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Slam n Splash – The Evolution of Community Tennis Lessons

Writer's picture: Storyline StudioStoryline Studio

In 2017, AYLUS Pearland junior member Andy Jiang initiated a community tennis lesson program. Having trained in tennis from a young age, Andy was inspired by the swimming lessons offered by fellow members and sought to share his skills to help children discover a love for the sport. Beginning on June 9, 2017, the program offered weekly summer classes with a team of 11 volunteer coaches—mainly local high school tennis players—teaching three age groups of children aged 7-12.


Over the next two years, these summer tennis lessons became a beloved annual offering by AYLUS Pearland. After a brief pause in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Zide Liu revived the program in 2021, arranging tennis courts in various communities and recruiting new coaches and students. That summer, five successful sessions were held.


One persistent challenge throughout the years was securing tennis courts, as most local courts operated on a first-come, first-served basis, complicating planning and scheduling.


In 2023, a group of AYLUS youth leaders who were also Dawson High School tennis players—Derek Zhu, William Sun, Alex Sun, and Zide Liu—developed a creative solution. They partnered with the Dawson High School tennis team to use its courts during the team’s off-season in the summer. The lessons were also transformed into a fundraising initiative, with a small fee charged for participation. A portion of the proceeds was donated to the Dawson High School tennis team to purchase equipment and tennis balls.


This new structure, featuring access to professional courts and a meaningful cause, made the tennis program an instant success. A total of 20 sessions were offered, attracting hundreds of children, raising nearly $4,000. Besides supporting the Dawson High School tennis team, the remaining funds were donated to various student clubs through the Achieve Together Fund.


In 2024, the community tennis lessons expanded further, offering sessions not only in summer but also during winter breaks and holidays when school was out. This initiative showcases the journey of youth serving their community through their passions, addressing challenges with innovative solutions, and making a broader, lasting impact through collaboration with community partners.


2017: The First AYLUS Pearland Community Tennis Class

On June 9, 2017, Andy Jiang and Edwin Ling taught students the importance of warm-up exercises and the correct way to hold a tennis racket




2021: Wrapping Up the 2021 Summer Lessons

At the final summer session in 2021, Zide Liu and Bharat Salvady took a group photo



2023: A New Home for Community Tennis at Dawson High School

With a permanent court secured at Dawson High School, students lined up for exciting practice sessions. Featured coaches: Derek Zhu and Zide Liu.


2023: Perfecting the Basics with Expert Guidance

William Sun and Alexander Sun demonstrated proper tennis postures to eager young  learners.





2024: Tennis Lessons Beyond Summer

The community tennis classes expanded to Fall Break in 2024. Coaches William Sun, Gavin Song, and Will Wong organized engaging sessions for participants.



A portion of the tuition raised from the community tennis lessons was donated to the Dawson High School Tennis Team.


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