This weekend, I attended the USTA Conference in Minneapolis ⎻ a gathering of leaders, coaches, and individuals working for the future of tennis. Below are a few key takeaways and reflections from the event:
Building Tennis in the North
In the northern region, growing tennis is uniquely challenging. The broader sports culture places tennis on the periphery, and the climate limits outdoor play for many months of the year. The time, effort, and resources required to develop indoor facilities are significant. To expand participation, we need to explore creative year-round facility options and new ways to direct available funding towards impactful growth initiatives.
Promotion and Visibility of the Game
While the US Open continues to thrive, many children in our programs don’t even realize it’s happening. Tennis needs a stronger voice in communities and schools via conversations with leaders, visible posters, and programs that actively draw participation. Patrick Briaud’s (Managing Director, Tennis Advocacy for the USTA) presentation on Tennis Advocacy provided encouraging direction and structure for increasing the sport’s visibility and reach.
Harnessing Multigenerational Energy
Our tennis ecosystem includes passionate players and retirees who want to give back. Just a few hours of weekly coaching or volunteer effort can introduce hundreds of children to the sport. A key takeaway from the session on intergenerational collaboration was the importance of personal connection with regular check-ins, and inclusive communication channels to strengthen group engagement and program culture.
USTA Coaching Platform
USTA introduced its new online coaching education and community building platform. Anyone can join, access training content, and enjoy benefits such as equipment discounts. The direct link between coaching quality and participation growth has been a core focus at Tenicity since 2019. We’ve seen firsthand how well-trained coaches deliver better experiences and attract more players to the game.
Values-Based Coaching
In his keynote, Gustavus Adolphus College Men’s Tennis Coach, Tommy Valentini shared about his college coach, Steve Wilkinson, and their values-driven approach to tennis. In today’s era of commercialization, early focus on winning and specialization, the reminder that sports is a platform for character development and positive social impact feels more important than ever.
Closing thought
If my experience and insights can support your tennis efforts with growing the game and developing players, feel free to reach out. Tennis is a global game and together we can shape its future.
Harsh Mankad
Former NCAA Champion, ATP Pro & Founder of Tenicity. Harsh’s email is harsh@tenicity.com.