Kudos For RA Tennis Program

Reston Association's tennis program was named 2012 Parks and Recreation Agency of the Year by Racquet Sports Industry magazine. Reston Tennis Manager Mary Conaway tells the magazine "my job is to grow tennis, providing it as an amenity for the community and sharing our passion." Read the full RSI article online (page 36). This is the second honor for Reston Tennis this year. It was also named  "USTA Mid-Atlantic Section Organization of the Year." Reston has 52 tennis courts, including six kid-sized courts on North Shore.   To keep up with all Reston Association news, subscribe to Reston Patch's free daily newsletter.

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Reston Tennis Earns USTA Award

Reston Tennis has been honored with the 2012 Outstanding Organization of the Year award from the U.S. Tennis Association/Mid-Atlantic Section. USTA/Mid-Atlantic officials said Reston Tennis, a division of Reston Association, earned the honors for charitable efforts for two successful charity tournaments and for the creation of the 10-and-under tennis courts for children. The award will be presented at a Nov. 17 luncheon in Reston. The recognition also makes Reston Tennis Association eligible for consideration in the national awards.

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A Grand Opening for Reston's Smallest Players

Reston Association cuts the ribbon on its new kid-sized tennis courts.

Pint-sized players were out smacking tennis balls around even before the red ribbon was cut Saturday at Reston Association's new Quickstart courts for kids. Using a $17,000 grant from the U.S. Tennis Association, RA converted two under-utilized courts at North Shore Tennis and turned them into six 36-feet courts, perfect for learning the game. Rod Dulany, Executive Director of the USTA's Mid-Atlantic section, says Reston's courts are the first of their kind in the area. "Now we are at a starting point for a national initiative," he said. "Reston is a leader. You are first in the Mid Atlantic region to have six courts" just for kids. Reston tennis serves 2,000 children in lessons and leagues, says Reston tennis manager Mary Conaway.  Having…

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Reston Association To Build Kid-Sized Courts

USTA grant will pay for six regulation courts to turn into six tot-sized spots.

Reston Association has received a $17,000 grant from the U.S. Tennis Association that will go towards converting two regulation tennis courts into six kid-sized courts. Two courts on North Shore drive will turn into six 36-foot courts designed specifically for children ages 10 and under. Reston Association 's tennis program serves about 2,000 children in group and private lessons, the scholarship program that helps any child learn the game and 50-60 children who are enrolled through the nearby Laurel Learning Center.  “Many of these children would otherwise have no opportunity to get the exercise and skills that come with learning tennis,” Mary Conaway, manager of Reston Association’s tennis programs, said in a statement.  “This grant will…

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Lessons From A Pro

Washington Kastles coach Murphy Jensen holds tennis clinic in Reston.

Murphy Jensen, doubles tennis star and coach of the Washington Kastles, visited Reston's Lake Newport tennis courts Saturday for a free tennis clinic and to promote the Kastles' upcoming season. Jensen teamed with his brother, Luke, to win the 1993 doubles title at the French Open.  The Kastles open their season July 5.

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Five Minutes With Mary Conaway

Reston Association's tennis manager talks about her love of the game.

No one in Reston loves tennis more than Mary Conaway, who has been the Reston Association tennis manager for the past 11 years. Even after establishing new programs, expanding existing ones, initiating scholarships, and being appointed to a national tennis committee, Conaway continues working to improve tennis Reston. Her next project? Moving it indoors. Reston Patch recently spoke with Mary Conaway about how tennis has become one of the most popular sports in town. Q. When did you first start teaching tennis? I first started at Reston Association in 1997 teaching tennis. At that point I had been in between jobs and wanted to get into the tennis industry, so I attended the Hilton Head Professional Tennis Registry and became certified to …

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Let's Go To the Videotape

Reston Association provides video program to analyze game.

Are you looking for a customized program to improve your tennis game? The Reston Association has a unique program for you. RA provides a video program to record footage of your tennis game. This video will show the strengths and weakness of a tennis player in the hopes it will  improve their skills, mechanics, and overall performance. Players go home with a video featuring commentary and recommendations from tennis coach Jim Elder. The video analysis program is open to both junior and adult players.  In most cases, adults take advantage of this program in order to see their stroke production and how to improve their tennis game. Jim Elder, RA tennis pro, says he meets players at the court,  warms up with them for 10 minutes, and then …

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