Oct. 1, 2009

'Lobs & Lessons' program introduces teachers to new strategies for tennis instruction

Share this story

By Mike Porter

Serving others: Marques Baytop, a teacher from Carver Elementary School, strengthens his game and his ability to reach out to his students during the daylong training session. Photo provided by Christopher Atwater.
Serving others: Marques Baytop, a teacher from Carver Elementary School, strengthens his game and his ability to reach out to his students during the daylong training session. Photo provided by Christopher Atwater.

Virginia Commonwealth University’s Lobs & Lessons program recently conducted a day of training to introduce physical education teachers in the Richmond Public Schools to a new tennis program they can incorporate in their lesson plans.

Trainers from the United States Tennis Association (USTA) introduced teachers to Quick Start tennis, a strategy that uses a smaller court and equipment that better fits young students. Teachers were provided with three sets of tennis equipment to take to their schools so they can integrate tennis into their physical education curriculum.

The training program was made possible through a grant from USTA, and the equipment was provided with financial support from Michael Frazier, chairman and CEO of Genworth Financial Inc., and his wife, Elizabeth.

Lobs and Lessons hopes to host a Quick Start Tennis Tournament in the spring so that students from Richmond elementary schools can visit VCU and demonstrate their new tennis skills.

“With Quick State tennis in all of the Richmond public schools, we hope to expose hundreds of children to the game of tennis and to encourage their involvement in the sport in and out of school,” said Catherine Howard, Ph.D., vice provost, Division of Community Engagement.

Richmond Public Schools physical education teachers work on their game and consider new ways to positively impact the lives of elementary school children. Photo provided by Christopher Atwater.
Richmond Public Schools physical education teachers work on their game and consider new ways to positively impact the lives of elementary school children. Photo provided by Christopher Atwater.

Lobs and Lessons is part of the Division of Community Engagement and combines tennis lessons with a life skills development curriculum to teach children how to get along with others, control emotions and practice healthy lifestyle habits. The program also stresses the value of higher education and the importance of excelling in school.

Lobs and Lessons started in 2004 as an after-school program to reach out to disadvantaged youth in the Richmond area. A summer camp program was added in 2008.