2012 USTA/Midwest Section Year In Review - 2012 | Page 32

COMMUNITY TenniS INITIATIVES Community Tennis Associations, Public Facility Assistance, Officiating In addition to supporting and enhancing diversity efforts and wheelchair tennis opportunities, the USTA/Midwest Section’s Community Tennis initiatives include the support, growth and promotion of Community Tennis Associations (CTAs), school support, parks and recreation, public facility assistance and officiating opportunities. Public Facility Assistance Beginning January 2012, all 10 and Under sanctioned tournaments and USTA Jr. Team Tennis must take place on 60’ courts. One goal of the USTA/Midwest Section was to assist Tennis Service Representatives (TSRs) in their local areas by providing online tools to help in this area and advocate for permanent and temporary 10 and Under courts. In 2012, we’re happy to report that the total number of courts increased from 279 to 551. The USTA is able to assist with updating existing courts, lining playgrounds, and constructing new tennis facilities. There is a dedicated USTA Facility Assistance Team that can help any community build a facility that will meet its needs. Whether it’s a state-of-the-art multi-court tennis facility, 36’ and 60’ tennis courts for 10 and Under (QuickStart play format), or repairs for cracked courts at local parks, the USTA offers assistance. Officials from the Sony Ericsson Tournament, March 2012 Community Tennis Associations A USTA Community Tennis Association (CTA) is “any incorporated, geographically defined, not-for-profit, volunteer-based organization that supports or provides programs which promote and develop the growth of tennis.” The association coordinates and maintains tennis programs and services, guaranteeing that they are open and accessible to all. Supported by local volunteers, they exist to promote and develop the game of tennis in the community. •  he number of CTAs in the Midwest Section increased to 182 by the T end of December 2012. •  eginning in October 2012, the USTA offered a series of affordable B interactive web workshops on Grant Writing, Fundraising, and Volunteer 101; new workshops will continue in 2013. •  ongratulations to the Western Kenosha County Tennis Association, C of Kenosha, Wisconsin, for winning the 2012 Community Tennis Association Award; recognizing outstanding service rendered in the community, and in the growth and development of the sport of tennis. CLICK HERE for more information about Public Facility Assistance, including available grants and other available tools and resources. Officiating Opportunities The USTA/Midwest Section Officials Committee is charged with recruiting, certifying, training and retaining officials who will ensure fairness in all levels of competition. The committee assures that an adequate number of training classes and on-court opportunities are offered to meet all training needs for the Section. This year a new reporting tool, called Nucula, was implemented. The program allows officials to keep track of their entire work record, including certifications, evaluations, and incident reports. Officials can also access a complete event list to help locate possible assignments. Training and assistance was provided to new and prospective officials to help guide them through the initial certification process and issue them a Nucula account. The four-step certification process – USTA membership, online exam, background screen, and Nucula access – was developed and used successfully to recruit new officials – more than the previous year. A great effort was also put toward recapturing officials who had failed to certify at the end of 2011 and as a result, the total number of officials for the Midwest Section increased in 2012. CLICK HERE for more information about Community Tennis Associations, or to access helpful resources. 2012 Adult Tennis 32 USTA MIDWEST › 2012 year in review YEAR IN REVIEW 33