Schools in Mid-Atlantic Select Tennis as New After School Program

USTA Mid-Atlantic’s tennis after school program, TGA Premier Youth Tennis, introduces the lifelong sport of tennis to children through fun and enriching experiences. Our programs provide a pathway to a positive outlet and teach children vital skills and a sport they can play for life.

Since 2016, we’ve been introducing youth to tennis through after school programs and have had more than 10,000 in participation. We are able to offer the after school tennis program at reduced rates for students and their families because USTA Mid-Atlantic is committed to subsidizing the program so that more children can participate. Generous donations help us bring more tennis programs to students and schools all across the region.

We are excited to partner with several new schools this fall to offer tennis after school programs. In all of these programs, many children will learn tennis for the very first time and will begin to play – hopefully for a lifetime. Not only that, when schools partner with us to offer tennis we are proud to give back directly from our program to support the school with scholarships and incentives that helps their students, teachers and local families.

You can help us bring tennis programs to more local students and schools when you make a tax-deductible donation to USTA Mid-Atlantic. In fact, just $100.74 can support ONE new student to join in an after school tennis program.

We are proud to launch new after school tennis programs in the following schools and community locations:

Anne Arundel, Md.

Lindale Middle School

Fairfax County and Arlington, Va.

Fleet Elementary School (Arlington)
Jewish Community Center of Northern VA
Faircrest Community HOA
Liberty Middle School

Howard County, Md.

Longfellow Elementary School
Hammond Middle School
Mayfield Woods Middle School

USTA Mid-Atlantic is growing tennis after school for middle school students. Read more about the impact of these programs.

Loudoun County, Va.

Moorefield Station Elementary School
Discovery Elementary School

Prince William County, Va.

Coles Elementary School
Westridge Elementary School
Hylton High School

Richmond, Va.

Clover Hill Elementary School
Spring Run Elementary School

As these programs get underway, children will learn how healthy, active lifestyles can be fun and they’ll gain character-building skills that will benefit them for years to come.

It is through the love of tennis we can change lives together. You can be part of this great change and help us deliver more after school and summer camp tennis programs to ALL children in the Mid-Atlantic. Make a tax-deductible donation today.

USTA Mid-Atlantic Section, Inc. is an exempt organization as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; EIN 54-1472806. All donations made to USTA Mid-Atlantic Section Inc. are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Gearing Up for League Tennis: Mental Toughness on the Court

Get answers to questions about playing USTA Mid-Atlantic adult leagues, check!

Get new tips and tricks to get physically ready for the tennis season, check!

Reviewed the USTA Mid-Atlantic adult tennis leagues playing in my area and know the registration dates, check!

If you’ve got these items crossed off your list, than it sounds like you’ve been following along on our “Gearing Up” series! We want you to have your best season of team tennis so we are continuing along with more information to help you “gear up” for spring leagues.

Here’s a topic you may not often give much *thought* to: improving and staying mentally tough on the tennis court.

Sport psychologists have examined how mental skills training helps athletes improve performance by not only developing skills, such as concentration and stress control, but also making efforts to influence personal characteristics, such as self-esteem and sportsmanship. We went straight to the experts from the USTA Player Development program to provide you with some tips on how to be, and stay, mentally tough on the court. What’s key is developing a routine between points.

Dr. Larry Lauer is a mental skills specialist for USTA Player Development and has been a sport psychology consultant for over a decade with elite tennis players from juniors, college, and pros. Dr. Lauer developed a concept called “The Green Light Routine” that helps outline basic steps to be able to let go of the last point and focus on the current point.

There are four basic steps to Lauer’s “Green Light Routine,” outlined here, and we’ve included a VIDEO below of him discussing these steps:

Step 1: Respond

As soon as the point has ended, there will be a response. It will be positive, negative or neutral. The goal is to stay positive or neutral. Go to your strings, show positive body language and walk briskly back behind the baseline. A slumping posture will only fire up your opponent.

Step 2: Relax

Take deep breaths and let go of the last point. You want to slow down your breathing and heart rate and quiet your mind.

Step 3: Refocus

Use a towel, touch the fence, pick up the balls, walk around and focus on the current point. You should have full commitment to the current point knowing your play. Serve and Return – Visualize and commit to it. Turn and walk to the line when you know what the plan is and you are committed to it.

Step 4: Ready

Bounce the ball however many times you feel comfortable according to your routine (like a free throw shooter in basketball); sway back and forth on your returns, take a deep breath and lock in on the ball. You are now NO LONGER THINKING. Quiet the mind and trust what you are doing.

Check out this video featuring Dr. Lauer explaining the routine:

Read Dr. Lauer’s article to get more details about this and other mental health routines.

What routines have you used to help you stay focused and mentally tough during a tennis match? Share them with us on social media – tag us and use #ustaspringgearup.

Follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) and subscribe to the blog so you can keep up with more articles to come as you “gear up” for spring adult league tennis in the Mid-Atlantic.

And be sure to check the 2019 calendar here to see which leagues are registering in your area. Contact the listed Local League Ambassador for your local area or our Tennis Connect service to get playing!

Gearing Up for League Tennis in the Mid-Atlantic

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It’s one month in to 2019 and tennis players in the Mid-Atlantic are counting down the days until the spring adult tennis leagues get underway in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

Spring is generally when some of the most popular league divisions play with many advancing to Mid-Atlantic Regional and Sectional tennis championships. Thousands of people join league tennis play in the spring. It is an exciting time as the snow melts, flowers bloom and tennis players get back out on the courts. gear-up-for-mid-atlantic-league-tennis

While many of us sit and pine for the days of spring when our calendars are packed with tennis matches, let’s not waste this little bit of downtime to get prepared for the season ahead.

USTA Mid-Atlantic wants to help you “gear up” for the spring tennis season. We’ve put together a series of articles that you’ll find here on the Tennis on Point blog in the Tips and Tricks category that will help get you ready.

The “Gearing Up” series will cover topics such as:

The top questions players have about playing leagues – for both the seasoned player and someone returning after a break from the sport;
Getting in shape physically and mentally so you are ready for tough athletic matches with the right fitness and mindset;
And of course we’ll touch on some gear that you may want to have on the court with you this year.

Look out for links to the latest articles on our Facebook page throughout February and March or subscribe to our blog to never miss an article.

If you’ve got tips or tricks that you use to get ready for the tennis season, share them with us on social media – tag us and use #ustaspringgearup. We may also have some fun surprises you can snag to help you “gear up,” so watch out for those!

Check out the first article in the series and let’s get ready to “gear up” for USTA Mid-Atlantic League tennis!

Top Things we are Thankful For About Tennis

At USTA Mid-Atlantic we often say tennis is so much more than a game played with a racquet and ball.

As Thanksgiving is upon us, we started thinking about the sport we love and why we are so thankful for being able to grow the game in the region. Number one on our list: YOU! We are thankful for players like you that make the Mid-Atlantic Section a great place for tennis. USTA Mid-Atlantic tennis creates community, character, and well-being.

By reflecting on this appreciation we hope more people can understand why tennis is special and feel motivated to show their support during the charitable giving season. When you make a gift, your support for tennis is felt today and always.

Here are a few other reasons tennis makes us thankful. What would you add?

Tennis makes us thankful for…

A double fault-free day
A sport that may help us live longer than adults that play other sports
Drop shots that only fall on our opponents side
Hitting an ace here or there
Physical activity that doesn’t feel like exercise because tennis is too much fun
Giving kids a healthy, enriching outlet that builds character skills for life
Teammates, that become best friends, that become family thanks to tennis. Want to find some tennis friends too? You can start here!
A way for all generations to connect through a shared passion and being able to play at any stage of life
Red, orange, green tennis balls; racquets and courts sized right for kids to have fun and fall in love with the game right away
Confidence that comes from being on the court and goes well-beyond the court

Oh, but there is more!

An NTRP rating and the excitement coming our way on December 1, 2022
Life-lessons learned through the game – mental fortitude, honesty, sportsmanship and so much more
Leadership opportunities that are meaningful – being a captain, playing in the first line, volunteering, coaching
Volunteers who get involved and make a direct impact on the section! Volunteers are truly the heart of USTA Mid-Atlantic.
We’re thankful for the Summer Smash and all who participated. Thanks to them, we were able to respond to the overwhelming amount of youth scholarship applications and award a second round of funding to deserving youth players!
Competition and a chance to continually improve, even win a Regional, Sectional or National title in adulthood thanks to USTA Mid-Atlantic Leagues.
Recognition earned for good sportsmanship
Stress relief from hitting the fuzz off the ball
Programs that provide not only access but also social emotional learning such as our USTA Mid-Atlantic Girls Rule the Court™ program. Through this program, young girls build self-esteem and gain confidence while learning tennis at low to no cost.
The next generation of tennis greats and their coaches and teachers innovating around the game
The satisfaction that comes from hearing the pop of the tennis ball off your racquet when you hit it just right
Giving back through the sport and being able to support programs that are making a difference such as the Mid-Atlantic Section’s Junior Player Scholarships, Facility Restoration Grant, and our Community Engagement Grant.
Amazing Mid-Atlantic’s own Pro tennis players that do big things on the biggest stages: Frances Tiafoe, Robin Montgomery, Clervie Ngounoue, Denis Kudla, Hailey Baptiste and so many more
Diversity and bringing people of all types, ages, abilities and backgrounds together through a shared passion

What would you add to the list that we have not included? Leave a comment or tweet us (@USTAMidAtlantic) with your comment using #ThankfulforTennis. Happy Thanksgiving from USTA Mid-Atlantic!

To stay up to date on the latest news in the Mid-Atlantic, make sure to subscribe to USTA Mid-Atlantic’s YouTube Channel and follow us 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.

The Three “I”s in Tennis

How do you spell tennis?

T-E-N-N-I-S. Absolutely correct!

How many of you might say there are three “i”s in tennis? Probably not many, but I am here to tell you there are.

As the Executive Director for USTA Mid-Atlantic I am moved by the passion people find in tennis. I visit the tennis courts in our Section and attend events, and as I look around I see people of every age, size, color and type playing their hearts out and having fun. Tennis truly embodies what it means to be life-long – something you can play as a child, teen, young adult and into your golden years. And oh by the way, you can get started at any age too!

Our goal, our mission is to get more people to experience what tennis is all about; play, have fun and feel the passion and benefits that result. Specifically it is to promote and develop the growth of tennis and we couldn’t be more proud to do that. In my role, I am always looking for ways we can get more people to find themselves in the game. I look strategically at what we are doing as a Section to achieve this and to keep us focused, we created a three-year plan that is aimed at serving the mission and actively tracking our goals.

Interestingly, as a result of creating the strategic plan, we saw the three “i”s: inclusion, innovation, and impact bubble up to the surface.

Inclusion – tennis is a game for any and every one. And our work strives to embrace that across all program areas of focus. We are working to create an inclusive and diverse tennis community through programs and services that attract all people to the game. Not only that, we hope to inspire the entire Mid-Atlantic tennis community to embrace and support an environment of inclusion.

Innovation – no longer can you just keep doing the same things and expect the same results. Innovation and disruption to the norms are essential for keeping tennis viable. Every day we push ourselves to try new things and get creative to reach our goals. This mentality has brought forth some of our most interesting (and fun) opportunities and programs to attract more people to tennis. Check out our Yo Pro program and youth progression for starters. We are striving for innovation when it comes to growing tennis and in how we provide the game itself.

Impact – above all we want to make a difference in a measurable way. We want to have positive outcomes on individuals, young and old, on communities and on tennis in the Mid-Atlantic. We are all about hard-hitting measurable results that show improved quality and increase in participation.

These three words are referenced and inferred throughout the strategic plan and when we took a step back, they stood out prominently.

While the three “i”s make a lot of sense to us here at the Section office, we know we aren’t alone embracing these principles. We know that so many of you in our tennis community are living the three “i”s every day. In fact, in 2015 we wanted to honor the work of individuals and organizations going above and beyond to grow tennis and modeled our 2015 Section Awards in three new categories.

The Inclusion Award for advancing the commitment to tennis in every community recognizes those that went above and beyond to make our sport welcoming. The Innovation Award for embracing change as a strategy to grow tennis recognizes those that are proactive in trying new and different ideas and who attracted or retained players by introducing unique offerings. And the Impact Award for hard-hitting influence on the growth of tennis to those that grew tennis across the board and used tennis to make a positive difference in the community.

We had an impressive inaugural class of award winners – you can check out these videos to hear their inspiring stories.

In 2016, we continued with the three “i”s for the 2016 Section Awards. We received strong nominations and are excited to announce this year’s winners and tell their stories during the 2016 Conference & Awards on Saturday, November 12 at the Bethesda Marriott. I hope you can join us to learn about the 2016 award winners and get a sense of the three “i”s for yourself.

Tennis is the greatest sport around and when we put the three “i”s in tennis we’ll be well on our way to reaching our goals and having more and more people benefit from our great game.

Now that you know about the three “i”s, in what ways can you embrace them both on and off the court? I challenge you to think about that and share your stories with us through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (ustamas). Or contact us through the blog and let us know what you think.

Tara Fitzpatrick-Navarro, is the executive director for USTA Mid-Atlantic.