Sport

UNITED STATES PROFESSIONAL TENNIS ASSOCIATION (USPTA)

History of USPTA
United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) is the essential linkage connecting the game- growing programs and the players, with its history being uniquely tide to dramatic changes in tennis and its professional players and coaches. USPTA is the worlds oldest and largest organization of tennis teachers. It has and always will determine the way for teaching how to play tennis around the world.

USPTA was founded in the year 1927. Tennis was only limited in country club set but some make a way to see potentials to please the audience and generate revenue. One of the four freethinkers has built the first professional tennis tour including the American and French tennis players and one of them is Benny Richard, who was one of the founding members of USPTA and winner of many major amateur competitions. The goal of USPTA is to bridge the space between the amateur ranks and the career as tennis professional. On September 23, 1927, a small group of people have met in New York and USPTA was born.

USPTA have conducted regular meetings and tournaments from 1927 to 1943. The members of the organization were some of the worlds greatest players including Bill Tilden, Don Budge, Jack Kramer, Tony Trabert, Ellsworth Vines, Pancho Segura, Bobby Riggs, Fred Perry and Welby Van Horn. Famous women players like Pauline Betz Addie, Alice Marble and Sarah Cooke joined USPTA in 1940s.

In 1968, the open era of tennis has donned. The professional players and teachers shred the benefits and USPTA experienced many far reaching changes. In 1969, the desire to create the industrys highest standards in teaching the games was realized by Jack Barnaby and he has created the first certification test. The membership of USPTA has reached 1,000.

The popularity of tennis has exploded after the historic match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Ridge. USPTA has benefited from engorge of the players, the membership have reached 3000 by 1981, and became 4000 in 1984. Until the 70s the organization dont have any official home or administrative department. Rey Bobbick became the first executive director in 1974 and he established its national office in Houston. After the death of Bobbick in 1975, Bill Tym became the executive director and moved the office in Tennessee. In 1980s, USPTA continued to expand its influence in tennis industry and its commitment to its members. The Japan Professional Tennis Association became the first international division of the organization.

USPTA has executed computerization and moved the headquarters in Saddle brook Resort in Wesley Chapel, Florida. The purchase of its own building gave the USPTA a world class structure. Even the boomed in tennis has end, USPTA continued to grow. The association added department for education, public relations, sport marketing, divisional administrative, membership, player development and multi media. George Beyshell created the mental of testing certification and continued to develop and improved the system until his death in 1998.  In 1990s the introduction to the original free grass roots lesson programs in tennis across America have been seen, and USPTA hailed its first hall of famer, Arthur Ashe in 1993.

In 1994, the membership have reached 10, 500 and USPTA was the first sports organization in tennis to have its own website which is USPTA.com, followed by Find-a-Pro, a service for employers and member debut in 1997. Today USPTA have numerous website that gave valuable resources for its members, the tennis industry, and the people who are interested in tennis. USPTA also provides security for its members and it promotes the profession to in every way including its own television show.

USPTA supported its partners on the projects and increasing tennis participation. From developing new members and improving the lesson experience the players received. USPTA is what it is now because of its members which reached 14, 500 in 2007 in more than 60 countries. If not for its members who had work very hard in delivering the best tennis lesson to a beginner, managing the best tennis facilities, teaching at the public park and coaching the future champions, USPTA would not thrived. Its history in tennis, the roles they have played in the past and the work they will take on tomorrow make USPTA and its member who they are.

Governance Structure, Organizational Structure  Staff
United States Professional Tennis Association is an organization that prohibited discriminations, which is supervise by its democratically members. It is divided into 17 U.S. divisions, which is consisting of 50 states, including the International Division, Southeast Asia Division, and the Japan Professional Tennis Association (Woods, 2006).

National Board of Directors consists of two elected officers from the 17 U.S. divisions, the three immediate past presidents, and the eight-member national Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is the one who handles the dealings of the association, which is held during the meetings of the Executive Committee. It consists of the national president, the first vice presidents, four vice presidents, the secretary-treasurer and the past president. The CEO and the general counsel are also included in the meeting.  The CEO is the one who administer the daily administration of USPTA from the World Headquarters. The general council is the one who gives advice to the board and Executive Committee about all of the legal issue in the association. The Committees are assigned at the national and divisional levels they are the one who create the policies and the directions for the activities of the association (Woods, 2006).

Today, the staff of USPTA are Rich Fanning as the Director of Operations, Marty Bostrom as the Executive Assistant to CEO and Email Administrator, Shawna Riley is the Director of Communications, Julie Myers is the Director of Creative Services, Kimberly Forrester is the Publication ManagerManaging Editor, Poornima Rimm is the Director of Public Relations, Jill Phipps is in-charge in the Communications, John Dettor is the Marketing Director, Rick Bostrom is the Sports Marketing Coordinator, Ramona Husaru is the Digital Asset Coordinator Tennis Multimedia Management, Joe Birkmire is the Video Production Director, Aisha Nelson is the Video Editor, Nick Warwick is the Graphic DesignerVideo Editor, Fred Viancos is the Director of Professional Development, Janice Stollenwerck is the Corporate Services Administrator, Erin Ortbal is the Receptionist, Dan Wilson is the Director of Information Technology, Scott Bucic is the Information TechnologyMultimedia, Kathy Buchanan is the Director of Computer Services, Kalin Cogar is the Divisional Executive Administrator, Vicky Tristan is the Membership and Certification ManagerCertification administration.

Mission Values, Goals of the Organization
The mission of USPTA is to elevate the standards of tennis- teaching professionals and coaches. Its vision is that the USPTA will be the worlds leading trade association of certified tennis teaching professionals and coaches, viewed and highly respected as an organization of knowledgeable experts and specialists, industry innovators, and as an indispensable business partner. The USPTA will deliver the highest level of educational tools and programs for its membership that enhance the livelihoods of its members, create career opportunities within the tennis industry and promote the sport of tennis (Phipps, 2010).

Financial Information
USPTA get their income through the membership or register fee to avail an exam and through the people who want to be members in the association but pay both the application fee and the prorated dues amounted.

The prorated amount for applying for membership is different in every month of the year. For January 2010, the membership fee is 218.17 (U.S. and in Canada), 204.42(International). For February 2010, the fee is 198.34(U.S and in Canada), 185.84 (International). For March 2010, the fee is 178.51 (U.S. and in Canada), 167.26 (International). For April 2010, the fee is 158.68 (U.S. and in Canada), 148.68 (International). For May 2010, the fee is 138.85 (U.S. and in Canada), 130.10 (International). For June 2010, the fee is 119.02 (U.S. and in Canada),  111.52 (International). For July 2010, the fee is  99.19 (U.S. and in Canada),  92.94 (International). For August 2010, the fee is  79.36 (U.S. and in Canada),  74.36 (International). For the month of September 2010, the fee is  59.53 (U.S. and in Canada)  55.78 (International). For the month of October 2010, the fee is 277.70 (U.S. and in Canada), 260.20 (International). For the month of November 2010, the fee is 257.87 (U.S and in Canada), 241.62 (International), and the fee for the month of December, 2010 is 238.00 (U.S. and in Canada), 223.00 (International) (Buchanan, 2009).

USPTA spends their funds that came from the registration and exam fee in the programs that they developed. The programs aim to meet the needs of the tennis-playing community, from children up to the adult league players and everyone in between. USPTA Little Tennis, USPTA Junior Circuit, USPTA Adult Tennis League, USPTAs Lessons For Life, USPTAs Tennis Across America, and the USPTA Member-Beginner Guest are the programs that USPTA are doing (Butler, 2002).

The other programs that they are doing are the USPTA Player Development Program which is designed to serve as an educational resources center for the modern games and this also help the tennis teachers to be introduced in the modern teaching techniques to their players. The USPTA Specialist Program provides education and certification opportunities for those who want to specialize in a certain areas of tennis- teaching profession. The USPTA Distance Learning Center proffers an easy-to-use source for tennis professionals and the players that are seeking information about the components of the game. These also include one-hour audio taped presentations from the Annual USPTA World Conference on Tennis and the stroke technique tips in video clips. The Professional Tennis Management provides opportunities to the students to acquire a college business degree with specialty in tennis management. This is designed to attract and educate men and women and prepare them for the careers in the industry of tennis (Kagan, 1998).

MembershipStakeholders
To avail a membership at USPTA, an individual must first pay the examination fee and then take the membership exam. The membership at USPTA is divided into six categories Applicant, he or she will receive e-mail, benefits, including on-court liability insurance and subscriptions of magazine that came from USPTA World Headquarters, while he or she is studying for the exam for certified membership. Certified Membership, to avail this category he or she must meet all application, pass the exam and experience requirements and he or she must follow the USPTA Code of Ethics. Recreational Coach category is created for people who are already teaching tennis. To be a recreational coach, the applicant must find out the basic standards in teaching tennis during the workshop led by USTA. Corporate Membership is entitled to the privileges and is subject to obligation of active membership, but the member cannot vote, hold an office and join in USPTA tournaments. The corporate member must be planned in the name of the company. The company should not use the USPTA logo or product for endorsement. The member must assure USPTA that the admission of the membership is open to all regardless the race, color, age, creed, gender, national origin, religion of physical handicap.  Honorary Membership is the category that honors the people who have made an outstanding contribution to tennis or USPTA. it is voted by the USPTA Executive Committee. Retired Membership, the member must be 65 or older and no longer teaching on a full-time or part-time basis. The members must present a statement that they are no longer teach on a full- or part-time basis and a copy of the official document presenting that they have receive the retirement benefits (Tristan, 2010).

The present president of USPTA is Tom Daglis, the first vice president is Randy Mattingley, and the five vice presidents are Bunny Brining, Mark Fairchilds, Chuck Gill, Jim Loehr, and Dr. Jack Groppel. The Immediate Past President is Harry Gilbert, the CEO is Tim Heckler, and the general counsel is Paul Waldman. The three past presidents are Ron Woods (2005-2007), David T. Porter,Ed.D.(2003-2005) Joseph Thompson (1999-2003) (Woods, 2006).

Policy Issues of the Organization
The issues about the organization happened when Jack Groppel was appointed to the post interviewed for by Chuck Gills nominating committee in Las Vegas in 2006. Jack Groppel is appointed both in USPTA and USTA. Officers and Board Members should not have policy making appointments in both of the said associations. The issues where the positions may differ in conflict of interest. An individual who has an appointment or position in USTA should be excluded in handling a position in USPTA. The appointment is another event in a series of troubling USPTA developments, the appointment that happened does not serve the rank and file members (Bailin, 2007).

The first step of USPTA to solve this issue is that they have centralizing a forumsectionblogdiscussion board within their website. This will able the members to exchange ideas, drills, and opinions freely.  The result is that, Jack Groppel chose to stay in USPTA and he excluded his position in USTA (Bailin, 2007).

Other Information About The Organization
USPTA will be awarding some of their members that will happen during their World Conference in September 27 to October 2 in La Quinta, Calif. USPTA is now accepting nomination for its 2010 National Awards Program until June 2. The awards that will be presented are in every facets of the tennis business which the members of USPTA work. The awards categories are USPTA Stars, The USPTA Industry Excellence Award, and The Alex Gordon Award for Professional of the Year, The Facility Manager of the Year Award, College Coach of the Year and High School Coach of the Year, The George Bacso Tester of the Year, The USPTA Lessons for Life Award, and The USPTA Tennis Across America Award (Anonymous, 2010).

My Ideal RoleJob Position 10 years from now
Ten years from now, I want to be a Tennis Instructor at USPTA.  According to my Dad, who has an experience in playing tennis and who is a tennis instructor as well, he is encouraging me to teach tennis to the people who are having interest in tennis. According to my friend who is a tennis instructor as well, I need first to have a plan on what I want to achieve and my goals must match on my value system. Second, I need to develop a positive attitude. I must always think positive so that it is easy for me to achieve my goals. Third, I should not give up. Like in playing tennis, I need to stay in focused and motivate myself, and I also need to have lots of practice to enhance my skills. And last, I need to take small steps I must successfully initiate myself and complete small steps. Starting out small will allow me to experience a win on each rung of the ladder.