Q&A with Cesar Andrade Indoor Season: October 1

August 27, 2020

Vol. 2 / Issue 7

Q&A with Cesar Andrade

Indoor Season: October 1 - June 27, 2021

Dear TIA Friends & Families,

We are gearing up for our 2020-2021 Indoor Season and look forward to assuring a safe experience for tennis development and exercise. We have received many questions regarding the details of the Indoor Season, and below I have summarized a few of the most popular questions and answered them accordingly.

VIEW INDOOR SAFETY GUIDELINES

ARE TIA’s SAFETY GUIDELINES WORKING?

Since our reopening on May 25, all the measures we have taken to provide a safe haven for tennis have been enforced. We have not had any players nor employees contracting or showing any symptoms of COVID-19. New York State and Connecticut continue to show very low numbers at this point; the situation seems to be somewhat contained in our area. However, we are vigilant and completely prepared to comply with contact tracing protocols and isolation procedures if we were to face that situation.

WHAT ARE THE REAL FACTS ABOUT AIR CIRCULATION IN AIR STRUCTURES?

We have three domes, our East and West domes are connected by a tunnel and two air circulating motors, our North dome is isolated and has its own air circulating motor.

Our East and West domes combine for a space of 1,200,000 cubic feet, while our North dome is 400,000 cubic feet. These massive areas allow for a substantial volume of air that is constantly diluted and replaced with fresh air. Our air-circulation systems run 24/7 throughout the indoor season; this maximizes air circulation and air replacement. Our air structures will be receiving the highest air pressure the dome allows to ensure complete air change roughly every 60-90 minutes, and more importantly, air at the 10-ft. level from the ground, where players are breathing, to be replaced roughly every 15 minutes.

These facts, coupled with the natural social distancing that our sport allows and our safety guidelines, make TIA’s modern air structure system an extremely safe environment for tennis.

HOW WILL YOU HANDLE TIA’s INDOOR SPACES DURING THE INDOOR SEASON?

Our INDOOR SAFETY GUIDELINES cover many of the important factors about our daily procedures; however, we've highlighted a few of the most asked questions. In our clubhouse, we continue to frequently service our HVAC systems to include the highest rated filters available in the market. Our lounge area WILL NOT offer seating nor viewing during the indoor season to minimize traffic to and from the tennis courts. Parents will drop off players at our entrance door.

Our staff and players are required to wear face coverings and to observe distancing when in our "off-court" indoor spaces. “No-touch” sanitizing stations are provided throughout the facility. There will be specific entry and exit pathways to minimize traffic, please click here to view ENTRANCE/EXIT MAP.

I’M HESITANT TO COMMIT RIGHT NOW, WHAT OPTIONS DO I HAVE IF YOU SHUT DOWN AGAIN?

First and foremost, similar to the way we handled our first experience with this unprecedented situation, we will protect everyone’s financial investment and provide the best and safest tennis value under any scenario we face. If for some reason we reach a point of another shutdown, the moment we reopen all un-used value will be available for our players to use in the safest way available, and we’ll provide a generous time frame to do so for those that are not comfortable. No value will be lost.

MY KID’S SCHOOL SCHEDULES ARE DIFFERENT THIS SEASON, WHAT OPTIONS DO I HAVE?

Many families have told us that their school systems are providing "hybrid" learning experiences, a few days in school physically and other days doing video sessions from home. Therefore, we have received more interest this year in online learning tennis schedules, most commonly known as “Homeschool Programs" which allow junior players to practice before 3pm. High Performance players use these times to train an additional 10-12 hours a week. A recreational player can also secure a morning or mid-day schedule on the days when they are available. This is type of schedule is available to ALL players of all ages and levels. Furthermore, if you have a group of family members or friends under the same scenario, feel free to create a group lesson anytime before 3:00pm.

I HAVE A 10U PLAYER AND WANT TO BE ON-COURT (OR LOBBY) OBSERVING THE LESSON, IS THAT POSSIBLE?

For the safety of our staff and players, spectators are not allowed on court for group lessons. However for private lessons parents/guardians are welcome on court to observe. (Masks may be requested to be worn by coaches for private lessons.). The lobby is off limits to spectators, parents and guardians until further notice.

Finally, I’d like to commend our community for getting through what we hope has been the toughest part of this ordeal. Together, we have protected each other's health by following our guidelines and in doing so protected everyone’s financial investment by providing a safe environment for the activity we love. I feel confident that we will have a wonderful Indoor Season, and we will adjust as necessary to maintain the well-being of our community at all times.

Look forward to seeing you all!

Cesar Andrade

Director of Operations, TIA

candrade@tennisinnovators.com

O: (914)428-2444 | C: (917)418-1305

The Junior National Championship Series will take place at Tennis Innovators Academy and will offer 4 consecutive weeks of play. Elite juniors with a minimum UTR of 4.5 are welcome to participate. The top 16 players by UTR will compete in a World Cup Format each week.

SEPTEMBER 4 - 6

Please note this event is co-ed.

On Friday, September 11, from 5:30-8:30PM, TIA kicks-off its first Pro-Am Tennis Tournament giving 16 amateur players a chance to compete alongside a TIA professional tennis player, for a truly unique tennis tournament experience!

In the sprit of competition, we have created a virtual "live auction" site for you to bid on your favorite pro. The highest bidder for each pro will play with their selected pro in the tournament. The proceeds raised during the auction will go directly to the TIA coaching staff.

PARTICIPATION & LIVE AUCTION INFO

Qualifications: Must be 18+ years of age

Virtual Auction Dates: Tuesday, September 1 @ 8AM - Friday, September 4 @ 11:30PM

Auction Registration: You can register now before the auction goes live on September 1 by clicking here.

Bidding begins on Tuesday, September 1 @ 8AM and the highest bidder, per pro, will automatically be notified at the close of the auction on Friday, September 4.

At the close of the auction payment is required.

If you win, but are unable to participate in the tournament, you have the option to send a sub OR the second highest bidder for that pro will be invited to play.

Academy & Senior Pros: $250 starting bid

Director & Master Tennis Professionals: $350 starting bid

Guaranteed six matches.

Rain date: Friday, September 18 from 5:30-8:30PM

TOURNAMENT FORMAT

Round 1: Round Robin

Four groups, four teams in each group.
Four game sets per match (no ads; tiebreaker @ 3-3)

Round 2: Compass Draw

Top two teams from each group go to “Championship Draw”
Bottom two teams from each group go to “Consolation Draw”
Six game set per match (no ads; tiebreaker @ 6-6)
Both draws will have “back-draw” matches for those that lose

FOOD & SPIRITS: 7:30-9:30PM

Crazy Taco Mexican food truck on site! Fresh food, margaritas and sangrias available for all tournament participants. ($50 surcharge added to all participants for this service.)

SAFETY

To adhere to the rules mandated by our local government and to ensure the health and safety of all, ONLY those that are participating in the event are permitted on the premises.

VIEW AUCTION DETAILS | REGISTER TO PARTICIPATE

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

Challenges are leading to opportunities

Oleg Mironchikov | July 08, 2020

I will never forget the day our academy had to close its doors due to the coronavirus pandemic—March 16, 2020. The whole situation seemed surreal, as the economy came to a virtual standstill and millions of people filed for unemployment benefits. Tennis businesses, of course, were gravely affected, and many indoor facilities are still struggling to reopen in line with safety guidelines imposed by local and state governments.

As we slowly head toward normality, it is important to reflect on lessons we’re learning from this crisis. For instance, it’s wonderful to witness tennis businesses and organizations coming together and putting aside their differences to face these unprecedented times together.

The situation has forced us to adapt, evolve and explore avenues we have not thought of or considered before. All of a sudden, free online fitness and educational classes are available to all, employees are holding Zoom meeting, teachers are interacting with their students online, new initiatives are being launched to help stabilize the tennis industry and ignite interest among potential consumers. Challenges are opening up new opportunities.

In my mind, though, it all comes down to leadership. Good leaders value people above all. A true leader will do what is right and protect the interests of a company’s employees, clients and investors or business partners. Poor leaders consider only their losses in the moment of crisis.

Think about your junior staffers working long days while trying to work their way up the ladder, or a senior executive who holds the framework of your company in place. Think about your players and honoring all the make-ups that your facility may have already collected money for. In the end, what matters is care and good judgment. Be flexible where you can, but be firm when you need to be. Take a stance when investors push for unreasonable requests, defuse situations when clients ask for refunds and offer them alternative solutions, help your employees financially who do not qualify for unemployment benefits while the business is not operational.

Our industry will continue evolving and will come out stronger on the other side. This crisis serves as a reminder to never give in, never stop perfecting our craft, and always care about the constituents involved. People follow true leaders, and it is our turn to lead them.

-----

Oleg Mironchikov is the Assistant Director of Operations for Tennis Innovators Academy in White Plains, N.Y.