Policy & Programming Expert
Although she has only been a PTR member since 2011, Sharon has already made a lasting impression on the international organization of tennis teaching professionals.
Her PTR Tester of the Year Award is but one of many examples.
In 2012, she was named PTR Member of the Year for Michigan. As a PTR 10 & Under Clinician
and Tester, she continues to shine with her keen understanding of why it is so important to learn to teach tennis to children properly.
She led an initiative in the Great Lakes Bay Region to place tennis in the physical education
curricula of 72 schools, involving nearly 30,000 students.
USTA Connection
Cleland was one of four coaches in the nation to be selected by the USTA to develop the
QuickStart Tennis Curricula for 10-under.
She is co-author of the USTA National QuickStart Playbook, is a National QuickStart Trainer,
National Schools Trainer and National Recreational Coaches Workshop Trainer.
More recently Cleland was recalled by the USTA to lead a 10-Under Tennis Review Committee
that for the first time established three instructional levels--Beginner-Intermediate and High
Performance.
New York! New York!
Additionally, she recently gave the keynote presentation in New York before the USTA/USPTA National Tennis Teachers Conference.
Premise of her address: Can the instructional principles of 10-Under Tennis with special tennis
balls and scaled courts work with adult learners?
“Absolutely,” says Cleland.
Sharon supervises 23 tennis professionals pros at the Greater Midland Tennis Center and is Assistant Director of the prestigious Dow Corning Tennis Classic, a USTA/ITF $100,000 Pro Circuit Event.
The Midland Ruby Award Winner joined the staff in 2001. She is a resident of Midland.
