1986 and received my RSPA (formerly USPTA in those days) certification in 1993 I was a dual member with PTR for many years and at some point, decided to go all in with the RSPA about 12 years ago
Roughly 5 years ago, I was one of three RSPA Professionals, alongside Angelo Rossetti and Nigel O’Rourke, who under the direction of Sid Newcomb, our former National Head Coach Developer, developed our still evolving Pickleball Certification Curriculum From 1996 to 2004, I was actively involved with the RSPA California Division Board I took a break, then became active again in 2022 Needless to say, I’ve been an active member of The Racquet Sports Professionals Association for 30 + years and am going strong
As most know, we are in the midst of going through changes with rebranding There are those who are vehemently against this change as well as those, like me, who choose to embrace it. I am not here to judge, nor to try to persuade one way or the other; I just want to take a moment to share my personal perspective on this matter
I first want to start with a personal story from 2019 I’m lucky enough to be in a beautiful work environment at Mission Viejo Country Club in Southern California When I first started in that same year, there was
lots to improve on, in particular, our facilities Our lights needed to be upgraded to LED, the clubhouse needed remodeling, courts resurfaced, blowers purchased, and some safety issues needed to be addressed Basically, we needed quite a bit of funding to be pumped into the tennis facilities Those of you in the country club setting know this would be a hard road ahead
During this period, pickleball started gaining stride in popularity and participation After trying it for myself, I thought it would be the perfect vehicle to get our “golfers” onto the tennis facilities side of the club by adding PB as an amenity to our tennis offerings. The idea was simple, get our equity members using the tennis facilities and this would be the catalyst to help get the improvements needed
(The above is an excerpt from an article submitted to ADD Magazine – please look for the full article coming soon)
Switching gears, it’s time to NOMINATE a deserving RSPA Professional to be recognized at our Annual RSPA Southern California Division Conference scheduled for May 17-18 at the Burbank Tennis Center. Some of the categories for consideration are:
Don Henson Division Professional of the Year Award
Lifetime Achievement Award Diversity Award
District Professional of the Year Awards (one (1) for each of our six (6) districts)
Club Manager of the Year Award
Under 30/Elevate Award Star Award
Hope you are having a wonderful Winter. It is the time of the year to reflect back on last year and perhaps think of things you could have done different of better in this year Here are two that I think you should think about Try to persuade your students to purchase a journal and log in what were the major points of the lesson that they just went through with you. Have them journalize the drills you gave them so they will remember them We all forget 50% of the lesson by the time we get back to the car So I suggest that you send them a quick email of a brief summary or recap of the major points or focus It will give them in focus in the next couple weeks to work on what they paid $80-$130 per hour. Have them keep it in their tennis bag and read it once or twice a week I have a file folder on my PC full of numerous lessons in word documents that recap the lessons
After a short while you will have a big supply of lessons and then it is just a matter of cut and paste and maybe a little editing to make it seem that you just came up with all of it just for them. Also a message of encouragement on how well they did or are doing I am the only pro that does this and I am told by many they really think that they are special that I put in the time to send them the recaps
The second thing I think I want to incorporate for them and myself is to challenge them to work on their athleticism. Challenge them (and yourself) to work on running a mile in under 7 minutes or less and doing up to 20 pushups Encourage them to log it in daily and they will see fast improvement This will build strong legs and endurance Of course they (and you) have to work up to it and make small goals and eventually meet that 7 minute mile or 20 pushups. Ask them to tell you when they accomplish it or their progress on how they are doing. Writing things down always keeps goals and focus sharp to achieve their goals They can add other things like Yoga or palates twice a week Maybe a boot camp, swimming, or cycling is something they could strive to do These goals will keep you and them longer in the game and reduced injury if they keep on it I had a student do both of these and he was thrilled to tell me he lost 20 lbs. and could rip off 20 pushups with no problem He even showed me and the whole clinic of 16 people It was effortless He was so proud of himself and still keeps it up to this day So he thinks about me every time he runs or does his daily pushups Of course, we all have to start easy and slowly add more pushups and run a little faster each time Small goals If they are a regular student you could purchase one for them and give it to them as a gift with a few words of encouragement on the inside cover and date it This will separate you from the other pros they may take lessons and will keep them loyal to you as well
The RSPA values your membership and we know that you will get some much out of it if you involve yourself in improving your knowledge in the game at our educational events.
Have a wonderful 2025 and keep yourself healthy
Karl Akkerman RSPA District 1 President
RSPA Pro of the Year 2023
Happy new year friends and colleagues!
This is Stephen Loreto, your new RSPA SoCal District 6 President I am both honored and excited to accept this new volunteer position and give back to the organization (and its members) who helped me find joy and realize my dream career as a tennis pro coach.
First, I want to share my history with tennis I was first introduced to tennis at the age of 9, not as a player, but as a ball boy At that time, basketball was my main sport growing up in the Philippines One weekend on my way home from playing basketball, I passed by the tennis courts (shell courts might I add) and one of the tennis pros at the tennis club called me over and asked me if I wanted to earn 10 centavo (roughly equivalent to 15 cents per hour modern time) to pick up tennis balls for players. I was hesitant at first because I didn't know anything about the sport, but the pro assured me that if I can run and chase balls, I will be ok So, I agreed and got a 15-minute overview of what I needed to do After an hour and a half of grueling heat chasing the balls and giving them to the players, I survived my first job as a ball boy, and it wasn't bad at all This became my routine on weekends after playing basketball Eventually, the ball boys were given a chance to play tennis because by 10:30am, no one wants to play anymore due to the excessive heat and humidity. So, with our borrowed racquets and flip-flop slippers, the ballboys played. This is how I learned to play tennis and from there on, I never looked back. Fast forward to today, I still enjoy playing tennis, but I enjoy teaching, coaching and sharing this game with others more I truly believe this is one of my many callings in life, to share and help others through tennis
As your District 6 president, there are three basic but important characteristics I want to pass on to our members They are teamwork, cohesiveness and friendship (camaraderie). For teamwork, the underlying principle of "there is no "I" in “team" still applies to me. I would like to make sure that our RSPA members will work well together as a team to achieve our organization's mission and goals For cohesiveness, I want to establish a good bonding relationship between our members, to motivate each other to achieve our common goals Lastly, I want
to establish a sense of camaraderie between our leadership and each other I understand there will be challenges along the way but together we can overcome those
I want to thank Tim Ludeke for his leadership during the past years I am taking this position as your humble liaison to the RSPA board, as well as your teammate and friend. I look forward to meeting you all in-person at our district, division or national conferences.
Respectfully,
Stephen Loreto
By Mike Gennette, RSPA Elite Pro, SoCal Division Past President
Mark your calendars! On May 17–18, 2025, the Burbank Tennis Center will be the site for the RSPA Southern California Conference and this year, we’re serving up something truly special For the first time, our speaker lineup will feature an all female all-star cast of speakers bringing fresh energy and perspectives to the court
This event is all about celebrating the game we love and spotlighting opportunities for women to thrive in the tennis industry Whether you’re a coach, a player, a business owner, or just passionate about tennis, this conference promises to be a weekend full of insight, inspiration, and connection It’s a rare chance to hear from some of the best in the game while also discovering new ways to grow your own career or involvement in tennis We are still encouraging men to attend the event of course as the topics will be relevant to all But we wanted something special to really get more women interested in becoming more active and getting into the industry
Tennis has long been a sport that inspires greatness, and this event is no exception From expert coaching techniques and business strategies to personal stories from the pros, our speakers will offer practical advice and plenty of inspiration
For women who love tennis, this event is a fantastic way to explore the exciting possibilities within the sport whether it’s becoming a certified coach, finding your niche in the business side of tennis, or simply gaining valuable insights from professionals who’ve been there
And here’s the kicker: We’re still looking for more amazing women to share their stories at this year’s conference If you have something valuable to offer whether it’s coaching expertise, insights into the tennis business, or your journey in the sport we’d love to hear from you Your voice could inspire others to take their next big step in tennis
Let’s Make This Event Memorable
This conference isn’t just about presentations; it’s about connection It’s about sharing ideas, meeting others who love the game, and leaving with new tools and fresh energy for your own tennis journey It’s also a perfect opportunity to become a mentor or to find one! You never know who might inspire you, or who you might inspire, simply by showing up
If you’re interested in speaking or know someone who would be a great fit, don’t hesitate to reach out You can email me at gennette@callutheran edu We’re building something exciting here, and I’d love for you to be a part of it
So, grab your calendar, save the dates, and start looking forward to a weekend filled with tennis, learning, and camaraderie Whether you’re presenting, attending, or just curious, we can’t wait to see you in Burbank this May!
by Simon Paek, Regional VP and Coach Developer Tennis / Pickleball
I hope everyone is enjoying a great start to 2025! The following is the Certification I hope everyone is enjoying a great start to 2025! The following is the Certification Calendar for the year for Level I, Level II as well as for Pickleball: Calendar for the year for Level I, Level II as well as for Pickleball:
Look for emails as well as Social Media posts for more information. This same calendar
Look for emails as well as Social Media posts for more information. This same calendar can also be accessed through the following link to our website: RSPA If you know can also be accessed through the following link to our website: RSPA If you know anyone that needs information or is looking to get certified, please pass along this anyone that needs information or is looking to get certified, please pass along this information, thanks in advance. information, thanks in advance.
Another great source of information would be to contact our certification team at HQ via
Another great source of information would be to contact our certification team at HQ via email at certification@rspa.net. You can also email me at paektennis@gmail.com email at certification@rspa.net. You can also email me at paektennis@gmail.com
Times
Location
Sunday 9am-5pm Monday 8am-2pm
iTennis Cerritos
19700 Bloomfield Ave Cerritos, CA 90703
Saturday 12pm-5pm Sunday 9am-5pm Monday 8am-2pm
iTennis Cerritos
19700 Bloomfield Ave Cerritos, CA 90703
Saturdays 11:30am-3:30pm (May 17th) 7:30am-11:30am
Mission Viejo Country Club 26200 Country Club Dr Mission Viejo, CA 92691
Burbank Tennis Center (May 17th) 249 Amherst Dr, Burbank, CA 91504
We combine comprehensive education, background screening, and clear policies to implement standards for athlete safety Working alongside the U S Center for SafeSport and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, we develop safety policies and resources. Safe Play empowers the entire tennis community to recognize, prevent, and report misconduct, ensuring a brighter, safer future for our sport.
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— Dmitri Diakonov GPYC Director of Tennis
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