"Tennis is one of the world’s fastest growing and most popular sports," says Jason Dale, 37, of Port Dover. "It is inexpensive. Everyone from the ages of 3 to 90-plus can play. It provides a long list of incredible health benefits, such as cardiovascular health, a boost to the immune system and weight control."

Jason Dale is president of the recently reorganized Port Dover Tennis Club and is hoping many area residents will pick up a racquet and start using the new tennis courts being constructed in the Sports Complex. Anticipated construction completion date is end of September.

"A 20-year Harvard University study found that people who participated in three hours of tennis per week cut their risk of death from any cause in half," Jason told The Maple Leaf. A teacher at Simcoe Composite School, as well as a school tennis coach, Jason cannot believe the amount of time students spend playing sports video games like Wii Tennis or Golf. "They need to turn off the video games, grab a racquet and a friend or family member and get moving!," he said.

The reorganized Port Dover Tennis Club formed in July with an inaugural executive that includes President Jason, Vice-president Bob Acres, treasurer, secretary, Special Projects and Junior Development Teams. "Their primary goal is to promote and encourage the playing of tennis here in Port Dover and surrounding area by people of all ages and ability levels at our fantastic new facility, one of the best in all Ontario," President Dale commented.

The old courts, sold by the Lions Club, had a rough concrete surface that had deteriorated significantly. There will be four new courts in the Sports Complex, with a cushioned hard surface, Jason said. The courts will be properly spaced, provide more room at the back and side and be the proper regulation size. The old courts were not, Jason told The Maple Leaf. In addition, the new courts will have wind screens and higher fencing to keep balls from flying over. The old courts were so hard, Jason explained, many older players had to stop because the surface was too hard on their joints.

Jason was born and raised in Port Dover. He moved away for nine years to attend university and work his first teaching position. He moved back to Dover in 2007. "My dad taught me how to play tennis when I was a kid and now I’m doing the same thing with my 4-year-old son, Rex," Jason said. "It is important for parents to instil a love of sport and an understanding of the importance of exercise from a young age. Once hockey season is over, we still need to be encouraging our kids to move, and tennis is a great option. If it’s good enough for Sidney Crosby to play, it’s good enough for all of us," he commented, adding, "of course, soccer, baseball and rowing are great too."

Port Dover Tennis Club is currently in discussion with Norfolk County on scheduling of the courts. There will be timed lights and locks, with no tennis after 10 p.m., Jason explained. He noted many people play tennis from mid-March to November. Tennis club members currently play on the old courts Wednesdays and Saturdays. They also play on courts in Cayuga, Simcoe and other towns near and far. "We are hoping to promote tennis and get it back to the popularity it was here in the 1970s and 80s," Jason said, noting, "tennis is also a social thing." People develop friendships through playing the game and being part of a club. The PDTC will post a monthly schedule on its information board at the tennis facility. "Each week will offer scheduled time for players at various levels and will include Adult and Youth Beginners sessions as well as Men’s Doubles, Ladies’ Doubles and Mixed Doubles. We also hope to have one or more Club Pros available for private and semi-private lessons and members plan to offer more casual volunteer coaching," the club president stated. "Additional tennis programming for children and teenagers will be available during summer months. Club tournaments and social events will also be part of the membership. And, members will have voting privileges as well as use of Club assets such as ball guns and court cleaning/ drying equipment," Jason added.