USPTA’s Advancing Development and Diversity program offers free training, networking, tennis education, and a tennis instructor certification opportunity to a socioeconomically disadvantaged individual with a desire to teach the sport. Qualified applicants also receive a free year of prorated membership dues for the Tennis Instructor category, as well as, a free Teaching Essentials 1 course.

Following their free introductory year of USPTA membership, Tennis Instructors may choose to continue their involvement in the association and further develop their career. Their dues for the second year will be 50 percent off, and their dues for the third year will be 25 percent off.

USPTA division leaders are responsible for implementing the program regionally. In addition, USPTA’s national and divisional diversity committees will work to identify prospective applicants for the ADD program. Each year, ADD applications are mailed to each division liaison.

As part of our continued effort to retain current membership, we ask that you personally invite these ADD program participants to your division conference free of charge. Currently, our retention rate for these individuals is 7 low. To increase this number, we will be implementing these three action steps:

1. Encourage them to select a USPTA mentor in or near their area
2. Encourage divisions to reach out to them the first year (to get them to attend the division conference free of charge)
3. Rather than waiting until the third “please pay your dues” reminder to mention the monthly payment plan, we will inform them of this offer from the start.

Each ADD applicant's socioeconomic position should be determined through the short-answer questionnaire that includes questions about income, community involvement and future plans once certified as a USPTA Professional. Once we have received and approved the application, the ADD applicant has 2 years to complete the certification pathway. If they do not take the exam within this time, they forfeit their application and will not be able to re-apply for the ADD category.

CLICK HERE to download the ADD program Application.

CLICK HERE to begin your USPTA Membership Application