Kim Kurth
Snave Group
PO Box 248
Frisco, TX 75034

September 25, 2009

Patrick McEnroe, General Manager- Player Development
USTA
70 West Red Oak Lane
White Plains, NY 10604

Subject:  Junior Player Development

Dear Mr. McEnroe:

Is the USTA missing an opportunity when it comes to delivering the best possible training to junior players participating in its programs?  I believe the answer to that question is yes, and recent events at the U.S. Open magnify the need for providing communications and media training.   Among the events I am referring to: Serena Williams’ blatant and vulgar outburst at a line judge, her failure to do damage control during her news conference immediately after that semi-finals match, as well as her attempt to finally apologize during a news conference after winning the doubles title.  Communications experts, like myself, point out it will be some time before Serena wipes those images from the minds of fans, judges, opponents, and young players who wanted to be just like her.  On the flip side, fans watched the tactics employed by Novac Djokovic to win back favor with the New York crowd after his poor behavior a few years back: pulling your brother, John, out of the broadcasting booth to hit a few balls with him and perform a couple of his famous impersonations.  

It’s whole lot smarter and the payoff is much bigger when a player is trained to know what to do and how to do it when faced with difficult situations versus watching a player get hung out to dry because they weren’t equipped with the right skills and then must move into damage control, which could take years to overcome, for something that could have been preventable.  Why wouldn’t the USTA want to help equip young players with all the tools they are going to need during their tennis careers?  Why not teach the skills that will help them on and off the court, as well as benefit them for the rest of their lives?

I would like to propose working with the USTA to conduct communications and media training sessions and workshops for junior players at the USTA training centers.  My goal is to teach players how to communicate effectively, both on and off the court; how to use their unique communication style as an advantage on the court; how to build a positive image; how to handle the media by understanding their game and what they want; and how to work the media’s own game in order to get ‘your message’ and your ‘best image’ across through the media.   

Based on what I have learned about how you are revamping the player development program and how much the USTA is investing in a select group of juniors each year, I believe these kinds of training sessions will help your organization achieve its ultimate goal: building champions who know how to act like champions.  Unlike other sports, when a player walks out onto a tennis court the spotlight is on that player.  There’s no place to hide and no one else can come out and speak for that player.   Let me help you help these players shine in that spotlight – for fans, other players, judges, the media, even potential sponsors.

I realize Mr. McEnroe your schedule is very tight, but I would love the opportunity to have about 10 minutes of your time to discuss my proposal.  I will follow up in 14 days if I have not heard from you.  Thank you for your time, and I look forward to talking with you.

Sincerely,



Kim Kurth
Communications and Media Coach