Tennis Clinic for Kids Hosted at Madison County Central School

Approximately 10 children participated this past Saturday in a Tennis Clinic for Kids, sponsored by the City of Madison and USTA Florida, at Madison County Central School gymnasium. Madison City Commissioner Ina Thompson, along with other community volunteers, provided instruction. For more information on tennis in Madison, contact Thompson at inathompson@yahoo.com. 

FREE Tennis Clinic for Kids in Madison County this Saturday

2013 Tennis Clinic Hosted by the City of Madison - Coming Soon!

Happy new year, tennis friends!

 

For information on the next City of Madison tennis clinic in 2013, contact Ina Thompson at ijtcom2@gmail.com. Here's info. from the clinic hosted by the City of Madison in 2012.

 

The City of Madison, Fla., held their first 10 and Under Tennis clinic in the parking lot of the city hall on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012, transforming the lot into four 10 and Under Tennis courts bustling with children.

The clinic was organized by Madison City Commissioner Ina Thompson, working alongside Madison's City Manager, Tim Bennett, and city staff including Charlie Jackson, Doug Brown the newly-elected superintendent of schools, and tennis teaching pro Tom Moore from the neighboring town of White Springs.

"Tom has had his [10 and Under Tennis] program going there for about three years," Thompson said. "The reason for this [parking lot] location was because Madison does not have any public tennis courts in or around town. With help from George English, Panhandle tennis program coordinator and Linda Curtis from USTA Florida, the City of Madison applied for the USTA Florida 'Share the Love' grant and received tennis equipment for clinics."

English has thus far introduced 10 and Under Tennis to three area schools, with more in development. The City of Madison earlier this year hosted a 10 and Under Tennis Workshop, which attracted 26 adult coaches, P.E. teachers and others looking for additional expertise in working with the 10-and-under age group, utilizing the 10 and Under Tennis format. USTA 10 and Under Tennis features kid-sized racquets, nets, low-compression balls and smaller court sizes.

"USTA Florida brought in a USTA national trainer to work with the over 26 adults at the workshop," Thompson said. "Some of the attendees at the workshop were some of the teachers that later put in for the grants for their schools."

Over the last two years the USTA Florida 'Share the Love' grant program has returned approximately $600,000 in grants, supported by the membership dollars of USTA Florida members, back into the tennis community to support organizations and programs such as 55-over tennis, after-school programs, 10 and Under Tennis, and church, YMCA, and police athletic league programs.

Thompson says she hopes the Madison event is the start of expanded tennis offerings for children and adults in the area to combat negative health statistics.

"The City of Madison does not have a recreation coordinator position or have money in the city budget to add this position, or build courts at this time, or in the near future," Thompson said. "So for now the tennis program is a community project, but we are hoping as the interest grows we will see courts being built in Madison. This will encourage our youth, juniors, adults and seniors to learn and enjoy the ageless sport of tennis. At this time there are no organized activities for our youth, no after-school or summer exercise or sport programs designed for our kids. Madison is on the map for being No. 1 in diabetes and heart attacks and stokes in the state of Florida, that's not something we are proud of."

In the meantime Thompson says she will continue to work to give area youth physical outlets through tennis.

"Our goal now is to have clinics, and start working with some of the children who would love to have a Jr. Team Tennis league, but that is hard to do without courts," she says. "We will start trying to locate grants, ask for donations and just try to spread the word of the need we have here to help our youth. The city will be setting up a recreation account, and all funds will be used not only for the tennis program, but to improve our overall sport projects at a park we already have in town."

For more information on tennis in the City of Madison contact Ina Thompson at ijtcom2@gmail.com.

Tennis organizational meeting Wednesday, October 17, 5:30 p.m. at NFCC Gym

Looking for a sport you can play at most any age? If so, tennis is for you! Thanks to the United States Tennis Association (USTA) of Florida offering grants for tennis equipment to schools in Madison County, along with training for instructors to teach tennis to students in PE, kids will now have an opportunity to learn and enjoy this sport throughout their lives.

Playing tennis is a great way people of all ages can stay in shape, and the best part about the sport is, you only need two people to play.

Anyone interested in growing this sport in Madison County should come to our organizational meeting Wednesday, October 17, 5:30 p.m. at the NFCC Gym. Everyone is welcome, no matter your skill level. Even if you have never played before, but have always wanted to learn, we want you to come. We are a group that likes to have fun and wants to encourage healthy alternatives for recreation for both kids and adults in Madison County!

Questions about tennis or the group? Contact Ina Thompson (973-2328) or Lisa Flournoy (973-8875).

Fun Times at the USTA Workshop in Madison, FL

What a great time we had today! Thanks for coming! Those who couldn't make it, we missed you!

Enjoy the video and stay in touch with us on our newly created Facebook page "Madison Tennis 4 Kids" at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Madison-Tennis-4-Kids/399309823455762#!/.

With your support, we will grow tennis in Madison County and give kids (and adults!) something fun to do!

Thank you!

What Can Happen When a Child Finds a Racket, a Ball and a Wall?

Watch Sampras Retiring at the 2003 U.S. Open Tribute

Over the weekend, during the U.S. Open, a segment aired on TV about Pete Sampras's retirement from tennis. "I went out [of the sport] on my own terms," he said. He finished playing strong, beating his rival, Andre Aggasi, and winning the last U.S. Open he ever played in 2002. Tears streamed down his face a year later when he returned to the court to retire. Holding his son in his arms, he waved to fans as he remembered the years he dedicated his life to becoming the number one tennis player in the world.

Though Sampras said he started playing tennis when he was age seven in the TV interview, it is noted that he actually picked-up interest for the sport as a toddler after discovering a tennis racket in the basement of his home and began hitting the ball against the wall.

Who knows... Maybe there's a Pete Sampras in Madison County who will discover the same love for tennis by simply finding a racket, a ball and a good wall too.

Return the Love

Everyone has a story about how great tennis use to be in Madison County. NFCC Coach Louis Thompson had a tremendous amount to do with the sport. He coached a lot of folks, maybe even some of you reading this blog.

The wonderful thing about "10 and under tennis" is kids can play the sport at a younger age. With smaller courts and smaller rackets, everything's suited to a kid's level.

Tennis doesn't have to be a sport of the past. It can be a sport included in Madison County's future.

If you're a parent of a child who'd like to learn tennis or you grew up enjoying the sport, get involved and register to attend this awesome workshop: http://www.florida.usta.com/CommunityTennis/tennis_workshops/.

Return the Love! It's what Coach Thompson would want us to do... Serena, Venus, John McEnroe,  Roger Federer and Ben Stiller too!

(Thanks Madison Voice for posting the workshop flyer online!)