Community Tennis Associations (CTAs)
Florida’s community tennis associations are volunteer-led groups that bring more players, more programs, and more courts to towns across all 67 counties. Whether you want to join one, strengthen yours, or start a new one, USTA Florida is here to help.
Find a CTA Near You
Comience
Benefits of Being a CTA
What is a Community Tennis Association (CTA)?
A community tennis association, or CTA, is a not-for-profit, volunteer-based organization that grows tennis in a specific town, county, or region. Florida community tennis associations pull together the players, coaches, parks, schools, and clubs in one area under a single mission: get more people on court and keep them coming back.
Think of a CTA as the connective tissue of local tennis. On their own, a public park, an after-school program, and a teaching pro can feel scattered. A CTA links them, speaks for tennis with one voice, and makes sure no one has to grow the game alone.
Why CTAs matter in Florida
Tennis is booming in Florida. Around 1.9 million Floridians played last year, and USTA Florida is one of the fastest-growing sections in the country.
But demand is outpacing access. Florida has nearly 18,000 tennis courts, yet fewer than one in five are open to the public. That gap is exactly where community tennis associations make their mark. A strong CTA advocates for public courts, launches programs for every age and ability, and turns first-time players into lifelong ones.
When a CTA is active and organized, everyone wins: kids get a place to play, parks stay full, and the case for investing in local tennis gets a lot louder.
What your CTA can do
Every Florida CTA looks a little different, and that is the point. Yours can be as focused or as far-reaching as your community needs. CTAs across the state:
- Run junior programs, adult leagues, and social play at local parks and schools
- Host tournaments, festivals, and special events that bring the community together
- Recruit and train volunteers and community coaches
- Raise funds and secure grants to keep programs affordable
- Advocate to city and county leaders for better courts and more access
- Welcome new players of every age, background, and ability
You do not have to do all of it at once. Many great CTAs start with one program or one event and grow from there.
Benefits of being a USTA Florida CTA
Registering as a USTA Florida CTA connects you to a statewide team that wants you to succeed. Members get:
Access USTA’s Master Liability and Directors and Officers insurance programs, available to CTAs with an active USTA Organizational Membership.
Tap into program and equipment grants, including Program Support Grants from the USTA Florida Section Foundation.
USTA Florida trains and supports new, diverse coaches who deliver programs built for your community, from cardio tennis to adult-beginner and adaptive play.
Work directly with USTA Florida’s Facilities and Providers and Advocacy and Volunteers teams for guidance on programming, planning, and growth.
Learn about fundraising, volunteer management, grants, and more through ongoing USTA and USTA Florida sessions.
Join hundreds of organizations already growing the game across Florida.
Contenido destacado
Start a CTA in Florida
Forming a new community tennis association is a big undertaking, and a hugely rewarding one. It takes a committed group of tennis lovers who want to serve their community. Here is the path most Florida CTAs follow.
Gather a few dedicated volunteers and agree on what your CTA is here to do.
Recruit tennis enthusiasts plus people with skills you will need, such as accounting, legal, marketing, and school or parks connections.
File Articles of Incorporation with the State of Florida and apply for a federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS.
Work with a CPA to secure IRS tax-exempt status and register with the Florida Secretary of State.
This unlocks USTA and USTA Florida benefits, including discounted insurance (see below).
Set your strategy, programs, and goals before you launch.
Ready to grow tennis in your community?
Join the Florida CTAs already building a stronger, more connected tennis community, one court at a time.
Grow and strengthen your CTA
Already running a CTA? Keep it thriving with a few proven habits:
Spend part of every board meeting on it, and build a pipeline that includes high school and college players and diverse community members.
Schools, parks and recreation departments, YMCAs, Boys and Girls Clubs, chambers of commerce, and health organizations can all help you do more.
Use newsletters, email, social media, and community events to stay connected with players, partners, and the public.
Set term limits and create a clear path for future leaders so your CTA outlasts any one person.
Use the USTA CTA Health Check to spot strengths and gaps, then build a plan to grow.
Plan with purpose
The strongest CTAs do not leave growth to chance. USTA Florida’s strategic planning roadmap walks your board through a simple 7-step process to turn energy into results: define your “why” and “what,” assess community needs, set three to five priorities, and build a clear “who, what, when” action plan.
The roadmap also shows you how to write SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timebound), diversify your funding across the four pillars, avoid the most common planning pitfalls, and hold your board accountable with quarterly reviews.
For example, “grow junior programs” becomes “enroll 60 new juniors ages 8 to 12 in after-school programs at 3 schools by May, using 6 trained volunteers.” That is the difference a plan makes.
Find a CTA near you
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Preguntas frecuentes
Frequently Asked Questions About Community Tennis Associations
About CTAs and getting involved.
A CTA is a not-for-profit, volunteer-led group that grows tennis in a specific town, county, or region through events, programs, and play. They’re a big reason tennis thrives locally.
You can join an existing CTA or start a new one where there isn’t coverage yet. Reach out to us and we’ll help you get going.
Recognized CTAs get support, resources, and connections to help them plan and grow. See the full list of benefits on this page.
Yes. CTAs often tap grants and assistance to expand their programs. Our grants page has details.
CTAs are powered by volunteers, and there are many ways to help locally. Our volunteers page is a great place to start.
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