Elysium believes in the power of tennis to provide opportunities beyond the court. As such, the club is excited to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day. This fantastic tribute is organized by the National Women’s Sports Foundation and promotes girls and women to play sports and realize their full power.

 

“Playing sports helps develop so many useful lifelong skills and competencies applicable to one’s social, professional and personal life,” explains Alice Tunaru, Elysium Tennis Coach and Director of Junior Academy. “Tennis is still one of the few sports that does not allow on-court coaching. So one must learn how to compete on their own, how to focus on the right things, come up with a strategy and make adjustments. I can confidently say that the skill to be flexible and adjust on the tennis court has translated off the court throughout my life, and it helped me manage challenges and other life obstacles that I encountered.”

 

“Elysium offers tennis options for girls and women of all ages and abilities,” said Beth Fitzgerald, Elysium’s General Manager. “It’s important that the women who play here feel supported, challenged and have fun.  We celebrate and encourage our female members from Tiny Tots up to USTA Competitive Teams.”

 

“Playing tennis as a young girl has especially helped me develop a sense of independence and self-sufficiency,” noted Tunaru. “I believe the number one reason for women to continue playing tennis is for its overall wellness benefits. It is a great way to work out without feeling like it’s a chore (you’re playing a game, after all). Tennis is a great full-body workout and pushes the body and brain to work together while multitasking, being coordinated, balanced and strategic. It is a great way to relieve stress and an easy way to stay connected and make new friends.”

 

Thank you to all our female members who continue pushing themselves and prioritizing their well-being. To learn more about National Girls and Women in Sports Day, visit https://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/get-involved/ngwsd/about-ngwsd/ 

 

Did you know…
  • The International Tennis Federation (ITF) reports that of the 87 million tennis players worldwide, approximately 47% of players are female, and 53% are male. The ITF reports that North America is the only region to have more female tennis players than males, with approximately 55% of tennis players being female.
  • In 1971, fewer than 500,000 girls participated in high school sports. By 2018, that number was close to 3.5 million. Source: National Federation of State High School Associations 2018-19 Athletics Participation Summary
  • Approximately 25,000 women participated in college sports in 1971. More than 200,000 female athletes participated in college athletics in 2017. Source: NCAA Sponsorship & Participation Rates Report 1981-82 to 2017-18
  • 1 in 3 girls between the ages of 6 and 12 participates in sports regularly. Source: Aspen Institute, 2019
  • 40% of teen girls are not actively participating in sports. Source: WSF Teen Sport Report, 2018
  • Tennis legend Billie Jean King founded the Women’s Sports Foundation in 1974. You can learn more about her story and their research at https://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/athlete/billie-jean-king/