He Struggled to Belong Until Tennis Came into his Life

I believe in the power of tennis and its ability to change lives and want to share my story and tell you how you can help more kids by showing your support to USTA Mid-Atlantic.

Issac Photo My name is Jill and my story involves my 8 year-old son, Issac. He is on the autism spectrum and has always struggled to find a place where he belongs. We tried to involve Issac in many different activities with little success and sports in general had been hard for him – that was until tennis came into his life.

Two years ago, we moved to a new town in West Virginia and Issac participated in the USTA Mid-Atlantic’s TGA Premier Youth Tennis Summer Camp program, and he LOVED it! It was one-on-one and just about him, the court, and the ball. For the first time, he was able to focus and give his full attention to a sport.

Issac showed aptitude in tennis and wanted to continue to take the sport even further. He now participates in the USTA Mid-Atlantic’s TGA Premier Youth Tennis After School Program which has helped him build his self-confidence, independence, listening skills and social skills. The program is about so much more than just the sport and it has truly been life changing for Issac and our family. Issac’s school work has improved, he is more focused and now he has an outlet for physical activity. Issac Boyce

Most importantly, Issac has a place where he feels like he belongs. He has a self-identity and is gaining important social skills through tennis that will help him in the future, which, as a mom, gives me peace of mind.

I am so grateful to the USTA Mid-Atlantic’s Youth Tennis After School and Summer Camp programs. We live in West Virginia, where tennis programs are few. Because of USTA Mid-Atlantic’s commitment to bringing tennis to every child in the Section, my son was able to find a program and a place where he could thrive. Through the power of tennis, he has discovered his passion and talent. He takes great pride in that and so do I.

As you may know, USTA Mid-Atlantic’s tennis after school and summer camp program provides low-cost tennis programming in safe and convenient environments. Tennis is used to help kids learn science, math and technology concepts along with lessons in sportsmanship and decision making. Since the program started, USTA Mid-Atlantic has reached 9,000 kids throughout Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. It has been highly rated by school administrators, educators and parents alike.

Tennis is creating a future for Issac and so many other kids. A gift of $100.74 covers the cost of equipment, a high quality curriculum, and instruction for one child in the program. So far this year, the USTA Mid-Atlantic has reached more than 3,649 kids through the youth tennis after school and summer camp program. Our goal is to reach more than 4,200 kids in 2019.

I ask that you join me and support the USTA Mid-Atlantic Section and their youth tennis programs this year with your year-end gift- give the gift of tennis to a child just like Issac. My family and I love the after school tennis program and want the USTA Mid-Atlantic to be able to bring the program to more kids that need it. Together, we have the power to help the USTA Mid-Atlantic make tennis the most accessible and most played sport for young people throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

Thank you for taking time to read about Issac, the power of tennis and the power of USTA Mid- Atlantic to change a life.

Sincerely,

Jill

Proud Parent, USTA Mid-Atlantic TGA Premier Youth Tennis Program

P.S. Your gift of $100.74 will help a child, just like Issac, who enters the TGA Premier Youth Tennis Program in the Mid-Atlantic realize the possibilities the future holds.

2016 Mid-Atlantic Award Winners

Gain Inspiration from These Six Award Winners

USTA Mid-Atlantic (USTA MAS) was pleased to announce the winners of the 2016 Impact, Inclusion and Innovation awards for the Section at this year’s Conference and Awards ceremony on November 12, 2016. This is the second year USTA MAS has awarded trophies to deserving individuals and organizations who are working hard to promote and develop the growth of tennis in the community.

This year’s award winners are a diverse group that has a commonality – a passion for getting more people of all ages playing tennis. From an organization that has gone above and beyond to encourage diverse populations to play tennis to an individual using the latest social media technology to get more people out on the courts, these six winners are ones to watch in the Section. They are also great role models for others who also want to make a difference in the tennis community.

Instead of just telling you about them, take a look at the following videos to learn about each award winner and what makes their work so special.

2016 Inclusion Award (individual), Ann Tierney of Chesterfield, VA.

2016 Inclusion Award (organization), The Multicultural Children’s Tennis Association of Columbia, MD.

2016 Innovation Award (individual), Pedro Graber of Arlington, VA.

2016 Innovation Award (organization), the District of Columbia Interscholastic Athletic Association of Washington, DC.

2016 Impact Award (individual), Jennifer Toomy of Norfolk, VA.

2016 Impact Award (organization), Montgomery TennisPlex, Boyds, MD.

Please join us in congratulating these award winners on their tremendous accomplishments in 2016.

We hope these stories are an inspiration to do more in your community to grow tennis, embrace inclusion and try new things to spark interest in the sport. You can also get involved by supporting USTA Mid-Atlantic in our efforts to reach underserved populations and enable more people – especially children – to play tennis and learn the sport of lifetime. You can simply text ACE to 80077 to make a $10 donation to USTA Mid-Atlantic to help our tennis enrichment scholarship fund.*

What do you find inspirational about the 2016 USTA MAS award winners? In what ways can you do more to promote and develop the growth of tennis in your community? Share your thoughts with us on social media and join the conversation.

Editor’s note: All award winner videos were produced in partnership with G-Fitz Productions.

*$10 donation to USTA Mid-Atlantic. Charges will appear on your wireless bill, or be deducted from your prepaid balance. All purchases must be authorized by account holder. Must be 18 years of age or have parental permission to participate. Msg&Data Rates May Apply. Text STOP to 80077 to STOP. Text HELP to 80077 for HELP. Full Terms: mGive.org/T Privacy Policy: mGive.org/P

Lauren Hoffmann, is the director of marketing, communications and membership for USTA Mid-Atlantic.

What’s Your Reason Why for High School Sports?

It was two days before the high school tennis state championships.

*Snap.* I broke my wrist.

As I heard the words “You can’t play for eight weeks,” I was devastated and more importantly I was disappointed for letting down my team. My disappointment vanished quickly as my teammates rallied around me and I rallied for them cheering on from the sidelines that year. This unwavering camaraderie and friendship with my tennis teammates on and off the court was a major dose of motivation for me. The following year, we came back even stronger and we became the second public school since 1987 to win the team State Championships.

This is high school sports. This is #MyReasonWhy.

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) is celebrating National High School Activities Month with the launch of the #MyReasonWhy campaign. They encourage people to share their reasons for participating in high school sports and activity programs in an effort to highlight the benefits of these activities.

Tennis provides myriad of benefits for youth and high schoolers that mirror many of the benefits NFHS touts. From physical activity benefits to strong academics, tennis develops life skills and teamwork at an early age that carry on to adulthood.

Often people may not think of tennis as a typical team sport, but with high school tennis, Junior Team Tennis and USTA League – team tennis is abundant. Personally, I couldn’t have built a better, stronger team through tennis than I did in high school.

Lindsey Keeler, second from left, with her Red Mountain High School Tennis Team.

I had been playing tennis competitively in USTA Junior Tournaments most of my life and found that high school tennis was the perfect complement to my junior play. It provided me the team component I wanted while also increasing my play experiences against other top players.

Those experiences and friendships formed with teammates is what motivated me to then play tennis in college and have continued to motivate me to play USTA League tennis now.

I asked around the USTA Mid-Atlantic office and here are a few reasons why our staff participated in high school sports and activities:

“I played tennis in both high school and junior high because I loved the team component it provided me and it kept me active.”

“My reason why I did high school sports was the teamwork, healthy competition, character building and fun of it all!”

If you participated in high school sports or activities, especially tennis, what was your reason why? Or if you currently are involved in high school sports and activities – players, coaches, program supervisors, what’s your reason why? Share it with us on USTA Mid-Atlantic social media AND share it with NFHS using #MyReasonWhy.

Lindsey Keeler, is the director of adult programs at USTA Mid-Atlantic and a proud Red Mountain High School Tennis Hall of Famer.