Why I built Proset
October 30, 2026·Philippe Manning
When I was a kid, I could never sit still. School always felt like a place I wanted to escape. People didn’t call it ADHD back then, they just said I was busy or difficult, dumb even.
Then I found tennis.
On the tennis court, I finally had a place to use all that energy. You run, you swing, the ball comes back, and for an hour, your mind feels calm in the best way. I was 8 when I first got a racquet in my hands, at my local tennis club in Hudson. School was hard back then, and most days were spent being told what I was doing wrong. On the court, it was different. I was in control, and I finally found something I was good at. Tennis gave me joy, discipline and spirit. It was my safe haven, and it helped me focus in a way nothing else could. Tennis didn’t fix me. I didn’t need fixing. It gave me a place where how I’m wired became a strength.
I’ve never forgotten that feeling. It’s why I started Proset.
Every week, I see it happen for someone else. A player comes in nervous and unsure, holding a racquet that seems too big, glancing at the door. After a few weeks, they’re laughing and asking to stay longer. Parents tell me it’s the first place their child didn’t need to be explained.
I believe every child, teen, and young adult can shine in their own unique way. Our job isn’t to make anyone fit a mould. Having been fit into that mould myself, I know how painful it can be for players and families. We like to look for what works for each player and build from there, at their own pace.
Another thing that can feel like being left in the cold is the age limit. At Proset, we make sure no one ages out. I’ve seen too many families find something that works, only to have it stop because of a birthday. At Proset, players can keep playing as long as they want, and some want even more.
That’s where our ATP Leadership Program comes in. Players aged 15 and up spend eight weeks on court with our coaches, learning what it’s really like to be an assistant trainer, what’s expected, what leadership means, and the doors it can open. Some find it’s not for them, and that’s okay. Others discover something new in themselves.
Those who want to keep going move on to the full ATP leadership course, a year of training that leads to certification. Even then, no one is left on their own. Our assistant trainers work with a mentor by their side, and that support stays as long as they need it, until they’re ready to be independent.
One of the people I'm proudest of is D, one of our assistant trainers in Ottawa. He's been with me since 2019. I've watched him grow as a person and as a leader, from dreaming about playing tennis to teaching it. It's given him confidence, charisma and real ambition. Honestly, I see a lot of myself in him, including the nerves in front of a big crowd and the way he rides them out. Like all our ATP trainers, he brings a caring side that's all his own, and I'm so glad to have him on board.
What they learn is about more than tennis. It’s about showing up for someone younger, staying patient when a drill isn’t working, and being the person others look up to. These skills carry over into school, work, and life. I know, because tennis taught me them.
That’s the whole idea: you can be a player, a leader, maybe even a coach one day, all in your own way and at your own pace.
New sessions start in November.
- Toronto: Holland Bloorview and Angus Glen start Saturday, November 7. Annette starts Saturday, December 5.
- Ottawa: Charles H. Hulse starts Thursday, November 12.
- Montréal: Edgewater starts Sunday, November 15. Summit starts Thursday, November 19 (including new teen and young adult pickleball). Kirkland starts Sunday, December 6.
Find your class at prosetinclusivesport.ca, or message me if you’re not sure which group is right for you.
Phil
Every age, every ability, no one ages out.
Fall spots are open in Toronto, Ottawa and Montréal.
