The school year is in full swing and students and teachers are settling into their routines. Teachers work hard to establish and prepare exciting lesson plans that bring out the best in their students and help them reach their full potential. In physical education classes across the Mid-Atlantic region, many teachers are helping kids learn tennis thanks to Net Generation. 

 

One such teacher is Susan Montgomery, a Net Generation provider embarking on her 34th year of teaching in Newport News, Va. Susan is a physical education teacher at Hines Middle School and strives to bring fun and inclusive games that encourage physical and mental fitness to her students. 

 

“Net Generation was introduced to me at VAHPERD, our annual conference for physical educators,” she said. “We’ve taught racquet sports in the past, however, Net Generation provides curriculum as well as community partnerships, so I thought it would be a great addition to our current teaching format.” 

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Net Generation, the official youth tennis of USTA, is on a mission to introduce tennis to a new generation of greats. It celebrates children learning the game, no matter their ability and provides school teachers with turnkey lesson plans for grades k-12 that introduce tennis. Upon registering with Net Generation, school teachers have access to free curriculum, created in conjunction with SHAPE (Society of Health and Physical Educators), that are customizable and designed with teachers and PE classes in mind. 

 

As Susan Montgomery began implementing Net Generation in her class, she noticed that the students’ excitement for tennis grew exponentially. 

 

“They enjoy learning about keeping score and the court markings. Also, using the suggested small group activities as well as the lead-up games work best in the classroom,” Montgomery shared.

 

Best of all, her students were getting physically active in a way that aligns with the new standard of teaching in PE classrooms. “The Commonwealth of Virginia is moving toward a more fitness-based curriculum,” she said. “Net Generation falls into several different categories within that scope, such as cardiorespiratory endurance and flexibility.”  

 

One differentiating factor about Net Generation that was appealing to Montgomery is the option for schools to partner with a local tennis coach or community provider so that kids can keep pursuing the sport after their initial introduction in the classroom. When these connections are made, not only do kids benefit by having a path to continue in the sport but so do schools - they receive free Net Generation tennis equipment such as youth racquets and balls. 

 

“Having enough equipment for our class size is paramount in being able to provide a quality lesson,” Susan stated. 

 

USTA Mid-Atlantic Section is actively involved in supporting teachers and schools as they implement Net Generation. In addition to providing workshops and special training for schools, the Section is helping to connect schools and community providers for maximum impact and benefit. More than 100 schools and growing, have been paired with a community partner. 

 

Net Generation has been a great addition to the PE program at Hines Middle School. If you are a teacher interested in bringing tennis to your local school, just like Susan Montgomery, you can learn more about getting started and create a profile at NetGeneration.com.

Community partners, or parents if you want to see tennis added in your school’s PE curriculum contact USTA Mid-Atlantic!