In March, the USTA and the tennis industry will host USTA Tennis Play Events in celebration of World Tennis Day on March 3. Tennis Play Events are designed to introduce kids to tennis and provide a platform to register children for spring programs. Sports industry studies have shown that an early, positive experience in sports creates a lifelong commitment to an active lifestyle.

In an effort to provide enhanced resources to tournament directors and referees, the USTA has made available “Tournament Data Manager on the Web,” a software application designed to make tournament management easier. Beginning in 2014, all sanctioned tournaments must use the new online version.

The International Tennis Federation and StarGames announced today that the second annual World Tennis Day will take place on Monday, March 3. World Tennis Day will center around a series of high-profile special events, produced by StarGames, featuring current and former professional players. In 2014, the number of cities hosting the special events will include New York, London, Bangkok and Hong Kong.

Throughout the past 12 months, the TIA has continued to take steps to move this industry’s key focus areas forward, laying the groundwork along with the USTA and our partners for various efforts and initiatives that will help provide a sustainable infrastructure to carry our industry well into the future. We realize we still have many challenges, but thanks to the efforts of thousands in this industry, we will continue to take steps toward long-term growth for all stakeholders, and to further unite all of us under one brand—TENNIS.

Tennis will introduce new rules to deal with ‘smart’ equipment that allows information about players’ performances to be recorded and viewed in real time. This is known as ‘Player Analysis Technology’ (or ‘PAT’ for short) and is defined as any equipment that collects, stores, transmits, analyses or communicates information on player performance, and includes items that a player wears (such as heart-rate monitors) or carries onto court (the racket), as well as devices located around the court (player tracking systems).

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The Tennis Industry Association (TIA) will hold two industry meetings in early 2014—the “Future of Tennis Summit” March 11-12 in Indian Wells, California, and the “TIA Facility Owners and Managers Conference” April 3-4 in Charleston, South Carolina. Registration for both events is now open at FutureofTennis.com and TheTOMConference.com.

The ATP has announced the appointment of Chris Kermode as ATP Executive Chairman & President. Kermode begins a three-year term at the helm of the ATP starting on 1 January 2014, and will be based in the ATP’s London office.

All first, second and third graders at Crozet Elementary School recently received tennis racquets and balls from QuickStart Tennis of Central Virginia, Inc. (QCV) thanks to a generous grant from the Smyth Foundation Fund in the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation.

Racquet Sports Industry (RSI), the world’s largest tennis trade publication, released its “30 Under 30” list of young professionals in the tennis industry in the November/December 2013 issue. The list contains 30 extraordinary individuals under age 30 who work in all segments of the tennis industry.