CTA

USTA Community Tennis Associations (CTAs) are not-for-profit, volunteer-based organizations supporting programs that grow the game of tennis. They are located in towns across the country and are great entry points if you’re looking to get started in the game, to play more often or to give back to our lifetime sport.

First and foremost, CTAs work to coordinate and maintain tennis programs and services, guaranteeing that they are open and accessible to everyone. Those who run CTAs are tennis enthusiasts who act as advocates, program administrators, promoters or fundraisers – and sometimes as all of these things at once.

Clubs, teaching professionals, after school programs, and public parks are just a few of the tennis related entities that coexist in a community. In many instances, it may appear that the tennis community is fragmented and unconnected. This is where the formation of a CTA can provide an umbrella and seek to pull together these numerous elements of the tennis ecosystem. With the coordinated effort from a CTA, the biggest benefactor will be the current or potential tennis players.

When there is an active and engaged CTA that has created a strong community presence, the organization allows multiple people to be involved and contribute to the overall mission. The formation of a diverse and connected board ensures the continuity of the CTA beyond just one individual. In addition, the tennis advocacy message is much more powerful when it is delivered from an organized and united effort of a CTA.

Community Tennis Association (CTA): Defined by Bylaw VII as any “Any multi-purpose, incorporated, geographically defined, not-for-profit, volunteer support organization which supports or provides comprehensive programs”.

In order to become a nationally registered CTA, an organization must meet the aforementioned criteria and have an active USTA CTA Organization Membership.

Registration:

• CTA will need to possess an active USTA CTA Organization Membership;
• CTA will go to https://ct.usta.com/cta/ and create a new account (separate login information than Organization Membership);
• CTA will complete and submit an online application;
• application reviewed by district/state (if applicable), section, and national staff;
• CTA will receive notification of their approval status.

Benefits:

• access to the USTA Master Liability Insurance Program and the Directors & Officers and Employment Practices Insurance Program;
• heavily discounted enrollment contribution into the insurance programs;
• communication and promotion from the USTA National CTA team that includes: first look and access to educational documents and resources, monthly invitations to the CTA and Parks webinar series, updates and communication from the National CTA Committee on various projects;
• eligibility for USTA national awards such as the CTA of the Year Award.

The USTA recognizes four types of CTAs that may exist in local communities nationwide. Each type plays an important role in the development and delivery of tennis programming at the local level.

The following is a brief description of the four types of CTAs:

1. Single-Purpose CTA. A Single-Purpose CTA is organized with a single, narrow purpose that addresses a specific need in a community. It delivers only one program or service and does not address the needs of the entire community. For example, there may not be an indoor tennis facility within a local community. A concerned group of citizens may form a CTA for the sole purpose of raising funds to build this facility. Another example might be a group of senior citizens interested in starting a senior division of USTA League who form a CTA for the sole purpose of organizing and maintaining the program for this specific population. A third type of Single-Purpose CTA is a USTA National Junior Tennis & Learning chapter.
2. Multi-Purpose CTA. A Multi-Purpose CTA is similar to a Single-Purpose CTA except that the Multi-Purpose association offers more than one program or service while still not being a full-service organization. An example of this type might occur in a community committed to offering a variety of tennis programs, but only for its youth. The entire adult population is not served through this CTA’s programs or services.
3. Umbrella CTA. An Umbrella CTA represents the most comprehensive type of CTA. This type of CTA delivers a full menu of programs and services to the entire community, regardless of age, gender, cultural or socioeconomic background, identity, gender, sexual orientation, physical ability, or skill level. Anyone at any time has the opportunity to try the game, learn the skills, play with friends, or compete in match play.
4. Coalition CTA. The Coalition CTA represents the alliance of diverse community organizations whose purpose is to facilitate the delivery of tennis programs and services through these organizations, ensuring that programs exist for anyone at any time to try the game, learn the skills, play with friends, or compete in match play. This type of CTA may not itself deliver all programs but ensures that other organizations within the community have the tools and resources needed to deliver these programs. The Coalition CTA strengthens local relationships and creates partnerships with schools, outreach organizations, parks and recreation departments, other CTAs, commercial tennis facilities, and other organizations that deliver tennis programs in the local community.

Most CTAs begin as a Type 1, Single-Purpose CTA with one specific purpose in mind. It might be starting tennis in the schools with the USTA Schools Tennis program or implementing a USTA Jr. Team Tennis program or campaigning to have courts built in the community. Once this initial project has been successfully launched, the association is in a position to evaluate the additional tennis needs of the community.

In many instances, the long-range goal of an association is to gradually encompass all facets of tennis programming. An association’s purpose or mission is a major cue to the association’s leadership for generating additional program and service ideas.

As a CTA moves from a Type 1 format to a Type 2, 3, or 4 format, it begins to add a broader spectrum of tennis activities. When this happens, the association needs to develop a plan of action, which clearly outlines:

1. What programs will be initiated and where they will be held.
2. When they will be initiated — priorities and dates should be established because it can be difficult, and probably not effective, to set everything into motion at the same time.
3. Who will be responsible for taking the steps necessary to get each of the programs and services underway.
4. How much funding is needed to operate these programs and services.