As the Spring 2026 tennis season comes to a close, an exciting USTA Orange Ball tournament will take place at Frank Black Middle School's (FBMS) expanded tennis center, located at the intersection of Chantilly Street and 43rd Street. This is the first USTA event held in Oak Forest for many years.
On Saturday, May 2, 2026, Space City Tennis's Coach Koko (Karen Hackett) and the Next-Gen coaches will host singles and doubles draws for aspiring tennis players aged 10 and under who are currently enrolled in elementary school. Following USTA Orange Ball guidelines, these round-robin events will utilize a time-based, no-add scoring format to ensure a fun and exciting experience for all participants.
"We encourage everyone to enroll in this fast-paced, fun-filled learning event. While afternoon and weekend clinics at FBMS provide excellent opportunities to learn stroke fundamentals, gaining on-court experience in a tournament is essential for winning competitive matches," said Coach Koko.
Coach Koko also mentioned, "One unique aspect of SCT tournaments is that the $15 entry fee is waived when players complete one hour of community service."
"Furthermore, we ask everyone to embrace SCT's Sportsmanship Pledge while competing."
Oak Forest Elementary (OFE) School's principal, Andrew Casler, recently reaffirmed his multi-year support for empowering elementary students to participate in the sport of tennis. "Learning tennis fundamentals early in life is a critical step on the path to playing on the FBMS and Waltrip High School tennis teams."
"With the new Orange Ball courts at FBMS, our students have the opportunity to travel just a short distance to participate in this no-cost USTA event," added Casler.
To assist parents and new tennis players in engaging with USTA tournaments, Coach Koko led the founding of the Oak Forest Tennis Club. This monthly program offers guidance and coaching for various USTA events in the Houston area.
From a logistics perspective, the Orange Ball registration is online, tennis balls are provided, and rackets are available. Both the singles and doubles events will start at 8 AM, with the possibility of a second draw later in the day, depending on enrollment. Winners will be awarded a trophy.
Additionally, water, fruit, and Coach Koko's famous frozen treats will be available. And, OFE's favorite crossing guard, Mr. Preston, may be assisting with event parking logistics!
Written by Don Hackett
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