Youth Get a Taste of Tennis at Net Generation
To attract a new generation of tennis players, USTA hosted a Net Generation Day for youth and families at Hudlow Tennis Center in October. Net Generation is a national effort that aims to inspire the next generation of tennis players by embracing all aspects of youth play for children ages 5 to 18.
Former tennis pro, Olympian and Hall of Famer Gigi Fernandez led on-court activities and greeted fans in support of USTA’s efforts to make the sport more accessible to families.
The event featured a mini-obstacle course, basic drills stations, hitting nets/backboard stations and video games. Participants also received information about local tennis programs in their communities.
Keeping It In the Family
Youths aren’t just getting involved in local teams for their age group – for the Brook Forest Men’s League A6 team, tennis is truly a family affair.
Member Scott Hastings, who first played in the Junior Leagues, has been a member of ALTA for 40 years. Now his team includes son Ross. But that’s not all.
Several other teammates are father and son, with many of the sons coming up through the Junior Leagues. The team, which went to playoffs last spring, learned that nepotism has its perks. “We had some youth and speed to lean on,” Hastings said.
