The United States Professional Tennis Association hosted a free Tennis Across America clinic with the theme of Tennis - for the health of it! at Zina Garrison's All Court Tennis Academy at MacGregor Park in Houston. The clinic, which was open to the public, took place on Friday, May 9, from 4-7 p.m., and officially kicked off USPTA's 19th annual Tennis Across America.
Zina Garrison, U.S. Fed Cup captain, former WTA touring professional and president of the Zina Garrison All Court Tennis Academy, was on hand and accepted a $5,000 donation from the USPTA foundation, presented by Randy Mattingley, vice president of USPTA board of directors. Jack Groppel, Ph.D., vice president of USPTA board of directors, and Adrian Hutber, vice president of the American College of Sports Medicine's Exercise is MedicineTM, were also in attendance to announce an exciting partnership between the USPTA and ACSM as it relates to each association's initiatives of Tennis - for the health of it! and Exercise is Medicine, respectively. This landmark alliance is one of the first of its kind tying together major initiatives from the field of medicine with the arena of sport.
With 200 kids in attendance, the rest of the afternoon was dedicated to a free tennis clinic for kids hosted by USPTA-certified tennis-teaching professionals. All kids participating in the clinic received T-shirts, snacks and gift bags.
Tennis Across America, which was established in 1990 by the USPTA, is the original, free grassroots lessons program. The goal of the program is to get people out on the court, playing tennis. The multicultural segment was added later with the goal of reaching various communities and potential players who have special needs and may not otherwise have the opportunity to play.
The Tennis Across America program consists of three major elements. First, free clinics are held at public and private facilities around the nation. Second, multicultural clinics introduce the sport to various groups and give everyone the opportunity to experience tennis. Third, follow-up programs are created to provide players with an opportunity to pursue their new enthusiasm for tennis.
Tennis - for the health of it! strives to make the general public aware of the tremendous health, fitness and psychological benefits of tennis and encourage people to get out and play the sport as a part of their regular fitness regimen. The USPTA also strives to encourage and enable kids across the nation and world to live a healthy lifestyle through the sport of tennis. In addition, the USPTA and its members are the delivery force through which the public can receive these benefits through lessons and other tennis activities.
