July 13th, 2026
USTA Florida Opens Nominations for Three Awards Celebrating the People and Places Growing the Game
Tennis in Florida runs on dedication, it lives in the volunteers who give their weekends, the coaches who build confidence one practice at a time, and the public courts where so many players pick up a racquet for the first time. The 2026 USTA Florida Section Awards are the organization’s way of saying thank you to the people and places that make the game stronger, more welcoming and more accessible for everyone.
This year, USTA Florida is recognizing excellence across three awards: the Public Parks Award, the Community Coach of the Year Award and the Excellence in Service Award. Nominations are now open and will be accepted through August 13.
USTA Florida Public Parks Award
Public parks are where tennis becomes a game for everyone. They are the courts down the street, the after-school clinics, the summer camps and the people who keep the nets up and the gate open. The USTA Florida Public Parks Award honors a public parks and recreation facility, program, director or volunteer that has made tennis more welcoming, more affordable and more alive in their community. It celebrates the places and people who turn a few courts into a gathering spot, who clear the path between a kid and their first rally, and who show how tennis can lift the health, energy and connection of a whole neighborhood.
USTA Florida Community Coach of the Year Award
Great coaches do more than teach a forehand. They show up early, stay late and notice the player who needs a little extra belief. The USTA Florida Community Coach of the Year Award honors a coach, paid or volunteer, whose impact reaches well beyond the baseline. This is the coach who builds confidence along with skill, who makes every player feel they belong on the court and who helps a community grow stronger one practice at a time. Through mentorship, sportsmanship and steady dedication to the game, they remind us that the best coaching changes lives, not just scores.
USTA Florida Excellence in Service Award
Some volunteers give so much, so consistently and for so long that the game itself is better for it. The USTA Florida Excellence in Service Award is one of the section’s highest honors. It recognizes a volunteer whose leadership, generosity and love for tennis have left a lasting mark on USTA Florida and the communities it serves. Whether chairing a committee, guiding a project team or quietly mentoring the next wave of volunteers, this person leads by example and lifts everyone around them. They are, in every sense, an ambassador for the sport and for the spirit of giving back.
How to Nominate
Nominations are open to USTA Florida staff, volunteers, committee members and community partners. One application covers all three awards, with a dropdown to select the category. Nominators can submit more than one nomination, and all of the nominee’s information is needed up front at the time of submission.
Applications open July 13 and close August 13 2026. All applications will be reviewed by the USTA Florida Board of Directors, with decisions expected in late August to early September. Winners will be celebrated at the 2026 Florida Tennis Summit, November 13-15.
To submit a nomination, click here.
Know someone who deserves to be celebrated? Take a few minutes to tell us their story. If you have any questions, contact Meika Ashby at ashby@ustaflorida.com.
