YMS Tennis

Talking about Saturday Live and our youth is probably the most fun and relative to report on, but it isn't the only department under YMS. We wanted to give you a glimpse of the first half of our sports department: TENNIS, and Canny (pronounced like Kenny), lovingly referred to as "Coach" by the children

Canny Moyo came to Refilwe in November 2010 and began teaching tennis at the Refilwe primary school two days a week. For the first 8 months, Canny did not receive any remuneration for the skill he was teaching. Only recently has he been sponsored by Tennis Inc to teach the children in the Lanseria area.

The tennis began with only 7 children, and has grown to 26 children from Refilwe as well as the community in just a few short months. Canny reports that every child he works with has had no previous experience in tennis, but has improved greatly. The ages of the kids range from 5-19. Canny begins his days by working with the smallest children who are the least experienced, and even uses some of the older kids, from 11upwards, to help him teach. He rotates the youth and children in groups so that they receive equal practice time.

Canny uses the court 5 times a week. He teaches the Refilwe and community kids on Tuesday and Friday each week from 15:00-17:00. He also trains Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 15:00-17:30. In addition to personal tennis training, Canny is part of the YMS leadership team and attends leadership development each morning in order to further his leadership skills.

Canny can recall one 15-year old boy named Steve who came to him not even knowing how to hold a racket. Just since March of this year, he has become the most improved of all the children Canny works with.

A short term goal of the YMS tennis is to see the children improve on a daily basis and to get them prepared for tournaments as early as this year November. They have greatly improved in their techniques, backhand, and forehand swings, volley and they are currently working on their serves.

A long term goal of the tennis is to see these children take tennis seriously and advance even into the professionals. They have been given a unique opportunity to gain skills and we want to see them succeed in this way.