Tag: community impact

Neela W: A Story of Gratitude and Tennis Passion in the Mid-Atlantic

As we continue to celebrate 100 years of tennis in the Mid-Atlantic, we are forever reminded that this milestone would not be possible without the incredible people of the past and present day who embrace the mission, and embody our guiding pillars of community, character, and well-being through tennis. We are sharing and celebrating their stories, and the next one comes from Neela W. 

Neela is a sophomore in high school in Maryland. She plays tennis on her varsity team and trains at the 4 Star Tennis Academy. Neela recently became a volunteer with USTA Mid-Atlantic and offered her time to write a personal essay – in her own words – about what tennis means to her and how the sport impacts her life. 

For as long as I can remember, tennis has been a part of my life. Even before I was born, most of my family enjoyed playing tennis. While my grandpa loved playing for fun with my mom, my dad and aunt both played competitively. I began playing tennis with my dad when I was five years old. Tennis originally started as a fun hobby and a way to spend time with my father, but quickly grew into a more serious activity. By the time I turned nine, I was taking group lessons and playing competitive matches. By age 12, I played my first tournament.

The week leading up to my first tournament, I worked extremely hard with my dad and coach. I remember getting more and more nervous as the start day approached. However, the second I hit my first shot, my nerves started to subside. I ended up finishing second in the tournament as I won three out of four matches. After I exceeded my own expectations, I was truly hooked on the game. I planned to enter more tournaments the following summer. 

However, before I could register for summer tournaments, the pandemic happened. The whole world shut down, and as a result I could not play tennis. This was the first time tennis was taken away from me, as all the public tennis courts and training centers were closed. I could no longer go to a public park to play or even just hit on a concrete wall. Even though my tennis game suffered because of the lockdown, the real lesson I learned is not to take tennis for granted. Every day, being able to hit on the court is a privilege, and not something to be taken for granted.

Gratitude is ultimately what tennis means to me. I am lucky to be able to play this game. It is an absolute privilege to push myself every day in practice, constantly improve my game, and compete with other players. And although difficult, I try to let this lesson of gratitude spill over in other aspects of life. So for me, tennis is not just a sport, but a mindset. I really cannot imagine my life without tennis.

Stay up to date with USTA Mid-Atlantic’s Centennial Celebration by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and X. 

This year USTA Mid-Atlantic, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is celebrating 100 years of promoting tennis and its physical, social, and emotional health benefits. Get involved and show your support for the next 100 years of tennis. Learn about our impact in the region and how USTA Mid-Atlantic creates community, character, and well-being.

Building the Next 100 Years of Tennis!

USTA Mid-Atlantic Foundation believes that tennis creates community. Tennis allows people to improve their physical health and wellness, mental development, social skills, teamwork, sportsmanship and so much more. The benefits of tennis are especially important for helping young people become active and healthy adults. And for 100 years, the mission to grow the sport has endured and is more important than ever.

However, the cost of tennis lessons, camp fees, or equipment can add up and become a barrier to accessing the sport. To help defray the costs associated with tennis, USTA Mid-Atlantic offers Junior Player Scholarships for applicants at every level of the sport. These scholarships are made possible by the generous gifts and donations from our tennis community. And the need in the tennis community is apparent with application submissions increasing significantly each year.

In 2021, USTA Mid-Atlantic introduced the Summer Smash Fundraising Challenge with proceeds benefiting the Junior Player Scholarship. This year, the goal was to raise $10,000 to help make more scholarships for youth tennis players available, thus provide the opportunity for them to develop a love and appreciation for tennis.

YOU SMASHED THE GOAL!

The 2023 Summer Smash Fundraising Challenge raised $16,250, exceeding the goal set. Additionally, of the Mid-Atlantic community members that participated, 74 percent were new supporters. 

Adding to this year’s success was a generous matching gift provided by an anonymous donor. This match was for first time Summer Smash donations or for increased gifts by those who participated in the 2022 Summer Smash Fundraising Challenge. This matching gift was critical to the overall success of the fundraising challenge and ability to smash the goal set. As evidenced by the increase in new supporters and numerous repeat supporters who increased their donations in 2023, this matching gift motivated and inspired everyone.

Congratulations to the following teams for raising the most money in the 2023 Summer Smash Fundraising Challenge:

1st Place: Heritage High School Boys & Girls Tennis Team led by Jennifer Parker

2nd Place: Tennis Angels led by Kelly Stanley 

3rd Place: Junior Scholarship Fundraising Team led by Amy O’Brien 

4th Place: Tynika Wilson

The top four teams who raised the most money had a chance to pick from an amazing list of prizes. The prizes included: 

  • A Mubadala Citi DC Open Experience: Included 15 tickets for the team to attend the 2023 event in Washington D.C.
  • Boar’s Head Resort: A two hour clinic for up to 8 players and beverages for after the clinic at Three Notch’d Brewery in Charlottesville. 
  • Dave Marshall Tennis Camp: A two hour clinic for up to 8 players in Rehoboth Beach  with a $25 Tennis Warehouse gift card. 
  • Wintergreen Resort: A two hour clinic for up to 8 players with team apparel from Thirty Love.  

USTA Mid-Atlantic is grateful for the generosity and support of all who participated in the 2023 Summer Smash Fundraising Challenge and our generous anonymous donor, especially during this special Centennial year. 

While the 2023 Summer Smash Fundraising Challenge is over, you can still make a gift to support scholarships and other programs in the Mid-Atlantic. Your gift can increase access to tennis so everyone, especially those in marginalized communities, can experience the benefits of the sport for the next 100 years.

Together, we continue to create community through tennis for all now and for the next 100 years!  

To stay up to date on all things tennis in the Mid-Atlantic make sure to follow USTA Mid-Atlantic on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. 

USTA Mid-Atlantic is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to promoting tennis and its physical, social, and emotional health benefits. Learn about our impact in the region and how USTA Mid-Atlantic creates community, character, and well-being. 

Teamwork in Individual Sports

The concepts of teamwork and individual sport seem logically incompatible. However, in recent times, the individual sport of tennis has speedily gathered a local, national and global community around it and an unshakable element of teamwork. 

In a sense, this individual sport has somewhat become a team sport. Now, it’s not just the individual professional player playing on the court; it’s their fans, supporters, professional coaches, trainers, mentors, association members, and community members behind the athlete. Similarly, in the community, it’s not just one tennis player on the court playing recreationally. It is the thousands and millions of players, teammates, coaches, tennis providers, organizers, team captains, supporters and others behind the entire tennis community in the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond. 

Tennis is the only one-on-one sport that simultaneously embodies teamwork.

A man playing tennis swinging a tennis racket.

Even looking at individual professional players and how they bring a global team of community, supporters, and corporate collaborations with them will show just how much the one-on-one sport has drastically changed. New professional tennis stars like Frances Tiafoe continue to gain massive market awareness almost instantaneously and go from single player on the court to tennis “team leader” with everyone present at the match. Established professional tennis stars like Serena Williams boast a community that reaches global locations. It’s not just Williams on the court; it’s the whole world watching her game.

In Double Tennis, Team-Based Play Makes This Individual Sport a Partnership 

At first, tennis was only a one-on-one sport until it later included doubles tennis. This team-based play is focused on teamwork in partnered sports and cooperation, coordination, timing and communication in full force among partners on the court. These partners no longer consider themselves individual players, but players who forge a strong relationship with another player. Together, they create teamwork that makes their dream of winning work.

Tennis Has Become a Community Outside of the Profession Too

Beyond The Match explains the teamwork aspect of this individual sport further, “Because tennis is unique in this regard, we wondered if something about the mindset of tennis fans was unique as well. And, as it turns out, tennis fans are especially inclined to embrace this community dynamic and happily lend their support to a striving champion.”  

Tennis fans, unlike other sporting fans, believe in tennis’ ability to help resolve problems at the community level. They believe in a professional tennis player’s ability to bring other diverse and different groups of people together for a greater cause. They believe the individual sport of tennis is capable of bringing teams together to help society and create a feeling of togetherness. It is this togetherness that is culturally important. This sense of belonging creates tennis events, associations, programs, and outreach opportunities that support, educate, uplift and empower others. 

Tennis in the Mid-Atlantic Creates Community 

As the saying goes, teamwork makes the dream work, and this is no different in the individual sport of tennis. Besides fans and supporters, those in the world of tennis continue to bring the masses into this individual game through tennis associations, clubs, after-school programs, volunteerism, educational programs, public parks, and recreation events.  

A black and white photo of photographers and fans watching a tennis match.

USTA Mid-Atlantic fosters social connections and uplifts neighborhoods and communities by creating fun tennis opportunities for all. Through the sport of tennis, individuals engage in physical activity, fulfill social and emotional needs and can achieve higher well-being. Plus, one can play tennis for a lifetime. When you become a part of the Mid-Atlantic tennis community, you will never be one individual on the court; your tennis friends will turn into your tennis family. 

“Tennis is supposed to be a fun activity, and it’s also a great way to network and build strong relationships,” said Michael Retta, USTA Mid-Atlantic tennis provider and coach. 

You will always have a team backing you up when you’re on the tennis court.  

This United Front Helps Tennis Move From the Court to Community to Collective Merchandise Too

The beautiful sport of tennis has the seamless ability to move from the court to the community and see community-building efforts, team efforts, affinity partners, and branding collaborations coming to life, creating and cementing a feeling of unity for the sport and the community. 

And when this happens, every sporting fan, supporter, tennis player and community member needs a unifying identity to go with it. 

Every Sporting Community and Player Needs a Fan Base and Unified Identity

If you’ve ever watched a game of tennis, witnessed tennis fans seated in the grandstands, met a popular tennis player or played tennis yourself, you would have noticed that these players come with branded merchandise. This branded merchandise, recognizable stickers, photographs and memorabilia is held close to the heart by fans and players of the sport. Together, every fan or player and their prized merchandise become a united front, a fan base of togetherness. 

A black and white photo of two men playing a game of tennis on the tennis court.

And as fan bases grow and national borders turn to global ones, the individual sport of tennis then becomes an international team sport for the betterment of all. And every player, supporter, professional coach, tennis provider, tennis organizer, team captain, volunteer, facility and trainer who gets involved in tennis will help spread the game. This, in turn, improves communities, schools, the health of individuals in society, and the quality of life all around the world. 

To be part of the teamwork that stands behind this individual sport, get involved at www.usta.com/welcometotennis. 

USTA Mid-Atlantic is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that helps people and communities grow stronger, healthier, and more connected through tennis. Learn about our impact in the Section and how you can help bring tennis to more communities throughout the region.

FAQ

Q: How many players are on a tennis team?

A: Tennis is played with two players or four players.

Q: What six characteristics make an effective team player?

A: Flexibility, collaboration, active listening, problem-solving, effective communication and a positive attitude.

Q: How do team tennis matches work?

A: Each singles match counts as one point for the overall score, and the first team to reach four points wins the overall match. To win a college match, a team must win either two doubles and three singles matches, or four singles matches.

Q: Is tennis a good team sport?

A: Yes, it is! Tennis is a great team sport because it creates team-building skills and helps tennis players learn to play in classes or a group learning environment. Competitive tennis provides a great team atmosphere within an individual sport and builds a social network.

Q: Is tennis a group team sport?

A: Doubles tennis is considered a “team sport” where lifetime friendships are often made from playing this individual sport in a team setting.

This article was written by Daniel Climans from stickeryou and is featured on USTAMASBlog.com as a guest contributor.

Rising Up for Parks and Recreation

July marks the celebration of Parks and Recreation Month and recognizes how integral of a role public parks play in our own communities. For many individuals, public parks are places for special experiences and making memories to last a lifetime. They are often gathering places for all ages to get involved in nature, celebrate special events, and take on many new adventures and sports like tennis. 

Having access to parks and recreation is a vital part of an active, thriving community. Many people pick up their tennis racquets for the first time on public tennis courts and subsequently fall in love with the sport. Tennis courts in public parks are spaces that welcome any age, ability, background, and income level to the game of tennis. It is where fun tennis experiences happen, from casual hitting around with friends and family, tennis lessons, camps, USTA League matches, tournaments and more, public parks in the Mid-Atlantic Section are where it is at for tennis! In fact, the 2022 Tennis Participation Survey Summary Report created by the Tennis Industry Association reported that 41% of all tennis participants in the Mid-Atlantic play tennis on courts in public parks.

In addition, the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is shining light on how parks and recreation professionals have become public health leaders. “They have expanded programming and worked to fill gaps in access to physical activity, healthy food, chronic disease prevention and management, and social connections, as well as support academic and cultural enrichment opportunities,” said the NRPA. 

At USTA Mid-Atlantic we believe that tennis should be accessible to all in every community and public parks play a vital role in making this vision come true. We have compiled a few tips on how you can celebrate parks and recreation month and #RiseUpJuly for tennis in your own community so future tennis players prosper for years to come! 

Tip #1 Organize a public park tennis court clean up day

Cleaning up your own community can be fun and easy! Tennis courts can get pretty dirty quickly especially due to the outdoor elements. A blower and a broom can get the job done efficiently making an old court look brand new again! Contact your public park and work with them to organize the tennis court clean up day. There may be certain steps you will have to take and talking with your local parks and recreation department should be the first one. Once you are ready to go, they say teamwork makes the dream work so gather your own team made up of friends, tennis teammates,  neighbors, and/or even your family can get the job done. Giving your local park tennis courts some TLC is one of the best ways to get out there and help restore your own community park tennis courts.

By spreading the word, this can become an even bigger community event bringing together people from all backgrounds creating new social connections in your own backyard. You can also spark interest for others to try tennis when they see a beautiful, spruced up court to play on! 

Tip #2 Spread the word about the USTA Mid-Atlantic Facility Restoration Grant 

At USTA Mid-Atlantic we believe tennis creates community, character, and well-being. Having high-quality, well-maintained places to play tennis can improve community well-being and provide access to the benefits of tennis among communities that are underserved. We hope to be a helping hand in fostering social connections and uplifting communities by creating a fun environment and place in every community where all are welcome to thrive with tennis. 

Through the Facility Restoration Grant, USTA Mid-Atlantic provides up to $10,000 for tennis court construction and refurbishment. Public tennis courts, especially those in parks, schools, and communities are typically the first place where people are seeking the sport. While the application period is closed for this year, we offer the Facility Restoration Grant every year so make sure you’re on the lookout for when the application reopens! Make sure to tell your local park and recreation department about the grant and encourage them to apply. These grants would not be possible without the support from individuals like you donating and showing support for USTA Mid-Atlantic –  a non-profit organization. 

Tip #3 Organize your own tennis meetup or tennis social

There are many people who want to get involved with tennis but don’t know where to start or who to contact. All it takes is a few tennis enthusiasts to help grow the sport in your own community! You can organize a tennis meetup among the community to encourage people interested in playing to meet other tennis players, find other interested players, and get to know any community tennis associations, providers, or organizers.  Now this may sound like a daunting task but there are many resources available for you to be successful! Contact your local Parks and Recreation Department and discuss your idea for a tennis meetup or tennis social with them. Once you are ready to move forward, see if you can post a local event listing on their website. You can also ask if you can hang up your own posters at the local park so more people can spread the word. 

Looking for more ways to grow the game of tennis? There are many ways you can get involved and leave a lasting impact. Make sure you continue to celebrate and #RiseUpJuly for your local Parks and Recreation Departments by showing your appreciation in any way you can! 

To stay up to date on all things tennis in the Mid-Atlantic make sure to follow USTA Mid-Atlantic on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. USTA Mid-Atlantic is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to promoting tennis and its physical, social, and emotional health benefits. Learn about our impact in the Section and how USTA Mid-Atlantic creates community, character, and well-being.

3 Quick and Easy Ways to Refresh Your Tennis Life

Tennis is an ever evolving sport and whether you’re new to the courts or have been serving up aces for years, it’s never a bad time to go back and brush up on your knowledge and skills. At USTA Mid-Atlantic Section (USTA MAS), we want to be the one stop source so you can get the most out of what you are putting into your tennis game. USTA MAS has many resources and platforms to help you in your tennis journey. With that being said, we’ve compiled a list of three quick and easy ideas to help you refresh and enrich your tennis life so you can rock the courts all year long!

Tip #1 Refresh your Skills

“Practice makes perfect” is what they say and it’s true! Tennis is one of the most dynamic sports where you have to be sharp in your mental game as well as your physical game. During National Tennis Month, USTA Mid-Atlantic created a weekly series of one-minute video clips to demonstrate different techniques and tennis strokes that you can practice right on your local courts! Stroke of the Week is a great way to launch yourself into new heights gaining new tennis skills to know or perfecting and refining mastered tennis skills along the way. 

Tip #2 Refresh your knowledge about your Tennis Community 

Though you may know a little bit about USTA Mid-Atlantic Section and the tennis community we are creating together, there is always so much more to learn! As a nonprofit organization, we strive to grow tennis and make the sport accessible so that ALL people can experience the benefits. This is the heart of everything we do at USTA MAS and we truly believe that through tennis, we can create character, community, and well-being for all. Did you know that USTA Mid-Atlantic provides: 

  • Scholarships to youth players with financial need so they can stay in tennis and gain the character building benefits of the sport; 
  • Grants to help build or refurbish tennis courts that stimulate communities and increase access to quality tennis infrastructure; and
  • Financial and other resources to community tennis providers and organizations that support tennis programs that build community, character, and well-being?

In fact, in 2021, we were able to fund programs that helped 800 people find their community through tennis! And that’s just one example of the ways tennis is making a difference and changing lives – there’s more in the 2021 Annual Report. It is really special when you are a part of something that helps others; learn more about how you can make a difference in the community here. 

Tip #3 Refresh your knowledge of tennis rules and tennis lingo!

Rules and regulations are one of the most important aspects of playing tennis. It is perfectly okay to not know every single rule during a tennis match, but it is important to try and understand as much as possible and learn the rules of tennis. The rules and regulations can vary based on the match such as a singles match or doubles match. Luckily, USTA has compiled numerous resources all in one place that detail every single tennis rule you could possibly have a question about! Plus the more you become acquainted with – or refresh your memory on – certain rules, it can help enhance your experience on the tennis court. Plus, when you know the rules and are confident, that can encourage more sportsmanship and that always makes tennis great! 

Another big confidence booster in tennis is knowing the right lingo! There are a lot of acronyms and terms that get thrown around while you are on the tennis court. If you are just starting in tennis you may be wondering what terms you should know so you can keep up with everyone else on the court. And learning how to speak the tennis language can be pretty fun! Knowing what to say and how to talk about tennis can give you a leg up on your competition. We have a full list of every tennis term and the definition of each tennis term you need to know! 

And that’s it! Refreshing your tennis life doesn’t take long at all and as always, USTA Mid-Atlantic is here to help you along your journey. Put these three tips in your tennis bag and you’ll be able to ace any match that serves up your way! 

To stay up to date on all things tennis in the Mid-Atlantic make sure to follow USTA Mid-Atlantic on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. 

USTA Mid-Atlantic is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to promoting tennis and its physical, social, and emotional health benefits. Learn about our impact in the Section and how USTA Mid-Atlantic creates community, character, and well-being.