Empowering Youth through Sports: Insights from TeamFAME

In Newport, Rhode Island, there’s an afterschool program doing more than teaching kids to play tennis – it’s transforming lives. Through more than 250 nonprofit youth development chapters, the National Junior Tennis League (NJTL) network provides free or low-cost tennis and education programming to more than 160,000 under-resourced kids nationwide. TeamFAME, an NJTL chapter at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, provides afterschool tennis instruction, homework support, and enrichment activities to help local elementary, middle, and high school students learn new skills, achieve their goals, and change their lives on and off the court.  63% of public middle school students in Newport have a household income at or below poverty level, and 71% of students enrolled in TeamFAME are on a reduced/free lunch. TeamFAME exemplifies the power of tennis and sports-based out-of-school-time (OST) programming to drive personal growth and community impact. 

Root Cause’s commitment to supporting education and youth development, one of our three key focus areas, is brought to life by working with organizations like TeamFAME. Our mission is to be a transformative  partner in building, improving and sustaining social change initiatives that enable all to thrive. This field note shares insights from a recent program assessment we completed where we witnessed the remarkable impact that sports-based afterschool programs can have on young lives. 

Together with TeamFAME, Root Cause embarked on a three-month impact evaluation and program assessment to identify the strengths, benefits, and opportunities for improvement within TeamFAME’s afterschool program. This process involved engaging multiple stakeholders and conducting landscape research to identify best practices of afterschool programs reporting positive youth outcomes.

Here’s what we found: By providing structured, supportive activities that are both engaging and educational to students, TeamFAME is helping to close opportunity gaps and build brighter futures in Newport, Rhode Island. Whether it’s through improved academic performance, enhanced social skills, or increased confidence- as reported by parents, children, and community members- sports serve as a powerful catalyst for personal transformation among young people.

Key takeaways

• Positive Youth Development: Programs like TeamFAME integrate character education, academic enrichment, and wellness activities to foster overall holistic development of youth.
• Bridging Opportunity Gaps: Effective afterschool programs are especially impactful for underserved communities because they offer resources and support that help bridge gaps in education and personal development.
• Sense of Belonging and Community: These programs cultivate a strong sense of belonging and community among participants, which is essential  for the overall well-being of youth and sustainable communities.
• Instilling skills and positive outcomes: Well-designed sports afterschool programs lead to significant improvements in social skills, self-confidence, and enhanced academic performance. This provides a comprehensive support system for young people.
• Supporting families: Effective afterschool programs reduce stress for parents, particularly low-income families, by providing safe, enriching environments for their children.

Lessons for other Afterschool Programs

Our assessment of TeamFAME reaffirms the importance of leveraging key program quality elements (including evidence-informed program design, community engagement, trauma-informed practices, program accessibility, and staff support and performance) for programs aiming to achieve positive youth development outcomes.

TeamFAME is not done yet

While TeamFAME has only been around for six years, the data shows its work is both important and impactful. We know this from the powerful stories shared by program participants and their families. In the coming months, TeamFAME will launch a community tennis program and formalize its high school program to focus more on college, career, and life readiness. These initiatives, along with action steps outlined in its recently completed three-year strategic plan, also facilitated by Root Cause, will strengthen the program’s impact. TeamFAME will also continue tracking key program outcomes including youth retention, graduation rates, mental health improvements, enrollment in post-secondary education, and alumni engagement in their communities.