San Francisco has a rich tradition of youth tennis that continues to this day. The (public court) center of the action is at Golden Gate Park Tennis Center, where on weekday afternoons and weekends you see kids of all ages taking lessons and playing matches. Teams playing out of GGPTC and other public facilities such as McLaren Park have achieved much success in recent years, making it all the way to the National championships in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
USTA
The USTA has great resources for kids who want to learn how to play tennis, enter competitive tournaments, or join junior teams. The site allows you to enter your city to find tournaments in the area, as well as search for where to play.
SF Park & Recreation Youth Tennis Programs
- Beginning youth players: lessons are offered at a variety of parks across the city. Check out the Park & Rec catalog of classes for details.
- Intermediate/Advanced youth can take after-school lessons at Palega Recreation Center.
- High Performance Juniors: Advanced youth tennis players can participate in after-school and weekend lessons at Golden Gate Park.
- QuickStart Junior Tennis Academy: In conjunction with the United States Tennis Association-Northern California Division, the San Francisco Recreation & Park Department is introducing the QuickStart Junior Tennis Academy. The QuickStart format uses child appropriate equipment, such as smaller racquets, larger tennis balls, & smaller courts in order to transition young aspiring tennis players into the lifetime sport of tennis. Technical skills are easier to learn & children can have more fun & tennis physical activity with this new program & league play.
- The Junior Tennis Academy is for the more advanced junior tennis player with an emphasis on more complex technical instruction: continental grips on serve, volley, chips, and semi-western grips on forehands. The ideal student is someone who is looking to progress towards United States Tennis Association junior novice tournament & league play. All participants must wear tennis shoes & have a tennis racquet. Wear athletic shoes and clothing.
Community Tennis Programs
Modeled after the nationally recognized EPATT program, TLC improves youth outcomes by providing programs to San Francisco’s most underserved communities that promote academic achievement, health and wellness, and social/emotional development, through the sport of tennis.
Currently, TLC operates in four neighborhood sites, serving elementary school children in grades K-5. When the GGPTC renovation is complete, students who “graduate” from the elementary school TLC programs will come to this iconic facility where they will continue to receive academic support and improve their tennis skills on the courts.
Youth Tennis Advantage
Youth Tennis Advantage is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to serving youth in inner city communities through a comprehensive program of tennis and academic tutoring that promotes the physical, educational, and life skills necessary to prepare and empower them for leadership in their communities, and success in their personal lives.
For more than 25 years, YTA has provided innovative tennis and educational programs to bay area children through comprehensive programs and expert coaching, both of which have been lauded locally and nationally by the United States Tennis Association, the United States Professional Tennis Registry, and the United States Tennis Professional Tennis Association.
Private Tennis Programs
- America’s Next Tennis Stars is a revolutionary tennis organization that is focusing on bringing progressive coaching and teaching programs in the form of leagues, camps, after school programs, and academies to cities across the nation.
- Presidio YMCA offers after-school tennis program and specialty clinics.
Scholarships
Lifetime Activities offers scholarships to eligible San Francisco resident youth (4- 16ys) for tennis lessons and summer tennis camps at the Goldman Tennis Center. Scholarships are offered in the form of free and discounted program tuition for students from low-income families.
Parents or guardians can apply for a scholarship by meeting income level restrictions and by submitting documentation of enrollment in other subsidized programs. Scholarships are offered for youth tennis lesson programs and youth tennis camps.
More info here: Lifetime Youth Scholarships
Summer Camps
Every summer and during school breaks, San Francisco Rec & Park puts on hundreds of youth camps. This includes Spring Break Camp, Summer Break Camp, Winter Break Camp, Camp Serve & Swim, Palega Tennis Learning Center (HITTS Program-USTA), & Betty Ann Ong Neighborhood Summer Day Camp (Willie Woo Woo Wong).