As 2024 comes to a close, USTA Florida celebrates a year dedicated to making tennis more inclusive, equitable, and accessible for all. With initiatives focusing on empowering women in tennis, amplifying participation among Black communities, and fostering diversity in coaching and leadership, USTA Florida remains committed to ensuring that tennis is for everyone.
Empowering Women in Tennis
USTA Florida’s focus on women in tennis took center stage in 2024, with groundbreaking programs that elevated female players, coaches, and community leaders.
Earlier this year, USTA Florida worked with Clarity Writing & Research, to evaluate the organization’s current efforts in the Women in Tennis space.
The research showed that men are far more represented in sports leadership positions and girls are receiving less encouragement and opportunities in the sports industry. Also, of the more than 1.6 million tennis players in Florida, women only make up 39 percent of players. On the coaching side, only 25 percent of certified coaches are women.
By identifying the challenges women face in tennis, whether as players, coaches, or administrators, Clarity Writing & Research offered targeted strategies for USTA Florida to overcome these barriers. USTA Florida has since been able to expand and refine its Women in Tennis initiative to provide more play opportunities, new coach and speaker training, and incorporate equity principles in all programs and play.
The organization’s all-women coaching training initiatives have been pivotal in recruiting and developing a new generation of female coaches. In 2024, more than 150 women participated in USTA Florida’s Community Coach Programs, learning the skills needed to lead tennis programs in their communities. Of the 477 coaches trained, 229 of them were women, which is 48%! These efforts not only address the gender gap in tennis coaching but also ensure young girls have strong female role models on and off the court.
Similarly, all-girl tennis camps provided young athletes with a safe and empowering environment to grow their skills and confidence. These camps emphasized mentorship, leadership development, and the value of teamwork, helping to inspire the next generation of female tennis players. USTA Florida hosted five of these throughout 2024. Thanks to partnerships with Love Serving Autism, the University of North Florida, Florida A&M University, Edward Waters University, Black Girls Tennis Club, and the USTA National Campus, the organization was able to have more than 100 girls participate in these empowering camps.
While this was just the beginning of a new era for Women in Tennis, USTA Florida is excited to continue empower women and girls and watch them flourish in all roles of tennis. To learn more, visit ustaflorida.com/women-in-tennis.
AMPLIFY: Elevating Black Participation in Tennis
In its fourth year, AMPLIFY, USTA Florida’s initiative to address racial inequities in tennis, has made significant strides in empowering Black communities and creating opportunities in the sport.
USTA Florida presented the FAMU Women’s Tennis Program with a $100,000 HBCU Program Support Grant.
USTA Florida’s commitment to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) took a big step forward with the launch of a five-goal initiative aimed at strengthening HBCU tennis programs and encouraging Black youth to attend these institutions. Two HBCUs, Edward Waters University and Florida A&M University, received the first two HBCU Program Support Grants, enabling them to enhance coaching, facilities, and player recruitment efforts.
This initiative is vital not only for developing talent but also for preserving the legacy of HBCUs as a cornerstone of collegiate tennis diversity. USTA Florida also expanded outreach to surrounding communities, introducing tennis to HBCU alumni and neighbors who had never played before, in hopes to bring communities together.
USTA Florida presented the EWU Women’s Tennis Program with a $100,000 HBCU Program Support Grant.
One example of this was at the Play Tennis Gainesville Juneteenth Tennis Festival, held at Westside Park on June 29. With tennis instruction, community coach training, skills challenges, and point play, the festival offered an inclusive environment for attendees of all ages and skill levels.
Also, in collaboration with the American Tennis Association (ATA), USTA Florida was proud to serve as the presenting sponsor for the ATA’s 3rd Annual ACE Awards and Gala. This partnership underscores USTA Florida’s dedication to recognizing and celebrating excellence within Black tennis communities.
Through partnerships with community organizations, AMPLIFY brought tennis to parks, schools, and community centers, breaking down barriers to entry. By making the sport more accessible, USTA Florida continues to foster engagement from individuals of all backgrounds.
To learn more about AMPLIFY and USTA Florida’s efforts in Black Communities, visit ustaflorida.com/amplify.
Breaking Barriers and Building a Better Future
As USTA Florida reflects on 2024, the organization remains committed in its mission to ensure that tennis serves all. From empowering women and advancing diversity to supporting HBCUs and uniting communities, these efforts are a testament to the transformative power of tennis.
