Specialty courses
Attendees may sign up for specialty courses on the official conference registration form. Specialty courses are worth 2 USPTA Continuing Education Units and cost $38 each. Outlines will be available at the conference registration desk at the resort.
Specialty course 1: Creating a perfect practice
Tom Whitten
Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2:30-6:30 p.m.
This course covers the structure and methodology for creating a perfect practice for all level players. The course will also cover successful stroke technique.
Specialty course 2: Tennis club programming
Larry Karageanes
Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2:30-6:30 p.m.
Enhance your operations with new ideas on programming. This course includes examples, formats and innovative thinking for social, instructional, competitive and pro shop programming. You also learn what tennis players want and need from programs and ways to make programming easier. Each participant will receive valuable formats, forms and worksheets and many examples of successful programs.
Specialty course 3: Anticipation training for tennis
Dave Hagler
Wednesday, Sept. 21, 8 a.m.-12 noon
The best way to win a race is to “cheat” by getting a head start. If you anticipate well, you get that head start without cheating and, the greater your head start, the better your chance of winning the race. How many times have you seen a player fly through agility ladders or excel in footwork drills but move slowly on the court? Through this course you will learn how to help your players anticipate what is likely to happen next, thereby reducing their response time.
Specialty course 4: Teaching effective strokes
Feisal Hassan
Wednesday, Sept. 21, 8 a.m-12 noon
This course offers a step-by-step look at the technical elements of shot making and how you can teach them to your players for better results. With applications for teaching all levels, the course will include technique for the forehand, two-handed and one-handed backhands, serve stances and windups and the volleys.
Specialty course 5: Junior development
Craig Jones
Friday, Sept. 23, 8 a.m.-12 noon
The course will focus on establishing a complete junior program from Little Tennis to high performance players. Attendees will learn all areas of advanced preparation, competitive framework, and on court instruction. The 6 general performance components of the USPTA Player Development program will be highlighted and serve as a template for navigating players through the junior pathway.
Specialty course 6: Equipment consulting
Lucien Nogues
Friday, Sept. 23, 8 a.m-12 noon
This course will teach you how match players to the right equipment. You'll learn about the process of customizing a player's equipment, including how to change the weight, balance and playing characteristics of racquets. Learn about the different string properties and how they affect playability. You can be the expert players look for when purchasing new equipment.
Specialty course 7: Drills for all levels
Jorge Capestany
Saturday, Sept. 24, 8 a.m.-12 noon
Learn drills that will leave your students inspired and ready for more lessons. Whether its high-performance singles or club level doubles teams, creative drills for all levels will help everybody achieve their goals and maximize their game.
Specialty course 8: Mental toughness
Lorenzo Beltrame
Saturday, Sept. 24, 8 a.m.-12 noon
This course will teach you the building blocks of mental toughness and how to reach the ideal performance state. It will cover managing the spiritual, mental, emotional and physical states and how players (and coaches) can use these skills for success.
The Mental Toughness specialty course will be held in conjunction with the two-day Human Performance Institute Mental Toughness Training, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 24-25. Conference attendees interested in the HPI Mental Toughness Training can contact Lorenzo Beltrame (lbeltrame@hpinstitute.com) at 800-543-7764 ext. 7233 or 407-722-7233. Convention attendees will only pay $495 ($300 off the regular price) for the training. In addition, USPTA members who sign up for the two-day certification will not be charged the usual specialty course fee. Anyone doing the two-day certification will receive the specialty course credit along with the credits associated with the training. If you prefer to attend only the specialty course, then the regular specialty course fee will apply.