No ball baskets on Public Courts?

I

infonoob

New User
Where I live, there is a certain Tennis Dad who enjoys giving tennis lessons and organizing tennis socials for kids not only in the school his son is enrolled at, but at all schools. Now one day, after holding a free tennis lesson for some JV kids, he was approached by the town pro (This pro was sanctioned as the only pro allowed to teach FOR MONEY on public courts in the city). The pro told him this:
NO more bringing a ball basket to teach kids on ANY public court
NO more tennis socials organized

Is this legal? I see this as a way to monopolize the kids into being taught by him. He has already gotten rid of every other Pro in town somehow, including most of the country club ones.
 
N

Number1Coach

Banned
infonoob said:
Where I live, there is a certain Tennis Dad who enjoys giving tennis lessons and organizing tennis socials for kids not only in the school his son is enrolled at, but at all schools. Now one day, after holding a free tennis lesson for some JV kids, he was approached by the town pro (This pro was sanctioned as the only pro allowed to teach FOR MONEY on public courts in the city). The pro told him this:
NO more bringing a ball basket to teach kids on ANY public court
NO more tennis socials organized

Is this legal? I see this as a way to monopolize the kids into being taught by him. He has already gotten rid of every other Pro in town somehow, including most of the country club ones.
Click to expand...

tell him to find a high school court to use .
 
C

cltennis21

New User
This is normally the case for privite courts because the pro signs a contract, but at every public court in town? that shouldn't be right.
 
K

klu375

Semi-Pro
School courts may be controlled by the Dept. of Ed and the rest of the public courts may be controlled by the City. Both entities are usually afraid of lawsuits and the pro probably has insurance. So this parent needs to talk to these entities and obtain permits and insurance if necessary. In any case the pro cannot tell anyone what they can or cannot do but if he is in alliance with the city they may send police to check the permit.
 
T

TennisCoachFLA

Banned
klu375 said:
School courts may be controlled by the Dept. of Ed and the rest of the public courts may be controlled by the City. Both entities are usually afraid of lawsuits and the pro probably has insurance. So this parent needs to talk to these entities and obtain permits and insurance if necessary. In any case the pro cannot tell anyone what they can or cannot do but if he is in alliance with the city they may send police to check the permit.
Click to expand...

Yup, in our city signs are on every city owned court that say no lessons without a permit.
 
B

BMC9670

Hall of Fame
If he is giving lessons for free, it should be no problem. If he is charging for them, then it is considered "commercial" and he would probably need a permit to do it on a public court. The pro can't tell him not to do it, but could report it if he is charging for the lessons.

I give my own kids lessons on public courts with baskets, props, targets, etc along with other kids sometimes. I don't charge for it, though, I just like my kids to have the company and training partners.
 
WARPWOODIE

WARPWOODIE

Rookie
At my municipality, public tennis courts permits cost $7/hour. Securing permits is a good way to avoid any potential conflicts.
 
S

seminoleG

Semi-Pro
WARPWOODIE said:
At my municipality, public tennis courts permits cost $7/hour. Securing permits is a good way to avoid any potential conflicts.
Click to expand...

Yea even teaching your own kids not allowed in this part of So Fla. Liability issue with City. Funny I could take my daughter to soccer field with many balls/Cones etc.

Permit works here because not only do you protect yourself you reserve the court.

Now that said seen many folks with Baskets, and Portable Ball machines that I know didn't get permits.
 
gplracer

gplracer

Hall of Fame
permits....... wow! I have never heard of such. I also heard that up north in some places you have to pay by the hour to play tennis. Down here in the south we play membership to our club and it is unlimited play. Then my neighborhood has two locked courts that we can use anytime as well.
 
S

Soianka

Hall of Fame
In Atlanta, one private company (UTA) took over all of the public (formerly city run) tennis centers, so this doesn't surprise me.

It's ridiculous but it doesn't surprise me.
 
N

NJ1

Professional
The town pro sounds like, let me use the technical term, a tool. Have the "pro" call the cops, I'm sure they'd love to have their time wasted tending to the grievous matter of a dad giving free lessons.

If the pro has the court reserved then whoever is on there should vacate but otherwise, only jobsworths enforce every little rule.

So what's the rule on a ball basket if you're teaching yourself how to serve?
 
Last edited:
Bash and Crash

Bash and Crash

Semi-Pro
NJ1 said:
The town pro sounds like, let me use the technical term, a tool. Have the "pro" call the cops, I'm sure they'd love to have their time wasted tending to the grievous matter of a dad giving free lessons.

If the pro has the court reserved then whoever is on there should vacate but otherwise, only jobsworths enforce every little rule.

So what's the rule on a ball basket if your teaching yourself how to serve?
Click to expand...

Well around here the "town pro" has called cops on those teaching lessons on the public courts. In NorCal seems like there are many who want to "lock Down" the public courts with the city, and the high school courts are also part of the city in most areas. I always suspect they don't want anyone teaching, because if the same as here, they don't want parents seeing a good lesson from someone else, and think wow that is much better than your city program.
 
N

NJ1

Professional
Bash and Crash said:
Well around here the "town pro" has called cops on those teaching lessons on the public courts. In NorCal seems like there are many who want to "lock Down" the public courts with the city, and the high school courts are also part of the city in most areas. I always suspect they don't want anyone teaching, because if the same as here, they don't want parents seeing a good lesson from someone else, and think wow that is much better than your city program.
Click to expand...

How pathetic that is.

I agree with your suspicions.
 
I

infonoob

New User
Bash and Crash said:
Well around here the "town pro" has called cops on those teaching lessons on the public courts. In NorCal seems like there are many who want to "lock Down" the public courts with the city, and the high school courts are also part of the city in most areas. I always suspect they don't want anyone teaching, because if the same as here, they don't want parents seeing a good lesson from someone else, and think wow that is much better than your city program.
Click to expand...

Exactly. But what do?
 
T

Tennishacker

Professional
Because of the economic times, many cities are looking for any form of revenue they can find, collecting fees from teaching pros are just one of the ways.

I know of quite a few teaching pros who make their living on the public courts, let's respect their trade and not bash them for trying to make a living.

I'm sure they don't mind you working out your own kid, but to teach/workout other than your own is not right.
 
I

infonoob

New User
Tennishacker said:
Because of the economic times, many cities are looking for any form of revenue they can find, collecting fees from teaching pros are just one of the ways.

I know of quite a few teaching pros who make their living on the public courts, let's respect their trade and not bash them for trying to make a living.

I'm sure they don't mind you working out your own kid, but to teach/workout other than your own is not right.
Click to expand...

I understand for 4+ people, but a dad and a kid and only two of his friends is not worth being barred from the courts in my eyes. Also note that this pro only teaches on one of the 5 facilities in the city, and we get in trouble even if we go to any of the other four public ones.
 
gplracer

gplracer

Hall of Fame
infonoob said:
I understand for 4+ people, but a dad and a kid and only two of his friends is not worth being barred from the courts in my eyes. Also note that this pro only teaches on one of the 5 facilities in the city, and we get in trouble even if we go to any of the other four public ones.
Click to expand...

I agree with you.
 
S

Soianka

Hall of Fame
Tennishacker said:
Because of the economic times, many cities are looking for any form of revenue they can find, collecting fees from teaching pros are just one of the ways.

I know of quite a few teaching pros who make their living on the public courts, let's respect their trade and not bash them for trying to make a living.

I'm sure they don't mind you working out your own kid, but to teach/workout other than your own is not right.
Click to expand...

They are public courts so they should be available to the public. One teaching pro should not be able to monopolize PUBLIC courts.

Also, if he was any good as a teacher, he wouldn't have to chase dads away for fear of losing business.
 
Bash and Crash

Bash and Crash

Semi-Pro
Tennishacker said:
Because of the economic times, many cities are looking for any form of revenue they can find, collecting fees from teaching pros are just one of the ways.

I know of quite a few teaching pros who make their living on the public courts, let's respect their trade and not bash them for trying to make a living.

I'm sure they don't mind you working out your own kid, but to teach/workout other than your own is not right.
Click to expand...

True, but I offered to pay the city for usage, $10-15 an hour and provide full insurance. the city has over 20 courts at multiple locations, I could easily bring them extra $1,500 to $2,500 a month, but no go.
 
T

TennisFan2Day

Rookie
Set up a meeting with your city commissioner/supervisor and explain the situation. If he/she doesn't give you the answers you are looking for, then let them know that you are going to the local newspaper about it. Before leaving, ask them for the name, address and phone number of their legal representation(lawyer). This lets them know that you are not kidding around. The last thing that ANY elected official wants is bad press that shows that they don't care about kids learning for free on courts that were paid for by the taxpayers that they are representing.

The next thing that you can do is go to the town meetings. In our city they are recorded and played on public tv. It is always funny to watch them squirm when people bring up things like this. Mainly because they know that it is mostly watched by the elderly. Those are the same group of people that talk the most and vote the most.......

A pro cannot kick you off a public court unless he has a written agreement with the city for that court at that specific time. In the summer our courts have the schedules posted that the pros rent and they cannot teach on the courts except during those posted times.
 
arche3

arche3

Banned
great post. Chances are that the use of the public courts is not even on the mind of the elected officials. make enough noise and the rules will get changed. Like you stated make them look uncaring. It is counter intuitive to not allow father/kids use of the courts so the pro can monopolize instruction.

Being persistent and polite to the officials in charge and keep going up the chain if need be to get what you want.

TennisFan2Day said:
Set up a meeting with your city commissioner/supervisor and explain the situation. If he/she doesn't give you the answers you are looking for, then let them know that you are going to the local newspaper about it. Before leaving, ask them for the name, address and phone number of their legal representation(lawyer). This lets them know that you are not kidding around. The last thing that ANY elected official wants is bad press that shows that they don't care about kids learning for free on courts that were paid for by the taxpayers that they are representing.

The next thing that you can do is go to the town meetings. In our city they are recorded and played on public tv. It is always funny to watch them squirm when people bring up things like this. Mainly because they know that it is mostly watched by the elderly. Those are the same group of people that talk the most and vote the most.......

A pro cannot kick you off a public court unless he has a written agreement with the city for that court at that specific time. In the summer our courts have the schedules posted that the pros rent and they cannot teach on the courts except during those posted times.
Click to expand...
 
B

BMC9670

Hall of Fame
Wow, this discussion doesn't bode well for the popularity of tennis in America. Imagine talking out this issue with public basketball courts. The simple answer should really be commercial v non-commercial use. If you charge money - get a permit, if not - you're part of the public using the public court.
 
W

warmsurfing

Rookie
infonoob said:
Where I live, there is a certain Tennis Dad who enjoys giving tennis lessons and organizing tennis socials for kids not only in the school his son is enrolled at, but at all schools. Now one day, after holding a free tennis lesson for some JV kids, he was approached by the town pro (This pro was sanctioned as the only pro allowed to teach FOR MONEY on public courts in the city). The pro told him this:
NO more bringing a ball basket to teach kids on ANY public court
NO more tennis socials organized

Is this legal? I see this as a way to monopolize the kids into being taught by him. He has already gotten rid of every other Pro in town somehow, including most of the country club ones.
Click to expand...

May be "the pro" is gay and has no kids.
Or may be his students are not winning any matches.:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

jmjmkim
Rules on using ball machines on public courts?
Replies
4
Views
1K
carhi1814
C
L
Using ball machine in public courts
Replies
17
Views
4K
Bud
Bud
TTMR
  • Poll
Get off the courts!
3 4 5
Replies
237
Views
35K
kl2963
kl2963
E
Usta Revolution – Bring Coaching To The Masses
Replies
0
Views
485
El Gringo
E
M
Why there are no public Tennis court for poor citizens? There are alot of free public basketball courts, and free football ground courts in Europe
Replies
27
Views
858
mmk
mmk
Top