How tennis becomes more than a sport

My tennis career began in my junior year of high school when a friend was insistent that I join the tennis team which was short of enough players to cover every position. After much persuasion, I reluctantly agreed to give it a try. My personal outstanding moment as a player came when I played the number three singles position … When only two other players showed up for the match due to SAT testing. It was a short match.

Nevertheless, joining the high school tennis team was one of the best experiences of my life to that point. Many of my very best friends came out of that team. And it was a great team, especially off the court. It changed how I viewed myself when I was awarded a school athletic letter a year later, more for persistence than anything, I suspect. I was no longer that nerdy kid but had earned the same award as that star football or basketball player. Even if it did not come with the swarm of adoring fans.

A half-century later, when I had the opportunity to take the helm of our local high school tennis booster club, I agreed. From my experience as a mental health specialist, tennis is a tremendous tool for promoting not only physical health but also mental health. And a great means to boost self-confidence and self-esteem.

This is more important than ever. We are facing a national mental health crisis among our youth. The pandemic left a lot of damage in its wake. Many young people, as well as adults, were thrust into months of social isolation and retreated into what can be a dark place on the internet. Depression among youth has reached an epidemic level of 40% according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Tennis, as well as other sports, provides a strong route for social interaction and building lasting friendships. It offers physical activity which we know is an important ingredient to good physical and mental health. It is also a great way to prevent obesity which is also at near epidemic levels nationally.

So, when I had the opportunity to take the helm of our local tennis program in Jeffersonville, Indiana, I agreed. It was a challenge to rebuild a once-prospering program. But once again, there was a great team comprised of parents and coaches along with a delightful group of players. It was to be a journey that exceeded any of our expectations. I will spare the details, but a year later we had added year-around clinics including a summer clinic with 150 participants from more than 20 schools, reinstated our tournaments bringing in participants from seven states, brought back our elite high school invitational, developed key relationships with the USTA including a cross-regional partnership with the Kentucky branch of USTA Southern. We have launched a tennis program in our area elementary schools with the support of the USTA Midwest and are working on the development of a junior league. And we are on the verge of a major capital campaign. And along the way, we have also built a strong sense of community. Once again it comes back to a team bound by a common vision and held together by a great mission … and fun.

Purlee and his wife live in Jeffersonville, Indiana. They have two children and two grandchildren. He is retired, having served as the chief operating officer and senior vice president for regional not-for-profit organizations. He is also a pilot and an author.