Archive for November, 2012

Unintended Consequences

38
5 months ago
in ,

When I first started blogging a little over a year ago, it was with the intention of sharing my son’s and my experiences in junior tennis with those coming up behind us.  I had been so frustrated trying to navigate the tournament structure and ranking structure that I figured maybe I could save others from going through that same frustration.

For the first few months, I wrote about our personal journey and the roadblocks we encountered.  Some of my posts generated feedback from readers, but, mostly, I was writing from the heart thinking it might be nice for my son to one day go back and read how his tennis truly impacted his mom.  Some of my posts were how-tos and were more fact-based than feeling-based, but overall I tried to keep it More >

USTA on Supplements

0
5 months ago
in

Given all the talk about doping in sports these days, I thought y’all might be interested to read what USTA has to say about supplements for junior tennis players. This type of educational information is exactly what I’d love to see more of from our tennis federation.  Thank you to Adirondack Tennis for posting this information!

Share this:Like this:Like Loading...

Notes from 2nd USTA Town Hall Listening Meeting Nov 24, 2012

35
5 months ago
in

The following information was emailed to me by Jason Lampione – tennis coach, mentor, and writer – who was in attendance at the Rocky Hill, CT, “listening” meeting held by USTA.  These are simply Jason’s notes taken during the meeting – he will be compiling his own analysis of them over the next day or so which I will then post on ParentingAces for you to read.  

This second meeting was led by incoming USTA President Dave Haggerty and USTA Chief Executive of Community Tennis Kurt Kamperman and was attended by 30-40 (exact number unknown) parents and coaches.  I have inserted my comments in italics at the end of certain bullet points below.  

USTA released a statement via email to some key people after the meeting – that statement is posted More >

Action Steps & Why I’m Going to Take Them

81
5 months ago
in ,

Given that it seems to be crunch time with the last-minute scheduling of the first two “listening” meetings, I have spent countless hours over the past few days going over the proposed changes to the 2014 junior competition schedule, talking to very experienced people about them, and trying to understand the “why” behind them. I have come to the conclusion that, tennis-wise, there is nothing in the proposal that helps our kids and plenty that has the potential to hurt them. So, I am choosing to tell USTA in no uncertain terms that I want them to throw out the proposed changes – just get rid of them entirely – and start over. Use the research and data that the Junior Competition Committee has been collecting over the past two years to help More >

2013 USTA Section Presidents & Contact Info

6
5 months ago
in

Caribbean: Humberto Torres brodriguez@cta.usta.com

Eastern: Gerry Cuva schoell@eastern.usta.com

Florida: Bob Pfaender tennismaster@florida.usta.com

Hawaii-Pacific: Russell Lum tennis@hawaii.usta.com

Intermountain: Angela Emery platteriver@wyoming.com

Mid-Atlantic: John Raker vaprotennis@me.com

Middle States: Gina Pileggi servingtennis@ms.usta.com

Midwest: Jonelle Smith feedback@midwest.usta.com

Missouri Valley: Scott Hanover ptcguy@yahoo.com

New England: R. Gary Pina info@newengland.usta.com

Northern: Jeff Baill jbaill@yostbaill.com

Northern California: Michael Cooke michael@cookefamily.org

Pacific-Northwest: Mike Temple mike.temple@comcast.net

Southern: Bud Spencer jspen61@comcast.net

Southern California: Gregory Hickey More >

Tomorrow’s Listening Meeting in Rocky Hill, CT

0
6 months ago
in ,

The following information was posted on the USTA National Open’s website:

National Junior Competition Structure Town Hall 12 noon Saturday

Parents of junior players, coaches, teaching professionals and tournament organizers are cordially invited to attend a “listening session” Town Hall. In conjunction with this weekend’s National Open in Rocky Hill (Boys & Girls 14s), we will discuss the following: National Junior Tennis Competition Structure USTA President – elect David A. Haggerty and Kurt Kamperman USTA Chief Executive, Community Tennis upstairs at the Tennis and Fitness Center of Rocky Hill.

If you are planning to attend, please let me know.  While the speaking points aren’t quite ready for public consumption, I hope to have something More >

Parent/Coach Speaking Points for USTA Listening Meetings

13
6 months ago
in ,

I am working on compiling a list of speaking points that we can all use when attending the USTA listening meetings.  As you know, the next meeting is this Saturday, November 24th, in Rocky Hill, CT – for those of you in the area, please try to make it and, if you’re so inclined, give the rest of us a de-briefing afterward.

What I am hearing from USTA is that we need to present clear, detailed alternatives to the proposed junior competition changes.  These meetings were created as an opportunity for those in attendance to voice well-thought-out ideas that will improve junior tennis for our kids.  My hope is that those of us in the proverbial trenches can come together and show USTA a better way of doing business on behalf of our young More >

Notes from First USTA Town Hall Listening Meeting Nov 17, 2012

47
6 months ago
in

The following information was emailed to me by a parent who was in attendance at the Reston, VA, “listening” meeting held by USTA.  I am reprinting it exactly as it was sent to me.  Please read and share with other tennis parents and coaches so our voices will be heard.  Thank you.

USTA Town Hall Meeting

11/17/2012

Mid-Atlantic Annual Meeting — Reston, VA

Representing the USTA:       Lew Brewer, Director Junior Competition

Scott Schultz, Managing Director, Youth Tennis

Scott Schultz (SS):            Introduction

wants to really listen and wants participants to leave feeling like they have listened

This is 1st town hall meeting

This is not about kids going pro.  These proposed changes affect critical group of kids:  those who devote the More >

Reblog from ZooTennis.com: First USTA Town Hall Listening Meeting

0
6 months ago
in

The following is copied directly from today’s ZooTennis.com’s post – clicking on the link will take you to the complete post.

The first USTA Junior Competition Town Hall Listening meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, November 17, at the Sheraton Hotel in Reston Virginia. Lew Brewer is scheduled to speak at the Mid-Atlantic section’s annual meeting and awards luncheon with the topic “Understanding the Upcoming Changes to the Junior Tournament Structure.” This gives the impression that the changes are a done deal, which was not my understanding from the statement after the October Tennis Industry meeting in Chicago, but I could be misinterpreting the above title or the statement. For more, see this post from Parenting Aces.

There More >

URGENT: USTA 2014 Jr Comp Update

3
6 months ago
in

I got word from a parent in the Mid-Atlantic section of a meeting being held this Saturday (November 17th) at which Lew Brewer of USTA will be discussing the proposed changes to the junior competition schedule.  This may be THE “listening meeting” for that section, so I urge all parents and coaches in the area to attend and report any significant news to the rest of us via the Comments section on this post or via our Facebook page.

Share this:Like this:Like Loading...
Go to Top