LAKE NONA, FL – June 2, 2022 - After lengthy and thoughtful consideration, the United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc. (USPTA), an independent non-profit trade association, has elected to not reapply for full accreditation from the United States Tennis Association (USTA), the nation’s governing body over the sport.
The USPTA has worked closely with the USTA to elevate certification standards of new tennis-teaching professionals who are entering our profession. That initiative was to include significant focus on employment and marketing the value of having certified professionals delivering tennis at facilities, which would greatly benefit USPTA members and their careers.
While we remain committed to raising tennis-teaching standards, there has not been enough of a concerted effort to raise awareness and buy-in from club operators and employers to hire professionals with these new certification levels, which is vital to the success of accreditation. Along those lines, more needs to be done to make consumers aware of the value of certification which impacts employment opportunities for our professionals.
The USPTA Board of Directors and its Executive Committee have agreed to not reapply for full accreditation until such time that accreditation is substantive and effectively benefits the marketplace for pros and coaches. USPTA will continue to work with USTA on improving the accreditation process and, most importantly, the value of being a certified professional from an accredited organization. Until then, USPTA will certify its applicants according to its own certification pathway established in 2021 which has significantly raised the certification standards in the U.S.
“This was a difficult decision to make by USPTA leadership, but we have to do what we think is best for our members,” said USPTA President, Rich Slivocka. “Our mission has always been to elevate the standards of tennis-teaching professionals and coaches. We support the highest quality in all aspects of the profession as demonstrated by the new certification pathway that we implemented last year. We are confident that in the coming months we will develop tangible and quantifiable benefits with the USTA that will improve our industry and provide increased opportunities for our professionals.”
About the USPTA: Founded in 1927, the USPTA is the global leader in tennis-teacher certification and professional development. With more than 14,000 members worldwide and 17 divisions nationwide, the Association's mission is to raise the standards of tennis-teaching professionals and coaches and to promote a greater awareness of the sport. Learn more at USPTA.com.
Media Contact: Marisa Lampe
USPTA, Director of Marketing and Communications
marisa.lampe@uspta.org
407-634-3050 ext. 142