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ore than 200 people attended the USTA Missouri Valley Annual Conference from December 2-4 at the Sheraton Hotel in Overland Park, Kansas. The conference theme, “Tennis: Teaming with Opportunity“ encapsulated the weekend as the speakers and workshops demonstrated the many opportunities that are available to grow the game in the coming years.
JUNIORS
Saturday’s agenda also featured Gary Avischious, a noted author and one of the country’s top authorities on coaching education, training and certification. Avischious pointed out many common mistakes that adults make while working with children, emphasizing that selfmotivated athletes are the best athletes and letting your child make mistakes is one of the best things you can do for them.
JUNIOR CAMPS
Craig Jones, the Also honored Saturday were more than 20 Missouri USTA Director of Valley award winners and 10 junior sportsmanship Youth Play and winners. The full list can also be found on the USTA Competition, Missouri Valley website. presented a 10 and Under Tennis clinic The conference concluded on Sunday with a Meeting Friday afternoon of the Association, as well as open and closed board to help attendees meetings. To open the meeting, Carol Welder, Director understand how At Large of the National USTA Board of Directors, to make 10 and gave a presentation comparing the USTA of today Under Tennis work versus the 1970’s to show the progress we have made for them with case over the years. It was a wonderful reflection of how far studies and best Volunteers gathered during the Annual Conference for a USTA League coordinators’ training to learn about new rules and best practices for 2012. the USTA has come and a great charge to go into 2012 practices. Beyond with that same mindset. the clinic on Friday, Jones put his words into action by hosting a USTA Play Day on The 2012 USTA Missouri Valley Annual Conference will be held Saturday night, held at Midtown Athletic Club, which highlighted November 30 - December 2, also at the Sheraton Hotel in Overland various games and drills that can be used to host a successful USTA Park, Kansas. Play Day.
COMMUNITY TENNIS
The USTA Missouri Valley honored its 2011 Hall of Fame class during a luncheon on Saturday. Inducted this year were Rex Coad (Wichita, Kansas), James “Buddy” Fields (Wichita, Kansas), Janet Thomas Griffith (Tulsa, Oklahoma), Jane Pratt (St. Louis, Missouri) and Kim Steinmetz (St. Louis, Missouri). The five new members of the Missouri Valley Hall of Fame bring the total number of members to 104. Visit the USTA Missouri Valley website to read more about each of our Hall of Fame inductees.
INFORMATION
2011 USTA Missouri Valley Annual Conference
ADULTS LEAGUES
In addition to the informational sessions, the conference held committee meetings for each of the major USTA programs, including community tennis, collegiate tennis, adult competition, diversity and many more. Friday also featured a full day of training for USTA League coordinators.
Above: Three of the five new inductees into the USTA Missouri Valley Hall of Fame, (from left) Kim Steinmetz, Rex Coad and Janet Thomas Griffith.
ADULTS DISTRICTS
Above and at left: Midtown Athletic Club hosted a 10 and Under Tennis Play Day on Saturday night, demonstrating how to conduct a successful event for young players. missourivalley.usta.com
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