Interactive Fan Attraction to Introduce Tennis to Youth and Families across the Nation
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (June 18, 2013) - The United States Tennis Association (USTA) SmashZone Mobile Tour continues its 22-city tour run this weekend when it will be part of the Quad City Air Show in Davenport, Iowa on June 22 and 23.
SmashZone introduces youth tennis to kids and parents across the country and began as the premier fan interactive attraction at the US Open before being showcased across the country. Since its inception in 2011, SmashZone has attracted more than 2 million people to its tennis courts.
In addition to the SmashZone Mobile Tour, the Quad City Air Show is hosting the biggest World War II - theme salute air show ever. The show, which is one of the longest-running air shows in the industry, is moving back to June after being held over Labor Day weekend in 2012 to accommodate the schedule of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.
SmashZone is a way to showcase tennis in a fun and interactive way by making stops at fairs, festivals, air shows, retail environments and city centers. At SmashZone, children have the opportunity to play tennis games in a fun, festive atmosphere that allows participants to get active playing tennis from the start.
"The SmashZone Mobile Tour is a great platform to bring tennis to the masses through an interactive experience," said Kurt Kamperman, USTA Chief Executive, Community Tennis. "It provides an opportunity for kids to try tennis for the first time, allowing them to experience the fun and excitement that comes with playing the game."
SmashZone Mobile includes a 53-foot trailer, which anchors four kid-sized tennis courts for youth play. Courts will feature games such as Xerox Rally Court, racquet drills and activities, as well as a Target Challenge. The trailer itself, which is handicap accessible, will feature activities for visitors that will include a Tennis Magazine Green Screen Cover Shoot, Wii Tennis and Touch Screen Kiosks. SmashZone Mobile is a complement to the USTA's successful youth participation initiative, 10 and Under Tennis.
10 and Under Tennis is an ongoing effort to encourage young people to get active by playing tennis. The initiative uses modified equipment and courts tailored to a child's age and ability. By featuring shorter and lighter racquets, slower-bouncing balls, smaller courts and simplified scoring, children learn to play more quickly and easily while having more fun in the process.
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The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the United States and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level, from local communities to the highest level of the professional game. A not-for-profit organization with more than 770,000 members, it invests 100 percent of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, the highest-attended annual sporting event in the world, and launched the Emirates Airline US Open Series, linking nine summer tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns approximately 90 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S. and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA's national charitable foundation, USTA Serves, provides grants and scholarships and helps underserved youth and people with disabilities. For more information on the USTA, log on to
usta.com, "like" the official Facebook page,
facebook.com/usta, or follow @usta on Twitter.
