Building Leaders, One Court at a time

At A Love of Tennis, we believe tennis creates more than players. It builds confidence, creates connections, and develops leaders.

Since 2003, A Love of Tennis has worked to create welcoming community spaces where children, youth, and adults can learn, grow, and belong through sport. While tennis skills are an important part of our programs, some of the most meaningful outcomes happen beyond the baseline. Every year, we see participants, volunteers, instructors, and community members build confidence, develop leadership skills, and discover new ways to give back. One of the best examples of this journey is Matti.

From Summer Student to Certified Tennis Instructor.

Matti first joined A Love of Tennis as a summer student through the Summer Student Grant Program. With previous tennis experience from playing in high school, she helped support our programs, worked with participants of all ages, and quickly became a valued member of the team. After returning for a second summer, Matti discovered that what she enjoyed most wasn't simply being on the tennis court. It was teaching, mentoring, and helping young players develop their skills and confidence. A major part of the summer student experience is providing students with opportunities to gain practical experience in their field of study. As a marketing student, Matti was also able to apply her skills through projects that supported the organization, including creating graphics using Canva and helping develop content for our Instagram account. These opportunities allowed her to build professional experience while contributing to our efforts to connect with the community.

Reflecting on her experience, Matti shared: "My experience working at A Love Of Tennis has been a significant part of my life. It provided me with an amazing job, helped develop my passion for teaching and allowed me to gain experience in the field I am in. Ultimately, this job helped me secure my first full-time job because it not only gave me teaching experience that led to other teaching jobs, but also experience in marketing, which is what I do today. I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for working here."

After two summers of working with participants, developing her coaching skills, and discovering a passion for teaching, Matti expressed an interest in pursuing her Tennis Canada Instructor Certification. Recognizing her commitment to the program and her potential as a leader, A Love of Tennis encouraged and supported her as she took that next step in her tennis journey. The certification process required dedication, preparation, and a renewed focus on developing her technical skills. For Matti, it was an opportunity not only to deepen her knowledge of the sport, but also to continue growing as a coach, mentor, and leader within the community. "Earning my instructor certification was very meaningful to me, considering it meant all my hard work studying and teaching for two years paid off. Before working here, I had a big break from playing tennis since competing on my high school tennis team, so it felt like I had to relearn techniques and skills. Not only did earning my certification mean my hard work paid off, but most importantly, it meant I could continue to support such an amazing organization that employed me for two years, but this time as a volunteer."

Matti's journey reflects something we see time and time again at A Love of Tennis: When people are given opportunities to learn, contribute, and lead, they often discover strengths they didn't know they had. What began as a summer job evolved into a leadership journey, one that has allowed Matti to continue giving back to the organization and community that became such an important part of her life.

Leadership Can Start at Any Age

While Matti's story is unique, the path she followed is one many of our volunteers begin to explore. Each year, participants return as teen volunteers, often completing their high school community service hours while helping younger players learn the game. This year, several participants from our older Slice (age 12+)  groups stepped into volunteer roles with younger children, gaining valuable experience in communication, patience, teamwork, and leadership. For many young people, volunteering becomes their first opportunity to mentor others, lead activities, and build confidence in themselves. Whether they realize it or not, they are developing skills that will serve them well in school, future careers, and their communities.

The Power of Giving Back

One of Matti's favourite parts of working with A Love of Tennis was seeing participants grow over time. "I have so many special moments from working at A Love Of Tennis, such as hearing the kids call me 'Miss Matti' to having a camper make me a card saying she wants me to come back next year."

"I really enjoy seeing kids progress week after week and year after year. It is my favourite thing when a kid comes to show me the skills they have worked on and how much passion they have developed for the sport through the program. Without A Love Of Tennis, these kids might not have been able to try the sport, which makes it so impactful to see kids become passionate about tennis."

Her experience speaks to something that lies at the heart of our mission. While introducing children to tennis is important, creating opportunities for personal growth, connection, and belonging is equally meaningful. The impact of A Love of Tennis extends far beyond the court because of the people who choose to invest their time, talents, and energy into helping others succeed.

A Community Built by Volunteers

As a charitable organization, A Love of Tennis depends on volunteers in many different capacities. Some help maintain our courts. Others assist during programs. Parents support events and activities behind the scenes. Teenagers gain experience while completing volunteer hours. Certified instructors volunteer their time to help participants develop both tennis and life skills. We've also seen adults discover tennis later in life and pursue instructor certification so they can support the next generation of players. Whether someone is a teenager gaining experience, a parent looking to get involved, or an experienced player wanting to share their knowledge, there are many ways to contribute. The common thread is simple: a willingness to give back.

Looking Ahead

As A Love of Tennis continues to grow, we are excited to create even more opportunities for participants, volunteers, and community members to develop leadership skills both on and off the court. Matti's story reminds us that every leader starts somewhere. Sometimes it begins with a first tennis lesson. Sometimes it begins with volunteering. Sometimes it begins by simply saying "yes" to an opportunity.

As we plan for next season, we would love to hear from anyone interested in getting involved. Whether you're a student looking to gain experience, a parent wanting to help out, a tennis player interested in coaching, or someone who believes in making sport accessible to all, there is a place for you in our community. Because at A Love of Tennis, we're doing more than teaching tennis. We're building leaders, one court at a time.