From Grand Slam Courts to Classrooms: GoNoodle and USTA Celebrate 50 Years of Wheelchair Tennis with Champion Charlie Cooper

Building on a shared commitment to making movement inclusive and welcoming for every child, two videos featuring the Junior Grand Slam champion inspire children to try something new, build confidence, and celebrate the strengths that make each of us unique.

ATLANTA, Nov. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Not every child has picked up a tennis racket, and many have never seen wheelchair tennis in action. Yet sport gives children something to share, even when their disabilities and experiences are different.

Now, GoNoodle and the United States Tennis Association (USTA)are bringing the talents and perspective of Junior Grand Slam champion Charlie Cooper to millions of students in elementary classrooms nationwide through two videos on GoNoodle's USTA-powered Net Generation channel. The latest, We Can Do That!, premieres November 4th.

The release coincides with the historic 50th anniversary of wheelchair tennis, celebrating five decades of athletic achievement, innovation, and the pioneers who helped shape the sport. Alongside Mind on the Match 2.0: Palm-Perfect Reflex with Charlie Cooper, which debuted in October, the new video gives students the opportunity to learn from an accomplished athlete whose talent, determination, and perspective show there is more than one way to succeed, both on and off the court. 

Cooper, a professional wheelchair tennis player, represents a new generation of athletes advancing the sport and challenging perceptions of what is possible. Through GoNoodle's programming, students can learn from a champion whose experience may differ from their own, but whose lessons about confidence, focus, and perseverance are universal.

"Kids don't need to be the same to belong on the same team," said KC Estenson, CEO of GoNoodle. "Charlie brings incredible skill, confidence, and perspective to the screen. By putting athletes like him at the center of our content, we're helping children recognize that strength looks different in every person. When students learn to celebrate those differences in one another, we create classrooms where everyone has an opportunity to shine."

Bringing the Power of Tennis Into Elementary Classrooms

Mind on the Match 2.0: Palm-Perfect Reflex with Charlie Cooper debuted October 8, inviting students to test their focus and coordination through a series of interactive, tennis-inspired challenges. From practicing quick reflexes and observation skills to slowing down with focused breathing, the experience introduces techniques that athletes use to prepare their minds and bodies for competition.

No racket, court, or previous tennis experience is needed. The activities are designed to make movement approachable for children with a range of abilities and skill levels, giving educators a way to incorporate physical activity and mindfulness into the school day. The premiere of We Can Do That! builds on that experience, reinforcing the partnership's focus on participation, confidence, and the belief that everyone has something valuable to contribute.

Together, the two videos reflect GoNoodle and USTA's shared belief that when children see different abilities, perspectives, and experiences represented in the content they enjoy, they begin to recognize and appreciate those strengths in themselves and their classmates.

Honoring 50 Years of Wheelchair Tennis and Inspiring the Next Generation

What began in 1976 through the pioneering efforts of Brad Parks and Jeff Minnebraker has grown into an internationally recognized competitive sport, creating opportunities for athletes to compete at the highest levels and inspiring generations of players around the world.

Fifty years later, Cooper is helping carry that legacy forward. A Junior Grand Slam champion who has competed on some of tennis's biggest stages, he represents both the remarkable progress the sport has made and the possibilities still ahead.

Through GoNoodle's programming, that legacy reaches beyond the court and into classrooms. For children encountering wheelchair tennis for the first time, Cooper offers a new perspective on what it means to be a professional athlete, sharing his skills and experiences while demonstrating the importance of confidence, focus, and perseverance.

"Growing up, I remember watching GoNoodle videos all the time in elementary school. It is pretty crazy to be on the other side of it now and be a part of something I grew up learning from," says Charlie Cooper. "Some of the same teachers who taught me are now showing their students what I've been able to accomplish and telling them that I was once sitting in those exact same classrooms. I think that's really special because hopefully those kids can see what I've been able to do and realize they can also dream big and accomplish things they might not have thought were possible, no matter where they start."

For GoNoodle and USTA, bringing athletes like Cooper into classrooms is about more than introducing children to tennis. It's about helping them see the world from a different perspective, discover strengths they may not have recognized in themselves, and better understand the experiences of those around them. By introducing children to athletes with different abilities and backgrounds, the partnership encourages curiosity, empathy, and respect while reinforcing a powerful message: everyone has something valuable to contribute, both on and off the court. 

A Partnership Built Around Movement, Confidence, and Belonging

Since 2018, GoNoodle and USTA have partnered to introduce tennis to children through movement-based entertainment designed for elementary classrooms and families. Through the USTA-powered Net Generation channel, the organization brings tennis-inspired activities into everyday learning, connecting physical activity with teamwork, mindfulness, confidence, and the joy of discovering a new sport.

With Cooper's two new videos, the partnership continues to introduce children to tennis in new ways, encouraging them to discover their own potential, celebrate what makes them unique, and connect through a shared love of movement and sport.

We Can Do That! Premieres November 4th, 2026, on GoNoodle's Net Generation channel.

Mind on the Match 2.0: Palm-Perfect Reflex with Charlie Cooper is available to watch now.

About GoNoodle

GoNoodle is a leading kids' movement and learning platform that brings joy, physical activity, and meaningful educational experiences into elementary classrooms and homes. Used in 86% of U.S. elementary schools, GoNoodle helps millions of children move, learn, build confidence, and discover what makes them extraordinary. Through engaging videos, interactive activities, and partnerships with trusted organizations, GoNoodle inspires kids to be their healthiest, happiest, and most authentic selves.

Learn more at GoNoodle.com.

About USTA

The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level -- from local communities to the highest level of the professional game. A not-for-profit organization, it invests 100 percent of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, one of the highest-attended annual sporting events in the world, along with approximately 100 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S., and selects the teams for Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup, and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA's philanthropic entity, the USTA Foundation, provides grants and scholarships in addition to supporting tennis and education programs nationwide to benefit under-resourced youth through the National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network For more information about the USTA, go to USTA.com or follow the official accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (X) and TikTok.

For more information, contact: Tom LaDue, USTA Corporate Communications, [email protected]

Learn more at USTA.com.

SOURCE GoNoodle