President’s Message
Dear RSPA Southern Members,
As we welcome 2026, I hope you’re shaking off the winter chill and gearing up for a produc ve and successful spring season. Our division has experienced several important leadership changes over the past year, and I’d like to begin by expressing sincere apprecia on to Pat Whitworth for his outstanding service as Execu ve Director of RSPA Southern since 2012. His leadership and commitment have elevated the standard for this role na onwide.
A er a thorough search process that included many highly qualified candidates, Todd Upchurch has been selected as our new Execu ve Director. With his deep experience and longstanding involvement within our organiza on, Todd is commi ed to ensuring a smooth transi on while building on our strong founda on and helping guide RSPA Southern into the future.
Our Southern Board has also seen significant transi on, welcoming
By Ken Andriano
three new members. With this period of change, I was honored to be asked to con nue serving as President for an addi onal twoyear term to help provide stability and con nuity. I am both humbled and energized to serve such an excep onal group of professionals, and I’m excited about the opportuni es that lie ahead in 2026.
Last year, we were proud to be recognized as Large Division of the Year at the World Conference for the second consecu ve year. Achievements like this are only possible because of the dedica on, engagement, and passion of our incredible members. Are we ready to make it three in a row?
With your con nued involvement and support, I am confident that 2026 will be another remarkable year for RSPA Southern. It is truly an honor to serve this community, and I look forward to connec ng with many of you at our upcoming workshops and conferences.
May Conference May 15-16 in Atlanta, GA
We are excited to be back in Atlanta this year at The Standard Club. The Club has been a great host in the past and will definitely bring a new look to the conference. The Board is working on bringing in great speakers with tennis and business topics for a well rounded lineup. The Club has agreed to make golf tee mes available for those a ending the conference. Our conference hotel the Hya Place which is less than 2 miles away. They have free breakfast and nice accommoda ons. The group rate for a King room is $109/night and for a Double it is $119/night. Relevant topics set to help you increase your business and have more FUN doing it are on the agenda. Roundtable discussion groups, a Friday lunch me tradeshow and nigh me Welcome Party along with fun events will prove to be a conference not to miss. Make sure to mark your calendars for this one to a end.
For new educa on videos, division updates and news, check us out online.
ASK CHATGPT
How Do Tennis & Pickleball
Complement Each Other:
Pickleball and tennis complement each other by fostering a shared, diverse ecosystem of racquet sports that improve skill sets across both disciplines. Tennis offers, Andre Agassi notes, a high-intensity, full-court workout, while pickleball provides a faster-paced, low-impact, and more accessible alterna ve that enhances net play, reac on me, and touch.
Improved Net Game: Pickleball's focus on volleying at "the kitchen" (non-volley zone) directly improves a tennis player’s reac on me, hand-eye coordina on, and net volleys.
Physical Sustainability: Pickleball acts as a lower-impact alterna ve for aging tennis players, offering compe ve play without the intense, full-court running that causes joint strain.
Technical Skill Transfer: The fundamental skills, such as groundstrokes, volleys, and lobs, translate between both sports, although pickleball requires more compact, controlled movements.
Accessibility and Strategy: Pickleball is easier to learn, allowing players to focus on strategy and quick reflexes, which keeps them engaged in racquet sports even when they cannot play full-court tennis.
Social & Community Growth: Both sports share similar social environments and can coexist on the same court, o en sharing facili es to encourage par cipa on across different disciplines.
While some tennis players may find the transi on requires adjus ng to a smaller court and different paddle, the combinaon of the two allows for a more varied and sustainable fitness rou ne.
Remembering Bill Tym - (1940-2026)
By Geoff Browne - Elite Professional
William A. Tym, affec onately known as “Coach,” passed away peacefully on January 15, 2026, at his home in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. Bill enjoyed an extraordinary playing and coaching career that le an indelible mark on the sport of tennis. He graduated from the University of Florida in 1963 ini ally a ending on a football scholarship, then transi oning to basketball, and ul mately earning a tennis scholarship. At Florida, Bill became an AllAmerican and SEC champion. Following his collegiate career, Bill competed on the interna onal professional tennis circuit, where he won 10 tles. His professional playing career concluded in 1970 a er a torn stomach muscle brought an end to his me on tour.
As his playing days wound down, Bill traveled to Nassau, Bahamas and prepared to accept a teaching posi on at the Montague Beach Hotel. Instead, he was recruited to Cha anooga by prominent tennis figure Alex Guerry. Bill accepted the head professional posi on at Manker-Pa en Tennis Club and simultaneously took over the University of Tennessee at Cha anooga tennis programs in 1970. Reflec ng on that pivotal moment, Bill later said, “That weekend started an amazing me in my life and was the beginning of my coaching
career.” Guerry had secured increased funding for UTC tennis while adding Bill as head professional just down the street at Manker-Pa en. The UTC women’s program began in 1975 and quickly achieved na onal success at the AIAW level. Bill took over coaching the women in 1979, guiding the team to a perfect 90-point performance at the AIAW Na onal Championships and securing a third consecu ve na onal tle.
During his me in Cha anooga, Bill stepped away from Manker-Pa en to serve as President and Execu ve Director of the USPTA (now RSPA) from 1975 to 1977. Following his term, he returned to Manker-Pa en to con nue his coaching and leadership. In 1979, Bill and his wife, Wanda, purchased the Huntsville Athle c Club (HAC) in Huntsville, Alabama. They owned and operated HAC un l 1986, during which me Bill developed numerous na onally ranked junior players, including Bryan Shelton and Kenny Thorne. Missing the compe ve challenge of college coaching, Bill le Huntsville to take over the tennis program at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.
Bill served as Vanderbilt’s men’s tennis head coach from 1987 to 1996 and
women’s tennis head coach from 1987 to 1990. He inherited a men’s program that had gone 25–41 overall and 1–25 in the SEC over the prior three seasons. In his first year, Bill led the Commodores to an 18–12 overall record and three SEC victories equaling the total number of conference wins from the previous four seasons combined.
A er Vanderbilt, Bill became Director of Tennis at Richland Country Club in Nashville, where he led the program from 1996 to 2005. Following his re rement from Richland, Bill con nued coaching internaonally in Indonesia, guiding the na on’s Davis Cup team to the World Group for the first me in its history.
Bill was among the first to receive the dis nguished USPTA Master Professional classifica on. His many honors include the
“10TipstoAchieveYourLifeGoals”
By Jennifer Herrity
1. Be commi ed
Through commitment, you can gain mo va on to pursue success. To begin the process of se ng a goal, make a list that includes: Your goal, your level of commitment to the goal and what you're willing to do to achieve that goal.
2. Learn from the journey
Rather than focusing strictly on the results of your accomplishments, take no ce of the small steps needed to achieve success. If you allow yourself to enjoy small victories along your journey, reaching your goal will become a new adventure each day, and you will be more likely to stay on track. By doing this, you will learn new and exci ng things along the way, which can help you grow as a person.
3. Have fun along the way
If the journey to achieve something becomes too tedious, succeeding will be more challenging. To be successful, you need to have passion for what you are doing.
4. Think posi vely
Developing a posi ve mindset is about trus ng yourself and your ability to succeed. It's important to replace any nega ve thoughts with posi ve ones to mo vate yourself to keep trying no ma er what challenges come your way.
On your path to becoming successful, you're likely to learn new things and think differently than before. Your goals will not happen overnight. They will take prac ce and discipline to achieve, so it's vital to think about the process posi vely.
5. Change your perspec ve
Some mes along the journey, you have to change your perspecve to turn a challenging situa on into a be er one. Give yourself the opportunity and the me to think about your situa on using only posi ve language and see how much your day or week changes. Doing this for an extended period of me could change your en re life.
6. Be honest with yourself
If your goal is at a stands ll, you might need to be honest with
George Basco USPTA Life me Achievement Award and induc on into the USPTA Hall of Fame in 2007. He was also inducted into the USTA Southern Tennis Hall of Fame, USPTA Southern Hall of Fame, Tennessee Tennis Hall of Fame, University of Tennessee at Cha anooga Hall of Fame, and the University of Florida Athle cs Hall of Fame. He received the Interna onal Tennis Hall of Fame Tennis Educa onal Merit Award in 1981 and was named USPTA Professional of the Year in 1982. Addi onal honors include College
yourself about why that is. A er you have come to an understanding, try to find a solu on to push yourself toward success.
7. Take away distrac ons
Make a list of things that take up your me or distract you. This could be a phone, a television show or even a person who causes you stress. Now is the best me to start changing habits so that you can focus on achieving success without distrac ons.
Shut off your phone and put it in a different room when it's me to focus on your goal. Turn off the television and put the remote across the room. Only keep in contact with the people who posively impact your life.
8. Count on yourself
You cannot count on others to achieve your goals for you. Your best friend cannot take a class for you. Your mother cannot get you a promo on. Your partner cannot lose extra weight for you. These are all things you must do on your own.
Failure is a part of success. Never be discouraged by minor setbacks, they help you grow.
Holding yourself accountable to achieve your goals and make yourself happy is important.
9. Keep planning
S ck to a schedule when working on your goals. Give yourself challenges according to your personal calendar.
Even if you do not achieve the goal, you'll have your star ng point in your calendar and see progress. If you plan and track your goals in a calendar, you will always have proof of your progress. Having something tangible is a great mo vator to keep working toward success.
10. Avoid ge ng burned out
Focusing on your goal is important, but do not obsess over it. Keeping your journey produc ve but also fun will ensure you're mo vated without overworking yourself. Si ng around and thinking about your goal all the me can cause you to burn out
There is no finite defini on of success. You can define and constantly redefine what it looks like for you.
Coach of the Year (1989) and Touring Coach of the Year (1997, 2002).
Among the many outstanding players Bill coached were Candy Reynolds, Yayuk Basuki, Bryan Shelton, and Carly Gullickson.
Bill Tym was a teacher, mentor, and true stalwart of the game. Former Vanderbilt standout Ryan Lipman captured his legacy best:
“He taught me how to compete and how to live. He believed winning started with
what you can control: hustle, an cipa on, discipline, and the willingness to adjust when things weren’t going your way. He gave genera ons of players a ‘complete toolbox’ not only the shots, but the standards so we could handle pressure, problem solve, and do things the right way. Tennis lost a legend, but the sport will keep hearing his voice every me a player hustles for one more ball, adjusts the game plan, and refuses to give in.”
Arkansas
This year we had 31 registra ons for this year’s conference. 22 Cer fied Tennis Professionals and 9 other par cipants who run local programming in their area and/or interested in the pathway to becoming a tennis professionals.
This year’s Keynote Speaker was Ellen Miller. Ellen Miller is a Senior Coach Developer for the USTA. She also works for the Houston Tennis Associa on as a Youth Pathway and Coach Development specialist. She is RSPA Elite cer fied, USTA High Performance cer fied and over the last 20 years has worked on myriad USTA youth training ini a ves.
We also had several of our Arkansas Tennis Professionals demonstrate and present their best drill on court. Each Pro offered a 10-minute session and the current RSPA Arkansas Board voted on the best.
In addi on to our Ellen and our Arkansas Tennis Professionals, we honored one of our great former tennis professionals Camden Riley who passed in 2025. We presented Camden’s family with his honored 2025 RSPA Southern Award.
Brandon Kiker (Adap ve Chair for AR RSPA) – Southern Sec onal Adap ve Championship - RSPA Tennis Professional and Adapta ve guru served as Arkansas Adap ve Liasson at the 2025 USTA Southern Sec on Adap ve Championship hosted in Cha anooga, TN. Arkansas had six athletes a end this year’s event. The event was hosted by kicking off a DJ and dance off Friday evening, some spectacular tennis on court, and ended with a closing ceremony. Thank you to Brandon for his service to lead the athletes and be a part of the great representa on for Arkansas.
Louisiana
RSPA members Bill Phillips and Courtney Dugas will be facilita ng a series of Lunch and Learn mee ngs with tennis teaching professionals in 5 major market areas - Shreveport, Lafaye e, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Mandeville. Subjects will include building a solid Red Ball Youth Program, Jr Circuits and Adult Beginners.
LSU in Baton Rouge will once again host the RSPA Southern Summer Conference on August 7-8. Last year's hugely successful event drew over 85 teaching professionals and tennis coaches. USTA Louisiana and RSPA Louisiana will be co-sponsors.
North Carolina
Exci ng mes ahead for the RSPA in North Carolina! We are thrilled to have Alec Moore, Kevin Brundle, and Brandon Day serving on the commi ee this term.
We are looking to increase par cipa on with our U/30 members and create opportuni es for members to present at workshops if they are willing to!
There will be events coming up this year in Charlo e, Durham, Roaring Gap, and Raleigh, so make sure to a end one of these
great networking and educa onal opportuni es!
Tennessee
Tennessee hosted its annual Winter Workshop on December 13 in Nashville at the pres gious Richland Country Club. The event featured legendary Master Professional Bill Tym as the keynote speaker and brought together tennis professionals from across the state for a day of educa on and collabora on.
The workshop began with an engaging Cardio Tennis presentaon by Dan Beedle. Bill Tym then took to the court to present “Developing the Modern Player,” offering valuable insights and prac cal instruc on. Michael Chamberlain, Execu ve Director of USTA Tennessee followed with an update on Junior Team Tennis, accompanied by lunch sponsored by USTA TN. The day concluded with an exci ng on-court drill compe on.
The 2026–2027 Tennessee Board was also announced:
President: Geoff Browne
1st Vice President: Brian Perry
2nd Vice President: Mark Srouji
Treasurer: MJ Garne
Secretary: Courtney Colton
RSPA Southern Board Liaison: Dan Beedle
We welcome new board members Mark Srouji and Courtney Colton and thank outgoing board members Sarah Evans and Daniel Shidler for their dedicated service to RSPA Tennessee.
Kentucky
First of all, we hope everyone is safe a er all of the record snow, ice and cold temperatures in January. We hope February has be er weather as college and high school tennis teams in Kentucky start their 2026 spring season. We are always looking for prospec ve board members for Kentucky. Feel free to contact President Chuck Brown Chuck.brown@brescia.edu
We are looking at hos ng two RSPA Kentucky Tennis Events this year. One event is planned for September 26, at Merchant Centre Court in Owensboro, Kentucky from 9:09-3:00 pm. The NAIA ITA Southeast Regionals quarterfinals and semifinals that day will be some of the on court entertainment. We will also have a few presenters on court and off court with lunch served. A second RSPA KY event will be scheduled at a later date. We look forward to seeing everyone soon and good luck this upcoming tennis season to coaches, players and parents.
South Carolina
We’re excited about what’s ahead in South Carolina for 2026 as we con nue building momentum across the state. We are currently finalizing our State Board, with Tom Ruth serving as President and Craig Wells also commi ed to serving. We are ac vely seeking one to two addi onal board members, and anyone interested is encouraged to reach out to Tom or Craig for more informa on. Our goal is to have the board fully in place by the end of February. We are planning a Fall Workshop
By Chris Hoshour, RSPA Elite Professional
Too many mes when the players we are coaching make an error, they go straight to the mindset that their forehand or backhand is bad because of a technical issue. They start obsessing with their elbow, or if they are hi ng the ball too late, or one of many other processes that go through their head for why they missed the ball. The problem comes from too much focus on swing technique and not enough focus on movement technique.
As players move up levels it is increasingly common to s ll focus on errors coming from technique, but at this level most errors come from movement. Jim Courier once told me that whenever he was not hi ng the ball the way he wanted, he reminded himself to focus on his movement and that usually fixed whatever issue he was having with his stroke.
One huge myth about footwork is if a player is fast then they have great footwork, and if they are slow they will have bad footwork. Speed has nothing to do with good or bad footwork. Having good ball recogni on skills and early prepara on are the two mainstays of great footwork. My defini on of good footwork is the ability to consistently create space and be in a balanced posi on to play the
in Columbia, SC, and would love your input on the type of educaon you’d like to see offered. Once the date and venue are secured, a save-the-date will be shared. This is shaping up to be an exci ng year for South Carolina, and we look forward to ge ng more members involved.
Georgia
RSPA Georgia looks forward to building off a strong finish to 2025 with the Winter workshop hosted at Atlanta Athle c Club. The workshop saw more than 70 a endees and focused on round table discussions concerning professionalism and best prac ces in all areas.
In 2026, our goals center around building well rounded teaching professionals from entering the workforce through being a Head Professional, whether you have concentra ons in tennis, pickleball, and padel, juniors, or adults.
We plan to have learning opportuni es for young professionals heavily focused on giving the best lesson possible, building professionalism off the court through sound communica on, and raising the level of expecta ons for every professional.
Mississippi
RSPA Mississippi began the year with another successful workshop on January 30th at the River Hills Club in Jackson, MS. Over 50 coaches a ended for a full day of networking and educa on during the USTA MS Tennis Weekend. Dr. Sophie Woorons was our featured speaker and delivered two engaging presenta ons. The workshop concluded with a variety of events, including a drill swap session, feeding contest, fast serve contest, cocktail party, and a red ball tournament.
ball. This comes from early ball recogni on skills and the ability to move early whichever direcon you need to move to get the ball in your strike zone and be balanced at contact.
A few drills that really help is to feed the ball right down the middle and have the player create space and hit a forehand crosscourt then hit a forehand inside out. Another great drill is Call the Ball. As you are rallying call “forward” when the ball is short. Call “stay” when the ball is in a neutral posi on while the player is behind the baseline. Call “back” when the ball is deep. The goal is to have the player call the ball as early as possible and move in the direc on they just called.
Try these ps with your players and watch their footwork carry them to higher success.
We are proud to recognize our 2025 Award winners that were announced during the MTA Awards Luncheon. The honorees include Billy Gip Clark- Director of the Year, Lisa Metz- General Manager of the Year. Robert Russell- Life me Achievement Award, and Emillia Viljoen- Professional of the Year.
Addi onally, RSPA Mississippi welcomes our new Board members for 2026: Michael Edge (President), Bo Gard (Vice President), William Foreman (Secretary), and Turner Hughes (Treasurer). We look forward to offering further educa on opportuni es by hos ng regional workshops throughout the state in the coming year.
Alabama
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our complimentary workshop in December. With around 20 members in a endance, it was a fun, educa onal, and energizing day for our RSPA community.
We’re especially grateful to the head tennis coaches at Samford University for generously allowing us to use their indoor facility and player lounge. A sincere thank you as well to Jake Wilson, Jeff Barrera, Gaspar Audisio, and Sco Mitchell for delivering professional, informa ve presenta ons filled with ac onable insight. Most importantly, it was inspiring to see new friendships formed and our sense of community strengthened.
In 2026, we plan to host two addi onal meet-and-greet events in South and North Alabama as we con nue making the RSPA more connected and accessible than ever. Details for our next workshop and these addi onal events will be shared soon we look forward to seeing you there!
One Good Idea!
By Ken Dehart Make Teaching a “Moving” Experience
As you are teaching, be sure to change the posi on you feed the balls from, the side you are feeding from, the depth you are feeding from and the kind of spin you are using to feed to the students. If you feed a ball to a player in the deuce court and tell them to return the ball cross court to your ad court, the next ball you feed should come from your deuce court and not from your first feeding posi on. That would be very unrealis c and the student would get a false sense of how to manage the ball when they are in actual match play.
If you are at the net and volleying balls back to a student on the baseline, be sure to keep your feet moving as you volley back to them. Your movement is important as that creates the distrac on they would see with an opponent at the net in actual match play. By moving your feet, you get a workout as well and this will help you to not get so s ff by the end of your teaching day. When it comes to picking up the balls, use your legs and not the basket. You and the student do "split and pick up" to exercise the hamstrings, quads, glutes and groin. These are the exercises a personal trainer would recommend for a tennis player and charge you $80 an hour - you can do it on the court for free. This exercise is a great way for the instructor to get their own workout in and not have to go to the gym at the end of the teaching day.
"A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagina on, and ins ll a love of learning." Brad Henry
By Alan Hartley Mid Match Strategy Tips
What do I do when......
My opponents are hard hi ers, good volleyers or have tough first serves.
Counter: Play two back on the baseline and play very defensively – don’t beat yourself. Slow the game down and be pa ent. Hard hi ers hate slow high balls.
My opponents lob all the me.
Counter: If receiving, hit a shorter return. If serving, place serve to the backhand. Stay very pa ent. Use more angles on shots. Hard deep balls
are effec ve but more difficult to execute consistently.
My opponents have very effec ve returns and can handle my serves easily.
Counter: Try Australian and communicate with your partner on movement.
Move more at the net to influence the returner. Serve to the backhand and the body. Play two back as last resort.
My opponents play very slowly, it’s annoying me!
It’s out of your control, unless they take longer than 25 seconds. Use the me to stay calm and focus on your next point.
Tips to remember...
1. Hit high volleys to the person closest to you.
2. Serve mostly to the deuce player’s backhand
3. Put the return back in play, don’t try and win the point immediately.
4. Hit high bouncing deep balls back the same way.
5. When nervous, keep moving your feet and take deep breaths.
6. Try and have a plan before each point and a empt to carry it out.
7. You are playing to win 12 games before your opponent. If you win the 1st set you’ve only won 6 games so don’t get over confident.
8. Lob into the sun.
9. Net players and non-receivers need to observe your opponent’s habits and movements so you can exploit poor posi oning. Tell your partner these observa ons.
10. Encourage your partner: no one makes a mistake on purpose. by Dave Hyams The
Power of Coaching
The essence of good coaching is posi ve relevancy. Teaching a player who doesn’t prac ce renders the instructor somewhat irrelevant Teaching a player who works hard at the game magnifies the responsibility of the instructor/coach.
Young players who grow with the game will improve regardless of what they are taught. Coaches who teach these players must be careful to maximize their players’ poten al from the outset and guide them to proper technique.
At no me should you allow your player to con nue with poor technique in any area you believe should change, especially during the tournament season. As long as changes you make help maximize your players’ poten al for the future, do not hesitate to make them right away.
Racquet/Tennis Clubs have a tendency to divide up their junior beginners by age, gender or both, instead of athle c ability. All beginners are assigned the more inexperienced instructors. This could not be worse for the be er athletes. Clubs should separate their junior beginners by athle c ability and the strongest and more experienced coaches should be assigned to the be er athletes so they get the best possible start into the game.
The best coaching credo I could possibly imagine is the following:
We have a responsibility to make........ Average athletes..........good players Good athletes.............great players....and.... Great athletes.............Champions!
The 5 Cs of Successful Leadership
In the world of leadership, there are many quali es that define success. However, five essen al a ributes consistently set great leaders apart: Character, Communica on, Competence, Courage, and Commitment. Together, these "5 C's" provide a framework for impac ul leadership, whether you're leading a team, a project, or an organiza on.
1. Character: The Core of Integrity
Character forms the founda on of effecve leadership. Leaders with strong character demonstrate honesty, integrity, and empathy. They gain the trust of their team by consistently making decisions that align with ethical values, even when faced with challenges. Character in leadership inspires loyalty, builds respect, and creates a posi ve workplace culture that priori zes ethical decision-making and inclusivity.
Quick Tip: Prac ce self-reflec on regularly to ensure your ac ons align with your values.
2. Communica on: The Bridge to Understanding
Great leaders are also great communicators. Effec ve communica on is about more than just delivering informa on; it involves ac ve listening, transparency, and clarity. Leaders who communicate well foster open dialogue, empower team members to share their ideas, and ensure
Wri en by Sunil Singh Rawat
everyone understands their roles and goals.
Quick Tip: Engage in ac ve listening by summarizing what others say before responding, ensuring mutual understanding.
3. Competence: The Knowledge to Inspire Confidence
Competence is about having the skills, knowledge, and experience necessary to lead effec vely. Competent leaders are not only skilled in their own fields but are also willing to learn and adapt. When a leader demonstrates exper se and a commitment to con nuous improvement, it builds team confidence and mo va on.
Quick Tip: Stay current by dedica ng me each week to learning new skills or industry trends.
4. Courage: The Will to Make Bold Decisions
Courageous leaders are willing to take
calculated risks and make tough decisions. Courage in leadership is about standing up for what is right, even when it’s unpopular. It also means being resilient in the face of failure, learning from mistakes, and encouraging team members to innovate without fear of cri cism.
Quick Tip: When faced with a tough decision, weigh the poten al outcomes, consider your values, and take a step forward with confidence.
5. Commitment: The Drive to Persevere
Commitment is the dedica on a leader brings to their role and to their team’s success. Commi ed leaders show up every day with a sense of purpose and foster the same commitment in others. By staying focused on long-term goals and leading by example, they create a resilient team ready to overcome challenges.
Quick Tip: Set clear, achievable goals for yourself and your team to keep everyone aligned and mo vated.
These 5 C’s of Leadership - Character, Communica on, Competence, Courage and Commitment - are meless quali es that equip leaders to face challenges, foster growth and inspire success. By embracing these values, leaders can create a legacy of posi ve impact that mo vates others to succeed and reach new heights.
I have always considered tennis as a combat in an arena between two gladiators who have their racquets and their courage as their weapons.
-Yannick Noah
You have to believe in the long term plan but you need the short term I play each point like my life depends on it. goals to mo vate and inspire you.
-Rafa Nadal
-Roger Federer
The Written Word
The Inner Game of Tennis
By Timothy Gallwey
Humans have two selves.
Self 1, the conscious (the ego), and Self 2, the subconscious. When we get angry at ourselves for doing something wrong (“why are you playing tennis so badly today?!”), it’s Self 1 ge ng angry at Self 2.
Most frustra ons come from the fact that we don’t use the selves properly. Most people do everything with Self 1. But the func on of Self 1 (the conscious) isn’t to do. When Self 1 does, it always comes across as “trying too hard”. He who tries too hard, fails.
Self 1’s job is not to do; it is to direct.
Self 1’s job is to tell Self 2 what to do, then to trust Self 2, retreat, and let Self 2 perform.
Self 1 cannot communicate with Self 2 with words, but only with images (visualiza on). To communicate with Self 2, Self 1 must visualize the desired purpose and ask Self 2 to do it. This requires trus ng Self 2, and you need certain skills to do so.
The first one is not judging anything neither as good nor bad. When you do so, you involve Self 1 in ma ers that depend on Self 2. Just see what is for what it is. In tennis, if the ball is out, it’s out. It’s not bad. It’s just out. Don’t judge.
The second skill is le ng go. Le ng go of the need to control everything consciously. Le ng go and trus ng Self 2 with its tasks to learn and prac ce.
The third one is concentra ng. Only when you concentrate can you quiet the mind
A Classic Book Summary by Aure’
(Self 1) and give Self 2 the room it needs to work.
Once you quiet the mind, you realize the purpose of compe on isn’t to win or become be er than others.
Compe on is an obstacle that enables you to realize yourself, to transcend yourself. The bigger the obstacle, the bigger the experience, the be er the transcendence.
Once you have understood this, you can play with a fierce desire to win without the will to crush your opponent. Winning becomes an inner ma er of self-actualiza on.
Pursuing a victory in the ac vity you enjoy the most in the world is the Inner Game path.
The one that leads to the quiet mind, and to inner freedom.
By Tom Daglis RSPA Master Professional & Former Two Term Na onal President
Quad Doubles for Quad Dollars
· Reserve at least four courts for 1.5 hours for Quad Doubles program, where members sign up not before 48 hours outside the date of the Quad Doubles.
· Pro puts the 16 players into groups of four based on ability and each court plays 8 games with each person on their respec ve court for at total of 24 games each, using no-ad scoring.
· At the end of the night and if the same member signs up for the Quad Doubles next week, the top Quad Doubles
game winner moves up a Quad and lowest game winner moves down a Quad.
· Members pay a fee to par cipate that includes having new balls each week. Members receive "Quad Dollars" based on % of games they won each week and it is accrued week to week.
· The Quad Dollars can only be used in the Tennis Pro Shop thereby guaranteeing that members will u lize the pro shop for their tennis product needs.
RSPA SOUTHERN SUMMER SWING
In Summer 2026, we will have three 1-2 day conference across the Southern Division. A great way to get your educa on, network and be er your career. See dates and loca ons below, more details to come in our next newsle er.
SUNDAY 6/7
FRIDAY-SATURDAY 8/7-8/8
FRIDAY-SATURDAY 8/7-8/8
North Carolina Summer Conference
Louisiana Summer Conference
Tennessee Summer Conference
Roaring Gap Club, Roaring Gap, NC
LSU, Baton Rouge, LA
The Farm & Forge Tennis Club, College Grove, TN
Executive Director’s Message
RSPA Southern Members:
I am very excited to take on the very important role of Execu ve Director for the Southern Division. This new job comes with a required amount of responsibility and loyalty. When I joined the RSPA (USPTA) in 1997, I had no idea I was about to embark on quite the professional journey. From public parks to swim & racquet clubs to premier country clubs to owning my own business, the path was anything but linear. But the constant driving force has always been the RSPA (USPTA).
As I walked (some mes ran) thru my career path, I would encounter obstacles which I did not readily have an answer to solving. That is where the real inherent value of the RSPA membership shown most brightly. At my very 1st Southern Division conven on in 1997, I was welcomed and included as though I had been here for years. Those early connec ons and friend-
By Todd Upchurch
ships have been the cornerstone of any success I have had and a lifelong benefit of pursuing a sport and profession that you love. I feel a strong responsibility to con nue the great work and momentum of those Execu ve Directors before me. While I have been a member of RSPA, the two Execu ve Directors have been Fred Burdick and Pat Whitworth. Both of these gentlemen are true professionals have helped shape the direc on of the Southern Division for over 30 years. I humbly follow in their legendary footsteps and will work hard for you to keep the legacy they have set.
I have had the great fortunate of mee ng a lot of RSPA Southern Division members throughout the years and I hope to see many more of you at upcoming conferences, workshops and online events. If I can be of assistance to you in any way, please do not hesitate to call or email. I look forward to the challenge of this new role and I will a ack it with the same enthusiasm of my predecessors. See you on court.
Southern Board and State Presidents
President Ken Andriano kandriano@atlantacountryclub.org 336-541-5876
1st Vice President
Darryl Lewis d.lewis@aussie10s.com 678.595.2650
2nd Vice President
Emillia Viljoen stayplaytennis@gmail.com 601-927-5794
Secretary/Treasurer
Dan Beedle dan.beedle10s@gmail.com 219-510-3608
Past President Tom Parkes tparkes@pinevalleycountryclub.com 910-233-4755
Executive Director Todd Upchurch todd.upchurch@rspa.net 800-438-7782
Directors at Large
Bill Riddle TENNISUN@aol.com 615-243-6698
Marcus Rutsche promarcus@hotmail.com 404-925-6610
Alabama JC Freeman 334-201-7523
Arkansas Paul Pautsch playmore10s1@gmail.com 479-619-8330
Georgia Bill Anderson banderson@capitalcityclub.org 678-873-1293
Kentucky Chuck Brown Chuckb0815@gmail.com 859-321-9970
Louisiana Anna Monhartova a.monhartova@asandaces.org 504-909-5373
Mississippi Michael Edge medge5@hotmail.com 850-319-7502
North Carolina Jarrod Liston jliston@roaringgapclub.com 940-923-3550
South Carolina
Tom Ruth truth@longcoveclub.com 803-565-6409
Tennessee Geoff Browne geoffbrowne0609@gmail.com 714-330-2937