Counties Tennis Association helped out disadvantaged kids from South Auckland with an introduction to tennis on Saturday at the Counties Tennis Centre in Pukekohe.

In collaboration with Pillars, Tennis New Zealand, CLM Community Sport, Counties Tennis welcomed 30 kids and their Pillars’ mentors for a taste of tennis.

The kids are all local – coming from around the Manukau-Pukekohe area. This was an amazing opportunity for tennis to reach parts of the community that wouldn’t necessarily get much of a connection normally.

Pillars work with kids that come from difficult situations and their Social Workers and Mentoring Coordinators support Pillars children to work towards goals they set for themselves, so they can stride into the future with confidence.

Counties Manukau Tennis Association coach Lynette Johnston ran a series of tennis teaser activities that teach the kids the fundamentals while having fun and playing games along the way.

“My coaching team and I are really excited to be a part of this Counties Tennis collaboration with Pillars,” Johnston told Counties Sports Hub. “It was a great afternoon introducing the life sport of tennis with fun games, basic skills, and some light competitive rivalry.

“Hopefully we can make it a calendar event!”

This event is part of Counties Tennis Association’s goal of making tennis more accessible to the community and reducing the barriers for children to participate in the sport.

Thanks to Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa support they are already delivering free tennis coaching to children with special needs in the area.

Initiatives like this will be even more possible with the addition of the indoor centre that Counties Tennis Association is planning to build shortly should they find the adequate funding support.