WCRS

06/09/2026

What do you love about Racquet Sports Professionals Association?

WCRS
Racquet Sports Professionals Association

06/08/2026

(WCRS) Women Coaching Racquet Sports Spotlight: Pam Dodman

We are proud to spotlight Pam Dodman, a dedicated leader and lifelong contributor to the tennis industry with over 40 years of experience.

An Elite Professional with the Racquet Sports Professionals Association since 1990, Pam began her journey playing Division I tennis at Miami University (Oxford, OH). Her passion for the sport has taken her across the country, teaching and leading programs in Ohio, Colorado, New Hampshire, Maine, Texas, and now Rhode Island.

Throughout her career, Pam has served in a variety of impactful roles, including Head Professional, Club Manager, and Director of Tennis, shaping programs and mentoring players and professionals along the way.

Pam's commitment to growing the game extends deeply into her service with the USPTA/RSPA. While in Colorado, she made history as the first Denver District President and contributed as a Tester for the Intermountain Division, as well as a USTA Intermountain School Clinician. During her time in Maine, she was recognized with both the USPTA New England Professional of the Year Award and the USPTA New England Tester of the Year Award.

Today, Pam continues to make a lasting impact as the Executive Director of the Racquet Sports Professionals Association New England Division, a role she has held since 2020. She also serves as the Head Tennis Coach Developer, helping guide and elevate the next generation of tennis professionals.

💙 Thank you, Pam, for your leadership, dedication, and continued commitment to growing the game and supporting our tennis community.

06/04/2026

(WCRS) Women Coaching Racquet Sports Spotlight: Elise Parisi

At (WCRS) Women Coaching Racquet Sports, we are proud to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month by recognizing leaders in our racquet sports community who are making an impact through passion, authenticity, and dedication. This month, we are excited to spotlight Elise Parisi.

Elise’s tennis journey began at just five years old, and what started as a love for the game quickly evolved into a passion for coaching. During her freshman year at Drew University, she began coaching part-time at clubs including Centercourt Chatham and Knoll Indoor Tennis Club, where she discovered how meaningful it was to help others grow through the sport.

Her coaching path took shape early on when her high school coach connected her with her first private student—an opportunity that would later inspire her to found Parisi Tennis Pros LLC after graduating college. Even while competing at the collegiate level, Elise remained committed to giving back, volunteering with the boys and girls tennis teams at Parsippany Hills High School, where she once played.

Elise continued to build her coaching experience while balancing a demanding academic schedule, serving as the Head Girls Varsity Tennis Coach at Golda Och Academy during her junior and senior years of college. In May 2025, she graduated from Drew University with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, choosing to follow her passion for tennis into a full-time coaching career.

At just 22 years old, Elise achieved an incredible milestone—becoming the Head Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Florham Campus, where she now leads both Division III programs. Alongside her coaching role, she has become actively involved in the Racquet Sports Professionals Association, serving as the Eastern Section’s NJ District Vice President and contributing to the USTA Eastern NJ Council.

Elise’s story is one of courage, commitment, and authenticity. During Pride Month, we celebrate not only her accomplishments in coaching, but also the importance of creating inclusive, supportive spaces in racquet sports—where everyone feels seen, valued, and empowered to be their true selves.

“Tennis is the first sport I ever loved, and it’s the sport I plan to dedicate my life to as a coach.”

Thank you, Elise, for inspiring the next generation and for helping grow a more inclusive and welcoming racquet sports community. 🌈🎾

06/02/2026

JOB OPENING: Men's and Women's Varsity Tennis Coach at Hope College. This will now be available as a part-time or full-time position, depending on the candidate's preference. Great opportunity to join an awesome program and Tennis Center ...

The Hope College Athletic Department is seeking a Christ-centered, inspirational leader to serve as the Head Coach for the Men’s and Women’s Tennis programs.At Hope College, athletics is more than just competition—it is a vital environment for transformation of lives. The Head Coach is respons...

06/02/2026

Hi, I’m Karrabi Blankenship, though most people know me as Coach K and this what Pride means ot me.

WCRS Racquet Sports Professionals Association RSPA Florida Division USTA Florida USTA National Campus

06/01/2026

Pride Month is a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, the progress made toward equality, and the ongoing commitment to inclusion, visibility, and belonging. It is a reminder that everyone deserves to feel seen, valued, and respected—on the court, in leadership, and throughout our communities.

At Women Coaching Racquet Sports (WCRS), Pride Month reflects our commitment to creating welcoming spaces where all women and allies can thrive. We believe diversity strengthens our sport, and that every coach, player, and leader should feel empowered to show up authentically.

Pride also aligns with our mission to:
🌈 Build meaningful connections across diverse backgrounds and experiences
🎾 Elevate underrepresented voices in coaching and leadership
💜 Foster mentorship, education, and advocacy
✨ Celebrate authenticity, individuality, and belonging
🤝 Continue growing a culture of inclusion throughout racquet sports

At its core, Pride is about community—and community is at the heart of WCRS. When people feel accepted for who they are, they gain the confidence to connect, contribute, and lead. Together, we can help create a stronger, more inclusive future for our sport.

As we celebrate Pride this month, we'd love to hear from you:

What does PRIDE mean to you?

🌈✨

05/31/2026

05/30/2026

Leadership. Innovation. Impact.

WCRS was proud to see Racquet Sports Professionals Association Professional Kristine Mendivil share her expertise at the RSPA Florida Division Divisional Conference with her educational session, "Ladies Teams Best Practices."

As the Director of Racquet Sports at Country Club of Mirasol and an RSPA Florida Division District Vice President, Kristine brought valuable insights, practical strategies, and years of experience to the conversation, helping attendees better understand how to build, manage, and elevate successful ladies team programs.

Kristine's passion for growing the game, developing strong tennis communities, and creating exceptional player experiences continues to make a positive impact throughout our industry.

Thank you, Kristine, for your leadership, dedication, and commitment to advancing racquet sports and empowering fellow professionals. We are grateful for all you do to help move our industry forward.

05/29/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/18rkj9xrur/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Here’s what nobody tells you
when your daughter starts playing tennis. 🎾

Most girls will never go pro.
Very few will earn scholarships.
And only a tiny percentage
will ever play at the highest level.

Those numbers sound harsh.
And maybe they are.

But tennis was never just about trophies.

Because the girl who learns
to stand alone on the court
with everyone watching —
she’ll grow into a woman
who can handle pressure anywhere in life.

The girl who loses a tough match
and still shakes hands with respect —
she’ll learn grace, humility,
and strength most adults never master.

The girl who keeps practicing
when nobody is cheering for her —
she’ll understand discipline
long after others quit.

The girl who learns
that progress takes years,
not days —
will become unstoppable
in whatever future she chooses.

Yes, the wins are beautiful.
The medals matter.
The rankings are exciting.

But what she’s really building
under those lights,
during those late practices,
through every hard loss and comeback —
is confidence, resilience, character,
and belief in herself.

And those things?
They’ll carry her much further
than tennis ever could. 🧡

You’re not just paying for lessons.
You’re investing in the person
she’s becoming.

The whole future.
Every single part of it. ✨

Drop a ❤️ if you’re proud of the girl she’s becoming.

05/28/2026

Today's A Mighty Girl Community Pick: “Strong Is The New Pretty: A Celebration of Girls Being Themselves” by Kate T. Parker. When Parker first started her “Strong Is The New Pretty” photo series, she wanted to show her young daughters "their boldness, their strength and the beauty in them, as they are." Over two years, she expanded her series to include hundreds of diverse girls and collected 175 of these powerful photos in a stunning book. To Parker, real beauty is about being your authentic self, and her incredible collection celebrates the strength, confidence, and energy of girls being 100% themselves.

Girls being fearless. Girls being silly. Girls being kind. Girls being wild, stubborn, and proud. Athletic girls. Artsy girls. These candid photos show girls from ages 5 to 18 in all of their wondrous diversity. Each full-page picture is accompanied with a short quote from the featured girl reflecting on her own strengths. From 10-year-old Yolisa who observes, "The best part is that I always enjoy what I create," to 6-year-old Dillan who asserts, "I can do lots of things people think I'm not strong enough to do," readers will be moved and inspired by the wisdom and heart of the girls and their stories. Perfect for Mighty Girls of all ages and their parents, teachers, coaches, and mentors, this uplifting book is a beautiful celebration of the power of girls.

“Strong Is The New Pretty" is available at https://www.amightygirl.com/strong-is-the-new-pretty

To celebrate the many sides of boyhood, she released a photo book focused on boys at https://bookshop.org/a/8011/9781523505517 (Workman) and https://amzn.to/3GUP0lG (Amazon)

Kate Parker is also the author of a powerful book of photographs celebrating girls and women, "Force of Nature: A Celebration of Girls and Women Raising Their Voices," at https://bookshop.org/a/8011/9781523505524 (Bookshop) and https://amzn.to/3X2Akal (Amazon)

For soccer fans, she is the creator of a wonderful book full of photos and inspiration focused on girls and women who love soccer, "Play Like a Girl," at https://www.amightygirl.com/play-like-a-girl

And for a fun journal based on this book for tween girls, ages 8 to 12, we recommend "Strong Is The New Pretty Journal" at https://www.amightygirl.com/strong-new-pretty-journal