A Division of the USPTA
June 2020
Jason Jamison Diversity Award
Amy Badger Lessons for Life Award
Dick Johnson Star Award
Carol Sandvig High School Coach of The Year
Gregory Prudhomme, PhD Professional of The Year
Emily Wang College Coach of The Year
Tracy Lawson Industry Excellence award
Spencer Hing 30 & Under Award
Karen Weir Southwest Proud Award
President’s Message Dave Moyer - USPTA Southwest President
Dear USPTA Southwest Division Tennis Professionals, I would give anything to be wri ng you today in ancipa on of our upcoming Southwest Division Conference. It is always one of the highlights of my year ge ng to see everyone, network and learn new things. I know our conference chair Laurie Mar n and co-chair Amy Badger worked very hard to bring you a tremendous slate of speakers and ac vi es. So despite not having our conference this year, I want to give a big thank you to them for all of their work. I would love to be able to say that I will see you all at World Conference in New Orleans in September but unfortunately we have had to cancel that in-person conference and we are looking at alterna ves including a virtual conference. More informa on to come on that soon.
As facili es do open up, please take the me to read up on all of the safety precau ons that are out there and available. We have been fortunate at The Country Club at DC Ranch to con nue to offer tennis during this me to our members but it has also been a challenge to keep everyone safe. Make sure to have a lot of disinfectant available before reopening. We have a sprayer similar to what you see at the big box stores and that has saved us a lot of me. We put zip es on all of our gate latches, took away towels and any self-serve ameni es that were previously offered to the members. Our professional staff has their own teaching basket and they are the only ones allowed to touch the tennis balls. We are limi ng the number of players in clinics and we have staff move courts instead of members and obviously follow social distance guidelines. There are many more things we are doing but you get the idea. Be crea ve, set the rules and s ck to them in the name of safety. Members/players understand and will follow what you set forth. Stay safe everyone and I look forward to the day when we can all get together again. Hopefully that will be in September in New Orleans. Know that your Southwest Board of Directors is here for you. If you have any quesons or need anything, please feel free to contact me via email at dmoyer@ccdcranch.com
During the pandemic, our country as a whole has struggled as we navigate our way through this pandemic and tennis professionals haven’t been immune to the struggle. Many of you have had your clubs/facili es shut down completely and have either been furloughed or laid off. For that, I feel deep sadness for you and your families as well as for the game of tennis. My hope is that you will be able to get back on the court soon and start teaching the game that we all love. The USPTA has been very generous during this me opening up tennisresources.com for free. This is a great opportunity to get all of your credits done as well as learn some new things to bring to the courts when you reopen. I hope you all have taken full advantage of this great opportunity.
page 2
June 2020
USPTA Southwest Tester Update By Southwest Head Tester, Dr. Gregory Prudhomme
I
hope everyone is ge ng through this interes ng and challenging me in our history as healthy as possible. As you can imagine, all USPTA tes ng dates have been cancelled across the country from March through May, but the USPTA recently announced that Divisions could determine when they will resume tes ng star ng in June. The Southwest Division tes ng team along with other leadership will be making decisions on the remaining tes ng dates, case by case, based on a variety of criteria that are specific to each date and loca on. The Southwest Division has decided to resume tes ng on June 26-27 in Tucson with Bryan Dirks provided there are no changes to the current situa on between now and then. Below is a list of the remaining tes ng dates in the Southwest Division that we hope will be conducted, but only a er each date is reviewed. Remember that 2020 is the final year of the current USPTA cer fica on process. If anyone is interested in upgrading his or her current level of cer fica on under the current process, it must be completed this year. Addi onally, any applicant that starts their cer fica on must complete the en re process by the end of 2020 to avoid star ng the process new at a future date. Please note: For applica ons started prior to October 31, 2020, all tested components must be completed by December 31, 2020, which is when the current cer fica on pathway ends. Beginning on November 1, 2020, all new applica ons will follow the new cer fica on pathway, which includes six to nine months of hands-on work experience with guidance from a USPTA-approved mentor, 300 hours of online and/or in-person educa on and the comple on of USTA Safe Play training and a background check. Pass the word on to prospec ve USPTA applicants that now is a great me to become cer fied. Let me know if you have any ques ons or you can reach out to your local Southwest Tester: Larry Lineberry (Northern Arizona), Bryan Dirks (Tucson), Dick Johnson (Albuquerque), and Jonathan Davis (Phoenix). Let us know if you have any ques ons. You can reach me at 602-301-1394 or at gmprudhomme@yahoo.com.
2020 USPTA Southwest Certification Dates: June 26-27; Tucson, AZ @ Tucson Country Club August 22; Cottonwood, AZ @ Mingus Union High School September 18-19; Tucson, AZ @ Tucson Country Club October 16-17; Albuquerque, NM @ Tanoan Country Club November 20-21; Glendale, AZ @ Paseo Racquet Center December 4-5; Glendale, AZ @ Paseo Racquet Center
June 2020
page 3
THOUGHTS ON REOPENING STEFAN J. LAPORTE / USPTA Elite Professional / EXECUTIVE SEARCH CONSULTANT
F
irst and foremost, I hope all of you, your family and staff are safe and healthy during this pandemic crisis. Our best thoughts and wishes go out to the families and friends who were, and are, affected by the virus. We are star ng to see some posi ve and encouraging results in our country. I am encouraged about the eventual reopening of tennis facili es, with new suggested safety guidelines, a er the stay-at-home order has been li ed in your state. Tennis is one of the few sports that already has good social distancing prac ces, and with several improved guidelines, it can be enjoyed by your family and the en re Club for not only the physical benefits, but everyone’s mental well-being. I am an Execu ve Search Consultant with McMahon|10s, an Execu ve Search & Training firm for private Clubs and also am the Director of Tennis at a 23-court facility in East Hampton, NY during the summer. Like many of my colleagues, I am looking forward to ge ng back on to the court, however I have seen a lot of fellow professionals and Clubs struggling with ge ng the message across that tennis is an ac vity that will be generally safe to enjoy again – very soon. HERE IS WHAT WE SUGGEST FOR A SAFE RE-OPEN FOR YOUR TENNIS FACILITY: 1. Please read all the informa on first and then decide what is best for your facility. Every club will handle their situa on differently - take what is best for your situa on. 2. Follow all CDC, local, state and federal guidelines for social distancing for re-opening your facility. Make sure you are staying current as guidelines are changing almost daily. 3. Update and revise all training manuals and procedures for your Opera ons in regards to Covid-19 and how your staff will handle different situa ons. 4. Precise communica on between the GM, Tennis Professional, Racquets Chair, Commi ee and Board will be cri cal. Outline a plan now – before reopening, to handle the situa on with clear communica on with the membership. 5. Check to see what Phase of virus progression your area is experiencing and adjust accordingly.
BEFORE ON COURT ARRIVAL: 1. If tes ng is available in your area, all staff should take a Covid-19 test before start of employment and at a later specified me. 2. Staff should have temperature checks at the start of each day. A staff member having a temperature above 100.4 (CDC guideline) should be sent home immediately and self-isolate. A staff member showing other symptoms (check with CDC guidelines) should also self-isolate. 3. Members who come to play at your facility are on the honor system. If they show any symptoms of Covid-19, they should self-isolate (according to your state’s guidelines) and get tested. Clubs must have a consistent policy established on how to handle a situa on where a member cannot be certain of their condi on. page 4
June 2020
PROCEDURES FOR SINGLES/DOUBLES PLAY: 1. It is recommended that players wear a disposable vinyl glove on their non-playing hand so as not to come in direct contact with the ball. 2. If a ball comes on your court from an adjoining court, roll it back with your racquet. 3. Use a can of new balls, and dispose a erwards. 4. Bring your own towel and water and space your items a safe distance away from the other players. 5. An bacterial wipes should be provided at each court. 6. Chairs, tables, shelves and water coolers (solid surfaces) should be removed from courtside. 7. When changing sides, use opposite sides of the net. 8. Use an bacterial wipes on your grip before and a er play. 9. Limit talking on the court and use air bumps for good shots while s ll maintaining social distance. 10. Above all else, use Common Sense
PROCEDURES FOR PRIVATE LESSONS: 1. Depending on your state’s phase, Junior/Adult camps-clinics-teams probably cannot be programmed due to the social distancing guidelines; however, private lessons up to 3 people and a pro can s ll be maintained with social distancing. 2. It is preferred that 3-6 new balls are used for each lesson and the balls are discarded a erwards. 3. If a Bucket of balls is preferred by a group (dedicate 1 ball hopper exclusively for each pro - color code), no students can pick up any balls by hand. Use a ball tube and wipe down a er use. The ball hoppers should be replenished regularly. Note: At this point, no studies have shown if the virus can be transmi ed on the tennis ball. 4. Wear wristbands (and headbands) to avoid touching your face. 5. Wipe down all equipment a er use.
RECOMMENDED EVENTS: 1. Events such as Social mixers or round robins should not be programmed because of social distancing. 2. Team matches are not recommended as you want to limit play at your facility to members only - guests should not be allowed at this me. 3. Club Championships can s ll be held with a set me, court assignment and balls placed at the net post before play while following all the procedures above. 4. The best prac ce in your area is to form a zoom mee ng of your fellow professionals in your immediate area to go over what works best at your Club, and so that ideas can be shared and generally consistent prac ces followed. It’s my belief that this sharing of ideas will go a long way in promo ng the safety of our sport in the long term. Remember that tennis is played outdoors in the open, fresh air with plenty of room. Gyms might have more difficulty opening up on a normal scale because of the density and cleanliness of the area. People need exercise for both their physical and mental well-being, and tennis is the perfect sport to maintain our balance. These suggested guidelines are not set in stone and should be adjusted to your area and par cular needs. We are not promo ng that tennis is 100% safe if you use these suggested guidelines. However, these guidelines can possibly reduce the risk of ge ng Covid-19 while ge ng back on the court. If you are looking for guidance, seeking a Director of Racquet Sports or need advice in any tennis related ma ers, please feel free to contact me directly. The mo o for tennis has always been “the sport of a life me.” On behalf of everyone at McMahon | 10s, I hope that you stay safe, healthy and smart during these turbulent mes.
June 2020
page 5
“My Point”
by Chris Howard / USPTA Elite Professional
“Always there - Always ready” As a newbie tennis player in the 1960’s and at ages 12 to 13 I was the low man (kid) on the totem pole in regard to wan ng to play with the be er men and women players in the area of Newark, Ohio. As we all have learned, it takes some me to break in on the ranks, especially in an individual sport - you have to prove yourself. The protocol at the public Fiberglass tennis courts on the weekends and also a er work during the week was to show up around 8 or 9 in the morning or 4 to 5 p.m. during the week and start hi ng on court #1. Once there were four people you started playing doubles and with six another court of singles un l there were 8, but if you were a youngster, adults got the first nod to play. Along court 1 there was a concrete bench built beside the sideline for about 25 feet where people sat wai ng to play. And I sat there quite a lot. Luckily, down on court 5 (the last court in the row of as many at this small facility) there was a backboard to hit and prac ce against. It never said no to me, never talked trash, never made me feel inferior (even though it never lost) and helped make my game be er and be er. When I started rallying against it I probably hit every third ball over the fence, but with me and ge ng the hang of really how to use it properly and be er technique the sound of the balls contac ng it would almost sing - in a weird kind of sense. Groundstrokes, volleys, serves, serve and approach - forehands to backhands - 20 over the white line without making a mistake, even overhead smashes could be done.
Many days I had to wait and wait to get chosen, if indeed anyone had enough energy and want to put up with a young teenager who ached to get to play with the “good” players….but the backboard never turned me down. And every now and then I’d hear someone call from the other end of the courts, “Chris, you got a set in you?” Or, “Kid, wanna hit some?” And the more it happened the more they got to know how much I loved the game, pracced hard and wanted to improve. Tennis in Ohio was very seasonal at that me, spring - summer and fall. When the cold weather hit people put their racquet away and the nets were taken down….but the backboard was s ll there to hit against and I’d ride my bike about a mile to do just that with my T-2000 that Jimmy Connors made famous. Here we are 50 plus years later with this virus thing shu ng down the Yavapai College tennis facility where for over 35 years I’ve been spending 4 to 8 hours a day on the courts, teaching - playing - planning - watching, running events and now with the courts locked up the past month, kind of lost.
page 6
June 2020
Lots of down me - and with that, some safe hits with my wife and friends a few mes at the City of Presco ’s old and historic “Armory” courts. These 4 public courts just off Gurley Street have been le open to play on which has been a lifesaver for all of our local tennis enthusiasts. And guess what, there are two backboards there. You might not think an inanimate object could relay sen mental feelings that a flat painted piece of plywood a ached to the fence has given me over the years. The other evening with my racquet, the board, and a couple balls, I hit and reminisced of years gone by. It was just me, perfect weather with a beau ful sunset over Thumb Bu e...years of thoughts and memories swirled around each dis nct whack of the ball. From a young kid to a senior of 65 and its s ll, “Always there, always ready” my friend - the backboard. Chris Howard is a local USPTA Tennis Professional with over 50 years in the racquet and fitness industry. He can be reached at 928-642-6775 or choward4541@gmail.com.
SOUTHWEST OFFICERS President Dave Moyer 480-342-7240 dmoyer@ccdranch.com Regional VP Laurie Mar n 480-213-2083 lmar n@ppiarizona.com Vice President Amy Badger 505-379-6728 badger3@me.com Secretary Suk Ong 602-881-0467 suk_ong@tempe.gov Treasurer Greg Prudhomme 602-301-1394 gmprudhomme@yahoo.com Past President Jonathan Davis 520-360-0182 jdavisuspta@gmail.com Pro Emeritus Bri Feldhausen 520-886-1885 bri eldhausen@mac.comesident Execu ve Director Jack Michalko 602-740-0126 usptasw@cox.com
SOUTHWEST COORDINATORS Northern New Mexico Dick Johnson 505-507-6795 richarddjtennis@aol.com Phoenix Ryan Johnson 480-267-0725 rjohnson@dmbclubs.com Southeastern Arizona John Perry 520-403-8290 jptennis25@yahoo.com Northern Arizona Andrea Meyer 928-300-4352 andreajmeyer@yahoo.com Southern New Mexico & l Paso TBD Head Tester Greg Prudhomme 602-301-1394 gmprudhomme@yahoo.com Mark Frampton, Director of Tennis at Paradise Valley Country Club in Paradise Valley, AZ is excited to finally be back on the court teaching!
June 2020
The Southwest Magazine is the official Publicaon of the USPTA Southwest Division of the United States Professional Tennis Associa on.
page 7
Northern Arizona by Andrea Meyer
In Northern AZ, Andrea Meyer’s high school coaching season at Mingus Union, Co onwood, was cut short a er the girls’ fourth team match, a 5-4 squeaker of a win as darkness fell over Greenway High School. While school has been closed, small groups of team members have been cleaning up roadsides around the Verde Valley as a service to the community. Andrea also washed her supply of foam balls in her bathtub and offered them to her team and private students for home prac ce. And with almost all tennis courts locked up, she found one Clarkdale pickleball court s ll open and has been trying out different Selkirk paddles to try to find one commensurate with her, uh, talent. It’s been a great me for Sedona Elite Pro Claude e Laliberte to focus on home projects and help her local community. On Easter Sunday, Claude e and the Easter Bunny distributed toilet paper and Easter eggs on Highway 179 in the Village of Oak Creek. Many cars stopped to pick up an extra roll of TP and get some photos. On other days, Claude e and friends distributed lots of food and supplies to the local Sedona Food Bank. Food was more important to give than giving money at this me during Covid 19, when food supplies are short. House projects were everywhere for Claude e. Torching weeds in the front yard was a big accomplishment, as were pain ng the back deck and fence. Claude e s ll has been teaching some tennis using the correct precau ons. The only courts that stayed open in Sedona were at Canyon Mesa Golf and Country Club. They have 2 tennis courts that have been extremely busy.It’s also been a great me for reflec on, and a reminder of how blessed most of us are. page 8
Larry Lineberry, Master Professional and Mingus Union’s boys’ coach, reports “ridiculous progress” at growing a beard (see photo). Besides saving a ton of money on razors and shaving cream, Larry claims to be up to 50 pushups a day from a low point of zero two weeks ago. Larry has rewatched Top Gun three mes and Denzel Washington in The Equalizer “because he’s so bad a**.” Of note, too, Larry says, is his “galac c inability to distance myself 6 feet from the refrigerator.” Larry’s gained three pounds. Over on the eastern side of Mingus Mtn., the Presco area pros have suffered the closing of their primary courts, at Yavapai College. Besides being ac ve in advoca ng for the safe reopening of the college’s tennis complex, Elite Pro Chris Howard set out one Sunday in May to kayak on all of Presco ’s lakes—Watson, Willow, Granite Basin, Goldwater, and Lynx—and kayaked them all but for Lynx, which was closed. Also in Presco , Pro Dave Hibbs has found a cinderblock wall to hit against and get in his tennis fix, and he’s been hiking, biking, and camping. Other Pros Sterling Fe y and Zach Hackero have done some limited teaching on private courts. Sterling’s successful Presco High School season was also cut short. He’s becoming adept at helping his sons navigate online school and a ending his own Zoom mee ngs with the USTA. Tennis Pro and pickleball medal -winner Karin Sobo a in the Fort Mohave/Bullhead City/ Laughlin area has found her entertainment in the desert near the Colorado River. “The desert is my playground away from the tennis and pickleball courts.” Karin also has recently tried “razoring” in friends’ 4-wheel ATVs, exploring the dunes and visi ng a quirky “nacho stand” (see photo) out in the middle of the desert. “People just come along and add things, whatever they want, to the stand out in the desert!” she says. June 2020
Fact or Fic on? You make The Call! Here are some facts about the 1500s Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and they s ll smelled pre y good by June. However, since they were star ng to smell, brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when ge ng married. Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, “Don’t throw the baby out with the Bath water!” Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and some mes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying, “It’s raining cats and dogs.” There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protec on. That’s how canopy beds came into existence. The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, “Dirt poor.” The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floors to help keep their foo ng. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh un l, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside, so a piece of wood was placed in the entrance-way. Hence: a thresh hold. (Ge ng quite an educa on, aren’t you?) In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big ke le that always hung over the fire. Every day
June 2020
they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving le overs in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Some mes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme: “Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old”. Some mes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, “bring home the bacon.” They would cut off a li le to share with guests and would all sit around and “chew the fat.” Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most o en with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous. Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bo om of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the upper crust. Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combina on would some mes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom; “of holding a wake”. England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bonehouse, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they would e a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and e it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shi ) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be, “saved by the bell” or was “considered a dead ringer”. And that’s the truth! Now, whoever said History was boring! So get out there and educate someone! Share these facts with a friend.
page 9
Southeastern Arizona by John Perry
Hello from Southern Arizona, Bri Feldhausen stopped teaching on court but has been offering FaceTime instruc on to young Red ball players. Working on ball and racket skills along with jump roping has been great fun an exercise for the 66 year old coach! He has been enjoying spending me with his twin grandchildren in Aus n, TX. At Re in Tennis Center we are looking forward to resuming tennis tournaments this summer and star ng summer camps in June. I have been a high perform ance coach for many years but have always enjoyed promo ng fun aspects of tennis, whether dressing up as famous players, making fun tennis related videos, and recently, a emp ng to set a couple tennis related Guinness World Records. The whole process took nearly a year from applica on to successful performance to official recogni on, but in early May Guinness recognized me as the official holder of 2 world records! The record a empts had to be witnessed and verified in slow mo on before mul ple USTA officials, mekeepers, video and photo documenters, and other witnesses. It was quite an involved process, but ul mately rewarding as it’s an honor to be a mul ple world record holder. The first world record is for most successful serves in one minute (42), breaking the record of former world top 5 and US Open finalist Greg Rusedski. Guinness rules stated that the serve must bounce before the next serve could be struck. The second record is for most alterna ng hits on a tennis racket in 30 seconds (97). I managed 100+ in prac ce regularly but managed to break the old record of 92 during the official a empt.
page 10
Also mostly for fun, but partly serious is a li le video my sons and I put together called “The New Handshake for Tennis.” Because of the Covid-19 situa on, all sports are adap ng to be safe and the post-match handshake will have to disappear at least temporarily. Ironically, I had been promo ng a SECOND handshake, this one pre-match, just a er the racket spin as a sign of respect and to promote good sportsmanship for the match. We had been doing this in prac ces and small tournaments and I s ll would like it to be a part of tennis culture at some point. In our video we a empted (meant to be humorous) 8 different post-match gestures. Not the same impact in print, so check out the video on my Facebook page or YouTube. h ps://www.facebook.com/779330143/videos/10164078661540144/ h ps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQTowS9m2g&t=12s 1) The Racket Tap Would seem to make sense but has a few poten al problems. First, it’s kind of a pickleball thing, so I think we should do something unique. Also, it’s awkward banging frames gently, and especially I would be worried about li le kids being a li le wild and smacking their opponent’s racket a bit roughly (or very roughly!). In the video, my 9 year-old appears to destroy the racket of his older brother!
June 2020
8) Rackets Up – The player walks inside the service line, raises the racket up, makes eye contact, and verbally acknowledges the opponent. Our choice as the winning gesture, simple, safe, and sportsmanlike!
2) The Foot Shake – Tapping shoes at the net. Unnatural and could see someone tripping. 3) Bowing – either with hands together or with one arm across the waist. Seems okay at first but could easily look disrespectful if not done properly (possibly culturally disrespec ul as well).
So we say Rackets Up for good sportsmanship summer 2020! Perhaps in 2021 we can add the pre-match handshake to our sport.
4) The Elbow Bump – has been is use by some already, but is awkward (which elbow?), and s ll involves touching so not the distanced gesture we need. 5) The Grip Shake – some places have had the kids do this move, where you hold the racket by the head and touch grips and pretend to shake. Grips touching each other seems almost as unsafe as a handshake, and it’s a bit weird.
www.facebook.com/USPTASouthwest
6) The Pointer – Poin ng your finger at your opponent. 7) Thumbs Up - Both 6 and 7 are likely to be silly or insincere gestures by nature.
Coco Ong, daughter of Suk Ong, USPTA Elite Pro and Southwest board member is happy to be back on the courts at the Kiwanis Recrea on Center in Tempe, AZ
June 2020
page 11
page 12
June 2020
Phoenix, Arizona by Ryan Johnson
Hello USPTA Southwest Tennis Pros! I hope this finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy. This unprecedented me has caused us to pause and reevaluate our approach to the game we all love. While it’s certainly been a challenge, it has created an opportunity for us to get out of our comfort zone, to innovate and to come together to formulate solu ons that elevate our industry. Through the recommenda ons of the CDC and other industry organiza ons, many clubs in our community have implemented social distancing measures to remain open. No ma er where your club is situated, tennis will undoubtedly look different for the foreseeable future. Here is a look at some of the measures clubs are taking in the Phoenix area. The courts at Phoenix Country Club are open to members only. They are offering private and semi-privates with only pros touching the tennis balls. Hand-sani zer is on the courts and baskets and other equipment are wiped down a er each lesson. For member play, players are required to have their own can of tennis balls. The courts at DC Ranch Country Club have remained open for member play. They are currently offering lessons and clinics but no events. Each pro has their own teaching cart and are the only ones that handle
June 2020
the tennis balls. There is a maximum of 5 players per court and each par cipant is assigned a basket to pick up balls for the dura on of the clinic or lesson. Baskets are sani zed at the conclusion of each class or lesson. All gate latches have been zip ed open. All self-serve items such as towels, ice machine, coffee and tea have been removed. Ball machines, demos, paddles and scorecards have also been removed. Desert Mountain has remained open and is currently offering private, semi-private lessons and member play only. The ball machines and chairs have been removed. Every other net has been taken down so that courts are isolated. All gates and other surfaces are wiped down a er lessons and throughout the day for member play. Arizona Country Club is open for member play and offering private and semi-private lessons with groups limited to 4. Only the pros are permi ed to handle the tennis balls, with ball hoppers and tubes available to members. Paradise Valley Country Club closed March 18th and reopened on April 10th for member only play. A er a few weeks of member play, they were able to resume private and group lessons again with pros only handling the tennis balls. Hand sani zer sta ons are placed around the facility and they are limi ng the number of members permi ed in the pro shop. As you can see, many clubs are implemen ng similar measures to ensure the health and safety of their members. While we are adjus ng to the new normal, the desire to return the courts is felt deep within all of us. By adhering to the CDC guidelines and other industry organiza ons, we can ensure that tennis remains a viable op on for our members and broader community. We are in this together. Stay safe my friends.
page 13
Northern New Mexico by Dick Johnson
Hi Everybody. Well let’s see: The backyard lawn has never looked better. Flowers are blooming and birds are chirping! And- today would have been the finals of the New Mexico State High School Team Championships. We were the 5-A defending champion and had a good chance to be seeded number 1 this year. At the A.P.S. season opener, we won 22 of a possible 24 single matches and won flights 2-8 with a semi-final defeat at number 1 singles. It was a great start and I especially feel terrible for our seniors. Captain, Brandon Bragan who played for me 7 years (3-mid-school-4 H.S.). He has a bright future and I wish him all the best. I wish he could have completed his season. On a posi ve note, fellow pros, let’s take this me to be produc ve and crea ve. I praise our organiza on on their leadership with the communica on that is taking place. The webinars have been terrific and we will come out of this Covid-19 mess with hopefully a be er world with more understanding and compassion. I wish all of you well. “Wash those hands” and be safe. I am so anxious to see all of you soon. DJ Doug MacCurdy, Albuquerque: I spent the month of February in Namwon, Republic of Korea. Korea never ceases to amaze me. It has a fantas c level or infrastructure and is probably the most
page 14
technologically connected place in the world. And all of that occurred since the Korean War in the 1950s, a er which the country essen ally had to rebuild from scratch.There are very good tennis facili es in many towns and an enviable domes c professional tennis compe on schedule. The top 40 men and women can actually make a good living (or very good for the best ones) playing domes c professional tournaments and team matches. I believe strong local and na onal tennis compe on structures are an essen al part of tennis development as a serious compe ve sport that appeals to young athletes. I le Korea just as the number of Covid-19 cases was star ng to accelerate. Since then they have done a great job with controlling the outbreak through extensive tes ng. So, I was there for “winter training” for top juniors. It was really winter training. We rained outdoors whenever possible and on unheated indoor courts. The indoor courts were actually colder than the outdoor courts during the day me. Korea has a cold winter but tennis players just play right through it. They used to have more clay courts than they have now. Players would come out early in the morning while the clay was s ll frozen. Around midday the courts would begin to thaw and become soggy if the temperature reached 32 degrees. I was scheduled to be in Israel star ng in March. Obviously, that has not happened but we are monitoring the situa on on a weekly basis so we can get this player development project started as soon as possible. Israel is a fascina ng place and I look forward to resuming the project there when it is safe to do so. Amy Badger, Albuquerque: Well, it’s been quite a quarter. High School tennis was just ge ng going, undefeated in dual match play, our team on March 11 was on the verge of defea ng the 2019 State 5A Girls Champions and we were shut down leading in the first and second sets in 5 of 6 singles. I have not been able to step foot on campus since. It’s been a roller coaster ride but everyone is adjus ng. I keep in touch with the player each week, providing workouts, weekly fun challenges, ect. so they can earn their PE credit, On a lighter note, I have come to the following conclusion: 1. I’m way too domes cated now, 2. My online screen me is more than my 16 year old daughter due to zoom and google mee ng, and “selfimprovement” webinars, 3. I actually watched a game
June 2020
show on TV… ugh, 4. I called my daughter “dude”, 5. I can clearly define guy jobs as they are either physically impossible, too nasty or… I had no idea that needed checking, and finally 6. I tuned out and turned off all poli cians, “journalists”, and nega ve news- which covers everyone and everything… hence the game show. At this me, courts are beginning to open back up and I can’t wait to get to my students and clients. Stay well and healthy everyone! Joe Felice, Albuquerque: The building is closed at Sierra Vista Tennis center, but the courts have been open. I have been teaching my regular schedule with smaller numbers of students. I had my 75th birthday on April 22. Couldn’t have a party, but we had a parade of 20 cars come by to wish Happy Birthday! S ll playing our Friday Doubles game with Jeff Tonjes at David Harnick’s house. We have been playing this doubles game every Friday since 1989. Three of us are part of the original four. The fourth original player was D’Wayne Begay who is teaching in Palm Desert. My Super senior Tennis Program has been postponed un l August 31. We will have six weeks of lessons, twice a week, followed by six weeks of Round Robin play, twice a week. This will be our 14th year for the Super Senior Program. Chris ne Paulsen, Lobo Tennis Club, Albuquerque: Staying Mo vated I am of the opinion that the USPTA and USTA are doing a great job in their a empts to keep us tennis pros mo vated during these difficult mes. They are sending out weekly webinars, having biweekly calls as well as giving us con nuing educa on credits that go toward our membership requirements. It’s also been great to have the free access to tennisresources.com to look up more videos on topics that we now have more me to review. My days are obviously different now like most of yours and we can all choose to be fearful and worried about that June 2020
future, but that’s incredibly unproduc ve. USPTA and USTA have covered many topics in the last few weeks and it has been mo va ng and educa onal to learn more about the components of player developments: 1. Strength & Condi oning 2. Teaching & Coaching 3. Mental Skills 4. Nutri on We have learned more about issues like how to train female athletes, leadership, about how Covid-19 will change the industry in the future, as well as how to build a great junior program and I am looking forward to more subjects to come! I am sure most of you coaches, like myself, have coached your players to not worry about what they can and cannot control. For example, they cannot control the rain, wind, sun or those spectators making all the noise for their opponent. Coaches train their athletes to focus on preparedness, effort, strokes and a tude. I have always told my players that nega ve emo ons don’t help anything and for sure they don’t help to solve a problem! So with that in mind I take that same concept and try to stay posi ve and mo vated during these mes by working on what I teach and being a good example to my students. I can’t change what is going on in the world right now but I do have control over what I put into my mind and body. For example, I can create good habits like what me I wake up, what types of food I eat, exercise and screen what I read and watch. I know it’s been hard to lose income and become fearful of the future of the tennis industry. Change is always hard, but we are coaches! We are cheerleaders at heart, we encourage, and we inspire. Our students are looking at us as examples. So as we wait and con nue to be pa ent lets work on improving ourselves by being open to learning something new or reviewing something previously learned. We tell our students to use this me wisely so as coaches we should do the same. Let’s get be er every day!
page 15
page 16
June 2020
A Publication of the USPTA Southwest Division Jack Michalko / editor 77 East Missouri Avenue, Suite 62, Phoenix, AZ 85012 602-740-0126 / e-mail: jack.michalko@uspta.org The Southwest Magazine is published quarterly by the Southwest Division of the United States Professional Tennis Association. The opinions expressed in the Southwest Magazine are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Southwest Magazine or the USPTA Southwest Division. CopyrightŠ Southwest Division/United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc. 2020. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion of this newsletter is not permitted without written permission from the USPTA Southwest Division. Advertising information: All ads must be camera ready and in color if possible. Prices are per issue. Full Page.............$150 Half Page............$100
June 2020
page 17