Tennis participation increased nearly 10 percent last year
By Liza Horan
America is trying to get fitter, and playing tennis increasingly is helping people burn calories.
Tennis participation continued its upward spiral with 9.6 percent growth from 2007 to 2008, according to the "Sports & Fitness Participation Report 2009" commissioned by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association. The survey says18.5 million people played tennis in 2008, marking a 43 percent jump from those playing in 2000.
Racquetball participation increased 18.1 percent from 2007 to 2008, and table tennis grew 7.8 percent. While the largest area of growth for many years has been fitness (aerobics, elliptical cross-trainers, etc.), walking remains the No. 1 activity with close to 112 million enthusiasts.
There are several influences contributing to tennis' expansion:
- Industry initiatives like Tennis Welcome Centers, Cardio Tennis and the USTA's QuickStart Tennis have sent consumers the message that tennis is fun, healthy, affordable and accessible. Those key programs have been supported financially, promotionally or both by governing bodies, teaching organizations, manufacturers, facilities and more.
- The fitness benefits of tennis have been emphasized for years. Fitness femme Denise Austin has been a Cardio Tennis disciple from the start and CardioTennis.com features a Player of the Month who has had great results with the program. To up the ante, a competition, "Cardio Tennis Get Fit Challenge," was launched in Sarasota, Fla., to see who could lose the most fat. Among the Serendipity Tennis Club players competing are a former champion ballroom dancer, a former ATP player and an engaged couple getting in wedding shape. The final weigh-in is this Friday, March 20. Click for details.
The USPTA has joined efforts with IHRSA to promote the preventive health benefits of exercise on Capitol Hill. The USPTA's "Tennis — for the health of it!"(sm) message aligns with IHRSA's "Vision for a Healthier America,” a policy platform asserting that regular physical activity, as a core component of prevention and health promotion. Click for details.
- A recession generally is accompanied by curbed travel and entertainment budgets, causing people to turn inward toward local, more affordable social and family activities. As SGMA President Tom Cove puts it, "While million of Americans are impacted by uncertainty in the workplace and the overall economy, their interest in playing sports, working out, and getting regular exercise remains strong." Tennis fits the bill.
- Presidential prodding...with a recreational athlete in the White House, a fit First Lady, and tennis-playing daughters, Americans have active role models (if you look past President Obama's occasional cigarette). The President—whose exercise ranges from hitting the basketball court to running for 45 minutes or 90 minutes split into cardio and weight work at the gym— has emphasized that citizens take care of themselves, and Michelle Obama's guns are the talk of the town.
Related Links:
- View the press release on the SGMA report
- Purchase the SGMA's full report for individual/team/racquet sports
- CNN: How to get Michelle Obama's toned arms
America is trying to get fitter, and playing tennis increasingly is helping people burn calories.
Tennis participation continued its upward spiral with 9.6 percent growth from 2007 to 2008, according to the "Sports & Fitness Participation Report 2009" commissioned by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association. The survey says18.5 million people played tennis in 2008, marking a 43 percent jump from those playing in 2000.
Racquetball participation increased 18.1 percent from 2007 to 2008, and table tennis grew 7.8 percent. While the largest area of growth for many years has been fitness (aerobics, elliptical cross-trainers, etc.), walking remains the No. 1 activity with close to 112 million enthusiasts.
There are several influences contributing to tennis' expansion:
- Industry initiatives like Tennis Welcome Centers, Cardio Tennis and the USTA's QuickStart Tennis have sent consumers the message that tennis is fun, healthy, affordable and accessible. Those key programs have been supported financially, promotionally or both by governing bodies, teaching organizations, manufacturers, facilities and more.
- The fitness benefits of tennis have been emphasized for years. Fitness femme Denise Austin has been a Cardio Tennis disciple from the start and CardioTennis.com features a Player of the Month who has had great results with the program. To up the ante, a competition, "Cardio Tennis Get Fit Challenge," was launched in Sarasota, Fla., to see who could lose the most fat. Among the Serendipity Tennis Club players competing are a former champion ballroom dancer, a former ATP player and an engaged couple getting in wedding shape. The final weigh-in is this Friday, March 20. Click for details.
The USPTA has joined efforts with IHRSA to promote the preventive health benefits of exercise on Capitol Hill. The USPTA's "Tennis — for the health of it!"(sm) message aligns with IHRSA's "Vision for a Healthier America,” a policy platform asserting that regular physical activity, as a core component of prevention and health promotion. Click for details.
- A recession generally is accompanied by curbed travel and entertainment budgets, causing people to turn inward toward local, more affordable social and family activities. As SGMA President Tom Cove puts it, "While million of Americans are impacted by uncertainty in the workplace and the overall economy, their interest in playing sports, working out, and getting regular exercise remains strong." Tennis fits the bill.
- Presidential prodding...with a recreational athlete in the White House, a fit First Lady, and tennis-playing daughters, Americans have active role models (if you look past President Obama's occasional cigarette). The President—whose exercise ranges from hitting the basketball court to running for 45 minutes or 90 minutes split into cardio and weight work at the gym— has emphasized that citizens take care of themselves, and Michelle Obama's guns are the talk of the town.
Related Links:
- View the press release on the SGMA report
- Purchase the SGMA's full report for individual/team/racquet sports
- CNN: How to get Michelle Obama's toned arms
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