#NothingTopsTennis: Using Our Tennis Court to Teach Healthy Choices

June is Healthy Choices Month at Kings County Tennis League. Our students have participated in a series of off-court discussions about nutrition and exercise, and this coming weekend, during Family Day, we’re having a fitness challenge!

At Lafayette Gardens, where there is no physical tennis court, but a large open blacktop space with portable nets and hand-drawn lines, Educational Coordinator Ari recently led an informational, interactive game called “This or That.” Quite fantastically, the game combines exercise and nutrition!

Ari presented her students with two different foods—each set at opposite ends of the court—and directed them to decide which is nutritionally superior. They were instructed to declare their choice by running to the end of the court at which the perceived healthier food was located.

The decisions were individual, not team-based. Each child independently ran to the side that reflected his or her own personal opinion. After each sprint to a food choice, Ari led a discussion about which choice was, in fact, nutritionally better and why. It was definitely an excellent educational opportunity for all of the participants.

Lafayette Gardens may lack a real tennis court, but, evidently, this cannot stop the team from using its makeshift tennis surface in a creative way. Most of us look at a tennis court and see only one purpose: to play a specific game. But at KCTL, we use the tennis court—"real" or not—for activities and lessons of all kinds.   

Week 4: Recap from Sumner

Class this week at Sumner was amazing! We continued practicing backhands after introducing them last week.

Class started out with a quick warmup and stretching with all the volunteers and students. We also played a few quick games of Tennis Freeze Tag. The students had to balance a ball on their racquets while walking around the court. If tagged, they became "frozen" and had to wait for a teammate to unfreeze them. The game would end whenever all the participants were frozen.

Following Freeze Tag, students were divided by age into two groups. Our stations for the week were backhand, fitness, hand-eye, and self-hit forehand. 

During the off-court discussion led by our Educational Coordinator, Meredith, we discussed strength training and cardio training. To better understand strength training, students watched one volunteer, Nick, perform push-ups and another volunteer, Amanda, perform a plank--both in perfect form! While we were done with our discussion, the kids enjoyed Kind Bars as a healthy snack.

Our last activity for the day was Breakout with backhands. The kids did an amazing job with their backhands. Katelynn, one of our youngest Sumner participants, was declared the winner!

We finished the day by gathering together, putting our hands all in, and cheering out, "Sumner!"

Week 3: Recap from Jackie Robinson

Class this week at Jackie Robinson was awesome, recalls Site Leader Michelle Gee. Everyone was happy that we didn't get rained out and that attendance was still high. 

Michele led her students in the basic fundamentals of the forehand groundstroke. She also had the opportunity to introduce the forehand volley. The majority of the students were divided into three stations that rotated approximately every 10 minutes.

A fourth station had a lesson plan that was specifically designed for the older, more advanced students that can play on a full-sized court.

Although we are just in the third week, the children are improving at an amazing rate. The volunteers are doing an incredible job of reinforcing a team mentality and the importance of working together.

During the off-court session, led by Ian, we talked about healthy eating and its benefits. The children seemed to be very engaged.

Overall, Michelle is much looking forward to the rest of the season! She is proud to lead an amazing group of young athletes.

#NothingTopsTennis: Off-Court in the Hot Seat with Michele from Jackie Robinson

At Jackie Robinson’s June 4 class, we used the off-court session for a new learning initiative, the “Hot Seat,” in which students have the opportunity to ask all sorts of questions questions to a volunteer or staff member. This week, Jackie Robinson’s Site Leader, Michele Gee, was “interviewed” by her students in the Hot Seat.

Questions ranged from silly things like, “What hair products do you use”?” to “How do you feel when you play tennis?”. The latter question was proposed by a 10-year-old student, Amr, who so sincerely wanted to know how tennis makes Michele feel—as if he, too, experiences something “special” when playing the game.

Michele’s answer was simple, yet powerful; the game makes her feel strong because it reminds her of the obstacles she’s overcome. “I struggled with athleticism throughout my childhood. I always had to work twice as hard as the next person to develop my hand eye coordination and motor skills. When I think of all the perseverance that it took for me to succeed, I know that it required a ton of strength for me to not give up. Tennis was very much a challenge for me but when I look back at all the obstacles I had to overcome, I feel very accomplished.”

Reflecting on the session, Educational Coordinator Christine Hum says, “Tennis has a unique way of bringing out the best in others and bringing people of different backgrounds together. Who knew we'd have so much to talk about off-court?”

Some of the younger kids who are usually quiet came out of their shells to pepper Michele with questions about her life, Christine proudly recalls. The kids loved the interview format and a chance to relate to the adults on their site. The 30+ students had more questions than time allowed, so Christine encouraged them to continue their conversations with Michele throughout the summer.  

Week 2: Recap from Lafayette Gardens

The second week of Lafayette Gardens began with additional introductions from students and volunteers. To help everyone get to know each other better, LG's Site Leader, Efi, directed each student and volunteer to give their name and a fact about him or herself. All who shared the same fact raised their hands as each person took a turn.

Warmups followed with three laps around the nets and stretches. Racquets were distributed and students were divided into groups. 

There were two groups of beginners and two groups of more advanced students. The more advanced students practiced control, guiding the ball in a certain direction, some backhand drills, and participated in some volleying games. Newer students practiced control as well through drills of bouncing the ball upward and downward. They reviewed the ready, step back, and swing with follow through positions before utilizing them while balls were fed.. 

During our off-court session, Ari, our Educational Coordinator, discussed healthy food choices as KIND Bars were handed out (YUM!). Volunteers then helped students fill out a survey that measured students' knowledge of food and nutrition.

To finish, students were back on the court for an exciting game of Scramble. After Scramble, the students circled up with hands in the center and yelled, "Lafayette Gardens!" as their arms came up.

2016 Season Opener at Marcy

We’re back! On Saturday, May 28, we launched our seventh season of bringing tennis to the kids of Bedford-Stuyvesant.

About 35 students and 15 volunteers turned out at our biggest and oldest tennis club, Marcy. How different it looked from Marcy’s first go six years ago—on that day, not a single student showed up, the court and surrounding grounds were left empty. How far we have come! On Saturday, the tennis court at Marcy Playground roared with energy, surrounded by parents, residents, and other supportive onlookers.

Our student participants were divided into groups by skill and age to practice various skills, drills, and games at learning stations—including rallying, fitness and footwork, and ball passing.

The Off-Court discussion has taken a new format for 2016. Rather than dedicating a station to Off-Court, all volunteers and students will participate in the conversation together under the direction of the Educational Coordinator.

This week’s topic was light; we played a fun name game to facilitate introductions. Everyone individually announced their first name along with a fruit, vegetable, or sport that begins the with the same letter as their name. A six-year-old student, Kyle, took first place for the most creative use of K with Kayaking. Quality Tennis, Lemons, Mangoes, Ice Skating, and Broccoli are honorable mentions.

We wrapped up with two games of breakout and the team cheer. We are looking forward to a strong season of self-improvement, sportsmanship, and fun.

Five "Big Picture" Lessons You'll Learn at Volunteer Training

Our first volunteer training session is only two days away! Training co-hosts Deputy Executive Director Emily Roller and Director of Programming Meredith Brown are ecstatic to share the 2016 curriculum with new and returning volunteers.

The first two-and-a-half-hour workshop will be held on Saturday, April 16 at 1:00 PM in Jackie Robinson Park. The following group session is scheduled for Saturday, April 23 at the same time.

We'll review the curriculum, tennis drills, and safety. Beyond these areas, you what can you expect to learn? Here are five "big picture" lessons we hope you'll take away from your workshop:

1. The Importance of Setting Expectations. You are the leader, so you must clearly let children know what they can and cannot do before each activity. Setting expectations prior to play helps to minimize conflicts.
    
2. Your Position as a Role Model. Your students will mimic your actions and words. If you act disinterested or remain silent, they will, too. But if you display enthusiasm and keep the conversation going, the children will follow suit.
    
3. Honest and Open Communication. Unless you work with children on a daily basis or you are a parent, communicating with our participants will seem challenging in the beginning. In general, you can build trust with your students by being open and asking questions without making assumptions.
    
4. The Significance of Repetition.  Our off-court, educational lessons will frequently apply to tennis, so, whenever possible, tie activities back to terminology from our curriculum's core themes: healthy choices, cognitive awareness, and grit and resilience. Repetition reinforces learning for children.
    
5. Dedication to your Students' Success. We bring tennis to the kids not for our benefit, but for theirs: to provide participants with new experiences and to expose them to new people and possibilities. Your biggest priority should always be the value students receive from KCTL.

If you've yet to register as a volunteer or for a training session, please follow the instructions here. We look forward to seeing everyone in the coming weeks. Here's to a great season!