The Boys & Girls Club of Miami hosted a free Kids’ Tennis Club coaches workshop for community tennis providers on May 24, 2014, attended by 36 participants from the Miami area.
he event was organized by USTA Florida Miami-area Tennis Program Coordinator Cathy Nordlund, and presented by USTA National faculty member Susan Allshouse. Participants learned how to introduce tennis in non-traditional spaces such as gyms, playgrounds and multi-purpose rooms with no courts required, and no teaching experience necessary.
“We had a variety of attendees from not-for-profit organizations such as Urban Promise to the Miami-Dade County Parks and Recreation staff, Special Olympic athletes who wanted to learn to mentor others, physical education teachers, summer camp staff and USPTA (United States Professional Tennis Association) pros,” Nordlund said.
The three-hour workshop also included sessions on how to adapt any space for tennis using kid-friendly equipment; large-group management techniques that can be used in any physical activity setting; and how to direct and supervise basic tennis and fitness skills using activity stations and the Tennis Skillastics game.
Upon registering as a Kids’ Tennis Club, participants will receive free Kids’ Tennis Club Playbooks, Kids’ Tennis Club Pocket Playbooks, Youth Achievement bag tags, a Sportsmanship Poster, recognition letters and certificates for offering tennis.
Kids’ Tennis Clubs are designed to give children the opportunity to try tennis in a safe, supportive, extracurricular setting. With tennis sized right for age and ability, it’s easier and more fun than ever for kids to play — even if they’ve never picked up a racquet. Organizing Kids’ Tennis Clubs for elementary school students, as well as intramurals and interscholastic team play at the middle school and high school level, is an excellent way for kids to experience camaraderie, cooperation and individual self-growth.
For more info on Kids’ Tennis Clubs and school tennis go to www.ustaflorida.com/kidstennisclubs.
