The 18th Annual Fall Classic Brings Together Hundreds of Athletes and Volunteers to “Play Tennis. Make Friends. Live Life.”

 

Media Contact: Jim Hamm, Executive Director, JHamm@specialpopstennis.org

October 3, 2023 – Metro Atlanta – This weekend, October 6-8, 2023, the 18th Annual Fall Classic will draw 111 Special Pops Tennis Athletes, over 225 volunteers and countless family members together for a much anticipated adaptive tennis tournament. Lifetime Athletic and Tennis, located at 6350 Courtside Dr. NW, Peachtree Corners, Georgia, is the host venue for this tournament. Athletes prepare year round for this tournament, but they hone their skills during the Fall Training Academies held each year in August and September at 18 location in the Metro Atlanta Area.

What makes this annual event unique is that players and their family members/chaperones come to participate from outside the Metro Atlanta area and other states. In 2023, delegations will come from Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Kansas, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia.

Helen Boudreaux, 2023 Fall Classic Tournament Director, shared, “Kathryn Bergquist, Tournament Co-Director, along with 15 other volunteer leaders and I have been preparing all year for the big weekend ahead. There are still a few details to take care of, pre-event communications to be sent and volunteer training sessions to be held for the many fabulous volunteers who will be fulfilling key roles over the weekend. We are looking forward to seeing everyone and can hardly wait to experience the fun in action with the on-court matches and the newly created off-court games.”

The competition involves singles play on Friday for Level III, IV and V Athletes. The competition also includes traditional and unified doubles play on Saturday and Sunday for Level II, III, IV and V Athletes.  Each Athlete is placed in a competitive division with each division playing in a two-hour segment which will include three timed matches. Each Athlete will attend the division award ceremony immediately following his/her division matches.

“The Annual Fall Classic is a full weekend of fun to give everyone in attendance a great experience and to make many wonderful memories. The schedule is filled with both on-the-court competitive tennis and off-the-court gatherings. The evening plans include a BBQ dinner karaoke on Friday and a dinner/dance on Saturday,” said Jim Hamm, Special Pops Tennis Executive Director. He added, “As always, it’s guaranteed to be a weekend to remember as we ‘Play Tennis. Make Friends. Live Life.’”

Special Pops Tennis is grateful for these sponsors who help fund the event…

  • ALTA Foundation
  • Coca-Cola Bottling Company
  • Costa Coffee
  • Country Club of Roswell
  • Delightfully Different World
  • Gwinnett Sports Commission
  • Jane & co.
  • Lifetime Tennis – Peachtree Corners (Norcross)
  • Mark Gupton State Farm Insurance
  • Second Serve
  • Shepard
  • Swing for a Cause
  • TPC Sugarloaf Tennis
  • Truist
  • USTA Georgia
  • USTA Southern

And these supporters are also appreciated…

  • Alpharetta Rotary Club
  • Big Frog
  • Capelli Sports
  • Diadem
  • Medlock Bridge Tennis Association
  • National Charity League Chapters
  • Westminster – Play Unified
  • Young Men’s Service League Chapters
  • Your Serve

About Special Pops Tennis

Special Pops Tennis (SPT), a non-profit organization since 2005, offers programs and services to our Athletes (children and adults with intellectual disabilities) to “Play Tennis; Make Friends; Live Life.” Without our programs, people with intellectual disabilities have limited experiences to gain the social and physical benefits of tennis from “outside the fence.”

Adaptive tennis programs provide the opportunity for the Athletes to come inside the fence. SPT programs are designed to develop life skills such as an active lifestyle, healthy food choices, positive self-esteem, respect for others, social interaction and problem-solving.

The Athletes face the challenge of learning differently in their life’s journey. Built upon healthy relationships with our volunteers, the Athletes and families develop friendships and participate in a sport that is based on inclusion and unconditional love for others. Beyond metro Atlanta, we are recognized as the training arm for launching additional adaptive tennis programs throughout Georgia.

For more information, please visit www.specialpopstennis.org or contact Jim Hamm at 404-702-5820 or send an email to serve@specialpopstennis.org.