The USTA introduced a multi-year sponsorship cope with Athleta that may see the ladies’s and ladies’ efficiency way of life model function one of many official sponsors of USTA League, USTA Participant Growth Instructing Skilled Initiatives and the USTA Basis Excellence Ladies’ Workforce. The partnership will purpose to empower ladies and ladies and attain new audiences of energetic tennis gamers.
As a part of Athleta’s mission to empower ladies and ladies to succeed in their limitless potential, it continues to determine alternatives for innovation to satisfy the ever-changing wants of its prospects. With greater than 22.6 million folks taking to tennis courts across the nation in 2021, a rise of roughly 1 million gamers from 2020, this sponsorship represents a chance to capitalize on tennis’ vital development and supply extra touchpoints to introduce the Athleta model to the USTA’s rising member base of energetic people.
“Athleta is proud so as to add USTA to our roster of goal pushed companions, centered on our mission of empowering ladies and ladies,” mentioned Athleta president and CEO Mary Beth Laughton. “Between our progressive tennis product and equipment, increasing entry to women from underserved communities, and specializing in extra variety within the next-generation of leaders in tennis teaching, this partnership is poised to make a major impression on the game.”
Athleta’s tennis assortment consists of an array of merchandise throughout its ladies’s and ladies’ strains. As a part of the partnership, Athleta created a curated number of skorts and clothes; breathable, ultra-lightweight tanks; and tennis equipment that may be worn to a tennis match or on a easy run across the neighborhood.
“We couldn’t be extra excited to accomplice with Athleta. They share our dedication to well being, wellness and inclusivity.” mentioned Lew Sherr, USTA CEO, and Govt Director. “All three of the USTA initiatives that Athleta can be partnering with us on are areas the place the USTA is attempting to open extra alternatives for ladies of all backgrounds as we proceed to develop tennis at each stage.”
Different sides of the sponsorship embrace content material creation and expanded purchasing experiences for USTA members and attendees at USTA occasions, and can activate throughout three key areas:
USTA League – With greater than 300,000 gamers taking part annually, USTA League is the nation’s largest grownup aggressive tennis league. It’s an effective way for members to remain energetic, enhance their tennis sport, and have the possibility to compete for a Nationwide Championship. League play begins on the native stage for gamers ages 18 and over, and is primarily organized in line with the Nationwide Tennis Score Program (NTRP) by age group. High groups from native leagues earn the possibility to compete in district and/or sectional championships, whereas the winners of sectionals advance to the USTA League Nationwide Championships. Athleta’s engagement will search to raise the Nationwide Championship expertise and improve participant participation.
USTA Participant Growth Instructing Skilled Initiatives – USTA Participant Growth’s Tennis Teaching & Management Fellowship powered by Athleta simply accomplished its inaugural class. It’s going to now look to coach the following era of leaders in tennis teaching by an integrative method that focuses on the core competencies of foundational teaching. The Fellowship will present younger and aspiring professionals with a world-class studying and coaching alternative with the USTA and is structured to ship vital experiential and management coaching whereas concurrently finishing the Degree 2 Certification necessities with USPTA or PTR.
USTA Basis Excellence Ladies’ Workforce – Excellence Program members are Nationwide Junior Tennis and Studying (NJTL) youth chosen primarily based on their elite stage of tennis capability, academic outcomes and dedication to the pathway to turn into student-athletes on the collegiate {and professional} ranges. The Excellence Program ensures the most effective teaching and assets can be found to these children with essentially the most need, athletic potential and monetary want. Native chapters are inspired to generate exterior funding for sustainability, and children be taught the significance of onerous work, grit and graciousness. As NJTLs embody the USTA Basis mission to carry tennis and schooling collectively to vary lives, Excellence Program occasions combine tennis on-court actions and academic off-court actions. At present, the USTA Basis has 19 NJTL chapters throughout the nation which have recognized near 350 promising athletes. These athletes are recognized and chosen as a result of their onerous work, expertise, perseverance and grit. These Excellence Groups are offered extra assets designed to offer teaching, gear and match journey for free of charge to underserved junior tennis gamers from under-resourced populations who would in any other case by no means have the possibility to even play.
