YTSD - Serving Up Opportunity

Building Confidence On and Off the Courts with FREE Community Tournaments!

At Youth Tennis San Diego, our mission goes far beyond just teaching kids how to swing a racquet—we’re building confidence, character, and community through the game of tennis. Across San Diego, we provide our community programs at local schools, recreation centers, and at our home base, the Barnes Tennis Center. Our signature outreach program, After School Tennis (AST), introduces youth of all ages, to tennis in a FUN, supportive environment— with many of our players picking up a racquet for the very first time with us!

We believe that every young player deserves a chance to test their skills, challenge themselves, and feel the excitement of competition. That’s why we proudly host FREE youth tournaments throughout the season, exclusively for AST participants. These tournaments are designed to be a welcoming space for beginners—often marking a player’s very first time competing in a match. And while winning is great, we’re even more focused on what each match can teach: resilience, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

Our tournaments are guided by AST community instructors and volunteers from Hands On San Diego, who are on court to support players every step of the way. From helping with scoring and explaining match format, to cheering on great effort and fair play, our volunteers play a huge role in shaping a positive tournament experience. Our free community tournaments are provided throughout the year, at the Urban Village Rec in City Heights, and here at the Barnes Tennis Center in Point Loma, and always offered at no cost to every player!

To recognize players' achievements, we award trophies to the first and second place winners in each age division, and a special Sportsmanship Award— this award is awarded to a player who shows kindness, respect, and a great attitude, win or lose. Each event is more than just a tournament—it's a celebration of growth, effort, and community. We’re proud to give kids the chance to learn and compete in a space that values fun and personal development, just as much as the final score.

Most recently, more than 30 community players joined us for our annual AST Singles Tournament at the Barnes Tennis Center. Players of all ages spent the morning on the courts—vying for the trophy, sharpening their skills, and making new friends along the way! For many, it was their first visit to the Barnes Tennis Center—and their first tournament experience. Whether they walked away with a trophy, a new friend, or simply a better backhand, every child left with something valuable. As 6th grade AST player John put it, “I learned today that serves are VERY important! I’ll practice more during my lessons so I’m ready for the next event!”

A heartfelt thank you to all our community instructors, volunteers, players, and families who made this event so special. We appreciate your support and can’t wait to see you at the next one!