Each week we visit our Champions of Southern California Tennis – those who go above and beyond to promote and grow the game throughout SoCal and beyond. These individuals and organizations deliver the game of tennis to a variety of audiences, often in places where the significance of tennis goes far beyond the court itself. As we share their stories with you, we commend their ongoing efforts to grow the game and make positive, life-changing impacts on those they touch.

Friends of the Seal Beach Tennis Center has been providing children with the opportunity to enjoy tennis without financial hardship. They use tennis activities to promote educational, physical, and social development for children. They strive to reward deserving children from the ages of 12-17, who otherwise would be unable to pay the program rate through annual scholarships to the SBTC Junior Academy.

The SBTC Junior Academy touches on a number of different programming options. From fun, recreational introductory classes, to high performance programs, the SBTC has something for everyone. Whether you are 6 or 16, the Junior Academy will guide players through training to compete from the lowest stage to National and International tournament play.

Participant in the Junior Academy have the privilege of working with instructors who are all USTA/PTR certified. In addition, workouts are divided by age and ability and feature competitive, high performance, and elite level workouts.

Special events that Friends of the Seal Beach Tennis Center participates in include the Annual Inner City High School Tennis Day, for which the group donates an array of tennis supplies, including racquets, tennis balls, and clothes, to the kids in order for them to play tennis at school. Friends also had the benefit of combining the appearance of former French Open champion and SCTA Hall of Famer Michael Chang with a raffle and silent auction in order to raise funds for the Center.

Friends of the Seal Beach Tennis Center believes it is important to give back in life, which it feels is reflected in its work. It aims to have a positive effect on children both on and off the court through their programming and resources.

For additional information, please contact Brenda Danielson at (714)-345-0945 or the Seal Beach Tennis Center at (562)-598-8624.

–Jeremy Goode