sponges. Parents need to let the coach do their job, even if it doesn’t look like the player is growing and developing. I’ve seen panic set in. A young player who is really trying but has so many voices in their head becomes a mess of conflicting thoughts and messages. My message to parents? Find a coach who will invest themselves in the child. Don’t set a hard end goal. Let the child take it as far as they want. Parents, this is brutal for you, I know. It’s hard for coaches too. I can’t count the hours I’ve sat next to parents at their children’s tournaments, or watched from the sidelines over my 10 years as a high school coach or traveling with kids to out-of-state tournaments. We’ve done all the work, but it’s up to them at that point. Be a great parent and let the coach be the coach. I've seen so many juniors start out loving tennis and quit because of mounting pressure. Make the game fun, be supportive, and if they want to play, find ways to get them on the court how and when it works for them and your family. What does a child need to be “outfitted” well for the sport? What does a child need to be “outfitted” well for the sport? The most important thing is a racquet that is length and weight appropriate. If the length is wrong it can make things more challenging and potentially lead to injury. Same if the racquet is too heavy or too light. We also want to make sure the grip is the proper size and in good condition, possibly adding an overgrip. The only thing other than that is a good pair of shoes, and a water bottle. IT’S BEEN A BUSY YEAR Colin tells us he has settled into life in Hutchinson and at the Dunes. Members, he says, have been incredibly welcoming. Highlights during his first year here have been buying a home, discovering breakfast spots like Firehouse Cafe and Carriage Crossing, and exploring the surrounding areas. Both Colin and Addi are excited about our resurfaced courts, which they call amazing, and new pickleball nets on both the indoor and outdoor courts. The Tennis/Fitness Shop, they say, continues to expand racquet sports offerings. “We've recently added Psycho Bunny and Lucky In Love brands for clothing,” Colin says, “as well as Völkl, Yonex and Babolat for tennis racquets and accessories, and Selkirk pickleball paddles and accessories. “We’ve consistently served 30 to 35 unique players between 4 and 15. Two kids are actively playing tournaments, and a few younger kids want to start competing. We’re working on creating tournament play over the summer at the Club, so parents don’t have to drive to Wichita or Salina. “And we’ve got a bunch of brand new events and programs that will launch later in the summer and fall, so, members, please keep an eye out on the app and in your email for details!” Coming up, Prairie Dunes will repeat the Big Tennis Weekend in August with one big difference. Members will be able to choose from a menu of activities and jump in where they have time and interest. Expect another former colleague/buddy of Colin’s to come in from Oregon. Plan now for Saturday evening’s all-pro doubles exhibition match with cocktails on the court. Enjoy higher-level tennis with a martini! HIGH-INTENSITY COMMITMENT Both Colin and Addi are full time at Prairie Dunes. Both are certified with elite professional status. Addison White PD Assistant Tennis Professional • RSPA (Racquet Sports Professionals Association) Level 2 Addi recently completed RSPA Level 2 certification, which included both online coursework and an in-person workshop. That rigorous, 80+-hour training regimen focused on things like stroke fundamentals, athletic development, on- court instruction, group lessons, and lesson planning for all ages and skill levels. For PD members, this means Addi will provide expert on-court instruction and create engaging racquet sports programming. It’s also worthwhile to connect the dots back to coaching of PD kids. RSPA professionals are educated and trained in a program called Safe Play to recognize, establish and maintain appropriate behaviors and boundaries with youth. Separate annual education and reeducation is required along with a biannual background check. Every year, RSPA introduces something new to this extremely important designation. Colin Gillam PD Director of Racquets • MBA with a sports management focus • RSPA (Racquet Sports Professionals Association) Elite Pro (Level 3)/ Competitive Player Specialist • PTR (Professional Tennis Registry) dual certification • PPR (Professional Pickleball Registry) • USTA high-performance coach (notable because USTA accepts no more than 60 coaches per year into cohorts of 20 at most; based on verifiable data of players, for whom the applicant has been the primary coach, who have played at sectional, national, collegiate and professional levels • Certified as a cardio tennis instructor • Has logged 1,200 continuing education hours • Named Top 50 Tennis Coach in the Country in 2021 in the TopSpin newsletter of Tennis Magazine • Recipient of the 2025 RSPA Missouri Valley Tennis Professional of the Year • 2019 USTA Intermountain Ambassador Award (10U) • 2024 RSPA/PNW Award for Community Service 27
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