Living for Tennis
by Bob Myerson

I love tennis. I love playing it and I love teaching it. It's the best thing that has ever happened to me. Tennis has been a great companion in my life. Everywhere I go I make friends, have fun and stay fit through tennis. That's why I want to share this great game with as many people as possible.

Today, the best way to take up tennis is to go to the website www.tenniswelcomecenter.com and enter your zip code to find a list of participating facilities in your area. It's that easy. Everyone is welcome to play, and learning to play through this program is fun and fast. Join an introductory tennis program taught by a certified teaching professional. The classes are affordable and accessible at both local parks and tennis clubs.

New players can learn tennis through structural programs such as USA Tennis 1-2-3 for Adults. This is a low cost instructional program designed to teach basic tennis skills to new or returning adult and senior players in a group environment. There are basically three levels: Instruction, Practice Plus Play and Team Tennis. Classes meet for ninety minutes two times per week for three consecutive weeks per month. Classes are usually scheduled at convenient times (ex: 9-10:30am or 7- 8:30am).The simple philosophy is "TRY, GAIN and END." Play as fast as possible. The ultimate goal is to get players good enough to play for their park and club teams against similar players. The emphasis is always on fun and light-hearted competition. This is a great way to meet new people and make time for exercise.

For kids, learning tennis quickly, inexpensively and as part of a group is very appealing to parents and children. The USA Tennis 1-2-3 program enables children to progress quickly into modified match play through fast-paced, active curriculum. The program is designed with four different age-specific plans: ages 5 and under, 6 to 7, 8 to 11 and 12 and over. At all age levels the emphasis is on fun, activity and creativity. Classes usually meet twice per week for one month.

There are also numerous summer tennis camps for children in the area. Try to find a camp where the "head pro" is certified and the instructors are slightly older and more experienced both in the sport and in the art of teaching. Too often a child will lose interest in tennis, like any other activity, if they have a bad first experience.

I have been teaching tennis for 27 years and have brought hundreds if not thousands of new players into the game through grass-roots programming. There is nothing more satisfying to me than to see every court at the park or club filled with students of mine.

Bob Myerson is the owner and director of tennis at the Rhinebeck Tennis Club and Director of Tennis at the Rhinebeck Community Park Program. You can e-reach him at connect10s@aol.com or www.rhinebecktennis.com.