Other sports programs don’t make kids play on adult fields with adult equipment and now neither does tennis. Seattle Parks and Recreation continues its play-based tennis league for youth with little or no experience playing tennis on June 23rd at 15 community centers across the city.
This summer’s “QuickStart” league will consist of two age brackets: 7-8 year-olds playing on a 36-foot court (a standard court is 78 feet long) and 9-10 year-olds playing on a 60-foot court. All equipment and supplies will be provided. The league fee is $35 per player for the eight-week program. This year’s 2014 QuickStart Tennis League is proudly sponsored by BECU.
Practices/matches are on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m., depending on age. QuickStart Tennis starts June 23 and concludes on Aug. 13 with a jamboree fun play day at the new Tennis Center Sandpoint. Sign up at one of your neighborhood community centers or online using your SPARC account. Parent participation is highly encouraged, as this is a family game! For more information, please contact Jeannie Shek, Seattle Parks and Recreation, at 206-684-4764 or jeannie.shek@seattle.gov.
“QuickStart tennis” is a concept that was developed by the United States Tennis Association (USTA) as an introductory program designed to get youth playing tennis quickly. Check out their website www.10andundertennis.com to learn more about the concept. In five years the program has introduced more than 600 kids to the game of tennis in a fun learning environment with the help of more than 80 volunteers.
One final note: Volunteer coaches and parent managers are needed! This helps keep league fees low. Volunteers can be tennis enthusiast, parents, fans or anyone that loves helping kids succeed. No tennis or teaching experience is required – just a passion for working with kids! There will be two FREE QuickStart volunteer on-court trainings on Saturday, June 7, from 2:30-5:30 p.m. at the Tennis Center Sandpoint and Monday, June 16, from 6:30-9:30.p.m. at the Amy Yee Tennis Center.