Tennis Academy in the Galilee
One of Israel’s veteran tennis coaches, Shaul Zohar, a resident of Kiryat Shmona, initiated his Tennis Academy initiative last year and has continued to expand his outreach during 2018. His vision is to help special kids – living with mental and developmental challenges – overcome their ‘disabilities’, using the discipline and fun of tennis as an effective learning tool.
As an educator himself, Shaul uses his tennis sessions as a pedagogical model for teaching his students cognitive and social skills as well as building up their self-confidence and self-assurance.
Shaul has also progressed in the development of his ‘Special Olympics’ project at the ‘Renanim’ regional school for special needs children and teens, located in the border town of Kiryat Shmona, with the aim of training and then entering them in the qualifying stages for representing Israel at the International ‘Special Olympics’ tournament.
Shaul also continues to prepare the next generation of tennis coaches as part of his academic teaching program at the Ohello College, in addition to managing the tennis empowerment training program for a group of teens in Kibbutz Kfar Giladi.
His passion and dedication to helping others is inspiring. Shaul’s new Tennis Academy is beginning to grow roots in the Galilee and everyone involved in the Israeli tennis arena recognize that Shaul’s special capacity for professionalism entwined with sensitivity and social values, will ensure his success in his work with the special kids and teens in the northern Galilee region.