USTA/Eastern-Long Island Region Update
Your child … a future tennis star?
America is searching for that next big tennis star and it could be your child! With the growing popularity of QuickStart Tennis for young children, the USTA encourages children 10 years of age and under to pick up a racket and get out on the court in 2011. Visit www.10andundertennis.com to find out how to have your child join the thousands of others who are learning to play tennis the right way. Then, visit www.longisland.usta.org, click on “Places to Learn Tennis on Long Island,” and call your local pro and ask about QuickStart or 10-and-Under Tennis programs.
Tennis robot experiences wheelchair tennis
Sixth grade Girl Scout Lego Robotics Team “Merrick Masters J” visited Hempstead Lake Indoor Tennis in West Hempstead with their robot, Tobor, to experience wheelchair tennis. USTA/Eastern-Long Island Region President Daniel Burgess, director of tennis at Hempstead Lake Indoor Tennis, ran the program, which was part of the First Lego League (FLL) challenge preparation. The girls are part of a Lego robotics project sponsored by the Girl Scouts of Nassau County. This year’s FLL theme for the competition is the world of biomedical engineering. The team is working to design a concept design for adaptive tennis equipment for those who have limited abilities with their hands. Daniel provided the girls with an introduction to wheelchair tennis and the things to consider in order to turn a disability into an ability and improve the quality of life through recreational tennis.
As part of their research, the team also video chatted through Skype with Marie Vanasse, a biomedical engineer graduate, prosthetic engineer and tennis pro who works with First Volley, an organization created for amputees, orthosis wearers and those with physical challenges who wish to enjoy the game of tennis, but choose not to sit in a wheelchair to do so. First Volley organizes tennis clinics through the OPAF Organization (Orthotic and Prosthetic Assistance Fund Inc.) to provide a sense of accomplishment, pride and enjoyment for those who participate. The team hopes to use their research to develop a tennis racket for someone who uses a prosthetic device or has limited or no grip strength in their hand so they can enjoy the game of tennis.
Lego team wins competition and grant
A team of third graders from Old Mill Road School and Camp Avenue School, both in Merrick, N.Y., recently competed at the Junior First Lego League. The team, named Merrick Connection, won the Reviewer’s Award for overall excellence in their project and model. Merrick Connection created an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) solely out of Legos. The team also won a grant from the USTA to encourage and support tennis clubs to maintain an AED on-site to help save lives.
Club owners learn marketing techniques
The USTA/Eastern-Long Island Region has launched a series of club owner workshops in February with a session focusing on cooperative advertising initiatives and search engine optimization (SEO). Called LITE, or the "Long Island Tennis Exchange," the workshop series brings together Nassau and Suffolk club owners to help them improve their businesses by working together towards common goals.
“The program was extremely informative and well-run,” said Kathy Miller, manager of Carefree Racquet and Health Club in Merrick, N.Y. and USTA/Eastern-Long Island Region adult league coordinator. “Advertising and being seen on the Internet is a whole new concept for me. I was happy when I left the meeting since I felt that I really learned something and have since tried implementing what I learned.”
The second meeting, scheduled in April, focused on cooperative advertising. Both meetings were hosted by the United Way of Long Island. Meetings are scheduled for two hours and include lunch.
"We created LITE as an added-value benefit to our club owner members and look forward to providing dynamic speakers and informational sessions that will help expand the game of tennis on Long Island," said Daniel Burgess, president of the USTA/Eastern-Long Island Region. "The purpose of these meetings is to come together as a collective group to leverage our relationships to grow tennis through several new and exciting capacity-building initiatives."
For more information on LITE, contact Daniel Burgess by e-mail at amertwist@aim.com or call (516) 343-3597.
