Keeping children and teens physically fit and instilling a passion for the game of tennis, is the essence of the Youth Tennis Advantage (YTA) program. At the same time, YTA recognizes that when coupled with other key components, namely academic enrichment and life skills, tennis can most profoundly transform the lives of society's most vulnerable and impressionable young people living in poverty. YTA's programming follows the model created in 1968, by tennis great Arthur Ashe who advocated for youth tennis programs, and who believed tennis provided a framework for understanding oneself and navigating the world. Through YTA, children and teens learn to be effective navigators of the world by experiencing and competing in a challenging learning environment both on the tennis court and in the classroom. They also get the unique opportunity to master life skills, learn leadership, and express feelings in respectful ways that lead them to healthy and productive outcomes.
