USTA St. Louis Offers Free Court Time to Adaptive Groups
In partnership with Vetta Sports, USTA St. Louis is offering indoor court time to adaptive tennis programs from February through May. As part of the district’s ongoing diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, children and adults involved in local adaptive organizations can drop in and have a ball rallying or playing out points free of charge.
“We are just trying to create an opportunity for adaptive players to be able to play year-round,” said Megan Kovacs, USTA St. Louis executive director. “A lot of their playtime tends to be more during the outdoor season, just based on availability of courts and programming. Individuals with Down’s syndrome, the hearing-impaired and Special Olympics are three of the groups we’re reaching out to in order to provide an opportunity for them to play other than just the summer.”
The free indoor open court dates and locations are as follows. The district requests adaptive tennis groups to complete the online Court Request Form at least 10 days prior to each date to ensure there is enough court space for everyone. USTA St. Louis will then confirm the number of courts the district can provide each group within 24 hours of the request deadline.
• Saturday, February 10 at Vetta Sunset (deadline to request is January 31)
• Saturday, March 23 at Vetta Concord (deadline to request is March 13)
• Saturday, April 27 at Vetta Sunset (deadline to request is April 17)
• Saturday, May 18 at Vetta Sunset (deadline to request is May 8)
Five courts will be available for use from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. each evening at Vetta Sunset, while six courts will be available from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Vetta Concord. Vetta Sunset is located at 10911 Gravois Industrial Ct., Sappington, MO 63128. And Vetta Concord is located at 12320 Old Tesson Road, St. Louis, MO 63128.
USTA St. Louis asks each participating organization to provide an instructor, coach, parent or supervisor to assist participants while they are on court. Kovacs noted both kids and adults are invited to take advantage of the open court time, and play doesn’t necessarily need to be structured tennis.
“I’m excited about it because tennis is truly for everyone,” Kovacs said. “Adaptive tennis is less known — not just in the general community — but even within the adaptive community. I don’t necessarily know the awareness is there that this is a sport anybody can play.”
Kovacs credited Alywn Mushonga, USTA St. Louis tennis service representative, for helping the district remain connected to local adaptive tennis groups. Kovacs said USTA St. Louis intends to provide open courts to adaptive groups during the winter of 2024-25 as well. The district is targeting November through March when the weather is colder for its next series of dates. But for now, Kovacs is looking forward to building some momentum.
“What I love about tennis is it is a game you can play throughout your life,” Kovacs said. “It’s not limited by age and skill. So many players stop playing sports because they are just too hard on the body. We’re providing an opportunity for health and wellness for all groups. I’m excited to help raise awareness tennis is truly for everyone.”
Check out a recently published USTA St. Louis story on an after-school tennis program at Central Institute for the Deaf — one of the adaptive groups invited to utilize the open court time — by clicking here.
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