First Serve

First Serve

MTEF’s critically acclaimed First Serve TEAM program serves 32-50 children who make a three-year, year-round commitment to attend after school and summer programming.  These children receive weekly tutoring, tennis instruction, and mentoring, combined with First Serve’s award-winning one million dollar life skills program.  All students are eligible to compete in the First Serve National Student Athlete Competition.  

 

Last year, MTEF was one of only three NJTL chapters in the U.S. to be given a four star (the highest) rating for our First Serve program.  In addition, two MTEF children won college scholarships for their performance in the First Serve Student Athlete Competition. This school year, First Serve includes all three levels of life skills (Game, Set, and Match) for the first time in MTEF's existence, in addition to a year-round Jr. Team Tennis and junior USTA sanctioned tournament component, giving our student athletes the maximum opportunity to succeed both on and off the court.

There are three components of the First Serve Core Program: 
1) life skill activities 

2) tennis instruction

3) literacy

There is a competitive application and selection process in order to be involved in the First Serve program. Children who are selected have displayed good behavior and are motivated to excel academically, socially, and on the tennis court.  The selection process begins in August with recommendations from summer instructors.  Invitational letters are mailed and each potential applicant and their parents are interviewed to be educated on the commitment required.