Industry News

Cal Products Acquires Latexite, Premier, Guardian

Leading sports surface manufacturer California Products Corp. has acquired three companies that officials say will expand and strengthen the products and services provided by California Sports Surfaces (CSS). Latexite International Inc., Premier Concepts Inc., and Guardian Crack Repair Products LLC will now fall under the California Products umbrella.

Latexite International is a manufacturer of Latex-ite, a sports surface coating system used for tennis, basketball, volleyball, badminton, and other multi-sport systems. Premier Concepts, incorporated in 1989, produces Premier Court, a patented manufactured composite that provides impact-absorbing cushion, which minimizes repetitive shock and reduces body stress.

Guardian Crack Repair, originated in 2003, is designed to repair tennis court cracks and cracked sport surfaces. Innovators of “peel and seal” crack-repair technology, Guardian is a patented system used on thousands of asphalt and concrete surfaces.

“This transaction offers a strategic fit that will add new products, brands, geographies and distribution channels to our existing footprint,” says California Products’ Chairman and CEO Peter Longo. Current CSS brands include Plexipave, the surface of the Australian Open since 2008; DecoTurf, the surface of the US Open since 1978; Rebound Ace, the surface of the Asian Games; and Plexitrac, a track surface system for full-performance athletic facilities.

CSS Managing Director John Graham says several individuals, including Premier Concepts President Chris Rossi, will join the CSS team in the areas of sales, customer service, distribution and technical support.

“We are very pleased to be joining CSS,” says Rossi. “Our brands are the perfect complement to Plexipave, DecoTurf and Rebound Ace.”

Products from Latexite, Premier and Guardian can be found in a variety of markets: national stadiums, international tennis venues, resorts, clubs, schools, colleges, and private residences. The surfaces have been selected at some of the world’s most prestigious events and facilities, including Davis Cup and Fed Cup ties.

All of the products will be manufactured by California Products at its 160,000-square-foot state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Andover, Mass. Visit calprocorp.com.

PTR Week Set for Feb. 17-23

PTR Week, which includes the International Tennis Symposium, PTR Championships, and Trade Show, will be Feb.17-23 at the Sonesta Resort on Hilton Head Island.

The PTR Championships will take place on Feb. 18 (entry deadline for the Championships is Feb. 13), Symposium presentations start on Feb. 19, and the Trade Show will be on Feb. 20.

There will be more than 40 presentations, covering all aspects of the tennis business and coaching. Speakers will include Mike Barrell, Lorenzo Beltrame, Jay Berger, Jorge Capestany, Doug Cash, Ken DeHart, Pat Etcheberry, Steve Keller, Dr. Ben Kibler, Dr. Mark Kovacs, Michele Krause, Dr. Jim Loehr, Page Love, Dr. Anne Pankhurst, Nigel Pugh, Bill Riddle, Kathy Rinaldi, Nick Saviano and many others. There will also be Professional Development Courses, PTR 11 to 17 Certification, and Etcheberry Certification.

For more information or to register, visit ptrtennis.org.

Under Armour Signs Andy Murray

Andy Murray has signed a four-year deal to wear Under Armour apparel, footwear and accessories. The Brit also will be featured in marketing campaigns, will participate in global training and tennis activations, and will make appearances for the brand.

Murray had been with Adidas, which recently decided not to renew its contract with the 2013 Wimbledon and 2012 US Open champion. However, reports indicate that Murray may still wear Adidas shoes as he looks for acceptable footwear from Under Armour.

“I am honored and excited to be joining Team Under Armour and to help them tell their story globally,” said Murray, currently ranked No. 6 in the world with 31 career titles. “They are committed to providing innovative apparel, accessories, and footwear, with an unmatched focus on training and performance.”

Murray joins other world-class athletes in the Under Armour stable, including Lindsey Vonn, Tom Brady, Cam Newton, Stephen Curry, Jordan Spieth and fellow tennis player Sloane Stephens.

Five Earn PTR Master of Tennis Designation

Five PTR professionals completed extensive education requirements to earn the organization’s highest coaching certification — PTR Master of Tennis. The pros are Olya Batsula of Atlanta, Jared Flick of Midland, Mich., and Lisandro Carrillo of Visalia, Calif., who each earned the PTR Master of Tennis–Performance certification, and Jenny Robb of Birmingham, Ala., and Tim Clay of Naperville, Ill., who both earned the PTR Master of Tennis–Junior Development certification.

PTR Master of Tennis qualification matches Level 5, the highest level, of the National Council on Accreditation of Coaching Education. The NCACE standards, at different levels, are used by many other sports and education bodies in the U.S. and are recognized and endorsed by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).

The Master of Tennis program, a first in coach education in the U.S., is open to PTR members who hold a Professional rating, and develops the coach’s ability to plan comprehensive club programs for all ages of junior players, and to use competence-based coaching skills.

“The Master of Tennis program debuted last year,” says PTR CEO Dan Santorum. “It is based on a number of courses in a unique mixture of online learning and home study, as well as practical on-court learning in small groups of fellow professionals. The program can be completed in as few as nine months or can take as long as two years, and the schedule takes into consideration that most participants work full time.” Visit ptrtennis.org for more information.

Promote Your Programming with a USTA Tennis Play Event

The USTA will launch thousands of Tennis Play Events across the country in the month of March, pegged to the celebration of World Tennis Day on March 10.

USTA Tennis Play Events invite families and kids of all ages and skill levels to try tennis at local events, parks and facilities and are a great way to introduce the sport to kids and provide a platform to register children for spring programs. Nationally, March is the top month when parents begin registering their children for spring programs.

By hosting a Tennis Play Event anytime in the month of March, tennis organizers have the opportunity to showcase their junior tennis programs and attract new players to the sport. In March 2014, there were 1,145 registered Youth Tennis events, a 54 percent increase over March 2013.

The first 2,000 tennis providers to register to host a USTA Tennis Play Event will receive a $50 Amazon gift card. Registration ends on March 30. To host an event, visit YouthTennis.com.

World Tennis Day on March 10 is a celebration of tennis around the world and is held in conjunction with the BNP Paribas Showdown in Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Antigua Launches Spring Line

Antigua’s spring women’s tennis apparel features a mix of contemporary and traditional designs using performance fabrics, with an emphasis on team uniforms. Three new additions highlight the collection:

The Chip dress has a contrast mesh side and back insets, pleated skirt and built-in self bra (available in six color options).

The Love tank, a racer-back, features mesh side and back insets (also in six colors).

The Spin skort is a 14.5-inch jersey knit skort with a scalloped front and mesh underlay.

With its in-house embroidery capabilities, one of Antigua’s specialties is outfitting tournament officials and teams with logoed apparel, including for the Family Circle Cup in Charleston, S.C.

Williams, Djokovic, Bryans Honored by ITF

Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic are the 2014 ITF World Champions. Williams is the Women’s World Champion for the fifth time, while this is the fourth occasion that Djokovic has received the honor. Bob and Mike Bryan are the Men’s Doubles World Champions for the 11th time in 12 years, while Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci of Italy become Women’s Doubles World Champions for the third successive year.

Catherine “CiCi” Bellis of the U.S. and Russia’s Andrey Rublev are the ITF Junior World Champions, while the ITF Wheelchair World Champions are the Japanese duo Yui Kamiji and Shingo Kunieda, who becomes men’s champion for the sixth time.

The ITF World Champions will receive their awards at the 2015 ITF World Champions Dinner on June 2 in Paris, during the French Open.

PowerShares Series Sets 2015 Dates, Venues

InsideOut Sports & Entertainment announced the dates, venues and fields for the 2015 PowerShares Series tennis circuit that will feature 2014 tour champion John McEnroe defending his crown versus a group of legends led by Andy Roddick, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras and Jim Courier.

The North American circuit will visit 12 cities in 2015. Other players include James Blake, Michael Chang and Mark Philippoussis. Each one-night event will feature two one-set semifinal matches, followed by a one-set championship match. Tickets start at $30. Visit PowerSharesSeries.com.

The 2015 PowerShares Series schedule is:

March 24: Salt Lake City, Utah

March 25: Los Angeles

April 1: Lincoln, Neb.

April 2: Chicago

April 16: Austin, Texas

April 17: Little Rock, Ark.

April 18: Dallas

April 22: Boston

April 23: Richmond, Va.

April 29: Minneapolis

April 30: Cincinnati

May 2: Vancouver, Canada

Hourglass Performance Joins PTR

Hourglass Performance Institute has joined the PTR as a Corporate Member. HPI specializes in assessment, training and education in mental performance, using state of the art equipment with objective and reliable measures of mental performance (i.e., focus, stress management, relaxation/activation) on and off the court, on site or at distance.

HPI’s Dr. Domagoj Lausic will conduct a presentation in February at the PTR International Tennis Symposium titled “Mental Skills and Biofeedback in Tennis: Evaluate and Train with Measurable Results.” PTR members receive a discount on HPI services. Visit hpi-us.com, or contact mentalperformance@hpi-us.com.

USTA Southern Names Award Winners

Among the winners honored at the USTA Southern Section Annual Meeting are:

Adult Tournament of the Year – Tre’Day.com “Labor of Love” Charity Classic, Little Rock, Ark.

Bill Ozaki Junior Sportsmanship Award – Amy Yang, Alpharetta, Ga.

CTA of the Year – Belton Tennis Association, Belton, S.C.

Educational Merit Award – Paula Bruchhaus, Lake Charles, La.

Gerrie Rothwell Award – Judy Anderson, Georgetown, Ky.

Jr. Team Tennis Coordinator of the Year – Cathy Baldwin, Durham, N.C.

Local League Coordinator of the Year – Maegan Kulich, Atlanta

Marilyn Sherman Spirit Award – Laura Weygandt, Cary, N.C.

Member Organization of the Year – Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center, Florence, S.C.

Mickey McNulty Family of the Year – The Craig & Traci Courville Family, Columbus, Ga.

NJTL Chapter of the Year – Lowcountry Youth Tennis Association, Isle of Palms, S.C.

Southern Tennis Professional of the Year – Carlos Lozano, Topspin Racquet & Swim Club, Lexington, S.C.

Wheelchair Excellence Award – Conner Stroud, Rutherfordton, N.C.

ASBA Elects New Officers and Directors

The American Sports Builders Association (ASBA), the national organization for builders and suppliers of materials for athletic facilities, has announced the election and installation of its officers and directors for the coming year. The new slate took its place at the conclusion of the ASBA’s Technical Meeting, held in Ponte Vedra, Fla., in December. The meeting drew a record high registration of 503 participants.

Dan Wright of Sports Turf Co. of Whitesburg, Ga., will continue in his position of chairman of ASBA. Individuals elected or re -elected to positions on the board are:

Track Division President: Troy Rudolph, CFB, CTB, CTCB (Sunland Sports, Phoenix, AZ)

Indoor Division President: Joe Covington (Covington Flooring Co., Inc., Birmingham, AL)

Professional Division President: Chris Sullivan, RLA (Verde Design, Inc., Folsom, CA)

Builder Director: Ben Brooks, PE (Patriot Court Systems, Inc., Houston, TX)

Professional Director: Megan Buczynski, PE, LEED AP (Activitas, Inc., Dedham, MA)

Secretary-Treasurer-Elect: Linn Lower, CTCB (Lower Bros. Co., Inc., Birmingham, AL)

Officers continuing on the board in their current positions include Tennis Division President Pete Smith, CTCB (The CourtSMITHs, Toledo, OH); Field Division President Jim Catella, CFB, CTCB (Clark Companies, Delhi, NY); Supplier Division President Chris Rossi (Premier Concepts Inc., Baltimore, MD); and Secretary-Treasurer Ed Norton, RLA, ASLA (Holcombe Norton Partners, Birmingham, AL).

Board members who will continue in their current positions are:

Builder Division: Mike Edgerton, CTCB (Copeland Coatings, Inc., Nassau, NY); Kristoff Eldridge, CTB (Cape & Island Tennis & Track, Pocasset, MA); Mark Heinlein, CFB (Turf Reclamation Solutions, LLC, Cincinnati, OH) and Matt Strom, CTCB (Leslie Coatings, Inc., Indianapolis, IN).

Supplier Directors: David Moxley, (Sportsfield Specialties, Inc., Delhi, NY) and Art Tucker (California Sports Surfaces, Andover, MA).

USRSA Announces New Master Racquet Technicians

Jeff Cutler - Victoria, BC Canada

William Thomas - Victoria, BC Canada

Eric Lim Ong Soo - Singapore

Former Tour Players Create New Diadem Strings

Former college and ATP players AJ Bartlett and Evan Specht have created a new tennis string company called Diadem and are offering strings with the company’s patent-pending Star Core Technology. The new Diadem Solstice line includes the Power 16 and Pro 16L performance strings.

“Star Core Technology enhances spin generation, precision, power and performance,” says Bartlett, the director of sales & marketing. “Our goal is to continue to design and develop new performance equipment and products that implement Diadem’s unique, cutting-edge technology. Diadem is designed for tennis players, by tennis players.”

For more information, visit diademsports.com or call 844-4-DIADEM.

PBI Pros to Become USPTA Certified

In a new relationship, Peter Burwash International (PBI) teaching pros will now complete the process to become certified members of the USPTA. In mid-September, nearly half of PBI’s professional staff became USPTA-certified during PBI’s annual meeting in Naples, Fla. In fulfillment of the requirements, PBI pros completed the USPTA’s certification exam and on-court testing as well as pre-certification Coach Youth Tennis online courses and on-site 10 & Under Tennis workshops.

“USPTA certification provides instant credibility with tennis players around the world and offers numerous resources and advantages for our professionals,” says PBI President and Founder Peter Burwash, himself a USPTA Master Pro.

“PBI professionals are some of the best trained tennis teachers in our industry,” adds USPTA CEO John Embree. “We look forward to serving PBI professionals for years to come.” PBI, with operations at luxury hotels, resorts and private clubs in 32 countries, requires pros to complete a 450-hour training program, then 90 hours of continuing education annually.

Peoplewatch

Rafael Nadal is a new global brand ambassador for U.S. fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger. In November, Hilfiger was appointed to an elite ATP business advisory board.
The “Daily Tennis News” Person of the Year is industry pioneer Vic Braden, who passed away in October.
Dave Fish, the Scott Mead ‘77 Head Coach for Harvard Men’s Tennis, is the winner of the 2014 ITA Meritorious Service Award, presented by ConantLeadership, for his outstanding commitments and contributions to the ITA and college tennis.
Novak Djokovic was voted 2014 “Player of the Year” and his Wimbledon five-set final battle against Roger Federer earned the title 2014 “Match of the Year” by a panel of experts from USA Today Sports and Tennis Channel. The judges on the determining board were Hall of Famers and Tennis Channel analysts Martina Navratilova and Jim Courier, and USA Today tennis writer Doug Robson.
Marissa Brown and Claire Roth have been named the ITA Collegiate Varsity Performer of the Year and Volunteer of the Year, respectively, by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Both awards are presented by the USTA. Brown is the director of Community Tennis for the USTA Missouri Valley Section. Roth first got involved by serving on the USTA Intermountain Section Collegiate Committee.
Stefan Kozlov (right) and Sofia Kenin, both from Pembroke Pines, Fla., won the Boys’ and Girls’ 18s singles titles at the Metropolia Orange Bowl Tennis Championships in Plantation, Fla., in December. It was the first American sweep of the Orange Bowl 18s singles titles since Timothy Neilly and Jessica Kirkland in 2004. Photo credit: Ron Angle/USTA
Tennis retailer Jim Augis, owner of Racquets Etc. in Westfield, N.J., died on Dec. 26 following a sudden illness. He was 66. A former schoolteacher, Augis and his wife, Lynne, opened their tennis shop after he retired, and the couple’s enthusiasm, sincerity and sense of humor were a hit with customers. Augis also contributed his time to working with the TIA on retail issues.
Head Penn professional touring player Maria Jose Vargas won her first career professional tournament on Dec. 14 at the Ladies Professional Racquetball Tour (LPRT) Christmas Classic event. Ranked as the No. 2 player in the world, Vargas was the top seed in the Virginia event.
John McEnroe and Jim Courier kicked off the new tennis offerings at the Casa de Campo Resort in the Dominican Republic by competing in a special exhibition match in November. The appearance by the two tennis Hall of Famers was part of the resort’s effort to raise the profile of its tennis offerings at its 16-court tennis center.
For the fourth consecutive year, Adrians Zguns of Orlando, Fla., won the men’s open singles championship at the USPTA Hard Court Championships, Oct. 24-25, in Tyler, Texas. Carrie Kalapala of Bloomington, Ind., won the women’s open singles crown.

Tennis Summit, TOM Conference Slated for March in Indian Wells

Two key conferences are set for March in Indian Wells, Calf.: The 2015 TIA Tennis Summit will be March 17-18 and the Tennis Owners and Managers (T.O.M.) Conference will be March 18-19. Both will be at the Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa.

The Tennis Summit builds on last year’s “Future of Tennis Summit.” Tennis and sports industry leaders and executives will gather to discuss where the sport is headed and how the sport will grow. Topics include the state of the industry, trends to watch, collaborate leadership, capturing the youth market, adult frequent play and much more. Among the speakers confirmed as of early January are Dr. Jim Loehr of the Human Performance Institute, coaching legend Nick Bollettieri, Tom Cove of the Sports & Fitness industry Association, USTA executives including President Katrina Adams, media executives, and many more.

For more information on the Tennis Summit, including the latest schedule and speakers and to register, visit TennisSummit.com.

The T.O.M. Conference, for club and facility owners and managers, will bring together leading experts in facility management and programming to provide practical information to grow tennis businesses.

“Tennis facilities and clubs are where the rubber meets the road in this industry — where players hit the courts and buy the products and services that help keep not only your business moving forward, but the entire sport as well,” says TIA Executive Director Jolyn de Boer. Speakers and panelists include management and business consultants, facility/club operators, PTA and USPTA executives and many more.

For speakers, schedule and registration information for the Tennis Owners and Managers Conference, visit TheTOMConference.com.

Short Sets

The U.S. Tennis Congress will go back to Tucson for the 2015 event, to be held Oct. 9-13. Registration will open in March. Visit tenniscongress.com.
The San Diego Aviators of Mylan World TeamTennis has moved its 2015 season venue to the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif. In addition, San Diego businessman Fred Luddy, along with Jack McGrory, are the new owners of the Aviators franchise.
World TeamTennis and pharmaceutical company Mylan announced an extension of their title sponsorship agreement through 2017.
The Thanyapura Phuket property in Thailand has been recognized by Peter Burwash International with the 2014 Site of the Year award. The award recognizes a PBI partner property that “strives to offer the highest quality in its tennis facilities, service and programs while also demonstrating care and support of PBI and its professionals,” PBI President Peter Burwash said.
Junior Tennis Champions Center of College Park, Md., has a new partnership with tennis legend and coach Brian Gottfried and the internationally renowned Bolles School in Jacksonville, Fla. Bolles Tennis featuring Brian Gottfried and JTCC is a new comprehensive tennis program in Northeast Florida. The school’s flagship tennis program is the College Prep Program, which combines high-performance development under Brian Gottfried and JTCC and college prep education.
In December, the Mylan WTT Smash Hits raised more than $1 million dollars for the Elton John AIDS Foundation, the second time in the event’s 22-year history that donations topped $1 million. Co-hosted by Sir Elton John and Billie Jean King the event has now raised more the $13 million. The 2014 event, won by Team Billie Jean over Team Elton, 22-16, was held in London, the first time it was held outside of the U.S.

ITA Coaches Support Shortened Format

During its December meeting, the ITA Division 1 Operating Committee voted to re-submit its dual match format proposal to the NCAA Division 1 Tennis Committee for the 2015 NCAA Division I Team Championships. This decisive vote (25 yes, 0 no, 9 abstentions) was supported by the USTA and the USTA’s Athletic Directors Advisory Council.

In addition, the ITA Operating Committee voted 26-8 in favor of playing the shortened format during the 2015 ITA Kick-Off Weekend and 2015 ITA Division 1 National Men’s and Women’s Team Indoor Championships. Also, the Committee voted to adopt (30 yes, 0 no, 4 abstentions) the shortened format for all non-conference dual match competition with all singles matches being played to completion (doubles will remain “clinch”). NCAA conference rules, however, supersede ITA rules, so any conference can decide to not play the ITA format.

The ITA shortened format, for both Division 1 men’s and women’s tennis, includes:
No-ad scoring in singles and doubles.
Three doubles matches played, each match one set to 6, with a tie-break at 6-all.
Followed (after a brief intermission; time TBD) by six singles matches, each match 2 out of 3 sets, with tie-breaks at 6-all.
No warm-up with opponents (in doubles and in singles).

“Over the past several years the ITA Division I member coaches have engaged in a vigorous and dynamic dialogue about format and best ways to grow and promote the sport of college tennis,” said ITA Executive Director David Benjamin. “We are very proud of the way in which all of our coaches of men’s and women’s tennis programs — from widely diverse institutions — have managed to work together and present a unified front on such a complicated and critical issue.”

If the ITA shortened format is endorsed by the NCAA Division 1 Tennis Committee, it will be put forward to the NCAA Division I Championships/Sports Management Cabinet.

‘Green’ Solutions Can Save You Money

The Tennis Legacy Fund is a non-profit committed to increasing the awareness of sustainability within the tennis industry and community. To help tennis providers operate a more profitable and sustainable business, TI magazine will run occasional tips by the Tennis Legacy Fund in partnership with Greenlight Solutions and a sustainability initiative by students at Arizona State University

CFL Light Bulbs: Save money, time and the environment by using Energy Star spiral compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL). Normal light bulbs may be tempting since they are one-third the cost of a CFL bulb ($.50 vs. $1.50). However, CFL bulbs operate 10 times longer and at a mere 13 watts. According to Consumer Reports, it costs about $74 to buy and operate a 60-watt incandescent bulb for 10,000 hours, but only $17 for a 13-watt spiral CFL bulb. — Devon Edwards