Do You Cancel Lessons for Continuing Education?

Simple question. Tough answer for most pros.

I've heard every side of this argument for years, in Georgia. Now that ARA is going national, I'm hearing the same thing from coaches in California, Florida, everywhere.

Let me lay out the case for saying "no" first—because these reasons are real, and I've felt them myself.

Why many pros won't cancel lessons:

• Immediate income loss: $600–$1,200 gone in a day, plus travel and fees.
• Client retention risk: Players switch to the coach who's always available.
• Online alternatives: ARA, PTR, RSPA, have webinars that let you earn credits without missing court time.
• Questionable value: Some events feel repetitive and more beneficial to the organization than to you.

All fair. I get it.

When I was just getting started, my Director of Tennis, Darryl Lewis, encouraged me to get involved with the GPTA (professional networking for tennis coaches in Georgia) and I didn't listen. It's $75 a year! I'd rather be teaching and making money than having lunch with a bunch of people I don't know!

But here's the part that keeps me up at night thinking: the coaches who figure out how to keep learning—without torching their income—are the ones still making a great living 10, 20, even 30 years in.

I've watched it happen. The pros who show up to quality events come back sharper. They coach better players, charge higher rates, run better programs. One good idea from a workshop can add thousands to your yearly revenue because your clients get better results and stick around longer.

Nothing replaces being in a room with other passionate coaches. One hallway conversation has turned into club contracts, referral pipelines, and partnerships that pay for themselves over and over. Online didn't always give you that.

You come back with new fire. Teaching the same drills day after day can wear anyone down. A couple days around people who love this as much as you do? It reminds you why you started.

The sport keeps changing—pickleball booming, new tools, new players walking through the door. Stay current or get left behind. Clubs hire the coaches who know what's working now, not what worked in 2005.

Why the ones who do cancel (smartly) come out ahead:

• Sharper coaching: Better results → higher rates and longer client retention.
• Real networking: One conversation can create referrals, contracts, or partnerships worth thousands.
• Renewed energy: Breaks burnout and reignites your passion.
• Future-proof career: Stay relevant as the sport evolves (pickleball, new tech, changing demographics).

Quick rebuttals to the common objections:

• Lost income? Quality events pay back fast through rate increases and new opportunities—one referral often covers multiple lost days.
• Client retention? Players stay longer with coaches who keep improving and return energized.
• Online is enough? Webinars check boxes, but in-person delivers spontaneous connections and hands-on demos.
• Money grab feel? When content is practical and networking is intentional, it turns into a profit center.

So how do we make this less painful? That's what we're working to solve at the American Racket Sports Association.

We're not here to pull you off court for expensive, out-of-state weekends that drain your bank account. We're building something different:

• Online forums open 24/7 where you can earn credits, swap ideas, and actually connect with pros across the country.
• Events timed so you miss as few lessons as possible with East Coast and West Coast options.
• Real, practical content and built-in networking that hands you ideas and relationships you can turn into income right away.

We want you to experience learning as a smart investment, not a gamble.

The coaches who keep growing are the ones who last. ARA is here to help every racket sports pro do exactly that—whether you're in Texas, Georgia like me, or anywhere else this game takes you.

If you're ready for a community that respects your time and your wallet while helping you build a better career, come see what we're doing at americanracketsportsassociation.com.

Shaun Boyce
CEO, American Racket Sports Association