School Tennis
USTA School Tennis
Tennis is more than a sport. In addition to encouraging physical fitness and healthy living, it teaches important life skills like being responsible, gaining independence, self-confidence, treating others with respect, fairness and problem solving. The earlier we expose kids to these attributes, the more of an impact we can make in helping develop strong and healthy people. USTA School Tennis can help!
Click here to see why school tennis is perfect in the schools.
Schools currently participating
Breaking the Barriers Educational Supplement
Interested in becoming a Tennis Specialist?
Physical Education Teachers Resources
Current Tennis Specialist Resources
What is USTA School Tennis?
USTA School Tennis is a national program that enriches the lives of elementary, middle and high school youngsters through tennis. By giving students an opportunity to learn the basic skills of tennis in their physical education classes and then developing extracurricular tennis playing programs, students are becoming more fit and having fun doing it. The program includes a free in-service training workshop for physical education teachers which gives them the skills and materials necessary to teach tennis. Teachers gain access to a comprehensive step by step curriculum, discounted equipment and free student assemblies.
Then, whether it’s a Kids Tennis Club, Lunchtime Tennis, intramurals or leagues, USTA is committed to providing the training, expertise and resources you need to give kids in elementary, middle or high school the opportunity to play and have fun outside of the school day.
Click here for an overview of the benefits and expectations of schools that participate.
Who can participate?
This one-size-fits-all program is running in Colorado’s largest school districts along the Front Range and on the Western Slope including Denver Public Schools, Jefferson County and Poudre, as well as in smaller districts such as Falcon 49 outside of Colorado Springs. A strong relationship also exists with SHAPE Colorado (Society of Health and Physical Educators) where we exhibit and conduct teacher trainings annually at their statewide convention.
Since the program’s inception, USTA School Tennis has provided the necessary tools and assistance to physical educators, after school program staff, parents and volunteers to get students playing a sport they can enjoy for a lifetime. Last school year, close to 400 Colorado schools received support from the USTA Colorado through teacher training workshops, curriculum guides, tennis racquets and other equipment, opportunities to host school tennis assemblies, access to technical consultation from our certified clinician staff and access to USTA’s network of resources!
We want to see USTA School Tennis in every school district throughout the state. If you are interested in bringing USTA School Tennis to schools in your community, contact the USTA School Tennis Coordinator.
School Tennis Registry
If you are teaching PE Tennis, conducting an Extracurricular Tennis Program or coaching a No-Cut Middle School or High School Tennis Team, click here to register on the School Tennis Registry
Register your PE program today and receive:
Recognition Certificate
Kids’ Tennis Club Playbook
Incentive gift
Register your Extracurricular Kids’ Tennis Club today and receive:
Recognition Certificate
Kids’ Tennis Club Playbook
25 Youth Pocket Playbooks
25 Youth Achievement Awards
Register your No-Cut Tennis Team today and receive:
Recognition Certificate
No-Cut Tennis Camp
Rules of Tennis Handbook
Subscription to Racquet Sports Industry
If you are not a USTA School Organization member yet, click here to join and receive:
Curriculum kit
Laminated Set of Station Signs
Equipment and Skillastics Discounts
Kids Tennis Club Resources
USTA Colorado would like to see easily accessible student tennis programs offered to follow-up USTA School Tennis. As a result of inquiries and needs of communities attempting to fill that niche in the schools, the USTA Colorado Community Development Department created a useful resource. Taking Kids to the Next Level is a manual that assists physical educators and/or other community members in providing follow-up tennis programs to students who are excited about continuing the sport. This clinic, in conjunction with Junior Team Tennis, is a comprehensive approach to after school, before school tennis or even lunch time programming.
In addition to Taking Kids to the Next Level, the Learn to Rally and Play Book and the QuickStart Tennis Practice Plans are also excellent resources that all provide support from the planning stages through the last day of the program. They are designed for people new to coordinating and/or teaching beginner tennis no matter where the program is conducted – in a multi-purpose room, on the playground blacktop, at neighborhood tennis courts or in a gymnasium.
These lesson plans may be downloaded in PDF format:
QuickStart Tennis Practice Plans
Additionally, the following extracurricular materials may be helpful in starting programs
After school tennis organizer kit
Tennis Games & Play for Organized Play
Breaking the Barriers Educational Supplement
In 2011, USTA Colorado and the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library in Denver’s Five Points Historic District partnered to showcase Breaking the Barriers, a historical timeline of African American History and African American Tennis History from the 1800s to the modern era. As part of the exhibit, USTA CO developed materials designed to engage kids of all backgrounds with the history and relevant topics included in the timeline.
The Breaking the Barriers educational packet was developed for this purpose. Connected to Colorado Academic Social Studies Standards for 3rd through 6th grade students, the packet is an excellent supplement to combine classroom and physical education curriculum together through tennis. Key themes of this supplemental curriculum packet include diversity, unity, multiculturalism, personal achievement and individuality.
Download the Breaking the Barriers educational packet and share it with teachers or use it as an enrichment component to an extracurricular program.
Interested in becoming a Tennis Specialist?
All USTA Colorado Tennis Specialist activities are conducted by trained specialists assigned to geographic areas throughout the state. These independent contractors provide action-packed site visits and informative teacher training workshops on behalf of the USTA Colorado. If you have tennis experience, are comfortable interacting with professional adults (teachers) as well as children (kindergarten through high school) and have a passion for exposing kids to tennis, find out more about becoming a tennis specialist.
Tennis Specialist Service Policy
Physical Education Teachers
By introducing your students to the lifetime benefits of tennis, you are expanding the fitness options available to youth in your community. We commend you for your involvement with USTA School Tennis and if you are not involved, please find out more about the program and how to get involved.
Below are some resources and information that is available to you if you are already involved with USTA School Tennis.
9th Edition Tennis Curriculum Physical Educators Guide for Teaching Tennis in Schools
USTA organizational membership
Check out these new games and tools!
Great Games for School Playgrounds and Gyms
Current Tennis Specialists
USTA Colorado contracts with individuals throughout the state who are passionate about bringing tennis to kids to implement USTA School Tennis. If you are already certified by USTA Colorado as a tennis specialist, the following frequently used forms are available to you: