Introduction to Facilities

USTA National Facility Assistance Program

USTA National 10 and Under Line Grant

USTA Facility Assistance

usta.com/facilities

Facility Assistance History

• 2005 – Adopt A Court Grants

• 2007 – TIP Grants

• 2008 – Facility Assistance Grants

Assistance History

Year Communities Served

2005 522006 382007 842008 1362009 3422010 614

Project Consultants

• Client fills out Facility Assistance Form

• Form Received by USTA

• Assigned to Project Consultant

• Contact Made within 30 Days

• Walks client through start to finish

Steps In Process

• Advocacy

• Concept Design (for new or rebuilt facilities)

• Technical Assistance & Review

• Funding Application

Advocacy is an Integral Part of Facility Assistance

USTA Advocacy Objectives

• Build new & renovate existing tennis facilities

• Grow in and after school programming with Kid’s Tennis

• Protect College Varsity Programs and grow recreational tennis on college campuses

USTA VOLUNTEERS

THE BIG SERVEYour Advocacy Website

www.usta.com/thebigserve

National Advocacy Handbook

Section Toolkits

Advocacy in Motion Worksheets

• How to organize your project• Identify core leaders• Key Stakeholders• Decision-makers• Funding• Potential Adversaries

PowerPoint Presentation & Tennis Needs Survey

Park Master Planning

Project Selection & Budgeting

Adoption of the Annual Budget allows tennis advocates an opportunity to influence Public Officials

Understanding the Way Local Governments Operate

USTA Facility Assistance Can Start Anywhere in the Process

But it Always Starts with Advocacy

Facility Consultant Needs

• Aerial Photographs

• Dimensions for Existing Facilities

• Survey Map with Contour Lines

Concept Design

• Dependent upon Advocacy Work

• Land Acquired–New Facilities

–Expansion of Existing Facilities

–Bringing Substandard Facilities to Spec

CONCEPT DESIGNS

Next Steps

• Estimate from Contractor for Accurate Budgeting Purposes

• Fundraising or Budgeting of Local Dollars

Long Term Process

• Construction Drawings from an Engineer or Architect

• Construction Documents/Bid from Contractor

Technical Review

• Performed by Team lead by our USTA Engineer

• Return Series of Comments to be Answered in Writing

• Can Go Back and Forth Several Times

“A Real Tennis Center” Document Review

2-7-09 1. Project consists of the construction of 10 asphalt tennis courts, a center court and a

clubhouse at a local park.

2. General a. Not knowing how this facility will be managed, it is hard to provide comment on the layout;

however, if this facility is a pay to play facility, there is no control, which will allow anyone to play on a court without checking in or scheduling court time. The layout should be contained with perimeter fencing directing users to the front desk in the clubhouse.

b. What is the intent of developing a Center Court? No details are provided for this court. What are the dimensions of this court? If given the planned programming intent of this court, we

may be able to provide additional input on its design. c. The City may want to consider centering the clubhouse building on the net line of the Center

Court, which should balance the covered terraced seating at this court. While the breezeway would be off center, a more dramatic view of this court would be provided from the lobby. A

gable centered on the lobby may also open up the view to this court. d. The drawings should provide a specific number for each proposed court at the tennis center.

We have found that numbering the courts on the plans greatly assist the team in discussions during the planning, design and construction.

e. The City may want to consider breaking up the 5 court batteries into smaller combinations, which would soften the design as well as provide better opportunities for spectator seating,

gathering areas and control of facility circulation and control. 3. Plan Sheet C4.1

a. We recommend the courts be sloped in a continuous direction toward the battery exterior, in lieu of as shown. Having the low points between courts (even though trench drains are

provided), will result in water ponding on the acrylic surface, particularly during heavy rain events when the capacity of the grate is exceeded.

4. Plan Sheet RD/1 a. The fence elevations on this sheet show the tops of the fence post foundations even with the

court surface, yet the fence elevations on the next plan sheet show the tops of the foundations below the pavement. We recommend the latter.

USTA /Review Comments

Funding Application

• Released when all clarifications made

• Sent to client/community

• Only Complete applications are reviewed

Funding Amounts Available

Grant applications are released by USTA invitation only

Category Description USTA Contribution

Category I

For basic facility improvements, including fixed amenities (i.e. backboards, fencing, lighting, QST lines, etc.)

Up to $4,000 – must be matched dollar for dollar by local community

Category II Resurfacing of existing courtsUp to 20% of total project cost or $35,000 max

Category III New construction or facility expansionUp to 20% of total project cost or $50,000 max

Funding Committee Decision

• Many contributing factors, it is competitive

• Recommendations taken for Design

• Recommendations taken for Construction

• Programming Plan

• Inclusion of 10 and Under Tennis– Stand alone courts– 36 and 60 foot lines

Receipt of Funds

• Received as Project Moves Along (25%, 50%, 75% and 100% completion)

• Accountability information

• Publicity

• Requisition from Contractors

• Pictures of Completion

Kid’s Tennis & The QuickStart Format

Why it’s so important to tennis

communities

A format of play for kids 10 & under to learn playing the game with 6 key variables

• Age• Court Size• Racquet Size• Ball• Net Height• Scoring System

The Play Component - Integrate into existing programs

• Team based play• Tournaments & Events• Lesson based programs• Casual play

What is 10 and Under Tennis:

QuickStart is to Tennis, What…

o T-Ball and Little League are to Baseball

o Pee-wee and Youth soccer lined fields

are to Soccer

o First-Tee is to Golf

o AYF is to Football

o Shorter lined courts and lower baskets

are to Basketball

Lining 10 and Under courts:

1) can be done with minimal investment ($200-$400) by painting lines on existing courts

2) will provide additional activity for one of a community’s largest populations

Communities with QuickStart Courts & Lines

• Houston, TX• Charlotte, NC• New Haven, CT• Atlanta, GA• Jacksonville, FL• Chicago, IL• Surprise, AZ…• In 3 years over 2000

courts have been lined for 36’ and 60’ tennis or built.

10&Under Tournaments/Events

• Communities without permanent courts (QuickStart) or painted lines will miss out on USTA QuickStart (36’ &60’) tournament/event opportunities resulting in a loss of economic development revenue

• Facilities without permanent courts or lines will lose out on this revenue generating format

Is it only for kids?

The 60 ft courts are already becoming popular for adults to better allow

Singles play for seniors Those with bad knees Wheelchair Players & Wounded WarriorsObese players “Mobility challenged”….(small kids)

Official QUICKSTART LINE Ruling from the USTA

The Rules of Tennis DO allow USTA National/Sectional/District events or tournaments to be played on courts with additional lines such as those used for the QuickStart Tennis format.  

Timon Corwin

Senior Director, Junior and Collegiate Competition

United States Tennis Association

10399 Flores Drive

Boca Raton, FL  33428

 

THREE IMPORTANT DECISIONS

• Intercollegiate Tennis Association

• United States Tennis Association

• International Tennis Federation

“After 10 minutes on the courts, you don’t even notice the lines”… Sean Ferreira, Director, Cary Tennis Park

“Over the past two years, there have been zero complaints about

QuickStart lines on any of our courts”…

Craig Jones USTA Southern QuickStart Task Force

The USTA provides concept plans and unified specifications for permanent 10 and Under courts and permanent lines.

•National Line Grant 50% with 25% section match

•Collegiate Line Grant 100% in partnership with ITA

•Playground Line Grant 50% with 25% section match (3 location min.)

•Conversions (One 78’ to four 36’) 50% match up to $4K Some sections contribute another 25% up to $1000

USTA 10 and Under National Line Grants & Conversions

National QST Line Grant Steps

Fill out Facility Assistance Form at usta.com/Facilities Submit photos, dimensions and estimateWe send concepts and specificationsWhen job is complete, submit photos and invoice – we release funds

Concept Plans

Specs for Contractors and Approval Letter

Once Courts are Painted

• After project is completed, owner sends–Pictures of completed job

–Copy of contractor’s final invoice

• Section is notified and Checks are mailed to facility

Playground/Blacktop Striping for Schools

• Designed to encourage schools to paint their own lines

• ‘Do It Yourself’ specifications

• Paint three or more schools in your community and qualify for the National Line Grant

College Campus Line Grant

• Provides 100% funding for college coaches who paint 10 and Under blended lines on their campus courts

• Encourages interaction between community youth and colleges

• Boost economic revenue from summer camps and events

• Makes tennis more relevant on college campuses

Full Court 10&Under (QuickStart) Conversions

Cary Tennis Park, NC

• $8,000 Investment

• Little used Exhibition Court

• Elementary School across street

Over $20,000 in additional revenue and 1000 kids

served each year

Adopt-A-Unit

•CTAs and other Organizations ‘adopt’ a unit of 100 deployed service members collecting and sending care packages to unit•On organizations behalf, USTA will send portable tennis equipment to unit•Funded by a $112,000 grant from National Recreation Foundation

usta.com/AdoptAUnit

Opportunities and Questions