USTA Eastern Metro Region Update: September/October 2015

September 30, 2015 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Knickerbocker 3

 

 

Knickerbocker Field Club presents free clinics
Credit photos to Jackie Weisberg Photography
The Knickerbocker Field Club located in the Prospect Park South neighborhood of Brooklyn offers a free neighborhood tennis clinic for children ages six through 18, two afternoons a week throughout the summer. The program began in 2003, with about 30 neighborhood children, and has grown to more than 75 kids of all ages and skill levels.

With the help of four pros and a dozen wonderfully-talented volunteers, club members and high school players, they are able to integrate tennis instruction into fun games and drills that engage the kids and get them running for increased levels of fitness.

The USTA Eastern Metro Board provided a $1,000 grant to cover the expense of additional teaching equipment, as well as replacing worn items, such as teaching carts, tennis balls and junior-sized tennis racquets to accommodate the increased number of children and teens who come for instruction.

 

 

 



 

A Message From USTA Eastern Metro Region President Jackie Clark
It's hard to believe that it is time for the U.S. Open, as the summer has zoomed by and what a fun summer it has been!

It is wonderful to see how tennis has become such a big part of the New York City culture. Whether it is at NYC’s parks, tennis clubs, community tennis programs or local schools, there is so much opportunity for everyone to play tennis.

The USTA Eastern Metro Region Board volunteers have been active throughout the summer, with the first summer Junior Team Tennis League, Youth Tennis Leagues, organizing tennis fests and play days, supporting local community programs, continuing to give out grant money, growing our volunteer base, and helping to get kids and adults from all backgrounds to play tennis. This summer has been a blast, and I cannot thank my Metro Board volunteers enough because they are quality people and simply the best!

In the hopper!
►Want to get involved, have fun, meet people and make a difference? Contact me at USTAEasternNYC@gmail.com.

We have a new community service program for high school students who want to volunteer at local events. For more information, e-mail USTAEasternNYC@gmail.com.

NYC ACES, the young professionals group for those ages 21 through 35, has many events coming up! Check out MetroRegion.USTA.com/NYC_Aces for more information.

Jackie Clark, President
USTA Eastern Metro Region



 

Players compete for bragging rights at Battle of the Boroughs Tennis Challenge
USTA Eastern and City Parks Foundation teamed up to present the Third Annual Battle of the Boroughs Tennis Challenge, an adult recreational tournament held in June and July in New York City parks. The tournament featured the best of team competition and neighborhood pride to benefit CityParks Tennis, which provides free tennis lessons and activities for children at 40 parks citywide.

"The event allows many of the best adult tennis players to compete in New York City’s parks and help children learn the sport of a lifetime," said Jenny Schnitzer, assistant executive director of USTA Eastern.

The tournament culminated at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, on the outskirts of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The final was a battle between the last-standing boroughs as Prospect Park of Brooklyn, captained by Nigel Griffin, defeated Silver Lake Park of Staten Island, captained by Danny Ursommano, 96 games to 90 games in a tightly-contested mixed-doubles match to take the Flight A Division (players with a NTRP rating of 4.0 or higher).

Manhattan's Central Park team, captained by Theresa Hall, knocked off Harlem's Fred Johnson Park in Flight B (players with an NTRP rating of 3.5 or lower).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Metro Board members lend a hand at Flavor of the Open event
USTA Eastern Metro Board members Jackie Clark and Joani Akpan, and USTA Eastern Staff member Jocelyn Cruz, helped out at the U.S. Open pop up restaurant Flavor of the Open at Grand Central Station. Jackie, Joani and Jocelyn are pictured left above with Aussie tennis great and 1987 Wimbledon Champion Pat Cash. Also pictured here (above right) is Eastern Metro Region Board Member Ogbonna Chilaka (center) with Joani Akpan (left) and Jackie Clark (right) at Grand Central Station.

 



 

SBTA helps take a bite out of crime
Night Out Against Crime is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make neighborhoods safer, better places to live. Members of the South Brooklyn Tennis Association (SBTA) recently took part in the annual Night Out Against Crime event, lending a hand with tennis drills and instruction. 

 

 

 

 

 

 


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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