Aim
Utilise Tennis as a tool for the holistic development of underprivileged and rural youth in Anantapur, by focusing on improving their health and well-being, supporting their education and teaching the sport of Tennis.
RDT established the Tennis program in partnership with Rafa Nadal Foundation in 2010, with a focus on the education and holistic development of young children.
The centre, named as Nadal Educational & Tennis School (NETS), is housed at the Anantapur Sports Village (ASV). The program was initiated for both Boys & Girls in 2010 with 90 children. Currently, the total number of participants at NETS is 226 (78 Girls and 148 Boys).
Tennis Program
NETS cater to both boys and girls in the U-6 to U-16 age categories. Sessions are run twice, daily in the morning and evening from Monday to Saturday. The children are divided into groups depending upon their age category as well as level of play. They are provided with Tennis equipment and clothing including rackets, balls, drill equipment and stringing machine, as well as state of the art Tennis infrastructure including five floodlit clay courts and a practice wall. The programs are planned and continually monitored by the NETS coordinator with help of coaches. Moreover, the coaching staff is internally trained by RDT.
Development Program
Education, lifelong health & well-being and nutrition are the major focus areas of the development program at NETS. All children are provided with daily English and computer classes, taught by qualified teachers in designated computer labs and English classrooms. Moreover, they periodically assess to monitor and evaluate the progress of the children. All children are provided with two daily nutritious snacks, after practice in the morning and evening. Additionally, the children go through a free medical/health check up on a bi-annual basis, performed by qualified doctors.