USTA taking over USPTA ?

[tennis5]

Originally Posted by Bash and Crash

This is too funny, first we had previous threads say USTA can't coach its way out of a paper bag, never developed a single top 10 player, and now they are so good we want them to take over the USPTA. However, I think one reason they want to "control" USPTA is that Tim Heckler had always felt the USTA wants to take credit and students from his members, and that USTA PD does not want to work with top independent(non-USTA PD) coaches. Will be interesting to see how it all shakes out.

Sounds nice in theory..... that there should be one standard of teaching.
But, what makes this country great, is that we are unique and creative and many of our top players in the past did not all play the same identical way.

[CoachDad]

Bash....I don't 'want' the USTA to take over the USPTA. I think it is irrelevant either way as neither is all that great at player development. Too many awful coaches with USPTA certs.

The best coaches are eager learners, always searching online, attending seminars, exploring international ideas, pushing what they know. They also study non tennis technical things such as nutrition, motivation, recovery, etc.

If they have a USTA, USPTA, both, none after their names I just do not think will matter. A parent should do a sex offender background check on a potential coach, watch his/her style, ask for their insurance rider, talk to other parents and decide if a coach is right for their kid. Relying on USPTA on their card is far down the list of things to worry about.

[Bash and Crash]

Originally Posted by CoachDad

Bash....I don't 'want' the USTA to take over the USPTA. I think it is irrelevant either way as neither is all that great at player development. Too many awful coaches with USPTA certs.

The best coaches are eager learners, always searching online, attending seminars, exploring international ideas, pushing what they know. They also study non tennis technical things such as nutrition, motivation, recovery, etc.

If they have a USTA, USPTA, both, none after their names I just do not think will matter. A parent should do a sex offender background check on a potential coach, watch his/her style, ask for their insurance rider, talk to other parents and decide if a coach is right for their kid. Relying on USPTA on their card is far down the list of things to worry about.

Totally agree, although I'm USPTA, usually need it to get a job at clubs, parents should always do their due diligence. As I've posted before, look at the good players and ask who their coach is. The good coaches don't need to approach kids at the park or tournies players know who they are.

[floridatennisdude]

Originally Posted by Bash and Crash

Totally agree, although I'm USPTA, usually need it to get a job at clubs, parents should always do their due diligence. As I've posted before, look at the good players and ask who their coach is. The good coaches don't need to approach kids at the park or tournies players know who they are.

Best pro I ever worked with was a brazillian former college all American that played pro for a few years and was a Grad Asst at a small college. I remember when I met him, I asked whether he was USTA or PTR affiliated. His response was, "What is that?"

He then proceeded to change my court positioning and point play strategy over the next few clinics. He didn't even use a cart and ball feed. He would just have a hand and pocket full of balls that he would rally in with the group. I don't know who taught him how to teach, but he quickly became the most popular pro in town.

[tguru]

Having said all that, no idea why the USTA would want to 'own' the USPTA. Unless they think it's relevant to get USPTA support for 10U tennis program.[/quote]

You're kidding, right? Didn't they try a powerplay many years ago? This is SOP for the USTA. It's all about money and control. Or is it the other way around? A marvelous organization, not!

[t135]

Originally Posted by floridatennisdude

Best pro I ever worked with was a brazillian former college all American that played pro for a few years and was a Grad Asst at a small college. I remember when I met him, I asked whether he was USTA or PTR affiliated. His response was, "What is that?"

He then proceeded to change my court positioning and point play strategy over the next few clinics. He didn't even use a cart and ball feed. He would just have a hand and pocket full of balls that he would rally in with the group. I don't know who taught him how to teach, but he quickly became the most popular pro in town.

. Teaching is a gift people are born with indeed. Great players don't always make great teachers. Most tennis teachers/coaches are more gifted in certain areas than in others (my gift was teaching technique). The value of a professional organization like USPTA is to provide a platform for tennis players who want to teach to become well rounded professionals. Used appropriately a smart individual can use the USPTA to fill in their weaknesses and have a networking system for professional development beyond what comes natural or easiest to them. The USPTA is a means to an end, not an end. And USPTA certification only means someone has made a commitment to a higher level of professionalism. It doesn't guarantee anything because in the end, people who teach and coach tennis are just that; people. And we are all different and unique.

Furthermore, not everyone is smart enough to take advantage of the opportunity, or even need that void filled in their tennis life. But it is shallow to criticize the USPTA because it doesn't fit your immediate need. Just turn around and maturely walk away. That's all you have to do. Go do your own thing, then let us know when you've produced some division 1 players or top 100 pros. I've done that and the USPTA was invaluable in my professional development. I did it myself, but the organization was helpful in the process.

But that's just me.

[onehandbh]

Probably only one main reason the USTA wants the USPTA.
Getting more people to join and play USTA tournaments, leagues, etc
= more $$ ---err, I meant, they want to grow the sport of tennis in the U.S.

[SFrazeur]

USPTA / PTR certification means as much as the individual puts into it. Other than that it's just an excuse to have a comma after your name on a business card.

If the USPTA is taken over by the USTA it will not change what I do in the lest. I will still work hard on improving my work and effectiveness with equally hard-work.

-SF

[CoachDad]

Originally Posted by SFrazeur

USPTA / PTR certification means as much as the individual puts into it. Other than that it's just an excuse to have a comma after your name on a business card.

If the USPTA is taken over by the USTA it will not change what I do in the lest. I will still work hard on improving my work and effectiveness with equally hard-work.

-SF

Agree 100%.

[t135]

Originally Posted by SFrazeur

USPTA / PTR certification means as much as the individual puts into it. Other than that it's just an excuse to have a comma after your name on a business card.

If the USPTA is taken over by the USTA it will not change what I do in the lest. I will still work hard on improving my work and effectiveness with equally hard-work.

-SF

Well said man!

[bdudaday]

The CEO of the USTA Kurt Kamperman just answered this question directly:
http://tennisinsiders.com/?post_type...ed_story&p=407

[bdudaday]

Originally Posted by bdudaday

The CEO of the USTA Kurt Kamperman just answered this question directly:
http://tennisinsiders.com/?post_type...ed_story&p=407

It's down about 3/4 of the way down the page.

[jigglypuff]

Originally Posted by bdudaday

It's down about 3/4 of the way down the page.

For the lazy...

Kamperman: The USTA taking over the USPTA is a conspiracy theory that’s been playing longer than Phantom of the Opera has been on Broadway. As Jon Vegosen and Gordon Smith recently wrote to the USPTA Executive Committee, if the USTA wanted to get into the business of certifying teaching pros, we could do so without taking over any teaching organization. Our preference has always been to work with the existing organizations. It’s funny how the USTA gets criticized from both sides on most tennis issues. People want to blame the USTA for every challenge facing our sport – creating more players, developing American champions, saving college tennis, etc., etc. At the same time, we also get criticized for supposedly trying to take over everything in tennis, i.e. the USPTA. No organization, including the USTA is perfect, and we are always striving to do things better. That said, from my viewpoint, the USTA is an organization where virtually all of our volunteers and staff are focused on our mission: to promote and develop the growth of tennis. I believe that everyone involved in the USTA is trying to do just that. We are not the evil empire some people make us out to be.

[tennis5]

Originally Posted by bdudaday

The CEO of the USTA Kurt Kamperman just answered this question directly:
http://tennisinsiders.com/?post_type...ed_story&p=407

Thanks for posting. Lot of information in this interview..

Here is the response for college tennis:
( It is amazing that the USTA does not have "any influence at all with the NCAA on this issue")

Question:
The best tennis players in the US are starting as early as 2 and 3 years of age.
Their parents are spending 100′s of 1000′s of dollars on the sport and in my humble opinion tennis players are by far and away the most skilled at their sport of any athletes in any sport. But, you can be the #1 boy in the US and not get a full college scholarship to the school you want to go to…or even the top 5 schools you want to go to! You can be a top 30 US junior player and not get a whiff of playtime. Is this fair?

Answer:
Kamperman: The USTA would love to see more US players on college teams. But again, this is an NCAA issue and can only be changed by the member institutions themselves. The member institutions that offer tennis must come together to make this happen. We’ve looked at this issue for decades now with the ITA and concluded that USTA does not have any influence at all with the NCAA on this issue. We’ve chosen to spend our time and money on saving varsity programs and creating USTA Tennis on Campus. USTA Tennis on Campus has been a huge success by providing opportunities for college students to compete in tennis on club teams. Obviously, playing on a club team is not a substitute for collegiate varsity tennis or the varsity tennis experience, but we do have over 35,000college students playing. The USTA Collegiate Committee has a thorough FAQ regarding the international player issue. Those who want to know more about this issue should check out the FAQ because it can help clear up some misconceptions:

[andfor]

Originally Posted by tennis5

Thanks for posting. Lot of information in this interview..

Here is the response for college tennis:
( It is amazing that the USTA does not have "any influence at all with the NCAA on this issue")

Question:
The best tennis players in the US are starting as early as 2 and 3 years of age.
Their parents are spending 100′s of 1000′s of dollars on the sport and in my humble opinion tennis players are by far and away the most skilled at their sport of any athletes in any sport. But, you can be the #1 boy in the US and not get a full college scholarship to the school you want to go to…or even the top 5 schools you want to go to! You can be a top 30 US junior player and not get a whiff of playtime. Is this fair?

Answer:
Kamperman: The USTA would love to see more US players on college teams. But again, this is an NCAA issue and can only be changed by the member institutions themselves. The member institutions that offer tennis must come together to make this happen. We’ve looked at this issue for decades now with the ITA and concluded that USTA does not have any influence at all with the NCAA on this issue. We’ve chosen to spend our time and money on saving varsity programs and creating USTA Tennis on Campus. USTA Tennis on Campus has been a huge success by providing opportunities for college students to compete in tennis on club teams. Obviously, playing on a club team is not a substitute for collegiate varsity tennis or the varsity tennis experience, but we do have over 35,000college students playing. The USTA Collegiate Committee has a thorough FAQ regarding the international player issue. Those who want to know more about this issue should check out the FAQ because it can help clear up some misconceptions:

BTW. That's a stupid question with an equally dim answer. There are no full scholarships being given out to boys because DI only has 4.5 scholarships max to work with for men's tennis. Girls get full scholarships at programs that have 8 scholarships available. What boy in the US Top 30 does not get a whiff of playtime?

Is there a reason you left out that link Kamperman references at the end of his quote?

Q: The best tennis players in the US are starting as early as 2 and 3 years of age. Their parents are spending 100′s of 1000′s of dollars on the sport and in my humble opinion tennis players are by far and away the most skilled at their sport of any athletes in any sport. But, you can be the #1 boy in the US and not get a full college scholarship to the school you want to go to…or even the top 5 schools you want to go to! You can be a top 30 US junior player and not get a whiff of playtime. Is this fair?

A: Kamperman: The USTA would love to see more US players on college teams. But again, this is an NCAA issue and can only be changed by the member institutions themselves. The member institutions that offer tennis must come together to make this happen. We’ve looked at this issue for decades now with the ITA and concluded that USTA does not have any influence at all with the NCAA on this issue. We’ve chosen to spend our time and money on saving varsity programs and creating USTA Tennis on Campus. USTA Tennis on Campus has been a huge success by providing opportunities for college students to compete in tennis on club teams. Obviously, playing on a club team is not a substitute for collegiate varsity tennis or the varsity tennis experience, but we do have over 35,000college students playing. The USTA Collegiate Committee has a thorough FAQ regarding the international player issue. Those who want to know more about this issue should check out the FAQ because it can help clear up some misconceptions: http://assets.usta.com/assets/1/15/U...INAL_CLEAN.pdf

[t135]

Well this must be embarrassing for the theorists on here. I'm sure this doesn't stop the usta from being a clueless evil tennis empire though.

[dennis10is]

One day, in the far but glorious future, Americans will dominate tennis. the USTA will ensure that no other country exists aside from the US. No human beings exist aside from Americans. There will be only one sport in the US.

That day of complete tennis domination I will not be alive to enjoy but I know that my progeny will make it happen.

God bless the USTA and no other organizations

[chalkflewup]

Originally Posted by 10ismom

I received this from an oline magazine, Tennis Now, today.

USTA is taking over a teaching pro organization, USPTA?

Check out this link http://www.tennisnow.com/News/USTA-S...nizations.aspx

What is your thought?
What effect will this be on junior tennis?
And .....what effect on tennis in the US?

No matter what they do, I see zero negative impact on junior tennis. Great coaches are great coaches regardless of their professional affiliations.

I'd love to see it happen though as USPTA has had some leadership challenges in recent years.

[tball2day]

...................

[Misterbill]

Originally Posted by tball2day

That was not a dim question, it is a valid concern. andfor, while you post some good useful answers to many issues, I really think you are over your head about the college recruiting process and the reality for the players. There is always at least a single statement in your posts attacking an idea or another poster that indicates you are not involved nor have been in getting a player in the college system. A lot of "secrets" or realities come out then and some posts accurately reflect those issues. imo overall, you seem out of touch on this issue.

I have a kid who did not receive offers (plural) from a couple of top choice D1 schools, both State and private. Each of these schools has foreigners on the roster. I am not sure if there was a causal connection between these two facts and don't really care.

This kid also received offers (plural) from other fine D1 State and private schools. These schools also have foreigners on the roster.

So does that give me standing to comment?

I think it was pretty dim to ask why the #1 US boy can not get a full scholarship to the school he wants to go to, or even the top 5 schools he wants to go to

I think it was pretty dim to wonder why a kid can be a top-30 US junior player and not get a whiff of playing time in college.

I think the person who asked these questions.....and anyone who thinks they are spot-on........is out of touch.