Hartsville, S.C., May 31, 2023 – Sixth graders enrolled in Butler Academy’s Extended Day Program this spring are the school’s first scholars to take tennis lessons on campus.
“Tennis is a game for life,” explains coach Rick Fountain. “Besides teaching social skills, cooperation, and group dynamics, tennis has the added benefit of being a sport we can play years after most sports are out of reach.”
Upon completion of the 8-week tennis program at Butler Academy, which teaches the basics of tennis strokes, rules and game etiquette, scholars are eligible to participate in twice-monthly Fun Saturday Tennis clinics at the Florence Tennis Center.
“I love how the game gets me active,” Laura Chirinos-Almanza said.
Her classmate, Christian Williams adds that he enjoys the feeling of competition that tennis brings out. “I really like to challenge my friends,” he said.
Butler Academy’s Extended Day Program is an on-site educational option offered on school days from 4 to 6 p.m. that is designed to support scholar’s individual interests. Enrolled students use it to pursue Passion Projects, which range from learning about sports, dance and music, to taking deeper dives into STEM subjects, literature or history.
Butler Academy’s new tennis program is made possible through a partnership with the Ron James Tennis Program (RJYTP), a youth program of the all-volunteer Florence Tennis Association. The RJYTP is also a member of the National Junior Tennis & Learning Network, which combines tennis and education to improve the lives of children and adolescents.
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Ron James Youth Tennis Program
The Ron James Youth Tennis Program, named in honor of beloved Florence tennis pro and FTA stalwart Ron James, who died in 2019, is designed to bring tennis into the lives of hundreds of underserved area children between the ages of 6 and 18. These programs young people learn essential life skills and improve their grades. The RJYTP will use tennis to teach them the value of good sportsmanship, fitness, and the fun side of athletics. The ultimate goal is to give young men and women the skills and encouragement they will need to do well in school and in life. www.playtennis.usta.com/thefta
