With snow on the ground, Bridgeport Parks and Recreation Deputy Director Joe Shuttleworth and U.S. Tennis Association representative Kyle Hoffman are bouncing around ideas for a bigger and better spring tennis program.

 

“The idea of what we want to create is continuity,” said Hoffman, who has led the city’s program for the last couple of years. “With programs similar to Bridgeport’s, we’ve seen kids come through the system, graduate from high school then get hired with the programs so they continue on.”

 

That’s a valid opportunity in which parents of tennis enthusiasts can invest, he said.

 

“It’s an opportunity for kids to get scholarships, to continue their education in a way they can grow the tennis community, especially in small areas,” Hoffman said.

 

In the short term, there are plans for continuing the tennis camps which have generated much interest and attendance in past recent years.

 

“We’re going to do two weeks on and two weeks off as we have in the past,” Hoffman said.

 

The focus, Hoffman said, will be the learning of skill sets, concentrating first on hand-eye coordination.

 

“Whether you plan to continue on with tennis or switch over to a different sport, you have to build that hand-eye coordination,” he said. “You don’t want to go to the tennis courts and spend the whole time chasing the ball. You have to learn to control the all in one court.”

 

 

 That instruction in a non-competitive environment will lead to opportunity to play on junior tennis teams – in single gender and mixed formats.

 

There will also be opportunity to participate in “play days,” featuring a timed format with an introduction to scoring.

 

Hoffman began developing parks and recreation programs in Fairmont, his hometown. He has expanded them in other communities, including Bridgeport.

 

“Our focus is to start programs in all communities east of I-79,” he said, adding that most recent programs are being developed in Jefferson County and Beckley.

But with all the programs Hoffman has been involved with, Bridgeport’s is the fastest growing, he said.

 

“I’ve seen 25 to 30 kids per session,” he said. “It’s really started to take off and people are wanting more.”

 

Shuttleworth said he believes Hoffman’s involvement has indeed brought continuity to the city’s youth tennis program.

 

“What I really like about the program is that it’s following in the same lines as other sports in Bridgeport,” he said. “Tennis was lacking a strong feeder program. Now there is a program that can fill that void. We’ve established a program using USTA teaching standards and all our instructors are USTA trained and can build a program from the grass level roots up – involving parents and kids.”

 

To meet the needs of an expanded youth tennis program, Shuttleworth said his department and City Council is looking into the revitalization of tennis courts at Deegan Lake.

 

“I think it makes more sense to do that now,” he said.

 

Since partnering with the USTA, the city has received two grants funded by the organization.

 

“With one, we have painted the blended lines on the courts and with the other – a U10 equipment grant – we’ve purchased equipment such as felt balls and smaller racquets,” Shuttleworth said.

 

Tennis camps will be held Tuesdays from April 7 through April 28 with the first play day scheduled for May 5. A meeting for parents to explain more about upcoming tennis programs will be held 6-7 p.m. March 16 at the Benedum Civic Center. 

 

For more information, contact Bridgeport Parks and Recreation 304-842-8240. 

 

Editor's Note: Pictured from top are Hoffman and Shuttleworth.