Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
TENNIS ANYONE?
Adaptive tennis program in the region expands to reach more youth
In its ongoing effort to make tennis accessible to anyone and everyone, Greater Pottstown Tennis & Learning has expanded some of its programs to enable it to serve a larger number of youth in Pottstown.
Made possible through grants from the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation, USTA Foundation and the USTA, GPTL has shown that the game of tennis can be adapted to accommodate any age, environment, condition or disability.
This past year, GPTL expanded the number of players in their adaptive program for the spring, summer and fall at Maple Street Park in Pottstown and there is even more expansion to come.
“I wanted our program to be able to serve more youth in the Pottstown School District, said Corey Bowlin, GPTL’s director.
Upcoming plans
The adaptive program currently serves Edgewood Elementary School in Pottstown as well as Owen J. Roberts High School in Chester County. Bowlin discussed upcoming plans.
“We have been in discussion with Renee Soeder, the adapted physical education teacher for the Pottstown School District and are planning to bring our adaptive program to Barth Elementary, Franklin Elementary, Pottstown Middle and High School,” he said.
When it comes to serving schools, GPTL takes their tennis program to them.
“We use portable nets, foam balls, and provide racquets for them to use,” Bowlin said.
Part of Bowlin’s passion for growing GPTL’s adaptive tennis program centers on his background in coaching Special Olympics Tennis and Basketball. He has witnessed firsthand the impact the program has had on children’s lives in Pottstown.
“The joy that these players get from playing tennis for the first time in a positive and safe environment is so exciting to experience as a coach,” Bowlin said.
New name
Also new for this year is a new name for GPTL’s adaptive program.
“Our adaptive players and parents recently voted on a name for the program and it is the GPTL Racquet Stars,” he said.
Starting this coming Monday, March 25, an evening adaptive session will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Maple Street Park. Interested participants from the community can register at www.greaterpottstowntennis.org/communitu/adaptive-tennis/
Another way GPTL makes tennis accessible to all is through its STEAM/Lego-based program.
“Our program gives an opportunity for students to play tennis, get exercise and have fun while learning,” Bowlin said. “The hope is to get more youth exercising and increasing interest in tennis, which is a sport that you can play your en
tire life.”
In partnership with the YWCA for the past few years, GPTL has worked with kindergarten through 4th grade classes.
“The classes are split into two, with half the class doing STEAM first while the other does tennis and then we switch so everyone experiences both activities,” he said.
Need for volunteers
GPTL is in need of volunteers and coaches for its various programs.
“We are always looking for more volunteers for our adaptive programs,” he said. “There are also various times and days during the school day and after school that we have adaptive and STEAM/Tennis programs that we need volunteers for. We are also needing tennis coaches for our weekday evening and Saturday programs, as well as summer camps.”
For their volunteers, there is no tennis background required.
“They just need to have a love for kids and helping people in the Pottstown community,” Bowlin said. “If interested, they can contact me at corey@gptltennis.org.”
Greater Pottstown Tennis & Learning’s local impact
GPTL brings tennis and education together to change lives and communities. Some ways in which they’ve made an impact:
• 1,000 Pottstown youth participate in free after-school tennis and learning programs.
• 100 under-resourced children are awarded scholarships into clinics, camps and leagues.
• 130 free hours of programming for Community Adaptive Tennis.
• 25 players on the Pottstown Middle School Tennis Team.
• 18 junior coaches provided with leadership opportunities.
• 3 tennis courts resurfaced to help revitalize Maple Street Park in Pottstown.