201611 Tennis Industry magazine

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Looking To a Bright Future Our Champions of Tennis tell us their 2017 wishes to strengthen and grow the game’s grassroots

DAVID LASOTA:

“Continue to build smaller courts for youth, beginners and seniors alike.”

JULIAN LI:

“It’s time for the industry to point out the benefits of multifilament strings.”

JEFF RODEFELD:

“We need a focus on pro/specialty retail and its importance to brand awareness.”

PHIL PARRISH:

“More one-day tournaments for entrylevel players throughout high school.”

CARRIE CIMINO:

“I’m looking forward to seeing more products that will help players play better.”

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TennisIndustry

www.tennisindustrymag.com

NOV/DEC 2016

DEPARTMENTS 4

Our Serve

7

Industry News

12 Letters 16 TIA News 18 Racquet Tech 20 Retailing Tip 32 String Playtest: MSV Go Max 1.25 34 Your Serve, by Kevin Theos

INDUSTRY NEWS 7

USPTA, Wilson reunite in multiyear agreement

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Adams nominated to repeat as USTA president

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Adidas, USTA partner for Lake Nona, leagues

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Tennis pioneer Seena Hamilton passes away

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Playmate introduces iGenie ball machine

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FEATURES

22 Tech Support

Teaching pros should view technology not as competition, but as a tool to help grow revenue.

10 Rome Tennis Center opens 60 courts

24 Wish List for the New Year

11 Wilson creates Serena Williams autograph frame 11 USTA presents annual awards in New York

We asked last year’s Champions of Tennis winners what they’re looking for in 2017.

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28 Comfort and Control

12 Sockwise debuts women's line 12 Peoplewatch

New technology emerges for racquets and strings.

13 Clijsters, Roddick, Braden, Fink nominated for HOF

31 Smarten Up!

14 Short Sets

With cutting-edge technology, PlaySight SmartCourts are helping players of all levels.

14 Legacy Building Solutions designs OKC facility

PLUS 36 CEO’s Message

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COVER PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

38 Past President’s Message 40 USPTA World Conference

48 Education, Encouragement are Career Keys

52 Setteo Supports Grassroots Tennis Business

56 The Advantages of Serving American Style

48 Beyond the Court 52 Endorsee News 56 Master Pro Corner 58 Career Development 60 Member News

Read more articles online at www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com 2 TennisIndustry

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Our Serve

PUBLISHER JEFF WILLIAMS EDITORIAL DIRECTOR PETER FRANCESCONI MANAGING EDITOR SCOTT GRAMLING CREATIVE DIRECTOR IAN KNOWLES SENIOR EDITOR ED McGROGAN

Framing Our Future DURING THE US OPEN, THERE

are always a lot of meetings and presentations with members of the industry and the USTA. These gatherings, while perhaps not barn-burners, are interesting to me because they celebrate the sport, look to increase business and allow you to connect with others working to grow this industry. During TIA meetings and at the USTA Semiannual Meeting, Craig Morris, the USTA’s general manager of Community Tennis and Youth Tennis, made it a point to connect with as many industry members as possible. Morris, who came to the USTA last fall from Tennis Australia, was looking to push his important message of focusing on the tennis “customer” to help grow this sport at all levels. (See the September/ October issue for a Q&A with Morris.) The TIA also sponsored an excellent roundtable with retail expert Dan O’Connor (see page 17). O’Connor covered a wealth of information, but the crux of his message was that the fundamentals of retail are shifting to stay current with consumer habits. Businesses and organizations, including the sport of tennis, must adapt quickly to be able to survive and grow. Adding to all this, at the TIA Tennis Forum, was a message that Dr. Jack Groppel is bringing to this industry: the need to convey the health and fitness benefits of tennis. Groppel, who has a long history in the science of human performance—but who admits tennis is his first love—is now the “health and wellness advisor” for the tennis industry (see page 16). What does all this mean? We need to re-examine how we go to market

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with this sport at every level. Across the board, we need to find out what approaches will make tennis appeal to everyone in a sustainable way. As a top sales consultant recently told me, it’s not about making one sale—it’s about generating repeat business with that same consumer. The retail landscape is much different now than it was 10 years ago. Consumer attitudes, habits and desires have changed. And technology continues to change how we get information, buy products and create experiences. As an industry, we often talk a good game when it comes to the future, but we tend to be glacially slow in making key changes and course adjustments— and, quite simply, in reading the signs. Many of the issues and challenges that we’re just now “figuring out” were raised years ago. The USTA National Campus and the renovations at the National Tennis Center seem to be well in hand. So let’s open up that throttle and focus on the changes we need to make—nowto increase participation of new and existing players, sell more racquets, get more courts built and reframe how we market this sport.

Peter Francesconi Editorial Director [email protected]

ART DIRECTOR CRHISTIAN RODRIGUEZ PRODUCTION EDITOR SAM CHASE SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR BOB PATTERSON CONTRIBUTING EDITORS ROBIN BATEMAN, CYNTHIA CANTRELL, PEG CONNOR, KENT OSWALD, CYNTHIA SHERMAN, MARY HELEN SPRECHER CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS BOB KENAS, DAVID KENAS WEBMASTER GREG RAVEN ASSOCIATE EDITOR TIM McARTHUR EDITORIAL DIRECTION 10TEN MEDIA TENNIS INDUSTRY

48 W 21st St., New York, NY 10010 646-783-1450 [email protected] ADVERTISING DIRECTOR JOHN HANNA

770-650-1102, x.125 [email protected] APPAREL ADVERTISING CYNTHIA SHERMAN

203-558-5911 [email protected] Tennis Industry is published 10 times per year: monthly, January through August with combined issues in September/October and November/ December, by Tennis Media Company, 48 W 21st St., New York, NY 10010. Periodical postage paid in Duluth, GA and at additional mailing offices (USPS #004-354). Nov/Dec 2016, Volume 44, Number 10 © 2016 by Tennis Media Company. All rights reserved. Tennis Industry, TI and logo are trademarks of Tennis Media Company. Printed in the U.S.A. Phone advertising: 770-650-1102 x 125. Phone circulation and editorial: 646-783-1450. Yearly subscriptions $25 in the U.S., $40+ elsewhere. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Tennis Industry, 48 W 21st St., New York, NY 10010. Tennis Industry is the official magazine of the USRSA, TIA and ASBA. Looking for back issues of Tennis Industry/Racquet Sports Industry? Visit the archives at our website at TennisIndustryMag.com for free digital versions.


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“PLAYSIGHT GIVES USC TENNIS A HUGE EDGE”

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IndustryNews Information to help you run your business

USPTA and Wilson Reunite in Multiyear Agreement

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he USPTA and Wilson Sporting Goods have entered into a threeyear agreement in which Wilson will become the official equipment supplier of the USPTA, providing racquets, balls, strings, grips, bags, 10 and Under Tennis equipment and stringing machines, along with platform tennis paddles and balls for USPTA members and programs. “We are excited to rejoin forces,” says Hans-Martin Reh, general manager of Wilson. “As a brand, our mission is to become the undisputed champion in tennis. We recognize a renewed focus on

grassroots tennis and deeper partnership with teaching professionals are essential.” “I was fortunate to be a part of the Wilson team 20-plus years ago when USPTA and Wilson were partners,” says USPTA CEO John Embree. “I feel like the USPTA has returned home. I am excited about what this endorsement will mean to our membership and to the tennis industry.” Wilson equipment and signage will be showcased at all official USPTA events. Wilson will join seven other endorsees in contributing to the USPTA Retirement Gold+ program. •

C O U RT E S Y U S P TA / F R E D M U L L A N E / C A M E R AW O R K U S A

Celebrating the USPTAWilson deal are (from left) Mickey Maule, Wilson commercial director for the Americas; Hans-Martin Reh, general manager for Wilson Global Racquet Sports; Tim Buwick, Wilson USA promotions manager; and John Embree, USPTA CEO.

‘Making Tennis Matter’ Released by USTA Southern


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he USTA Southern Section has released a 28-page online publication called “Making Tennis Matter: A USTA Southern Facility Toolkit,” aimed at supporting Community Tennis Associations, facility owners and grassroots advocates as they work to build more tennis courts in local communities. The publication includes information on how to make a case for building more courts and includes case studies, tips and other important resources. “We hope other sections will feel free to customize this compilation of best practices for their own use,” says USTA Southern Advocacy Subcommittee Chair Robin Jones. To link to the tool, visit southerntennis.com/makingtennismatter. pdf or southern.usta.com. •

Adams Nominated To Repeat as USTA President

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fter the US Open, USTA First Vice President Andy Andrews notified the USTA Nominating Committee that, for personal reasons, he was declining the nomination for USTA president for the 2017-2018 term. The Nominating Committee “determined it to be in the best interest of the organization to nominate Katrina Adams to serve an unprecedented second consecutive term as USTA President,” according to Committee Chair Charlotte Johnson. The full slate nominated for the 2017-2018 term is: President: Katrina Adams (Eastern) First VP: Patrick Galbraith (Pacific Northwest) VP: Joan Baker (Northern) VP: Mark Ein (Mid-Atlantic) Sec-Treas: Thomas Ho (Texas) Directors at Large: Fabrizio Alcobe-Fierro (Florida), Jeffrey Baill (Northern), Laura Canfield (Middle States), Dr. Brian Hainline (Midwest), Michael McNulty (Southern), Andrew Valdez (Intermountain) Elite Athletes: Lauren Barnikow (Northern Calif.), Liezel Huber (Texas), Brian Vahaly (MidAtlantic) •

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IndustryNews

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n a new partnership, Adidas will become an official sponsor of the USTA National Campus, USTA Player Development and USTA League Tennis. In addition, Adidas will become the exclusive presenting sponsor of the USTA National Junior Rankings and newly named “USTA Adidas Junior Championship Series,” comprised of junior tournaments that will feature some of the top young players in the country. At the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla., the Adidas Performance Center will serve as home to the USTA’s Player Development division. Adidas will also become the official outfitter and apparel partner for USTA PD. “The success of our sport depends on the success of the international tennis industry as a whole,” says USTA Player Development General Manager Martin Blackman. “We are fortunate that our game is supported by world-class brands that produce tennis racquets, tennis balls, apparel and footwear.” •

ITA Unveils New Look

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he Intercollegiate Tennis Association has rolled out a new logo and enhanced brand colors. The ITA worked with PlanIt Studios for the new design. •

ITF Considers Changes To Davis, Fed Cup Formats The International Tennis Federation is looking to change the Davis and Fed Cup formats “to make the appeal of tennis broad and wide,” says ITF President David Haggerty. The ITF wants to select cities to host the final in advance, rather than waiting until the two contenders for the championship emerge. The ITF hopes to have this new hosting system in place by 2018. Other possible changes include reducing the length of matches from best of five sets to best of three, and expanding the top-tier Fed Cup from eight nations to a 16-nation field, similar to Davis Cup. The ITF membership will vote on the plans next August.

Seena Hamilton, Tennis Pioneer, Passes Away Tennis pioneer and Easter Bowl founder Seena Hamilton (pictured above with Arthur Ashe) passed away on August 6 after a lengthy illness. She was 92. Hamilton’s commitment to junior tennis helped generations of top players make their initial mark in the sport. The roster of Easter Bowl participants reads as a “who’s who” of the sport, and includes a 15-year-old Jimmy Connors at the inaugural event in 1968. Hamilton's career included stints as a radio scriptwriter, record publicist, radio show host and magazine editor. She founded two marketing companies: Seena Hamilton & Associates and Creative Tennis Marketing. She is survived by her son, Bryan Fineberg.

Fromuth to Run Pro Shop at USTA National Campus Fromuth Tennis will operate the tennis pro shop at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla., scheduled to open in January.

C O U RT E R S Y R O B E RT K E N A S

Adidas, USTA Partner for Nat'l Campus, Leagues



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IndustryNews Top-Selling Racquets at Specialty Stores January-June, 2016 vs. 2015 Units 2016 280,559 2015 306,092 % change vs. ’15 -8% Dollars 2016 $41,639,000 2015 $45,069,000 % change vs. ’15 -8% Price 2016 $148.42 2015 $147.24 % change vs. ’15 1%

“Operating the pro shop at the USTA National Campus is a great fit for us as we can help train interns and Professional Tennis Management students before they go out into the tennis world and run pro shops, stringing businesses and tennis clubs,” says Fromuth President Pat Shields. “For a company like ours that’s been committed to the tennis industry for over 40 years, this is a huge opportunity to be on the forefront of innovation.” Since 1972, Fromuth has been supplying

tennis pro shops, teams, coaches and stringers in all 50 states with a variety of tennis brands, servicing thousands of tennis retailers a year. —E.J. Crawford

Playmate Introduces iGenie Ball Machine Playmate Ball Machines has introduced iGenie, which the company says is the easiest ball machine to use. Players can choose a “player level” (easy, medium, hard) then “select shots”— from

Top-Selling Racquets at Specialty Stores By year-to-date dollars, January-June 2016 1. Babolat Pure Drive 2015 (MP) 2. Babolat Pure Aero (100) 2016 (MP) 3. Babolat Pure Aero Team 2016 (MP) 4. Babolat Pure Drive Lite 2015 (MP) 5. Wilson Pro Staff 97 (MP)

“Hot New Racquets” (introduced in the past 12 months) 1. Babolat Pure Aero (100) 2016 (MP) 2. Babolat Pure Aero Team 2016 (MP) 3. Wilson Ultra 100 2016 (MP) 4. Babolat Pure Aero Lite 2016 (MP) 5. Head XT Radical MP (MP)

Top-Selling Tennis Shoes at Specialty Stores By year-to-date dollars, Jan.-June 2016 1. Asics Gel Resolution 6 2. Prince T22 3. Nike Zoom Cage 2 4. Nike Zoom Vapor 9.5 Tour 2015 5. Asics Gel Solution Speed 3

Top-Selling Strings at Specialty Stores By year-to-date units, Jan.-June 2016 1. Babolat RPM Blast 2. Prince Synthetic Gut Duraflex 3. Wilson NXT 4. Wilson Sensation 5. Luxilon Alu Power (Source: TIA)



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IndustryNews rally balls, to short balls, lobs, spins and more. Or don’t select anything, and iGenie will start feeding an “easy rally ball” straight ahead. For teaching pros and coaches, Playmate says it’s easy to create drills. The pro selects a “player level” based on the users' skill and experience, then selects shots in order. For example, for a two-line group drill, the pro can hit Medium Player level, and then High Short Ball two times then Lob two times. On the picture of the court, set directions for a two-line drill by pressing the button left of center and then the button right of center. The iGenie also includes iPlaymate Tennis for iPhone and iPad, so pros can create and save drills, track workouts, compare results with others and more. Pros can also control the ball machine on their iPhone and iPad. Visit playmatetennis.com for more.

Industry Veteran Launches Tennis Court Consult Tennis industry veteran David Meharg has

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Rome Tennis Center Opens 60 Courts

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he Rome Tennis Center at Berry College in Rome, Ga., the nation’s largest hard-court tennis facility, held its grand opening over the summer. It has a total of 60 lighted courts, including six NCAA regulation courts, three center courts for tournament and collegiate play, and one exhibition court. There are also eight permanent 36-foot courts, in addition to 10 courts with blended lines.

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IndustryNews launched a new company, Tennis Court Consult (TCC) of Cornwall Bridge, Conn., to provide an independent, comprehensive and cost-effective approach to tennis court and facility consulting. Meharg brings more than 30 years of tennis business experience in all segments of the industry to TCC. All TCC services are also supported by a network of technical tennis experts across the country. Visit TennisCourtConsult.com or contact [email protected] (phone: 860-484-9016).

USTA Presents Annual Awards

Wilson Creates Serena Autograph Racquet C O U RT E R S Y R O M E T E N N I S C E N T E R ( PA G E 1 0 ) ; W I L S O N ( PA G E 1 1 )

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ilson announced during the US Open that it will honor 20-year advisory staff member Serena Williams with an Autograph racquet. The Blade Serena Williams (SW) 104 Autograph marks the 16th time in the brand’s 102-year history—and only the second time in the last 38 years—that it has celebrated an athlete with an Autograph model. Williams will play with the new frame at the start of the 2017 season in Australia. The new Blade line of frames also includes new technologies from Wilson, including “Countervail,” which places carbon fiber in locations throughout the racquet to improve performance, and the X2 Ergo handle, to provide two-handed backhand players with power, versatility and feel.

The USTA presented several annual awards at its Semiannual Meeting held in New York City during the US Open in September. * Eve Kraft Community Service Award: Delaine Mast, Lancaster, Pa. * CTA of the Year: Western Wake Tennis Association, Cary, N.C. * Adaptive Tennis Community Service Award: Buddy Up Tennis Inc., New Albany, Ohio * Faculty Member of the Year: Todd Dissly, Los Gatos, Calif. * Janet Louer Junior Team Tennis Organizer of the Year: Oliver Summers, Fargo, N.D. * NJTL Chapter of the Year: Gainesville Area Community Tennis Association Inc., Gainesville, Fla. * Barbara Williams Service Award: Barbara Fackel, Rock Island, Ill. * Bill Talbert Junior Sportsmanship Award: Lane Leschly, Atherton, Calif., and Tiffany Chen, Naperville, Ill. * Featured Outstanding Facility Award: The Candy Erickson Tennis Center at the Park City Municipal Athletic Recreation Center, Park City, Utah. * League Volunteer Award: Pat Devoto, Decatur, Ga. * National Junior Scholar Athlete Award: Alexis Milunovich, Greenwich Academy, Conn., and David Horneffer, Brookfield East High School, Wis. * President’s Award: Benjamin Woods Sr., Silver Spring, Md.

USRSA Adds Two New Certification Testers Sharon Hall of Athens, Ga., and Mark Tarentino of Fayetteville, N.C., are the newest certification testers for the USRSA. Hall is the owner and operator of Red Racquet Tennis in Athens and has been a Master



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IndustryNews People Watch In September, Dr. Brian Hainline received the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's highest honor, the 2016 ITA David A. Benjamin Achievement Award.

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ockwise Inc. has introduced U-Sox (u-sox.com), a new line of women’s lifestyle socks. National Sales Manager Don Crusius says the new socks, which are made in Italy, had a sponsorship arrangement with the Connecticut Open in August. “All the players received socks, and they gave us great feedback,” he notes. “There are 10 models in the current line and our plan is to introduce a new style every two weeks until the end of the year.” Crusius says he’s also looking to expand his network of national sales reps. For more information, contact him at 214-460-7681 or [email protected]

LETTERS

Focus on the Customer I enjoyed Peter Francesconi’s “Our Serve” in the August issue, “The Best Part of Your Day.” What tennis director Adam Molda tells his coaches is very important. When I was regularly conducting PTR certification workshops, I would always mention to the coaches the importance of what they do and that they need to always give the best lesson possible every time they step onto the court. I would tell them that for many of their students, being on the court with you is the hour of the week that they look forward to the most. If you can’t give your best in every lesson you teach, then do yourself, your students and the game of tennis a favor and find something else to do for a living. Thankfully, most tennis coaches make a world of difference in their students’ lives. Dan Santorum CEO, Professional Tennis Registry

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The “Our Serve” column in the August issue was a wonderful reminder of what really matters in our business (or any business): The customer’s experience. When a student feels that we actually care about them, that we’re taking the time to make an investment in their enjoyment, it’s a game-changer to our business. For years I’ve told my students, “I’m just the hired help.” While I’d like to believe they don’t actually feel that way, it’s been a great way to convey the idea that, “it’s not about me, it’s all about them.” Thank you for recognizing where the focus needs to be if we ever hope to grow our sport. It can’t be on the pros, the facilities, or even on the USTA—it needs to be on the customer. Mike Kolendo Tennis Director Tennis at Maple Ridge/Northampton (Mass.) Recreation Department

Har-Tru has announced four new hires. Andrew Frazier is the sales rep for the Mid-Atlantic and Canada; Kyle Utz is the sales rep for the Midwest and West; Chris Martin is now the company’s credit and collections manager; and Kita Ashurst is the company’s new senior purchasing agent. Kathy Woods has been named Director of Tennis at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla., leading and overseeing all programming and activities. Also at the National Campus, Chris “Mick” Michalowski has been named director of Campus Laboratory, USTA University. Outgoing ATP Player Council president and former Top 20 doubles player Eric Butorac has been named to the new position of director of Professional Tennis Operations and Player Relations for the USTA. The Intercollegiate Tennis Association Women's Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame will induct Alycia Moulton, Gretchen Rush, Jane Goodman and Virginia Brown in a Nov. 12 event in Williamsburg, Va.

C O U RT E S Y S O C KW I S E I N C. ( PA G E 1 2 ) ; T O U R N A G R I P ( PA G E 1 3 )

Sockwise Introduces New Women’s Line

Daria Kasatkina, 19, has renewed her contract with Tecnifibre, building on their five-year partnership. The Russian-born Kasatkina is currently ranked 29th in the WTA world rankings. Americans Ryan Harrison of the San Diego Aviators and Nicole Gibbs of the Orange County Breakers won the 2016 Mylan World TeamTennis MVP awards.


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FOR SALE

IndustryNews Racquet Technician for more than 12 years. Tarentino is the assistant director of the Professional Tennis Management program at Methodist University. An MRT, he is also a Level 2 USPTA pro, a PTR certified pro, a Cardio Tennis/TRX Cardio Tennis Authorized Pro and is PPTA certified.

Clijsters, Roddick, Braden, Flink Considered for HoF Former world No. 1s Kim Clijsters and Andy Roddick have been nominated for induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Both are on the 2017 ballot in the Recent Player Category. Monique Kalkman, a Dutch wheelchair tennis

player during the 1990s and winner of a Paralympic Gold Medal, is nominated in the Recent Player Category for Wheelchair Tennis. In the Contributor Category, the late Vic Braden, who was among the first to apply sports science to his instructional tactics, has been nominated, along with Steve Flink, a distinguished tennis historian, broadcaster and journalist.

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indcres t T ennis & P ickleball C lub

USTA Foundation Awards $408K in College Scholarships USTA Foundation, the national charitable foundation of the USTA, awarded 49 highschool students a variety of college

Located in San Antonio, Texas 6 lighted tennis courts 2 lighted pickleball courts 1 unlighted pickleball court All courts recently resurfaced New nets USTA league teams

Cibulkova, Tourna Grip Sign Multiyear Agreement

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ourna Grip has entered into a multiyear deal with WTA pro Dominika Cibulkova, who has used the grip for her entire career. Cibulkova, who has reached as high as No. 10 in the world, joins Tourna’s roster of pro players officially endorsing the brand and will be featured in advertisements, packaging and promotional material. Tourna Grip’s trademark light blue color can be seen on the racquets of hundreds of touring pros. Visit uniquesports.com for more. •

1000 square foot club house,

stringing machine and a ball machine.

Contact Ed Beyster at 210-326-6780 for additional information.



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IndustryNews Famers Cliff Swain and Jacqueline Paraiso.

The U.S. will host Switzerland in the 2017 Davis Cup World Group First Round, which will be held Feb. 3-5. The Chicago Tribune reported in September that Wilson Sporting Goods will move its headquarters from Chicago’s far northwest side to the Prudential Plaza in the city’s Loop neighborhood. The move, which will affect about 400 employees, is set for December 2017. The company reportedly signed a 12year lease for two floors of the 41-story building. Ashaway Racket Strings has renewed its sponsorship agreements with racquetball Hall-of-

Head Penn has partnered with Greater Midland (Mich.) Tennis Center. Head will be the official brand and Penn the official ball of the facility. Tecnifibre was the official stringer for the ATP 500/WTA International Tier Citi Open Tournament in Washington, D.C., in July— the company’s first ATP event inside the U.S. More than 900 racquets were strung during the 11-day event.

OnCourt OffCourt has recently rebranded, with a new logo and new spelling.

Legacy Building Solutions, a pioneer in the use of a rigid steel frame for fabric structures, is on the 2016 edition of the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing private companies in the U.S. The rankings are determined by the rate of revenue growth over three years. Visit legacybuildingsolutions.com for more info. Golfsmith International, headquartered in Houston, filed for bankruptcy on Sept. 15 as part of a debt restructuring plan. Golfsmith, which also sells tennis equipment, is the largest specialty golf retailer in the world and has 109 stores in the United States operating as Golfsmith Golf & Tennis, and 55 stores in Canada. Penn has been named

Legacy Designs, Builds OKC Indoor Facility

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hen the USTA named the Oklahoma City Tennis Center at Will Rogers Park as an Outstanding Tennis Facility, part of the credit was due to the new six-court indoor tennis facility constructed by Legacy Building Solutions. The structure uses flameretardant fabric that reflects the LED lighting system for a bright, even background. Designed for year-round use, the building’s roof and walls are fully insulated. After working with the tennis center staff, the custom-designed building was installed by Legacy in less than 30 days. For more information, visit legacybuildingsolutions.com. •

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the official ball of the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour. The multi-year deal includes an extension of Head as the official Tour Partner. Since its purchase by Sinclair Broadcast Group in March, Tennis Channel says it has added 10 million viewing households and is now reaching 47 million households as of this summer. Sportsmen’s Tennis & Enrichment Center in Dorchester, Mass., has received a three-year, $150,000 grant from Tufts Medical Center for the Volley Against Violence Police/Community Engagement Initiative. Tufts has supported Volley Against Violence for the past six years.

Peter Burwash International (PBI) will operate the tennis program at the Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur hotel. Angel Gyorgievski (above) will head the new program. PBI will direct the tennis program at The Buccaneer resort on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. TGA Premier Youth Tennis recently launched its first international franchise in Sault Ste. Marie, Canada. In addition, TGA has new franchises in Nashville, Tenn., and Fairfield County, Conn.

scholarships totaling $408,000. Each year, the Foundation awards scholarships to deserving youth who have participated in USTA and other organized youth tennis programs, such as an NJTL chapter, have demonstrated high academic achievement and require financial assistance for college. The scholarships range from $1,000 to $15,000.

USRSA Announces New MRTs and CSs Master Racquet Technicians John Currie—London, England Neil Dennis—London, England David Hall—Clacton by the Sea, England Gary Homer—Solihull, England Rob Leahy—Cork, Ireland Sorin Miller—Portland, Ore. Justin Patt—San Luis Obispo, Calif. Michael Thompson—Birmingham, England William Wert—Charleston, S.C. Ron Williamson—Melton, England Certified Stringers Brooke Fix—Kingman, Ariz. Minchao Wu—Flushing, N.Y. •

C O U RT E S Y P ET E R B U R WA S H I N T E R N AT I O N A L , L E G A C Y B U I L D I N G S O LU T I O N S

Short Sets


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Human Performance Expert Dr. Jack Groppel Named Health & Wellness Advisor for the Tennis Industry Dr. Jack Groppel,

an internationally recognized authority and pioneer in the science of human performance, will become the Health & Wellness Advisor for the Tennis Industry. As the representative and spokesperson for the Tennis Industry Association (TIA) Board of Directors, Dr. Groppel will work with industry partners, including the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA), Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), International Health, Racquet, & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), and others, on strategies to best convey the health and fitness messaging of tennis. Dr. Groppel, who is the co-founder of the Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Institute, has a long history in tennis, including 16 years as chair of the National Sport Science Committee for the USTA. “I’m thrilled to be able to give back to the game that has given me so much,” Dr. Groppel said. “I look forward to working with the Tennis Industry Association and all of the industry partners in helping to highlight the health, fitness and wellness benefits tennis can offer people of all ages.” “With Jack’s background and expertise in fitness performance and health, the entire tennis industry will benefit from the strategic support he’ll bring,” said TIA President Jeff Williams. Dr. Groppel is the co-chair of the Global Alliance for Health & Performance and is professor of Kinesiology & Community Health at the University of Illinois. He’s addressed the issue of worksite wellness and performance at U.N. and U.S. Congress policy events, and represented the worksite wellness industry

at the Surgeon General’s Call to Action on Walking and Walkable Communities. “We are very fortunate in the tennis industry to have someone of Dr. Groppel’s experience and caliber helping to push all the great benefits of tennis and reasons to play this sport,” said TIA Executive Director Jolyn de Boer. “No one has published more articles and research on the health benefits of tennis than he has.” In March, Dr. Groppel was a key presenter at the TIA State of the Industry Forum during the Miami Open, held in conjunction with the third annual TIA Tennis Owners & Managers Conference, on using the health and fitness benefits of the sport to get more people active and playing tennis. In April, the tennis industry became the first sports industry to endorse the new National Physical Activity Plan (NPAP) and the CEO Pledge for Physical Activity when the plan was unveiled in Washington, D.C. The NPAP was announced in a press conference at the National Press Club, followed by a Congressional briefing

at the U.S. Capitol. During the announcement, the sport of tennis was cited by Dr. Groppel as “the first of hopefully many entire sports to endorse this pledge and this plan.” This past August, Dr. Groppel participated in the annual TIA Tennis Forum in New York City during the US Open. As the National Spokesperson for the CEO Pledge for Physical Activity (part of the National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity), Dr. Groppel expanded the Pledge with the signing by International Tennis Federation President David Haggerty and USTA President Katrina Adams. Along with his position with the Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Institute, Dr. Groppel is the co-chair of the Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO) Health, Performance & Productivity Study Committee. He wrote the book “The Corporate Athlete” on achieving the pinnacle of corporate performance, he’s been featured in New York Times, Fortune, Forbes, Shape, Fast Company and Huffington Post, among other publications.

2017 T.O.M. Conference to be March 27-29 in Orlando The fourth annual Tennis Owners & Managers (T.O.M.) Conference, presented by the TIA, will be March 27-29, 2017, at Rosen Shingle Creek, a 230-acre resort in Orlando, Fla. The T.O.M. Conference will bring together leading experts in facility management, development, programming, staffing, and other key areas to provide vital information that will address the needs of all types of tennis facilities—public, commercial, private, country ORLANDO 2017 clubs, resorts. The event also will focus on looking to the future and to innovative business models that will help to increase tennis engagement and growth at the facility and club level. The 2017 conference in Orlando also will include a site tour of the USTA National Campus at Lake Nona—the new Home of American Tennis—with its 102 courts. For more information, visit TheTOMConference.com or contact [email protected] or 866-686-3036. 16 TennisIndustry

Nov/Dec 2016

Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . www.TennisIndustry.org

TIA Tennis Forum Hears from Global, U.S. Execs

s Jeff William

Retail Expert Dan O’Connor Leads Industry Roundtable

More than 300 attendees heard top U.S. and international tennis executives present key industry research, initiatives, issues and challenges at the Katrina Adams ninth annual TIA Tennis Forum, held on Aug. 29 in New York City, the first day of play at the 2016 US Open. Top retail expert Dan O’Connor, the founder and CEO Tennis Industry Association (TIA) President Jeff Williams of RetailNet Group (RNG), spoke to tennis retailers, welcomed attendees and introduced USTA Chairman, CEO & manufacturers and others in the industry at a roundtable President Katrina Adams, who spoke about the renovations sponsored by the Tennis Industry Association (TIA) during the at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, opening week of the US Open. RNG is a leading advisory and including the new retractable roof over Arthur Ashe Stadium, insights firm that works with large-scale retailers and brand along with important developments at the leaders worldwide, including Walmart, Target, Best Buy and USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla., Home Depot, among others. and other USTA initiatives. “The business question I get asked all the time is, TIA Executive Director Jolyn de ‘What’s next?’” O’Connor said. “The fundamentals of retail Boer then presented industry research are shifting in a way that I’ve never experienced. It’s all on participation, equipment sales, about the merchandise and execution.” and more, and discussed issues the Jim Baugh O’Connor described five areas of change that are affecting tennis industry is facing, including Humes , Polly Scott, A nne , Kirk And retail: societal change, such as how people are interacting er son a challenging retail and changing , el with stores, experiences and lifestyles; technologic change, consumer market. De Boer also Dr. Gropp gerty David Hag which includes changing processes within companies and introduced Dr. Jack Groppel, cochanging how consumers experience retail; economic change, such founder of the Human Performance as factors affecting consumer liquidity; changes within the retail Institute at Johnson & Johnson. industry itself that have a ripple effect up and down the chain; and Dr. Groppel is the global political change, including regulatory changes such as minimum-wage spokesperson for the CEO Pledge requirements. for Physical Activity (in April, tennis “We’re in a ‘real time demand generation,’ not a 52-week became the first sports industry to calendar” when it comes to retailing, O’Connor said. “Content is sign the CEO Pledge). After he spoke the most important thing in this model—creating on-the-fly digital about how tennis is the perfect activity promotions.” Retailing is moving “from the demand generation for health, fitness and wellness, the team to fulfillment.” USTA’s Adams and International Tennis O’Connor predicted, “Wholesalers will come back. Retailers don’t want to Federation (ITF) President David Haggerty hold any inventory,” so wholesalers will hold it for them. The prevailing thought came up on stage and signed the CEO Pledge on behalf of will be, “I’m going to sell it, but I can’t own it,” he says. “The economics are going their organizations. to really change. We’re moving out of this world of traditional retail.” Haggerty, a former USTA president who was elected ITF O’Connor says consumer habits and behaviors are changing. “The time to sell president last fall, then addressed the crowd about important has gone from 30 seconds to 16 seconds and is on its way to 8 seconds.” initiatives the ITF is involved with, then introduced Kurt He also says consumers are trying to limit how big work is in their life, which Kamperman, the USTA’s chief executive of Community Tennis is putting a lot less cash into their pockets. “They’re behaving as if they will have and USTA National Campus. Kamperman teamed with the 30 jobs in their lifetime, not four or five. For the retailer, this says these aren’t USTA’s new general manager of Community Tennis & Youth consumers with growing purchasing power, but they’ll be buying to the need.” Tennis, Craig Morris, to help set an agenda for growth of the Another trait, O’Connor noted, is that in most merchandise categories, sport through focusing on tennis consumers and youth. consumers are “spending on experiences, rather than on owning something.” The Forum concluded by honoring the two 2016 inductees Personalization and customization is a growing trend among consumers, he into the Tennis Industry Hall of Fame: Eve Kraft and Gene said. This includes feedback from devices, and also the way a retailer messages Scott. Kraft, who passed away in 1999, was a visionary when to consumers. “Consumers want to know what racquet they need, as fast as you it came to bringing tennis into local communities and was can tell them. What does 8 seconds mean to your product?” honored by longtime friends and colleagues Kirk Anderson Accountability is becoming more important, O’Connor noted, because “the and Anne Humes. Scott, who died in 2006, was the founder, web makes everyone a fact-checker. People care about who the company is; publisher and editor of Tennis Week magazine, and was celebrated by longtime friend Jim Baugh, who presented a reputation matters.” plaque to his widow, Polly Scott. Health and wellness is important, too, he said, but “people don’t pay up for For more information, please see the State of the Industry health and wellness. Health and wellness has a perception where consumers video at TennisIndustry.org or call the TIA at 866-686-3036. have a very high willingness to pay, but the reality is the opposite.” Join the TIA . . . Increase Your Profits . . . Grow the Game . . . www.TennisIndustry.org

Nov/Dec 2016

TennisIndustry 17

Racquet Tech was launched in 1986. In 1993, the Certified Racquet Technician program was launched, later renamed the Master Racquet Technician (MRT) program. Over the decades, there have been few changes to the CS program. Our goal is to recognize individuals with basic levels of stringing and racquetservice competence. While things within the industry have certainly changed over 30 years, those basic skills and competencies remain the benchmark. The MRT designation was created to reward individuals who demonstrate superior technical competence and product knowledge. We’ve made changes and updates to keep our MRT tests current with the industry. Now, after careful consideration and input from veterans and others in the industry, we are making some changes that we feel will not only be a better measure of the designations earned, but also benefit our entire industry.

The new Professional Racquet Advisor certification focuses on selling and servicing racquets and strings. By Bob Patterson,

Executive Director, USRSA

I

have every issue of U.S. Racquet Stringers Association publications dating back to the very beginning, in 1975. I often look through old issues for industry information of a historical nature, but I also find myself looking at the articles and advertisements and marveling at just how much our industry has changed through the years—and how much remains pretty much the same. Recently, I was leafing through the issues for anything related to the start of the USRSA Certification program, which led me to the February 1986 edition of The Stringer’s Assistant. Jill Workman [Fonte], then the executive director, described how the program came about:

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“The Tennis Manufacturers Association held a meeting during the January '85 Tennis Industry show at which some manufacturers expressed concern over improperly strung demo frames and warranty claims due to stringer negligence. On three separate occasions after that meeting, I was approached by a manufacturer requesting some sort of certification program for racquet stringers. They wanted the USRSA to insure a minimum level of competence among stringers.” Soon afterward, Jill assembled a committee of industry veterans to develop a test and standards for the Certified Stringer (CS) program, which

Starting in January, we will offer a new certification: Professional Racquet Advisor (PRA). A PRA has everything to do with servicing and selling racquets, but the key difference is that for PRA certification, there is no direct, or hands-on, involvement with racquet service like there is for a CS or MRT. To become a PRA, applicants will need to take a written exam administered by our worldwide certification staff. One way to describe the PRA test would be to think of the existing MRT written exam, then remove any questions regarding the actual installation of strings, grips or customization. The PRA test focuses on how strings work, the differences in construction and what that means to players, frame technologies and how to fit a player with the correct frame for their game.

• Who Should Become a PRA?

As the title indicates, a Professional Racquet Advisor will be able to advise players with all things frames and strings. Coaches and teaching professionals should consider the new PRA certification. They may be able to teach the techniques for a perfect cross-court backhand, but if the student is using the wrong frame or has the wrong string

PHOTO FOTOLIA

A New Level of Service

• A New Certification

Nov/Dec 2016

10/3/16 1:20 PM

set-up for their game, they will never hit that beautiful backhand as well as they could. Others who would benefit from the PRA certification include retail or pro-shop staff who are expected to sell frames and racquet service and help customers, but may not actually perform the service themselves. This new designation will also affect MRTs. Because the PRA exam is essentially a part of the MRT test, PRA certification will now be a prerequisite for those seeking to become an MRT. This will also mean that the written portions of the MRT exam will be abbreviated and contain only the information directly related to racquet service and customization. We will, of course, continue to tweak the content every year to make sure the test is up to date. Both the PRA and MRT will be required to submit an annual update test on current manufacturers’ technologies to show that they are staying abreast of the latest offerings. With this new PRA certification, we’ll be able to bring a new level of qualified, consistent service to players and customers. This is an exciting time for our industry. • For more information about USRSA certification programs, including the new Professional Racquet Advisor designation, visit www.usrsa.com.

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10/3/16 1:20 PM

Retailing Tip

Sell the Experience! Holiday retail can be fun and profitable if you offer customers ‘experiential’ gift options. By Jay Townley

• Seeking ‘Experiences’

According to the National Retail Federation’s consumer holiday spending survey of the 2015 season, about 22 percent of consumers planned to give an experience-type gift, while 37 percent wanted to receive one. However, those numbers jump significantly for millennials (Americans born between 1981 and 1997): More than 35 percent of these 18- to 34-year-olds planned to give an experiential gift, and over 50 percent said they would like to receive one. In addition, 43 percent of 35- to 44-year-olds indicated they would like

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to receive an experiential gift. “When we began examining the phenomenon of experiential purchasing— in which a retailer offers consumers a chance to buy an experience rather than just an object or service—we were fascinated to see just how widespread the approach has become at retail,” said global research firm NPD about its 2015 year-end review. • Giving & Receiving

How does this affect your retail business? To the gift giver—who is your consumer—you want to make sure to deliver an extraordinary shopping experience, with all the hallmarks that make your store a tennis retail service winner and keep customers returning. For the recipient, who may not be a customer, you want to offer memorable

gifts that can help lead them to your shop. Be creative. If your shop is part of a larger tennis facility with courts, link purchases to on-court activities. If you have a standalone retail shop, consider partnering with a local facility, parks & rec department or teaching pro to offer on-court experiences. American consumers go to brickand-mortar stores to do more than just shop. This knowledge gives specialty tennis retailers a huge opportunity to create a great holiday gift-giving retail environment and to craft memorable tennis gift experiences—all while increasing revenue and profitability, and having some fun! • Jay Townley is a partner in the retail consulting firm Gluskin Townley Group (www.gluskintownleygroup.com).

PHOTO SHUTTERSTOCK

B

y now you should have your holiday planning in place—including stocking and replenishment, displays, merchandising and marketing outreach. And your holiday messaging (advertisements, email blasts, etc.) should already be reaching out to your market space and customer base. But there is still time to generate added revenue—and have some real fun— selling experiential holiday gifts. First, though, let’s dispel the false assumption that the internet and the ability to shop anywhere, any time means brick-and-mortar retail isn’t as important as it used to be. Nothing could be further from the truth. American consumers have made it clear that they are buying much more than “stuff”: They are purchasing experiences, enjoyment and relationships with experts who can help them realize their ideal tennis lifestyle. Combine this desire to purchase experiences with the bustling holiday season, and you have a unique opportunity to package and sell tennis lifestyle experience gifts such as tennis lessons, a trip to a tennis resort or tickets to a tennis event.

Nov/Dec 2016

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Teaching Tools

Tech Support

T

hroughout the 43 years since I first picked up a racquet when I was 8, I’ve noticed that lesson programs at tennis clubs have not changed much. In a private lesson, the teaching pro still stands at the net, feeding an easy ball, followed by some hitting with the pro. Group lessons are similar: The pro feeds multi-line drills, yelling a bunch of clichés or continually saying the same thing. I’ve talked to and worked with hundreds of club players over the last few years. They want to be cared for, and they want to get better. But the way we’ve been teaching them is not helping them get better. When that happens, there’s a good chance they may leave the game. This is a real concern, as overall tennis participation has barely grown over the last few years. We’re having trouble retaining players—for all the new players we get in, we’re losing just as many existing ones. As teaching pros, we have an obligation to help turn this around. But to help our players get better, we have to

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Nov/Dec 2016

be creative and innovative. We have to be willing to change and to accept technology as a tool, not competition. Here’s how we can do it. • Stop Feeding From The Net!

When you feed from the net, you’re giving players a ball they never get in a match. A player who is successful in this environment rarely has solid receiving or ball-recognition skills. In clinics I give around the country, we ask players many questions to better understand what their “tennis IQ” is. Out of 857 players, not one knew where their preferred strike-zones were for particular shots. How can a player best function technically if they don’t know the desired zone in which they should play the ball? Continually feeding from the net is the main contributor to this problem, and it also contributes to the player having only a one-dimensional groundstroke or volley. The club player rarely understands how to add “shape” on the ball or play a low volley because they are micro-managed on a specific low to high

groundstroke, as well as a neutral volley. Even if the pro is able to feed the correct ball from the correct spot on the court, he or she is concentrating on the feed and can’t focus on what the student needs. The pro can’t stand next to the player to observe, analyze and comment—in short, the pro can’t teach. Using a ball machine in a private lesson gives pros the ability to actually teach and to help students improve. The pro can be right next to the student, demonstrating shots, offering advice or recording strokes on video. Ball machines can allow the pro to create shot sequences. There are apps available to control the machine and save data on phones and other devices. • Continual Assessment

If you work with a personal trainer at a fitness club, the first thing they do is an assessment and goal-setting process. When a player books a tennis lesson, he or she usually calls the club and makes an appointment. Upon arriving, the player generally begins rallying with the pro, who then starts feeding balls.

COURTESY SHUTTERSTOCK (PAGE 22); PLAYMATE BALL MACHINES (23)

Teaching pros should view technology not as competition, but as a tool that will grow revenue and help players improve. By Stan Oley


9/29/16 1:50 PM

Using a ball machine allows the pro see his student's shots up close, analyze them and offer tips in a short amount of time.

If a tennis program is going to remain healthy, it needs to include assessment and goal setting. The pro needs to find out why the player is taking the lesson and assess the player’s game. The player needs—and will appreciate—a program designed specifically for them. The assessment and goal process should be updated frequently to show progress. A ball machine and video are great tools to use as part of the assessment process. The machine allows the pro to quickly get through a number of different shots while recording the results. • Post-Lesson Curriculum

Golfers routinely go to the driving range to work on shots or practice what they learned in a lesson. And they have plenty of company at the range; often 15 or 20 other golfers are there, too. Tennis clubs, though, generally have only one ball machine that is used by beginners, or players who can’t find a match. Ball-machine use is typically not encouraged as part of the post-lesson curriculum, as many pros view it as competition.


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In reality, if the ball machine were prescribed as part of the post-lesson curriculum, the player’s learning experience would be accelerated, and there’s a good chance that the player would become motivated to become even better. Today, some ball machines have apps that allow the pro to share post-lesson drills and allow students to show the pro that they actually did their homework. It helps augment the previous lesson and paves the way for a future visit. What I find effective is that, if a player takes one lesson a week, they should hit off of the ball machine twice in between lessons. If they take two lessons a week, they should use the machine once in between. When the player gets better, everyone wins—and the pro makes more money! • Teaching Pro Health and

Injury Prevention The average age of teaching pros in the U.S. is around 50. Many of my teaching pro friends who are my age have suffered major injuries due to constant

court time with their students over the years. Many pros have created a lesson culture where their students love to hit with them, but don’t like hitting off a ball machine. But if those pros would have originally focused on teaching rather than hitting, their lesson culture would probably be quite different—and they may not be afflicted with so many physical ailments. I recently did a clinic for eight members of a club. Through my ball machine app I was able to see that in one hour we threw 901 balls of all types of shots. I was able to stand on the same side of the court with the players, demonstrating shots and giving them meaningful corrections. When the clinic was over, I realized that was 901 balls I did not have to feed myself. If we extrapolate, in an eight-hour day that would be 7,208 balls, or 36,040 balls a week, a total of 1.8 million balls a year! Some of the best testimonials about using a ball machine have come from teaching pros who were injured and had to teach with the machine. They noted how much better their students got with a ball machine. It’s simple. We have to stop seeing technology as competition, and instead see it as a tool to improve the overall lesson and player experience. For this industry, your business—and you personally—to succeed, we need to get uncomfortable at times and try new things. If our industry is going to turn around, it will depend on teaching pros embracing change and technology. The result? More players stay in the game, and tennis pros increase their revenues! That’s a win-win. • Stan Oley is a USPTA Master Professional and the 2016 USPTA Florida Pro of the Year. He also is the Product Marketing Specialist for Playmate Ball Machines.

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Future of Tennis

WISH LIST FOR THE NEW YEAR We asked last year’s Champions of Tennis winners what they’re looking forward to in the coming year. Their answers point the way toward an agenda to strengthen and grow our game’s grassroots.

Mike Woody

David LaSota

Bud Duksta

Julian Li

NATIONAL TENNIS DIRECTOR, GENESIS HEALTH CLUBS

DW LASOTA ENGINEERING INC.

PRESIDENT, MARSHFIELD TENNIS CLUB/PETER IGO PARK

PROFESSIONAL TOUR RACQUET TECHNICIAN

Through programming, we can make all our tennis dreams come true. If we roll up our sleeves, have passion to make a difference and we relentlessly work to program to all players—regardless of age, playing experience or level of fitness—I believe we will grow beyond our dreams. Over the past 15 years we have put to the test amazing programs such as Play Tennis America, Cardio Tennis, 10 and Under Tennis and Recreational Coaches Workshops. All have resulted in growth. Let’s knock the dust off those programs and get to work—together.

With over 18,000 36-foot and 60-foot tennis courts being built over the past eight years, I hope we continue to build smaller courts for youth, beginners and seniors alike. With the growth of other racquet sports on smaller courts, it seems obvious that our population desires tennis, but not necessarily on a 78-foot court. I hope to see improved asphalt concrete design and construction techniques. It is vital that we build tennis courts to last so that facilities are attractive and playable. I also want to see LED lighting and play-analysis technology become more affordable and more prevalent.

Our wish is to form additional partnerships with organizations that will help in our efforts to expand adaptive tennis. Tennis has a lot to give to the adaptive community, and we’re so pleased to do what we can. But with key partnerships, we know we can do even more.

My wish is that the tennis industry and string manufacturers develop and promote more high-quality multifilament strings. Polyester strings are not made for the general public. What you end up with is a string that creates tennis elbow and other muscle and joint damage. After stringing at the Australian Open, the Olympics and the Cincinnati Masters, I noticed a shift from allpolyester string beds to hybrids of poly and natural gut or multifilaments. It's time for the industry to point out benefits of multifilament strings that will keep our players playing.

2015 Person of the Year

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Nov/Dec 2016

2015 Tennis Industry Service Award

2015 Public Park of the Year

2015 Stringer of the Year


10/3/16 2:52 PM

Penny Maingot EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CORPUS CHRISTI T.A.

2015 Community Tennis Association of the Year

Choosing tennis play opportunities over other activities should fill the waking hours for adult, junior and 10-and-under players. The memory of once having to use 13 different sites to accommodate all the participants in a tournament challenges us to have that number of entries again. We need our middle schools to provide tennis both semesters, and for our middle school coaches to have a passion for tennis and be compensated fairly. Finally, just imagine if tennis balls would last longer during play, plus if the racquets had bigger sweet spots!

Jeff Rodefeld

Rex Maynard

Mark Kovacs

Tim Blenkiron

DIRECTOR–RETAIL OPERATIONS, INDIANAPOLIS RACQUET CLUB

VOLUNTEER,

PERFORMANCE PHYSIOLOGIST, COACH, EDUCATOR, ITPA CO-FOUNDER

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NO QUIT TRAINING ACADEMY

I’m really excited about the future of coaching and teaching in the tennis industry. So many great opportunities are evolving outside the traditional mold for individuals who are passionate and focused on lifelong learning. The advances in technology, social media, analytics and sport science allow tennis coaches and teachers to expand the types of work they are doing to help improve the quality of service they provide to their clients and athletes.

I had the opportunity to work with Andre Agassi in creating the Team Agassi program to help at-risk youth become high-level student athletes. Since then we have worked with Bob and Mike Bryan to make Team Bryan, a high-performance education and tennis program. I have seen how mentoring, academics and high-performance tennis can transform children's lives and communities. I would like to see this effort grow to not only increase the number of children who receive tennis scholarships, but also as a pathway to professional tennis.

PHOTOS USTA

2015 Pro/Specialty Retailer of the Year

For the USTA, I’d like to see continued and increased emphasis on promoting tennis at the grassroots, creating greater awareness and opportunities for play, and driving new and younger players to the sport. For manufacturers, we need to see the development of innovative products that encourage participation; a focus on the pro/specialty retail channel and its importance to brand awareness, product exposure and product trial; and the willingness to customize purchase programs that are geared to the retailer’s business model.


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USTA SOUTHERN/NATIONAL

2015 Tennis Advocate of the Year

I look forward to everyone embracing the USTA Youth Progression for tennis. We need to engage many more kids in our game. When QuickStart tennis was introduced in 2010, USTA Southern was the only section to require 60-foot courts and orange balls for 10-andunder competition. This resulted in positive benefits for younger players. After six years, it’s time to move forward and introduce 78-foot green-ball tennis to our more advanced 10U players. And it’s even more important to offer fun entrylevel competition for our new players.

2015 PTR Member of the Year

2015 Grassroots Tennis Champion of the Year

Nov/Dec 2016


Future of Tennis

Linn Lower

Carrie Cimino

PRESIDENT, LOWER BROS. CO. INC.

DISTRICT SALES MANAGER, HEAD/PENN

2015 Builder/Contractor of the Year

2015 Tennis Sales Rep of the Year

I’d like to see a continuation of some encouraging things I’ve seen over the last few years. One is the construction of larger, tournamentfriendly facilities in several cities throughout our region (the Southeast). Another is the rebuilding of some older tennis complexes, large and small, because there is still a high interest in play in the community. My third wish is to see a grassroots parent-andteacher-driven movement to build tennis facilities at smaller schools. These new and rebuilt facilities should be used to teach youngsters how much fun the game is.

We need more people playing tennis at all ages and all levels, and then we need to filter them into USTA programs, especially Adult Leagues and Junior Team Tennis. When tennis players are placed on a team, they show up for more practices, have more fun and create team camaraderie. I’m fortunate to work for a company that takes pride in introducing innovative technology and products to help players improve, and I’m looking forward to seeing more products that will help tennis players play better, play more often and play for the rest of their lives.

Phil Parrish

Laurie Stussie

David Colby

Paula Scheb

TENNIS DIRECTOR, LONGFELLOW CLUB

CO-FOUNDER, SETS IN THE CITY SOUTHWEST

DIRECTOR–JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT, MANCHESTER ATHLETIC CLUB

DIRECTOR OF TENNIS, BONITA BAY TENNIS CENTER

I’d like to see more one-day tournament formats for entry-level players through high school players. We need to get them in our game and keep them playing. Also, I’d love to see middle schools offer a tennis program. In our area, the courts are idle all fall as both boys’ and girls’ teams play in the spring. We could use the school courts for middleschool programs. Also, I want to see more college tennis showcases for D-2 and D-3 schools that may not have the resources to go out and recruit and see high-school players that are appropriate for their school.

My wish is for the tennis industry to embrace the business case for millennial outreach programs like Sets in the City. In addition to each season bringing in thousands of dollars in revenue to a USTA District, the new players have the potential to bring in much more over a lifetime. Millennials are looking for clinics for themselves as well as their young children—that’s 15 years with a family of consistent customers! And for manufacturers, sponsorship of young adult programs can result in irreplaceable brand loyalty from an entirely new base.

I’d like to see more kids out there playing tennis on their own. When I was growing up, we always made up our own games, made up tournaments, and had so much fun devising different ways to compete. I try to encourage my own kids to pick up the phone, call other kids and get out there, make a plan and play! Structured practices and play days are great, but it's better if kids are the ones who are out there, making things happen on their own.

If we can assist people in developing friendships through tennis, we can keep them in this game for a long time. Our facility is a second home for many of our members. They want to establish new connections, so our programming is built with this in mind. We are re-launching our PlaySight SmartCourt technology by rewarding members for getting the mobile app or sending us their doubles video. It is critical we stay current and relevant while, at the same time, not letting technology rule.

26 TennisIndustry Nov_Dec_Wishlist_SC.indd 3

Nov/Dec 2016

2015 Adult Tennis Provider of the Year

2015 Youth Tennis Provider of the Year

2015 Private Facility of the Year

PHOTO SHUTTERSTOCK (PAGE 26); USTA (PAGE 27)

2015 Junior Tennis Champion of the Year


10/3/16 2:52 PM

Randy Ortwein

Richard Zaino

Danise Brown

Jorge Capestany

USPTA PRO, GRAND SLAM WINNER, HALL OF FAMER

PRESIDENT, ZAINO

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PORTLAND AFTER SCHOOL TENNIS & EDUCATION

COACH, EDUCATOR, SPEAKER, USPTA MASTER PROFESSIONAL

Our wish is that all our scholar-athletes will grow in mind, body and spirit through year-round programs. Given the right opportunity and tutoring resources, underserved children can and will meet their grade-level benchmarks. We encourage our scholar-athletes to embrace a blend of physical activity outside of tennis, because engaging in other activities will help create a healthier junior tennis player. Our wish is that every community recognize the potential of underserved children—on and off the tennis court.

I am most excited about the new USTA University initiative, where the goal is to add many more Professional Tennis Management programs across the country. I know that the population of tennis teaching professionals in our country is aging and the pipeline is not nearly full enough to replace all the experienced and quality teaching pros who will be retiring in coming years. My goal is to help other teaching pros through the tennisdrills.tv website, which supplies more than 1,700 tennis drills to make their practices better and their jobs easier.

2015 Wheelchair Tennis Champion of the Year

As a fan, I would love to see full seats at every professional tennis match. Other sports find creative ways to fill their stadiums; we should too. I wish every school had access to tennis equipment and every child could try tennis in PE or after-school programs. I wish more tennis people would give back to tennis in their local communities. Players, parents, coaches and organizers have so much to offer and it doesn't require a lot of time. Community Tennis Associations are the heart and soul of our sport and are always looking for dedicated volunteers.

TENNIS COURTS INC.

2015 Youth Tennis Facility Developer of the Year

I would love to see a breakout of American tennis players—a new generation of rising U.S. tennis stars. We need an emerging U.S. player who will take our breath away. That’s what will help grow this great game at all levels. On the construction front, LED lighting continues to grow in popularity; it is now our go-to fixture in courts we build. I feel confident that LED lights are good for court lighting and, although still pricey, will only get better. The benefits are enormous, especially what it comes to energy savings.

2015 NJTL of the Year

2015 USPTA Member of the Year

Doug Booth EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, USTA FLORIDA

Nancy Horowitz PRESIDENT, USTA FLORIDA

PHOTO SHUTTERSTOCK (PAGE 26); USTA (PAGE 27)

2015 USTA Section of the Year

We’re excited about the opening of the USTA National Campus in Orlando and the impact of once again having a research and development arm of USTA, like we did in the 1970s and ’80s with Eve Kraft and Henry Talbert in Princeton, N.J. Some of our most influential programs and leaders originated in Princeton. The new National Campus will help us impact the growth of tennis in many ways, and it will bring people from all over to this one area for education and events. Doing so will enhance the collaboration of tennis organizations. With USTA Florida moving to new headquarters adjacent to the National Campus in Orlando, we hope to use the campus as an example to improve public tennis facilities and programs throughout Florida that will help grow our sport. We look forward to the continued teamwork between volunteers and staff to advance tennis for all, and increasing school participation on all levels to develop players for a lifetime. Our industry is poised to have breakout growth!


Nov_Dec_Wishlist_SC.indd 4

Nov/Dec 2016


New Introductions

COMFORT AND CONTROL Technology evolves for new racquets and strings. By Bob Patterson

28 TennisIndustry Nov_Dec_TI_RacquetsStrings.indd 1

Nov/Dec 2016

of the less desirable side effects of a given quality, and that is what we are seeing with many of the new products coming out on the market. As new technologies are introduced, expect to see this story of comfort and control continue to evolve. Most new products are introduced in the spring, but we have several new strings and frames that are being introduced for the fall and holiday season.

PHOTO FOTOLIA

A

s the sport of tennis continues to evolve, characteristics like control and comfort seem to suffer. In an effort to offset this, manufacturers are constantly researching and developing new materials, construction techniques and engineering methods. Is it possible to have it all? Probably not, since one playing characteristic often counteracts another. However, it is possible to mitigate some


10/3/16 2:24 PM

STRINGS

Diadem

Velociti

Tecnifibre

DIADEMSPORTS.COM 844-434-2336

RMSBOULDER.COM 800-525-2852

TECNIFIBRE.COM 8 8 8 - 3 0 1 - 7878

The company is releasing a new gauge (18) for its popular Solstice Power string, and launching a new string: Elite XT, available in 15L, 16, 16L, 17 and 18 gauges.

While the product isn’t new, Velociti is presenting a new concept for its synthetic strings by offering bulk packaging: strings are offered in box sets, with 50 sets of string along with 20 overgrips and a jar of 60 dampeners. Not only is the concept green by saving packaging material, it saves the dealer money, too.

The latest innovation from Tecnifibre, Pro Red Code Wax is made by injecting polyethylene wax directly in the polyester during the manufacturing process. You can read more details in our String Playtest from the August issue. Pro Red Code Wax is available in 16 (1.30 mm), 17 (1.25 mm) and 18 (1.20 mm) gauges.

Head

MSV

Genesis

HEAD.COM 8 0 0 - 2 8 9 - 73 6 6

RMSBOULDER.COM 800-525-2852

A L M S P O R T S G R O U P. C O M 8 6 6 - 787 - 4 6 4 4

Head introduces the Red Hawk Touch string to coincide with the new Graphene Touch racquets. The string features Crystal Core Technology, a unique multi-stage heat process designed to provide players with touch and feel to aid in control.

This popular German brand has a new U.S. distributor in Rocky Mountain Sports of Boulder, Colo. The company has an extensive line of synthetic strings and accessories manufactured in its own factory. (See this month’s String Playtest on page 32 for a free sample offer.)

Genesis (ALM Sports) introduces a new hexagon-shaped string: Zona Spin Hexa, available in 17 (1.27) and 16 (1.32) gauges.


Nov_Dec_TI_RacquetsStrings.indd 2

10/4/16 4:59 PM

New Introductions RACQUETS

30 TennisIndustry Nov_Dec_TI_RacquetsStrings.indd 3

Dunlop

Tecnifibre

D U N L O P. C O M • 8 0 0 - 7 6 8 - 4 7 2 7

T E C N I F I B R E .C O M • 8 8 8 - 3 0 1 - 7878

Dunlop’s new Precision line features a hybrid cross section designed to create the perfect combination of precision, touch and feel, says the company, allowing the player to control the game. Also new is the SRX shock reduction system in the handle. SRX features a combination of materials and construction to help filter out heavy impacts and jarring, while still allowing all the good sensations to come through. The line includes four new frames: Precision 98 Tour, Precision 98, Precision 100 and Precision Tour 100.

Tecnifibre has revamped its entire T-Fight franchise with the introduction of the T-Fight DC line: T-Fight 280 DC, T-Fight 295 DC, T-Fight 300 DC, T-Fight 305 DC, T-Fight 315 DC and T-Fight 320 DC. The line encompasses a number of variations, from weight and swingweight to string patterns, to fit a wide variety of player types. Tecnifibre also has expanded its squash line with four new frames: Carboflex Storm, Dynergy AP 125, Dynergy AP 130 and Dynergy AP 135.

Head

Volkl

H E A D.C O M • 8 0 0 - 2 8 9 - 73 6 6

V O L K LT E N N I S . C O M • 8 6 6 - 5 5 4 - 7 8 7 2

Head introduces the latest generation of its Graphene technology with Graphene Touch, which was unveiled at the US Open with the new Speed line: Graphene Touch Speed Pro, Graphene Touch Speed MP and Graphene Touch Speed S. With Graphene Touch, the material has been re-engineered for improved shock absorption upon impact, says the company. Also new is the Innegra hybrid-composite structured frames, utilizing one the lightest high-performance fibers in the IG Laser MP and IG Laser OS.

Volkl continues its tradition of having technologically advanced dampening frames with the introduction of the V-Sense line, including the V-Sense 2, V-Sense 4, V-Sense 6, V-Sense 8 (285 grams), V-Sense 8 (300 grams), V-Sense 8 (315 grams), V-Sense 9, V-Sense 10 (295 grams) and V-Sense 10 (325 grams).

Pacific

Wilson

PA C I F I C .C O M • 9 4 1 - 79 5 - 178 9

W I L S O N .C O M • 8 0 0 - 272 - 6 0 6 0

For junior players who have progressed beyond introductory aluminum junior racquets, Pacific introduces the X Fast Team 1.45, a 26-inch premium junior frame that is a lighter, shorter version of the company’s adult frames.

Despite Roger Federer’s absence at this year’s US Open, he was still garnering attention with the new Pro Staff line he co-designed with Wilson. The line includes a variety of configurations catered to many player types: Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph, Pro Staff 97, Pro Staff 97 LS, Pro Staff 97 S and Pro Staff 97 ULS. Also new from Wilson are two gameimprovement frames, the Triad Three and Triad Five.

Nov/Dec 2016


10/3/16 2:25 PM

Tennis Technology

Smarten Up!

With cutting-edge technology, PlaySight SmartCourts are helping players of all levels improve their games.

Cameras placed around the SmartCourt capture what a player does— and help guide what they should be doing.

PHOTO PLAYSIGHT

N

o matter where you are in the world, chances are you won’t be far from a PlaySight SmartCourt. There are now close to 500 SmartCourts across the U.S., Europe and Asia—including ones used by top national federations such as the USTA, Tennis Canada, Tennis Australia, and the German and French tennis federations. All four Grand Slam venues—in New York, Paris, London and Melbourne— have SmartCourts. They’re at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, top tennis training academies and tennis clubs of all sizes. PlaySight is also working with top coaches Paul Annacone and Darren Cahill to ensure that SmartCourt users are getting the best tennis advice. “SmartCourts are helping players of all ages and abilities—whether it is a rising


Nov_Dec_TI_Playsight.indd 18

junior, a USTA 3.0 league player, a top college recruit or an ATP or WTA professional—to both improve faster and enjoy the sport more,” says Jeff Angus, PlaySight’s marketing manager. PlaySight says its SmartCourts can be added to any surface and any court configuration. At its core, a SmartCourt is a standard tennis court with permanently installed analytic cameras and a courtside kiosk that are connected to each other and the internet— which is what makes the court “smart.” PlaySight’s cameras use advanced 3D visual image processing to track everything that happens on court, from player movement to individual racquet strokes. A standard SmartCourt has five cameras: four corner cameras that provide all analytics and player and shot

tracking, and one overview camera that provides a fifth field of view and high-definition live streaming. A highperformance SmartCourt can have up to 10 cameras, with additional overview, baseline and service line views for added tactical analysis and video angles for instant replay and review. In addition, PlaySight also offers a one-court set-up called “LiveCourt,” which provides live streaming and video analysis tools. SmartCourt installation typically costs $10,000 to $12,500 per court, and there is an associated monthly fee to cover all maintenance, hardware support and software upgrades. PlaySight is constantly adding new features to improve the on-court and off-court experience (web- and mobile-based), and PlaySight facilities receive regular up-

grades and updates as part of the agreement. Once a club or facility decides to purchase SmartCourts, PlaySight consults and assists throughout the process—from advising on-court preparation for the cameras and technology, to the shipment of equipment, as well as installation, testing and training. Installation typically takes one to four days, depending on volume. To add SmartCourts, a facility needs to have a strong internet connection (wired is preferred) and a dedicated power source. The site also needs to be prepared in advance of the PlaySight installation team. For outdoor court use, each kiosk comes with a screen cover, and PlaySight recommends providing additional sun and glare protection with either an umbrella or awning. The kiosk also needs to be cleaned regularly. PlaySight works with facilities to ensure that players are aware of and excited about the new technology. “We help with marketing, promotions, and even lesson and hitting programs,” says Angus, “so that our club partners maximize the revenue they earn with the technology.” • For more information, visit www.PlaySight.com or email [email protected]

Nov/Dec 2016


String Playtest period—one at five hours, two at nine hours, and one each at 17, 67 and 78 hours.

Conclusion

M

SV Go Max is a monofilament co-polyester engineered and manufactured in Germany by Mauve Sports in one of the world’s most modern production facilities, using high-quality ingredients with newly developed additives. This pedigree gives MSV Go Max a high elasticity index relative to competitors. MSV tells us that Go Max is targeted at tennis players with moderate to fast swings who seek a performance string with exceptional feel and a good balance between power and control. Go Max is available in 1.20 mm (17 gauge) and 1.25 mm (16L) in black. Dealer pricing is $6.44 for 40-foot sets, and $44.50 for 656-foot reels, with quantity price breaks. For more information or to order, contact MSV at 843-816-1440, or visit rmsboulder.com. Be sure to read the conclusion for more information about getting a free set to try for yourself.

In the Lab We tested the Go Max 1.25 string. The coil measured 40 feet, 3 inches. The diameter

32 TennisIndustry

Nov/Dec 2016

Nov_Dec_TI_StringPlaytestNEW.indd 36

measured 1.21 mm prior to stringing, and 1.20 mm after stringing. We recorded a string-bed stiffness of 73 RDC units immediately after stringing at 60 pounds in a Wilson Pro Staff 6.1 95 (16 x 18 pattern) on a constant-pull machine. After 24 hours (no playing), string-bed stiffness measured 66 RDC units, representing a 10 percent tension loss. Our control string, Prince Synthetic Gut Original Gold 16, measured 78 RDC units immediately after stringing and 71 RDC units after 24 hours, representing a 9 percent tension loss. In lab testing, Prince Synthetic Gut Original has a stiffness of 217 and a tension loss of 11.67 pounds, while MSV Go Max 1.25 has a stiffness of 182 and a tension loss of 18.81 pounds. Go Max 1.25 added 14.8 grams to the weight of our unstrung frame. The string was tested for five weeks by 59 USRSA playtesters, with NTRP ratings from 3.5 to 6.0. These were blind tests, with playtesters receiving unmarked strings in unmarked packages. The average number of hours playtested was 26. MSV Go Max was a typical poly to install, so we experienced no issues during stringing. MSV does recommend a maximum reference tension of 53 pounds, which we recommended to our playtesters. No playtester broke a sample during stringing. Seven reported problems with coil memory, two reported problems tying knots, one reported friction burn and two reported other problems.

Playtester Comments “Good string for people who want spin and control.” 4.5 male all-court player using Babolat Pure Aero strung at 50 pounds CP (Babolat Origin 17) “For this kind of string, I liked the ease of stringing. Plus, it held tension well. Would use it in my own frame.” 4.0 male all-court player using Wilson Burn 100S strung at 55 pounds CP (Wilson Revolve 17)

Playtester Ratings: Ease of Stringing (compared to other strings)

Much easier: 1 Somewhat easier: 6 About as easy: 38 Not quite as easy: 13 Not nearly as easy: 0 Overall Playability (compared to the string played most often)

Much better: 1 Somewhat better: 11 About as playable: 10 Not quite as playable: 31 Not nearly as playable: 6 Overall Durability (compared to other strings of similar gauge)

Much better: 9 Somewhat better: 19 About as durable: 25

PHOTO COURTESY MAUVE SPORTS

MSV Go Max 1.25

MSV Go Max has a lot to recommend about it, especially at its price point. When installed at a low tension as advised by the manufacturer, it offers power and comfort, which might be just the ticket for players who are better off with a multifilament but want more durability and prefer not having to straighten their strings all the time. If you think MSV Go Max 1.25 might be for you, fill out the coupon on the following page to get a free set to try. —Greg Raven

Not quite as durable: 6

On the Court

Not nearly as durable: 1

Our playtesters were most impressed by MSV Go Max’s Durability, Resistance to Movement, Control and Spin Potential, rating it well above average in each of those categories. No playtester reported premature fraying or peeling. Three reported buzzing and eight reported notching. Six playtesters broke the sample during the playtest

Rating Averages From 1 to 5 (best)

Playability: 3.2 Durability: 4 Power: 3.1 Control: 3.6 Comfort: 3 Touch/Feel: 2.9 Spin Potential: 3.4 Holding Tension: 3.2 Resistance to Movement: 3.7


10/3/16 2:50 PM

“I liked the response. It had a pretty solid bite on the ball. For heavy string breakers who like a polyester, it should work well.” 5.0 male all-court player using Babolat Pure Drive + strung at 42/42 pounds LO (Luxilon ALU Power 16) “Good overall string. Not enough power for my game, though.” 3.5 male baseliner with heavy spin using Wilson BLX Blade 98 strung at 55 pounds LO (Gamma Professional 17) “Felt good for a polyester string. Seemed to bite quite well with good serve performance.” 5.0 all-court player using Prince Warrior strung at 55 pounds CP (Prince Premier Power 17) “String felt very stiff. Great for serves and ground strokes. Average power, but really hits spin well.” 4.5 male all-court player using Prince Premier strung at 50/50 pounds CP (Gamma Ocho XP 16)


Nov_Dec_TI_StringPlaytestNEW.indd 37

“I loved this string right away, but even by the third time out on the court, the tension was significantly less.” 5.0 male all-court player using Yonex Ezone Ai strung at 52/52 pounds CP (Head Hawk Touch 19) “Overall, for a polyester string, it was average. It played well and easy on the arm. Wish it had more pop. I should have strung it five to 10 percent less.” 5.0 male all-court player using Head Prestige Graphene strung at 60 pounds LO (Head Sonic Pro 16) “Started out OK and then began to fade really fast at about the 20-hour mark.” 4.0 male all-court player using Prince Warrior 107 Textreme strung at 50 pounds CP (Prince Tour XP 17) • (Strings normally used by testers are in parentheses. For the rest of the tester comments,visitwww.tennisindustrymag.com.)

FREE PLAYTEST STRING PROGRAM Mauve Sports will send a free set of MSV Go Max to the first 500 USRSA members who cut out (or copy) this coupon and send it to: USRSA, Attn: MSV String Offer, 310 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North, Suite 400, Birmingham, AL 35203 or fax to 760-536-1171, or email the info below to: [email protected]. Offer expires Nov. 15, 2016. Offer only available to USRSA members in the U.S. Name: __________________________ USRSA Member number: ___________ Phone: _________________________ Email: __________________________ If you print your email clearly, we will notify you when your sample will be sent.

Nov/Dec 2016


Your Serve

Leveling the Field

Grouping players by level, as the Universal Tennis Rating System does, offers many advantages. By Kevin Theos

O

Focusing on level makes organized competition possible in many more communities. ably close matches against one another. There are significant advantages to focusing on level. Most importantly, it makes organized competition possible in many more communities. By having juniors and adults, male and female who are close in level competing together, more communities would be able to offer tournaments and leagues. It would also significantly benefit those who aspire to play college tennis. Players who cannot afford to play tournaments outside their community face long odds, because they play too

34 TennisIndustry

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Nov/Dec 2016

few events to get ranked high enough to attract the attention of college coaches. And coaches have a separate problem: evaluating potential scholarship candidates located far from their schools. Having an accurate way to measure players’ skills could enable communities to host level-based events, allow players to demonstrate their skills closer to home, and assist coaches in evaluating candidates. Fortunately, such a tool is in use and has been evolving for over a decade. It is the Universal Tennis Rating (UTR) system (www.universaltennis.com). The UTR system captures results from all sanctioned professional, college, adult open and junior events, as well as from some high-school associations, and generates ratings for beginning level tournament players all the way up to touring pros. By using UTR

as one tool to assess skill level, conduct events and record scores, communities can help players develop near home, save money and enhance the likelihood that college coaches will spot them. Offering level-based competition in each community may not be the whole answer to the challenge of developing and retaining players, but it is surely part of the solution. • Kevin Theos is the USTA Southern Section TSR for Alabama. He is a longtime USPTA pro and is the former executive director of the Birmingham Area Tennis Association.

PHOTO SHUTTERSTOCK

n a cold and overcast Friday in the mid-1980s, a young Chicago tennis player headed to a suburban tournament. Having no car and little money, he took two buses and a train, then walked through snow to the tennis club. There, in the first round, he encountered a nationally ranked junior—and lost decisively. Then he set about the long trek home. That player was me, and that was only one of many such distant tournaments I played as a junior. Through hard work and assistance, I became a good player, but my experiences and observations have shown me that players need more competitive opportunities close to home. Most tennis organizers habitually separate players by gender and age, and only then by level, because that is how it has always been done. A better method is to first group players based on level, or their ability to have reason-

We welcome your opinions. Please email comments to [email protected]


9/29/16 1:55 PM

Inside this issue USPTA World Conference – 40 Education, Encouragement Keys to a Successful Career – 48 The Advantages of Serving American Style – 56 Departments: 36 38 40 48

CEO’s Message Past President’s Message USPTA World Conference Beyond the Court

52 56 58 60

Endorsee News Master Pro Corner Career Development Member News

Read more articles online at www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com On the cover: Kirk Anderson of Portland, Ore., was honored with the 2016 Alex Gordon Award for the USPTA Professional of the Year.

CEO’s Message

Home Run!

O

ctober is such a wonderful time of the year if you are a sports fan: college football is in high gear, the NFL is rockin’, professional basketball and hockey are getting under way and the baseball playoffs are at a fever pitch. Thus, using a baseball analogy to describe the events of our recent World Conference in Indian Wells is not out of line because it was truly a home run. Much of this issue is dedicated to the wrap-up of the World Conference. But, here is a recap from my perspective: 1) The PAID attendance numbers were the second highest since 2008, only surpassed by last year in New Orleans, which was a huge hit. 2) Moving the Buying Show up to the first social event of the week instead of being at the tail end (as has been customary) was fortuitous, increasing the traffic significantly more than in years past. As a result, our vendor community was very pleased. Witness the fact that we had 19 more vendors present than last year, we remain the only and certainly the most viable tennis industry trade show that exists during the year. 3) The Hall of Fame panel on Tuesday with Rosie Casals, Pam Shriver and Lindsay Davenport (with International Hall of Fame CEO Todd Martin moderating), exceeded everyone’s expectations. To hear these all-time greats talk about their coaches and the influence that they had on their lives, both on and off the court, was inspiring. The bar was set awfully high for any such panel at future World Conferences to surpass. And, this session was streamed live to members of the International Tennis Hall of Fame worldwide. 4) The Awards Luncheon on Tuesday may well have been the highlight of

36 www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com

by John Embree the week. We scrambled at the last minute to add 10 additional tables to accommodate the more than 500 people who attended. To see six new Master Professionals be recognized, to understand the impact that the USTA/USPTA Community Service award winner (Aki Wolfson) and the George Bacso Lifetime Achievement Award Winner (Ben Press) had on their respective communities, to honor the lifetime of work that Kirk Anderson has had in the industry with the Alex Gordon Pro of the Year award and to be awed by the 43-year career that Peter Burwash, who was inducted into the USPTA Hall of Fame, made for a moving celebration. To top things off, Todd Martin then delivered a provocative key note address that gave perspective to all of us as to why we are in this game. 5) Because our Masters tournament was opened to all conference registrants, we had 65 unique players who played. Hats off to Joe D’Aleo and Jim Sciarro who worked extremely hard behind the scenes to create an outstanding event. The Indian Wells Tennis Gardens proved to be a terrific facility and kudos goes to Director Tom Fey and his team for assisting. 6) We introduced the Crowd Compass app last year in New Orleans to rave reviews. So, we expanded our partnership with the vendor, CVent, to include a paperless registration process. It could not have gone smoother and it demonstrated the commitment that the USPTA has to always improving and using technology to be cutting edge. 7) The Grand Hyatt Indian Wells proved to be an awesome destination this year. The food for all of our functions was delectable and the staff went out of their way to make us feel welcomed. To be able to host our event at

such a quality property at the room rate that was negotiated was fantastic. I only wish the airline fares could have been more reasonable, as they kept many away from joining us because of heightened costs. 8) Congratulations to the Education Committee for putting together a wonderful roster of speakers. Particularly noteworthy was the leadership track that offered a series of subjectmatter experts to impart their wisdom. It is too bad that so many people had to leave before Thursday, thereby missing our final key note speaker, Gerry Faust, Ph.D. Engaging yet on message, his talk about how one can build their own business at a club or facility was compelling. 9) Using our conference to launch two new partnerships with both Wilson, as the official equipment supplier of the USPTA, and Setteo, the official tournament and club platform, brought a level of energy and excitement not seen in several years. There was a palpable buzz throughout the week as both of these companies embraced the opportunity to support our professionals. I look forward to working with them in the years to come. There is so much more on which I could comment. But, I cannot finish without recognizing the incredible commitment of the staff to put on a terrific event. Months of preparation goes into planning and execution and they do so with little fanfare or appreciation. I know what is required of this group and I express my heartfelt thanks for a job well done. So, what do we do for an encore? Come to Orlando next October to see what we have in store for you at the Home of American Tennis and our new corporate offices. The 2017 World Conference should be a Grand Slam! h

Past President’s Message

Industry Partnerships, Professional Development Help Grow Tennis Industry

by Tom McGraw

A

s I reflect back on the 2016 World Conference it amazes me what a true extravaganza of education it offered. The various seminars help us stay sharp, improve our skill set, and prepare us for all of the hats that we wear each and every day. Professional development is the cornerstone of the USPTA and continues to be a priority. Thanks to the national staff and the education committee for making it all happen. We have tremendous support and representation from all of our industry partners at the conference each year. Tennis manufacturers, USTA and CMAA are some that the USPTA collaborates with on many fronts to help our members and the industry. As with all team work there are certain expectations on what each partner brings to the table. Tennis professionals share a love of the game and benefit from careers in tennis and have a personal responsibility to do our part for the long-term health of our sport. We need to stay engaged and be supportive of our allied associations and industry partners more than ever. Despite overall tennis participation numbers being flat, sales reports from tennis manufacturers have been significantly down. They need us to have a better understanding of new racquet and string technology and how it benefits players’ games. Most of us represent one of the companies as an Advisory Staff Member. We become their spokesperson to make the con-


nection with the consumer. They need our assistance organizing demo days, building brand loyalty, and promoting sales in pro shops. This is critical for a successful relationship and a win-win for everyone involved.

to develop and expand. The CMAA has a strong history of professional development and they recommend USPTA members seek education that provides a balanced approach between on court and off court. Their members are usu-

The respect and the cooperation has never been stronger among our allied associations and industry partners ... Working together will ensure that we enjoy a healthy industry now and in the years to come. USTA works with the USPTA to “elevate the standards of tennisteaching professionals and coaches.” We share a common belief that we need more professionals who are well trained in tennis to enter the work force. Together we can market to high school and college-age students that working in the tennis industry is a viable career. Established pros should embrace professional development as well and be open to change on how we deliver our sport to our consumers. Never has there been a time where the consumer has had so many options on how to spend their disposable time and income. Introduction of tennis to juniors and adults should change with the consumers’ needs and desires. Better programming with easy access, shorter formats, appropriate use of graduated equipment for juniors, and most of all, a positive first-time experience is key to growing our sport! Without this, the consumer will look elsewhere for another activity to fit their lifestyle needs. Our CMAA relationship continues

ally part of the hiring process of our members. They typically look for directors of tennis that are business oriented. Their preferred skill set includes budget experience, programming for competitive and social play, problemsolving skills, service expertise, and good communication skills. Playing and teaching skills are important but take a back seat to the above mentioned skills. The respect and the cooperation has never been stronger among our allied associations and industry partners. It’s clear that the industry has to continue to work in unison to promote tennis and attract a new wave of players into the game. A well-educated tennis professional is one of the keys to the equation. We deliver the sport all across the country in our clubs, parks and commercial facilities. The USPTA’s role is to provide you with educational opportunities so you will have the tools and skills to handle the job. Working together will ensure that we enjoy a healthy industry now and in the years to come. h

USPTA World Conference

That’s a Wrap

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he boxes are unpacked, reports have been run, surveys reviewed and another World Conference is behind us. Indian Wells was a beautiful location and the 2016 conference was one of our highest attended in recent years with 840 registered attendees. The self-check-in kiosks at registration were a huge success, for both staff and conference attendees. It both sped up and simplified the process, using much less paper than in previous years. The Hall of Fame panel discussion was a hit, with the panelist discussing topics such as junior tennis, playing at the highest level, and more. On junior tennis, Davenport had these c omments:

“I believe in not putting kids in too high until they learn how to win and they learn how to lose, how to win when they’re seeded No. 1 and when they’re unseeded,” she said. “All of those things help you handle pressure down the line.” Another well-received session was “Are You Paying Enough” with David Mulé. One conference attendee said:


“Great information. Relevant and well delivered! I would love to see more courses like this offered. It was delivered in a simple way and specific to most professionals who are in managerial positions.” Several of the sessions were recorded and are available on demand on tennisresources.com. USPTA Master Professional Kirk Anderson was named USPTA’s Professional of the Year during the Awards Luncheon. During his acceptance speech, he shared the keys to his success: love, service and sacrifice. In addition, Peter Burwash, USPTA Master Professional, was inducted into the USPTA Hall of Fame, and Ben Press was posthumously honored with the George Bacso Lifetime Achievement Award, which was accepted by his son Paul Press. Dur-

ing the general membership meeting, several more awards were presented, including the USPTA President’s Paul Waldman Award to USPTA Director of Professional Development Fred Viancos. Read about these and more on page 44. The Masters Invitational tournament, which was opened up to all professional-level members in good standing, had 70 participants this year. Stefano Ianni of Miami won men’s open singles and Agata Cioroch of Atlanta won women’s open singles. Other divisions played were men’s open doubles, men’s singles and doubles in 35s, 45s and 55s, and women’s open doubles. Read about more results on page 47. The Silent Auction and other fundraising efforts brought in more than $8,300 for the USPTA Foundation. Winners walked away with prizes ranging from Disney tickets to court equipment. A special thank you goes out to those who donated. The 2017 World Conference is scheduled for Oct. 10-15 at the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld®. We hope to see you there! h

www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com 41


From Touring Pro to Teaching Coach

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ormer professional tennis player Mark Woodforde was one of many USPTA members who attended this year’s World Conference. He’s best known as one half of “The Woodies” in his doubles partnership with Todd Woodbridge. Together they were the ATP Doubles Team of the Year four times and won 61 ATP doubles tournaments, with Woodforde winning a total of 67 in his career. Woodforde won 12 Grand Slam doubles titles, including one French Open, two Australian Opens, three US Opens, and a record six Wimbledons. Eleven of these victories came as a member of the Woodies, and the 1989 US Open doubles with John McEnroe. In November of 1992, he reached the World No. 1 doubles ranking. Woodforde’s other career highlights included a gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, and a silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Woodforde played for the Australian Davis Cup Team in three Davis Cup finals, including teaming with Woodbridge to clinch the 1999 win to give Australia its first Davis Cup victory in 13 years. Why did you want to attend this year’s World Conference? Geographically it made a lot of sense. With it being held within 10 minutes from where I live it was convenient. I’m still involved in the sport quite heavily, but it was my philosophy when I was playing that a tennis player never stops learning. As a youngster you’re taking on board and soaking up all this information. Even when you get to various levels as a professional tennis player, you’re still taking on board more information. I think the next position that I aspire to, I’ll be a jack of all trades and do some part-time coaching, and that’s why I want to keep educating myself and keep being open to different styles, ways and beliefs on how to go about playing the sport and trying to improve. I’ve been a member since a couple of years after I retired from playing, so why not tap into it? What do you feel like you’ve gotten out of it? I wasn’t aware of the magnitude of the conference and how extensive it is. This is


not a one- or two-day conference – it’s a full week, and to hear the number of members that had signed up in advance surprised me. It’s interesting to arrive and go to the different seminars and actually see the spirit of the coaches. It’s like tennis players, some have very unique styles of playing and I’m sure there are very unique styles of teaching tennis. There’s a strong connection with everyone. We’re all really in the same boat of wanting to educate ourselves and pass that information on to other players, from youngsters, to social, to pro level. That’s what I think I’ve also gotten a kick out of with some of the different seminars I’ve gone to. You have a mix of someone coming from a player development side and then someone else asking, “so how can I do that with a 4.0 level?” You take out what you can. For me it’s more for pro players and what I can learn and pass on. Why do you feel professional development is so important, even for someone of your status in the game? Coming here for the first time, I’ve made that first step of looking up the information and attending, and it’s not really a stop here. If it encourages other players like myself that come from a pro background, then hopefully it helps them see that if I can do it, then they can do it. It’s not like you come here once and think okay, that’s it. It’s really just tweaking and continuing to move forward with it. The big thing is providing enjoyment for others to learn about the game and to stick with it.

How has your transition from a pro player to teaching been? I think it’s a natural assumption that if you get to a certain level that you know it and can teach it, but it’s very different. What I’ve found, and I’ll admit to it, is that sometimes you say to the players you’re working with to “just get it in.” I know myself how to get it in because after years and years of playing, it is instinctual and automatic to just feel it and know what to tweak for me. But to actually explain it to someone else is different. So that’s key for me – to watch how the presenters speak. The way that a coach spoke to me was always important to me. We all want to be told a certain way, but I want to be able, when the time is right, to adjust the intensity. I’m very curious how the presenters are presenting, speaking and what their keywords are. Sometimes less is more. What has been your favorite seminar so far and why? In my mind I always think you’ll be locked indoors in a seminar or stuck in a board room waiting to leave, but the combination of seminars, on-court instruction and options makes the difference for me. Some learn verbally and some more visually, but you can get the variety and options here. It’s not just catering to the pros. I went to one course that was geared more toward junior development, but I still got something out of it. It’s a real cross section of who the USPTA is catering to. So short answer, they’ve all been excellent. What would you say is the biggest benefit of attending the World Conference? Being educated by qualified teaching professionals. I know that as a player, I wanted the coaches I aspired to work with to have experience. I wanted that trust value, because under those pressure moments it’s easy to doubt yourself, but I felt comfortable that if my coaches had been in those situations or backed themselves up with that knowledge, it gave me 100 percent trust. If it’s product that you’re after, the trade show might have taken the cake for me. It was terrific to meet the exhibitors who provided everything from video analysis, court equipment, ball machines and racquets. h


2016 Honorees

USPTA honored those who stand out and go above and beyond in all aspects of the tennis industry at the 2016 USPTA World Conference. USPTA, the world’s oldest and largest association of tennis-teaching professionals, recognized tennis coaches, industry leaders and volunteers during its annual national awards presentations at the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa. Peter Burwash (Carmel Valley, Calif.) joined the ranks of only 18 others when he was inducted into the USPTA Hall of Fame. The association’s highest honor recognizes excellence in the tennis profession and commitment to USPTA.

Ronald Elizondo (Corpus Christi, Texas) received the association’s Diversity Award for his work to increase diversity within the USPTA.

Kirk Anderson (Portland, Ore.) received the USPTA Alex Gordon Professional of the Year Award, the association’s top annual member award.

Dion Crupi (Irving, Texas) is this year’s recipient of the Tim Gullikson Touring Coach of the Year Award. His coaching experience includes serving as a development and travel coach for juniors and professionals at both national and international levels.

The George Bacso Lifetime Achievement Award went to Ben Press (Coronado, Calif.), the second time the award has been presented since 2008.

Dick Johnson (Albuquerque, N.M.) was named the High School Coach of the Year. As the head boy’s tennis coach at La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, N.M., Johnson led his players to the state championships in 2016, winning several state titles.

Fred Viancos (Lake Nona, Fla.) was honored with the USPTA Paul Waldman President’s Award. This award is given by the USPTA President for lifetime achievement as a member of the association.

Aki Takayama-Wolfson (Flushing, N.Y.) received the USTA/USPTA Community Service Award for her contributions to her community through tennis, presented annually by the United States Tennis Association as part of the USPTA’s awards program. In recognition of his business acumen and advancing the sport of tennis in his community, Jeff Bearup (Duxbury, Mass.) received the USPTA’s Industry Excellence Award. Patrick LaSalle (Coventry, R.I.) was awarded the USPTA Star Award for his efforts to bring tennis to socioeconomically challenged communities as the tennis program director with the Town of Coventry Parks and Recreation. Josh Jorgensen (San Diego, Calif.) was named the Top Education Credit Earner for 2016 after earning an outstanding number of education credits as part of the USPTA Career Development Program.

Angelo and Ettore Rossetti (Hamden, Conn.) are the recipients of the Lessons for Life Award for their extensive contributions to their community. In 2015, they helped raise more than $104,300 for the Save the Children charity organization through tennis.


Kim Gidley (Colorado Springs, Colo.) was named the Steve Wilkinson College Coach of the Year after leading the Air Force Academy’s women’s tennis team to an 18-9 overall mark last season, its sixth consecutive winning season. J. Weston Reese (San Francisco, Calif.) was named the George Bacso Tester of the Year. Reese is a USPTA Elite Professional and has been a tester for 35 years, 33 of those as a head tester. He administered the USPTA certification exam to 68 people over the last year. Dan Miles (Bonita Springs, Fla.) was named the Facility Manager of the Year. Miles has been the general manager of the Bonita Bay Club in Bonita Springs, Fla., for more than 25 years and has continually made the commitment to support tennis and tennis-teaching professionals. Ryan McDaniel (Evansville, Ind.) is the second recipient of the U30 Award, new to the awards program in 2015. The U30 Award recognizes a USPTA Professional aged 30 or under for his or her contributions to tennis.


2016 Honorees Master Professionals Jack Foster, Paul Marcum, Michael Mercier, Larry Dupleich Puña, Mark Rearden, Mark Savage (pictured from left to right)

Division Awards Division of the Year – Texas Newsletter of the Year – Midwest Lessons for Life™ Most money raised – 1. Southern 2. Texas Most money raised per capita – 1. Southern 2. Texas

Specialist Degrees USPTA Specialists in Competitive Player Development Brandon Arradaza Matias Marin Michael Baugh Brent Mazza Dan Beedle Bond Minard Branden Beets Tony Mule Kenny Callender Todd Piker Jeremy Carl Ferdinand Redelijk Scott Carson Gira Schofield Chris Cuna Alex Shusis Jeffrey Etterbeek Bryan Smith Boris Fetbroyt A. Tyler Stephen Tyler Fraser Eric Taino Jeremy Jack Marianne Werdel Stoyan Kirkov

USPTA Specialist in Sport Science Feisal Hassan

USPTA Specialist in Facility Management Eric Winn

Education Awards Top education participants – 2015

Josh Jorgensen – Top credit earner Levander Kelley Michael Baugh Angela Leong Bill Riddle

Todd Upchurch Eric Striesfeld Brenton James Stan Carter

Education merit award for 10 years of continuing education participation Nelson Alapi Doug Eng Trish Faulkner Mike Gennette

Marc Majdick Ajay Pant Patrik Segfeldt Charlotte Wylie

Education merit award for 20 years of continuing education participation Rosie Bareis Bunny Bruning Alan Cutler

Stan Oley Anne Pamplin-Everson Fred Viancos

The USPTA National Awards program is conducted annually. Nominations are submitted by the organization’s 17 divisions and by individuals. Recipients in each category are decided by the USPTA Awards Committee. 2016 Awards Committee: Diane Selke (chair), Craig Bell, Mark Faber, Terence Killen, Conan Lorenzo


Years of Service 30 Years Gary Agardy Brad Albert Greg Amaya Arthur Anastopoulo Bill Arick William Aronson Steve Bailey Chris Barbe Rosie Bareis John Barker Doug Barthel Lee Basey Brett Beattie Jim Bedilion Viktoria Beggs William Belser Lindsay Benton Michael Bergeron Bradley Blume Sergiu Boerica Rick Bontrager Doug Bradley Jeff Brenner Beverly Buckley Bill Busiek Mark Campanile Walter Campbell Jorge Capestany Andres Castro Bonita Clark Jeff Cohen Maryann Colville Patti Crane Randy Crawford Lisa Culp Barry Curley Boris Damjanovic Marty Devlin Peter Dietrich Jai DiLouie Debbie Dotson Swindoll Ross Dubins Tara Dunne Raymond Durack David Dvorak David Earlewine Brian Edwards Doug Elsass Claude England Dale Eshelbrenner Barbara Fain Mickey Ferguson Kevin Foster Barbara Fowler J. Howard Frazer Peter Freischlag Barry Friedman Yoshio Fukuoka Nicolaus Getz David Glackin Farrell Graves Robert Greene Bill Gregg

Tom Greider Geoff Griffin Frank Guengerich Bernard Gusman Michael Hancock John Harden Robin Harris Tom Harrison Masakiyo Hatamori Tom Hawkins Brett Hobden Randy Houston Keith Hubbard Takeshi Ichikawa Ali Ismail Mike James Richard Jimenez Randall Jobson Gordon Johnson Rose Jones Dawn Jupin Masataka Kageyama Larry Kahn Lanny Kalpin Larry Karageanes Brad Karen Masaki Kato Kenji Kawamura Ed Kelly Catharine Kelly Rajan Keswani Bill Kirsch Kathy Kolankiewicz Urszula Krzyzowski Chuck Kuhle Shogo Kuroda Claudette Laliberte Nancy Lally Michael Lanahan Bob Langer Toby Larson John Lerch Bradley Leu Bruce Lipka Brian Loomis Judy Louie Paul Lubbers Jean Luetschwager Patsy Lukas Paul MacDonald Sabita Maharaj Reiny Maier Roger Mark David Markin Yoshitaka Masuda Rob Maxwell Bill McCormick Daniel McCormick Liz McDonald Kevin McGlynn Bill McGrath Mark McGuire Connie McHugh Dave McKinney Jim McLennan


Luis Mediero John Miglionico Anni Miller Jerry Morse-Karzen Janice Mott Albert Murata Scott Murphy Shinji Nagasawa Yasuhiro Nakajima Hans Neufeld Brian Newhall Judy Newman Bryan Nibert Cathleen Nicoloff Cecil North Guillermo Oropez Jeanette Paddock Kevin Page John Panizzo Steve Paper Ron Parlman Dan Patterson Paul Pautsch Scott Perlstein Armor Persons David Porter Bruce Proctor Mike Puc Ann Quinn Ralph Rabago Frank Raddi Felicia Raschiatore Mario Rauch Mike Richards Kenny Ross Todd Ruedisili Doug Ruffin Mark Russo Edmond Sahag Richard Saunders Peggy Schick Joseph Scholtens Alan Schwimmer James Scott Daniel Shoop Sue Shrader Cheryl Shrum Mark Sieving Len Simard Pravin Singh Alan Smallwood Ronnie Smith David Smith H.A. Smith Elizabeth Sortland Helle Sparre Dan Stablein David Steinbach Don Stevens Forrest Stewart Eck Stone York Strother Kurt Thein Harrell Thomas Jack Thompson

Todd Trombetta Masanori Uesugi Toyohiko Ushiyama Michael Van Dusen John Van Handel Steve Vaughan Andrew Veal Michael Velasco Donnie Wallis Steve Walters Tom Wangelin Glenn Williams Scott Williams Francisco Williams Jeff Wood Kaz Yamanoha Bryden Yemm Fumitoshi Yoshida Glendale Zell Leigh Zimmerman

Dan O’Connell Dennis Oricchio Richard Palmer Becky Plowman-Hahn David Ray Weston Reese Dave Schobel Mike See Bernard Sewell John Shelander Kirk Shoemaker Dan Smithyman Bob Spilman Matt Stiltz Barry Stout Russ Tapper Ross Walker Paul Waltz Marceil Whitney Tim Wynne

35 Years Ray Anders Doug Atkinson Scott Barr Jerry Baskin Ben Bishop Philip Blackwelder Carey Brading Mark Brown Frank Carleton Steve Chapman Tom Cuming Curly Davis Lee DeYoung Ralph Drumheller Mike Duncan Christine Eddy Roy Emerson Bill Foreman Steve Gallagher Dick Gould John Guevara Dan Halvorsen Jon Hardman Sarah Hatgas Doug Hofer John Holladay James Hunt Arun Jetli Andrew Johnston Ted Kopren Rod Laver Mike Lewis Larry Lewis C.W. Lewis Mike Lewitt Lee Libby Rodger Lolley Omar Lopez Gregg Manning Brian McCoy Ted Meyer Peter Minarich Cheryl Moore

40 Years John Adams Paul Adler Jonathan Bailin Dale Balun Skip Bishop Scott Buell Patti Burns Tim Butorac Sandy Cadel Gordon Collins Art Cramp Geoffrey Crawford Jim Crouse Joe Csandli Jim Davis Elizabeth Derry Mike Dickens Vicki England Patton Brittin Feldhausen Scott Ford Roger Furman Paul Gagon Florin Giuglescu Carlos Goffi Dennis Grainger Fernando Guarachi Jake Hannas Michael Hoctor Norman Kalkhoff Jeff Kefalos George Kosloff Tom Krukiel Joseph McGurrin Mark Medow Andrew Moffat Thomas Morlock Peter Moss Barbara Ann Mueller Ted Murray Karen Neuman Carl Poske Celeste Pregracke Roy Riley

Phyllis Roach Steven Sarver Susan Selke Raymond Smith Tim Smith Fred Stolle Joseph Thompson Michael Tiberg Steve Tidball Leo Vorwerk John Waltz Holly Weitendorf Wayne Wookey John Worley 45 Years Lee Adams Bob Bayliss Stephanie Bird Sydney Brass Bob Ecuyer Paul Fein Joe Felice David Fowler Jay Gilliford Bill Guilfoil David Howell Brad Humphreys Dave Kozlowski Hilary McGuire Avis Murray Boots O’Brien Chuck Pate Andrea Rains Lenny Schloss Jeff Unger John Verde Charles Zimmerman 50 Years John Bregin Ed Foster Ty Fuller Edward Gordon Don Henson Robert Luedtke John Rountree 55 Years Joseph Pizzat Frank Schuler Dennis Van der Meer 60 Years Carlton Buerger Neil Chase 65 Years Ted Withall 70 Years Pancho Segura


Top Players Take Home Honors in USPTA’s $7,500 Masters Invitational

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he best of the best were on dis SPTA Masplay last week at the U ters Invitational, with several of the USPTA’s top Surface Championship winners taking home a portion of the $7,500 prize money. The second annual USPTA Masters Invitational was held during the USPTA World Conference at the Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa in Indian Wells, Calif. This tournament, which replaced the International Championships, gave USPTA-certified Professionals an added opportunity to showcase their skills and earn more prize money. Stefano Ianni of Miami earned the men’s open singles division title after defeating William Noblitt of Raleigh, N.C., by a final score of 6-3, 6-3. The pair partnered up later in the week to take home the top prize in the men’s open doubles division. Agata Cioroch of Atlanta, was the top woman in the tournament after earning the women’s open singles division title with a decisive victory over Ekaterina Morozova-Pomier of Houston, 6-2, 6-3. Floridians had a strong showing at the tournament. Franco Mata of Naples, Fla., won the men’s 35 singles division after a close match with last year’s title winner Paulo Barros of Fort Myers, Fla., with a final score of 4-6, 7-5, 7-6.

Longtime tournament participant Jeff Cohen of Boca Raton, Fla., won the men’s 45 singles division crown after edging Frank Vermeer of Jacksonville, Fla., 6-3, 1-0. Rob Horsch of Laguna Niguel, Calif., and Kevin Gillette of Meridian, Miss., paired up to earn the men’s 45 doubles division title when Cohen and Vermeer withdraw in the finals. Mike Fedderly of Palm Desert, Calif., went down to the wire with Kie Foreman of Pebble Beach, Calif., but came up victorious with a win 6-2, 6-0 for the men’s 55 singles division title. The USPTA Masters Invitational featured the top point earners from the four USPTA Surface Championships in 2015-16 who were selected to compete based on their finish. After an early registration period, registration was opened up to all certified members in good standing. Divisions included men’s open singles and doubles, men’s 35 singles and doubles, men’s 45 singles and doubles, men’s 55 singles and doubles, and women’s open singles and doubles. The total prize money for the event was $7,500. For more information on the USPTA Surface Championships and the Masters Invitational, visit uspta.com/ tournaments. h

2016 USPTA Masters Invitational Winners Men’s Open Singles – Winner: Stefano Ianni (Miami); Runner-up: William Noblitt (Raleigh, N.C.) Women’s Open Singles – Winner: Agata Cioroch (Atlanta); Runner-up: Ekaterina Morozova-Pomier (Houston) Men’s Open Doubles – Winners: Stefano Ianni (Miami)/William Noblitt (Raleigh, N.C.); Runners-up: Franco Mata (Naples, Fla.)/Jicham Zaatini (Naples, Fla.) Men’s 35 Singles – Winner: Franco Mata (Naples, Fla.); Runner-up: Paulo Barros (Fort Myers, Fla.) Men’s 45 Singles – Winner: Jeff Cohen (Boca Raton, Fla.); Runner-up: Frank Vermeer (Jacksonville, Fla.) Men’s 45 Doubles – Winners: Rob Horsch (Laguna Niguel, Calif.)/Kevin Gillette (Meridian, Miss.); Runners-up: Jeff Cohen (Boca Raton, Fla.)/Frank Vermeer (Jacksonville, Fla.) Men’s 55 Singles – Winner: Mike Fedderly (Palm Desert, Calif.); Runner-up: Kie Foreman (Pebble Beach, Calif.) Men’s 55 Doubles – Winner: Craig Koessler (Wilsonville, Ore.)/Sal Castillo (San Antonio); Runner-up: Michael Smith (Fair Oaks, Calif.)/Ken DeHart (San Jose, Calif.) Women’s Open Doubles – Winner: Miranda Rodriguez (Skokie, Ill.)/ Ekaterina Morozova-Pomier (Houston) Runner-up: Cari Buck (Manhattan Beach, Calif.)/Sara Morse (San Diego)

From left, tournament director Joe D’Aleo, Men’s Open Singles finalist William Noblitt, Winner Stefano Ianni and tournament director Jim Sciarro.

Men’s 35 Doubles – Winner: Juan artinez-Arraya (Old Greenwich, M Conn.)/ Patricio Misitrano (Darien, Conn.) Runner-up: Juan Garcia (San Diego)/Francois Castejon (San Diego) Full results are available on setteo.com.


Beyond the Court

Education, Encouragement Keys to a Successful Career By Mark Rearden, USPTA Master Professional

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n January of 2015, I wrote an article that appeared in Tennis Industry magazine titled “50 and Fired.” The article chronicled the travails of being fired from a job I had held for more than 21 years. Some of the territory covered was purely cathartic, but the bulk of the article attempted to do what I have tried to do my whole life, which is to teach others what I have learned. There were bits and pieces about handling the heartache of losing one’s job, how one can take a philosophical approach to what an employer can actually take from you, and some very practical advice about how to financially prepare for a worst-case scenario. I felt, however, that a follow-up article might offer a bit more insight into how a career tennis professional can arrive at some not-so-healthy attitudes about how his industry actually works. Let’s start with what my professional moniker has looked like for most of my life. I have been what might be called a full-service, blue-collar pro most of the way. That is to say, I have spent most of my career taking care of my members, running tournaments or member events, and helping to raise the next generation of young tennis players. In most instances I have been in a position of leadership at the clubs where I have worked. I believe this to be representative of many of the tennis professionals in our industry. I have always been proud of how conscientiously I worked and that I was willing to stay at work as long as it took to get the job done. As a young professional, I was fortunate to land a job with an education allowance and a general manager who encouraged me to continue to fine tune my craft. I dutifully attended as many conferences and education seminars as the schedule would allow. One of the things I discovered was that many of the speakers seemed to be on the “clinicians circuit” or speaking at most of the medium to large events. And many of these speakers were “working” at some very impressive places.


Go out of your way to encourage a fellow pro. Even as educators we still need for people to believe in us as well.

Our industry and our organization need the best and brightest in leadership roles. Make it your mission to inspire someone to go further than they would have. Take the time to tell someone they inspired YOU and then pay it forward by inspiring someone ELSE.

This is where my otherwise non-judgmental attitude began to go astray. I reasoned that if these pros were really as good as they thought themselves to be, they would be spending more time at their facility taking care of their membership. How could they have the audacity to speak to a group of go-getters whose programs were in some cases better than theirs. The reality of this mindset was that I was envious of the respect they were getting for having the courage to get up in front of their peers and share what they had learned. At the time however, I was too emotionally immature to understand that about myself. I reasoned that if they were not doing it like me, they were not doing it the right way.

For more years than I care to admit, I attended many of these conferences but rarely learned as much as I could have, except on the occasion when I would categorize one the speakers as a good guy, you know, like me. It never occurred to me that these hard-working professionals were doing the same thing for our industry that I was doing for my club, teaching what they had learned. My attitude from those days is embarrassing to even think about now. Thankfully, I was at least intuitive enough to not speak those thoughts publicly. Many years later I have righted the ship and no longer look scornfully at those professionals who are more driven than I am or maybe are just driven differently than I am. I regret not learning as much as I should have, because I was fearful to ask questions about things I thought I should have already known. And so, rather than soaking up as much as I could, I missed out on some good conversations with some of the best minds in our business. The good news is if you are an educator, whether it is tennis or some other discipline, you can keep on learning and keep on pushing your career forward. You just have to be willing to open your mind to the information being packaged differently than you expect or prefer. As tennis pro-


fessionals, we are a cocky breed, and if you are guilty of selling bravado in place of are waiting for the information to come a better understanding of our industry. from a once-in-a-lifetime humble source The great news is the USPTA now has type like John Wooden, you may miss out an under 30 category where young pros on some really good stuff. have a safe place to learn and share ideas About three or four years ago the in an environment where they can be facility where I worked hosted one of themselves, offer up new ideas, and ask the USTA’s stops for the 12s Zonals. The questions without being fearful of being coaches that show up for these events judged by their older, sometimes more are typically a great group of pros who knowledgeable counterparts. are fun to be around and are good at Another is naively thinking that as what they do. long as you work hard, keep your nose The first year we hosted the event I clean, and take care of your patrons everything will be fine. That is certainly a met a fellow USPTA Pro named Darryl good starting point and should act as the Lewis from Winston-Salem. Because of his easygoing way with the kids, I liked him right away. I had known Accept learning opportunities of Darryl by reputation, since he from every source ... seek out had spent quite a few years in that knowledge from the best Georgia, as had I. and brightest in our industry Running a Zonals event really and then put it to work. forces your hand, in that it makes you get to know the coaches, because there is a vast amount of communication necessary in order to do a good job. Darryl and I hit it off right away and chatted easily about family, careers and the kids. One of the early questions he queried me with was, “Have you considered applying to the Master Professional program?” My answer was an easy unapologetic no. “Why not?” came his reply. “You know Mark, as long as you foundation for your work life, but you have been in the tennis industry and need to do more. You have to continue based on the different types of positions educating yourself to the newest things you have had, I’ll bet you have done going on in tennis and USE the resources much of what is required to qualify.” the USPTA has made available to you. After a bit more conversation I discovered that he was a Master Profession- Even if you land that perfect job, al and counted it as one of the crowning holding on tight is not enough. No matter how good your show is, it can be canachievements of his teaching career. He celled right away if they get a new procontinued to offer encouragement, his ducer. Maintaining your certification by knowledge of the process, and a final, completing the minimum requirements “It’s a ton of work, but you will never regret trying.” is no longer enough. Do you want a doctor who does the minimum, a financial So what is the take-away from many adviser who has no acronyms after his years on the court and now looking in name, or any contractor who never atthe rear view mirror of a long teaching tends any of his trade shows? career? One thing is for sure. I could not Accept learning opportunities from begin to summarize it all here, but I do every source. Do not limit yourself want to share a few of the gleanings that to like-minded instructors or people are most obvious to me. In my opinion, whose personalities you approve of. Our many young tennis pros, like the younger version of myself, tend to be wired industry is not like the forums in ancient Greece where one could sit at the similarly in one regard. We tend to think feet of Plato and Socrates where knowlwe know more than we do and often edge and ideas flowed freely. We have to don’t learn as much as we should during seek out that knowledge from the best the early stages of our career. Instead we

and brightest in our industry and then put it to work. The USPTA offers those opportunities all over the country. And if your travel opportunities are limited, DVDs and webinars abound all tied to education points, but more importantly an opportunity to learn. My third take away is this; don’t procrastinate. It doesn’t matter what it is. Just do it now. I never realized how big a procrastinator I was until my wife came to work with me and took control of running the pro shop. She called me out immediately. To my way of thinking I thought I was doing a great job of triage, taking care of the important things first, secondary items later, and blowing off the things that were obviously too far down the list to receive consideration. In reality, I was doing the things I preferred and putting off the things that took me out of my comfort zone. When you do something long enough you can get pretty good at justifying your position on most anything. Suffice to say, there is no time like the present, particularly where your career is concerned. Start moving things forward today. My final point here is that you need to encourage someone, especially if someone has done that for you. I know encouragement is a large part of what each of us does every day, but I am not talking about students. Go out of your way to encourage a fellow pro. Even as educators we still need for people to believe in us as well. Not so long ago, a fellow pro did that for me. And because he did, I was fortunate to join the ranks of other USPTA Master Professionals in Indian Wells this September. I have made it my mission to encourage other pros to keep going with their careers. I hope you will do the same. Our industry and our organization need the best and brightest in leadership roles. Make it your mission to inspire someone to go further than they would have. Take the time to tell someone they inspired YOU and then pay it forward by inspiring someone ELSE. h Mark Rearden is a USPTA Master Professional who has spent his entire work life in the Southern Division. He recently moved to the Midwest Division where he serves as Racquet Sports Supervisor at the H F Racquet and Fitness Club, learning another facet of the tennis industry.


Endorsee News

Setteo Supports Grassroots Tennis Business

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echnology and digitization have heavily impacted the professional tennis industry, but this is smoke and mirrors. According to a recent study from MIT, amateur tennis is the second worse digitized sport in the world. In other words, those that really make tennis – the clubs, the coaches and the amateur players – have not benefitted from the millions generated by the TV rights of the great tennis events. The grassroots of tennis have been abandoned for years. It is time for technology and digitization to come to the rescue of tennis. It is time to finally bring the change that 650 million racquet sports players, 500,000 clubs, 450,000 coaches, and 600,000 tournaments organizers are looking for. Setteo, the racquet sports social network (www.setteo.com), is a very new and good example of how technology can support the grassroots tennis business. Here is an overview of five Setteo features that can lead the transformation to Tennis 3.0, answering the key challenges our industry faces: Interactivity, fun, mobility, club management enhancement, and integration of new emerging racquet sports. 1. A platform connecting all players, coaches, clubs and associations globally – One of the main consequences of the lack of digitization in tennis is the fragmentation of the community. There are groups of players organized randomly but they are very small and not connected with each other. It is very difficult to access these groups, especially for newcomers, turning clubs into very hermetic entities. Now imagine a world where all the racquet sports players, coaches and clubs are connected in one single platform. That is what Setteo is doing. Players cannot only find new hitting buddies but also coaches or clubs anytime, anywhere. Coaches


Setteo, the racquet sports social network, is a very new and good example of how technology can support the grassroots tennis business.

can do their promotion exactly like on LinkedIn with skill endorsements and recommendation. The network is made of players and they can also be “booked” online. Clubs become more visible and members finally have the opportunity to play together again with ease. 2. New competition formats – Playing in competitions can end up being expensive and time consuming. Losing early in a tournament can seem like a waste of time and money, not to mention very inflexible schedules that don’t really match with today’s lifestyles. See how Padel took over tennis proposing new competition formats: new types of ladders, local private circuits, etc. Most Padel players don’t have a national ranking – they have fun instead. Today, it is estimated that there are 4.5 million Padel players in Spain for just 2.5 million tennis players. Of course everything from Padel cannot be adapted to tennis and tennis must keep its essence, but Setteo integrates free software solutions

that facilitate the creation of circuits and competitions of all kind of formats. Anecdotally, the most popular club competition format in Spain is a type of ladder with mini groups of four. The player ranked No. 1 in the group moves into the higher group while the player ranked No. 4 moves in the lower group. Then a new phase starts again. 3. Powerful and interactive tournament software – Besides the competition format that is used, there was also some kind of resistance in using new tools to better manage and broadcast tournaments. It is now possible to abandon paper, pencil and maybe even phone calls, and enhance participants’ experience at the same time. From the smallest clubs to the National Tennis Cup, the biggest amateur tennis competition with more than 30,000 participants, organizers have started using the Setteo software. The reasons are numerous: it saves a lot of time, it boosts the overall player satisfaction, it

is fun to use, and it gives players a platform to remark on matches. Last but not least, players and organizers can enjoy live scoring and beautiful interactive draws enhancing the player’s social experience and generating far more engagement from the community on social networks and on Setteo. Monetization of the tournament through sponsoring and its visibility are increased accordingly. 4. Cost effective management software for clubs and associations – Although they are not very well spread in the tennis world, there is no doubt that software can facilitate a lot the work of club managers and employees offering online management tools for memberships, court bookings, lessons, competitions, payments and finances. But this is just one side of it. A concept like Setteo that merges software solutions with a social network brings it to a completely different level. First, it is user friendly and it is as easy to set up as creating a Facebook account for a club. Benefits are im-

mediate for managers and members. Secondly, it brings fun and satisfaction to the members. Players can easily find partners from the club, meet, keep track of their results, use live scoring even for their training matches, and share them live with their friends on other social networks. They can organize their own competitions and rankings and book courts in a very interactive way. Thirdly, in a time where there is a huge offer in terms of leisure, marketing and communication must be a focus for the club managers. Setteo turns any member into an ambassador of the club. Playing matches, booking courts, and participating in tournaments generate posts that clearly indicate the location of the game. Communication with members is simple and interactive. Clubs’ and coaches’ SEO is easy and free, exactly like searching your name on Google will return your LinkedIn or Facebook page as a first choice. Websites generate very little traffic and interaction versus Setteo pages. If you want to be convinced, ask yourself why you

use Facebook in spite of a personal blog. By the way, users spend 86 percent of their time on apps versus 14 percent on mobile browsers. Last but not least, Setteo can help clubs save money. The basic version for clubs is free and the Premium membership is cost effective compared to usual solutions. The possibility of managing advertising banners will cover the cost or even better, generate benefits, not to mention that a Setteo profile can replace a website. 5. A global, universal and unisex rating system – This is Setteo’s big dream after connecting all the players. This is not a reality yet, but the team is working hard toward that goal with the official launch in the United States this year. The idea is that players can not only find hitting buddies anytime, anywhere, but also play a match that counts for an accurate universal ranking and where men and women compete together. As per the tag line of Setteo, “Make the world play together.” Game on! h


Master Pro Corner

The Advantages of Serving American Style By James R. Shaughnessy, USPTA Master Professional, CSCS

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he sport and science of tennis has been my passion from earliest youth – as a competitive player, a professional coach, an adjunct university instructor of biomechanics and a tennis research scientist. It is my experience that every tennis professional, myself included, can benefit from ongoing education. In 25 years of gathering and analyzing the only 3D motion analysis library of the world’s highest ranked professional tennis players in live tournament play, I have discovered that science can reveal hidden information that cannot be detected with the naked eye or with the slowest motion video. Sometimes this quantitative data contradicts conventional schools of thought. It has been my honor to share the findings from my laboratory with universities, in private consultation with some of the world’s greatest tennis coaches, with professional athletes, and at USPTA World Conferences and ITA Release Stage – from the start stage until ball is released

Career Service Points Played and Won Player

Won

Played

% Won

Style

1

Roddick

41561

58486

71.06

American

2

Sampras

46271

66629

69.45

American

3

Federer

67179

97018

69.24

Trophy

4

Nadal

44605

66479

67.10

American

5

Djokovic

42073

62727

67.07

American

conferences. By continually educating ourselves, tennis professionals can consider adapting our practices to benefit from quantifiable technique differences and commonalities that cannot be revealed by our gut, our eyes or the slowest motion video. Here is a study of a 134 mph ace from Andy Roddick and a 130 mph ace from Roger Federer from my lab that may benefit USPTA professionals in their coaching practices. The study indicates that serving American Style generates a more

Loading Stage – from the release stage until maximum knee flexion and the hitting elbow has reached its lowest vertical position

Cocking Stage – from the end of the loading stage until maximal external shoulder rotation coinciding with the tip of the racquet head point to the ground.

efficient use of the stretch reflex, creating more ball speed and spin.

American Style vs. Trophy Style

The majority of the top-50 ranked ATP players are Trophy Style servers. American Style servers are rare. However, if we compare statistics of players reaching the No. 1 ATP ranking since the year 2000, based on their percentage of career service points played and won, we see that four of the top five players are American Style servers (see chart above). It is perhaps notable that Novak Djokovic, traditionally a Trophy Style server, changed his serve to the American Style in 2010. He did not reach the No. 1 ranking until switching to American Style, and most recently, serving American Style, his percentage of service points won is 71 percent.

How to recognize American Style

American Style servers, like Andy Roddick, Novak Djokovic, Pete Sampras and Rafael Nadal, end the loading stage and start the cocking stage with the medial epicondyle of the hitting elbow pointed at the ground (see arrow in middle picture left). The medial epicondyle is a good marker for a coach to see how far the humerus (upper arm) has rotated. The medial epicondyle, a part of the humerus bone, is the bump on the inside of the elbow. Release Stage End of the Loading Stage and End of the Cocking Stage Unlike Trophy Style servers, in the beginning of the Cocking Stage. cocking stage of the service motion, Note: The center image shows the medial epicondyle of the humerus (upper arm) is pointed at the American Style servers rotate the humerground at the beginning of the Cocking Stage.


us through the trophy position without stopping or slowing. This generates the opportunity to build up angular velocity of the humerus through an additional 90 degrees of external rotation of the humerus (upper arm). The external rotation stretches the internal rotator muscles in the end on the cocking stage (image to the far right previous page). This is important because when the internal rotator muscle fibers get stretched rapidly enough and in a large enough range of motion, the spindle embedded in the internal rotator muscles triggers an automatic reflex action that has been scientifically proven to cause more potent and forceful contractions. This is called the stretch reflex. The velocity and magnitude of the stretch is best measured in live match 3D analysis by maximum downward velocity of the racquet tip in the cocking stage. Charles Dillman, Ph.D., has shown that this rotation of the humerus is “one of the most dynamic movements in the human body.” Powerful internal rotation of the humerus is a key to large racquet velocities, side-

spin, topspin and forward ball speed.

How to recognize Trophy Style

Nick Bollettieri explains the Trophy position as the “ready to launch position.” Paul Roetert, Ph.D., calls this the “preparatory or throwing position common to elite players.” Trophy Style servers end the loading stage and start the cocking stage with the medial epicondyle pointing in a straight line to the side fence at an angle parallel to the ground. Trophy Style servers stop or slow down at the end of the loading stage and/ or the beginning of the cocking stage. At this point Trophy Style players have already rotated their humerus 90 degrees externally. Therefore, Trophy Style servers have 90 degrees less external humerus rotation with which to build up angular velocity to stretch the internal rotator muscles. This is less efficient use of the stretch reflex than American Style.

Here is what the study showed

Using the extra 90 degree of humerus rotation to stretch the muscle spin-

dles of the internal rotators more effectively contributes to key biomechanical features of the serve that create more ball speed, topspin and sidespin in serving. Additional studies at the SCiO 3D Sports lab show the same trends with other American Style servers, e.g., Pete Sampras and Novak Djokovic when compared to Roger Federer, the No. 1 Trophy Style server. Players encouraged and trained to develop the American Style will achieve more ball speed and spin than Trophy Style. To do so, USPTA Pros should observe whether the medial epicondyle of the hitting humerus is pointed perpendicular to the ground when maximum knee bend is reached and the point of the hitting elbow is in its lowest position. h James R. Shaughnessy is Director of Tennis at Oakwood Country Club in Enid, Okla. He is an award-winning professional with 27 years of experience as a speaker, researcher, analyst and consultant in sports biomechanics, specializing in the applied science of tennis. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in exercise science from Oklahoma Baptist University and a master’s degree in sports science from the United States Sports Academy where he is a doctoral candidate.


Career Development Exams, Upgrades Coach Youth Conferences/ & PTCA I Tennis Workshop Activities (4 credits for PTCA I segment) Nov. 11-12 Nov. 12 Nov. 12-13 Nov. 12-13 Nov. 12-13 Nov. 12-13 Nov. 13 Nov. 18-19 Nov. 18-19 Nov. 19-20 Nov. 28-29 Dec. 3-4 Dec. 4 Dec. 4 Dec. 5 Dec. 7 Dec. 8-9 Dec. 10-11 Dec. 10-11 Dec. 10-11 Dec. 10-11 Dec. 11 Dec. 16-17

Westwood, Kan. Mequon, Wis. Tallahassee, Fla. Big Rapids, Mich. Beaverton, Ore. Rye, N.H. Mobile, Ala. Houston* Westminster, Colo. Tucson, Ariz. San Francisco Huntington Beach, Calif. Nashville Midlothian, Va. Carlsbad, Calif. Minneapolis Port Washington, N.Y. Atlanta Dallas Paradise Valley, Ariz. Boca Raton, Fla. Hilton Head Island, S.C. Houston*

(2 credits)

(Division Conferences – 6 credits)

Nov. 6

Aurora, Ill.

Nov. 12

Beaverton, Ore.

Nov. 19

Freemont, Calif.

Nov. 4

Middle States Division Convention Princeton, N.J.

Jan. 27

Southwest Division Convention Phoenix

For more workshops, visit coachyouthtennis.com.

Cardio Tennis Nov. 20

Cardio Tennis Training Course Level 1 Cherry Hill Health & Racquet Club, Cherry Hill, N.J.

Nov. 20

Cardio Tennis Training Course Level 1 Methodist University, Fayetteville, N.C.

Dec. 10

Cardio Tennis Training Course Level 2 Midtown Athletic Club, Chicago

Please visit www.cardiotennistraining.com to register.

Webinars (.5 credits) Dec. 31

* This course is held at the USPTA World Headquarters. Exam reservations must be made at least 21 days prior to the dates listed. Each date includes an exam, upgrade and PTCA I unless noted. Exam cancellations must be received no later than 14 days before the exam, or a cancellation fee will be charged accordingly.

USPTA Webinar Library

Watch all recorded webinars at tennisresources.com. For more information visit uspta.com/Education.

Applicant: late cancellation fee – $95; failure to cancel – application fee is forfeited. Certified members: late cancellation fee – $25; failure to cancel – $25 plus the upgrade fee is forfeited. Registration for another exam will not be accepted until cancellation fees are paid.

Accredited Professional Coach Register your Accredited Professional Coach (APC) and specialty course credits earned with the USPTA SmartCode Education System. This uses your smartphone to instantly register your attendance to all seminars and specialty courses earning APC. To use the system at a seminar, general session or specialty course, you must scan two QR codes. One QR code is on your conference badge. The second QR code will be in your conference notebook and cannot be scanned until the end of the session or the beginning of the next session. If you do not have a smartphone, you may use someone else’s. Forms are available upon request.


Education requirements All USPTA-certified Professionals must earn 6 education credits in a three-year period to remain current. Go to USPTA.com/Education for a partial list of eligible activities. Please send verification (email, letter, certificate, receipt, etc.) that shows you attended the event/activity and submit it along with the date and agenda to [email protected] to receive your credit. (International members, Recreational Coaches and those over the age of 65 are exempt.) Questions? Write to [email protected] or call 800-877-8248, ext. 147.

Member News • USPTA Professionals Fred W. Layman, Chuck Gill and Dick Stockton are pictured here in the BeyondTheCourt.US booth at the USPTA World Conference in Indian Wells, Calif. Layman, a 23-year-member of the USPTA, is the Founder and Chief Operations Officer for BeyondTheCourt.US., the first digital fundraising platform designed by a tennis pro for the tennis industry. By capitalizing on the “Give and Save” fundraising methods of the past, BeyondTheCourt.US partnered with coupon giant, Entertainment Group, to develop the first tennis industry mobile fundraising app. This platform offers deep discounts in 100 percent of the top markets in the U.S. with a trademarked compound giving, passive, residual and renewal income stream. “BeyondThe Court.US is a revolutionary fundraising platform that has an ongoing impact on the community and its ‘Chain of Use Participants’,” says Stockton, Founder of Blue Sky Foundation. Stockton comments further, “By taking the tracking, financial responsibility and inventory out of the hands of the players, parents, coaches and facility administrators, and placing it in an easy-to-manage web portal that acts as a social media sales machine, fundraising has never been easier.” Raise money and awareness day in and day out while giving your supporters thousands in savings year around. Start your campaign today at www.BeyondTheCourt.US. In order to get the app, text “Tennis” to 313131 or find it in the Apple or Google store. • Davis Cup Family Day was the beginning of an exciting week for Pacific Northwest tennis fans, as more than 1,000 enthusiasts attended the July 11 event hosted by the USTA. Mothers, fathers, daughters and sons participated by playing games and hitting balls on six different courts alongside U.S. Davis Cup team members and top college players. Court hosts included USTA’s Recreation Program, Tualatin Hills Tennis Center (host site), NW Wheelchair Assn., Wilson, USPTA/PNW, and Portland Tennis & Education, a local award-winning program for disadvantaged youth. In addition to the USPTA/PNW members and club players who staffed the court, participants on the USPTA court got to hit with Davis Cup player Jack Sock. Photo: Front Row L-R: Amy Leahy, USPTA; Jack Sock, USA Davis Cup; Niren Lall, USPTA; Brian Board, USPTA; (N/A); Back Row L-R: Don Patch, USPTA; Roger McKee, USPTA. • Don Hebert, 86, of Groveland, Mass., passed away peacefully on Friday, August 5, with his family around him. Born in New Jersey, Hebert moved his growing family to Lynn, Mass., where he worked for General Electric for 33 years. He retired early and spent time teaching tennis and skiing, each in its season. Hebert and Carol, his wife of 66 years, raised six children. The family has grown and now includes seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren. In 1975, he joined the USPTA teaching tennis to GE workers after the normal work hours. He also joined the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) allowing him to start teaching at the Bradford Ski Area which was close by for many years. Until his death, he maintained memberships in both associations. For online guestbook and to learn more about Hebert’s life, please visit www.driscollcares.com. ADDvantage magazine editorial offices USPTA World Headquarters 3535 Briarpark Drive, Suite 202 Houston, TX 77042 Phone – 713-978-7782 / 800-USPTA-4U Fax – 713-358-7794 email – [email protected]


Managing editor Circulation

Kimberly Forrester Kathy Buchanan

Office hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Central time ADDvantage is published monthly by the United States Professional Tennis Association.

• Elizabeth “Bailey” See, age 54, died peacefully at her home in Beverly Farms, Mass., surrounded by her loving family. The cause of death was complications following Goodpastures Syndrome which she had courageously battled for two years. Born in Greenwich, Conn., she was the daughter of Mrs. Samuel Thorne and stepdaughter of Samuel (Spike) Thorne of Bedford, Mass., and the daughter of the late Alva B See, Jr, of Atlanta, and stepdaughter of Nancy Quarles. See, earned a bachelor’s degree from the Mass College of Art and her master’s degree in education from Lesley College. She was a tennis professional and a member of the USPTA and PTR. She received the Al Rogers Award for Education in 2015. For the past seven years See ran the summer tennis program for the Town of Rockport. She taught at the Indoor Court in Hamilton and taught privately. A resident of Beverly Farms for the past 20 years, she will be remembered by her many friends for her joyful spirit, her generous nature and her deep love of and loyalty to her family and friends. She was strong till the end. In addition to her mother and step-father, she is survived by four brothers and her nieces and nephews. Information, directions, condolences at www.campbellfuneral.com. NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS President First Vice President

Chuck Gill Gary Trost

Vice Presidents Past President CEO Legal Counsel

Alan Cutler Feisal Hassan Ken McAllister Jack Michalko Diane Selke

TM

Tom McGraw John Embree George Parnell

The opinions expressed in ADDvantage are those of the authors and not necessarily those of ADDvantage or the USPTA. Copyright© United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc. 2016. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion of the magazine is not permitted without written permission from USPTA.

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160517_TECNIFIBRE_REDCODE_TENNIS_INDUS.ai

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17/05/2016

18:46

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201611 Tennis Industry magazine

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