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The Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) has joined the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) as the only tennis teaching professional organizations to be accredited by the United States Tennis Association (USTA) after its application was approved by the governing body’s Accreditation Review Committee. The trio will now look to draw in, connect with, and ultimately, retain tennis players through a structure built on elevated coaching standards.

PTR will collaborate with USTA on several initiatives, including on-the-job training, pre-certification education, online course work and face-to-face workshops to verify new applicants meet improved certification standards. Every current certified professional who is part of an accredited organization will receive continuing education, and all members will be required to complete the USTA’s Safe Play program to ensure the goal of keeping children out of harm’s way is a core priority. Criminal background screenings and instruction on averting misconduct in the sport are among its components.

USTA "positioned to get Americans back on court" after accrediting PTR

USTA "positioned to get Americans back on court" after accrediting PTR

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“The mission of the USTA is to promote and develop the growth of tennis across the country, and there are few individuals that have a more direct impact on this mission at the local level than tennis teaching professionals,” said Michael Dowse, USTA CEO and Executive Director, in a statement Thursday.

“We now will have a unified approach to certifying tennis professionals in the United States for the first time, and by working together, the USTA, the USPTA and the PTR are best positioned to getting Americans back on the courts and ensuring that tennis thrives in our post-pandemic world.”

On Tuesday, USTA announced beginning June 1, its suspension of USTA sanctioned products and events, including adult tournaments, junior tournaments and USTA leagues, will now be at the discretion of the USTA Sections and local health authorities. The organization highly recommends anyone returning to a court adhere to the “Playing Tennis Safely” guidelines and added that “the safety and well-being of all players and event personnel remains the first and foremost consideration of the USTA.”

USTA "positioned to get Americans back on court" after accrediting PTR

USTA "positioned to get Americans back on court" after accrediting PTR