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It’s never too early or late in life to pick up a new hobby, especially one that improves fitness and develops character. One of the few games that appeals to players of any age is tennis, the true sport of a lifetime.
Tennis Night in America — a free, inaguaral event from the South Philadelphia Tennis Association — seeks to attract new players to the sport while also spreading the word about the game’s development locally 4 to 7 p.m. tomorrow at the Fels South Philadelphia Community Center, 2407 S. Broad St.
Attendees will be able to play with peers, gain instruction from coaches, sign up for spring leagues and enjoy snacks and beverages. This gathering will focus on interested youths and seek to give players a better understanding about the benefits of playing tennis. Bryan Hughes, a homegrown tennis coach who is the leader of the event, knows how much the sport has impacted his life, and he wants others to experience physical and mental growth through his favorite game.
“Tennis communities are unique,” the resident of the 800 block of Federal Street said. “You can create some great relationships and competition with this family game. You can get Mom, Dad, brother and sister all on the court playing together, and that’s something that no other sport can do.”
Hughes owns the children’s nonprofit Jedi Tennis LLC, conducts tennis clinics across several area schools and is leading the charge to turn South Philadelphia into a tennis hotbed. He coached Texas’ Tyler Junior College to six National Junior College Athletic Association championships between 1996 and 2004 and has brought his expertise back to his hometown neighborhood.
“I’ve played in all kinds of environments, from corporate and competitive to family-oriented and fun,” he said.
Hughes specializes in teaching kids, as he started classes this spring at the Girard Academic Music Program, 2136 Ritner St., and the Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter School, 2600 S. Broad St., and he’s looking to expand to other area schools. He helps promote QuickStart Tennis, a new format of the game with shorter courts, smaller racquets and bigger balls so children can better develop their playing skills in a more compatible setting. Hughes conducted an after-school class at the charter school where 8- and 9-year-old boys and girls worked on their forehands and fitness.
“For these kids, we keep it simple and get them to learn the fundamentals,” he said. “Fundamental tennis comes down to technique and timing. I teach them proper techniques, starting from the bare bottom.”
At the charter school, Hughes works alongside Joanne Venuto, a special education teacher, who contributes ideas for clinics at the school, and will be Hughes’ head assistant at Tennis Night.
“I couldn’t maintain our high levels of effort and accomplishments without Joanne, and that’s a fact,” Hughes said. “She cares, and is of great value to our association.”
Hughes started the clinic by asking the kids to recite the three steps to a perfect groundstroke.
“Step one – back and down,” Justin Cotter, a 9-year-old from the Northeast said.
Gianna Crudele, an 8-year-old student from the 1100 block of Pierce Street correctly answered the final two steps.
“Watch the contact, and lift forward,” she added.
Hughes noted that keeping the fundamental rules to two- and three-word combinations makes it easy for them to remember.
“If they remember these steps, they’ll always be able to help themselves when they play in the future.”
After answering a few more test questions, the children lined up for a succession of fun games that taught technique and promoted a good time.
“I love being out here and having fun, and learning from Joanne and coach Bryan,” 9-year-old Joseph Saia of Southwest Philly excitedly said.
“I learn a lot from Bryan’s classes. I like learning everything there is to know about tennis,” Salvatore Demuro, a 9-year-old from the 2800 block of South Iseminger Street, added with a smile.
Demuro’s favorite sport is baseball, and Hughes believes this kind of young athlete is a perfect fit for a tennis program.
“South Philadelphia has a lot of good kids and great athletes; kids that dance and have great footwork, kids that can play other sports and have skills that translate to tennis,” he said.
Hughes will have the students at the Marconi school play in a competitive match against the Girard Academic Music Program students of the same age group at the end of the spring.
But this week, the focus was on promoting Friday’s event.
A total of 200 children from five different schools were invited to Tennis Night. Aside from GAMP and the charter school, students from St. Monica, 1720 W. Ritner St., St. Gabriel, 2917 Dickinson St., and F. Amedee Bregy School, 1700 Bigler St., received invites. Hughes hopes to see at least 50 youngsters in attendance. However, children are not the only ones invited. Tennis Night has plenty to offer for parents and adults.
Those seeking instruction will have coaches available not only to demonstrate techniques but also to promote upcoming classes in the area. In addition, sign-ups will be readily available for spring tennis leagues including a gentlemen’s league, a ladies’ league, beginner adult leagues and a senior league. Children can sign up for 10-and-under or 14-and-under leagues, as well.
“The primary focus of the event is for the kids, but our secondary agenda is to promote activities and leagues for the adults,” Hughes said.
Their instructor has a brilliant track record and recently worked with the United States Tennis Association to form his South Philadelphia Tennis Association, 1144 S. Eighth St., the new nonprofit whose mission is to provide South Philly with the finest instructional, social and competitive tennis programming accessible to all. The local association, which offers memberships that include private lessons, group classes, tournament entries and friendly match play, has partnered with the United States Tennis Association Middle States and Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education to serve the community with instructional resources. The perfect cap to a successful run of tennis promotion and youth teaching will be a strong turnout at Friday’s informative event, Hughes said.
“The ultimate goal is to create a family atmosphere,” he said. “Tennis is a one-on-one game, the most competitive sport out there. But we want to promote competition through a team and family-friendly environment.” SPR
For more information about the event, e-mail TheSPTA@hotmail.com.
Contact Staff Writer Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
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