Greencourt Software Sports and recreation ideas

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Growing the Game
by Channing Brown
© 2000 Greencourt Software, Inc.

If you are already a frequent player -- with plenty of tennis matches, tournaments or league play -- you may not need any encouragement to get out on the courts and play more often.  On the other hand, like many people leading busy lives, you might welcome some additional incentive to get out and play more.  If so, you share something in common with many tennis players, as well as millions of sometime or would-be players around the country.

We all know there are many occasional and potential tennis players -- the ones who play "once in a blue moon," or the people with a racquet in the closet but haven't played for a few years.  With a little encouragement, these people might become active tennis players.  And encouraging more people to play is a good thing.  Besides the personal satisfaction you may derive from involving another person in an activity that you love to do, it also creates demand for more facilities, new and better equipment, and so on.  And it provides more potential players for you.

So what can you do?  There's a simple way you can help in "growing the game" -- in bringing more players into the tennis world.  A local challenge ladder is an easy way to stimulate tennis play and provide an opportunity for new and returning players to find others of comparable skill levels.  Depending on your particular situation and interests, you might organize a challenge ladder where you work, in your church or community, or among a condominium or homeowners association.  The challenge ladder can lead to other activities as well, such as tournaments, mixers, or league play.

Computer software is available to help organize these types of activities.  So all you really need is one or more volunteers with a modest amount of time to organize and publicize these activities.  You can do it!  Start today and soon you'll reap the benefits of "growing the game."


More detailed suggestions and directions are available in my commentary, How to Run an Employee Tennis Club.  I'd like to hear your comments and suggestions as well.

This commentary is available on the Web at www.GreencourtSoftware.com/essays/growing.html. Software for running events as described here is available from Greencourt Software, Inc., at www.GreencourtSoftware.com/gameplan. Permission to reprint this commentary (on paper, electronically, or in any other medium) is granted provided that the copyright notice and these notices are included and that no changes are made to the document. (Edition 1.0 -- October 2000)