USPTA Members Host Tennis Across AmericaTM Clinics
-- USPTA encourages kids to play Tennis – for the health of it!SM with free tennis clinic--
Hundreds of United States
Professional Tennis Association members across the nation hosted free Tennis
Across America clinics with the theme of Tennis
– for the health of it! on May 14, to celebrate the 22nd annual
Tennis Across America Day. While the overall goal of Tennis Across America has
always been to take the game of tennis to new, current and former players, this
year the focus is on promoting the health benefits of tennis to help support
efforts to reduce obesity.
The USPTA encouraged every member to take part in
the One-Clinic Challenge and run at least one Tennis Across America event to
help spread the word that obesity is now an epidemic, especially with today's
youth devoting more time to computers and other technology than to exercise. In
addition, it provides the opportunity to focus on the long-range health
benefits of developing a habit of being active through tennis from early
childhood.
Tennis Across
America, which was established in 1990 by the USPTA, is the original, free
grassroots lessons program. The goal of the program is to get people out on the
court, playing tennis. The multicultural segment was added later with the goal
of reaching various communities and potential players who have special needs
and may not otherwise have the opportunity to play.
The Tennis
Across America program consists of three major elements. First, free clinics
are held at public and private facilities around the nation. Second,
multicultural clinics introduce the sport to various groups and give everyone
the opportunity to experience tennis. Third, follow-up programs are created to
provide players with an opportunity to pursue their new enthusiasm for tennis.
Also, many companies in the
health and fitness arena that are leading the charge in shaping a healthy
America and battling the national obesity epidemic – specifically, childhood
obesity – support USPTA's efforts, including:
- The American College of Sports
Medicine – Exercise is Medicine Initiative
- International Health, Racquet
& Sportsclub Association – Campaign for a Healthier America
- The National Physical Activity
Plan
- Mental Health America – Live Your
Life Well Initiative
- Healthy Weight Commitment
Foundation
Tennis – for the health of it! strives to make the general
public aware of the tremendous health, fitness and psychological benefits of
tennis and encourage people to get out and play the sport as a part of their
regular fitness regimen. The USPTA also
strives to encourage and enable kids across the nation and world to live a
healthy lifestyle through the sport of tennis.
In addition, the USPTA and
its members are the delivery force through which the public can receive these
benefits through lessons and other tennis activities.
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