USTA FREE TENNIS PLAY DAYS
IN CELEBRATION OF NICKELODEON’S WORLDWIDE DAY OF PLAY
USTA Section Communications PR Guide
WHAT IS A USTA FREE TENNIS PLAY DAY
September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, and to help combat this growing epidemic,
the United States Tennis Association (USTA) is hosting USTA Free Tennis Play Days in celebration of
Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play throughout the country in an effort to get kids active and involved in
tennis. The USTA Free Tennis Play Days, which take place September 1st through October 6th, are a
unique and fun way for tennis facilities, parks, and municipalities to introduce tennis to a new generation
of kids and their parents.
OBJECTIVES
 Position tennis as the model sport
 Increase sampling of 10 and Under Tennis
 Increase participation in USTA youth tennis and initiatives
 Drive consumer awareness and traffic to youthtennis.com
AUDIENCES
 Media: parenting, children, health & wellness, pop culture, entertainment, tennis, lifestyle,
diversity
 Consumers: mothers, fathers, children in target demographic
 Tennis community: players, providers
 Key influencers: community leaders, tastemakers, celebrities
 USTA partners
TIMING
 July 17 – August – Provider phase
o Encourage facilities, parks, municipalities, etc. to host a USTA Free Tennis Play Day
o Target industry media and trade publications to reach providers
 August – October 6 – Consumer phase
o Encourage families, kids, and parents to attend a USTA Free Tennis Play Day
o Target sports, tennis, parenting, health & wellness, lifestyle, and community national and
local media to cover USTA Free Tennis Play Days
FAQS ABOUT USTA FREE TENNIS PLAY DAYS
How should the promotion be referenced?
 First reference:
USTA Free Tennis Play Day in celebration of Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play

Once referenced event mention can be referred to as:
USTA Free Tennis Play Day
In order for events to qualify, USTA Free Play Days must be:
 Free for attendees to participate
 Held from September 1 – October 6
 Open to the public
What are the benefits for providers to host a USTA Free Tennis Play Day
 USTA is helping facilities generate revenue, draw new players and grow the game through the
USTA and Nickelodeon partnership
 As host, you receive:
o Nickelodeon Branding – Use Nickelodeon’s powerful brand on publicity materials to help
reach more parents and kids.
o Exposure - We’ll use the US Open television broadcast to drive consumers to
YouthTennis.com - an easy way to reach new audiences!
o Freebies – The first 2,000 hosts to register receive special giveaways for their attendees.
o Promote the Free 1-Year USTA 10 and Under Junior Membership to help your young
players stay healthy through tennis.
To register for a USTA Free Tennis Play Day or find one near you:
 Youthtennis.com
HOLD A PRESS EVENT
The USTA Corporate Communications team will organize a press event to launch National Childhood
Obesity Awareness Month (details to be forthcoming). We recommend holding your own press event(s) at
a USTA Free Tennis Play Day during September to create buzz in your local communities.
TIPS
 Selecting an event. The following factors can be considered when choosing an event:
o Let’s Move cities
o Top DMAs
o Target Market Initiative
o Mayor and talent opportunities
o Date
 The first week is during Labor Day weekend which may affect media outreach
 Pick a date where fits the best opportunity for your local media, may vary
depending on market
 Invite local dignitaries (Ex: Mayor) and talent (Ex: local celebrities that are parents) to generate
excitement for the kickoff.
 Conduct a press event
o Invite health, youth, parent, and sports writers and TV anchors
o Have the Mayor present a proclamation for a photo opt; hit with kids
o Work with Mayor’s press person to send out a release on their end. Their press person
usually has a good relationship with the local media
Youth Tennis Message Points

Obesity kills 1 in 10 people. Childhood obesity is an epidemic that has tripled in
the last three decades. Tennis is a great way to combat childhood obesity.

It is a Sport of a Lifetime
Tennis is a sport that can be played at any age. Give your kids the gift of tennis.

The USTA is hosting thousands of USTA Free Tennis Play Days throughout the
country in an effort to get kids active during National Childhood Obesity Awareness
Month in September.

It promotes Health & Wellness
Tennis incorporates aerobic exercise, balance, agility and hand-eye coordination,
allowing kids to use a wide range of physical movements.

Youth tennis is sized right for kids
We’ve scaled youth tennis to a child’s age and size, using lower-bouncing and slowermoving balls, lighter and shorter racquets, and smaller courts.

It is Fun!
The primary reason children play sport is to have fun.
o Fun activities such as USTA Free Tennis Play Days.
PRESS RELEASE TEMPLATE
[FACILITY/ORGANIZATION] TO HOST A USTA FREE TENNIS PLAY DAY IN
CELEBRATION OF NICKELODEON’S WORLDWIDE DAY OF PLAY
[Insert City and State], [Enter date of release] – The United States Tennis Association (USTA)
announced that its hosting thousands of USTA Free Tennis Play Days in celebration of Nickelodeon’s
Worldwide Day of Play throughout the country in an effort to get kids active and involved in tennis during
National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month in September. USTA Free Tennis Play Days will provide
kids and parents of all skill levels with the opportunity to experience tennis in a social and fun setting.
[Enter Organization/Location] will host a USTA Free Tennis Play Day on [enter day], [enter date] at
[location] from [enter time of event].
The event is open to the public with an emphasis placed on family participation, effort and sportsmanship.
In addition, the USTA Free Tennis Play Day serves as a great place to sample tennis for all ages. In just
a few hours, participants will take part in tennis skills and game challenges that can be done individually
or in teams, giving them the chance to experience success and get active.
USTA Free Tennis Play Days is geared towards getting more kids to participate in tennis by using
modified equipment and courts tailored to a child’s size and ability. By utilizing shorter and lighter
racquets, slower-bouncing balls, smaller courts and simplified scoring, children learn to play more quickly
and easily while having more fun in the process.
Youth Tennis official spokesperson, actress, Christine Taylor, says, “USTA Free Tennis Play Days are an
exciting opportunity to expose thousands of children and families to tennis. In addition to being fun and
engaging for families, tennis is a great physical activity that encourages a healthy lifestyle.”
[Insert Event Information]
To learn more about USTA Free Tennis Play Days, please visit www.youthtennis.com.
###
[Insert Boiler Plate]
For more information, contact:
[Insert Contact Name, Title, Organization, Phone Number, Email]
MEDIA ADVISORY TEMPLATE
-- MEDIA ADVISORY -[FACILITY/ORGANIZATION/MARKET] TO HOST [A] USTA FREE TENNIS PLAY DAY[S] IN
CELEBRATION OF NICKELODEON’S WORLDWIDE DAY OF PLAY
September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, and to help combat this growing epidemic,
the United States Tennis Association (USTA) is hosting USTA Free Tennis Play Days in celebration of
Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play throughout the country in an effort to get kids active and involved in
tennis. USTA Free Tennis Play Days will provide kids and parents of all skill levels with the opportunity to
experience tennis in a social and fun setting.
The events are open to the public with an emphasis placed on family participation, effort and
sportsmanship. In addition, the USTA Free Tennis Play Day serves as a great place to sample tennis for
all ages. In just a few hours, participants will take part in tennis skills and game challenges that can be
done individually or in teams, giving them the chance to experience success and get active.
The following are events taking place in [Insert Market]:
Date:
Host:
Where:
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Date:
Host:
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Date:
Host:
Where:
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For more information on USTA Free Tennis Play Days, please visit www.youthtennis.com.
MEDIA CONTACT:
[Insert Contact Name, Phone, Email]