“This will be an exciting and challenging two years, and I look forward to growing tennis here in the United States,” said Brown Grimes. “One of my top goals will be to provide children more access to tennis by strengthening school programs from elementary school curriculum to no-cut high school teams.”
Jane Brown Grimes, USTA Chairman of the Board and President

USTA High School No-Cut Program Experiences Phenomenal Growth in Record Time

Since launching its innovative No-Cut Program less than a year ago, more than 1,200 high school coaches have registered as implementing the policy. “The astounding, rapid growth of this program is a testament to these incredible coaches who see the bigger picture,” said Kirk Anderson, USTA Director. “It opens the door for more students to experience the fun of representing their schools while learning about discipline, and resources available to high school coaches from the USTA, visit www.usta.com/no-cut.

Number of Registered Coaches, YTD; 1,322 (Top 6 States)
Texas – 225
Minnesota – 95
Washington – 66
California – 108
Michigan – 86
Florida – 62

School Tennis Mission

To provide resources, assistance and training to schools and other organizations for curricular and after school activities, including intramural and interscholastic programs for the elementary, middle school and high school levels.

USTA School Tennis – The Long-Term Strategy

USTA School Tennis is moving beyond an introductory experience in P.E. and collaborating with local USTA entities and after school tennis providers to provide the necessary resources for long term schools pathway programming. Programs for middle school and high school students must be developed and expanded as they represent the largest population of new tennis players. Modified equipment and play-based formats (36’/60’) are key for elementary school children to have a positive first time experience. Schools can serve as tennis centers in every community in the country with modified courts set up on playgrounds and in gymnasiums. Overall, USTA School Tennis must focus on connecting after-school and summer tennis opportunities with in-school efforts via Community Tennis Association’s, NJTL, parks, Junior Team Tennis, youth organizations, and public and private facilities. We must establish and maintain a schools programming pathway from elementary school to high school and beyond without any gaps in between.

According to the 2005 USTA/TIA Participation Survey, Schools/Colleges are the #1 entry point for all new players with the 13-18 age group being the largest demographic of all new players, followed by 6-12 year olds.

High School/Middle School Coaches’ Workshops & Tennis Coaches Associations

Congratulations to Cherryl Silva and Marian Thomson for running our sections early February High School Coaches Workshop this year. With record attendance, we had a dramatic upswing in sign-ups for No-Cut High School Coaches as a direct result. In 2007, the USTA Schools Tennis efforts will focus on identifying and supporting states that have or are developing high school or middle school tennis coaches’ associations.

You don’t need courts to start an after school program! For locations that do not have access to tennis courts, programs can be conducted on blacktops, cement multi-purpose courts, or gymnasium floors using modified court boundaries, transitions tennis balls, and makeshift nets. Check out www.usta.com/schools

 I’ve heard of the Chess Club, but…

Tennis Jamborees- Creating a Buzz for Tennis
One-day jamborees are an excellent solution for creating interest in tennis and getting a full blown after school or summer program underway. For elementary school students, a ‘track and field’ style tennis day can serve as a great promotion for summer programs by featuring skill contests, short court/foam ball matches, tie-dye shirts, class names and awards. Another way to use this concept is to create a one-day team tennis tournament for elementary and middle school students participating from area schools, with little or no experience required. Low compression balls and underhand serves allow matches to get underway quickly.

USTA School Tennis receives national endorsements in the rollout of the new in-school tennis curriculum

• Playing tennis is an excellent way to engage kids in regular physical activity to help them live longer, healthier lives.” – American Heart Association
  
• “Tennis is an ideal physical education activity for improving wellness and fighting obesity in children.” Cleveland clinic
  
• “The USTA Schools Curriculum and resources are so far ahead of the other sports in making it easy to introduce tennis into the schools. Furthermore, with tennis being a lifetime sport and school districts needing to address the fitness and wellness needs of their students, there has never been a better opportunity to institutionalize tennis within school systems nationwide.” Jim O’Neill, Executive Director, Sports and Arts in Schools Foundation

Teacher friendly lesson plans are available on www.usta.com/schools to assist teachers with no previous tennis experience or access to traditional tennis courts!

For information about setting up district wide school in-services in your town, please contact the your Community Tennis Coordinator for more information.