USD Students, Faculty Bring Tennis Programming to Children in Wagner
USD faculty participants included Tanya Liu, DPT, assistant professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and Clare Maness, Ph.D., assistant professor of sport management in the Division of Kinesiology and Sport Management. Student participants included Taylor Byerly and Corbin Carda, both of whom are majoring in KSM with a specialization in exercise science.
Community partnerships and division collaboration were central to the experience. By combining expertise from the KSM and PT divisions, the group created a structured, supportive environment that emphasized participation, skill development and positive experiences with physical activity.
The team made five trips to Wagner throughout the month to lead the programming. Facilitators met with campers by age for 45 minutes each. With approximately 30 children per group, the faculty and students led development-focused warm-ups and movement activities centered on agility, balance and coordination.
After building these key athletic foundations with the students, the team introduced tennis through developmentally appropriate instruction and engaging, skill-building games. Tennis was chosen due to its lifelong benefits and role in supporting overall physical health, helping children develop strength, balance and coordination in a way that can last far beyond childhood.
The team also highlighted tennis as a “lifetime sport,” aligning with the United States Tennis Association’s position as a “healthy choice for people of all ages.”
“Kindergarten through sixth grade is an ideal time to help children build confidence, coordination and movement skills,” said Daw. “We were thrilled to partner with the Wagner camp to introduce tennis as a lifelong sport and to make movement fun and accessible for every camper.”
The camp benefitted from generous support from the United States National Tennis Association and USTA Northern. Equipment and additional materials provided by USTA National and USTA Northern helped ensure the children had the tools they needed to learn and enjoy the sport. Racquets, balls and nets were left with the Wagner camp for use throughout the year.
“We’re grateful for USTA National and USTA Northern’s partnership,” said Daw. “Their support helped us bring tennis to kids in Wagner and reinforce our goal of connecting classroom training with real community impact.”
This initiative reflects the School of Education’s commitment to public service, community engagement and interdisciplinary learning—bringing together athletic development, health-focused care and sport-based education to support young learners.
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