USTA High performance coaches quitting

[chalkflewup]

I think he's been there a full year. And he certainly hasn't gone backwards.

[Oscarramb]

IMO its not as much of a problem and some people here think it is. The eras of domination we've had in the past are a little unrealistic to expect all the time. I think it's more of a cycle and in a few years well have our dominant players once again. And its not like the us has completely disappeared, with isner and the William sisters, especially Serena being relevant and still considered threats. I do think however that because were not the tennis powerhouse we were when the William sisters dominated women's tennis and what we were in the 80s overall interest in the US isn't as high so less kids are introduced to tennis. Its sort of a catch 22 situation but well come back eventually...

[tenniscp]

Originally Posted by chalkflewup

I'm just saying...

Did Taylor Townsend win the Junior Aussie Open using those resources? 18s Easter Bowl?

Did young Kozlov get to the semi's of the 18s Easter Bowl using those resources?

In the last two big tournaments, Easter Bowl and International Springs, USTA was actually represented very well.

Easter Bowl semifinals were, McDonald against Rubin, Halebian against Thai Kwiatkowski. All four kids are USTA. In Girls, Taylor Townsend won it. In doubles Kruger/ Halebian against Kozlov/Corinteli (all USTA). Same in girls dubs!

In International Springs, Kozlov against Corinteli and Rubin against Kruger in singles (all Usta again), in Girls Kiick, Townsend, Scholl in semis (again all usta).

In the clay court ITF swing in Florida, another kid that trains in Boca, Kerznerman won a tournament.

Not really a weak showing, by any standards! Wouldn't you agree?

It just seems that. almost in every big tournament, USTA has a lion share of players that they train make it to the final four (semis or better).

[tball2day]

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[justinmadison]

Originally Posted by chalkflewup

I think he's been there a full year. And he certainly hasn't gone backwards.

They should use that as their slogan.

[chalkflewup]

Originally Posted by tball2day

Misinformation is everywhere.McDonald and Krueger not USTA kids. McDonald left that program well over year ago. Krueger never was. Regardless, USTA doing fine, and they will continue to do so as their players are the ones with the opportunities and even moreso with tourny changes over next 12-24 months. But that was the plan anyway...

Agreed. And thanks for the clarification.

[tenniscp]

Originally Posted by tball2day

Misinformation is everywhere.McDonald and Krueger not USTA kids. McDonald left that program well over year ago. Krueger never was. Regardless, USTA doing fine, and they will continue to do so as their players are the ones with the opportunities and even moreso with tourny changes over next 12-24 months. But that was the plan anyway...

Sorry, did not realize that. I was told that Kruger and McDonald are USTA, or at least are a part of their training program, as well as their traveling schedule.

I guess I was misinformed.

[t135]

Originally Posted by TennisCoachFLA

I don't think it is more complicated chalk. The game is not supported on the local levels and the tournies are too expensive. Local coaching and local tournaments are not supported enough financially by the USTA.

And the private sector has not failed because I included private coaches and existing academies and clubs. That also includes parent coaches. All of the top players have been coached at local clubs or academies or parents or local private coaches.....please name the ones developed by USTA high performance? Can you think of 1?

The USTA can have its talent scouts like they do now. But instead of selecting 30 kids for Boca and Carson, instead of maintaining dorms and facilities and a team of high performance coaches, pay for the talented kids to train where past champions have.

Its a case by case basis.....if you find a Nadal type who is grooving with his coaching Uncle, support his training. If you get a call from a tennis club in Georgia who has a Melanie Oudin, pay for her training. If you find a kid at a tennis academy in Texas who is awesome, support them. Maybe some kids will need to be moved to a better facility...again, case by case.

There is no need for the USTA high performance to maintain its own facilities and high performance coaches.

Just reading back through this long thread. Really good ideas here. Doesn't the usta already do some of this though? I've been out of the usta loop for about 10 years.

[tennisconsultcom]

All begins from an organization of a selection process. If you do not have enough talented kids, everything else does not matter. You cannot develop a star from average athlete, never. There is a main question. Then, tennis in USA is sport for middle or upper middle class, these kids are spoiled, they do not want to work hard. Parents who cannot pay huge money for a training never bring their kids to a tennis club. I remember, when I brought a very talented young kid to a famous tennis coach, he said after a work-out something like that "incredible talented kid, he has a chance, BUT his parents must be ready to spent a lot of money." Parents thought and brought him to soccer team.

Else, many tennis coaches and tennis academies are not interested to develop pro level players or they do not know how to develop pro level players. Knowledge of modern systems of tennis development is very low. I have written many posts about that on my blog. Do not want to repeat. Just look at five years old news about junior tennis stars and ask where are they now?

Finally, I think when will be no American players in top 20 (it will be soon) , only after that USTA or who is responsible for that, will start to think about a SYSTEM of development strong tennis players and provide a budget for that. Now, tennis industry just make a lot of money like any other profitable business, but it does not produce American tennis champions anymore.

[BMC9670]

Originally Posted by tennisconsultcom

Finally, I think when will be no American players in top 20 (it will be soon) , only after that USTA or who is responsible for that, will start to think about a SYSTEM of development strong tennis players and provide a budget for that. Now, tennis industry just make a lot of money like any other profitable business, but it does not produce American tennis champions anymore.

If and when this happens, the USTA will lose membership and lose money. Non-profit or not, they are money driven, just like any business. And they make plenty of money. If developing players does not work for them, they'll eventually get out of that business. IMO, they should focus on the growth of tennis and the tournament/competitive system, while supporting talented coaches who develop pro players. Directly developing players is incredibly inefficient for a governing body.

[MarTennis]

Originally Posted by tenniscp

Sorry, did not realize that. I was told that Kruger and McDonald are USTA, or at least are a part of their training program, as well as their traveling schedule.

I guess I was misinformed.

They have been working with him for at least 3 years.

[tball2day]

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[chalkflewup]

Originally Posted by BMC9670

If and when this happens, the USTA will lose membership and lose money. Non-profit or not, they are money driven, just like any business. And they make plenty of money. If developing players does not work for them, they'll eventually get out of that business. IMO, they should focus on the growth of tennis and the tournament/competitive system, while supporting talented coaches who develop pro players. Directly developing players is incredibly inefficient for a governing body.

They will not lose membership nor money. In fact, I suspect membership and revenues will grow over the next 5-10 years as the sport continues to grow. They will not stop developing and supporting our juniors - no chance. Our recent domination at Las Petite As and the developmental success of players like Taylor Townsend will continue to keep the initiative alive.

[BSPE84]

Heard from a reliable source that Carson letting some coaches go and drastically reducing the number of kids later this summer... Can anyone confirm?

[tennis5]

Big house cleaning in East Coast. Got rid of most of their boys and I heard they are bringing in older girls.

[chalkflewup]

Originally Posted by tennis5

Big house cleaning in East Coast. Got rid of most of their boys and I heard they are bringing in older girls.

Which facility?

[BMC9670]

Originally Posted by chalkflewup

They will not lose membership nor money. In fact, I suspect membership and revenues will grow over the next 5-10 years as the sport continues to grow. They will not stop developing and supporting our juniors - no chance. Our recent domination at Las Petite As and the developmental success of players like Taylor Townsend will continue to keep the initiative alive.

If they transfer some junior success into pro success, then I would agree. But if they don't produce something special, like a slam winner, or at least a perinnial top 10 to hang their hat on in the next 10-15 years, I would think the next "administration" (post Pat Mac) would have a different directive, or at least tweaked.

[chalkflewup]

IMO, the directive will always exist and I believe there will always be tweaking. IMG is tweaking right now.

[coaching32yrs]

I would like the readers of this Board to tell me what Pat McEnroe's qualifications are to be head of USTA junior development. Who was has coached and developed? Where did he work and study the development of junior players into pros. Which people has he worked with? When? For how long? This is arguably the most important position at the USTA. As a member I would like to know this.

[willshot]

patmac is a joke. He's just in it for the money.