After-School Projects
After-school spaces are critical to both the physical and educational development for our youth. At USTA, we are providing major cities and small communities with dynamic after-school programs that successfully merge tennis and education through our National Junior Tennis and Learning network. USTA's Jr. Team Tennis program connects kids together in teams to play singles, doubles and mixed doubles against other teams within a league.
Uncertain Times 2009: Recession Imperiling Afterschool Programs and the Children They Serve, a recent survey of afterschool programs by the Afterschool Alliance, finds that afterschool programs are serving a high need population, struggling to maintain their funding and are worried about how the recession will affect future funding. Nearly all respondents to this web-based survey say that more children in their communities could benefit from afterschool programs, if programs were available. 69 percent report that funding is less than secure for the next 1 to 2 years and 83 percent report funding is not secure for next 3 to 5 years.
Click here to learn more.
Here are two great videos to watch on School Tennis:
School Tennis - Extracurricular/After-
School
School Tennis Overview
Interested in a new tennis program format designed specifically for kids? Visit USTA QuickStart Tennis for more information.
Adopt-a-School
The Adopt-a-School initiative is designed to utilize the talent and energy of USTA volunteers, USTA staff, tennis professionals and tennis enthusiasts to help implement tennis within schools and connect to after-school and summer programs. Existing local school associations will be targeted such as PTA’s and PTO’s in coordination with Jr. Team Tennis providers, NJTL Chapters, CTA’s and Parks to help institute tennis into the following areas:
- Tennis in Physical Education
- QuickStart Tennis After School Programs
- No-Cut School Tennis Teams
Individuals interested in reaching out to schools for tennis can register on The Big Serve web site (click here) and receive an Adopt-a-School kit. The kit includes tools and resources to assist tennis advocates and program leaders to target school decision makers and implement tennis programs.
Moving forward, it is essential for registered advocates to work closely with their USTA Section and/or District office to maximize the support and resources that are available for school based initiatives, including training, equipment assistance, grants and staff consulting.
So get on the bus and help us take tennis to schools!
For more information on School Tennis or the Adopt-a-School program, please
click here.
We have additional photos on this site to show some of our great after-school programs.
You Can Help By Taking Action
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Take a minute and tell friends, family, and co-workers about The Big Serve. You'll be helping build our network of grassroots supporters. Take Action! »
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Do you have a success story regarding expanding tennis in your community? There are hundreds of local success stories that will motivate and inspire others. Share what worked in your community. Take Action! »
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No matter where you live, there are bound to be plenty of opportunities for you to lend a hand to help make tennis better, more fun and more accessible for everyone. So volunteer your time and your serving skills during The Big Serve. Share your passion for the game with your community. You'll be enriching your town - and our sport. After all, in tennis, serving gets everything started. Take Action! »
Posted by USTA Staff on November 18, 2009 11:28 PM.
Welcome to The Big Serve. We at the USTA congratulate you on taking the first step to advocate for tennis in your community. Register on this site to receive updates about tennis advocacy or to post comments on our blog. You will find some great resources on this site that will help you to build tennis facilities and create programming in your area - like handbooks and a step by step guide through the advocacy process. You will also find a link to our Public Facility Assistance Program, which will allow you to tap the resources at the USTA in building new or renovating existing tennis courts.
70% of tennis is played on public courts. For over ten years, the National Recreation and Park Association has partnered with the USTA to bring parks and recreation agencies Tennis in the Parks (TIP). TIP is a strategic initiative designed to help improve and expand opportunities for the public to learn and play this lifelong sport. Interested in forming a Community Tennis Association? Click here for more information. Finally, please send us your stories to support the efforts of The Big Serve.
We look forward to your participation and to sharing all of our resources and success.
Tagged with
After School Projects, Collegiate Tennis, Facility Building, Tennis.
Posted by croft on November 17, 2009 11:26 AM.
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., November 17, 2009 - The USTA and TIA announced today that tennis participation in the United States topped 30 million players for the first time in more than two decades. The annual survey of 6,000 Americans showed that tennis participation grew in all age groups under the age of 50 and within all ethnicities. With 30.1 million people hitting the courts, tennis participation has grown 12% over 2008 and climbed 25% since 2003. The survey is conducted...
Tagged with
After School Projects, Collegiate Tennis, Facility Building, Physical Fitness, Tennis, Youth.
