I have always had a desire to make an impact in people's lives. In two decades of teaching tennis I have been given this opportunity over and over again. Whether it is teaching the basics to a 4 yr old or refining points with an 88 year old. Tennis is an opportunity to get active and stay healthy, battling against a continually sedentary society. When I was growing up video games were just starting to catch on and instead I, like many of my friends, chose to take to sports, you name it, I'd try it. I have taken that love of sports to developing and growing the future of tennis. This includes many aspects of the game.

Facility Management: From Sept 2014-July 2016, Oct 2017-March 2018 I supervised the Amy Yee Tennis Center (AYTC), one of the very few publicly run tennis facilities in the State. AYTC boasted one of the largest staffs in the industry with over 40 employees. In that time we created two dozen new tennis class formats for the facility. We increased programing by 25%. We created unique new access points for youth and adults to play, including: Free Late Night Tennis for teens, Family Night and Family Lessons, Men's Night and Women's Day, Free Middle School Tennis League, among many others. We transitioned supervision of Seattle's 170 outdoor tennis courts to AYTC. The results not only took AYTC out of the red, in the first year, it helped usher in a unique new overall experience for the public.  Find out what hey have going, on facebook @ www.facebook.com/amyyeetenniscenter 

 

Teaching: I started teaching in 1997 at the ripe old age of 17. I was approached to teach a Seattle Park and Recreation class, as I was the #1 player at West Seattle High. In the 20+ years since I started, I have taught thousands. I have worked at five community centers, the Amy Yee Tennis Center, Seattle University, The Racquet Training Center (Now Tennis Center Sand Point), Boeing Employee Tennis Club, Aces Tennis and Mill Creek Tennis Club. I have taught private lessons (still do), group lessons, cardio classes, play instructs, clinics, camps and much more. Find classes at Amy Yee Tennis Center www.seattle.gov/parks/athletics/tennisct.htm, become a member of Mill Creek: www.millcreektennisclub.net/  

• Objective: Get as many people playing tennis as I possibly can. The game of tennis has taught me how to live my life. Taught me about honor and respect. It has taught me about fair play, camaraderie, compassion and determination to win, but maybe most important, it has taught me humility. In a society constantly fearful of damaging kids and hurting egos, I simply say it is better to learn winning and losing at 8 yrs old than to start learning at 23 and getting rejected for your first job. Winning and losing are simply a way of life. I could not begin to encompass what tennis has taught me or given me, yet I hope to spread and share the game with all

• Cardio Tennis: I have run dozens of cardio tennis classes. These classes focus on movement and hitting hundreds of balls. An average participant hits well over 300 balls in an hour. And unlike the name, there is not a lot of moving without hitting a tennis ball, practically none. The much missed Thanksgiving Day Cardio classes I helped run were a blast!

• Ralleyball: (The precursor to quickstart, which was the precursor to 10 and under tennis, which was the precursor to Net Generation (sheesh could USTA just stick with one already, lol)) I hosted a dozen Ralleyballs over the years from West Seattle to the Amy Yee Tennis Center to Forest Crest Athletic Club. These events were truly a joy for me as it gave kids 7-12 years old a chance to come out and play and compete in a fun and laid back environment. "No experience, no problem" the program used foam and airless balls to get virtually every child hitting balls. Even if it required softball tennis, sky ball or other activities we offered at the event, if tennis is a challenge it is soon forgotten with these fun extras.

• Quickstart Tennis League: With grants from the USTA and the Amy Yee Tennis Center helped create a quickstart tennis league for 7-10 yr olds. In ten years over 2500 kids, and 250+ volunteers have made it possible to introduce the game of tennis using this fun play based dynamic. Creating a love of the game, by simply playing more tennis. Gone are lines, replaced with partner activities and a new FUN way to learn the sport. over the years BECU, USTA Foundation, Amy Yee Tennis Foundation and others have helped support this amazing program. 

• Middle School Tennis League: With the help of Irvin MacQuarrie, Sports in Schools and Top Spin serves we found a way to offer tennis to middle school aged kids 11-14 years old for free tennis in the Fall of 2016. (After many failed attempts). Each year since the league has grown. The league create a fun, low key introduction to the sport of a lifetime. More importantly it fills a gap between quickstart/net generation and high school tennis. Something that my friend Gordy Yee would be so happy!

• Amy Yee Legacy Camps: After a 10 year hiatus we have brought back the Amy Yee Legacy Camps. I act as camp director for these free introductory camps. the camps were started by the late great Amy Yee herself, in the late 70's, back when Amy Yee Tennis Center was simply called the Seattle Tennis Center. The Legacy camps look to capitalize on what Amy Yee was all about, getting kids to play this great sport. With the backing of the Amy Yee Tennis Foundation last year we had 173 different kids participate in one or more of the 4 weekend camps. Court volunteers are always wanted, many hands help keep the kids moving. 

• Coaches and Quickstart Workshops: I have helped or participated in over a dozen workshops over the years in various capacities.These are a great way to introduce the coaching side of the sport. Are you interested? Check out http://www.usta.com/coaches_oncourt_training/ or simply contact me.

• Seattle Academy High, West Seattle High, Garfield High Boys: I was fortunate enough to coach 2 years at Seattle Academy where I took a team to their first victory in school history among other accomplishments including a Co-Coach of the Year award. There is nothing truly like working with high school kids that want to get better, as a coach the reward is hard to surpass. In 2008 I was brought back to my Alma Mater, West Seattle High, as a volunteer coach, what a blast. In the Fall of 2010 Coach Ira Moss asked me to help with the Garfield Boys team. A great season with players finishing high in state

Playing: Former #1 at Seattle University, former top 20 USTA/PNW Junior. Founder of the SU Tennis Club in 2002,and donated almost two decades coaching. Check out Seattle University sports www.goseattleu.com/

Official/Assignor/Referee: I was a certified USTA official from 2005-2012. In that time I went from working at courtside as a roving official (as most officials are) to assigning officials to a wide range of tournaments each year. While assigning I had the lucky job of working with some amazing officials and friends that have a true love for the game. Are you interested in becoming an official? Contact Julie Door @ westwashassignor@yahoo.com  

Volunteer: I have always felt a need to give back and I try to do so as much as possible. In my years leading up to graduation I did thousands of hours of service, including at SU creating one of the most successful service clubs in SU history, "Action", which had hundreds of students participate and thousands of hours donated to helping others. I try to continue doing this in tennis. In addition to special programs I have helped with Seattle Asian Sports Council camps, Amy Yee foundation Camps, diversity camps, Seattle Parks Department citywide camps, park openings and much more.

Outside of Tennis: I like to workout 4-5 days a week. I love playing pool. And if I could, I would retire right now and play golf everyday! One of my passions outside of tennis is creating community and there is no better place to do that then in tennis. 

Interesting Facts:

I started playing tennis at 10, my average opponent was over 50 years old

My favorite sport is golf

My favorite thing to do...work or workout!

I have played on fifteen USTA League Teams and coached over three dozen, including multiple sectional champions.

My serve once clocked 125MPH

I created the Seattle Quickstart (Net Generation) Tennis League  and the Free Seattle Middle School Tennis League

I created the Seattle University Tennis Club

Tennis Awards:

2013 Outstanding Contribution to Community (USTA), 2010 Community Champion (USTA), 2009 Distinguished Service Award (USTA), 2007/2010 Grassroots Official of the Year (USTA), 2006 Co-Coach of the Year (Emerald City League 1A)

USTA Tennis Committees:

2021-24 National Local Play and Competition, Junior Team Tennis (Vice Chair) 2011-2012, Tennis Officials (USTA) (Western Washington Assignor) 2005-2010, Diversity (USTA) 2007-2010

Board Member:
Amy Yee Tennis Foundation