About the Washington Area Tennis Association

It began in 1991, when Richard Gottfried started organizing World Team Tennis leagues in the Washington area. The format was lively and social, and it quickly attracted players who wanted more than casual hitting. They wanted a team, a schedule and a reason to look forward to match day.

Over the years the leagues grew across Maryland and Washington, DC. In 2010 Stacey Gottfried became Vice President, bringing a fresh focus on community engagement. Together, Richard and Stacey have shaped a tennis community that values health, wellness and social connection as much as results.

That community has had real success. Since 1991, WATA players and teams have competed in, and won, Regional Championships and National Championships. Those wins are celebrated, but they are not the whole story. The heart of WATA is the thousands of ordinary matches played by ordinary people who simply love the game.

Today, WATA offers one-time trial sessions at multiple tennis courts, so anyone can try the leagues at any time of the year.

As a member, you receive a place on a team matched to your level and goals. You get a structured season of scheduled matches, a captain who keeps everyone informed and a community that cheers for you.

You also receive access to events through the year, from social gatherings to playoffs, and the opportunity to compete at Regional and National level if your team qualifies.

Perhaps most importantly, you get time that belongs to you. A weekly match is an appointment for your health and happiness. For many members, it becomes the part of the week they protect most.

And if you are still deciding, you can try a one-time trial session first. There is no pressure and no commitment.

For many WATA members, tennis is more than exercise. It is a weekly rhythm, a circle of friends and a source of confidence. People who began as beginners find themselves captaining teams. Parents find that an hour of tennis makes the rest of the week easier. Entrepreneurs discover that some of their best conversations happen between sets.

This is the effect the Team Tennis Association was built to create. By offering organized leagues in Maryland and Washington, DC, WATA gives adults a reason to get outdoors, move their bodies and connect with others, often at the busiest times of their lives.

A community with room to grow

WATA has no wish to be exclusive. Each season brings new faces, and each newcomer adds to the community. People move to the area, change jobs, raise children and rediscover tennis, and the leagues adapt to welcome them. The offer of a one-time trial session, available at multiple courts at any time of year, is a direct expression of that openness.

Leadership you can meet

Richard and Stacey Gottfried are not distant figures. As Executive Director and Vice President, they remain closely involved with the community they built. Richard’s decades of experience organizing World Team Tennis leagues and Stacey’s commitment to community engagement mean that decisions are made with the player’s experience in mind.

Sport for everyone

It is easy for a sports organization to focus on its strongest players. WATA takes a broader view. Competitive teams are celebrated, but so is the new player who wins their first point and the parent who plays for the first time in years. All are equally part of WATA.

Looking ahead

The future of WATA is built on the same foundations as its past: good organization, warm community and a belief that tennis improves lives. As the leagues grow, they will keep offering players of all skill levels a place to play, to compete and to belong.

A season begins with a welcome. You meet your captain, learn your team’s match schedule and find out where and when you will play. Early matches are about settling in, finding your partners and learning how your opponents play. Nerves fade quickly because every match is shared with teammates.

Mid-season is where the rhythm takes over. You know the courts, you know the people and you look forward to match day the way you might look forward to a favorite meal. Line-ups are adjusted, tactics are discussed and small victories are celebrated.

As the season nears its end, standings come into focus. Some teams chase the playoffs, others aim to finish a personal best and many simply want the season to last a little longer. When the final match is played, handshakes and group photos mark the moment.

Then a new season begins, and the cycle starts again. Players return, friends invite friends and the community grows. That cycle, repeated for more than thirty years, is what WATA is all about.