I'm really excited to dedicate this month’s "Ask the Professor" column to USPTA’s newest public relations initiative: Tennis - for the health of it! ^SM

In my new position as vice president on the USPTA Board of Directors, President Harry Gilbert recently appointed me chairman of the Public Relations Committee. Both of these roles will allow me to use my 45-year involvement in tennis, along with my educational background in exercise physiology and nutrition, and public speaking experience to do something that we truly believe will benefit USPTA and you.

Beginning this month, we will tie the USPTA brand to the health and fitness benefits of tennis. Our goal is to identify USPTA and its members as the means through which the public can receive these benefits - from lessons and other tennis activities. Through this public relations initiative, we seek to drive business to you - the USPTA member - as a tennis leader in your community.

If we are successful, not only will people view tennis as a way to get and stay healthy, but we’ll also see more people playing and staying with the sport.

So, the public may ask, "Why tennis?" The next page provides you with 34 ways to sell tennis to new and former customers. We suggest that you post this list on a bulletin board or hand out copies to your members. The page includes scientific proof that backs up our claims. It demonstrates that no other sport mimics the functioning of the human body like tennis does.

In the physical realm, there’s a natural oscillation of stress and recovery when a player competes in a point and then has the rest period between points or on the changeover. Like heart rate, muscle activity, brain waves, sleep cycles, and glucose cycles, tennis oscillates in a similar pattern.

The psychological aspects of tennis also mimic life. When you compete against another person, you must punch and counterpunch. This requires you to think under pressure, handle an opponent’s tactics, prepare for what’s coming next, manage mistakes, and deal with crises.

Yes, tennis truly is an amazing sport. But, physical and mental benefits aside, no one would consider trying it if it wasn’t also a fun, social activity that can be enjoyed by teams, doubles partners and friendly rivals of all shapes, sizes and ages.

We’ll provide you with the public relations tools that will help you explain why tennis is one of the best sports you can play for improved health. Look for more resources and a future marketing kit that will help you make presentations at your clubs, at local schools, Rotary meetings and other civic organizations.

We also plan to identify 20 or more USPTA Professionals who will be passionate about pushing this message to their fellow USPTA members and the public. It’s important that this message not stop here. We want every USPTA division, state and district to use this campaign to increase tennis activities in their communities, educate the public about the benefits of tennis and tie these messages to USPTA. Our ultimate goal is to identify USPTA Professionals as the tennis experts in their communities and generate business and publicity for you.