Kids Tennis Foundation

Founded by Paul McNamee in 1983, Kids Tennis Foundation (KTF) provides tennis coaching for financially and socially disadvantaged children throughout Australia. The aim is “to provide tennis coaching for every child in every disadvantaged primary school in Australia”, thereby helping develop their physical, social and personal wellbeing.

Kids Tennis Foundation is the only schools-based welfare program using tennis as the means for communication to help raise the self-esteem and self-confidence of financially and socially disadvantaged kids.

Currently, more than 200 KTF programs are conducted throughout Australia, involving close to 4000 underprivileged children every school term.

Kids Tennis Foundation provides the coach, racquets, balls and portable net (required more often than not) – leaving no outlay for the participants. In some instances, KTF has installed a more permanent tennis court. In each of these cases the tennis court is in almost constant use during breaks and after school.

Testimonials from schools frequently tell how the coach often provides a role model and gives the kids a great sense of responsibility and self-awareness.

The cultural reach is vast, with a high incidence of children from many different countries typically found at underprivileged schools. A number of programs operate in WA and the Northern Territory catering for Aboriginal communities. In some instances adults follow the kids onto the court with equal enthusiasm to hit a ball over the net.

With encouragement and praise, the kids learn to play in a relaxed, happy environment.  In addition to the physical exercise experienced at the time, these skills and feelings can then hopefully carry over into other areas of their lives, or at least make them feel good about themselves for one hour each week.

Kids Tennis Foundation – helping to build champion kids!

www.kidstennisfoundation.com