OPAF

Tennis Star in the Makings

On Sunday, December 2, First Volley instructor Stan Backovsky participated in the Run and Roll tennis tournament at the Balboa Tennis Club in San Diego. This was a fun round-robin tournament that matched up standing and wheelchair players for an afternoon of doubles tennis. Participants played 20 minutes and then switched partners for the next 20 minutes, keeping individual scores. The tournament was a fundraiser for the San Diego Adaptive Sports Foundation (Marla Knox). They are looking to start up a wheelchair tennis program.

Frank Elliott,a First Volley veteran from the Mutual Amputee Aid Foundation clinics in Redondo Beach, drove all the way from Bakersfield for the tournament, played very well, and won second place in the wheelchair rankings! I think we can consider him a fully degreed graduate of the First Volley University (he has a nice plaque to prove it). Of course we expect him to keep coming to the University for post-graduate work.

Kudos to Stan for all his instruction at the MAAF First Volley clinics and to Amy McKnight for all the one-on-one instruction with Frank and for providing insider scoop on the most effective sneaky shots.

Holiday First Volley

Hello All!

For those who may not have heard, First Volley was selected as the USTA National Community Award winner for 2007 for Adaptive Tennis!!!   And we have caught the attention of the local media here in the Philadelphia area.  To aid the media in understanding First Volley, we will be hosting a Holiday First Volley on Saturday, December 29 from 3-5 PM at our home court at Bucks County Racquet Club in Washington Crossing, PA. 

The registration form is available on the OPAF website at http://www.opfund.org/firstvolleyweb.html#REG.  Please check your calendar and see if you will be able to join us and let me know ASAP! There is a distinct possibility that media will be there to film and do interviews.  You could be a Tennis star, if you want to be!  Please consider joining us for this next step in First Volley's bright future for adaptive tennis!

Any questions, give me a call!  I'd look forward to seeing all of you!

First Volley receives National Award

Exciting News!!!!

OPAF received a call from Kirk Anderson, our friend at the USTA National Office this morning.

First Volley has been selected as the USTA National Community Tennis Service Award for Adaptive Tennis for 2008.  They will be sending out Craig Reynolds to shoot a documentary on First Volley and the impact that we are having.  The documentary will premier at the Community Tennis Development Workshop on Saturday, February 23, 2008 in Las Vegas when we will be presented with the award at their annual Awards Dinner.

We will be getting a press release out to the industry and the entire world as soon as we have more details.

Thought you'd like to be the first to know!

OPAF Awards Grant to CSSHA

OPAF recently awarded an OPAF grant to the Colorado Springs Sled Hockey Association.  The grant  represents the cost of one hockey sled for the organization.  This is the first grant awarded to CSSHA by OPAF and the first grant awarded by OPAF since 2004.

Colorado Springs Sled Hockey Association is open to disabled persons, age 5 to adult who want to have fun and learn the game of ice hockey.  They are a growing program and hope to increase to 20 players.  OPAF Board of Directors felt that with the help of these grant monies that we would make an immediate and measurable impact on this population.

Congratulations to the Colorado Springs Sled Hockey Association and continued success from the Official Philanthropy of the US Orthotic & Prosthetic Community.

POA Texas A Success

Tyler Prosthetic Orthotic Associates of Texas held their inaugural First Volley adaptive tennis clinic on Saturday, October 13 and knocked one out of the court! Bruce McClellan, CPO and owner of POA was very pleased and talking about scheduling the next POA First Volley clinic and increasing attendance.

“I wouldn’t have missed this for the world” said McClellan.

McClellan and his entire staff were present for First Volley and worked to make it a great morning for everyone attending. All clinic attendees were given a free First Volley/POA-Texas t-shirt. Participants were fed balls to work on forehand, backhand and volley strokes and even a bit of live ball action.

Refreshments, t-shirts and Prince Sports’ “Hitting for Prizes” were just a part of the fun. All participants also went home with an Advanta tennis racquet, compliments of World Team Tennis and Billie Jean King. King donated 120 racquets to First Volley so that attendees can continue to hone their new found tennis skills. The hosting facility at Tyler Junior College's Murphy Tennis Facility provided a world class venue for attendees, volunteers and observers.

TJC students volunteered both their time and their expertise to make the day. The clinic brought together both orthotic and prosthetic patients who want to try their tennis skills, but need some specialized coaching to do so. The Orthotic & Prosthetic Assistance Fund, Inc. (OPAF) offers their First Volley clinics to orthotic and prosthetic patient care facilities across the country so that they may offer quality tennis instruction to their patients and their community. Led by First Volley Director of Tennis, Darren Kindred, the clinic not only gave the participants one on one coaching, but also gave the volunteer TJC tennis tech students a chance to work with adaptive tennis, a field they had not been exposed to before.

“We hope that we will be able to work with more of the tennis management programs across the country to bring adaptive tennis to students and future teaching pros. Their influence on the game of tennis is huge and will be instrumental in how this program will grow” said Robin Burton, OPAF Executive Director.

“Our thanks to POA Texas and all their folks for hosting First Volley for Tyler and East Texas,” said Burton.

Kimm Ketelson of TJC added, “I hope this can become an annual event. It is a wonderful thing to do in tennis.”

First Volley Goes to East Texas this Saturday

First Volley, sponsored by Prosthetic Orthotic Associates of East Texas will be held on Saturday, October 13 at the tennis facilities at Tyler Junior College in Tyler, TX.  The clinic will be led by First Volley's Director of Tennis, Darren Kindred, who is also a graduate of TJC and a native of Tyler!  Come out to join us for a great morning, working on your tennis skills and drills.  No running required and wheelchair players are welcome!  The clinic runs 9 am to 12 noon.  Be there!

OPAF participates in Kicking for Kids Who Can't in DC

OPAF participated in the Kicking For Kids Who Can't event this past weekend on the National Mall in DC.  Held at the foot of the Capital building, participants watched kicking and boxing exhibitions and participated in all out kick events.  Proceeds from the event went to benefit Limbs for Life.  OPAF was one of 12 participating sponsors, including Amputee Coalition of America, College Park and Maryland O & P.  Good Job KFKWC!

First Volley at Frog Hollow was a Blast!

First Volley at Frog Hollow was a blast!  Led by First Volley instructor, Kyle Devlin and his assistant, Michael Guth, participants were put through their tennis skills on outdoor courts in beautiful weather!  Great volunteers, including Jeff and Gisele Eichhorn from Shriners/Philadelphia as well as Jarod Howell from Ability P & O and Jeff Dawson from Otto Bock, plus the entire Voutsinas family joined in!  All First Volley veterans in attendance, including some of the Shriners Kids.  Many thanks to Don Davis, Sr. for getting us in the door and thanks to Frog Hollow for their facilities and great refreshments.

First Volley at Frogs Hollow in Lansdale, PA this Saturday

Don't forget! 
First Volley this Saturday, September 29 at Frog Hollow Racquet Club in Lansdale, PA, just off the PA turnpike extension.  We're playing on the outdoor courts and the weather will be beautiful!  Please join us!

Click HERE to download the registration form.

Please fax back to 215-752-5759 so that you're included in our numbers!

See you Saturday. 
We'll be giving out the complimentary racquets from Billie Jean King!

OPAF and Web 2.0

It's a banner day for OPAF.

We have officially joined the Web 2.0 community and we couldn't be more thrilled! 

Welcome to the OPAF blog.