How does the OTA Serve?
OTA Member Club Benefits |
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How does the OTA Serve?Tournament Hosting |
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Currently the OTA oversees approximately 450 events and over 1,100 individual tournaments a year for over 5,500 registered players of all ages and abilities. We are grateful to member clubs that host these events; so many of them do an excellent job in creating a great atmosphere in which players can excel and their members can be inspired. By hosting OTA tournaments, a member-club can benefit from additional revenue, raise the club’s profile in the local community, expose its members, young and old, to high-calibre tournament play, and importantly, give back to the sport we all love. Players such as Vicky Mboko, Bianca Andreescu, Dennis Shapovalov, Gabriela Dabrowski and Daniel Nestor all got their competitive start by playing OTA-sanctioned tournaments! If you would like to learn more about how your club can host an OTA-sanctioned tournament, click here. |
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How does the OTA Serve?Competitive Player Support |
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Aside from the obvious - that the OTA oversees the competitive structure - it also supports competitive players in other ways. The OTA, in partnership with Tennis Canada, offer benefits to young players at the early stages of their development. The Rogers Rookie (U12-U18) and Rising Stars (U9-U10) circuits include participation gifts and prize packs including tennis apparel, Nike shoes via a monthly draw, and gift cards. The OTA also organizes fitness combines for young athletes, where they can be individually assessed and advised by Tennis Canada fitness experts. The latest combine had over 80 players. An important and prestigious benefit that the OTA offers is the naming of young athletes to Team Ontario. Each year approximately 100 of the province’s best junior players from the U12 to U18 age categories are named to Team Ontario based on their tournament results. These young athletes and their families sacrifice a lot in order to compete in the many tournaments the OTA offers. Qualifying for Team Ontario allows players to be eligible to play in the Indoor and/or Outdoor Nationals, run by Tennis Canada. Those players that qualify for the Nationals are provided with team coaches and supervision at the various tournament sites across the country. One of the main pillars of support is the OTA’s All Stars Support Program: the All Stars program supports Team Ontario players competing in the Florida Circuit events and ITF tours organized by their Academies. Financial subsidies are provided to All Stars program candidates. For players looking to transition to “PRO” or the college pathway, the OTA offers Open 1000 prize money events. These events draw the top open level players in the province, Canada and beyond providing a highly competitive environment for Ontario’s rising stars: top level juniors and college level players. In addition to gaining high level ranking points, successful players also earn prize money in these events. Of course, our member clubs also play a part in these benefits by providing first-touch opportunities for young players through club membership and summer camps. Players such as Vicky Mboko, Bianca Andreescu, Dennis Shapovalov, Gabriela Dabrowski and Milos Raonic all got their competitive start by playing at a local Ontario tennis club or academy! And look at them now! |
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How does the OTA Serve?Free Club Software |
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Learn how OTA member-clubs and associate members can benefit from a fantastic suite of free software tools designed to support the overall management of numerous club functions including competition, recreational programming and club administration. ClubSpark Club Management System ClubSpark allows OTA member-clubs to build an online platform to manage their operations. Key features include online membership registration, court booking, programming schedules and tracking, and custom website building technology. Tournament, Ladder and League Planners Competition software tools allow OTA member-clubs and associatess to manage all of their competitive streams including club tournaments, box ladders and club level and/or interclub league play. The systems allow for player registration, draw, ladder and league fixture generation and publication, live score entry and WTN rating building. ITF World Tennis Number (WTN) rating The OTA has joined tennis organizations around the world in the adoption of the ITF World Tennis Number global rating scale. Originally designed for professional players, the WTN scale now includes rating generation and maintenance for all rec-level players as well. The various tournament, ladder and league planner tools the OTA offers all feed into the WTN system, so that all players, regardless of age, gender or ability, can acquire a WTN number and use the same global scale that the pros use. Great for game arranging, team pairings and box ladder segmentation. Takes the politics out of tournament seeding, team selection and program inclusion. Now club players can easily find suitable playing partners. Together these software tools can take the burden of a club’s many day-to-day operations off the shoulders of managers and volunteers and allows them to offer some great new player experiences! Oh… and did we say that they are free to all OTA member-clubs and associate members???!!! To learn more about the OTA software management tools, click here. |
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How does the OTA Serve?Coaching Certification |
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In partnership with Tennis Canada’s Tennis Professionals Association (TPA), the OTA is able to administer and conduct coaching certification courses across Ontario for teaching pros of all levels. Being able to access properly certified TPA coaches is an important benefit for clubs and academies, as well as for any player who wants to learn tennis and/or improve their game. There are several reasons why it is important for OTA Clubs and Academies to hire OTA/TPA -certified teaching professionals:
Making sure club pros meet these stringent requirements will give club and academy managers and their players peace of mind.
Administering the coaching certification programme in Ontario is a big job. In 2025, there were 30 OTA coaching courses that saw over 536 coaches gain initial certification or certification upgrades at the Instructor, Club Pro 1, Club Pro 2 and Club Pro 3 levels. There are currently over 1,100 active TPA Certified coaches in Ontario. Whether you’re a club manager or a player taking lessons, make sure all of your club’s teaching pros are TPA-certified! For a list of upcoming certification courses, click here. |
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How does the OTA Serve?Volunteer Recognition |
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There are over 170 community clubs in Ontario that are members of the OTA and are run by a volunteer executive boards and committees. Much of the tireless work they do goes unnoticed by the members of their clubs because it is done quietly, behind the scenes, and is often taken for granted. There are also hundreds of additional volunteers who work at the community level who are giving their time and expertise to ensure that tennis and its associated physical, mental and emotional benefits are made available to underserved communities and others who might not have been exposed to the sport in the past. There are two significant awards that the OTA presents or makes available for clubs each year to recognize the extraordinary work that passionate volunteers from all corners of the province undertake to promote tennis and enhance the experiences that we, as players, all enjoy. They are:
Volunteers are truly the stewards of our sport and deserve thanks from all of us! |
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How does the OTA Serve?OTA Job Line |
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Job Line is one of the most visited web pages on the OTA website. It connects clubs with prospective staff (and even volunteers), whether it be year-round. seasonal, full time or part time. It is used extensively by teaching professionals looking for work and is also a great conduit for anyone who might be seeking off-court work at a club or academy. Hundreds of positions have been filled through Job Line over the years and many OTA-member clubs and academies use the service regularly. It’s the best way to connect tennis organizations with those looking for employment in the province… and the good news, it’s free for member clubs to post their positions and for job hunters to access. Check Out Job Line today! |
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How does the OTA Serve?Wheelchair Tennis |
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Learn how the OTA, in partnership with Tennis Canada and the Ontario Para Network (ONPARA), delivers and/or supports various wheelchair tennis initiatives, ranging from introductory events for players to sanctioned tournaments for elite wheelchair tennis players across the province. At the grass roots level, the OTA assists in the running of “Try” events at Sobeys Stadium (including at the National Bank Open) as well as at member clubs such as Headwaters Fitness & Racquet Club in Aramath, Parkway Valley Tennis Club in Toronto and the Rideau Sports Centre in Ottawa. Additionally, the OTA Outreach team visits the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in Toronto regularly to deliver wheelchair tennis activities for its students, an important part of their physical and emotional well-being.
On the coaching side, the OTA helps organize coaching workshops and certification courses that are available to coaches/coaching candidates, ensuring that there is a proper infrastructure in place to encourage participation and skill development opportunities for players at each stage of play and to foster a lifelong passion for wheelchair tennis. The OTA stresses the importance of inclusivity as one of its core values, and being a part of the wheelchair tennis community is an important initiative that the organization is honoured to be a part of. The OTA welcomes member clubs, coaches and community volunteers who might be interested in hosting a wheelchair tennis Try event or tournament at their facility to contact Ely Schwartz at eschwartz@tennisontario.com, to find out how they can become involved. Hosting an event is an enriching experience for players, coaches, organizers and club members – a great way to share the joy of tennis and give back to the local community. |
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How does the OTA Serve?Sport Safety |
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With respect to coaches, the OTA works with the Tennis Professionals Association (TPA) by requiring any tennis professionals that are certified or want to be certified to have a background check done before receiving their final certification. Background Checks are an important screening policy to protect children, earn the trust of parents, manage risk and liability and improve the quality of people involved in tennis.
As well certified pros, the OTA recommends that anybody dealing with players at clubs, academies, organizations and other individuals (including coaches, volunteers, administrators, officials, parent chaperones and course facilitators) should have up-to-date Background Checks prior to involvement in any tennis related activity. As well as background checks, the OTA provides the resources necessary and strongly recommends that everyone that is coaching, instructing, or assisting and that is in a position of authority in all indoor and outdoor clubs in Canada to complete the following safe sport education and screening requirements:
The OTA recently introduced an online Respect in Sport module which requires parents of registered junior competitors to complete. It is currently being rolled out and at least one parent or guardian of ALL junior registered competitors will be required to complete by the end of 2026. From a member-club perspective, the OTA has many resources for club executives that outline “Best Practices for Clubs and Organizations”, to promote procedures that encourage the provision of a safe and protective environment for all of its members and guests. For more information on the OTA’s Safety in Sport resources, click here. |
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How does the OTA Serve?Green Means Go |
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Learn how the OTA supports players from our member clubs who are 50+ years old and want to remain active with a program especially for them; Green Means Go! With the help of a two-year grant from the Government of Ontario in 2019, the OTA introduced Green Means Go! to its member clubs and their players. The sessions offered a series of activity-based coaching and playing sessions, designed to introduce the game to new 50+ players, as well as to increase the enjoyment of tennis for current players. With the option to use progressive tennis balls and court size modifications if needed, the low-impact clinics encourage longer rallies for experienced players and a smoother introduction to the game for beginners. Optionally, clubs could choose to blend on-court tips with round-robin play. Based on the popularity of the initial grant-based program, the OTA continues to offer Green Means Go! to member-clubs during the outdoor season, also adding winter sessions at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto and other indoor clubs across the province. In 2025 the OTA Outreach team organized approximately 25 Green Means Go! events and are already booking them for 2026! The goal remains to keep 50+ players active and engaged in the sport they love! For more information on Green Means Go!, click here. |
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How does the OTA Serve?Summer Camp Guide |
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The OTA supports our clubs as well as neighbourhood families by publishing a Summer Camp Guide on the OTA website and promoting it on most of the OTA media channels. The comprehensive guide offers free camp listings to all of the OTA’s member clubs and academies, and offers the opportunity for low-priced advertising space if a club wants to really stand out! In the 2025 Camp Guide there were over 50 listings and each year, it is one of the most visited web pages during the spring and summer seasons. The OTA is pleased to publish the guide each year as we realize how important our members’ camps are, in ensuring that thousands of children are exposed to tennis and can find a safe place to play and meet other children who enjoy the sport. If you are a pro or manager from an OTA member club or academy, you can find the free online form here. Watch out for the 2026 Summer Camp Guide this spring! Picture courtesy of Markham Tennis Club. |
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How does the OTA Serve?Tennis in School Program |
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There is little doubt that getting kids active is extremely important in their physical, mental and emotional well-being. For those reasons, and because the OTA feels strongly that tennis is a healthy, safe, accessible and inclusive sport, it is proud to offer tennis instruction and game-playing in the province’s primary and secondary schools. The program is offered through participating school boards, providing an opportunity for children in all schools across Ontario to participate in Progressive Indoor Tennis. The program teaches students about the importance of regular physical activity, general physical literacy and movement skills. For many students this will be their first exposure to tennis. Importantly, this fulfills the mandate of the OTA to gain new participants at the grassroots level and help surrounding community tennis clubs raise awareness about opportunities for students to continue to play. The OTA outreach team will enter a school to not only introduce tennis to it’s students but also train teachers with general and specialized Phys Ed qualifications to feel comfortable implementing this program themselves on a sustained basis. An important element in enhancing and broadening the potential impact of the program, is the partition of our member-clubs. The OTA invites club representatives (ideally club pros) to join them at neighbouring schools to aid in offering the classes. The interaction with teachers and students helps provide a pathway for those students who want to continue playing the sport. By taking advantage of this opportunity, a member-club can feel good about giving back to the game while at the same time, accessing the next generation of player that will help fill their summer camps, join their club and become its future leaders! For more information on the Tennis in School program, click here or contact Ely Schwartz: ESchwartz@tennisontario.com. |
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How does the OTA Serve?Girls.Set.Match. |
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The OTA, in partnership with Tennis Canada, has been delivering a program through our member clubs that inspires girls and young women, Girls. Set. Match. A combination of on-court activities and off-court empowerment, the Girls. Set. Match. Initiative is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for self-identifying girls aged 10-13 to play team tennis and engage in reflection activities, all while making friends and having fun. The program targets girls aged 10-13 who participate in tennis at a minimum playing level of 3.0 and are looking for a positive, encouraging, team tennis style of match play. Off-court, the Tennis Canada Leadership Passport will support guided discussions and reflections to help participants build confidence and leadership skills. The Girls. Set. Match. initiative is a great way for our member clubs to give back to the sport while, at the same time, empowering the next generation of girls to be tomorrow’s leaders and role models, on and off the court… a great gift to your club’s young female members! For more information on the Girls. Set. Match. program, click here or contact Ely Schwartz: ESchwartz@tennisontario.com. |
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How does the OTA Serve?TPA Symposium |
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The OTA has worked with the TPA for the past four years to deliver a coach’s symposium for registered TPA teaching professionals and those who aspire to be one. Held at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto the symposium brings out leading coaches from across Canada and around the world to speak about and demonstrate the latest tennis coaching methods for rec-level and high-performance players. The event has grown over the years to include a sponsor display area, a job fair and other networking opportunities. Importantly for our member clubs, the OTA offers a free display area where a club representative can attend if they are looking for teaching staff for the upcoming season and would like to meet candidates in person. For sponsor exhibit information, contact pmalcomson@tennisontario.com. |
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How does the OTA Serve?ONTENNIS Magazine |
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This week’s installment of the “Together We Are Ontario Tennis” benefits campaign talks about ONTENNIS Magazine, The Official Magazine of the OTA. ONTENNIS Magazine is Canada’s longest-running tennis publication. The first issue came out as a newspaper stock publication in 1970. At the height of the printed magazine era, ONTENNIS, or Ontario Tennis as it was originally known, was published in a glossy stock format four times per year. It is still published once per year in July and is augmented by ONTENNIS Online in digital format. The magazine has faithfully covered the Ontario tennis scene since 1970, highlighting many players, tournaments, club milestones, Ontario tennis history, instructional features, trends, tennis-related human-interest stories and much more. Players such as Gabriela Dabrowski, Milos Raonic, Frank Dancivec, Bianca Andreescu and Ontario’s latest sensation, Vicky Mboko, have graced its cover. The printed magazine is distributed free of charge to the homes of all registered competitive tournament players, in bulk to OTA-member clubs for distribution to their members and to fans at the National Bank Open in Toronto. To view flipbook versions of the magazine dating back to 2010, click here. |
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How does the OTA Serve?Club Insurance Program |
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The OTA, in partnership with Gallagher Canada, provides its member clubs and associate members (such as academies) access to a cost effective and comprehensive group insurance programme. Standard coverage options include Commercial General Liability, Abuse Liability, Sports Errors & Omissions Liability, Directors & Officers Liability, Property Crime Coverage and Cyber Liability. Additional areas of coverage available include bubble facilities, business interruption and more. The group rates and scope of coverage offered far exceed what a member facility could obtain on their own and in this day and age, are vitally important to have, should a claim be served. Each year, over 160 of the OTA’s clubs and associate members take advantage of the group insurance plan, providing peace of mind for all club executives, staff and members. It is one of the most important membership benefits the OTA offers! For more information on the OTA’s Club Insurance programme, click here. |
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How does the OTA Serve?Community Tennis Leagues |
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As the Provincial Sport Organization (PSO) overseeing the sport of tennis, the Ontario Tennis Association has a mandate to encourage participation in and access to tennis as part of a healthy lifestyle. While it does have a prime responsibility to support it’s 250 member clubs and academies, the Association knows that it is important to promote the growth of tennis; get more people playing tennis more often in more places. To that end the OTA, in partnership with Tennis Canada, introduced Community Tennis Leagues across Ontario in 2024. It is getting ready to launch the 2026 outdoor season in eleven locations. Community Tennis Leagues (CTL) are flexible, local, recreational, singles and doubles match play opportunities for players of all skill levels, primarily focusing on summer play. They allow participants to schedule matches at their convenience, track progress via the ITF World Tennis Number (WTN), meet new partners, and win prizes. Aimed at the public court player but open to all, the OTA offers free rec player sign up, organizes regional six-week “leagues”, tracks the results and awards prizes. By offering this programme the OTA not only encourages players to find new and more playing partners but also fosters friendly competition, social interaction and an opportunity to be part of a world-wide rating system. Once a public player is exposed to this type of competition, it can also ignite their passion for the sport and drive some to join a club, play for a team in one of the many leagues in existence, play an OTA tournament and continue to improve their skill level. A win for the player. A win for clubs looking for more players. A win for the sport! |
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How does the OTA Serve?Presdidents' Day at the NBO |
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Each year the OTA hosts the annual "Presidents Day" event during the National Bank Open in Toronto, gathering nearly 200 member-club presidents and representatives. The event features breakfast, networking opportunities, OTA updates and special guest speakers, including WTA or ATP players. The 2025 event included visits from Canadian Davis Cup Captain Frank Dancevic and Ontario ATP player Liam Draxl. The guests are also given a ticket to enjoy some matches at that day’s tournament session. All the OTA member-club presidents are invited to Presidents Day as a thank you for their tireless work in promoting the sport at the grassroots level. |
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How does the OTA Serve?National Bank Open Promo Code Challenge |
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2025 marked the second year that the OTA partnered with Tennis Canada to deliver the National Bank Open Promo Code Challenge. Member clubs and associates of the OTA were provided with unique promo codes to pass on to their members, allowing them to save money on NBO tickets. As well as saving money for ticket purchasers, the Challenge adds some excitement tby creating a friendly competition between clubs to see which clubs’ players can purchase the most discounted tickets. The club whose members purchased the highest number of tickets can win NBO tickets and other weekly prizes, including the grand prize of a luxurious suite to enjoy the 2026 edition of the NBO! There is also a weekly prize for a lucky individual winner. In 2025, the NBO Promo Code Challenge set a record for sales with member clubs’ players purchasing over $700,000 worth of tickets using their club’s code, saving a total of over $150,000! The Challenge will run from early May until the end of the tournament in 2026, so watch out for information soon! |
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How does the OTA Serve?Kids Tennis Schools Grant |
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Tennis Canada, in partnership with Rogers, has launched a national program to introduce Canadian youth to the sport of tennis. Delivered in collaboration with Provincial and Territorial Tennis Associations, Rogers First Set inspires youth and families in communities across Canada to try tennis and learn fundamental tennis skills in a fun, welcoming, safe, and positive environment. Starting in 2025, the OTA partnered with Tennis Canada to deliver the Rogers First Set Schools Grant program in Ontario. Together, the two organizations offered grants to OTA Member Clubs and Academies to set up a tennis teaching module in a local primary or secondary school. Participating clubs and associates who applied for the grant were eligible for up to a $2,000 grant per school. The coaching team was given access to NEW Tennis in Schools resources, including online training modules for coaches, educators, and volunteers. The club was asked to deliver a maximum of four weeks of tennis programming in one+ elementary schools at no cost to the school and host one Rogers First Set Try or Play Day at their club. The pro(s) needed to be TPA-certified were required to complete training. In the first round of funding in 2025, 13 OTA member-clubs or associates were given grants and over 40 have been accepted so far for 2026. Great for kids. Great for schools. Great for clubs. Great for tennis! |
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How does the OTA Serve?National Bank Roadshow |
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The National Bank Roadshow has been a major part of the OTA’s Outreach programming since 2014. Thanks to National Bank’s support, the Roadshow has visited hundreds of tennis clubs, schools and large community events since its inception. Featuring a gigantic “Smash Cage” inflatable that is a magnet for kids, the Roadshow has provided endless fun and entertainment for the many players and families who have enjoyed these visits, exposing many of them to the sport for the first time. As well as the Smash Cage, the National Bank Roadshow includes on-court activities, racquet demos, prize giveaways and is often combined with Outreach’s Tennis Tour instruction sessions. In 2025, the National Bank Roadshow reached 100 visits for the first time. The visits are free for OTA Member Clubs and Associates. |
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