FEATURE 1 Are Junior Structure Changes the Answer? FEATURE 2 High School Tennis Don't Get No Respect NEW APP Tour NEW 2019 Awards NEW: Husband/Wife Pro Teams

DECEMBER 2019 Publisher's Notes USTA, TIA Annual Awards Bahamas Lights Pickleball Woes x

THIS ISSUE Publisher's Notes - Letters - 2019 Awards - Spotlight Pickleball - Make Tennis Great Again Interview: Bill Burke (NGI) - Trending - Rod Heckelman: Tradition May Have To Take Back Seat - APP New Pickleball Tour Feature 1: Are Junior Structure Changes The Answer? Feature 2: High School Tennis Don't Get No Respect Bill Patton: Moving Past 4.0 With Visual Skills - Husband/Wife Teams - Where Are They Now?

Publisher's Notes By Rich Neher Dear Reader! The older I get, the faster time flies. Crazy, isn't it? The year 2019 flew by like no other year before. We made some changes to our newsletter and more will come in the New Year. We wrote a lot about the USTA, TIA, and the ITF, about bogus participation numbers, the shrinking number of tennis players in this country, and the fact that an awful lot of USTA money goes into channels that are not growing the game. To be honest, like last year we caught a lot of heat for "not toeing the line." But that didn't scare us. As far as I know, we did not lose one advertiser because of our critical position to the USTA. But we added some new advertisers. And we are very proud of the fact that HEAD Penn Racquet Sports renewed their monthly ad a record fifth year. Many of you keep encouraging me to continue with our honest reporting. They realize this is their only source to get good information about the USTA, where their money goes, where it doesn't go, and how much you can trust their information. We'll keep holding their feet to the fire. People also keep telling me they are cautiously optimistic about the new USTA CEO Michael Dowse and his ability to turn the 'good ship tennis' around and work well with President Galbraith. But I have to caution you guys. They have to report to the USTA Board and as far as I can see there are only two people on that Board that ever had experience running or owning a tennis club: Charles Gill and Liezel Huber. Almost all of the others are former or current players, lawyers, finance, salespeople. There is a reason for my article last month - IS THE USTA AT WAR WITH AMERICAN TENNIS CLUBS? Can you now understand why I think club owners should be worried about those up and coming mega tennis centers in their sections? You guys don't have a significant voice on the USTA Board. How about writing to Galbraith about that little known fact? Here's his email address. And while you're at it, ask him why there is not one Hispanic person on the Board. The Hispanic population grew by over 500% in the past years. Ask him whether Diversity is just an empty promise when it comes to the Board or if that prestigious band of tennis chiefs is placed out of D.A. Abrams's reach?     JOE DINOFFER'S PICKLEBALL VIDEOS I recommend you check out these great videos made by tennis professional and Oncourt Offcourt owner Joe Dinoffer. They are short, precise, to the point. We have posted to of them in out SPOTLIGHT PICKLEBALL section this month. TENNIS INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION I am looking forward to next month when the TIA is supposedly going to disclose the name of that management company they are searching for since the spring this year. Can't wait to learn who it is and what their plans are. The TIA is apparently putting a mega January show together in Orlando. Between the 21st and the 24th of January, they're holding the TOM Conference and the Racquet & Paddle Sports Show at the Orange County Convention Center and the USTA National Campus. More details on this issue under TRENDING.   REQUEST FROM THE BAHAMAS I received an email from a pro in the Bahamas. My name is Ricardo Demeritte from Nassau, The Bahamas. I am contacting you with regards to the three (3) court tennis facility that I operate my program out of. We are in need of lights for the courts. I was wondering if you would be able to help me through your vast network in the tennis community. I'm looking to find a facility that may be changing their lights in the near future and might be interested in donating the old ones to my facility. I hope that you can consider assisting me . Thank you Regards, Ricardo Demeritte If you can help Ricardo, please contact him here.   NEW ANNUAL AWARDS Congratulations to our 2019 award winners. We counted the number of clicks they received for an entire month after publication. And the winners are... Facility of the Year 2019  Palm Desert Tennis Club  Organization of the Year 2019  Agape Tennis Academy  Male Pro of the Year 2019  Stephen Bauer  Female Pro of the Year 2019  Sue Selke More information about the winners and the runner-ups here.   PTR ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM PROMISES TO BE A FIRST CLASS EVENT Have you seen the list of speakers on Hilton Head Island February 13-20? Gigi Fernandez, Dr. Jim Loehr, Doug Cash, Judy Murray, Craig O'Shannessy, Corey Gauff, Frank Giampaolo, Robin Söderling, Jason Jamison, to name just a few. Plus, lots of tennis and pickleball. Click on the ad below for details about this great annual event.     PICKLEBALL WOES I can't believe I have to write about this again. How many times have I reported about senior pickleball players complaining about the way they are being treated at tournaments? And, of course, never any reaction from their CEO Justin Maloof! Remember the motto the USAPA adopted from the USTA? If you don't reply to any complaints, 75% of those troublemakers will go away! I'm scratching my head. If the senior pickleball players stay away, could that be good for a tournament's bottom line? But hold - could it be that this ACTUALLY IS Maloof's strategy? I mean, all the funds are going into attracting younger players right now, I get that. But has he forgotten who helped put pickleball on the map? Who supported the USAPA for all these years? Who is still providing almost 100% of the tournament volunteers and referees? Here are some questions I heard from players after the Indian Wells Nationals: "How come you put older players in age groups they can't compete in?" "How come some better pro players were not accepted to play at all?" "Are you making up rules as you go along?" "Is the USAPA Board dissolved? Was all the power turned over to Mr. Maloof?" "How come you don't communicate with players? No explanations about anything?" "How come the SSIPA (Super Senior International Pickleball Association), originally formed for players 65 and over, now lets 50 year-olds play?" "How come players get the impression the USAPA is breeding mediocrity so everyone gets a medal?" "Who made that awful decision to agree to a 2021 Indian Wells Nationals at the same time as the National Senior Games? Was that maybe done on purpose?" One player told me he would be eating his paddle if Mr. Maloof had "the cojones to reply to any of those complaints." My answer: Don't count on it. Maybe it's time to introduce all senior pickleball players to POP tennis?   Have a great December, everyone. I wish all our readers a super Christmas time and a Happy and Safe New Year 2020. Rich Neher

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