FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University tennis teams work hard in the local communities to grow and promote the game that they love. Twice a week, Ed Paige, Coordinator of Tennis Operations, and members of the Fairfield tennis team volunteer with First Serve Bridgeport.
It is a program that teaches tennis to youths ranging from elementary schoolers to high schoolers in the city of Bridgeport. While the main focus of the program is to teach tennis, it also gets the children exercising and having fun, which is what it’s all about.
“It is great to see the smiles on the kids’ faces, just having fun and playing tennis,” says Paige who organizes the volunteer program with the team. “It is such a diverse group of kids all running around playing tennis. It’s just really enjoyable to watch and be a part of,” added Paige.
First Serve Bridgeport is a unique organization that works with Bridgeport schools and after school programs including the Smilow-Burroughs Boys and Girls Club, the Cardinal Shehan Center, and Central High School. Bridgeport is just one of five cities in Connecticut to have such a program that is dedicated to teaching and growing the game of tennis in cities. The ultimate goal is to keep growing the program with more volunteers in order to reach more kids. At the younger levels, it is all about exercise and just exposing them to the game, whereas the high school program is more competitive. It allows the students to compete on teams and have matches with surrounding cities to truly grow their skills as players. The program also offers a summer camp at Central High School in Bridgeport.
The team has dedicated two days a week with two hours each day to volunteering with First Serve Bridgeport. The main job of the student-athletes is to teach the kids the basics. By serving to them they learn how to hit both the forehand and backhand.
Freshman Courtney Connors volunteered at the Smilow Burroughs Boys and Girls Club, and talked about her time there. “The kids are just as excited as we are and the team loves to volunteer and play tennis with the kids. I think it’s difficult for these kids to get involved in tennis and it’s important for us to bring that to them and teach them the game. Not only is it something new but it gets them out of the house and keeps them active which is always important”
Jeffrey Rodgers, a fellow freshman, also volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club and shared much of the same experience. “It’s fun to see kids enjoy the sport we enjoy the most. It broadens their horizons and gives them new experiences,” said Rodgers. “The team has a blast volunteering and all of the kids are always super appreciative of what we do.”
