With several key initiatives under way, we are pleased to report that the number of facilities participating continues to grow—TWCs are at 2,345; Cardio Tennis sites, 1,669; and QuickStart Tennis sites, 820 — as does the traffic for both Consumers and Providers through the website GrowingTennis.com.

And while the economy is challenging, there are many new tools and services to help save you money. Online enrollment, TennisInsure, TennisConnect, just to name a few, have already helped hundreds of businesses with their bottom line.

As always, thanks for your support and involvement!

To find out about getting a copy of The Tennis Marketplace, visit TennisIndustry.org or call toll-free 866-686-3036.

The hour-long Forum, which is free to attendees, will celebrate the sport and serve as a rallying point for the industry. Topics will include the latest research in tennis, an overview of key USTA and industry initiatives, and other news in the sport. In addition, we’ll announce the inaugural class of inductees for the new Tennis Industry Hall of Fame.

“Last year’s Forum was an important opportunity to come together and present the facts and our unified mission of tennis growth,” says TIA President Dave Haggerty. “This year, we look forward to sharing the news about tennis participation, equipment sales, league play and much more, including key research that can help your business. Also, we’re pleased to announce our first Tennis Industry Hall of Fame class, honoring those who have made a significant impact on the sport.” (See below.)

Some of the research will include how tennis is weathering the overall economic climate. “We know there are many challenges for retailers and manufacturers,” says TIA Executive Director Jolyn de Boer. “But our research shows that people are still going out to play tennis, which is certainly a bright spot in this industry.”

The Forum will start at 9 a.m. in Manhattan Ballroom at the Grand Hyatt (immediately following the 8:30 a.m. USTA awards presentation). Admission is free and includes breakfast for all registered attendees, along with an information packet. There will be a question-and-answer session. Attendees also will be able to submit questions for any speaker that will then be answered online in an open forum.

“Last year’s TIA Tennis Forum was very informative for me. I learned a lot of inside information about the state of tennis, especially how we can bring more people into the game and keep them playing on a regular basis.”

—Jorge Andrew, Tennis Director, Lexington County (S.C.) Tennis Complex

“I thought the 2007 Forum was extremely productive. Attendees had an opportunity to see how everyone in TENNIS is working together to grow the game!”

—Delaine Mast, National Director, WTT Recreational Leagues

“It was great to hear about all the industry statistics and the game plan for going forward. I am better able to try to develop my club’s programs and plans in line with those initiatives and goals.”

—Bruce Levine, General Manager, Courtside R.C., Lebanon, N.J.

TIA Tennis Forum at the TTC

Aug. 25, 9-10 a.m., Grand Hyatt, Manhattan Ballroom

For more information or to register, go to tennisindustry.org/forum.

The Tennis Industry Hall of Fame will annually honor those who have played a key role in this industry. For more information, visit www.TennisIndustry.org/HoF or call the TIA at 866-686-3036.

The fun but intense Cardio Tennis workout took place on 18 of Midtown’s courts. “All of the courts were in unison, doing the exact same drills at the same time,” says Butch Staples, head tennis professional at Midtown. “It looked very synchronized and orchestrated and that added to the impact. It made people feel like they were part of a big happening.”

Midtown was one of the first facilities in the U.S. to offer Cardio Tennis when the program was created by the TIA in 2004. “When we started the program, we offered a month of free Cardio Tennis to get people hooked. We held classes nine times a week,” Staples says. “Now we charge $16 a class and offer 20 classes a week. About 200 people participate in Cardio Tennis every week.”

Healthier, Happier and Hooked

June Woodward has been a Cardio Tennis regular at Chicago’s Midtown Racquet Club since the program started four years ago. In that time, the 63-year-old Australian native has lost 103 pounds!

“I started off doing Cardio Tennis when I was overweight and it inspired me to want to get quicker on the court,” she says. “I like the program because you can do the tennis that you like but it’s also a really fun workout. I am now much faster and I feel much better doing it.”

Woodward is just one of many Cardio participants who has seen a remarkable change in their fitness. “I was just hooked,” she says. “And I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.”

Do you or someone you know have what it takes to be the Cardio Tennis Player or Facility of the Month? E-mail your story to Amanda@tennisindustry.org. If featured, you’ll win a special CT package.

The FCTC, 10 miles from downtown Charleston, S.C., was named one of the Top 50 Tennis Welcome Centers for 2007. When the TWC program began in 2004, the center was one of the first to sign on. “We are constantly changing, adding or deleting programs,” says Rob Eppelsheimer, FCTC director. “When we became a TWC, our junior programming changed toward more grassroots offerings, and we saw a dramatic increase in all junior programming.”

If you would like to be highlighted as a Tennis Welcome Center of the Month, contact Amanda@tennisindustry.org and tell us how your club is leading the charge in the growth of the sport.

Can’t get to a workshop listed here? Let us come to you. Visit partners.cardiotennis.com, click on “training” and “special requests.”

Look at the recent chart from the SGMA—7 years of a dramatic lead over all other sports. And a survey in Australia shows tennis, not cricket, is now that country’s most popular sport. Tennis’ mainstream days are growing globally. Celebrate the good news with us next month.

Other recent research in tennis shows more good news:

• Ball Shipments: up 15% annually from 2003 through 2007.
• NSGA Report: Tennis participation in 2007 rose almost 20% to 12.3 million participants.
• USTA/TIA Tennis Participation Survey: 25.1 million players is the highest since 1999, with a 15% increase in frequent play.
• American Sports Data Survey: Tennis increased 6% since 2000.
• New Sports Participation Partnership with TIA, USTA, SGMA, NGF, Outdoor Industry, and Snowsports Industry: Shows tennis increased 4% in 2007, with 16.9 million players.
• TIA/USTA Court Activity Monitor: 34% of tennis players surveyed said they played more tennis in the last 12 months and 60% of facilities said new players had increased. Using the CAM measure, a total of 137 million courts were booked/used in 2007.

Come to a Celebration of Tennis at the USTA Tennis Teachers Conference!

TIA TENNIS FORUM and Tennis Industry HALL OF FAME

Go to TennisIndustry.org for more information and to register for the Tennis Forum at the 38th annual USTA Tennis Teachers Conference!

Topics will include the latest research in tennis, an overview of key USTA and industry initiatives and other good news in tennis. Plus, we’ll announce the inaugural class for the new Tennis Industry Hall of Fame.

REGISTER ONLINE FOR THE TIA TENNIS FORUM! • TENNISINDUSTRY.ORG or info@tennisindustry.org

Some of the speakers at the event include:

• USTA President Jane Brown Grimes
• TIA President Dave Haggerty
• USTA Community Tennis Chief Executive Kurt Kamperman
• Tennis Magazine Group Publisher Jeff Williams

The TIA TENNIS FORUM presented by Tennis Magazine is held in conjunction with the USTA Tennis Teachers Conference, Aug. 23-26 at the Grand Hyatt, NYC.

“How to Fast Track Your Business with Technology”

This interactive/hands-on workshop will give service providers, marketing staff, directors, managers or owners the ability to improve their customer service through the use of the latest advancements in online tennis technology. Learn about the GrowingTennis System™, most recent developments in online enrollment options and how it will benefit your business. The workshop is led by experienced facilitators who have expert training and background in technology and online business, marketing and customer-service solutions.

Where: USTA Tennis Teachers Conference, Grand Hyatt, New York City

When: Tuesday, Aug. 26, 1:30-4:30 p.m.

Also at the 2008 USTA Tennis Teachers Conference …

QuickStart Training Workshops: These on-court sessions will help you learn how to use the QuickStart format for 10-and-under players. Three varying sessions are offered:

• Saturday, Aug. 23, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Aug. 24, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, Aug. 26, 1-4 p.m.

For more information or to register, visit www.usta.com/ttc or call 914-696-7004

As of early June, there were:

• 2,388 Tennis Welcome Centers
• 1,667 Cardio Tennis sites
• 789 QuickStart Tennis sites

Are you an official site?

Join the thousands of facilities that have registered for free at GrowingTennis.com. You’ll receive free promotional material to help your business, and your programs will be listed for free on consumer sites nationwide.

“My lesson revenue is up 40% using TennisConnect’s online tools that help me promote my programs and events for players to easily find and sign-up!”

—Juan Bracho, Feld Park, Bellaire, Texas

“We signed up 56 juniors this spring when the best I could have hoped for was 12 last year.”

— Jon Jacobson, Forest Hill Tennis, Ellicott City, Md.

“My programs are full two months in advance because I use your online enrollment system.”

—Bob Rosenblum, Albany, N.Y.

This comprehensive program provides industry-specific business insurance at great rates, from Axiom Insurance and TennisInsure Association Health Programs, both highly rated national program managers offering quality claims management and loss control services. Anyone in the industry can sign up for TennisInsure; however TIA members will receive an added discount. And for TIA member companies, they can make this available as a benefit to their own members.

“Insurance can be tricky, but working with the TennisInsure staff was great,” says Christy Funk of Funky Tennis in Reno, Nev. “They know the industry and they knew my coverage needs.”

For a free TennisInsure quote and consultation, and to compare your current policy, visit TennisInsure.com or call the TIA directly at 866-686-3036.

As we all do our part to keep this message and momentum both strong and positive, the results show Tennis IS the fastest growing sport. With technology opening up new ways to communicate, connect and expand this market, we hope you will take advantage of the many free tools provided via http://growingtennis.com.

The industry is fortunate to have great support from our partners, providers and the media who work together for TENNIS. Please join us Aug. 25 at the Tennis Forum in New York, where the first inductees into the Tennis Industry Hall of Fame will be recognized. As always, we welcome your comments and suggestions at the TIA.

The 2007 Tennis Health Index is a new reporting measure that aims to construct a robust index composed of a number of different elements to help give an accurate annual measure on the state of tennis in the U.S. The measurements include phone, online and mail surveys, ball shipment data and court activity monitor data. At press time, the final index number was not yet released but is projected to be positive.

Don’t Miss This Year’s Tennis Forum — Aug. 25

The second annual Tennis Forum will be held on Monday, Aug. 25, at the Grand Hyatt in New York City, in conjunction with the US Open and the USTA Tennis Teachers Conference. This free event is open to all in the industry and will feature key information about the present and future of the tennis industry. Also, new this year will be the announcement of the inaugural class of inductees into the Tennis Industry Hall of Fame.