March 2007 -- USPTA will celebrate the 18th year of Tennis Across America this May. Tennis Across America has been a highly successful program for the USPTA. The goal of the program is to attract new, current and former players. Tennis Across America not only helps professionals build their own programs, but it is also a fantastic opportunity to promote tennis as a sport for a lifetime.
The statistics from 2006 were good overall, but we hope to make 2007 a banner year for Tennis Across America. USPTA had more than 1,100 participants last year. Forty-five states participated and 44 of those states offered at least one multicultural event. The division award winners for the greatest number of participants were Midwest, Texas and Southwest. These same three divisions also had the largest percentage of their members participate and continue to do a tremendous job with Tennis Across America year after year.
Promotions for the 2007 Tennis Across America are starting now. An online registration form is available on our Web site, www.uspta.com. Tennis Across America fliers, banners and a program guide for a sample event, sample press releases and public service announcements are also available online. The banner, which costs $25, and the Tennis Across America poster, enclosed in this issue of
ADDvantage, are great tools for promoting your event. USPTA will also be airing a Tennis Across America commercial on The Tennis Channel again this year in May and June during our TV show, "On court with USPTA™."
The program is always generously supported by honorary co-chairs who appreciate the effort of tennis professionals and the many benefits of tennis participation. This year’s honorary co-chairs, as of February 28, include former President George Bush; the World’s No.-1 ranked men’s doubles team of Mike and Bob Bryan; former touring pros Leslie Allen, Tom Gullikson, Stan Smith and Fred Stolle; world-renowned tennis coach and Master Professional Rick Macci; author, speaker and Master Professional Peter Burwash; sports science expert Jack Groppel, Ph.D.; and Wayne Bryan, USPTA member and father of Mike and Bob Bryan.
There are many ways to make your event unique to your club. A Tennis Across America event can assist you in showcasing your club’s programs. Target specific groups such as Little Tennis®, tennis for teens or seniors, or make your Tennis Across America a family-oriented event.
I have been successful with a junior event, ages 8 and older, that I scheduled from 5:30-9:30 p.m. on a Friday night in late May. This allowed the parents to drop off their children, go to dinner or see a movie, while the kids played tennis and had fun with their friends. Sign-up sheets for summer programs were given to the parents at pickup time so they could sign up for the clinics that started at the beginning of June. My Tennis Across America event helps me to build excitement and fill my junior clinics for the summer.
There has been a concentrated focus on fitness with Cardio Tennis in the past two years. Cardio Tennis would be another good program to introduce at a Tennis Across America event. Instant feedback from the participants would be invaluable in organizing a weekly Cardio Tennis program at your facility.
I consider being a member of the USPTA and the Tennis Across America national chairman a privilege and I encourage you to make a commitment to support this program by hosting an event this year. The goal for 2007 is to have increased participation in every state and have at least one multicultural event in each state. In order for pros and divisions to receive credit for participating in a Tennis Across America event all registration forms have to be in by July 1. Remember, hosting an event helps promote tennis, the USPTA and your club programs, so get on board and make your plans for your 2007 Tennis Across America event!
