The first of series of events designed to get families on court for the first time was a big success at Waters Edge in Stone Mountain, GA on May 6.

Under the guidance of coach Bryan Shepherd, Family Tennis Day hosted nearly 100 people to the 10-court facility overlooking the subdivision’s beautiful lake. More than 10 local volunteers welcomed families from the eastern side of metro Atlanta.

Parents helped their kids put balls on their racquets while some children decided to help their elders get a feel for hitting a forehand over the net. By the end of the two-hour event, all six courts around the clubhouse were in use by eager newbies.

USTA Southern’s Marketing & Communications Department has organized 12 events from North Carolina to Arkansas to bring tennis to those who have never picked up a racquet. ADVERTISEMENT The Family Tennis Days and Family Tennis Nights drew new players by concentrating its marketing and communication efforts outside the usual tennis-based channels. Direct distribution to schools along with social media was designed to reach those unfamiliar with the sport of a lifetime.