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R percentage of court time to be don- ated to park -related programs and/ or tournaments. Concessionaires benefit with this arrangement by acquiring new clientele as well as free publicity. ° Special Events: Fun and Games One -day special events can do more to spark public interest in ten- nis than anything else. These pro- motions can tie the overall program together because their "instant' ex- citement appeals to all ages and abil- ity levels. In addition, they can be excellent entry-level vehicles to ini- tiate corporate interest in the over- all program. Here are several ex- amples: • The Tennis Carnival—Fun and games like target tennis, a fast serve contest (you can often borrow a radar gun from the local police department or a sponsoring racquet company), consecutive volley and/ or rally contest, plus at least one court set aside for introductory les- sons. Award prizes to each winner. If you charge a nominal entry fee for each contest, the tennis carnival be- comes a great fundraiser. There are also independently produced extravaganzas available for parks and recreation locations that are truly memorable pro- ductions. Thev usually include teaching pros, prizes, and fun con- tests that promote the sport of ten- nis as well as the sponsor. 0 Professional Clinics in the Parks—Getting a world-class pro to perform a one-hour exhibition or clinic at a local park is not as difficult as it may seem. In some cities, ,you can coordinate player appearances in conjunction with a professional, satellite or even national tourna- ment happening nearby. You can sometimes secure well-known pros through either their agents or their endorsement companies, who often are interested in cosponsor- ing such events. Many pros truly en- joy "giving something back to the game" and helping kids, and you should tap their services when pos- sible. • Tennis Day/Week—One-day or one-week instructional tennis cli- nics should have one purpose— giving kids a few special lessons so that they will want to come back for Even little kids can play tenni never mind that the rac- quets are almost as big as they are! With programs like Pee Wee Tennis, little ten- nis players can grow into big ones. That's good for America's tennis program, good for recreation pro- grams, and good for all the tennis players. These youngsters are playing on modified courts, scaled down to kid size. more. Ideally, the organizer should provide equipment, either by a sponsor or through an entry fee, so that players can keep their racquets once the event is over. Radio sta- tions will want to promote this type of event. If junior permits are sold during the year, including a vouch- er for a free lesson will effectively attract new students to targeted locations. "Racquets for Kids": A Special Year-round Promotion Now successfully established throughout the United States, "Rac- quets for Kids" can provide a yearly source of racquets that you can use to supplement equipment in- ventory or give to the economically underprivileged. The public don- ates used racquets at designated col- lection centers, and receives a tax deduction based upon an appraisal. Collection centers can include ten- nis facilities and local sporting goods stores. Getting more rac- quets out there can be almost as important as getting more people on the courts! Continued on page 67 P&R/MAY 1989/47