Programs:
National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL):
PRTF is a registered member of the USTA Foundation and a recognized USTA/National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) program. NJTL is a nation-wide network of community tennis organizations seeking to develop the character of young people through tennis and education. Founded in 1969 by Arthur Ashe, Charlie Pasarell, and Sheridan Snyder, this growing network of tennis providers shares similar values, ideals, and goals by:
reaching out to those who may not otherwise have the opportunity to play the sport
instilling in youngsters the values of leadership and academic excellence
giving all children (regardless of income, race, gender) the opportunity to fully develop their tennis skills so they can derive a lifetime of enjoyment from sport.
NJTLs are unique because they offer a variety of on-court programming and educational and life-skill components designed to enhance a player’s overall development. These educational components are diverse in nature, but can vary from things like mentoring, drug and alcohol counseling, to things like computer skills training, health and nutrition, and college preparation. The NJTL is a wonderful way for kids to get exercise, make friends, and have fun in a team-oriented and safe environment.
There are only 2 NJTL’s in Orange County Florida.
Adaptive Learning program:
Launched in late 2019, the program is designed for individuals between the ages of 6 and 24, that require some form of adaptive learning.
The main objectives of this program are to grow the game of tennis, foster a “healthy, active lifestyle” and create a “feeder program” to the Orange and Seminole County Special Olympics teams.
The program’s focus will be to teach athletes how to play tennis and integrate other educational components.
Teaching athletes with intellectual disabilities allows us the opportunity to make a huge difference in a young person’s life. The strategies we employ will empower all people with intellectual disabilities to grow and learn.
Program Components:
Boone High School:
John Richard III is the head coach of the Boone High School tennis team. Due to the close ties with Boone, John decided to start an adaptive tennis program. Boone’s ESE students attend free lessons at Fort Gatlin Tennis Center once per week during the school year. They also can practice and improve at Boone’s courts during the summer four times per week. This gives great variance to traditional ESE programming and helps the students boost self-confidence and improve technical and relationship-building skills.
Summer Monday-Friday 9-11am Boone HS. Fall and spring 5-6pm Fort Gatlin\
Academy of Autism:
This program was established in 2019 to service the needs of the local adaptive community and act as a feeder program for the Special Olympics. Every Friday during the school year the Academy for Autism brings 30 students to Fort Gatlin Tennis Center to learn the skills and strategies of tennis by certified coaches. This program is free of charge. Despite a brief pause for COVID protocols in 2020, this program is going strong, with several athletes developing into Special Olympic athletes. We would like to thank the ladies WAIT C tennis team for their help volunteering and coaching these ever-improving athletes.
Every Friday during fall and spring seasons 11am @ Fort Gatlin.
Red Bug Lake Park:
PRTF, with the help of Red Bug Lake Park, provides tennis lessons to the Seminole County Adaptive Community every Friday. Red Bug Lake Park has also been gracious enough to allow for special events with over 100 participants.
Posh Rock Tennis Foundation’s Certified Coaches provide FREE tennis lessons to Autistic and Special needs children and adults at Red Bug Lake Park Tennis Courts.
Fridays 5-6 pm Red Bug Lake Park
Special Olympics:
We partner with Special Olympics Orange and Seminole County Florida and provide instruction for their Competition Tennis Team at Fort Gatlin Recreation Center. Anyone who meets the participation requirements for Special Olympics Tennis competition is welcome to try out for the team.
Launched in late 2019, the program is designed for Orange County & Seminole County residents, between the ages of 6 and 24, that require some form of adaptive learning. The program’s focus will be to teach children and adults how to play tennis and integrate other educational components, social skills, physical endurance, and eye-hand coordination. We partner with Special Olympics Florida. Special Olympics Orange County and Special Olympics Seminole County also. At the State level, John Richards III is coach. At the County level, we provide instruction for their Competition Tennis Teams. We also host, at Fort Gatlin, anyone meeting the participation requirements for the Special Olympics Tennis competition in Orange or Seminole County is welcome to try out for the team. Teaching children and adults with autism and special needs allows us the opportunity to make a huge difference in a young person’s life. The strategies we employ will empower all people with intellectual disabilities to grow and learn.
Orlando Health Foundation:
Orange County Recreation Center Program:
Our program at the Fort Gatlin Recreation Center provides free tennis instruction for the children in the Fun Club, Sports Club and After School programs sponsored by Orange County. In 2019, this program served over 125 children.
In 2020, we hope to expand this program to the Goldenrod Recreation Center and the South Orlando YMCA Family Center.
This program is funded by grants from the USTA Foundation and the USTA Florida Section Foundation, private donations, donations from Posh Rock Tennis and by a donation of time from Orange County staff.
This program includes two educational components:
Financial Education and Literacy – Provided by Iberia bank as a community service effort
Nutritional Education – Provided by HEBNI Nutrition.
YMCA:
Posh Rock Tennis Foundation has partnered with South Orlando YMCA Family Center! Since January 2020 PRTF has been training their athletes once a week. Two pros utilize the indoor gym space to service more than 20 kids free of charge. Athletes currently enjoy Orange Ball drills, games, and doubles play and look forward to Green Dot advancement and singles play.
Boys and Girls Club:
Launched in early 2022 tennis instruction and equipment will be provided at Tupperware, West Orange and Joe R Lee locations. Over the course of five 8-week programs, kids 5-15 will learn the basics of tennis at their home clubs. Boys and Girls Club staff will also be taught to coach the fundamentals of tennis to further development. Stand-alone clinics will also be taught at selected locations during the holidays. All instruction and equipment in 2022 are provided by grants from USTAF.
This partnership between the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and PRTF was launched in early 2022 with a generous seed grant of $45,000 from the USTA Foundation. Throughout the five eight-week programs, kids 5-15 learn the basics of tennis at their home clubs. Additionally, the Boys & Girls Club staff are trained to coach the fundamentals of tennis to enable them to, independently, sustain the program. During the initial pilot year, the program ran at West Orange, Eatonville, and Taft locations with 120 kids served. The ongoing program continues with funding through a $10,000 USTA Foundation grant, a joint Boys & Girls Club and PRTF fundraising event, and private donations. Fundraising event sponsors and donations to this program are needed to continue with its expansion.
Tuesdays and Thursdays 4-6pm @ Boys and Girls Club Eatonville
Tennis is Elementary Program (TIE):
Tennis Is Elementary Program (TIE) is an after-school program designed for elementary students in grades K-6. The program is conducted at each school’s gym, cafeteria, or multipurpose room by using the USTA 10 and Under Tennis format which includes foam or low-compression balls, smaller racquets and a reduced court size.
All instruction and equipment are provided through grants from the USTA Foundation and the USTA Florida Section Foundation, private donations and donations from Posh Rock Tennis.
This is our longest running program.
We currently have this program at (Need the current schools and approximate number of students annually)
Summer Camp Scholarship Program:
Fort Gatlin Tennis Center operates a summer camp program that runs 5 days per week for nine weeks. The cost for the camp is $190 per week.
Over the years there have been many occasions when parents of underprivileged children have inquired if there were any scholarships or grants available for their children to attend the camp at Fort Gatlin.
Each year, through the generosity of the Fort Gatlin tennis patrons who make contributions all year round, in our on-site “Donation Jar”, we sponsor as many children as possible for a week at the camp. PRTF would like to provide as many scholarships as possible and any contributions to increase them would be appreciated.
Posh Rock Pathway Program:
The Posh Rock Pathway program is a scholarship-based program meant to provide a path for promising youth in our community to grow and succeed through tennis and education. All students who participate in any of our programs are eligible to be considered for these scholarships.
Students who exhibit the traits and characteristics the Posh Rock Tennis Foundation seek to encourage may receive a scholarship to participate in our developmental programming.
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