Well-Served Tennis Academy Takes Off

Summer is here and with it all sorts of activities for children to participate in, but for those with autism, or who struggle for a variety of reasons, the choices may be more limited.

For parents of such children, you can now add tennis to your list of options.

Monday marked day one of a two-session tennis camp held at (you can still sign up for this week or next) for children in grades 4-8 with autism.

Shannon Knall, a Simsbury mother who is the Connecticut advocacy chair of the Autism Speaks Community Leadership Council, created Well Served Tennis Academy with Simsbury resident Chris O’Connor, director of summer programs at Ethel Walker.

The sessions run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Friday this week and Monday through Friday next week.

The idea behind Well-Served Tennis Academy — which is open to students anywhere on the autism spectrum — is to introduce children living with the disorder to tennis as a way to incorporate regular physical activity into their lives.

As Knall pointed out, autism has no prejudice of race, color or socioeconomic background. Therefore students of all colors and from all backgrounds are encouraged to attend. A $20 registration fee applies; sessions will fill on a first-come, first-serve basis. A health form is needed to participate.

On Monday there were about a dozen children and there are already that many signed up for next week.

Knall said recruitment of volunteers went so well that the ratio of trained volunteer to student would be 1-to-1 both weeks (in some cases the ratio is two volunteers to one participant).

The back-story to how this all came about has a little bit of a ‘small world’ feel when it’s told. Knall plays tennis at Farmington Farms with O’Connor and Daria Smith, of Southington, who is the executive director of the Independent Living Council in Hartford.

When the idea started to take shape, Smith thought of her friend former tennis professional Chris Carrigg. Once contacted, the Massachusetts resident said he’d help out for both weeks. In turn, he contacted Greg Macko — a tennis player who has also worked with children — of West Hartford to help out.

“And sort of two worlds came together,” said Smith.

Her organization is also helping to support the program financially. Programs like this can help teach life-long skills, she said.

It is also a way to combine sports and social interaction, said Knall.

Jim Quick, president of the Independent Living Council’s board of directors, said he attended tennis camp when he was younger. Quick has been active in all sorts of sports (swimming, rugby) throughout his life, despite being in a wheelchair since he was 17.

“I know what it’s done for me,” he said of being involved in sports. He was there to show his support for the program.

Others pitching in to help out included Tony Taverna and his wife, Kathy, owners of the Perfect Racquet in Avon, who donated the tennis balls (special balls for children that do not bounce as high), hoppers (ball baskets) and nets for the program — basically all the equipment.

State Rep. Linda Schofield was on hand as she was going to help coach a few days here and there. First Selectman Mary Glassman and selectman Lisa Heavner were also there to show support on the first day, as was Lee Reynolds, director of outreach for U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy’s office.

Even the United States Tennis Association was there, in the form of Deirdre McCormack, in support for the program.

Before assigning participants to the volunteers, Knall addressed those who helped make the idea a reality.

“It’s like giving birth to something,” she said, as her voice faltered a bit. Knall is mother to three boys, one with autism who will be participating in the program.

Bottom line though, the program is about and for the children. Children like 10-year-old James Rhodes who had never played tennis before.

Was he excited about today? “Yes, I am,” said the Simsbury resident.

Ellen Sprinsky, also of Simsbury, brought her 10-year-old son Zachary to participate.

“I thought it would be perfect,” she said, as he stood on the court in his tie-dyed T-shirt ready to play, with a smile on his face.

Her other two children play tennis as well. She said the fact that it’s a small group is beneficial.

Knall worked on starting this program for the better part of a year. And now she would like to see it continue.

“I'm really proud of our collaborative accomplishment and hope that we can create a successful model for years to come,” she said.

To attend Well-Served Tennis Academy, contact Chris O’Connor at coconnor@ethelwalker.org.