USTA Eastern Long Island Region Update (July and August 2011)

August 1, 2011 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
hempstead

Malverne students take up tennis

The Malverne School District’s second and third graders took to the courts recently during two field day events sponsored by the USTA/Eastern-Long Island Region. This “QuickStart Day” introduced more than 250 children to the sport of a lifetime with lessons, drills and games. As a special bonus, each child received a free one-year membership in the USTA.

Volunteer USTA pros instructed the children and supplied all equipment, including balls, racquets and nets. QuickStart is a new teaching style that introduces children under the age of 10 to the game of tennis in a format that is designed just for them. The courts are shorter at just 36 feet, the racquets are smaller and the balls are softer.

“Events like the Malverne Field Days were created to introduce schools to the new format and help them to pursue tennis programs in Physical Education classes, after school or through teams,” said Jocelyn Cruz, tennis program specialist for USTA Eastern. “By exposing kids to tennis now, we can get them excited about it. USTA offers funding for equipment and staff training for schools to support them in their efforts to add tennis to their curriculum.”

The Malverne Field Days were hosted at Hempstead Lake Indoor Tennis, under the guidance of Daniel Burgess, the club’s director of tennis and the USTA/Eastern-Long Island Region president. Also participating were Brenda

White, athletic director for the Malverne School District and Scholastic Representative Chair for the Region Board; Bill Bennett, physical education teacher at the Davison Avenue School; and Charles Nanton, president of the Lakeview Youth Federation—which organizes community tennis programs and basketball leagues, funds and administers track teams and provides tutoring programs—and a long-time volunteer tennis coach in the Malverne School District.



 

Tennis for Troops

The USTA/Eastern-Long Island Region is proud to announce its participation in the USTA’s Adopt-A-Unit Program, which supports U.S. troops in the field by providing them with needed personal supplies and the gift of tennis. USTA National has already sent a supply of racquets, nets and balls for the troops’ recreation, and Eastern and the Long Island Region will be sending personal hygiene and other items, such as socks, toothpaste, deodorant and more.

“What a great way to show support for our troops overseas by sharing our favorite sport with them,” said Daniel Burgess, USTA/Eastern-Long Island Region president.
 
Burgess urges anyone who would like to contribute to the Adopt-A-Unit Program to contact Bill Mecca, USTA/Eastern-Long Island Region Tennis Service Representative, by e-mail at mecca@eastern.usta.com.

 

 

 



Dwyer Way Rises in Oceanside                                    

The Town of Hempstead has renamed New Street in Oceanside, N.Y. as Dwyer Way in honor of Daniel B. Dwyer, managing partner at Point Set Indoor Racquet Club for many years until his sudden death one year ago. The USTA/Eastern-Long Island Region also honored Danny by presenting his children with an award for his distinguished service at its 21st Annual Awards Dinner in May. 

Point Set is located at 3065 Dwyer Way (formerly 3065 New Street). Kate Murray, Supervisor of the Town of Hempstead, and Assemblyman Anthony Santino of Oceanside presented the new street sign to Danny’s children. At the renaming ceremony, Point Set announced the creation of the Dan Dwyer Scholarship Fund, which will give financial assistance to a college-bound scholar-athlete. All contributions can be made at the club. 

 


10-and-Unders get started at Jericho Westbury

Jericho Westbury Indoor Tennis recently hosted a 10-and-Under party for children from the Red Robin Country Day School in Westbury, N.Y. and others thanks to a grant from the USTA/Eastern-Long Island Region. The purpose of the party was to introduce Long Island’s future stars to the sport of tennis using the QuickStart format, the new way to teach younger children.

As part of the program, a number of the children received free USTA memberships. Pictured here are the party’s participants and their instructors: (back row, from left to right) Russell Heier, Laura Gordon, Jayne Alterman and Clinton Clark.


Long Islanders Help Tennis Grow
Bill Mecca (pictured here left), the USTA/Eastern-Long Island Region Tennis Service Representative recently presented gently-used racquets and balls to Jarred Kershaw (pictured here right), coach of the boys and girls tennis teams at Roosevelt High School, for distribution to his players.

“The contribution of used racquets has been outstanding,” said Mecca. “Our goal is to provide every child who wants to play with their own racquet and a supply of balls so that they can play whenever they want—at a park or a school or just hitting against a wall. Most people start playing tennis in a public park, and by making the equipment available, this grassroots effort will help ensure the future growth of tennis.”

 

 


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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