Chatham Clubs to Host Play Events in Celebration of World Tennis Day

Clubs across USTA Eastern will hold play events in celebration of World Tennis Day, a nationwide effort to get kids excited and active in tennis. During the next couple months, the USTA will invite families and kids of all ages and skill levels to try tennis at local events and facilities across the country—encouraging kids to get on the court and in the game.

Studies have shown that an early, positive experience in sports is vital to combatting physical inactivity and creating a lifelong commitment to an active lifestyle. More than a thousand facilities will host USTA Tennis Play Events this March, each showcasing how fun and easy it now is for families to get into the sport. These events will allow parents to sign up their children for spring and summer tennis programs.

“USTA Tennis Play Events provide an opportunity to engage children in a fun environment, as well as inspiring them to love physical activity and sports for life,” said Kurt Kamperman, USTA Chief Executive, Community Tennis. “These efforts are part of USTA’s strong commitment to making it easier for kids to get into the game—and stay in the game.”

“Our Play Event brings in a fresh format for children looking to keep score, run around, be kids and hit a tennis ball without lots of supervision,” according to Mark Savage, the Tennis Director at Sportsplex in New Windsor, NY. “Kids want to be kids. They want their own space to play and to perform for themselves.”

Savage’s club, which is located at 2902 US Route 9W, will hold a USTA Tennis Play Event on Saturday, March 8 from 5 - 8pm.

USTA Tennis Play Events are a fantastic way to inspire children to get into the game, according to Akiko Tohmatsu, the 10 and Under Tennis Program Coordinator for the Eastern Athletic Club in Blue Point. “In my view, they give another opportunity for kids to play the sport,” she said.

Tohmatsu, whose club recently held a Play Event and plans to hold others in the future, discussed the importance of teaching 10 and Under Tennis at USTA Tennis Play Events. The kids enjoy the many activities offered, she said, including the chance to play matches, improve technique through drills, and take part in round-robin tournaments. 

World Tennis Day on March 3 serves as a kick-off to the Play Events. It is a celebration of tennis around the world that includes professional tennis matches in New York City, Hong Kong and London. The World Tennis Day celebration in New York’s Madison Square Garden will feature Novak Djokovic squaring off against Andy Murray, and Bob and Mike Bryan taking on John and Patrick McEnroe. 

A number of other March Play Events have also been planned in Eastern. Below are the dates, times, locations and contact information to register. To learn more about USTA Tennis Play Events, please visit www.youthtennis.com.

March 7

Contact: Jeff Rothstein, jeff@centercourtclub.com

Orange Ball Box League Play Day at Centercourt Athletic Club of Chatham (Chatham, NJ)6 pm – 8:30 pm

Contact: Jeff Rothstein, jeff@centercourtclub.com

March 8

March 14

March 21

March 28