2022 USPTA Intermountain Division Award Recipients

Each year, the USPTA Intermountain Division recognizes members who have made outstanding contributions to our sport.

This list of awards is as follows:

PRO OF THE YEAR STAR AWARD

INDUSTRY EXCELLENCE

COLLEGE COACH of the YEAR

HIGH SCHOOL COACH of the YEAR

Diversity

Elevate Award

MANAGER of the YEAR SMALL FACILITY

MANAGER of the Year LARGE FACILITY

George Basco Lifetime Achievement Award

Congratulations to all of this year’s recipients. The winners will be announced during the 2023 Division Conference, February 21-23, 2023. Registration information is on the next page of this newsletter. Please send your nominees for 2023 to Tom Van De Hey: tomuspta1@gmail.com.

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If you have questions, then please contact me at 719-466-9816.

Presentation Preview

In November, I attended the introduction of a NationalAdaptive Curriculum at the Orlando National Campus. This introduction coincided with the USTANational Adaptive Championships. There, athletes played unified doubles which is similar to one up/one down in wheel chair tennis. The introduction of the adaptive curriculum is a major step towards attracting underserved populations to our sport.

Next month, I will be presenting on how to create, operate and sustain a program at your facility. We are in our fourth year of adaptive tennis programming and it has benefitted our entire program. It’s given our youth a chance to volunteer, and accounted for new memberships and additional lessons from parents and siblings. I look forwarded to sharing this opportunity with everyone!

Michelle Rawstorne, Utah

Utah Tennis Update

A USPTA certification is a highly respected and recognized credential for tennis coaches. However, simply obtaining the certification is not enough to ensure that coaches are providing the highest quality instruction to their players. That is why continuing education is an essential component of the USPTA certification process.

The USPTA requires that certified coaches participate in ongoing educational opportunities in order to maintain their certification. This includes attending workshops, clinics, and other training events to keep their skills and knowledge up-to-date. The USPTA also offers online courses and webinars that can be taken at the coach's convenience.

The importance of continued education cannot be overstated. By participating in continuing education, coaches can ensure that they are equipped with the latest information and tools to help their players improve and reach their full potential.

Continuing education for USPTA certified coaches can take place in a variety of formats, including inperson training and online training. Both have their own unique benefits.

In-person training, such as workshops, clinics, and conferences, allows coaches to receive hands-on instruction and to network with other coaches. This can be particularly valuable for coaches who are new to the profession or who are looking to improve specific areas of their coaching.

In-person training also allows coaches to observe and learn from experienced and successful coaches, which can be a great way to gain new insights and ideas.

Online training, on the other hand, allows coaches to take courses and webinars from the convenience of their own home or office. This can be especially beneficial for coaches who have busy schedules or who live in areas where in-person training is not readily available. Online training also allows coaches to take courses at their own pace, which can be beneficial for those who are juggling multiple responsibilities.

We are so fortunate to benefit from both! I am really looking forward to our upcoming virtual Division Conference in February.

I always come away motivated to be a better coach and having learned something new.

I am so appreciative to those who put in so much effort to make these events possible. The USPTA staff, volunteers, and instructors who organize and run the workshops, clinics, and online courses are essential in providing coaches with the opportunity to continue their education and improve their skills.

These events keep us motivated in our profession, which in turn benefits the players and the sport we love.