Colorful history and valuable publicity
Tennis Across America has a long and colorful history and is a great way to kick off your spring programming and increase your lesson base.

The event was developed in response to a call from the Tennis Industry Council for each industry group to create and implement a project in 1990 that would promote tennis to current and potential recreational players. The council was part of the larger American Tennis Industry Federation, which today is known as the Tennis Industry Association.

Over the last 22 years, USPTA has received invaluable national, regional and local publicity because of Tennis Across America. USPTA visited the White House tennis courts an amazing five times to conclude our multicultural tour. After our initial visit to the site in 1991, USPTA was invited back in 1992, 1995, 1996 and 1998. In 1995, Pam Shriver, an honorary co-chair, helped teach at the clinic. In 1996, Jack Groppel, Ph.D., attended the White House clinic along with USPTA President Kathy Woods (who also helped host the '95 event). In 1998, we were honored to have Pete Sampras appear at the clinic and help with the instruction. He was joined by USPTA President Will Hoag.

The event was mentioned on a national morning news show several times. In 1995 and 1996 Willard Scott plugged the event during NBC's "Today" show. The segments generated hundreds of calls to the national office.

Throughout the years, honorary co-chairs helped boost publicity for TAA. Just some of the VIP names over the years have included Leslie Allen, Nick Bollettieri, Mike, Bob and Wayne Bryan, former President George H.W. Bush, Peter Burwash, Mary Carillo, Cliff Drysdale, Zina Garrison, Jack Groppel, Tom Gullikson, Franklin R. Johnson, Billie Jean King, Rick Macci, Patrick McEnroe, Todd Martin, Chuck Norris, Brenda Schultz-McCarthy, Emilio Sánchez Vicario, Alan Schwartz, Gene Scott, Pam Shriver, Stan Smith, Randy Snow, Harold Solomon, Fred Stolle, Tony Trabert and MaliVai Washington.

Why you should host an event
USPTA encourages its members to host an event to benefit from the many of years of publicity and the TAA name. And, USPTA provides you with everything you need to plan and host a great clinic. It's your opportunity to showcase tennis to people who have never played and reintroduce the game to former players. The end result could mean financial benefits for you and your facility.

Accept the challenge
For the second year, we're encouraging every USPTA member to run at least one Tennis Across America event through the "one-clinic challenge." It doesn't take much effort to run and promote an event, and you can get lots of help by visiting www.uspta.com, going to the "Quick links" pull-down menu on the right and selecting "Tennis Across America." This area provides a program guide, complete with event ideas and promotional help. It also allows you to register your event and accept the "one-clinic challenge."

Holding a clinic can result in financial benefits for you and your facility. However, to ensure the success of your event, you must begin planning and promoting your event. Here are a few event ideas you may want to consider:

• Adult clinic
• Cardio Tennis event
• Junior clinic
• Member-guest event
• 10-and-under tennis featuring QuickStart Tennis Play Format

In the Tennis Across America section of our website, www.uspta.com, we have provided you with the resources and ideas for your TAA events, tips on building local partnerships, sample materials to help with promoting the events, and much more.

There is also a great deal of added value to hosting TAA events with a focus on Tennis - for the health of it! in May. Since it is also National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, May is truly a national platform for health and fitness.

All it takes is one TAA clinic for one hour by each USPTA member to make a difference through tennis!

Will you step up to the challenge?
To register your Tennis Across America event, please visit www.uspta.com and click on the Tennis Across America logo on our home page. For questions or more information, call 800-877-8248 or write to uspta@uspta.org.