The United States Tennis Association's Hawai‘i Pacific division is going straight to local schools in an effort to grow the game in the Islands.
The program began in March, free of charge to the schools. Schools that partner with the USTA contact the organization through one of the school's administrators or teachers, then USTA Hawai‘i Pacific director of recreational tennis Alana Larcombe provides the school with a lesson plan in addition to two introductory sessions.
"We realized that the issue with bringing in more children to tennis is not really the lack of courts or anything like that, it was more the exposure," Larcombe told Aloha State Daily. "We just wanted to be known that tennis is accessible to everyone. I think there's a common misconception that it's typically for the upper class or country clubs, and we just want to ensure that children of all ages from get a chance to hold a racket and play some tennis."
Larcombe also says Hawai‘i public schools seeing an end to federal pandemic funding in the fall of 2024 was a motivating factor for the USTA. Physical education departments across the state received less funding as a result.
Each school that participates in the program will also receive 30 rackets and 72 tennis balls (36 red tennis balls and 36 felt tennis balls), rolls of tape, bags and chalk. The plan is for the supply of equipment to be replenished every three years for each school in the program.
Tennis courts are not required for schools for the USTA to set up shop, as classes have taken place in parking lots, gyms, volleyball and basketball courts, and other places where there is space on each respective campus.
So far, Larcombe and the USTA have visited Ka‘ewai Elementary School, Enchanted Lake Elementary School, Sergeant Samuel K. Solomon Elementary School, John H. Wilson Elementary School, Hahaione Elementary School, and Nanakuli High and Intermediate.
"They've gone absolutely awesome," Larcombe said of the sessions. "I've got some amazing feedback from teachers. I think it's so beautiful to see the kids when they realize we're playing tennis. They just light up, and by the end of class, they're just on the floor exhausted, but definitely with a smile."
As for the upcoming school year, USTA Hawai‘i Pacific has partnered with 16 more schools and hopes that number increases by the end of the year.
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Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
