USTA Workshop Trains Avon Gym Teachers on Tennis Instruction

Sometimes the best way to teach students tennis is to show them how to do it rather than describe technique, said Nikita Zaharav.

"We want to give them the opportunity to experience tennis the right way," said Zaharav, northern Connecticut community relations manager for the New England branch of the United States Tennis Association.

Avon physical education teachers came together at Friday as Zaharav demonstrated tennis lesson plans. The curriculum he presented was spearheaded by Robert Pangrazi, a physical education expert and professor at Arizona State University, with help from a team of teachers and tennis professionals nationwide

"It's a professional development day for them," Zaharav said Friday. "We're giving PE teachers the tools to incorporate tennis into the curriculum."

The goal isn't to develop a tennis professional.

"They must feel a level of competence," Zaharav said. "They have to succeed."

The three fundamental pillars of tennis are as follows, Zaharav.

1. You must hit the ball when it's in front of you.
2. Bend your knees.
3. Swing low to high.

He taught these to the teachers during throwing and catching warmups that showed them how to do all those things before Zaharav explained them.

Zaharav also noted footwork as an important component of tennis, as well as decreasing reliance on wrists when swinging.

"There's very little wrist-flicking in tennis," he said.

The USTA gave a $36,500 matching grant to to help pay for much needed renovations to Avon Middle School tennis courts, Laura Young, of Avon Community Recreational Neighborhood, Inc. (ACORN), said. ACORN spearheaded a private fundraising-driven campaign, gifting $23,500 to the town. The school and finance boards committed a combined total of $65,000 to the project. The Hoffman Foundation and Avon Education Foundation contributed $10,000 and $1,500 grants, respectively. is also donating $45,000-worth of in-kind services.

Trees on the property have been removed and Young said that groundbreaking will start soon, weather-permitting.

"The goal is to have the courts done for summer tennis," she said.

Editor's Note: The original version of this article stated that Zaharav helped ACORN with its USTA grant application, but Avon Middle School technically applied for the application. The $36,500 matching grant was given to Avon Public Schools. The article has been updated with the clarification.

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