USPTA Eastern Division Newsletter Fall 2019

EasternNewsletter USPTA

EDITION 4TH QTR / 2019

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NOMINATE SOMEONE TODAY

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8 AROUND THE SECTIONS

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EASTERN 10 2020 TENNIS CONFERENCE

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PLAYING 14 FROM TO COACHING

USPTAEastern

president’s message

President Geoffrey Jagdfeld geoff@solarisclubs.com Past President & Regional VP Mark Savage savtennis@gmail.com First Vice President Jason Speirs jspeirs@empiretennisacademy.com Vice President Mike Smookler smooks@ymail.com VP Secretary Ryan Berthod rberthod@lt.life VP Treasure Jackie Clark jacquelineclark555@gmail.com Executive Director Paul Fontana paulfontana10@hotmail.com

Questions and feedback: A Publication of the USPTA Eastern Division Jane Savage / editor Phone: 914-907-2507 Email: savagehealth@gmail.com Facebook: Offcial USPTA Eastern Division Twitter: @usptaeastern The Eastern Newsletter is published quarterly by the Eastern Division of the United States Professional Tennis Association.

The opinions expressed in the Eastern Newsletter are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Eastern Newsletter or the USPTA Eastern Division.

USPTA Eastern Members, This is my last time addressing the USPTA Eastern membership as your President as my term will be up at the end of December 2019. It’s been an honor to serve as your President and I look forward to advising the new board members who will be taking over in January 2020 for the next 2 year term.

I encourage all USPTA members to get involved in our association.

Over the last three years I’ve seen the benefits of changing it up while listening to the membership. As a smart person once said it’s easier to complain then take charge, so let’s continue to diver the USPTA Eastern Division forward. By volunteering at the district level and on division committees you’ll see that it’s both rewarding beneficial to your career.

Another area to focus on for the

future growth of the division is by mentoring the next generation of tennis professionals. I think you will see that the new USPTA certification pathway that starts in 2021 links directly into that idea. Instead of just testing they will be learning and getting feedback as they progress through the pathway. Additionally you will see new Professional Tennis Management (PTM) college programs popping up all around the country.

In our area Manhattanville College in Westchester and Queens College (CUNY) in the city are starting PTM programs.

Again it was my pleasure to serve as your President, Geoffrey Jagdfeld USPTA Eastern President geoff@solarisclubs.com

USPTA Eastern District Presidents METRO Andrew Eichenholz andreweichenholz@gmail.com NEW JERSEY Karla Ruaya kruaya@gmail.com WESTERN Steve Pekich SStev1e@cs.com NORTHERN Stephen Thirolle stevetinthenyc@gmail.com SOUTHERN Heath Hoover hhoover@clubfit.com LONG ISLAND Vishal Balani vb1249@nyu.edu

NOMINATE

SOMEONE TODAY

Give them the recognition they deserve.

College Coach of the Year – Award recipient is selected based on their results as a college team coach.

Recipients may be honored for success as a coach over a school year or for their long term commitment and coaching success.

High School Coach of the Year - Award recipients are selected based on their results as a high school coach. Recipients may be honored for success as a coach over a school year or for their long term commitment and coaching success.

Division Tester of the Year – Recognizes a USPTA tester who makes significant contributions to advance the Divisional certification process. The Divisional Head Tester will recommend a nominee to the Awards Committee. Nominations are not accepted for this award.

Industry Excellence Award – Is given to teaching professionals who take both an entrepreneurial and altruistic attitude toward their job.

They use their own resources and those offered by the industry to build programs that bring tennis to more people. At the same time, they are successful in growing a tennis business.

Education Achievement Award The recipient of this award will be a current USPTA Eastern Division member who has earned the most educational credits within the USPTA career development program in a calendar year. Nominations are not accepted for this award.

Facility Manager of the Year – This award is available to USPTA members and non-members.

Nominees must be the General Manager (in function, if not in title) of a club or tennis facility. This award is for a person and not for a facility.

Major Contributor of the Year – Recognizes a USPTA member that is very active within the Division and makes "significant" contributions to the Division within the year (not over a period of years).

Professional of the Year Recognizes a member who, over a career, has demonstrated exemplary achievement in seven areas, including contributions to the USPTA and USTA; as a teaching professional, player and coach; in education, research and publications; and with

Please see the award categories and rules below other organizations, achievements and contributions.

Publication of the Year – Recognizes a publication that supports tennis and tennis teaching professionals.

This award is given only be given when a "Publication" is deserving of this special recognition. The publication may be in an electronic or printed format.

USPTA Stars Award – Recognizes a member who has dedicated many years volunteering in grassroots tennis and has a profound impact with the players that they touch.

Their giving spirits have made them heroes in their own communities.

Few of us will have heard of people who receive this award, but their stories are inspiring, and almost all of us know at least one person who deserves a nomination.

Regional Volunteer of the Year – Recognizes a USPTA member from each region that volunteers their time and efforts to benefit their USPTA Region and/or the Eastern Division. Each Eastern Division Regional President will nominate the Regional Volunteer of the Year for their Region. This award is not

open to members of the Division’s Board of Officers. Nominations are not accepted for this award.

Recommendations may be sent to the appropriate USPTA Regional President.

30 & Under Award - This award is presented to a USPTA member who is under the age of 30. This member, through their tennis-teaching and volunteer spirit, has increased the opportunities for others to participate in tennis. The grassroots program or initiative of this member can incorporate but not be limited to multicultural activities and events.

This member exemplifies and emphasizes individual achievement and sportsmanship along with teaching the physical attributes of the sport. While they have not previously received national or other significant recognition from USPTA or USTA for their contributions to tennis, they are well-known in their communities and are true advocates of grassroots tennis. Their commitment to grassroots tennis has made an indelible impression on their community. This member has also served the USPTA in one capacity or another.

USPTA EASTERN, 2019 AWARDS PROGRAM Nominating Ballot Member Name: _______________________________________________ General Rules 1. Award period is for January 1 – December 31, 2019 unless noted otherwise in the award USPTA Number: _______________________________________________ category description 2. Only certified members (Master Professional, Elite Professional, and Professional) in good Award Category: ______________________________________________ standing are eligible for USPTA member awards. All other member categories are ineligible.

Member Phone : _______________________________________________ Only the Facility Manager of the Year award is open to nonmembers 3. Only members in good standing are eligible to submit nominations E-mail: _______________________________________________________ In order to receive due consideration, submission of a bio and detailed information why the nominee is deserving of the award is needed Submitting the names of references is encouraged:

Nominating USPTA member: _____________________________________ Phone: _______________________________________________________ Reference Name: ______________________________________________ Phone: _______________________________________________________

4. Self-nominations are acceptable 5. All information is confidential 6. Awards will be presented at the USPTA Eastern Division Convention 2019; Pro of the Year will also be honored at the USTA Eastern Tennis Conference Jan. 25, 2020.

7. All nominations must be received by the Awards Committee Chair by November 1, 2019

Nominations and questions should be sent via email to: Jackie Clark USPTA Eastern Awards Committee Chair jacquelineclark555@gmail.com

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USPTA EASTERN /4th Qtr Edition 2019

USPTA Eastern in conjuction with USPTA Middle States

FOLLOW US

Presents another continuing education event featuring

David Bailey, Tennis Footwork Guru Day: Thursday | Date: Nov. 7 | Time: 11:00-2:00pm Site: BJK National Tennis Center Fee: FREE for USPTA members (Non-members are welcome for $25 fee)

To register send an email to ntctournaments@usta.com

Like us on Facebook @ Official USPTA Eastern Division

Lunch included for this exciting day of education/pro interaction!

Attendees are encouraged wear tennis attire/sneaks as a significant portion will be on the court.

Globally, The Bailey Method is the most advanced and comprehensive tennis movement and footwork training program available today.

After thousands of hours of researching professional tennis players in action, Dave Bailey has developed a revolutionary coaching program that is unlike any other program in the world.

The Bailey Method is designed to develop in players an innate understanding of their strongest moves on the court, the ability to identify their opponent’s weakest moves, and then the capacity to formulate strategies, quickly and fluidly, to take control of each point.

Follow us on twitter @ Usptaeastern

Ultimately, players develop their own adaptable Tactical Movement Plans for tournament competition.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE NOMINATE

SOMEONE 4

Dear USPTA Eastern Member!

Have you ever thought about Helping your Trade Organization?

If you are interested in being a USPTA Eastern Board Member for the 2020-2022 Term, Please contact the Nominating Chair, Mark Savage at savtennis@gmail.com.

Deadline is DECEMBER 1ST, 2019

Advertising information: All ads must be camera ready and in color if possible. Prices are per issue.

Full Page.............$250

Half Page............$200

1/4 Page..............$150

Dates of Certifications/Exams USPTA Exams & Upgrades December 1

USTA BJK NTC Flushing, NY

December 30

USTA BJK NTC Flushing, NY

USPTA EASTERN / 4th Qtr Edition 2019

reports & updates

Executive Director’s REPORT F

all is here! We are starting to close our summer facilities and the Fall outdoor tennis season is winding down for most schools. Our indoor facilities are becoming more active as winter looms ahead. Fortunately, this is the time of the year, the USPTA continues to provide educational opportunities for our membership. November is National Education month and throughout the Division, we will be providing workshops and clinics for our membership.

As of October 18th, we have more Eastern Division members than in 2018. As our membership grows, the USPTA continues to provide opportunities for our membership. The USPTA Eastern Division and the USTA Eastern Section have become partners in growing the game of tennis in our division. The USTA Eastern Section, has generously

If anyone has any questions please contact me at eastern-ed@uspta.org

provided grant opportunities to our membership. To apply for a grant, please contact our Education Chairperson, Jason Speirs at jspeirs@ empiretennisacademy.com The World Conference in Las Vegas was a tremendous success. The educational workshops and special events were outstanding. Hearing Andre Agassi discuss his career and his views on tennis was truly insightful. John Embree reported our association is in very good financial shape and with our official status as an accredited tennis teaching association by the USTA, the USPTA is in a position to continue to grow. We all look forward to a great 2020!

Please continue work towards getting your 6 educational credits and if need any assistance, please contact me at paul.fontana@uspta.org I hope everyone has a great indoor season and I want to thank you for being a member of the USPTA. Paul Fontana Executive Director USPTA Eastern Division 914.656.0614

Treasurer’s

REPORT

by Paul Fontana

$9,901.17 in the bank 659 active members

Our Story A passionate company with unique history

Led by founder Jim Fromuth and CEO Pat Shields, we are a tennis wholesale distributor based in West Lawn, PA. We first opened our doors nearly 50 years ago. The Fromuth Family liked and played the game of tennis, so they bought a stringing machine and had a few tennis frames to sell in the shop. In the late 1970s, tennis began to be televised and business took a different direction. Fromuth Tennis was born. As the tennis industry grew, so did our selection of racquets, strings and apparel. We began helping small pro shops get the product they needed to boost their own business.

Then & Now CEO Pat Shields and Founder Jim Fromuth

Today, we have a 25,000 sq. ft. warehouse. On a busy day in August, UPS trucks are lined up outside waiting to load more than 800 packages. Although bigger, we are still a family-owned operation with more than 70 employees who share a passionate drive for tennis and helping our customers.

USTA National Campus Pro Shop

Since 2006

Fromuth is the Official Distributor of Nike Footwear and Apparel to the USPTA

We lead all operations including staffing, merchandising and stringing services at the USTA National Campus Pro Shop. This 2,800 sq. ft. store in the Welcome Center of USTA National Campus features the newest product releases from top tennis brands such as Nike, adidas, Babolat, HEAD and Wilson, as well as unique National Campus memorabilia.

For more then 10 years we have provided Nike product to USPTA members. We are proud of our relationship with an exclusive community of tennis-teaching professionals and coaches promoting excellence in the tennis industry. USPTA members receive a 30 percent discount off retail prices when purchasing Nike goods through Fromuth.

The Official Distributor of Nike Footwear & Apparel to the USPTA.

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USPTA EASTERN / 4th Qtr Edition 2019

UPDATE FROM THE AROUND THE SECTIONS:

W

e had 30 plus kids, and just as many parents, crammed into 4 courts at Latham's Tri City Fitness for a high energy, season kick off for Junior Team Tennis 2020. The local JTT organizer, and 15LOVE regional point man, Domingo Montes had an off court presentation / Q&A about the road to captainhood, match rules, registration, and all things Net Generation / JTT. With Skidmore College's men's tennis coach Bill Brahler's help, I ran an ideal team practice on all four courts, with a pre-practice Positive Coaching Alliance

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indoctrination for the kids and the parents. The pro social, effort oriented, team empowering framework was well defined and agreed to before we had hit the first ball, and did things go well!

Together, I hope we brought a lot of wisdom to the process of captaining and coaching developing junior athletes inside this very special team setting hosted by the USTA, and in collaborating with these other tennis bodies, USPTA Northern can bring it's expertise to a wider and wider audience. It was a great day of tennis with a lot of happy families.

USPTA EASTERN / 4th Qtr Edition 2019

January 24-25, 2020

Renaissance Westchester Hotel in White Plains, N.Y. Register Now As an important and valued member of the tennis community in our section, the USTA Eastern Board of Directors and staff cordially invite you to join us for the 2020 Eastern Tennis Conference, to be held January 24 - 25, 2020 at the Renaissance Westchester Hotel.

The Eastern Tennis Conference is USTA Eastern's annual professional development gathering. Over two days, tennis

leaders and professionals from all across the section convene to learn more about the state of competitive and community tennis, discuss new trends, and hopefully, form innovative collaborations to help further grow the game. The weekend will include on-court demonstrations and experiences as well as informative panel discussions and breakout sessions, all hosted by top industry luminaries.

Scheduled to lead programming at the 2020 Eastern Tennis Conference: Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, Former WTA No. 1 in Singles and Doubles and 14-time Grand Slam champion in Singles, Doubles and Mixed Emilio Sanchez, Co-Founder, Academia Sanchez-Casal and former ATP No. 7 in Singles & No. 1 in Doubles Butch Staples, National Tennis Director at Midtown Athletic Clubs Leah Friedman, National Manager, Net Generation, USTA Heather Hawkes, Senior Manager, Events and Ratings, USTA ...and many more to be confirmed!

Weekend Schedule Highlights: Friday, January 24

Saturday, January 25

Learn all about school tennis opportunities with sessions on how to engage your team beyond the season and forging strong partnerships.

Attend an opening panel about tennis inclusivity, get up to speed on the latest information about tennis and technology and go on-court with tennis legends to learn how to run drills that use the entire court. As always, the Annual Awards Reception will close out the Conference.

We ask that you please register to reserve your spot by November 8, 2019.

For more information, visit usta.com/2020ETC or contact Kristen Semple by email at semple@eastern.usta.com.

Complimentary hotel rooms will be provided for guests traveling more than thirty miles.

HIghlights from the summer: USPTA Eastern Division Pros volunteered to give a free tennis clinic to the kids from the Knickerbocker Field Club from Brooklyn before the NY Empire World Team Tennis match.

Karla Ruaya, USPTA Tennis Professional, ran a round robin fundraising tournament and adaptive tennis for Push to Walk in July.

Looks like a great event!

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USPTA EASTERN /4th Qtr Edition 2019

From Playing to Coaching

By Pedro Wagner, 2019

“

15-Love”, says the umpire after a well fought first point of the match. Everything looks in place, the game plan was set, preparation was great, and right now, nothing else matters. It is on. I have been in this position countless times. However, there is something completely different this time. The butterflies in my stomach won’t stop even after the first few games. A helpless, lonely feeling takes over my body, and a few moments later, it finally hits me. I find myself not across the net from my opponent, but rather on the sidelines, in the coaching box.

When looking for a coach, players tend to look for individuals who were incredibly successful in their careers as athletes. Coaches who were exceedingly talented players have a great advantage to succeed over those who weren’t.

However, there is much more to coaching than your own ability to play the game. Transitioning from the position of player to the one of coach is not an easy task, nor is for everybody. There are advantages and disadvantages to both coaches who were great athletes and those who weren’t. There are both advantages and disadvantages to being a coach who had a successful playing career. In this piece, I will discuss the positive aspects of coaching after having played at a high level, and I will point out instances where these

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coaches need to pay attention as their own expertise might be negatively impact their work.

Being able to recognize that all players are different is imperative for coaches’ success, whether they are coaching a top junior player or an interclub county team. There is a major difference between coaching competitive tennis players and club level players. Great coaches are able to adapt their coaching style, attitude, and communication depending on the player with whom he or she is working. Every player is different, each with varied strengths, and weaknesses.

Therefore, it is important to treat them differently as well, not only in coaching, but also in your approach them as individuals. Coaches who have played at the professional or collegiate level have a better understanding of what players need to do in specific situations and what those players are feeling when playing a match. However, highly skilled players who become coaches can also struggle to understand why their players aren’t able to perform under pressure when it came very easily to them during their playing career.

When structuring a lesson, developing a training program, and selecting the right competitions on a player’s or team’s calendar, coaches who were trained and experienced in competition will be

able to better recognize the most appropriate path for their players’ success. The number of matches to be played, the preparation required, the physical and mental fatigue which will occur, the burnouts… everything counts. There is no substitute for first hand experience, and only those who have lived in the competitive world of tennis are able to understand how truly challenging it can be. With the right preparation players are more likely to accomplish their goals and enjoy themselves in the process.

Coaching tennis is far more than feeding balls and correcting players’ techniques. Tennis is one of the most difficult sports to learn because so much of the game is mental. To become a great tennis coach, it is necessary to maintain positive interactions with players, as this relationship will be the foundation of players’ trust in their coaches.

Tennis is highly affected by emotions and knowledge of the game itself is not sufficient to be a highly qualified coach. What differentiates an average from an extraordinary coach is the interaction built between coach and player, and the ability to for both parties to feel and express what is happening on the court. A coach who started playing tennis at an older age is not capable of understanding the difficulty of some situations that the players may encounter. Players rely on com-

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USPTA EASTERN /4th Qtr Edition 2019

mands, but they also rely on their coach for inspiration. Being familiar with the roller coaster of emotions caused by the sport on and off the court will help influence players not only to improve themselves, but to look up to their coach as a role model.

After concluding my college tennis career, I noticed how challenging my own coaching experience could be. In the beginning, I felt a lot of responsibility and pressure on my shoulders, making it harder to have full confidence in myself. That being said, watching

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tennis matches from the outside of the court makes it much easier to analyze the players’ flaws, and what he or she should do differently to improve. When I put myself in the players’ position, I am able to give them my best advice and instruction from my own experiences playing competitive tennis.

Overall, transitioning to a tennis coach after concluding my college tennis career has been an enjoyable way to teach the sport I love, while utilizing my past experiences of playing competitively. The relationship between coach and player is a

huge part of being a successful tennis coach. The experience of having played competitive tennis is definitely helpful and beneficial towards understanding sensations and advising the players in similar situations on court. I advise coaches in similar situations, especially young coaches from all levels, to emphasize the importance of communication with their players. By understanding how they feel, it is easier to put yourself in their position and instruct them positively based on your experiences as a competitive athlete./

The 2019 USTA Wold Conference

he 2019 USTA World Conference was hosted by the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada September 23rd-26th. This was the best attended World Conference in several years with over 850 registrants since ‘06! Many of our industry leaders including legendary Andre Agassi, Mark Bey, Jorge Capestany, and Dick Gould, presented throughout the week. Some of the best presentations were off the court, with one of the most notable being Craig O’Shannessy’s ‘Dirtballer’ presentation. In between presentations, there was a chance to network with others from within your own division, and there was also an opportunity to meet professionals from divisions throughout the US. There was still time for Division parties and the Trade show which was buzzing with members from all 17 divisions and several vendors including Wilson, Sport Master, Net Knacks, etc. Congratulations to Ajay Pant for winning the Alex Gordon Professional of the Year award! A well-deserved award for Ajay. Next year’s World Conference will be hosted in New Orleans, Sept 20-24th, 2020. If you can fit it into your schedule, it is absolutely worth going to for the education and networking.

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Education Month USPTA EASTERN DRILL SHARE AND SOCIAL Saturday, November 16th, 2019 West Orange Tennis Club 1448 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange NJ 07052 United States Drill Share ----> 6-7:30pm Orange Ball Tournament ---> 7:30-10:00pm Pizza and beer/beverages will be provided.

RSVP to Karla Ruaya (NJ District President) at kruaya@gmail.com by November 10th * Open to local HS coaches and instructors courtesy of USPTA Diversity and Inclusion * Continuing education for USPTA members

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Copyright© Eastern Division/United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc. 2019. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion of this newsletter is not permitted without written permission from the USPTA Eastern Division.

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