If you’re a tennis fan, the ball is bouncing your way at the Goffstown Allard Center.

According to the center’s new tennis director, Rob Coles, youth tennis opportunities in New Hampshire lag behind other New England states, but Coles is doing his part to help the sport thrive in the area.

“We like to get kids trained together and play together. In the long run, it helps them all become better players,” he said.

Coles, on the job for seven months, said the Allard Center has seen a 20- percent spike in children’s participation in its tennis programs, from 112 youths last year to 136 this year.

Before coming to Goffstown, Coles helped run nonprofit tennis programs throughout the country, including Georgia, Texas and South Carolina, and he thought the YMCA would be a good fit.

“Being able to help build a program is exciting,” he said.

In addition to the higher number of participants, the number of tennis instructors has swelled from three to eight as well.

“Every instructor has their own area of expertise, and having more of them will make our program well rounded,” said Coles.

Jerry Hapgood, senior program director at the Allard Center, is also excited with the growth in the tennis program.

“Rob has brought a new vision to the program, and we really hope to offer something to everyone, not just the youth,” he said.

Hapgood added the Allard Center still has senior leagues and women’s leagues. If the growth continues, he sees the center as host site of a youth USTA event in the future.

Taylor Summerville, 13, of Bedford, said she loves the center's tennis program.

“The coaches help us on our weaknesses and will put in extra time to help us if we need it,” he said.

In addition to more instructors and players, a $50,000 donation from the Manchester YMCA to the Allard Center, a branch of the Manchester Y, will be used for a new ventilation system and insulation.

Additionally, a fundraiser by the Goffstown Allard Center will help pay for an energy-efficient indirect lighting system.

“This new system won’t have players being blinded by bright lights,” said Coles.

Kim Vaillancourt, an Allard Center committee member and mother of two children in the tennis program, said Coles has quickly built camaraderie among the young participants.

“Rob understood that team tennis was needed in this area,” she said. “It's hard for young players to keep enthusiasm for a sport that is played alone, and Rob has addressed that issue.” Coles also added an educational component to some of his youth programs.

“We’re looking to promote healthy kids, not just on,\ but off the tennis court,” he said.

For example, one tennis program, “Mighty Mites,” has 4- and 6-year-olds alternating tennis time with story time. Another, the “Future Stars Tournament Training Program,” monitors the educational progress of 10- to 17- year-olds and has them bring in their report card to the center to track their progress in school.

“We’re really looking to make well-rounded student athletes that can excel down the road,” said Coles. “For a long time tennis was viewed as an elitist sport and I’m here to show that its not.”

For details about the Goffstown Allard Center, visit www.gmfymca.org or call 623-3558.