1952
Seventy-five years of Houston tennis. The next generation is already on court.
In 2027 the Houston Tennis Association turns 75 and the Game Set Match Gala holds its fifteenth. We are marking it the way it should be marked - by putting more Houston children on more courts, for free, than in any year of our history.
Houston parks
8
1952 - 2027 - THE DIAMOND YEAR
CHILDREN YEAR-ROUND
2,500
Game Set Match Gala
XV
$0
Founded
NJTL cost to a family
NJTL classes are free  •  Ages 6–18  •  Summer camps from age 4  •  Parks, schools and summer camps  •  No experience needed  •  USTA-trained coaches
FREE
No fee, no catch
No registration fee, no equipment fee, no fundraising requirement. The USTA and the USTA Foundation, grants, and other sponsors and donors carry the cost so families never have to.
Houston's free youth tennis program
Run by the Houston Tennis Association since 1990, in collaboration with the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, through the USTA Foundation's National Junior Tennis and Learning network.
EDUCATIONAL
Learning, not just sport
Our ACE classes add a free academic hour beside tennis - reading, financial literacy, goal setting, and college prep for older students.
PROFESSIONAL
Coaches, not volunteers
Every instructor is trained and background checked by the USTA, works from the USTA Player Development curriculum, and is paid for their time.
LOCAL
Your park, not across town
Fall classes run at eight public parks, from Acres Homes to the Energy Corridor, and we bring tennis into schools on top of that. Small classes, so every child gets court time.
FALL SESSION - OPEN NOW
September 28 - November 19, 2026
Eight weeks of coaching, new friends and free court time for ages 6 to 18, in collaboration with the Houston Parks and Recreation Department. Classes are kept small, so every child actually gets to hit.
Registering takes about five minutes. A parent or guardian needs to complete the form, and you'll want your child's date of birth and t-shirt size to hand. Places are filled in the order they arrive; once a class is full, later registrations go on a wait list and we'll be in touch.
After School - Monday to Thursday
4:15-5:15 p.m.
Ages 6-10
5:15-6:15 p.m.
Ages 11-18
6:15-7:15 p.m.
Intermediate - ages 8-18, able to rally and serve.
Home School - Highland only
9:00-10:00 a.m.
Ages 6-10
10:00-11:00 a.m.
Ages 11-18
11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Intermediate.
Scenic Woods meets on Saturdays only this fall, and those classes are full (waitlist open) - see Programs.
FALL NJTL - WHERE WE PLAY
Eight parks across the city
The free fall after-school and home-school classes run at eight public parks. Find the one nearest you - days vary by location.
Bendwood (Memorial)
Highland (Acres Homes)
Jaycee (Greater Heights)
Meyerland
Nottingham (Energy Corridor)
Oak Forest
Scenic Woods
Schwartz (Spring Branch)
A SEASON, IN PICTURES
This is what Kids' Day looks like
Every photograph on this site is ours - Houston children, Houston public courts, this program. Most were taken at NJTL Kids' Day, the afternoon our sites come together.
ACADEMICS & TENNIS
An hour of ACE, right beside the tennis hour
ACE - Academic, Creative, Engagement - is a free 60-minute class that meets immediately before or after your child's tennis class, at the same park, on the same day. Reading, financial literacy, goal setting, teamwork. No extra trip, no extra cost.
TENNIS
4:15 - 5:15
On court with a coach
ACE
5:15 - 6:15
Same park, same afternoon
WHAT PARENTS ASK FIRST
What people ask us first
It really is free
There is no registration fee, no equipment fee and no fundraising requirement. Funding comes from the USTA and the USTA Foundation, together with grants, sponsors and donors, so cost is never the reason a child doesn't play.
No experience needed
No experience is expected. Beginners are grouped with beginners, and coaches move a child to a different group if it suits them better.
Safe hands
Every instructor is trained and background checked by the USTA. Classes are kept small, and parents are welcome to stay and watch.
Don't have a racquet?
Let us know when you register. A $25 gift from a supporter puts an age-appropriate racquet and ball in a child's hands to keep.
What if the class is full?
Places go in the order registrations arrive. If a class is full, your child goes on the waitlist and we'll contact you when a spot opens. Missed fall? Join the spring list.
What happens when it rains?
Safety comes first. If it rains or there's lightning nearby, class is cancelled for the day (ACE too), and we let registered families know as early as we can.
VOICES OF HTA
Ask the people who grew up here
NJTL taught me the meaning of discipline and hard work - in and out of tennis.
NJTL was a great way to be part of a fun community filled with people from all backgrounds and walks of life that enjoyed the same sport of tennis. The lessons I learned not only taught me to become a better tennis player, but also a better person overall, as joining NJTL taught me the meaning of discipline and hard work, both of which apply to my life in and out of tennis. The people you meet and interact with every day at NJTL definitely changed my life for the better, and I'm very grateful to have been a part of this group.
Joshua Manalastas
NJTL & TPG alumnus - Engineering student at UT
Joshua still comes back to TPG holiday events to play with our younger players.
Your support helped them not only in sports but also in their personal growth.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude for all the support, dedication, and kindness you have given to our three children throughout the years. We will never forget the love and support we received from coaches Jonson and Ellen Miller. We are deeply grateful for the financial assistance Danielle received when she entered college, as well as for the opportunity Andres had to begin his first job as an assistant coach at age 16. That experience was very valuable for his growth and opened doors for him in his current work. We remember you all with great affection and will always be grateful for having been such an important part of our family's life.
The Mora Family
Three children in the program, from age 4 to 18.
Today Danielle is a University of Houston finance graduate working in Houston, and Andres plays tennis for the University of St. Thomas.
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From year one to today.
Faith Porter
NJTL alumna
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Forever grateful.
Quinten Robertson
NJTL alumnus
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Reaching kids in all corners of our city.
Ellen Miller
Director of NJTL Player and Coach Development
HEAR IT FROM THEM
The one day every park is on the same courts
NJTL Kids' Day is the afternoon our sites come together, each one arriving behind a banner they painted themselves. It is the shortest way to understand what this program feels like from the inside - so we put the camera on the people who were there rather than writing about it.
Ninety-five seconds. Sound on.
