Back in the early 2000’s I attended a USTA Training Center Conference in Key Biscayne. My brother, Paul, Eric Voges and I were sitting in the hotel room discussing what could be done to promote junior tennis, increase the number of players, and possibly give the United States the upper hand in the professional tennis world. We had a lively discussion centered around whether increasing the sheer number of players learning the game at an early age, would translate to more American players at the top of the world rankings. We didn’t all agree on the answer to that but based on what I have seen first hand, if we could come up with a plan to get more kids on the tennis court, we would be more likely to identify and help develop the most highly gifted athletes and mentally strong competitors, increasing the probability of more highly ranked players. In addition, more people would benefit from their tennis experiences and help us continue to grow the game.
The idea was relatively simple on paper: provide all five year olds in ten test markets in the United States with a racquet, a foam ball, and a set of instructions on how to get started. We would contact tennis companies to partner with and secure the equipment at a reduced cost or get them to donate a specific number of racquets and balls each year. Next, we contact the distributors (at the time, Walmart, Target, and KMart) to work out an arrangement for the parents to visit the store and pick up the equipment. Finally, we would develop a simple set of instructions with activities, drills, and recommended progressions for the players and parents to help ensure that a high percentage would develop a love for the game and continue to play.
The execution of this idea was not as easy as it had sounded. I wrote letters and attempted to contact several of the top tennis equipment companies at the time but received no response. The communication channels were not as open as they are today and phone calls were ineffective. Unfortunately, without the first step of this plan, the rest of the idea did not make any sense. In addition, because we had not yet evolved into the “world of Amazon” and the internet sales frenzy, the distribution part of the plan seemed difficult, if not impossible. I was discouraged and disappointed, resulting in the idea being shelved for the time being.
However, it seems that the time might be right for another look at this idea. There are a lot more tennis equipment companies, with many trying to find that niche that would propel them up there with the big names and experienced companies. In addition, there are a number of tennis training aids that these companies provide which could be extremely beneficial. The distribution of the products will be much simpler through Amazon. Coaches from all over the country can help formulate a simple instruction page to get the ball rolling. We can use Zoom to have regular meetings to discuss improvements to the program and update things along the way. This will allow us to grow and adjust with the game and the new innovations.
Wouldn’t it be great to get kids back outside and involved in a sport that they can enjoy for their entire lifetime? I think there are many reasons for a new attempt at this. I urge anyone (parents, coaches, sales reps, tennis fanatics, etc.) who is interested in being involved, to contact me. Let’s help increase the number of tennis players so that more kids can enjoy the challenges, experiences, and benefits that this great sport provides.
Steve Annacone, USPTA Elite Pro, is the Director of Annacone Tennis, www.annaconetennis.com and MyHamptonsPro, throughout the Hamptons, NY. Steve, and Gill Gross run the TOP (Tennis Optimization Players-Top Team) program at the Tucson Jewish Community Center (Tucson, AZ) for high level players ages 8-18. Please contact Steve at sannacone@tucsonjcc.org or 865-300-7323