TENNIS history will be made on January 14 as Tennis Jamaica (TJ) in association with the Early Childhood Commission (ECC) will host 80 children from four basic schools within the Liguanea community at a mini-tennis training camp using the ITF’s ‘Play and Stay’ method, specifically formulated for children at the basic, primary and prep school level.

Play and Stay ensures that from the very first lesson, a child will be able to serve, rally and score using bigger balls, lighter racquets and hopefully, a lifelong love for the sport.

Richard Russell, former national representative, through the Russell Tennis Academy, will provide four 45-minute tennis classes for 80 students free of cost. This will be a first for tennis in Jamaica because the children are in the four to five-year age group.

Why tennis?

Because, tennis is a sport that demands self-discipline, self-control — a must to be successful at the game — as well as encouraging fine motor skills. Tennis promotes social interaction and connects youngsters to a much larger and indeed, worldwide fraternity through the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

Tennis has proved itself to be the pathway to scholarships and further education for children from all walks of life.

Over the years, this sport has helped over 40 Jamaicans to gain scholarships and further their studies overseas. One such player is Brandon Burke, who is currently enjoying an Ivy League education at Brown University on a full scholarship.

The possibility of scholarships is real and the plan is to expand the programme to include many others with TJ actively seeking sponsorship to this end.

Tennis Jamaica’s main objective is to dramatically increase the number of technically-sound young tennis players by taking tennis to the grassroots, and where better to start than the basic schools?

By exposing Jamaica’s youth to tennis, children who would not normally get such an opportunity will now be able to learn and TJ feels sure that the wealth of Jamaica’s hidden talent will be unearthed.

The Russell Tennis Academy is located on Campion College’s campus in Hopefield Avenue. The Campion Tennis Team, recent finalists and winners (14/Boys) in the 2012 Mayberry Schools Tennis Championship, will be on hand to mentor and assist the children at the sessions, and the Campion bus will be ‘doing the honours’ in transporting the children to and from their respective schools.

TJ takes this opportunity to commend the ECC for its willing participation and assistance as well as their quick recognition of the many benefits and opportunities possible for Jamaica’s children through tennis and this ‘grass roots’ initiative — the first, we hope, of many.

The schools benefiting from this historic initiative are: the Providence Methodist Basic School, Sandy Park Basic School, Gospel Refuge Hill Basic School, and Shady Grove Basic School.