PTR ACE program set for 33 US cities
March 16, 2015
Hilton Head Island, SC — Professional Tennis Registry announces it is reigniting its ACE Program aimed primarily at increasing the number of tennis coaches of color in the United States. The ACE Program, which featured Arthur Ashe as its spokesperson when it started in 1991, will travel to 33 cities across the country.
Advancing the Commitment to Education (ACE) is an invitation only program offering education and certification at a deeply reduced rate as a result of scholarships from PTR, participating USTA sections, and in some cases, their states/districts. The first three ACE workshops (Houston, Milwaukee and Columbia, SC) are full to capacity and we are expecting close to the same for the rest. Participants must play tennis at a 4.0 or above level in order to participate and qualify for certification.
“With the induction of Arthur Ashe into our PTR Hall of Fame, we thought what a better way to honor Arthur than by restarting a program for which he played a pivotal role,” said Dan Santorum, PTR CEO. “Our goal for the ACE Program is simple. Increase the number of certified coaches of color in the United States. Internally our goal is 33% of PTR membership to be coaches of color — 33% in 3 years.”
PTR is the largest global organization of tennis teaching professionals with more than 15,000 members in 125 countries. It has the greatest percentage of multicultural and women members of any such organization. PTR is dedicated to educating, certifying and servicing tennis teachers and coaches around the world in order to grow the game.