continue the tradition - setteo...president – michael chamberlain ... my resume, to put it simply,...
TRANSCRIPT
The USPTA Southern DivisionUSPTA Southern Division: Where Excellence is STANDARD
Volume 17 Issue 4: December 2016
INSIDE:
First Info for Memphis Winter Convention . . . . . . . . . pg 3
Our 2017-19 Southern & State Board of Officers . . . . . pg 3
World Conference Photos and Review . . . . . . . . . . . pg 4-5
Make a Lasting Impression . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg 9
Your Help is Needed for a New Fitness Project . . . . . pg 13
It’s OK to be comfortable where you are,just don’t get upset
when you get left behind
Page 2 Volume 17 Issue 4
My Term is Done - Farewell But Not Goodbye
As busy as our daily schedules keep us with work, family and personal obligations, it is important to stop
and reflect occasionally. That fork in the road is where I find myself now as I look back on four great years as the Southern Division President. It is hard to believe, but four years has literally flown by, and with it a blur of terrific memories of conferences, meetings, colleagues and friends.
When I joined the USPTA in 1997, I was excited to see how the organization could help. Selfishly, it was all about me and I knew it. Quickly I realized that the USPTA was not going to call a client, teach a lesson, write newsletter articles, perform court mainte-nance or talk to my boss for me. How dare they? Well as the saying goes, you only get out what you put in. That is when the change occurred for me. I first volunteered on the NC USPTA board and NC USTA committees.
Soon, I was asked to serve more and I gladly obliged. The conferences, workshops and all the educational opportunities were great and really helped me develop, but the most important benefit were the relationships that were forged. Once I gained the respect of those tennis professionals who had gone before me, they shared more and more to enable to the next generation to succeed. Had I stayed on the sidelines and not been involved, doing my daily 6-8 hours on court and then pressing the repeat button, I would never have felt the richness of a full tennis career. Fast forward almost 20 years and I have had the privilege to serve as NC USPTA President, numerous USPTA Southern board roles and eventually 2 terms as Southern Pres-ident. I do not take that for granted BECAUSE nothing in life is guaranteed. I have made my fair share of mistakes and missteps, but I have always known that I could rely on the
guidance of veteran industry professionals. Do I get that without being involved? Hard to say, but probably not to the same degree. You get out what you put in. Stuck in your career? Then get involved. Not energized on court anymore? Then get involved. Feel like you have a lot to offer? Then get involved.
I would like to thank those who gave me the opportunity to serve and gave me a hand when I tripped and fell. Those with whom I have served on boards, your service will not be forgotten. A special thanks to those who have served as mentors to me, Tom Cascar-ano, Tom Daglis, Tom McGraw, Pat Whitworth, Fred Burdick, Bill Phillips, Fritz Earle and many others. This is not a farewell, but merely a pit stop in a long race. I do not know what the future holds for me but I know who has my back. Thanks USPTA Southern Division for allowing me to serve you and fulfill my profes-sional goals. See you on court.
Continue the TraditionSouthern has continued
to lead the way in our charity events each year. Report your charity event, assistance, or any in kind tennis related donation you made for a charity. As always, we have prizes to raffle off for everyone that reports. Items include DVDs, tennis balls, logo wear, and more.
Please take a few moments to send in the events, date, loca-tion, the cause, and the amount collected. Even a lesson or string job donated for a local event should be reported. You may use this easy form at www.formdesk.com/whitworth/LFL or you can email to [email protected]. Thanks to all of you that do so much during the year. Let’s continue to lead the way in this great cause.
By Todd Upchurch - Current President USPTA Southern
Standard Page 3
Memphis Winter Convention February 16-18
Thursday, 6:00 - 10:00, Welcome party & matchesFriday, 8:30 - 4:30, Morning court, after lunch classroomSaturday, 8:30 - 4:30, Morning court, after lunch classroomSunday, 9:00 - 5:00, Cardio Tennis Training (half price with conference registration)
Speakers & Agenda are being finalized now. Expect another balanced and useful program.
Host Hotel: Our normal host has been the Hampton Inn, but this property only had a few rooms. We are 1 mile away at the Hyatt Place, which will provide break-fast and the same $99 rate. This is a recently refur-bished hotel, and is surrounded by a shopping area and numerous eating locations.
Hyatt Place: 1220 Primacy Pkwy, Memphis, TN 38119 Phone: (901) 680-9700 (direct booking link released soon)
Cardio Tennis Training Course at Windyke Country Club Sunday the 19th. Cost is $150, but if you are registered for the convention, you receive half price registration. All registration through the cardio tennis site. Full details coming soon.
2017 May Convention Site Selected - Lafayette LA
Mark the date - May 18-20th. We go west this time to The City Club in Lafayette, LA. This is a beautiful location, the hotel is basically across the street, and shopping and some of the best eating in the country nearby. Take a short trip to the McIlhenny Tabasco factory for a tour and samples, or to skeet shoot, as well as plenty of other fun activities nearby.
SouthernPresident – Lane Evans1st Vice President – Kevin Theos2nd Vice President – Kaitlin FlahertySecretary/Treasurer – Tom ParkesPast President – Todd UpchurchDirector at Large (President appointed) – Ken AndrianoDirector at Large (President appointed) – Bill Riddle
ARPresident – Bob Wagstaff1st Vice President – Barry Brady2nd Vice President – Gayle NankervisSecretary/Treasurer – Chris Poplin
ALPresident – Jenny Robb1st Vice President – Clete Browder2nd Vice President – Raphael RodriguesSecretary/Treasurer – John Beaube
GAPresident – Billy Uelze1st Vice President – Bill Anderson2nd Vice President– Danny KleinSecretary – Rick WilletTreasurer – Suzy Ihnat
KYNo slate provided(to be appointed by Southern President)
LAPresident – Jason Hazley1st Vice President – Umang Chadda2nd Vice President – Janusz ConradiSecretary/Treasurer – Ronnie Walters
MSPresident – Bo Gard 1st Vice President – Toby Fasth 2nd Vice President – Steve PenningtonSecretary – Will FormanTreasurer – Bo Petro
NCPresident – Frank Morrison1st Vice President – Aaron Petersen2nd Vice President – Laura KellySecretary/Treasurer – Bert Poole
SCPresident – Kevin Jackson1st Vice President – Maxime Desmars2nd Vice President – Ron GwynSecretary/Treasurer – Mike Pollard
TNPresident – Michael Chamberlain 1st Vice President – Meg Bandy2nd Vice President – David BerensSecretary – Rick CrutcherTreasurer – Devon Crotzer
Elected Officers for the 2017-2019 TermCongratulations to our newly confirmed Southern and State Board of Officers. We also owe appreciation to the nominating committees that worked to put forth these slates.
Page 4 Volume 17 Issue 4
What else can we say? The Hyatt Regency was an amazing venue. The rooms were re-designed
recently, and it was as good as any premium hotel room can be. Add a 65 inch screen in every room, large bathrooms, and a spa-cious room area, and you have the perfect home away from home. Food was amazing all week at both the functions and the hotel restaurants. Oh, and did we mention In & Out Burger? The common area to meet people was perfect. You just felt like you were always seeing someone you knew.
The kickoff day was filled with excellent seminars, then the Trade Show and silent auction for the USPTA Foundation. Normally food is an afterthought, but this was really good eats, and healthy too. Tuesday was another excellent day with the Awards Lunch followed later that night with the Division Party (see photos). We chose Las Casuela about 2 miles away, and it was perfect. We had an inside and outdoor area, and a nice buffet and choice of beverages for our 70 attendees. Wednesday was another full day with the Conference welcome party pool side.
Thursday was the final day with plenty of good seminars and networking.
The Indian Wells tennis center was basically next door. Just a few miles away was a shop-ping area that should have been in Beverly Hills - just stunning. Great golf was nearby, as well as hiking and horseback riding. The des-ert is such a different place to be, and Palm Springs is like nothing else. Start now with making plans for Orlando next year. We will be joining the USTA Development Program, so our dates are pushed back to October 10th-15th.
World ConferenceAMAZING, INCREDIBLE, TREMENDOUS
Standard Page 5
Page 6 Volume 17 Issue 4
I did not play Division I tennis. I never played in an ITF tournament. I never played on the pro tour. I never held a
national, albeit sectional, ranking. Sure, I had my fair share of accomplishments on the court throughout high school and on my col-legiate traveling club team, but that is about as far as my on-court racquet skills would take me. So after making the decision to switch career paths and join the ranks of the tennis industry, it seemed like an uphill battle. My resume, to put it simply, was severely lacking when compared with others my age. I resolved to discover a way to use what strengths I had within me to gain an edge on the employment trail.
As of this writing, I have been coaching for over eight years. I am thirty years old, and have coached in a private club, a high school, and now, a parks and recreation program in South Georgia. I have garnered awards for the work I do, published a few tennis articles, played the game I love in some of the most beautiful places, and earned more certifications than I can count. So how could someone under the age of thirty, with not even a decade of experi-ence under his belt, and can only play to a 4.5 NTRP rating (on a good day!), make a name for himself in the industry and gain the respect of his peers?
Coaching to me is an awesome responsibil-ity. We as tennis professionals have a unique opportunity to affect the lives of those we coach, and accept leadership roles within the community. Being a coach is about more than teaching forehands and backhands. What we do off the court is just as important. With that being said, here are some tips for my under-30 colleagues to help advance your career within the tennis industry. Let it be known that this list is not all-encompassing. It is merely what worked for me. I urge the reader to seriously consider your own strengths, and use them to supplement what you do on the court. Let this list inspire you to get started!
Tip #1: Get business cards AND use them!Over the past few years I have attended
a great many conferences throughout the Southern section and have met a wide-variety
of people. We trade ideas, favorite drills, talk about our favorite tennis players. Yet at the end of the weekend, when I ask to get their contact information, they reach for pen and paper, or commence texting me.
I admit, I was the same way early on in my career. For many of us, this may be the first time we actually have a business card to call our own. But they do not do any good sitting in the VistaPrint box at home. Start carrying them everywhere! Your car, tennis bag, wallet/purse, briefcase, etc. They make a great impression on the people that you meet.
Tip #2: Go to the conferencesAs USPTA members, we have the chance to
learn from the best and brightest. The seminars are top-notch, and will positively impact your teaching on the court. However, conferences are a chance to do so much more. If you are merely sitting in your seat and listening, you are missing out. Socialize with other tennis pros, exchange business cards, network with these people. They represent a possible job oppor-tunity, a much-needed reference letter, and/or mentor. Get to know them well.
Tip #3: Follow-UpAfter making the rounds and meeting as
many people as possible at the conference, make sure to send them a follow-up ‘thank you’ e-mail when you get home. Not many other tennis professionals do this, and your efforts to reach out will be remembered. Do not throw away the conference itinerary and worksheets. E-mail the speakers and thank them for present-ing on their topic.
Make sure to stay in touch from time to time. Follow the speakers and your new-found friends on social media. At the next conference, you will have put your foot in the door, and a leg up on those who did not.
Tip #4: Make Yourself Available – Get Involved!
Do not limit yourself to marketing within your own club or your tennis community. The best marketing tool you can invest in is you! Get involved in your community – non-profits, charities, alumni organizations, etc. Everyone
wants to know the local tennis pro! By getting involved in activities outside of tennis and vol-unteering your time and talents for others, you expand your base of contacts and increase your earning potential.
Tip #5: PublishOver the course of time, you will undoubtedly
come across new ways of doing things, new drills, new ideas. You may come up with new ideas of your own. Do not keep these things secret! Write about it and submit to an industry magazine. Your efforts to assist your colleagues in their teaching will be noted. In addition, your accomplishment will help differentiate you from other tennis pros. Yes, directors and managers are looking for great coaches for their tennis program – show them that you can bring so much more to the table!
Tip #6: Get onlineLate last year I had the honor of attending the
U.S. Tennis Congress in Tucson, AZ. Aside from a great weekend of tennis, I had the fortune of rubbing elbows with the best coaches from around the country, indeed, from around the world. One thing I noticed is that they are all online is some form or fashion. Jorge Capestany (tennisdrills.tv), Scott Baxter (playyourcourt.com), Mike Barrell (evolve9.com), Yann Auzoux (tenniscentral.net) are just a few tennis profes-sionals that have realized that tennis instruc-tion is becoming more and more digital every passing year. Any pro worth their salt is adding to their portfolio by creating or enhancing their online presence.
Let me be clear – I am not recommending that you create your own website or app, both of which can be expensive and may not be within reach for the majority of under-thirty tennis pros. However, there are a variety of ways to get online on a budget. Tweet an idea on Twitter, share an article on Facebook, upload a teaching video to YouTube, post your success on Instagram, maintain and keep current your free USPTA website. These are just a few ways to get started and will form a good foundation for later.
U30 Experience8 Tips for Today’s Under-30 Tennis Professional And All Those Wanting to Advance Their CareerBy Gary Cimperman
Continued on bottom of next page.
Standard Page 7Standard Page 7
Tip #7: Become a USTA officialEnjoy watching tennis? Like to travel?
Need to earn a bit of extra cash? You might consider becoming an official. This is an excellent way of meeting tennis directors (read ‘future employers’ here) in your region. As an official, you have a chance to impress someone with your organization skills, punc-tuality, professionalism, and problem-solving skills. Furthermore, you will have already
visited the club, met the staff, and formed a relationship with the director/manager of the club prior to the interview process.
Tip #8: Become a member of your section’s U30 group
I saved the best for last! The U30 movement is taking off like wildfire within our organiza-tion. Nearly every section has one now. The U30 is a great way to network with your peers,
and serves as an invaluable medium through which to grow as a professional. If you have the ambition to lead, you may consider becoming a chairman/chairwoman of a committee. If you have a desire to write, you may consider submit-ting your work to their newsletter or website. If you need assistance attending a conference, the U30 will support discounts on registration fees. There is no reason not to join. Reach out and contact a U30 member today!
“Success Secrets”Cameron MooreBy Lane Evans-USPTA Elite Professional
Cameron Moore has been quietly tucked away building a tennis dynasty down in Cary, North Carolina, a small
town just outside of Raleigh. The Cameron Moore Tennis Academy is recognized as one of the premiere tennis academies in the south. Cameron is one of the top develop-mental coaches in the country. He has devel-oped a numerous amount of top ranked play-ers in juniors, collegiate, ITF and ATP/WTA. Cameron has a passion for tennis and it shows in his programs. His current certifications include:
• iTPA Master Tennis Performance Special-ist and CTPS
• USTA High Performance Coach• USPTA Elite Coach• USPTR Performance Professional• USPTR NC Pro of the Year 2013Cameron is a veteran tennis coach with
world class coaching credentials including current and former ATP, WTA touring profes-sionals, NCAA Division I athletes and numer-ous ITF and USTA Junior champions.
Cameron currently holds distinctive certifi-cations with the Professional Tennis Registry as well as the United States Professional Tennis Association and is a current nationally recognized USTA High Performance Coach.
He also received his Master Certified Perfor-mance Specialist Certification in 2016 through the International Tennis Performance Associa-tion. He is one of the elite few in the world to own this distinctive recognition.
Cameron has been passionately coach-ing for the past 15 years. He started playing
tennis at the age of 12 and eventually played ten-nis at Northern Arizona University. After college, he played club tennis in the Netherlands and on the Pro Circuit. Once Cameron started coach-ing full time, he quickly became one of the top developmental coaches in the country. CMT is the premier tennis training program in the area with the best and most experienced coaches. Alumni include USTA National Champions, Top National Juniors, NCAA All-American’s, ATP and WTA players. Cameron has started speaking at various USPTA conferences around the Southern Division. If you get a chance to see him, it is really a treat.
Cameron shared a few of his ideas that have contributed to his success in tennis.
• Have consistency with your habits and approach to the game. Having your own brand is very important. It should be a true reflection of who you are as a person and a tennis professional.
• You should always have respect for stan-dards, cultures, and be respectful of others. These are the cornerstones of who and what I am as a person and professional.
• Be organized. Take the time to do things right and in proper order. Don’t rush to get something done half way.
• Always try to be passionate about what
you are doing. Anything worth doing well is worth giving your all.
• Everyone has a niche, find yours. Discover what it is you do well and build on that.
• Work with grit and resiliency. • Everything will not always go your way but if you stay the course and do the work, things will work out in the end.
• Be committed for the long haul. Have a vision of what you would like things to be like down the road and stay focused on that dream or desire and work towards it.
• Remember to get better every day by constantly learning new things. By attending workshops and seminars, I continually learn something new. We have a lot of great tennis professionals in the Southern division. Make sure you take advantage of their expertise. Learn all the time!
• Finally, find a mentor and be a mentor. I have had many mentor’s through my career. I still do. Learn from from them. Teach the younger professionals. They can benefit from your experiences. Don’t overlook this one.
We thank Cameron for taking a few minutes out of his very busy schedule to share his thoughts with us. Look for him at a conference near you in the upcoming months. It will be well worth the time to get out and learn from this new young tennis professional.
U30 Continued
Page 8 Volume 17 Issue 4
Alabama As 2016 comes to an end, I want to thank all of the Alabama pros for making this a
great year for tennis in Alabama!We had over 30 attendees at our state workshop in August, which
was one of our highest turnouts in years! I am glad that so many Alabama pros see the value of continuing education. I also want to give a huge thank you to Bill Riddle, Craig Cignarelli, MJ Garnett and Todd Upchurch for their excellent presentations at the workshop. These 4 pros were all very engaging and fun and made our workshop a success! Alabama and Tennessee also joined forces the weekend of the workshop for a USPTA Junior Team Tennis event that was a huge success. It was great to see so many kids from different states competing and having fun together in a team environment. I hope that more states will consider an event like this in the future.
I am pleased to announce that Alabama will be in good hands moving forward as I pass the torch of USPTA Alabama President to an experienced veteran in Jenny Robb! I know that Jenny will continue our mission of education and helping to grow the game of tennis in Alabama. — Jay Weinacker
Arkansas Another great and exciting year of tennis in Arkansas. As the year winds down, we
can be proud of increases in adult league play and increases in junior participation. The USPTA professionals that I have spoken with have all been excited about how full their lesson books are.
We had a great two weekends of adult state combo championships at Burns Park. All levels from 5.5-9.5 played lots of competitive and fun tennis.
Our juniors will be finishing up their tournament schedules in Arkansas over the next month. We are very well represented in the South in all the boys and girls age groups. Congratulations to all our hardworking juniors.
I hope that all of you have had a great 2016. See you on the courts. — John Meincke
Georgia USPTA Georgia is ready to close out a strong year of education with our annual winter
workshop on Friday, December 2nd at the Atlanta Athletic Club! This is one of your last opportunities to “get your 6” so don’t miss out on this great event. Last year we had over 80 USTPA pros attend and we are anticipating another strong event. Every year we have had a great group of presenters and this year will be no different with Jorge Capestany, Larry Karageanes, Chris Hoshour, and Dave Dvorak.
I am very proud to announce our upcoming board for 2017:President: Billy Uelze, 1st Vice President: Bill Anderson, 2nd Vice
President: Danny Klein, Secretary: Rick Willet, and Treasurer: Suzy Ihnat. I know that they will work hard for all of the members of USPTA Georgia and Southern.
It has been an honor serving as President of USPTA Georgia over the past 3 years and I would like to thank Allan Jensen, Marcus Rutsche, Billy Uelze, Ian Thomson, and Danny Klein for their help and service. I look forward to seeing you all in Atlanta in December! — Ken Andriano
Louisiana As the 2016 ends, let us take the time to look at the things we did in 2016. Many
pros participated in workshops or conventions, learning from others and getting new ideas or exchanging perspectives on methods of teaching. What area are you as a pro going to improve? Is 2017 going to be a year of enriching one’s knowledge of technique? Improving skills at working with 10 & unders? Increasing retention of students? Remember that all professionals should be seeking to stay on the cutting edge.The 6 education points should be only a part of one’s growing as a tennis professional. Keep moving forward or get left behind. David Kimball
Mississippi Busy season here in Mississippi! The great weather kept us on the courts
most of the fall. We are ready to wrap up the year and prepare for a busy January. Our Annual workshop will be on Friday, January the 13th at the Country Club of Jackson. It will be in conjunction with the USTA Annual meeting that will be held on Saturday, January 14th. The keynote speaker for the workshop is confirmed: Mike Barrell (a major contributor to 10 and under tennis around the world). As always, big thank you to all of our USTA MS staff for their efforts to provide free rooms and mileage for all our MS teaching pros. Please make plans to attend this great event. This invitation is extended to all the pros from around our State especially Alabama, Louisiana and Tennessee.
See y’all on the courts!, Bo Gard
North Carolina I would like to take the time in my last newsletter
post to thank Scott Mitchell, Marc Blouin, Lane Evans, and Southern President Todd Upchurch. I have learned a great deal from each one of these gentlemen in how to deal with people, how to organize a major event like workshops, and most important how to make everything we do fun! So, thank you gentleman.
I would be remiss if I did not thank my North Carolina board (Frank Morrison VP, Aaron Petersen Treasurer, Laura Kelly Secretary, Bryan Hodge U30 rep.). Thank you for all the hard work over the last 3 years!!! It has been my pleasure to work with each one of you.
In closing, 2016 has been a great year for USPTA North Carolina with 5 workshops and more and more of our members getting their 6. Remember to get your 6 Educational points byDecember 31, 2016, otherwise you will be on the outside looking in. — Tom Parkes.
South Carolina With the year coming to a close, we here in South
Carolina are still as active as ever. With our state annual workshop just ending, we are looking for nominations for our state awards. If you, or anyone you know, is deserving of these awards, please nominate them! Send all nominations to [email protected].
Professional of the YearU30 Professional of the YearCharity Event of the Year
Our SC workshop was a huge success with speakers coming from all over the state. Topics ranging from Tennis Academy Ins and Outs, to Plyometrics, the workshop covered a broad range of topics and was well received by the attendees. We would like to thank Sophie Woorons, Bryan Minton, USTA SC, Carlos Lozano, Lane Evans, and Peter Schmitt for taking time out of their schedules to speak at our workshop. — Mark Schminke
Tennessee First, big thanks to all the members and pros that came out to the recent
USPTA Fall Tennis Conference held in Nashville. We had a great line up of speakers including Ken DeHart, Nestor Bernabe, Cameron Moore, Lenny Schloss, Ken Andriano, Melissa Goldberg and Deb Wendorf.
During the same weekend of the fall conference in Nashville, Bluegrass Country Club played host to a USPTA Pride of the South Junior Circuit event with players from around Middle Tennessee and Indiana playing in a compass draw format. Thanks to Devin Crotzer for running the site for the kids. This was a follow up event to the team event held in Birmingham back in August and we have more coming in 2017.
Last, I want to thank everyone for the support over the years and allowing me to serve USPTA Tennessee in a number of capacities going back to the late 1990’s. We are very lucky to have Michael Chamberlain to serve as the Tennessee President for a three year term and I am looking forward to my new role serving theUSPTA Southern Board. See you on the courts! — Bill Riddle
State News This will be the last message from many of the current State President’s. Thank you to all of you for your time and efforts.
Standard Page 9
Lasting ImpressionBy Jason Hazley, New Orleans Country Club
Every day in America, a new lesson oppor-tunity presents itself. How the teaching pro treats the new customer before, dur-
ing and after the lesson will directly affect the likelihood of establishing a repeat client.
First impressions can make or break any relationship. A friendly, professional and timely response to the customer’s phone call is the first step in establishing a long-term client. All forms of communication warrant a reply within 24 hours. The content of the message, whether written or spoken, should be upbeat, positive and express a genuine interest in meeting the new customer. The great game of tennis is an elective activity offered at multiple facilities in most cities. Differentiating one’s self from the competi-tion through service, communications and a personal connection is essential to securing a long-term client.
Assuming the pro has communicated punctually, he has only begun to make his first impression. The next phase is in the first face to face meeting. Come lesson day, is the pro’s image in unison with his line of work? A few obvious grooming tips such as combed hair and fresh breath are all becoming of any professional, but what about the pro’s dress and footwear? A pro draped in baggy clothes, an untucked shirt, and an array of other accessories seen rampantly at skate parks and basketball courts doesn’t exactly say, “Hi, I’m a professional.” A clear statement is made when the teaching professional shows up for the customer’s first lesson in a clean and tucked in tennis shirt, tennis shorts and tied tennis shoes.
Attention to detail further demonstrates the teaching pro’s commitment to the customer’s needs. The environment on and around the court should be clean, tidy and free from debris and clutter. When possible a comfortable place to sit and rest are nice little bonuses that show a true care for the cus-tomer’s experience. These extras should be taken care of well in advance of her arrival. In the initial greeting of pleasant, small talk the teaching pro should take the opportunity to find out more about his new lesson and pay
close attention to listen for any avoidances due to injury or personal circumstance. In order to learn how the lesson should unfold the pro could say, “What do you need to work on?” A preferable question to ask is, “What would you like to do during the session?” Ask-ing the client her weakest shot may invoke an accurate answer regarding her tennis game, but she may be there to better understand shot selection in a singles match or to get a good live-ball workout. Many people take tennis lessons for purposes other than to improve their technical proficiency.
A positive atmosphere is essential in providing a top-notch lesson. Much of the student’s experience will be based on how something was said as opposed to what was said. Thus, an awareness of body language, facial expressions and tone of voice all affect how a client receives the pro’s message. It is essential all of these parts of speech are saying the same thing if the pro is to make a personal connection.
The topics of discussion can also affect the atmosphere of the lesson. A personal opinion regarding polarizing topics such as politics or religion could cause friction. Another area of discussion to avoid is any negative remarks regarding the client’s past coach. If the pro discovers the student has received past instruction that is less than sound, he should bite his lip and keep his opinion to himself on the first lesson. There is no reason to speak negatively of a past instructor because it diminishes from the positive experience and the client may have considered the individual a close friend. If there is ever a doubt whether to discuss something or not, a silent approach is the safest route.
If the customer desires a lesson focused on improving his technical skills, the first few minutes the teaching pro should watch and listen more than she speaks. This gives her time to assess the client’s skill level. After this initial analysis the pro has a clear understanding of what technical points she would like to empha-size. A good rule of thumb is to offer no more than two technical suggestions. This prevents the client from leaving at the end of the lesson
feeling unsuccessful or confused about her tennis game.
A customer’s unrealistic expectations can cause challenges for even the most seasoned professional. For example, the client may say, “I want to work on the scissor-kick overhead because I heard it will take my game to the next level.” If the player is a 2.5 and struggles with a conventional overhead; kindly explain-ing the first step to hitting a scissor-kick overhead is improving the grip, stance and contact point from the conventional position. By educating the student on the process of how her goal can be met, the student does not feel her desires and goals are dismissed and neglected. In addition, clearly stating it takes numerous repetitions over an extended period of time before the scissor-kick overhead will be attempted is essential because the student now understands this skill will not be worked on in the immediate future.
When discussing the lesson plan for the upcoming hour, the client expresses a desire to work on a little of everything. A few forehands, some backhands, a little volleying, the serve and some point play will make for the perfect lesson in his mind. While this sounds like a great lesson to him, the individual will probably feel unsatisfied with the session because an insuf-ficient amount of time was spent on each stroke making it impossible for any technical retention. This scenario can be avoided by asking the cli-ent to prioritize his wish list to one or two areas of focus.
Once the on-court portion of the lesson has concluded, a few minutes to follow-up and receive some feedback from the student furthers the development of a personal con-nection. A review of any techniques for future work are appropriate and a possible future lesson time can be discussed. There are numer-ous factors which affect how much the student enjoys his first lesson. Ultimately, how well the pro connects emotionally with the student will have the biggest impact on establishing a repeat client. The smiles, the non-verbal com-munication and the inflection of the pro’s voice all leave a lasting impression as to his likability and driving repeat business.
Page 10 Volume 17 Issue 4
By Mark SchminkeTry It OutTennis Knockdown Targets
There are many different types of court targets, however, the Tennis Knockdown Targets from OnCourt OffCourt are both
durable and versatile in use. The targets are available in two different sizes, a 3 foot mini model, and the original 4 foot model. They’re great as basic targets, and have been indispensi-ble when teaching adults and children doubles formation and doubles strategy.
These targets can withstand a SERIOUS beat-ing. Over the past four years I have tried five dif-ferent types of inflatable targets, none of which have withstood the constant beating of a tennis ball prior to the Knockdown Targets. A Sponge-bob inflatable target took the worst of the beatings when an 8 year old student decided to karate chop his head with his racket; leaving Spongebob down for the count. The Knock-down Targets have been hit with balls, kicked with feet, smashed with rackets, and have still stood to fight another day. After filling the bot-toms with water, and blowing up the tops with air, you can expect these targets to stand tall for years to come. They come with a patch kit as well, incase of an accidental puncture, but I have
yet to need the kit. I have used these targets
in many different situa-tions, but have found them extremely useful when teaching doubles formation and strategy. Cones don’t cut it when they are used to represent actual humans. Their small height prevents players from seeing what parts of the court are open when playing doubles. Placing the four foot tall Knockdown Targets in a one-up, one-back doubles formation shows my students how a cross-court shot from the baseline is safe, and a down-the-line shot is risky. It shows the net player that in-between the two opposing players is a huge opening in the court, perfect for hitting for a high percent-age volley. Topspin lobs, sharp angles, and overhead smashes become more realistic when players try to avoid the targets and hit to the open court.
Even though these Knockdown Targets can
be used as basic aiming targets, they play a huge role in my lessons in clinics as pseudo humans. Sometimes hitting targets is not the objective, but hitting away from the targets is what’s needed. The mini knockdown targets are the perfect size for your 36’ red ball players since the 3’ target won’t tower over the height of the net, and the player. You can find yourself trying out cheap blow up targets for years, but you will never find a more durable, high quality, and realistic target as the Tennis Knockdown Targets from OnCourt OffCourt.
By Mike Barrell
Why Tennis is the Intelligent Choice for Your Child
Of course we are biased. We love tennis, but every once in a while it is worth reminding ourselves
that those that don’t yet play may not see tennis as we do. Here are our top 10 (in no particular order) but please add to the thread with your thoughts too!
1. It’s a Brain Game – Tennis teaches you to solve problems, stay focused and maintain control of your emotions. Ten-nis throws you lots of little problems to solve from playing on different surfaces to different opponent. Every point provides another little challenge.
2. Grow as a Person – Tennis outperforms many sports when it comes to developing positive mental traits including optimism, self-esteem, confidence and spontane-ity. Kids who play tennis are also show to perform higher at school with kids scoring higher in studies than even active children who play other sports (Tennis Serves)
3. Stand on Your Own Feet – When it comes down to it you will have to learn to be responsible for what you do on court. At every level until you reach the pros you will have to fairly call the lines and the
score, you will need to work on your game in practice and come ready to get the most from your time on court.
4. When the Going Gets Tough – Ten-nis helps you to deal with adversity and because you are always playing against someone it teaches you to deal with situ-ations that are not totally under your con-trol. Add the weather and different surfaces and you will learn to cope with everything that is thrown at you.
5. Get in Shape – tennis is truly one of the most athletic sports in the world. You will get stronger, faster and more flexible. But before that sounds like a lot of work, remember you can play at any intensity that you want.
6. It’s a Whole Body Thing – A true combination or fine motor skills and gross motor skills, upper and lower body, tennis is a whole body thing. Studies have shown increases in bone density and a unique combination or aerobic and anaerobic demands making tennis one of the most balanced sports in the world.
7. Get on the Team – Although singles may be the most common version of
tennis seen on the tv screen, tennis is a great team sport. Most people will play for their club team, school or that other great version of the game – DOUBLES! Tennis is great way to meet new people and make friends at any age.
8. Lean on a Pro – Unlike many sports tennis is taught in most places by qualified and trained coaches. Many have not just studied the game but also how players learn, move and grow. Having a Teaching Professional in your corner can really help your to get the most from your game and keep you on the right track.
9. Express yourself – Tennis is a game that can be played the way you like. You can play creatively in lots of different ways. Looking at the stars of tennis around the world you can see so many different ways to play and be you.
10. Long Live Tennis – no matter what your age you can play. Modified versions make it easy to play when you are learning but also when the engine starts to slow down! It’s a great sport for the whole family to play together too, helping everyone to develop social skills.
Standard Page 13
We talk a lot about the need for proper stretching when it comes to tennis. A tight muscled player will
not be effective on-court. It seems that when it comes to stretching and especially with seniors, time is always the enemy. “Oh, I just didn’t have time today,” says the guy with the pulled hamstring. For seniors, pulled or torn muscles can be a long-term recovery issue.
Here are a few tips that I have gathered.1. Warm muscles properly before stretch-
ing. You never want to stretch cold muscles. This could easily cause failure or injury. Try to retain body temperature when stretching.
2. Wear warm clothing if playing in cold climates.
3. Static or slow stretching is the optimal process for seniors.
4. Stretch from neck to toe. There are many good stretching manuals available on-line to choose from.
5. Remember, if you are battling a history of back injuries and issues, avoid severe bending or rotational movements without consulting a specialist. Further damage could be caused.
6. Hamstring, Glute and Calf muscle stretches are particularly important to the ten-nis player. Do not skimp in these areas.
7. Shoulder health is very important as well. Make sure you are performing an adequate number of shoulder movements and stretches prior to playing.
There are several different types of stretch-ing to be aware of. Developmental Stretching, also known as “corrective stretching” is used for those players who might have pre-existing imbalances or joint restrictions. Maintenance Stretching is performed once the imbalances have been corrected. This type of stretch-ing should be done by all players. Pre-Event Stretching is another technique commonly used by tennis players. This is not static stretch-
ing or non-movement stretching. Dynamic movement and stretching is recommended for tennis players. This is a more movement gener-ated stretch and warm-up. The main issue here is to make sure you keep moving. Don’t let the muscles cool. I have seen many tour players use light red bands to stretch and warm arm and shoulder muscles. This is a great technique. Post Event Stretching is very important as well. Players should stretch all the muscles used during tennis after play has completed. This is a regular event for tour, college and other high performance players. Post-Event Stretching along with foam roller use are some of the best ways to combat tennis injury. Make the time for stretching.
As senior players age, muscle atrophy is quite common. It is very important for senior players to continue to build muscle and to stretch those muscles.
By Lane Evans, USPTA
Senior CornerSeniors Need to Strech
Fit to Hit A Great New Tennis Fitness Project and YOU can participate!
I thought I would use this space to tell you about this new program and solicit your help. Members of the USPTA National Sports
Science & Fitness Committee (including myself) and the Functional Movement Systems founder, President and CEO, Greg Rose, are collect-ing data that will be used in creating a fitness testing protocol for club players that can be eventually administered by club tennis profes-sionals. The test is designed to show specific weaknesses and strengths that will enable the creation of a fitness routine that will help the player gain in all the areas of weakness.
Many of you may know of Greg through his work with Titleist on the Titleist Performance Institute Golf Fitness Training program. The TPI, founded by Rose and Dave Phillips, which provides golf fitness testing and training has been around for several years and has a world-wide following. Greg also works with several other professional sports such as major league baseball, soccer and the NFL. His specialty is
athletic movement assessment and training. However, he doesn’t have much background in tennis specific movement and mechanics. This is where we come in.
The golf program has a 16-point test that certified TPI golf pro-fessionals can perform on their players. Greg and Dave did an enormous amount of data research and testing on the biomechanical properties of the golf swing utilizing profes-sionals and amateurs. Upon examination of the data they had gathered, they determined what the main problem areas of the golf swing were and then could design and assign specific exercises to help strengthen and coordinate players in their specific problem areas such as balance, flexibility, ROM and rotation to build better swings.
I was approached by USPTA CEO, John Embree about helping Greg with this project,
and of course jumped at the chance. Here is the data we are looking for and how you can help. We need 5 specific mechanical flaws you look for when evaluat-ing the forehand, backhand, serve, volley(s) and overhead. Send you submissions to me at [email protected]. Once we have all the data in hand, we can then begin to find the commonalities and
develop the most important fitness tests to help improve these flaws. We also hope that this may become a certification for tennis professionals to obtain that they can sell to their members, much like the TPI.
We are off to a great start collecting data. We have about 15 submissions so far out of about 60 requests. If this project can do for tennis what it has done for golf, we could be on the cutting edge of something really special and exciting.
By Lane Evans
Page 14 Volume 17 Issue 4Page 14 Volume 17 Issue 4
The Written WordBy Kevin Theos
Talent is Overrated – What Really Separates World-Class Performance from Everybody Else
This national bestseller written by Geoff Colvin is outstanding. What follows is a summary of some key points, but if
you are interested in a book that will get you thinking about new ways to develop yourself, your staff and your players, I highly recommend reading the book cover to cover.
Where does great performance come from? Look around. Most of the people you know per-form well enough at the various activities they do from day to day. But how many are truly great, as in world-class great at what they do? And what is the difference between the very, very best from everyone else? Some believe much of the difference comes from talent; the very best have innate abilities that others do not. Colvin questions this idea.
The uber-successful investor Warren Buffet has been quoted as saying “I was hardwired at birth to allocate capital.” Even a brief consid-eration of Buffet’s quote raises the difficult question of what talent is precisely. Fortunately, Colvin doesn’t linger too long on the question before shifting his eyes to examine potential examples of innate talent such as in music, sports, chess and other domains.
It seems talent should reveal itself early. If an individual is able to achieve success much earlier than his or her peers then this would suggest a superior level of talent. Unfortu-nately, examination of exceptional performers
in numerous areas reveals that very few of these exceptional performers showed remarkable “tal-ent” early in their training. The differential was that these first rate performers all participated in “deliberate practice,” which is made up of several components.
One quality of deliberate practice is that it is specifically designed to improve performance. Elite performers receive specific guidance from knowledgeable teachers. Whether it is a player who wishes to serve better or a pro who wants to coach better, receiving feedback is crucial to improvement because it focuses attention on specific areas that need work. One may believe he or she executed a task perfectly, but a knowledgeable and objective observer may still be able to point out aspects of execution that deserve attention.
A second quality of deliberate practice is high repetition in the learning zone. Elite performers practice a lot. The legendary baseball player Ted Williams would practice batting “until his hands bled.” But it is more than just repetition that matters; having the appropriate level of chal-lenge matters as well. Practice activities that are too easy or too hard do not yield the greatest improvement. It takes time and attention to identify activities in the optimal learning zone and too often people gravitate toward practic-ing things they already do well. Top performers and their coaches strive to keep practices chal-
lenging but not overwhelming. Deliberate practice is also very mentally
tiring and isn’t fun. Four to five hours a day of deliberate practice in multiple sessions is all that performers can sustain, and this has been noted across numerous disciplines. In addition, because top performers spend most of their practice time out of their comfort zones they fail a great deal. It is more fun to practice what one is good at than to practice doing things just out of reach. As Colvin put it, “A study of singers found that when amateurs took a voice lesson, they experienced it as an enjoyable release of tension, but when professionals took a lesson, they experienced it as an intense, difficult effort.” The quality of effort matters a great deal.
Because Colvin uses numerous examples taken from diverse disciplines to make his points, his thoughts are compelling. Perhaps the most thought provoking and inspiring chapters of the book concern the applicabil-ity of lessons from top performers to our lives. Throughout our lives we are capable of improvement if we approach the things we care about thoughtfully and seek mentors to help us along the way. If you truly want to improve at the things you do and help others along the way, I highly recommend Talent is Overrated – What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else.
RATING: 5 Stars
By Kaitlin Flaherty
Ladies Vantage
Of 1,895 USPTA Southern members only 338 are females. Which means that only 17.84% of the Southern membership account as female (USPTA Southern).
How do we get more female professionals involved? 1. Educating females on tennis careers – Share information with
your junior tennis players about careers in tennis. According to the TIA, the tennis industry is a $5.73 billion industry. Currently PTM programs in the US have a 100% internship/ job placement rate for students and graduates. PTM Programs are a great way for young tennis enthusiasts to pursue a lifelong career doing something they love.
2. Recruiting female professionals – Talk to your female players about the opportunities that exist in the tennis industry. Help guide them on how to obtain their USPTA certification, provide them with opportuni-ties to shadow you, and talk to them about the benefits of becoming a tennis professional.
3. Female mentors – Females that see other successful female profes-sionals are more likely to view a tennis position as a viable career. Elect females to provide presentations at conferences, write articles for newslet-ters, and network with other female professionals.
Advantages of hiring a female professional:
1. “A company’s workforce must reflect the market it serves” – Take a look at your facility, how many lessons do you teach to ladies and girls each week? If your facility is anything like the ones I have worked at in the past, most of your regular lesson attendees are ladies. According to the TIA State of the Industry, in 2015 52% of core players were female. Having a female professional on staff can “help you reflect the market you serve”
2. Diversity is important – Anyone who has been in a relationship knows that males and females think differently. A female professional can help by bringing new ideas and a different way of thinking.
3. Relationships – Women value relationships and typically are strong at maintaining and building those relationships. This is a great quality to have as a county club professional since a majority of lessons are repeat lessons and regular lesson attendees. Building rela-tionships can sometimes be the best way to keep people interested playing tennis.
Working in a Male Dominated Industry
Standard Page 15
USPTA Certification Tests & Upgrades
The Australasian Championship was founded in 1905
It was renamed the Australian Open in 1969
Mats Wilander is the only player who has won the title on both grass and hard court
Ken Rosewall is both the youngeset and oldest man to win the title - 18 and 37 years old
The only grand slam to be held in different countries and cities - Australia, New Zealand, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth
FAST FACTS From Wimbledon 2016
“Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.”
Tony Robbins
“Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.”
“It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.”
John Wooden
C
President Todd Upchurch
[email protected] 704-258-7220
1st Vice President Lane Evans
2nd Vice President Kevin Theos
Secretary/Treasurer Kaitlin Flaherty
Past President/Regional VP Bill Phillips
[email protected] 337-849-5821
Executive Director Pat Whitworth
[email protected] 800-438-7782 (phone/fax)
Head Tester Tommy Wade
[email protected] 256-341-4948
State PresidentsALABAMA
ARKANSAS John Meincke
GEORGIA Ken Andriano - 336-541-5876
KENTUCKYChuck Brown - 859-321-9970
LOUISANA David Kimball - 318-364-6689
MISSISSIPPI Bo Gard - 228-243-3110
NORTH CAROLINA Tom Parkes - 910-233-4755
SOUTH CAROLINA Mark Schminke - 443-622-8746
TENNESSEE Bill Riddle - 615-243-6698
Southern OfficersThe “Standard” is the official newsletter for the
Southern Division of the United States Professional Tennis Association.
USPTA Welcomes Our New Members
Dec. 4 - Williamson County Tennis Complex
Nashville, TN
Dec. 4 - St. George’s SchoolMemphis, TN
Dec. 10 - Medlock Bridge Tennis Club Atlanta, GA
Dec. 11 - Haigh Point ClubHilton Head, SC
Arinc, Mert Charlotte NCCollins-Guentner, Courtney Nashville TNCompton, Jared Bismarck ARDemasse, Robin Nashville TNFaulkenbury, Hayden Salisbury NCFerriss, Michael Dallas GAGreeson, Audrey Fayetteville NCHardie, Keith Fayetteville NCHensley, Patrick Florence SCHogue, Eric Aiken SCHungerford, Ashley Greenville SCHutson, Jacob Decatur GAIvey, Alyssa Germantown TNJohnson, Wynn Dunn NCKelly, Lyndsey Lafayette LAKenney, Alex Smyrna TNKilmartin, Patsy Gainesville GAKing, Nancy Raleigh NCKusyo, Oksana Louisville KYLandis, Jenna Fayetteville NCLima, Raphaela Jacksonville ALLinder, Maxwell Fayetteville NCLowry, Allison Pelham ALMcCammon, Raleigh Maryville TNMontgomery, James Crossville TNMoore, Alec Durham NCNautiyal, Shashank Nashville TNNeuhoff, Helen Nashville TNOehser, Jacob Fayetteville NCPaul, Aaron Winston Salem NCPowers, Samantha Rome GARansom, Greer Norcross GARollins, Lee Vestavia ALSingleton, Nathan Atlanta GASparks, Collin Nashville TNSparks, Reed Georgetown KYSparks, William Birmingham ALSudol, Nicholas Indian Trail NCTomaic, Ivana Greensboro NCWilliams, Bret Mocksville NCWyszynski, Kyle Aiken SCYorsh, Maksim Athens GAZimmermann, Aidan Chapel Hill NC
USPTA SOUTHERN DIVISION
N E W S L E T T E R337 Rhodes House Court
SUWANEE, GA 30024
The Standard is published every 60 days by the Southern Division of the United States Professional Tennis Association.
The opinions expressed in The Standard are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Standard, the USPTA or Southern Division.
Copyright© The Standard/United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc. 2016. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion of the newsletter is not permitted without the written permission from the USPTA Southern Division.
Advertising information: All ads must be camera ready and in color, if possible. Prices are per issue.
Full Page ........ $400Half Page ....... $2751/4 Page ........ $140