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!)

Spread the Love in North Florida

Getty Images - USTA.com

Ten and under tennis continues spreading around the world! In fact, First Lady Michelle Obama showed just how popular the sport is by playing on a kid-sized court just before the start of the 2012 London Olympics with the big fat nerf-like ball adults have come to LOVE!

Who can play the sport? Kids and kids-at-heart like the First Lady.

In less than three weeks, the USTA will be hosting 10 and under tennis training for teachers, parents and volunteers who'd be interested in coaching kids in Madison County (and other surrounding areas). We only need 20 participants for this event to be a success. Have you signed-up?

Be a part of the healthy momentum growing worldwide for this incredible sport. Click here to reserve your spot at the USTA workshop on Saturday, September 8th from 9 a.m. 'til 12:30 p.m. at the NFCC gym.

Spread the LOVE in North Florida!

Thank you, Greene Publishing!

USTA Florida Coordinator George English and City of Madison Commissioner Ina Thompson
speak to the Rotary Club about 10 and under tennis.  Photo by Lynette Norris

Thank you, Lynette Norris and Greene Publishing, for this wonderful article entitled "Tennis, Anyone?" We appreciate your help in publicizing our efforts to get this sport up and running again in Madison County!  (Great job speaking at Rotary, George and Ina!)

10 and Under Tennis Comes to Madison County, Florida

Thanks to USTA Florida awarding $1,000 grants to Madison Academy, Pinetta Elementary and the City of Madison, kids will have the opportunity to learn to play the new 10 and under format, formerly known as QuickStart tennis, this fall in Madison County, Florida.

Ina Thompson is leading the effort within the City of Madison, along with Bubba Carroll at Madison Academy and Beth Moore at Pinetta Elementary. 

To get coaches, teachers, parents and volunteers up-to-speed on the rules of the game, USTA Florida is hosting a training workshop on Saturday, September 8 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at North Florida Community College's Colin P. Kelly Fitness Center. To sign-up or learn more about the event, click here.

A tennis clinic will be offered to kids this fall. To learn more about Madison Tennis 4 Kids, please subscribe to this blog or join our email list on the top right of this page.  We'll keep you posted about future events.

Thanks again to USTA Florida for Sharing the Love grant with the kids in Madison County, Florida. For information on the grant, click here or email George English, the USTA Florida Tennis Coordinator, here.

Directions to Training at NFCC

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