The Harbour Tennis Academy has been serving up skills and drills to a new generation of tennis players from the Coffs Harbour Indigenous community.<\/p>\n
A six-week program provided Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth with an opportunity to learn the basics of the game in a friendly and familiar environment.<\/p>\n
Experience was varied amongst the group of 13 orange ball participants and four teens, but it didn\u2019t take long for the beginners to find their feet.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy kids liked learning new skills, making new friends and trying something new that they haven\u2019t tried before,\u201d said parent, Casey Reid.<\/p>\n
The program allowed the group\u2019s more experienced students to take their game to the next level.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a good way for her to advance her skills in the game, build confidence and learn from other coaches,\u201d said parent, Fiona Webb.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s (also) been a lot of fun getting away from the traditional sports that our kids usually play (and) a really good way for her to explore her natural sporting ability and talents,\u201d Fiona said.<\/p>\n
Operating out of the Westside Tennis Club, which is on Gumbaynggir land, the free program provided students with six weeks of group coaching and tennis equipment, including a racquet.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been wonderful to see so many new families come along to our tennis club and it\u2019s been a great opportunity for the kids to have a good go,\u201d said coach, Nardia Pade.<\/p>\n
The students were buoyed by the support of their local Indigenous community.<\/p>\n
\u201cUncle Richard Widders has been instrumental in getting information out and as a Garlambirla Guuyu Girrwaa Aboriginal Elder he conducted the Welcome to Country for this program,\u201d said head coach, Allan Pade.<\/p>\n
Uncle Richard said the program had been a wonderful and fantastic experience for the young people.<\/p>\n
\u201cI asked the kids who wanted to continue into next term, and they all cheered yes, with a few saying they want to go on and become the next Ash Barty,\u201d Uncle Richard said.<\/p>\n
A number of students have already signed on for term two.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel passionate about tennis now. It\u2019s fun, you can meet new friends,\u201d said 10-year-old Nat.<\/p>\n
The Coffs Harbour Indigenous Tennis program was funded by the NSW ATP Cup Legacy Fund and is one of five participation programs being piloted across NSW in 2021. Category three funding seeks to grow the game of tennis by providing funding for targeted programs aligned to participation growth. The second funding round will close on Monday 26 April 2021.<\/p>\n
The NSW ATP Cup Legacy Fund is a partnership initiative between Tennis NSW and NSW Government.<\/p>\n