Tennis is climbing its way to the top in the Mountaineer state. With the help of West Virginia Tennis Service Representative, Kyle Hoffman, tennis has been on the rise in communities across the state, especially in schools. The USTA School Tennis program strives to not only teach kids the fundamentals of the sport but also about self-confidence, sportsmanship, and the importance of maintaining an active, healthy lifestyle. Throughout the fall and winter, USTA West Virginia has conducted School Tennis workshops at elementary and middle schools from Berkeley Springs to Beckley. In a quest to bring tennis to the West Virginia youth, the USTA has gathered the support of physical educators and their schools and plans for six after school programs to begin in early 2012.

 

The Mini-Mountaineer After-School Tennis program is an hour long program that utilizes the QuickStart tennis format and is in line with the goals of the USTA School Tennis program as well as First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move Campaign.” The programs complement the tennis curriculum that many physical educators in the state are adapting to their classes. It has been such a huge success across the country because physical educators are now able to provide tennis instruction with or without tennis courts. By using the QuickStart format they are able to teach in their gymnasiums or black tops.

 

Each program will meet once a week for eight weeks and will be run by local teaching pros and physical educators that have attended a Recreational Coaches or School Tennis Workshop. There is a small nominal fee for participants that will help pay for instructor fees as well as provide them with a Mini Mountaineer T-Shirt, appropriate sized racquet and ball. Each program will kick off with a parent orientation play day where their instructor will be introduced and parents and kids will be able experience QuickStart first hand.

 

“We realize West Virginia needs to expand its base of players and starting with the schools is the ideal way,” says West Virginia TSR, Kyle Hoffman. “We are very excited to bring tennis to this untapped market and hope to see the program grow in the years to come.”

 

The following schools are slated to begin in 2012: Eastern Greenbrier Middle in Roncaverte,

Park Middle School in Beckley, Midland Elementary in Elkins, Buckhannon Academy Primary in Buckhannon, Warm Springs Intermediate in Berkeley Springs and Mountaineer Middle in Morgantown. For more information on the West Virginia After -School program or if you’re interested in becoming an instructor please contact, Kyle Hoffman at khoffman@mas.usta.com.