USTA Tennis Curriculum Taught to Local PE Teachers

The training event took place on Wednesday, March 1st, 2017 at the Wilson Gymnasium within the Montgomery County Family YMCA.

There were physical education teachers from the Shenandoah Community School District of Shenandoah, Iowa as well as three physical education instructors from the Red Oak Community School District at the event. Montgomery County Family YMCA's Tennis Teaching Professional Rudy Kinard of Red Oak, Iowa also attended the clinic.

The event, which was free, was designed to train elementary and secondary physical education teachers in using USTA developed curriculum for tennis units for schools. The curriculum is based on eight lesson units.  Physical education and teaching tennis professionals are taught lead-up activities, terminology, and skills for the students to quickly learn the sport of tennis while having fun learning.

The Shenandoah and Red Oak Community School Districts for participating in the afternoon clinic at the YMCA will receive a $1,000 equipment grant to assist in purchasing tennis racquets, balls, and nets so the school instructors will have the material to go hand in hand with the learning units.  The equipment grant was made possible by the USTA Iowa District, a grant they developed back in 2012. Assisting in the organization was John Blomstedt, Program Operational Manager of the Montgomery County Family YMCA and John Terpkosh, the Iowa Tennis Service Representative for the USTA Missouri Valley. John brought balloons and morning refreshments for YMCA staff and members to enjoy to show the USTA Missouri Valley’s appreciation for the partnership with the Montgomery County Family YMCA's tennis program and the home of the beautiful Carder Indoor Tennis Center.

The YMCA offers the opportunity to play tennis year-round for youth and adults of all skill levels with such programs as youth and adult tennis lessons, adult league play, youth and adult tournaments, youth and adult specialty clinics and summer youth lessons.  There is also open tennis court rental time, member-free tennis on Sunday afternoons from November to March annually, and the YMCA’s expanded tennis memberships. Rudy Kinard coordinates the Summer Junior Tennis Lesson program and can be reached at 712-370-0224.

To learn more about the United States Tennis Association, Missouri Valley Tennis Association, and the Iowa Tennis District contact John Terpkosh, USTA Missouri Valley Program Manager / Park & Recreations Tennis Service Representative – Iowa at 913-967-9927.  Tennis Court Improvement = Park Improvement = Community Improvement.