[tennisbiz] USA Youth Development

<x-charset iso-8859-1>If the USTA wants to improve the numbers and quality of young tennis players
they need to do two things that are seriously lacking. First, the number of
neighborhood tennis courts should be increasing not declining. Young kids
are looking for something to do and a place to do it within walking or
bicycling distance. Every elementary school building should have at least
two courts which are kept in great shape encouraging players of all ages to
use them. All community parks should have a bank of courts for the
surrounding home owners to play tennis. Many of these courts should be
lighted for night time play. Secondly, we need junior leagues and match
play to stir the competitive juices in younger players. Having competition
at these local courts throughout the summer is needed to entice young people
into trying tennis and falling in love with the game. The programs found in
tennis clubs are good, but this only serves a small population. In my area
many tennis courts are being removed because they have not been kept up.
Other courts are being turned into roller blade hockey rinks. Money is not
being made available to renovate the courts on a regular schedule. Young
people are gravitating towards those sports which run competition and
programs. Tennis just needs to take a look at what soccer and hockey have
done to draw young people to their programs.
Tim Coleman - Tennis Player & Coach



 
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Received on Mon Apr 07 2003 - 07:35:52 CDT