Our Story
Sixteen years of showing up — tennis and pickleball for neurodivergent children, teens and young adults, built one weekend at a time.
Proset started in 2010 with a simple observation. Philippe Manning — a lifelong tennis player, certified coach, and a BA in Psychology with training in ABA therapy and autism behavioural science — saw that neurodivergent kids and teens had almost nowhere to be active, move, and play together. He believed movement and group play mattered too much to leave that gap open.
So he put them on a tennis court. Not for rankings — for community in a natural environment: making friends, learning a lifelong skill, and building motor development week by week. "Tennis is considered one of the best sports to help with motor learning, planning and confidence," says Philippe. In 2013, Proset became a registered Canadian charity.
Sixteen years later, the goal hasn't moved. "I love nothing more than to have every kid and teen with their family member on the court, playing together." — Philippe Manning, Founder & CEO
How we got here
Philippe Manning starts Proset in Montréal — adaptive tennis for neurodivergent kids, built on psychology and play.
Proset becomes a registered Canadian charity.
Ottawa joins — Proset's second city.
Toronto opens — Proset's third city.
A first for us: teaching tennis online, keeping players moving through COVID lockdowns.
The University of Toronto's Faculty of Kinesiology studies Proset — confirming what families feel: belonging, confidence, friendship.
Pay-what-you-can pricing launches in September — so cost never keeps a child off the court.
What every session builds
Our framework — five things we design into every hour on court.
Find motivation
Players choose activities they love, so showing up feels easy.
Gain focus
Predictable structure and short stations make attention achievable.
Get moving
Real physical activity, adapted to every body and energy level.
Participate
Every player takes part at their own pace — no one sits out.
Make friends
The reason families stay: friendship and belonging, week after week.
The people behind Proset
Carmella Anoble
Chair
Joshua Tsavales
Treasurer
Linda Bélanger
Secretary
Sherif George
Director
Interested in a volunteer board position? We can always use help — reach out and tell us what you'd bring.
Get in touch →Coaches and volunteers across all three cities complete the team — many started as players or parents.
A registered Canadian charity, powered by people like you.
Every program is subsidized by donors, sponsors and volunteers. BN 81986 8530 RR0001 — donations are tax-receiptable.