Some students excel in the classroom, while others might prefer the rush from P.E. class. But local nonprofit Tennis Memphis takes a beat to ask, “why not both?” The organization’s comprehensive approach – a combination of both educational and physical programming – keeps participants invested in their own personal growth. And the launch last year of the revamped Leftwich Tennis Center means the organization keeps serving aces.
So what makes tennis a good choice for the organization’s type of dual programming? According to Tennis Memphis executive director Scott Mitchell, the game’s intense cerebral approach makes it a natural fit for both brain and body, which can lead to a boost in both grades and mental health. “Tennis is one of the best sports when it comes to developing life skills,” says Mitchell. “Studies show that people who play tennis just a couple times a week live 10 years longer than anybody else. And tennis, the structure of the sport, builds self-confidence. When we host our camps and let kids play, it allows them to learn how to really think critically and problem-solve in our programs as part of a team.”
Tennis Memphis hosts youth camps all over town at their public tennis centers: Elden Roark (Whitehaven), Frayser, Raleigh, Wolbrecht (Ridgeway), and the revamped Leftwich. (Clinics are also available for adults.) Beyond practicing techniques and playing matches, there’s a little bit of classroom instruction to go along with the competition.
Melinda Hoehn (Photo courtesy of Tennis Memphis)
“The main program we offer is called Tennis & Tutoring,” says Melinda Hoehn, director of business operations for Tennis Memphis. “We offer kids an hour of tutoring in whatever subject they might need help with, along with a snack and a drink, and then an hour of tennis. The tennis portion focuses on imparting life skills and physical fitness, or health and well-being, over just being able to hit a good forehand. Overall, it’s about teaching good life skills and building their ability to provide peer tutoring for others who might need help.”
Part of what makes Tennis Memphis so appealing to interested students is its accessibility. While the sport has an exclusive reputation in some circles, Tennis Memphis strives to make its programs open to underserved communities and kids that might be interested in learning more about the sport through its summer programs. “Eighty percent of the kids join our camps at a greatly reduced rate, or for free,” says Hoehn. “A lot of people think of tennis as a country club sport that might not even be on their radar. This is how we foster a love for the sport in communities that might not have access to it.”
“Most of our tennis courts are set up right next to community centers,” she continues. “It’s been great to be able to partner with those community centers and meet families and kids who want to know more about the sport. And many who express interest are able to join one of our six-week summer programs.”
Scott Mitchell (Photo courtesy of Tennis Memphis)
The latest feather in Tennis Memphis’ cap, however, has to be the new Leftwich Tennis Center at Southern and Goodlett. A tennis facilities management veteran, Mitchell says the 36-court complex (12 outdoor and 24 indoor) is one of the largest he’s worked with. “This is a partnership with the City of Memphis and the University of Memphis, so it’s a rare opportunity to have a mix of community programming and high-level collegiate athletes,” he states. Indeed, young tennis players who finish up a session could glance right or left and see members of the Tigers tennis team in mid-rally. Memphis athletes will hold practices and play against other AAC and national opponents at Leftwich, giving Tennis Memphis camp-goers a unique front-row seat to top-class competition. “It’s laid out differently from other large facilities,” adds Mitchell. “Those are set up for playing and spectating. Here, we can do that but also perform all of Tennis Memphis’ programming alongside that, like lessons, summer camps, community events.”
Leftwich has also enabled Tennis Memphis to expand its programming with Homeschool Performance Plus, a semester of classes and sessions that includes morning tennis practice, personalized studying during the day, and then further tennis training in the evening. It’s just a further extension of Tennis Memphis’ efforts to build community through tennis. “It’s a really special set of circumstances that allow us to benefit from all these partnerships and pay it forward to our community,” says Mitchell. “It’s a great opportunity to continue growing, and we hope to keep doing what we do.”
For more information on programming and lessons, visit tennismemphis.org.