Tennis program keeps kids active and healthy
MID-CITY Forget trips to grandma’s house, hitting balls over a net is the thing to do during holiday break.
More than 20 elementary and middle school-aged kids have spent their time off from learning math and English to learning the fundamentals of tennis this week, practicing backhands and perfecting their serve.
The students are participating in a city of Santa Monica-sponsored Youth Tennis Camp, a program traditionally held during summer and spring break, but being offered for the first time in the winter.
The week-long program is split into two sessions — one that kicked off on Monday and will conclude today, and another that will commence on Dec. 31.
“Tennis is an individual sport, but when it’s in big groups like this, it teaches them teamwork and cooperation and a sense of fair play,” Richard Goldenson, a tennis instructor with the city since 1996, said on Thursday after practice. “It teaches them that tennis is a year-round sport.”
Parents whose children are enrolled in the program say it keeps their kids active during a time when they would otherwise stay indoors and watch television all day, giving them daily exercise and a chance to be among their friends.
Sally Kutsunai enrolled her daughter because she had already taken several tennis lessons with Goldenson, whom she credits with sparking the Roosevelt Elementary fourth grader’s interest in the sport.
Tennis has helped her daughter, Michelle Lajoie, with her hand-eye coordination and has taught her an activity that she can enjoy for the rest of her life, Kutsunai said.
The tennis camp is open to kids between the ages of 6- 17, though the majority of the pupils seem to be of elementary and middle school age.
“It’s more fun (during winter break) because I don’t have to go home tired and do homework,” said Shay Denison, a John Adams sixth grader who is taking lessons with her twin sister, Sommer.
Other students find the program and the sport useful to build their physical endurance.
“It makes you strong in the arms,” said Mary Polhemus, a third-grader at Edison Language Academy, who is taking the class with elder sister, Emma.
The program is taught by several members of the women’s tennis team at Santa Monica College, a team that Goldenson coaches.
Sarah Anderson, a sophomore at Santa Monica College, joined the Youth Tennis Camp staff on Monday. The nine-year tennis veteran plans to join the women’s team at SMC next semester. Being the first time that she is teaching for money, Anderson said she has found it challenging to work with young kids, trying to keep the lessons orderly and sustain the children’s interest.
“When I see the kids get into it, it makes me want to come out again and teach them more,” Anderson said.
There are still spaces available for the second session, which costs $100 for Santa Monica residents and $110 for non-residents. For more information, call (310) 458- 2239
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 28, 2007. Read the original PDF.