Contributed Article/Courtesy AIA
PHOENIX – The Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) and USTA Southwest recently announced a new strategic partnership to promote and expand high school tennis across the state. This collaborative and joint effort aims to provide enhanced resources, improved brand visibility, and increased participation opportunities for student-athletes and high school tennis coaches.
A recently crafted arrangement formalizes the existing working relationship between the two organizations and leverages the strengths of both AIA, the governing body for high school sports in Arizona, and USTA Southwest, the regional governing body for tennis in Arizona, New Mexico, and El Paso.
Key components of this alliance include:
USTA being a Presenting Partner of the AIA Tennis State Championships
USTA will take on a more active role promoting the Arizona High School State championships each year via signage and displays, both on-site at AIA events and online.
Standardized Rules and Regulations
All AIA-sanctioned high school tennis matches will continue to adhere to the official USTA Rules of Tennis, ensuring consistent and fair play across the state.
Coaching Resources
USTA Southwest will provide coaches with access to valuable resources, including the newly enhanced USTA Coaching website, with a goal of getting every Arizona high school tennis coach the resources they need to create curriculum for practices and manage their teams. High school coaches can also use USTA’s existing network of coaching support webinars and workshops, and apply for equipment grants to assist their programs.
Player Development
The alliance will help facilitate pathways for player development, including opportunities for high school players as well as coaches to participate in USTA junior programs and college showcase events.
Facility Access
Collaboration efforts include working with high schools to implement court reservation and security systems, a program proven to increase facility usage and revenue, supported by potential USTA grants.
“High school tennis is a vital part of the tennis ecosystem, and we are excited to strengthen our relationship with the AIA,” said Rene Matusiak, Project Development Manager of USTA Southwest. “This partnership allows us to better support coaches, streamline administrative processes, and, most importantly, grow the love for the game of tennis among Arizona’s youth. We’re looking forward to continuing our partnership with AIA and working on future projects, like Serve Tennis platform implementation, to benefit student-athletes and coaches across the state.”
“The USTA is helping to elevate tennis at the AIA member schools that will bring our programs to a level not seen before,” said AIA Executive Dr. Jim Dean. “Every opportunity to learn and improve is crucial for the development of our student-athletes and coaches. USTA’s involvement in the growth of Arizona tennis is such a wonderful endeavor, and we’re excited for the future of the sport.”
About the Arizona Interscholastic Association
The AIA is a voluntary association of public and private Arizona high schools. Since 1913, the organization has created and sustained interscholastic activities that encourage maximum student participation by providing AIA member schools with an even playing field to ensure fair and equitable competition. The AIA believes that providing interscholastic activities for Arizona high school students creates personal development opportunities with a balanced focus on academics and extracurricular activities. Through its Arizona member schools, the AIA reaches more than 125,000 participants in high school activity programs. The organization hosts 1,400 postseason contests, officiates more than 45,000 regular-season events, and handles 110,000 official assignments annually. For more information, visit www.aiaonline.org and www.azpreps365.com.
About USTA Southwest
USTA Southwest is one of the 17 sections of the USTA, a not-for-profit organization that develops tennis growth. USTA Southwest has over 15,000 members and supports tennis in Arizona, New Mexico, and El Paso through various programs. Visit us online at www.usta.com.
