Pickleball Magazine 3-4 Courtesy of Pickleball Guru | Page 16

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What’s News in Pickleball
Justin Maloof, USAPA Executive Director
Sarah Ansboury, USAPA National Champion, PPR Lead Clinician
Dan Santorum, PTR/PPR CEO
USAPA and PPR Enter Multi-Year
Deal to Foster Coaching Certification
E
arlier this month, USAPA announced a new multi-
year agreement with the Professional Pickleball
Registry (PPR). PPR, the newly formed subsidiary
of Professional Tennis Registry (PTR), will become
the Official Education and Certification Partner of USAPA.
The new partnership is a tremendous benefit to thousands of
PTR coaches and others who want to add to or enhance their
coaching skills and become certified in pickleball. At present,
PTR is the largest global organization of tennis teaching
professionals and coaches with nearly 16,500 members in 125
countries.
“This agreement with PTR/PPR is the continuation of
USAPA’s goal of expanding its list of strategic partnerships, all
designed to effectively position pickleball on the global stage,”
said USAPA Executive Director Justin Maloof. “PTR has a
storied 40+ year history of high-level tennis training both here
in the U.S. and internationally. Not only have they patterned
their pickleball program after their successful tennis model
but they have demonstrated a desire and willingness to work
directly with USAPA and incorporate us in the planning and
development process.”
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Many joint ventures are already planned between
USAPA and PPR. One example is a new option for USAPA
Ambassadors who will be able to participate in a specially
created PPR program to improve their coaching skills.
PPR’s curriculum and certification are being professionally
designed by five-time USAPA National Champion, two-time
US Open Pickleball Champion, and PTR/USAPA member,
Sarah Ansboury.
“As a proud USAPA and PTR/PPR member, I am thrilled
to play a key role in this exciting new partnership,” said
Ansboury, who will serve as PPR’s educational consultant
and lead clinician for pickleball-related activities. “I am
excited to create educational curriculum and videos to
further the knowledge of those teaching pickleball. I look
forward to traveling the USA and around the world to
conduct PPR training and certification workshops!”
PPR began serving members on June 21 and pilot
certification workshops have begun. PPR certification
workshops for adults and ambassadors will officially begin
on September 1.
“PPR is excited to be working with USAPA. USAPA is a
progressive organization that has helped turn pickleball into
one of the fastest growing sports in America. It’s a natural
partnership because many PTR members have begun,
or are strongly considering, adding pickleball instruction
and programming,” said Dan Santorum, PTR CEO. “As a
professional membership organization, it’s important to
provide PTR members with all the tools they need to do their
jobs better, to better serve their students/employers, and to
improve the overall health of both sports.”
PPR and USAPA both see pickleball as a complementary
sport for tennis, as it is already providing a significant
boost to the racquet sports industry. A common goal
is to not lose aging tennis players to sports that don’t
benefit the majority of our industry. Tennis manufacturers,
facilities/clubs, court builders and coaches are all
benefiting from the rapid growth of pickleball.
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