CLC Wellness Program

One of the most exciting new initiatives for 2009 has been our partnership with the Milwaukee Public Schools Community Learning Centers (CLC).  Milwaukee’s 72 CLCs, located in Milwaukee Public Schools and various youth-serving agencies, serve as havens for children during the after-school hours of 3-6 p.m., the time when children are most likely to get into trouble.  The CLC Wellness Program, an MPS initiative focused on battling the rising obesity issue of urban children in Milwaukee, promotes a healthy lifestyle for students by using movement activities, such as tennis.

As an official MPS CLC vendor, MTEF provides tennis instruction at CLC sites throughout Milwaukee using the innovative QuickStart Tennis format with 5 to 10 year-old players. The format enables youngsters to build their enjoyment of the game, while developing their tennis skills more quickly and efficiently.  QuickStart introduces the game to beginning players on smaller courts and with more appropriate equipment, such as lower nets and compression balls. With this method, players are able to keep the ball in play and learn strokes at a suitable pace. 

The convenience of the portable nets allows QST to be set up in any available space, such as a gym or outdoor playground area.  Two or three MTEF instructors at each site work with a group of 15-20 students. The first week at a site is usually spent working on forehand and backhand groundstrokes – the essential strokes for sustaining a rally. The objective is to have the students playing points out with the adapted equipment. 

During the final week at the sites, a tournament is played, giving each child the opportunity to demonstrate his/her skills.  The excitement during this time is irreplaceable as most students are experiencing their first competitive play in any sport.  At the end of the event, the winning players receive trophies. Some of the sites receive new racquets from MTEF, which the students are allowed to keep.

Through advertising and word of mouth, 24 of the 72 CLC sites have contracted with MTEF to provide tennis instruction to approximately 770 children.

Visit www.quickstarttennis.com for more information on QuickStart Tennis.

To read more about how to have MTEF's Wellness Tennis program at your site, click here.