Summer 2022… not much for the children to do… Well.. thanks to many German, Spanish and French friends who visited in 2021 and 2002, we had already collected tennis rackets and about 150 tennis balls…
We already played once in a while but nothing was well ordered… and then summer arrived.. ok, let´ s do it, let´ s mobilize some budget and find someone to organize lessons on a regular basis..
THE MANY BENEFITS OF TENNIS
We believe in the many virtues of tennis on a personal level, such as :
Develop motor-skills, flexibility and coordination
Build bone density
Boosts mental health
And on a social level :
Behave in group, respect the rules
Develop teamwork skills (in doubles)
Learn sportsmanship and fair play
OPENING HOURS
Tennis sessions are held every Monday, Thursday and Sunday afternoon, from 3:30 pm until 5:30 pm, and every Saturday morning from 9:30 until 11:30 am.
Usually the tennis practice is divided in two sessions, the first session for the younger players (7 y.o to 11.yo) and the second session for the older players (12 y.o to 17 y.o).
You are welcome anytime !
THE TENNIS PLAYERS
Thanks to the previous benevolent work of Professor Lúcio, many children and teenagers from Bairro do Hospital had been already familiarized with the practice of tennis. For many years he taught on every saturday the local kids how to play tennis.. And his work has got its fruits… Now our young “teacher” is one of his former student !
A TOURNAMENT SOON ?
We are still teaching the many technical aspects of tennis : use forehand, back hand, to serve, hit drop shot, smash, play at the net etc.. And also teaching the rules and how to count the points (15 – 30 – 45 -deuce..)
Now we are preparing a small tournament for summer 2023… And prizes for the winners shall be tennis rackets of course !
PLAYING WITH STUDENTS FROM PORTUGAL
We had the chance to received the visit of Students and teachers from Oporto English school in Porto, Portugal. While they visited and discovered São Tomé, they took some time to spend with local associations, including our !
Our children could meet these Portuguese high school students, and befriend them during tremendous chess games ! We are ready for the soon to come “2023 rematch” ! Check our blog for more information.
PLAYING WITH FOREIGN VISITORS
Because our main sponsor is a local travel agency, the Tennis club often received the visit of tourists from Europe and Central Africa. French, German, Spanish friends have already come to play balls with the kids, always enjoying to make new encounters... Also a great way for them to gain in self-confidence !
PLAYING WITH A FORMER ATP STAR ?
For privacy reasons, we shall not yet disclose the name of the famous tennis player who has personal aquaintances with São Tomé. Once that he came for a visit, we had the opportunity to meet him in person, to tell him about our tennis project and to invite him to meet the kids…
He will hopefully be back in the near future, and the kids may have a chance to play with him… who knows !? That would be such an inspirational moment !
So check the social networks…. Who knows if that doesn´t happen earlier than expected !
TENNIS
HOW THE PROGRAM STARTED ?
Summer 2022… not much for the children to do… Well.. thanks to many German, Spanish and French friends who visited in 2021 and 2002, we had already collected tennis rackets and about 150 tennis balls…
We already played once in a while but nothing was well ordered… and then summer arrived.. ok, let´ s do it, let´ s mobilize some budget and find someone to organize lessons on a regular basis..
THE MANY BENEFITS OF TENNIS
We believe in the many virtues of tennis on a personal level, such as :
And on a social level :
OPENING HOURS
Tennis sessions are held every Monday, Thursday and Sunday afternoon, from 3:30 pm until 5:30 pm, and every Saturday morning from 9:30 until 11:30 am.
Usually the tennis practice is divided in two sessions, the first session for the younger players (7 y.o to 11.yo) and the second session for the older players (12 y.o to 17 y.o).
You are welcome anytime !
THE TENNIS PLAYERS
Thanks to the previous benevolent work of Professor Lúcio, many children and teenagers from Bairro do Hospital had been already familiarized with the practice of tennis. For many years he taught on every saturday the local kids how to play tennis.. And his work has got its fruits… Now our young “teacher” is one of his former student !
A TOURNAMENT SOON ?
We are still teaching the many technical aspects of tennis : use forehand, back hand, to serve, hit drop shot, smash, play at the net etc.. And also teaching the rules and how to count the points (15 – 30 – 45 -deuce..)
Now we are preparing a small tournament for summer 2023… And prizes for the winners shall be tennis rackets of course !
PLAYING WITH STUDENTS FROM PORTUGAL
We had the chance to received the visit of Students and teachers from Oporto English school in Porto, Portugal. While they visited and discovered São Tomé, they took some time to spend with local associations, including our !
Our children could meet these Portuguese high school students, and befriend them during tremendous chess games ! We are ready for the soon to come “2023 rematch” ! Check our blog for more information.
PLAYING WITH FOREIGN VISITORS
Because our main sponsor is a local travel agency, the Tennis club often received the visit of tourists from Europe and Central Africa. French, German, Spanish friends have already come to play balls with the kids, always enjoying to make new encounters... Also a great way for them to gain in self-confidence !
PLAYING WITH A FORMER ATP STAR ?
For privacy reasons, we shall not yet disclose the name of the famous tennis player who has personal aquaintances with São Tomé. Once that he came for a visit, we had the opportunity to meet him in person, to tell him about our tennis project and to invite him to meet the kids…
He will hopefully be back in the near future, and the kids may have a chance to play with him… who knows !? That would be such an inspirational moment !
So check the social networks…. Who knows if that doesn´t happen earlier than expected !