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2 TEXAS SECTION USTA TEXAS NEWS & NOTES Harris-Webb named national No-Cut All-Star The United States Tennis Association (USTA) announced that Vonda Harris-Webb of Grand Prairie High School in Grand Prairie, Texas is a 2013 No-Cut Coach All-Star Team member. USTA nationally recognizes 12 exceptional middle and high school coaches who implement a no-cut policy. Vonda Harris-Webb Super Champ changes for 2014 We have new and significant changes for our Super Champ players in 2014! Due to changes at the national level, the USTA Texas Junior Tennis Council developed and approved a new Super Champ tournament structure and corresponding point charts. The 2012 Super Champ events are now online. You can view the 2014 Tournament Information and Schedule, Tournament Formats, Super Champ Point Tables and Frequently Asked Questions at Rio Grande Valley promotes tennis to blind and visually impaired Miradas de Esperanza an organization in McAllen, Texas has started programs for kids in McAllen, Harlingen and Laredo to help promote tennis in the Rio Grande Valley for the blind and visually impaired by providing instruction programs year-round, through sport and educational programs for full integration into society, in a fun and healthy way. For more go to or check out to be inspired. Kathleen Johnson FWTA hires Johnson as Executive Director The Fort Worth Tennis Association (FWTA) recently hired Kathleen Johnson as its executive director. Johnson comes from USTA Georgia, where she supervised adult tournament play and assisted league players with rating concerns for seven years. FWTA has served its tennis community since 1958 and provides tennis equipment to more than 50 Fort Worth ISD and after school programs. Executive Committee application deadline is Dec. 1 The USTA Texas Nominating Committee is accepting applications through Dec 1. for anyone interested in serving as a member of the Executive Committee. The Nominating Committee will nominate one person from each of the four geographic zones (Northwest, Northeast, Southwest and Southeast). Nominees will be voted on by the Organizational members at the USTA Texas Annual Meeting Feb. 16, Go to Click on About Us and then click on Volunteers to the link for the application. McAllen to host International Congress for the Blind In February 2014, representatives from countries around the world will be in McAllen, Texas for the first International Congress for the Blind to discuss the following: Disability and Sport; Growth of Blind Tennis in the World: Promotion and Diffusion; resource generation; Paralympics; official rules; Official Ball: Advantages and Disadvantages and more. Inside Tennis NOV/DEC insidetennis.com

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4 TEXAS SECTION Abdel-Rahim, Stewart named 2013 Whataburger NJTL Scholarship winners BY KACI BOROWSKI USTA Texas is proud to announce it has selected two outstanding candidates to receive the 2013 USTA Texas /Whataburger NJTL Scholarship. Winners Heba Abdel- Rahim and Cody Stewart were each awarded $1,000 for college expenses. The award is designated for graduating seniors who will enter at a two or four-year university in the fall. Both Heba and Cody have distinguished themselves through their academic achievement, community involvement and continued dedication to the sport of tennis. Heba is a 2013 graduate from Katy, Texas. She has participated in the Houston Tennis Association NJTL program for seven years and continued her tennis career at Southwestern University in the fall. Cody is a 2013 graduate from Duncanville, Texas. He has been a part of the Dallas Tennis Association NJTL Slam Jammers program for five years. Cody was also a recipient of the national USTA/NJTL Arthur Ashe Essay Contest award in He began at Austin College in the fall. The USTA Awards Committee also recognized the following student-athletes for their impressive achievements in Weston Hill of Duncanville, Texas. Weston has been involved with the Dallas Tennis Association NJTL Slam Jammers program for 11 years and started studies at Texas A&M University this fall. Donielle Richard of Cedar Hill, Texas. Donielle has been a member of the Dallas Tennis Association NJTL Slam Jammers program for 12 years and is continuing her tennis career at Prairie View A&M University. Alyssa Salazar of Laredo, Texas. Alyssa and her family (including twin sister, Ashley) helped establish the Laredo NJTL Court Crushers program, which is now in its third year. Alyssa now plays alongside her sister at the collegiate level at King University. Ashley Salazar of Laredo, Texas. Like her twin sister, Ashley was an integral part in the founding of the Laredo NJTL Court Crushers program. She attends King University, where she plays tennis alongside her twin sister, Alyssa. Whataburger has served as a long-time partner of the section and presenting sponsor of the USTA Texas NJTL program. This is their first year of the NJTL Graduating Seniors Scholarship and we are grateful for Whataburger s support as they enable us to help some of our most outstanding members to continue their educations. Cody Stewart Heba Abdel-Rahim Donielle Richard Alyssa Salazar Ashley Salazar Duncanville native Cody Stewart wins Arthur Ashe Essay national award USTA TE XAS NAM E S 10 STATE W INNE RS BY KACI BOROWSKI Texas was well represented in the 15 th annual USTA National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) Arthur Ashe Essay Contest, with national winner Cody Stewart of Duncanville. Cody s essay was one of 10 selected from 1,800 entries for the national award from the 17 USTA sections. Cody s winning essay was a response to this year s question: If you could follow in Arthur Ashe s footsteps and give back to tennis, what would you do to give back to the game and how would it impact others? In addition to being named one of 10 national winners, Cody received a travel package, including round-trip airfare to New York City, two nights stay at the Grand Hyatt on 42 nd Street, tickets to a professional sporting event and President s Box tickets to the 2013 Arthur Ashe Kids Day at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center. Cody was also invited to attend an awards luncheon hosted by former New York City Mayor and USTA Board Member David Dinkins. USTA Texas announced five divisional winners in both the boys and girls categories. Each of the Texas section winners was then submitted for national consideration. Cody was one of 10 winners at the state level that rounded out a list of esteemed entrants from the Lone Star State. Congratulations to all winners on their excellent essays! 2013 USTA TEXAS SECTION ARTHUR ASHE ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS Girls 10U- Victoria Lopez, Houston Tennis Association Girls Sophia Perepelitsa, Zina Garrison Academy Girls Gabrielle McDaniel, Dallas Tennis Association Girls Christina Johnson, Zina Garrison Academy Girls Nya Cheatham, Dallas Tennis Association Boys 10U- Jourdan Fields, Dallas Tennis Association Boys Brady Brazda, Houston Tennis Association Boys Daniel Rahimzadeh, Houston Tennis Association Boys Khalil White, Dallas Tennis Association Boys Cody Stewart, Dallas Tennis Association* *National Winner Inside Tennis NOV/DEC insidetennis.com

5 NO V/DEC USTA Texas Community Development Award winners USTA Texas announced its 2013 Community Development Awards winners at the Community Development Awards luncheon held on Oct. 12 at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa in Cedar Creek, Texas. Congratulations to the deserving award winners: DIVERSITY ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Marilyn Sherman, Dallas NJTL CHAPTER OF THE YEAR Level 1: First Serve, Abilene, Texas Level 2: Tennis Success Inc., Corpus Christi, Texas Level 3: Dallas Tennis Association, Dallas VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR Emily Schaefer, Houston USTA TEXAS CTA OF THE YEAR AWARD Northeast Tarrant Tennis (NETT) JTT COORDINATOR OF THE YEAR Hannah Hinton, Houston JTT ROOKIE COORDINATOR Mark Hodge, Dallas JTT PROGRAM OF THE YEAR Abilene, Texas 10 AND UNDER PROGRAM OF THE YEAR Arlington Tennis Association, Arlington, Texas NORTH STAR AWARD Bert Rainwater, Fort Stockton, Texas ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR Jane Morrill, Dallas NO-CUT COACH OF THE YEAR Vonda Harris-Webb, Grand Prairie, Texas Complete award details and photo gallery at Inside Tennis NOV/DEC insidetennis.com

6 TEXAS SECTION Eight Texans recognized as Players of the Year at USPTA World Conference The United States Professional Tennis Association honored the organization s players of the year during the USPTA World Conference at the Hyatt Grand Regency Cypress in Orlando. Eight Texans garnered USPTA awards. The winners are determined by the total number of USPTA player points earned during the 2012 calendar year based on each Athena Cajas, Ristine Olson, Cary Lothringer, Sal Castillo and Kathy Vick player s finish at USPTA tournaments. James Daly of Tyler, Texas, was named the Men s Open Singles Player of the Year for the second consecutive year after finishing the year with a No. 1 ranking. Ristine Olson of Austin, Texas was named the Women s Open Singles Player of the Year after defending her Women s Open championship title at the USPTA Hard Court Championships by going undefeated in round robin play. Cary Lothringer of The Woodlands, Texas, and Jonas Lundblad of Austin, Texas, were named the Men s 35 and Over Doubles Players of the Year. The duo won the Men s 35 and Over Doubles title at the USPTA International Championships and the Men s Open Doubles title at the USPTA Hard Court Championships in Sal Castillo of San Antonio, Texas, was named the Men s 55 and Over Singles Player of the Year after taking the division title at the International Championships with a 6-0, 6-1 victory over John Guevara. On the women s side the Texas tandem of Athena Cajas (Burleston, Texas) and Michelle King (Austin, Texas) were named the 35 and Over Doubles Players of the Year after earning the USPTA Hard Court Championship title with a defeat of Kathy Vick and Lori Robertson, 7-5, 1-6, 6-0. Kathy Barnes (San Jose, Calif.) and Kathy Vick (Lubbock, Texas) were named the Women s 45 and Over Doubles Players of the Year. The pair won the International Championships last year in Monterey, Calif., with a 6-1, 6-1 victory USPTA PLAYERS OF THE YEAR Men s Open Singles James Daly, Tyler, Texas Men s 35 and Over Doubles Cary Lothringer, The Woodlands, Texas Jonas Lundblad, Austin, Texas Men s 55 and Over Singles Sal Castillo, San Antonio, Texas Women s Open Singles Ristine Olson, Austin, Texas Women s 35 and Over Doubles Athena Cajas, Burleson, Texas Michelle King, Austin, Texas Women s 45 and Over Doubles Kathy Barnes, San Jose, Calif. Kathy Vick, Lubbock, Texas Inside Tennis NOV/DEC insidetennis.com

7 NO V/DEC 2013 Dallas men crowned USTA League 3.5 National Champions Charles Holbrook, David Leslie, William Kaiser, Tom Schindler, Mark Kana, Eugene Yeoh, Michael Murphy, and Jeffrey Yarbroughr. Houston women win USTA League 5.0+ National Championship Alexandra Vantho and features Cori Mullins, Myer Ballesteros, Jo Keene, Jordan McCombs, Alina Mihailescu, Megan Quinn Schmulbach and plays at the Memorial Park Tennis Center. Dallas men finish second at USTA League 5.0 National Championship semifinals. They advanced this far by winning their round-robin flight. The team is captained by Oscar Flores and features Dawid Kuczer, Andrew Plum, Thomas 2013 USTA League Men s 40 & Over National Champion 3.5 Dallas INDIAN WELLS, Calif. - A men's team from Dallas who represented the USTA Texas section captured the national title at the USTA League Adult 40 & Over 3.5 National Championship held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, Calif. The Dallas Team, who are based out of Fretz Tennis Center, defeated a team from Cherry Hill, N.J., 3-2 in the Championship match. Earlier in the day, the Dallas team defeated a team from Lake Charles, La., 3-2 in the semifinals. They advanced this far by winning their round-robin flight. The team is co-captained by Stephen Graham and Keith Clark and features Ramon Golon, Texas League Mixed Doubles Sectional Championships The 2013 USTA League Texas Mixed Doubles Sectional Championships held in Southlake, Texas from Oct. 4-6, 2013 saw teams from Dallas, Houston and San Angelo take home sectional titles. The championships hosted 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, and 9.0 divisions USTA League Women s 18 & Over National Champion 5.0+ Houston The women s tennis team from Houston, captured the national title at the USTA League Adult 18 & Over 5.0+ National Championships in Indian Wells, Calif. The Houston team defeated a team from Phoenix, Ariz., 2-1 in the Championship match. Earlier in the day, the Houston team defeated a team from Berkeley, Calif., 2-1 in the semifinals. They advanced this far by winning their round-robin flight. The team is captained by Pia USTA League Texas Mixed Doubles Sectional 7.0 Champions (San Angelo) The men s tennis team from Dallas, finished second at the USTA League Adult 18 & Over 5.0 National Championships in Indian Wells, Calif. The Dallas team lost to a team from Lynchburg, Va., 2-1 in the finals. Earlier in the day, the Dallas team defeated a team from Arlington Heights, Ill., 2-1 in the Texas League 40 & Over Sectional Championships Results from the 2013 USTA Texas League 40 & Over Sectional Championships held in San Antonio from Sept. 6-8 headquartered at the McFarlin Tennis Center. Champions from Dallas, Houston, North East Texas and San Antonio were crowned in the ladies 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5 divisions; and in the men s 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5 divisions for players who are 40 and older. Ladies 2013 USTA League Texas 40 & Over 3.0 Champion (Dallas) 2013 USTA League Men s 18 & Over Runner- Up 5.0 Dallas A. Bartzen, Nick Plum, Alexander Behar, Byron Talbot, Parker Flores, Brett Ryan, Ryan Haley, Pablo Mayorga, Rafael Valdez, Ryan Friend, Larry Pascal and plays at the T Bar M Racquet Club. Ladies 2013 USTA League Texas 40 & Over 4.0 Champion (NETX) Men s 2013 USTA League Texas 40 & Over 4.0 Champion (Dallas) 2013 USTA League Texas Mixed Doubles Sectional 8.0 Champions (Dallas) Ladies 2013 USTA League Texas 40 & Over 3.5 Champion (Dallas) Ladies 2013 USTA League Texas 40 & Over 4.5 Champion (Houston) 2013 USTA League Texas Mixed Doubles Sectional 6.0 Champions (San Angelo) USTA League Texas Mixed Doubles Sectional 9.0 Champions (Houston) Men s 2013 USTA League Texas 40 & Over 3.5 Champion (Dallas) Men s 2013 USTA League Texas 40 & Over 4.5 Champion (San Antonio) Inside Tennis NOV/DEC insidetennis.com

8 TEXAS SECTION Texas League 18 & Over Sectional Championships Lone Star to 3.5 More than 1,300 players participated in the 2013 USTA Texas 18&Over League Sectionals in the Ladies Lone Star, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 and Men s 3.0 and 3.5 divisions from Aug. 2-4 in Richardson, Texas. The winners in some divisions will have the opportunity to represent Texas at the 2013 USTA League National Championship USTA Texas League 18 & Over Lone Star Champion (Austin) 2013 USTA Texas League 18 & Over Ladies 3.0 Champion (Dallas) 2013 USTA Texas League 18 & Over Ladies 3.5 Champion (N. Houston - NOHO) 2013 USTA Texas League 18 & Over Ladies 2.5 Champion (North East Texas NETX) Over 1,000 players participated in the 4.0 and higher divisions at the second half of the 2013 USTA Texas 18 & Over League Sectionals from Aug Matches were held in Dallas at the Brookhaven Country Club, T Bar M Racquet Club, L.B. Houston Tennis Center and The 2013 USTA Texas League 18 & Over Men s 3.0 Champion (Austin) Texas League 18 & Over Sectional Championships 4.0 & Higher 2013 USTA Texas League 18 & Over 3.5 Men s Champion (Houston) Greenhill School. Houston took home half of the titles winning the Men s 4.0, 4.5 and Ladies 5.0 divisions. Dallas came home with two winning teams, the Men s 5.0 and Ladies 4.5 divisions. San Antonio captured the 4.0 Ladies division title USTA Texas League 18 & Over Men s 4.0 Champion (Houston) 2013 USTA Texas League 18 & Over Men s 4.5 Champion (Houston) 2013 USTA Texas League 18 & Over Men s 5.0 Champion (Dallas) 2013 USTA Texas League 18 & Over Women s 4.0 Champion (Wild San Antonio) 2013 USTA Texas League 18 & Over Women s 4.5 Champion (Dallas) 2013 USTA Texas League 18 & Over Women s 5.0 Champion (Houston) Inside Tennis NOV/DEC insidetennis.com

9 NO V/DEC 2013 Corpus Christi s Javier Molinar on U.S. Deaflympic team Javier Molinar from Corpus Christi, Texas competed in the Deaflympics in Sofia, Bulgaria this summer and was part of the U.S. team that consisted of three men and three women. Javier lost to a player from Ecuador in three sets in singles and also lost in in the first round in doubles and mixed. Javier began playing tennis at 3 years old when his parents gave him a racquet and ball for Christmas and he began hitting Javier Molinar on his garage door. He started taking tennis lessons at six and became serious about the game during his teens. Javier was a former Sul Ross University tennis player and won the conference doubles championship and also was the first deaf player to get the Fighting Heart Athletes Without Limits has been invited to bring eligible U.S. tennis players with intellectual disability to compete in the 2014 Australian Championships. The championships are being sanctioned by INAS, the International Federation for Para Athletes with Intellectual Disability. They will feature many of the highest ranked players in the world and this is the first opportunity for U.S. players to compete at this level and will enter them into international rankings and the U.S. has chosen Katherine Richards from Houston to compete. Athletes Without Limits is a national organization that supports Award. The Deaflympics is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and modeled after the Olympic Games. Unlike the Paralympics and Special Olympics, there are no rule modifications or special classifications in the Deaflympics. Visual cues, such as flashing lights, are the only adaptations made. Athletes with a hearing loss of 55 decibels or greater in their better ear are eligible to participate in international competition for the deaf. Javier plays in tournaments and leagues throughout the Texas section and his hope is to motivate young kids who are deaf to learn the game of tennis. We need more deaf and hard-of-hearing kids to get involved and see new faces in the future of Tennis, Molinar said. Athletes Without Limits selects Texan to represent U.S. Katherine Richards athletes with intellectual disabilities to integrate into mainstream sports. It also recruits, supports and develops high performance athletes to represent the U.S. at international competitions, including the London 2012 Paralympics and the Global Games World Championships. Athletes Without Limits is the U.S. organization responsible for classifying elite athletes with intellectual disability as eligible for Paralympic and other international competition. For more information, check out Texas Adaptive Tennis updates and 2014 rule changes BY CINDY BENzON SPECIAL OLYMPICS Beginning in 2014, Adaptive Tennis will consist of five levels: Level 1 Skills with the Red Ball inside the service box, which will introduce athletes to the sport of tennis by developing the seven skills. The game-based approach will be used for learning the strokes, including placement and control drills. Point of emphasis is balance, eye-hand coordination, racquet control, best effort and fun. Level 2 Match play with the Red Ball inside the service boxes which will introduce the rules of the game, movement before and after each shot, learn positioning and game tactics. This court will help the athletes have meaningful match play competition for athletes with limited mobility and ball tracking. Points of emphasis are movement, ball tracking, racquet control, rules and etiquette of the sport, best effort and fun. Level 3 Match play with the Orange Ball on 60-foot courts, which will have meaningful match play competition for athletes with limited mobility and eye-hand coordination. Points of emphasis are movement, ball tracking, court positioning, sending and receiving, racquet control with a smaller ball, game and match scoring rules, best effort and fun. Level 4 Match play with the Green Ball which will introduce athletes to full court using a slower paced ball. Points of emphasis are post-shot court positioning, shot selection-such as overhead, drop shot, lob, approach shot, play at the net, doubles communication with partner, best effort, and fun. Level 5 Match play with Yellow Ball which challenges athletes in full-court tennis through higher-skilled drills and the highest level of competition. Points of emphasis is post-shot court positioning, physical conditioning pace, service placement, best effort and as always fun. For more information on Special Olympics tennis, go to Inside Tennis NOV/DEC insidetennis.com

10 TEXAS SECTION BEST FROM WEST TEXAS Amarillo Area Tennis Association hosts first volunteer banquet Amarillo Area Tennis Association hosted their first volunteer appreciation banquet on Oct. 1 at the Amarillo Country Club. This was for Adult League captains, Jr. Team Tennis coaches and officials, along with all who volunteered for AATA in It also included city fathers, Park and Recreation Commissioners and personnel, pros and high school coaches. Also In attendance was 102 year old friend of AATA, Eddie Melin, who was one of the original board members and an active member of AATA for many years who played tennis until he was 94. The Mayor of Amarillo, Paul Harpole and former ATP professional, Alex O' Brien also attended. Worldwide Day of Play at Dyess Air Force Base Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene was just one of the many Worldwide Days of Play we had in Texas, but the only one on a military base. With the help of Abilene JTT, they also used it as a JTT sign up day and had the JTT coordinator and volunteers come out to help. Pizza, prizes, games and fun were enjoyed by kids and their parents. Tennis is new to Dyess, but they already have a strong Kids Club going, Play Days and teams participating in fall JTT. Persistence pays off for Fort Stockton courts Applying for a USTA Facility Assistance grant takes time and detailed effort to see it through. You are competing nationally against hundreds of other needy applicants. Fort Stockton JTT Coordinator, official, past NJTL leader, tournament director, West Texas Tennis Association liaison, and current title holder of Mr. Fort Stockton Tennis, Bert Rainwater found this out while working on getting the courts at Fort Stockton Intermediate School resurfaced for three years. With the help of the City of Fort Stockton, the Fort Stockton Visitors and Convention Bureau, and Fort Stockton ISD along with a USTA Facility Assistance grant, they finally did it. Now the courts in Fort Stockton courts are being used every night and all the diligent work has paid off. USTA Texas executive director Ken McAllister learned to play tennis on nearby courts that have since been torn down to build the school. Fort Stockton ISD physical education teachers went through a USTA Schools Workshop this summer and were excited to get things going on the new courts. Congrats to the Fort Stockton community. Game, Set, Open! in Odessa a huge success Game, Set, Open! a tennis extravaganza blew into Odessa College in September. Attracting wheelchair players and able-bodied players alike, over 60 people from the community came out to enjoy a Play Day in support of USTA and Nickelodeon s World Wide Day of Play. Adam Lucio, Director of Tennis at Odessa College, had all participants playing, laughing and even doing the wave in true U.S. Open fashion! Game, Set, Open! kicked off the start to the fall Run/Roll season. Run/Roll tennis pairs a wheelchair player and an ablebodied player to form a doubles team and compete against other pairs of the like. Tennis is one of the only sports that can be fully integrated with wheelchair athletes as the rules of tennis remain the same with the exception that the wheelchair athlete receives two bounces before returning the ball over the net. Inside Tennis NOV/DEC insidetennis.com

11 NO V/DEC 2013 Abilene NJTL highlighted on Fox Sports Southwest BY AMANDA FRIDAY Thirteen-year-old Drake Coleman saw a need with the Nepal and Rwanda refugee families that live in Abilene, Texas. He decided to do something about it. Bringing his love of tennis, he decided to start a National Junior Tennis & Learning - First Serve - for these families. Drake has offered free lessons and events for these have the opportunity to learn and play tennis; instilling in young people the values of humanitarianism, leadership and academic excellence; and providing participants the opportunity to fully develop their tennis skills so they can derive a lifetime of enjoyment from the sport. Airrosti Rehab partners with USTA Texas Fox Sports Southwest s Emily Reppert interviews 13-year old Drake Coleman. families in coordination with the Rose Park Tennis Center and the International Rescue Committee. Fox Sports Chevy Hometown Kids, which highlights kids doing well in their communities through sports, picked Drake and his NJTL to feature on one of their future shows. Be on the lookout for his segment coming soon! The show airs on Fox Sports Southwest on Saturdays at 10 a.m., and is hosted by Emily Reppert. Established by Arthur Ashe, Charlie Pasarell and Sheridan Snyder in 1969, NJTL is a community-driven delivery system, funded by the USTA, that significantly impacts the lives of America s youth. USTA NJTL develops the character of young people through tennis and emphasizes the ideals of Arthur Ashe by reaching out to those who may not otherwise BY KACI BOROWSKI USTA Texas is proud to announce its partnership with Airrosti Rehab Centers. The relationship between the two organizations stemmed organically from something that happens to many tennis players: an incessant case of tennis elbow. Stephanie Arena, marketing director at USTA Texas, is a recent Airrosti convert. Suffering from a reoccurring elbow injury and unable to continue playing tennis, Arena finally decided to take action and made an appointment for a consult at Airrosti. After meeting with Dr. Brian Ellspermann, she decided to try the rehabilitative treatment offered at Airrosti. Within three appointments, she was without pain and playing with ease. Dr. Ellspermann told me the two things I wanted to know: that he could fix it and I could keep playing. For a tennis player, that is huge, Arena said. Arena s interest was piqued as to how Airrosti s approach could benefit more players like herself, and from that, a partnership was formed. It became obvious that this would be a natural partnership, Arena said. We have many players who are playing with injuries - some who give up playing because they haven t found a way to resolve it. With experience treating athletes in the CrossFit Games and tennis tournaments across Texas, Airrosti understands the demands that athletes face. The company makes their patients desire to stay active one of their largest priorities and aims to keep people healthy and comfortable during their rehabilitation. Luke Green, account director at Airrosti, says one of the most important aspects of the work they do is providing patients with a quick and efficient recovery. We want to fix people as quickly as we can and get them back to what they want to be doing, Green said. Airrosti is a Texas-based company, with 80-percent of its practices operating within the state. Green says that this made the decision to partner with USTA Texas all the more clear. We always like to work with people who know what we do, and know what we re about, Green said. We re very excited to be involved. Inside Tennis NOV/DEC insidetennis.com

12 TEXAS SECTION TENNIS TIPS By Steve Cobb DIRECTOR OF COMPETITIVE TENNIS - USTA TEXAS Sportsmanship: Don t Flip Out I know my coach wants me to announce the score before each point, but nobody does that. It s so not cool. The other kids will think I m such a dork! Really? Well, how cool is it to get the score flipped on you? If it hasn t happened to you, I am certain you know someone that has had that awful experience. Sportsmanship in our major events is continuing to suffer. Not only are there increasing numbers of players with considerable vision problems, the pressure of competition is also taking a toll on their ability to remember the score from one point, or one game to the next. Announcing the score in a loud, clear, and timely manner is part of the rules. If you and your opponent would do this before every point, many disputes regarding scoring could be avoided. Picture this. At the beginning of every game, the server announces the set score (4-3), and makes eye contact with his/her opponent during this announcement signaling acknowledgement and agreement. Then, before every point in the game thereafter, he/she announces the game score (30-15) again seeking the acknowledgement of the opponent. Then, should a dispute arise, and the official says let s go back to a score you agree upon, that could only be going back one point because you both agreed to the score one point ago! Traditionally, our largely self-policing sport is one of great honor and esteem. The code requires the benefit of ANY doubt, ball mark or score line, to be given to the opponent. Tennis, played FAIRLY, definitely helps develop positive character traits and habits for life. But Tennis played UNFAIRLY accomplishes just the opposite. If you or your parents employ, or even tolerate bad line calls and flipped scores for the improvement of your record and ranking, where does it stop? Is it ok to copy another kid s homework? How about looking on your neighbor s paper for help on your test? Or cheat on your taxes? Let s all look for a way to bring some of the integrity back to our sport. Parents, coaches and friends stop tolerating or even promoting this! Though this may be a case of the few ruining it for the many, we all have a moral obligation to impress upon these young people that the short term gain of a win or a ranking, will never measure up to the long term label of a dishonest cheater with no integrity. Can you afford to label your player like that for school, business, or life? We can all begin by calling the score, at the start of each game and each and every point, as the rules require. Flipping would drop dramatically, confrontation, conflict, and resolution from officials would decline. Matches and tournaments would be less hostile, and stressful and we would be creating better citizens for the future. Wouldn t that be COOL? Inside Tennis NOV/DEC insidetennis.com

13 NO V/DEC 2013 The USTA Today KENNY Mc S CORNER By Ken McAllister EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - USTA TEXAS PRESENTED BY The USTA is not part of the U.S. Government. The closest legal association we have with them is that we are recognized by them as the National Governing Body (NGB) for the sport of tennis in the United States. We are a not for profit entity nationally a 501C-6 and in Texas we are a 501C-4. Wait! Don t fall asleep this should get more interesting. We are a volunteer organization who only in the last half of our existence starting hiring staff. This expanded in 1958 when we first started individual memberships so that we could expand what we do for our sport. I joined that year, and I think it cost my dad $1. The big increases in staffing occurred after the U.S. Nationals became the US Open in The USLTA (Lawn) at the time began to realize that it could afford to do more than just manage the rules of tournament tennis and rankings as it had been doing since At this stage, the activity of the association was handled by about 98 percent volunteers and 2 percent staff. Most of the programming was geared at getting young players started and developing them into great players... or what we now label as Player Development. Our teaching professionals had been nurturing adult along with youth players at recreation levels throughout the years so now the governing body began to consider expanding its efforts to help. In the United States this play increased because of the tennis popularity enhanced by the Professionals being able to play in the prestigious Grand Slams like the US Open and the wellmarketed Battle of the Sexes between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs in the Astrodome in Many communities had run adult tennis leagues for years, and in 1980, the USTA entered that realm by creating two new concepts: 1) the NTRP rating system to manage play among players at the same levels and 2) have a playoff system from local to Sectional to National to entice players to USTA Adult Leagues. Tennis play in America exploded. The USTA, through its 17 geographic Sections, began thinking more about the underserved populations in our country. Attention and programs were underwritten to serve minority programs, wheelchair and other adaptive groups, families with economic challenges, and advocates for improved and increased public tennis facilities and school programs. In the mid-1990s, the USTA made it official in its new Mission Statement: To Promote and Develop the Growth of Tennis. Staff numbers have grown considerably to meet these needs. If tennis activities were run by 99 percent volunteers and 2 percent staff in the 1960s, what is your guess at a current percentage? In the early 1970s, Texas had one part time staff person who worked from home. Today we have 26 full time staff. Nineteen work from our office in Austin and seven work from home to serve their geographic areas. The answer to the question is that in 2013, the activity of USTA Texas at the state level is 89 percent volunteers and 12 percent staff. Clearly the USTA today continues to be a volunteer run organization. Texas is blessed with skilled and dedicated leaders among its volunteers. If you like the direction of the USTA and especially Texas, consider becoming a volunteer. In fact, if you have new ideas and direction for us in mind, please consider becoming a volunteer. We are clearly an organization open to productive change! Statewide opportunities are described at our website, Inside Tennis NOV/DEC insidetennis.com

14 TEXAS SECTION THE PRESIDENT S ADVANTAGE By Dan Barta PRESIDENT - USTA TEXAS PRESENTED BY USTA TEXAS STAFF DIRECTORY USTA Texas 8105 Exchange Drive, Austin, TX (512) Teamwork Is Our Not-So-Secret to Success Ken McAllister Executive Director (512) ext 201 kmcallister@texas.usta.com ADMINISTRATIVE Rhonda Lindsey Director of Administration (512) ext 204 rlindsey@texas.usta.com Larry Eichenbaum Controller (512) ext 222 leichenbaum@texas.usta.com Pam Jaeger Office Manager / Awards Coordinator (512) ext 216 pjaeger@texas.usta.com COMPETITIVE Steve Cobb Director of Competitive Tennis (512) ext 210 scobb@texas.usta.com Nancy Perkins Adult / Senior Coordinator (512) ext 217 nperkins@texas.usta.com Tosha Smith Leagues Coordinator (512) ext 231 tsmith@texas.usta.com Todd Reed NTRP / Assist. Leagues Coordinator (512) ext 232 treed@texas.usta.com Mick Walter Junior Coordinator (512) ext 209 mwalter@texas.usta.com Melissa Chambers Junior Coordinator (512) ext 220 mchambers@texas.usta.com Paige Schumacher Junior Coordinator (512) ext 211 pschumacher@texas.usta.com Amanda Shaw Field Staff / 10 and Under (512) ext 203 ashaw@texas.usta.com COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Mike Carter Director of Community Development (512) ext 207 mcarter@texas.usta.com Todd Carlson Asst. Dir. of Community Development / CTAs / Tennis On Campus (512) ext 208 tcarlson@texas.usta.com Sylvia Krywacz Jr. Team Tennis Coordinator (512) ext 212 skrywacz@texas.usta.com Taylor Helfeldt CD Support Staff / Schools Coordinator / Wheelchair Coordinator / Grants / Advocacy (512) ext 219 thelfieldt@texas.usta.com Carlos Hernandez Program Support Staff / Diversity & Inclusion / NJTL (512) ext 215 hernandez@texas.usta.com Megan Longbotham-Young CD Support Staff / 10 and Under / Adult Recreation / Special Events (512) ext 218 mlongbotham@texas.usta.com Laura Gilbert Tennis Service Representative / Fort Worth / North Central Region lgilbert@texas.usta.com Cindy Benzon Tennis Service Representative Houston / Southeast Region / Adaptive Tennis Coordinator, cbenzon@texas.usta.com Amanda Friday Tennis Service Representative Panhandle / West Texas Region afriday@texas.usta.com Robyn Readicker Tennis Service Representative / Dallas / Northeast Region readicker@texas.usta.com Katy Rogers Tennis Service Representative / South Region, krogers@texas.usta.com Carrie Hale Tennis Service Representative / Waco / Austin / San Antonio chale@texas.usta.com MARKETING AND MEMBERSHIP Stephanie Arena Director of Marketing (512) ext 206 sarena@texas.usta.com Derick Hackett Communications Manager (512) ext 202 dhackett@texas.usta.com As we near the end of the tennis calendar year, I reflect back on all the tennis activities and programs that are available to Texans from entry level events like Kids Clubs and Ready, Set, Rally to competitive programs including USTA League, and adult and junior competitive tournaments. The Section expends significant resources, both financial and human, to provide these programs throughout the Section and throughout the year. But that is only the half of it. Neither USTA Texas nor the USTA could deliver these programs without the assistance of local CTAs and other grass roots organizations and individuals. It requires a partnership between all to be successful. Each brings assets to the table to aid in successful delivery. In October the Section conducted its Community Development Workshop. This conference is an opportunity for volunteers and staff of our CTAs and grass roots organizations to come together to learn, share and network with their peers from across the Section. Hearing participants discuss various organizational needs and challenges was enlightening. It was interesting to contrast the differing needs and challenges between larger CTAs and newer less developed organizations. Fundraising, media coverage and program expansion were the topics of the larger more mature CTAs while the smaller organizations were discussing funding assistance, court access or construction, and identifying volunteers to assist in program delivery. One of the newer organizations was excited to make everyone aware of the portable building they were able to acquire providing a central location to administer programming and also to come in out of the rain! From a Section perspective, it is obvious success requires teamwork at all levels of the USTA organization national, sectional and local. Each provides resources, leadership and organization to the execution of the mission. To be successful requires communication, coordination and commitment from all participants. We all need to move in lockstep to continue our success and grow the game. This is the last President s Message of the year. I want to thank the Section staff and all of our volunteers both at the Section and local level for the contributions they make to grow the game of tennis in Texas. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. I look forward to continued success in the coming year for all players and volunteers that make this such a great sport to be a part of. Happy Holidays! Inside Tennis NOV/DEC insidetennis.com