The American Tennis Association announced the launch of its first comprehensive coaching program on Wednesday. More than a year after an external review of the USTA protection system, this provided recommendations on how to better protect players from abuse such as sexual misconduct.
“After all, we need to create a safe environment for all players,” Craig Miller, CEO of the new USTA Coaching Initiative, said in a video interview with Florida’s Associated Press.
Miller said the USTA will ensure that all certified individuals are approved for safe play, including completing a criminal history screening and being able to identify, respond and prevent fraud.
The USTA estimates that there are currently 25,000-30,000 coaches in the United States, and the country’s official governing body for the sport hopes to increase the number from around 75,000 to 100,000.
This includes everyone who teaches children of parents who work with The Athletes at The Athletes, a USTA showcase event that begins on August 24th.
This effort relates to the group’s goal of 35 million sports in the US by 2035.
“USTA has never been involved in the coaching business. We are probably the last major tennis federation in the world that doesn’t do this. And it’s our responsibility. …This is recruitment, marketing, benefits, service, education, certification.
“This is fundamental to our tennis. To protect this game, USTA must invest in protecting the sports distribution system,” he added. “And for the first time in our history, we’re going to do that.”
The 62-page report presented to the USTA board in June 2024 contained 19 specific recommendations on how to “enhance players’ safety.”
The report was released less than two months after the tennis player was awarded $9 million in damages from a ju judge in a federal court in Florida, and USTA accused her of failing to protect her from a coach who said she had sexually abused her at one of her training centers as a teenager. The USTA has also been the defendant in four other cases related to sexual abuse of tennis players over the past 20 years.