Tennis Industry News

USTA Central Arizona hosted its season-ending QuickStart Tennis Carnival for the children of the Washington and Madison School Districts in December at the Gold Key Racquet Club. The kids who played in the QuickStart Carnival had all participated in the USTA Central Arizona After Schools Tennis Program last fall.

Some took part in an informal QuickStart tennis tournament where they played singles and doubles. Other kids went through a station rotation where every child hit for prizes, targets and competed as a team in relay races.

The QuickStart Tennis Carnivals are designed to give children the opportunity to show their parents and peers the skills they learned throughout the six-week After Schools Tennis Program, and to reward the kids for their hard work and dedication to learning the game. At the end of the Tennis Carnival, parents and players celebrated their success at a pizza party.

“We are excited to have finished our first full tennis season in the Washington and Madison School Districts,” said Geoffrey Russell, the managing director of USTA Central Arizona. “This program has been a big success. Most importantly, more children are being exposed to tennis in the schools through this program. The After Schools Tennis Program supports the mission of our organization, to promote and develop the growth of tennis. We had some children who had never picked up a racquet in their life and were playing in an organized team-tennis setting.”

The event was made possible by Discount Tire Co., which is a sponsor of the Madison and Washington School Districts.