Another fantastic High School Tennis Takeover at Barnes is officially in the books—and what a night it was! On Friday, April 3rd, more than 60 high school players from across San Diego came together at the Barnes Tennis Center for an evening filled with energy, connection, and plenty of fun. From the moment players stepped on the court, the atmosphere was buzzing! Each court featured a community instructor leading a unique drill or game, giving participants the freedom to

From SpongeBob Rackets to College Tennis: Mattie’s Full-Circle Journey At Youth Tennis San Diego, Beyond the Baseline  is more than a blog series—it’s a window into the real stories that define our community. These are the journeys of players, coaches, and mentors whose lives have been shaped by opportunity, support, and a shared love of tennis. Few stories capture that spirit more fully than Matthew “Mattie” Gosling. Mattie’s journey began 15 years ago at the Barnes Tennis

Youth Tennis San Diego was proud to take part in the second annual City Sports Day , continuing our mission to make tennis accessible to youth throughout the San Diego community. On Saturday, March 7, families and young athletes gathered at Park De La Cruz  in the City Heights neighborhood, for an afternoon dedicated to youth sports and community connection. The event brought together several professional and community organizations, providing free sports sessions for young

Beyond the Baseline  is our blog series dedicated to sharing the real stories of those who Youth Tennis San Diego ’s programs have impacted. Each feature includes a personal journey followed by a Q&A, giving deeper insight into how tennis and community support have shaped their experiences. From young players finding confidence on the court to volunteers and donors making a lasting difference, these stories highlight the power of accessible tennis to change lives. YTSD is

How does a country of only 5.5 million people dominate the Winter Olympics? If you watch the footage of Norwegian children on the slopes, the answer isn’t found in a high-intensity training camp or a specialized academy. It’s found in the smiles of kids who are simply playing . In Norway, they’ve cracked a code that we in the U.S. sports world often overlook: Mastery is a by product of joy. As the CEO of Youth Tennis San Diego, I am deeply moved by this "Nor-Way" approach

At Youth Tennis San Diego , we are proud of our commitment to growing the game of tennis and creating meaningful opportunities for players throughout our community. On Saturday, February 28th, more than 30 community players of all ages joined us at the Barnes Tennis Center for our annual After School Tennis Doubles Tournament . Participants of all ages, enrolled in our After School Tennis (AST) programs, were invited to compete in this free community event — and for many pl

Tennis begins with LOVE, and this Valentine’s Day, we celebrated that love on the courts at our winter session of High School Tennis Takeover, at the Barnes Tennis Center. The event wasn’t about rankings. It wasn’t about varsity spots, league standings, or who won the most points. It was about connection. More than 70 high school students from across San Diego came together for an evening designed not to showcase competition, but rather to celebrate the powerful ways te

Lots of fun was had on the tennis courts this week at the San Diego Open Pro Tournament , and our Rise Up Leadership Academy students were right in the middle of the action! Rise Up Leadership Academy students, on court with local SD Open players - Noah Zamora, Denis Maijorov and William Kleege Our students were invited on a special field trip to the Barnes Tennis Center  to experience a professional tournament firsthand, and what a day it was! Youth Tennis San Diego proudl

Winter is in full swing and so is tennis across San Diego! All parks, schools, and Barnes After School Tennis (AST) programs are officially back in action. From San Ysidro to Tierrasanta to La Jolla, and right here in Point Loma, our dedicated community instructors are on the courts each and every day, bringing the joy of tennis to youth throughout the region. With more than 50 AST programs running across San Diego , we are reaching hundreds of local players each session. Th

Some say a picture can tell a thousand words—and as you look through our photos from this past year, we hope you’ll see the joy, growth, and community that defined After School Tennis (AST) in 2025. Through our AST community programs, we reached thousands of youth, sharing the gift of tennis while creating positive opportunities and lasting connections. We hope you enjoy the photos highlighting what we believe was our most impactful year yet, marked by expansion into new sch

The holiday season is a time for connection, celebration, and giving back—and this year, Youth Tennis San Diego was proud to bring that spirit to the community youth in City Heights! On Friday, December 19th, more than 100 youth players and their families joined us for our annual free holiday tennis celebration , where the love of the game met festive fun, from start to finish. From the moment kids stepped onto the community courts, the energy was high, the smiles were const

Youth Tennis San Diego is kindly asking for your support in providing a new gift this Christmas  for our inner-city tennis players. Every donated toy will be wrapped by YTSD staff and presented to a deserving child during our annual Holiday Tennis Festival  this December. At the event, youth of all ages will join us on court for tennis games, fun drills, prizes, and a special visit from Santa—who will personally deliver each child’s gift. Drop-off location:  Barnes Tennis