Issue: Winter/Spring 2010
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
In the budgeting process for 2009, given the economic downturn our association approached the year being cautiously optimistic about seeing significant growth in our sport and our goal was to maintain our numbers so that program participation would remain stable. Our year end numbers are very encouraging and show that despite the issues we face with the economy tennis participation continues to grow and people still need an outlet and find recreation very important in their lives. They want to have fun with their families and friends and be physically active. How fortunate for us that tennis has all of the above and much, much more. The exciting news is that tennis participation is up nation wide and the USTA announced this past November that tennis participation in the United States topped 30 million players for the first time in more than 25 years. They reported that with over 30.1 million people hitting the courts, tennis participation has grown 12 percent over 2008.
Tennis participation in our district was also up especially in Adult League Tennis with an overall increase of almost nine percent compared to 2008. We also continue to experience significant growth in Wheelchair Tennis which would not be possible without the special partnerships we are fortunate to have with other allied organizations, including the Rehabilitation Center at the University Health Care, the TRAILS program, Salt Lake Rotary Foundation, the USTA and Intermountain Section. Through these special partnerships we have been able to raise awareness for Wheelchair Tennis and provide individuals with spinal cord injuries and other physical challenges the opportunity to participate in low cost programs, clinics, camps and our One Up One Down League held in the spring and fall. I want to also extend a special thanks to those pros and wheelchair players who have provided coaching and mentoring to new and existing players and helped with on court lessons and instruction as well as to the facilities that have been so supportive and accommodating. I am also very excited to announce the addition of our newest working committee which is the Utah Wheelchair Tennis Committee. We are actively seeking and welcoming volunteers both from the able body and wheelchair community who would be interested and willing to serve on this new committee for our association.
Our staff was very busy this past year with organizing Leagues for Youth & Adult, Special Events, Block Parties and tournaments, and we had the opportunity to host the ITA Junior Summer Sectionals in June in Salt Lake. Unfortunately June turned out to be one of the wettest months on record with rain almost everyday during the six-day event. With over 400 juniors in the tournament and more than 1,028 scheduled matches that had to be played, the last thing we needed was rain. To finish the tournament on time became the challenge and required a lot of patience and cooperation. Everyone really stepped up to help our Tournament Director Robin Wise, especially our wonderful volunteers and officials who spent countless hours helping at the various tournament sites, regardless of how late the matches went they stayed until the last match was done. We are so grateful to the facilities with indoor courts including Eccles and BYU who were so accommodating and provided extra court time and kept their facilities open well passed closing so we could finish the matches each day. Everyone did an amazing job under the circumstances and, yes, the tournament finished on time!
Our association continues to be a strong advocate for our sport in providing outreach and assistance to help with program implementation and assist communities who are looking to establish a Community Tennis Association in their area. We also help communities who are seeking grants and other potential funding opportunities to expand or build new courts or to cover existing courts. Indoor courts are greatly needed as tennis continues to grow we have fewer indoor courts available for year-round play. We have been involved with some very exciting proposed court projects that are currently in the planning stages and we do hope they will come to fruition in the very near future.
Based on the number of USTA members, the Utah District remains the second largest district in our section with 15 percent of the total membership. As of December 31, 2009 we had 5812 members which is a 1.2 percent increase compared to our member numbers in 2008. One of our goals for the coming year is to increase our marketing efforts to promote the benefits of becoming a member of USTA. Membership is not just about helping you get in the game and on the courts, but also your membership gives back to the game and supports local grassroots programs and other initiatives that help to introduce tennis to underserved youth and kids at risk in communities across our state.>br>Our ongoing challenge is to continue to introduce new players to the game, retain them and build our frequent player base. The Quickstart play format for youth 10 under was launched by the USTA in 2008 and will continue to be primary focus in the coming years for National as well as our Section and Districts. Getting kids hooked on tennis is key, and Quickstart provides a fun and exciting way for kids to learn and love the sport.
Linda Vincent, Executive Director
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