NJTL of Indianapolis is an organization whose mission is to impact the lives of children through healthy living instruction, physical activity, and educational enrichment. As a volunteer, I found it very rewarding to see first-hand the excitement and appreciation of children given the opportunity to receive a free book at an NJTL event.
The NJTL is a non-profit founded by Arthur Ashe in the late 60s as a way to enrich the lives of children through the game of tennis. Ashe believed that tennis was a life long sport and by learning the game he could not only teach kids the game of tennis, but at the same time develop other necessary skills to enhance a child's life such as his/her character and healthy lifestyles.
The NJTL of Indianapolis continues the legacy set forth by Ashe by offering low cost tennis lessons for children ages 5 - 18 at various venues across the city. Currently, the NJTL of Indianapolis serves over 1,00 children.
I am in my 8th year of teaching for the National Junior Tennis League. Over the 8 years, I have been blessed to know several people committed to making this program as successful as possible. The staff genuinely care and have a passion for making tennis available to youth throughout the city. They also don't intend just to make tennis possible, but they also seek to use tennis as a way to capture youth and teach them about important life lessons such as responsibilty, humility and generosity. As an instructor for this program, I teach with hands-on instruction, strive to know and speak with each player about their strengths and weaknesses, encourage all participants to work hard, and hope that they reap the benefits of working hard... I know for a FACT that at least 8 participants are currently using skills they learned from NJTL at their local high schools: Beech Grove, Lutheran, Warren Central, North Central, Arsenal Tech and Broad Ripple. I still keep in contact with them, coach them and am so excited to see the next steps in their tennis career... which one is now an NJTL instructor and another seeking to become an instructor.
I think that our program continues to get better year after year, despite financial challenges. We try to implement new games, drills and our advanced player program is gaining strength very quickly.
Why is our program so great? Because we offer low-cost quality instruction and still care about the things that are most important in life...
Great program for the kids, very satisfied to have my daughter involved in the winter program after a very successful summer. She enjoys the time she has with her instructors who are not only great with kids, they also are teaching life lessons of sharing, exercise and a bit of history. My daughter is only 5 and she is developing a love for tennis! I'm so excited to keep her involved...Thank you!
I love how the NJTL has evolved to a year around program. Not only is it allowing my two girls to stay active in the game but the coaches are doing a GREAT Job of making sure that they learn the craft . Eventhough it is not one-on-one instruction, the coaches make sure to give individual feedback for improvement and or praise. Not only is this a great program but it is provided at a reasonable cost, wth many locations, and with convenient times, what more can you ask for. THANKS NJTL!
In searching for a place to start my daughter in tennis I came across NJTL and thought I would give it a try. I have never been as satisfied with a children's program in 8 years of participating in ballet, soccer, softball, tennis, swimming, etc. The children are taught by professional, patient, involved, and knowledgable staff. They are encouraged to participate in match play. The parents are kept informed and updated through email and the website. The cost is incredible. I love that they use the bigger balls and half size courts to start them out on. This program is a wonderful way to expose your child to tennis and I highly recommend it.
My son has been involved with NJTL for five years. He has grown to absolutely love tennis. All of his instructors have been great and we have loved the program. The communication with parents is excellent as well. Can't wait to have my four-year old daughter start up with NJTL next summer. This is an extremely worthwhile program.
My children have been involved with NJTL for several years. They have always enjoyed the experience and their tennis games have improved. I think it will give them a sport they can play and love for decades. Thank you NJTL for providing the opportunity to participate.
It has been two wonderful years since we have joined NJTL of Indianapolis. My child's desire to play tennis was my dream too. The same time I made a decision to go back to collage to pursue a four year degree. I have checked numerous possible sites where my child could play tennis. Unfortunately, I could not afford even a week worth of lessons there. There was no spare money in the single mom's budget for the expensive tennis lessons. Then, a small miracle has happened. I have learned about NJTL from a flyer in the Indy Parks brochure during the summer. We have joined few weeks after the summer session has already started, and have been a part of the program since. It is a program that gives us both a lot of personal satisfaction. Every time a session ends, my child asks: "Mommy when will my tennis class start again?" It is a dream come true not only for my child, but also for me. Thank you!
I have been involved as a volunteer with the administrative end of NJTL of Indianapolis for several years. While I have little experience with the actual programs, I have worked closely with them on event production. The passion and dedication of the administrator’s, board members and volunteers is unbelievable. Their true commitment to this worthy cause shows through with honest sincerity. A great group of people, one and all. Keep up the good work.
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As a repeated volunteer photographer for NJTL's annual banquet, I have worked closely with several NJTL personnel, both full time administrative and other volunteer persons. At all times they have been friendly, courteous, helpful, and display a genuine devotion to serving the community through tennis related activities. During these annual banquets I have been witness to the results of the efforts of the NJTL. Seeing the faces of kids that are being honored is enough to know the value of NJTL’s work.
Also, by listening to adults who are past participants in NJTL, it is obvious this kind of involvement with kids has a lasting, positive impact on their lives. 100% of these alumni said the NJTL had become their family and made them better people and better members of the community. Many had given back through tennis and beyond. There is no greater proof than that.
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My son has never been very interested in group sports. After trying several activities I thought there just wasn't anything out there for him to help him gain confidence and grow with good sportsmanship. I was told about NJTL in the summer and thought why not. To my surprise he loves tennis. His confidence is getting better. He jumped up and down when I told him that the program was also offered in the fall. With out NJTL being offered at such affordable prices I can honestly say that I wouldn't have put him or even try to register him for tennis lessons. Thank you NJTL for keeping this great sport affordable and available for all children.
My son learned to play tennis with the Indianapolis NJTL at 5 years of age, he still participates and made his Middle School Team. The NJTL has been a wonderful opportunity for him and I encourage other parents to seek out the NJTL.
I have known and worked with the senior leader of NJTL of Indy for 35 years and she still has the heart & passion for supporting children's lives thru the Game of tennis. She clearly understands the Game as more than a game--to be used for the greater good to all. NJTL of Indy has consistently been one of the top NJTL chapters in the U.S. year after year after year.
I have volunteered at NJTL for the past couple of years. What a great group to work with. Their passion for kids and tennis is tremendous. They truly care about the kids' education and want them to fall in love with the sport they love...tennis! I volunteered at their annual Rally Day and the joy on the kids' faces is priceless! It is an organization worth investing your time and money!
I have volunteered for NJTL for five years. My experience with them has been excellent. They work hard, come up with different fund raising ideas and always are pleasant. I know that they have grown their tennis program so that more kids who cannot afford other tennis programs can participate.
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I have been a volunteer for NJTL for three years and have seen what good work they do for the children of Indianapolis. They not only focus on the physical part of the program but also the nutritional part, which is very important also. They care about the kids and want to make it so they have fun and learn tennis, values and nutrition at the same. It is important to keep the kids busy in the summer and this program does that at minimal cost.
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I have the pleasure to work with NJTL of Indianapolis for another summer of tennis! This past winter of 2011, I taught anything from 5 year olds through 18 year olds. My experience was great! I worked with other talented instructors with both high school and collegiate tennis experience. We taught and reinforced fundamentals, strategies and concepts of the game while also implementing life skills and healthy living instruction. Parents enjoy the low cost of our program as well as instructors who genuinely care about their children. While our program is not as strong as others in terms of developing ranked tennis athletes, I do believe our program has the best mission of all of them... and we are beginning to form a stronger advanced program with athletes now emerging to play competitive varsity high school tennis. I am a proud instructor for Indy NJTL. My life-changing story has been a girl I taught my first summer in 2005 who is now playing for her high school team -- varsity 2 singles.
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I worked for NJTL the summers of 2005-2009. Because of NJTL, I was able to teach very affordable instructional tennis to youth of the inner city ages 6-18. The most striking memory I have of these summers is spending time with kids who were often in daycare programs... some of them up to 12 hours a day... I vividly remember Friday match days in which I typically would pick up children from their daycares and/or homes so that they were able to gain more experience in match play. I witnessed numerous instances in which kids felt success (like rallying over the net more each week), persevered (in hard matches), sensed community (as kids cheered for each other in the end of summer tournament), and were cared for (in the hugs and high fives from instructors).
Our teaching staff learned to bond together and create friendly competition among participants from all sides of the city by tye-dying tshirts, having park picnics with water balloons, using sidewalk chalk to create enthusiasm and chants to boost team pride.
This program is about much more than just tennis. NJTL strives to provide a safe environment that fulfills its founder, Arthur Ashe's, legacy of using the sport as a way to, "teach [young people] about matters more important than tennis."
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NJTL is a great way to allow kids who might not have the opportunity to play tennis to do so in an affordable way. NJTL allows students to have the opportunity to play year round and build their tennis and life skills on a weekly basis. I donate to Indy NJTL because it is a great non-profit organization that truly cares about their kids and wants to teach them about tennis and life lessons/skills.
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NJTL is an organization that puts the needs of others first. They offer tennis lessons to the community at an incredible low cost which allows any child to participate. Not only is their mission about teaching tennis, but it is also about teaching life-long lessons. I attended their auction dinner this past fall and I was amazed at the stories of former NJTL participants. They talked about how NJTL made a tremendous impact on them and how the instructors that taught them helped shape them in to who they are today. Being at the auction dinner, made me realize that NJTL is all about the children and who they become. Yes, they teach tennis lessons, but their mission is so much more than that. I could see it in the children receiving awards, and I could see it from the adults who participated in the program when they were little. NJTL is such a valuable organization for the city of Indianapolis.
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I am a Mom with a child who has ADHD. He does not do well in team sports and the Indianapolis NJTL has been so rewarding for my son. He has excelled in this program and a huge thanks goes out to all the great individuals at the NJTL.
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A great organization that helps add structure and learning to the liives of Indianapolis' children.
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NJTL is the whole package - the lessons learned on the tennis court reach far beyond the baseline. The fee to enroll in their programs allows children across all ecomonic sectors to particiapate. NJTL's founding principle was to teach life lessons through the game of tennis...and that is precisely what they still do today.
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I participated in NJTL of Indianapolis from age 7 until 16. The years of experience taught me many things beyond hand-eye coordination. I learned patience and perseverance, because achieving an overhand serve from the baseline is not a task conquered in one lesson or one week. Integrity was instilled in me through line calls and scoring. As I got older, my passion for tennis continued to blossom. In 6th grade I made my middle school's tennis team, and continued to varsity in high school. However, participating on the team not only furthered my skills as an athlete, but more importantly kept me out of trouble. My school dismissed students around 3pm, but my mom didn't get off work until 5pm. Thankfully, the social skills I learned from the positive role models at NJTL and the passion I gained for the sport, kept me on the tennis court and away from the peer pressures faced by an unsupervised teen.
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NJTL is a common denominator for over 40,000 people in our community. I think that is an incredible achievement for such a humble organization. I am impressed with the dedication of the staff and instructors and I am happy to serve in whatever little way I can to ensure that we reach the next 40,000 people.
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What's great about NJTL of Indianapolis is the positive impact the organization has on so many children in the Indianapolis area. On the surface, NJTL of Indianapolis appears to be teaching kids tennis. But actually the program teaches children important life skills like confidence, teamwork, and honesty. The lessons that are learned on the tennis courts will certainly impact the participants for the rest of their lives.
Review from Guidestar
Our family loves NJTL! We have been involved with NJTL for almost 15 years. The tennis instruction is wonderful! It is a powerful combination of learning how to play and of loving the game. But NJTL is so much more than the sport. It is also about building your child's self-esteem, character, and developing healthy habits that will last a life-time. My son, who is now 20, loved NJTL so much that he has been an instructor or assistant instructor with NJTL the last 4 years. NJTL works with children from every background, from the poorest to middle class and above. It is wonderful experience for children and we highly recommend it!
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NJTL is a phenomenal program. The ability for them to teach children despite socio-economic circumstances is a valuable trait that makes their program very unique. The lessons children can take out of their experiences with NJTL are life changing and helps build their character.
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There is nothing more rewarding than being able to give a child the ability to learn through teamwork, sportsmanship, and hard work for such a low cost. The court is a great test of human behavior and NJTL does a wonderful job at emphasizing and teaching skills to children everyday that they cannot learn in a classroom alone. This organization deserves 5 stars at least for the Staff and program as a whole!
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This is an excellent organization. Both my kids have been involved with this program for many years. It provides fantastic tennis instructors that really care about the kids. The cost to participate is very low and the quality of help is very high. My kids couldn't wait to get to tennis. They also partner with the book mobile, and it helped spark my boys enjoyment of reading. I am very thankful that we found this organization. I really think it helped my boys develop both the love of tennis and reading.
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NJTL provides tennis instruction as well as education and lifeskills instruction. The program models pro-social values and builds character in the youth of Indianapolis.
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My daughter takes the tennis instructions at the league, and we are very satisfied with the quality of it. She shows some progress already, and she is very happy with the attitude and lnowledge of the instructors. She looks forward to every Sunday night. In addition, the instructions are very affordable. We definitely will get her sign up for the intermidiate and higher level in the future!
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NJTL is a good first stop for beginning tennis lessons but the Indianapolis area program lacks opportunities for more advanced players. It would be great if the program could find a way to provide more advanced instruction, especially in areas of the city where those opportunities don't exist for kids without a lot of money.
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My son was introduced to NJTL through friends when he was in grade school. He enjoyed the sport, and more importantly the instructors made it fun. When he didnt have a ride to the park he would ride his bike. It is a wonderful program, affordable and accessible. My son has always been active in sports, from baseball to scoccer to basketball. This program inspired his love of tennis. He also was an instructor at NJTL himself in the summers. The kids loved him because of his enthusiasm for the sport. He has that same enthusiasm today. He went on to play in high school and college, and is currently employed in the tennis world. I attended an auction recently and sat at a table with the Arthur Ashe Art Contest winner and her mother. She was an adorable little girl that played for NJTL at her local park. She said she had fun learning tennis, being active and meeting new friends.
From the mother of a son who was fortunate enough to participate in NJTL, I say THANK YOU!
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As an inner-city youth growing up in one of the worst neighborhoods, my parents sought ways to keep me active and off the streets. I began participating in NJTL at the age of six and did so until I was 17. Each summer I looked forward to participating. I also played in the winter program. NJTL taught me more than just tennis. I learned discipline, honesty, respect, appreciation, and sportsmanship. I can truly contribute my time on the tennis court each year to my success as an adult. This includes obtaining two degrees (undergraduate/graduate) and succeeding professionally. I sincerely thank NJTL of Indy for existing and offering the opportunity for inner-city youth to enjoy a positive, life-changing experience.
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My daughter & son have both benefited from NJTL. This organization opens doors to children who are interested in Tennis and want to learn more. My children have participated in the winter and summer sessions and every time we walk away impressed and the kids improve their skills. The emphasis on fair play and nutrition is also a great plus! Thank you NJTL for making my kids active and in love with the sport of Tennis.
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I have had 3 children involved in NJTL. It has been ,and is, for our youngest child a very positive experience. The kids learn from an encouraging, skilled staff. NJTL povides 3 different levels of play with the participants moving up at their own pace. One day a week allows the kids to try out what they learned through a weekly competition amongst surrounding NJTL summer park programs. Two winter sessions are given to intermediate and advanced levels for those who want to keep their skills, or improve upon the previous summer. The program is affordable. The added bonus are the friendships my children have made. For my two older children who are now young adults, tennis has remained a part of their physical fitness.
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My daughter who is 15, and was looking for a place that offered lessons to teenagers during the winter, which was impossible to find. We received a letter in the mail regarding NJTL's winter programs. The instructors are very knowledgeable and personal. My daught is happy and that makes me happy. My daughter played for NJTL at a 2010 summer camp.
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NJTL is a unique program that aligns sports with life skills. Participants not only learn the lifelong sport of tennis but learn important lessons such as teamwork, respect and trust. The impact of NJTL on the youth participants is profound and provides great value to the City of Indianapolis.
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My daughter who is 10 attends one of the NJTL winter programs. The instructor to student ratio is godd and the drills are structured so that the kids have a lot of practice time. I am really happy that my daughter is able to learn tennis through JNTL.
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The NJTL is a great organization that teaches life long skills and gives young people a strong foundation to start with in life. Tennis is a sport that can teach a youngster how to have fun, build confidence and work hard. It also teaches them how to compete with sportmanship, both as an individual (singles) and a team member (doubles). The NJTL is an organization that allows our nations's kids to have fun and learn life lessons!
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NJTL is such a great organization. It not only focuses on teaching tennis in the urban Indianapolis area, but it teaches young children important life skills like hard work, education, responsibility and other skill necessary to succeed in having a fulfilling life.
The tennis instructors are great. They're enthusiastic and they love giving back to the community. Most of them had grown up playing in NJTL tennis themselves.
I wish every young person in Indianapolis would play NJTL tennis. They would be so well "served".
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NJTL is a fantastic organization. I grew up playing NJTL and gained valuable life lessons, learned about a healty lifestyle and made some great friends.
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My 2 kids take tennis through NJTL at West Indy during the winter and at Sahms Park during the summer. They both look forward to playing tennis every week, it's one of the highlight's of our week!
NJTL is doing a great job here in Indianapolis and my kids are learning and having fun. The instructors are helpful and friendly, and the management is too. I sit with the other moms and we're all pleased with the program and plan to come back every year. My kids just recently moved up from beginner to Intermediate and it's exciting and challenging for them.
Thank you NJTL Indianapolis!
Regards,
Debbie Ricks
Review from Guidestar
NJTL is a great non-profit organization that provides great life skills for kids along with teaching them about tennis. Kids spend time learning about health and ways to make healthier choices in their daily lives. They also learn about team work and getting along with others. I've servied on the board of NJTL for the past two years and it's been a great experience for me. Not only have I been able to help the organization, I've also learned a lot about NJTL's role in the community to keep kids engaged in positive activities.
Review from Guidestar
NJTL is a great organization. I have been involved with tennis from a very early age. I was a tennis instructor for NJTL at the age of 16. In all my affiliations with tennis over the years. The most cost effective way to learn tennis is a ball, a racquet and a big backboard. The backboard is something you won't come across much these days. And garage doors to play against aren't what they use to be. With NJTL not only do you receive top quality tennis instruction. But, you will also get life skills. Food choices, exercise routines outside of playing tennis alone. All this from an experienced staff. Trust me when i say. "You will not find this low cost program for tennis, anywhere except NJTL". Enroll your kids today. Tell all your friends. You won't be disappointed.
Tom Bennett
Review from Guidestar
My daughter has been involved in both summer and winter tennis through NJTL and she has just loved it. It's been a very inexpensive sport for her to be involved in and it's helped with her coordination and her confidence. We're planning to participate again this summer.
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