2021 World Conference

Nature


Experience the Premier Tennis Education Event Live in Las Vegas!

The 2021 USPTA World Conference (WC21) will make a triumphant return to an in-person format September 19-23, 2021, at the Westgate Resort and Casino in glamorous Las Vegas, Nevada. The USPTA World Conference is the world’s largest gathering of tennis professionals, industry leaders, representatives, manufacturers, wholesalers, and media. In addition to robust educational offerings, including on-court seminars, the USPTA hosts meetings, industry discussions, evening social events, the 2021 Awards presentation, and so much more!

The member price for the five full days will be $449 – and $499 for non-members. Guest passes for WC21 are $179 and day passes are $175.

Hotel registration information including the USPTA WC21 hotel discount link will be sent to you after you register for the conference. (Rooms are $117 plus $10 resort fee plus applicable taxes per night.)


Attendees of WC21 will be required to follow resort guidelines which currently include wearing a mask in all public settings. 
Please know that we are monitoring the situation daily and regularly communicate with the Westgate Resort to understand the local conditions. We promise to share any critical news or updates about the World Conference as they become available.

SIGN IN AND REGISTER NOW!

**Schedule subject to change.





Disclaimer: There is an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 that may exist in any public place. By attending live events, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19. There is a 5% fee on conference cancelations.

When
9/19/2021 7:30 AM - 9/23/2021 6:00 PM
Where
Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino 3000 Paradise Road Las Vegas, NV 89109 UNITED STATES
Registration is closed.
My registration status: Not registered

Program

   
Description
Registration item for spouses and guests of the main registrant. Limit one guest per main registrant. Guest registration cannot receive continuing education credits.
Time
9/19/2021 7:30 AM - 9/23/2021 11:00 PM
9/19/2021 7:30 AM

Coaching Female Players
The USPTA has joined forces with the WTCA to host this specialty course that will focus on coaching female players. The four-hour session will cover four critical areas: communication, working with teams, perfectionism, and physical training. Although these topics are vital when working with both male or female players, we will take a deep dive into precisely why these areas are so crucial in coaching female players.



Emma Doyle

Emma Doyle is a Tennis Australia High-Performance Coach with a strong background as a tennis touring professional and a talent development coach. She has represented Australia as a coach on 20 occasions, winning four Asia Oceania world team titles. Emma’s pioneering approach to communication and coaching encourages people to take action. She provides practical coaching tools to help coach the coaches so that they can engage and empower others. She specializes in helping people to develop a high-performing mindset, enhancing confidence, and accessing emotional intelligence both in and out of the workplace or sporting field. Emma is passionately involved in creating gender equality in all sports and the workplace by educating coaches and empowering females, aiming to stretch their comfort zone, build their confidence, and discover their inner coach.




Satoshi Ochi
Satoshi Ochi is the head strength and conditioning coach at the USTA, where he oversees and manages the strength and conditioning staff and programs at the USTA National Training Center. Satoshi has worked with top US tennis players ranging from junior, collegiate, professional, and wheelchair players. He has more than 20 years of experience as a strength and conditioning coach, including NCAA DI and USOC. Satoshi received his M.A. in exercise science from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Prior to receiving his master’s degree, Satoshi played Division I tennis for the Creighton University Bluejays and earned his B.A. in exercise science. Satoshi is certified through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), and is a certified personal trainer (CPT). In addition to his role with the USTA, Satoshi also serves on the Advisory Board of the International Tennis Performance Association (ITPA). Before joining the USTA, Satoshi was the head strength and conditioning coach at Creighton University, where he was also an instructor for the Exercises Science Department. He is based at USTA National Campus in Orlando, FL.



Gena Ball
Gena Ball is a strength and conditioning coach (CSCS) for USTA, based in Carson, California. She has programmed and implemented performance and athletic development training for both male and female athletes, ranging from professional, collegiate, transitional, and junior athletes for the USTA for over six years. Gena was a performance coach for EXOS (Formerly Athletes' Performance) in Los Angeles, working with various professional athletes, including NFL, MLS, MLB, and WTA athletes. Gena received her Bachelor's degree in Nutrition, Exercise, and Health Sciences from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and completed her Master's in Exercise Physiology from A.T. Still University.

Time
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
9/19/2021 9:00 AM

Teach the Teacher Workshop. A comprehensive program based on the new IPTPA Handbook. Participants who complete the workshop to IPTPA standards will be awarded an IPTPA Certificate of Completion and given the designation Certified Pickleball Instructor.
Time
1:30 PM - 6:30 PM
9/19/2021 1:30 PM

Specialty Course - The Spanish System for Developing Singles & Doubles Players
Join USPTA Master Professional and former world No. 1 doubles player Emilio Sánchez -Vicario for a four-hour specialty course on the Spanish System for developing singles and doubles players.



Emilio Sánchez Vicario

Emilio Sánchez Vicario is a former ATP player who reached No. 7 in singles and No. 1 in doubles. He won three Grand Slam doubles titles during his career, 15 ATP men’s singles titles, and 50 men’s doubles titles. At the 1988 Olympic Games, Emilio won the men’s doubles silver medal. He was Spain’s Davis Cup team captain in 2008 when Spain won the World Championship. Emilio is a USPTA Master Professional and has Competitive & Professional Certifications from the International Coaches Institute. Nearly two decades ago, tennis greats Emilio Sanchez Vicario and Sergio Casal opened Academia Sanchez-Casal (ASC) in Barcelona, Spain. Their mission was to provide serious tennis players with a home base academy that featured a custom-designed academic curriculum, combined with advanced tennis and athletic performance training, to achieve maximum success on and off the court. Today, ASC has two world-renowned school and training destination academies located in Barcelona, Spain, Naples, FL, and a third in Nanjing, China, offering only the tennis program.

Time
2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
9/19/2021 2:00 PM

9/20/2021 7:00 AM

Own the Arena
Join former USTA President Katrina Adams on a presentation about leadership skills, confidence, and how to own the arena. She will share insights about what it takes to host the largest and most lucrative sports event in the world, the U.S. Open, and the lessons learned as a USTA president. These lessons can be applied across business and to any life challenge.



Katrina Adams

Katrina Adams was the first African American, first former professional tennis player, and youngest person to serve as USTA President and CEO. She also served as chair of the USTA and US Open, the International Tennis Federation Fed Cup, Gender Equality in Tennis committees, and vice president of the International Tennis Federation. Katrina was named to Adweek magazine’s “Most Powerful Women in Sports” list in 2016 and 2017 and Forbes magazine’s “Most Powerful Women in Sports” list in 2017. Also, in ’17, Katrina was named to Ebony magazine’s “Power 100” list. Since 2005, Adams has served as the Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program Executive Director, based in New York City. A 12-year pro on the WTA Tour, Adams reached the quarterfinals or better at all four Grand Slams, won 20 career doubles titles, and achieved a career-high No. 8 doubles ranking.

Time
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
9/20/2021 8:30 AM

Strength & Conditioning for Players of All Levels
Tennis is known as a sport that requires many physical skills and superb physical conditioning. This one-hour on-court session covers tennis-specific strength and conditioning exercises and drills for players of all levels.



Satoshi Ochi

Satoshi Ochi is the head strength and conditioning coach at the USTA, where he oversees and manages the strength and conditioning staff and programs at the USTA National Training Center. Satoshi has worked with top US tennis players ranging from junior, collegiate, professional, and wheelchair players. He has more than 20 years of experience as a strength and conditioning coach, including NCAA DI and USOC. Satoshi received his M.A. in exercise science from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Prior to receiving his master’s degree, Satoshi played Division I tennis for the Creighton University Bluejays and earned his B.A. in exercise science. Satoshi is certified through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), and is a certified personal trainer (CPT). In addition to his role with the USTA, Satoshi also serves on the Advisory Board of the International Tennis Performance Association (ITPA). Before joining the USTA, Satoshi was the head strength and conditioning coach at Creighton University, where he was also an instructor for the Exercises Science Department. He is based at USTA National Campus in Orlando, FL.

Time
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
9/20/2021 9:45 AM

How to Build the Necessary Programs, Play Options & Pathways to Grow Your Program/Club Post-Covid
Understanding the programs that will help their club grow and build the matching pathways that will help attract, engage, and retain the players. Additionally, we will discuss some essential steps in building pathways for players at clubs to ensure the continued growth.



Scott McCulloch

Scott McCulloch, a native of Sydney, Australia, holds a bachelor’s degree in Sports Management from Sutherland College. Scott was a nationally ranked junior, coached by former World No. 1 John Newcombe and his son Clint Newcombe. Scott has worked extensively with many legends of the game both on and off the court, from coaching top-ranked players to developing tennis programs and club management across the country. Since he arrived at CDM in 2007, Scott has opened and grown over 20 locations. With nearly 20 years of teaching tennis and his background in building and managing clubs of all sizes, McCulloch brings a wealth of experience, training, and leadership. In his VP of Operations capacity, Scott oversees the operations, tennis pro-development, programming, and membership in the CDT club portfolio. He is also responsible for maximizing growth and profitability while leading and managing day-to-day tennis operations. Additionally, Scott serves on the USTA national committee for adult social play and works closely with the USTA at a sectional and national level as an advisor on a variety of projects from program delivery, strategic partnerships & pathways, tennis software technology, and the tennis certification.

Time
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
9/20/2021 9:45 AM

Leading With Character
At the end of your life, how are you likely to be remembered? Chances are that people won’t be praising your money, power, and status. Instead, the people you’ve impacted will remember you for your compassion and personal strength ? in short, your character. Unfortunately, many leaders are unaware of their character shortcomings and blind spots that hold so many of us back from building the legacy we are capable of. Join world-renowned sports psychologist, co-founder of the Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Institute, Dr. Jim Loehr as he reveals the most important character competencies that you can practice daily to transform your life and work.



Dr. Jim Loehr

Dr. Jim Loehr is a world-renowned performance psychologist, Co-Founder of the Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Institute, and author of 16 books. Dr. Loehr’s ground-breaking, science-based energy management training system has achieved worldwide recognition. It has been chronicled in leading national publications, including the Harvard Business Review, Business Week, Fortune, Newsweek, Time, US News and World Report, Success, Fast Company, and Omni. He has appeared on NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Nightline with Ted Koppel, The CBS Evening News with Dan Rather, and CBS Morning News and the Oprah Winfrey Show. From his more than 30 years of experience and applied research, Dr. Loehr believes the single most important factor in successful achievement, personal fulfillment, and life satisfaction is the strength of one’s character. He strongly contends that character strength can be built in the same way that muscle strength is built through energy investment.

Time
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
9/20/2021 11:00 AM

Cardio Tennis Games
The games segment of the workout is a fan favorite and what separates Cardio Tennis from any other group fitness class. In this presentation, we will look at signature games and go deep into unique numbers, appropriate Cardio Blasts, use of the agility ladder, why some games don’t fit the Cardio Tennis model, and how to modify and progress.



Michele Krause

Michele Krause is a tennis fitness integration specialist. Michele was the Cardio Tennis Global Education Director for 15 years and recently partnered with the USTA to grow Cardio Tennis. She managed the Cardio Tennis program in 2005, and under her leadership, it became a global product and is now part of tennis culture throughout the world. In addition, Michele is an experienced international speaker and trainer who has presented at industry events worldwide and has delivered over 500 educational courses to tennis and fitness professionals. Michele has been featured on the Tennis Channel’s “One Minute Clinics,” “On Court with USPTA,” “Bulging Brides,” as well as NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.” She also organized and implemented the “Get Fit Wichita” and “Million Calorie Burn” tennis fitness events. Michele is a USPTA Elite Professional who managed tennis facilities throughout the US prior to her Cardio Tennis role. She is certified in TRX Suspension Training, Combine 360, Pat Etcheberry, RacquetFit, and an ITPA-Tennis Performance Trainer. Michele received the TIA Industry Excellence award in 2012, the Tennis Industry Service award in 2018, and the USPTA Florida Pro of the Year award in 2018.

Time
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
9/20/2021 1:00 PM

Diagnosing Technical Flaws in the Strokes of Pro Players
The presentation will look at three tour players who have strokes that are widely viewed as inconsistent or not as effective as other aspects of their games: Coco Gauff’s forehand, Milos Raonic’s two-handed backhand, and Andrey Rublev’s serve. In each case, we will look at high-speed video from live match play and discuss how these technical issues apply to players of all levels.



John Yandell

John Yandell is the leading videographer of the modern game of professional tennis. His high-speed filming has provided resources that have changed how the game is studied and understood by both players and coaches at all levels. John has done personal video analysis for hundreds of players, including Justine Henin, Taylor Dent, and John McEnroe, among others, and has worked as a technical consultant for Stanford men’s tennis. John is the owner and publisher of Tennisplayer digital magazine, an instructional editor for Tennis, and has spoken at dozens of sectional, national, and international coaching conferences. The John Yandell Tennis School is located in San Francisco, California.

Time
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
9/20/2021 1:00 PM

Dynamic Depth - Turning Defense into Offense
Creative on-court exercises that focus on turning defense into offense from the defensive zone of the court. Emphasis will be on transition skills, encouraging players to play more “vertical” singles, and embracing all court tactics.



Dale Evans

The head tennis professional at The Claremont Club & Spa, a Fairmont Hotel, and current USPTA NorCal President, Dale Evans, is a USPTA Elite Professional. After growing up on the Elmhurst Youth Tennis Center courts in Oakland, he played collegiate tennis at Jackson State University (MS). His San Francisco Bay area return has been highlighted by serving as the Bay-O-Vista Tennis Director from 2004-2008, coaching many players nationally and internationally, and remaining involved in the Northern California tennis industry. Dale has also served multiple terms on the USPTA NorCal and USTA NorCal Board of Directors. He holds a degree in management and is Academia Sanchez-Casal certified. Dale has been awarded the 2009 USTA NorCal Leadership Award, 2014 USPTA NorCal Pro of the Year, 2015 USTA NorCal Trailblazer Award, 2015 USPTA National Diversity Award, 2017 USTA/USPTA National Community Service Award, and 2019 USTA Northern California Fred Earle Pro of the Year. Recent presentations include the 2019 USPTA NorCal Division Conference (Stanford) and the 2019 USPTA World Conference in Las Vegas.

Time
2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
9/20/2021 2:15 PM

Creating a Strategic Plan for Your Career Development
Career success comes from setting goals and then developing the skills and experiences that will help you reach those goals. Before embarking on the next phase of your career journey, this seminar will help you first ask some critical questions.




Tom Daglis
Tom Daglis is a USPTA Master Professional who has served as USPTA National President and Southern Division President. Tom currently works as an executive search consultant and as a career coach with McMahon|10s. Tom’s most recent position was as executive director of the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College, the nation’s largest single surface tennis center with 63 tennis courts. In addition, he has previously served as director of tennis at fine clubs such as Atlanta Country Club, GA; Concourse Athletic Club, GA; and Lakewood Country Club, MD, and is the former professional tennis management director within the schools of business at both Ferris State University and Methodist University. The USPTA has honored Tom with many awards at the national and division level. In 2006, he was awarded the USPTA’s most prestigious national award, the Alex Gordon United States Professional of the Year. In addition to his work with McMahon|10s, Tom is currently the president/owner of the Pelican Tennis Group, LLC based in Gulfport, MS, which provides consulting services focused on tennis operations to the clubs and facilities nationwide
.

Time
2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
9/20/2021 2:15 PM

Time
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
9/20/2021 3:30 PM

Time
5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
9/20/2021 5:00 PM

9/21/2021 7:00 AM

Doubles Formations & Situations
This seminar will help coaches set up practices with drills that will help players understand that doubles is a game of formations and situations involving positioning and movement for purposeful shots.



Feisal Hassan

Feisal Hassan is a USPTA and RPT Master Professional, along with being the first vice president on the USPTA national board. He is also a member of the Head/Penn Racquet Sports National Advisory Board and National Speaker’s Bureau. Feisal holds USPTA specialist degrees in competitive player development, facility management, sports science, and 10 and under tennis. He is on the USTA National Faculty for Youth Coaching, is a TIA Cardio Tennis Trainer, and co-chairs the USPTA National Education and Testing committees. In 2011, Hassan was named USPTA’s Alex Gordon Professional of the Year and won the Racquet Sports Industry Champions of Tennis Award. The following year he was named to the USPTA Mid-Atlantic Hall of Fame and won the USPTA George Bacso National Tester of the Year Award.

Time
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
9/21/2021 8:30 AM

The Pickleball Reality
By now, we know pickleball is here for the long haul. This session will provide ideas for integrating pickleball into your programming without detracting from tennis successfully. One thing is for sure, opportunity abounds. Topics include investing in building permanent pickleball courts. What equipment should you carry? Programming: pickleball is not just for your aging members and guests. Should you get certified? Addressing myths such as “playing pickleball will ruin my tennis” or “the noise is too distracting.” And subtleties of the “culture” of pickleball and how it differs from tennis.



Karen Schott

Karen Schott joined The Broadmoor Tennis Staff as a teaching professional in 1994, working under Dennis Ralston, International Tennis Hall of Famer, for eleven years. She became director of tennis in 2005 and leads a team of six tennis and pickleball professionals. Karen was a top junior player in Colorado and the Intermountain Section and served as captain of the University of Denver tennis team. She served for 10 years on the USTA Colorado District Board of Directors (VP), is active in several other USTA Colorado committees, and was a founder of the Pikes Peak Community Tennis Association. Karen received the USPTA Intermountain “Lessons for Life” award in 2019 for her 10-year involvement in coordinating an annual “Rally for the Cure” charity tennis and pickleball event for Susan G. Komen. Karen and her husband, David (also a tennis professional), enjoy playing mixed doubles in tennis and pickleball.

Time
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
9/21/2021 8:30 AM

Lots of Kids, What Do I Do?
Learn how to manage large groups of kids and keep athletes engaged while keeping their time on court productive and fun. You'll see many examples of racquet and non-racquet activities that you can take home and try out with your players.



Amanda Shaw

Amanda Shaw is currently the USTA Texas Director of Unification. She has been part of the USTA for 19 years in various roles: project lead for the Level 1 Coach Workshops, coach developer, junior competitive coordinator, local junior team tennis coordinator, member/volunteer with the local Community Tennis Association, section committee volunteer, junior/adult tournament director, official, tournament director for USTA Pro Circuit event, and West Texas Tennis Service Representative. Amanda is a USPTA Elite Professional and a member of the USPTA Innovation Committee.



Kendra Becker
Kendra is the director of junior programs at Weston Racquet Club in Weston, CT, and previously was the director of 12u Tennis at Intensity in Norwalk, CT, for nine years. She was named Racquet Sports Industry's Youth Tennis Provider of the Year in 2020. Kendra is an active volunteer with USTA New England and USTA National, serving on multiple committees and as a Level 1 Coach Developer. In 2016 she was awarded the USPTA NE Al Rogers Award for continuing education and the 2017 USTA NE Jr Team Tennis Organizer of the Year. She also attended the USPTA's Leadership Academy in 2018 and considers herself a lifelong learner. Kendra loves teaching and finds it very exciting when players surprise themselves and do something they didn't think they could do or weren't able to do just a short time ago.

Time
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
9/21/2021 9:45 AM

How to Match Your players with the Right Strings

Join this presentation to learn about the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of tennis strings and the key aspects to consider when making string recommendations to your players.



Adrian Bolton

Adrian Bolton is the Wilson Regional Account Manager for Los Angeles, Northern California, Colorado, and Nevada. He is an industry veteran with over 20 years of experience in sales and account management in the Southern California and Inter Mountain Territories. He played college tennis at the University of California, Davis.



Steve Huber
Steve Huber overseas Wilson’s Sales and Territory Specialists in North America. He has been with Wilson for over 27 years. He has experience stringing at the US Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

Time
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
9/21/2021 9:45 AM

Presented by Craig O'Shannessy
Time
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
9/21/2021 11:00 AM

Drills for Your League Players

In this presentation, USPTA Master Professional Paula Scheb will show you drills and clinic ideas on how to grow your league teams. Learn how to increase team camaraderie and enjoyment within your teams. We invite you to come with ideas and suggestions if you would like to share anything you do to successfully manage teams and drill sessions so we can all learn from each other.



Paula Scheb

Paula Scheb is a USPTA Master Professional and has been privileged to be at one of the largest clubs in the country for over 25 years! She is the director of sports for the Bonita Bay Club in Southwest Florida. The Platinum Club boasts five golf courses, 18 sub-irrigated courts, five pickleball courts, a beautifully manicured croquet lawn, a 20,000 square foot fitness center, and an amazingly luxurious spa. When Paula started at the club (with nine courts and not much else), she had three employees. The sport department now has over 25 team members! Bonita Bay Club is one of only five national clubs to host a USTA Pro Circuit $100,000 tournament. It drew players like Coco Gauf, Taylor Townsend, Lauren Davis, Ann Li, and others.

Time
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
9/21/2021 1:00 PM

Performance Psychology - Motivation, Confidence, & Resilience
This presentation will present coaches with practical research-based methods on how to instill motivation, confidence, and resilience in their students to enhance their abilities as tennis coaches.



Dr. Gregory Prudhomme

Dr. Gregory Prudhomme is a mental performance coach, a professor of sport psychology, and an NCAA Division I head tennis coach. He earned his Ph.D. in performance psychology and is a USPTA Elite Professional. As a Performance Coach, Dr. Prudhomme currently works with world-ranked professional athletes, Division I college athletes, coaches, entrepreneurs, and more. He has earned 20 “Coach of the Year” awards in tennis, including two national awards for winning conference titles, earning national rankings, and advancing to national championships. Dr. Prudhomme has been a guest speaker at numerous conferences in athletics, academics, and peak performance, as well as appearing on podcasts and webinars. His athletic experience includes international youth soccer as well as college and professional tennis. Dr. Prudhomme was ranked No. 11 in the United States as a tennis player, earned a DI tennis scholarship, and an ATP professional world ranking. His two daughters earned full athletic scholarships in DI athletics, while his high school-aged son is following in their footsteps. Dr. Prudhomme's wife, Mandy, is also a certified tennis coach and former college tennis player.

Time
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
9/21/2021 1:00 PM

Utilizing "How to Coach" and "What to Coach" Skills
Think about excellent coaches. Picture these coaches working with an athlete or group of athletes. What is it that you notice them doing or saying that makes them and their coaching so unbelievably effective? Undoubtedly, they know their X’s and O’s; including a sound technical and tactical grasp of their sport. But what else sets them apart? One of the key skills is they ask great questions that challenge players to think and act for themselves and listen to their answers in order to deepen understanding. This on-court presentation will explore the art and architecture of questioning and how you can apply this to your coaching. It will challenge coaches to consider how effectively they use questioning to support player learning and development. It will help them identify opportunities to evolve what questions they ask and how they ask them.



Craig Jones

Craig Jones is the USTA-U Senior Director of Education, Training, and Resources. In this role, he is responsible for developing coaching resources, workshops and overseeing Cardio Tennis and PTM programs. Before joining the USTA, Craig spent over 25 years as a director of tennis, club manager, and junior developer, working with hundreds of junior players from novice to national and international champions. He is a USPTA Elite Professional, USTA High Performance Coach, and owner of the Petersburg Racquet Club in Martinez, GA.



Steve Keller
Steve Keller serves as the senior manager for USTA-U. USTA-U provides support for those who deliver tennis with quality education, experiential learning, and resources. He is an athlete-centered coach focused on maximizing the full potential of each student through research-based teaching methods. Steve's career in tennis has allowed him to travel around the world, sharing and gaining knowledge from some of the best minds in tennis.



Sarah McQuade
Having worked for over 20 years as an international Sports Coaching Development Consultant, Sarah is thrilled to be working with the USTA in what she describes as a ‘career-defining opportunity.’ Working within the Player and Coach Development Team as Sr Director for Coach Accreditation and Certification, Sarah is delighted to bring her global coaching expertise to help evolve the systems, programs and people that are essential to support, ensure and evolve the quality coaching agenda for Tennis from beginner to master coach. Sarah is a Master Trainer of Coach Developers, recognized by the International Council of Coaching Excellence (ICCE) and US Center for Coaching Excellence (USCCE).

Time
2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
9/21/2021 2:15 PM

Powerful Moments - Master the Customer Experience
Attendees will feel a renewed purpose in their role as a tennis pro. They hold great importance in the life of their members and customers! Having that new purpose, this talk will create knowledge and understanding for how they can impact their future by creating and measuring incredible and memorable customer experiences that lead to "customer delight."



Kim Bastable

Kim Bastable is Director of USTA Professional Tennis Management at the University of Florida, where she is creating, overseeing, and teaching the new USPTA Director of Racquet Sports specialty and certification program within Florida’s College of Health and Human Performance. She was a top-ranked Gator player, earning All-America honors — winning two SEC championships in the 1980s. Her Gator years were followed by 35-years in the tennis business, leading programs at various country clubs, racquet clubs, and schools — including 10 years as Director of the Kansas City Junior Tennis League and 10 years as a mental performance and leadership coach. Kim holds two degrees, including a master’s in positive coaching, and has certifications as a mental toughness specialist and a mental game coach and an executive certificate in leadership from the University of Notre Dame. She is a former USPTA Division president and Executive Administrator. She’s passionate about training the next generation of tennis pros to be strong leaders that run their businesses professionally.

Time
2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
9/21/2021 2:15 PM

General Membership Meeting
USPTA CEO John Embree and the Board of Directors discuss the current state of the association. Tune in for the National Awards Presentation for a chance to win prizes!



John Embree

John Embree is the USPTA CEO/Executive Director. He has held a wide variety of influential tennis industry roles for more than 30 years. They include serving as president of Prince Americas and president of Balle de Match LLC. He also spent 17 years at Wilson Sporting Goods Co., where he held various positions, including vice president/general manager in the Racquet Sports Division for six and a half years. Prior to joining the USPTA in October 2012, he launched a tennis consulting practice in 2010 to assist endemic brands, associations, and new corporate entities in maximizing their impact in the tennis marketplace. His client list included the USTA, Intercollegiate Tennis Association, Peter Burwash International (PBI), OTG (Off the Grid) Technologies, and Donnay USA. In April 2014, Embree was named to be on the board of directors of the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, RI, and has served on many national USTA Committees since 1980, including the USTA Nominating Committee, the vice-chair of USTA Professional Circuits Committee, a two-year stint on the USTA 10 and Under Tennis Committee, and the Local Play and Competition Committee.

Time
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
9/21/2021 3:30 PM

9/22/2021 7:00 AM

Shot Selection 101
In this presentation, Meike will cover how to help players of all levels understand ideal court positioning and shot selection concepts. Newer players typically struggle with “being in the right place at the right time” and where to hit the ball. In simple to modify progressions, Meike shares how she works with players from beginner to college athletes on developing a sound understanding of high percentage tennis and using the geometry of the court in their favor.



Meike Babel

Meike Babel is a former world-class tennis player playing on the WTA Tour from 1991-2000. She was nominated for the “Rookie of the Year” award in 1992 and reached a career-high No. 27 in singles and No. 45 in doubles. She represented her native country, Germany, in the Billie Jean King Cup and played in 19 Grand Slams. Meike retired from the WTA Tour in 2000 and coached collegiate tennis at Tulane and Vanderbilt University. In 2008, Meike graduated from Vanderbilt with a degree in human and organizational development. She received further training from Duke University Integrative Medicine to assist clients in behavior modification, and she is also a mental toughness specialist certified by Dr. Jim Loehr’s Human Performance Institute. Meike currently works with the USTA as a mental skills coach in Regional Training Camps. She also serves on both the USPTA National and USTA National Diversity & Inclusion committees.

Time
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
9/22/2021 8:30 AM

The Keys to a Successful Budget
Learn how to develop a financial road for business success. More importantly, learn how to identify and understand critical parts of an active working budget. This will allow you to immediately devise and execute appropriate action steps to address the ups and downs of running a business.

 


Ajay Pant

As the national tennis director for Life Time, Ajay Pant oversees 32 Life Time tennis clubs and 350 coaches across the United States. Prior to joining Life Time, he was senior vice president of operations for the Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC) in Maryland and JTCC satellite operations in Florida and Connecticut. Ajay was also the national tennis director for Tennis Corporation of America (TCA)/Midtown Clubs. He served on the TIA Board of Directors and as the two-term chair for the USTA National 10 and Under Committee. Currently a USTA coach developer, Ajay was honored by the Tennis Industry Association as “Person of the Year” in 2018 and the USPTA as “Professional of the Year” in 2019.

Time
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
9/22/2021 8:30 AM

Q&A with Stan Smith
Join former world No. 1 and 7-time Grand Slam winner Stan Smith for a question and answer session discussing all things tennis.



Stan Smith

A former No. 1 world player, Stan Smith, won the US Open in 1971 and Wimbledon in 1972. He represented the US in the Davis Cup for 10 years, winning the coveted championship seven times. All told, he has won 39 singles titles and 61 doubles titles. Stan was Director of Coaching for the USTA Player Development Program, working with Lindsay Davenport, Jennifer Capriati, Todd Martin, Chandra Rubin, Mal Washington, and Chris Woodruff. He was also the coach of the 2000 US Olympic Men’s Tennis team in Sydney, Australia. A contributing editor of TENNIS Magazine since 1986, Smith has had a syndicated tennis column with King Features since 1985, is the author of Inside Tennis, co-authored Modern Doubles, and wrote Winning Doubles. Smith has been inducted into the University of Southern California Hall of Fame, the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame, the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame, the Intercollegiate Hall of Fame, and the International Hall of Fame, which he has served as President of since 2011. Smith is currently the Touring Professional and founder of Smith Stearns Tennis Academy at Sea Pines Racquet Club in Hilton Head, SC.

Time
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
9/22/2021 9:45 AM

Getting Competition Right - More Kids, Playing More Tennis at Your Facility
This presentation will present a blueprint for a club-based competition that leads and prepares players for more challenging events outside the club. It covers understanding competition and the concept of being competitive, how competitiveness links to confidence, level of skill and gender, and creating mechanisms that help players focus on what they can control. It also covers the things to add to your events that diffuse but don’t take away from the winning and losing, the on and off-court environment, and six key competitive formats.



Mike Barrell

Based in the UK, Mike Barrell has taught tennis for over 30 years, working with players of all levels, and is the founder and CEO of evolve9. The company’s mission to help providers build better, more appropriate programs and teach with real quality. Mike has presented at numerous national and international conferences and authored magazine articles and manuals, almost all in junior development. He has worked on programs for USTA, Tennis Australia, LTA (GB), the Netherlands, and Norway. Mike was the author of the ITF Tennis10s Manual and has a been a significant contributor to Under & 10 programs around the World.

Time
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
9/22/2021 11:00 AM

Court Maintenance & Facility Upgrades
Pat Hanssen, after 12 years as a teaching professional and 20 years in manufacturing, design and construction, has created a top 10 list to help you organize your thinking, planning and effectiveness when it comes to taking charge of your tennis facility.  The talk will include fun and interesting facts about court surfaces, court construction and court maintenance, as well as some common mistakes - and a few horror stories - you will want to avoid.



Pat Hanssen

Pat Hanssen is the President of Har-Tru, a global tennis company based in Charlottesville, Virginia.  Pat is a USPTA Elite Professional who spent 12 years working as a teacher, director and industry volunteer. In his time with Har-Tru, he has had the opportunity to engage with clubs, teaching professionals and players all over the world.  What he enjoys most about his work is bringing to market innovative products and ideas that help create better places to play.

Time
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
9/22/2021 11:00 AM

Presented by USPTA
Time
12:00 PM - 2:30 PM
9/22/2021 12:00 PM

Skill and Drills for Adaptive and Inclusive Programming
Coaches will learn about the prevalence of tennis players with differing abilities, be able to identify the challenges they may encounter, and determine best practices for integrating on-court modifications to create a successful tennis experience.



Lisa Pugliese-LaCroix
Lisa Pugliese-LaCroix is a USPTA Elite Professional and a speech-language pathologist in the field of autism. For 18 years, Lisa has specialized in evaluating and treating children and adults with autism spectrum disorders and developmental disabilities. A former collegiate tennis player at Duke University and the University of Florida, followed by WTA tournaments, Lisa enjoys combining her tennis experience and speech therapy background to teach the sport to children and adults with autism spectrum disorders. After working with children for six years as a program director for a national non-profit for autism, Lisa was inspired to develop her own non-profit, Love Serving Autism, a 501(c)(3) organization in January 2017. In 2021, Lisa was elected by USTA National to co-chair the Adaptive Training and Education Subcommittee to develop an adaptive tennis curriculum. She is also the chair of the 2021 USPTA National Adaptive Task Force.




Kyle LaCroix
Kyle LaCroix has been an active USPTA member since 2004. A graduate of the Professional Tennis Management program at Ferris State University, Kyle holds an MBA from the University of Michigan and an M.Ed from Stanford University. He is the Chief Education Officer of SETS Consulting. Kyle has worked in various capacities such as the Philadelphia Cricket Club, Saddlebrook Resort and has been at The Oaks at Boca Raton in Boca Raton, FL for 16 years. Kyle also is the co-founder of Tennis Mavericks, a tennis business group devoted to providing business and programming expertise for tennis-teaching professionals. Kyle is a multiple-time winner of the USPTA Florida Division District Professional of the Year, USPTA Florida Division Tester of the Year, and the 2014 USPTA National Tester of The Year. Kyle has worked with federations and the ATP/WTA Tours as a supplemental coach and education liaison.

Time
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
9/22/2021 2:30 PM

Performance Analytics - Enhancing Your Coaching with Technology
In this session, coaches will learn about the latest tools, technologies, and best practices to deliver technical and tactical analysis for all levels of play.



Dave Ramos

Dave Ramos is a USPTA Elite Professional with 25 years of diverse professional experience. He is currently a director for coaching education and performance analytics at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, FL. In this role, his primary responsibilities include implementing strategic initiatives of Player Development, including projects for the departments of Coaching Education and Analytics. As a Dartfish Certified Technician, he works closely with the USTA National Coaches and Training Center students by providing training and video analysis for technique and tactics using Dartfish software. David also directs all match analysis and scouting for Player Development and the Fed and Davis Cup teams.

Time
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
9/22/2021 2:30 PM

The Art of Delivering a Successful Clinic
In this session, USPTA Elite Professional Amanda Fink goes over all the essential parts of delivering games and drills to groups. This includes the feedback we give while feeding, working with different skills and personalities of students, and how to adapt drills/games to work on various things!



Amanda Fink
Amanda Fink is currently the head pro at La Paloma Country Club in Tucson, Arizona. Amanda is the 2019 U30 national award recipient, along with winning a pro of the year award, star award, and USTA service award in the San Diego division before moving to Tucson in September 2020. Amanda is a left-handed pro with prior experience at the top collegiate level playing for the University of Southern California and the WTA Tour.
Time
3:45 PM - 4:45 PM
9/22/2021 3:45 PM

Connecting Communities Through Your Events
A great way to connect communities, customers, or members is through your events. They should be strategic in nature and meet the needs of the overall facility. Follow these steps to see your community, your members, and more organizations get involved and support all that you are doing.



Scott Mitchell
Scott Mitchell is an industry leader in first-class facility and professional tournament operations, junior and adult coaching, and program design and implementation. He has been an executive director of tennis with 30 years of experience at private clubs, public facilities, and resorts. Scott has overseen some of the nation’s largest and most active facilities, with revenues reaching over $2 million annually. As Premier Tennis Consulting CEO, Scott has been involved in some of the largest and most prestigious facilities in the U.S. and many of the worlds’ leading professional tennis events. Each facility and tournament/event has a distinct DNA, and he thrives on working with each to capitalize on their superb facilities, members, and communities.
Time
3:45 PM - 4:45 PM
9/22/2021 3:45 PM

Seven Stage Blueprint for Developing Players
Giving trainers and coaches a blueprint for player development.



Ashley Hobson
Over 33 years and across 66 countries, Ashley Hobson is a veteran coach with a strong track record of developing professional players through proven results, pro titles, ITF titles, a Davis Cup Captain, Federation Cup Captain, national titles, and a national coach. At Inspiration Academy since 2015, Ashley has guided players to 18 ITF titles and sent two players to La Petit AS, winning a doubles title and a doubles finalist. Holding a bachelor's and law degree, Ashley is also an NSCA fitness trainer, Etchfit certified, AIS Stretching Certified, USTA High Performance coach, and has produced many tennis articles and videos.
Time
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
9/22/2021 5:00 PM

Creating Your Brand & Capitalizing on Your Community
The audience will learn that coaches are critical members of the creator economy and should participate and monetize from it. Regardless of whether a coach has a digital following or not, there are several ways to monetize their skills and passions. Coaches will learn to earn passive income by creating and selling snackable content, becoming a thought leader in their community, and earning from the products they recommend.



Shikha Uberoi Bajpai
Shikha Uberoi Bajpai is a former top 100 WTA professional tennis player, the president of Indi, and a graduate of Princeton University. She identifies as an impact entrepreneur and has gone from tennis to TV to tech, weaving her story with the threads of optimism, empathy, and her love for a challenge. Shikha is one of five of Mahesh and Madhu Uberoi’s highly accomplished daughters.
Time
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
9/22/2021 5:00 PM

Time
9/22/2021 6:00 PM - 9/23/2021 9:00 PM
9/22/2021 6:00 PM

Leadership Skills - Q&A with Stacey Allaster, US Open Tournament Director
Join this informative virtual session featuring the first female US Open Tournament Director and former WTA CEO, Stacey Allaster. Tune in to learn all about leadership skills and what it takes to run the biggest tournament in the US, the US Open. USPTA CEO John Embree will moderate this session.



Stacey Allaster

Stacey Allaster was the vice president of sales and marketing and tournament director of the Rogers Cup. In 2006, she was appointed president of the Women's Tennis Association, a newly created role in the organization. Then in 2009, Stacey was promoted to be the chairman and CEO of the WTA Tour. While serving as CEO, the WTA secured one billion dollars in diversified contracted revenues. Stacey also oversaw the partnership of an international media agreement.

Time
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
9/23/2021 8:30 AM

No Direction Without Connection - How the Best Coaches & Leaders Connect with their Players & Teams
In this presentation, best-selling author, speaker, and leadership consultant Allistair McCaw shares with us how some of the world's best coaches and leaders adapt and connect with those they lead. No two players or people are the same. That is why developing your coaching adaptability is crucial for connecting and getting the best out of those you work with. As Allistair likes to say, "You can't direct if you can't connect." Understanding others better and having a high level of social competence is key. This presentation is aimed at helping you improve your leadership and interpersonal skills with others and help build meaningful relationships.



Allistair McCaw
Allistair McCaw is recognized as one of the world’s leading figures in performance, mindset, and leadership. For over 25 years, he has worked with numerous world champion athletes, Olympic Gold Medalists, Fortune 500 companies, and no less than 15 Grand Slam Tennis Champions. Allistair also consults with various colleges and professional sports teams around the world. Between 2014-2018, he worked with Kevin Anderson, who reached top 5 in the world. An author of four best-selling books, including Champion Minded, Allistair is a much sought-after keynote speaker. He resides in South Florida.
Time
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
9/23/2021 9:45 AM

How to Beat a Team that Lobs
In this session, USPTA Master Professional Rosie Bareis will discuss various strategies and tactics to help your players take their game to the next level. Learn about doubles positioning, shot selection, communication, and strategies for playing against difficult doubles teams.



Rosie Bareis
Rosie has been the director of tennis at the Claremont for the last 15 years. She has coached many national champions, and she's coached at all four junior Grand Slams. Her student Mackie McDonald was a semi-finalist at the 2012 Junior Australian Open, NCAA Singles, and Doubles Champion and is currently ranked top 60 in the world. She is the only Female Master Professional in Northern California. Rosie's accolades include 11 Gold balls, USTA Fred Earle Professional of the year, and USPTA Pro of the Year (twice). She, along with partner Rose Jones are the only tennis players to be inducted into the University of Hawaii Hall of Fame. She has also been named the University of Hawaii's all-time greatest female tennis player. During Rosie's tenure, the club has won USTA Sectional Organization of the year (twice) and USTA National Organization of the Year.
Time
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
9/23/2021 11:00 AM

Presented by the Therabody Team
Time
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
9/23/2021 11:00 AM

Let the Games Begin - Heightened Sense of Training, Learning & Play
The importance of implementing a games-based practice and training session for individual and group training will be presented. This will be followed by a demonstration of how to direct the games and explain the importance and rationale for each game.



Greg Patton
Coach Greg Patton’s collegiate coaching career spanned 41 years at UC Santa Barbara, UC Irvine, and Boise State University. He retired as the winningest active collegiate coach with 808 victories, which placed him fourth in collegiate tennis history. Coach Patton is the only NCAA coach to receive the NCAA Division I Coach of the Year Award at two different schools (UC Irvine and Boise State University in 1987 and 1997). He has been inducted into five halls of fames (UC Irvine, Boise State University, Idaho Tennis Association, Intermountain Tennis Association, and the Intercollegiate Tennis Association). Coach Patton was honored in 2015 with the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s “Tennis Educational Merit Award.” Coach Patton served as a USA National Coach (1984-1987 and 1998-2003) and is presently in his 12th year as the USA National Collegiate Coach, winning the World Team Championship nine times. In 1989 he led the USA National Tennis Team at the Pan American Games in Havana, where the US won two gold medals and silver. Patton has also coached at the professional level with World Team Tennis for 14 seasons, where he was named WTT Coach of the Year in 1991 & 1995.
Time
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM
9/23/2021 12:15 PM

The mission of Universal Tennis is to grow the sport of tennis by connecting players globally through level-based play, innovative events, and a digital marketplace. Join Mike Miringoff and Kevin Kim from Universal Tennis as they give USPTA teaching professionals a live demonstration on how they can use the Universal Tennis digital engagement platform, tools, and technology to increase participation and revenue at their facilities. Attendees will also receive an overview of the UTR Rating, the world’s most accurate tennis rating system, as well as a glimpse into the company’s exciting new and future products.



Mike Miringoff

Mike Miringoff is working at Universal Tennis in a commercial capacity and helping with the company's Federation partnerships and projects. He has an extensive international tennis and sporting goods industry background with a successful track record of leading brands and businesses at Wilson Sporting Goods Co., NIKE, and K-Swiss. Mike is a former nationally ranked junior tennis player from Southern California, played collegiately at the University of Kentucky, and was a proud member of the USPTA when he was actively coaching.



Kevin Kim
Kevin Kim is working at Universal Tennis as the Director of Account Management. He is directly managing the company’s key account multi-clubs and leading the Account Management team that is responsible for onboarding clubs, academies, and organizers in the United States. Prior to joining Universal Tennis, Kevin was the club director for Made to Move Tennis & Wellness, an innovative tennis, fitness, and nutrition company focused on creating a better, healthier life for all. A graduate of Syracuse University, Kevin is originally from New York and is an avid tennis player.

Time
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM
9/23/2021 12:15 PM

Teach the Teacher Workshop. A comprehensive program based on the new IPTPA Handbook. Participants who complete the workshop to IPTPA standards will be awarded an IPTPA Certificate of Completion and given the designation Certified Pickleball Instructor.
Time
1:30 PM - 6:30 PM
9/23/2021 1:30 PM

Navigating the Unique Tennis Expansion in the Post-COVID World
Insight into a very uncertain future. Equally important, an opportunity to share experiences which will be part of the agenda during this lecture. In this new world of so many experts, the only expert may be the collective intellect of the attendees.



Rod Heckelman
At the age of 20, Rod Heckelman became one of the youngest head pros at what is widely considered a top tennis resort globally, Gardiner’s Tennis Ranch on Camelback in Scottsdale, AZ. In 1976, Rod made his way back to California. He took over as General Manager/Tennis Director at the Mt. Tam Racquet Club in Larkspur, where he developed many national champions at the junior and senior levels. Rod has been ranked at national and sectional levels as a competitor, breaking the top 5 in 1991. He published an instructional manual in 1992 for tennis teachers to use with their students called “Down Your Alley.” For the last couple of years, excerpts from his “Facility Manager’s Manual” were published in Racquet Sports Industry magazine and are now available digitally through the Tennis Industry Association for managers and clubs to use as a model for operating their businesses. More recently, Rod created a “Business Handbook for Tennis Pros,” which is also produced by T.I.A. Rod is also on the Babolat Advisory Board, has written a book for senior players entitled “Playing Into the Sunset,” and has released his second instructional book, “Two-Hundred and Fifty Ways to Play Tennis."
Time
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
9/23/2021 1:30 PM

The Magic of Padel and Platform Tennis
The business model behind the fastest growing sport in the world, Padel, will be discussed. We will focus on key strategies and main leverages to succeed, the necessary steps to bring Padel to your facility, opportunities, how to get involved, and answer any frequent questions. Also, join USPTA Elite Professional Matt Davis on a session that discusses the ins and outs of platform tennis. Learn how to play this fun racquet sport and how you can grow your business by adding it to your program offerings.



Marcos del Pilar
Marcos Del Pilar is a former tennis and Padel tour player with 25-plus years of experience in Padel management and sports business, marketing, brand management, tournament, and global coaching experience. He works as director of Padel at the USTA National Campus with All Racquet Sports and is the worldwide director of the educational program for adidas Padel. He is also a master Padel professional and runs certification in the US in partnership with the USPTA and the USPA. His vision, enthusiasm, connections, skills, and knowledge of the sport will push you to succeed in your Padel journey while building an entire industry from scratch with an incomparable best atmosphere.



Matt Davis

Matt is currently the Director of Tennis and Platform Tennis at the Park Ridge Country Club in Park Ridge Illinois. In just four seasons at the country club Matt has increased the program from 3 Platform Tennis teams to 15 Platform Tennis teams which is an increase of about 150 members playing. He serves as the USPTA National Platform Tennis Chair and is the USPTA Midwest Division Vice President. Matt and his committee have done some exciting things such as rewrote the study guide for the test, created a Platform Tennis Section on the USPTA website and organized testers and tests across the country.

Time
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
9/23/2021 1:30 PM