Townsend Gilbert and Tim Heckler each have extensive experience teaching tennis to young children. This is exemplified in their collaborative work from the program’s inception, through extensive pilot studies for curriculum development and the publication of the program’s second manual, USPTA’s Complete Guide to Little Tennis.

Gilbert has been teaching tennis for more than 35 years. He has considerable experience in club management and programming. Gilbert is especially enthusiastic about helping children develop self-awareness and motor control in the context of fun and challenging games on the tennis court, leading them to attain true tennis skill. He has also championed the Little Tennis program in the grassroots, as well as in the political arena from his position on the USPTA national Board of Directors.

Heckler has taught junior national singles and doubles champions, many other nationally ranked juniors and hundreds of children who have grown up to enjoy tennis as a lifetime sport. As the chief executive officer of USPTA, he initiated the concept and development of USPTA Little Tennis and has been involved in continuous pilot studies to improve and expand the program. He has touted the importance of growth in children’s programming to all segments of the tennis industry, and not least to the tennis professionals who are most capable of bringing the sport to children.

We should also recognize our deceased colleague George Bacso, who spent numerous hours assisting in the development of this specialist program.