The Aim of the UK Racket Stringers Association
To promote the knowledge of Racket Servicing skills in the UKand Ireland and to recognise those skills through an effective Certification Programme.
The Objectives -
Focus racket servicing activities on all racket sports, including Tennis, Badminton, Squash, Racquetball, Racquets and Real Tennis.
- Provide a comprehensive calendar of Racket Servicing courses.
- Maintain a Certification Programme that recognizes Racket Service skills.
- Develop links with Manufacturers, Suppliers, Coaching Associations, Shop Owners, Tournament Organisers and others involved in racket sports.
- Support Coaching Associations by provision of effective in-service training.
- Provide qualified Tournament Stringers for events.
Membership benefits include:
- Access to the UKRSA Website and Members Only information section, including a Members Forum for exchanging views.
- Your contact details available through the website, with your permission, so that players, manufacturers and tournament organisers can better find your services.
- UKRSA Certificate of membership to display.
- Access to Stringing Workshops.
- Discounted pricing on products when available.
- Access to the UKRSA Certification Programme.
- Technical assistance and advice on all racket-servicing topics.
Why do I need to join the UKRSA?
Many coaches and players who only string their own rackets may feel that they do not need to belong to a stringing association. However, rackets are becoming more complex, superlight and so more prone to breakage during the stringing process. To get the most from todays rackets, a good knowledge of racket servicing skills is essential. Performance Coaches and players need advice on how best to maximise their performance potential and this extends to the racket and strings that they use.
Sports Shops that provide a stringing service especially need technical support and guidance in order to maintain a high level of expertise and avoid costly mistakes.
Being a UKRSA member means that you are never far away from expert guidance.
If you want to generate more income to supplement your coaching, then a fully certificated stringing course is the first step. You can get the right training and the right machine and equipment, all in one go!
Whatever your Training needs, the UKRSA can fulfil them.
If you restring someone elses racket, then you certainly do need to belong. Getting things wrong can mean you paying out a lot of hard earned money for a mistake that you could easily have avoided.
Who is involved in the UKRSA?
Liam Nolan has been involved in Racket Servicing since around 1985. He is a home, shop and tournament stringer. His biggest stringing career moments (after stringing his first racket) include achieving the Master Racket Technician award with the USRSA and being asked to lead the 2001/2002 Bow Brand Official Wimbledon Stringing Team.Liam has just been appointed the new GB Davis Cup stringer and works closely with the LTA on coach education. An active squash coach, he can also be seen playing badly on a tennis court. Liam is based at the UKRSA HQ in Norwich where many of the ad-hoc training courses are held.
Stan Parry is a founding member and a UKRSA tutor. Stan is another experienced Wimbledon stringer and like many, a home stringer as well. Stan will be able to guide you through the processes of transforming your enthusiasm and skills into a successful and profitable business. He is probably the most successful home stringer in the UK and lives in Sanderstead, Surrey.
Jackie Vaughan isanother tournament stringer who covers many of the UK tennis events. Jackie is based in Bewdley, Worcs.
Technical Advisors, Manufacturers and Suppliers all of whom have an active interest and wide experience in racket sports, provide other additional support.
However, the real energy and direction will undoubtedly come from people like yourself, so we hope that you are able to join our ranks.
Already a USRSA or ERSA member?
You will benefit enormously from USRSA membership, as we do ourselves! The USRSA has set a benchmark of service quality that will be hard to match. There is no reason why the USRSA, ERSA and the UKRSA cannot all work together for the greater good of all their members. Its still a free country.
The UKRSA is aimed at anyone who is involved in the relationship between string/racket and ball/shuttle. It is YOUR association, so much of the information will come from yourselves, people who play and coach, who service rackets, understand the problems and who have most of the answers!
Contact liam@ukrsa.com for more details
"In matters of style, swim with the current - in matters of principle, stand like a rock" Thomas Jefferson
