Columbia (SC) Tennis Association volunteers welcomed players during a National Tennis Month event
Colunbia (SC) Tennis Association President Nan Smith hands out a logoed hat.
“Here’s a hat for you,” was the welcome for tennis players who entered the gates of the Columbia Tennis Center in early May.
Emblazoned across the front was the Columbia (SC) Tennis Association logo. Handing out the hats was a friendly smile from a familiar face in the USTA ecosystem.
Nan Smith serves as the association president. However, she is a well-known tennis volunteer who led USTA South Carolina as president. Currently, she also serves as USTA Southern Adult League Committee chair and is a member of the USTA League Committee, a national position.
Her mission today was to support Dartagnon Coker who ran a National Tennis Month (NTM) event on the public courts in the South Carolina capital. Smith made sure all attendees received the hat and gave an introductory speech about local programs.
“We are celebrating National Tennis Month. We want it to be fun. We want it to be social. We want you to enjoy it,” said Smith. “Please visit our website where we have information about the other events we have going on, like Red Ball and Tennis and Tacos.”
Coker organized players by level but also ensuring players who arrived in pairs were put on one of the three courts in use on May 3.
As informal play began, he also focused on one court and taught players how to play a 10-point match tiebreak. Some players knew the serving rotation, but others were assisted by Coker’s coaching.
Players gathered for small breaks and compared notes. Two women had a similar tennis journey, both played in high school, dropped the game for some years and now were back on court. One of their goals was to join a USTA League team.
Players and coach in a National Tennis Month event in Columbia, S.C.
The last session of the two-hour event featured a “king of the hill” drill. When Coker jump in to hit a few shots, the others quickly noted the sound of his shots was louder than the beginners.
Coker wrapped up the session by highlighting his goals with beginner programs. He said he likes to allow players to hit but wanted to give them a better understanding of the rules.
“It’s important to give players a pathway to develop. All of these players are learning and improving. We are offering three more National Tennis Month programs on the other Sundays in May. We hope they return to improve and also meet new friends.”
The Columbia Tennis Center’s list of NTM events were set for May 3, May 8, May 16 and May 23.
Here’s the link to find NTM events in your community!
Coach Coach Dartagnon Coker and National Tennis Month players.
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