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Contents June 2024

DEPARTMENTS GRASSROOTS TENNIS

4
7
Our Serve
Industry News
Network Stars
18 Raising the Bar We celebrate some of the NJTL Network’s successful youth organizations
20 Racquet Tech that continue to develop a legacy of education and tennis.
P. 34
22 The Bench
24 Your Players
38 Ask the Experts
40 Your Serve,
by Denny Schackter

INDUSTRY NEWS
7 USTA sets goal to make U.S.
No. 1 tennis-playing nation
7 APP breaks ground on
headquarters, training facility
8 51-court USTA Mid-Atlantic
campus gets zoning OK
8 Tiafoe presents $50,000
grant to JTCC
9 Short Sets
10 Peoplewatch
11 Djokovic named Laureus
World Sporstman of Year
12 Tennis champ Ivan Lendl
joins Team Selkirk
13 ITA announces change in
format for D1 Team Indoors
13 Life Time opens first

C OV E R P H O T O A N D T H I S PA G E C O U RT E S Y U S TA FO U N DAT I O N/ P O S H R O C K T E N N I S F O U N D AT I O N
ground-up pickleball club
14 KT Kinesiology Tape launches
KT Ice Series of products
YOUR PLAYERS FITNESS PICKLEBALL HEALTH & WELLNESS
16 Selkirk Sport collaborates
with lifestyle brand Rhone All for One Smart Stretches Champs Are Here 'Manage' Yourself
16 Life Time teams with Johns To be a champion Enhance RSI recognizes the Rohan Bopanna
Bros. for instruction videos and a great team your players’ people, organizations turned his career
16 CAI snap survey indicates member, it takes performance and and companies that around, and credits
active pickleball demand commitment at prevent injuries with continue to make a yoga routine for
every level dynamic stretching pickleball the fastest his success and
17 Sabalenka, Sinner donate of the game. before play. growing sport. longevity.
outfits to Hall of Fame P. 22 P. 24 P. 31 P. 35

PLUS
43 CEO's Message
p. 41
45 Vice President's
Message
48 World Racquets
48 52 56 60 Conference 2024
USPTA World Danielle Collins Designing and Referral Rewards 52 USPTA Reflections
Racquets is Leaving the Delivering Tennis and Advancing
55 Certification Workshops
Conference Game on Her Drills Development &
56 Master Pro Corner
2024 Own Terms Diversity Programs
59 Member Benefit
Read more articles online at www.ADDvantageUSPTA.com 60 Membership Update

2 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY June 2024 www.tennisindustrymag.com

 LOB_RSi_1/6_0523 final.qxp_Layout 1 5/2/23 10:50 AM Page 1

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Novak Djokovic was named the

2024 Laureus World Sportsman of the
Year for a record-tying fifth time at the
Laureus World Sports Awards, held
in Madrid in April. Seven-time Super
Bowl champion Tom Brady presented
Djokovic with the award.
Djokovic ended 2023 in possession
of three of the four major titles in
men’s tennis—and only missed out
on a Calendar Slam after a classic
Wimbledon final against eventual
winner Carlos Alcaraz. The Serb now
has a record-equaling 24 Grand Slam
titles. • Nets
Diede de Groot became the second
wheelchair tennis star—after Esther
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The Dutch player earned the award
following a historic 2023 in which • Rollers
she extended her undefeated run • Benches
to 127 matches, claiming a third • Brooms
successive calendar Grand Slam—a feat and More...
unmatched in the history of tennis.

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www.tennisindustrymag.com June 2024 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 11

 OurServe
EDITOR'S NOTE
Inspiring Dedication
Being surrounded by passionate volunteers
at the USTA Annual Meeting helps renew
a commitment to this industry.
I
was at an industry event earlier
this year, talking with a colleague
in the racquet sports business
about the upcoming USTA
Annual Meeting in April. When I asked
if he planned to attend, he laughed and
said something to the effect that the
information at that meeting is all hype,
and pretty much worthless.
I’ve been to probably 25 USTA
Annual Meetings over the last three
decades—and sure, there’s always a bit
of rah-rah and hype (pretty much like
you’d find at any corporate or organi-
zational gathering). But there’s also a
ton of substance. And since the USTA
Annual Meeting is mostly for and
about the volunteers, there’s also a lot
of passion for this sport on display.
So many people work incredibly
hard all year to help move this sport
and industry forward. At the USTA
Annual Meeting, I find that being
around such dedicated and passionate
people is a time of renewal for me. It
helps renew my spirit, my work ethic,
my commitment to this industry and
to seeing it grow, and my relationships
with others in this business. And this
most recent USTA meeting was no
exception. The vibe you got from the
volunteers and staff—especially from
those who attended this meeting for
the first time—was inspiring.
It’s important to note that many peo-
ple who make their living in this indus-
try—as teaching pros, facility owners
or managers, retailers, manufacturers,
sales reps, et al—choose to volunteer in
this sport. They work on various USTA
committees, boards and task forces at
every level: community, district, state,
section, national.
I’ve said it many times before: I’m
a cheerleader for this sport and this
industry, and if you’re involved in this
4 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY June 2024
business, you need to be, too. Don’t get
me wrong, there are still plenty of chal-
lenges in this industry, and still plenty
of questionable decisions at many
levels that need to be called out.
But we all should want to see growth
for tennis—and all racquet sports—not
just because it’s good for your own
business, but also because these activi-
ties are essential for keeping people
healthy and fit physically, sound men-
tally, and balanced emotionally.
Tennis especially, with its long-
standing infrastructure, has such
amazing benefits beyond the court.
For instance, think about all the good
that happens through the hundreds
of National Junior Tennis & Learning
chapters around the country, which
promote tennis, education and life
skills for youngsters.
At the USTA Annual Meeting, and at
plenty of other industry conferences
around the country throughout the
year, these types of grassroots stories
bubble to surface, and they help to in-
spire everyone. These are key exam-
ples of the “good news" in this industry
that we need to continue to promote.
At this year’s meeting, the USTA
presented its new mission statement:
“Growing tennis to inspire healthier
people and communities everywhere.”
This speaks not just to what we do in
this industry, but why we do it. Seeing
how this new mission has been em-
braced by the hundreds of volunteers
and others, and how it captures what
we all do, is simply inspiring.  address changes to Racquet Sports Industry, 60 East
Peter Francesconi
Editor
Peter@TennisIndustryMag.com
PUBLISHER
KEN SOLOMON
EDITOR
PETER FRANCESCONI
MANAGING EDITOR
SCOTT GRAMLING
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
IAN KNOWLES
SENIOR EDITOR
ED McGROGAN
ART DIRECTOR
CRHISTIAN RODRIGUEZ
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR
BOB PATTERSON
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
KIM BASTABLE, CYNTHIA CANTRELL,
PEG CONNOR, JOE DINOFFER, DAVID LASOTA,
JUDY LEAND, GREG MORAN,
KENT OSWALD, CYNTHIA SHERMAN,
MARY HELEN SPRECHER, JOE TEDINO
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
DAVID KENAS
EDITORIAL DIRECTION
10TEN MEDIA
RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY
60 East 42nd St., Suite 740, NY NY 10165
info@tennisindustrymag.com
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
JOHN HANNA
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hanna@knowatlanta.com
APPAREL ADVERTISING
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cstennisindustry@gmail.com
Racquet Sports Industry is published 10 times per
year: monthly, January through August with combined
issues in September/October and November/
December, by Tennis Channel, Inc., 60 East 42nd St.,
Suite 740, New York NY 10165. Periodical postage
paid in New York, NY and at additional mailing offices
(USPS #2997-1519). June 2024, Volume 52, Number
6 © 2024 by Tennis Channel, Inc. All rights reserved.
Racquet Sports Industry, RSI and logo are trademarks
of Tennis Channel, Inc. Printed in the U.S.A. Phone
advertising: 770-650-1102 x 125. Phone circulation
and editorial: 646-381-8735. Yearly subscriptions
$25 in the U.S., $40+ elsewhere. POSTMASTER: Send
42nd St., Suite 740, New York NY 10165. Racquet
Sports 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.
www.tennisindustrymag.com
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LIGHTNESS
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 IndustryNews Information to help you run your business
INDUSTRY
USTA Sets Goal to Make U.S.
No. 1 Tennis-Playing Nation
T
he USTA announced in
April a multi-faceted
growth strategy aimed at
making the U.S. the No. 1
tennis-playing nation by
2035—which would mean increasing
the country’s tennis-playing population
to 35 million total players, or 10% of the
country’s population. The latest data
for year-end 2023 puts overall tennis
participation at 23.8 million.
The USTA says the growth strategy
is the vehicle for realizing the
organization’s new mission: “Growing
tennis to inspire healthier people
and communities everywhere.” That
strategy includes a dedicated focus on
player retention, coaches and courts.
SHUTTERSTOCK
“When players have exceptional
experiences, we all succeed. When
the delivery system flourishes, tennis
grows,” says USTA CEO and Executive
www.tennisindustrymag.com
Director Lew Sherr. “By ensuring
players new and old have access to
the programs, coaching and facilities,
we can continue to grow the game
and deepen its positive impact—
creating new opportunities for human
connection and improving the physical,
mental and emotional health and safety
of our communities, on and off the
court.”
Over the past four years, tennis
participation in the U.S. has grown by
33%. But despite this surge, too many
players give tennis a try and then
choose not to continue.
The USTA’s new strategy is aimed at
continuing the sport’s strong uptake
and at better retaining existing players
by supporting local communities
and providing options for tennis
formats, equipment and programs that
enable players coming to the game to
become players for life. The strategy
includes:
• Creating and scaling programming
that keeps new and returning players
on the court, by ensuring every
player has access to new and existing
programming that meets their needs.
• Expanding the availability of quality
coaching at all levels.
• Maximizing courts and court
availability to keep pace with
participation. The goal is to ensure
there are 350,000 courts (including
traditional and non-traditional
playing spaces)—one for every 100
players. It’s currently estimated there
are 270,000 courts in the U.S.
• Supporting and elevating the
next generation of stars. The USTA
remains committed to its efforts to
develop, support and showcase the
best events, players and coaches that
U.S. tennis has to offer.
“Tennis extends our lives by almost
10 years, which is more than any
other sport or form of exercise, while
improving cognition, psychological
well-being, and strength and agility,”
says USTA Chairman of the Board and
President Dr. Brian Hainline. “We
can’t let current or future generations
miss out on these life-changing
benefits.”
APP Breaks Ground on Official
HQ and Training Facility
Leaders from the Fort Lauderdale,
Fla., community and the Association
of Pickleball Players (APP) recently
celebrated breaking ground for “The
Fort,” a state-of-the-art global pickleball
hub scheduled to open in December
2024. Through its partnership with The
Fort, the APP will be the first pickleball
organization to establish an official
headquarters and training center.
Located within the 93-acre Snyder
Park and adjacent to the Fort Lauderdale-
Hollywood International Airport, the
June 2024 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 7
world-class facility will feature 43 courts FACILITIES
and a pickleball stadium, and further
51-Court USTA Mid-Atlantic
Tennis Campus Gains Zoning
support the APP’s mission in developing
the sport’s talent and growing pickleball

OK in Loudoun County
at all levels.
“The APP now embarks on its most
exciting chapter yet with a global
headquarters and a place where
pickleball players of all abilities, ages
and backgrounds can call home,” APP
Founder Ken Herrmann said. “The Fort
will be the absolute best in pickleball,
and we’re grateful for our friends at The
Fort for their continued support of the
world’s first and world’s best pickleball
tour.”
The APP says it plans to offer a wide
range of year-round programming
tailored to pickleball players of all skill
levels and ages, along with hosting
world-class, international pickleball
tournaments and events for elite pros
and amateurs. The plan also includes
hosting the National Championships
of APP UTR Sports Pickleball Leagues,
the largest grassroots team pickleball
competition initiative.

Tiafoe Presents $50,000

Grant to Junior Tennis

Champions Center
The USTA Foundation, the charitable
arm of the USTA, awarded a $50,000
grant to the Junior Tennis Champions
Center (JTCC) in College Park, Md.
Professional tennis player and JTCC
alumnus Frances Tiafoe presented
the grant in April at the JTCC’s GEICO
Champions Celebration. The funds will
help support JTCC programming.
The grant is part of the USTA
Foundation’s Frances Tiafoe Fund,
established in July 2023, which aims
to support the foundation’s flagship
National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL)
network, providing under-resourced
youth with free or low-cost tennis and
academic programming. Today, the
NJTL network includes more than 250
chapters and reaches more than 150,000
T
he USTA Mid-Atlantic Tennis
Campus—a planned, year-
round regional hub for health,
wellness and community-building
through sport—is a critical step closer
with the decision in April by the Lou-
doun County Board of Supervisors to
approve the zoning application for the
Village at Clear Springs, Va. The tennis
campus project is anticipated to cost
$42 million, with the groundbreaking
planned for 2025.
Expected to be a key amenity within
the Village at Clear Springs, the USTA
Mid-Atlantic Tennis Campus will
be open to the public and feature
21 outdoor tennis courts, including
a stadium center court, 10 indoor
tennis courts, eight outdoor pickleball
In addition to the approval, the
USTA has pledged $2.5 million in grant
funding to the USTA Mid-Atlantic
Foundation to invest in this critical,
community-based infrastructure and
support the mission to grow tennis.
“One of the most important aspects
of the tennis campus is the ability
to extend into the community and
activate the higher benefits of sport
among those who may be under-
resourced,” says Beth Twomey,
COO of the USTA Mid-Atlantic
Foundation, which has invested $10
million in the project. “Especially
fundamental to the vision for the
campus are community outreach and
education programs that will help
under-resourced youth and support
C O U RT E S Y U S TA M I D - AT L A N T I C

youngsters nationwide.
The mission of the USTA Foundation is
personal to Tiafoe—someone who grew
up in the NJTL network—and was pivotal
in his tennis journey. Tiafoe's father
served as the head of maintenance at
the JTCC after emigrating from Sierra
Leone in 1996. Frances started playing
at the JTCC when he was 4 years old.
courts and 12 indoor pickleball
courts. The campus also will feature
space for fitness, wellness programs,
community gatherings and large-scale
competitions and events. It’s designed
to serve as an accessible hub for
health, education and fun, while also
generating an estimated $8.5 million
annually in economic impact.
schools through tennis, education
and physical activity. We have built
strong relationships in the county and
are already taking action, now we can
build on this momentum to create
long-term and sustainable approaches
through tennis and sport that create
community, character and well-being
for all.”

8 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY June 2024 www.tennisindustrymag.com

 Short
Sets
Prince has released a limited-edition
pickleball collection with Target. The
Prince for Target collection consists
of nearly 80 apparel, accessories and
sporting goods pieces, some priced
at $9.99 and most items under $50,
including skirts and retro-inspired
tracksuits, to matching paddles,
pickleballs and duffels. Target says it
worked closely with the design team at
Prince to create the collection.
Skechers was named the Official
Footwear Sponsor of the 2024 Minto
US Open Pickleball Championships,
which was held in April in Naples, Fla.
The company sponsored the Skechers
Pro Club Lounge for top pro pickleball
players at the tournament and offered
its latest gear and off-court fashion
in the sponsor village. Skechers also
www.tennisindustrymag.com
outfitted all US Open volunteer captains
with its latest footwear.
La Roche-Posay became the official
sunscreen partner of the Miami Open,
which was played in March. The
sponsorship aimed to raise awareness
of daily photoprotection practices as a
matter of public health. La Roche-Posay
had a Sun Safety Booth onsite and had
other sampling kiosks on the grounds,
in addition to providing sunscreen to
players and staff. The company’s “Make
Every Day a Sunscreen Day” campaign
partners with pros Frances Tiafoe and
Madison Keys.
The Utah Black Diamonds, a
premier-level team within Major
League Pickleball, partnered with
GCTM Investments to bring a $25
million pickleball center to Salt Lake
Valley, Utah, marking the first “high-
performance facility with a dedicated
home base of a professional pickleball
team.” The center will also be used as a
high-end club for pickleball players of
all levels.
The Boston Pickle Club, with seven
indoor courts, recently opened in Hyde
Park in South Boston.
The Association of Pickleball Players
(APP) announced a partnership with
Zimmer Biomet, the global medical
technology leader known for its
orthopedic products. The company is
title sponsor of the Zimmer Biomet APP
New York City Open at the USTA Billie
Jean King National Tennis Center in
Flushing Meadows, N.Y., May 21-26.
June 2024 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 9
 People
Watch
Longtime tennis photographer Ed
Goldman will be inducted into the
Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame on Aug.
26 at the River Club in New York City.
Goldman has been photographing the
action at the US Open since 1976, when
it was in Forest Hills. He hasn’t missed
a US Open since it moved to Flushing
Meadows in 1982. He’ll be inducted
along with Nitty Singh, Chris Garner,
Christine Schott, Antonio Palafox and
Hemel Cosme.
Former USTA Chief Marketing Officer/
Chief Brand Officer Amy Choyne passed
away in March after a long battle with
cancer. Choyne, who left the USTA in
January 2023 after six and a half years,
was responsible for key programs and
initiative in a number of areas, including
10 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY June 2024
marketing, branding, content, social
media, video and merchandise.
Bulgarian tennis official Pavel
Atanasov has been banned from
the sport for life and fined $10,000
following 21 breaches of the Tennis Anti-
Corruption Program (TACP). Atanasov,
a national-level official in Bulgaria,
is permanently prohibited from
officiating at or attending any tennis
event authorized or sanctioned by the
members of the ITIA (ATP, ITF, WTA,
Tennis Australia, Fédération Française
de Tennis, Wimbledon and USTA) or any
national association.
Pickleball pros Anna Leigh Waters and
JW Johnson captured two gold medals
each in three marquee pro events at
the 2024 Minto US Open Pickleball
Championships in Naples, Fla., in April.
Gold medals for women's pro singles
went to Jorja Johnson and for men's
pro singles to Jack Foster. The Minto US
Open Championships drew more than
3,200 players from all 50 states and over
50,000 spectators.
The International Tennis Integrity
Agency has suspended Spanish tennis
player Aaron Cortes for 15 years and
fined him $75,000 after he admitted
to 35 breaches of the Tennis Anti-
Corruption Program (TACP), which
included contriving the outcome
of events, failure to report corrupt
approaches, wagering on tennis, and
providing money to tournament officials
in exchange for a wild card.
SHUTTERSTOCK
www.tennisindustrymag.com
 PICKLEBALL

Tennis Champ
Ivan Lendl
Joins Team
Selkirk

F
ormer world No. 1 tennis player
Ivan Lendl has a sponsorship
deal with pickleball paddle
and equipment manufacturer Selkirk
Sport. Winner of eight Grand Slam
titles and ranked No. 1 for 270 weeks
over his 13-year pro tennis career,
Lendl transitioned into the pickleball
world in November 2022 after his
daughter urged him to try the sport.
Now, the Vero Beach, Fla., resident
often competes in local 5.0 40-and-
over tournaments.

Now on the pickleball court,

Ivan Lendl will represent Team
Selkirk at public appearances.

C O U RT E S Y S E L K I R K , L I F E T I M E

12 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY June 2024

www.tennisindustrymag.com
 “We are pleased to welcome Ivan
to Team Selkirk,” says Selkirk Sport
Co-Founder and Co-CEO Rob Barnes.
“Ivan’s transition from tennis to
pickleball is not just a testament to his
versatility, but also a demonstration of
how the successes achieved in tennis
can translate into the pickleball arena.”
On Team Selkirk, Lendl will lend his
coaching and motivational speaking
experience to public appearances and
Selkirk TV courses. He plays with the
Vanguard Control Invikta paddle.
In related news, Lendl also joined
PBX Pickleball, the organization that
unites retired professional athletes
with the pickleball community. As a
“PBX Pro,” he’ll participate in pickle-
ball events and add tennis prestige to
the pickleball courts.
“Over the past year, I have fallen in
love with pickleball and understand
why it has taken off in popularity,”
Lendl says. “PBX offers an incred-
ible opportunity for companies and
pickleball players of all levels to play
the game in an exciting environment
they’ll always remember.”
ITA Announces Change in Format
for D1 Team Indoor Chps.
The Intercollegiate Tennis Association
announced that SMU and Baylor are
the co-hosts for the 2025 and 2026
ITA Division I Men’s National Team
Indoor Championship, and Illinois and
Northwestern are co-hosts for the 2025
and 2026 ITA Division I Women’s National
Team Indoor Championship.
The format change means that the two
host schools for the men and women,
within 200 miles of each other, will
now share host responsibilities for the
Indoor Championships to enhance the
in-person viewing experience and the
student-athlete experience, as well as the
broadcast production.
Life Time Opens First
Ground-Up Pickleball Club
Life Time opened its first dedicated,
ground-up pickleball development in April.
Life Time Chanhassen Pickleball is located
adjacent to the Life Time Chanhassen,
Minn., athletic country club and the com-
pany headquarters. The facility is nearly
46,000 square feet and features eight
indoor and seven outdoor courts with
accompanying viewing areas, a bar and
lounge, dressing rooms, retail and more.
In 2021, Life Time committed to becom-
ing the premier destination for pickleball
in the U.S. Since that time, the company
has grown as the largest owner and opera-
tor of pickleball courts, with more than 630
across more than 130 athletic clubs.
The company created the Life Time
Pickleball and Tennis Board in February
2024. Led by tennis legend and pickleball
enthusiast Andre Agassi and Life Time
Founder, Chairman and CEO Bahram Akra-
di, the board will serve to further advance
a vibrant racquet sports community within
Life Time clubs and across the country.

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www.tennisindustrymag.com June 2024 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 13

HEALTH

KT Kinesiology
Tape Launches
KT Ice Series
of Products

K
T Kinesiology Tape has
launched the KT Ice Series
lineup, which the company
says is designed to accelerate
preparation, performance and
recovery from physical activity. The
Ice Series features four new products.
KT Tape Pro Ice features a menthol-
infused adhesive. Two new magnesium
creams are KT Health Activate, designed
to help prepare muscles before activity,
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C O U RT E S Y KT TA P E

14 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY June 2024

www.tennisindustrymag.com
Selkirk Sport Collaborates
With Lifestyle Brand Rhone
Pickleball equipment manufacturer
Selkirk Sport recently announced a
collaboration with Rhone, the performance
lifestyle brand dedicated to championing
mental fitness.
Rhone, known for its high-performance
apparel, is venturing into the pickleball
market with a new product line called
The Backspin Collection. With the help
of Selkirk, the line features apparel and
paddles designed for pickleball enthusiasts.
“We are excited to pair Rhone’s
authority in performance apparel with
Selkirk’s leadership in pickleball to bring
top-tier products to the community,” says
Your source for qualified builders,
designers, and suppliers who will help you...
16 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY June 2024
Mike Barnes, Selkirk co-founder.
Launched in April, the collection
features Rhone-designed men’s shorts
and T-shirts alongside two of Selkirk
Sport’s most sought-after pickleball
paddles. The offerings will be available in
black, white and stormy sea green.
Life Time Teams with Johns Bros.
For Pball Instructional Videos
Life Time has teamed up with pickleball
pros Ben and Collin Johns to provide mem-
bers of all ages and abilities with a series
of 70 instructional videos. Available on the
Life Time app, each video features demon-
strations by Ben and Collin, including basic
pickleball orientation and rules, warmups
and practice drills, singles and doubles
dynamics, key play movements, and
advanced techniques.
CAI Snap Survey Indicates
Active Pickleball Demand
According to a recent Snap survey
conducted by the Community
Associations Institute Foundation for
Community Association Research, 77
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information and to purchase a
construction and maintenance manual
percent of respondents said pickleball
courts in their communities were in
“Moderate” or “High” demand.
Out of nearly 700 respondents from
41 states representing at least 10,000
community associations, 36 percent
described the usage rate of their local
pickleball courts as “High” (courts are
in “high” demand by residents nearly
all of the time), while 40 percent said
usage rates were “Moderate” (in use on
weekends and evenings). The remaining
24 percent of respondents said that their
local pickleball courts had “Very Low” or
“Low” usage rates (rarely used or always
have a court open).
CAI reported that 31 percent of
respondents had dedicated pickleball
courts in their communities, and another
37 percent used tennis courts for pickleball
play. Twenty-six percent said they had
no pickleball courts in their community.
Eight percent said their community was in
the process of building and/or approving
new pickleball courts, while 7 percent said
their communities are in discussions about
adding pickleball courts.
C O U RT E S Y S E L K I R K S P O RT, S H U T T E R S T O C K
www.tennisindustrymag.com
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www.tennisindustrymag.com June 2024 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 17

 RaisingThe Bar
QUALITY OF LIFE
Relationship Builder
Listening and asking questions can be
challenging, but this ‘guided discovery’
will lead to fulfilling relationships.
By Joe Dinoffer
M
ost of us understand
the concept of “guided
discovery.” Instead of
telling people what to
do and how to do it, ask questions so
they can first be certain to recognize
the “why” (which is self-motivating),
then they will be inspired to find the
“what” and the “how” by taking owner-
ship in the process.
While we generally understand what
guided discovery entails, we seldom
practice it. Let’s explore why it is im-
portant, and why it’s a communications
technique that is too seldom used.
First, recognize that the most impor-
tant sources of happiness in our lives
are generally through relationships,
whether in business or personal. In the
racquet sports industry, it follows that
students, members, guests and literally
everyone we interact with throughout
our lives and careers ultimately have
the same basic needs—namely, to be
18 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY June 2024
happy through meaningful relationships
with others.
Second, relationships are most
quickly and deeply developed by getting
to know one another through listening.
But while each of us has this profound
desire to be heard, we will only be truly
heard when we listen to others first.
Paradoxically, as the vast majority of
people inherently want their story to
be heard first, conversations between
two or more people regularly degrade
into one interruption after another, as
we fight to share our own thoughts and
opinions, inadvertently thinking what
we have to say is urgent!
Utilizing “guided discovery” as a
communications tool takes practice for
most people. Those who are inherently
humble and curious may not need much
practice, since these individuals are
more naturally good listeners and inter-
ested in others. But what about the rest
of us? Here are some interesting facts
that indicate why listening and asking
questions can be challenging.
• Busy Minds: The average person
experiences 60,000 thoughts per day.
That’s about 42 thoughts per minute!
To listen well, our own minds need to
be reasonably quiet. Our minds
are said to have one primary job:
to accept or reject through judging
things around us.
• Attention Spans: 20 years ago, the
average attention span of an adult in
the U.S. was 42 words, which takes
about 16 seconds. Now, studies show
that the average adult attention span
is half that, or about 8 seconds! Speak
less, communicate more!
• We Love Hearing Our Own Voice
and Opinion: Human behaviorists
have long stated that people love hear-
ing their own voices so their opinions
can also be heard and appreciated.
This intrinsic aspect of our human
nature makes it hard for most of us to
be humble listeners.
• Coaches Are Paid to Teach: If
you are a coach, it’s easy to fall into
the mindset that your job is all about
teaching others. But while true, teach-
ing starts with listening and observing.
We have all seen tennis or pickleball
classes where the coach is directing
from the start, without listening to
what their students’ priorities and
interests are.
• Substance Over Small Talk: Stud-
ies have shown that happy people have
as many as twice the number of sub-
stantive conversations as compared to
relatively unhappy people, who have
three times the amount of small talk.
• Managers are Paid to Get Things
Done: Sounds easy, right? For lone
soldiers, limited listening skills may
not have too many negative conse-
quences. But most managers work with
people, and people respond best from
caring and positive relationships. This
all starts with managers who listen
well. Putting tasks ahead of people is a
doomed approach to management.
It is only by listening that we engage,
understand, empathize, cooperate and
SHUTTERSTOCK
develop. A quote from Syrian philoso-
pher Publilius Syrus (85-43 BC) says it
well: “I often regret that I have spoken;
never that I have been silent.” 
www.tennisindustrymag.com

CUSTOMER SERVICE
What Is a Racquet?
That’s not a trick question. Think about
it in its basic sense, and consider all the
nuances and details involved.
By Bob Patterson
W
hat, exactly, is a
racquet? That may
seem like a silly
question to an audience
that makes its living in the tennis
business, but if you think about it in
its very basic sense, you’ll begin to
understand my point.
It is very easy to become complacent
with the things we are so familiar with.
We make assumptions, and we neglect
to consider the details. When you are in
the business of selling racquets, that can
be detrimental not only to your sales,
but also to your long-term customer
satisfaction. While this can be true for
much of your business, we are focusing
on the racquet because it’s the most vital
tool to play the game.
The racquet is comprised of two
key components: the FRAME and the
STRING. When combined, the frame
then becomes a racquet. Each one of
20 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY June 2024
RacquetTech
those components have details and
nuances that require your attention to
make each racquet perform at its best.
THE FRAME
While often referred to as a racquet,
the frame is technically not a racquet
until strings are installed. There are
many components of the frame that are
critical to its performance.
We’ll talk about strings shortly,
but characteristics like weight, swing
weight, headsize, length, string pattern
and grip size are fundamental to how a
frame will perform once the strings are
added. Choosing the right combination
of these frame characteristics to
complement and enhance the strings
is vital.
THE STRINGS
Strings are the only component of
the racquet that is in direct contact
with the ball each time the player hits
the ball (or at least that is the way it's
supposed to work). Choosing the right
string and tension for the frame and the
player that will use it is critical to the
racquet’s performance.
Different strings and/or tension can
make the exact same frame play very
differently. String characteristics like
diameter, elasticity and tension are key
elements.
THE RACQUET!
Combining the two components to
make a racquet is not that difficult,
but it does require some thought
and expertise in knowing the vital
characteristics of both. The ultimate
goal is to have a racquet that best suits
the needs of the player—a racquet that
will provide the best performance for
that player’s skill set on the court.
FITTING RACQUET TO PLAYER
If you also happen to teach tennis as
well as sell and service racquets, you
probably already have an insight into
what your players may benefit from in a
racquet. For many racquet technicians
and stringers, fitting the player will
come from asking questions to find
out what their needs may be and then
utilizing your demo racquets to help
the player find a fit. The questions and
answers should continue throughout
the demo process as you help your
player narrow down the selection.
Once you’re close, then it’s time to talk
about nuances like grips and strings
and tension to make the racquet even a
better fit.
Like most things fitted specifically,
some tweaks and adjustments will
likely be required after you’ve helped
your customer find their perfect
racquet. Taking the time to spend with
your customer in this fitting process
will pay dividends long term. It will
likely be an ongoing process to “keep
the fit” as the player’s needs may change
over time, and to make sure the racquet
stays tuned to the player’s needs.
Focusing on customer service will
SHUTTERSTOCK
not only improve racquet sales, but will
boost your overall image—and lead to
increases in racquet services and other
revenue streams in your store. •
www.tennisindustrymag.com
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YOUR PLAYERS
How to Be a
Great Teammate
Being a champion and a great team member
takes commitment at every level.
By Coach Pete Scales, Ph.D., USPTA
R
ecently, I was asked to do a
quick talk to a university
men’s tennis team. They
wanted me to speak for about
five minutes, in the middle of an intense
two-hour early morning practice, on
what it takes to be a champion and a
great teammate.
Here’s the essence of what I said to the
team that day:
The champion mindset is just this:
• Being OK with who you are as you try,
Got a question for Coach Pete? Email him at info@tennisindustry.com and put “The Bench” in the subject line.
22 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY June 2024
The Bench
and sometimes fail, to be better at the
game.
• Giving it your all with no excuses, and
accepting and learning from it when
someone else was better than you, with
no loss of your self-esteem because
you lost a match, only an even stronger
commitment to getting better.
• Being able to handle it mentally and
emotionally and learning from it if you
lose, even when giving it absolutely
everything you have.
With this college team, we had done
the “Name Circle” activity five months
earlier, where they wrote their names
on the outside of a big circle on a poster,
with the words “Compete-Learn-Honor”
also written around the circle. That
poster now hangs in their locker room. I
reminded them of how we’d talked about
the three things the Name Circle means:
1) The game is bigger than each of us, 2)
We each are all equally worthy humans
and players, no matter our ranking, and 3)
We have unbroken support for each other.
They also got a handout from former
NFL great Joe Ehrmann’s book, InsideOut
Coaching, on the difference between being
“on the team,” and being a teammate:
Being a teammate is doing whatever is
needed for the team to succeed.
I did not say to them that old cliché,
“there’s no ‘I’ in team.” We’ve all heard
that forever and it’s not quite accurate. I
said to them that there is an “I” in team—
you have 16 players here, and each has
SHUTTERSTOCK
his own hopes, fears, dreams and goals.
www.tennisindustrymag.com
You become a team by figuring out how
to pursue your “I” while putting the
team first. When you figure out that bal-
ance, this collection of I’s can become a
“we” or an “us.”
Four days from my little talk, deci-
sions would be made about which eight
of the 16 players would be the start-
ers and travel team. So they got this ad-
ditional advice about how to be a great
teammate: If you’re one of those who
doesn’t make the travel team right now,
you can be disappointed, sure. But then
know that a huge way non-starters con-
tribute to the team is in knowing that
while they’re not playing/traveling/etc.,
they still gave the travel players abso-
lutely everything they had in practice
drills, sets and matches. They made the
starting players work for whatever they
got. That’s being a great teammate.
We met right after the Australian Open
ended, so afterward I sent out these
quotes from Coco Gauff and Jannik Sin-
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ner about how to learn from your losses
and be proud of what you accomplished—
even if, at a given moment, it fell a little
short of your dream:
• From Gauff, after her Aussie Open
semifinal loss: “I’m in the right direction.
I just have to remind myself of the
journey and not so much of the moment.
I’m going to try to go to the movies or
something, be proud of myself.”
• From Sinner after beating Novak
Djokovic in their semifinal: “I was look-
ing forward to this match. It’s always
nice to have this kind of player you can
learn from. I lost to him in the Wimble-
don semis last year, so I think I learned a
lot from that. It’s part of the process.”
I left these young men with this,
which is what I try to communicate to
all the students I coach, especially those
who manage to get decent enough to
think about state, regional or national
rankings and college scholarships: The
only way you can endure and persist
The GreenSet Advantage
through all the suffering, and keep
finding joy and fulfillment in it, is to love
the game so much that you can commit
to all of it—the good, the bad, and the
ugly, win or lose. If you don’t have that,
feel that deep love for the game, then the
whole thing will eat you up.
Love the game, and love your team-
mates. That will get you through a whole
lot of tennis hurt. 
Coach Pete Scales, Ph.D., USPTA, is a
developmental psychologist, longtime
high school tennis coach, mental game
columnist for RSI and ParentingAces.
com, and contributor to numerous pub-
lications and podcasts. His latest book,
The Compete-Learn-Honor Playbook:
Simple Steps to Take Your Mental &
Emotional Tennis & Pickleball Game to
a New Level (Coaches Choice), is avail-
able on Amazon and has been called a
mental game “masterclass” by Better-
Pickleball.com.
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June 2024 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 23
 Your Players
HEALTH & FITNESS

Safe, Smart Stretches

Enhance your players’ performance and prevent
injuries with dynamic stretching before play.
By Angelo A. Rossetti

D
ynamic stretching plays a 1. Heel & Toe Walks: Walk forward, carefully keeping
crucial role in preparing your weight on your heels and trying not to let your toes
your body for the fast-
paced game of pickleball. touch the ground, like duck walks. Then walk forward
Whether a seasoned player or a again, carefully, keeping your weight on your toes like
beginner, dynamic stretching is an you are wearing high heels. Try to keep your heels from
essential part of the sport at any age
and level. If your players incorporate
touching the ground.
these safe and effective stretches
into their pregame warm-up routine,
they can improve flexibility and
coordination, increase blood flow,
increase range of motion, reduce the
risk of injuries, and enhance overall
performance.
Here are 10 dynamic stretches
that will help your players—and you!—
stay agile, limber and injury-free
on the pickleball court. (Since all
players have a different range of
motion and mobility, make sure they
consult with a physician before doing
these or any other stretches.) Each
of these can be done on either one
width of the pickleball court or two
widths.
By incorporating these safe and
smart stretches into the warm-up
routine, players will optimize their
potential while minimizing the risk of
injuries. Stay active, stretch smart and
enjoy the game! •

Angelo A. Rossetti is the co-founder,

P H O T O S C O U RT E S Y A N G E L O A . R O S S ET T I

along with his brother Ettore, of

Rossetti Brothers Pickleball, a
pickleball consulting and coaching
company based in Connecticut. Angelo
serves as the company’s mental skills
and master professional. He and his
brother hold three Guinness World
Records Titles, including the longest
pickleball rally. Contact him at
angelo@rossettibrothers.com or
203-996-4417.

24 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY June 2024 www.tennisindustrymag.com

 Dynamic stretching should be performed before play,
as it helps prepare muscles and joints for the demands of the game.
These stretches increase blood flow, improve coordination
and enhance overall performance.

2. Open the Gate: Stand tall, lift one 3. Close the Gate: Similar to Open the 4. Shuffles: Sideways shuffle,
knee up and then move your leg to Gate, but this time, face sideways, and maintaining a low stance, to activate
the side. This works your hips and hip turn your leg forward, adding a shuffle the muscles of the inner and outer
flexor. when you are done with each rep. thighs. Move at a moderate pace.

5. Butt Kicks: Jog forward while 6. Knee Highs: Jog forward while 7. Shoe Shines: Step forward in a
kicking your heels toward your exaggerating the knee lift to warm partial lunge but keep knee straight.
glutes, engaging the hamstrings and up the lower body and improve Reach down and brush forward with
improving leg strength. circulation. hands like you are shining your shoes.

8. Lunge & Twist: Do lunges while 9. Lunge & Stretch: Do lunges, 10. Yippies & Jump Ropes: Skip
rotating torso, promoting flexibility in reaching overhead with both arms forward, knees high while spinning arms
hips, spine and legs. Make sure knee while maintaining a deep lunge in large circles backwards. Then do same
does not pass the middle of your foot. position, stretching the entire body. skip, but with arms forward in circles.

www.tennisindustrymag.com June 2024 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 25

 NATIONAL JUNIOR
2024 TENNIS & LEARNING

Network
Junior Tennis
GRASSROOTS CHAMPIONS

Champions
Center

Stars
COLLEGE PARK, MD.

T
he Junior Tennis Cham-
pions Center has been
introducing players of all

Celebrating some of the NJTL

Network’s successful youth
organizations that continue to develop
a legacy of education and tennis.
ages to tennis for 25 years,
and was recently honored by the USTA
with the 2024 NJTL of the Year Award
for its work with under-served youth.
The mission of JTCC is to transform
lives in the communities it serves
through sport and education by provid-
ing tennis for everybody. Over the last
quarter century, JTCC has helped grow
the sport by providing a comprehensive
tennis pathway for players of all abili-
ties that emphasizes excellence on the

P H O T O S C O U RT E SY J T C C, P O S H R O C K T E N N I S FO U N DAT I O N/ U S TA FO U N DAT I O N
tennis court, in the classroom and in
the community.
JTCC’s pathway starts with a pro-
gram called “Game On! “ that delivers
free tennis and education to K-12 youth
in Maryland and Washington, D.C. The
organization partners with D.C. Public
Schools, Prince George’s County Public
Schools, D.C. Parks and Recreation,
Maryland National Capital Parks and
Planning, and Prince George’s County
Police Athletic League to identify
schools and recreation centers for pro-
gramming. Game On! served more than
800 youngsters between September
2022 and August 2023.
JTCC provides financial aid to any
family with vetted needs based on in-
come, household size and other factors.
Since 1999, JTCC alumni have earned
more than $23 million in scholarships
to top schools including Harvard, Duke,
Howard, UCLA and Williams, and
many have gone on to pursue tennis at
the collegiate or professional levels. Its
most famous alumni include Frances
Tiafoe, 2022 US Open semifinalist, and

26 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY June 2024 www.tennisindustrymag.com

 By getting kids interested and giving them something to do, we help
create better people who go on to make better decisions and life choices.

2021 girls’ junior US Open champion

Robin Montgomery.
Sixty percent of Game On! partici-
pants are ages 6 to 10, and 30 percent
are ages 11 to 14. Moreover, 72 percent
are African-American, 19 percent are
Hispanic or Latino, 14 percent are
white, and 4 percent Asian.
For more competitive youth ages 8 to
18, JTCC also offers the High Perfor-
mance Champions Program. To partici-
pate, a player must have a strong work
ethic and must qualify as a tournament
player whose goal is to play college
tennis.
“Kids in the Champs program also
have to ‘give back’ by mentoring or
teaching,” notes Megan Moulton-Levy,
JTCC’s general manager of player
development. “We want to provide kids
with an opportunity to use tennis to get
into college.” Posh Rock Tennis Foundation
Community Impact is also integral OCOEE, FLA.

to JTCC’s operations, and the initiative
includes four programs: Neighborhood
Youth Outreach, Special Olympics,
Wheelchair Tennis and Tennis Corps.
“In 2022-23, we had 800 kids in
Outreach. For the 2023-24 year, we
have 500 kids in Outreach and 100 in
programming at the Center on a college
pathway track,” says Moulton-Levy.
The decline in numbers is intention-
al, with the goal being to make interac-
tions with players more meaningful.
“We changed the emphasis on the
number of kids to focus on the inten-
sity of the programs with fewer kids,”
explains Ray Benton, CEO of JTCC.
“The scope of the programs increased
dramatically—having fewer kids allows
for more focus on each one.”
Overall, says Benton, “I believe we
have the most integrated pathway in
the country. We get kids at age 5 or 6
and work with them and provide inspi-
ration at every level. We take kids as far
as their ambition wants to take them.
We’re for grassroots rather than pure
performance.” —Judy Leand
I
n Central Florida, the Posh Rock
Tennis Foundation has a mis-
sion to empower underserved
youth with physical, educational
and behavioral life skills through ten-
nis. The organization was started in
2017 and has since continued to imple-
ment multiple programs and form local
partnerships to serve the community.
In 2023, PRTF provided 500 student-
athletes in and around the Orlando
area with a combined 500 hours of ten-
nis and education programming.
Key programs and partnerships
offered by PRTF include the Orange
County Rec Center, Elementary School
Tennis, Summer Camp scholarships,
High Performance scholarships, Col-
lege Placement and Boys & Girls Clubs
of America, along with adaptive tennis,
Special Olympics, high school tennis
and more.
In April, kids from PRTF took part
in a special NJTL clinic at the USTA
National Campus in Lake Nona, ahead
of the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifier
between the U.S. and Belgium.
“We serve kids from neighboring
schools and YMCAs, as well as Spe-
cial Olympics Florida—which had the
world’s No. 1 Special Olympics tennis
athlete,” says Albert Richards, PRTF
founding member and co-director of
tennis. “We initially had seven Special
Olympics athletes, and now we have
about 30, from all over the state.”
Looking ahead, “We want to expand
our boys’ and girls’ programming to
as many local kids as we can,” says Rich-
ards. “We’re now working with a local
hospital system on educational aspects
such as health and nutrition.
“We’re always looking for partner-
ships to get kids engaged. Our goal is to
engage as many kids as we can, using
tennis as a vehicle. By getting kids
interested and giving them something
to do, we help create better people who
go on to make better decisions and life
choices.” —Judy Leand

www.tennisindustrymag.com June 2024 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 27

 NATIONAL JUNIOR
2024 TENNIS & LEARNING
Sportsmen’s Tennis & Enrichment Center
DORCHESTER, MASS.
F
or 63 years, the Sportsmen’s
Tennis & Enrichment
Center has provided tennis,
academic and life skills
programming to help transform the
lives of under-resourced kids in Boston.
Through visionary long-range planning
and generous funding, the nation’s
first indoor, nonprofit tennis club is
undergoing a multi-phased renovation
and expansion project aimed at easing
demand while providing for future
generations.
Built by and for Black residents
of the Blue Hill Corridor, while
welcoming players from throughout
Greater Boston of all races,
ethnicities and socioeconomic status,
Sportsmen’s is one of the largest
members of the USTA’s National
Sportsmen’s expansion project will go a long way
toward meeting ever-increasing demand.
28 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY June 2024
Junior Tennis & Learning network.
The center services more than 5,000
youth annually, supported in part by
revenue from adult recreational and
competitive players who rent courts,
take lessons and compete on travel
teams.
Sportsmen’s multi-phased expansion
project, estimated at $18 million, is
being completed in two phases. In
October 2023, a groundbreaking
ceremony took place to construct
a metal building over four existing
outdoor courts, add lighting to the
remaining three outdoor courts and
install nearly 400 roof solar panels.
Co-chairs Scott and Alison Babka,
whose son competes at Sportsmen’s,
spearheaded a $12 million capital
campaign for the second phase. Further
supported by Anita Klaussen, widow
of legendary Boston Globe tennis
journalist Bud Collins, and local
multi-club owner Laury Hammel—
both Sportsmen’s advocates—phase
2 will establish the Bud Collins
Welcome Center housing additional
classrooms, a teaching kitchen, two
outdoor courts and an expanded fitness
center. In addition, an outdoor area
that currently has three courts will be
reconfigured for four hard courts in
order to accommodate the high school
tennis program in September.
Slated for completion this summer,
the expanded center will also house
C O U RT E S Y U S TA N E W E N G L A N D /JA M E S M A I M O N I S, YO U T H T E N N I S A DVA N TA G E , A ' S & A C E S
“Breaking the Barriers,” which follows
the journey of Black tennis in America
since the late 1800s. Created by the
Black Tennis Hall of Fame, the exhibit
was previously displayed at the US
Open and International Tennis Hall of
Fame in Newport, R.I.
Funding sources have included
$83,000 in grants from the USTA, as
well as funding from various other
private donors and foundations.
Additionally, Sportsmen’s recently
received a $2 million gift from
MacKenzie Scott Yield Giving.
Toni Wiley, chief executive officer
of Sportsmen’s, says the expansion
project will go a long way toward
meeting ever-increasing demand,
which was further exacerbated by
the closure of more than 40 clubs
throughout New England during the
pandemic.
“We are incredibly grateful to our
supporters,” Wiley says. “Beyond the
critical funding, each and every donor
has gifted us with votes of confidence
for our current, life-changing
programming as well as our future
legacy.” —Cindy Cantrell
www.tennisindustrymag.com
 Education helps create a lasting foundation in your life.
Once you have it, it is with you forever.
Youth Tennis Advantage
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.
A
s a 4 Star NJTL chapter,
Youth Tennis Advantage
has been serving under-
resourced communities
in the San Francisco Bay Area—San
Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley and Rich-
mond—for more than 50 years.
From the inspiration and assistance
of many tennis greats and community
leaders, including Arthur Ashe, YTA
was formed in 1999 from a merger of
two nonprofits: Youth Tennis Founda-
tion (established in 1968) and NJTL
of San Francisco (established in 1975).
Both initially ran free summer tennis
programs for kids in under-resourced
neighborhoods, then went on to add
after-school programs and branch out
to surrounding cities. Today, YTA runs
year-round programs and serves more
than 400 kids annually.
YTA’s mission is to help close oppor-
tunity and achievement gaps for under-
resourced youth through comprehen-
sive tennis, academic and enrichment
www.tennisindustrymag.com
programs, promoting the physical,
educational and life skills necessary to
prepare and empower them to reach
their full potential.
In late March, YTA celebrated the
grand re-opening and $271,000 renova-
tion of the Hunters Point Tennis Courts
in San Francisco, a cornerstone of the
community’s sports and recreation
facilities. Originally dedicated in 1987
by Ashe, the courts have been a beacon
for aspiring athletes and community
members alike, but they had never
been resurfaced. YTA has been giving
free tennis lessons on the courts along
with academic tutoring to kids from the
community for the past 37 years.
“Our students tend to stay in our pro-
grams for five to 10 years. Our students
go on to college, even though about
80 percent of their parents have not
attended college,” says Executive Direc-
tor Mike Skinner. “YTA was helped for
years by Arthur Ashe, and his memory
still inspires us.” —Judy Leand
A’s & Aces
NEW ORLEANS, LA.
I
f your mind can conceive it and
your heart can believe it, then you
will achieve it. While you may
have heard slight variations on
this expression, the bottom line is the
same: Achieving our goals and dreams
gives us hope for better and brighter
days ahead.
Anna Monhartova was a budding
tennis talent in her native Czech
Republic when she was chosen at age
13 to be on their national junior team.
She then received a tennis scholarship
to St. John’s University in New York,
where she was a stellar student-athlete.
She transferred to Tulane University in
New Orleans, where she continued to
excel academically and athletically, in-
cluding receiving the conference Schol-
ar-Athlete of the Year and Women’s
Tennis Player of the Decade awards.
She earned her Ph.D. from Tulane and
now is an adjunct lecturer at Tulane’s
School of Architecture and a research
fellow at the Taylor Center for Social
Innovation and Design Thinking.
Monhartova is a proponent of the
power of education, whether formal or
informal, and how it can change lives.
“Education helps create a lasting
foundation in your life,” she says. “Once
you have it, it is with you forever.”
True to her beliefs, and with her
June 2024 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 29
 NATIONAL JUNIOR
2024 TENNIS & LEARNING
solid tennis and education credits in
hand, Monhartova teamed with Tulane
tennis coach David Schumacher to
co-found A’s & Aces in New Orleans
in 2008, following the devastation by
Hurricane Katrina. The NJTL’s mis-
sion is to provide academic assistance,
life skills and tennis to local children
and others who lack access to quality
academic assistance and tennis.
“Tennis is a game you can play well
into your adult life,” she says. “It pro-
vides you with both social and competi-
tive opportunities. I would love to see
more children, especially those from
historically under-represented popula-
tions, be able to play and benefit from
this sport.”
WORLD #1: THE RACKET CHOSEN BY
MORE TOUR PLAYERS THAN ANY OTHER.
WILSON.COM/BLADE
30 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY June 2024
The highly regarded A’s & Aces pro-
gram has received awards and USTA
recognition at the state, section and
national levels. It was named the USTA
Southern NJTL Chapter of the Year
twice (2015 and 2023) and received
the USTA Southern Educational Merit
Award twice (2008 and 2015).
Its longevity as an NJTL has created
many success stories. Students staying
in the program have become more self-
confident and self-assured. Because of
A’s & Aces, many students have been
able to compete in tournaments, re-
ceive scholarships to attend college and
enjoy tennis as a lifetime sport.
A’s & Aces has a longstanding part-
nership with the New Orleans Rec-
reation Department. Joe Brown Park
Tennis Center and the Atkinson Stern
Tennis Center are the A’s & Aces’ sites
for year-round programming.
Monhartova is an extraordinary
tennis ambassador and fosters an
environment that is fun and fulfilling.
Her innate ability to implement the
objectives of A’s & Aces has drawn high
praise from teachers and parents.
“My students are benefitting a great
deal from the academic component of
this program,” says one local teacher.
Adds a parent: “Anna is a very giving
person. My child really enjoys going to
practice. He talks constantly about the
new friends he has made.” •
—James B. Ewers Jr.
www.tennisindustrymag.com
 Celebrating
The Best
in Pickleball
Providers
PHOTO COURTESY APP
In this first installment for 2024, RSI
recognizes people, organizations and
companies that continue to make
pickleball the fastest growing sport.
www.tennisindustrymag.com
PICKLEBALL EXECUTIVE
OF THE YEAR
Ken Herrmann
In 2019, Ken Herrmann launched
the first-ever nationwide amateur and
professional pickleball tour—the APP,
or Association of Pickleball Profession-
als. Through the pandemic, Herrmann
remained focused on his goal of provid-
ing every player with an exceptional
experience at APP events, which con-
tinues to be the organization’s driving
philosophy.
In 2024, Herrmann’s focus spread to
international markets, championing the
sport from India to England, Australia
to Sweden. He also realized his dream of
creating pickleball’s first national team.
The APP Next Gen National Team is
now in its second year.
Many of pickleball’s most famous
players started out at the APP, and each
can thank Herrmann for staying true to
his belief that pickleball is a sport for all,
and that all deserve to be treated with
respect, kindness, and be given the best
stage possible upon which to play.
“When I first started the APP Tour
in 2019, there was certainly pressure to
succeed as the sport was booming,” Her-
rmann says. “Through our partnership
with USA Pickleball and by surrounding
myself with a smart, talented and dedi-
cated team, we’ve been able to grow the
sport both domestically and abroad.
“Pickleball symbolizes community
and friendships, both new and old. The
ability to hear people’s stories of what
the sport has meant to them over my
years of traveling always brings a smile
to my face.”
June 2024 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 31
 PICKLEBALL
2024 CHAMPIONS

ADAPTIVE PICKLEBALL USPTA PICKLEBALL MEMBER

CHAMPION OF THE YEAR OF THE YEAR
Steven Harper Dominique
Lemperle
Steven Harper, Lieutenant Com-
mander (U.S. Navy-ret.), began
This past fall, Dominique Lem-
learning to play racquetball while
perle joined The Pickleball Club
on active duty in 2004. Later,
as corporate director of program-
when stationed in San Diego, he
ming and instructor development.
was playing at the gym at Balboa
The Pickleball Club was founded
Hospital when he saw a Marine
in 2019 to develop and operate
with an amputated leg. He decided
private, membership-based, high-
to teach that Marine how to play
amenity indoor pickleball facilities
racquetball. Harper soon founded
throughout Florida. Lemperle
the Military Racquetball Federation
brings topnotch credentials in
(MRF) and spent 13 years teaching
her quest to expand the sport. In
wounded active-duty service mem-
addition to being a USPTA Elite
MUNICIPAL DESTINATION OF THE YEAR bers and disabled veterans the
Professional, she’s the USPTA Head

Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

sport as a form of rehabilitation.
Pickleball Coach Developer, a
In 2019, the Department of
Certified Racquet Sports Executive
Veterans Affairs National Sports
and the winner of the 2023 George
Event Program awarded Harper’s
Bacso Coach Developer of the Year
organization a grant for pickle-
Award. She also is a member of the
When it comes to destinations for pickleball, it is hard to ball, so he changed the name to
USPTA Pickleball Task Force, and
beat what the City of Palm Beach Gardens has to offer. The Military Adaptive Court Sports
had a major role in creating the
(MACS), which teaches pickleball,
Lilac Pickleball Courts facility is a walk-on venue (no program- USPTA’s pre-workshop video and
padel, table tennis, badminton
ming), with 24 meticulously maintained courts. Meanwhile, and racquetball. Today, MACS is test questions for candidates who
the 10 permanent and six temporary courts at the Russo wish to become certified pros.
a national non-profit that offers
“At The Pickleball Club, I hire
Pickleball Club (adjacent to the Palm Beach Gardens Tennis racquet sports as a means of heal-
the best teaching professionals
& Pickleball Center) offers programming to suit all types of ing veterans who suffer from PTSD
to serve our membership for our
and/or physical injuries. Harper re-
players, including instruction for beginners through advanced, cruits certified instructors to teach 16 indoor clubs all over Florida,”
drop-in play, organized open play, tournaments, adaptive a six-week fundamental pickleball Lemperle says.
Based in Naples, Fla., Lemperle
and wheelchair pickleball programming, pickleball programs

P H O T O S C O U RT E SY PA L M B E A C H G A R D E N S PA R K & R E C, P P R , U S P TA
clinic; to date MACS has impacted
was the director of sports courts at
for veterans, pickleball and fitness camps, and Love Serving more than 8,258 veterans.
the Esplanade Golf & Country Club
“Steven is a PPR-certified pro
Autism Pickleball. prior to joining The Pickleball Club.
who plays and teaches from a
“Both facilities are managed by city staff,” says Trish wheelchair. He shares the sport he In her current role, she is respon-
Faulkner, the current president of the USPTA. “The club pro- sible for leading the development
loves as a source of integration for
and implementation of educational
vides incredible programming and group and private lessons veterans,” says Julie Jilly of the Pro-
programs and training initiatives,
at the Russo Facility, while the Lilac facility is strictly walk-on, fessional Pickleball Registry. “Steven
as well as designing, organizing
sees the value of the social aspects
with plenty of courts and managed and staffed by the recre- of pickleball while also providing and evaluating programs. She also
ation department.” much-needed exercise for wheel- develops instructors to ensure
high-quality educational experi-
The Lilac facility has over 900 members, so there’s always chair-bound veterans, developing
ences for pickleball students. In
activity on the courts. The Russo club runs nearly 30 hours of their movement abilities, strength,
addition, Lemperle will continue
coordination, flexibility and other
programming a week, has a full-time head pickleball pro, and to play a key role in promoting pick-
factors which greatly enhance their
nine certified pickleball pros. Both are led by the city’s tennis & way of life.” —Judy Leand leball within the community. 
pickleball director, Wendy Tatum.
“Early on, the city took notice of how quickly pickleball
was captivating the general public, so we decided to incorpo-
rate this sport into our recreational activities,” says Tatum.
“Over the last seven years, we’ve added courts and provided
instructional classes for all ages and levels, fitness and drill
opportunities, organized open play at different levels, and
countless hours of lessons and activities for all residents and
non-residents. Our city has become one of the main attractions
for hosting tournaments, including the World Pickleball Open
and World Pickleball Classic.”

32 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY June 2024 www.tennisindustrymag.com

 ADVERTORIAL
Bringing Back a Classic
On Hilton Head Island, Van Der Meer
Shipyard Resort has been a legendary
destination for tennis.
H
ilton Head Island, S.C.,
holds a storied place in the
growth of tennis in the U.S.,
and internationally. A major
part of that history is because, since
the 1970s, Hilton Head Island has been
the home of Van Der Meer Tennis and
legendary coach Dennis Van der Meer.
A longtime destination for those
looking to improve their games, and for
P H O T O C O U RT E S Y VA N D E R M E E R T E N N I S
teaching pros looking to hone their skills,
the activity at Van Der Meer Tennis takes
place at two major facilities: the Van Der
Meer Tennis Center, with 14 hard courts
(four are covered and lighted) and the
Van Der Meer Shipyard Resort, with 13
outdoor Har-Tru courts (five with lights)
and seven outdoor hard courts, along
with three indoor hard courts.
Sadly, the tennis world lost Dennis
Van der Meer in 2019, but his wife, Pat,
and dedicated VDM employees and
volunteers continue his legacy. Recently,
www.tennisindustrymag.com
with the consultation of the USTA’s
Tennis Venue Services department,
improvements were made to the
indoor facility at VDM Shipyard, and
assessments were made for future work
on the outdoor courts.
“Dennis Van der Meer, being the
visionary he was, viewed the Shipyard
Racquet Club as a potential teaching,
educational and training facility for adult
tennis clinics as well as an Academy,”
says former USTA President Lucy Garvin,
a South Carolina resident and former
facility manager herself. “In 1993, Dennis
purchased the Shipyard Club and this
vision became a reality. Now, Pat is
continuing with Dennis’s vision.”
Last year, Garvin, Pat Van der Meer and
USTA TVS Director Todd Carlson toured
Shipyard to see what work was needed.
“One thing that had to happen was a
renovation of the indoor courts,” says Pat
Van der Meer. “We talked about what we
Dennis would be
so pleased and
appreciative.
needed to do to bring the indoor building
back to its original beautiful state.”
The first phase of work involved
installing new LED lighting and a new,
reflective ceiling for the indoor building,
along with resurfacing the three courts.
“They did a beautiful job. It’s totally
different now,” adds Pat. “It looks just
like it should look.”
The indoor building also includes
office space that had been vacant
for years. The bathrooms and video
playback conference room are being
renovated, and a new training room,
along with a showcase for Dennis’
extensive memorabilia from around the
world, are being added.
Work is now turning to the outdoor
courts, with Pat looking to increase
courts to two existing banks to maximize
their space and impact more players.
Many may remember the wooden
broadcast tower that stood adjacent to
the main court. The tower, used years
ago for WCT tournament broadcasts
for players such as Guillermo Vilas,
Ivan Lendl and Billie Jean King, has
been taken down. Carlson says they
are exploring options to improve that
area by converting it into a “leisure and
relaxing hangout space.”
Throughout, Tennis Venue Services
has been providing guidance, advice
and technical support. The Shipyard
facility is a commercial club that is open
to the public, so Van Der Meer Tennis
was able to access district, section and
national financial support to help with
the indoor court improvements.
“Dennis would be so pleased and
appreciative of all that Pat has been
doing to continue his vision for this
facility,” Garvin says, “as well as the
USTA’s commitment to helping renovate
this and other facilities, and in growing
tennis and assisting where needed.”
For more on how the USTA’s Tennis Venue
Services can help your facility or project, visit
usta.com/facilities or email facilities@usta.com.
June 2024 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 33
 P H O T O S C O U RT E SY O F T H E M A N U FA CT U R E R S

28 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY February 2024 www.tennisindustrymag.com


How to ‘Manage’
YOGA
PHOTOS COURTESY MARGIT BANNON
Yourself
At age 43, pro Rohan Bopanna turned
his career around. He credits a yoga
routine for his success and longevity.
By Margit Bannon
www.tennisindustrymag.com
YOUR
HEALTH 2024
> Rohan Bopanna’s story just might
be the most inspiring we’ve heard
to come out of the 2024 Australian
Open, especially as it relates to those
of us in the racquet sports industry.
At age 43, Bopanna became the
oldest ATP player to reach World
No. 1. At this year’s Australian Open
with partner Matt Ebden, he won his
first Grand Slam doubles title after
61 attempts.
Bopanna’s win afforded him a hero’s
welcome in his native India, but before
that victory, he had contemplated
quitting the pro game. A few years ago,
he endured a five-month stretch in
which he did not win a single match.
In addition, his knees were becoming
a liability; the cartilage was completely
worn out, and he had to rely on
platelet-rich injections.
At the suggestion of his cousin,
Bopanna started a regular yoga
practice during the pandemic, one
that he has stuck with—and which he
credits to his longevity in the game,
and his recent championship run.
Apart from strengthening his joints
and maintaining stability, yoga—as
part of a plan to work smarter, not
harder—has allowed him to reverse the
process from living with excruciating
knee pain to being able to play without
pain. In addition, his consistent yoga
practice offered him an invaluable
mental edge that’s required to compete
at the highest level on tour. He’s quoted
as saying, “Every single morning I do a
lot of yoga and a lot of meditation. My
mind doesn’t feel rushed.”
It’s ironic that it’s taken Bopanna so
long to try yoga, given that the practice
has its roots in his home country. But
as the saying goes in this practice
that’s traditionally passed down from
teacher to student: “When the student
is ready, the teacher appears.”
I find that most of us embark on
these yogic journeys when we’re ready
June 2024 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 35
 YOUR
HEALTH
2024
You can continue in experiencing the same results day after day, or you
can experience a new mind-body adventure to see what opens up.
for change—not just in regards to the
physical aspect in dealing with injuries
and prevention, but also in changing
perspective, and working toward a
stronger mindset that translates just as
much in life as it does on court.
TAKE A PAGE OUT OF
ROHAN’S PLAYBOOK
One of the questions I get asked most
often is how to begin a regular yoga
practice. There are many options, and
it can often be overwhelming knowing
what “style” to practice, and choosing
which class is appropriate. It’s also
helpful to know your “why,” and
motivation behind wanting to try yoga.
For example, when receiving a new
36 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY June 2024
client on court, it’s helpful to know why
the student is wanting to play tennis for
the first time. Practice goals would be
quite different for someone who wants
to play in a league for the first time,
vs. someone who has no intention of
playing matches and is just looking for
a great workout. I recommend seeking
out a proper yoga studio, where you can
commit to one class a week, where the
studio owner/manager can help direct
you toward a class that meets your
goals. For most professionals in our
industry, a gentler class that balances
out the demands of teaching and play-
ing on court would be most appropriate
and beneficial.
Another good suggestion is to
take your yoga class on your “active
recovery” day if you engage in
workouts most other days of the week.
You’ll be surprised how much better
your body will feel as opposed to laying
around all day on your day off!
PHOTOS COURTESY MARGIT BANNON
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A CLASS
Check whether your teacher is certified
by the Yoga Alliance, just as you would
look for USPTA and PTR education
in a tennis or pickleball coach. A
yoga teacher who is also skilled in
working with athletes (or is an athlete
themselves) appreciates the need for
working slowly and skillfully for the
safety of their clients.
While classes labeled as “Hot Yoga”
www.tennisindustrymag.com
or “Vinyasa Flow” are quite popular
these days, they’re not my ideal
recommendation for those interested
in longevity. In the case of these two
examples, the challenge is that there
isn’t an emphasis on the use of props,
which is helpful for those of us who
are middle-aged or more, to get into
postures in a way that’s safe for our
individual needs (with regards to
previous/chronic injuries and working
with what we’re born with).
In the case of a “flow”-styled class,
it will move at a faster rate, and while
it may be perceived as a great workout
(along with the “hot” style that induces
sweat) less cueing is offered, which
could lead to frustration in not feeling
like you have a grasp on what you’re
doing or gaining a good base for knowl-
edge at the start of your yoga journey.
That said, if you’re already enjoying
these types of classes and they’re
working for you, please continue!
While I have my own preferences
based on my own unique experience,
there’s no wrong way to practice yoga,
and I’ll let you in on a little secret: All
yoga is good for tennis and any other
racquet sport you are enjoying! It’s all
about finding the right class and teacher
you enjoy and benefit from. My first
yoga classes were upon the recommen-
dation of my physical therapist in the
late 1990s, but I did not connect with
my original teacher, which subse-
quently led me to quit after four classes.
I didn’t try it again for several years.
Don’t let this happen to you!
MY RECOMMENDATIONS
A Hatha Yoga class will typically
move at a slower rate with standing
postures appropriate for beginners
and experienced practitioners alike.
There is also an emphasis on breathing
and elements of meditation that are
equally if not more beneficial to those
of us in this industry on court and in
real life! With that said, classes may not
be labeled as such, and this is where it’s
www.tennisindustrymag.com
helpful to inquire more on classes at
the location of your choice.
Rohan Bopanna is said to be prac-
ticing Lyengar Yoga, which is a very
slow-paced class with meticulous
attention to detail when it comes to
setting up and holding yoga postures.
While it may be harder to find a skilled
instructor to lead you in this specific
tradition, I think an alignment-based
yoga class where you’re led on how
to take postures with no assumed
knowledge is helpful in creating a solid
base and foundation for your practice.
The details on how to get into and out
of poses, combined with reminders
on the breathing, are a magical way of
bringing you into the present mo-
ment as you learn a new skill that will
eventually give you the confidence to
practice on your own in what yogis call
a “home practice.”
NO ”TIME” TO PRACTICE YOGA?
If you’re unable to commit to a weekly
studio class, my simplest suggestion
is to take five minutes a day, taking
one posture well, either before or
after work, or even as a work break
(especially if you have an office or a
gym available to you at work). Like
anything else, it’s about committing to
the time you’ll stick with so that you
can be consistent enough to experience
the benefits. You really are worth the
time and effort this self-care requires!
This is where your “why” in
wanting to start this practice comes
in, whether it’s for injury prevention,
recovery or your mental well-being:
You can continue in experiencing the
same results day after day, or you can
experience a new mind-body adventure
to see what opens up for you!
There are many accessible online
options to help you with this (including
options I offer for your practice needs;
see the bio for more information). I
began my yoga practice with a desire to
lessen my low-back issues that began
after playing in college while beginning
to teach tennis. While it has helped me
to manage not only that but also all of
the things that creep up in the body
due to overuse and neglect, it’s helped
me mentally in ways I never knew
possible.
Yoga has given me the tools to
manage myself as a tennis teaching
professional, as a player again, and as
a person in this ever-changing world.
While we may not be within grasp
of becoming world No. 1, or winning
a Grand Slam title like Bopanna, we
can take inspiration from him and
ourselves to motivate and encourage
self-improvement through yoga—one
posture and one breath at a time. •
Margit Bannon (above, with Rohan
Bopanna) is a USPTA Elite Certified
Tennis Professional who specializes in
Yoga for Tennis through her business:
Play Tennis. Practice Yoga.® She
offers weekly tips on Instagram: @
playtennispracticeyoga, with longer
practices also offered on YouTube: Play
Tennis. Practice Yoga. She also has a
Yoga for Tennis Series offered with a
week of complimentary practices on
the Fit4Tennis app: https://fit4tennis.
com/?via=margit. For more information
visit www.playtennispracticeyoga.com
or email margitbannon@gmail.com.
June 2024 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY 37
 AskTheExperts
When Should a
Frame Break?
Q: I have two somewhat related
questions. 1) Should a tennis
racquet ever break soon after the
frame is restrung? 2) An advanced
competitive tennis player who has
used his racquet for more than four
years has had it restrung at least 100
times. Should this frame ever break
soon after being restrung?
I ask because a heavily used and
often restrung frame I service broke
during play shortly after I restrung
it, including replacing the grommets
due to wear. But also, I’m wondering
if there could be a design flaw in
this particular model. When looking
closely at photos of this same model
on Ebay, I saw several being sold that
had tiny cracks at 10 and 2 o'clock.

A: The quick answer to your first

question is no, the frame shouldn’t
break soon after it’s restrung. If it does,
you need to investigate.
Was the racquet mounted properly in
the machine? This would be the most
likely cause, since if the frame is not
supported correctly, it can break. Often
the frame is strong enough to not break
during the process, but the graphite
matrix of fibers has been compromised
and will either break when removed
from the vise or soon thereafter. A good
practice is to always take a close look
at the frame shape before and after
stringing. The shape shouldn’t change
more than a millimeter or two during
the process. A significant change is a
sign that the frame was stressed either
in the process or was already fatigued or
weakened prior to the restring.
Another reason would simply be
a defective frame. In my experience,
I can remember three cases where
manufacturers had a “bad batch”
of racquets make it through quality
control and into the marketplace. It’s
you if they are aware of any issues with a
particular frame, as they will want to get
those off the market and replace them
quickly.
For question No. 2, this one would
be more expected. Often a visual
inspection of the frame will show no
sign of a problem, other than normal
wear and tear, but a frame that is four
years old can be considered “at risk”—
and that risk is highly elevated if the
racquet is used by an advanced player. A
good player will be playing more often
and striking the ball much harder than
an average player, putting more stress
on the racquet. Compound that with
frequent restringing, which puts more
stress on the frame than play in most
cases, and you have a recipe for a “worn
out” frame.
There may be no visible signs to warn
of the frame’s fatigue, but it still could
be compromised. Also, you can look for
signs of wear on the frame, especially
at the drill holes. Are they enlarged or
misshapen? Is there paint missing from
the frame due to court scrapes? Look
for any other signs that the frame is
misshaped or damaged in any way.
Other things to consider: Carbon
fibers are very strong, which is why they
are the primary ingredient in a frame.
They rarely break unless struck with an
immovable force. However, those carbon
fibers are super thin—often thinner
than a human hair. In a racquet layup,
these fibers are arranged to maximize
the design so that flex or stiffness occurs
where the designer wants it.
These thousands of incredibly strong,
tiny fibers are held together with resin
(glue) to create the frame. While the
carbon fibers are resilient and strong,
the resin can age and wear. Think about
the frame flexing on every hit and
with every pull of the string during the
stringing process. That resin takes a
beating and can begin to break down.
SHUTTERSTOCK

rare, but it does happen. Usually, a when changing grommet strips. Wipe This is why pro players are constantly
check with the manufacturer will tell the frame down and take a close look playing with a new set of racquets.

We welcome your questions. Email them to bob@racquettech.com.

38 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY June 2024 www.tennisindustrymag.com

get started
coach tennis

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© 2024 USTA. All rights reserved.

YOUTH TENNIS
Wanted: Middle School
Tennis Players!
Catching players in their middle school
years is essential to building high school
teams and lifelong participants.
By Denny Schackter
D
eclining enrollments at
many of the nation’s schools
also means that participa-
tion is falling for many after-
school activities.
For high school athletics, one of the
charges of the National Federation of
State High School Associations (NFHS)
is to track which sports are growing and
which are declining. The good news is
that for the 2022-2023 school year, the
number of high school boys and girls
playing tennis actually grew from the
previous year. According to NFHS data,
the 2021-2022 school year saw 145,858
boys and 176,185 girls playing high
school tennis, for a total of 322,043 stu-
dent-athletes. Last year, those numbers
grew to 158,306 for high school boys
40 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY June 2024
Your Serve
and 191,036 for girls, totaling 349,342
tennis players.
The bad news is that for boys’ tennis,
the number of high school teams has
declined, from 9,632 school programs
in 2021-2022 to 7,673 last year. Girls’
teams grew slightly during that time,
from 9,987 programs to 10,564, but this
is still a cautionary tale. And it starts
before students reach high school.
Lindsey Atkinson, the director of
sports at the NFHS, also is the chair of
the USTA’s High School Committee,
and she is a strong believer in early
school athletic opportunities.
“Elementary school exposure to a
sport and middle school structure have
created the American interscholastic
high school sports model,” she says.
“Strong elementary and middle school
sports programming are essential
to high school sports success from a
growth perspective.”
For those in the tennis business, the
results are mixed. In less affluent areas,
we appear to have decreasing numbers of
high school players, but we’re holding our
own in higher demographic locations.
A critical age range to create more
tennis players is in middle school,
where many kids get cut out of team
sports because they were not good
enough to play “travel team” or in
“elite” programs. This can be a great
opportunity to increase tennis num-
bers by having those kids included on
tennis teams. They want to play sports,
and on the tennis team, they have a
sense of belonging, their self-esteem
goes up, they get to play, and they are
engaged in a healthy and fun sport.
What can we do to increase our
tennis numbers? I believe USTA local
districts, park and rec programs, par-
ents and “pied-pipers” can team up and
create programming to increase middle
school tennis.
In other sports, beginning instruc-
tion often is given by volunteers—often
parents. Getting more parents involved
can help retain kids in school tennis.
We also need to find a way to safely,
and without invading privacy, “share”
registration and program information
in a way that can help grow middle
school and high school tennis. For in-
stance, while park districts can’t simply
“give” registration data to the USTA
or other organizations, they can invite
USTA personnel, high school coaches,
Community Tennis Associations, etc.
to park district tennis facilities to give
out programming information. Private
facilities can do the same. We need a
team approach to this.
We all need to continue to focus on
growth and retention at all levels, and
making tennis for middle school stu-
dents attractive will help to ensure that
we have players for high school, college
and beyond. •
SHUTTERSTOCK
We welcome your opinions
and comments. Email us at
info@tennisindustrymag.com.
www.tennisindustrymag.com
42 - ADDvantage Magazine | June 2024
 CEO MESSAGE

Brian Dillman
USPTA CEO
USPTA WORLD RACQUETS CONFERENCE 2024 | RANCHO MIRAGE, CA

Racquets United with us. We are open to all. Our indus-

try needs us all to be united, and let’s
start in September in California. If you
ever wonder, “Why should I be a USPTA
member?” come to the conference and

F
or those of you who have met me in
person, so far - luckily, it has been
many - I hope you noticed I don’t like
to exaggerate or be hyperbolic at all.
I like to tell it straight to the point with
no fluff.
Therefore, I would like to announce
registration is officially open for the
largest and best World Racquets Confer-
ence in the history of the organization.
This will be the largest gathering of rac-
quets professionals in the past 20 years.
It will be a sell-out. We will have the
world’s largest trade show since the Super
Show. We are bringing back Division
Olympics and many amazing, world-class
speakers. We expect the main hotel, the
Westin Rancho Mirage, will sell out. If
you are late to register, there will be an
overflow hotel.
The theme this year is Racquets
United. We are bringing all our racquet
sports together into one conference with experience it for yourself.
the focus on building a well-rounded pro- As you talk with your fellow USPTA
fessional with skills to grow, learn and im- professionals about WRC24 and begin to
prove yourself and those around you. We strategize who will be the best teammates
are so proud of our association and the for Division Olympics, come ready to
impact we have on the industry and on compete in multiple events like: tennis,
people’s lives every day. We will celebrate pickleball, padel, duck bowling, stringing,
you and provide a platform for sharing, golf and some surprise events that require
learning and supporting each other. you to break out of your comfort zone!
We love the word, "United," in our I would also like to say a personal
theme because of the feeling you get when thank you to Trish, the national board
you are around other professionals who and our national staff. The first six
are like-minded, passionate and com- months have flown by, and I am so proud
mitted to our association. We are also to represent you. It has been amazing to
uniting each other from our 17 divisions meet so many of you at your divisional
from the United States, and we are mak- conferences, USTA sectional meetings,
ing a special invitation to our internation- Indian Wells, the Miami Open, Del Rey
al partners in Japan, China and around Beach, Racquet X, The Directors Club,
the world. But let’s not stop the uniting USTA AMC, The Billie Jean Cup and the
there, we also encourage you (push, push) USPTA Florida Central Division con-
to bring in new, younger members, and ference. Let’s keep it rolling together—I
even non-members, to share this time mean, united!*

Executive Committee Meeting / USTA AMC in Lake Nona and USTA Florida 75th Celebration
The USPTA National Board of Directors, our executive directors and our Executive Committee were also in town for
our spring meeting, and the spirit was open, collaborative and unified (how many times can I use it?). We had open, honest
discussions, learned how to, “Think Like McGyver,” and, “Feed Forward.” Throughout our 17 divisions, we work arm-in-arm
with the USTA sections every day. As a matter of fact, in many divisions, we have USTA employees on our boards or as execu-
tive directors. This creates a great spirit of comradery and unity (there is that theme again). So, when the USTA AMC came to
Lake Nona in April, it was wonderful to see everyone from around the country together, engaging and working to grow tennis.
Congratulations to the USTA national staff and leadership for an outstanding conference, capped off with Andre Agassi closing
the meeting with an incredible and authentic discussion about his life, tennis and more. Finally, to complete the weekend of
celebrating our unity and tennis, the USTA Florida hosted a spectacular 75th anniversary celebration and the crème de la
crème—a performance by KC and the Sunshine Band!
One of my inspirational heroes, Zig Ziglar, imbedded in his message the idea: You can get everything you want in life if
you help others get what they want. The only thing stopping our industry is us. Meeting hundreds of our members in the past
six months, spending time with our incredible national board, executive directors and the Executive Committee and meeting
the thousands of volunteers who give their time and energy to tennis leads me to one conclusion. Unity is our bond and if we
care about tennis and each other, then let’s spend our energy helping others get what they want. I think we will all be happier
and much more fulfilled!

June 2024 | ADDvantage Magazine - 43

 VICE PRESIDENT MESSAGE

44 - ADDvantage Magazine | June 2024

New players
make good
cents!
R
ecently, our colleague and past USPTA
national president, Chuck Gill, pre-
sented at the Intermountain Division
Conference. His presentation was
titled Creating and Running Innovative
Programs and Events. He mentioned an
entry-level adult program was essential to
a healthy club ecosystem. Too often, our
industry and the USPTA culture revolves
around performance athletes. However,
savvy and successful professionals over the
years have spent much of their time and
energy on entry-level players. One example
of this is the New Player Initiative in the
Intermountain Division, a great example of
the division and the USTA Intermountain
Section partnering to help both organiza-
tions’ missions: elevating and supporting
the USPTA Certified teaching professional
and growing the game of tennis.
“Introducing new players to tennis
is one of the more satisfying parts of my
job. Getting players connected to the
game through league play is the step that
helps develop a commitment to playing
our sport. Back in the ‘70s we introduced
significant numbers to the game, but we
lost many because we didn’t have a vehicle
for them to continue playing. Today, league
tennis gives us that next step. The steady
growth in tennis we are experiencing is in
large part due to teaching pros providing
the basic instruction and following through
by helping organize 2.5 teams,” said Tom
Van De Hey, former USPTA Intermountain
executive director.
When a USPTA professional pulls
together a new entry-level team, each orga-
VICE PRESIDENT MESSAGE
Player Initiative in 2023 and was rewarded
with an all-expense paid trip to the USPTA
World Conference. Participate in the New
Player Initiative! Celebrate 2.5 players,
encourage them to play for fun, play for
competition and play for health. Find ways
to combine games and drills for all ages and
skill levels. You will be helping others, your
community, the USTA and most of all, your-
self!” said Jenell Lester, USTA Community
Development Committee member.
Rob Scott Here are some examples of how various
USPTA Vice President savvy pros recruited entry level players:
• "It was easy! We approached all the
nization awards $200 to that pro for a $400 moms of kids in our summer program
total payday. Their name is put into a hat, and got a group together."
and at the end of the season, two names are • "We pulled from our existing beginner
pulled. The Intermountain Section awards clinic participants who were in cardio
one of the lucky, deserving pros an all-ex- tennis. We created a new format, with
pense paid trip to the US Open and the the goal of playing team tennis (2.5
Intermountain Division awards the other USTA Adult League) at the end of the
lucky, deserving pro an all-expense paid trip eight-week season."
to the USPTA World Conference. • "I partnered with the local parks and
“Working with 2.5 players is always recreation instructor. He shared with
inspiring because it takes me back to when me the list of adults who took begin-
I was learning to play and there is so much ning tennis the summer before. I called
that can be done with these players. Having them all in February and told them
new players and teams invigorates our pro- about the league and asked if they were
gram and gets more people involved in all of interested, and invited those who were
the programs that we offer." said Marshall to an organizational meeting at the
Carpenter, director of racquet sports at Con- recreation center. During the meeting,
gressional Country Club. " Winning the free they were given facts about the league
trip to the USPTA convention in Orlando and agreed to be captains."
was a great surprise and wonderful reward. • "Primarily by finding a couple of
This is a great incentive, and it helps grow newer players, and then asking them
the game that we all love.” to recruit a few friends. It snowballed
New players bring a lot to the table because the friends had friends. The
financially for tennis professionals and their approach was low-key. We stressed
businesses, with multiple revenue streams that this was for fun, and that we were
including: lessons, clinics, membership going to have a GREAT time."
dues, court fees, equipment sales (strings, Over 120 unique Intermountain Divi-
racquets, footwear, apparel, etc), additional sion USPTA professionals participated in
program fees (socials, tournaments, junior this program to add over 3200 new players
clinics, etc.), food and beverage revenue, etc. and 400 new teams to the adult league pro-
We were able to survey all pros who partici- gram in the Intermountain Section.
pated on a couple of occasions. In 2024, to- Adding and/or nurturing a robust
tal revenues from an average seven-person entry-level adult program to your business
team amounted to more than $20,000. will pay big long-term dividends and is a
“I know a lot of teaching pros are only win/win/win/win for the teaching profes-
interested in high performance students, sional, their students, the facility they work
but the heart and growth of USTA lies in the at and the tennis ecosystem in general. New
2.5 and 3.0 levels. I participated in the New players make good cents!*
June 2024 | ADDvantage Magazine - 45
 U

46 - ADDvantage Magazine | June 2024

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 WRC24 PREVIEW
USPTA WORLD RACQUETS CONFERENCE 2024 | RANCHO MIRAGE, CA
Collin Brazan
Public Relations Coordinator
T
he historic USPTA World Conference you have come
to love is back with an updated name, as it is evolv-
ing! With a robust curriculum that celebrates all our
racquet sports, the highly anticipated return of Battle
of the Divisions — now Division Olympics — and a wealth of
networking opportunities, the USPTA's annual conference is
bringing more ways to celebrate the many sports you teach and
play than ever before.
We're looking forward to seeing you all in California,
where you’ll get to experience:
48 - ADDvantage Magazine | June 2024
Our Most Varied
Educational
Offerings Yet
In developing our Racquets United theme and in meeting
the needs of our members and racquet sports professionals
everywhere, the USPTA is providing educational opportunities
for tennis, pickleball, padel and more. It is important that we
provide the tools you need to stay ahead of a rapidly growing
and changing industry and that your education stokes your
personal and professional interests. The more sports we can
include, the more students we can teach and the more lives we
can impact.
Our Most Robust
Networking
Experiences Ever
Strong reviews of the networking opportunities at 2023’s
conference gave us the opportunity to consider how we could
evolve the ways you interact with your colleagues even further.
Last year’s annual USPTA Trade Show was our largest ever,
and so we’re expanding our venue and inviting even more
vendors. New events, in addition to our usual lineup, will
bring opportunities to celebrate the racquet sports teaching
profession and network with other professionals through our
welcome party, closing reception, networking breakfast and a
new last-night party.
The beloved USPTA Awards Luncheon will return to
commemorate the impactful professionals who have aided our
mission in raising the standards of tennis-teaching profession-
als and coaches.
 WRC24 PREVIEW

A New Battle
of the Divisions
Experience community and competition alongside your
division friends as you square up against our 16 other divisions
across the duration of WRC24 for title of gold medalist. Along-
side some surprises, playing tennis, pickleball, padel, duck
bowling, golf and participating in our World’s Fastest Stringing
Competition during the USPTA Trade Show will earn your
division points in this fierce contest.

A Scenic Resort
in the Desert's Heart
Sweeping views of mountains and peaceful palms set the
stage for the calming retreat of The Westin Rancho Mirage,
WRC24’s host hotel. Six dining destinations and in-room din-
ing services set the eating stage outside of the USPTA’s events,
while three pools, waterslides, The Westin Rancho Mirage Golf
Course, the resort arcade and The Westin Rancho Mirage Well-
ness Spa provide onsite entertainment and enrichment. With
the rest of the greater Palm Springs area just a quick drive or
rideshare away, there is certain to be no shortage of activity.
Projections indicate group hotel space will book quickly.
The USPTA encourages attendees to book their stay immedi-
ately after completing conference registration.

Scan the QR code to register for the newly named World

Racquets Conference 2024, the largest and most thrilling event
in the USPTA’s history. Register through July 15 to take advan-
tage of our early bird registration rates. *

June 2024 | ADDvantage Magazine - 49

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.
 REFLECTIONS
Danielle
Collins
Leaving
on Her
Own Terms
Steve Flink
International Tennis
Hall of Fame
Photo Credit:
Fred and Susan Mullane;
Camerawork USA
K
nowing when to bid farewell is
among the most difficult tasks for
all accomplished athletes. In most
instances, they have built their
reputations on being deeply committed,
durable, purposeful, professional and
resolute. They have succeeded by sticking
assiduously to their routines and remain-
ing steadfast in their self-beliefs. They
have often found victory when defeat
seemed around the corner. They have
listened to their inner voices rather than
52 - ADDvantage Magazine | June 2024
accepting the views of outsiders, critics or
close associates.
Be that as it may, the fact remains
that there have been too many unhappy
endings for those who make their livings
dedicating themselves to a particular
sport. Players can carry obstinacy too far
and start to make losing a habit the way
they once succeeded as if it was second
nature. They can easily lose perspective.
Not Danielle Collins. The 30-year-
old American announced earlier this year
that she would be wrapping up her career
at the end of 2024. In 2019, Collins was
diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis,
which causes excruciating pain and swell-
ing in the body’s joints. Two years later,
in the spring of 2021, she had emergency
surgery to treat endometriosis, a condi-
tion which causes severe pain in the pelvis
and makes it harder to get pregnant.
Collins wants to have a baby not
far into the future, and she realized that
her biological clock is ticking even more
rapidly than is the case for most women
wanting to have a child. She took that
into consideration when deciding when
to put her racquet down and dedicate
herself to a family life.
Some inside the tennis bubble
believed Collins might be hard pressed
to produce her best tennis under these
daunting circumstances. Perhaps the
pressure to play her best would work
against her. Maybe, it was felt by a num-
ber of authorities, Collins might not play
her customary brand of unbridled tennis
any longer.
But too many people were underes-
timating Collins as a competitor of the
 REFLECTIONS

front rank who knows herself exceedingly
well and realized exactly what she was
doing. This highly charged player knows
how to take matters into her own hands
on the tennis court. The outcome of her
clashes usually depends almost entire-
ly on the quality of her aggressive style
of play and the sound execution of her
game plan, rather than who happens to
be standing on the other side of the net.
Passivity is not an option for her.
Collins struggled to reach peak effi-
ciency early in the season. Prior to the
She dropped one set early in the Credit
One Open in Charleston against No.
2 seed Ons Jabeur. Thereafter she was
unstoppable. Collins collected that crown
with a six match blitz, ousting four seeds
in her startling march through the field.
In the two events combined, Collins
swept 13 matches in a row, conceded only
two sets and ruled ruthlessly.
By the end of that stirring run,
Collins had soared to No. 15 in the world.
It seemed entirely possible that the last
season of her career would simultaneous-
ly be her best ever, largely on the basis of
her scintillating springtime.
Collins had only won two tourna-
ments in her entire career before coming
through so handsomely in Florida and
South Carolina. But she conducted herself
with a self-conviction and a swagger only
authentic champions exhibit. The highest
she had ever been ranked was No. 7 in the
world back in 2022, the year she
reached the Australian Open final.

passivity
Miami Open which took place March 19-
31, she was ranked No. 53 in the world.
But then this charismatic individual pro-
ceeded to play arguably the finest tennis
of her career to sweep two championships
in a row for the first time in her career.

is not an
She dropped her first set in Miami to
Bernarda Pera before sweeping through
the field by securing her last 14
sets, toppling five seeds in the
process, taking the title over

option
No. 4 seed Elena Rybakina
7-5, 6-3.
Shifting onto the clay
the following week after pre-
vailing on hard courts in
Florida, Collins was every

for her.
bit as imposing, smothering
her opponents with unre-
lenting, straightforward,
top of the line tennis.

Will Danielle Collins climb even

higher this season? It doesn’t really
matter. She has already scaled the
heights of her game in the last chap-
ter she will ever write as a player.
By the early stages of April, Collins
had made certain 2024 was go-
ing to be played out entirely on
her terms. That, ulti-
mately, is her most
important triumph
of all. *

June 2024 | ADDvantage Magazine - 53

certification
workshops
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Jun. 2 - 4 Simsbury, CT
Jun. 5 - 7 Southampton, NY
Jun. 20 - 22 Big Rapids, MI
Jun. 28 - 30 Memphis, TN

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Jun. 1 Kapolei, HI
Jun. 2 Johns Creek, GA
Jun. 2 Bonita Springs, FL
Jun. 16 Sarasota, FL

SCAN HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.


MASTER PROFESSIONAL CORNER
Jorge Capestany
USPTA Master
Professional
T
ennis drills are the cornerstone of most
tennis professionals' work. Delivering
a tennis drill is how most of us go to
work. It is what we do most of the time
when we’re on the court with our students,
especially in group lesson settings.
I have been blessed to travel all over
the planet, delivering on-court sessions to
fellow coaches on the best tennis drills they
could use in their classes.
Along the way, I found that most
coaches need help to come up with new
drills. Many coaches have a small number of
drills in their arsenal, and they tend to use
them over and over. I call those core drills
and I believe that using core drills, the ones
your players like, is important and should
be done.
However, the problem arises when a
coach uses the same 3-5 drills exclusively
year in and year out, over and over. It makes
the practice session boring for the players
and the coach.
Perhaps you’ve been at a coach's con-
ference and have seen a drill demonstrated
that you thought would be perfect for one of
your classes. Almost always, when a coach
sees a new drill and they can imagine them-
selves delivering it back at their clubs with
their players, it's truly exciting. A new drill is
like a piece of gold to a tennis coach.
In this article, I'm going to lay out the
steps I use to design tennis drills and some
methodology that I think you'll find useful
for designing your own tennis drills.
Definition of a tennis drill…
First, we'll start with a definition of
what a tennis drill is…
A tennis drill is simply a replication of
a piece of a tennis point.
For example, in a typical tennis point,
the following situations may happen:
• a serve is hit
• a return comes back
• a baseline rally ensues
56 - ADDvantage Magazine | June 2024
Designing Tennis Drills
• a player approaches the net
• a player executes a volley
• a player ends the point by hitting an
overhead
… any one of the situations listed
above could be isolated and turned into
a drill.
So, let's talk about the specific steps
involved in designing tennis drills.
Step 1: Assessing what the player(s) need…
Determine what the player(s) need
to work on. The best way to do this is by
observing your players in competition. Un-
fortunately, this may be difficult for many
coaches with a busy schedule. But watching
your players compete in competition and
under the pressure of the scoreboard is
essential for determining what they need to
work on so this is always the first step.
If a coach cannot watch a player in an
official competition like a tournament or
league match, the next best thing is to watch
them playing points in a practice setting.
The only problem with this is that many of
the player’s problems that surface during an
actual tournament or league match may not
surface in a practice match when there is
less pressure.
Step 2: Identifying the Featured Shot or Skill…
Every drill should have an obvious fea-
tured shot or skill that it is designed to ad-
dress. So, reverse-engineer the drill. Instead
of just coming up with a generic drill, you're
going to first decide what specific shot or
skill the player(s) are struggling with.
Perhaps after watching your player (or
team) in competition, you determined they
need to improve their transition volleys.
Now you’ve identified your featured shot or
featured skill.
When I refer to feature shots, I'm
talking about actual shots, like volleys,
overheads or forehands. Conversely,
feature skills are things like slicing or using
more topspin.
A well-defined drill will always have a
clear featured shot or featured skill and it's
imperative that the coach communicates
that to the players before the drill begins.
Step 3: Designing the Actual Drill…
Once you determine what the fea-
tured shot or featured skill is (i.e. transition
volleys), then it’s time to start designing the
drill itself. In this step the coach should con-
sider all the items in the list below to make
a drill effective.
• The level of the players
• How many players
• Should it be dead ball (not played out)
or live ball (point is played out)
• Is the drill coach-fed or player-fed?

• Do the players understand the featured
shot or skill?
• Does the drill give players lots of touch-
es on the featured shot or skill?
• Is the drill cooperative or competitive?
All these factors should be considered
when designing your drills.
Let's look at an actual drill I designed
for our women’s 3.5 USTA team that needed
to work on their transition volley skills.
You'll see in the diagram that the drill has
four players; one side is attacking the net
while the other side is defending and hitting
passing shots and lobs.
The players get tons of touches on the
ball when it comes to volleys and that's what
makes this drill one of my favorites.
You can watch me doing the Cuban
Davis Cup drill by scanning the QR code
below:
Modifying Tennis Drill for All Levels
Tennis professionals must be able to
modify a drill, making it either easier or
more difficult to suit the players they are
working with at the moment.
I have found in my travels that many
struggle to modify a drill. Once they see a
drill demonstrated with a certain level of
player, they assume that drill is only for
that level.
Often, when I present at a conference,
the players on the court are other coaches
attending the conference. So, their skill
level is typically pretty high, but when I'm
back at my club I do those exact same drills
with players at a lower skill level and the
drill still works.
So, what are the steps to modifying
a drill?
A drill can be modified in two ways… it
can be made easier (regression) or modified
to be more difficult (progression).
Once you determine which of those
two options you need to make the drill work
for the current students, you should ask
yourself the five questions below to deter-
June 2024 | ADDvantage Magazine - 57
MASTER PROFESSIONAL CORNER
mine if the drill can be modified.
1. Could I change the feed direction?
2. Could I change the feed rate (the fre-
quency of how quickly I deliver feeds)?
3. Could I change the difficulty of the feed
(the better the player, the tougher the
feed)?
4. Could I change the start position of the
players?
5. Could I switch the drill between coop-
erative and competitive?
Simply asking yourself those five ques-
tions about any drill that you currently use
would clarify in your mind if and how that
drill could be modified.
A coach also needs to know what a
good time is to abort a drill. It's okay for a
coach to set up a drill and decide to abort
the drill if it's not accomplishing its goal. I
often do this, especially when I think that a
drill might be hurting a player's confidence.
If you want to get free access to more
than 15 drills, you can visit the link below:
https://tennisdrills.tv/free-tennis-
drills/*
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Tweener Lighting Systems
The New Approach to LED Court Lighting
A
fter taking the tennis court lighting
industry by storm in Europe with
over 1,500 installations in 23 differ-
ent countries, Tweener lighting sys-
tems has now begun to make a name for
itself in the United States. First publicly
launched in the states in December of
2021, the new innovative lighting solution
has been installed on over 180 courts at
more than 65 different facilities in 13
states. For many country clubs, HOAs
and residential courts around the country,
this system has become the best, and
sometimes only, solution to light their
courts for a few reasons.
What is Tweener?
The system is made up of sixteen
12’ 6” fixtures that run 100 feet in length
down each side of the court or bank
of two courts to light the playing area.
These fixtures are mounted directly to the
vertical fence posts within the existing
fencing structure at 9-10 feet in height or
directly below the top rail. Four 3’ fixtures
are installed below the longer fixtures in
between the net and service line on each
side of the court pointing upwards to light
high balls and lobs. Each 100-foot run
is powered by a power supply box that is
mounted directly to a vertical fence post
in the same fashion as the fixtures.
om
Easy Installation
The design of the system makes
installation and maintenance a short,
easy and inexpensive process for play-
ers and facilities looking to light their
courts. With no need for concrete footers,
24’ poles or lift rentals, Tweener can be
installed and fully functional for less than
the price of traditional lighting in as little
as 1-2 days with no structural or building
permitting required.
Cost/ Energy Efficiency
The ability to install the Tweener
system in a fraction of the time that it
takes to have traditional lighting installed
not only saves time but also money for
its customers. On average, Tweener saves
its customers up to 30% on materials
and installation costs compared to a
traditional high mast LED installation
for a single court and more than 50% on
a bank of two courts.
June 2024 | ADDvantage Magazine - 59
MEMBER BENEFIT
Minimal Lighting Spillage/ Pollution
This easy installation process along
with the system’s low mounting height
allows it to be used in areas where tradi-
tional high mast lighting can’t. Certain
areas of the country do not allow tennis
court lights to be installed above 14 feet
in height, and using traditional lighting
at this height would produce major dark
and hot spots on the court. Tweener’s
linear design produces 300 Lux (Recre-
ational) level lighting while also meeting
light height regulations almost anywhere.
In addition to areas with light
height restrictions, Tweener can be used
in places with light spillage restrictions
as well. It produces less than one foot
candle of light spillage 10 feet outside
the fence line of the court meeting the
majority of lighting ordinances in strictly
regulated areas.
To learn more about the cut-
ting-edge lighting technology, visit
www.tweenerusa.com or contact
Nick Schultz at 954-824-2001 or at
nick@10-s.com.*
MEMBERSHIP DEPARTMENT UPDATE

JAMMIN' WITH

JIM Jim Stockwell, USPTA Director of Membership

Game, Set, Match:

Ace Your Tennis Experience with USPTA’s Referral Rewards and Advancing Development and Diversity Programs

i
n a dynamic stride toward fostering in- Each existing member can refer up to six industry. As part of our continued effort
clusivity and championing professional applicants and earn a maximum of $300 to share more about the USPTA and the
development within the tennis commu- in Tennis Warehouse gift cards per cal- industry, all approved ADD applicants are
nity, the USPTA offers innovative refer- endar year. To qualify, the new applicant invited to their first division conference
ral rewards and Advancing Development must list the referring member’s name free of charge.
and Diversity programs. With a steadfast in the “Refer & Earn Referring Member” To apply to the Advancing Develop-
commitment to cultivating a diverse and field at the time the online application is ment and Diversity program, kindly
thriving landscape within the sport, these filled out. The referring member must be go online to www.uspta.com >> Get
initiatives stand as beacons of progress, an existing USPTA member, active and in Certified >> USPTA ADD Program. You
offering unparalleled opportunities for good standing. can download a digital copy of the appli-
both seasoned professionals and aspiring cation from this site online. Please email
talents alike. Through a blend of incen- ADD Program your completed application to james.
tivized referrals and targeted initiatives, USPTA’s Advancing Development stockwell@uspta.org for review. *
USPTA sets the stage for a transformative and Diversity program offers free train-
journey, where meritocracy and inclusivi- ing, networking, tennis education and a
ty intertwine to propel the tennis industry tennis instructor certification opportunity
toward a brighter, more equitable future. to a socioeconomically disadvantaged
individual with a desire to teach the
Refer & Earn sport. Qualified applicants also receive a
The USPTA, along with Tennis free year of prorated membership dues
Warehouse, offers a referral reward for the Tennis Instructor category, as
program, giving members Tennis Ware- well as registration to a level 1 virtual or
house gift cards for referring new USPTA in-person workshop. Following their free
applicants. Members can earn money for introductory year of USPTA membership,
use at Tennis Warehouse as part of our accepted members in the ADD program
newly titled Refer & Earn program. The also receive reduced membership dues for
process is easy! Once the new applicant the second year (50% off ), and the third
completes the USPTA application online year (25% off ).
to become a Certified Tennis Instructor Applicants are approved by their
or Certified Professional (which includes respective USPTA division’s president.
payment of the one-time application fee Once approved, they will receive guid-
and prorated portion of membership dues ance and mentorship from their division,
for the current calendar year), you will along with the national office, to support
earn a $50 Tennis Warehouse gift card! becoming a certified instructor in the

NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADDVANTAGE MAGAZINE

President................................................................ Trish Faulkner Editor.................................................................................Collin Brazan ADDvantage is published monthly by the
Layout/Design........................................................... Kerry Schneeman United States Professional Tennis Association.
First Vice President.................................................... Mark Faber
Editorial Assistance ........................ Jim Stockwell, Ellen Weatherford, The opinions expressed in ADDvantage are
Vice Presidents.....................................Jason Gilbert, Jenny Gray, Laumaur Lindsay, Ramona Husaru those of the authors and not necessarily those
Kevin Theos, Rob Scott, Milos Vasovic of ADDvantage or the United States
Circulation............................................................................. Tim Baum Professional Tennis Association.
Immediate Past President....................................... Rich Slivocka USPTA World Headquarters
CEO & Managing Editor.......................................... Brian Dillman 11961 Performance Dr. Copyright© United States Professional Tennis
Orlando, FL 32827 Association, Inc. 2024. All rights reserved.
Legal Counsel........................................................George Parnell Reproduction of any portion of the magazine
407-634-3050 – www.uspta.com is not permitted without written permission
from the USPTA.

60 - ADDvantage Magazine | June 2024

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