2008 USPTA Member of the Year: Tom Sweitzer
In the 33 years Tom Sweitzer has been a full-time teaching pro, he has just about seen it all — from pros who are bored and show it, to overly technical instructors who won’t let players hit two shots in a row without correcting their strokes.
A successful junior and college player despite never having taken a lesson himself, the Hershey, Pa., native has dedicated his career to sharing his love of the game with others. And for 2008, Sweitzer is RSI’s USPTA Member of the Year.
“Tom Sweitzer has shown his continued commitment and dedication to the USPTA and the sport of tennis,” says USPTA CEO Tim Heckler. “It is evident from his success in so many facets of tennis, including as a teaching professional and through contributions to the community, education and publications.”
Now a USPTA master pro, Sweitzer teaches his players the strokes and strategies he has honed since those days. He is just as committed to his fellow USPTA members, speaking at numerous national and sectional conventions and writing more than 30 articles. He’s a USTA Middle States Hall of Famer, former USPTA Middle States Division president, past USTA and USPTA Middle States pro of the year, and past recipient of Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Community Service citation for helping to raise $8 million for local health care facilities through charity tennis events.
Sweitzer has taught more than 50,000 hours of tennis lessons, with more than 200 of his former students involved in teaching or coaching tennis, and has directed over 250 USTA tournaments.
“I could probably make more money doing something else,” Sweitzer says, “but the biggest paycheck for me is seeing my students do well and families come together through tennis.”
- Get involved. Attending the USPTA national convention is a great first step for members, and all 17 divisions offer regular meetings and educational opportunities.
- It’s a big world out there. Visit and experience the good and the bad of other clubs. You may gain valuable networking opportunities, or learn something new which may benefit your own players and club.
- You are your own business. Your business doesn’t have to stop when you step off the court. Promote and market your skills.
See all articles by Cynthia Cantrell
About the Author
Cynthia Cantrell is a contributing editor of Tennis Industry magazine.
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