The document summarizes the establishment of tennis programs in Airdrie, Alberta over the past few years. It details how the author helped build new tennis courts and start a local tennis association after moving to Airdrie in 2006. Through various tennis programs like try tennis events, lessons, camps, leagues and tournaments, interest and participation in tennis has grown significantly. The success of initial programs helped expand tennis offerings and partnerships within the community. The goal is to continue growing tennis by building more partnerships, promoting through various channels, and engaging more volunteers and players.

1. The Airdrie and District Tennis Association
AD T A
www.airdrietennis.com
Tennis in Airdrie
If you build courts... they will come

2. In the beginning...
• I Moved to Airdrie in 2006
• There were six courts in the
city of nearly 40,000. All were
in bad shape
• Airdrie is 10 minutes north of
Calgary
• The city is very young and
residents are open to new
family friendly recreational
opportunities

3. In the beginning...
• I called the city to ask about
the possibility of getting new
courts. I was told why
bother, nobody plays tennis
• As luck would have it, Airdrie
hosted the Alberta Over-55
Games in 2009, so new
courts had to be built for
that event ...
• The City built four excellent
courts. We are lucky to have
them

4. Twist my arm
• In Aug. 2009 I received an email
from Jill Groves at Tennis
Alberta ...
• Tennis is a small world. Jill found
me through a contact I made
during junior tennis in the 80s.
It’s amazing how many of my
former junior colleagues in B.C.
are still involved in tennis
• She drove down from
Edmonton, we met for coffee
and I agreed to sign my life away
and become a BTC champion

5. • I attended the BTC conference in Richmond,
B.C. in Oct. 2009
• I hosted my first Try Event and community
tennis rally on Nov. 7, 2009 at Genesis Place,
Airdrie’s Recreation Centre. More than 30
people attended
• From this event, formed the nucleus of our non-
profit Airdrie and District Tennis Association
• Some members of our board have been very
helpful, volunteering to help corral kids at
lessons, umpire at tournaments etc...

6. The long, cold
winter
• While busy managing my
son’s novice hockey
team, I stayed active in
tennis formulating my
plans for the spring and
summer
• Cultivated partnerships
especially with City of
Airdrie community
development department

7. Spring has sprung
• March 6 Try Event at
local school attracts
more than 40 kids!
• This was a great way to
start developing
partnerships with
schools
• Who says no one plays
tennis in Airdrie?

8. School tennis
• One school in 2009/10
• At least three more
involved in 2010/11
• Sent letter in Aug. 2010
introducing concept
• Teach the teachers. Once
they know they can deliver
tennis it will become part of
the gym program at that
school for a long time

9. Try Tennis
• Six try events in and around Airdrie in 2009/10
• No indoor courts? no problem! Rent out gyms at Rec
Centres and schools during winter
• Outdoor events at courts and at other community events

10. Instructor course
• After in tennis, I finally
years more than 30 got
got off my butt and
certified
• Note the look Charlie
McLeanwondering if
is giving me...
he was could pull off
Airdrie a top-level
hosting
junior tournament in a
few weeks... stay tuned!

11. Extreme FX camp
• May 15, 2010
• Exposed more than 30 boys aged
9-14 to tennis
• Serve, rally, score. They played real
games inside an hour.
• Tennis second only to Aussie Rules
in popularity at the camp!
• Jill came down and helped out
• We were so successful, city has
asked us to run tennis at Go Girl
Camp on Nov. 13

12. Didsbury try tennis
• May 16, 2010
• Didsbury 30 minutes
north of Airdrie
• Town wanted to gauge
interest in the game in
order to decide whether
to resurface courts
• 12 kids turned out to
play on the worst courts
I have ever seen

13. The Arctic Open!
• ADTA hosted Tennis Alberta
U14/18 Champs tournament on
May Long Weekend. The
weather was cold - below zero
in the mornings - and windy
• Three 12-hour days running the
tourney, but now Alberta’s
tennis community knows about
our great courts. That was
worth it
• Now you know why Charlie
was looking at me funny before!

14. Spring lesson program
May 26- June 20
This was our flagship program for 2010

15. Spring Lesson program
• Lessons sold out
• Held registration at Genesis
Place and opened up the gym
for another Try event
• Four groups; two for kids, two
for adults
• Used progressive tennis,
Serve, rally, score. Got them
playing right away
• Will hire coach for next year!

16. Tennis at the ACH
It is really fun, humbling and inspiring
to work with these kids

17. Rogers Rookie Tour
• Everyone who signed up for
Spring Lesson program was
automatically entered in RRT
• More than 30 players in
day-long tournament
• Huge Airdrie participation
covered well by media
• Everyone had tons of fun.
Convinced me that playing
the game of tennis is what
people want

18. Rogers Rookie Tour
Fun!

19. Rogers Rookie Tour
• The to the fact parents great success, mostly
due tournamentthem a volunteered togreat
umpire. It made
was
feel part of this
event, too!

20. Rogers Rookie Tour
Can’t wait for next year’s tournament!

21. Progressive Tennis
• Nets can be set up anywhere.
• Backyard Wimbledon anyone?

22. Community Team Tennis

23. Community Team Tennis
• Experience with RRT convinced me to start CTT
league for August/September
• Kids want to PLAY
• CTT will be the backbone of all my youth
programming going forward
• Kept it small, four teams of five kids. Age 5-12. Got
T-shirts and medals for everyone
• Local promotion company co-sponsored the t-
shirts. Got 25 for $150. Great business partner!
• Massive success! 20 spots filled up right away.
Some people couldn’t get in. Will have more
leagues next year
• Kids itching to move away from half court. With
only four courts in Airdrie, will have to figure out
how to make 3/4 court and full-court leagues
work

24. Adult Tennis Night
• Fun, free, social tennis
opportunity for Airdrie
adults everyto end ofnight
from Aug. 9 Monday
September
• Scorpions trump tennis!
(on this day, anyway)

25. Adult Tennis Night
• More than 15 people come out every
week
• Hold informal clinics to get beginners
playing; people want to PLAY tennis!
• Fun doubles
• Rotate partners and opponents
• Great contact builder; you find the
real tennis people in your community
• These people will make up the core
of our ladders and leagues in the
coming years
• Word of mouth; they invite their
friends and tennis grows
• Huge benefit for a small investment in
time

26. Airdrie Fest
• Received invite from City
• City best partner I’ve had
• Huge exposure for Tennis;
downtown street festival.
Perfect place to set up nets
and let people try the sport
• Tennis so popular I got an
on-the-spot invite to have
try tennis at 2011 Mayor’s
run, another huge
community event

27. What I learned
• People like things to be organized; if you’re going to have a try event, make
sure someone there knows how to run a lesson or organize a round-robin
• People want to play tennis. Leagues, ladders and tournaments are more
popular than lessons
• Not everything has to be a big production. Keeping things small and good is
better than big and crazy
• People like tennis! Don’t confine your efforts to an existing club or tennis
community. Involve everyone
• Parents are looking for new activities for their kids. Take advantage of this
• No partner is too small. Link up with everyone you can. Think about how you
can help them, not what they can do for you
• Use your provincial association! These people know what they’re doing and
want you to succeed

28. What’s next?
• Continue to build partnerships, especially with schools
• Keep building website; get the word out to people that you exist and
use website as a portal
• Use the media! Reach out to all media outlets in your area. You’d be
surprised how much coverage you will get and how much that will
help you promote what you’re doing
• Tweet, blog and talk to people about tennis. The sport is experiencing
a resurgence!
• Think what you can do for others
• Join other groups and volunteer for things such as ThinkAirdrie
committee, a group of businesses owners that strives to highlight all
that Airdrie offers

29. Thank you!
• Lots of people have helped me in my first year as
Community Champion in Airdrie. First and foremost,
thanks to Jill Groves at Tennis Alberta. Without Jill’s
advice and help, tennis in Airdrie wouldn’t be where it is
today
• I’m lucky that my wife understands my passion for tennis
and has supported me through my first year. This is a lot
of work and having family support is important!
• The Airdrie and District Tennis Association has also
helped out a lot. It’s very important to get others
involved. The more people pulling for tennis, the better!