Why I Chose Sarasota to Build SRQ Tennis

I get this question a lot. Why Sarasota? Florida has a million tennis programs. Courts everywhere. Sun all year. You could set up shop just about anywhere.

Honestly, Sarasota kind of found me as much as I found it. But the longer I've been here, the more I know this is exactly where I'm supposed to be.

The Community Here is Different

The first thing I noticed about Sarasota is that people actually know each other. It's not one of those places where everyone just lives next to each other and keeps to themselves. People show up for each other's kids. They support local businesses. They rally when someone needs help.

When I started SRQ Tennis, there was no big marketing plan. It was one family telling another family. A parent recommending me to their neighbor. It grew because people trusted what we were building. That only happens in a community like this.

The Weather Doesn't Hurt

I mean, let's be real. If you're going to build a tennis program, you need to actually be able to get on the courts. Sarasota gives us close to 361 days a year where we can train. No three month winters. No shutting down. Players develop faster when you can be consistent, and the weather here makes that possible.

Families Here Get It

What I love about Sarasota parents is they understand what youth sports are really about. They're not just chasing trophies. They're investing in their kids' growth. Their confidence. Their ability to handle hard things.

When I explain the Six Pillars to a parent here, they don't ask "when will my kid start winning?" They ask "how can we support this at home?" That kind of alignment between coach and family is everything. It's what makes our programs actually work.

This is Home

I'm not just running a business in Sarasota. I'm raising my family here. My kids play on the same courts. They go to school with the same kids I coach. There's no separation between me as a coach and me as a dad and me as a neighbor. It's all the same.

That matters. Parents trust me with their kids because they see me around town. At the grocery store. At school pickup. I'm not flying in to run a program. I live here. This is home.

What I'm Building

My vision for SRQ Tennis has always been bigger than tennis. I want to be part of what makes Sarasota a great place to grow up. I want kids in this community to have access to real coaching, a positive environment, and the kind of mentorship that sticks with them long after they put the racket down.

Sarasota gave me a chance to build something I'm proud of. I try to give that back every single day. One lesson, one player, one family at a time.

If you're a Sarasota family looking for a tennis community that actually feels like a community, come say hello. Check out a session and see what we're about.

Michael Boothman Founder, SRQ Tennis Sarasota, FL