by Jenny Gray
RSPA Vice President and Master Professional
2024 has been a remarkable year for our association and our members. With the introduction of Brian Dillman as CEO, we've seen a renewed energy among our certified professionals in tennis, pickleball, padel and platform tennis. This energy has been accompanied by a strengthened presence in both the tennis and broader racquet sports industries.
In June, we opened pickleball certification to everyone, not just professionals already certified with our association.
“We actively listened to our members to understand their needs for becoming better teachers and coaches in pickleball. We then equipped them with the tools and opportunities to excel as professionals in the marketplace, just as we have always done in tennis,” said Chief Service Officer Jim Stockwell. As clubs and facilities expand their pickleball offerings, certification has become essential to elevate teaching standards at the career level. A testament to this excitement was our webinar titled Building a Pickleball Empire: Insights and Tips, featuring Matt Bacon, which attracted over 325 attendees!
In September, the World Racquet Conference in Rancho Mirage, Calif., brought together hundreds of attendees and dozens of speakers from across the racquet sports industry. Bunny Bruning, president of WTCT, shared her enthusiasm on attending her 25th conference. “I continue to attend World Conferences for the experiences, tips, networking, and knowledge I gain. The speakers’ content, along with their unique teaching methods, provides invaluable insights for my students. Networking with old friends and new pros is exciting. Ideas from our peers can elevate our business, and we can stay in touch globally. Did I mention fun? Always.”
During the World Racquet Conference, it was announced that our association, formerly known as the USPTA, would rebrand to the Racquet Sports Professional Association (RSPA). While we are moving forward to embrace more racquet sports, we remain committed to our core values: building successful professionals, networking, and impacting the tennis, pickleball, platform tennis, and padel industries.
“Our industry is constantly evolving. The process of becoming an inclusive racquet sports association was driven by our members. With this vision, we aim to lead the racquets industry for the 'whole' professional—both on and off the court,” said Brian Dillman. “As the Racquet Sports Professional Association, we now have the vision and mission to lead, educate, and help our professionals advance their careers and attract new people to our industry for the next 97+ years.”
Mel McRee, RSPA Texas Divisional President, echoed this sentiment, saying, “I’m excited for the rebranding. The landscape of what tennis professionals do at clubs and facilities is changing and evolving. I’m proud to be with an association that understands this and is preparing for the future. While this isn’t the first time we’ve changed our name, our mission has always stayed the same: to provide the best in education, certification, community, and benefits for all racquet sports professionals.”
Tennis remains the foundation of our association and continues to be our DNA. “Our industry is changing; racquet clubs, country clubs, resorts, and public facilities are adding other racquet sports to their offerings because of client demand. It’s imperative that we adjust as an association, while acknowledging that tennis will always be the foundation of our association,” said Jack Michalko, executive director of RSPA Southwest.
Looking ahead, as we fully represent each of our racquet sports and expand our presence as a unified association, RSPA President Trish Faulkner said she is eager to see what’s in store for 2025 and beyond. “As President of the National Board during these progressive and thought-provoking decisions, I am excited to lead us into a new year, knowing that the Board and CEO Brian Dillman recognized the need to respond aggressively to industry changes. We are on a strong path to increasing membership, member benefits and consumer awareness for all our racquet sports.”
Cheers to 2024 and welcome to the exciting times ahead in 2025!