School Tennis; It’s More Than Tennis!!

Why should YOU offer tennis to YOUR students?

Tennis is far more than just a game. It’s a sport that offers tremendous benefits to students well beyond the court. By incorporating tennis into your physical education curriculum, you can help boost their academic performance, improve their behavior, and encourage them to engage more with their community.

Here are five reasons to start teaching tennis in your PE classes:

1. Academic, Behavioral, and Lifelong Benefits:

School tennis programs provide a wealth of benefits beyond physical fitness. Independent research shows the following:

• 48% of tennis players earn better grades                          
• 81% of tennis players say they will attend college                               
• 73% of tennis players exhibit better behavior    
• 82% of tennis players are community-minded
• People who play tennis live 9.8 years longer than those that participate in other sports                     

2.  The free online curriculum (co-written by SHAPE America) can help you start instantly!

Starting a unit you have never taught before might be intimidating, but USTA partnered with SHAPE America to write an easy-to-implement curriculum aligned with National PE Standards and Grade-Span Indicators!

Don’t worry if you don’t have a tennis court or if you’ve never taught tennis before; the program is designed for flexibility. You’ll find detailed lesson plans and instructional videos that can be adapted for spaces as varied as basketball gyms, hard courts, or even fields using simple barrier tape around poles, cones, or chairs. We are PE teachers. We know how to be creative!

Skill Development Videos:

Not sure you are teaching the skill correctly, No Problem! USTA has teaching videos that are also found on YouTube and the free Net Generation App.

Here are some example videos:

Roll and Splat- https://youtu.be/5avU_HSK8ik?si=XnNxxE1LGhPN7qYP

Toss, Catch, Tag- https://youtu.be/iTFK_2cVAMo?si=NC-TbKMnjupEmnt5

Volley Progression- https://youtu.be/nBX6NbSL0Kc?si=w4xIgJChZPhKJ_EV

Tap Down- https://youtu.be/XL8E8b-FoMY?si=FS0zWY0OtshML9Dn

Racket Swap- https://youtu.be/tWUGSz5_n3c?si=uFGsjXaW7RH0MT5P

3. Get FREE Tennis Equipment!

As part of the free Net Generation program, USTA provides everything you need: racquets perfect for ALL players (21 and 23 inches to enhance ball control and boost confidence), age-appropriate low-compression foam tennis balls designed for easier tracking and hitting, and accessories like barrier tape, and sidewalk chalk.  All the equipment needed to help your students excel in tennis and beyond!

4. Registration is free and easy! Follow the steps below to access all the resources listed above.

5. Inspire Lifelong Play Throughout School and Beyond!

PE teachers who introduce tennis in their classes have a unique opportunity to inspire a lifelong passion for the sport. By teaching the fundamentals, fostering a team spirit, and highlighting the health benefits, you can motivate students to embrace tennis as a healthy, enjoyable activity well into high school and beyond.

Contrary to popular beliefs, tennis is played more as a team than it is as an individual. There are 360k students who play high school tennis, only 60k play individual tournaments.

The USTA program supports this team spirit by providing extensive resources not only for K-12 PE classes but also for middle and high school tennis coaches, ensuring that students of all ages have the opportunity to enjoy and excel in tennis.

To take advantage of these resources go to usta.com/schools and click on the H.S. Coaches option.

The USTA is here for YOU if you need help at your school or want to be more involved in tennis in your community.  They have 17 regional offices across the country to better assist you.  See the map below to find the school coordinator in your area.