JANUARY 2022
Our GameSetMatch core tennis program is in full swing. A total of 30 youth are currently registered to attend this program at Fair Oaks Tennis Center on Mondays and Tuesdays from 4:30-7:00 p.m. and Fridays from 5:00-6:30 p.m.

The GameSetMatch program provides tennis instruction and academic enrichment for our AYTEF youth. This month, our tennis staff are focusing on teaching split steps, tracking and receiving, rallies, and agility and coordination skills. 
Take just a moment to watch Kirsten teaching our GameSetMatch youth the fundamentals of serving!
This month’s free Block Party event is on FRIDAY, JANUARY 20th. Come join us for a night of tennis, music, pizza, and games!
A great way to get involved with AYTEF is to VOLUNTEER AT OUR BLOCK PARTY. We always love having on-court volunteers to lead our tennis games or off-court volunteers to help with tasks like serving pizza or playing Jenga and Cornhole with our youth. We have plenty of volunteers for January, but hope to see you at our February event!
In our GameSetMatch program, AYTEF focuses on developing SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL skills with a concentration on self-awareness. We want our youth to be able to analyze and accept their own thoughts, actions, and feelings. The following is an example of curriculum we complete during our GameSetMatch life-skills session.

ACTIVITY 1

Youth acted out various situational flash cards with their peers. For example, the card would read, “You are sitting in class and the person behind you keeps kicking the back of your chair. You ask them politely to stop, but they say, “no,” and continue to keep kicking your chair. Act out what you would do in this situation.”  (Note: there were no "right" answers.)

ACTIVITY 2

Youth completed a personality profile by answering questions about themselves to determine strengths and weaknesses. The activity provided youth insight into their uniqueness as well as their tendencies to react in certain way given various situations.


CONCLUSION

To conclude the lesson, staff circled back to each participant and gave them the opportunity to change or affirm their reactions to the situations described by the flash cards. After gaining insight from the personality profile, some youth decided to change their answer to address the the situations in a more effective manor. The lesson helped youth be more self-aware of their unique tendencies and develop positive communication skills to address situations that arise in daily life. 
Do you know a TEACHER OR TUTOR that would enjoy working with our AYTEF youth? We are looking to hire an academic coordinator to oversee the academic achievement of our GameSetMatch youth. If you or someone you know may be a good fit for this part-time position, please read the job description posted below or contact debbie@aytef.org for more information.
AYTEF's mission, to enrich the lives of under-resourced youth through tennis and education, can only be fully reached by sustaining meaningful partnerships and mobilizing like-minded supporters. Your financial contribution will make an invaluable difference in AYTEF's ability to serve at-risk community youth. 
Thank you to Keitha Blackburn and Elizabeth Hill from PORSCHE for hosting AYTEF Board members and volunteers at the Porsche Experience Center in Atlanta for an amazing Drive and Dine Event. Porsche is a corporate sponsor for the annual AYTEF Golf Tournament, and AYTEF truly appreciates Porsche’s commitment to supporting our programs and mission. 
The mission of the Atlanta Youth Tennis & Education Foundation is to ENRICH the lives of under-resourced youth through tennis and education. We SERVE through sport so that our youth participants can ACHIEVE without limit on the court, in the classroom, and in life.