USPTA Southern Division: Where Excellence is STANDARD
The USPTA Southern Division
Volume 22 Issue 1: January 2021
Explosive
Expectations for ‘21
INSIDE: Virtual Business Conference 2/11-12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg 3 Theragun Therapy & Money. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg 5 Awards Nominations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg 6 Customer Service or Customer Experience . . . . . . . . . . pg 7 Keep Your Office With You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg 11
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Volume 22 Issue 1
President’s Message
2021
is going to be an eventful year for USPTA. Individuals who applied by last October 31st for certification or upgrade have until this March 31st to complete the process. Otherwise, depending on what a given applicant has completed, the certification and upgrade requirements will become significantly greater. If you know anyone in this group of certification or upgrade candidates, please encourage them to register for a test date sooner rather than later. This year, we will conduct a virtual Business Conference in February, and in lieu of
our normal May Convention, we will be partnering with USPTA Florida to hold a joint Convention in Orlando, health conditions permitting. We are looking to hold an August Convention, and hope most of our states will be able to conduct their in-person workshops this year. Many pros benefitted from the USPTA/USTA dues subsidy and agreed to bring new players into tennis this year. Be on the lookout for opportunities
to work with the USTA to make this happen. Finally, pros often ask me how they can get involved with USPTA. Here is a possibility. Soon we will be sending a jotform application to join our new Southern Social Media committee. We are excited about this committee raising awareness among younger people concerning USPTA and of careers in tennis. If you are interested in getting involved, we encourage you to apply.
USPTA and ATA Partner to Further Provide Minority Participation and Opportunities in Tennis
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s part of the agreement, the USPTA is committed to granting Free Access to USPTA division conferences and the USPTA World Conference to a select number of ATA and HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) coaches. In addition, ATA coaches will have access to the USPTA’s education website, TennisResources.com. Slated for August 3-8, 2021, at the USTA National Campus in Lake Nona, FL, the USPTA will support the ATA National Championships with seminars for coaches in attendance and education for players and parents. The USPTA is dedicated to providing ATA members and coaches of HBCU institutions with robust educational workshops to elevate their coaching and teaching standards. The USPTA holds a strong belief in making both capital improvements to tennis facilities and establishing Professional Tennis Management (PTM) programs at HBCUs. To attract coaches of color to our industry, HBCUs need to improve their facilities to be on par with other major universities across the country. By creating a PTM program at one or two HBCUs, candidates who seek to become a tennis-teaching professional will better understand the pathway to an exciting career in tennis.
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USPTA Southern/Florida Convention 6/3-6/6 MAKE PLANS NOW - This is a MUST attend event, and basically a World Conference for the Eastern side of the country (Las Vegas is the site for the World Conference in 2021). Many of us will be able to drive to Orlando for the conference, and hopefully some fun at Disney and surrounding entertainment. DATE: June 3-6, main days are ThursdaySaturday SITE: Hyatt Grand Cypress located 1 mile from Disney property. Courts on property CONVENTION REGISTRATION: $250, we have a much higher rate due to the cost of hosting at a top level resort HOTEL COST: with resort fees and parking, $200/night Visit www.usptasouthern.com to view an agenda from a previous conference. This site will be updated as we have new information
USPTA Southern 2021 Online Business Conference
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e are very fortunate to have the opportunity to bring amazing talent from across the country for our online conference. This collection of speakers could not happen for us live, but we are able to take advantage of our current conditions and experience a very high-level conference The very diverse agenda is listed below. Meet the Speakers: Full bios at usptasouthern.com. Zoom will be used for presentations. Login info will be sent to attendees by 2/9. Registration: for USPTA members is only $10. Registration link at usptasouthern.com. More Information will be posted at usptasouthern.com, including info, bios, notes, and more.
Thursday, February 11th (all times eastern) • 1:30 PM, Rod Heckleman - New Programming for Our New Opportunities • 2:35 PM, Kim Bastable - How To Gain an Advantage and Increase Fulfillment in Your Tennis Business Career • 3:40 PM, Alan Cutler - Where Do You Want to Be in Five Years Friday, February 12th (all times eastern) • 9:30 AM, Ajay Pant - Learning vs. Teaching • 10:35 AM, Jarrett Chirico - Connecting the Dots Through Racquet Sports: Monetizing and Using Pickleball to Grow Tennis • 11:40 AM, Candace Kauffman - Marketing Beyond Programs
Education Credits are now issued at 1 credit/hour. Members need 12 hours every 3 years during the current period ending 2022.
Registration and info at usptasouthern.com
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Volume 22 Issue 1
Using Correct Language when Teaching Red, Orange, and Green By Dan Beedle, USPTA Elite Professional
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hen are we going to play real tennis? Can we use the “real ball”? As coaches we have heard these questions from our 6-11 years olds countless times. What is your response? My response to this question is always we are playing real tennis, we are using the “real ball.” The real ball is dependent on where the child is in the developmental pathway. We are responsible for educating the students and the parents about the game. Parents will typically ask when their child will move up and play with the real ball. They are all real balls. They are round and they bounce. If a child is 6 years old and has not played before then the red ball is their real ball. We can use correct terminology but we also need the parents to use it when they are with their kids. When the coach or parent use the term ‘real ball’ to describe the yellow ball, that can make the child think that the ball they are using is not correct and they are not playing real tennis.
Countless times I have heard parents refer to the red and orange ball as a baby ball. I had to explain that the ball is not a reflection of their skill but another tool in the pathway. Could this miscommunication contribute to some of the problems retaining kids in our programs? I believe so. Correct language goes beyond just the ball. It needs to also be used for the court sizes. When a student asks if they are going to use the full court I ask what they mean. When we warm up, I hear coaches tell the 8-10 year old orange ball players to line up on the doubles side line as the coach points or stands on the doubles sideline for the 78ft court. For
a nine year old using an orange ball, the 60 ft. court is their full size court. When they progress to the 78 ft. court with the green dot ball then that becomes their full size court. As coaches we need to teach according to the young player’s world not our own. Tennis is the only sport where people refer to things as real or full size. When I played little league baseball I never heard my coaches or parents refer to a “real bat” or “big field”. Were we playing real baseball? Of course. As pros we need to monitor how we phrase things to the kids in our programs and their parents. Don’t make your job harder.
One Good Idea! Bill Bryan - Staying on Course We all know people who are very busy all the time but accomplish very little. They say how hard they work but don’t have much to show for it. They suffer from lack of purpose and focus. If you have a junior program for example, you need to know the purpose. Is it to do high numbers and introduce the game to kids? Is it to produce as many college players as possible? Is it just to say you have a junior program but it really isn’t a major entity at your facility? Knowing the purpose affects all of your decisions. If it is to do high numbers and introduce the game, I would hire high energy, happy people to run the program. If the purpose is to create college players, I would hire great coaches who may have a much rougher attitude. The thought would be the program will actually weed out players until you get the ones who really want to be great instead of drawing large numbers. It’s the same with all aspects of business. There are many things that will throw you
off course so just be aware of it. Most people don’t even know the purpose of what they are doing so how can they accomplish much? Find your purpose, get on the highway, and don’t take an exit. Stay on Course! Tom Parkes - The Secrets to Communication 1. Show respect. Everyone, no matter what position or role they are in, deserves to be treated with respect. By being respectful you will set the tone of what your leadership is about and how you like to be spoken to. Respect begets respect. 2. Connect with yourself. To be a great communicator you must first know who you are and have confidence in yourself and your ability to connect with others. 3. Truly listen. Make a point of listening to what the other person is saying. It not only gives you more
insight into whatever’s being discussed, but it also shows respect and builds connection. 4. Look beyond the words. Do not spend your time mentally preparing your next response. Instead, ask questions for clarification and to make certain you thoroughly understand what the other person is trying to say. 5. Be consistent. Live your message and practice what you preach -- you will have a wider reach and can carry more influence. Your credibility comes from your consistency of character. 6. Two-way traffic only. Communication should never be a monologue. The best leaders create a dialogue by listening and inviting others to express themselves. When you adhere to the secrets of communication of great leaders you can begin to develop strong relationships, gather important information, and increase your understanding of yourself and those around you.
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Try It Out
By Lane Evans USPTA Master Professional
Theragun
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n 2007, after a devastating motorcycle accident, Dr. Jason Wersland had to come up with an answer to his debilitating pain. Thus, Percussion Therapy was born and after many years later and several prototype developments beginning back in 2016, the current Theragun has arrived. As a tennis professional, the aches and pains associated with the many years of repetitive motions of feeding and serving have become overwhelming at times. When Theragun became a national endorsee of the USPTA and I had seen several print ads for it, I was curious about the product, so I began to dive in to see what I could find out. I was amazed at the development and ingenuity. The Theragun has a multitude of benefits. Some of those include increased blood flow, decreased lactic acid, improved range of motion, increased flexibility and decreased muscle soreness. I inquired with Mr. Ken Merritt, Tennis Brand Manager at Theragun. Ken was incredibly helpful with providing me with all the information I would need to make an informed decision regarding Theragun and the appropriate model for me. By the way, USPTA members will get a 15% discount and a 10 % commission on any referrals. Members simply go to www. teamhqs.com and apply. After approved, you will be sent log-in credentials and then you are on your way. There are 6 models with prices ranging from
$599.00 on the high side for the Pro model to $199.00 for the Mini versions. All Theragun devices come with a 2-year limited warranty. I purchased the Pro model which included a nice and secure carrying case, all of the attachments and charging equipment. First off, I charged my battery that has a 300-minute life. The Pro, operating at 2400 rpm’s with a 16mm depth percussion is incredibly quiet and powerful as it will deliver 60 lbs. of no-stall force and will maintain that force level. It also has 4 different arm positions for correct ergonomics. The Theragun
will not bruise either. Most importantly, Therabody has a great App that will walk you through all of the operating instructions and which attachments are appropriate for treating different areas of the body and treatment lengths. Additionally, Therabody has incorporated full workout programs for men and women, going far beyond just the device. You will never be confused on how to use your Theragun. Therabody offers what is called the Therabody University which is an online education platform with content that can take you on a pathway to become Theragun Licensed Practitioner or Massage Therapist. Go to www.theragun.com and check out all of the Therabody products and services. It is really quite unique and very evident that they have developed not only a series of great products but have also added education and a healthy directive for their customers. I think you will be pleased with what you find here. I know I have several players that have purchased them already for a variety of ailments.
Theragun “Money” By Bill Riddle, USPTA Master Professional
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esides the amazing physical benefits you will feel and experience by using a Theragun, there are also the financial benefits. I know what you are gonna say, “I don’t own a pro shop or I’m independent”. NO WORRIES because the team at Theragun or actually “TEAM HQ” has developed an ambassador program with all of us in mind. Refer your players or members to the TEAM HQ website to order (with your “unique code”) they can view the full range of Theraguns at a great price, and with a purchase this creates a commission for
you. You don’t need to stock the product to sell it. YES !!! The absolute best way to sell a Theragun is to use a Theragun. What does that mean?? Once again this is very simple... Buy one for yourself and use it. Let your players and members see you using it after a lesson or clinic. They will be curious and want to know more. Let them try it for one minute on their calf muscles or any tight spot on their body, assuming they are under the age of 50 and still have tight spots. If you really want to get creative, then use the
power of your social media and video yourself using your Theragun and post it. Tag your friends, your club or your program and of course, Team HG and the USPTA. I promise you a sell with a commission. Just one social media post with your Theragun and you could be on your way to big bucks and social media stardom! Here is the worst thing that will happen if you give this a try. One, you feel better from using your Theragun and two, you feel better because you are making money referring people to use Theragun and help them heal and feel better.
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Volume 22 Issue 1
USPTA Southern Awards Awards are for accomplishments from 2020. 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 2020.
Online Application and info at usptasouthern.com on the AWARDS tab
DEADLINE: March 5th Virtual awards ceremony in August Any questions should be directed to: Kaitlin Flaherty, kflaherty07@gmail.com
ALAN HENRY SOUTHERN PRO OF THE YEAR
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
This award shall be presented for achieving excellence in performing the duties of a USPTA 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 tand 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.
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, USPTA National and Division, USTA, STA, and/or District. Tournament record should be provided.
FRED BURDICK USPTA PRIDE OF THE SOUTH
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.
This award is appointed by the awards committee and is not up for nomination. MENTOR AWARD
This award recognizes a USPTA 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 and been a member for 5 or fewer years. Relevant criteria should include contributions, notable accomplishments, and involvement in tennis activity throughout the state, the south, and nationally. 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.
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
MANAGER OF THE YEAR
This award shall be presented to the club manager who has shown dedication to the USPTA and its members. Criteria may include USPTA membership, hiring and supporting USPTA members. INDUSTRY EXCELLENCE
This award recognizes those USPTA-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.
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USPTA Invited Guest The Missing Ingredients “Customer Experience” and “Customer Service” By Chris Tran USPTA Elite Professional
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found that in our tennis industry, many coaches who are great salesmen or great teaching pros on court, are missing the customer service and/or fail to provide good customer experience. What is “customer experience”? Customer experience is defined by the interactions and experiences your customer has with your business throughout the entire customer journey, from first contact to becoming a happy and loyal customer. Customer experience is an integral part of customer relationship and the reason why it’s important is because a customer who has a positive experience with your business is more likely to become a repeat and loyal customer. In fact, according to a global customer experience study by a large fortune 500 company it has been found that 74% of senior executives believe that customer experience impacts the willingness of a customer to be a loyal advocate. If you want your customers to stay loyal, you have to invest in their experience! Why do we see customers following the pros in our industry and not staying with the academy or school? Mostly because the pros provide them the customer service and good product they expect. A smart operation will build the pros around their program not their program around the pros and will focus on great customer experience and customer service. As such, when one of the pros leaves, the customers will not see a change. What is “customer service” in the tennis business? The term refers to the way a company interacts with its customers and handling of progress of the child, billing, complaints and any issues. Whenever there is direct contact with a customer, we are talking about customer service. What’s the difference between the two, one might ask? Customer experience is how players feel about their session with the pro during the lesson or clinic, or when they buy one of your products. It could also mean how they view you as a pro, or your program while watching or attending a lesson/clinic. On the other hand, customer service is how communication and issues are being handled beyond the tennis court. If you answer “yes” to any of the questions
below then you not providing good customer experience(CX): 1. Are your pros just standing around talking to each other while running the clinic? 2. Are your pros just a ball feeding machine, not providing any feedbacks to the students? 3. If you are working with a Performance level player and you ask, “what do you want to work on today?” 4. Your pros are spending most of the time checking the phone or on the phone during the lesson/clinic? 5. Are your pros NOT enforcing the COVID19 CDC guidelines? 6. Put a child in an inappropriate level? 7. Are your pros talking too much, or not enough? 8. Do your pros present themselves professionally both in appearance and demeaner? 9. Do your pros come to the court before their scheduled time and be ready for their clinic/lesson? If you answer “yes” to any of these questions below then you are not providing good customer service(CS): 1. Do you provide a quality status report about the player if you are dealing with Performance kids? 2. Do you listen and answer their questions to their satisfaction? 3. Do you return their VM or emails in timely manner? 4. Do you provide recommendations and move a child to the next level when a child is ready before a parent asked? 5. Do you make recommendations about their equipment needs before you even asked? Here’s what we should learn from the major businesses. Customer experience and customer service have fast become top priorities for businesses and 2021 will be no different. But, why are so many companies focusing on the CX and CS and what happens to companies that choose to ignore it? Customers no longer base their loyalty on price or product. Keep in mind that tennis is an expensive sport, so your clients are mostly mid to high-end salaries, so cost is not their concern. Instead, they stay loyal with club/academy due to the experience they receive. If you cannot
keep up with their increasing demands, your customers will leave you. A good customer experience means your customers will spend more. In fact, 86% of buyers are willing to pay more for a great customer experience. The more expensive the item, the more they are willing to pay. The perception is that the more expensive coach and clinic are better and provide higher quality than the cheaper ones. In my experience, this is a distorted perception. Many of the highly priced pros are just great salesmen, but some are not even certified and getting high prices for their lessons. Customer frustration will lead to churn According to Esteban Kolsky, 72% of customers will share a positive experience with 6 or more people. On the other hand, if a customer is not happy, 13% of them will share their experience with 15 or even more. The challenge here lies in the fact that, in most cases, customers don’t tell you if they are unhappy. In fact, only 1 in 26 unhappy customers actually complain. The rest just leave. With 9 out of 10 businesses competing mainly on customer experience, it’s the organizations that take customer experience seriously that will stand out from the noise and win loyal customers over. One thing is for sure, in order to deliver a positive experience, you have to know your customers better than ever before. Once you know your customers well enough, you can use that knowledge to personalize every interaction. Customers these days have more power and choices than ever before. Thus, you are responsible for understanding and acknowledging their needs. If you make sure their interaction with your club or academy is smooth, pleasant and continuously improving, you will drive brand loyalty. If not, you’ll give your competitors the best gift you can – your customers. A host of clubs and academies all over the world are striving to enhance this experience in order to build their reputation, increase customer loyalty and drive sales. Indeed, when asked about the company’s main competitive advantage, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was quick to define it as: “creating a customer experience superior to anything my competitors can create.” Clubs and academies who successfully implement a customer experience and customer service strategy achieve higher customer satisfaction rates, reduced customer churn and increased revenues.
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s w e N e t a t S Alabama
Our Spring Workshop is scheduled for Saturday April 3rd. Jack Broudy will be featured and he will present The Swing - Play Natural, Effortless, Powerful Tennis. Location is Inverness Country Club in Birmingham. contact John Beaube coachbeaube@honewoodtennis.com with any USPTA AL questions or concerns.
Arkansas
Arkansas has had some dry and unseasonably warm days the last part of 2020 and early 2021. Us outside guys are thankful! The pandemic as you all know has at least sent a message to the masses that they need to get up and get outside. We are being rewarded with an increase in players. USTA Arkansas will have an abbreviated annual meeting on January 30th , Virtual except for staff and board. The schedule will be: January 30 9:00 Junior Team Tennis Meeting 10:00 USTA Arkansas Annual Meeting & Board Meeting 1:00 Community Development Workshop They will be setting up pros meetings and tournament director trainings soon that will all be virtual. USPTA Coach Jim Merriman with NEATennis in Jonesboro was named USTA Arkansas pro of the year for 2020. Coach Jim introduced hundreds of kids of and adults through a variety of public tennis programs. A USPTA certification test is being held February 20th and 21st at Burns Park for pros who joined by November 1st, 2020. A USPTA Arkansas workshop and an additional certification test are being worked out for spring.
Georgia
We completed our first ever Ga Virtual Winter Workshop. Mark McMahon led the Workshop on Key Strategies for a Successful Career. Mark owns McMahon 10s and is the key person at USPTA Director Search. He presented over two Fridays in December showing us the significance of creating goals for your career interests and creating specifics for your career development. We were informed to assess areas needing improvement, how to overcome them, and how to strengthen your arsenal for jobs you want to obtain. We were pleased 45 pros participated. This spring we are planning a half day conference. We don’t know yet if it can be live or virtual. The presentation will focus on the Tennis Pro Magnet which will center on bundling to generate revenue, teaching skills for the appropriate level, and discontinuing generic coaching language. Most important is to perform some “no charge extras” to build goodwill for your programs.
Kentucky
Happy New Year from the Bluegrass State. I recently assumed the role of President of USPTA Kentucky. In addition to being a USPTA Elite Professional, I serve on staff with USTA Southern as the Tennis Service Representative (TSR) for Kentucky, and periodically serve as an adjunct professor of anthropology at Bellarmine University. I look forward to serving alongside my counterparts and collaborating with USPTA Pros throughout the Commonwealth. I would like to thank USTA Kentucky, USTA Southern, and USTA National for their respective financial assistance initiatives designed to aid tennis professionals and facilities suffering financial hardship during the Covid-19 pandemic. Throughout 2020, Kentucky pros and facilities received more than $120,000 in support, with USPTA Pros
Volume 22 Issue 1
benefiting both directly and indirectly. I am grateful to these organizations for helping to address expressed needs during challenging times. On behalf of USTA Kentucky, I would like to thank Jan Barrett, Director of Tennis at Lake Forest Country Club in Louisville, for her recent participation in USTA Kentucky’s 2020 Tennis Summit, where she represented teaching professionals serving country clubs. USTA Kentucky board members and staff found her insights invaluable. Many thanks to Jan regarding her commitment to collaboration, to the improvement of instruction, and for her passion to grow the sport of tennis. Seems like we all have the same big question? Should we spend the time and effort to schedule workshops and state conventions knowing that they can be squashed by the Government at any moment. You could do the whole thing on Zoom but it’s hard to compete with the events that have already been put on by the USPTA. I never would have thought that in January 2021 we would still be making these types of decisions. We are planning to hold a 1 day workshop in April or May this year. It will be great to get together in person. Look for details coming soon. — Bill Bryan
Louisiana
Mississippi
Happy New Year Y’all! I wish everyone a healthy 2021 and an overflowing lesson schedule! The weather during the winter months may create some gaps in your lesson schedule. Consider taking a look at streamlining or enhancing your business operations or getting ahead on those continuing education hours. The Corona Virus forced us to cancel our annual State Pro Workshop this year. I know many of you rely on the workshop hours to fulfill your continuing education requirement. Our chapter will offer regional workshops and virtual workshops to help everyone work towards meeting continuing education requirements. Those dates will be announced soon. We have set the date for our 2022 Pro Workshop as January 7th in conjunction with the USTA MS Annual meeting. Please hold the date.
North Carolina
Moving into 2021, I want to highlight the fantastic pros from our state. I am challenging all NC pros to send me a short video tennis tip that can be posted on our USPTA/NC Facebook page. I do, as well of many pros, already do this for member and clients. This is a fun way to connect as an association. You can send to my email or connect to me on Facebook. Usptanc1@gmail.com
Tennessee
Happy New Year! I always love this time of year; there is new hope and anticipation of what a new year will bring. I’ve received emails of upcoming tennis season schedules and reminders to sign up for preleague clinics. It makes me smile to think that despite wearing masks before and after play, while maintaining our distance, tennis is on the rise in Tennessee. A huge shout out goes to the TN USTA. From rolling out the new tournament software and filling the tournament schedule, to helping teaching professionals all around the state implement new programs. Michael Chamberlain and his team have not slowed down their efforts to grow tennis. I believe we are going to see real growth in new and returning tennis players this year. Those of you I have spoken to over the past few weeks have more new-to-tennis players, in multiple age groups, than recent years. As we jump into 2021, Tennessee tennis is ever moving and adapting. We all have many opportunities in our communities to make a difference, tennis is simply our chosen vehicle. Stay safe and hope to see you at the courts. —Meg Bandy
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PRO PLANS Depth: Control the Ball - Control the Point By Paul Bartholomai, USPTA Elite Professional
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epth on shots should be the primary goal for all players once they have acquired a good level of consistency in their all-around game. Week after week, I watch recreational matches and notice how they start losing: first a point, then a game and finally the match by hitting a great deal of short balls. Why shouldn’t I hit a short ball? Short balls allow your opponent to: -control the point…by having time and optimal court position -neutralize the net player’s ability to poach or be a threat -force the baseliner to maintain the same direction of the ball, allowing the opposite net player to be more active and poach more balls. -choose to hit their favorite shots to your least favorite shot -keep you in the defensive mode -make you react I understand, Coach, how can I fix it? It is in the preparation: get set early, turn your shoulders, get your racket back early and position yourself behind the line of the ball, then move forward to swing through the ball. Complete the motion and trust your follow through. DRILL #1
Would I win more points, games and matches? You will control your destiny for sure by making your opponent: - hit the ball in the same direction -run -hit the weakest shots in her game -play under defensive conditions I believe, YES, you will WIN more matches. When playing, think consistency first and DEPTH second before power. DRILL #1 Purpose: Develop depth 2 players back vs. 2 players back Play points from baseline to baseline the ball has to cross the service line, it can’t bounce inside the service boxes, if it does your team loses the point. DRILL #2 – Cross court vs. Down the line Purpose: To understand the difficulty in changing direction if the ball is hit with depth 2 players back vs. 2 players back One side hits crosscourt, the other side goes down the line.
DRILL #2
DRILL #3
DRILL #3 – Blue Feet Attack Purpose: Approach the net by attacking a short ball 2 players back vs. 2 players back Play out the point starting from the baseline, your goal is to look for opportunities to approach the net. If one player is able to hit the ball with BOTH feet inside the baseline (Blue feet) both players have to go to the net. DRILL #4 – Apply Pressure Purpose: Net player applies pressure to the baseline team forcing them to play their groundstrokes on the outside third (see chart) 1 Up & 1 back vs. 2 back Play out the point, the net player is looking to apply pressure to the baseline team by being very active, constantly moving and shifting at the net. Note: The net player can be more active and apply more pressure if opponents are behind the baseline or moving back to hit the ball. We measure the work of the net player by where the opponent hits their shots (outside third of the court) not by the number of volleys he hits.
DRILL #4
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Volume 22 Issue 1
Southern Spotlight Dan Beedle, Elevate/U30, Fort Sanders Health and Fitness Center, Knoxville, TN Give a brief description of your tennis/ other career: I graduated from the Professional Tennis Management program at Ferris State University in 2012. After graduation I moved to Shreveport, LA and quickly became Head Pro at Querbes Tennis Center. I then moved to Memphis, TN and joined the staff at Windyke Country Club. After two and one half years I took a position at Prosperity Athletic Club in Charlotte, NC. My wife and I have now made Knoxville, TN our home. I currently work at Fort Sanders Health and Fitness Center. There have been some highs and lows so far but that is part of life and you learn from them and become a better person. When did you start playing tennis? I started late by traditional standards. My first time playing was my freshman year of high school. What other sports did you play? Growing up I played a lot of baseball and basketball. I also played golf and started swimming my sophomore year of high school. What moved you to teach tennis? My high school coach made tennis incredibly fun, I looked forward to practice every day. I knew I wanted to be involved with tennis in some way going into college.
Clint Van Aswegen, Racquet Club Villas Tennis, Hilton Head Island, SC Give a brief description of your tennis/other career: I have been teaching tennis for 32 Years. I learned to play tennis in Kimberley (The Diamond City) in the Republic of South Africa. I did not have a formal coach and learned to play the game by recording my favorite tennis players and rewinding and playing their strokes repeatedly on VHS cassettes and then trying to mimic them against the tennis wall at the local college in my city. I received an offer to study in Canada and I accepted the opportunity that led me to a full tennis scholarship offer to Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY. At Marist, I received a lifetime of coaching from our Head Coach Charlie Hardman, he showed me the ins and outs of the tennis business and how to teach all levels of players and how to run a successful tennis club. It was at Marist that our team came down to Hilton Head Island for Spring Break Tennis, that I fell in love with the Island and promptly moved here after college. I have coached many State, Sectional and Nationally ranked players who have gone on to successful college careers, but a highlight of my career was coaching Joanette Kruger on the WTA circuit and getting to go to all the big tournaments but especially the Grand Slams. When did you start playing tennis? I started playing tennis at the age of 11, and it was on a dare. One of my best friends challenged me to a game and I scoffed at him, because I thought tennis was a sissy sport. He said, “Bet you I can beat you!” That is all it took and off we went, he beat me convincingly and for the next six months, I knocked on his door every day to play. What other sports did you play? I played rugby, cricket, track, swimming and field hockey and I made our provincial team (State team) in all of them. What moved you to teach tennis? It was more out of necessity, I needed a
What is something people will be surprised to learn about you? I am a big Lord of the Rings nerd and am lucky to have visited the Hobbit on movie set. What are your hobbies? Reading tennis articles/ watching tennis videos, traveling and watching movies with my beautiful wife. What is your favorite movie? The Princess Bride...Inconceivable! Are you reading anything right now? I am listening to an audiobook, The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek What is your favorite sports team? My favorite sport other than tennis is college basketball so I’d have to say the Butler Bulldogs! Who is your favorite player of all time? Rafa Nadal What person would you most like to have lunch with? I would like to have lunch with my grandparents again. What would you be doing if you were not in tennis? I would probably be a golf instructor. If you had a “do over” what one thing would you have done differently in your teaching career? For the vast majority I feel that my career has gone very well. One thing that stands out is trusting my gut and not have continued an interview for a specific job.
job and as an international student, I had to post every job for 6 months before I was able to take the job. Well inevitably someone would apply for the job so I would not get the job. Coaching tennis allowed me to use my skills to my advantage and there were fewer people who could apply and beat me out of the job and people paid in cash...oops! What is something people will be surprised to learn about you? I am an avid crypto currency trader, I have studied everything that I can to understand this trend. For the last two and half years I have listened to 3 hours of Crypto Currency Youtube everyday and I love the volatility of this market. What are your hobbies? I have a large knife collection and I buy one on every trip I take, vacation or business. I can’t help myself, but each knife is unique and one of a kind in my collection. I have over 120 knives, each with a very special story to go along with it. What is your favorite movie? Top Gun and Rudy are at the front of the line, but the line is extremely long. Are you reading anything right now? Rafa is my present vice What is your favorite sports team? I am a huge Manchester United soccer, a NY Giants , NY Yankees and big Springbok Rugby fan. Who is your favorite player of all time? Andre Agassi, but Stefan Edberg was my childhood idol. What person would you most like to have lunch with? Richard Branson (Virgin Atlantic) What would you be doing if you were not in tennis? I would be a trader on Wall Street. If you had a “do over”, what one thing would you have done differently in your teaching career? I would have loved to coach some more on the pro circuit.
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Ladies Vantage Go Digital and Increase Your Earnings Potential By Meg Bandy and Emillia Viljoen, USPTA Elite Professionals
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hat do you want to maximize? Perhaps it’s as simple as your lesson base, time on the court, earning potential, or time off the court. Whether your office consists of four wheels and an iPhone or four walls and 24 tennis courts, the business end of the tennis racket is often times far more than teaching forehands and backhands. With the drive towards a more touch free environment, more tools are at our disposal than ever. A tennis specific business environment can be difficult to navigate, but here are some tips to find those user-friendly digital tools. The first step when looking to purchase any app or digital tool (software), is figuring out your need or problem that you want to solve and making sure they’re aligned with your business model and goals. Identifying the problem that is holding you back, helps you narrow down the type of digital toll you need. Start with a specific business goal-driven issue for e.g. “I/We need our coaches/pros to be able to take roll on the court and bill the club member accounts directly.” If you’re not sure where to start, talk to your team of pros or customers to uncover current problem areas. Have several conversations to identify the underlying issue, not just the symptoms. Your business may be spread over several apps already and you may want to consolidate under one umbrella. Also, reach out to other pros in the industry to see if they have experienced similar issues. Talk to a pro or coach with a similar business model or organization structure. The second step is to define your software requirements. There are likely dozens of software products and apps designed to address the problem you’re having. You need software or apps that will match your specific needs
closely. Knowing what you want to get out of the software or apps, will help you get closer to the right choice for your business. Here are some things to consider: 1. Does it have all the features to performs all the tasks you need it to do, and does it solve your digital problems and support your business? 2. Would you need separate accounts for each user, and does it meet your future growth needs? 3. How user-friendly is it? Does the software have good reviews? Are the reviews relevant in the evaluation of the software or app. Are testimonials credible? If it is an app, does it work well on both IOS, Android and other operating systems. 4. How will the software or app interact with other software you use for your business? Does it replace or can it co-exist with your current software? 5. Define a budget and how much you’re willing to spend on the software or app. Many apps are free initially, with additional purchase for features. Consider the cost of add-ons. You’ve done a lot of research by this point and you are likely ready to make a final selection from your shortlist. There are however, a view additional things to be aware of: • If the software requires a contract, make sure you’ve communicated with the vendor ahead of time about the terms of your contract. • Does your business qualify for any discounts e.g. a nonprofit organization. • If you have not already discussed payment plans, ask about discounts for paying annually instead of monthly. Some vendors or apps will have the option already built in, but some do not.
• If it applies, discuss what the software vendor will be responsible for post-purchase. If it is an app, it may just be as simple as making sure you and your customers receive notification of updates regularly. Some apps and tennis specific software are easily found in online searches. Here are a few of the dozens we found: Tennis Locker: Great for managing your academy, club or facility, player progress plus much more. This is pretty robust. Team Snap: Works well for the individual pro or school coach looking to manage a group of players. The administrator is charged a monthly fee. MindBody: For the individual pro looking to have scheduling and online payment for group or individual lessons. MindBody will list your business and promote from their site. In-app purchases and add-ons are available. Serve Tennis: The USTA released Serve Tennis in 2020. If you are on a tight budget this is worth looking into and could help you grow business with a free website, member contact and communication, and online lesson booking. You will be included on listings and searches on USTA. com as a tennis provider. SquareAppointments: Customizable booking, scheduling for businesses. Take payments in one digital place. In-app purchases and add-ons available.
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Volume 22 Issue 1
The Written Word Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers, by Tim Ferris Review by Pat Whitworth, USPTA Master Professional
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im Ferriss has been listed as one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Business People” and one of Fortune’s “40 under 40.” He is an early-stage technology investor/ advisor (Uber, Facebook, Shopify, Duolingo, Alibaba, and 50+ others) and the author of five #1 New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller. The Observer and other media have called Tim “the Oprah of audio” due to the influence of The Tim Ferriss Show podcast, which is the first business/interview podcast to exceed 100 million downloads. Tim has been invited to speak at some of the world’s most innovative organizations, including Google, MIT, Harvard Business School, Nike, Facebook, The CIA, Microsoft, and Palantir. Tim declares that he is an obsessive note taker. His goal is to learn things once and use them forever. He gives the example of when he was into body building. Now 10 years later, he looks at a photo and decides he wants to look like that again. No worries, just go to the notes from that time and follow the diet and workout. This book is a collection of interviews and notes from over 100 top performers in health, wealth, and wisdom. Tim calls this a buffet, and skipping around makes sense. Everyone will have different sections that resonate to their current situation. People interviewed include Ed Catmull (Pixar), Kevin Costner, Jon Favreau, Jamie Foxx, Malcolm Gladwell, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Shaun White, Rainn Wilson, and hundreds more. Many are involved in projects or businesses that we instantly recognize but are not aware of the connection. The first section is Health, and Tim discusses a lot of alternate training, eating, and life styles. Learn how to really get into the Keto state, how to meditate, ultimate flexibility, and some of the best strength training techniques. Tim interviewed many top athletes, some included here, others on his podcast or the Four Hour Body book. He used these questions, which can work for any sport. • Who is good at (SPORT) despite being poorly built for it? Who’s good that should not be good? • What are the most controversial or unorthodox athletes or trainers? • What are the most impressive lesserknown teachers?
• What makes you different? Who trained you or influenced you. • What are the biggest mistakes and myths you see in (SPORT) training? Biggest wastes of time? • What are your favorite instructional books or resources on the subject? Wealth is the next section, and the first interview person is Chris Sacca. Chris was an early stage investor with dozens of companies, including Twitter, Uber, Instagram, Kickstarter, and Twilo. He was the cover story of Forbes Midas issue in 2015, and he has been a recurring guest Shark on Shark Tank. Chris is very much against meetings for the sake of meeting. Even though he is a Silicon Valley investor, he lives in a cabin in the mountains and will invite prospectives to stay the weekend. HOWEVER, Chris does find it important to go to as many high level meetings as possible early in your career. Chris was able to show up at Google meetings, even with the founders, and offered to take notes. It worked and he became a regular. A signature style of Chris is that her wears somewhat ridiculous cowboy shirts. People certainly remember him and it helps create a reputation. A final quote from him is “Good stories always beat good spreadsheets”. Others advise to say YES to most everything when starting out, then learn to pare down your time later in life and only say YES to projects that really move you. A funny story was told about ‘slow down and smell the roses”. Derek Sivers liked to bike, and had a path on the Santa Monica beach of about 25 miles. He would push it, and make the round trip in 43 minutes. Eventually he became less enthused at the pain and hard work, so he decided to just chill and do a fun ride. He was able to check everything out, see dolphins jumping, and it was a great ride. Upon returning home, he checked his watch, and it took 45 minutes. His lesson: it is not necessary to maximize every second, every dollar, every part of his life. He knows lives with much less stress, and is basically as productive as before. Wise is the last section. Jocko Willink is a
lean 230 pounds, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, and served 20 years in the U.S. Navy and commanded SEAL Team Three. His mantra is simple “Discipline Equals Freedom”. If you want freedom in life, be that financial freedom, more free time, or even freedom from sickness, you can only achieve these things through discipline. Another common expression amongst SEALS is “Two is One, and One is None”. It just means you have a backup, and this is another common thread from a lot of the successful people interviewed. If you have two of something and it breaks, you have a backup. If you have one and it breaks, you have none. Samy Kamkar is one of the most innovative computer hackers in the U.S. He is best known for creating the fastest spreading virus of all time. Recently he created SkyJack, a custom drone that hacks into nearby drones allowing the operator to control a swarm of devices. Tim asked Some of his advice included: • Put tape or a cover on your laptop camera. • Use a PIN on your smart phone to encrypt the date locally. • Don’t ever use the same password twice. Samy uses long passwords, sometimes from song lyrics. A long password, even if mostly English words, is typically stronger than a short password with random characters. This section continues with a 4 Star General, Doctors, bestselling Authors, Professors, Actors, and Investors, sharing their start, what is important, and quotes that have inspired them. The book is a buffet of concepts and ideas for success. It does make sense to skip around to make sure you read what you enjoy and have a positive effect on you. I see this book as one to keep close by for referring to on a weekly basis. There is no way to absorb all of the information and wisdom with a cover to cover read, so allow it time to absorb. Surprisingly, my favorite section was Wealth, and I expected to like Wisdom better. It seemed to be wiser in the Wealth section, and hit home. I highly recommend this book for a younger professional as well as the veteran professional.
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Southern Officers The “Standard” is the official newsletter for the Southern Division of the United States Professional Tennis Association.
President Kevin Theos theos@sta.usta.com 205-790-7256 1st Vice President Tom Parkes pvcctennis@gmail.com 910-233-4755 2nd Vice President Kaitlin Flaherty-Bisplinghoff kflaherty07@gmail.com 832-656-4472 Secretary/Treasurer Ken Andriano kandriano@theriverclub-ga.com 336-541-5876 Past President/Regional VP Todd Upchurch tupchurch1@gmail
Directors at Large Bill Riddle tennisun@aol.com 615-243-6698 Jason Hazley usptala@gmail.com 225-247-3028 Executive Director Pat Whitworth pat.whitworth@uspta.org 800-438-7782 (phone/fax) Head Tester Ron Gwyn rgwyn@haigpoint.com 843-341-8114 ALABAMA John Beaube jbeaube@green2grocer.com ARKANSAS patmalone67@gmail.com
USPTA Certification Tests & Upgrades Jan 24, Atlanta Athletic Club Johns Creek GA Feb 14, Haig Point Tennis Center Hilton Head Island SC Feb 20, Burns Park North Little Rock AR Feb 21, Atlanta Athletic Club Johns Creek GA Mar 21, Green Island Country Club Columbus GA Mar 21, Atlanta Athletic Club Johns Creek GA
GEORGIA Bill Anderson banderson@capitalcityclub.org KENTUCKY Tim McCollum mccollum@sta.usta.com 502-709-0021 LOUISIANA Bill Bryan billb1481@gmail.com MISSISSIPPI Emilia Viljoen stayplaytennis@gmail.com NORTH CAROLINA Fred Pfuhl usptanc1@gmail.com SOUTH CAROLINA Mike Pollard mpollard@wexfordplantation.com TENNESSEE Meg Bandy mbandy@mccallie.org
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“To have a tennis business and run it successfully, you have to like people. You have to care about them and their success.” — Todd Upchurch “The difference between failure and success is doing a thing nearly right and doing it exactly right.” — Edward Simmons “It is hard to fail; but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” — Teddy Roosevelt “Productivity is for Robots. What people are going to be really good at is asking questions, being creative, and experiences.” — Kevin Kelly “The opposite of play isn’t work. It’s depression.” —Jane McGonigal
FAST FACTS
Homecoming Games
Why did I choose this as a topic? We are in a time of turmoil and unrest in our country today. I felt like talking about something that we all missed last year on college and high school campuses that doesn’t matter what sport we all love. We call them “Senior Nights” or “Home Coming” games. The only fast fact this time is the origin of “Homecoming/Senior Night”. We can look all the way back to 1911 with the University of Missouri. The tradition of homecoming has its origin in alumni football games held at colleges and universities since the 19th century. Many schools including Baylor, Southwestern, Illinois, and Missouri have made claims that they held the first modern homecoming. The NCAA, Trivial Pursuit, Jeopardy!, and references from the American TV drama NCIS give the title to the University of Missouri’s 1911 football game during which alumni were encouraged to attend. It appears to be the first homecoming-like event which was centered on a parade and a football game, such was the response and success it became an annual event. This made me smile and I hope it does you too!!!!
USPTA Welcomes Our New Members Guerrero, Steven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Columbia KY Hyatt, Caleb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Asheville NC Koonapareddy, Chak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CARY NC Perry, Jason . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Atlanta GA
USPTA SOUTHERN DIVISION
NEWSLETTER 337 Rhodes House Court SUWANEE, GA 30024
The Standard is published every 60 days by the Southern Division of the United States Professional Tennis Association. The opinions expressed in The Standard are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Standard, the USPTA or Southern Division. CopyrightŠ The Standard/United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc. 2021. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion of the newsletter is not permitted without the written permission from the USPTA Southern Division. Advertising information: All ads must be camera ready and in color, if possible. Prices are per issue. Full Page......... $400 Half Page........ $275 1/4 Page......... $140
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