Purpose Of This Position

This is a two-year competency development fellowship, designed for recent high school and college graduates to learn the skills necessary to run and operate a public park tennis operation. This role is ideal for individuals who are energetic, enthusiastic about learning, and have a strong desire to be involved in public parks and community space.  The two-year curriculum includes multiple semesters of learning and on-site application at facilities that are operated by USTA FL.
 

Minimum Qualifications

• 18 years or older, High School Diploma, US Resident, Valid Drivers license and eligible to work  
• Strong desire to work in public service – candidates are required to submit a 3-5 min video introduction and personal statement.
• Full understanding that this program is not only an on-court position but includes off-court education encompassing all levels of management and operation in the public space  
• Able and willing to work full-time and variable schedule which would include nights and weekends and split-shifts and holidays  
• Must be willing to relocate multiple times throughout duration of program  
• Safe-play certified / Level 2 Background check / Drug testing  
• Tennis playing experience preferred but not required 
• USTA/ PTR / RSPA Level 1 certification preferred. 
• Lifting requirements 50lbs, Able to work in variable conditions (outdoor and indoor)  
• Proficiency in English speaking required; Bi-lingual preferred  

Curriculum Breakdown

All fellows accepted into this program are expected to participate in assignments, learning modules, networking opportunities, and direct mentorship, covering the below curriculum:

Year One – Public Tennis Center Operations and Planning

• Fall – USTA Florida Mission & Values / How Cities Work / Public-Private Partnerships & Advocacy / Marketing & Communications / Intro to Facility Management Software
• Winter – Facility Programming Planning / Tournaments / Special Events / Facility Management / Pro shop / Facility Management Software (on-location)  
• Spring – Planning Summer camp and promotion / HR / Team building / Basic Financial Practices 
• Summer – Summer camp execution at a specific facility / Intro to Facility Planning and Budgeting 

Year Two – The Business of Public Park Management

• Fall – Facility Budgeting / Capital Planning / Public vs Private Methodology Facility 
• Winter – City Relationships Best Practices / Contracts / Financial Reporting 
• Spring – Adaptive Trainings/ Marketing / On-Court Enrichment (Certification due) 
• Summer – Long-term planning / Recruiting / Staff Development / Business & Site Evaluation  

Fellowship Program Pay & Incentives

This Fellowship is a full-time education & development program for tennis enthusiast. Fellows get compensated while gaining real-world experience in public park tennis operations and community recreation leadership.

• Entry Point is $17.10 per hour
• 90-day period completion - Health benefits eligible or stipend.
• 6 Month completion - Bonus for successful work = $500
• One-Year Completion - Pay Raise to $20 per hour and $1,000. 401K eligible.
• 18 month completion - $500 bonus and pay increase to $22 per hour
• 24 month completion - $1,000 bonus.          
  • May promote as FT employee, based on competency. Pay follows position grade.

     
  Click here for more information

For questions about this form or fellowship requirements, please contact Lori Burdell at burdell@ustaflorida.com

GRANT INFORMATION

If you are interested in applying for program support, equipment, and/or wheelchair grants and have questions, please visit our website for more information, FAQs, eligibility requirements, instructions on how to apply, and application resources. Click here for more information. 

ITEMS TO HAVE ON HAND PRIOR TO GETTING STARTED:

• The organization's EIN Number
• If working with Youth, SafePlay Certificates for each staff member. Find out more at USTA.com/SafePlay.
• Copies of your evaluation tools.
• IRS Letter of Determination of Tax Status
• IRS Form 990 or applicable tax documents
• W9
• Current list of officers and members of the Board of Directors
• Organizational operating budget
• Budget information.
• If you are applying for an Equipment Grant, please complete the Equipment Order Form in advance to include with your application. Click here to download the form.
   

For questions about this form or grant requirements, please contact Jeff Lato at lato@ustaflorida.com.

Once you begin, you will be prompted to enter your organization's EIN number. If you do not see your organization, you will have the option to skip this step. 

We understand the hardships facing some members of our tennis community in Florida after the devastating effects of Hurricanes across the state. The USTA Florida Section Foundation may be able to help.  This grant program is a reimbursement process.  Applicants are responsible to initially fund the repairs, manage all aspects of on-site repairs and submit receipts and/or invoices paid for a reimbursement at the completion of the repairs.
 

Requirements: 

• We are currently accepting applications. 
• The request must be related to damage to a tennis facility from a recent hurricane.
• The person submitting the request is an authorized representative of the organization. 
• Grant funds will not be awarded for the repair of courts other than those used for tennis, i.e. Pickleball courts and other such Raquet sports. 
• Repair work to be completed within eight (8) months from notice of award.  If the applicant provides timely documentation for further timelines needed, the Board will consider extending the repair deadline.

Preferred:

• Courts open to the public.
• Courts not open to the public will be considered if they are USTA members and regularly host USTA league teams.
• Request that awarded facilities provide at least one free or significantly reduced Tennis program activity to the local community. 

Please be prepared to provide: 

• Photos of the damage.
• Insurance claim documentation if an insurance claim has been filed.
• Any technical drawings you may have of the facility.
• Programs provided at the facility.
• The estimated number of participants in your program that have been impacted due to the damage. 
• Copies of quotes for work you may have already received. 
• Copies of invoices with scope of work for any work that may have already been completed. 
• Current form W9
• The formal review process will not occur until the spring 2025 by the Board of Directors.

Please complete this form ONLY if there is a change/update to your Delegate and/or Alternate Delegate information for your organization. 

USTA Florida Bylaws Article 3 Section 2:  Delegates

A. Rights

1. Organization Members shall have one (1) delegate and one (1) vote per delegate.
2. Delegates – Each delegate shall be appointed or elected in accordance with each Organization Member’s policies provided:
     a. Each delegate and the organization the delegate represents shall be a current member of the USTA.
     b. Each delegate must be at least nineteen (19) years of age.
     c. Each delegate may only be a delegate for one Organization Member
3. Alternate Delegates – An alternate delegate may be named by the Organization Member in the event a registered delegate is unable to serve and must meet the same qualifications of a delegate.
4. Organization Members and delegates are entitled to notice of all meetings of the membership. Delegates are entitled to be present and vote at all meetings of the membership.
5. Individual Members are entitled to be present at all meetings of the membership but shall have no voting rights.

For questions about this form, please contact Brad West at west@ustaflorida.com.