Business Conference and SO/FL May Conference

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

Virtual Business Conference February 2021

We will continue our Winter Business Conference series with a virtual offering. We have been able to learn from some of the top minds in the tennis and business world, and this will be no exception. In fact, we are able to gather a group of presenters that we would not be able to bring in to a live event.

FEATURED SPEAKERS AND TENTATIVE TOPICS ARE:

Ajay Pant– Learning vs. Teaching Jarrett Chirico – Connecting the Dots Through Racquet Sports: Monetizing and Using Pickleball to Grow Tennis Rod Heckleman – Relationships Between Tennis and Fitness Programs Candace Kaufman – Ultimate Marketing Your Tennis Programs Kim Bastable – A section of their Masters Program on Becoming A Racquets Director Alan Cutler – Where Do You Want To Be in 5 Years

DATE: February 11th 1:30-5:00, and 12th 9:30-1:00 (all eastern times) REGISTRATION: $10 (not open yet)

Kim Bastable – A former collegiate NCAA All-American Gator tennis player and a 30+-year USPTA-certified tennis professional who has worked in tennis as a Division I college coach, high school coach, country club professional, league director and park program director. She is the current Director for the University of FL PTM Program. Jarrett Chirico – is the Director of Racquets at Baltimore Country Club which is a top 50 Platinum club in the country. He played NCAA at the University of Virginia, and world team tennis for the Philadelphia Freedoms. He has directed the largest pickleball program in the country retaining over 1,000 people weekly. He is currently one of the best pickleball players in the world and the founder of clay court pickleball.

Alan Cutler – a USPTA and RPT Master Professional, and a Senior IT Management Consultant. Alan holds two specialist degrees (High Performance and Computers). He is a former USPTA National Board Vice President as well as a past president of the USPTA Southern California division. He has spoken at many of USPTA’s Division and World Conferences. In addition, he has had articles published in international, national and regional tennis magazines. Some of his previous honors have included USPTA Industry Excellence Award, USPTA California Division Pro of the Year and the USPTA California Division Presidents award.

Rod Heckleman – His career started in 1966 when he began his fiveyear role as a teacher at John Gardiner’s Tennis Ranch in Carmel Valley, California. In 1976 he took over as head pro/tennis director at the Mt. Tam Racquet Club in Larkspur, California, and added the title and responsibilities of general manager in 1982. In 2010 he was awarded “Manager of the Year” for the USPTA NorCal Division and the “Manager of the Year” at the USPTA World Conference. He has written several books including, “Down Your Alley” in 1993, “Playing Into the Sun-

PRO PLANS

By Rick Willett, USPTA GA

Games & Challengers for Your Players

ZOOMBIES

This pandemic has created many virtual schools with online classes plus a lack of social interaction for junior players. The result has given rise to zoombies. They are on Zoom all day at home learning online. When they come to tennis, they aren’t focused, less responsive.

Why? Their brain is fatigued from information overload staying still in front of a computer 6-8 hours.

What is the remedy for pros? Recognize this zoombie factor requires patience, quick thinking, and real time creativity to find a common purpose. The following are suggested techniques and games that are generating positive results geared for a private lesson or semi-private lesson.

Game: Pick and Hit- fill a cup with post it notes of shots to hit. Purpose: Adjust to each required shot, adapting quickly to changing scenarios. Action: Each player picks out a post it for a running groundstroke or a volley required to hit. The other player feeds the ball to the hitter. If the player hits it correctly, receives 5 points. If not, lose 3 points.

Reverse the process with the feeder becoming the hitter. Only the hitter can score points each turn. Game lasts 7 rounds. Variation: the feeder calls the shot for hitter to make. 7 rounds.

Game: Cup Erupt set” in 2013 and most recently, “250 Ways to Play Tennis.” He also produced the “Facility Manager’s Manual” and the “Business Handbook for Tennis Pros,” which is distributed by the TIA.

Candace Kaufman –

Joined the USTA North Carolina Tennis Staff in April of 2019 as the Director of Marketing. She has a degree in Marketing and Graphic Design from Appalachian State University and a Masters in Holistic Nutrition from her days developing products for a snack food Purpose: Maintain proper balance and footwork when striking the ball without spilling water. Action: Fill a 12 oz. cup with water. Feed each player a deep forehand or backhand to lob back while holding the cup of water in other hand. Stay in as long as no water spilled. When it occurs, next player comes in. Variation: Player B is on opposite side hitting lobs back to player A with goal of having a 6 or 8 ball rally.

Game: Sudden Death Serve Purpose: Timed, competitive serving game pressuring players to set up and serve. Action: Player A in deuce court, and Player B in ad court. Each player has 2 minutes to serve balls in respective court keeping track of how many are in. Players change sides serving 2 minutes again. Play 2 out of 3 serving games. Variation: cut serve time to 1 minute. Play 2 out of 3 games.

Game: Marathon Purpose: Increase endurance and recovery by hitting a high volume of various shots at the end of the lesson. Action: Each player in single line striking 3 balls before rotating. This includes hitting wide and deep groundstrokes or drop shots without a pattern. Pro could feed up to 3 balls in a row to same spot. Each round of marathon is for a minute. 2 rounds. Variation: Add volleys and overheads to the shot selection. and natural body care company. Candace has worked for a variety of ad agencies and large companies over the years developing products and marketing brands. As a Brand Manager and Consumer Brand Strategist she has worked with a variety of companies over the years creating marketing promotions with Nascar, the NBA, MLB and WTA.

Ajay Pant – As the National Tennis Director for Life Time, Pant oversees 28 Life Time tennis clubs and 300 coaches across the United States. Prior to joining Life Time, he was Senior Vice President Operations for the Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC), in Maryland and JTCC satellite operations in Florida and Connecticut.

In summary, parents are eager to have their kids interact, get exercise, and be active playing tennis.

Games to 11

These are match play situations to add pressure and vary shot selection. Use for juniors or adults

Passers/Approachers - Both players at baseline. Passer feeds first ball into service box, and approacher must hit approach and come in playing out point. Switch sides after 2 rounds. Points won on winners to 11.

Run Down Lob - 4 players. Side A on Baseline. Side B at net. Pro feeds lob over players who must run to baseline and lob it back. Play to 11.

Crossover - 4 on court. Side A has one player on baseline and one at net. Pro feeds ball over net person to person on baseline, so they have to cross over to other side just like in a match. Switch after 2 rallies playing to 11.

Feed in Play - 4 players on baseline. Pro feeds first ball. If any player’s ball lands inside service line, that side must come in. If not, lose 2 points. Play to 11. 1 ball - 4 players on baseline. 1 ball rally. Keep track how many shots per point. Accumulate points each rally. Play to 11. 3 in play - Scoring counts starting on 4th shot. Doubles rally. If short ball, team must come in. Play to 11.

Serve plus 1 - Doubles game. Each player serves 2 points playing out the point. To increase proficiency, serve and return must be in, and

point starts to count on 3rd shot. Play to 11. He was also the National Tennis Director for Tennis Corporation of America (TCA)/Midtown clubs.

Pant is one of 10 tennis pros who have been conferred as a Master Professional by both the PTR and USPTA. He served on the PTR Board of Directors, and as the two term Chair for the USTA National Ten and Under Committee. Tennis Industry magazine named Pant its Tennis Person of the Year for 2017 and he was the 2019 USPTA Alex Gordon Professional of the Year.