Where Excellence is STANDARD - USPTA divisions - United States ...

USPTA Southern Division: Where Excellence is STANDARD 

The USPTA Southern Division 

Volume 12 Issue 4 : Nov. /Dec., 2011 

Creativity 

It’s Magical and More 

INSIDE: 

pg 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2012 Memphis Convention 

pg 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Developing A Tactical Foundation 

pg 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Your Best Profit is STRING 

pg 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . World Conference Wrap Up 

pg 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Play Better Doubles 

pg 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Southern & State Nominated Slates

Page 2 Volume 12 Issue 4 

HANDLING The Situation! 

Handling the Situation is YOUR opportunity 

to share how you handle various 

situations. 

THE SITUATION: It is often perceived that the 

person that is active in additional lessons, has 

kids that are active in lessons, and that will volunteer 

for everything you need, receives special 

attention. How do you overcome the perception 

that there are favorites? 

It’s best to be fair and consistent on treating 

everyone the same way, especially in group 

settings, regardless of how active someone is in 

your program. Private lessons are used solely 

for more one-on-one attention. Leave it at that, 

so the perception is that your active members 

love tennis and are making an effort to improve 

their games. 

-Andrew Minnelli, Johns Creek, GA 

Favoritism is usually shown toward people who 

benefit us the most, and is a natural tendency 

that we need to keep a check on. However, in 

our industry, we should make every effort to 

treat everyone with favor, so that they all feel 

like we’re treating them specially. In that way, 

there’s not a problem when we go the extra 

mile for those who support us the most. 

-Neil Witherow, Jackson MS 

Treating people differently or playing favorites is 

the fastest way to get into “hot water.” I establish 

rules and/or policies for everything and never 

waiver. The members may not like the rules 

and/or policies, but they can’t question whether 

I’m fair or not or claim that I play favorites. 

Consistent application of the rules and policies 

is key! 

-Brett Schwartz, New Orleans, LA 

In this situation, it is mostly the younger pros 

that get burned. Veterans are experienced 

enough to not get caught in this trap. I try to 

delegate the help I need for various events 

through several different people. Even if I 

ask for vounteers, I will often spread the tasks 

around as to not have one “favorite” go to person 

all the time. The other members are quick 

to spot this problem when you don’t handle it 

this way. Our program here at Champion Hills 

is truly a group effort. No one person gets to 

do everything regardless of how many lessons 

they take. It is important for the savvy tennis 

professional to be just that. Getting too close to 

members can cause problems and resentment 

among the other players. 

-Lane Evans, Hendersonville, NC 

This happens quite often and you sometimes 

have to spend extra time focusing your attention 

in practices or matches watching others 

so that they feel important as well. If you only 

watch or talk to the lesson takers or the captains 

it won’t take long for others to get a bad feeling. 

Spread the attention around! 

Scott Mitchell, Savannah, GA 

Next Situation: What is your policy for timing 

on replying to messages that are email or 

phone calls? 

We all want children to become lifelong players. The QuickStart Tennis format helps us keep 

kids in the game by making it easier for children to maintain a rally, which in turn increases their 

enjoyment of tennis and the likelihood they will stick with tennis. But there are other factors 

that can keep kids in or push them out of the game. One key factor is STRESS. If young players 

perceive winning is the most important thing to parents and coaches, then these young 

players can experience significant stress and may give up playing tennis altogether. So what is 

the answer?? The answer is to emphasize maximum effort. If a student is following his or her 

coach’s directions and giving maximum effort, then that student is doing all he or she can do 

and should be strongly praised. One can control one’s efforts; one cannot control whether one 

wins or loses. By emphasizing effort above all else, parents and coaches can reduce stress on 

young players while empowering youngsters to feel they control how good they can become. 

This makes for happier players and ones who are more likely to stay with tennis for a long time. 

Finishing Quotes 

‘We are not in a race to get to the yellow court’ - Patrick McEnroe 

‘There is no such sport as tennis lessons’ - Mike Barrell 

‘Get away from the basket and the teaching cart’ - Butch Staples 

‘Kids want to compete; parents want to compare’ - Butch Staples 

Southern Officers 

The “Standard” is the official newsletter 

for the Southern Division of the United States 

Professional Tennis Association. 

President 

Bill Phillips - 337-849-5821 

phillips@sta.usta.com 

Past President 

Pat Whitworth - 678-482-6357 

pwhitworth@aol.com 

1st Vice President 

Todd Upchurch - 704-258-7220 

tupchurch1@gmail.com 

2nd Vice President 

Sophie Woorons-Johnston - 864-202-1917 

sophie@brookstonemeadows.com 

Secretary-Treasurer 

Matt Grayson - 770-475-3802 

tennis@ccroswell.com 

Executive Director 

Fred Burdick - 800-438-7782 

usptaexdir@windstream.net 

State Presidents 

Alabama 

Kevin Theos - 337-981-0543 

theos@sta.usta.com 

Arkansas 

Jimbo Hobson - 501-835-9793 

jimbopro@ipa.net 

Georgia 

Andrew Minnelli - 770-368-7040 

ajm@acc1.org 

Kentucky 

Keith Cecil - 859-608-4640 

kcecil@transy.edu 

Louisiana 

Ed Gaskell - 225-924-6273 

edgaskell@bocagerc.org 

Mississippi 

Kevin Jackson - 662-840-3528 

kjackson@tupcc.com 

North Carolina 

Marc Blouin - 919-876-0565 x101 

m.blouin@hotmail.com 

South Carolina 

Teodora Doncheva - 803-326-3842 

teodoradoncheva@yahoo.com 

Tennessee 

Bill Riddle - 615-824-6642 

tennisun@aol.com 

Head Tester 

Tommy Wade - 256-341-4948 

wade@decatur-al.gov

Standard Page 3 

I’ll Be Around 

By Fred Burdick 

Wow! Twenty years is a long time to serve as the Executive Director of Southern 

Division. Thank you for giving me the opportunity. Where did the time go? Before 

that I was Secretary for the Southern Division. Somehow I became President then 

Executive Director. All in all it has been about 26 years of serving the USPTA Southern Division. 

It sure has been a great ride. It has also been my pleasure to try to help all our members if they 

were new to the association or if they were looking for a job after having just lost one. Those 

are difficult times along with Hurricane Katrina. Katrina brought out the best in the USPTA. 

Producing a newsletter, organizing a division convention, traveling to a state workshop will 

be memories I’ll cherish, but the best memories will be of all the great friends I’ve made over 

the years. The list is long but here is the short list. I’ve laughed and cried, mostly laughs, with 

Allan Henry, Tom Daglis, Reedy Toney, Tom McGraw, Jim Peavy, Pat Whitworth, Jeff Hawes, 

Tommy Wade, Dave Dvorak and Randy Stephens. I hope I didn’t leave anyone out but at my 

age it is hard to remember what I had for breakfast. 

The one person that made all this possible is my wife Beth. She has been there from 

beginning to end. Always willing to help me with my job. We labeled newsletters, sat at the 

registration desk, collected fees, gave out shirts, etc., whatever needed doing she did it. I know 

the members appreciated her too. She is the love of my life, my partner, and, as she says, “we 

make a good team.” I can never thank you enough Beth for allowing me to pursue my dream of 

teaching tennis. 

Don’t think I’m out of here however. I hope to serve on a few committees and I’ll be attending 

conventions. I might even come up with a seminar about how to 

build a court in your backyard and continue 

to teach after retirement. So look for me 

because “I’ll be around.” 

Past President Pat 

Whitworth to Become 

Executive Director 

The USPTA Southern Division is pleased to announce that Past President Pat Whitworth will 

take over as Executive Director of the division effective January 1, 2012. While we will sorely 

miss longtime ED Fred Burdick, we are fortunate to have someone very capable in Pat to fill 

his shoes. Pat has twice been division president, has been a Pride of the South award winner 

and has also been the Alan Henry Southern Pro of the Year. Pat comes to us with great organizational 

skills and a talent for detail. He is also what one could call a “Techie” in that he really 

keeps up with the changing face of computers and all things electronic. Pat lives in the Atlanta 

area with his lovely wife Robin and their menagerie of adopted dogs. He currently works at The 

River Club in Suwanee with veteran pro Alan Hartley. Please join us all in welcoming Pat to his 

new position - we have every confidence in him. Special thanks to the ED Selection Committee 

chaired by Adam Thomson with Jeff Hawes, Dave Dvorak, Tommy Wade and Fred Burdick as 

committee members. 

Memphis 

Winter 

Convention 

2/23-25 

Our third annual 

Winter Convention will 

once again be held in 

conjunction with the 

Memphis Pro Tournament. 

This continues 

to be an extremely 

popular event. Last 

year, we watched 

Roddick and Harrison play 

singles and then team up in doubles, and had 

a Q&A with Fernando Verdasco before the 

matches. The welcome party and special match 

viewing area will be back for Thursday night, 

followed by seminars on Friday and Saturday. 

The schedule is not set, but the normal plan is to 

finish between 3:00-4:00 allowing us time to see 

matches or tour Memphis. We will plan another 

trip to the BBQ Shop 

on Friday night. 

Emails should start 

arriving in a month 

with complete details. 

Time To Report 

Your Charity 

Southern has continued to lead the way 

in reporting our Lessons for Life charity 

efforts. Please take a few moments to send in 

the events you directed, the cause, and the 

amount collected. Even a lesson donated for 

a local event should be reported. You may 

use this easy form at www.formdesk.com/ 

whitworth/LFL or you can email to 

usptasouthern@gmail.com. 

Thanks to all of you that do so much during 

the year. Let’s continue to lead the way in 

this great cause.


Southern 

Spotlight 

Rhett Russell City of Orange Beach Tennis Center, 

Orange Beach, AL 

Please give a brief description of your tennis career: I won several junior tennis 

tournaments, #1 on high school tennis team/1st player from my high 

school to go to State/1st player to help high school team go to State/ Prince 

Scholastic High School Academic All-American/ Intramural champion at U 

of Alabama/ #10 Nationally Ranked husband/wife in 2009 

When did you start playing tennis? 5 years old 

What other sports did you play? Soccer, basketball, 

track, baseball, cross country, racquet ball, etc. 

What moved you to teach tennis? After experiencing 

the corporate world, I decided I would 

be more fulfilled with life working outside and 

teaching the sport I have always loved. 

What is your favorite shot to teach? The inside out loop topspin to the ad 

court. 

Which personality traits are most important for tennis professionals to master? 

Patience! The ability to speak their language for each individual ex: if 

I am teaching 4 and 5 yr olds, I will challenge them with a Dora lesson or 

some cartoon character they watch and respect. 

What are your hobbies? Listening to audio tapes (Dan Brown, Robert Ludlum, 

Andrew Britton novels), performing magic for my kids, watching college 

football (Roll Tide!), watching Saints football, and studying my Bible. 

What is your favorite movie? Any movie with Jack Black or Will Farrell in it 

What is your favorite book? The Bible 

What is your favorite sports team? U of Alabama football 

Who is your favorite player of all time? Stephan Edberg 

What person you would most like to have lunch with: King Soloman 

Do you have other ambitions in your career? I would like to become a deacon, 

an amateur magician, and do something with my Masters in Sports 

Management via tennis. 

If you had a “do over”, what one thing would you have done differently in your 

teaching career? I would have studied tennis under the best tennis teachers, 

nationally, and attended USPTA conferences during my college years. 

Brandon Nicholson New Orleans Country Club, 

New Orleans, LA 

Please give a brief description of your 

tennis career: I am 30 years old, was 

born in Little Rock, Arkansas, but 

grew up in Louisiana. I started playing 

tennis when I was 9 years old. I 

played juniors growing up. I went to 

Southerns every year and qualified 

for Nationals almost every year. I continued 

playing tennis in college LSU 

from 1999-2004. Yes, that would be the school with the best football 

team in the country this year. I graduated in 2004. I started teaching 

tennis immediately after I graduated starting at Oakbourne Country 

Club in Lafayette, Louisiana. I moved to New Orleans in 2007 and am 

currently at N.O.C.C. 

What other sports did you play? I ran Track, Cross Country, and played 

basketball. 

What moved you to teach tennis? I have always loved tennis. It really was 

not even a question what I was going to do after college. I knew I was 

going to teach tennis. I had coached every summer when I was in college, 

and knew that was what I wanted to do. 

Do you enjoy working with certain age groups or ability levels more than others? 

When I first started teaching I enjoyed advanced juniors. Now, I enjoy 

teaching all levels and age groups. 

What advice do you have for someone starting in the tennis profession? 

Get some education and get USPTA certified. No matter how good of a 

player you are, there are always new things that you can learn. 

What are your hobbies? I enjoy playing golf, beach volleyball, and more golf. 

What is your favorite movie? The Big Lebowski 

What is your favorite sport team? New Orleans Saints 

What is your favorite player of all time? Pete Sampras 

What person you would most like to have lunch with? Drew Brees 

What is the first thing you would purchase if you won the lottery? A house in 

Las Vegas!! 

If you had a “do over” what one thing would you have done differently in your 

teaching career? I would have taken Quick Start Tennis more serious earlier 

than I did. 

What was your most inspirational moment? I would have to say the birth of 

my son Caleb.


Developing a Tactical 

Foundation 

By Dave Hagler, USPTA Master Pro 

One great aspect of tennis is the way a 

player can beat a technically more proficient 

opponent by employing superior tactics. If 

you want your students to develop better 

tactical awareness, it makes sense to study 

the sequence players go through as they 

learn to play. 

The steps given reflect a typical order, but 

it is a given that there may be some variation 

depending on the player and the pro or pros 

involved. Each player will be unique due to 

variation in age, (sometimes) gender, athletic 

background, as well as his dominant learning 

and problem solving styles. While this list is 

by no means complete, it covers initial stages 

of tactical learning. 

1. Hit back to the Pro (or other player) 

The initial challenge is in sustaining a rally. 

When players are first learning the goal is 

generally to hit the ball back and forth as 

many times as possible. 

2. Hit to the open court 

Once a player has learned to sustain a rally 

they will start to try to win points. Usually the 

first thing they will try to do is to hit to the 

open court. This will prove foundational to 

more advanced strategies like big box – little 

box (or little box – big box), controlling the 

point using a forehand when the ball is in the 

center of the court (the black hole or control 

center), or utilizing multiple options when the 

ball is in the middle third depth wise and the 

outer third width-wise. 

3. Hit behind the opponent 

A player may find that a fast opponent can 

run down almost every ball hit to the open 

court, especially if the opponent is confident 

the next shot will be directed there. If you 

watch junior tournaments in younger age 

groups you will observe that many of the 

players have not yet learned to do anything 

other than hit to the open court. At this point 

players learn to hit behind the opponent. You 

can help a player learn this (and other tactics) 

by “doing it to them” and then showing them 

what transpired and then have them “do it to 

you.” You can also diagram the points on a 

board or go back and break down the point 

by reenacting it shot by shot. 

Once a player has reached this point he has 

at least a fundamental understanding of point 

construction and should start to develop 

increased tactical awareness. He should have 

some idea of how to attack an opponent in 

terms of: 

Strong side – weak side 

Strike zone (get the ball above or below 

their comfort/power zone) 

Pace / No pace (give the player what they 

do not like) 

Movement – lateral, forwards and backwards 

(all too frequently players do not take 

advantage of an opponent’s inability to play 

in ¾, midcourt or forecourt) 

4. Exploit the weak side through the 

strong side 

Arthur Ashe frequently talked about this 

strategy. If an opponent has a weak backhand 

and every time a player tries to hit 

there the opponent runs around it and hits 

a forehand the player should hit wide to the 

opponent’s forehand and then go to the 

backhand. 

5. Make the opponent defend a wider 

court 

At this point the student should understand 

that it is advantageous to make the 

opponent defend a wider court. This can be 

done by hitting with more spin and angle, by 

moving forward (the closer you are to the net 

the more angle you can hit) or a combination 

of the above. 

The advantage gained by making an 

opponent defend a wider court is one of the 

reasons so many tour players (virtually all 

male and some female players) are forehand 

players. Forehand players can hit insideout 

forehands that make a same handed 

opponent go wide to the backhand side. 

USPTA Invited Guest 

This makes them potentially vulnerable to an 

inside-in forehand (#2) or another inside-out 

forehand (#3). If the opponent goes down 

the line with their backhand then the player 

can hit a crosscourt forehand (#2) or go back 

down the line (#3). 

It is important for a player to learn shot 

selection predicated on factors including 

court position (theirs and that of the opponent), 

personal strengths, playing style, 

height of the ball and if it is rising, dropping 

or traveling parallel to the ground as well 

as other factors. Having a generic tactical 

foundation will give your student the means 

to adjust during matches and develop tactical 

weapons needed to reach his full potential. 

Dave Hagler is a USPTA Master Professional. 

He has developed numerous sectionally and 

nationally ranked junior players, coached 

(Adult) NTRP National Championship Teams, 

and traveled with (and coached) a player on the 

ITF Circuit. He has been published in ADDvantage, 

Tennis, SmashTennis and on www.Tennis- 

Player.net. Dave’s articles have been translated 

into Italian, German, Spanish and Japanese and 

Dutch. He is a member of the HEAD Penn Advisory 

Staff and is the 2010 HEAD Penn Racquet 

Sports Southern California Ad Staff Member of 

the year.


cardioCORNER 

Why Cardio Works 

You might think of Cardio as, the ultimate 

work out, have fun, burn calories, develop 

better footwork, enjoy games and camaraderie, 

go beyond the boring Stairmaster or 

sweaty gyms. That is all true! Let me tell you 

what Cardio does for my club as a program. 

1. Membership drive. When I first 

opened the club, I offered cardio Mondays, 

Wednesdays and Fridays from 8 to 9 for the 

bargain price of $60 for the month. I had 3 

courts full of moms, teachers and friends, 

enjoying the workout early in the day, loving 

the camaraderie. Out of this group I formed 

a 2.5 team which within 3 years were playing 

4.0, because with cardio, we recruited 

athletes and women that were ready to train 

hard and become good. Their friends who 

had played before came back into the game 

and next thing you know it became this big 

membership drive for the club. 

2. Friends and Family. This spring I was 

hosting Cardio on Saturday mornings at 

The largest margin for revenue in your pro-shop is the stringing business. 

Pay $4.00 for a set of string and charge $22.00 for the stringing 

(minus your labor cost). It is also one of the most neglected areas of 

most shops. Unless members break strings or need a scapegoat for the 

bad match they just played, we do not drive revenue to this area nearly 

enough. Another fault is that pros, for the most part, do not up-sell 

their members to higher quality string and thus a better feel in the 

racquet and a better revenue source for the shop. 

There are several ways to help drive string business to your shop. 

1. Several companies have stringing databases that allow you to log 

and track your business. These databases allow you to pull reports and 

call or send messages to your members to remind them it is time to 

get their racquets restrung. This allows you to be more proactive in the 

process and not waiting for members to realize they need a fresh string 

job. 

2. I have also stolen an idea from the local Jiffy-Lube. When you get 

your oil changed they put the little sticker at the top of your windshield 

that tells you when your next service is due. Most people do put some 

type of sticker in the throat of the racquet that tells when the racquet 

was strung. We made some that tells the members when they should 

8:30. I charged $40 for the month or $13 per 

session, free the first time you come. I don’t 

know what rocks your boat but for me it’s 

my husband, my son and the passion that 

I have for tennis as my profession. And on 

Saturdays, it has been so much fun to see 

fathers and teenage sons come out, mothers 

and teenage daughters, 4.0 husbands and 

2.5 wives or even boyfriend and girlfriends 

showing off skills on the tennis court. I don’t 

know about you but I love seeing families 

get together, have fun and high five over a 

game of triples! Plus, from a business stand 

point, you have a better chance of a longterm 

commitment from the players if their 

families are involved. You sell family memberships, 

family equipment, family in your 

tournament, lessons for the whole family 

and after school program for the kids, so it’s 

a good market to reach and it’s a lot of fun! 

3. Future Member. What do you do 

when you receive phone calls of potential 

members looking to join your club? “Hello, 

I’m Suzie, I’d like to join your club, I played 

ALTA,” or “I’m Frank and 15 years ago I was a 

3.5,” or “I played high school tennis do you 

have a clinic or a team for me?” Instead of 

assuming their ability level, I sometimes 

recommend a 30 min private lesson so I can 

assess their ability level. That’s nice, but it 

doesn’t give them a taste of the Brookstone 

Family and atmosphere at the club, nor any 

potential tennis partners for that person to 

meet. So I prefer to offer a cardio class. That 

way, the level is irrelevant and that person 

and my current members will have fun 

regardless. I don’t commit myself to putting 

them with the 4.0s if they are not ready. With 

the cardio class, I can get them excited about 

our club and our philosophy, and then let 

the current cardio players/Brookstone members 

do the recruiting job for me as they 

want that new player for their team! 

By Matt Grayson 

By Dr. Sophie Woorons-Johnston 

get it redone, not when it was done last. This allows the pros to tell 

each member when they need to look at having them done instead of 

leaving it up to the members to know when the proper time might be 

to have them restrung. Your customers may have no idea strings lose 

tension and get brittle. This system also allows you to customize the 

timeframe to the customer. If you know someone hits very regularly, 

they may need to have a shorter time between stringing than a player 

that plays once a week. 

3. Another great way to drive business is to have a contest between 

shop staff and pros to see who drives the most string business in a 

month. Set up a prize that will go to the person who drives the most 

business in dollars at the end of a certain month. This will give an incentive 

for the pros to try and up-sell to a better string since they tend to 

cost more. Most recreational players will pay $200 for a racquet and 

put in the worst string in the world because it cost $2 less than a better 

string. They just need to be told why the upgrade is worth it. Pros are 

inherently competitive and it can be a bragging right for the winner 

and money maker for the shop owner. 

Keep these tips in mind as you approach the winter season where 

tensions and string types need to be adjusted.


It was great to see so many Southern 

faces at the recent World Conference in 

Saddlebrook, FL. There were a number of 

excellent seminars including first timer Mike 

Barrell, Doug Cash, Craig Jones, Dave Hagler, 

Feisal Hassan, and plenty more. Of course, the 

best learning often happens during socializing 

after hours. 

Southern once again won Newsletter of 

the Year, Lessons for Life most money raised, 

Greatest Number of New Members, and 

was second in Greatest Percentage of New 

Members. Raul Saad from LA won the Facility 

Manager of the Year for a small facility, and 

Ian Thompson was the top education earner, 

with Pat Whitworth joining the top 10 also. 

Special congratulations to long time Southern 

(but now in Mid Atlantic) Darryl Lewis on 

achieving his Master Professional. 

While education is a big part of the week, 

there is time for fun also. We did sunrise 

cardio tennis every morning, had a great 

Southern welcome party on Tuesday night, 

a grand welcome on Wednesday night, and 

a tremendous trade show and silent auction 

on Thursday night. Agata Cioroch (GA), won 

the women’s open singles, Kevin Gillette 

(MS) won the 45 doubles and play valiantly 

in 45 singles, Matt Grayson (GA) lost to the 

champ in 35 singles, and our Southern team 

captained by Matt Grayson lost in the finals to 

Florida (again). Congratulations to everyone 

that competed so well during the week.


State News 

Alabama 

Alabama/Mississippi Workshop took place August 20th 

and was a humbling success. We feel deep appreciation 

to Tennis Director Boo Mason for hosting the event at Hoover Country Club, and 

to the presenters who made the workshop so enriching for the thirty-five tennis 

teaching professionals and instructors who attended. Craig Jones and Jimmy 

Weinacker displayed energy, experience and candor in their individual presentations, 

and left the audience with superb information to take back to their junior 

programs. During lunch we presented Robert Cianchetti, who is the Tennis Director 

at YMCA Mountain Brook, with the 2011 USPTA Alabama Pro of the Year award. We 

also recognized the 5th Annual Special Olympics Southeast Tennis Championships, 

which took place at the Westgate Tennis Center in Dothan, as 2011 USPTA Alabama 

Tournament of the Year. After lunch, Kevin Jackson made a fascinating presentation 

on how technology can help tennis pros both save time and serve their students 

more effectively. Mike Claiborne and Keith Forrester were key contributors to the 

thought-provoking panel discussion that covered vexing issues tennis teaching 

pros face. During the panel discussion, Michael Kreider made an unexpected and 

humorous contribution from the audience concerning how NOT to handle conflict 

with other pros. Finally, but most important of all, we appreciate all the members 

who took the time to attend the workshop. It was your attendance, sharing of ideas 

and networking with one another that made the workshop a wonderful success. 

It seems like all the Pros I have run into in the last 

Arkansas month are in a better mood. I think a 30 to 40 

degree difference in the temp has a lot to do with that. Temperatures had been 

up to 116 and now they are down in the 70s and 80s. We had our annual state 

meeting August 15th and 16th at Hot Springs Village. We held a Pro-Am, speakers’ 

dinner and some golf on one of the nine golf courses in Hot Springs Village. 

Bob Wagstaff was our host. $25 for members and $30 for nonmembers. There 

was a certification exam on Sunday also. Call Jimbo at 501-276-3928 for more 

information. This is an exciting time in Arkansas for tennis and you need to be 

on board. 

The competitive fall leagues brighten the summer before 

Georgia fading. It is a great time to reflect on our accomplishments 

as well as areas for development when we plan the last quarter of the year. 

Thank you to the USPTA professionals who attended our Summer Workshop 

August 13th and 14th. A special thanks goes to Alan Hartley, Pat Whitworth, and 

The River Club staff for hosting us. A big thank you goes to our speakers: Ian Thomson, 

Dr. Jim Millhouse, Mike Imbornone, Bill Osterhold, Jorge Capestany, Kevin Jackson, 

Bill Phillips, and Rod Heckleman for making this one of our best workshops to 

date. The USPTA Georgia Chapter Board continues to set the standard in planning 

exceptional educational opportunities by offering you the most dynamic speakers 

in the country. 

Congratulations to Agata Cioroch of Cherokee Town and Country Club in 

Atlanta, Ga. Agata was crowned the women’s open champion of the 2011 

USPTA International Championships defeating Nicole Berger of Key West, Fla., 

at the World Conference. It is also that time of the year to submit your application 

or nominate a deserving professional for one of the 2011 USPTA Georgia 

Awards. This year’s awards include our USPTA GA Pro of the Year, Industry 

Excellence Award, High School Coach, Rookie of the Year, Facility Manager of 

the Year, and the USPTA People’s Choice Award. Like last year, the People’s 

Choice Award will be voted on through the USPTA Georgia Facebook fan page. 

Please contact the Awards Chairman, Allan Jensen at ajensen.tennis@gmail. 

com by November 19th. The awards committee will follow-up with the candidate 

to gather additional details if necessary. 

As President of the USPTA NC Chapter, I 

N. Carolina am pleased to announce that Tom Parkes and 

Lane Evans are integral parts of the NC Board of Directors respectively as Vice- 

President and Secretary. We will all look forward to serving the second largest 

USPTA Southern membership (397 members) and hope to see many of you at our 

upcoming January 27th and 28th 2012 USPTA NC Workshop at Pinehurst Resort. 

Please mark your calendar ahead of time for this exciting and popular workshop. 

We will update you in early December as to the schedule and speakers’ topics. 

North Carolina held the first US Open Series ATP 250 Event in Winston-Salem just 

before the US Open - we were priviledged with seeing some of the biggest names 

in professional tennis battle on court. Ultimately, NC native John Isner won the title 

with a hard-fought match against Frenchman Julien Benneteau. We hope to have 

a workshop in conjunction with the tournament next year! In addition, many NC 

USPTA teaching professionals were on hand to help with kids day which was held 

on the Wake Forest University Indoor Tennis Center with over 249 kids participating. 

Finally, I was very pleased to attend our National Convention in Saddlebrook, FL 

where I met many fellow Southern members as well as enjoyed many wonderful 

lectures from excellent speakers. 

Kentucky 

Contact info for all officers at www.usptasouthern.com/contact.php 

We had a great summer in Kentucky, and it was nice 

to see several USPTA folks at the Fifth Third Bank 

Tennis Championships (USTA Pro Circuit event in Lexington)! The fall weather 

has arrived, and so has the indoor fall tennis season! The state workshop was 

held OCT 22-23, with a kick off that was a social networking opportunity at 

Keeneland horse race course. On Sunday, at the Lexington Tennis Club, we had 

presentations from Pat Whitworth, Bill Riddle, and Joanne Moore Wallen including 

new team drills/games and the next teaching step in 10 and under tennis. 

During the lunch hour, Bob Jackson from HEAD, was available to demo the 

latest racquets from HEAD. After lunch, we had a great panel discussion. There 

were great giveaways from HEAD and Nike! It was a fantastic workshop that 

over 20 attendees enjoyed and received plenty of information. 

Louisiana 

Geaux Tigers! 

College football is in full swing and as of October 

1 the LSU Fighting Tigers are ranked number 1! 

Back in the beginning of this year I heard comments that some tennis pros 

were unsure about the QuickStart initiative. I can tell you from our experience 

at Bocage Racquet Club that QuickStart is the future of tennis! Our numbers in 

our junior program had diminished in the past several years, however with the 

introduction of our QuickStart program our numbers have increased tremendously. 

We have even created a new position on our staff of Director of Quick- 

Start Development. We hired Jason Hazley, former LSU player and USPTA-1 

Tennis Pro and we now regularly have 25 to 30 kids just in the 8 and 10 & under 

programs. Interesting enough, this has also increased the interest and numbers 

for our 12 & up group also and we routinely have over 40 kids out per session 

in total! We also offer a once a month in-house tournament on a Saturday for 

all levels so the kids can get matches without having to travel and we even give 

trophies as part of the program. The parents love watching the kids compete 

and even though it is practice the kids are playing to WIN! 

Mississippi 

The Mississippi/Alabama joint state workshop 

was a tremendous success. Many thanks to 

Kevin Theos for all his hard work and time on putting together a great slate of 

speakers. So many professionals loved the schedule of events and of course the 

awesome lunch! We are trying hard to bring more educational opportunities to 

our state professionals. The next workshop will be our Mississippi state convention 

for 2012 which will be held in conjunction with the USTA MS state meeting. 

The workshop will be January 27th-28th. I have been working hard with USTA on 

setting a great slate of speakers for this workshop. Please stay tuned, as we are 

working with USTA to also offer a very exciting benefit to you the teaching professional. 

The fall is a wonderful time of the year with college football and cooler 

temperatures. Award nominations will begin later this month. Awards nominations 

will be submitted electronically on the USTA MS website. We will send out 

all nomination criteria this month. Please remember to nominate yourself or any 

others that you feel deserve it! 

S. Carolina 

USPTA South Carolina was well represented at the 

USPTA World Conference in Saddlebrook Florida. 

Dr. Sophie Woorons-Johnston was a General Session speaker and talked about 

52 weeks of lesson plans. Some of you might have seen that presentation at the 

USPTA Southern Convention in Baton Rouge in May. Use thematic lesson plans, 

organize your drills, kick butts! The USPTA SC published a newsletter edited by 

Tedi Doncheva which detailed how, at your club, you can better utilize our USPTA 

Programs. Featured programs are Little Tennis using the 10 and under format, 

Lessons for Life, Tennis Across America, and Tennis for the Health of it. For a copy 

of the newsletter, email Tedi at teodoradoncheva@yahoo.com. The Tennis for the 

Health of it posters are available at USPTA.org. You can customize the posters 

with your club name and post them at different doctors’ offices in the area.(Congratulations 

to the new USPTA board stepping up to the plate. Returning board 

members, Gary Agardy now President, Cary Davenport, Eric Wammock and our 

new additions, Mark Rearden, Andrew Stubbs, and Mark Schminke.) 

Tennessee 

With cooler weather coming and the end of the 

year in site, we have a chance to reflect on some 

of the activities and news from around the state. Recently, Memphis played 

host to the USTA High Performance Coaches Program and three Tennessee 

USPTA professionals completed the program. Joey Hall, Devin Crotzer and 

Philip Chamberlin all participated. 

This summer the Bluegrass Yacht & Country Club in Hendersonville played host 

to the State Chapter Workshop. This was one of the more successful workshops 

put on in recent years and included both on and off court seminars along with 

several of the clubs amenities. 

Duncan Howell is the new director of tennis Chickasaw C.C. A Lessons for Life 

clinic was held for the Ali’s Cup Tournament raising over $20,000 for the Ronald 

McDonald house. The clinic was held at Windyke C.C and featured Radu Dina , 

Robert Fly, Kevin Boldt, Rawleigh Martin, MJ Garnett.


One Good Idea! 

ROD HECKELMAN – FROM THE GEORGIA WORKSHOP 

New to the Job - Instead of arriving as the ‘Person in the Know’ 

and telling everyone what needs to be done, ask how things have 

been done in the past, learn the current systems and processes, and 

make changes slowly and as needed. 

Public Relations - It’s all about being honest. You don’t need 

to create an image – just be yourself. Don’t hide behind rules and 

policy, talk out issues with people so that they have been heard and 

know that you care and understand. Deal with issues quickly. The 

longer you wait, the more the issue will fester. 

Financial Security - While financial security is important, many 

people don’t consider emotional security. There are a lot of people 

in our industry that are very well paid, and are also miserable. 

DAvE HAGLER – FROM THE WORLD CONFERENCE 

Patterns - All servers have patterns. You learn their best serves 

when the pressure is on. Players want to hit their favorite shots 

under extreme conditions. 

Watch the ball?? - When the ball is coming at you, watch the ball, 

When the ball is going away from you, watch the person. Drill to 

practice this: Rally with the pro. Player must call whether the pro’s 

off hand is open or closed as they rally back & forth. This helps the 

player focus on more than just the ball. 

HEAD is the 

Official Racquet 

of the USPTA 

I 

AM 

TOMAS 

BERDyCh. 

PATRICK MCENROE/JOSE HIGUERAS – FROM THE WORLD 

CONFERENCE 

10 & Under Movement - One of the biggest challenges is for kids 

to understand when to step into a shot and when to step back. The 

step back allows them to more easily lift the ball. 

MIKE BARRELL – FROM THE WORLD CONFERENCE 

Kid’s Environment - What you put in the environment is what kids 

will learn. Kids will play with the toys put in front of them. Make sure 

that you choose the right ‘toys’ for them to play with in your lessons. 

Communication - TV never gets it wrong – the kids’ shows are 

created to communicate at a kid’s level. Ask the kids you teach what 

their favorite TV shows are, and you will understand what words 

they know and what interests them. 

Red vs. Orange Tennis - Red tennis is about space, orange is 

about time. These factors help you determine when it is time to 

graduate from one level to the next. Younger kids are learning their 

space and how to track. The next level is learning about judging a 

moving ball, moving in time, and swinging at the proper time. 

DOUG CASH – FROM THE WORLD CONFERENCE 

Creating Growth - Studied many companies. Growth occurs 

when companies have a plan, compensate well for growth, and gave 

bonuses for growth. You can not expect your employees and pros to 

grow membership/programs without compensating them accordingly. 

eight percent of their budget was for sales and marketing, and 

this compensation was a portion of that budget. 

I 

AM 

MARIA 

ShARApOvA. 

AND OUR GAME IS 

INSTINCT. 

On the court, a split second can decide between victory and defeat 

and players like Maria Sharapova or Tomas Berdych not only rely 

on their skills, but also on their instinct. HEAD has designed a 

racquet that makes it easier to swing fast and hit powerful shots 

for players like Sharapova or Berdych. The new HEAD YouTek IG 

Instinct – Effortless Power. 

What’s your game? FIND out at heaD.com/teNNIs 

11116-A.HEAD_Instinct_Sharapova_Berdych_USPTA_1_2_4c.indd 1 6/21/11 1:57 AM


Fit to Hit 

The Experts Answer Common Questions 

By Keith Cecil, MS, CSCS 

As tennis professionals, we are constantly 

learning from each other. For this edition of Fit 

to Hit I have asked various tennis fitness experts 

to answer a few common questions that will 

provide some great insight into the fitness side 

of tennis. I hope you find this helpful, and if you 

have any questions you would like answered in 

future issues please feel free to send them to me 

at kcecil@transy.edu. 

Question: What areas of the body do you spend 

the most time working on for tennis players, and 

what are your favorite exercises to strengthen those 

areas? 

“Scapula region (shoulder blade) and hip. 

Scapula push-ups and scapula pinches with 

exercise tubing and monster walk with the rubber 

tubing for hips are few of my favorites. They 

are easy to do and do not require expensive 

equipment.” –Satoshi Ochi, MA, CSCS, NSCA-CPT 

– Strength and Conditioning Coach, USTA Player 

Development Incorporated 

Question: How much SAQ (speed/agility/quickness) 

training should a tennis player do during a 

normal off-season week, and what is your favorite 

drill? 

“During a typical off-season week players 

The 2011 Southern Senior cup was played in Hunstville, Alabama the 

weekend of June 4th. 

Southern Senior Cup is an Open age group team competition among 

the 9 States of the Southern Section. Each State selects 3 to 4 players per 

age group. The Women have a 35s team, 45s, 55s, 65s, and 75s. The men 

as well. Each State can win an age group competition such as Men’s 65s. 

1 State will win the Men overall and 1 State will win the Women overall. In 

this fierce competition, the USPTA Southern professionals were very well 

represented. 

On the Women’s side 

• Women 35s. The number 1 for Georgia was USPTA pro Courtney Allen, 

NC #1 Simona Galik, SC #1 Sophie Woorons-Johnston, TN #1 Taylor 

Taylor and representing KY, Jan Deener and Joanne Wallen. 

• Women 45s, representing Alabama Patty Ann Randolph, Tennessee Sue 

Bartlett 

should do 2-3 SAQ sessions of 20-30 minutes in 

length, depending on the specific needs of the 

player. My favorite drills for tennis involve tennis 

specific movement patterns. One example is to 

set up 4 cones (short forehand, deep forehand, 

short backhand, deep backhand) and randomly 

point to a cone. The athlete moves to the cone 

as if they were going to hit a shot, and then 

recovers back to the middle of the court. When 

working on speed, the reps should be kept low 

(2-6). More reps can be done if endurance is the 

goal.” – Britt Chandler MS, CSCS*D, NSCA-CPT*D, 

USPTA Professional – Managing Editor, NSCA 

Strength and Conditioning Journal and Trainer 

for the Lexington Tennis Club 

Question: What types of strength training can 

tennis pros/coaches do on court with their athletes 

on a regular basis? 

“Body weight exercises including: push-ups, 

planks, squat jumps, mason twist, leg lifts, TRX 

bands, medicine ball work (if you have them 

available), and alligator walks.” – Matt Grayson, 

USPTA P-1, USRSA, GPTA – Athletic Director/Tennis 

Director for the Country Club of Roswell 

Question: What is the most common mistake you 

see tennis players make while training for fitness? 

“One of the major problems is too much 

emphasis of training with the muscles on 

the front of the body (chest, quads, biceps 

etc) without enough work on the muscles on 

the back of the body (back, hamstrings etc). 

This leads to major muscle imbalances and a 

greater chance of injury.” –Mark Kovacs, PhD, 

CSCS – Senior Manager, Coaching Education 

and Sport Science for USTA Player Development 

Incorporated 

Question: What one piece of advice do you have 

for tennis pros/coaches to help train their athletes 

better? 

”Understand the importance of recovery. 

There is a fine line between training hard 

and training smart. Athletes or coaches who do 

not allow their players enough time to recover 

are likely to see an increase of injuries and 

decreased performance. Remember, it is during 

RECOVERY in which the player will make the 

actual adaptation to their training. Athletes who 

simply do not allow enough time for recovery 

could end up hurting themselves more than 

anything else.” – Matt Vogel, CSCS – Strength and 

Conditioning Coach (Tennis) for the University of 

Kentucky. 

USPTA Well Represented at the Southern Senior Cup 

• Women 55s, Tennessee Elizabeth Bohac 

• Women 65s, GA #1 Bobbie Campanaro, TN #1 Phyliss Taylor. 

• Eddie Jacques M35, 1 for AL, Johan Gelitscka 2 for AL 35s. 

• Stephen McQuillen representing GA 35s, Jeff Clark representing TN 35s. 

• Men’s 45s, Donnie Wallis #1 for AR, Ed Gaskell representing LA, Kevin 

Gillette #1 for MS, Andy Veal representing TN. 

• M55s, Dan Lucas representing AR, Tom Smith #1 for GA and Rob 

Castorri, #2 for GA. Greg Stephenson #1 for KY and David Compton #2 

for KY. Phil Trahan, #1 for LA and Ed Gaskell #2 for LA. Marvin Pearson, 

representing MS. Jim Henson #1 for SC and Andy Steingold #2 for SC, 

Ray frazier #3 for SC. 

• M65, Bailey Brown representing GA, Bill Cole #1 for NC 

• M75, Lester Sack #1 for LA Ronnie Fenasci #2 for LA.


Play Better, Play Smarter 

Why to Talk on All Lobs in Doubles 

By Mark Centrella, USPTA 

Lobs from an opponent in doubles are a 

major cause of frustration from volleyers. 

A good lob either forces a volleyer to hit a 

difficult overhead or makes them turn around 

to retrieve the ball and give up ownership of 

the net. Unfortunately, these are not the only 

damages that a lob can cause. Even the weakest 

lobs can cause a complete breakdown in the 

teamwork of a partnership. When at the net, a 

partnership can prevent this if they can follow 

one simple rule – “Talk to each other on all lobs.” 

One might wonder if this plan to talk on 

every single lob is overkill. The answer? Absolutely 

not. There are three common scenarios 

in which lobs from our opponents can cause 

a serious breakdown in teamwork if neither 

partner opens their mouth. 

We all know how effective it is in doubles to 

hit down the middle of the court. The same 

goes for lobbing. We have all witnessed (and 

most likely have been a part of!) a situation 

in which a partnership at the net receives a 

weak lob that is hit between them and they 

both move towards it to hit a smash but are 

Net Partner’s Role is Half Defense 

Tip by Mark Centrella, USPTA 

In beginner and intermediate levels of doubles play, both teams playing 

entire points in the “one up, one back” position is a common scenario. 

The typical strategy in this scenario is for the baseline partner to keep the 

ball crosscourt a high percentage of the time while their net partner is 

on the constant lookout for a ball that they can close in on and poach. 

What this net partner must understand is that looking for an opportunity 

to take offense is only half of their job. The other half is to defend 

against their net opponent’s poach by taking a few steps diagonally 

backwards towards the “T” before their baseline partner is about to strike 

the ball. This net partner needs to remember that their net opponent is 

looking to do the same thing as them, which is to poach a groundstroke. 

This is why the net partner needs to slide back and plug up their net 

opponent’s number one target - the middle. Not sliding back to the “T” 

will leave the middle wide open. The net opponent will hit winners to 

this area at will. By sliding back a few steps to cover the middle, the net 

partner will force their net opponent to hit a better shot and increase his 

team’s chances of staying alive in the point. Once your baseline partner 

successfully keeps their shot crosscourt and away from the net oppo- 

unsure as to whether they or their partner are 

going to take it. In spite of the fact that the Ad 

partner should take most overheads down the 

middle (assuming both partners are righties) 

who’s to say both partners are interpreting 

the flight pattern of the ball the same way? 

Without words being spoken, indecision from 

both partners is a distinct possibility and the 

ball will no longer be struck from an offensive 

standpoint. This is why the first player to call it 

should take it while the other gets out of their 

way. If the wrong decision is made, discuss it 

afterwards. 

When a deeper lob is hit over one of the partners 

at net (let’s call them “partner A”), the other 

partner’s (“partner B”) first reaction is to start 

running diagonally behind them to retrieve 

it. If partner A decides to take it out of the air 

without informing partner B of their decision, 

guess which two people are going to end up 

defending the same side of the court… AND, 

guess where the next ball from the opponent is 

headed? (hint: one side of the court now looks 

like an empty warehouse - sshhh!) If partner A 

USPTA Invited Guest 

can shout for the ball right away, partner B can 

comfortably hold on to the net position and 

prepare for the next ball. In the event both 

partners call for this ball, the one that will make 

contact closer to the net should take it. Doing 

so will keep this partnership in attack position. 

If, heaven forbid a lob clears partner A’s head 

and partner B is required to chase it down, partner 

B must order partner A not only to switch 

but to slide back to the baseline if they feel they 

are about to hit an off-balance retrieve. Doing 

so will protect partner A from getting “drilled” 

by an aggressive overhead and allow them to 

be in a better position to play defense the rest 

of the point. 

Partnerships that talk on all lobs will enable 

themselves to maintain teamwork throughout 

a match. The same partnerships will in turn be 

treated to more consistent success. 

Mark Centrella is a Past President and current 

Head Tester for Middle States. He is the Director of 

Racquet Sports at the Greenville Country Club in 

Wilmington, DE. 

nent, the net partner should move forward again to attempt another 

poach. This up and back movement from the net partner should 

continue as long as the point lasts. 

Should You Really Elect to Serve First? 

Tip by Mark Centrella, USPTA 

It happens almost every time. A singles player or doubles pair wins 

the coin toss (or racquet spin, more typically) and without a thought, 

they immediately elect to serve to start the match. Serving first at 

advanced levels of play, when the shot is more of a weapon, very well 

may be advantageous. But is it really the right decision for beginner 

and intermediate players, who are frequently ecstatic to get through 

a service game without a double fault? And think about the extra pressure 

that goes along with serving right out of the gates. It takes most 

players three games before they can shake off butterflies and settle 

into a match. Not to mention, there is a general expectation for all 

players to hold serve, regardless of their level of play. With all of these 

things in mind, perhaps electing to receive first when given a choice 

makes most sense. After all, the worst result possible by electing to 

receive first is that you lose the game and are still “on serve.”


“Success Secrets” 

3 Men Share From Over 100 Years of Excellence 

By Lane Evans 

Over the last several months I have had the unique opportunity 

to meet and listen to some outstanding people from the 

tennis industry and outside of tennis. They are very successful 

people in their areas and I would like to share with you some 

tidbits of their ideas and philosophies that have led to their success. 

Rod Heckelman is the general manager at the Mt. Tam Racquet Club in 

Larkspur, CA. His outstanding career dates back to 1966 when he was just 

starting out. Rod is an expert in both tennis and club management and 

offers the following reflections. 

“As a result of interacting with so many fellow USPTA members, the 

contacts I have made sometimes produce unexpected bonuses. Last year 

I was able to write my book entitled, “Playing Into The Sunset,” which is a 

learning manual for senior players, published by Tennisboomers.net. Also, 

I think making the connection with TIA (Tennis Industry Association) and 

IHRSA (International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association) has been 

very important, as they helped me connect with the rest of the industry. 

This connection gives me first-hand information about new technology 

and any innovations in the industry. I was the first to speak at the annual 

IHRSA convention as a tennis representative in 25 years. This was a major 

breakthrough for us in the tennis game and enabled us to widen our 

exposure. The more we can connect our organization with other major 

organizations, the greater influence and the greater our potential is to 

absorb new ideas from these contacts.” 

Jorge Capestany, a USPTA Master Professional, has been a familiar 

name in our industry for the past 30+ years. He brings with him a wealth 

of knowledge and experience. He is currently the general manager at the 

DeWitt Tennis Center on the campus of Hope College in Holland, MI. He 

has directed many junior players to great successes over the years. Here is 

Jorge’s “Top Ten Fastest Ways To Lose A Match.” 

• Attempting to hit winners when you are behind the baseline. 

• Trying to put away overheads when you are behind the service line. 

• Swinging on high floating volleys. (Sucker Balls) 

• Hitting your first serve with the same pace for the entire match. 

• Hitting groundstrokes into the net when you are on the baseline. 

• Changing a game plan that is working. 

• Having only one game plan that is usable in a match. 

• Trying drop shots from behind the baseline. 

• Insisting on playing how you like, instead of what will win. 

• Using a game plan or tactics that you really don’t own yet. 

Finally, our last contributor is someone near and dear to me. Nido R. 

Qubein, President of High Point University in High Point, NC, has been 

one of this nation’s most successful business leaders. I walked with the 

graduating class of 2011 and had the unique opportunity to listen to Dr. 

Qubein and learn from him. He has a unique perspective on success that 

will resonate with all. Here is an excerpt from his latest book, “Stairway to 

Success; How to Achieve and Enjoy Success, Significance and Happiness 

at Home and at Work.” 

He states that “success is not a simple matter of luck, an accident at 

birth, or a reward for virtue. Achieving success is a matter of decision, 

commitment, planning, execution, and recommitment. Success doesn’t 

come to you, you must go to it. The trail is well-traveled and well-marked.” 

He continues, “Everyone is talented; we’re just talented in different ways. 

If you want to succeed, identify the areas in which you are talented and 

commit to developing those talents to the fullest. “ 

2012 Southern Board Nomination 

The 2012 slates of officers for the USPTA Southern Division and State Chapters are presented and a call for further nomination is hereby made. 

USPTA SOUTHERN DIvISION 

President – Bill Phillips 

1st Vice President – Todd Upchurch 

2nd Vice President – Dr. Sophie Woorons-Johnston 

Secretary-Treasurer – Matt Grayson 

Arkansas Chapter 

President – Jimbo Hobson 

1st Vice President – Jake Shoemake 

Secretary – John Meincke 

Treasurer – Dee Cox 

Alabama Chapter 

President – Kevin Theos 

1st Vice President –Johan Gedlitschka 

2nd Vice President – Boo Mason 

Secretary-Treasurer – Jenny Robb 

Louisiana Chapter 

President – Ed Gaskell 

1st Vice President – Katharine Reigleman 

2nd Vice President – Brody McCoy 

Secretary-Treasurer – John Sruk 

Georgia Chapter 

President - Andrew Minnelli 

1st Vice President – Marcus Rutsche 

2nd Vice President – Bill Anderson 

Treasurer – James Nichols 

Secretary – Ian Thomson 

Kentucky Chapter 

President – Keith Cecil 

1st Vice President – Joanne Moore Wallen 

Secretary – Brett Atcher 

Treasurer – DJ McClure 

South Carolina Chapter 

President – Eric Wammock 

1st Vice-President – Gary Agardy 

2nd Vice-President- Mark Rearden 

3rd Vice-President – Mark Schminke 

Secretary – Cary Davenport 

Treasurer – Andrew Stubbs 

Mississippi Chapter 

President – Kevin Jackson 

1st Vice President – Bo Gard 

2nd Vice President – Scott Pennington 

Secretary – Barney Chadwick 

Treasurer – Kevin Gillette 

North Carolina Chapter 

President – Marc Blouin 

1st Vice-President – Tom Parkes 

Secretary – Kevin Brice 

Treasurer – Lane Evans 

Tennessee Chapter 

President – Joey Hall 

1st Vice-President – Devin Crotzer 

2nd Vice-President- Brian Perry 

Secretary – William Taylor 

Treasurer – Gordon Pennington 

FAX & PHONE – 800-438-7782 

EMAIL – USPTAEXDIR@WINDSTREAM.NET


Tech Corner 

There’s an App for That 

The buzz word for 2011 is “Apps!” Everyone 

wants the latest app and for those with 

smart phones and iPads, they can be a 

tremendous tool. It is funny how quickly technology 

changes and how easy it is to become the 

dinosaur in the room. I am a techie by heart and 

spend countless hours each week researching 

new technology and even I sometimes get left 

behind. There is an expression we use here at 

TCC with the staff, “You are either going forward 

or reverse, there is no sitting still.” Today’s article 

will help everyone find at least 1 good app that 

can benefit your clientele, your club, and yourself. 

We will break down the apps into a few different 

categories to help with choosing which ones are 

right for you. 

SOCIAL NETWORKING: 

Friendly, Cost$: Free 

Facebook still hasn’t developed an app for the 

iPad, but this free app is a great way to update 

your club Facebook account from your ipad 

while away from your desk or on the road. We 

update our Facebook page while traveling to 

tournaments, and even while at USPTA workshops. 

Great way to give your members a little 

look inside all the work we do. 

Twitter, Cost$: Free 

Twitter is starting to gain popularity across 

the country. Most Twitter users like getting their 

information in quick, easy to read tweets! I have 

met a few tennis professionals that travel to multiple 

sites during the week and use Twitter to let 

their clientele know where they can be reached. 

BUSINESS & PRODUCTIvITY 

DropBox, Cost$: Free 

DropBox is one of the earlier applications 

that uses the “cloud” theory. You place any 

files you might access from home, work, or 

the road in the DropBox. You can access your 

DropBox from your smartphone, iPad, laptop, 

and desktop. The beauty of this program is 

that it works across any platform. DropBox is a 

great way to put photos from your events and 

By Kevin Jackson 

let your members access to view anytime. 

TennisTrakker, Cost$ 12.95 

TennisTrakker pro is a great way to gather 

tennis statistics of your players. The interface is 

very easy to use and everything is just one touch. 

This app generates pages of very useful statistics 

and you can email them to your students right 

from the app. We have a few of our parents using 

this app at junior tournaments when we can’t be 

there to watch the match. 

Evernote, Cost$: Free 

Evernote is an awesome note taking app that 

serves mainly as a photo, audio, video, and text 

syncing tool. Most importantly, it lets you tag 

everything and comprehensively search for it 

later; everything is saved in the cloud. 

There are over 425,000 apps that are currently 

out there to search through. Finding 

an app that works for your business can be 

challenging. Try out these suggestions, and let 

these apps work for you!


Ladies Vantage By 

Have you ever thought about whether what you are saying 

to your child is filling his or her emotional tank or draining it? 

It is a wonderful question delved in Jim Thompson’s book, 

“The Double-Goal Coach,” which has me rethinking how I 

work with kids. 

After reading it, I started telling the kids I coach that I was 

going to give them all a gift that day, the gift of criticism. I told 

them I was not attacking them as people but that I wanted 

them to live up to their potential. I suggested they take what I 

said graciously and see if it helps before tossing it out immediately. 

They thought that was very cool! 

The book also reinforced that if children are getting frustrated 

ask their permission to provide feedback. If they say 

they are open to suggestions, I relay my ideas for improvement 

to them. If they say “No,” I tell them, OK, let me know 

Joanne Wallen 

when they are ready and I will be happy to share 

my thoughts with them. This approach is very 

good when dealing with a particularly stubborn 

student. 

Also, the book talks about how to deliver 

criticism. A more effective way is to layer it 

between two positives, like a sandwich. Start 

with the positive, then make the criticism -- but 

with an “I wish you could have done that this way” 

delivery—and then add another positive. With this 

technique you are reinforcing two good habits and 

delivering the criticism in the form of a wish (a criticism 

sand-wish)! 

This book has so much good information, from 

teaching kids to honor the game to how to deal with 

parents to the many practices you can incorporate into 

each coaching session. I encourage you to read the 

book, or you can also find information online at 

www.positivecoach.org.


Amero, Brian J. McDonough, GA 

Bacon, Matthew F. Boone, NC 

Bennett, Mitchell Knoxville, TN 

Blanchette, Grayson F. Acworth, GA 

Blass, Michael S. Waleska, GA 

Boeder, Steven R. Knoxville, TN 

Bombac, Iztok Atlanta, GA 

Borders, Will H. Charlotte, NC 

Callow, Theodore J. Charlotte, NC 

Chamberlain, Kristin S. Memphis, TN 

Clark, Craig A. Nashville, TN 

Cobb, Justin P. Raleigh, NC 

Crosby, Gregory W. Beaufort, SC 

Donald III, Douglas A. Wilmington, NC 

Exley, Vance Atlanta, GA 

Funkhouser, Jordan A. Cary, NC 

Garman, Matt W. Diamondhead, MS 

Gates, Scott W. Sandy Springs, GA 

Glass, Brian K. Roswell, GA 

C 

“Just go out there and do what you have to do.” 

-Martina Navratilova 

“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. 

It is not the urge to surpass all others at 

whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at 

whatever cost.” 

-Arthur Ashe 

“It is easier to do a job right than to explain why 

you didn’t.” 

-Martina Navratilova 

“Everybody loves success, but hates successful 

people” 

-John McEnroe 

“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the 

attribute of the strong.” 

-Mahatma Gandhi 

USPTA Welcomes Our New Members 

Greggs, Thomas J. Smyrna, GA 

Hagan, Trent D. Birmingham, AL 

Hess, Michael D. Charlotte, NC 

Hill, Glen S. Decatur, GA 

Hotmer, Roger Flowery Branch, GA 

Isenhour, Lauren N. Wilmington, NC 

Jacobson, Mark Roswell, GA 

Jenkins, Scoville Kennesaw, GA 

King, Richard Atlanta, GA 

Kriener, Matthew T. Elon, NC 

McCluskey, Mark L. Memphis, TN 

McCormack, Thomas G. Southport, NC 

McLaughlin, Jonathan Shreveport, LA 

Molony, Molly N. Wrightsville Beach, NC 

Nelson, Andrew Chapel Hill, NC 

Overstreet, David S. Collierville, TN 

Paul, Vijay Nashville, TN 

Pena, Brian A. Slidell, LA 

Pereira, Michael S. Fayetteville, NC 

USPTA Certification Tests & Upgrades 

December 

12/3/11 - Atlanta, GA 

Dunwoody Country Club 

12/3/11 - Gastonia, NC 

Racquet Club of Gastonia 

12/4/11 - Lexington, KY 

Lexington Tennis Club 

12/4/11 - Nashville, TN 

Williamson County Tennis 

Complex 

12/11/11 - Rome, Ga. 

Coosa Country Club 

January 

1/2912 - Hilton Head, SC 

Haig Point Club 

Pirani, Sam Marion, AR 

Pittman, Gary L. Bartlett, TN 

Randle Jr., Jarrod S. Raleigh, NC 

Ridenhour, Michael J. Wilmington, NC 

Russell, David C. Covington, KY 

Salazar, Daysi E. Morgan City, LA 

Silverstein, Adam J. Roswell, GA 

Simpson, William E. Bluffton, SC 

Skrabut, Ashley M. Franklin, TN 

Tamarkin, Barry P. Atlanta, GA 

Taylor, Robert Buford, GA 

Thortsen, James K. Durham, NC 

Unkenholz, Joey M. Birmingham, AL 

Vandiver, Cathy R. Ellijay,GA 

Vincent, Stephen G. Mount PleasantSC 

Walsh, Medina Cane RidgeTN 

Weintraub, Benay I. ColliervilleTN 

Zink, Davor N. WilmingtonNC 

February 

2/10/12 - Atlanta, GA 

Dunwoody Country Club 

2/18/12 - Gastonia, NC 

Racquet Club of Gastonia 

march 

3/4/12 - Memphis, TN 

Racquet Club of Memphis 

3/4/12 - Hilton Head, SC 

Haig Point Club 

3/11/12 - Jackson, MS 

Courthouse Tennis & Fitness 

3/18/12 - Birmingham, AL 

Highland Racket Club 

Southern Members, 

I want to sincerely thank you for taking time 

to vote in the recent USPTA National Board 

Elections. Although you may not realize it, this 

is an extremely important time in our history. 

Over the next several years, decisions will 

need to be made regarding our management, 

our endorsements, and our membership. I 

appreciate the trust you have shown in helping to elect me to 

the board. As a devout member of the USPTA, I will absolutely 

do what is in the best interest of our association. 

Thanks again for your support. 

Jeff Hawes 

National Vice President 2011 

Southern Past President 2007-’08

USPTA SOUTHERN DIVISION 

N E W S L E T T E R 

1327 BOYLES MILL ROAD 

DALTON, GA 30721 

The Standard is published every 60 days by the 

Southern Division of the United States Professional 

Tennis Association. 

The opinions expressed in The Standard are those of 

the authors and not necessarily those of The Standard, 

the USPTA or Southern Division. 

Copyright© The Standard/United States Professional 

Tennis Association, Inc. 2011. All rights reserved. 

Reproduction of any portion of the newsletter is not 

permitted without the written permission from the 

USPTA Southern Division. 

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