Youth Tennis Playing Out on Palm Beach Courts

Palm Beach County is home to one of Florida’s premier United States Tennis Association (USTA) youth events. The 10^th annual USTA Summer Smash Sectional Championships will take place across three venues in The Palm Beaches, which include the Delray Beach Tennis Center, Delray Swim & Tennis Club, and Boca Lago Country Club. The event features competitions for both boys and girls, which are  divided over two weekends: one has already taken place, (Boys 12s, 14s, 16s, 18s divisions) and from August 29 – Sept. 1, Girls 12s, 14s, 16s, 18s divisions will take the court.  

Player’s International Management (PIM), based in Delray Beach, is the event organizer. PIM produces a variety of USTA sanctioned events in The Palm Beaches on an annual basis.The team at PIM also produces the Delray Beach Open, which is one of only 11 Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour events in the United States.  

The Palm Beach County Sports Commission (PBCSC) has cultivated the growth of tennis events in The Palm Beaches and is partnering with PIM to host this event. The USTA Summer Smash Sectional Championships has adopted strict guidelines to combat the spread of COVID-19. Participation is being restricted to create physical distancing.A maximum of 32 players will be placed over the three sites, which provide more than 30 clay tennis courts.The junior tennis player may be accompanied by only one guest, which enhances distancing. Players will check in from their mobile devices and are only permitted to step on the court when previous players have cleared out. Temperatures will be checked prior to entering the facility and any person exceeding 100.4 will not be allowed to enter. Every person on-site must wear masks, except for the currently competing players.

Tennis is one of the first sports to recover in Palm Beach County since the pandemic. On July 11-13 and July 18-20, PIM produced USTA Florida Sectionals, which featured junior tennis matches. These events proved that sports could return in a safe and responsible manner.

The USTA Summer Smash Sectional Championships gives amateur tennis players multiple opportunities to improve their national rankings and be noticed by collegiate recruiters. "These youth players are almost always on display. For them to get back to playing tennis is huge. Their results are what impact their rankings and visibility to colleges as they get older," said Site Director, John Butler. "Tennis events have always been a place where our youth can socialize and create friendships. Today, it is different because the players cannot stay on-site and are not permitted to gather. Safety is the most important priority. At the end of the day, the youth players will appreciate the safety measures because it enables them to play and compete again."

The event’s three sites represent some of the best tennis facilities in Florida. The Delray Beach Tennis Center contains 14 clay courts, six hard courts, and an 8,200-seat stadium. As one of the premier tennis facilities in the Southeast, the Center hosts elite and charity tennis tournaments throughout the year, including the Delray Beach Open, the only ATP tour event combining an ATP 250 event with an ATP Champions Tour event. The Delray Swim & Tennis Club features 24 clay courts and a clubhouse that has a pro shop and locker rooms. Boca Lago Country Club features 16 Har-Tru courts and four quick-dry hard surface courts.

About Palm Beach County Sports Commission - The Palm Beach County Sports Commission is a private, not-for-profit organization contracted by Palm Beach County to promote and market the County as a sports and sports tourism destination. The Commission brings sporting events and activities to the County, enhances economic impact, stimulates bed tax revenues (primarily in the off-season), and maximizes utilization of County facilities. The Commission offers a full range of event service support, corporate partnerships, sponsorships and a local membership program that support its goals. Local, regional, national and international marketing efforts are ongoing by the Commission with sports organizations and event owners. The Commission also produces sports-related programs for the residents of Palm Beach County including the annual Lou Groza Award program, the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame and the Kids Fitness Festival of the Palm Beaches. For more information on the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, go to www.palmbeachsports.com.