By Emmy Powell, ATLA Director of Marketing
Finding that perfect connection in a new place can be a daunting task. One of the best places to find your new tribe might just be on a tennis or pickleball court! Whether you have played a sport for years, or you are ready to pick up a racquet or paddle for the first time, the Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association (ALTA) can help you settle into your new home with friends aplenty.
Started over 90 years ago to promote tennis tournaments in the Atlanta area, ALTA started tennis league play in 1971 and has grown into a racquet sport powerhouse with over 60,000 members. Adding pickleball in 2023 has brought even more Atlantans together to play the fastest growing sport in the nation. Players aged 8 to 80+ unite on the courts to encourage competition, sportsmanship and friendship. You will find teams of all skill levels within ALTA—from those who are just learning to keep score to former college champions.
ALTA, which depends on hundreds of volunteers to keep things running smoothly, offers nine adult tennis leagues (men’s, women’s, mixed doubles), boys and girls junior leagues, wheelchair and run/roll leagues and an adult pickleball league. Matches are played year-round and are capped off by exciting and fun city finals each season. During each season, teams battle it out on the courts in hopes of bringing home the coveted “big plate” in tennis and the flashy medals in pickleball. The competition can be fierce, but the relationships that are forged are highlighted when teammates—and even opponents—show support for a player suffering from an illness, celebrating a life accomplishment or offering compassion when an injury happens. Recreational sports are all about coming together to play a game you all love and playing your best during the match followed by shaking hands across the net when it is all over.
Not only can joining ALTA connect you to new friends who share your love of competition, but also the very active ALTA Foundation can connect you to your new community and allow you to help change the lives of others. Through grants and donations, the ALTA Foundation is able to support vital organizations like the Georgia Special Olympics, Special Pops Tennis, AYTEF, BlazeSports America, The Shepherd Center and the Center for Movement challenges. Each year, several young players are awarded scholarships to assist with college tuition. ALTA also sponsors multiple wheelchair clinics, tournaments and events, ensuring that individuals of all abilities have access to the resources they need to thrive. Through our collective efforts, we are transforming lives and creating a more vibrant and inclusive community for all.
Whether you want to hit the tennis or pickleball courts with your friends, watch your children learn a lifelong sport or volunteer with some amazing organizations, you will find a place within ALTA—where Atlanta comes to play.n
For more information, visit ALTA's website.
