‘Little Tennis’ series hopes to attract kids

Carla Sorg is doing her part to help combat what is perceived as a downward trend in the sport.

By JOHN BASSETTI

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

BOARDMAN — Say your 5-year-old is stressed with homework, social pressures and parental intrusion?

Face it, today’s young child has the burden of a teenager; pity Johnny or Susie if they don’t have their degree or pro contract by age 10.

If that’s the case, there’s relief.

It’s called “Little Tennis” — a national tennis program to introduce young children to the sport in a fun, group environment as well as to combat childhood obesity.

“USPTA Little Tennis is a great way to introduce children to tennis, the sport for a lifetime,” said Tim Heckler, CEO of U.S. Professional Tennis Association. “Whatever a child’s age, tennis offers physical and social benefits to help them develop throughout their childhood, and beyond.”

USPTA Little Tennis, a series of high-energy, on-court tennis activities for kids ages 4 to 10, teaches children basic tennis and motor skills using “short” courts with foam balls, small racquets and other junior-sized equipment.

Among those implementing the concept around the country is Carla Sorg, a USPTA-certified developmental coach.

Sorg works out of the Boardman Tennis Center, a facility owned by Steve and Sally Warden.

It’s hoped that the movement will offset a disappointing trend in the sport.

“In talking to other teaching pros, the drop in numbers of great tennis players is apparent,” Sorg said. “There’s a need to attract more kids and teach them better, teach them good groundstrokes and fundamentals from the beginning instead of correcting them when they’re older. We’ve got to get a hold of them now so we can see the fruits of our labor within a couple years.”

A USTA study determined that the sport’s numbers are slipping because tennis doesn’t conform its playing surface size and equipment to accommodate youth.

“It’s the only sport that didn’t scale down its [court] surface and equipment like baseball and soccer and most other sports to make it playable for the little ones,” Sorg said. “That way the kids have more immediate satisfaction instead of getting them on a big court and hitting over a high net.”

Sorg learned of the idea during a workshop and immediately bought into its merit.

“I was interested in anything that would entice young kids and retain them.”

Sorg, originally from Santa Fe, N.M., but living in Canfield for several years, said she, initially, had success while working as the Boardman Swim Club’s tennis instructor last summer.

“It stressed fun rather than competition,” Sorg said of the program that offers athletic instruction, games and social activities.

Not everything is with a racquet in hand,” she said, noting that the kids have a 24-inch high net instead of 36 inches. The court surface is half the regulation dimensions of 36 feet (including alleys) by 78 feet.

When Sorg approached the Wardens, they agreed that the philosophy of attracting and retaining youngsters using the “Little Tennis” method is good.

Carla, 40, introduced it at BTC in October with a full class of 18 children, ages 5-7. Currently, her third six-week session is under way.

“The kids love it and can’t wait for next week,” she said, noting that some kids are back for a third time. “The program uses a lot of different games that help with hand-eye coordination, but at the same time, teaches learning skills that will help them when they do play tennis. We make it fun to want to come back.”

Not only is the racquet smaller and lighter, but a large foam ball is used instead of the little green ball.

“We’ll gradually get them into a regular tennis ball,” Sorg said.

Each week’s class — Monday afternoons or Saturday mornings — lasts 45 minutes.

In addition to the teaching phase, Sorg is trying to establish a reaching phase.

“I’d like to make tennis available to all kids, not just the ones for kids going to swim clubs,” Sorg said. “There are kids out there who could be good if they get an opportunity. That’s why I want to start community tennis. USTA’s study revealed that kids think tennis is boring. I want to show them it can be a lot of fun and be a sport you can play for a lifetime, not just until you get out of school.”

bassetti@vindy.com