The Asia/Oceania Group 1 Davis Cup tie between New Zealand and Pakistan at Wilding Park this weekend (16-18 September) will have many youngsters keeping a keen eye on progress and cheering on the home team.
In the build up to the event, the team of Mike Venus, Marcus Daniell, Rubin Statham and Finn Tearney are going back to school and paying a visit to Waitakiri Primary School, Burwood tomorrow (Wednesday 14 September), to spread some inspiration and tennis knowledge to the lucky students.
Tennis New Zealand's national programme NZ Post Tennis Hot Shots will be the star of the show, with the professional players and the students grabbing smaller racquets and using softer, super-hittable balls on shorter courts designed especially for kids aged 3-12.
Since launching nationwide in 2013, NZ Post Tennis Hot Shots has given over 190,000 children a positive experience on the tennis court. The philosophy of the programme means that kids learn tennis through play, exploration and teamwork (rather than just standing in line and waiting to hit a ball). The kid-friendly equipment means that young players are able to develop all the skills of the game that an adult player would whilst using a court, racquet and ball that suits their age, height, strength and stage of development - arming them with skills for life, not just tennis.
NZ Post Tennis Hot Shots is delivered in schools, at clubs, by professionals in coaching programmes, and in tournaments/competitions too. In fact there are 22 Hot Shots programmes running in Christchurch alone, and around 1000 children are already regularly involved at their local clubs.
