Community Tennis Bulletin
January 2007
According to the Sporting Goods Manufacturing Association, tennis is the only traditional sport that experienced growth
over the last 5 years, with participation up 10.3 percent! Your hard work contributed greatly to this increase and with your
help we will experience continued growth in 2007. Check out this issue to find information about new initiatives, upcoming
deadlines, and resources available to support your efforts this year.
Upcoming Deadlines
WHAT
College Scholarship
Applications
GRANTS
Incentive Awards
Public Facility Funding
OTHER
Community Tennis Grant
Community Profile
DESCRIPTION
For graduating high school seniors that have
participated in organized tennis programs.
For kids in grades 6-11 that need assistance
with the cost of tennis program or tournament
fees.
You MUST have a 2007 Tennis in the Parks
community pre-assessment on file to be
eligible for public facility funding. This funding
may be used for court reconstruction,
renovation, resurfacing or amenities.
For the start up or expansion of community
tennis programming and tennis associations.
DEADLINE
MATERIALS*
February 9th
www.usta.com on the
Foundation homepage
February 9th
www.usta.com on the
Foundation homepage
February 9th (TIP
pre-assessment)
Located at
www.nrpa.org/usta
March 7th or Sept
12th (application)
February 16th
www.northern.usta.com
For organizations that run tennis programming
in the parks. Marketing materials, sample
equipment, court maintenance guide, and more
resources will be sent to registered agencies!
February 9th
Located at
www.nrpa.org/usta
Complete a profile for your community and be
entered into a drawing for the chance to win a
full scholarship to attend either the 2007 USTA
Tennis Teacher’s Conference or the 2008
USTA Community Tennis Development
Workshop.
March 1st
www.northern.usta.com
*If you have trouble locating application materials online, please call Becky at 952-358-3291 or email
cantellano@northern.usta.com.
Don’t Miss the Action at the Boston Scientific Women’s Pro Tournament
It’s not often that we have the chance to get up close and personal with the world’s best up and coming tennis
professionals. Organize a carpool and get yourself to Ft. Snelling Tennis & Learning Center February 9th – 17th to
watch the women take to the courts. Hotel discounts available at the Grand Lodge in Bloomington, MN, home to the
world’s largest indoor water park! Visit www.grandlodgemn.com to learn more about this vacation destination. When
booking rooms, mention the tournament to receive a $99 room rate ($250 value) plus 3 free Water Park of America
passes ($90 value). Purchase tickets for the tournament in advance by contacting Lisa Mushett at
mushett@northern.usta.com.
New Resource Available to Jr. Team Tennis Organizers
The New Team Sport, USTA Jr. Team Tennis, is growing rapidly across the country. Jr. Team Tennis is a combination of
practice and match play that allows players an opportunity to improve on their skills and gain valuable match experience,
while enjoying the social benefits of being part of a team. The focus is Fun, Fitness, and Friends. To find out
more please visit our new JTT learn center for program organizers and coaches at:
http://ustauniversityonline.learn.com/northern/jrteamtennis.
Hang an “It’s Your Game” Banner
All community tennis program providers should have received a mailing in early January that contained our 2007
Community Tennis Guide. USTA member facilities also received an It’s Your Game Banner. We have additional banners
available on a first come-first served basis to our entire USTA organizational membership. Please contact us if you would
like a banner or if you received a “Vive Tu Juego” banner and would like to replace it with the English version.
USTA Northern Staff Coming to a Town Near You
Do you ever wish you could stop by our office to get questions answered, pick our brains, or
express ideas in person? Well, now you’ve got that chance. We are bringing our office to you
through a series of “Town Hall Meetings” throughout the section. These meetings are open to
anyone with a passion for tennis and are free of charge. We hope to see you at one of our
stops:
Wednesday, February 21st = Fargo, ND
Monday, February 26th = Winona, MN
Thursday, February 22nd = Dickinson, ND
Tuesday, February 27th = St. Peter, MN
Friday, February 23rd = Rapid City, SD
Wednesday, February 28th = Duluth, MN
th
Sunday, February 25 = Sioux Falls, SD
For more information or to RSVP, contact Pat Colbert at Colbert@northern.usta.com
NEW USTA League Format
“Tri” the USTA’s new pilot league — the Tri-Level. The objective of the Tri-Level is to create a socially competitive
program where teams consist of members with different skill levels. Tri-Level format consists of three NTRP levels of
doubles matches (Example, one 3.0 doubles, one 3.5 doubles and one 4.0 doubles = Tri-level team). The new format is
more accommodating for parks and small CTA’s that want to be involved with USTA League for adults. Contact
your local Area League Coordinator for more information on how to get involved. Not sure who that person is? Contact
Kara Schmitz at Schmitz@northern.usta.com or 800-536-6982 x 115.
USTA/NJTL announces the 2007 Arthur Ashe Essay Contest
To help commemorate the legacy of humanitarian and tennis great Arthur Ashe, USTA/NJTL sponsors an annual essay
contest – open only to USTA/NJTL participants – asking entrants to answer the question; “Why is Arthur Ashe a legend?”
Ten national winners receive an all-expense paid trip to New York to be guests at Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, go to a
professional sporting event, check out a Broadway show, take a boat tour around New York City and receive an award at
a luncheon in their honor. Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day is a day-long festival of kids’ tennis activities that includes interactive
games, musical entertainment and free clinics. For more information about how your program participants can become
involved, contact Nancy at lundberg@northern.usta.com or 800-536-6982 x 116.
Upcoming Trainings
WHAT
TARGET
AUDIENCE
WHEN
WHERE
COST
FOR MORE INFO & TO
REGISTER
High School Coaches
Workshop
Middle & High
School Coaches
Saturday,
March 3
White Bear
Lake, MN
$50
www.northern.usta.com or
contact Rick at
rengelstad@pinecity.k12.mn.us
Recreational Coach
Workshop
Seasonal
Coaches
Saturday,
April 21
Coon Rapids,
MN
PTR Teaching
Essentials Workshop
Tennis
Instructors
March 3 & 4
Grand Forks,
ND
Tennis
Instructors
March 16 &
17
Minneapolis,
MN
$175
www.uspta.com
Tennis
Instructors
April 7
White Bear
Lake, MN
$175
www.uspta.com
USPTA Certification
Review Course &
Exam
USPTA Certification
Review Course &
Exam
$15 before April 1
or $20 after
$95 for PTR
members
(ages 17 -23 free)
www.gtctatennis.org
www.ptrtennis.org
Interested in organizing a workshop for coaches/teachers in your area? Be a host site.
RECREATIONAL COACH
PTR & USPTA
TEACHER IN-SERVICE
WORKSHOP
WORKSHOPS
Designed for physical education teachers and after-school
program providers (i.e. Community Ed) interested in
incorporating tennis into the curriculum. To set up a
workshop, contact Tony at stingley@northern.usta.com. As
a host site, you must; recruit at least 8 teachers, reserve a
location for 3 hours, and establish a link from the
introduction of tennis in the physical education curriculum to
after-school tennis programming.
These workshops are designed for seasonal
coaches that work with kids and adults in
recreational tennis programs such as
summer park & rec lessons or after-school
tennis teams. Visit www.usta.com/rcw to
learn more and download an application to
become a host site.
Contact these
organizations directly
to learn more about
hosting a certification
workshop or specialty
course in your area.