On the afternoon of Thursday, December 5th, an exciting event took place at Pershing Park. More than 50 4th through 6th graders from Harding and McKinley elementary schools gathered on the tennis courts to engage in a fierce competition. The Harding Hawks and McKinley Bears had been eagerly preparing for this match throughout the semester, ready to showcase their newly acquired tennis skills.

School Spirit and Skill Demonstration

After a passionate round of school cheers, the players, dressed in their team shirts, spread across six courts. They began to put into practice the backhands, forehands, smashes, and volleys that they had been honing all semester. For the next hour, with many families in attendance, the teams rotated between courts, facing off against new opponents. At each court, a team of dedicated volunteers was present, ensuring the smooth flow of the games by feeding balls and taking scores.Despite the brisk weather at Pershing Park, the kids showed no signs of being affected by the cold. They were completely focused on their game and filled with joy as they played with their friends and some highly accomplished volunteers. Coaches and players from the City College teams, as well as a number of Santa Barbara Dons players, joined in to make this event even more special.

Graduation Ceremony and Pizza Party

After the intense play concluded, the players participated in a graduation ceremony. Each student received a "Community Tennis Player" diploma and a free racket as a token of their achievement. The afternoon reached its climax with the awarding of trophies, where the Hawks emerged as the winners and the Bears took the runner-up position. Following this, a delicious pizza party was held, bringing the event to a perfect end.When the school buses arrived to take everyone back to campus, the players left exhausted but with a strong sense of accomplishment. This event was the brainchild of the local non-profit Santa Barbara Tennis Patrons (SBTP). For the past two years, SBTP has been partnering with the Santa Barbara School District's A-OK after-school program to offer free tennis clinics to children from underserved communities.Each semester, SBTP focuses on two local elementary schools, alternating between campuses. The sessions are staffed by volunteers of all ages, using nets set up on the blacktop. SBTP provides all the necessary equipment, including rackets and balls. The sessions are led by experienced tennis pros and players, and no prior tennis experience is required to participate as a volunteer.

Highlighted Activities and Success

Throughout the "season," the participants enjoyed a variety of activities. They had a practice on full-sized courts at UCSB with the UCSB team, received lessons from Westmont, City College, and local high school players, and even went on field trips to attend local matches. Since its inception, the after-school tennis program has become one of the most successful and popular after-school activities in the school district. SBTP also identifies promising players from the program and offers summer scholarships to local camps and clubs."This program is a wonderful way to introduce tennis to local schoolchildren who might otherwise never have the opportunity to experience this sport," said Program Administrator Lisa Aviani. "These new players not only learn the physical skills of the game but also develop important soft skills such as resilience, critical thinking, and teamwork, which will benefit them in all aspects of life.""It is truly inspiring to see the enthusiasm and passion for tennis displayed by both the players and volunteers," commented Executive Director Greg Tebbe. "Playing tennis leads to numerous positive outcomes, both mentally and physically, and our goal at SBTP is to introduce this amazing sport to as many kids (and adults) as possible."The Santa Barbara Tennis Patrons schools program is always in need of new volunteers. If you are interested or have any questions, please feel free to contact Program Administrator Lisa Aviani at lisaaviani@sbtennispatrons.org or (805)4484386.