The Greater Pottstown Tennis & Learning is making an effort to ensure that more young people in Pottstown can access their tennis programs.
Thanks to grants from the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation, USTA Foundation and the USTA, GPTL has demonstrated that tennis can be adapted for people of any age, environment, condition, or disability.
Last year, GPTL increased the number of players in their adaptive program for the spring, summer, and fall at Maple Street Park in Pottstown, and they plan for further expansion.
Corey Bowlin, the director of GPTL, expressed the desire to serve more young people in the Pottstown School District.
Upcoming plans
The adaptive program currently serves Edgewood Elementary School in Pottstown and Owen J. Roberts High School in Chester County. Bowlin discussed upcoming plans.
“We have been in discussion with Renee Soeder, the adapted physical education teacher for the Pottstown School District and are planning to bring our adaptive program to Barth Elementary, Franklin Elementary, Pottstown Middle and High School,” he said.
When it comes to serving schools, GPTL takes their tennis program to them.
“We use portable nets, foam balls, and provide racquets for them to use,” Bowlin said.
Part of Bowlin’s passion for growing GPTL’s adaptive tennis program centers on his background in coaching Special Olympics Tennis and Basketball. He has seen firsthand the impact the program has had on children’s lives in Pottstown.
“The joy that these players get from playing tennis for the first time in a positive and safe environment is so exciting to experience as a coach,” Bowlin said.
New name
Also new for this year is a new name for GPTL’s adaptive program.
“Our adaptive players and parents recently voted on a name for the program and it is the GPTL Racquet Stars,” he said.
Starting this coming Monday, March 25, an evening adaptive session will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Maple Street Park. Interested participants from the community can register at www.greaterpottstowntennis.org/communitu/adaptive-tennis/
Another way GPTL makes tennis accessible to all is through its STEAM/Lego-based program.
“Our program gives an opportunity for students to play tennis, get exercise and have fun while learning,” Bowlin said. “The hope is to get more youth exercising and increasing interest in tennis, which is a sport that you can play your entire life.”
GPTL has been working with kindergarten to 4th grade classes in collaboration with the YWCA for the past few years.
The classes are divided into two groups. One group starts with STEAM while the other does tennis, then they switch so everyone gets to do both activities.
Volunteers are needed.
GPTL requires volunteers and coaches for its various programs.
They always need more volunteers for their adaptive programs and for various times and days during and after the school day. They also need tennis coaches for weekday evenings, Saturday programs, and summer camps.
Volunteers do not need a background in tennis.
They just need to have a love for kids and helping people in the Pottstown community. If interested, they can contact Corey at [email protected].
Greater Pottstown Tennis & Learning’s local impact
GPTL combines tennis and education to make a difference in lives and communities. Some of the ways they have made an impact:
• 1,000 Pottstown youth take part in free after-school tennis and learning programs.
• 100 under-resourced children receive scholarships for clinics, camps, and leagues.
• 130 free hours of programming for Community Adaptive Tennis.
• 25 players on the Pottstown Middle School Tennis Team.
• 18 junior coaches given leadership opportunities.
• 3 tennis courts resurfaced to help improve Maple Street Park in Pottstown.
• 1 college tennis scholarship awarded.
• Free monthly engagement nights with local non-profits.
For further information about the Greater Pottstown Tennis & Learning, visit www.greaterpottstowntennis.org
