Israel Tennis Centers
Encyclopedia
Israel Tennis Centers is the largest tennis
program for children in the world, reaching more than 350,000 families—5% of the Israel
i population. With 14 centers around the country, primarily in underprivileged communities, the not-for-profit Centers use tennis to promote the social, physical, and psychological well being of their students (through other programs such as their Life Skills program). Another of its goals is the development of coaches (such as Oded Yaakov), and building and maintaining courts and facilities at the highest levels.
The ITC is the physical home of the Israel Children's Centers, Israel's largest social service agency for children. The Israel Children's Centers serve 10,000 children every week through a variety of programs that address development and social needs, including coexistence programs for Arab and Jewish children and customized programs for a variety of disabilities.
The ITC has to date produced the following top-30 players: Andy Ram
(career-high doubles ranking of # 5); Yoni Erlich (doubles ranking of # 5); Shahar Pe'er
(doubles ranking of # 14 and singles ranking of # 11); Anna Smashnova
(singles ranking of # 15); Amos Mansdorf
(singles ranking of # 18); Shlomo Glickstein
(singles ranking of #22 in 1982; # 28 in doubles); Dudi Sela
(singles ranking of #30 in 2009), and Harel Levy
(singles ranking of # 30 in 2001).
, Freddie Krivine, Joseph D. Shane, Harold Landesberg, Rubin Josephs, and Dr. William H. Lippy began fundraising efforts to launch tennis as a sport in Israel and to build a National Tennis Center on an old strawberry patch in Ramat HaSharon
given to the ITC by the government. On April 25, 1976, Leah Rabin cut the ribbon to the Center, and 250 children signed up to participate. Canadian pioneers of the Centers included Joseph Frieberg, Gerry Goldberg, Ralph Halbert, and Harold Green. Their fundraising efforts laid the financial foundation for Canada Stadium, where the Davis Cup
and Fed Cup
were hosted in Israel until 2009, and the construction and maintenance of the centers, as well as provision of equipment to the children, were funded without any government assistance.
2008
By 2008, about 350,000 Jewish, Christian, and Moslem Israeli children had gone through the seven complexes funded by the ITC, and 1951 Wimbledon champion Dick Savitt
was overseeing the coaching techniques. Anna Smashnova
moved to Israel with her family in 1990, aged 15, and trained at the ITC; the next year she won the French Open girls title, and in 2002 she reached a career-high ranking of # 15. In 1991 the ATP donated $5,000 to the ITC, and Argentine tennis player Martín Jaite
, who is Jewish, donated $3,000. In 1995, Israeli former Davis Cup player and national champion Gilad Bloom
, who was world champion in the under-12 age group, became senior coach role with the ITC.
Thirty years after the centers were begun, in 2006 the first ITC product won a Wimbledon title, as Andy Ram
won the 2006 Wimbledon Mixed Doubles title. He had learned his tennis at the ITC's Jerusalem Tennis Center, and Yoni Erlich, his men's doubles partner, had learned his tennis at the Haifa Tennis Center. "I can only find words of esteem for the Israel Tennis Center for their support and help", Ram said after his success.
In 2007, Issy Kramer, Honorary President of the Israel Water Polo
Association (IWPA), indicated that he would like to replicate what the ITC has achieved, by building centers throughout Israel, particularly in poorer neighborhoods and development towns. "Swimming, like tennis, should not have to be an elitist sport", he said.
•Providing a variety of community development and outreach programs.
•Promoting and developing world class Israeli tennis players.
The Mini Tennis Program: The Mini Tennis Program serves as the ITC’s “introduction to tennis” program, teaching children ages 6-8 their first steps in the game of tennis on half-court, while also advocating teamwork and group play. The program’s ultimate goal is to make tennis fun for young children, encouraging them to progress to more advanced programs at a later age.
The Tennis Achievement Program: Children ages 8 and up are placed in the Tennis Achievement Program, in which they compete with one another and gradually attain different skills. The program encourages participants to explore their inner boundaries and strengths, thereby developing their natural competitiveness, determination and willpower abilities.
The Competitive Program: Talented tennis players join the Competitive Program, which affords them the opportunity to develop their full potential to become world-class tennis champions. Players in this program compete in regional, national and international tournaments in Israel and abroad, while also receiving complementary fitness training and sport psychology sessions.
The Tennis Academy: The Tennis Boarding School in Ramat Hasharon offers young competitive players from Israel’s periphery cutting edge facilities and professional staff, all within a nurturing environment that cares for their every need as young adults. The players attend a local school during the day and practice in the afternoon under the guidance and care of the Academy staff, who monitor their professional, social and academic progress and maturation.
Individual Training: ITC coaches offer personal training to individuals of all ages, as well as personalized and structured training sessions to competitive players and players with special needs who are unable to practice within a group framework.
Tennis Training Camps: Passover holiday and summer vacation offer children many idle hours and free time. The ITC takes advantage of vacation hours in order to organize tennis training camps that not only serve as a constructive time consuming activity, but also greatly improve the children's tennis and fitness abilities.
Tennis Court Rentals: The ITC's tennis courts and facilities throughout Israel are open to the general public, who schedule tennis practice and/or matches from 6 AM to 9 PM, including on weekends.
Adult Tennis Courses: The ITC offers beginner and advanced tennis courses to adults of all ages, regardless of physical ability and prior knowledge of the game.
The Embrace Program for Children at Risk: The Embrace Program represents the ITC’s most comprehensive and holistic initiative for youth at risk to date. The program is based on sport, fitness and recreational activities that help teach discipline and prevent social decline, which also include regional tennis tournaments during vacations aimed at enhancing self-esteem. The activities are complemented by sessions with experienced sport psychologists and social workers that help the children deal with pressure, anger management and problem solving, while acquiring and refining leadership and communication skills. Partnerships with Israel Defense Force representatives, local health services and businesses are established, who participate in workshops and various activities that enhance motivation for positive change. The program is currently operated in the ITC in Kiryat Shmona (70 children) and Tiberias (20 children)
The Summer Embrace Program for Youth at Risk: The Summer Embrace Program combines sport, fitness and recreational activities for youth at risk during the months of summer vacation when children tend to stay up late and wander the streets on a daily basis. The program is currently operated in the ITC in Beer Sheva (20 children) and Haifa (10 children), in cooperation with the Israel Anti-Drug Authority.
The Children at Risk Tennis and Fitness Program: This program offers tennis and fitness classes to various at risk populations, including orthodox children, immigrant children from the former Soviet Union and more. The program is currently operated in the ITC in Akko (20 children), Beer Sheva (27 children), Jaffa (15 Children), Jerusalem (37 Children), Ashkelon (20 Children), Arad (20 Children) and Ofakim (13 Orthodox Children).
The School Gym Program: Operated in the disadvantaged towns of Ofakim, Arad and Kiryat Shmona (a total of 490 Children), the School Gym Program sees ITC coaches visiting local schools and administering sport and fitness classes at the gymnasium and playground to hundreds of children each week.
Youth Futures Tennis Program: The ITC caters to children at risk who are part of the Jewish Agency’s Youth Futures Program, in which a child at risk is paired with a qualified mentor in and outside of school, who acts as a “big brother” and positive role model. As part of their ongoing empowerment, the children arrive at the tennis center with their mentor for tennis and fitness activities. The program is operated in Kiryat Shmona and Tiberias (12 Children).
After School Child Care Facility Program: Catering to children and youth who have been placed in after school child care facilities, this program allows them weekly tennis and fitness activities, as well as a nutritious warm meal.
The Girls at Risk Program: The Girls at Risk Program is specifically designed to cater to the unique needs of girls at risk. The program is mostly lead and implemented by female coaches and staff, and combines tennis and fitness lessons with lectures, workshops and events centered on female empowerment. This program was launched in Ashkelon and is being expanded in 2011/12 (10 children).
The 'College for All' Tennis Program: This program caters to exceptionally talented schoolchildren from disadvantaged families and neighborhoods who participate in College for All, an organization that aspires to nurture and promote educational excellence in children and youth with social, family and economic circumstances that would otherwise hamper their potential for success. The College for All children arrive at the Israel Tennis Center on a weekly basis for tennis activities.
Individuals Scholarships: The ITC offers scholarships (up to 90%) to youth at risk who wish to join the achievement and/or competitive tennis programs, yet are unable to afford the costs.
* Immigrant Empowerment
The Excellence Program for Children from Ethiopia: this program is geared towards helping children gain confidence and transcend social barriers, giving them a sense of belonging and identity. Structured as a competitive tennis and fitness program, the program advocates excellence in all fields on the tennis courts (through participation in tournaments) and in school.
The Empowerment and Integration Program for Children from Ethiopia: this program allows children of Ethiopian descent to learn the game of tennis in a structured and monitored fashion, while enjoying a variety of sport and fitness activities at the tennis center. The children also complete their homework at the tennis center and enjoy a nutritious meal. Parents are also invited to participate in many of the activities to strengthen the relationship between the generations. In addition, the program encourages leadership development and thus nurtures the future leaders of the Ethiopian community in Israel.
The Kindergarten Program: This nationwide program aims at improving motor skills such as fitness, balance and coordination in children ages 4-6, while promoting a healthy lifestyle from an early age. The ITC operates this program within all sectors of society, including numerous kindergartens where children of Ethiopian descent are a majority.
The Empowerment Program for Children of Foreign Workers: This program provides children of African and Asian foreign workers and political exiles in Israel a much needed empowering environment and structured framework that alleviates some of the everyday hardships they encounter as foreigners in a new land.
Individual Scholarships: The ITC offers scholarships to children of Ethiopian descent who wish to join the achievement and/or competitive tennis programs, yet are unable to afford the costs.
* Special Needs
The Kindergarten Program for Children with Intellectual Disabilities: This program aims at improving motor skills such as fitness, balance and coordination in developmentally challenged children ages 4-6, who attend special needs kindergartens throughout Israel. The program is implemented weekly by the ITC’s education specialists at the kindergartens themselves.
The Program for Children and Adults with Developmental Disabilities: The Program for Children and Adults with Developmental Disabilities represents the ITC's core effort to afford opportunities for developmentally challenged children and adults to enhance their self-confidence and improve their lives through sport. This program is based on sport and fitness activities suited to fit the needs of children and adults with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities, which introduces a routine of physical activities into their lives while also enhancing their concentration and motor skills and allowing them opportunities for on-court accomplishments.
The Special Olympics Program: This program is a joint partnership between the Israel Tennis Center and the Special Olympics, empowering children and adults with developmental disabilities through local, national and international tennis tournaments and activities. Participants of this program train weekly for five national Special Olympics tennis tournaments each year, while the most talented participate in international Special Olympics tournaments abroad, including the Special Olympics World Games that are held every 4 years.
The Unified Program: an exciting initiative, the Unified Program pairs athletes with developmental disabilities with children from the ITC's Competitive Program in mixed-doubles drills and tournaments, thus advocating mutual respect and friendship between two groups who do not usually interact socially.
The Tennis Program for Hearing Impaired Children: This program serves children and youth with severe hearing deficiencies and offers tennis and fitness activities according to their unique needs.
The Tennis Program for children with ADHD: Serving children and youth with high energy and short attention spans, this program is geared towards building confidence and teaching concentration skills through physical activities that allow participants to channel their energies in a positive direction.
The Wheelchair Tennis Program: This program allows physically disabled children and adults to play and compete in wheelchair tennis on regular basis. The ITC also hosts several international ITF wheelchair tournaments each year.
The Injured Soldiers Program: Utilizing the therapeutic prowess of tennis and sport, Israeli soldiers injured in the line of duty are offered a structured routine so that they can train their way back to health.
The Program for Mentally Stressed Adults: Tennis, fitness and special activities serve as therapeutic tools for adults suffering from trauma and emotional fatigue.
*Coexistence
The SLA Program: This program serves the children of ex-South Lebanese Army (SLA) troops and their families, who crossed the border into Israel after the IDF’s withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000 and established their new homes in Israel’s Northern cities. The ITC welcomed the SLA troops and their families into the center and offered them a recreational home and a warm welcome. Soon enough, children of SLA troops were practicing and playing tennis, and calling the ITC their new home.
The Twinned Peace Kindergartens Program: In 2005, the ITC launched the Twinned Peace Kindergartens Program with the Peres Center for Peace, a leading coexistence organization founded in 1996 by President of Israel and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Shimon Peres. The program brings Jewish and Arab children together in joint athletic development activities. The Twinned Kindergarten Program currently operates in Jerusalem and caters to two kindergartens (60 children) serving Arab children from East Jerusalem and Jewish children from West Jerusalem. In addition, the ITC-Akko is due to open four kindergarten classes within the scope of the program, catering to 140 children.
The Doubles Coexistence Program: In 2007, the ITC began implementing the "Marci-Lynn Bernstein Foundation Doubles Coexistence Program", in which Jewish, Arab and Bedouin children learn to play tennis together as a team. The program combines tennis, fitness, cultural enrichment activities and tournaments as means of facilitating trust and cooperation between Arab and Jewish children and their families. The program caters to 101 children in Haifa, 97 children in Jaffa, 28 children in Tiberias, 15 children in Jerusalem and 20 children in Beer Sheva – for a total of 261 children. The Beer Sheva Program caters to Bedouin children from the village of Rahat, who come from an extremely impoverished background, which are transported by the ITC to the center four times a week for tennis and fitness practice.
The ITC currently operates 14 Centers:
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
program for children in the world, reaching more than 350,000 families—5% of the Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i population. With 14 centers around the country, primarily in underprivileged communities, the not-for-profit Centers use tennis to promote the social, physical, and psychological well being of their students (through other programs such as their Life Skills program). Another of its goals is the development of coaches (such as Oded Yaakov), and building and maintaining courts and facilities at the highest levels.
The ITC is the physical home of the Israel Children's Centers, Israel's largest social service agency for children. The Israel Children's Centers serve 10,000 children every week through a variety of programs that address development and social needs, including coexistence programs for Arab and Jewish children and customized programs for a variety of disabilities.
The ITC has to date produced the following top-30 players: Andy Ram
Andy Ram
Andy Ram is a professional tennis player from Israel, and the first Israeli tennis player to win a seniors Grand Slam event . He plays more doubles than singles as he prefers doubles more and wins more matches...
(career-high doubles ranking of # 5); Yoni Erlich (doubles ranking of # 5); Shahar Pe'er
Shahar Pe'er
Shahar Pe'er is an Israeli professional tennis player. Her career-high singles ranking is World No. 11, which she achieved on January 31, 2011 ....
(doubles ranking of # 14 and singles ranking of # 11); Anna Smashnova
Anna Smashnova
Anna Smashnova is a former professional tennis player from Israel. She retired from professional tennis after Wimbledon 2007.Smashnova, who has been noted as having a great last name for a tennis player, reached her career-high singles ranking of World # 15 in 2003. She was in 13 finals, and won...
(singles ranking of # 15); Amos Mansdorf
Amos Mansdorf
Amos Mansdorf is a former professional tennis player.His best singles world ranking of 18 was the highest ever for any male, Israeli tennis player, reached in November 1987. His best doubles world ranking was 67, reached in May 1986.-Early life:...
(singles ranking of # 18); Shlomo Glickstein
Shlomo Glickstein
Shlomo Glickstein is an Israeli former professional tennis player.He reached his career-high singles ranking of World # 22 in November 1982, and his career-high doubles ranking of World # 28 in February 1986....
(singles ranking of #22 in 1982; # 28 in doubles); Dudi Sela
Dudi Sela
David "Dudi" Sela is an Israeli professional tennis player.Sela reached a career-high singles ranking of # 29 in July 2009. He is currently Israel's top men's singles player, ahead of Amir Weintraub.As a 17-year-old junior, he won the 2003 French Open boys' doubles championship with his doubles...
(singles ranking of #30 in 2009), and Harel Levy
Harel Levy
Har'el Levy is an Israeli professional male tennis player. Levy's best singles ranking was # 30 in the world in 2001, and his best doubles ranking was # 76 in 2007....
(singles ranking of # 30 in 2001).
Early years
In 1974, at a time when tennis in Israel was a sport played primarily by tourists as beach hotels, Dr. Ian FromanIan Froman
Ian Froman is a South African-born Israeli former tennis player and tennis patron.He is known for playing in the Wimbledon Championships in the 1950s, representing Israel in Davis Cup competition in the 1960s and 1970s, and playing a primary role in the founding of the Israel Tennis Centers in the...
, Freddie Krivine, Joseph D. Shane, Harold Landesberg, Rubin Josephs, and Dr. William H. Lippy began fundraising efforts to launch tennis as a sport in Israel and to build a National Tennis Center on an old strawberry patch in Ramat HaSharon
Ramat Hasharon
Ramat HaSharon is a city located on Israel's central coastal strip in the south of the Sharon region, bordering Tel Aviv to the south and Herzliya and Kibbutz Glil Yam to the north. It is part of the Tel Aviv District, within Gush Dan metropolitan area...
given to the ITC by the government. On April 25, 1976, Leah Rabin cut the ribbon to the Center, and 250 children signed up to participate. Canadian pioneers of the Centers included Joseph Frieberg, Gerry Goldberg, Ralph Halbert, and Harold Green. Their fundraising efforts laid the financial foundation for Canada Stadium, where the Davis Cup
Davis Cup
The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Britain and the United States. By...
and Fed Cup
Fed Cup
Fed Cup is the premier team competition in women's tennis, launched in 1963 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the International Tennis Federation...
were hosted in Israel until 2009, and the construction and maintenance of the centers, as well as provision of equipment to the children, were funded without any government assistance.
By 2008, about 350,000 Jewish, Christian, and Moslem Israeli children had gone through the seven complexes funded by the ITC, and 1951 Wimbledon champion Dick Savitt
Dick Savitt
Richard "Dick" Savitt is a 6’ 3" and 185-pound right-handed American male former tennis player.Savitt was ranked 2nd in the world in 1951. That year, at the age of 24, he won both the Wimbledon Singles Championship and the Australian Singles title...
was overseeing the coaching techniques. Anna Smashnova
Anna Smashnova
Anna Smashnova is a former professional tennis player from Israel. She retired from professional tennis after Wimbledon 2007.Smashnova, who has been noted as having a great last name for a tennis player, reached her career-high singles ranking of World # 15 in 2003. She was in 13 finals, and won...
moved to Israel with her family in 1990, aged 15, and trained at the ITC; the next year she won the French Open girls title, and in 2002 she reached a career-high ranking of # 15. In 1991 the ATP donated $5,000 to the ITC, and Argentine tennis player Martín Jaite
Martín Jaite
Martín Jaite is an Argentine right-handed former top-10 professional tour tennis player.Jaite's ATP highest tour ranking was World # 10, which he achieved in the summer of 1990, and he won a total of 12 titles and $1,873,881 in tour prize money during his career.Jaite's playing style leveraged his...
, who is Jewish, donated $3,000. In 1995, Israeli former Davis Cup player and national champion Gilad Bloom
Gilad Bloom
Gilad Bloom is a former professional tennis player from Israel. Bloom trained at the Israel Tennis Centers. His career-high rankings were World No. 61 in singles and World No. 62 in doubles .-Tennis career:...
, who was world champion in the under-12 age group, became senior coach role with the ITC.
Thirty years after the centers were begun, in 2006 the first ITC product won a Wimbledon title, as Andy Ram
Andy Ram
Andy Ram is a professional tennis player from Israel, and the first Israeli tennis player to win a seniors Grand Slam event . He plays more doubles than singles as he prefers doubles more and wins more matches...
won the 2006 Wimbledon Mixed Doubles title. He had learned his tennis at the ITC's Jerusalem Tennis Center, and Yoni Erlich, his men's doubles partner, had learned his tennis at the Haifa Tennis Center. "I can only find words of esteem for the Israel Tennis Center for their support and help", Ram said after his success.
In 2007, Issy Kramer, Honorary President of the Israel Water Polo
Water polo
Water polo is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores more goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water , players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a...
Association (IWPA), indicated that he would like to replicate what the ITC has achieved, by building centers throughout Israel, particularly in poorer neighborhoods and development towns. "Swimming, like tennis, should not have to be an elitist sport", he said.
Mission
•Giving every child in Israel – regardless of background, religion or physical ability – the opportunity to learn the game of life through tennis.•Providing a variety of community development and outreach programs.
•Promoting and developing world class Israeli tennis players.
Tennis Programs and Activities
The Kindergarten Program: Implemented at hundreds of kindergartens throughout Israel, the Kindergarten Program aims at improving motor skills such as balance and coordination in children ages 4-6, while promoting a healthy lifestyle from an early age. The program is implemented weekly by the ITC’s child education specialists at the kindergartens themselves, while special events take place at nearby Israel Tennis Centers.The Mini Tennis Program: The Mini Tennis Program serves as the ITC’s “introduction to tennis” program, teaching children ages 6-8 their first steps in the game of tennis on half-court, while also advocating teamwork and group play. The program’s ultimate goal is to make tennis fun for young children, encouraging them to progress to more advanced programs at a later age.
The Tennis Achievement Program: Children ages 8 and up are placed in the Tennis Achievement Program, in which they compete with one another and gradually attain different skills. The program encourages participants to explore their inner boundaries and strengths, thereby developing their natural competitiveness, determination and willpower abilities.
The Competitive Program: Talented tennis players join the Competitive Program, which affords them the opportunity to develop their full potential to become world-class tennis champions. Players in this program compete in regional, national and international tournaments in Israel and abroad, while also receiving complementary fitness training and sport psychology sessions.
The Tennis Academy: The Tennis Boarding School in Ramat Hasharon offers young competitive players from Israel’s periphery cutting edge facilities and professional staff, all within a nurturing environment that cares for their every need as young adults. The players attend a local school during the day and practice in the afternoon under the guidance and care of the Academy staff, who monitor their professional, social and academic progress and maturation.
Individual Training: ITC coaches offer personal training to individuals of all ages, as well as personalized and structured training sessions to competitive players and players with special needs who are unable to practice within a group framework.
Tennis Training Camps: Passover holiday and summer vacation offer children many idle hours and free time. The ITC takes advantage of vacation hours in order to organize tennis training camps that not only serve as a constructive time consuming activity, but also greatly improve the children's tennis and fitness abilities.
Tennis Court Rentals: The ITC's tennis courts and facilities throughout Israel are open to the general public, who schedule tennis practice and/or matches from 6 AM to 9 PM, including on weekends.
Adult Tennis Courses: The ITC offers beginner and advanced tennis courses to adults of all ages, regardless of physical ability and prior knowledge of the game.
Social Outreach Programs
* Outreach to Children at RiskThe Embrace Program for Children at Risk: The Embrace Program represents the ITC’s most comprehensive and holistic initiative for youth at risk to date. The program is based on sport, fitness and recreational activities that help teach discipline and prevent social decline, which also include regional tennis tournaments during vacations aimed at enhancing self-esteem. The activities are complemented by sessions with experienced sport psychologists and social workers that help the children deal with pressure, anger management and problem solving, while acquiring and refining leadership and communication skills. Partnerships with Israel Defense Force representatives, local health services and businesses are established, who participate in workshops and various activities that enhance motivation for positive change. The program is currently operated in the ITC in Kiryat Shmona (70 children) and Tiberias (20 children)
The Summer Embrace Program for Youth at Risk: The Summer Embrace Program combines sport, fitness and recreational activities for youth at risk during the months of summer vacation when children tend to stay up late and wander the streets on a daily basis. The program is currently operated in the ITC in Beer Sheva (20 children) and Haifa (10 children), in cooperation with the Israel Anti-Drug Authority.
The Children at Risk Tennis and Fitness Program: This program offers tennis and fitness classes to various at risk populations, including orthodox children, immigrant children from the former Soviet Union and more. The program is currently operated in the ITC in Akko (20 children), Beer Sheva (27 children), Jaffa (15 Children), Jerusalem (37 Children), Ashkelon (20 Children), Arad (20 Children) and Ofakim (13 Orthodox Children).
The School Gym Program: Operated in the disadvantaged towns of Ofakim, Arad and Kiryat Shmona (a total of 490 Children), the School Gym Program sees ITC coaches visiting local schools and administering sport and fitness classes at the gymnasium and playground to hundreds of children each week.
Youth Futures Tennis Program: The ITC caters to children at risk who are part of the Jewish Agency’s Youth Futures Program, in which a child at risk is paired with a qualified mentor in and outside of school, who acts as a “big brother” and positive role model. As part of their ongoing empowerment, the children arrive at the tennis center with their mentor for tennis and fitness activities. The program is operated in Kiryat Shmona and Tiberias (12 Children).
After School Child Care Facility Program: Catering to children and youth who have been placed in after school child care facilities, this program allows them weekly tennis and fitness activities, as well as a nutritious warm meal.
The Girls at Risk Program: The Girls at Risk Program is specifically designed to cater to the unique needs of girls at risk. The program is mostly lead and implemented by female coaches and staff, and combines tennis and fitness lessons with lectures, workshops and events centered on female empowerment. This program was launched in Ashkelon and is being expanded in 2011/12 (10 children).
The 'College for All' Tennis Program: This program caters to exceptionally talented schoolchildren from disadvantaged families and neighborhoods who participate in College for All, an organization that aspires to nurture and promote educational excellence in children and youth with social, family and economic circumstances that would otherwise hamper their potential for success. The College for All children arrive at the Israel Tennis Center on a weekly basis for tennis activities.
Individuals Scholarships: The ITC offers scholarships (up to 90%) to youth at risk who wish to join the achievement and/or competitive tennis programs, yet are unable to afford the costs.
* Immigrant Empowerment
The Excellence Program for Children from Ethiopia: this program is geared towards helping children gain confidence and transcend social barriers, giving them a sense of belonging and identity. Structured as a competitive tennis and fitness program, the program advocates excellence in all fields on the tennis courts (through participation in tournaments) and in school.
The Empowerment and Integration Program for Children from Ethiopia: this program allows children of Ethiopian descent to learn the game of tennis in a structured and monitored fashion, while enjoying a variety of sport and fitness activities at the tennis center. The children also complete their homework at the tennis center and enjoy a nutritious meal. Parents are also invited to participate in many of the activities to strengthen the relationship between the generations. In addition, the program encourages leadership development and thus nurtures the future leaders of the Ethiopian community in Israel.
The Kindergarten Program: This nationwide program aims at improving motor skills such as fitness, balance and coordination in children ages 4-6, while promoting a healthy lifestyle from an early age. The ITC operates this program within all sectors of society, including numerous kindergartens where children of Ethiopian descent are a majority.
The Empowerment Program for Children of Foreign Workers: This program provides children of African and Asian foreign workers and political exiles in Israel a much needed empowering environment and structured framework that alleviates some of the everyday hardships they encounter as foreigners in a new land.
Individual Scholarships: The ITC offers scholarships to children of Ethiopian descent who wish to join the achievement and/or competitive tennis programs, yet are unable to afford the costs.
* Special Needs
The Kindergarten Program for Children with Intellectual Disabilities: This program aims at improving motor skills such as fitness, balance and coordination in developmentally challenged children ages 4-6, who attend special needs kindergartens throughout Israel. The program is implemented weekly by the ITC’s education specialists at the kindergartens themselves.
The Program for Children and Adults with Developmental Disabilities: The Program for Children and Adults with Developmental Disabilities represents the ITC's core effort to afford opportunities for developmentally challenged children and adults to enhance their self-confidence and improve their lives through sport. This program is based on sport and fitness activities suited to fit the needs of children and adults with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities, which introduces a routine of physical activities into their lives while also enhancing their concentration and motor skills and allowing them opportunities for on-court accomplishments.
The Special Olympics Program: This program is a joint partnership between the Israel Tennis Center and the Special Olympics, empowering children and adults with developmental disabilities through local, national and international tennis tournaments and activities. Participants of this program train weekly for five national Special Olympics tennis tournaments each year, while the most talented participate in international Special Olympics tournaments abroad, including the Special Olympics World Games that are held every 4 years.
The Unified Program: an exciting initiative, the Unified Program pairs athletes with developmental disabilities with children from the ITC's Competitive Program in mixed-doubles drills and tournaments, thus advocating mutual respect and friendship between two groups who do not usually interact socially.
The Tennis Program for Hearing Impaired Children: This program serves children and youth with severe hearing deficiencies and offers tennis and fitness activities according to their unique needs.
The Tennis Program for children with ADHD: Serving children and youth with high energy and short attention spans, this program is geared towards building confidence and teaching concentration skills through physical activities that allow participants to channel their energies in a positive direction.
The Wheelchair Tennis Program: This program allows physically disabled children and adults to play and compete in wheelchair tennis on regular basis. The ITC also hosts several international ITF wheelchair tournaments each year.
The Injured Soldiers Program: Utilizing the therapeutic prowess of tennis and sport, Israeli soldiers injured in the line of duty are offered a structured routine so that they can train their way back to health.
The Program for Mentally Stressed Adults: Tennis, fitness and special activities serve as therapeutic tools for adults suffering from trauma and emotional fatigue.
*Coexistence
The SLA Program: This program serves the children of ex-South Lebanese Army (SLA) troops and their families, who crossed the border into Israel after the IDF’s withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000 and established their new homes in Israel’s Northern cities. The ITC welcomed the SLA troops and their families into the center and offered them a recreational home and a warm welcome. Soon enough, children of SLA troops were practicing and playing tennis, and calling the ITC their new home.
The Twinned Peace Kindergartens Program: In 2005, the ITC launched the Twinned Peace Kindergartens Program with the Peres Center for Peace, a leading coexistence organization founded in 1996 by President of Israel and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Shimon Peres. The program brings Jewish and Arab children together in joint athletic development activities. The Twinned Kindergarten Program currently operates in Jerusalem and caters to two kindergartens (60 children) serving Arab children from East Jerusalem and Jewish children from West Jerusalem. In addition, the ITC-Akko is due to open four kindergarten classes within the scope of the program, catering to 140 children.
The Doubles Coexistence Program: In 2007, the ITC began implementing the "Marci-Lynn Bernstein Foundation Doubles Coexistence Program", in which Jewish, Arab and Bedouin children learn to play tennis together as a team. The program combines tennis, fitness, cultural enrichment activities and tournaments as means of facilitating trust and cooperation between Arab and Jewish children and their families. The program caters to 101 children in Haifa, 97 children in Jaffa, 28 children in Tiberias, 15 children in Jerusalem and 20 children in Beer Sheva – for a total of 261 children. The Beer Sheva Program caters to Bedouin children from the village of Rahat, who come from an extremely impoverished background, which are transported by the ITC to the center four times a week for tennis and fitness practice.
Centers
The Israel Tennis Centers, established in 1976, provide an “oasis” for over 21,000 children every week. The Centers across Israel provide programs that promote social, psychological and physical development in a safe and nurturing environment.The ITC currently operates 14 Centers:
- Akko
- Arad
- Ashkelon
- Beer Sheva
- Galilee-Sajur
- Haifa
- Jaffa
- Jerusalem
- Kiyrat Shmona
- Ofakim
- Ramat Hasharon
- Tel Aviv
- Tiberias
- Yokneam
Notable alumni
- Shahar Pe'erShahar Pe'erShahar Pe'er is an Israeli professional tennis player. Her career-high singles ranking is World No. 11, which she achieved on January 31, 2011 ....
(career-high singles ranking of #11 in 2011; # 14 in doubles) - Anna SmashnovaAnna SmashnovaAnna Smashnova is a former professional tennis player from Israel. She retired from professional tennis after Wimbledon 2007.Smashnova, who has been noted as having a great last name for a tennis player, reached her career-high singles ranking of World # 15 in 2003. She was in 13 finals, and won...
(career-high singles ranking of #15 in 2003) - Amos MansdorfAmos MansdorfAmos Mansdorf is a former professional tennis player.His best singles world ranking of 18 was the highest ever for any male, Israeli tennis player, reached in November 1987. His best doubles world ranking was 67, reached in May 1986.-Early life:...
(career-high singles ranking of #18 in 1987; # 67 in doubles) - Shlomo GlicksteinShlomo GlicksteinShlomo Glickstein is an Israeli former professional tennis player.He reached his career-high singles ranking of World # 22 in November 1982, and his career-high doubles ranking of World # 28 in February 1986....
(career-high singles ranking of #22 in 1982; # 28 in doubles) - Dudi SelaDudi SelaDavid "Dudi" Sela is an Israeli professional tennis player.Sela reached a career-high singles ranking of # 29 in July 2009. He is currently Israel's top men's singles player, ahead of Amir Weintraub.As a 17-year-old junior, he won the 2003 French Open boys' doubles championship with his doubles...
(career-high singles ranking of #29 in 2009) - Harel LevyHarel LevyHar'el Levy is an Israeli professional male tennis player. Levy's best singles ranking was # 30 in the world in 2001, and his best doubles ranking was # 76 in 2007....
(career-high singles ranking of #30 in 2001) - Shahar PerkissShahar PerkissShahar Perkiss is an Israeli right-handed 6' 4" former professional tennis player.-Tennis career:A year after first picking up a tennis racket, Perkiss ranked # 1 in Israel in the age 10 and under ranks....
(career-high singles ranking of #53 in 1985) - Gilad BloomGilad BloomGilad Bloom is a former professional tennis player from Israel. Bloom trained at the Israel Tennis Centers. His career-high rankings were World No. 61 in singles and World No. 62 in doubles .-Tennis career:...
(career-high singles ranking of #61 in 1990; # 62 in doubles) - Tzipora ObzilerTzipora ObzilerTzipora Obziler is a former professional right-handed tennis player.She reached her career-high singles world ranking of #75 in on July 8, 2007, and doubles ranking of #149 on April 10, 2000....
(career-high singles ranking of #75 in 2007) - Noam OkunNoam OkunNoam Okun is a professional tennis player.In 2002, Okun reached a career-high singles ranking of # 95 in the world...
(career-high singles ranking of #95 in 2002) - Noam BehrNoam BehrNoam Behr is an Israeli professional tennis player who turned pro in 1994.His career-high singles ranking was # 127 , and his career-high doubles ranking was # 109 .-Tennis career:...
(career-high singles ranking of #127 in 2001, # 109 in doubles) - Eyal RanEyal RanEyal Ran is a professional Israeli tennis player and Captain of the Israeli Davis Cup team.His career high ATP ranking in singles was 138 , and in doubles it was 71 .-Tennis career:...
(career-high singles ranking of #138 in 1997, # 71 in doubles) - Hila Rosen (career-high singles ranking of #138 in 1999)
- Ilana BergerIlana BergerIlana Berger is an Israeli tennis player. Berger reached her highest individual ranking on the WTA Tour on August 10, 1992, when she became # 149 in the world.-Biography:Ilana Berger was born on December 31, 1965, in Mexico City, Mexico...
(career-high singles ranking of #149 in 1992) - Oren Motevassel (career-high singles ranking of #161 in 1997)
- Yevgenia Savransky (career-high singles ranking of #172 2006)
- Amir HadadAmir HadadAmir Hadad is a professional tennis player.His highest singles ATP ranking was # 180, in 2003. His highest doubles ranking was # 87, also in 2003.-Tennis career:He turned pro in 1995....
(career-high singles ranking of #180 in 2003, # 87 in doubles) - Andy RamAndy RamAndy Ram is a professional tennis player from Israel, and the first Israeli tennis player to win a seniors Grand Slam event . He plays more doubles than singles as he prefers doubles more and wins more matches...
(career-high singles ranking of #187 in 2002, # 5 in doubles) - Yoni Erlich (career-high singles ranking of #292, # 5 in doubles)
External links
- http://www.israeltenniscenter.com/htmls/home.aspx, ITC Site, English
- Israel Children's Centers, American fundraising arm of ITC
- Israel Children's Centres, Canadian fundraising arm of ITC
- The Decade of an Impossible Dream: The story of the Israel Tennis Centers by Albert A Hutler, Leanore E Hutler, ITC, 1987, ASIN: B0007C1GAO
- Berger, Ilana, "Game, set and match," The Jerusalem Post