The inaugural Rally Up event held at Rutenberg Park in Fort Myers on Saturday August 25 was the most recent example of the innovative initiatives the Lee County Community Tennis Association (LCCTA) uses to attract new junior players and to keep existing players coming back. With music to keep the feet moving, icy pops and lots of water to counteract the heat, and fun games for all ages, three hours in the sun were merely toasty fun.
A Good First Effort
Although more participants would have been welcomed, Ralleyball Program Coordinator and Rally Up organizer Katie Barham considered the inaugural event a success. “It was definitely a good turnout. We had between 60 and 70 [kids]. We had a lot of Ralleyball and we had a lot of Junior Team [Tennis] signups,” she reported enthusiastically. Although 50,000 flyers were distributed throughout the County, Barham wasn't surprised at the numbers since this was the first Rally Up, and the timing clashed with other activities. She added, "A lot of players are in soccer, football and cheerleading, but they're still going to play [Ralleyball & JTT], because they just won't play on Saturdays; just on other days."
Kids of all Ages
Kids from preschool to mid-teens swarmed the courts. Donnie Laubheimer, a 3.5 player who plans to play USTA League Tennis, brought his four-year-old son Seth, because he wants to get Seth as excited about the game as he is. “I figure when he sees the other kids he’ll want to do it too,” Laubheimer said hopefully.
Karissa Holden Helps out
Along with the colorful balloon arrangements and the diverse array of children playing gleefully, a particularly pleasing sight was 14-year-old Karissa Holden assisting the little ones with their introduction to the game. A member of the Junior Team Tennis squad that plays at Rutenberg Park, Karissa came to assist her coach Connie Fox, “because they need me.” It’s good to see that Karissa is learning more than forehands and backhands in the USTA Junior Team Tennis program.
A Busy Fall Season Looms
By the time Ralleyball starts on September 22, and Junior Team Tennis gets rolling on October 6, the LCCTA’s instructors should have plenty of initiates to groom into tennis lovers. According to Barham, “We’ve gotten a lot of phone calls [and] people were still calling because they just got the flyers.” Considering the minimal cost ($89 for seven weeks), and the fact that the LCCTA offers scholarships to those who may not be able to afford it, the season-ending Jamboree at Florida Gulf Coast University on November 3 promises to be a real jam! Click here to see additional pictures of the event.
