[tennisbiz] Re: Question about junior tennis league participation in America

Paul Fein <Lincjeff1_at_cs.com> writes:

> 1. Are juniors taking part in junior league play and competition in 2004
> less than in previous years?

Our junior league play is about the same as last
year although the ability level is dramatically lower.

> 2. If so, what are the reasons why?

We lost a large number of our higher
level junior players to high school graduation, but many of them have moved
over to a different facility where there is a pro who is one of the sections
"high performance coaches". Since going into that program, the kids no longer
participate in junior league play.

> 3. Which programs around the country have come up with innovative,
> appealing
> programs to reverse that trend, if there is a trend.

NJTL programs are great.

> 4. What are the best ways to attract boys and girls to tennis -- whether
> they
> participate in specific programs or not?

Have your existing kids bring a
friend. The best way to get and keep kids playing is for them to have friends
in the program. We tell our kids to "bring a kid to court" and they get to
play for free.

> 5. Why do kids drop out of programs?

The program is not fun, they are not
improving their skills, they don't have friends in the program.

> 6. Why don't some kids join in the first place?

They don't know about the
programs in the first place. The programs are not promoted to reach parents
with kids. Tennis programs must be promoted in the same way that baseball and
soccor are promoted ... through schools. We do Tennis Assemblies in
elementary schools to introduce kids to tennis.

> 7. Have the Tennis Welcome Centers been successful in terms of recruiting
> kids to try tennis?

I have not felt any impact from the tennis welcome
centers, however, the 50/50 advertising program from the TIA is a great help to
our program.


 
Received on Wed Jul 21 2004 - 17:07:53 CDT