Summer offers teens an ideal opportunity to pursue their interests and broaden their horizons in various ways. Instead of confining them solely to sports camps, encourage them to think critically about what they really hope to learn, practice or experience this summer.
Curriculum evaluation can provide an invaluable indicator of the quality of tennis camp instruction. Look out for drills accompanied by supervised match and point play opportunities.
1. Location
No matter your child’s level, finding an ideal summer program for them is of utmost importance. A quality tennis camp should allow players to work on individual skills while building confidence and making new friends in an atmosphere that fosters safe fun play – the top tennis camps offer activities such as drills and match play that cater for multiple skill sets and experience levels.
IMG Academy provides year-round tennis camp programs for children of all ages and abilities, offering two daily training sessions with competition opportunities as well as optional personalized coaching sessions or specialization training in areas like mental performance or recovery. Their Hofstra Tennis specialty can accommodate children of all skill levels; each player is evaluated upon arrival and placed into groups based on their ability level.
Advantage QuickStart Tennis Camp provides children aged four through eight with a great summer of tennis! This innovative camp features tennis tailored specifically for age, ability and enjoyment using smaller rackets with slower-bouncing balls to make tennis accessible to all participants. In addition to morning QuickStart Tennis Camp sessions on Roosevelt Island, Advantage also offers full-day summer programs featuring drills, games and match play!
From June 20 to August 8, Roosevelt Island’s Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning offers a comprehensive summer tennis program offering beginner development levels programs, advanced player development training and high performance coaching. These programs aim to teach participants necessary techniques, improve consistency and create basic patterns of play in order to effectively construct points while learning about physical, strategic, psychological aspects of the game while witnessing professional players perform live.
2. Age Group
Age group should play a vital role when selecting the ideal tennis summer program for teenagers. Some camps cater specifically to 10 and under players or tournament-level junior players; other programs provide general sessions suitable for beginners through advanced players – this way your teen will get exposure to coaches of various strengths as well as players that might challenge him/her on court.
Other camps will focus on teaching basic skills like hitting, footwork and scoring while others provide more intensive training and competitive play for advanced players in preparation for school or club tournaments. Sometimes these sessions combine younger age groups for added benefit – offering teenagers an ideal way to develop their game while mentoring younger children as part of a team environment.
Consideration should also be given to the experience and quality of coaching of staff at any camp you may consider attending. More experienced coaches tend to provide superior results; this is particularly important in more specific or intensive programs where quality of coaching may make or break success.
Advantage QuickStart Tennis Camp provides children with an exciting, new way to experience tennis by providing equipment and court dimensions tailored specifically for them – smaller rackets and lower-bouncing balls) so they can get playing quicker. This approach fosters early love of the game while teaching important life skills like self-esteem, physical fitness and teamwork.
If you’re searching for a camp that best meets the needs of your teenager, make sure to attend Our Kids Camp and Program Expo, held annually during winter. There, you can meet directors and staff of numerous camps and programs at the Expo; learn about their daily activities, rates and registration procedures.
3. Instruction
If your child wants to improve their tennis skills, make sure the summer camp they select provides comprehensive instruction tailored specifically for them. Beginners and intermediates should attend separate classes while more experienced players might benefit from more focused coaching and match play opportunities.
One of the best ways to assess the quality of tennis instruction at a particular summer camp is by speaking with those who have sent their children there. Get their perspective on their overall experience, such as whether or not they found it enjoyable and what type of instruction was available.
Additionally, it’s advisable to gain an idea of the amount of time your child will be on the court each day of camp. Some camps focus exclusively on tennis for several hours per day – this might be good if your young player wants to improve their game; but for kids less serious about tennis it might prove daunting and even cause them to quit!
Checking the ratio of coaches to students will give an idea of the amount of attention your child will get during camp week. Also be sure to see if group lessons will be provided, which can help children build teamwork while learning more about the game with similar skill level students – in some cases these sessions even speed up learning processes by providing more opportunities to practice and train together.
4. Schedule
Understanding your child’s goals when selecting an ideal tennis summer program for teenagers is the cornerstone of choosing the appropriate program. For instance, if they’re just getting into tennis and don’t yet know if they want to pursue competitive tennis long-term, an advanced camp geared toward college teams driven by talent will not provide as much value for them.
Consider how long your child will spend playing every day; some kids thrive with lots of activity while others require less. To determine what will work for your child best, visit any camps you are considering and speak to their staff about schedules, activities and more.
Some summer tennis camps provide private instruction from highly experienced instructors while others teach group lessons of 3-30 children. With group lessons, your child can learn, practice and compete against children with similar skill levels, which may help accelerate his or her learning curve.
Additionally to individual instruction, many camps provide comprehensive tennis education for your child including rules and etiquette of the game, mental preparation for tennis play, differences between singles and doubles play and more. Some will even host professional tennis players for several days or weeks as mentors and coaches!
If your child is looking to learn the game of tennis and make new friends, a sleepaway (overnight) tennis camp could be an excellent option. These camps allow them to immerse themselves in the sport while having an exciting summer – just make sure they’re prepared beforehand!
5. Extracurricular Activities
Tennis participation among children and teenagers across the country is growing quickly, as racquet sales increased 22 percent this year and a recent study demonstrated more teens playing tennis than ever. Given this surge in participation, parents are seeking quality tennis programs for their kids that will enhance both their skills and enjoyment of the game.
Curriculum is one of the key aspects of a quality tennis camp, going far beyond drills for young participants. A top program should provide more advanced players with match play and competition opportunities that enhance their college prospects and take their game further.
Experienced tennis players should look for a summer tennis camp that provides both proper instruction and real coaching, with separate groups for beginners, intermediates and more advanced players so they can receive individual attention to build their skill levels.
Not only will the best tennis camps for kids provide them with instruction on the fundamentals, but they will also include many engaging activities to keep their attention. Such fun might include relay races or competitions such as “King or Queen of the Court”. All these fun games will help build skills while simultaneously having lots of fun!
Parents must also consider the calendar when selecting a summer tennis program for their child. Different schools follow different academic schedules, so it is essential that any tennis camp chosen doesn’t conflict with any academic calendars for which your child attends school.