2307 reception students in South Australia have received brand new tennis racquets, thanks to ANZ and Tennis Australia’s School Partnership Program.
ANZ’s support of the ANZ Tennis Hot Shots program has ensured students in their first year of school at a Tennis Australia partner school receive a brand new tennis racquet, with an astonishing 80,000 in Australian taking up the opportunity since January 2015.
There are currently more than 2000 schools Australia wide who participate in the program as part of their health and physical education curriculum.
There are currently 182 Tennis Australia partner primary schools in South Australia.
Nationwide more than 213,883 children played ANZ Tennis Hot Shots in 2015/16, making the program one of Australia’s most popular sport participation programs.
ANZ Tennis Hot Shots ambassador Alicia Molik is delighted to see the opportunities the program offers to young children around Australia.
“ANZ has helped us deliver 80,000 racquets to children around the country and you can’t wipe the smiles off the kids’ faces,” Molik said.
“It’s fantastic to see so many tennis racquets in the hands of young children, which really encourages them to participate in physical activity while doing something that is fun.
“The School Partnership Program is accessible to any primary school in Australia and gives kids the opportunity to play tennis as part of their curriculum. Tennis is a fantastic sport for kids – and their families – to play as part of an active and healthy lifestyle.”
Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley firmly believes sports like tennis are vital to children’s health and wellbeing at a young age.
“Sport has, and continues to play, a very significant role in the lives of all Australian families and communities,” Tiley said.
“Schools provide great opportunities for children to participate in sports, which in turn develops the physical, social and emotional skills which are critical to a child’s development.
“At Tennis Australia, we are very proud to support Australian schools and teachers in the delivery of sustainable health and physical education programs. Tennis values the importance of health and physical education, and the role which sports play in providing opportunities for children to be active.”
ANZ Head of Marketing Australia Carolyn Bendall added: “ANZ is committed to supporting the growth of tennis at all levels – from our association with ANZ Tennis Hot Shots through to our sponsorship of the Australian Open. It is great to see how this is playing out in local communities.”
Additional information
ANZ Tennis Hot Shots fast facts
- ANZ Tennis Hot Shots is Tennis Australia’s official development program specifically designed to introduce primary school children between five and 12 years of age to tennis. The program uses smaller courts, racquets and low compression tennis balls
- ANZ Tennis Hot Shots is one of Australia’s most popular sports participation programs for the five to 12 year old age group
- A record 213,883 children played ANZ Tennis Hot Shots nationwide in 2015/16. This is a 9 per cent increase on 2014/15
- ANZ Tennis Hot Shots is popular with both genders – 46% girls and 54% boys participated in the program in 2015/16
- There are more than 2000 Tennis Australia partner primary schools in Australia delivering tennis as part of their health and physical education curriculum
Tennis Australia School Partnership Program
- Tennis Australia’s School Partnership Program aims to give children the opportunity to pick up a racquet and play tennis as part of their health and physical education curriculum
- Tennis is committed to supporting schools and teachers with the implementation and delivery of sustainable programs and quality playing opportunities
- Tennis values the importance of health and physical education and the role which sport plays in schools to provide more opportunities for students to get active and participate
- Tennis is the number one delivered sport through the Australian Sports Commission Sporting Schools initiative
- As a Tennis Australia partner school, schools receive an equipment pack, a comprehensive teaching resource with lesson plans mapped to the Australian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education developed for all student levels, professional learning opportunities and opportunity to apply for line marking and on court funding assistance
- Since January 2015, ANZ has provided 80,000 racquets to students around Australia in their first year of school who take part in Tennis Australia’s School Partnership Program.
Requirements
- A Tennis Australia partner school must include tennis in their health and physical curriculum for a minimum of four weeks per year, host one intra-school tennis competition each year, partner with a local Tennis Australia club and coach, have the coordinating teacher participate in professional learning and form a student committee to provide tennis equipment for students at lunch time.
All Tennis Australia school resources are linked to the Australian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education and have been endorsed by the Australian Council for Health and Physical Education Recreation (ACHPER). For more information please visit http://www.tennis.com.au/schools.
For further information on ANZ Tennis Hot Shots please visit hotshots.tennis.com.au.
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