MagazineIndianapolis TennisSpring 2010

The USTA explains why 30% of league players were ‘bumped’

News & NotesNew youth program

unveiled at Nora Elementary

On Court Get ready to hit the

outdoor courts

(pro)fileCarmel High School’s Sharon Rosenburgh

DestinationFlorida’s AmeliaIsland Plantation

Tennis leagues• Innovative format keeps West Indy’s Industrial League going strong after more than 70 years• Need for more playing opportunities spawns new Indy Tennis League by Team Witsken

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contentsVOLUME 4, ISSUE 4

On the Cover: Earlier this year Chuck DeVoe, shown here returning a shot during last year’s Midwest Clay Court Championships at Highland Country Club, won the Men’s 80 Doubles with George Bradshaw at the Super Senior Grand Prix in Naples, Florida. (Photo by Scott Cooper)

14 The longest-running tennis league in the country continues to thrive at West Indy Racquet Club.

21 NTRP – a numbers gameThe USTA says the unprecedented number of players ‘bumped’ after the 2009 season was an attempt to ‘level the playing field’.

20 Wayne Bryan at IHSTeCAThe father of noted American doubles team Mike & Bob shared some of the secrets to their success with participants at the Indiana High School Tennis Coaches Association.

Plus…

6 Ad In – Questions still surround the short- and long-term plans for the Indianapolis Tennis Center

7 News & Notes – Tennis Skillastics debuts at Nora Elementary

8 (pro)file – Carmel High School girls’ coach Sharon Rosenburgh

10 On Court – Use these tips to get ready for outdoor play

12 Focus on Fitness – The proper thoracic/spine exercises can help your shoulder and hip rotation

22 Destination – Florida’s Amelia Island Plantation

16 Indy Tennis LeagueResponding to a need in the tennis community, Team Witsken expands by creating new year-round leagues.

Spring 2010

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Indianapolis Industrial League

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Publisher’s commentary

MagazineIndianapolis Tennis

PUBLISHERScott D. Cooper

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORSLinda CookDerek DoehrmannBill Gray – USTA MagazineScott HudsonTomas JohanssonLinda Schroeder O’NeillRajeev RamBryan SmithMark Woldmoe

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERSAmelia Island PlantationShawn BarneySouth Barrington Racquet Club

GRAPHIC DESIGNNardi Art, LLCRegina Nardi

Bal-Bow GrafixTerri Balon-Bowden

For advertising information, call (317) 918-0726

Indianapolis Tennis Magazine is published four times a year by Cooper Media Group, LLC Bargersville, Indiana

Contact us at Indianapolis Tennis Magazine P.O. Box 21 Bargersville, IN 46106

(317) 918-0726; (317) 422-4559 fax; or e-mail to scott@indytennismag.com

Material may not be used or reprinted without prior permission from Cooper Media Group, LLC.

Copyright® 2010, Cooper Media Group, LLCwww.indytennismag.com

Indianapolis Tennis Magazine and the Indianapolis Tennis Magazine logo are registered trademarks of Cooper Media Group, LLC.

Indianapolis Tennis Magazine is the winner of Media Awards from the USTA/Midwest Section (2007) and Hamilton County Community Tennis Association (2008).

Where do we go from here?

EVEN BEFORE THE FIRST BALL WAS STRUCK at last summer’s Indianapolis Tennis Championships (remember that?), there was

rampant speculation about what would happen to the Tennis Center itself. Would it stay? Would it be demolished? What would happen to the tennis programs that call it home? Of course, any rumor of the center’s fate quickly makes its way through-out the local tennis community. Such was the case earlier this year when there was concern that the expansion of the NCAA headquarters would encroach onto the land currently occupied by the indoor facility. There have, however, already been casualties – actually 10 of them – as the IU Board of Trustees voted to expand the Sports Complex Parking Fa-cility by demolishing the six hard courts and four clay courts directly south of the existing garage. A university spokesman has said there’s no funding to either demolish the stadium or construct its replacement. The $18 mil-lion needed for this project will come from university parking revenues, with the project starting this fall. The Tennis Center has been an integral part of the world-class trio of athletic facilities on the IUPUI campus, along with the natatorium and track and field stadium. In addition to the Tennis Championships, it also hosted a Davis Cup tie and is the site for numerous USTA-sanctioned com-petitions and independent tournaments. Last fall it was named by the USTA as a certified Regional Training Center to help develop the Midwest’s top junior players. But, assuming the ultimate demise of the entire complex is a question of “when” and not “if”, what becomes of its members and the events it hosts? A number of members migrated here 10 years ago when the former Racquets Four Sports Center closed in Southport, and some might find themselves back on the south side at the UIndy Tennis Center. And there’s always the persistent rumor about a new tennis facility being built somewhere south of Indianapolis, presumably in the Center Grove area and presumably headed up by the ITC’s Jeff and Bryan Smith. In a perfect world, and certainly in a better economic climate, I’d like to see someone – or a group of someones – come forward and champion a new indoor/outdoor tennis facility that could become a Midwest center of excellence for tennis training, similar to the boot camps that are prevalent throughout Florida. Such a facility would certainly have to be massive in order to cater to both fulltime resident students as well as the local recreational playing community. And, planned the right way, it could certainly help the city attract a new professional tennis event down the road. Speaking of the “new” Atlanta Tennis Championships, so far it’s signed local favorite (and defending tournament champion) Robby Ginepri, former University of Georgia star John Isner, James Blake, and perennial fan favorite Lleyton Hewitt. They will probably nab a few more American players, including Rajeev Ram, but the closest they may get to landing a top 15 player will be Andy Roddick. But, as we became well aware last summer, player commitments are only as good as the player’s health. Although a title sponsor has yet to be named as of our publication deadline, the tournament now has a venue – the Atlanta Athletic Club in the suburb of Jones Creek. The facility will use temporary bleacher seating for the main show court, as it did for the previous pro event it hosted, but a larger is-sue is already looming as the club is also slated to host the PGA Champion-ships next summer.

ad inPUBLISHER’S COMMENTARY

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TENNIS HAPPENINGS FROM AROUND THE AREA

Tennis Skillastics debuts at Nora ElementaryNora Elementary

played host last month to the launch of a new children’s fit-ness program known as Tennis Skillastics. The program is designed to help physical education teachers get kids moving in a fun and exciting way. Since tennis incorpo-rates all of the elements needed for a complete physical fitness workout, including cardio, hand-eye coordination, skill and agility, it is the perfect program to introduce to children.

Tennis Skillastics is the most recent addition to the USTA’s Youth Initia-tive, which includes the QuickStart Tennis play format, Jr. Team Tennis, No-Cut School Teams, and the Tennis-On-Campus program. The latest offering from Skillastics®, Inc., Tennis Skillastics produces popular fitness and sport-specific activities and games for varying ages and skill levels that are marketed worldwide to schools, youth service organizations and recre-ational agencies.

“The innovative Skillastics®, Inc. format is ideal for introducing ten-nis skills to large groups of children without the need for tennis courts. Through an exciting mix of tennis/fitness activities, children of all abilities will be able to develop skills quickly, gain confidence and acquire a love of the game that can last a lifetime,” said Jason Jamison, National Manager, School Tennis, USTA.

Developed to keep kids active and expose them to the game of tennis at an early age, Tennis Skillastics is designed to be played with QuickStart Tennis equipment, which scales down the game to better fit the needs of young children by utilizing smaller balls, racquets and courts.

news & notesHelen Petersen earns Kraft Service Award

FOUR CENTRAL INDIANA FATHER AND DAUGHTER TEAMS competed last month in the National Hard Court Open Father and Daughter Indoor Championships at the South Barrington Racquet Club near Chicago. Pictured

are (from left) Mikael and Lindsay Thygesen from Carmel, who placed third, and Marcy and Shawn Huck from Anderson, who placed fourth. Also competing were Raymond and Madison Rothberger from Carmel, and Kris and Emma E. Bilyeu from Terre Haute.

(Photo courtesy of South Barrington Racquet Club)

Helen Moser Petersen, president of the Hamilton County Community Tennis

Association (HCCTA) was awarded the 2010 Eve F. Kraft Community Service Award by the U.S. Tennis Association. Petersen received the award during the annual USTA Community Tennis Development Workshop held in January in San Diego, Calif.

The award is bestowed upon individuals who perpetuate Kraft’s selfless mission to bring the game of tennis to everyone who wants to play. Kraft was a tennis pioneer whose ability to touch people’s lives exceeded the boundaries of the tennis court. As a teacher, coach, author, USTA staff member and volunteer, Kraft was a lifelong champion of recreational tennis in the United States until her death in 1999.

“I’m very honored, because Eve Kraft was a dear, well-respected friend,” Petersen said. “She was a person who never lost her passion for tennis. She was a leader, and it was motivating for me to have started out my tennis volunteer career associating with people like her.”

Petersen, at the forefront of tennis in Indianapolis, organized and incorporated the HCCTA in 1990. During the school year, HCCTA sponsors after-school tennis programs in six public school systems involving more than 500 elementary students, and in the summer months, tennis programs continue in various locations for kids and adults.

HCCTA awards college scholarships and offers opportunities for education and community service activities. Four years ago, Petersen launched the “Community Reads” program to reinforce the value of reading, build team unity and foster a sense of community by reading books such as Arthur Ashe’s autobiography, Days of Grace, among others.

CORRECTIONIn the winter issue of Indianapolis Tennis Magazine, Matt Tran from Pendleton High School was inadvertently left out of the story highlighting area players who were on the winning Northeast boys’ all-star team. We apologize for the error.

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(pro)

Carmel coach has molded Greyhound girls into perpetual championship contenders

By Linda Cook

A CLOSER LOOK AT METRO INDY TEACHING PROS AND COACHES

For three decades, Carmel High School has built an impressive resume in girls’ tennis. Since 1980, the Greyhound girls have won four state titles, been a finalist once, and advanced to the semi-state two other times. They have

10 regional wins during that period, including four consecutive from 2006-2009. They’ve dominated their sectional, winning 23 times overall including every title since 1992 – the third most wins in state history.

The girls come and go, of course, but the one constant for those 30 years has been the coach, Sharon Rosenburgh.

Sharon has been active all her life, but she didn’t start playing competitive tennis until she was in her early 20s. She participated in the only girls’ sport offered at her high school in Aurora, Indiana – cheerleader – and she ran track at Indiana State University, where she earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in physical education. There she met her husband, Jim Rosenburgh, who played varsity tennis and worked in the Physical Education (P.E.) department.

After they married in 1971 and worked in Charlevoix, Michigan for two summers, Jim met some people who suggested he look into teaching at Indianapolis Racquet Club where he was hired as a pro to work with juniors.

Sharon’s first job was at Turkey Run High School, where she taught P.E. and health. There was no tennis program, but she coached girls’ basketball, volleyball, and track. She went on to teach for three years at Avon High School, where she coached girls’ basketball and tennis and started a boys’ tennis program. She also taught tennis at Indianapolis Racquet Club and in the Washington Township program at the Barbara S. Wynne Tennis Center.

Sharo

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file(pro)

Sharon Rosenburgh enjoys one of the spoils

of victory, an impromptu shower by her team

following their win last year in the championship

match of the girls’ high school state finals.

(Photos by Scott Cooper)

Carmel High School came calling in 1979, and Sharon initially coached junior varsity and varsity girls’ basketball and girls’ tennis. The tennis program was already going strong, with three sectional champion-ships in the 1970s. Sharon’s first team added another sectional win, and they followed that up the next year by finishing as state finalists with state doubles champions, Susan Bass and Martha Eberts.

As the years went on, the wins piled up. In addition to the team titles, several girls achieved individual acclaim. Holyn Lord was the state singles champion in 1989 and 1990, and Sophie Grabinski won in 2004. In 2003, Elizabeth Steele and Jessica Thompson were state doubles champions, and the following year Steele teamed with Marie Grabinski for another state victory. As importantly, many of Sharon’s players went on to successful college careers.

"Team spirit and camaraderie were lacking in the beginning", Sharon said, as girls would typically leave after playing their matches. That has changed over the years to the point where the girls not only support each other, but have even developed their own cheers. And even though girls’ tennis is a spring sport, the team began meeting in late August to select uniforms, set goals, and work on team development. A twice weekly conditioning program began in January, with practice having begun on March 15.

Several of Carmel’s top players have private coaches, and many on the

team participate in clinics during the off-season, so Sharon focuses on strategy, mental strengths, analyzing opponents, self-evaluation, and team responsibilities. After tryouts and spring break, there are a limited number of practices, so there is no time for major technical fundamental changes. Instead, Sharon has devised a system of verbal cues, such as, “Is your elbow where it needs to be?”

Sharon points out there have been many changes in high school sports over the years, especially in opportunities for girls and women. And the growth of high school tennis has resulted in the number of sections increasing from 32 to 64. But Sharon would like to see the sport taken in another direction – class tennis.

“I think it would be good for the growth of the game and would give smaller schools or those with weaker programs an incentive,” she said, adding it could spark interest in summer tennis programs in local community parks and recreation programs.

Sharon’s tennis involvement continues to extend beyond Carmel High School. She’s worked for many years with the Hamilton County Community Tennis Association, and

she’s very active with the Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association, which represents all 10 girls’ sports. She serves on the board of the Indiana High School Tennis Coaches Association, and she formed the North/South Senior All-Stars Tennis Cup in 1998.

Sharon’s hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed. She was elected to the Indiana High School Tennis Hall of Fame in 1993 and was named National Coach of the Year by the National Federation of High School Athletic Associations in 2004. She was also awarded an Educational Merit Award by the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2008. She has been named state Coach of the Year numerous times, most recently for 2009.

Sharon retired from teaching in 2008, but she continues to coach the girls’ team.

“I feel fortunate to be at Carmel High School, and I like giving back to the state and helping grow high school tennis,” she says. How long will she stay on the courts? “As long as I’m having fun, the kids are getting a good experience, and it’s still challenging. When I’m not competitive, not enthusiastic, and it becomes just a job, then it will be time to pass the torch.”

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Are you ready for summer tennis?

Tomas Johansson is the director of junior tennis at the Westview Healthplex Sports Club and a regular contributor to Indianapolis Tennis Magazine.

Let outdoor tennis come to you

By Tomas Johansson

The last six or so years I’ve played in the same facility on the same courts day in and day out. I’ve become accustomed to the colors, the lighting, the viewing area, and the players next to me or the ones walking in and out. My senses have grown numb, and all I have to do is focus on playing. If I were to play at another facility, or play outdoors, I know it’d be a very difficult adjustment. Knowing this, be very patient when playing outdoors and don't worry about such things as mechanics. Be prepared that you won’t feel as coordinated as you have felt indoors, and realize at first that you won’t have the same feel for the ball. Also be aware that your mechanics will initially feel “off”. All of this will eventually go away, but if you’re patient and are prepared for some initial setbacks, it won’t be long until you feel good about your game again. If you allow yourself to get frustrated and attempt to control what you obviously can’t, you’ll be in for a long and dreadful outdoor season. Instead, let outdoor tennis come to you before you try to go and get it.

on courtTIPS TO HELP IMPROVE YOUR GAME

Keep these tips in mind as the outdoor season approaches

Ah, the outdoor tennis season: the heat, the wind, the sun. Each element can be your friend or foe – depending on which side of the court you’re on, that is. But, as players begin the move from the friendly, consistent confines of indoors to the unpredictable outdoor courts, Indianapolis Tennis Magazine asked some of our local teaching pros, as well as our resident ATP touring pro, for their advice on readjusting to the elements.

Outdoor tennis is a state of mind

By Mark Woldmoe

There are a few very basic tips for playing outdoors that should be kept in mind regardless of the playing level. I think one of the most important things to do as we approach the transition from inside tennis to outdoor tennis is done mentally. It’s important to understand that the outdoor elements (sun, wind, heat, cool) all effect the quality of ball striking. The most important tip is to lower your expectations as far as how well you feel like you are playing. A simple formula for success is if E>R then R=D, where E=Expectation, R=Reality, and D=Disappointment. Apply this simple formula to your tennis and I promise you will play consistently better tennis.

Mark Woldmoe is the head teaching pro at the Carmel Racquet Club and the boys’ varsity head tennis coach at Hamilton Southeastern High School.

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on co

urtRelax, stay patient when going outside

By Bryan Smith

The first thing you need to realize is that you’re not going to be able to hit the ball as hard, so you need to stay relaxed. A lot of people start gripping the racquet too hard and swinging too hard, which can result in an injury. I think you need to just play quite a bit when you first get outside, rather than drilling quite as much. Play some cross-court points and then progress to games to get used to the different conditions. Being patient is a big key since you won’t be able to get away with some of the stuff that you can when playing indoors. You also need to realize that your serve isn’t going to go nearly as fast when you play outdoors, and you’re going to have to play longer points.

Bryan Smith is the head teaching pro at the Indianapolis Tennis Center.

Watch the ball… and your footwork

By Rajeev Ram

I was never really good at transitioning from indoors to outdoors. You’ve got to be really good about watching the ball and really good with your footwork since there are so many elements to take into consideration. Even when it’s not windy, footwork, patience and concentration are still so important. You can get away with a lot of things indoors because there are no elements to contend with, so you have to be aware of that when moving outdoors. And conditioning takes on a greater emphasis and makes playing outdoors even harder. The more you move your feet, the more you watch the ball, the longer the points go, the more in shape you’ve got to be. But that improves the more you play outdoors. So, the more you play outdoors, the better off you’ll be as a tennis player, period.

Rajeev Ram is a former Carmel High School standout who has won four career titles on the ATP Tour. He’s currently ranked 79th in the world in singles and 35th in doubles.

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onfitness

focu

s

Scott Hudson, MS, ATC, CSCA, is an athletic trainer at the St. Vincent Sports Performance Center specializing in training techniques and rehabilitation services for tennis players. An athletic trainer at selected USTA pro events, he works with ATP Tour pro Rajeev Ram as well as several of the top juniors in the Indianapolis area.

Tennis is a rotational sport. Serving, hitting forehands and backhands are explosive movements. In order to do this, one must have core stability and thoracic mobility. A lack of mobility in the thoracic region will limit the force that a tennis player can generate. It may also lead to shoulder injuries due to this lack of mobility in the thoracic region. If the pattern is broken, injuries will happen. For example, if a player is lacking hip mobility and thoracic mobility, the rotational force is going to be absorbed by the lumbar spine – which is supposed to be a stable joint.

Over time, the body will break down because of this. The body will not be able to generate speed or transfer it!

The following exercises will focus on thoracic mobility to not only prevent shoulder and lower back injuries, but to also allow you, as a tennis player, the proper shoulder/hip rotation to generate the maximum amount of force. As always, be sure to confer with your doctor, certified athletic trainer or certified personal trainer prior to incorporating these movements into your exercise routine.

Anterior-posterior mobility with tennis ballsNote: wrap two tennis balls securely together with tape (see inset).

How it’s done: Place the instrument so each tennis ball is on opposite sides of the thoracic spine. Lie flat onto the instrument, then press feet into the wall. An increase in pressure from the tennis balls will be felt.

How many: 10-15 repetitions

Seated thoracic extensionHow it’s done: Sit in a position where your knees are higher than your hips (lock-out the lumbar); interlock hands behind neck keeping elbows in; extend

spine backwards looking up and pushing chest upwards/forward.

How many: 10-15 repetitions; hold for 2 seconds each

Thoracic mobility exercises can help shoulder/hip rotation By Scott Hudson

focus on fitnessOFF-COURT STRATEGIES TO HELP YOUR GAME ON THE COURT

Lumbar locked (in flexion) with shoulder external rotationHow it’s done: Start with butt touching heels; place hand behind head; rotate shoulder toward ceiling – looking up with head simultaneously.

How many: 10-15 repetitions each side; hold for 2-3 seconds each

Lumbar locked (in flexion) with shoulder internal rotationHow it’s done: Start with butt touching heels; place hand on small of back to lock out

scapula; rotate shoulder toward ceiling – looking up with head simultaneously.

How many: 10-15 repetitions each side; hold for 2-3 seconds each

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Industrial strengthAfter 70+ years, league continues to thrive at West Indy

TRADITION. COMPETITION. CAMARADERIE. COMMITMENT. These are just four of a limitless list of words that describe a local tennis cornerstone, the Indianapolis Indus-trial League.

While many members of the Indy tennis community connect the Indus-trial League to its current home at the West Indy Racquet Club, accord-ing to Paul Gill the league began in 1937 as a summer league playing out of Tarkington Park. And though matches have also been held at the Indianapolis Racquet Club, the West Indy has exclusively hosted the league since 1976.

“There’s a really long tradition to the league being at the club,” notes West Indy owner Tammy Callahan, who purchased the facility in 2003 and honored a commitment to Gill, a former owner of the club and a teaching pro, to keep the league go-ing. “It’s probably the reason why the club survived through its hard times,” she added.

In its heyday, league play was prin-cipally sponsored by Indianapolis companies such as RCA, Mallory, and Allison Transmissions. Link Belt pur-chased a trophy that still resides at West Indy. Tennis programs eventu-ally expanded in Indianapolis and the

league moved play to Saturdays. When the need arose to find a per-manent home, Gill convinced the league’s leadership that “as long as I’m here (at West Indy), you’ve got a home.”

Gill and his business partners owned West Indy from 1976-2001 when, according to Gill, the facility featured little more than a trailer next to the courts. In fact, during the first two years it was not uncommon to find as many as 40 league members spending a few hours raising and lowering the temporary air structure, which covered the courts during the fall and winter seasons.

And while the league operates out of West Indy, one of its important qualities is that you’re not required to be a member to play there.

“It is such a melting pot,” Gill said. “It doesn’t matter if you played a guy 10 years ago, you could be playing again today and it would be just as much fun. The camaraderie is what makes the league special.”

Unlike USTA league play, where teams are organized by skill level, part of the appeal of the Industrial League is that it allows players of various levels to be a part of the same team. Each of the seven league teams is al-

By DEREK DOEHRMANN

VICTOR JOHNS SERVESduring a singles match against John Householder in the Indianapolis Industrial League.

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lowed 18 rostered players. Matches consist of three singles and three doubles courts playing a 90-minute match where scoring is tracked by the total number of games won during that pe-riod. A buzzer announces the end of play, with matches concluding with the point in progress, regardless of game score.

The triple round-robin league starts dur-ing the third weekend in September and ends near the end of April with breaks built in for holidays and spring break. A three-week playoff format results in 24 weekends of play.

“We see the level of the aggressiveness get more intense as we get closer to the playoffs,” said Callahan.

While USTA leagues allow winning teams

to progress to additional playoffs, there are no such opportunities for Industrial League cham-pions. Although one former club owner had a practice of taking the winning team out to din-ner, the only reward for current winning teams is having its name on a plaque at the club. But even that means quite a bit.

“Bragging rights mean a lot,” notes Calla-han. “It’s kind of cool that way. We really don’t have issues with unsportsmanlike play. People seem to enjoy the camaraderie, yet they want to get a good match.”

Over the years the league has had to adapt to make it more attractive to players. “When I bought the club, the no-show rate was higher than I wanted it to be,” notes Callahan. One change was to allow each team to have a bye week, which also led to the “foreign income” rule where bye week players could sub as needed and still earn points for their own team.

“League administrators also look at the lineups for holes or mismatched opponents,” said Callahan. “We want people to feel like they got a good match. We don’t want them walking out feeling like they wasted their money.”

Not only do the playing levels vary by team, the for-mat also allows for men and women to compete directly

DEBBY BURTON RETURNSa backhand in a recent

Industrial League doubles match. She and Kim Shippy

were paired against Bret Loman and David Rich.

Photos by Shawn Barney

against each other. All but one of the teams has at least two women on their rosters, and the ages of team mem-bers vary as well.

“Every team has a mix of people ranging from their mid 20s up to their mid 60s,” said Callahan. “These teams are truly mixed, which is another thing that makes it really cool.”

It’s that commitment to camaraderie and competi-tion that’s helped keep the Industrial League, the na-tion’s oldest continuous tennis league, alive and well for more than 70 years.

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Indy Tennis League

By LINDA SCHROEDER O’NEILL

Rick Witsken had heard the complaints from ten-nis league players. They wanted more and diverse

opportunities to play, not to mention a “lighter” environ-ment that would help offset the pressures they tend to feel during traditional league match play.

Having been at the helm of his own tennis program for 10 years, Witsken decided it was not only time to ad-dress those concerns, but also to begin branching out. Thus was born the Indy Tennis League.

The league opened its inaugural year last summer by offering both women’s and men’s leagues. And with over 200 people participating, it appears the need was there.

Most of the league players also participate on a USTA team or other local leagues, but they enjoy the collegial environment and camaraderie afforded by the Indy Ten-nis League.

“It’s fun!” said Sun Hui Pauley, who participated in the women’s inaugural season and is now a team cap-tain. “It was a great way to keep playing tennis after the end of my summer USTA team and the start of the CI-WITL (Central Indiana Women’s Indoor Tennis League) season. I met new people and had very competitive, but friendly, matches.”

The women’s league has four seasons. Spring, sum-mer and fall matches are played outdoors at various sites primarily on the northside of Indianapolis, while winter matches are moved indoors to Team Witsken’s base of operations at Pickwick Place near Nora.

The Indy Tennis League offers its own rating system for women and men that’s similar to the USTA’s NTRP ratings (see inset). Each team needs a minimum of eight players spanning the range of ratings. A match is made up of four doubles matches, with each one correspond-ing to the different levels of play. Teams can include both adults and high school players.

Ratings equivalents for the Indy Tennis League ladies division

ITL level NTRP equivalent A4 2.5 A3 3.0 A2 3.5 A1 4.0

Rankings and league winners are based on individual performance (win-loss percentage), and there are play-offs for each of the leagues at the end of the season. The league hosts an end-of-the-season party, with players be-ing recognized in different categories, including best per-formance and sportsmanship.

The women’s summer league is hoping to build on the 140 players it had for last year’s inaugural season when play begins June 7. The spring league, which started ear-lier this month, will conclude by the end of May.

Unlike the ladies, the men’s league is geared to higher-level players. For example, the men’s A1 level equates to NTRP level 5.5 and, while some levels overlap, the low-est level is A6, which is comparable to an NTRP level of 3.5. Over 100 men played last summer.

Each men’s season begins with a team draft, with the highest-level players, as captains, building their teams.

“If a captain doesn’t know some of the players in the draft, they’ll call around to their buddies to see who’s who,” said Witsken. “You’re not necessarily on a team with all your friends, but in general that seems to be okay.” Witsken does try to accommodate part-ners that want to play together by allowing them to be drafted together.

“The draft is a blast,” said captain Chris Zeilinga. “I’ve never formed a team this way, and it’s different than other leagues, where there’s usually one team killing ev-eryone.” Zeilinga, for one, appreciates the opportunity the league affords him. “At the 5.5 level, I didn’t have anywhere to play on a regular basis. This league is great because it’s every Sunday afternoon, they’re competitive matches, and it’s affordable.”

This year’s summer season runs from May 16 to July 25, with players participating in nine matches. Winter league matches are moved indoors to either Carmel Racquet Club or Pickwick Place.

Witsken hopes to expand the Indy Tennis League to middle school students in the near future as a way to give them more match experience than they receive through school seasons and tournaments.

“I want to offer an inexpensive way for kids to play on the weekends,” said Witsken. “I also want to provide an opportunity for kids who get cut from the school team and for those who can’t afford to travel to weekend tour-naments. The need is there, especially for kids who go to tournaments and continually get beat, and beat bad, by the same players who are always at the top of the draw.”

Being able to compete regularly against a wide range of people is what continues to drive Witsken.

“Even for the players that are at the top of the draw, it’s beneficial for them to experience matches outside of school. Sometimes it’s okay to get beat by a 40-year-old ‘old guy’ – it gives them something to think about.”

Team Witsken Tennis offers more chances to play

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Hop-a-Razzi

If you’ve ever picked up balls at the end of a tiring practice session and wondered if there was a better way to ease the

burden on your body from lifting and carrying heavy ball hoppers, a Chicago-area teaching pro may just have found your answer.

USPTA-certified Christi Turdo has developed the new Hop-a-Razzi™ basket, which makes ball pick-up quick, easy and fun. The sturdy, colorful, stackable basket’s built-in wheels and adjustable handle allow everyone to retrieve balls quickly – and spend their energy on hitting balls rather than picking them up.

The patent-pending design was created by Turdo, whose 30-plus years in tennis includes competing at the collegiate level, teaching and working as a club manager and owner. Her own on-court experience drove her to invent this innovative basket.

“I was teaching a lesson to a seven-year-old girl. It was a very hot day and she was picking up balls at the other end of the court,”

says Turdo. “I heard her saying, ‘the basket’s too heavy; I can’t pick it up!’ That night I took the basket home and started working on a design that would make it easier to pick up tennis balls.”

New rolling hopper makes ball pick-up easy, fun

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Register Now!IndianaSeniorGames.com

Athletic Competitions for Adults 50+

June 17-20

RacquetballRoad RaceShuffleboardSoftball(Hosted in Columbus, IN)

SwimmingTable TennisTennisTrack & FieldTrap & Skeet(Hosted in Columbus, IN)

Volleyball

ArcheryBadmintonBasketballBowlingCyclingGolfHorseshoesMountain Biking(Demonstration Sport)

Pickleball(Demonstration Sport)

Race Walk

For more information visit IndianaSeniorGames.com or call 800-776-8687.

COACH LIN LORINGIndiana University Women’s CoachNational Coach of the Year—‘82,‘92Big Ten Coach of the Year—’82,‘88, ‘92, ‘95, ‘0716 Big Ten TitlesCoach of eighteen All-AmericansCoach of four National Champions17 Consecutive top 20 finishes

INDIANA TENNIS CAMP for BOYSJune 27-July 2, 2010

COACH RANDY BLOEMENDAALIndiana University Men's CoachITA Regional Coach of the Year ’98, ’99, ‘01Conference Coach of the Year ’97, ’98, ’00,

’01, ’02, ‘03Eight Conference ChampionshipsThird year head coach at Indiana University

INDIANA UNIVERSITY TENNIS CAMPHOOSIER TENNIS CAMP for GIRLSJune 13-18, 2010

INFORMATION/REGISTRATION at www.hoosiersportscamps.com

10-03 Alumni Magazine 3/12/10 11:10 AM Page 1

The result was the Hop-a-Razzi™. Unlike standard ball hoppers, which can be heavy and cumbersome to use, just tilt the Hop-a-Razzi™ back to engage the built-in wheels. The 90-ball capacity basket comes in a variety of colors.

And Turdo has recently introduced two new models, the Hop Pro and Hop Junior, that are designed for teaching pros, players and kids. Like the original, these two new baskets not only have built-in wheels, but can be quickly converted to standing teaching baskets.

“Court time is precious. We created the Hop Pro and the Hop Junior so teaching pros, recreational players and kids could easily transition from picking up balls to playing,” says Turdo. “The basket’s adjustable handles convert to legs so pros can feed balls quickly and players can grab balls easily to practice serves or to hit. And a locking lid keeps balls in place when transporting the basket. It’s an all-in-one solution.”

The Hop Pro has a 125-ball capacity, while the Hop Junior holds 65 balls.

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Bryans’ dad tells coaches to ‘have fun’WAYNE BRYAN is collectively known as a coach,

author, emcee, clinician, and musician, but he is probably best known as the father of the top men’s doubles team in the world, Bob and Mike Bryan. This year, he was also one of the presenters at the annual conference of the Indiana High School Tennis Coaches Association (IHSTeCA) at the Indianapolis Racquet Club.

Bryan’s resume touts his professional accomplishments, such as being a three-time World Team Tennis coach of the year, 2008 Professional Tennis Registry Pro of the Year, and founder of the California’s Cabrillo Racquet Club. But on this day, in front of the 150-plus coaches, the emphasis was on drills and games for high school teams that are both fun and get results.

He emphasized:• Make the game fun• Basic skills development, especially ball control• Don’t anticipate your opponents next shot – wait until you know• Champions take it in through their eyes, not their ears

Bryan related the story about how his boys didn’t have a TV or video games in the house when they were

growing up. That, he said, forced them to concentrate on such things as their tennis, their music (they now have the Bryan Brothers Band), and their education.

Coaches, he said, can motivate their players in a number of ways away from the court, such as by organizing trips to watch local college matches. On the court, however, he said every drill needs to have a winner and a loser.

“Champions want to compete, regardless of what it is,” he said.

Wayne Bryan spoke three times during this year’s IHSTeCA annual

conference.

Photo by Scott Cooper

news & notesFundraisers help those in Haiti, AfricaMore than $13,000 to help those in need in both Haiti and Africa was raised during two recent tennis-related fundraisers.

Earthquake relief in Haiti was the goal of the “Hit for Haiti,” organized by the Park Tudor School boys’ ten-nis team. The event, held at Five Seasons Sports Club, gave local players an opportunity to hit with members of last fall’s state championship-winning team by making a donation.

The rally brought in $3,000, which was donated to the American Red Cross/Haiti Relief Fund.

The second was the inaugural “Drill4Water,” which was held at the Carmel Racquet Club. The event, orga-nized by NuAfrica, raised $10,000 that will go to help provide fresh drinking water for the African village of Mali. The fundraiser, which also included dinner and silent auction, offered players the chance to drill with CRC pros.

Austin doubles up on titlesin EuropeFor the second consecutive year, Indianapolis’ Brooke Austin was named to the U.S. team for junior competitions in Europe and she made the most of the opportunity, re-turning with a pair of doubles titles.

Teaming with Gabrielle Andrews in both events, the first win came in the Teen Tennis event in Bolton, England, one of the premier events in the world for players 14 and under. It was an all-American final, as Austin and Andrews, who were seeded fourth, defeated Alexandria Stiteler and Taylor Townsend, 6-1, 6-3. The doubles title was some consola-tion to Austin, who lost to Andrews in the girls’ singles fi-nal, 2-6, 6-0, 6-3.

The second title came in the finals of Les Petits As in Tarbes, France, and, like the week before, Austin and An-drews had to beat teammates Stiteler and Townsend in the final, 6-3, 6-4. Austin lost in the first round in singles, where she was seeded first.

Both events were sanctioned by the European Tennis Association (ETA).

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

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2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0

4.5

5

.0 5.5 6.0

Running the numbers

Reprinted from USTA Magazine

SOME 94,000 USTA LEAGUE PLAYERS – about 30% of those who competed last year in the association’s

adult, senior and super senior age divisions based on their NTRP ratings – had their ratings changed for the 2010 League Championship year. That almost doubles the number of players whose levels were changed in 2008.

At the end of each year, the National Tennis Rating Program computer weighs the results of all USTA League players (it considers their win-loss records and the quality of the opponents they’ve played, among other factors) to determine which players need to be promoted or moved down in regard to ratings.

The USTA’s decision to promote more players than ever was based on its desire to retain the integrity of the NTRP guidelines after a study was conducted by the USTA National Oversight Group. That study, which included input from staff, volunteers, team captains and players, found a “growing disconnect” between what the NTRP guidelines state and what actual player levels are.

The study found that many players have skills and capabilities that go beyond the NTRP guidelines for the various categories. For example, the guidelines state that 3.0-level players “lack control when trying for directional intent,” 3.5 players “lack a variety of shots,” and 4.0 players “only occasionally force errors when serving.”

To combat this discrepancy between guidelines and ratings, a higher percentage of players were promoted this year – particularly among players and teams that have dominated local leagues year after

By BILL GRAY

Adjusting USTA NTRP ratings meant 30% of players were ‘bumped’

year – so that the levels of play will more accurately reflect the guideline’s skill descriptions.

“We’re trying to level the playing field and create a better local league experience for all players, not just the segment that only wants to play at the national championships,” says Dave Schobel, the USTA’s Director of Competitive Play.

In the past, some players have purposely “played down” below their skill in order to more easily advance to regional, state and national championships. “When I started playing USTA League 25 years ago, I came in as a 4.0 and was really proud to get to 4.5,” says Julia Capara of Grosse Pointe, Mich. “Now it looks like 4.5s aspire to be 4.0s just so they can get to nationals.”

Those who “play down” have been a major cause of oversaturation at the 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 levels that currently comprise about 271,000 of the 324,000 total USTA League players. The adjustments in ratings are intended to create more players at the 4.5 and 5.0 levels, so there will be more opportunity for local play in these divisions.

The most telltale sign that something was askew was a significant number of repeat playoff winners, says Larry Jones, who created and runs the TennisLink computer as the USTA’s NTRP coordinator. He says the odds of the same player reaching one of the 17 section championships should be something like 20-1 based on the size of their section, but certain players have made it that far for five consecutive years. “Something is up if someone can pull off an unlikely event like that several times in a row,” he says.

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A perennial tennis favorite

destinationPLACES TO GO – PLACES TO PLAY

Over the years, Florida’s Amelia Island Plantation has not only become a popular

tennis destination for recreational players, but the 1,350-acre resort has also seen some of the game’s best players slide across its famed green clay courts.

Located on Amelia Island, just 29 miles north of Jacksonville International Airport, the AAA-Four Diamond resort overlooks the Atlantic on the east and green marshland and Intracoastal Waterway on the west. Nestled among centuries-old live oaks, the resort community exemplifies both environmental

Sunrise envelops the Amelia Island Plantation, with marshland and the Intracoastal Waterway in the distance.

‘In Harmony with Nature,’ Amelia Island Plantation has hosted some of the game’s greats

sensitivity and the luxury of a leisure lifestyle. Amelia encourages its guests to take advantage of the natural environment by offering a wide variety of guided environmental tours, with staff naturalists giving a hands-on experience.

Led by 25-year teaching professional Kelly Gunterman, the Amelia Island Plantation tennis program has been recognized as one of the finest resort tennis programs in the world, offering tournaments and facilities that cater to all ages and every level of play.

Amelia IslandPlantation

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Connors, Evert, Navratilova and Sampras are among the tennis elite that have competed on Amelia Island Plantation’s famed clay courts.

With 23 Har-Tru fast-dry clay courts, guests and professionals alike enjoy play by day and night. Since 1974, the legends of tennis that have played at Amelia Island Plantation include Andre Agassi, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Martina Hingis, Maria Sharapova and the Williams sisters.

The Racquet Park at Amelia Island Plantation creates a sense of beauty and excitement that is a part of its history. Since its grand opening in 1974, Racquet Park has hosted some of the greatest names in tennis history. Navratilova, Evert, Graf, Hingis, Seles, Sampras, Connors and Agassi are among the legends that have graced its famed center court, home to the Bausch & Lomb or WTA Championships for 29 years.

One of the more popular tennis packages, offered seasonally, is a four-day program (Thursday through Sunday) that emphasizes a different discipline each day through group clinics and private lessons. Along with 12 hours of instruction, the package also includes videotape analysis, lunch each day, and complimentary use of the fitness center for guests staying at the resort.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Amelia Inn & Beach Club offers 249 deluxe ocean view hotel rooms, as well as a spectacular two-tiered pool deck. All private balconies face the ocean and are perfect for an early morning breakfast while enjoying the sunrise.

The “Villas of Amelia” provide guests with special features, room configurations and amenities. Ocean and resort view hotel rooms, one, two and three bedroom villas are available and are attentively

maintained. Many have ocean views, or line the fairways of the golf courses or adjoin the tennis courts at Racquet Park. Each villa is unique and different; most feature fully equipped kitchens, dining areas, spacious living rooms, multiple baths and private bedrooms. Most villa complexes have at least one pool.

GOLF & AMENITIES

Amelia Island Plantation boasts 72 championship holes and has been named a “Silver Medal Golf Resort” each year by Golf Magazine. Amelia Links, designed by Pete Dye and Bobby Weed, is a 36-hole configuration including two signature courses, Oak Marsh and Ocean Links.

Long Point, Tom Fazio’s creation, is an 18-hole layout designed distinctly among primal marshlands and the towering sand dunes of the Atlantic. Long Point is the Club Member primary course; however, resort guests may reserve tee times one day in advance.

Amelia River, open to the public and located just three miles from the resort’s main entrance, offers a Tom Jackson-designed 18-hole layout, sculpted around a forest of majestic live oaks, sabal palms, pines and wax myrtle.

Dinner at the Ocean Grill has a menu that is updated seasonally with the finest steaks, seafood, chops, and chef ’s specials, along with favorites from the local farmers’ market. View the Atlantic Ocean from your table while savoring the sounds, scents and sophistication of the sea and feasting upon organic and specialty items.

For casual dining, guests can dine outside under the covered porch at Marché Burette while enjoying the Florida sunshine. After lunch, head over to Cooper’s Homemade Ice Cream & Desserts for a treat sure to satisfy any sweet tooth.

Headed toward the beach? Stop poolside for a tropical drink at the Beach Club. Or if the golf course is calling, be sure to check out the Golf Shop Restaurant. Hungry for seafood? Enjoy the charmingly casual The Verandah, with today’s fresh seafood.

Ocean Links is one of two signature courses designed by Pete Dye and Bobby Weed that make up Amelia Links.

For more information about Amelia Island Plantation, visit www.aipfl.com or call (888) 261-6161.

������������������������SEE THE WORLD’S BEST PLAYERSIN CINCINNATIAUGUST 7-22, 2010TOURNAMENT OFFICE:

513-651-0303www.cincytennis.com

TICKETMASTER:

800-745-3000www.ticketmaster.com

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