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The Pinellas Sheriff’s Police Athletic League, in partnership with the
Suncoast Tennis Foundation, the Community Tennis Association for
Pinellas County, applied for and received a grant from the United
States Tennis Association Florida Section to enhance the 2007 PAL
summer tennis camp program. This program was named the PAL/USTA
Junior Team Tennis Program.
The
Pinellas Sheriff’s PAL tennis program originated in the spring of 2003
and has offered tennis camps during school breaks and on Saturdays
during the school year since its inception. Deputy Craig Corry
coordinates the tennis program for PAL and has become actively
involved with the STF board of directors. Judy Foster, STF Executive
Director, suggested a partnership to enhance the PAL tennis program
through the acquisition of a USTA grant. This grant was awarded in
the spring of 2007.
The
Sheriff’s PAL offered an 11-week, full day tennis camp, held at
Seminole High School, over the 2007 summer break. Monies from the
USTA grant provided campers the opportunity to receive instruction
from a number of USTA tennis teaching professionals. The USTA grand
funds also provided some much needed equipment for the PAL tennis
program.
A
group of advanced campers was able to compete in a summer tennis
league allowing them to qualify for the USTA Florida Southeastern
Regional Tennis Tournament held in Lakeland, Florida during July 27 –
29th. The PAL “Power Aces” were afforded housing, meals
and tournament entry fees through the USTA grant funds and enjoyed an
“amazing” experience getting to compete against teams from throughout
Florida.
Another outcome of the USTA grant funding will result in the
electronic publication of an instruction manual detailing a
step-by-step approach to establishing and growing a youth tennis
program. This manual is designed to be distributed to PAL programs
and other USTA Community Tennis Associations statewide and eventually
across the nation.
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