Ethos

KAIZEN

No one has written the handbook on racquet service and that means there’s always room to improve, to lean on one another and to grow together. One approach to continuous, incremental improvement is called kaizen. It originated in Japan and the word translates to mean change (kai) for the good (zen).

Kaizen is based on the philosophical belief that everything can be improved: some organizations look at a process and see that it’s running fine; organizations that follow the principle of Kaizen see a process that can be improved. This means that nothing is ever seen as a status quo – there are continuous efforts to improve which result in small, often imperceptible, changes over time. These incremental changes add up to substantial changes over the longer term, without having to go through any radical innovation.

DEDICATION

Our prime purpose is to help others, in part because we are connected by shared experiences and we can all learn from one another. IART is dedicated to the racquet technician who is on the front lines servicing racquets for players of all ages and levels of play. Our goal is to provide consistent and accurate information to help you, the stringer, to enable you to be the very best you can be. You’re on a path and we’re there with you, providing the tools and valuable resources you can use on an everyday basis.

Our methods are straight forward, user friendly and our website is beautifully designed to challenge our members to interact as a community of like-minded people. You’ll see us challenge the status quo from time to time because we believe in thinking outside the box. It also helps that we just happen to have some of the most knowledgeable people in the industry in our corner so why not join us?

INTERNATIONAL FOCUS

When it comes to racquet technicians the primary goal is unification with an International focus. The IART has been “all-inclusive” since its inception over 20 years ago. without confusing geographical borders and thus, the “International” designation. Prior to the IART, all other organizations involved in racquet stringing and racquet customization were (and still are) identified by the term “Association”. In recent years, some have copied the IART by simply attaching the term “International” to their existing name but make no mistake about it, the IART was the first organization to break down the geographical boundaries for these types of organizations and we continue our unique approach in the 21st Century.

We are always looking for the best possible resources that will enable the racquet stringer to refine, update and improve their skills and to present that information in such a way that it has true value and meaning. While our primary focus is tennis, we strive to provide assistance with other racquet sports whenever possible. We encourage feedback and input from our members and invite them to play an active role in the development and implementation of the Alliance website. At IART we realize that the racquet stringer is at the very core of what we’re all about and the organization pledges its support and dedication to our members.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

Community-a word often used to refer to a group that is organized around common goals and values. This is precisely the intent and purpose of the IART. Our focus is on the International tennis community and our goal is to provide an atmosphere within that community whereby the racquet technician is given the priority and attention they deserve. The focus for our community is education as it relates to:

• Training the racquet stringer to be the very best they can be
• Assisting parents and juniors in navigating the difficult process of racquet selection, string selection and tension to ensure maximum performance at any level of play
• To advise and assist players in an ongoing effort to minimize injury and to insure the players’ longevity in the game of tennis. Too many injuries are occurring due to misinformation and bad advice for racquets, string & tension and IART believes that by providing the proper education and advice for all involved our members can help and prevent potential injury to our customers

We seek to build, grow, and nurture a community that shares a common goal of strength through member participation. A global tennis community coming together in a unified effort to share information, network and grow as a community, and learn from one another. This is at the heart of our very core. Through that effort, we can truly seek meaningful change in our sport as it relates to educating our clients.

Trusting IART

At IART we know you look to us for trustworthy and useful information to empower you to improve your overall knowledge of racquet service and it’s many aspects. At the same time, we have to be honest about what we know and what we don’t know. Many years of experience provide the compass that guides us and when answers escape us, we can turn to our industry professionals with whom we’ve formed solid relationships over the years. The goal is to insure up-to-date and accurate information 24/7.

While other organizations look for where people are coming from, we’re more interested in where you want to go and how the IART can help you get there.