USPTA Eastern Winter 2020 Newsletter

EasternNewsletter USPTA

EDITION 1ST QTR / 2020

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WIN THE 2020 LITTLE MO S'LAM

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TO GET THE MOST OUT OF 5 HOW YOUR TOURNAMENT EXPERIENCE?

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NEW YORK OPEN

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17 EDUCATION MONTH

president’s message Looking ahead, it’s a really exciting time to be a part of the association. Our association is transforming as part of our accreditation status from the USTA. We are taking the lead to elevate the standards of teaching professionals yet again. Starting, January 1st, 2021, our standards for USPTA certification will become more rigorous.

Coaches will need to fulfill:

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n behalf of the entire USPTA Eastern Division, I would like to thank Geoff Jagdfeld for his leadership as President of our great division. Under his guidance, we have seen a growth in our membership and a new educational venue at the New York Open. That means more networking, educational opportunities, and exposure. Thank you Geoff, we truly appreciate your service.

Starting this new year, the board and I are excited to continue upon the success of our previous leadership. Our division has a great delivery system for face-to-face and online education, and we look forward to providing you with relevant information on and off the court. We are excited to continue to engage our U30 pros by guiding them towards leadership positions on the USPTA Board, and within the USTA community, whether joining their regional USTA Council, becoming a Clinician, or a league coordinator (JTT or Adult) for example. Be on the lookout for more information on how to get involved in the upcoming months.

Join us February at the New York Open for the Expo on February 9th, and USPTA Night, Friday, February 14th.

On Saturday, February 15th, we are offering a few workshops featuring Emilio and Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario (Hall of Famers), Past President Geoff Jagdfeld, and myself, Jason Speirs from Empire Tennis Academy. Following the educational portion, we’ll enjoy the semi-finals of the increasingly popular New York Open.

1. 6-9 months of hands-on work experience under the tutelage of a USPTA Mentor 2. 300 hours of online or in-person education 3. USTA Safe Play training 4. Completion of a Background Check Throughout 2020, we are hosting several certifications across the Division.

You can check out our certification exam schedule on uspta.org. Now is the time to get certified if you had any hesitation in the past! USPTA National has additionally extended the PTR equivalency for PTR members who wish to join the only fully accredited tennis teaching organization. PTR has been granted a provisional accreditation (for a year), while USPTA has been accredited for two years already. More to come.

In the meantime, we need your help!

We are looking for folks that are eager to learn more about our industry and help us reach out into our communities by joining a Committee! There are many to choose from including Education, Communication, and U30. We also want to hear from YOU: what topics you would like discussed, and which tools you or your staff need to improve.

Just as we ask our students to improve, we are asking for you to continue to improve as coaches and administrators.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Jason Speirs USPTA Eastern President jspeirs@empiretennisacademy.com

USPTAEastern President Jason Speirs jspeirs@empiretennisacademy.com Past President & Regional VP Geoffrey Jagdfeld geoff@solarisclubs.com First Vice President Mike Smookler smooks@ymail.com VP Secretary Ryan Berthod rberthod@lt.life VP Treasure Jackie Clark jacquelineclark555@gmail.com VP Membership Millie Didio Millie.tennisclubofhastings@gmail.com Executive Director Paul Fontana eastern-ed@uspta.org

Questions and feedback: A Publication of the USPTA Eastern Division Paul Fontana / Executive Director Phone: 914.656.0614 eastern-ed@uspta.org Facebook: Official 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.

WINTHE2020

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Dates of Certifications/Exams

USPTA EASTERN /1st Qtr Edition 2020

USPTA Exams & Upgrades March 27 Elevate Fitness, DeWitt NY

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March 27 Nassau Tennis Club, Skillman NJ April 10 Lifetime Fitness, West Harrison NY June 13 Atlantic Club, Manasquan NJ

USPTA Eastern District Presidents METRO NEW JERSEY WESTERN

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How to get the most out of your tournament experience?

As a Director of Tennis for over 20 years I’ve seen all sides of the tournament play as a player, coach, tournament director and USTA official. Unfortunately, we see the number of players participating in tournaments these days is lower than in years past. Part of the issue is players having a bad tournament experience, so this article is designed to provide players with some ideas on maximizing their experience and find the road to tournament happiness.

One of the best quotes about why you should play tennis tournaments is from Hall of Famer Bill Tilden “Play tennis for the game’s sake. Play it for the people you meet, the friends you make, and the pleasure you may give to the public by the hard-working yet sporting game that is owed them by their presence at the match.”

Competing one on one can be difficult, those players that are successful understand that and embrace this as part of the whole tournament experience. Here are a few things to remember that are beyond your control. Know what they are and be prepared to focus on the things can control.

Here’s a list of the good and the bad •

No one goes undefeated, only one player per tournament is the champion.

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It’s not always fair, from a bad draw to rain delay or a player’s bad calls it all part of tournaments.

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Be prepared to hurry up and wait, it’s all part of tournament play. Matches have no time limit, so delays are very common.

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You have no control over your opponent, their effort, sportsmanship or attitude.

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Spectators act of their own accord which in some cases can be annoying. Remember you can seek the Tournament Directors help if they are involving themselves directly in your match.

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Unless you are playing on a stadium court, the court next door may distract you with stray balls, banter and even outbursts.

Everyone has a bad match, from the top ranked to the novice player there is always one you want to forget.

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Learning self-control, sportsmanship and etiquette is all done through tournament participation.

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Experience, friendships and contact with players who share your enthusiasm for tennis.

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Play tournaments as often as you can. It’s only through this type of competition that you will truly learn to compete.

Be prepared with a particle game plan no matter the out-come. Before you decide what tournament to play, determine what is the best competitive situation for you to have the best chance to enjoy the game. This will result in more success in the long run. Do some research about court surface, tournament reviews form other players and practice court availability. A little effort in this area goes a long way. Prepare with focus as the tournament draws closer. Increase practice sessions and don’t forget to make them more match oriented. By including practice matches into your prep you’ll be ready. The day of the tournament do some early warmup at least 3 hours before for 30 minutes being such you hit all your strokes in a rally format. Read the entry form, you’d be surprised how many players miss important info regarding format, scoring, venue, date and time. I suggest having a hard copy or these days a digital copy with you to reference.

Don’t Pack Lightly – my parents would always ask me if I was taking the whole house with me when I played as a junior. Here is a list of items I suggest you bring with you to a tournament: 1. Water bottle, full 2. Sports Drink 3. At last 1 extra racquet 4. 2-3 extra shirts 5. Extra pairs of socks 6. Practice balls 7. Folding/portable chair for changeovers 8. Food/fuel - bagels, bananas or power bars 9. Ibuprofen or similar for arches & pains

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Pure excitement is the difference between a practice match and the adrenaline rush of competition.

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You cannot reach your highest level of achievement without tournament play.

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Playing tournaments is good for you, win or lose. It’s always fun to win but losing is sometimes more powerful.

13. Sunblock

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Playing tournaments help hone your skills under fire against different opponents under varying conditions and pressure.

16. Friend at Court – The rule book/players code

10. Overgrips 11. Hat or visor 12. Sunglasses 14. Extra Shoelaces 15. Plastic bag for wet clothes ...(continued on page 12)...

USPTA EASTERN / 1st Qtr Edition 2020

reports & updates

Executive Director’s REPORT

Winter 2020

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he USPTA Eastern Division leadership begins 2020 with a clear vision of what lies ahead and how we intend to accomplish our goals. Jason Speirs is our new president replacing Geoff Jadgfeld who served as our president for the past 3 years. Geoff and his Board, which included Jason as our Vice president, was able to expand the divisions accomplishments, most notably our new partnership with USTA Eastern and the NY Open, the ATP tournament held at the Nassau Coliseum in February. On behalf of the USPTA Eastern membership, I would like to thank Geoff for his leadership over the past 3 years.

Treasurer’s

REPORT

by Paul Fontana

$11,409.49 in the bank 530 active members

Our Division continues to grow and provide excellent educational opportunities for our membership.

In January, the USTA Eastern Conference kicked off the year with an outstanding list of speakers and presentations. Three weeks later, USPTA Eastern had a strong presence at the NY EXPO and the NY Open highlighted on Friday evening’s USPTA night and Saturday’s workshop on the grandstand court at the Coliseum.

That was a special event! Please make your plans for 2021 because we intend to be back at the NY Open and have a strong presence at the tournament.

The USPTA Eastern/New England Divisions Conference will be held at the Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island on May 1,2 and 3.

This will be a joint conference with New England and we are planning another strong line-up of speakers

and presentation for the weekend.

Please make plans to attend this event! It will be one of our strongest conferences in years. Finally, our World Conference will be held in New Orleans on Sept 21-25. Go to https://www.uspta.com/ for more information. Please keep in mind attending the Division conference and World Conference will provide the necessary credits to keep you current with your educational requirements.

We realize not everyone is able to attend our conferences, so we have created several opportunities for our membership to receive educational credits. Local workshops, webinars and specialty courses will be offered throughout the division. If you need any assistance with your educational credits, please contact me directly at 914 656 0614 or eastern-ed@ uspta.org.

Thank you again for being a member of the USPTA. Remember, this is your association and we are here for you!

Paul Fontana Executive Director USPTA Eastern Division 914.656.0614

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

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USPTA EASTERN / 1st Qtr Edition 2020

New York Open

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his February break was not only a time off from school for kids, but a great time for many to travel to Long Island for the ATP 250 New York Open professional tennis tournament from February 9th through the 22nd. Some of the players participating in the tournament included John Isner (1st seed), Milos Raonic, Reilly Opelka, Kyle Edmund, Andreas Seppi, and Jack Sock.

Congratulations to Kyle Edmund for winning the NYO over Andreas Seppi in finals!

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During the tournament, the tennis teaching association, USPTA held coaches workshops with Hall of Famer Emilio Sanchez, USPTA Past President Geoff Jagdfeld, and current President, Jason Speirs. Jason led a workshop on the Top 10 mistakes teaching pros make and how to avoid them. American player Jack Sock even hopped in and joined the pros at one point. I'm sure he left with a few tips himself.

USPTA EASTERN / 1st Qtr Edition 2020

Annual Princeton High School Coaches Work-shop January 10

Adrian Contreras High Performance Director from CenterCourt

Greg Patton Head Men’s Coach for Boise State University

USPTA EASTERN / 1St Qtr Edition 2020

17. Note pad/Appointment book, or these days a smart phone works best 18. Phone charger 19. Umbrella for outdoor rain delays 20. Book or other entertainment for waiting between matches or rain delays.

Now it’s tournament day and you need to follow a prematch routine. Be sure to get a good night’s sleep the night before. Be thinking about meals and hydration prior to your match. I suggest 2-3 hours before having a light meals/snack and drinking at least 20 oz. of water. Come early and check in immediately, if you arrive 20-25 minutes before match time that should suffice. Loosen up and start to get focused. Use a dynamic warm-up and start to put on your game face based on your personal style you can start to become the tennis animal or the silent warrior.

Always meet your opponent as an equal to establish mutual respect. Too many times players underestimate their opponent or are overconfident which usually leads to an emotional letdown when the match does not go your way.

Match time so now you need to lower the hype and nerves you might be feeling at the outset. Breathe deeply and

loosen up and you start the 10-minute warm-up. Use it wisely trying to warm-up your shots and observe your opponent’s skills & tendencies. Establish courtesy with your neighbors on the adjacent courts as soon as possible. Take the spin seriously as most players do not take advantage.

Do what is best for you and don’t be afraid to choose to receive, pick a side or have the opponent pick first. Live by the rules/code and avoid possible disputes, don’t rush take your time. Be ready to play because with no time limit, you’ll need to be prepared for the long haul. Remember you can always comeback but so can your opponent, so no lead is safe until the final point is played. Finally know the tie-break and don’t forget the second set.

Following your match remember to report your scores promptly and get your next match time. Now it’s time to stretch, cool down and if needed refuel. What truly important is to win with grace and lose with dignity. I hope you can use this article to help you know what to expect and be prepared for you next tournament.

Good Luck and have fun playing this great game.

Geoffrey Jagdfeld USPTA Eastern Past President & Regional VIP

USPTA NEW ENGLAND & EASTERN EDUCATION CONFERENCE Dates: May 1-3, 2020 Site: International Tennis Hall of Fame Fee: $125 Hotel: The Mainstay Hotel 151 Admiral Kalbfus Rd, Newport RI 02840 (401)849-9880 To register, contact Paul Fontana at eastern-ed@uspta.org Featured Speakers: Todd Martin Luke Jensen Stan Oley Ann Worcester Greg Patton

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USPTA EASTERN /1st Qtr Edition 2020

2019 USPTA Eastern Professional of the Year Michael J. Smookler USPTA Elite Professional USPTA Eastern 1st Vice President

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oaching and directing Tennis since 1989 and USPTA Certified since 1994, Mike is no stranger to the game. Growing up in Berkeley Heights, NJ, he found his passion on the town courts. Mike was a ranked Junior through High School and played 4 years of Varsity College Tennis at Lyndon State College (now Northern Vermont University), where his team competed in the NAIA National Tournament 3 out of his 4 years. Mike also captained the team his Senior year.

A PTM student at Lyndon State College in Vermont, Mike was under the tutelage of Dudley Bell, who has currently been a USPTA member for 60 years. He interned at places like the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, NY and Sugarbush Resort, when it was a top 10 Tennis Destination for Adult Tennis Schools. After College Smookler’s coaching and directing journey began.

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Coaching and Directing Tennis for 30 years

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PTM Major at Lyndon State College in Vermont

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Elite USPTA Pro Certified since 1994

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USPTA New England Board Member/ Conference and Work-shop Chair 20052009

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2007 USPTA New England Pro of the Year

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2008 USPTA New England Club Manager of the Year

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Sugarbush Resort Tennis Director in Vermont 2003-2009, hosted and taught events with former pros Guillermo Vilas, Tim Mayotte, Tom Gullikson, Mat Wilander, Rod Laver, Stan Smith and many others

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USPTA Eastern Board Member 2010 – Present

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Currently the USPTA Eastern 1st Vice President, Conference, High School and Work-shop Chair o Hosts and helps organize USPTA, USTA and High School Conferences and workshops, featuring dynamic speakers for Coaches, Club Managers and Club Owners, covering topics they can benefit from for their careers

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Written articles for the Long Island Tennis Magazine, USPTA Newsletters and other publications

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Worked for Center Court of Florham Park as the General Manager/Tennis Director overseeing all the programs, coaches, staff and daily operations.

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Was the High School Tennis Coach for Governor Livingston High School in Berkeley Heights, NJ (his Alma Mater), coaching the boys’ team to their first Group 2 State Championship in school history.

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USPTA Eastern 2017 High School Coach of the Year (continued on page 16...)

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USPTA EASTERN /1st Qtr Edition 2020

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In April, 2019, began working at the West Orange Tennis Club, the largest tennis facility in New Jersey, as the Club Manager and Coach.

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At West Orange, hosted the Club’s 1st Annual UTR Prize Money Tournament, raising money and awareness through the event for the Jo-Ann Danzis Foundation, a charitable organization for Pancreatic Cancer Research.

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Currently the Club Manager at the West Orange Tennis Club in West Orange, NJ

“People play tennis for many reasons. I have always enjoyed being a part of their experience whether it’s coaching them on the court, hosting an event or providing a fun safe and healthy environment to play” Michael Smookler Mike currently resides in Berkeley Heights, NJ where is lives with his wife Sandy and twin sons, Benjamin and William.

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Education Month 2020 COACHES CLINIC ANNOUNCED !

Hosted by Elevate Fitness DeWitt & Sponsored by the USPTA

Friday, March 27, 2020 9AM - 3PM The 37th Annual Coaches Clinic will be hosted at Elevate Fitness (formerlyGold’s Gym) of DeWitt.

The date is Friday, March 27, and the time is 9AM - 3PM. All high school coaches, pros, or interested tennis players are welcome to this event.

Lunch is included in the cost of the clinic.

This is a coach’s workshop and not a 10 & Under workshop. It is oriented toward helpful drills and practices to benefit a coach or instructor of players 12 and up.

Each attendee will receive a folder with a course outline with room to take notes along with other educational materials.

Each attendee should bring tennis gear because they will be participating in the drills and exercises presented if desired.

The cost is $30 ($20 for USPTA pros), made out to “Elevate Fitness”. Most schools will reimburse coaches for this and most schools will give a professional day as well. Receipts provided.

Directions to Elevate Fitness, DeWitt From I-690 East or West, take Bridge St. exit and go south. Immediately get into the far left lane. Within ¼ mile, come to Widewaters Parkway (Home Depot opposite). At this light, go left. Follow Widewaters ½ mile, see “ELEVATE FITNESS” in big gold letters on the right.

Park and come in. 315-446-0376

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Registration Form for Clinic (Please mail in this form, along with your $30 payment to the host facility of the clinic, “Elevate Fitness DeWitt”, 5791 Widewaters Pkwy, DeWitt, NY 13214. Or you may email this information to sstev1e@cs.com.)

Name__________________________________________________________________________ School Name or USPTA #__________________________________________________________ Street Address__________________________________________________________________ City, Zip______________________Email _____________________________________________

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