Capital Region Youth Tennis Foundation

by Eileen M. Cunningham

We've all seen them - those sad looking, down at the heel courts. They're all but abandoned, cracked and chipped, paint faded, weeds pushing their way up to the sun, oblivious to the fun and gamesmanship that once took place there. Few things seem so lonely and bereft, forgotten laughter whispering back, through the years, carried over the breeze in the treetops. The Capital Region Youth Tennis Foundation (CRYTF), through it's 15-LOVE Program, is serving to change a few of these barren oases into newly born teaching instruments. The program offers free tennis instruction to inner city families, causing once empty courts to be in constant use.
For more than ten years, the 15-Love program has been changing the face of tennis in the Troy, Schenectady, and Albany areas. Started in 1990 by the Arthur Ashe/Nick Bollettieri "Cities" (ABC) Tennis Program, 15-Love exists in many big cities, including Los Angeles, New York, Miami - and now, Albany, New York. The program is spear headed by Benitta Givens, who was brought by Ashe from Kansas City to get the program off the ground. "I've been here ever since," she commented.

The CRYTF and the 15-Love programs were founded in response to the concerns of many local business persons about the needs of the inner-city community, and stimulated by the fact that many of the inner-city tennis courts were virtually vacant in the summers. The CRYTF is a prevention directed program - as Arthur Ashe explained, "We're involved in improving the odds for youth because we just don't have a choice. The price of not acting is too high."

The CRYTF will work with 1,400 youth and their families in the Capital regions through summer outdoor and winter indoor programming, bringing the ten year total to over 5,000 children. 15-Love uses teaching tennis as a medium to reach its greater goals of promoting good health and fitness, increasing student's focus on education and supporting family interaction. In the context of tennis lessons, the program provides off court counseling activities on topics relevant to the kids, such as teen pregnancy, peer pressure, nutrition, substance abuse prevention, juvenile delinquency, respecting others, relationships, family structure, problem solving, handling anger and building self esteem. Each class consists of one hour of on court instruction followed by a 30 minute off court workshop. The students are organized by both age (tiny tots, 7-12 years, and 13-18 years), and tennis ability.

The CRYTF has activities year round to support their three main goals of promoting education, promoting good physical and mental health, and encouraging multicultural interaction. To promote education, 15-LOVE has a Book Power Club, which is an after school reading program utilizing over a dozen adult volunteers. It also sponsors essay contests as a means of integrating literacy into the tennis program. Winners are chosen by age group and receive prizes. 15-Love also has a Scholastic Hall of Fame, where program participants who earn straight A's, or have a B average in school, are selected b submitting their report cards each grading period. These students are awarded certificates, plaques, or trophies for their accomplishments.

To encourage greater attention to health, the CRYTF holds Game Days, where the 15-Love coaches conduct special activities on designated days for competition and prizes. Participants from several sites come together to compete and have fun. Program trophies include Best Attitude, Best Attendance, and Most Improved Player. The 15-LOVE program is also very active in the USA junior team tennis league. Throughout the year, 15-Love sponsors four teams in various leagues for juniors. Participants attend the professional World Team Tennis matches held at Schenectady's Central Park.

15-Love also sponsors field trips and summer camping to encourage multicultural experiences. In the past, participants have traveled to New York City for tournaments and Arthur Ashe Kids' Day at the U.S. Open. The youth have also attended local plays and traveled to Washington D.C. to participate in the "Stand for Children" rally, basketball games and museum trips.
The program had many highs in the year 2000 - five of the graduating seniors will be going on to college, having been helped with applications, SAT tutoring and financial aid applications. In addition, participant Rohan Raikar was a doubles silver medallist in the Empire State Games. He went on to be the first 15-LOVE youth to win a Level 1 sanctioned tournament. He also qualified to compete in the Sectional Closed Level 1 event. He will also be the first junior in our program to earn a sectional ranking.

June 26, 2001