Your Turn for Tennis: A Healthy Living Program | top
Hey Bigs and Littles! Have you always wanted to play tennis but didn’t know where to begin? Or are you someone who wants to get back into tennis and improve your skills? Or, if you're a Big, do you already play tennis but would like to learn how to feed tennis balls properly and run fun games for beginners as a Volunteer Recreational Tennis Coach? If you said “Yes!” to any of these questions, then we have a new program for you!
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona has teamed up with the United States Tennis Association to offer a healthy living program designed just for Bigs and Littles across the valley. It’s called “Your Turn for Tennis.” Any Big or Little who participates in one of the Kick-Off Carnivals and also takes at least four weeks of professionally-taught tennis lessons at a total cost of $10 per person through the “Your Turn for Tennis” program will earn a FREE tennis racket and a FREE can of balls. If you and your Little have always wanted to play tennis–and even if you think you’re not athletic–this is Your Turn for Tennis!
Goals of the Program | top
The primary goals of the program are to foster new and existing mentoring relationships between Bigs and Littles while promoting healthy life style habits. The secondary goals are to grow the game of tennis and fulfill the USTA’s commitment to fostering a tennis environment that is more inclusive and inviting to all people.
Five Great Reasons to Participate | top
1. Get FREE Tennis Equipment and Low-Cost Lessons from a Tennis Pro
By participating in any one of the “Your Turn for Tennis Kick-off Carnivals” and by taking four weeks of professionally-taught group tennis lessons for a total cost of $10 per person (Bigs on one court; Littles on another), you will each earn a FREE tennis racket and a FREE can of balls. After the first month of lessons, you and your Little can continue participating in the “Your Turn for Tennis” program at a nominal cost. Also, if you would rather just watch your Little learn to play tennis and pick up ideas for running fun games that increase a child’s tennis and leadership skills on or off the court, that’s okay too.
2. Get Started Fast - Learn Good Technique
Research shows you are three times more likely to enjoy tennis if you’re part of a new player program rather than just trying to learn to play tennis by yourself. A four-week group program taught by a certified teaching pro will put people on the fast track to success and good technique. A teaching pro can have kids hooked on the game immediately and an adult hitting back and forth steadily in two hours.
3. Develop Leadership Skills and Positive Personality Characteristics
The “Your Turn for Tennis” program is designed not only to teach kids how to play tennis, but also to teach them leadership skills and empowering ways of being on or off the courts. Besides this formal training through the program, tennis culture in general promotes good sportsmanship, courtesy among players and spectators, respect for opponents, and cool headedness under pressure.
4. Play a Non-Contact, Co-Ed Sport For Life
Tennis is a non-contact, social game that people can play at every age. Virtually all entry level tennis programs are co-ed. In fact, tennis is one of the few sports men and women play together throughout their life.
5. Burn Calories, Reduce Stress, Get Heart Healthy
A 135-pound woman playing an hour of tennis can burn 330 calories during doubles and 420 calories during singles. An average-sized man playing an hour of tennis can burn about 425 calories during doubles and 600 calories during singles (1 hour on a stationary bike will burn 387 calories). In fact, you’ll burn more calories playing 3 hours of tennis per week than you will doing 3 hours of light weightlifting, bowling, or golfing. Playing tennis on a regular basis also reduces blood pressure and stress and can play a significant role in reducing a person’s risk of developing heart disease, the number-one killing disease among men and women.
Kick-Off Carnivals: Save The Dates! | top
All Bigs and Littles are invited to participate in any one (or all) of the following FREE “Your Turn for Tennis Kick-Off Carnivals” taking place across Central Arizona in 2007. All ages of Littles and their Bigs are invited, even if you’re only moderately interested in learning to play tennis. Tennis rackets and other equipment will be available for both Bigs and Littles, but please be sure to wear good athletic shoes and clothes you can move in.
Come join us for FREE food, games, plenty of cool prizes, and tennis, of course!
Kick-Off Carnival at PASEO Racquet Club, Glendale
6268 West Thunderbird Road, Glendale, 85306 – (623) 979-1234
Saturday, September 29, 2007, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Kick-Off Carnival at KIWANIS Tennis Center, Tempe
6111 S All American Way, Tempe, 85283 - (480) 350-5201
Saturday, February 24, 2007, 12:00 - 3:00 p.m.
* Click here for photos from the first Kick-Off Carnival *
Kick-Off Carnival at INDIAN SCHOOL PARK, Scottsdale
4289 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale, 85251 – (480) 312-2740
To be determined
One Month of Tennis Lessons | top
During any Kick-Off Carnival, Bigs and Littles will have the opportunity to register for four weeks of tennis lessons at a total cost of $10 per person. The third round of lessons will take place beginning on Saturday, October 6, noon - 1:00 p.m. at Kiwanis Tennis Center in Tempe and at Paseo Racquet Club in Glendale.
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Saturdays - Kiwanis Tennis Center
noon - 1:00 p.m. |
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Saturdays - Paseo Racquet Club
noon - 1:00 p.m. |
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Register | top
To register for any of the kick-off events or rounds of tennis lessons, please email tennis@bbbsaz.org or call Tina Stavros (602) 393-4123. Even if you and/or your Little cannot attend the kick-off event, you may each still participate in 4 weeks of tennis lessons at either Kiwanis Tennis Center in Tempe or Paseo Park in Glendale.
Contact | top
For questions, please contact tennis@bbbsaz.org or call Tina Stavros (602) 393-412
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