Partner With Schools and Put More Kids in the Game
For tennis coaches looking to reach more young players, the school gym may be the most important court in town.
The USTA Schools Program and School Partner Program work together to introduce K-12 students to tennis during the school day, then connect interested children with trusted opportunities to keep playing outside school. For coaches, that creates a practical pathway to serve their communities, build relationships with educators and grow local programming.
“The Schools Program has been around since 1985,” says Tony Stingley, USTA Senior Manager of Community Outreach. “Arthur Ashe brought the idea of the Schools Program to the USTA.”
The Schools Program: Giving Educators What They Need
The Schools Program equips physical education teachers and school coordinators with age- and developmentally-appropriate curriculum, training and equipment. Registration is free, and teachers do not need tennis experience, or even tennis courts, to participate.
“We show them how that can be done in their gymnasium, lunchroom or playground if they don’t have tennis courts,” Stingley says.
Schools receive racquets, foam and felt balls, chalk and barrier tape that can serve as a net. Primary kits include 21-inch racquets, while secondary kits include 23-inch racquets. Lessons developed with SHAPE America keep students moving through team-based activities that build coordination, confidence, cooperation and sportsmanship.
The flexible setup is essential. According to Stingley, a recent survey found that 80% of participating teachers used a gymnasium for tennis, while 33% used a playground. Chairs, volleyball standards or other equipment can hold barrier tape across a space, and slower-bouncing balls help students experience early success. Younger children may begin by rolling a ball under the barrier before progressing to rallies over it.
Back-to-school season is an especially useful time to introduce the program. Many districts hold professional development sessions before students return, and the USTA offers three-hour teacher workshops that may qualify for continuing education credit. School Partners may attend, giving coaches an opportunity to meet educators, answer questions and explain their local programs.
The School Partner Program: Creating the Next Step
A School Partner is a qualified USTA coach or organization that supports a school’s tennis efforts outside regular class time. Partners may offer before-school, after-school or recess programming, along with group instruction, private lessons, Junior Team Tennis or other local opportunities.
Coaches must have an active USTA Coaching subscription and current SafeSport approval. The Baseline subscription option is free. Once registered, partners appear in a searchable directory on USTACoaching.com. School teachers can search within 50 miles and invite the coach or organization that best fits their needs.
That connection gives schools a reliable referral option when students want more tennis. It also gives coaches a credible way to begin relationships with schools that may otherwise be difficult to access.
“I have coaches that always kind of struggle to partner with schools or to get involved with schools,” Stingley says. “Being part of the USTA structure can help open those doors for that coach to get their foot in the door.”
“I have coaches that always kind of struggle to partner with schools or to get involved with schools. Being part of the USTA structure can help open those doors for that coach to get their foot in the door."
Tony Stingley
Why Coaches Should Join
School partnerships can expand a coach’s reach beyond a traditional facility. They can introduce tennis to students who may never have considered the sport, create a pipeline into community programming and make tennis more accessible.
“It all goes back to exposure,” Stingley says. He recalls seeing two young girls using racquets provided to their school and rallying across sidewalk lines in front of a public housing complex, an image he says will stay with him forever.
For coaches approaching a school, Stingley recommends starting with the school’s goals rather than a sales pitch. Study its website, learn what administrators value and explain how tennis supports physical health, academic development and social-emotional learning. “Don’t go in talking about tennis,” he says. “Pitch health and wellness. Then pitch the tennis program.”
Schools can begin at USTA.com/schools. Coaches can enroll through USTACoaching.com, complete SafeSport requirements and register as a School Partner.
