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Volume 21 Issue 2
The Social List These are from the One Good Idea Collection from 2009. See over 200 pages of ideas on socials, programming, teaching, management, stringing, and 15 other subjects. Visit usptasouthern.com for the direct link to the PDF book.
with names and winners. This is a great social during college football season and is full every year. Note: Make a determination on how to split skill levels. We use a combo rating of 6.5 and below, and then 7.0 and above.
IRON BOWL TENNIS SOCIAL Submitted by: Rhett Russell, Orange Beach, AL The Idea: Have each team wear their college football team’s colors. ex: Alabama – Crimson and White, Auburn – Orange and Blue. Since Rhett is in Alabama football country, he does Alabama vs Auburn. In other areas, it will be appropriate to wear your college colors. Rules: Flip a coin to see who begins to serve and which team starts on the North or South side. The server from each team must win 2 points in a row in order to declare a field goal (3 points)-3 in a row or touchdown (6 points)-4 points in a row and if necessary an extra point (1 point)-5 points in a row. If the server loses at anytime, then it results in a turnover---the other team gets to serve (follow the order who serves). Play and finish until whistle is blown. Play 25 minute rounds 4 times. Half time is after 2 quarters where the people socialize (eat and drink). Everyone brings a dish, tennis balls, or drink. Keep a plaque with the annual Iron Bowl winner in the trophy case. Take pictures of each team before the event and send to the press
MIX IT UP MIXERS FOR A FUN TIME!! Submitted by: Ken DeHart, San Jose, Ca The Idea: Running out of ideas for your social mixers? Use the same format but with: 1. Foam Balls – the balls stay in play and the big hitters can’t dominate play. 2. Low Compression Balls – once again, the big hitters can’t dominate as much and the points last longer so everyone has more fun. 3. Tail Balls – not only are they difficult to put away, they make a noise as the go through the air and the visual of the tail ball is awesome. 4. Altered Scoring – 1 serve only, all 4 players must start on the baseline, ball cannot touch the ground after the serve, under hand serves only, must lob the return of serve on every point or play Australian formation only. These are simple ways to Mix up your Mixer and create a fun atmosphere. PRIZES AT TENNIS SOCIALS Submitted by: Chuck Gill, West Palm Beach, FL The Idea: We used to have a problem with players getting too serious at our tennis socials, which are really just ways for players to meet each other,
The “Other” Socially Distant Tennis
H
ow many of us thought or even said the word “socially distant” before 2020? Probably none of us, but now it is constant and for good reasons since no one wants to get “The Rona”. Tennis is a socially distant sport, which is one of the reasons many of us have found ourselves busy on the courts even during the worldwide pandemic. I am not going to hit you with more about why tennis is a great sport during CORONA season, but more about how we have become somewhat “socially distant” from social tennis and how we may find our way back. The typical tennis social at our club or facility has lost its luster or finds itself somewhat stale. Gone are the days when the pro sets a window of time aside on a Friday night and says “Just show up and Play”. Why you ask? Well as we discussed in a recent USPTA Lunch and Learn meeting in Nashville, “that’s not how we do it anymore”. Some suggested the pro needs to know how many people they will have to plan better and
greet new members, meet their neighbors, etc. When we used high scores for prizes, it took away from the “social’ aspect of the game. Now I “semi-jokingly” tell all of the players that if they play well with each other, at the end of the event, they will be entered into a drawing for gift certificates, which will be raffled off. At the end of the event, just before the BBQ, I gather the group and thank them for their participation. I list every player with a number (which is totally at random) and ask another member, (usually my committee chair) to “pick a number between 1-52” (or whatever the number of players)... They pick #29 (or whatever) and then #29 gets their certificate, and THEY (#29) get to pick the next number. It proceeds until all of the certificates are gone. Usually someone will pick a spouse or a neighbor or a friend, or on occasion a jerk that they really don’t like...at any rate it is a great way to ad-lib some great one-liners, get a few laughs, etc. It also keeps the emphasis on fun and social and keeps the players from getting too serious during play. Have a trustworthy participant or staff member around to look over the list and verify that you are not cheating. When the first 3 numbers drawn are the members who take the most lessons...YOU WILL BE TOAST!!!!! I typically give away 6-8 $25 certificates per event, which can be used for shop purchases or applied toward clinics and lessons.
By Bill Riddle
to know the income for that window of time. I am not going to agree or disagree on those statements, but we only need look at pickleball to see that model happens weekly and mind you, without the presence of a “pro”. Consider a couple of “other” options for your tennis socials with the first being the “Play Day”. Simple, straight forward and to the point from above… just show up and PLAY. My club offers this at least once per quarter usually on a Thursday night when we do not have other activities at the club or locally. We set aside 6-8pm on designated courts and the fee is $10 per person. Requirements are that you can serve and keep score. Turnover is quick with 5 to 7 no ad games total. I control pairings based on play that night, which means I keep the pairings as equal in skill level and personality as possible. Everyone knows the goal for the night is to PLAY as much tennis and enjoy the time. Flexibility, quick thinking and no pressure are key elements to the success of the Play
Day, but guaranteed set income may not be something you can count on. The other social tennis event we have offered more recently is the “Shoot Out”. This is for our singles players (men, women and children) who are looking for or need more matches. The key is “low fee” with multiple, no ad short sets, played in a compass draw or round robin format. A player has the chance to play multiple players (3-4) in a small window of time, which is great if some of the skills are a bit lopsided. This has been great for our middle and high school tennis players to play some of the adults because it gives everyone much needed match play in a controlled quick environment. Remember, socially distant is a good thing in some cases but being socially distant from new ideas, changes, or modifications to the way we operate is not so good. Look at other options to get and keep people playing tennis because that is the important thing we all should be working towards.
