After-school programs are important in all communities, but most do not have a focus except as a place for kids to be until their parents pick them up. St. Petersburg has one of the only public tennis facilities in the Tampa Bay area. It is also home to one of the only affordable children’s tennis after-school programs.
Established in 2001, the St. Pete Tennis Center hosts a program called Courier’s Kids. Famed tennis player Jim Courier funds the program in order to “teach tennis and life skills to neighborhood children.” Courier and the United States Tennis Association (USTA) partnered with the center to create a haven for children and the community to enjoy a good game of tennis.
It began with about 10 children. Three months later, more than 100 kids were signed up. Now, there are over 300 kids in the program. The program runs Monday through Friday, from 3:30 to 6 p.m.
They offer beginner, intermediate and advanced classes. The program is about $8 per day, and with this comes instruction from three or more coaches, racquets, the children’s ability to play against kids their own ages in matches, and a free USTA membership for first-time applicants.
Unfortunately, buses do not make stops at the Tennis Center; parents have to bring their kids to the center in order to participate. Kids can arrive right after school, but if they show up before practice starts, homework time is mandatory. The coaches, General Manager Jackie Keller and parents who stay offer their help in giving the kids homework assistance.
Mrs. Wang is a teacher in the Marine Biology department at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. She wanted to make sure her kids had good physical and mental health. Tennis was the sport she chose for them because there will always be another opponent of the same skill to play with, or it can even be played alone. She wanted her kids to be a part of team sports and gain an understanding of teamwork. Tennis gives them good communication skills that are used frequently in school. She takes her two children to the center after school; both started as novices but quickly took to the sport.
“They love the game from the heart,” Wang said. “I do not expect my children to be superstars.”
With the renovation of the Tennis Center, and the partnership, the kids are now using clay tennis courts. Clay courts are used in national tournaments and not something generally seen in a public area. The kids who play on these courts are taught how to take care of them properly. At the end of every practice, the kids sweep the courts and brush the lines.
“We have to start kids younger on clay. If you don’t, they are going to be afraid of it. It’s absolutely essential that you learn to slide and glide on clay at an early age. And you have to understand that you’re going to need more defense(s) out there. You’re always going to have to make an extra shot,” Courier said.
It has been 10 years since tennis professional Shikha Singh joined the St. Pete Tennis Center. Before the kids get out of school, he teaches adults, who to make up the bulk of the funding for the center. He also sends progress reports to Courier, who visits the center regularly.
“This is a very unique place with a little bit of everything,” Singh said.
Singh, coaches and parents find tournaments and matches for the kids to play in when the coaches think they are ready. During times when there are major tournaments in the area, Singh trains a few of his players to be ball kids. It is similar to a batboy for baseball. There is extensive training for the ball kid job, ensuring the children are safe and professional.
“This is a place where kids can come and be safe,” Keller said. “We just hope the ripple effect occurs.”
For more information about the program, go to the St. Pete Tennis Center or visit http://www.sptcfirstserve.org.
This story was originally written for the USF St. Petersburg Neighborhood News Bureau. To read more of the Bureau’s stories, please visit http://www.nnbnews.com/.
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