Newsletter - USPTA divisions - United States Professional Tennis ...

A publication of the USPTA Mid-Atlantic Division
SERVICE L NES
Scenes from Monterey
INSIDE
President’s
2 message
Member
3 spotlight
Slide or
6 Stride
World Conference
10 wrapup
Metabolism
12
Fall 2012
and the USPTA World Conference
Clockwise from left: Joni Hannah, Sinikka English and Jim
Fromuth; Pat Hanssen and John Cleary; James Ridgley shows
off his winning bid at the silent auction; Donald Widener and
Jill Phipps; Hans Romer and Feisal Hassan.
Evaluate your
16 tennis programs
New members
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Mid-Atlantic Division
John Cleary
President
Mid-Atlantic Division
Board of Directors
President
John Cleary 301-340-6185
First/regional vice president
Carl Clark 804-287-1300
Vice president
Joni Hannah 703-938-5510
Treasurer
JD Almond 703-501-1773
Secretary
Terence Killen 703-938-5510
Past president
Pat Hanssen 434-295-6167
District presidents
Virginia
Jason Grigg 434-978-7529
West Virginia
TBA
District of Columbia
TBA
Maryland
Ron Shelton 443-629-4562
Head tester
Ted Meyer 301-865-2701
Women's liaison
Sue E. Nidzgorski 703-803-8483
Convention coordinator
Patrick Kearns 434-531-8876
Executive administrator
Jill Phipps 888-877-8232
message from your
President
Fellow USPTA Professionals,
I hope everyone is having a great fall with your indoor seasons now in full swing. The
past year has certainly been an exciting and eventful time for the USPTA and tennis in
general.
With the retirement of longtime CEO Tim Heckler and the hiring of John Embree, I am
confident that everyone in our association will work together in order to make the USPTA
stronger than ever. I urge all of you to get involved at the local level by working with
one of our various committees, or by simply submitting an article for publication in this
newsletter.
If you were not able to attend the World Conference in Monterey, Calif., this year, you
certainly missed out on some great educational and networking opportunities. I was fortunate
to attend seminars presented by some of our industry’s most knowledgeable people
such as Jim Loehr, Vic Braden, Nick Bollettieri and Jose Higueras, to name a few. One
of the most valuable sessions I attended was the General Membership update hosted by
our national president Tom Daglis. There, members from around the country were able to
interact with our national board by asking questions and making suggestions to those who
are the decision makers for our organization. A lot of great ideas were exchanged and we
hope to incorporate a similar session into our spring convention which will be held March
1-3, 2013, at the Boar’s Head Inn in Charlottesville, Va.
Two of the most important issues that were discussed at our annual meeting were our
association’s declining membership numbers and our current endorsement contracts. It
is incumbent upon all of us to keep our memberships active and to encourage our fellow
professionals who are not members to take advantage of all the USPTA has to offer. Our
association needs a steady stream of membership dollars in order to provide the quality
service we are accustomed to. Among the most valuable benefits the USPTA offers to its
members are free or discounted products provided by companies such as HEAD Penn,
Fromuth, Dartfish, CourtsideUSA, Aer-Flo, SportMaster and 10-S Supply. It is important
that we support all of our endorsees and continue to spread the word about their products
so in turn, they will be there for us in the future. Contact your local sales representative
today and let them know you appreciate their support. This will go a long way in making
our professional relationships stronger and continuing them for years to come.
Finally, I would like to extend congratulations to USPTA Mid-Atlantic member Feisal
Hassan for earning the award for George Bacso National USPTA Tester of the Year. Feisal
is a fixture at conventions nationwide and anyone who has heard him speak has undoubtedly
come away with some valuable information. Some of Feisal’s previous accolades
include the USPTA Industry Excellence Award in 1999, the Tennis Industry’s 40 Under
40 in 2000, five-time Division Tester of the Year, 10-time USPTA Division/State Pro of
the Year, and seven-time national Top-10 point holder in the USPTA’s Career Development
Program. Way to go Feisal, we’re fortunate to have you as part of our division!
Warm regards,
John Cleary, USPTA
President, USPTA Mid-Atlantic Division

Member Spotlight
Mark O’Bryan
Mark O’Bryan is the assistant tennis
professional at Lakewood Country
Club in Rockville, Md. He previously
worked at the Polo Golf and Country
Club in Georgia and Quince Orchard
Swim and Tennis Club in Maryland, as
well as the Saddlebrook Tennis Academy and Chevy Chase
Country Club. Mark played on the Alma College tennis
team before completing his marketing/professional tennis
management degree at Ferris State University.
Q: Where did you learn to play tennis?
A: I grew up in a tennis family and started playing
with my dad when I was young. He was a high
school coach in Michigan and ran summer camps
in our community, and that is where I really fell in
love with the game.
Q: Where did you play your college tennis? What
were some of your playing highlights?
A: I played at Alma College, a D3 school in Michigan.
One of the best memories of playing for the
Scots was earning the MIAA Tournament MVP, as
well as having the opportunity to travel with my
team on several spring break trips to play schools
down south.
Q: What do you enjoy most about being a tennis
professional?
A: The thing I enjoy most about my job is being able
to teach all different levels and age groups, and to
see my students make steady progress. The most
fulfilling thing for me is to see a student really
take ownership of their game, and how excited
they get when they learn something new.
Q: Why would you recommend that other tennis
professionals become USPTA members?
By John Cleary
A: I think the conferences and continuing education
opportunities are invaluable for a teaching professional,
as well as the chance to network and meet
other professionals in the industry. Additionally,
The Job Board has always been a great resource
for me when looking for new employment opportunities.
Q: How would you describe your teaching style/
philosophy?
A: I have always enjoyed the technical aspects of
teaching a stroke, and I really enjoy helping students
make adjustments to stroke mechanics, but
I try to teach in a live-point environment as much
as possible. I try to make my lessons high-energy
and fun, and hopefully my students learn a little
something as well!
Q: If you were not a tennis professional, what would
your occupation be?
A: If I weren’t a tennis professional, I would most
likely have gone into secondary education with a
focus in history. I really enjoy teaching, and both
of my parents worked as educators, so I have
always felt at home in that environment.
Q: What are your off-court hobbies/interests?
A: When not on the court, my fiancee, Katy, and I
like to go hiking and biking, and we always love
trying new restaurants.
Q: Three people you would most like to have lunch
with.
A: Chris Farley, John Belushi and Bo Schembechler.
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The annual Citi Open Kids’ Day took
place on July 28th, at the William
4
H.G. Fitzgerald Center in Rock
Creek Park. The three-hour event
(directed by Chris Tran), was open to
all youth under 17 years of age. This
year’s event attracted approximately
150 youth throughout the Mid-Atlantic
region including Washington D.C.,
Maryland, and Northern Virginia. There
were 14 volunteers who made the Kids’
Day engaging and fun. Included in our
volunteer group were Mid-Atlantic
Second VP Joni Hannah, Mid-Atlantic
Secretary Terence Killen, Alexandra
Gaspar, Nebyu Retta and Mani Barajas-
Alexander.
Mid-Atlantic Division
Citi Open Kids’ Day
By Chris Tran

2013 USPTA Mid-Atlantic Tennis Hall
of Fame nominations
With our March convention just around the corner, this
is a great time to nominate your fellow teaching professional
for the 2013 USPTA Mid-Atlantic Hall of Fame.
Last year our inaugural class included Rod Dulany, Feisal
Hassan, Kim Dillard and Terry Killen. There are many that
do so much for our division. Let’s show our support and
recognition for those that have been mentors for us in the
industry.
The Hall of Fame inductee(s) will be honored at the
Mid-Atlantic convention in March. In addition to a plaque,
the inductee(s) will also have their personal bios and pictures
posted on the divisional website for all to see. Here is
a list of some qualifications that are required to be eligible
for the award:
1. A current or past member of the USPTA who has recorded
20 years or more of service.
2. A candidate must have lived and worked within the
Mid-Atlantic Division for no less than 15 years of
membership to the USPTA to be considered for nomination.
3. A record of service to the tennis industry that would be
deemed outstanding enough to be selected by the Hall of
Fame Committee. Contributions made while living in the
Mid-Atlantic Division are weighed more heavily than
contributions made while living outside of the Division.
Criteria could include the following: Master Professional,
president of division, National Executive Board
Member, or made a dramatic impact in the teaching profession
through articles, videos, or community service.
If you are interested in nominating yourself or someone
else please fill out the Mid-Atlantic Hall of Fame application
and email back to tkillen@westwoodcc.com. The Hall
of Fame committee will review all applications and make
their decisions before the division convention in March.
USPTA/Mid-Atlantic Division Hall of Fame nomination form
Name: ___________________________________________________________________________________________
Address: _________________________________________________________________________________________
Phone No.: _____________________ Office No. _______________________ Cell No. ________________
USPTA No.: ____________________ Year joined: _____________________ Years member ___________
Please use additional space to complete the following:
Tennis employment history: __________________________________________________________________________
Service to the USPTA (State, Division & National): _______________________________________________________
Teaching/coaching accomplishments:___________________________________________________________________
Playing skills/rankings: ______________________________________________________________________________
Service to allied associations: _________________________________________________________________________
Publications/presentations/innovations: _________________________________________________________________
Awards and honors: _________________________________________________________________________________
Additional comments: _______________________________________________________________________________
Nominated by: ____________________________________________________________________________________
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Mid-Atlantic Division
SLIDE or STRIDE:
A hole in my shoe
This tennis playing podiatrist logged many hours
on the court during the summer. Playing in Mid-
Atlantic, national and international competition,
my feet took a beating. Recently, I happened to
feel a “breeze” on the bottom of my right shoe and noticed
a large hole (Figure 1). Although this self-inflicted “air
conditioning system” might be helpful on those hot and
humid summer days, it is NOT recommended for any tennis
player. Nonetheless, this hole in my sole offered me “food
for thought.”
Over the last several years, I have noticed more and
more professional tennis players sliding on hard courts (in
addition to the common practice of sliding on clay courts).
Maybe, as I yearn to elevate my game, this has been my
missing ingredient to greater success. Having been raised
on the public hard courts of Terre Haute, Ind., I must admit
that I was never instructed on the proper technique of sliding
on a tennis court. But perhaps, the first step in mastering
this technique is to purchase a new pair of shoes that
will assist me in sliding. As Spike Lee/“Mars Blackmon”
said in 1989 on the famous Michael Jordan commercials,
“It’s gotta be the shoes, money.” Therefore, as a reasonably
well-informed consumer, I began my search.
In purchasing a tennis shoe, the portion of the shoe that
most directly affects one’s ability to slide or not to slide is
the outer sole of the shoe (Figure 2). And, there are several
features that need to be considered. First of all, the tread on
the sole that is most necessary for sliding is the characteristic
herringbone pattern. These shoes can be utilized on clay
because this pattern allows for sliding with the necessary
traction. For players that desire to play on hard courts, a
modified herringbone pattern is utilized. A second important
factor to consider is the density of the rubber that is
used on the outersole. That is, a shoe with a harder density
rubber should be used on a hard court. On the other hand,
playing on a clay court would be better in a shoe with a less
dense rubber.
From my perspective, if Andy Roddick, Novak
Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, James Blake, Kim Clijsters, etc.,
can slide on a hard court, why can’t Dr. Alex Kor (or any
Mid-Atlantic tennis player) emulate today’s stars? If one
examines this list of “today’s best hard court sliders” on
tour and the brand of shoe that they use, it is interesting to
By Alex Kor, DPM, MS
Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical
Baltimore, Md.
note that there does not
seem to be one brand
name that is superior.
Therefore, it comes as
no surprise that there
is NOT a significant
difference in philosophies
among a few of
the shoe companies that
I contacted with regard
to sliding. Terry Gibson,
assistant marketing
manager for Wilson
Sporting Goods, states
that the Wilson tennis
shoes use a directional
herringbone pattern Figure 1
in combination with a
high density, extremely durable rubber compound (Duralast
Supreme) for abrasion resistance on hard courts. Nike does
not make a shoe specifically for sliding on a hard court,
because “the outsole would wear out more quickly.” Monte
Long (the Mid-Atlantic sales representative from Babolat)
tells me that Babolat has introduced the Optimized Cell
System (OCS) which includes small circles which open up
when the shoe is placed in a lateral position which creates
more traction. In addition, he also explained that a sole with
a harder rubber will slide better on a firm, smooth hard surface,
whereas a softer material will grip better, but not last
as long.
Thus, as you can see, my “shopping trip” was NOT so
straight-forward. Maybe Spike Lee/“Mars Blackmon” was
wrong in 1989, and I need to improve my technique. There
is no doubt that the practice of sliding on a clay court is
well-established and somewhat innate for players who are
raised on the “kitty litter.” That is, according to Baltimore
teaching pro and former ATP touring pro, Steve Krulevitz,
“Sliding on clay is an art. And yet, it must be practiced.
Fellow pros on the tour, especially from Australia and New
Zealand, used to practice doing sliding drills.” Maybe I
need to begin these drills now. In my zest to improve, I re-

quested input from Jack Schore, a Washington, D.C., based
tennis pro who coached Dan Goldie and Richey Reneberg.
Jack told me, “When sliding on clay, your objective is to
slide into the shot. Some players think that you slide after
the shot, but this is incorrect.” Phil Flanagan, a USPTA
teaching pro in Boca Raton, Fla., adds that, “Sliding after
the contact point creates a more difficult recovery because
of the extra time and distance the player is moving away
from the center of the court.” On the other hand, when
properly executed, Flanagan states that, “At the contact
point, the player has a solid base from which to power up
and through the ball. After contact, the player is able to
push off to recover before the next shot.”
According to data from “From Breakpoint to Advantage,”
by Dr. Babette Pluim and Dr. Marc Safran, it is clear
that sliding on a clay court results in less wear and tear on
the body versus the same activity on a hard court. Thus,
it comes as no surprise to me that Jack Schore does not
advocate sliding on a hard court. Jack says, “The court does
not give like clay and there is a chance of your ankle twisting
each time you attempt a slide.” Thus, as a podiatrist, I
would caution the recreational or novice player who desires
to begin sliding on a hard court for fear that he/she may
sustain an acute ankle sprain, ankle or foot fracture, blisters,
and overuse conditions.
Phil Flanagan agrees with Jack in not suggesting his
students slide on a hard court. But, he adds that “The
hard-court sliding that
you see on television
is being performed by
world-class athletes
who posses the physical
skills and strength
that allow them to
slide. The physical
demands of the professional
game sometimes Figure 2
require that the player
slide while running wide. However, you will also notice
that the hard court slide usually occurs after the contact
point.”
A tennis player’s ability to slide on a court can be
affected by age, athletic ability, flexibility, weight, court
surface and the outer sole of the shoe. In reviewing these
expert opinions that I have gathered, I have concluded that
I may be doing more harm than good in trying to slide on a
hard court. Therefore, like many Mid-Atlantic tennis players,
I may simply need to play more and practice harder.
Perhaps Bruce Lipka, director of tennis at Woodmont
Country Club, sums it up best by saying, “The only thing
affecting your ability to slide is your ability to slide.” Well,
I have been known to do the “electric slide,” but I may
want to restrict this to the dance floor.
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Mid-Atlantic Division
News from National
New USPTA CEO/
Executive Director –
John Embree
The USPTA Board of Directors
and Search Committee has hired
industry veteran John Embree as
the new CEO/Executive Director.
Embree will take the administrative
reigns from Tim Heckler, who will retire at the end of the
year, after 30 years in the position. Embree will begin transitioning
into his role as of October 1 and will be relocating
to the national office in Houston on November 1.
The association conducted a search for the new CEO/
Executive Director, and after interviewing several candidates
in conjunction with the executive search firm, GSI
Executive Search Inc., the USPTA Search Committee offered
the position to Embree. The contract was ratified by
the USPTA Executive Committee in late August.
“I began my tennis odyssey during college as a teaching
professional in Virginia. After more than three decades
of working in the sport that I began playing at 6 years old,
my career has come full circle, back to my foundation as a
grassroots advocate. I am thrilled to have been chosen by
the Executive Committee to help lead the USPTA in the
years to come,” said Embree.
“We are pleased to welcome John Embree into the
USPTA family. His vast tennis industry expertise, contacts,
and company management skills will serve the USPTA
well,” said President Tom Daglis.
Embree has held many influential industry roles for
more than 30 years. They include serving as President of
Prince Sports, The Americas; President of Balle de Match
LLC; and Vice President/General Manager, Racquet Sports
Division for Wilson Sporting Goods Co. Most recently,
he launched a tennis consulting practice to assist endemic
brands, associations and new corporate entities in maximizing
their impact in the tennis marketplace. His client list
included the USTA, ITA, Peter Burwash International, Off
the Grid Technologies, and Donnay USA.
Playtennis.com
Playtennis.com is the new USTA/TIA-sponsored
industry website for players. It is a portal for tennis players
with a social media component. It will allow players to
search for teaching professionals, facilities, programs, and
partners. As a tennis-teaching professional,
this new industry website allows
you to interact and connect with the
vast market of players. It gives players
the opportunity to find you, your facility
and your programs. The tennis public
can rate their experiences at a facility or
with a tennis-teaching pro and provide comments and feedback.
This site is looking to provide information to players/
consumers on active tennis-teaching professionals.
Teaching professionals who are currently teaching the
general public, who are looking to grow their lesson base,
and whose facilities allow them to teach nonmembers will
benefit by enrolling with Playtennis.com.
If you qualify as an active tennis-teaching pro and want
to participate, you may provide your facility’s information
to Playtennis.com.
• Register and create your searchable profile
• Determine how much information to provide on yourself,
your facility and your programs
• Decide if you want to enable consumers to rate you and
your programs, and provide comments
• Update your contact information as necessary
• Decide to opt out at any time (at which time you will be
able to deactivate your profile)
Please keep in mind the information collected during registration
will be collected on playtennis.com (not on USPTA.
com or any of USPTA’s websites), so any information you
provide will be given directly to playtennis.com. Register
Today.
USPTA raises more than $7, 500 during
Lessons for Life silent auction
The United States Professional Tennis Association
raised $7,582 from its silent auction held at the USPTA’s
Tennis Buying Show during the World Conference on Tennis
from Sept. 16-21, at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel
& Spa in Monterey, Calif.
During the silent auction, attendees had an opportunity
to bid on a variety of items, including:
• Maria Sharapova-autographed racquet, courtesy of
HEAD/Penn
• 6-ft by 10-ft. Tuffy windscreen panel with a 3-ft by 3-ft
one-color logo, courtesy of Aer-Flo

• Dartfish Connect 6.0, courtesy of Dartfish
• Two tickets to the 2013 U.S. Open, courtesy of USTA
• Nike shoes for a year, one per quarter, courtesy of
Fromuth
• Two-night stay at Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel &
Spa, Monterey, Calif., courtesy of Hyatt Regency Monterey
The auction benefits the USPTA foundation, which
through grants supports various programs in the community
that help to grow tennis and bring the game to those who
might not otherwise have the chance to play. Thanks to
everyone who has helped make the silent auction a success
through their generous donations.
Doris Hart and Francisco “Pancho”
Segura inducted into USPTA’s Hall of
Fame
Doris Hart and Francisco “Pancho” Segura were
inducted into the USPTA Hall of Fame during its annual
awards breakfast, Sept. 19 at the USPTA World Conference
on Tennis held at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa
in Monterey, Calif. Hart, who resides in Coral Gables, Fla.,
has been a USPTA Pro 1 since 1955. Segura, who resides in
Carlsbad, Calif., has been a USPTA Pro 1 since 1946. Both
join only 11 others as grand inductees in the USPTA Hall of
Fame.
Doris Hart was born June 20, 1925,
in St. Louis, Mo. She won 35 Grand
Slam titles during her career. Six of
her titles were in women’s singles, 14
in women’s doubles, and 15 in mixed
doubles.
Hart is one of three players, all
women, to have a “boxed set” of
Grand Slam titles - every possible title
(singles, same-sex doubles, and mixed
doubles) from all four Grand Slam events. The others are
Margaret Court and Martina Navratilova. Hart won nine
consecutive Grand Slam women’s doubles titles from 1951
through 1953, with her streak of 43 consecutive match wins
in Grand Slam women’s doubles tournaments finally ending
in the 1954 Wimbledon final.
Hart retired from the tour in 1955 - the same year she
joined USPTA - to become a tennis-teaching professional.
She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame
in 1969. She is the first woman inducted into USPTA’s Hall
of Fame. She lives in Coral Gables, Fla.
Pancho Segura, born on June 20, 1921, is a former leading
tennis player of the 1940s and 1950s, both as an amateur
and a professional. In 1950 and 1952, he was the World
Co-No. 1 player. He was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, but
moved to the United States in the late
1930s. He is the only player to have
won the U.S. Pro Tennis Championship
title on three different surfaces (which
he did consecutively from 1950-1952).
After retiring from the tour, Segura
became a teaching professional for
many years in Southern California. He
joined USPTA in 1946, and was widely
credited with helping develop the
young Jimmy Connors. He was inducted into the International
Tennis Hall of Fame in 1984.
In 1993, USPTA’s Executive Committee, in acknowledgment
of his positive impact on the sport of tennis, and
his previous 47 years of devoted service as a P-1 member,
voted to award Segura the distinction of honorary membership
in USPTA. He lives in Carlsbad, Calif.
New member benefit – Get access to your
USPTA certified professional logo today!
The USPTA certified
professional logo is now
available to all professionallevel
members in good standing.
You can use the logo to
promote yourself as a USPTA
professional, promote your
events and build the USPTA
brand.
Here’s how you can use the logo:
• On email signatures
• On promotional fliers for your club/facility
• To promote your tennis programs, etc.
• On your personal Facebook page or with Twitter and
other such social media platforms
Follow this link http://documents.uspta.com or go to the
member login page, sign in and click on the My Membership
tab and then click on membership documents. Scroll
down to the bottom of the page where you will find the link
to the certified member logos. Please follow the instructions
to sign the logo agreement form and then you should have
access to the logo. Please note that mobile devices are not
typically made to support graphic signatures. The downloadable
logo is ideal for use on a desktop/laptop computer.
**You must be a professional-level member in good
standing with dues paid for the current year in order to gain
access to the logo agreement form and logo. In addition, if
you are current on dues and are also a Master Professional
and/or tester, you will gain access to those logos as well
once the logo agreement form is signed.
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Mid-Atlantic Division
Mid-Atlantic pros at the USPTA World Conference
Mani Barajas-Alexander
Tim Beyer
John Cleary
Kelly Cleary
Ernest Cohen
Kristopher David
Matt Day
Mark DiChiara
Jeff English
Sinikka English
Joni Hannah
Patrick Hanssen
Craig Hardenbergh
Tim Harvey
Carolyn Hassan
Feisal Hassan
Brandon Haus
Bob Hellerson
Mei Hellerson
Karen Hirtzel
Patrick Kearns
Sandy Killen
Terence Killen
Terence Killen
Joyce Mallory
Ted Meyer
Karim Najdi
Harvey Ratner
James Ridgley
Christopher Trizzino
Donald Widener
John Cleary and Joni Hannah at the Executive Committee
meeting.
Terrence and Sandy Killen
Members have fun at the Mid-Atlantic party.
Feisal Hassan presents a specialty course.
Pat Hanssen with Annette (left) and Kelly of Fromuth.

Feisal Hassan earns Tester of Year Award
Feisal Hassan, a USPTA Master Professional,
is the general manager/director of tennis at
Midlothian Tennis Club in Midlothian, Va.
He has been a tester for the Mid-Atlantic
and Middle States Divisions for 15 years.
He previously served as the USPTA Head
Tester for Middle States. In his current role
as co-chair of the USPTA National Education
Committee and USPTA College Curriculum
Committee, he is dedicated to educating our
network of testers and working on a USPTA
certification for 10 and Under Tennis.
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wonder how some people stay thin when
they eat any and everything in site, while some
12Ever
people starve themselves, eat a carrot and gain five
pounds? It is one word that separates thinness from fatness:
METABOLISM.
The body’s metabolism is its ability to burn calories/
fat for the function of that body. So if you are sitting on
the couch or at a desk, the body is in a state of rest, which
burns fewer calories. Stand up, start to move around, or
exercise, then the body burns more calories to maintain that
level of effort, hence your metabolism speeds up!
Some people have a naturally fast-burning metabolism,
keeping them thin while others have slow metabolism,
keeping fat on their bodies. But, everybody can speed up
their metabolism by exercise and eating the right foods.
The best way to keep the metabolism high and burning
calories all day is to workout in the morning. The body
has been sleeping and in a state of rest for hours, so “kick
start” your fat burning by exercising first thing everyday.
Any type of exercise done for more than 20 minutes in the
morning will keep your body burning fat all day!
Best foods to eat for a “fat-burning” fast metabolism:
green tea, grapefruits, oranges, all vegetables (except white
potatoes), almonds, walnuts, apples, all-hot spices (peppers,
cinnamon, etc.) and lean proteins (beans, nuts. etc.).
Mid-Atlantic Division
Metabolism By Brett Stephenson, USPTA P-1
Wellness Ambassador
USPTA Mid-Atlantic
now on Twitter!
You can follow the USPTA Mid-Atlantic Division on
Twitter @usptamapta. Check in for updates on events,
awards, contests and division news. Look for trivia contests
to win merchandise from HEAD Penn!
http://www.facebook.com/USPTAMidAtlantic
The best way to keep the metabolism high and burning
calories all day is to workout in the morning.
Executive Wellness Services is a company of world-class
professionals providing tennis, massage, personal training,
yoga, nutrition and green consultation for small- to
medium-size companies, residential communities and fine
hotels. These services are delivered directly to your office,
apartment, home or suite. For more info visit our website
at: www.synergyhousing.com/executivewellness or call
925-683-2460.
HEAD Penn
For more information, check with your local pro
shop or tennis specialty store in the Mid-Atlantic
area. You can also contact HEAD Penn district
sales manager Ray Stewart at 410-757-7222.

News from USTA Mid-Atlantic
Interested in being more involved in the
USTA/Mid-Atlantic Section?
Serve on a 2013–2014 Committee!
The fundamental role of each USTA Mid-Atlantic committee
is to advise the Board of Directors through appropriate
organization channels. Committees use a consultative
process with staff to research suggested or board-directed
proposals; propose, refine, review, monitor or evaluate
programs, activities and budget allocations that are within
the scope of the committee’s duties and provide timely
recommendations to the board. Most committees consist of
a chair, vice chair, at-large members and district representatives.
All committee chairs, vice chairs, and at-large committee
members are appointed by the USTA Mid-Atlantic
section president. If you would like to be considered for
a position appointed by our president, please email chris.
miller@mas.usta.com with which committee you are interested
in being a part of and why. All received names will
be passed along to our incoming 2013–2014 president who
will make the selections in January 2013. If you are interested
in serving as a district representative, please contact
the executive director of the district in which you reside.
USTA/MAS Annual Meeting & Awards
Luncheon
The 2012 USTA/Mid-
Atlantic Annual Meeting
& Awards Luncheon will
be held on Nov. 17, 2012,
at the Sheraton Reston
Hotel in Reston, Va. This
year we are excited to
have Lew Brewer, Director
of Junior Competition
for USTA Player Development,
in attendance to discuss the upcoming changes to
the national and sectional junior tournament structure. If
you have nationally ranked juniors in your programs, this
session will be particularly beneficial for you.
There will also be a tournament director’s workshop, a
USTA League Q&A and captain appreciation hosted USTA/
MAS staff member Pam Leibfreid, and a presentation by
Reston Association’s Mary Conaway on how to become
more involved in our section. The awards luncheon will be
hosted by ESPN Anchor Prim Siripipat.
Mental Toughness Training specialty course
Please join your fellow Mid-Atlantic professionals
on Saturday, Nov. 17 at Chartwell Country Club as
we welcome Lorenzo Beltrame who will conduct a
specialty course on Mental Toughness Training.
Lorenzo has been involved in sport all his life, first as
a top-ranked junior tennis player, then as a professional
player and ultimately as a coach. Throughout his coaching
career, he has worked with dozens of ATP and WTA touring
professionals, including Jim Courier and Pete Sampras. He
has traveled extensively, coaching players in major professional
events including the four Grand Slams, Davis Cup,
and Hopman Cup.
Lorenzo has served as director of tennis and athletic
mental training at the Human Performance Institute, formerly
LGE Performance Systems, in Orlando, Fla., since
1996. Prior to joining the Human Performance Institute,
he was responsible for developing and running high performance
programs at Club Ambrosiano, one of the most
prestigious clubs in Milan, Italy, and at two of the leading
academies in the U.S.
The $50 specialty course will be held at Chartwell
Country Club in Maryland from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. and includes
lunch. Please contact Tim Beyer at 434-327-1529 or
tbeyer@hartru.com to register.
Course schedule:
10 a.m. – noon On court
Noon – 1 p.m. Lunch
1 – 3 p.m. Classroom
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Mid-Atlantic Division

Bruce Lipka – Now add “Radio
Personality” to resume
By John Cleary
Fellow Mid-Atlantic Professional Bruce Lipka has taken
his talents to the airwaves! His “Talking Tennis”
radio show can be heard live on Thursday afternoons
from noon-1 p.m., and previous episodes can be heard as
podcasts on the UR10s network. You can even call in with
questions at 714-583-6853.
Some of the guests that can be heard on Bruce’s show
are Bill Tym, Joey Rive, Dean Goldfine and Peter Smith.
To hear the show live go to: http://www.blogtalkradio.
com/ur10s/2012/09/20/the-bruce-lipka-show. For previous
episodes please visit: http://cache.blogtalkradio.com/
ur10s/2012/09/06/the-bruce-lipka-show.
Bruce is currently the director of tennis at Woodmont
Country Club in Rockville, Md., where he has worked since
2000. He is a three-time college coach of the year and a
four-time USPTA Maryland professional of the year. Bruce
has served as the captain of USTA Talbert Cup Team since
2001, USTA Church Cup Team 2001-2010, and as a player
and captain of the USIC Potter Cup Team from 2009-2012.
THE ULTIMATE
KIDS CHALLENGE
is the
“Little Mo”
INTERNATIONAL
OPEN
Ages 7-12
Open to ANY PLAYER Worldwide
December 7-12, 2012
PGA National Resort & Spa
and
BallenIsles Country Club
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida USA
* Players 8, 9, 10: Yellow ball
or green dot ball option
For More Info
Email: cartennis@aol.com
To register:
www.MCBTENNIS.ORG
Andy Roddick, former
“Little Mo” Champion 1992
*Please bring this photo to the tournament desk for a FREE PRIZE.
“Mini Mo” Internationals: December 14-17 at Club Med Sandpiper, Port St. Lucie, FL
(Boys and Girls ages 5-10 using 36'/60'/78' court and red/orange/green dot balls)
Open to any player worldwide Enter online: www.mcbtennis.org
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Mid-Atlantic Division
How to evaluate your
tennis program
Summer is finally over and you can now breathe a
sigh of relief that you made it to the end! Now it is
time to begin the process of evaluating your tennis
program in order to gauge its success. As a tennis professional,
you can use several things to measure the success of
your programs.
The evaluation process can be a difficult task to undertake.
Some may define success in terms of revenue generated;
still others will use the number of participants in the
programs. The players define success by their individual
performances or whether or not they had a good time. For
the parents, it might be as simple as having enough alone
time to get a few things done. All play a part in the success
or failure of your tennis programs.
The financial aspects and physical numbers to a tennis
program are one way to look at the effectiveness of your
programs. It is fairly simple to measure revenue against
previous years or to compare enrollment increases and decreases.
However, a thorough evaluation takes many forms
and is very important to understand the full scope of the
program’s strengths and weaknesses.
Most tennis professionals who have done their fair
share of tennis camps have found themselves in the position
of figuring out why one camp does so well and another
camp is floundering. One has put together a group of welltrained
staff, you have thoroughly planned the activities
for each day of the week, the advertising is in place and
the word is out. But when it is all over the program fails to
meet your expectations, or worse, the expectations of the
participants.
The next time you construct the camp following the
exact same steps, the camp takes off with a great deal of
success. So, what is the difference? Why does one camp do
so well and another flop? The answer may lie in the saying,
“You can never learn anything while you are talking, only
when you listen does the learning begin.” The answer to
these questions are found by asking participants, parents,
staff and anyone else involved in the setup and delivery of
the program. Simple and direct questions can give you the
answers that provide valuable information on what you are
doing.
In its simplest form, an evaluation is really a chance to
By JD Almond, USPTA P-1
have a conversation with your customers; a way to listen
to what they would like for you to know. There are many
ways to listen and learn from what is being said.
1. Surveys – This is a way to gather written information
about your program. Surveys can be conducted face-toface,
by the phone, by email or website. Make sure to
design your questions so to provide direct and specific
answers.
2. Casual conversations – Take a few minutes and talk to
parents as they drop off or pick up their kids. A careful
listener might find that there needs to be a better way of
communicating with the parents. Are they commenting
on the check-in/check-out procedures?
3. Personal phone calls – Take the time to call the parents
of a few of the most frequent participants and find out
whether the camp is meeting their expectations. Start
off by saying, “I just wanted to call and thank you for
participating.” Then finish the phone call with something
like, “Is there anything we could improve on?”
Be sure to let them know that you are available for any
future conversations if they have any more to add.
Your staff and campers can also help you evaluate your
program. The campers do influence the parents’ decisions to
continue or not based on their experiences in the program.
These campers, if asked even the basic of questions, can
provide you with a wealth of useful information.
The staff is also a valuable source of information to any
tennis director. The day-to-day operation of a tennis camp
is where the staff can be found and the director needs to
be. Providing a safe, open and accepting environment to
contribute ideas is the best way to get staff contribution. All
types of information is welcome, from the type of equipment
the staff could benefit from having available, to questions
they are receiving most from parents and participants.
Why wait until the summer is over to ask for feedback?
Start asking questions after the second or third week. This
way, parents, campers and even staff have an opportunity to
provide information while it is fresh in their minds.
After listening to the campers, the staff, the parents, and
the person who calls to complain about everything, what

Surveys are a great way to get feedback about your
programs.
Save the Date
do you do next? Start by looking at each comment as an
opportunity for improvement. Yes, this is harder to do than
it sounds. You cannot control the outside temperature and
how it affects a tennis court in July. But, you can incorporate
fun ways for campers to cool down.
Feedback received by the evaluation process is also
an opportunity to evaluate and mentor your staff in understanding
how best to do their jobs. A simple thing as
knowing and using the names of the campers can go a long
way in developing a camper’s need to feel welcome and
engaged in your camp. Even the more difficult names to
pronounce need to be used.
Finally, share the information with everyone involved
in delivering the services of your tennis programs to the
public – everyone from the individual at the front desk
taking calls and registrations to the maintenance staff that
makes sure the all courts are ready for use. The information
is useless if you keep it to yourself. Pass it around and ask
staff to contribute ideas to remedy issues.
The tennis program evaluation process can yield a tremendous
amount of information when the director of tennis
takes the time to ask questions, reflect on the answers and
then create a plan to improve what ever needs there may be.
Remember, “You can never learn anything while you are
talking, only when you listen does the learning begin.”
USPTA Mid-Atlantic Convention
March 1-3, 2013
Boar’s Head Inn
Charlottesville, VA
Join us for educational opportunities, specialty courses,
doubles tournament, trade show, awards brunch including
Hall of Fame inductions, and networking!
Look for more information at uspta.com and upcoming
newsletters.
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Service Lines
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Mid-Atlantic Division
DIVISIONAL AND DISTRICT NEWS
Maryland
New Maryland facility holds Cardio Tennis
training workshop
On Sept. 14, TIA Cardio Tennis Manager Michele
Krause, along with two National Cardio Tennis
Speaker team members, conducted a training workshop
for staff and other professionals at the new
Montgomery TennisPlex in Boyds, Md. Krause and
her team delivered Cardio Tennis to consumers of
all ability levels in one of the two indoor bubbles.
There were 20 participants during a seven-hour
training session which covered everything needed
to become a licensed Cardio Tennis Instructor. All
participants received advanced education on all aspects
of the program to become effective in delivering
it to consumers of all fitness and ability levels.
Vicki Datlow helped coordinate the grand opening
of the facility, which took place the following day.
The Montgomery TennisPlex is part of the South
Germantown Recreational Park and has eight new
indoor hard courts in two all-season air conditioned
bubbles and four new outdoor, lighted courts with a
1,500 square-foot clubhouse.
Claude England hosted his fifth annual Senior
Doubles Classic, in which 32 women over the
age of 60 played at Woodholme Country Club in
Pikesville where he is the tennis director. The event
benefited Maryland’s House of Ruth which provides
services to protect and support victims of domestic
abuse.
On Nov. 3, two-time Olympic gold medal winner
and former No. 1 ranked doubles player Gigi
Fernandez presented a doubles clinic at Lakewood
Country Club in Rockville. USPTA professionals
John Cleary, Mark O’Bryan and Albert Ablorh
assisted with the event.
David Mast won the Mid-Atlantic Section Men’s
40 Singles Clay Court Championship at the
Suburban Club in Baltimore. David is the founder
of the Mast Tennis Academy in Baltimore.
Claude England won the Mid-Atlantic Men’s 50
Outdoor Clay Court Championship at Homeland
Racquet Club. Claude, who is the director of tennis
at Woodholme Country Club, defeated Leonard
Booker in a near four hour match.
Hyon Yoo won the National Men’s 35 Singles
Grass Court Championships at the Philadelphia
Cricket Club. Hyon is the Assistant Tennis
Professional at Manor Country Club in Rockville
and is currently the No. 10-ranked 35 singles player
in the country.
Welcome new members:
Brian Bollman of Gaithersburg
Sean Curley of Rockville
Matthew Mansfield of Ocean City
Welcome back reinstatements:
Trevor Grimshaw of Highland
Doug Wright of Salisbury
Virginia
Congratulations to Carl Clark who won the men’s
45 singles division of the Virginia Men’s Super
Category II National Championships at Belle Haven
Country Club. Carl also advanced to the finals
of the men’s 45 doubles event with his partner
Bruce Lipka. Carl is currently the No. 12-ranked
45 singles player in the country and is the director
of tennis at the Country Club of Virginia. He also
serves on the USPTA Mid-Atlantic board as the
vice president.
Welcome to new member:
Sungwon Baek of Yorktown
Steven Baum of Weston, Mass.
Allison Engel of Mechanicsville
Becky Holmes of Glen Allen
Meagan O’Brien of Aldie
Welcome back reinstatements:
Kersten Cardwell of Lynchburg
Eric Ishida of Lexington
Bob Gullo of Gainesville
West Virginia
Welcome to new member:
Vincent Centofanti of Charleston
James Kent of Ceredo

XXXX
Save the date
Mark Your Calendars!
Nov. 9-10 10 and Under Conference
Downtown Club at The Met, Houston
Nov. 10 Recreational Coach Workshop
Latham, NY
Nov. 17 Specialty Course – Mental Toughness
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Lorenzo Beltrame
Chartwell Country Club, Md.
Dec. 2 Certification Exam
Midlothian Tennis Club, Midlothian, Va.
Dec. 7-9 Competitive Player Development
Conference
Academia Sanchez-Casal, Naples, Fla.
March 1-3 Mid-Atlantic Convention
Boar’s Head Inn, Charlottesville, Va.
Employment Opportunities
Facility: Play Your Court
Job title: Tennis Professional/part time
Contact: Scott Baxter
Contact info: scottbaxter@playyourcourt.com
Facility: Ashburn Sports Pavillion
Job title: Staff Professional/part time
Contact: Jonathan Fralick
Contact info: jfralick@wtsinternational.com
Facility: Salisbury Country Club
Job title: Tennis Professional/full time
Contact: Scott Steinour
Contact info: Tenniscott@comcast.net
They Said It
Interesting/amusing quotes
collected by John Cleary
“"I think the tour should come
up with something where
they don't let players over
6-foot-6 inches play."
~ Tommy Haas joking after losing to John Isner
"I owe a lot to my parents.
Especially to my mother and
father."
~ Greg Norman
"If you make every game a
life-and-death thing, you're
going to have problems.
You'll be dead a lot." ~ Dean Smith
"When you come to a fork in
the road, take it."
~ Yogi Berra
"You manage things; you
lead people."
~ Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper
"Never mistake activity for
achievement."
~ John Wooden
Service Lines Mid-Atlantic Division
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A publication of the USPTA Mid-Atlantic Division
SERVICE L NES
3535 Briarpark Drive • Suite One • Houston, TX 77042
713-978-7782 • fax 713-978-7780 • divisionea@uspta.org
Editor Julie Myers
Contributors JD Almond, John Cleary, Alex Kor, Brett
Stephenson, Chris Tran
Service Lines is published quarterly by the Mid-Atlantic Division of
the United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc.
The opinions expressed in Service Lines are those of the authors
and not necessarily those of Service Lines or the USPTA
Mid-Atlantic Division.
Copyright© Mid-Atlantic Division/United States Professional
Tennis Association, Inc. 2012. All rights reserved. Reproduction
of any portion of the newsletter is not permitted without written
permission from the USPTA Mid-Atlantic Division.
Advertising information
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Half page .....................$65 Business card ..............$16.50
Discounts are given for ads whose frequency rate is two or
more per year. Contact Jill at 888-USPTA-EA for a rate card
and circulation information.