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Wednesday, June 25, 2014

NEWS (local): Fun tennis event brings smiles at 3rd Annual Tennis Family Fun Day

Whatever intervened with the impending rainy weather we will never know. Perhaps it was the gods taking pity on us for all the planning of the event, or it was because of the extensive court setup across all four of the Gloucester Twp. Community Park courts, or maybe we were spared due to all our efforts to promote Tennis Family Fun Day 2014 to the community. Regardless, the rains did hold back and we offered what we think everyone involved will recall as a very fun time for kids and their families. This totally free event, the third of its kind, was held June 21st on the only blended-lines kid-sized public courts in all of south jersey.

Various tennis-related activities and games were designed to give those in attendance a snapshot of what the QuickStart tennis programs–available from Gloucester Twp. Recreation and Gotta Play Tennis Kids™–resemble during the spring, summer or fall sessions offered throughout the year. Everyone had a great time as they moved from one station to another using either koosh balls, cones, rings, racquets, and various types of balls. With the assistance of a few current tennis students as volunteers, kids as well as their parents and siblings got a chance to experience some of the foundational skills we emphasize that help players gain quicker success on the court.

If you were one of the over 20 families in attendance, we hope you had a great time and enjoyed this free community event. If you did not visit us, why not still consider some of the upcoming programs available this summer through Gloucester Twp. Recreation (download the Summer 2014 newsletter for details) and Gotta Play Tennis Kids. These include 6-week summer Saturday sessions for ages 5-7 and 8-10 as well as two 3-evening camps beginning on June 30th. No previous tennis experience is necessary and Gotta Play Tennis Kids provides all of the equipment. Registration is handled at the Gloucester Twp. Recreation Center. Call 856-435-5734.






Thursday, June 12, 2014

NEWS (local): Gloucester Twp. Day 2014 displays kid-sized tennis and helps feed the hungry

Gloucester Twp. Day 2014

The smiles of those walking by our location at Veterans Park were beaming almost as brightly as the sunshine’s rays on Gloucester Twp. Day 2014. We had the opportunity to meet quite a few parents and their kids as we displayed information about our upcoming summer programs at the Gotta Play Tennis™ and Gotta Play Tennis Kids™ table. Mostly, we really wanted to let more of the community know that there is an alternative sport or even perhaps an off-season cross-training activity that can provide both fun and skill building. For more information on upcoming sessions, please contact the Gloucester Twp. Recreation department at 856-435-5734.

In addition to our sharing of materials that both celebrate youth tennis and provide schedules for the next few months, we offered something new this year. With the support of the South Jersey Food Bank of South Jersey, we provided a kids craft table where children could make something we call a “Bounster-a monster that bounces.” Excited kids worked with us and their parents to create their own unique designs built upon a tennis ball as the base. A slit was already cut for the mouth making it a natural puppet by squeezing along the sides. We asked a minimum $1 donation for the charity as we ourselves supplied all the materials at no cost. Some very interesting creatures were born, and every dollar goes to helping fight hunger in South Jersey. According to their statistics, a part of what drew us to them for this venture, was the fact that in 2013 alone the Food Bank of South Jersey distributed over 10 million pounds of food and responded to more than 1 million requests for food. They can be reached at http://foodbanksj.org/ if you can help with donations, volunteering or if you yourself are in need of assistance.

With school soon coming to a close, it is that time of year to consider what the kids can experience over the summer. Why not make tennis, the lifetime sport, a part of that discovery.




Tuesday, June 3, 2014

NEW CONTENT OF NOTE: USTA's Coach Youth Tennis Program completion both online and on-court

Working with kids in the introduction and development of tennis is a wonderful experience. But like any other skill, facilitating instruction requires continual learning and reinforcement. The following is our most recent due diligence in continuing to grow as tennis mentors.

Over five hours in a series of 6 online mini-courses

Four hours of an on-court training session