Health & Fitness
USTA Youth Tennis League Comes to Grosse Pointe
Here is a great chance for kids to get active outdoors and to learn about teamwork, competition and sportsmanship.
The Grosse Pointe Community Tennis Association (GPCTA) will be offering a Quickstart Youth Team Tennis League for kids age 5-10 years old this summer. The league will be part of the United States Tennis Association’s Midwest Section’s Junior Tennis Pathway Program.
The league will be using the USTA’s “Quickstart” format which like other sports, has kids start out with equipment designed for kids. The courts are smaller, racquets are lighter and the balls bounce lower. “It’s a much better way for kids and beginners to learn tennis,” said Chip Fazio, a USPTA certified tennis professional, who runs First Serve Tennis and is the president of the GPCTA. “They learn faster and have more fun. This is the cutting edge for how tennis is being currently taught to beginners and kids.” In addition to the courts and the balls being kid-sized it is also important that kids have a properly fitting youth racquet.
The league is for beginner and intermediate tennis players. No tennis experience is required. The focus of the league is on fun, getting kids active and competition with an emphasis on good sportsmanship.
Find out what's happening in Grosse Pointewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The league will meet Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 pm from June 20-Aug 1. Each session will consist of a half-hour team practice and half-hour match play. The cost is $75 and each child will receive a free tennis goodie bag, including a team tee-shirt and an appropriately sized youth tennis racquet. If the child has a racquet he or she can opt for a different giveaway.
Volunteers are also needed to help make the league a success. All volunteer coaches will receive free training and lesson plans. No tennis experience is required, just a desire to work with kids.
Find out what's happening in Grosse Pointewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Registration for the tennis league and classes is through the USTA Midwest Section, http://www.midwest.usta.com/juniors/midwest_youth_team_tennis_programs/.
Any questions about the league, tennis classes, racquet sizing or volunteering can be directed to Coach Chip Fazio, USPTA, 313-670-3277, chipfazio@gmail.com.
