USTA to invest $1.3m in 10 And Under Tennis
July 25, 2011
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — The USTA today announced that it will invest a total of $1,300,000 to introduce 10 and Under Tennis in 26 communities across the country as part of its ongoing efforts to encourage young people to get active and start playing the sport. Similar to other youth sports where equipment and playing fields are scaled to size for kids, 10 and Under Tennis provides the youngest players with the ability to achieve immediate success by playing tennis on smaller courts, using smaller and lighter racquets and slower-moving and lower-bouncing balls. The USTA’s goal over the next five years is to bring 10 and Under Tennis to kids in more than 100 local markets nationwide.
Each of the 26 communities will receive $50,000 in matching grants from the USTA. The grant money will be used to build new courts and adapt current tennis courts to accommodate 10 and Under Tennis. Communities also will work with the USTA national office to make sure local organizers are taught the proper techniques and skills to implement this new method of bringing the game to kids. The USTA and its 17 sections will be working with schools, public parks and youth organizations to add tennis to PE classes and after-school programs. As kids develop their skills and love for the game, they also will be encouraged to participate in Play Days, USTA Jr. Team Tennis and USTA tournaments. The $50,000 will be provided over a three-year period for communities to add new programs.
The 26 markets are:
In addition to the USTA’s $50,000 grant, the markets will receive an additional $50,000 grant from their respective USTA sections. A total of $2.6 million will be invested in the communities to ensure future generations will continue to play the sport for a lifetime.
“10 and Under Tennis will allow thousands of youngsters to have more success and more fun in learning and playing the game,” said Kurt Kamperman, Chief Executive, Community Tennis, USTA. “With this approach, tennis has become the newest ‘pick-up’ sport, and we expect to see participation numbers increase dramatically in the very near future.”
The USTA has created a website — USTA.com/facilities — for those groups interested in applying for court construction or renovation grants and learning more about this major initiative. As part of the USTA’s commitment to grow the game of tennis, all courts that are built or renovated under this grant program will be lined for 10 and Under Tennis. In addition, as part of a public-private partnership, the USTA will build courts in places where local officials, public parks and schools commit to building tennis into their core programming for kids. For more information on 10 and Under Tennis, visit 10andundertennis.com.