Military Outreach

In 2013, the USTA will host 20 pilot programs at Boys & Girls Clubs of America-affiliated youth centers on military installations in the United States and abroad.

 

The USTA plans to bring this lifelong sport to those organizations that currently provide services for large groups of children and/or families, but that do not yet include tennis. This effort benefits from its new relationship with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, as well as a supporting grant from the National Recreation Foundation, and continues to deepen and further the USTA’s commitment to the U.S. military. 

 

Each of the 20 pilot sites will receive a starter equipment package that includes:

Ongoing support from the USTA national office and USTA sections, wherever applicable, will deliver the following programming: Two six-week seasons that include the Kids' Tennis Club format (supervised play) that emphasizes good character and sportsmanship (education and character traits) and culminates in a Tennis Play Day (introductory competition).

 

Each location will complete program evaluation surveys at the end of each session. Local support from sections, Community Tennis Associations, National Junior Tennis and Learning chapters, colleges and universities and other youth tennis enthusiasts will ensure success at each pilot location.

 

This year's first pilot was held at Fort Bragg, N.C. The training engaged more than 40 delivery staff who acquired skills from large group management to basic tennis skills to pilot-specific activities. National and local support was also on-hand to work with local and state USTA staff and volunteers.

 

Francie Barragan, women’s tennis coach at Methodist University and a longtime USTA volunteer, had this to say: "It was a great training. The participants seemed very excited and had a lot of fun. We are very excited that there is potential to grow tennis out at Fort Bragg. Our men's coach at Methodist and I have run the camps out there in the summer for years, but we haven't been able to offer consistent programming. So it's awesome that the kids could be playing tennis year-round out there now!"