Getting into college coaching!

tennisfan17

Professional
So this probably is in the wrong section, but hey it happens. So just was wanting some general advice on this. I am about to end my college tennis career in a year and I have decided to try and pursue coaching at the collegiate level. I was never a high level player though, but have been a consistent starter at the d2 level. Obviously I would absolute would not be able to be a head coach right away. My questions are just generally about how does one go about applying for these jobs? what type of qualifications would I need? Any other advice would be great! oh, and I do have experience coaching as well as a head coach for junior tennis at a large country club in the town my university is in.
 

tennisfan17

Professional
Look for Division 2,3 grad assistant jobs then build up. Also, consider coaching Women's too. It may be a way in.
Thanks for the reply! Yeah, that was my general thought process too. As long as I can coach or help a team, I'm willing to really start at any level
 

MUFCbmwBear

Rookie
Look at the College summer Youth Camps, see if they need any coaches. Nike has a lot of Summer Camps at Colleges to. Kids stay in dorms etc. Lots of head Coaches work those. Good networking.
I’m a former D3 soccer player who has been involved in coaching ever since. I regrettably chose not to do Tennis at that level, wanted to have a season to party a bit.
 

tennisfan17

Professional
Look at the College summer Youth Camps, see if they need any coaches. Nike has a lot of Summer Camps at Colleges to. Kids stay in dorms etc. Lots of head Coaches work those. Good networking.
I’m a former D3 soccer player who has been involved in coaching ever since. I regrettably chose not to do Tennis at that level, wanted to have a season to party a bit.
excellent point. I hadn't even thought about those camps.
 
So this probably is in the wrong section, but hey it happens. So just was wanting some general advice on this. I am about to end my college tennis career in a year and I have decided to try and pursue coaching at the collegiate level. I was never a high level player though, but have been a consistent starter at the d2 level. Obviously I would absolute would not be able to be a head coach right away. My questions are just generally about how does one go about applying for these jobs? what type of qualifications would I need? Any other advice would be great! oh, and I do have experience coaching as well as a head coach for junior tennis at a large country club in the town my university is in.

If you are a solid D2 player, you could make a jump as a volunteer assistant at the D1/D2 level. Grad assistants are rare at D1, but much more common at D2/D3.

Also, if you hit a flatter ball, you would be much more desirable on the D1 level on the women's side. Women in D1 tend to hit a flatter ball compared to the guys so having somebody who can mimic that style is very valuable.

Best way to get after these jobs is to network, which is what many posters have already said. College coaches are at all the 18/16 big national/sectional tournaments. It is a great place to meet them so they have a face to your name. Best of luck!
 

tennisfan17

Professional
Look for assistant coaching job openings. Worst case, volunteer for a local college for a season, and work your way up.
Do you happen to know if there is a website or anything that has those positions listed? Volunteering would be great as well to start off!
 

tennisfan17

Professional
If you are a solid D2 player, you could make a jump as a volunteer assistant at the D1/D2 level. Grad assistants are rare at D1, but much more common at D2/D3.

Also, if you hit a flatter ball, you would be much more desirable on the D1 level on the women's side. Women in D1 tend to hit a flatter ball compared to the guys so having somebody who can mimic that style is very valuable.

Best way to get after these jobs is to network, which is what many posters have already said. College coaches are at all the 18/16 big national/sectional tournaments. It is a great place to meet them so they have a face to your name. Best of luck!
Im decent at best lol I started tennis rather late in life and really only am where I am due to hard work. For reference I'm around a 10 utr only. My biggest fear is that my shallow history in the sport and my lower level comparetively might make some coaches view me less favorably than other applicants.
 

am1899

Legend
Do you happen to know if there is a website or anything that has those positions listed? Volunteering would be great as well to start off!

There’s protennisjobs.com. But colleges and universities post their openings all over the place. Probably best to check all the usual job sites to make sure you don’t miss anything.
 

jcgatennismom

Hall of Fame
Do you happen to know if there is a website or anything that has those positions listed? Volunteering would be great as well to start off!
Join this facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/808424032556193/ and post that you are looking for a position. This is primarily a college recruiting group, but I have seen asst coach positions posted. There was one posted a day ago for a PT asst coach at Davis and Elkins-have no idea if that is D2/D3/or NAIA. I assume a lot of asst coach positions are PT but may have the option of teaching lessons/clinics on the side at school courts to general public. Also many smaller colleges may not have their own courts, and the asst coach usually also works PT at the club where the college team plays. One of the moderators of the group Markus Dayton has connections with D2 coaches and might know if any are looking for asst, volunteer. grad coach, etc. Once you join group you could message him directly.
 

tennisfan17

Professional
Join this facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/808424032556193/ and post that you are looking for a position. This is primarily a college recruiting group, but I have seen asst coach positions posted. There was one posted a day ago for a PT asst coach at Davis and Elkins-have no idea if that is D2/D3/or NAIA. I assume a lot of asst coach positions are PT but may have the option of teaching lessons/clinics on the side at school courts to general public. Also many smaller colleges may not have their own courts, and the asst coach usually also works PT at the club where the college team plays. One of the moderators of the group Markus Dayton has connections with D2 coaches and might know if any are looking for asst, volunteer. grad coach, etc. Once you join group you could message him directly.
so interestingly enough, I actually already am a part of that group! I'm close friends with Markus Dayton as his daughter plays on the same team and she an I are very close! I didn't even think of reaching out to him or using the page for job searching o_O
 

SavvyStringer

Professional
So this probably is in the wrong section, but hey it happens. So just was wanting some general advice on this. I am about to end my college tennis career in a year and I have decided to try and pursue coaching at the collegiate level. I was never a high level player though, but have been a consistent starter at the d2 level. Obviously I would absolute would not be able to be a head coach right away. My questions are just generally about how does one go about applying for these jobs? what type of qualifications would I need? Any other advice would be great! oh, and I do have experience coaching as well as a head coach for junior tennis at a large country club in the town my university is in.
Google college tennis coaching jobs about this time next year when you graduate. You should be able to find a volunteer assistant or GA job.

Edit: click on the one that is NCAA jobs and take a look now for reference. Teams are always looking for GAs or unpaid people to put work off on.
 
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SavvyStringer

Professional
^ It all depends on the program. If you have a good culture and respect your paid coaches and their decision making you should trust and respect the unpaid person they put in charge of you. Our volunteer assistants allowed for even numbers at practice and coached specific players during matches. It allows all of the coaches to focus more on their individual courts and players.

Edit: Also for programs that don’t have the budgets to have large staffs volunteers and grad assistants could be doing paperwork for coaches and learning/handling the business side. They could also be stringing depending on the school and how the school ‘finds’ ways to pay them.
 

tennisjunky

Rookie
I know you mentioned you are interested in teaching college level, however here is another option that has some REAL VALUE that you’ll be able to see every day.

I’ve traveled in many states and almost always plug myself into the local tennis scene. And one thing that always seems consistent is the WEAK level of training at high schools. Obviously not all…. So don’t bet up on me…. but on average the coaching, type, style isn’t to a level it should be to really promote the game and inspire further advancement. Also, compared with other sports, just sad.

I’ve seen many, many good players with great strokes that have drive and potential, just not given enough attention on their tactical or mental game…. Then they lose and get discouraged as their full time instructor doesn’t have the experience or time to draw upon. Not to mention the parents are looking to the coach for help and he just isn’t committed at a high level.

Its easy for parents with tennis experience to see this, but non-playing parents will typically be late to realize and will miss the window of opportunity or just drop out.

I could give other examples, but just wanted to get my main thought across.
Also, one items that is kind of essential...…. you have to PROVE yourself.
This is important because your volunteering. You need to show the kiddos that your game is MUCH stronger than theirs so they will gravitate to you. If your not that good a player, than its more difficult.

Just depends on what you want to do. But done correctly its a stepping stone to show success for the next gig.
Obviously this would be volunteering, but your impact would be great and real!
 
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SavvyStringer

Professional
^ many incompetent high school coaches because most good, collegiate level players don’t play high school. Even at strong schools the level is too low. It also doesn’t pay to coach high school. I have a friend that is a 4.5 and a math teacher. The girls team he coaches has won state twice and lost the final the last 3 years. He’s actually a competent coach and player and helps out one of the local pros with junior clinics as well. But that’s all because of his love for the game not because it does anything for him. In high school you can also be fired no matter how well you do your job if a parent doesn’t like you. I have another friend that went 23-1 losing a state semi final but a parent didn’t like him and complained to the AD and had him fired.
 

tennisjunky

Rookie
I totally understand and agree...….and this can be tricky.
I don't want to ramble long on this, but my view is that for real coaching and real training and real player development it starts at an earlier age.
At college level, your not really doing the heavy lifting of training, that stuff has mostly already happened...… your just refining what is already there.
And dealing with parents...… oh man don't get me started! That's an are unto itself.

It isn't for everyone, but there is value if you have passion and passion can go a long way.
 

jcgatennismom

Hall of Fame
^ most good, collegiate level players don’t play high school. Even at strong schools the level is too low.
Keegan Smith played HS tennis . Jared Hiltzik (who plays Challengers) and his brother played HS tennis-some of those Chicago HS had incredible talent. That's just a couple of examples. There are schools where 4 star+ play HS tennis in California, Florida, the Mid west, and the South.

Cant make a blanket statement on this issue. Now the 4 stars+ who play HS tennis usually train at their base academy but play matches for HS team so the level of HS coach may not matter. Why do high level players still play HS tennis? To be a part of a team as tournament tennis can be isolating. To feel a part of their local HS even if they dont have time for other clubs or EC activities with tournament travel 2x a month. I think college coaches appreciate players who play HS team tennis and still manage to get the results at USTA/ITF tourneys; it also prepares players for the time management balance they will face between athletic and academics in college as opposed to virtual schoolers who had very flexible deadlines in HS.

However, the typical HS tennis coach does not have the time or skills to develop players. Usually teams only have a month or less between tryouts and first matches. Then with teams playing twice a week, the girls have home matches 2 days a week and the boys the other two, and the courts are locked at night so at most there is practice for a month 2x a week before matches start and then maybe a 30-45 min warmup on match days in season. If schools have JV teams too, there is even less court time for teams. However local teaching pros have an uptick in business getting players ready for tryouts for the better teams. If someone wanted to volunteer to help a HS team, the better option would be to train those players before the season starts.
 

EP1998

Semi-Pro
One of the important aspects to this is understanding player types, needs and personalities. You have to be able to read the types of players at the school so you can understand where they are coming from and get them to respect you. Without empathy and understanding players won't respect the coach.
 

SavvyStringer

Professional
I totally understand and agree...….and this can be tricky.
I don't want to ramble long on this, but my view is that for real coaching and real training and real player development it starts at an earlier age.
At college level, your not really doing the heavy lifting of training, that stuff has mostly already happened...… your just refining what is already there.
And dealing with parents...… oh man don't get me started! That's an are unto itself.

It isn't for everyone, but there is value if you have passion and passion can go a long way.
As for collegiate development, there are certainly places and coaches where no development isn’t as obvious. Players bring what they have and it works or it doesn’t. Georgia doesn’t really have to develop, Duke doesn’t really have to develop, UNC doesn’t really have to develop. They get 3 players a year that can come in and play top of the lineup for anyone. Other programs, annual top 15-20 programs develop talent. Sure they get good talent but not elite enough players to automatically keep them at 15-20 maybe a break through year into top 10. They develop players.

As for players that go collegiate and play high school. Many do it because they live there and why not? Most aren’t just playing high school and being successful in collegiate tennis. They go to academies near a regularish high school.
 
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bobleenov1963

Hall of Fame
USPTA certification requirements go up dramatically next year, so get yours this year

Why would anyone need USPTA certification to become a tennis coach? USPTA certifications is just a money grabbing money business. It is like a teaching degree/certificate. You are still a bad coach or teacher with these certificates. I am sure Kerber didn't ask Steffi Graf or Dimitro asking Aggasi if they have USPTA certifications in order to coach them.
 

tennisfan17

Professional
Thanks for everyone for the replies! This really helps a lot! I have considered high school coaching, and have thought of pursuing it further down the road in my life. Volunteering is an important part for sure, and hopefully I can find a place that I can do that at. Hopefully even though I am not a spectacular player, I can still be impactful with some of the knowledge I bring. I've been able to help some of my teammates in certain areas in coaching them (but I can't help my own game lol).
 
Thanks for everyone for the replies! This really helps a lot! I have considered high school coaching, and have thought of pursuing it further down the road in my life. Volunteering is an important part for sure, and hopefully I can find a place that I can do that at. Hopefully even though I am not a spectacular player, I can still be impactful with some of the knowledge I bring. I've been able to help some of my teammates in certain areas in coaching them (but I can't help my own game lol).
Try to find a GA position, I would not recommend volunteering. Ultimately you need to earn money to live. If you are not a big time player volunteering it's not worth it. Do a GA position, at least you get your education paid for and you get some experience coaching. You can always be a high school coach on the side of a regular job. The reality is college coaching doesn't pay that well. So many head coaches out there making between 35-50k.
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
Why would anyone need USPTA certification to become a tennis coach? USPTA certifications is just a money grabbing money business. It is like a teaching degree/certificate. You are still a bad coach or teacher with these certificates. I am sure Kerber didn't ask Steffi Graf or Dimitro asking Aggasi if they have USPTA certifications in order to coach them.

You seem to be way behind the times. Plus, a fresh coach with only a D2 background is not Agassi.

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...oming-to-coaching-certification.611903/page-6

Start from post #352
 

bobleenov1963

Hall of Fame
You seem to be way behind the times. Plus, a fresh coach with only a D2 background is not Agassi.

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...oming-to-coaching-certification.611903/page-6

Start from post #352

As I've mentioned before, this is nothing but a money grabbing business by the USTA. My neighbor's kids take lessons from a very famous former UVA tennis player. He was ranked #1 in D1 as a freshman. He does not need USPTA BS to be able to attract tennis students nor should they care.

It is like IT certifications. A lot of them are essentially useless.
 
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ChaelAZ

G.O.A.T.
My neighbor's kids take lessons from a very famous former UVA tennis player.

Who was more than likely trained by certified coach, as most young layers are. There are a few outliers for sure, but by and far certifications are a way to weed out those that at least meet some standard.

That said, my son is hitting with a current ASU player, so that is basically a coach without a certificate, so there is some value for the experience.
 

bobleenov1963

Hall of Fame
99% of former D1 players or ATP players can coach and they don't need USPTA certificate to validate what they know. Parents that want the coach to show that he/she has the USPTA certificate is completely un-informed.

As I stated before, USPTA certs is notthing but a money grabbing business, nothing more.
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
99% of former D1 players or ATP players can coach and they don't need USPTA certificate to validate what they know. Parents that want the coach to show that he/she has the USPTA certificate is completely un-informed.

As I stated before, USPTA certs is notthing but a money grabbing business, nothing more.

You are right in some ways, but your advice is not relevant to the OP.

ATP players become USPTA coaches by default, so that is not an issue.

OP is not a D1 or a pro player. For the average D2 player, club employment is the major option and for that the trends are moving towards complete control of the certification process.

Your opinions are not going to get him a job.
 

CHtennis

Rookie
While I agree with @bobleenov1963 that the certificate is mostly a money grab and useless for the most part, it does help to show non tennis people like an Athletic Director that you have some credentials. So, as @sureshs said it would help him to have it on his CV while looking for a head coaching position in the future.
 

bobleenov1963

Hall of Fame
While I agree with @bobleenov1963 that the certificate is mostly a money grab and useless for the most part, it does help to show non tennis people like an Athletic Director that you have some credentials. So, as @sureshs said it would help him to have it on his CV while looking for a head coaching position in the future.

99.99% of those jobs are hired through recommendations. The Athletic Director will call someone that he knows or someone that know someone who know the candidate. This does not only happen to hiring tennis coaches but generally in all disciplines. They don’t hire a person to be a tennis coach based on the USPTA certificate. That is just silly.

Before Dabo Swinney and Nick Saban become famous football coaches, they were both unknowns with no experience. They were mentored by famous coaches and got hired by who they know. Do you think the AD would turn them down because they do not have certifications? A good recommendation worth 100 times more than the lousy certificate.

OP should spend more time networking than pursuing that money grabbing USPTA certificate. It is a waste of time and money. My 2c.
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
99.99% of those jobs are hired through recommendations. The Athletic Director will call someone that he knows or someone that know someone who know the candidate. This does not only happen to hiring tennis coaches but generally in all disciplines. They don’t hire a person to be a tennis coach based on the USPTA certificate. That is just silly.

Before Dabo Swinney and Nick Saban become famous football coaches, they were both unknowns with no experience. They were mentored by famous coaches and got hired by who they know. Do you think the AD would turn them down because they do not have certifications? A good recommendation worth 100 times more than the lousy certificate.

OP should spend more time networking than pursuing that money grabbing USPTA certificate. It is a waste of time and money. My 2c.

Did you even read the other thread? All USTA-affiliated clubs with 4 courts or more and any club which runs a USTA sanctioned tournament can only hire certified coaches from Jan 2021. The USTA is also launching a campaign to convince private clubs to do the same.

I have a feeling you just post without reading. That is OK, just say so.
 
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bobleenov1963

Hall of Fame
Did you even read the other thread? All USTA-affiliated clubs and any club which runs a USTA sanctioned tournament can only hire certified coaches from Jan 2021. The USTA is also launching a campaign to convince private clubs to do the same.

I have a feeling you just post without reading. That is OK, just say so.

Yes I read the thread but there are loopholes around this rule because:

There are more than one tennis coaches at a club. It does not mean all coaches are required to have USPTA certificate. You only need one with certificate. You do not need many to run a USPTA sanctioning tournament.

Convince private clubs to have coaches to have USPTA certificate. Good luck with that. The club is called “private” for a reason. Private clubs don’t like outsiders tell them what they can and can’t do. I know because my wife is one of the members of the board,

There are coaches with USPTA certificate and the club can pay them a small consulting fee to market their name and run the USTA sanction tournaments

People in IT do this all the times. They lend their certificates to a consulting companies and collect a small fee while the consulting company uses the certificate to solicit business. @sureshs, you are behind the time my friend.

There are rules and there are ways to get around the rules.

The USPTA needs to develop a better program than this stupid certificate b__ll sh_t, OMHO
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
Yes I read the thread but there are loopholes around this rule because:

There are more than one tennis coaches at a club. It does not mean all coaches are required to have USPTA certificate. You only need one with certificate. You do not need many to run a USPTA sanctioning tournament.

No, as far as I remember, all full-time coaches employed by the club must be certified. I threw that magazine away, so I can't find the reference right now.
 

CHtennis

Rookie
99.99% of those jobs are hired through recommendations. The Athletic Director will call someone that he knows or someone that know someone who know the candidate. This does not only happen to hiring tennis coaches but generally in all disciplines.

I agree that some jobs are hired through recommendations and I would assume most division 1 jobs through recommendatinons or performance, but I know in the d3 community that they dont go off of recommendations that much and a number of places hire people with certain qualifications such as having a masters in sports admin or coaching. In d3 the hiring of head coaches is done way less than 99.99% of the time through recommendations, at least with the programs that I am familiar with, probably around 50% of the time.
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
Forget about certification, the major push is to get people into expensive PTM bachelor's or master's courses. They will automatically get certification, and will be thrust on clubs to hire for administrative positions with very little experience. The theory is that today's tennis directors who are usually the home-grown variety (no college or college degree in something unrelated to sports + playing + coaching experience) do not have the management skills to grow the game. PTM grads will be prepared from day 1 to take over such positions. That is the trend that the USTA is pushing. In such cases, perception becomes reality. 10 years from now, there will be no more coaches of the type you see today, like Bob the fat guy who played tennis in high school and then has been coaching for 30 years and says Atta Boy all the time. All will have gone through the new certification program, and PTM grads will have all the higher positions.
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
Partial info:

  • Finally, USTA Member Org Clubs with four courts or more will be required to hire tennis-teaching professionals and coaches from an accreditation organization; which is US starting January 1, 2021! This step is critically important because it will influence the job market for USPTA members.

https://www.uspta.com/USPTA/Membership/Member_Resources/USTA_Accreditation.aspx

Under the USTA Accreditation, USTA member organizations and tennis facilities will look to hire USPTA tennis-teaching professionals exclusively

https://www.uspta.com/USPTA/Membership/Member_Resources/USTA_Accreditation_FAQ.aspx
 

bobleenov1963

Hall of Fame
Partial info:

  • Finally, USTA Member Org Clubs with four courts or more will be required to hire tennis-teaching professionals and coaches from an accreditation organization; which is US starting January 1, 2021! This step is critically important because it will influence the job market for USPTA members.

https://www.uspta.com/USPTA/Membership/Member_Resources/USTA_Accreditation.aspx

Under the USTA Accreditation, USTA member organizations and tennis facilities will look to hire USPTA tennis-teaching professionals exclusively

https://www.uspta.com/USPTA/Membership/Member_Resources/USTA_Accreditation_FAQ.aspx

After reading through the accreditation and FAQ, I do have problem with this:

No waiver for former D1 tennis players or ATP players, unless you can point to me in the FAQ that there is a waiver for D1 and ATP players. Basically, if you're JJ Wolf or Nuno Borges, they can not be hired by any USTA member Org Clubs because they are not USPTA certified. Can you see how ridiculous that is? Would you want ATP player Ryan Shane to coach your kid tennis or some unknown person with the USPTA cert?

The USPTA shamelessly promotes this as a money grabbing business. It said that in the accreditation FAQ itself, if you read between the lines.
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
After reading through the accreditation and FAQ, I do have problem with this:

No waiver for former D1 tennis players or ATP players, unless you can point to me in the FAQ that there is a waiver for D1 and ATP players. Basically, if you're JJ Wolf or Nuno Borges, they can not be hired by any USTA member Org Clubs because they are not USPTA certified. Can you see how ridiculous that is? Would you want ATP player Ryan Shane to coach your kid tennis or some unknown person with the USPTA cert?

The USPTA shamelessly promotes this as a money grabbing business. It said that in the accreditation FAQ itself, if you read between the lines.

Pros got a waiver in the old scheme - pretty sure they will get it now too. Can't imagine Roddick doing 1500 hours of internship under coach Fat Bob.

I had brought up the issue of D1 players in the other thread. It is ridiculous if they cannot get a waiver while a 4.0 PTM grad can get certified.
 

JW10S

Hall of Fame
Players wth ATP rankings do not have to do the playing skills portion of the certification exam--they still have to do the rest. I remember Arthur Ashe passed up the waiver and went ahead and did the whole exam.
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
Players wth ATP rankings do not have to do the playing skills portion of the certification exam--they still have to do the rest. I remember Arthur Ashe passed up the waiver and went ahead and did the whole exam.

That is the case today. What about the situation from Jan 2020? Will they have to do the internship under a mentor?
 

JW10S

Hall of Fame
That is the case today. What about the situation from Jan 2020? Will they have to do the internship under a mentor?
Don't know, but being a club tennis pro is not just about being on court giving lessons as many seem to think. Many first coming in don't know about the business aspects of the job, working with a budget, the management aspects of the job, hiring/firing, computer skills needed, club policies, running and promoting club events and activities, the pro shop, maintenance, etc, etc, etc. I think those are the types of areas where new pros need mentorship even if they are experienced players.
 
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am1899

Legend
In my case my club requires pros have (or acquire within 6 months of start date) at least one cert from PTR or USPTA to teach. Money grab or not, I actually learned a few things at the PTR cert I did, and it was fun too.

I can see the logic of former touring pros not getting certified to coach - for one, their playing experience speaks for itself. That said, playing the sport at a high level does not necessarily guarantee that a former high level player will be able to coach at a high level.
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
Don't know, but being a club tennis pro is not just about being on court giving lessons as many seem to think. Many first coming in don't know about the business aspects of the job, working with a budget, the management aspects of the job, hiring/firing, computer skills needed, club policies, running and promoting club events and activities, the pro shop, maintenance, etc, etc, etc. I think those are the types of areas where new pros need mentorship even if they are experienced players.

All that is great. Problem is why should clubs be forced to hire only those who are certified in a certain way?
 

bobleenov1963

Hall of Fame
All that is great. Problem is why should clubs be forced to hire only those who are certified in a certain way?

You just proved my point that that the USPTA cert is nothing but a money grabbing business.

"the management aspects of the job, hiring/firing, computer skills needed, club policies, running and promoting club events and activities, the pro shop, maintenance, etc, etc, etc."

Seriously, you need cert for that? Most of these club and coaches are independent contractors and run a small business. Getting the USPTA cert is not going to help them bring in more revenue. And I am sure the USTA is not giving out these certs for free, is it? If it is not free, then it is nothing but stealing by the USTA. There is no way to sugar coat this.
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
I think there is more to it than just money and control. It is well known that there are many foreigners in the US teaching tennis, mainly from South America and Eastern Europe. They were often semi-pros in their countries, and form the teaching backbone of many resorts and academies, and are known for their lower costs and longer hours, though of course that is debatable, like everything else which involves such matters. The current move by the USTA could be to force clubs to indirectly favor US citizens only by requiring more money and effort to be put into training and making others ineligible. Once in place, I predict that those hired will hire only similarly certified pros and fight to keep everyone else out. The system will propagate due to self-interest.

If you think that market forces will ultimately win, don't be sure about that. The AMA has maintained a stranglehold on the medical profession, and market forces have not played a significant role.
 

SavvyStringer

Professional
If they’re actually qualified to teach the certifications are great but otherwise it’s just words on paper. The guy that taught me was formerly certified by USPTA but let it lapse because there were no real benefits to him. It takes more than playing skill. There are plenty of college coaches who are reasonably successful that are 3.5s at best. I think it will be hard to find guys with the certs to run facilities if it’s required.
 

bobleenov1963

Hall of Fame
If you think that market forces will ultimately win, don't be sure about that. The AMA has maintained a stranglehold on the medical profession, and market forces have not played a significant role.

LOL.... there is a big difference between the AMA and the USTA. The medical professional is heavily regulated at both the state and federal level. That's why you have law like HIPAA in place. Those things do not exist with USPTA.

If you need a heart surgery or transplant, you just can not go down the street and have it done. When mistakes happen, people die. That's why you have malpractice insurance.

If you get bad tennis lessons from at certified USPTA, nobody die and it is considered "fee for service". Are you going to sue the instructor?
 
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