For more than three decades, the Neighborhood Junior Tennis Program (NJTP) has been positively impacting youth and families throughout the Northeast San Fernando Valley — one lesson, one player, and one family at a time.
Established in 1993, NJTP is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing children with a healthy, structured, and positive alternative to gangs, drugs, and childhood obesity through the game of tennis. What began as a grassroots effort to give back has grown into a respected, year-round community tennis program serving thousands of families.
The foundation of NJTP traces back more than 50 years, when a young Philip Siordia signed up for group tennis lessons at a local neighborhood park. That simple opportunity sparked a lifelong journey in the sport. Siordia went on to compete in high school and college, earning scholarship opportunities and gaining firsthand experience of how access to sport can shape a young person’s future.
Two decades later, Siordia and fellow former players reunited with a shared vision: to give back to the community that once gave them an opportunity. They began offering free tennis lessons to neighborhood children. Interest quickly grew, and what started as informal park sessions evolved into an organized, affordable tennis program focused on long-term youth development.
In 1993, the Neighborhood Junior Tennis Program was officially established. Today, NJTP operates at multiple sites across the San Fernando Valley. The program has expanded to the CSUN Tennis Complex, serving youth ages nine to 18, and maintains a longstanding presence at El Cariso Park in Sylmar, serving children ages four to 18.
NJTP offers structured sessions Monday through Friday, with classes ranging from beginner instruction to high school and high-performance training. The curriculum emphasizes stroke development, footwork, athletic movement, match strategy, and mental focus — while also teaching sportsmanship, accountability, and personal responsibility.
The organization is led by President Siordia, who recently retired as Tennis Operations Director for the University of Southern California Men’s and Women’s Tennis programs. USC is widely regarded as one of the premier collegiate tennis programs in the nation, capturing 21 National Championships and producing numerous professional and nationally ranked players.
Siordia’s decades of experience in a championship-level collegiate environment bring structure, organization, and high standards to NJTP’s community-based mission. NJTP is also a recognized Community Tennis Association partner of the United States Tennis Association (USTA), providing pathways for youth to participate in Junior Team Tennis leagues and competitive match play.
In addition, NJTP works with the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) and the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) to ensure instructors maintain professional certification and continuing education standards.
Over its 32-year history, NJTP has introduced thousands of children to tennis, with many participants advancing to high school varsity teams and collegiate competition. More importantly, the program continues to provide a safe, structured environment where young people can develop confidence, resilience, and life skills.
As NJTP looks toward the future, its mission remains unchanged: to strengthen the community through accessible, affordable tennis programming that develops both athletes and responsible young leaders.
After three decades of service and continued growth, NJTP stands as a lasting example of how local investment, mentorship, and opportunity can create generational impact across the San Fernando Valley.
For more information on NJTP visit njtptennis.net.
