The USTA will be partnering with PHIT America, a leading charitable organization, to promote health and wellness in children across the country.
As the presenting sponsor of the new PHIT America “Play Tennis” program, the USTA will provide free tennis curriculum and youth equipment to after-school and out-of-school programs. In schools with the PHIT America’s AMPED incentivized running and walking program, the "Play Tennis" program will introduce schoolchildren to the basics of tennis in a fun, personalized approach within the school environment.
AMPED, "Amplify Education With Physical Activity," is PHIT America's flagship activity program and currently is sponsored in more than 200 schools with 120,000 students.
“Tennis delivers a wide variety of benefits for kids, and most importantly it’s a great way to stay active and healthy,” said Michael Dowse, USTA CEO.
“We have made tremendous inroads in growing tennis in schools across the country. To be able to continue the partnership with PHIT America and the new Play Tennis program will allow the USTA to make the sport of tennis more accessible for more kids across the country.”
PHIT America has a goal to get 20 percent of the 50 million inactive U.S. children fit to CDC physical activity standards by 2030, and the "Play Tennis" program is the latest avenue to put them on a pathway to be active and healthy for life.
“We are excited to partner with the USTA to help increase our efforts at PHIT America on the importance of kids fitness and mental health,” said Jim Baugh, founder PHIT America. “Our programs work, and to date, we have introduced over half a million kids to regular physical activity in schools through those programs. Together with the USTA, we are building new opportunities for the tennis pathway and getting kids active to learn the great sport of tennis for lifelong health.”
Schools can apply for these free programs at tennis.PHITAmerica.org.
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