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USTA Missouri Valley ALL Stars Event Recipe for Success: Mix FUN with TENNIS and ENJOY!
The USTA Missouri Valley Section played host to a two-day Section Adaptive Tennis event in Des Moines, IA. Eight teams from the five-state region gathered for the second annual ALL Stars Day, 2012. This year’s event included nearly 90 athletes, coaches and chaperones. An outstanding blend of social interaction and tennis competition, this team event had all of the ingredients to create the perfect tennis recipe for Adaptive Tennis competition!
Day 1: The event commenced with a luncheon at the McCollum/Waveland Tennis Courts. The athletes were outfitted in their team shirts and received goodie bags. Team practices rounded out the afternoon. The athletes and coaches were treated to the Iowa Cubs baseball game in the evening. Popcorn and peanuts were added to the fare. The ALL Stars were invited to sing "Take My Out to the Ball Game" for the entire crowd.
Day 2: Let the competition begin! The teams played in three divisions (Red, White and Blue), featuring round-robin singles and doubles matches. Competitive tennis, team spirit and sportsmanship prevailed throughout the event. The Olympic-style awards ceremony capped the event, with each athlete presented with an ALL Stars medal.
In addition to the USTA Missouri Valley Section and Iowa District staff, volunteers from the five-state region assisted with ALL Stars activities, both on and off of the court. The following local organizations provided support and organization for the event:
•CTA’s: Greater Des Moines Tennis Association and Central Iowa Tennis Alliance
•Parks - Des Moines Parks & Recreation
•Roosevelt High School - Student Council
•Special Olympics Iowa
The ALL Stars event was a terrific demonstration of adapting tennis play formats to fit the needs of the athletes. The recipe for this successful event was simple: Mix FUN with TENNIS and ENJOY!
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