The USTA Mid-Atlantic Section has created Tennis is Academic which is very similar to the USTA School’s after-school programming. Designed for elementary and middle school aged children, this program offers affordable tennis programming in a fun, safe environment using kid-friendly equipment. Tennis is Academic consists of using smaller racquets, lower- compressed balls, and mini nets that makes learning tennis easy. And, it can be taught anywhere…outside on a black top, a school gym, a multi-purpose room, or even a turf field. No courts are required. Kids learn not just a lifetime sport, but sportsmanship, self-confidence, and the habits for a healthy lifestyle…all while having fun and making new friends. For a nominal fee, each student receives eight hours of quality tennis instruction, plus a racquet, ball and t- shirt to keep. This way they have the equipment they need to continue practicing while at home and guiding them down the road.

The nZone Director of Operations, Trey Messiah and participants of The nZone’s newly acquired Tennis is Academic class have been having a blast. For the past several weeks, Trey has provided tennis programming for children 10 and under on The nZone’s indoor-turf field. Once members of The nZone heard that tennis was coming, Trey was asked how tennis could be played on an indoor-turf field. The answer is simple: tennis can be played anywhere! “Since USTA’s big push is implementing tennis programming with age-appropriate equipment in non- traditional spaces, I thought, why not have the Tennis is Academic program at my facility to give The nZone’s kids another option to be active,” said Trey.

For more information about how you can get Tennis is Academic started at your facility, please contact Morgan Abrams-Nicholas at [email protected].