Smart Racquets

ZONA SECA, Inc.
Working to Make Our Community a Safer Place for Everyone

Developed in affiliation with The Tennis Patrons of Santa Barbara, Inc. (contact Cathy Carpenter at 805.965.9510) and The Santa Barbara Foundation, and serving a target population of "at risk" and economically-disadvantaged youth, living in the Santa Barbara Community, the Smart Racquets Program powerfully encourages personal development and self-esteem among the at-risk youth it serves.

  • Smart Racquets strives for existential empowerment for youth.

  • Smart Racquets builds dynamics that model self-discipline, personal goal setting, dedication, and self-improvement.

  • Smart Racquets creates the appropriate mix of reward and encouragement to open doors for success and achievement available through athletics and educational advancement.
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    A SMART RACQUETS OVERVIEW

  • PROGRAM HISTORY: Based on the successful RAVENSWOOD Program in Palo Alto, California, a special tennis program was started in June, 1995, by the Santa Barbara Tennis Patrons, a non-profit organization , as an eight week, three-days-per-week summer, tennis program for at-risk, elementary-aged minority children (9-12). Thirty students attended: four Afro-American girls, ten Hispanic girls, two Caucasian girls, and five Hispanic boys. An awards party with pizza was given at the end of the summer session.

  • The full academic and tennis tutorial began in the fall. To raise student interest and enthusiasm, a tennis exhibition was given by Tennis Patrons pros, Mark Basham and Ferenc Hodosy, at the Cleveland Elementary School and the Franklin Elementary School. The criteria used by the head teachers to identify potential students were those of low income (to qualify for partial free lunch), academically at risk, interested in tennis, and generally from neighborhoods with gang activity.

  • Once potential youth participants were identified, the program was explained to each family by head teacher, Tim Quiroz, and by Ruth Schaffer, former Youth Program Director at Zona Seca. (When Ruth Schaffer retired and moved to Santa Cruz, Gustavo Agredano took over the Smart Racquets program.) A contract, written in both English and Spanish and outlining the program requirements, was signed by each child. Participating schools, and English and Spanish speaking radio and newspapers, released information regarding the program, generating excitement among the students. The free Saturday clinic was advertised to the public in both English and Spanish through local newspapers and the Parks and Recreation Guide.

  • In the Fall 1995 Session, fifteen children participated in the Saturday clinic and 30 in the weekly program. New students--Hispanic--included two boys and three girls. We have used the six courts at Santa Barbara High School to play tennis, but currently we are using the Municipal Tennis Facility, which has twelve courts.

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  • SMART RACQUETS GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: The GOAL of the SMART RACQUETS Program is to achieve a high quality, individualized, needs-based tutorial for low-income, at-risk students; and to develop tennis and social skills for participation and integration into the broader tennis community. These goals involve the following concerns for the students:

  • Students attend both Cleveland and Franklin Schools. Their tutorial is held on site Monday and Wednesday, from 3:00 to 4:00 P.M. Both sites have a head teacher with at least two aides recruited from either Westmont College or Santa Barbara High School. Specific, student academic needs are assessed by their home room teachers and the head site teacher. Daily attendance is taken, homework verified, and good behavior is noted. Once a month both the home room and head teacher confer to check homework completion and accuracy. Students are not allowed to participate in tennis without first going to the tutorial.

  • Tennis clinics are taught on Monday and Wednesday from 4:15 to 5:30 P.M. Students are driven to the Municipal Tennis Facility by Ruth Schaffer, using the Zona Seca van. Attendance is taken. Good behavior is rewarded by their choice of racquets. Children are then put through drills taught by one head pro and two assistants. Attendance is encouraged in an optional, free, two-hour Saturday clinic sponsored by the Tennis Patrons. The goal is to prepare these students for the Tennis Patrons Youth Tennis League, a spring activity involving 300 elementary aged kids from all over Santa Barbara. All players are strongly encouraged to participate in the eight Junior Tennis Patrons Summer Tournaments.

  • Several special events are planned, such as family pizza awards parties, field trips to professional tennis tournaments at U.C.L.A., and locally sponsored children's activities. Classes are being planned on smoking prevention and nutrition.

  • MANAGEMENT AND EVALUATION: The SMART RACQUETS committee is composed of four members from the Santa Barbara Tennis Patrons, one from Zona Seca, and one from the Cleveland School. The Program is managed jointly by the Santa Barbara Tennis Patrons and Zona Seca. Meetings are held once a month. A financial report is given monthly at committee meetings and also at monthly board meetings of the Santa Barbara Tennis Patrons. Taxes for the Tennis Patrons are prepared by a board member who is a CPA. Another board member is an attorney. SMART RACQUETS funds will be held in a separate account. Evaluation of each student's success will be achieved in terms of his or her progression through the Program, and by the head teacher. Numerous articles have appeared in the local paper highlighting our Program and activities. A $1,000,000.00 liability insurance policy is provided through the United States Tennis Association (USTA) by the Tennis Patrons.

  • COLLABORATION: Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Department, Santa Barbara School District, the United States Tennis Association (USTA), the Southern California Tennis Association (SCTA), and Zona Seca partner for progress in that special Santa Barbara spirit of collaboration that has made so many wonderful youth projects a success in our fair city; also, a Tennis Patrons board member serves on the Minority Participation Council.

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  • MARKETING AND FUNDING: To solicit funds, we have created a brochure that explains who we are and what SMART RACQUETS is. This brochure was mailed to approximately 800 Tennis Patrons families and supporters and raised $2,000.00. The above organizations were listed as sponsors on the brochure as well as on entries for tennis tournaments. SCTA and USTA have both given SMART RACQUETS grants totaling $6,000.00. We conducted an annual fundraising tennis exhibition match using all the local pros in Santa Barbara. The private tennis clubs have been approached for sponsorship.

  • In July, 1996, we received a $12,000.00 matching fund award from the Santa Barbara Foundation. They will match us 2:1 for each dollar we raise in the next year. In the meanwhile, kids benefit! And if together we can provide a great and special alternative to gang activity, then we have moved forward in our joint goals for the needy youth of our greater Santa Barbara community and have opened the doors to a better world for tomorrow's children.

  • Zona Seca is appreciative of the $2,000.00 1999 Contribution made by the Haskell Fund to the Smart Racquets Program. This is the Haskell Fund's second year of positive fiscal support of this prevention initiative in our community.

  • We are also appreciative of the annual fiscal support of $6,000.00 from the City of Santa Barbara, CDBG/Human Services Funds, and the City's recognition of the value of drug and alcohol prevention efforts for at-risk youth. These monies primarily fund staff salaries.

  • The Amateur Athletic Association donated $3,000.00 to pay for the handsome tennis uniforms the young people wear with pride.

  • The Tennis Patrons paid for the services of the Tennis Instructors, a contribution without which we could not support necessary training for Smart Racquets kids!

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  • After School Program

  • Mentoring & Tutoring

  • Parenting Seminars

  • Spanish Language Radio

    • Refreshed 23 November 1999
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