Founded in 2002 by Trey Buchholz, First Serve became the largest nationally-implemented, inner-city youth tennis and education program in the United States, outside of the USTA. The First Serve Life Skills Curriculum evolved into what many believe to be the most comprehensive sports-related life skills curriculum ever created and implemented nationally.
Reaching out to those who may not otherwise have the opportunity to play tennis
NJTL develops the character of young people by emphasizing the ideals and life of Arthur Ashe. NJTL chapters nationwide provide free education, life skills and tennis programming for youth during out-of-school time.
In continuation of this commitment, the USTA has acquired all rights to First Serve, a
501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, and its programs, including the First Serve Life
Skills CurriculumTM and the NJTL National Student Athlete Competition. These
programs will join the Arthur Ashe Essay Contest and Tennis Leadership Camp to help
strengthen the NJTL menu of educational offerings and enhance the USTA’s ability to
build the brand and seek outside investment.
The First Serve Life Skills Curriculum™ is a successful and effective method, utilizing
tennis with the sole purpose of empowering youth with the skills, values and experience they need to be responsible and productive citizens.
Giving all kids (regardless of income, race, gender) the opportunity to fully develop their tennis skills so they can derive a life time of enjoyment from the sport
Instilling in youngsters the values of leadership and academic excellence
Founded in 1969 by Arthur Ashe, Charlie Pasarell, and Sheridan Snyder, this growing network of tennis providers share similar values, ideals, and goals by:
Determined to integrate more education and tennis into the national program, while keeping life skills as a central core component, Trey envisioned a national ranking system, whereby inner-city young people would earn points for good grades in school and participation in competitive tennis at all levels. In 2007, the First Serve National Student Athlete Competition was born.
The NJTL National Student Athlete Competition is an annual 12-month, point-based competition based on school report cards, tournament results and USTA Jr. Team Tennis participation. The top three point-earners in four different age and gender divisions earn college scholarships of up to $5,000 per year.
Troy Chapter, Troy, AL
Youth at Heart, Tulsa, OK
Prior to the USTA’s acquiring of First Serve, 16 NJTL chapters had been delivering First Serve programming. There are an additional 16 chapters in development, and in June 2010, the following 8 NJTLs were accepted into the First Serve program:
Last year, the NJTL was rebranded as the USTA National Junior Tennis and Learning
network to emphasize its commitment to develop the character of young people not
only through tennis, but education as well.
New York Junior Tennis League Woodside, NY
Southeast Tennis & Learning Center, Washington, DC
Southern California Tennis Association, Los Angeles, CA
“I Have a Dream Foundation of Boulder County, Boulder, CO
NJTL chapters must be selected by the NJTL National Committee to deliver the First Serve Life Skills Curriculum and/or the NJTL National Student Athlete Competition. The 2010-2011 application period is now closed. The next application period will open in the spring of 2011.
The Education, Life Skills, Tennis components, created by First Serve, now enhance the USTA/NJTL network and are permanently recognized as a significant contribution in the history of the NJTL, which was founded in 1969.
