The TIA and the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA) are again working together to help bring to light the many great stories about tennis—those who play, teach, organize, sponsor and promote the game. The TIA will present the Second Annual “Tennis Media Award” to an NSSA member (either a sportswriter or sportscaster) who produces a story  judged to be the most informative, interesting, and compelling about the sport of tennis or those involved in the sport.

Welcome families new to the game or offer a Play Day to introduce the thrill of competition; you choose the event that works best. Register your event now for any day in March to celebrate World Tennis Day on March 3^rd.

Tennis director and former club owner Rick Vetter says it’s not rocket science: Fewer Courts + More Players = More Income. How do you put this formula into practice at your tennis facility? One of the most reliable answers is with 10 and Under Tennis, which brings more kids onto the court at one time. But there’s a bonus, adds Vetter: 10 and Under Tennis also helps you build your base of players for the future.

The United States Tennis Association (USTA)  announced the return of its SmashZone Mobile Tour, which will hit the road for a 22-city tour to introduce youth tennis to kids and parents across the country. SmashZone 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.

The USTA celebrated the refurbishment and creation of 10,000 youth-sized tennis courts in the U.S. as part of USTA’s commitment to First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative. A celebratory event, Court 10K, was held on March 19 at the Tamiami Tennis Center in Miami to commemorate the milestone.

Are you ready for March 4? That’s an important day for tennis and for this industry. Here in the U.S., March 4 is “Tennis Night in America,” and across the globe, it’s “World Tennis Day.”

In 2012, more than 2,000 youth tennis events took place across the country, giving tennis organizers the opportunity to showcase youth programs while attracting new players. This March, invite parents to participate and experience first-hand how tennis is now sized right for age and ability. Be one of the first 1,200 registered tennis festivals and receive an event pack including a YouthTennis.com banner and giveaway items for event attendees. As a host your facility will receive:

Madison Square Garden was filled with excitement on Nov. 5 as tennis legends Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, Patrick Rafter and Pete Sampras competed in the PowerShares Series. And for one local tennis club, the Yonkers Tennis Center, it was a time to showcase their highly successful 10 and Under Tennis program.

The USTA has released an all new website, YouthTennis.com, to connect tennis providers and consumers to play opportunities for youth tennis. For consumers, it's quick and easy to find an event or a facility in your area, simply by clicking the "find an event" photo and/or button on the homepage of the website. For consumers to find events in their area, such as a Free Tennis Play Day, all they have to do is enter their 5 digit zip code and those events being held close to them are displayed in an easy-to-view format. The sign up process for providers to get their events listed is quick and simple, too.

The Tennis Industry Association continues to work closely with manufacturers, in conjunction with the USTA, to create a National Youth Tennis Retail Promotion, which helps educate both consumers and retailers in all channels on age-appropriate youth tennis equipment that consumers should be purchasing for their young players.