USPTA TN Newsletter Spring 2024

TENNESSEE TIEBREAK USPTA NEWSLETTER

STATE BOARD

Geoff Browne – President

Nashville

Sarah Evans – Vice President

Chattanooga

Daniel Shidler – 2nd VP

Memphis

Brian Perry – Secretary

Knoxville

MJ Garnett – Treasurer

Memphis

USPTA SOUTHERN CONFERENCE

Don’t miss the opportunity to sign up and attend the USPTA Southern Division Conference May 1618 at the Bayou Bluff Tennis Club, Gulfport MS

• $135 Early Registration by May 7th, $150 Full Registration

• New Certified Member since May 2022 - $25

• Non USPTA Member $160

• One day only $90

Spouse $75 by 5/7, Full price $90 (no gift or ed credit)

CLICK to register at uspta.com (you need to login or create an account if non member) keep watching this page for latest updates

HOST HOTEL: Holiday Inn Gulfport Airport, 9515 Highway 49 $114-$128. Only 5 miles from Bayou Bluff

CLICK HERE to book online to receive the group rate. Or call the hotel at 228-679-1700

Room block released after 4/26

Lineup & Topics

Thursday, May 16

12:00-3:00 USPTA Southern Board Meeting

2:00-7:00 Registration

3:00-4:00 Dana Squelch-Costa/David Dilettuso Blind & Visually Impaired – Stroke Technique with Limited Vision (court)

4:15-5:15 Bill Phillips - 50 Years of Industry Insights & Lessons Learned

5:15-6:30 Edgar Giffenig - Evaluating and Correcting Technical Mistakes (court)

6:30-8:30 Welcome Party/Dinner

Friday, May 17

8:30-9:00 Jason Gilbert - USPTA National Update (class)

9:00-10:00 Tom Daglis Compensation Packages & Negotiations (class)

Chris Hoshour - The 4 Most Important Shots to Play High Level Tennis (court)

10:10-11:30 Edgar Giffenig - The Player Development Process (court)

11:30-12:30

Brian Dillman/Jason Gilbert - USPTA Q&A (class)

11:30-2:30 Trade Show & Lunch

2:30-4:00 Craig Jones - Practice Like You Play (court)

4:00-5:00 Dana Squelch-Costa/David Dilettuso Blind & Visually Impaired Pt 2 - Advanced Stroke Technique (court)

Todd Upchurch - Positive Coaching = Positive Results

Saturday, May 18

7:45-8:30 Faith Fellowship Meeting (class)

8:30-9:30

Geoff Browne - Increasing Stringing Profits (class)

Darryl Lewis - Pickleball Crossover Drills (court)

9:45-10:45 Craig Jones - Controlling Chaos (court)

10:55-11:55 Devin Crotzer /William Foreman/Dan Beedle/Courtney Ulrich Elevate Presents (court)

12:00-2:30 Awards/Hall of Fame Lunch

2:30-3:30 Marc Blouin - Eight Week Ladies’ Season Themed Practice Sessions (court)

A better way to warm up

Dan Beedle – USPTAElite

How often do we begin a clinic or team practice with the players rallying from the service line and watch as they show limited footwork, lack of control, or lack of focus and consistency? Below is an outline of a different way to warm up. One that will increase footwork, improve control and keep the players engaged from the start. This can also be done before the team warms up with the opponent during league play.

4 players per court, 3 phases, 2 rounds, 1 great warm up.

Phase one players must make 20 shots total with their partner. The ball must land in the service box. If the ball does not land in the service box it does not count for the total.

Phase two players volley together from the mid point in the service box. They need to make 20 total in the air. If they let the volley bounce it does not count toward their total.

Phase three players rally from the baseline and make 20 total. Depending on the level you could make the rule that the ball must land beyond the service line.

This completes round one. Round two is identical with the exception that only backhands count for the total. Players may hit forehands to maintain the rally but only backhands will count for their total. This ensures that players actually hit more than two backhands in the warm up and it helps them control the ball and place it to the backhand on the opposite side of the court.

I also put a time limit on this. Times vary based on level and often if it is their first time players struggle to achieve the task but like most skills it will improve with more repetitions. Below are the times allowed based on level. Again, you can modify the times based on your players skills

2.5 – 8 minutes

3.0 – 7 minutes

3.5 – 6 minutes

4.0 – 5 minutes

Give this a try and over time players will improve their footwork, control and focus.

Pickleball Certification

Bayou Bluff Tennis Club

Prerequisite to registering for certification course:

1. USPTA Certified Instructor, Professional, Elite Professional or Master Pro in good standing

2. Confident and accurate knowledge of pickleball scoring.

3. 3-6 months playing experience is encouraged

4. Have taught or planning on teaching group and/private lessons on a regular basis