Tennis is a key component of many clubs, and as tennis participation continues to increase nationally, having a certified tennis professional leading your program will help improve your bottom line between the baselines. Here are five reasons why your tennis professional should be certified.
Credibility
Having certified tennis-teaching professionals on your staff ensures that your members are receiving top-notch instruction from a tested and knowledgeable expert. Passing the certification exam means your tennis pro understands theoretical concepts and practical testing that demonstrate tennis-teaching skills. A tennis professional should be able to cater to different segments of the club’s membership, whether that’s providing private and group lessons, clinics and camps, leagues, tournaments and special events. Your club members have to have a reason to keep paying their bill, so what is your tennis program offering them? Certified professionals are required to know how to teach various age groups ranging from 10 and under to seniors, and are able to create programing that will benefit every demographic at your club.
Liability Insurance
What happens if a member trips over a ball on the court and breaks her ankle? Certified professionals are protected against potentially devastating losses with $9 million in on-court liability/bodily injury and property damage insurance. This covers certified, professional-level tennis teachers while practicing, playing, teaching or officiating tennis in the U.S., its territories and Canada. There are also options to purchase additional insurance for your facility and non-member assistants. Having this security can save you in the event something devastating happens on the court.
Continuing Education
Certification and education programs are designed to elevate the standards of tennis-teaching professionals and coaches. Continuing education requirements keep pros up-to-date on current trends and industry practices. Educational offerings such as attending annual conferences and workshops, or taking online courses and completing certifications, provide tennis professionals with expert knowledge on everything from drills and techniques, to programming and creating social events that enhance your bottom line through member participation and retention.
Business Within a Business
Running a successful tennis program takes more than spending hours on the court, and club managers are becoming increasingly aware of the importance in hiring tennis directors with business skills. Certified professionals are tested and trained in managing club operations, and not just on the tennis courts. When you involve your tennis professional in your management team, he will know what is important to your operation, and that begins with being able to understand the bottom line. Tennis directors are running a business within a business. Therefore, they should understand where money is being spent and the importance of maintaining a budget while providing members with what they want, anticipating staffing needs, efficiently operating the pro shop, driving sales and bringing business to your club.
Network
Becoming a certified professional provides your pro with countless resources at his or her disposal through a network of tennis-teaching professionals, club managers and industry leaders. Connecting with other professionals who can provide suggestions and insight on fresh and innovative ideas will help create programs to encourage tennis participation and improve sales at pro shops.
Hiring certified tennis-teaching professionals, or making the investment in certification, will ensure you are hiring the most knowledgeable and professional tennis teachers available, who will have the skills and expertise to provide high-quality tennis instruction to keep and attract members to your club.
John Embree is CEO at the United States Professional Tennis Association and can be reached via e-mail at john.embree@uspta.org or by phone at 713.978.7782, X 117.
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Rachel Zabonick-Chonko is the editor-in-chief of Club Solutions Magazine. She can be reached at rachel@peakemedia.com.
