Executive Director's Letter

Pretty soon you'll be heading back to the courts for team tennis. We hope you pass the word about the USHSTCA to your fellow coaches. While most of you play in conferences with eight or more teams, if each USHSTCA member steers only one fellow coach to our association, we'll double our membership!

The association is moving its headquarters to Atlanta, and we would still like to hold at least one or two workshops this Summer. Be on the lookout for an e-mail to let us know if Atlanta or Hilton Head Island would be a good location for a workshop for you.

Next month's editorial will shift from topics that help you with your Summer programs to information more specific to coaching student athletes. In the meantime, this issue will help you with topics you can use for any of your programs.

Learn why and how the new, two-handed backhand has evolved as the stroke of choice for most competitive players worldwide, and what it means to your players. Tennis is also evolving into an attacking game even at the recreational level, with many players developing "first-strike" point tactics. Learn how to teach your players an offensive return of serve in this month's "Skill-Building Drill."

If you're a big fan of backboards and ball machines, you may want to reconsider how you've been using these training aids, which can actually do more damage than good. We tell you why in this issue.

Finally, while you're covered by your $1 million dollar liability insurance policy with the USHSTCA, you still want to know basic first aid, and learn other ways to keep yourself from being successfully sued by players you coach or teach.Check out this issue of "HS Tennis Coach" to keep yourself informed.

Enjoy the rest of your Summer and good luck getting ready for the Fall season.

Steve Milano
Executive Director