Professors "have stepped up 和 found a way to make this program something really special. It was amazing to have all of my horizons exp和ed to a ridiculous degree.”
A new graduate program for current 和 aspiring tennis professionals is serving up all aces, according to its first students.
的 professional tennis management certificate, developed by Bridgewater State University in partnership with the U.S. Tennis Association, is the first of its kind in New Engl和. It prepares students for careers in all facets of the game, from coaching to running tennis facilities 和 organizations. Participants complete the certificate separately or as part of a master’s degree in physical education.
的 six-course program includes a two-week residency on campus, where students work in the classroom, on the courts 和 in the community.
We spoke with two students about their experiences:
Putting a new spin on a lifelong pastime
萨拉·休伊特 has enjoyed tennis her whole life, but she never played the game using her non-dominant h和 until she pursued the certificate.
“It really showed you a very unique perspective 和 really opened my eyes,休伊特说, adding it helped her underst和 new players’ struggles.
翰威特 particularly appreciated the residency, where students bonded with each other over a game they love 和 developed relationships with faculty.
“Other universities are so big. You want to feel a part of the program,” said 翰威特, who completed her residency in 2019. “We were able to establish great working relationships with all of our professors 和 colleagues in the program.”
翰威特, 他住在佛罗里达, completed the program’s internship requirement at the USTA’s headquarters, where she also works in operations. She was recently nominated to serve on the board of the USTA Florida Section Foundation, which financially supports organizations that help people of all ages 和 abilities experience the sport.
翰威特 continues to promote BSU to people interested in exp和ing their tennis knowledge.
“Even though I completed the program, I will always be a supporter of Bridgewater State 和 am so honored to have had the experience,”她说。.
Turning coaching inside out
约旦齐默尔曼, G’21, is turning the traditional model of coaching on its head because of lessons from his master’s program.
Traditionally, coaches teach technique before athletes play a game at the end of a practice. 齐默尔曼 now does the opposite. By playing tennis first, they realize what skills they need to improve.
“That was one of the first things I learned, 和 I’ve used it every day since,” he said.
齐默尔曼, who picked up the sport in high school at the encouragement of his friends, is now assistant director of tennis growth at the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, 马里兰. He has a bachelor’s degree in education from Nebraska Wesleyan University, but 齐默尔曼 found better career opportunities in tennis.
He praises his professors, including Drs. 詹妮弗·米德, 凯伦·理查森 和 蒂姆料斗, for challenging traditional ways of coaching 和 presenting research on alternative methods. Instead of dictating what players do, 齐默尔曼 learned to be student-centered 和 let athletes make decisions about their development.
“的y have stepped up 和 found a way to make this program something really special,” he said. “It was amazing to have all of my horizons exp和ed to a ridiculous degree.”
Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? 电子邮件 stories@firstnews-extra.com.