We are allowing anonymous Letters to the Editor because we understand your position and have experienced USTA backlash to dissenting voices ourselves. Please be aware whenever a letter is signed with The Commish it's always a tennis director, a teaching professional, a vendor or a USTA insider who is in fear of retribution. Thank you. We look forward to the day when everyone can voice their opinion freely and without fear.
American Tennis Coaches Certification Chaos / USPTA
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January 31, 2022
Rich,
My opinion has been for ever that the Uspta should have joined forces with the atp/wta like golf has the pga. The usta has always been very political and they do what’s best for them. They want to have more control.
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The process to become a certified pga professional is a long one with three levels and you are tested on each and have to work your way up to be able to qualify for any pro position. It helps weed out the ones who don’t really want the career. When I was coaching on tour with Chuck Adam’s the atp was looking at certifications for coaching.
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David Harley Smith
USPTA Elite Professional
February 2, 2022
Rich,
Thought you would be interested in seeing the lineup for the USPTA Intermountain tournament.
Jack Broudy is speaking.
I can get 11 continuation points for listening to all presentations and going to the drill session? I need 15 CE points every three years. So I could attend this convention and write two book reports and that covers my CE points for three years.
Which is a bigger joke the certification or the CE?
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The Commish
Everywhere, USA
Pronouns: They/Them
February 20, 2022
I enjoyed reading your perspective on the USTA/USPTA/PTR teaching situation. I was present at the USPTA Florida Division Conference in 2019 where the relationship with the USTA was spelled out by Feisal Hassan and Steve Keller. I was very vocal in expressing my concerns in the general membership meeting. They didn't even pass around the Kool-Aid that Feisal had obviously been drinking.
It was clear that the USPTA leadership thought this was going to give them an edge in the marketplace, and I don't understand why the only way they feel we can build ourselves up is by putting the other guys (PTR) down. It seems insecure. I stepped outside for a minute during the meeting and called Dan Santorum, who I have known for many years, to get his perspective on why accreditation was taking so long and give him some encouragement that it would happen. It seemed like USPTA/USTA were planning on the PTR not getting accreditation by saying that all USTA tournament directors would have to be USPTA certified, which seemed horribly unfair to me. Of course, it did eventually happen, which I was very happy to see.
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Howard Chodak
USPTA Master Professional
February 22, 2022
I remember a USPTA Board member telling me that Dan Santorum reached out to John Embree but John did not like that at all. That Board member also told me the mantra was "the PTR is our enemy."
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From what I hear is that USPTA executives and Board can be quite vicious when you're believed to not "toe the line." Sad, really sad.
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The Commish
Everywhere, USA
Pronouns: They/Them
USTA
February 2, 2022
Rich,
I am sure you saw this. USTA is offering club assistance and consulting.
Depending on a person's perspective, this is like a government monopoly or a government taking control of everything. Or is it like the USTA being a good neighbor and helping those in the industry.
https://usta.secure.force.com/facilities_form
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The Commish
Everywhere, USA
Pronouns: They/Them
February 25, 2022
It appears that USTA has merged player and coach development. They are playing games.
Who accredits the USTA for the coaching programs they offer?
Having them accredit themselves is like having a wolf in sheep's clothing.
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The Commish
Everywhere, USA
Pronouns: They/Them
New World Tennis Number WTN
February 1, 2022
I understand the thought process of people who work in ivory towers. Based on their logic everyone needs an ITF World Tennis Number. Of the 23 million people allegedly playing the sport, how many are sitting on the edge of their chairs saying, "I can't wait to get my ITF World Tennis Number? How many of those players will suddenly start playing more frequently because they get an ITF World Tennis Number? Will we get ITF World Tennis Number t-shirts and sweatbands with our numbers printed on them? Does this mean the ITF is replacing the USTA as the governing body of tennis in the U.S.?
For Pete's sake, why did the USTA abandon the NTRP and the UTR? The UTR is developed by an American company and it supports all levels of tennis in the U.S.
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The Commish
Everywhere, USA
Pronouns: They/Them
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INDUSTRY
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February 21, 2022
RICH:
I HAVE COME TO A CONCLUSION. OUR INDUSTRY HAS TO SELL OURSELVES LOCALLY, NOT NATIONALLY, SO THAT LOCAL TENNIS CLUBS, CAN SURVIVE. IT IS TIME TO DETACH FROM THE NATIONAL BODY, THE USTA, AND MAKE LOCAL TENNIS BOOM. ALL TENNIS FACILITIES NEED TO BE BOOMING. THE USTA HAS NO DEFINED PROGRAM OR BUDGET FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF TENNIS TO OUR CURRENT WORLD.
LETS START A PROGRAM TO GET ALL FACILITIES BUSTLING. LETS START A PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS ALL TENNIS PLAYERS TO PROMOTE THE BENEFITS AND FUN OF TENNIS. IT NEEDS TO DIRECTED BY THE LOCAL FACILITY, AND DRIVEN BY THE CURRENT PLAYERS THAT PLAY AT THAT FACILITY.
HERE IT IS:
INVITE ALL CURRENT PLAYERS TO BRING 5 OF THEIR BEST FRIENDS TO THEIR FACILITY FOR FREE. LET THE CURRENT PLAYER, OF ANY AGE, SHOW OFF THE SPORT THEY LOVE. THE PLAYER IS GIVEN A COURT, BALLS, AND INTRODUCES A SERVE, A FOREHAND, AND A BACK HAND TO HIS OR HER FRIENDS. THE FACILITY THAN GIVES A SECOND HOUR AND THE ONLY GOAL BY THE PLAYER IS TO INTRODUCE THE SCORING SYSTEM TO THE PLAYERS.
GOAL: COMPLETE, FIVE NEW PLAYERS INTRODUCED, VERY LITTLE COST TO THE FACILITY AND THE CURRENT PLAYER. A PERCENTAGE WILL TRY MORE, A LESSON, PURCHASE AN HOUR OF COURT TIME, SIGN UP THEIR KIDS FOR A CLASS, ETC.
WE NEED TO FIND A LOW COST WAY TO INTRODUCE THE WHOLE WORLD TO TENNIS.
I THINK WE SHOULD GO FOR IT.
Lou Dimock
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