USTA School Tennis

USTA Schools Tennis
The sport of a lifetime coming to a school near you!

Why Tennis in School?
Over 20% of children ages 6-18 are overweight, and that number has increased 200% over the past 3 decades.  A recent study by the National Association for Sports & Physical Education showed that physically fit children performed better academically.  Tennis provides children with not only many physical benefits, but psychological benefits as well.

Did you know…?

Tennis players score higher in vigor, optimism, and self-esteem, and lower in depression, anger, confusion, anxiety, and tension than other athletes and non-athletes. (Dr. Joan Finn and colleagues at Southern Connecticut University)

Tennis outperforms golf, running, weight-lifting, and many other sports in developing positive personality characteristics like sociability, mental focus, competitiveness, adventurousness, spontaneity, creativity, and assertiveness. (Dr. Jim Galvin, author of The Exercise Habit)

The average person burns more calories playing tennis than doing low impact aerobics, weightlifting, riding a stationary bike, hiking, walking a golf course, or playing softball, baseball, or volleyball.  (www.nutristrategy.com)

Schools Program, Past and Present

Starting in 1985 under the leadership of Arthur Ashe, the USTA Schools Program has brought the joy of tennis to millions of students in schools across the United States.  The USTA provides the training and resources necessary to implement the program and relies on dedicated teachers, administrators, program leaders and volunteers to put the program into action.

Most recently the USTA National office, under the guidance and authorship of Dr. Robert Pangrazi, a PE and Health Curriculum expert, completed an new Schools Curriculum, focusing their efforts writing a curriculum that would be user-friendly and much less intimidating than the previous version of the curriculum. This curriculum was written with the PE teacher in mind not the tennis professional.

Dr. Robert Pangrazi has been instrumental in helping us achieve a universal curriculum that we believe will go far in helping students develop skills and abilities that will encourage their development and improve their health through adulthood.

USTA Clinician Program

USTA Clinicians are the most crucial piece of the Schools Program puzzle, as they are the people throughout Texas that are in the schools, sharing the game, teaching the new curriculum, and watching kids grow to love the game. Clinicians also continue to impact the schools program as many provide after-school programs for students to continue their skills learned in the classroom, giving them the tools to enter into competitive leagues and tournament play, further increasing their chances for success.

The Schools Program is growing in Texas! We are always looking for enthusiastic, positive people who have a passion for tennis to join our Clinician program. For more information please download the information packet below.

Top 10 Games Every Coach Should Know 

The USTA has developed the Top 10 Games Every Coach Should Know. Click here to see this printable document.  

USTA High School Tennis Program No-Cut Recognition and Support

The USTA wants to recognize all high school tennis coaches who implement a no-cut policy. These coaches play a critical role in our sport by allowing young players the opportunity to be part of a team. They experience the greatest element of high school sports – the opportunity to participate on a team with their friends representing their school. To learn more about this program, click here.