The Big Serve Blog

Welcome to The Big Serve

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:21:00 PDT

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.

USTA Awards Over $400,000 in Recreational Tennis Grants to 45 Non-Profit Organizations Across the Country

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:45:00 PDT

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., October 20, 2009 - The USTA announced today that it is awarding over $400,000 in Recreational Tennis Grants to 45 non-profit organizations across the country. The Recreational Tennis Division has pooled together financial resources to create a new series of grants to be distributed on a bi-annual basis to non-profits that are committed to increasing tennis participation, well-established in their communities, support tennis programming and...

Afterschool Alliance Celebrated "Lights On Afterschool" on October 22, 2009

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:58:00 PDT

The 10th annual nationwide celebration of afterschool programs was held on October 22, 2009 in more than 7,500 communities throughout the country.

USTA and Newark Mayor Cory Booker Open Renovated Jesse Allen Park Featuring Permanent QuickStart Courts

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:09:00 PDT

Newark, NJ -- Sept. 2009 -- The USTA and Newark Mayor Corey Booker recently announced the reopening of a renovated Jesse Allen Park. The renovated park features tennis courts of three sizes, including full-size courts (78'), and permanent 36' and 60' QuickStart courts. Jesse Allen Park becomes the first public park in the country to house permanent tennis courts of all three sizes and the first park in New Jersey to...

Parks Director Receives USTA President's Award

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:45:00 PDT

Springfield, MO -- Sept. 2009 -- Jodie Adams, director of the Springfield-Greene County Park Board, was presented with the 2009 USTA President's Award in New York earlier this month during the U.S. Open. The annual award recognizes individuals who have given unusual and extraordinary service to the sport of tennis in the pubic interest. Click here to read the S...

USTA Participates in Development and Implementation of a National Physical Activity Plan

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:58:00 PDT

The USTA as an organization is committed to growing the sport of tennis, and as such, encourages Americans to pursue a healthy lifestyle of physical activity. According to the National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity (NCPPA), senior authorities on public health ranging from the U.S. Surgeon General and the World Health Organization to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called upon the U.S. to adopt a national physical activity plan. ...

D.C. Tennis Program to Put More Children on the Courts

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:22:00 PDT

July 9, 2009 - Washington, D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty is expected to announce today a citywide initiative to bring about a tenfold increase in the number of children enrolled in tennis programs. Through a partnership of the District's Department of Parks and Recreation and a number of nonprofit groups, including the United States Tennis Association, the city is kicking off the QuickStart Tennis program, which was developed to help children learn the game. ...

American Adults Getting Heavier

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:42:00 PDT

July 1, 2009 - Chicago (Reuters) - Obesity rates continued to climb in the past year with 23 U.S. states reporting adults in their states are fatter now than they were a year ago, two advocacy groups said on Wednesday. Obesity rates did not decrease in a single state last year, and the groups warned that the U.S. obesity epidemic must be addressed as lawmakers reform the nation's health system. ...

Washington, DC After-School Programs Become Emergency Food Providers

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:20:00 PDT

May 30, 2009 - The budding tennis players at an after-school program in Southeast Washington used to be picky eaters, discarding their fruit or complaining if their sandwiches had strawberry jelly instead of grape ... Click here for the Washington Post article.

American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (Stimulus Package) Funding Sources

Mon, 25 May 2009 12:58:00 PDT

While contacting your local representatives is the first step in determining ARRA funding opportunities for your area, the following websites are also good sources:

American Recovery & Reinvestment Act, http://www.recovery.gov/
Afterschool...

Make an Impact with The Big Serve - Volunteer Today

Sat, 16 May 2009 15:37:00 PDT

Share your passion for this lifelong sport by helping to grow the game in your own community. Click here to find a volunteer opportunity in your community or to start your own project. Some of these projects will introduce kids to the benefits of tennis ... others involve assisting Special Olympians or cleaning up facilities so that everyone can enjoy this lifetime sport. The possibilities are endless. One day of service can have a huge impact on someone's life, including your own, so volunteer today!

Rapid City's New Park View Tennis Complex Receives $25,000 USTA Grant

Fri, 15 May 2009 14:13:00 PDT

May 15, 2009 - A $25,000 grant from the United States Tennis Association will help the community and school district to prepare for the 2010 South Dakota State High School tennis tournament. Click here to read the Rapid City Journal article.

Tennis Gains Priority over Baseball for Improvements in Columbus, NE

Mon, 11 May 2009 14:04:00 PDT

The Columbus Board of Parks Commissioners prioritized a $30,000 request from the Columbus Tennis Association over the request by the Columbus Youth Baseball League for $20,000 to be used for improvements to the Centennial Park batting cage. Click here for the Columbus Telegram article.

Spina Bifida Patients Learn How to Play Tennis

Sun, 10 May 2009 14:52:00 PDT

LA MIRADA, CA - You can be in a wheel chair and play tennis. That was the lesson for 16 patients of Children's Hospital of Orange County in a tennis clinic held Sunday at Biola University ... Click here for the article.

USTA Sponsors Afterschool for All Challenge in Washington, DC

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:29:00 PDT

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Chicago's First Lady Maggie Daley and Judge Glenda Hatchett joined parents, children, educators and policy makers from around the country on April 27 and 28 to discuss ways to ensure that all children and families have access to quality after-school programs. Organized by the Afterschool Alliance, the 2009 Afterschool for All Challenge gave people the chance to tell law makers about their support for the...

Free Minneapolis Youth Tennis Program Featured in Local News

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 13:12:05 PDT

ABC's Eyewitness News (KSTP-TV) recently aired a segment on how young students from Minneapolis are being taught tennis for free at the Fred Wells Tennis & Education Center, giving them a life lesson both on and off the court. Click here to see the video and to learn more about the Center's educational programs.

University of Hawaii Hilo Vulcans Men's Tennis Gets Reprieve

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 11:00:00 PDT

The University of Hawaii at Hilo is ...

Tennis is Fastest Growing Sport in America

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:53:00 PDT

According to data released by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA), tennis is the fastest growing sport in America among traditional sports with an increase in participation of 43% from 2000 to 2008. According to the SGMA, tennis was one of only four sports to experience any increase during the study period and outpaced its nearest rival by 32%. Tennis is well ahead of other traditional sports like baseball, golf, gymnastics and football, all of which suffered a...

Need Assistance with the Maintenance or Construction of Tennis Courts?

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 09:40:00 PST

Please read A Guide to Public Facility Assistance Program before completing the Facility Assistance Inquiry Form. It provides helpful hints, important dates and available resources.

Becoming an Advocate for Tennis

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 15:40:29 PST

Taking up the cause for tennis is not a small commitment. Having tennis courts constructed in your local public park, for instance, can involve wading through levels of bureaucracy and take years from start-up to completion. The rewards, however, are immense. If you believe in tennis and all the benefits it brings to your community, then your efforts will be richly rewarded. This site can help you take the first steps toward putting together a comprehensive campaign.

Advocacy 101: How to Conceive Your Project

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 03:39:00 PDT

We realize that if you have never launched or work on a advoacy campaign before, getting started can be daunting. To ease your transition into advocacy, this post outlines a step-by-step process that you can use to see your project through from conception to completion, with helpful hints and tips to follow along the way. We welcome your feedback and suggestions via the comment section of this post.