Bringing Tennis & Life-Skills to The Neighborhoods of Saint Paul
The SPUT program offers kids in Saint Paul from the ages of 5 - 18 an opportunity to play, learn and compete in the game of tennis. And along with tennis, the kids are taught valuable life-skills that they will use and implement for the rest of their lives. In 2010 the SPUT program worked with over 4,000 kids at 33 parks with tennis courts and 22 additional locations without courts. The program will continues to grow in 2011 as we reach into the Saint Paul School System.
The Core Summer Program
The summer program is the truly the core of the Saint Paul Urban Tennis Program. Delivered at neighborhood courts throughout the city, the summer program offers youth of Saint Paul an opportunity to learn the lifelong game of tennis and valuable life-lessons. Here you'll learn about the 4 key components of SPUT, and how they will impact your children.
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Highlights and Summary of the 2010 Summer Program
In 2010 over 3,735 Saint Paul kids participated in the summer program, and over 1,300 youth joined us in the winter. Here you'll get all of the statistics of the 2010 SPUT program, so you can get a first-hand feel of just how many Saint Paul kids that SPUT serviced throughout the year.
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Life-Skills Training: It's not only about tennis ... it's about life!
One of the most unique and vital elements of the SPUT program is our Life-Skills Training. By connecting the success on a tennis court, with success in life, we develop and foster self-esteem, social skills, leadership, sportsmanship, team work, positive attitude, gratitude and persistence.
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The Scholarship Program: No Child Turned Away Because of an Inability to Pay
One of SPUT's main principles is that no child will ever be turned away because of an inability to pay for the program. Here you'll learn about our Summer Scholarship Program and how to sign up for one.
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The SPUT Outreach Program
In Saint Paul, like every major city, there are thousand of kids who live in low-cost housing areas that do not have access to tennis courts. SPUT created an Outreach program that utilized QuickStart tennis equipment to bring the program to these areas.
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The SPUT Instructors: A Mentoring & Leadership Program
In 2010 over 73% of SPUT instructors were once participants in the program. This is important because these instructors become role models for the young kids in the program. The instructors grew up in the same neighborhoods and attended the same schools as the participants did. The instructors know the challenges these kids face and in addition to providing tennis instruction, they also provide valuable leadership.
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QuickStart Tennis
The Saint Paul Urban Tennis Program utilizes the QuickStart Tennis format that was developed by the United State Tennis Association. QuickStart takes a new and better approach to introducing kids to the game. Balls are lower in compression; they bounce lower and don't move as fast so they are easier to hit. Racquets are sized for small hands, and the courts are smaller and easier to cover. All that equals more fun, less frustration, and more "playing time" instead of waiting in lines.
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The Spring, Fall & Winter Programs: Reaching out to more Saint Paul kids
SPUT offers a year round opportunity for the youth of Saint Paul to play, learn, compete and learn valuable life-skills through the game of tennis. (Add a couple of sentences here)
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