Posted on: Friday, June 6, 2003

RECREATION
AARP, USTA reintroduce tennis to older generation

By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

AARP, the organization formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons, had its first date with Hawai'i tennis. Both hope the relationship gets serious.

"This is a new beginning for people who want and need us most," U.S. Tennis Association consultant Sandy Coffman told volunteers who energized AARP's "Welcome Back to Tennis Party" at Ala Moana May 10. "We might be their last chance."

Solid turnout

A little more than 100 new and former tennis players — ages 50 to 92 and all AARP members — showed for the free three-hour event. Honolulu was one of five U.S. cities picked for the pilot program designed to "help people ease back into the game safely and comfortably."

And stay there. The goal was to sign up 70 percent of the participants for programs. Only 20 percent signed up that night. The USTA/Hawai'i Pacific Section hopes that multiplies as participants digest the opportunities available.

Volunteer coordinator Gaye Fujimoto wasn't disappointed.

"I measured the success of the event in just getting 100 people to consider either returning or learning to play the game of tennis," Fujimoto said. "And these 100 got on the courts and were so focused in trying to hit balls back and forth to one another, it was a great sight."

AARP Hawai'i Associate Director Jackie McCarter said she had a dozen people call her the following week to thank her for the "party." Another called to let her know he was upset because there wasn't a program starting immediately.

"The most exciting part was the oncourt warmups with Sandy," McCarter said. "They loved that. Second was the food. Really, they just liked it, it made them feel special."

Differing approach

AARP and the USTA came at the event from different angles. AARP Hawai'i, which has 140,000 members, sees it as a quality of life issue. The organization is promoting a "healthy lifestyle" and focusing on getting seniors more active.

"We have two goals," McCarter said about the tennis. "If they are currently active, we want to give them opportunities to get together. If they are not active, we want to propel them in."

The USTA sees it as a quality of life issue as well — for players and tennis.

The Baby Boomer generation (born between 1946-64) is crucial to the future of the game. New USTA president Alan Schwartz has a "30 by 2010" plan, aimed at getting 30 million playing the game by 2010 (it is 23 million-plus now). The only way to come close is to draw on the country's most prolific generation.

By the numbers

Coffman, the USTA's charismatic speaker, gave volunteers a stream of older-consciousness statistics: 750,000 people now turn 65 every month; in the next five to seven years, the number of people 55 and older in America will increase 74 percent while the percentage of those under 55 increases 1 percent.

"The majority of the tennis market will be old," said Coffman, who called "retention and lifestyle" keys to the program. AARP and the USTA want a low-cost league or program available for every player at Ala Moana that night — and more. Ideally, they want to keep them in the game for life.

That Saturday night those that could find parking were drilled, then dined by Sam Choy's. They stretched, won prizes and were introduced to new racquet and shoe technology and senior-friendly programs. Words like "competition" and "tournament" were replaced by "team, round robin and movement."

Sharlene Tanaka, 55, joined AARP just so she could go to the "party" with a friend. She used to play volleyball and tennis.

"I was curious," Tanaka said. "I was glad I went. I saw a lot of people I knew and met new people. I was amazed at these seniors. I definitely felt young there."

People came in street clothes and slippers. One brought a racquet that hadn't been used in so long that the press — used to keep wooden racquets from warping — popped into pieces when she took it off.

Good workout

All the players "were winded" by the time the food and champagne came out, according to Fujimoto. It was all fine. The idea was to feel comfortable and safe, with the promise of a sense of belonging.

"We are changing tennis to bring it to them," Coffman said, "instead of demanding them to come to our sport the way we've always done it before.

"We want to give them the tools to enjoy this life. The idea isn't about measuring the quality of tennis, it's about enjoying movement without realizing you're exercising."

AARP and the USTA hope to hold a similar "party" in Kona next. The USTA is also a partner in AARP's new "Shape Up Hawai'i" program.