Pg 5-7 Racquets Conference Highlights
Pg 9 DI&I Ideas from the Racquets Conference
Pg 11 Rainy Day Lesson Plans
Pg 13 The Written Word - A Tennis Journey
President’s Message
Dear RSPA Southern Family,
It was wonderful to see many of you this past September at our World Racquets Conference in California. This event marked an exci ng new chapter for us as the Racquet Sports Professional Associa on. Our new logo emphasizes that while tennis is at the core of our organiza on, many job pos ngs now include the need for cer fica ons in Pickleball, Padel, and Pla orm. Consequently, the tle of
By Ken Andriano
Director of Tennis has evolved into Director of Racquets.
Our leadership team is commi ed to expanding opportuni es for growth within our industry and empowering you to thrive in your chosen career path. With that in mind, we have some fantas c educa onal and networking events coming up that you won't want to miss. As we look to the future, please remember that your Southern board is here to support you. Don’t hesitate to reach out for guidance, mentorship, or any ques ons you may have.
The Racquet Sports Professionals Associa on, formerly the USPTA, would like to support members whose homes and/or businesses were affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton and invites those who can assist to join us.
Due to RSPA bylaws, the associa on cannot run a fundraiser, so RSPA Director of Finance Ellen Weatherford is hos ng this drive with the full support of RSPA President Trish Faulkner and RSPA CEO Brian Dillman.
The RSPA is star ng the fund with a $5,000 dona on. Please contribute what you can to help our friends and fellow professionals recover from disaster and return to doing what they love inspiring people in every racquet sport on every court. Dona ons are not tax-deduc ble.
Please help your fellow RSPA members impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton by dona ng to the GoFundMe campaign below. Details can be seen below and are online. Thank you for considering a dona on: any amount helps!
Wishing you a wonderful fall and con nued success as we head into the winter season!
ABOUT THE RSPA
The Racquet Sports Professionals Association (RSPA), formerly known as the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA), is the gold standard for racquet sports professionals. Founded in 1927, RSPA has evolved to meet the diverse needs of the racquet sports industry, supporting professionals in tennis, pickleball, padel, squash, platform tennis, and more.
8 Pitfalls of Tennis & Pickleball Club Management
By Ashley & Tim Owens - Court Reserve
A er years of building CourtReserve to serve over 1,500 clubs (and launching our own club), we ’ve seen these challenges firsthand. Managing a successful club requires more than just keeping the courts busy. From understanding your members to inves ng in the right tools and strategies, every decision can impact your club’s long-term success.
In this ar cle, we’re diving deep into the most common mistakes we’ve encountered, offering insights to help you navigate the complexi es of club management and build a thriving, engaged community.
Let’s begin
1. Poor Member Persona & Journey Defini on
Understanding who your ideal member is and mapping out their journey within your club is crucial. Without a clear picture of your target member, you’ll end up a rac ng people who may not be the best fit for your club.
This can lead to poor reten on and wasted resources as you struggle to meet the needs of a diverse but unfocused member base. Instead, invest me in defining your member personas age, interests, skill levels and tailor your offerings to match their needs.
This clarity will help you focus your marke ng efforts and create a more cohesive club environment.
2. Over -relying on Outdated Tools
Many clubs s ll rely on outdated management tools or worse, pen and paper. While these tools can offer some insights, they rarely provide a full picture of your club’s needs and opera ons. The real insights o en come from engaging directly with your members. Talk to them, understand their pain points, and use this informa on to refine your strategies. Not even the best court reserva on so ware can replace the value of direct, human interac on.
3. Champagne Ideas, Beer Budgets
We all have grand visions for our clubs, but without the necessary budget, those dreams can quickly turn into nightmares. Running a successful club requires substan al investment, par cularly in facili es, coaching staff, and technology. If your budget is limited, priori ze spending in areas that directly impact member experience.
Presented by McMahon Careers
Use technology to streamline processes, such as booking courts or managing memberships, but make sure your team is s ll focused on building strong, personal connec ons with your members. A er all, it’s these rela onships that will keep them loyal to your club.
7. Neglec ng Member Experience
High-quality courts, experienced coaches, and user-friendly technology (like a Mobile app) are non-nego ables if you want to provide a top- er experience that keeps members coming back.
4. Cu ng Corners on Quality
There’ s an old saying, “You get what you pay for,” and it rings especially true in club management. Whether it’s hiring coaches, maintaining facili es, or inves ng in marke ng, cu ng corners on quality will almost always backfire.
Poor investments can lead to subpar member experiences, which in turn can damage your club’s reputa on and hurt reten on rates. Remember, quality is an investment in your club’s future.
5. No Dedicated Management Team
Managing a club isn’t just about basic administra on it requires exper se in member engagement, marke ng, and facili es management. Relying solely on a general manager or a volunteer board without specialized support can lead to inefficiencies and missed opportuni es for growth.
Consider hiring a dedicated director or management team who can bring professional exper se to the table. The right leadership can make all the difference in your club’s success.
Technology can enhance your club’s opera ons, but it can’t replace the human touch that members crave. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that technology will solve all your problems, but the reality is that it should be used to complement, not replace, personal rela onships.
Many clubs fail to fully op mize the member experience, whether through facility design, communica on, or events.
The member experience starts the moment someone walks through your doors or lands on your website and con nues through every interac on they have with your club.
Consider everything from the layout of your club to how you communicate with members online. Small improvements can lead to significant boosts in member sa sfac on and reten on.
It’s easy to get caught up in the pursuit of quick wins, like rapid membership growth or immediate financial returns. However, focusing too much on the short term can lead to neglec ng the long -term sustainability of your club.
Building a thriving club culture and a loyal member base takes me. It’s important to balance your goals, ensuring that while you’re working towards short -term successes, you’re also laying the founda on for long-term stability.
The Takeaway
Don’t get caught up in the flashy tac cs that might work for mega clubs focus on understanding what makes YOUR club unique and build your strategies around that.
Clear member personas, proper budgets, and a dedicated management team are key to success. Invest in quality where it ma ers most, and don’t underes mate the power of direct engagement with your members.
Stewart
Russell Master Professional
Claire Spencer 1st Annual John Embree Scholarship
former USPTA CEO John Embree and the USPTA announced the crea on of the John Embree World Racquets Conference Scholarship program. Two $1,000 scholarships will be granted, preferably one to a female and one to a male . These scholarships will create greater opportuni es for underresourced tennis-teaching professionals and help defray the costs of travel, room charges and some monies for meals. Registra on is waived for the
Division of the Year
Large Division
Mississippi
Arkansas Georgia
USPTA Arkansas Conference Date Set! Save the Date! Friday, Jan. 24th from 9:00am – 4:00pm. The loca on: Burns Park Tennis Center. More informa on to come soon regarding guest speakers/presenters
The 2024 GA. RSPA Winter Workshop will be Friday, December 6 from 8:00-4:00 at the Atlanta Athle c Club. We have an outstanding lineup of speakers with our theme being Always Room for Improvement. The lineup includes Marcus Rutsche, Tim Smith, and Paul Bartholomai. The keynote speaker is Bruce Lipka, tennis coach at Penn State. He just received the Alex Gordon USPTA Coach of the Year Award at the 2024 World Racquets Conference. He currently coaches the #1 WTA doubles player in the world Erin Routliffe but he also has major club experience in his background. He will speak on progressions from a 2.5 doubles women's tennis player to a professional women's doubles tennis player. Bruce will also speak on strategies and prepara ons for women's college matches.
Louisiana
Welcome fall!! And I do say that si ng in Baton Rouge with my windows open for our first true cold front of the year. I hope everyone is well into their fall programs and impac ng lives. Our Louisiana board is excited to announce a small sponsorship for the Tennis Haus symposium on Saturday, Nov 2nd, to allow free entry for the first 15 of our cer fied pros to sign up. This will be a great educa on day and your networking ability will be intensive with other pros in a endance as well as the speakers. There will be a party at the end of the day to give everyone an opportunity to connect with people in our industry. To sign up email Davor at Davor.dekaris@gmail.com.
Just remember, as a sports professional, you are adding to the quality of life of a tremendous amount of people in your community. Keep it up.
Tennessee
The 2024 TN RSPA Winter Workshop will be held Saturday, December 7 at the Sequoia Swim & Tennis Club in Nashville. Check-in begins at 8:30am with speaker presenta ons, 9:00am to 4:00pm. We are very excited about our lineup of speakers. The keynote speaker is Bruce Lipka, tennis coach at Penn State. He just received the Alex Gordon USPTA Coach of the Year Award at the 2024 World Racquets Conference. He currently coaches the #1 WTA doubles player in the world Erin Routliffe but he also has major club experience in his background. Other speakers for the day include Jeff Chandley, the Director of Racquet Sports at Atlanta Athle c Club and Jim Carella, the Director of Pickleball at TPC Sugarloaf. There will also be an update from USTA Tennessee. Pickleball cer fica on is scheduled for Saturday, October 26 from 12:00pm to 5:00pm. The RSPA Pickleball Cer fica on is being held indoors at TPI in Bowling Green, KY. Register at h ps:// nyurl.com/ev4ebzuc (you must login first)
Fall and cooler weather is finally here! Our state chapter had great representa on at the World Racquets Conference in Rancho Mirage, CA. 6 of our pro's a ended the event where we first hand heard about the rebranding of our organiza on as the RSPA from CEO Brian Dillman. One of our own experts, Walker Sahag, was included in the keynote line-up and did an excellent presenta on as usual.
Speaking about conferences, mark the date on your calendar for the Mississippi Workshop. We are back at River Hills Club on January 24th, 2025. If you a end the workshop on Friday, a end the USTA MS annual mee ng on Saturday, and the tournament directors workshop on Saturday, you will be eligible for reimbursement for one hotel night and mileage. Nomina ons for our chapter awards will be emailed out shortly. These awards are presented during the USTA Annual Awards Luncheon on Saturday January 25th, 2025.
South Carolina
The Racket Sports Professional Associa on of South Carolina is excited to announce that we are currently planning our upcoming state workshop, which will be held in Myrtle Beach this winter. Stay tuned for more details on the specific dates, loca on, and agenda. Addi onally, we are nearing the comple on of our state award selec on process. The winners of these pres gious awards will be announced within the month. We look forward to recognizing the outstanding contribu ons of our members to the sport of racket sports in South Carolina.
North Carolina
North Carolina held our State Workshop in conjunc on with the Winston Salem Open. Jorge Andrews and Chris Hoshour presented at the workshop and all of the par cipants received ckets to the Winston Salem Open. North Carolina has already scheduled our next State Workshop for December 14th in Charlo e NC at The Blakeney Racquet Club. Our featured speaker will be Mike Barrell. The workshop will be a full day of on court and classroom sessions. Stay tuned for full details
Alabama
The complimentary workshop on Saturday, December 7th is star ng to fill out nicely. It will be at Samford University’s indoor facility from 9 AM - 3:30 PM. Thank you again to Coach Oliver Reynolds for the indoor facility. Lunch will be provided and there will be a happy hour at 3:30 PM. This workshop will be worth 9.75 educa onal credits. While this is directed towards educa ng and helping our current USPTA members grow professionally, a significant number of these presenta ons will be directed towards high school/ college players and coaches. Our goal is to a ract a significant number of new teaching professionals from these groups. Topics include pickleball, on court, and business ideas to increase revenues. Registra on info coming soon. Please help in spreading the word to anyone who would poten ally be interested. All are welcome. Thanks again and we hope to see all of you there.
Stewart Russell Partner Universal Tennis Management Oversee James Creek TC and Legacy Park, Cumming/ Kennesaw GA
Management 13 years ago - Present
When did you start playing tennis? Age 10
What other sports did you play? Was actually recruited to play Basketball in college before suffering an ankle injury, Baseball, Soccer
Give a brief descrip on of your tennis/other career: A er gradua ng from Roanoke College I became the Men’s Tennis Coach. Moved to Atlanta to become a Director with the Ralston/ Gorman Tennis Academy, before becoming the Director of Tennis @ Brookstone CC. Became a Partner with Universal Tennis
What moved you to teach tennis? My previous coaches from all sports drove me to wan ng to do this as a profession. What is something people will be surprised to learn about you? I enjoy team sports more then individual sports. Both of my children Taylor 31, and Jus n 28 were very accomplished college athletes in Soccer and Baseball, respec vely. I have never formally tried to instruct either of them in Tennis
What are your hobbies? Golf and s ll enjoy watching Team sports
What is your favorite movie? Remember the Titans
Are you reading anything right now? The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle and Champion Minded Allistair Mccaw
What is your favorite sports team? New York Mets, New York Giants, New York Rangers, New York Knicks
Who is your favorite player of all me? Lawrence Taylor (Daughter named a er him)
What person would you most like to have lunch with? Nick Saban
What would you be doing if you were not in tennis? Coaching a team sport or officia ng
If you had a "do over", what one thing would you have done differently in your teaching career? Convinced USTA to host more Junior “Team” Events. Seen too many young children pu ng too much pressure on themselves individually.
Give a brief descrip on of your tennis/ other career: I am the head pro for the CTA, as well as a board member. When did you start playing tennis? When I was about 12
What other sports did you play? I was a gymnast throughout my earlier years un l injuries cut that short at 11. I also pole vaulted on a club team while in school What moved you to teach tennis? My mentor at the me, Fred Pfuhl, was so helpful ge ng me involved in teaching tennis. He convinced me to get USPTAcer fied and I started teaching shortly
a er. Always making new friends on the court keeps me out there to this day. What is something people will be surprised to learn about you? Don't know, just ask :)
What are your hobbies? My friend and I take po ery class
What is your favorite movie? Mamma Mia (1 & 2)
Are you reading anything right now? No What is your favorite sports team? Don't really have one
Who is your favorite player of all me? Marat Safin, or maybe Nick Kyrgios, Fernando Verdasco or Fabio Fognini
What person would you most like to have lunch with? ?
If you had a "do over", what one thing would you have done differently in your teaching career? Nothing
Olivia (Claire) Spencer Outer Banks Tennis Associa on Kill Devil Hills, NC
I a ended a remarkable World Racquets Conference in September at Rancho Mirage in California that brought together industry leaders from various backgrounds, including the importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). It was my honor to be part of a dynamic panel discussion, moderated by Jason Gilbert, on the topic of "Diversity of Thought and Why DEI is Essen al to Our Industry."
The panel featured Vania King, represen ng the Asian Pacific community; Marc S ngley, represen ng the African American community; Greg DeMoustes, represen ng the LGBTQ+ community; and myself, represen ng the Hispanic
Ethnicity
Allan Jensen Elite Professional
community. Together, we shared our personal experiences, challenges, and triumphs in naviga ng our respec ve industries, and we emphasized how essen al diversity is to fostering innova on and growth.
One of the key takeaways from our discussion was that diversity is no longer a distant ideal it is now a reality within many organiza ons. This shi is reflected in our membership data, as illustrated by the graph below. Out of 10,878 members, many diverse coaches are part of our community. While this is remarkable progress, there are s ll 3,500 members who need to update their profiles, allowing us to capture the full scope of diversity within our organiza on.
By Dan Beedle RSPA Elite Professional
With all the rain lately, throughout the Southern Region, it can be very frustra ng for us pros and our students, poten ally crea ng inconsistency with scheduling. Whether our students have a tournament coming up or are ge ng ready for USTA league season, the weather can throw a wrench in the prepara on. Below are some ideas highlighted on how to be produc ve when players cannot be on court due to weather complica ons.
Does your facility have a fitness center? If the courts are wet but there is a fitness center or workout space available, it can be a great opportunity to enhance some footwork skills and get some prehab work done on the shoulders, hips, etc.
The good news is - there doesn’t need to be a lot of space- typically it can be done inside of 10 feet. If there is space to do a lateral push off the ground and land in single-leg balance, then there is enough space. One of the most undertrained movements in tennis is first -step quickness. There are many reac on drills one can do that only require a small amount of space that will help develop that quickness.
If there are elas c bands or lighter dumbbells then that is a great opportunity to strengthen and help stabilize the shoulder. Internal and external shoulder rota on along with lateral raises are a good start to strengthen and stabilize the shoulder through sport-specific planes of mo on. If a player is able, use a close to ninety-degree range of mo on in each plane. More examples of exercises that are beneficial for tennis-specific prehab can be found online at Kovacs Ins tute.
Is there a lounge with a TV? One of the most important areas of coaching and an area that could be u lized more is video analysis. Below are a few ways to be produc ve with video.
Analyzing individual players from your groups – Try not to compare one student to
another but help the player understand what is happening with poten al breakdowns in their approach to the ball, recovery, or strokes and what they could do to improve.
Analyze pro players and discuss technical commonali es vs stylis c differences –when comparing the forehand from Novak and Tiafoe you would probably say that they are completely different. If you and your players take me to look you may find that there is more in common than you think.
A big off-court teaching tool for me over the years has been pro -match analysis and char ng. What shot selec on does your player think the pro is going to choose vs where the ball goes. Topics to discuss with match analysis include: Why would the pro hit it there? What is the tac cal advantage? What shot pa erns are being used? No ng the serve plus one loca on as well. How does the serve set the player up for their next shot? Char ng can help the players understand how the pros set up opportuni es to win points and ul mately the match. Some examples of different categories to chart may include where the pros miss shots (long, wide, net), what stances are used in certain situa ons, winner-to-error ra o, net points won, etc.
No TV and no Fitness center? If you have any area that is indoors it can be a great me to work on technical work. Breaking stroke technic down, even for more advanced players, can be a good refresher. Going back to the basics occasionally can be a great thing for your players. Shadow swings can be a great way to get students to slow down and “feel” their swing more. Does the swing feel similar or different to what they are producing on the court? Are the players aware of their racquet posi on at different phases of the swing?
The BJK Eye Coach, a personal favorite of
mine, is one of the best tools to use for swing and movement technique. The Eye Coach helps make players more aware of balance, spacing, and head movement during their swings. Depending on the size of the space you can incorporate movement with the swings or keep the swing sta onary.
Using foam balls to lightly hit against a wall, foam balls are wonderful tools for a player’s development. If there is space to hit lightly against the wall this could be a great me to work on con nental grip skills or any grip adjustments that a player may be working on. Ge ng touches on the ball but also being more aware of the alignment of the racquet face can help a player become more confident with the newer grip. Rain days can also be a great me to teach younger players how to regrip their racquet. At a certain age or level of experience, players should be able to regrip their own racquets. With a younger group maybe age nine or ten this could be a great me to teach them how to regrip their racquet. Crea ng independence and autonomy for their game and development will con nue to be important as they con nue to develop.
For a slightly older group maybe twelve or older showing them what it looks like to string a racquet can be beneficial. Helping them understand the me and details involved can give them a greater respect for the person who s ngs their racquet and educa ng them about string can increase their interest in tennis. How many mes has a player broken a string and when you ask what they would like to put in it they say, “I don’t know whatever.”
Depending on what ameni es your club has there may be no need to cancel junior or adult groups. There are many ways to be produc ve and educate your players without needing to be on the court.
The Written Word
By Geoff Browne - Elite Professional
You Can Get There From Here
by Barry Buss
The book has a forward by Patrick McEnroe, and is an autobiographical journey of his life’s journey from his days as a Na onally ranked junior player through his college days and struggles along the way with alcohol and drugs. Barry resides in Franklin, TN now and is a local USPTA pro. His book is hard to put down in his vivid descrip ons of how he went through his junior career and came up the ranks to being a member of the UCLA Bruins where he rose to playing #1. His ba les with alcohol and
drugs controlled his life and he talks in detail about how he wanted help and the difficul es he faced in staying sober. You will find yourself going through the full array of emo ons with his roller-coaster life that he led. Barry’s story is truly inspira onal, and it is impossible not to cheer for him. This book is a great read for any tennis fan or anyone who has been touched by someone who has ba led a struggle with alcohol or drugs, You Can Get There From Here on Amazon.
Tourna All-Ball Tourna Tube: A Revised and Improved Design
As a long- me tennis player and coach, I've tried countless ball tubes over the years. But the Tourna All-Ball Tourna Tube has quickly become my go-to choice. It's not just a piece of equipment; it's a reliable partner on the court. The recent upgrade to the bo om piece is a gamechanger. I used to struggle with other tubes that once they were full would leak. The Tourna Tube's sturdy rubber pieces have solved that problem, ensuring the tube stays full with no leaks.
I especially appreciate the tube's versa lity. Whether I'm working with junior red ball players or coaching advanced adults, the Tourna Tube can handle it all. And the fact that it's so easy to carry around makes it a convenient companion for prac ces, matches, and tournaments.
If you're looking for a ball tube that will last, perform well, and make your tennis life easier, I highly recommend the Tourna All-Ball Tourna Tube. It's a personal favorite of mine, and I'm confident it will become yours too.
FASTFACTS on CHANGE
It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change. Charles Darwin
Adaptability is about the powerful difference between adap ng to cope and adap ng to win. Max McKeown
The art of life is a constant readjustment to our surroundings. Kakuzo Okakaura
The price of doing the same old thing is far higher than the price of change. Bill Clinton
If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your a tude. Maya Angelou
