Q&A: Racquet Sports Management Apprenticeship
The USTA’s Racquet Sports Management Apprenticeship (RSMA) is a two-year transformational and immersive experience that will take place at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla. Applications are open now for the program's inaugural January 2025 cohort, with submissions due by Aug. 30, 2024.
Learn more about the RSMA program in the below Q&A, with answers from program leaders Jason Allen, Ed.D., and Simon Gale.
Who is the ideal candidate for the USTA Racquet Sports Management Apprenticeship?
The ideal candidate for the RSMA program should have a minimum of five years of coaching experience and preferably two years in a supervisory role. This could include positions such as a director of junior tennis, head pro, or director of tennis at a small club, as well as a director of pickleball, platform tennis or padel.
Additionally, candidates should be motivated, career-driven individuals with aspirations to become industry leaders, help influence change, and make a lasting impact on the industry. The program also aims to attract individuals of all genders, backgrounds and experiences.
What type of apprenticeship is this? Are students paid, or do they have to pay to take part in the program?
This is an earn-and-learn apprenticeship. Apprentices will be full-time USTA National Campus employees with a guaranteed salary of $75,000 and an industry-leading benefits program. They will work a five-day workweek, a significant advantage in an industry where the standard is often six or seven days. This ensures that the apprenticeship is financially viable for participants and an attractive prospect for interested candidates around the country.
How does the apprenticeship compare to other offerings in the tennis industry?
There is nothing else in the industry like the RSMA program. We are building something new that does not yet exist: a transformational and experiential learning opportunity grounded in practical application. The apprenticeship is unique in the racquet sports industry, offering an individualized and hands-on experience unlike traditional online programs. While other programs might focus on the theory of leadership, the RSMA combines on-court mastery with leadership training. Participants will spend 50% of their time on court to hone their leadership skills and 50% in a classroom setting, learning the business aspects of being a successful director. This comprehensive approach ensures graduates are well-prepared for leadership roles in the industry.
What type of leadership roles will the program prepare students for?
The program prepares students for a variety of leadership roles within the tennis and broader racquet sports industry. Graduates can become directors of racquet sports or tennis, overseeing multiple sports, or take on roles such as assistant directors, directors of adult tennis, directors of operations, or even business managers at clubs.
The skill set developed through the program is versatile, allowing graduates to fit into various organizational sizes and structures, from small to large facilities.
How will the program support students in their job searches after graduation?
The RSMA program will support students in their job searches through the USTA’s connections. By the end of the third quarter of the second year, the goal is to have placed students in suitable positions. The program will leverage relationships with search firms, corporate partners, and industry leaders to facilitate job placements. Students will be exposed to different career paths and will have opportunities to network with potential employers, ensuring they can find roles that best fit their skills and career aspirations.
How will the program benefit from its location at the USTA National Campus?
The USTA National Campus offers a unique and comprehensive environment for the RSMA program. Students will benefit from exposure to a wide range of tennis programming and events, from beginner classes to high-performance training and top-level junior and professional tournaments, as well as pickleball and padel programming and delivery. The campus hosts 400 events annually, providing ample opportunities to learn about event management and corporate activations. Additionally, students will have access to industry leaders, both in day-to-day campus operations and in specialized areas like community tennis, finance, and marketing. The diverse group of leaders at the campus further enriches the learning experience, making the USTA National Campus an ideal setting for the apprenticeship program.
How much flexibility is there for students to choose their own areas of focus within the program?
Flexibility is a keystone of the RSMA program. When students first enter the program, they spend three months onboarding, during which they are evaluated by USTA National Campus coaches and staff. This evaluation helps identify their areas of interest, strengths, and perceived weaknesses.
The program offers flexibility, allowing students to specialize in various aspects such as working at a country club, public park, or national training center. Cohort members can choose elective projects that align with their interests, ensuring a personalized learning experience based on educational best practices—all with a focus on differentiated instruction, to ensure the ability to work with students of all backgrounds.
How much focus is placed on on-court instruction compared to business and leadership skills?
The business and leadership skills form the cornerstone of the program and are highly unique within the industry. While the RSMA emphasizes the importance of on-court expertise, it assumes participants already have strong on-court skills upon entry. Still, participants are required to spend 20 hours a week on-court, ensuring significant growth in leadership skills and coach development. The goal is for cohort members to become not just great coaches, but also coach developers, enabling them to deliver education at their facility, community and throughout the country.
How do the on-court and classroom components of the program complement each other?
Great coaches have to be both theorists and practitioners. What’s amazing about this program is that students will constantly be functioning in the application stage.
The program integrates on-court and classroom learning by consistently applying principles of leadership and business acumen in practical settings. Classroom learning will involve project-based learning, peer interaction, and application of knowledge through developing plans and projects.
What are you most excited about for the first year of the RSMA?
We are so excited to see eight first-year applicants become apprentices as the program turns from concept into reality. After several years of development, there is a buzz around the USTA National Campus for the RSMA’s launch. The Campus was built for a program like this, which will utilize all of the site’s resources to create a comprehensive and dynamic learning environment and develop new leaders who will positively impact the industry.
Why is this program needed?
The program addresses a recent decline in the number of qualified applicants for leadership positions in the racquet sports industry. Many teaching pros feel stuck in their career paths and lack the skills to advance to high-level roles, often causing them to leave the field. The RSMA program aims to infuse the industry with new, passionate leaders equipped with the necessary business and leadership skills to help grow their respective sports in a variety of roles and workplaces around the country.
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