Youth Leadership and Tennis Take Center Court at First "Heroes of the Cruyff Courts" Event

GREAT BAY--The Melford Hazel Sports Complex was transformed into a vibrant arena of youth leadership, athleticism, and community empowerment on Saturday, August 2nd, as the St. Maarten Sports Federation (SMSF), the National Sports Institute (NSI), and the Johan Cruyff Foundation proudly hosted the first-ever “Heroes of the Cruyff Courts” event on the island.

This youth-led tennis workshop marked a significant milestone under the globally recognized Heroes of the Cruyff Courts program. With over 50 children between the ages of 4 and 18 participating, the event featured fun tennis drills, team-building exercises, life skill development, and a lively atmosphere filled with music, movement, and mentorship.

Guided by Coach Timothy Rozenblad, nine young leaders, or “Heroes”, from various districts designed, promoted, and facilitated the event from the ground up. Their tireless preparation and passion paid off, creating a safe, engaging, and unforgettable space where children could learn new skills and discover the power of sport.

“It was an amazing experience,” said Hero Ijaelene Sanderson in a short interview with SMSF President Naomi Korstanje. “We worked for weeks to plan this day, and seeing all the kids enjoying themselves made it worth it. I feel proud of what we did today.”

Hero Kisherno Webster offered a moving reflection on what made the day so impactful. “A Cruyff Court is made by the people, the youth, the connections they make and the experiences they share together. For us, our Cruyff Courts were tennis courts, and our sport was tennis,” he wrote.

The Heroes smartly divided the children into two groups, one for older, more experienced players, and another for younger newcomers, and adapted both the tennis court and adjacent basketball court to run simultaneous skill-based activities. Using portable nets and improvised setups, they created mini-courts to host matches and drills while ensuring that everyone had a chance to participate, learn, and have fun.

But the event went beyond sport. The Heroes emphasized health and nutrition by preparing a range of wholesome refreshments including sandwiches, fruit, and drinks instead of the usual fast-food fare. Music played throughout the day, adding to the festive atmosphere.

Kisherno also highlighted the training and outreach efforts that went into the event’s success. “All of the Heroes served as coaches, which meant we had to learn effective communication, time management, and even tennis-specific coaching skills,” he explained. “We also spent hours going door to door in neighborhoods like St. Peters, Sucker Garden, Belair, and Philipsburg to promote the event. Our social media campaign helped even more.”

Hero Chahat Kapoor added that a mini-event was held in advance of August 2nd to teach kids basic tennis techniques and footwork. Games like “jail break,” “lemon and spoon” tennis races, and “zombie tag” brought laughter, learning, and energy to the courts. “The place was filled with laughter and fun,” Kapoor said. “We got a lot of very passionate and interested kids who wanted to learn about tennis.”

The diversity of participants, the strategic planning, and the passion of the youth leaders resulted in an event that was not only inclusive and well-run, but genuinely transformative, for both the Heroes and the children they mentored.

“This initiative reflects our commitment to using sport as a tool for youth development, leadership building, and community empowerment,” said organizers from SMSF and NSI. “Together, we are creating a culture where young people thrive and communities grow stronger through movement, mentorship, and purpose.”

A full video recap of the event, produced by SXM Sports, is available online, capturing the joy, determination, and teamwork that made this day unforgettable. Based on the overwhelming success of this launch, the Cruyff Court Heroes look forward to hosting more events like this in the near future.

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