Global Gathering Place was thrilled to receive funding for a Learn to Play Tennis program from the City of Saskatoon’s 2020 Saskatchewan Lotteries Community Micro-Grant Program. This was our first multi-session program to take place in person in months.
Tennis is considered to be a low-risk activity to engage in during COVID-19 as participants can maintain a safe physical distance. As a result, this year the general public also got more interested in the sport, making finding tennis racquets for participants challenging! But alas, GGP was able to secure tennis equipment and partner with the Riverside Badminton and Tennis Club to offer access and instruction.
Tennis has many benefits
Learn to Play Tennis provided the opportunity for newcomers to improve their physical and social well-being by getting active outdoors. Each week, participants greatly improved their tennis skills, and connected socially with other participants. GGP introduced the participants to free courts in the community, and participants continue to make plans to meet with one another at the courts. This Learn to Play Tennis program has no doubt increased the physical activity of our clients, and opened up the door to a lifelong of enjoyment of tennis.
Some feedback from participants
“Tennis taught me to never give up. You can bounce back even if you lose a set.”
“I would like to thank you for organize such an amazing activity for me. I really enjoyed it even it is totally new for me. As you know, due to Covid 19, everything is online and staying at home. But this activity is very healthy and helps me to be stronger. for my point of view, it is one of the most meaningful and helpful activities I join in Saskatoon. I hope you will create more such physical activities like that to enhance our well-being as well as widen our social network which newcomers like me lack.”
