The Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) ‘Play Tennis Bahamas” Spring Session will start on Saturday, February 5th at 9 am at The National Tennis Centre (NTC). The program is geared to introducing children ages 5-16 years old to the sport of Tennis teaching them tennis basics in a safe and fun-filled atmosphere. This program is essentially free and all sporting equipment is provided by the BLTA. Children from various communities have converged at the NTC to participate in this wonderful program. The program has been powered by volunteers who have given their time and talent to reach and teach the next generation of tennis players. Last year the program introduced approximately 200 children to the sport! President Perry Newton who has coordinated the program over the last four (4) years has noted an increasing interest in the sport; tennis is transforming many children’s lives and the program has been very impactful.
The program has produced players transitioning to other developmental programs. Play Tennis provides a new crop of potential tennis athletes. The goal is to continue to widen the base and add to the pool of players by sparking the initial interest and being a springboard for development and growth. This would not be possible without the Level 1 and PTC certified coaches and players who feed into the program.
The program has also provided an avenue for tennis juniors to participate and thereby give back to the sport. This service opportunity continues to be character building and has been beneficial to both the kids and volunteer coaches. We have had a few former Davis Cup and Billy Jean Cup players volunteering in the program also. It is important for persons to share their skills and embrace the chance to have a positive influence on the youth. As the Spring session starts all are encouraged to participate in a session. If you are interested in volunteering your time at any of the sessions kindly confirm via email as we continue to make a positive impact in the sport of tennis and into the future of our nation.
Original Post Date: 1/2/2022
