USTA Florida Partnering With PTR to Diversify Tennis Teaching Ranks

USTA Florida in partnership with PTR (Professional Tennis Registry) are providing scholarships for coaches of diverse backgrounds, or those working with diverse populations, to attend PTR Ace workshop and certification programs.

The PTR ACE Program (Advancing the Commitment to Education), directed by Arthur Ashe, began 25 years ago in an effort to increase diversity among tennis teaching professionals in the U.S. The program was created after researched showed a lack of minority tennis teaching professionals and positive role models was contributing to a decreased number of minorities playing the game of tennis.

“It is a great opportunity for any tennis coaches that have never been certified to teach tennis around the state of Florida, and to become qualified tennis professionals at a discounted rate,” says USTA Florida Diversity & Marketing Coordinator Maria Romo-Jackson. “By joining forces with PTR, we are encouraging coaches of diverse background or those working with diverse populations to take advantage of these workshops. It is an opportunity to add great value to their resume and to continue to welcome diversity to this wonderful sport.”

There will be three two-day workshops conducted in 2015 in different regions of the state with a limited number of participants at each. Anyone interested must be a 4.0-level player or above to qualify for the certification and must complete the USTA Coach Youth Tennis Program. Students between the ages of 16-24 will receive the on-campus rate at $97, and students 25 and older a discounted rate of $167 to attend the workshop and obtain the certification (with a price of $367 without scholarships).

Workshops Details:

April 25th and 26th, 2015
Goodlet Tennis Center
4100 W 8th Ave.
Hialeah, Fla., 33012

June 27th and 28th, 2015
Tampa Tennis at HCC
3901 Tampa Bay Blvd.
Tampa, Fla., 33614

August 22nd and 23rd, 2015
Fort Gatlin Recreation Center
2009 Lake Margaret Dr.
Orlando, Fla., 32806

For more information or questions please contact Maria Romo-Jackson at Romo@florida.usta.com or to register contact the PTR office at (843) 785-7244.