President’s Message
Dear USPTA Southern members:
As we step into 2025, I hope you're as excited as I am about the incredible educa onal and networking opportuni es ahead. Reflec ng on 2024, we’ve seen significant posi ve growth within our organiza on, including our rebranding efforts and the con nued expansion of pickleball and Padel. While tennis remains the core of our associa on, the increasing demand for professionals skilled in other racquet sports presents a great opportunity. The RSPA is here to help enhance our members' marketability to both employers and employees across the industry.
Our Southern board is truly proud to serve such a dedicated and passionate membership. We were honored to receive the Large Division of the Year award at the World Conference last year – a
By Ken Andriano
testament to your commitment to advancing your educa on and pursuing excellence. Your drive to con nually improve inspires us to create even be er opportuni es for you through our workshops and conven ons.
Looking ahead, we are excited for our upcoming spring conference in May. We’ve been working hard to make this event even more valuable for you, not just through outstanding speakers but also by offering increased social and networking opportuni es. Greenville, South Carolina offers fantas c op ons, and we can’t wait to make the most of them together.
With your con nued support, I am confident that 2025 will be an excep onal year for the RSPA. I’m honored to serve this incredible community, and I look forward to seeing you at our workshops and conferences in the months to come.
May Conference May 2-3 in Greenville, SC
YES, we have moved the date earlier in May to allow us to visit the amazing Embassy Suites Conference Center & Resort. Let it be know, that this is not a normal Embassy Suites. First off, there is an outstanding golf course as part of the resort, and we will receive special pricing for the Thursday before the conference begins at $65, cart included. Second, just walking into the lobby tells you that this is not ‘your mother’s Embassy”. WOW, it is impressive. A full breakfast with an omelet sta on and all the other goodies is included in your room night, and every evening there are 2 drinks at the manager’s recep on. Every room is a suite and perfect for sharing.
Now add in courts on property = no traveling to another loca on for our on court sessions. More details to follow, including special, fun events above & beyond just educa on. Make sure to mark your calendars for this one.
Pickleball Points
Tennis & Pickleball: A Happy Marriage
By Jim Carella – Elite Professional TPC Sugarloaf
In 2019 I introduced Pickleball to our members and staff hoping to a ract new members and provide our exis ng ones an addi onal amenity. For the past 6 years we have seen the program grow and my lessons ra o change from mostly tennis to now mostly pickleball. The blending of the two sports has been a tremendous asset for our members and poten al ones as well. Below are a few of the benefits that have directly impacted our tennis & pickleball program.
Expand your customer base
Maximize your facility usage
Increase lesson revenue
New member op ons
Member reten on
By adding pickleball to a tennis program, clubs can not only expand their offerings but also significantly increase revenue by a rac ng new players, hos ng events, and maximizing facility usage. This dual-sport strategy can be par cularly effec ve in increasing member sa sfac on and reten on, while also genera ng consistent, diversified revenue strea ms.
Tying Tennis & Technique Together . . . in Pickleball
By Neil Witherow - Elite Professional
One of the most fascina ng aspects of teaching both tennis and pickleball is explaining how technique es together; in other words, how the different shots relate to each other and have a number of commonali es. I am also a strong advocate of how the two sports complement each other. Let’s talk about those two subjects.
Why pickleball
is great for your tennis game
Most recrea onal tennis players think that pickleball nega vely impacts your tennis game, usually referencing how racquetball is totally different from tennis. On the contrary, pickleball is great for your tennis game, and here’s why:
Similar mechanics Pickleball strokes are very similar to tennis strokes, and because the paddle doesn’t have strings and is smaller, in a way you have to be more precise in pickleball, par cularly when genera ng topspin. It’s true that the basics of pickleball are way easier to pick up than tennis, but more precise and advanced shots can be more difficult to achieve, which is good prac ce for your tennis game.
(A note about pickleball volleys: many of these have topspin, so it seems like this
may affect your tennis volley; however, I don’t find myself wan ng to hit topspin on my tennis volleys a er playing pickleball. I think the reason is that my brain recognizes that my tennis racquet is not small and maneuverable enough to be able to hit topspin volleys with much success.)
Shot simplicity Because the court is smaller and the ball and paddle are lighter, you don’t need as big of a backswing, forward swing and follow through as in tennis. In tennis, many players have larger swings than necessary, so playing pickleball helps to simplify and reduce the length of the tennis stroke.
Ge ng low Pickleballs bounce lower than tennis balls, so you have to bend our knees even more and get the paddle even lower than in tennis, which is what we’re encouraging most tennis players to do, right? I love how easy tennis seems a er I’ve been playing pickleball, especially regarding ge ng low enough when preparing for shots.
Reflexes Because pickleball is closer quarters than tennis, and the paddles are so maneuverable, you’ll see some really quick net rallies, which again makes volley wars seem easy in ten-
nis.
Overarching technical concepts in pickleball (how technique es together)
Whether it’s a serve, return, drive, drop, dink or volley, most shots in pickleball (except side- and underspin) have several concepts in common, and control and the right balance of power can be achieved through these concepts. I have come to realize this as I teach a lot of beginner and intermediate players, some of whom don’t come from a tennis background. They tend to use the arm only in their backswing and end up taking a bigger backswing than needed. The paddle also goes straight down, rather than crea ng a slight circle. I think this is because the body is not engaged enough, so instead of correc ng by only trying to shorten the backswing, we need to acknowledge the root problem and encourage using the following concepts:
Load & low
In tennis, there is a lot of focus on the unit turn and ge ng low to the ball on groundstrokes. In pickleball, the concept is the same. Because power can be generated more easily and quickly in pickleball, you don’t have to turn as much, but there should be at least some turn, and the arm
“Success Secrets”
With Elon Musk
1. Someone makes 10x more than you do in a 9-5 job because they have more "leverage" with their work.
2. Distraction is the greatest killer of success. It stunts and destroys your brain.
3. You shouldn't take advice from people who are not where you want to be in life.
4. No one is coming to save your problems. Your life's 100% your responsibility.
5. You don't need 100 self-help books, all you need is
should go along with the turn. It’s almost as if you’re absorbing the ball, and the shoulder, hip and foot should make a small backwards mo on. The loading (or knee-bend) part of this is even more important than in tennis, because the ball bounces lower.
Rotate & rise The turn & load part of prepara on is the most important part of the shot, since when you are turned and loaded, the rest comes more easily.
You generate the right amount of power and control when you rotate and rise (straighten the knees) through the forward mo on of our shot, and as you do so, you extend and raise the arm through-out the
follow through.
action and self discipline.
6. Unless you went to college to learn a specific skill (ie. doctor, engineer, lawyer), you can make more money in the next 90 days just learning sales.
7. No one cares about you. So stop being shy, go out and create your chances.
8. If you find someone smarter than you, work with them, don't compete.
9. Smoking has 0 benefit in your life. This habit will only slow your thinking and lower your focus.
10. Comfort is the worst addiction and cheap ticket to depression.
11. Don't tell people more than they need to know, respect your privacy.
12. Avoid alcohol at all cost. Nothing worse than losing your senses and acting a fool.
13. Keep your standards high and don't settle for something because it's available.
14. The family you create is more important than the family you come from.
15. Train yourself to take nothing personally to save yourself from 99.99% of mental problems.
Climb the mountain The path of the paddle should go from low and near the body to an extended and higher posi on (climb the mountain). However, before it does, there should be a slight circle with the paddle, just like in tennis. Much smaller than in tennis, but the paddle should not go straight down on the way back and then up on the way forward. Most of the me when good tennis players become pickleball players, you will see them integra ng a small circle into their swing. When more power is wanted, the circle is bigger than on a drop or dink, but even on those so er shots, it helps the con nuity of the shot to have that ny circle to the
backswing. Once the circle is done, the mountain is ready to be climbed. If more topspin is desired, the mountain can be steeper.
Happy pickling !!
Arkansas
The Arkansas Tennis Professionals Workshop will be held Friday, Jan. 24th of 2025. The workshop falls on the same weekend as the USTA Arkansas Annual Mee ng and Awards. Key not presenters will be Dana Costa/David Dile uso with the Pennsylvania Blind Tennis Assoca on, Dan Beedle from Tennessee, and Paul Hickman with the Summerhill Racquet Club in Faye eville, AR. Congratula ons to Greg Gilliam and his family for winning the USTA Arkansas Tennis Family of the Year. Greg currently serves at the Van Buren High School Coach, has been instrumental in the growth of tennis in the Fort Smith, AR area.
Georgia
We had a terrific GA. Winter Workshop with about 70 pros in a endance at Atlanta Athle c Club. Speakers included Marcus Rutsche, Tim Smith, and Paul Bartholmaii. Bruce Lipka was our keynote speaker, who is head coach at Penn State. He had been director at Wooodmont Club in Maryland for 20 years. He did a great job in both of his presenta ons. Bruce was mentored by Bill Tym. The awards presented were Pa O’Reilly for Director of the Year, Carmen Garcia won Pro of the Year award at AAC, and Tim Smith won Speaker of the Year. Many thanks to Jeff Chandley for hos ng so many years at AAC . Now, the torch has been passed to Marcus:.
Louisiana
Johnny Wahlborg, a dedicated coach, passionate advocate, and reless servant of the tennis world, has decided to embark on a new career path and step down as our LA Chapter President. Johnny’s contribu ons to the sport and our community will be deeply missed, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors. I (Hassan Abbas) am honored to step into the role of Chapter President. Together with our talented team Anna Monhartrova, Mike Bryan, and Marius Frosa we aim to host engaging RSPA workshops, mentor the next genera on of racquet professionals, and provide unwavering support to our members in every way possible.
North Carolina
In 2024 we had three different educa on events and plan to do so again in 2025. This past December we had our final RSPA NC Workshop at Blakeney Racquet Club in Charlo e NC. There was a very strong group of presenters headlined by Mike Barrell doing two presenta ons that we both excep onal as well as our other speakers, Bill Riddle, Jorge Andrews, Johnny Parkes and Chris Hoshour. Our first event is coming up fast with NC Tennis Weekend At Pinehurst Resort January 31st. We are planning our next workshop late Summer and our final workshop again in December. We would like to welcome Master Pro and former Na onal Pro of the Year Lane Evans back to North Carolina Our NC State Board will serve you again and please reach out if you need anything from your NC Board
The 2024 TN Winter Workshop was held Saturday, December 7 at the Sequoia Swim and Tennis Club in Nashville, TN. We had an exci ng slate of speakers featuring keynote speaker, RSPA Master Pro, Bruce Lipka, who is the 2024 RSPA Alex Gordon Professional of the Year, Head Men’ s Tennis Coach at Penn State University and Coach of the #1 WTA Doubles team, Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe. The morning started with Jim Carella presen ng “Crea ng a Sustainable Pickleball Program”. Jeff Chandley, recent Director of Tennis at Atlanta Athle c Club and the 2024 RSPA Allan Henry Professional of the Year and Year discussed “Career Path to Director of Racquets”
Thanks to the generosity of USTA TN for sponsoring lunch! Lowell Coffman of USTA Tennessee shared an informa ve presenta on on “Running a Level 6 and Level 7 Tournament”. The following awards were presented during lunch – Joey Hall (Pro of the Year), Chickasaw Country Club (Facility of the Year) and Dan Beedle (Educa on Award). Bruce presented on court “The Perfect Prac ce” followed by “Comprehensive Doubles” The RSPA TN Board did a great job with the details of the workshop. The day would not have happened without Sequoia Swim and Tennis Director of Racquets, Mark Srouji and his staff making sure we had everything needed for a great day.
Tennessee Mississippi
Happy 2025 and we hope everyone is gearing up for a great year of making tennis happen! We have our annual RSPA MS Workshop at River Hills Club January 24th and I know everyone is looking forward to it. A great lineup of all local coaches on court in the a ernoon, and what promises to be a great morning slate of presenta ons and a fun lunch at Top Golf! We are looking forward to seeing everyone there!
We will be reaching out a er our workshop to people around the state about good dates for lunch and learn mee ngs, so if you are interested in hos ng something at your facility or town please let us know! We want to bring people together in 2025 and learn from each other as much as we can. We have a great community of pros all around the state and look forward to making the networking and sharing happen!
South Carolina
We are excited to announce a morning workshop scheduled for early March in Myrtle Beach. The workshop will feature a panel of esteemed speakers, covering a variety of engaging topics. Further details will be shared soon.
The RSPA board is currently finalizing the winners of the 2024 State Awards. The winners will be announced soon. In addi on to the Myrtle Beach workshop, we plan on hos ng another breakfast workshop in the Hilton Head area.
Kentucky
S ll looking for members to lead our state as the board members have moved or new jobs have interrupted their chance to serve.
Every successful person I've met has told me about the many failures in their life both personal and professional. I've had several failures. My first book was rejected several mes and never saw the light of day. I was turned down by almost every university I applied to. I couldn't make my first marriage work. Each of these failures turned into a startling turning point that led me down a new path I couldn't imagine. If it wasn't for my past failures, I wouldn't be the person I am today.
So why is it so difficult for us to talk about our mistakes? I remember once watching Dr. Phil on The Larry King show in the 1990s and when asked what his biggest weakness was, he replied: "I want to do too much." Give me a break! We've grown a lot since the 1990s. People want the truth. They can handle the truth. Social media, for all its ills, has a way of not giving anybody a break. If you try to bluff your way out of something or sugarcoat a situa on, there's plenty of denizens ready to pounce on your euphemisms.
By Be y Liu Founder/CEO at Radiate, Inc.
Declare the failure. Then tell people what you learned. The ul mate message you're sending is that you were enlightened. The failure opened your eyes. I'm not telling you to lie if it didn't and in that case, you should reexamine how you handle failure but put the mistake in the context of how it shaped the person you are today. Admi edly, this only works if your failures happened some me ago. If you were just laid off or fired, it would be difficult to do this the next day. What sort of learning would you have had in 24 hours anyway?
John Chen, Execu ve Chairman and CEO of BlackBerry, told me a wonderful thing on Radiate. He said that at one point, he was basically looking for people who failed at startups. "I wanted to start a new business and I didn't wanted to teach those people the pi alls of failure or where the problem is," he said. "The people who actually have failed before gave us a lot of good insight and experience and also have the proper a tudes about not thinking everything is smooth sailing."
There is a line, though. Cross it and you can come across as weak, resen ul, and off-pu ng. There's the right way and the wrong way to talk about your past failures. Be honest and talk about what you learned from failure. That's simply it.
Alabama
Exactly. He was looking for enlightened and experienced people to join his team. Chen just renewed his contract at BlackBerry a er turning around a failing company. He knows a thing or two about rising up from the ashes. So don't be afraid of failure.
December of 2024. It was a fun filled, educa onal day with around 20 folks in a endance. Thank you again to Samford University head men’s tennis coach, Oliver Reynolds, for le ng us use their indoor facility. Fortunately, it didn't rain this year. However, it was s ll a luxury being indoors since the temperatures outside were in the 30’s for most of the day! And we need to thank Jake Wilson, Will Boucek with the Tennis Tribe, and Jeff Barrera for giving extremely informa ve and entertaining presenta ons. Last but not least, the event wouldn’t have run nearly as smoothly as it did if it hadn’t been for Jenny Robb being the technical genius that she is! She has every piece of equipment you could ever need. Thank you, Jenny!
There were numerous highlights throughout the day, but I was proudest of the strengthened sense of community amongst all of our RSPA members. Numerous new friendships were made! I would argue that these were some of the more informa ve presenta ons with ac onable advice. As always, thank you for belonging. Your dedica on contributes significantly to the success and growth of our esteemed organiza on.
Tim Smith - Tennis & Pickleball
Professional, Atlanta Athle c Club, Johns Creek GA
Give a brief descrip on of your tennis/other career: I’m an Elite Professional with over 35 years of experience in the Atlanta area. Throughout my career, I’ve spent 25 years in management at pres gious country clubs and high-end HOA communi es. I also have 10 years of experience working with parks and recrea on departments and junior tennis academy programs. Ongoing educa on is a must do, and I have earned over 200 con nuing educa on points.
My pickleball journey began in late 2018 when I played for the first me during a family vaca on in Florida with my wife, mother-in-law, and some friends. I quickly became an IPTPA-cer fied Pickleball coach and over the next few months, was dedicated to the sport, playing 15-20 hours a week while also diving deep into studying the skills and strategies for various levels of pickleball. In early 2022, I made the decision to transi on
Danny San ago Pine Valley Country Club, Wilmington, NC
Give a brief descrip on of your tennis/other career: I’ve been teaching tennis for about a year now mainly focused on youth beginners. I have also go en good experience teaching adult beginners. As a tennis coach, I try to maintain focus on the fun and make the experience of learning tennis enjoyable as possible. I find it very sa sfying to witness a player slowly progressing their game and improving over me
When did you start playing tennis? I started playing tennis between 6-9 yrs old for fun with my mom and brother on the tennis courts of a nearby local high school
from full- me tennis coaching to focus on pickleball, and I’ve been coaching and organizing programs ever since. In 2023, I became a Pickleball Coach Developer for the RSPA/USPTA.
One of my proudest accomplishments is coaching my son, Aus n Smith, who held the #1 ranking in Georgia Boys’ USTA for 8 consecu ve years, was a two- me All-American, a four- me SEC Champion, a USA Na onal Collegiate Team Champion, and the fi h-winningest player in University of Georgia (UGA) tennis history.
When did you start playing tennis? I started around 1975, a er watching the King vs. Riggs tennis match!
What other sports did you play? I played baseball from T-Ball age un l I was about 12. What moved you to teach tennis? I had a tennis coach I admired. My parents thought I would be good at teaching tennis.
What is something people will be surprised to learn about you? I grew up on a small farm in Indiana. I fed cows in the winter before going to school. I helped birth calves in the spring me. And, mowed 40 acres of pasture each summer.
What are your hobbies? Besides playing tennis and pickleball, I enjoy kayak fishing! I fish for striped bass on Lake Lanier and the Gulf of Mexico for a variety of fish including King Mackerel, a variety of snapper, snook, and whatever tugs on
my line!
What is your favorite movie? Gladiator (Wishing I had not gone to see Gladiator 2)
Are you reading anything right now? No! However, I enjoy John Maxwell's books.
What is your favorite sports team? I like a lot of sports. I don’t have a team I call my favorite. My favorite me with sports is during playoffs and championship finals.
Who is your favorite player of all me? Bjorn Borg – I liked how he played tennis.
What person would you most like to have lunch with: My grandfather! He was a bombardier in WWII. His plane was shot down and was MIA for a period of me before returning to another plane to finish is tour of duty. He never spoke of his me in war. I would love to hear of his accounts during the MIA me.
What would you be doing if you were not in tennis? If you mean, “Right now.” I would say, “Pickleball!” I am thankful to my parents for ge ng me into tennis. I don’t know what or where I would be if I was not in tennis!
If you had a do-over card, what one thing would you have done differently in your teaching career? I like this ques on! It has me thinking about my career over the past 40 years and where I am today! I am happy!
What other sports did you play? I played included basketball, soccer and baseball. What moved you to teach tennis? Two reasons. One, I felt a need to advance my standing at Pine Valley, giving myself more responsibility and secondly to see if it was something I would enjoy doing.
What is something people will be surprised to learn about you? I’m very passionate about movies and love to draw if I am hit with the right inspira on. I’m also naturally shy even if I don’t show it
What are your hobbies? Playing pool, hiking, running, playing video games, drawing and discovering new music
What is your favorite movie? A e between Alien and Aliens. I can’t have one without the
other.
Who is your favorite player of all me? Rafeal Nadal. He has a tenacity, viciousness and will power in his play style that is truly inspiring
If you had a do-over card, what one thing would you have done differently in your teaching career? I would start sooner on my tennis career.
By Raphael Rodrigues USPTA
Elite
Professional
Davis Cup Club Championship
The Druid Hills Golf Club in Atlanta holds Davis Cup, which is a team event where four teams, each represen ng different countries, compete in a round-robin format. The winner is determined by the total number of games won across all three rounds. Each team will be led by two DHGC professionals serving as captains, with coaching allowed during changeovers.
Matches are scheduled as follows: Friday evenings from 5 PM to 9 PM (with matches at 5 PM and 7 PM), and Saturday and Sunday mornings from 9 AM to 1 PM (with matches at 9 AM and 11 AM).
Players sign up individually based on their skill levels. While players can request specific pairings, there is no guarantee those pairings will remain the same on the same team. The primary objec ve is to ensure that the teams are evenly balanced in terms of skill.
Two weeks before the event, the DHGC pros will organize an exhibi on match to reveal the teams. During the exhibi on warm-up, music will be played, and the team rosters will be announced. Pros will be randomly assigned to teams by drawing names from a hat. Once the teams are set, they will have two weeks to acquire their countrythemed gear and ensure everyone is wearing their team colors and shirts/ jerseys. In the week before the compe on, a team clinic will be held to help players bond with their teammates (the clinic will cost an addi onal $12-$15 per player).
A-level men, 3 B-level men, 3 C-level men
A-level women, 7 B -level women, 3 C-level women
The match schedule is structured as:
1 A Men's Doubles, 1 A Women's Doubles, 1 A Mixed Doubles
1 B Men's Doubles, 1 B Women's Doubles, 1 B Mixed Doubles
1 C Men's Doubles, 3 C Women's Doubles, 1 C Mixed Doubles
This format ensures that each player par cipates in one match per round against each opposing team. All courts are taken during the event.
We have 11 courts at DHGC, so each team will consist of 22 players: 9 men and 13 women, divided as
Scoring: Matches will be played as best 2 out of 3 sets, with a match ebreaker in the third set. All matches will use no -ad scoring. The team with the most games won at the end of the event will be crowned the DHGC Davis Cup Champion, with their team photo displayed in the tennis center for bragging rights.
This marks the third year of the DHGC Davis Cup, and registra on typically fills up quickly o en within hours. To ensure fair access, we will distribute announcements, email blasts, and flyers throughout the facility, ensuring all members are informed when registra on opens.
Event Budget Breakdown:
Total Players: 88
Registra on cost per player: $170
Total Revenue: $14,960
Club Revenue: $1,496
Ball Costs: 70 cans, total cost: $315
Friday Dinner: $22 per player (food for 90), total cost: $1,980
Saturday Breakfast: $15 per player (food for 60), total cost: $900
Saturday Lunch: $20 per player (food for 90), total cost: $1,800
Sunday Breakfast: $15 per player (food for 60), total cost: $900
Sunday Lunch: $20 per player (food for 90), total cost: $1,800
Sports Drinks (all three days): 80 x $2.50, total cost: $200
Decora ons: $250 (includes large country flags, smaller flags for walkways, and floral arrangements)
Celebra on Champagne: 3 bo les, total cost: $100
Pro and Director S pends:
Each pro receives a $300 s pend for the weekend. The tournament director receives $1,000. Any remaining funds a er covering expenses will be reinvested into the program. Overall, the success of the event will depend on the pros/captains to be extremely energe c, fun and posi ve while building the camaraderie for each team.
How Your Behavior as a Leader Shapes Your Workplace Relationships
By Jeff Miller Coaching
Rela onships are the founda on of any leadership approach. They define how you collaborate with people and how you inspire them to work toward a shared vision. Relying on authority alone is unlikely to get you very far. The most effec ve leaders get things done through the way they make and communicate decisions to their teams.
Of course, every rela onship is made up of hundreds and thousands of interac ons, many of which happen largely on autopilot. If you want to be an effec ve leader, here are a few ps that will help you make those interac ons more meaningful and produc ve.
Presented by McMahon Careers
Consider Other Perspec ves
Every healthy rela onship should allow both sides to put themselves in the other person’s shoes. As a leader, it’s important to realize that your employees see things differently.
Some situa ons can look dras cally different from someone else’s perspec ve, and their perspec ve usually isn’t less valuable or correct than yours. The ability to see things from your employees’ point of view is also an asset to your company’s bo om line. One recent study shows that 76% of employees with empathe c leaders feel a lot more consistently engaged at work compared to the 32% of employees without one.
Balance Respect With Confidence
Though it’s true that respect should be earned, you should also grant a baseline of respect to every employee. Most people
pick up on these things and will offer you the same amount of respect you offer them. Just assume your employees work hard and know their stuff un l they prove you otherwise. A er all, you (or someone you trust) hired them.
A good way to show respect is to balance it with confidence. If you show your team you trust them, they will o en try to prove you were right to do so. As a result, a show of confidence o en leads to a boost in morale and turns your assump ons into self-fulfilling prophecies.
Stop Trying to Be Right
Many leaders try very hard to prove they’re right in all circumstances. Even smart leaders will unconsciously look for evidence that backs up their ideas or dismiss any counter-arguments without addressing them. However, having to be right comes with heavy consequences. It prevents dialogue, kills curiosity, and disconnects you from other people.
Instead of ge ng wrapped up in being right, focus on finding the best possible outcome. Stop caring so much about who gets the credit, don’t hold onto your ideas too ghtly, and keep your mind open. Remember: in life, there are very few blackand-white answers.
RSPA Southern Awards
Awards are for accomplishments from 2024. This year, awards will be accepted via online system along with supporting documentation. You can choose to self nominate (most common method), or to nominate someone else and have the committee connect for supporting information. The person must be a current member including all of 2024
We have 2 newer awards. First is the Mentor Award, which will recognize the RSPA professional that has inspired and had a big impact on current professionals or those joining. Second the High Performance Coach, which will replace Touring Coach.
ALAN HENRY SOUTHERN PRO OF THE YEAR
This award shall be presented for achieving excellence in performing the duties of a RSPA Tennis Professional. Areas of achievement might include teaching and coaching, management and administration, competitive play, research and publication, and community service. Relevant criteria for this award would include contributions to national, regional and local tennis organizations and programs as an officer, director, founder, committee member, project leader, speaker, participant and the like. Other criteria would be contributions as a teaching professional and coach in regard to innovative programming, notable students, continuing education, and player rankings.
FRED BURDICK RSPA PRIDE OF THE SOUTH
This award is appointed by the awards committee and is not up for nomination.
MENTOR AWARD
This award recognizes a RSPA member who has, through their coaching and character, made an enduring and positive impact on those around them. While special consideration will be given to those who have inspired others to work in the tennis industry, what is most important is the ability to provide anecdotes and examples of how a coach influenced the lives and character of individuals. In that regard, providing information about individual player rankings is welcome but not necessary.
ELEVATE PRO OF THE YEAR
This award shall be presented to the individual who has made an impact to the tennis industry. Relevant criteria should include contributions, notable accomplishments, and involvement in tennis activity throughout the state, the south, and nationally. This person should also be a member of the Elevate team.
HIGH SCHOOL COACH, COLLEGE COACH, HIGH PERFORMANCE COACH
These three awards shall be presented for excellence in contributing to the notable accomplishments of your team(s) or student(s). Relevant criteria for this award would include competitive record, demonstrated improvement in skills and accomplishments, and other achievements and distinctions earned by your team(s) or player(s) in which the nominee is wholly or partly responsible, such as Scholar-Athlete and Sportsmanship Awards.
Online Application and info at rspasouthern.net on the AWARDS tab
DEADLINE: March 10th
Awards to be presented at the Awards Lunch on May 3rd during the Southern Convention at Embassy SuitesConference Center & Resort, Greenville SC
Any questions should be directed to: Jason Hazley, jasonh@noltc.com
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
This award shall be presented for excellence and achievement in competitive men’s and women’s play. Relevant criteria for all above competitive men’s and women’s player’s awards should include results and rankings from ATP, RSPA National and Division, USTA, STA, and/or District. Tournament record should be provided.
CHARITY EVENT OF THE YEAR
This award is given to the Professional that raises money for a charity. Please verify the event on the letterhead of the charity or with a newspaper clipping.
SOUTHERN ASSISTANT PRO OF THE YEAR
This award shall be presented for achieving excellence in performing duties of an Assistant Tennis Professional. Areas of achievement might include teaching and coaching, competitive play, research and publication, and community service. Relevant criteria for this award would include contributions to national, regional and local tennis organizations and programs as a committee member, project member, or an active participant. Other criteria would be contributions as a tennis professional and coach in regard to innovative programming, notable students, continuing education, and rankings.
MANAGER OF THE YEAR
This award shall be presented to the club manager who has shown dedication to the RSPA and its members. Criteria may include RSPA membership, hiring and supporting RSPA members.
INDUSTRY EXCELLENCE
This award recognizes those RSPA-certified members who have done the most to promote tennis at the grassroots level and thereby increased player participation in the sport. Entrepreneurial initiative also is an important criterion.
TEACHING PROFESSIONAL AWARD
This award is presented for having demonstrated excellence in teaching. Considerations include: use of the ROGY pathway for juniors and adults; consistent use of teaching aids such as ball machines, video analysis, as well as any other implements to help players grasp concepts; demonstrated ability to modify teaching styles based on the learning needs of students; and success in having inspired beginners of all ages to become lifelong tennis players.
Southern Officers
President Ken Andriano kandriano@atlantacountryclub.org 336-541-5876
1st Vice President Allan Jensen Ajensen.tennis@gmail.com 404-483-6591
2nd Vice President Jason Hazley jasonh@noltc.com 225-247-3028
Secretary/Treasurer Bill Riddle TENNISUN@aol.com 615-243-6698
Past President Tom Parkes tparkes@pinevalleycountryclub.com 910-233-4755
Executive Director Pat Whitworth pat.whitworth@uspta.org 800-438-7782
Directors at Large Dan Beedle dan.beedle10s@gmail.com 219-510-3608
Darryl Lewis d.lewis@aussie10s.com 678.595.2650
Alabama JC Freeman
Marcus Rutsche promarcus@hotmail.com
Arkansas Chris Stuart stuart@sta.usta.com 479 831-8346
Georgia Rick Willett rickdwillett@gmail.com
Kentucky
Louisiana Hassan Abbas Hassan.potc@gmail.com
Mississippi William Foreman foremantennis@gmail.com 601-720-4539
North Carolina Chris Hoshour chrishoshour@gmail.com
South Carolina
Mark Schminke usptasouthcarolina@gmail.com
Tennessee Geoff Browne geoffbrowne0609@gmail.com