Making quite a racket in Naperville is a national tennis program that’s serving a great purpose.
Buddy Up Tennis helps individuals with Down Syndrome learn how to play tennis and much more.
Every Saturday morning at Five Star Tennis, the athletes ranging from preschool to college take the court for activities and tennis.
Volunteers called buddies help the athletes throughout the activities, building friendships while developing social and emotional learning.
“And then with tennis, it builds their confidence, they’re working with their buddies who we typically try to keep the same buddies from week to week so they build that bond and that friendship and they look forward to seeing them every single week. So they build teamwork, they build friendship, they build confidence, and they improve their athleticism.”
Tennis coaches from Five Star Tennis also help lead the 90-minute practice.
Although Buddy Up Tennis has been around nationally since 2008, the program didn’t hit Naperville’s court until fall of 2016.
Five Star Tennis will host a spring fling for Buddy Up Tennis on April 8, with proceeds supporting the Naperville program.
