Category: Tips and Tricks

Choosing the Right Tennis Summer Camp

This post is brought to you by our friends at Nike Tennis Camps, who want to help you choose the right tennis summer camp for your son or daughter.

Summer is around the corner and as a parent of three, I too, am trying to figure out where to send my kids to summer camp this year.  Near or far, the options seem to be endless and at times, it’s hard to find something specific for each child’s needs and interests.  So, whether your child is new to tennis or has been playing for years, here are a few helpful hints on how to choose the right camp for your camper:

Location.  Starting with some basics, are you looking for something nearby? Or a camp while you’re on a family trip? In state or out of state?  Begin with a simple search: “Nike Tennis Camps in [insert state]” or go to www.ussportscamps.com and use the map guide in the top right hand corner.  There are over 80 Nike Tennis Camp locations (along with 250 other sport locations) across the United States. The following info will help you narrow the options.

Day Camp vs. Overnight Camp.  This is a big question for many, and ultimately may be determined best by your campers age or readiness for sleepaway camp.  However, if your camper is looking to immerse themselves in tennis, get the full campus life experience, make new friends and create lasting memories, an overnight camp session is the best.  Overnight camps usually run weekly from Sunday through either Thursday or Friday.  The curriculum is a perfect blend of expert instruction, supervised match play and fun off court activities.  In addition, campers get to experience the day-to-day life on a college or prep school campus – live in the dorms, eat in the cafeterias and walk around campus.  Many sites include a variety of team competitions throughout the week and/or nightly themed activities for additional camp fun.  These camp sessions are a great fit for both the “first timer” looking to test out sleepaway camp, or the repeat camper who comes year after year to continue to improve their game, make lasting friendships and have “Serious. Fun.”

Day camps typically run Monday through Friday 9am-4pm (times vary by site) and consist of both a morning session (drilling and point play) and afternoon session (match play).  Day only camps are a great option for a kid who wants to get a lot of court time but stay close to home. Geared for all skill levels, day only camps offer the same high-level instruction as the overnight camps, but without the “campus life” experience.

Many of the overnight camp locations offer a day only component or even an extended day camp option (includes lunch and dinner and evening activities), so be sure to check out the details for each location.

Type of Program.  This can be a tricky one for parents as we all want to be sure the camp is a good “fit” for our child’s ability level.  The good news – all of these camps typically attract players of all ability levels and ages, so there is an option for everyone.  But, if trying to narrow your options based on level or age, here are some basic guidelines to the programs offered:

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All Skill Levels 

Geared towards young athletes of all ability levels. Campers will be evaluated on the first day and placed into groups based on their age and ability. Includes concentrated work to develop the proper fundamentals and includes a mix of drilling and match play.

Tournament Training 

If you have a tournament level player and want to be sure the competition is right for your child, choose one of the tournament training sessions.  Geared towards (USTA) tournament level and ranked players looking to improve tournament results, learn winning strategies and increase mental toughness. Includes additional focus on match play, strategy, conditioning and tournament preparation.

High School (ages 13-18) 

If your camper is most excited about being at camp with other high school aged kids, choose one of the high school sessions.  Geared toward high school players (and incoming freshmen) with aspirations of making the high school team, moving up the ladder or improving tournament results. Includes additional focus on match play, strategy and conditioning. Similar to Tournament Training sessions, but limited to ages 13-18 only and does not presume that all players participate in (USTA) tournaments.

10 & Under Tennis (ages 5-10)

This is an exciting new way kids 10 and under are learning to play tennis as well as compete. The courts are smaller and balls are low-compression so they are easier to hit, allowing kids to get to the ball and develop optimal swing patterns.

 Last, but certainly not least, do your homework and call or email with questions!  Whether you’d like to find out more about the director, staff, dorm configuration, food options, ages of campers already enrolled, whatever it may be, call 1-800-645-3226 and ask to speak to a sport representative.  You can also email us at tennis@ussportscamps.com. At the end of the day, you want to find a camp that your child is excited about and is a place you feel comfortable with. The Nike Tennis Camps motto: SERIOUS. FUN.

USTA Mid-Atlantic provides summer camp scholarships to families of need. The application can be found here, and the deadline to apply has been extended to April 24. 

Tennis Takes on a New Opponent: Summer Brain Drain

Summer, summer, summertime…time to sit back and unwind…The lyrics to the hit song, “Summertime,” by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince always seem to roll around in my head whenever I start to think about summer. And the lyrics couldn’t be truer; summertime is a time to relax and rejuvenate especially for school-age kids who are finishing up nine-ish months of schoolwork and learning.

But summer brain drain – when kids can experience learning loss – is a real thing parents have to consider and try to mitigate. Now is the time when parents are searching for summer camp options and other activities that ensure their children stay active, engaged and satisfied and not just become lumps in front of screens. We all want our children to have memorable and enriching experiences throughout the summer while making sure they are set up for success heading into the next school year. But how do you prevent the summer slide?

In the Washington Post, three local teachers offered tips for preventing summer brain drain. What are some of the tips for younger kids? Playing and trying a new sport.

This is where tennis can be an aggressive opponent to dominate summer brain drain.

Tennis is a safe sport that develops health and fitness as well as hand-eye coordination, balance and body coordination. Tennis also nurtures work ethic and discipline, while teaching young players responsibility and sportsmanship, all great lessons to work on during the summer to prepare for the school year ahead.

A great way to try a new sport and give kids a chance to play is through summer camps. In fact in a recent poll of about 60 parents, we asked them why they are interested in tennis camps. Their number one reason (63 percent) was so that their child could try a new sport.

Try tennis with TGA this summer

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USTA Mid-Atlantic will host several tennis summer camps through our TGA Premier Youth Tennis program (TGA) located in Anne Arundel, Md., Loudoun County, Va., Richmond, Va. (RVA), and in areas of West Virginia. TGA introduces the lifelong sport of tennis at a young age through programs that provide a fun and enriching experience for children. The program offers a blend of skills development with character development and introduces STEM concepts for a fun and well-rounded experience.

TGA Premier Youth Tennis camps provide expert instruction and exciting activities that keep children entertained. Camp ratios are kept low so that the coaching staff can provide ample individual attention and instruction tailored to the skill levels of the participants.

A typical camp day includes:

  • Rotating among station-based activities that work on racquet and rally skills.
  • Fun games such as red light, green light, and desert island with a tennis twist.
  • Tennis-themed STEM experiments and lessons such as keeping score, the history of tennis, geometry of the tennis court and more.
  • Lots of fun with chances to win daily prizes and collect “winner tickets” throughout camp for good sportsmanship and other positive actions.

TGA Premier Youth Tennis camps are ideal for the beginner to intermediate between the age of 6 and 12 years old. They are offered as week-long camps in half- and full-day schedules and are located in convenient locations such as schools, park and recreation sites, community centers and other neighborhood locations. Registration is open for most TGA summer camps and more are being added. Visit the page of the chapter you are interested in for more detailed information.

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Other Tennis Camp Opportunities

If you live in the Prince William County, Virginia area, USTA MAS and Prince William Parks & Recreation have partnered on summer tennis camps for both pee wee (age 4 to 6) and youth (age 7 to 12) participants throughout the summer. These camps will teach all the tennis basics while having a lot of fun. Camps are offered in three locations: Veterans Memorial Park in Woodbridge, Locust Shade Park in Triangle, and Ben Lomond Regional Park in Manassas. Registration information is available through Prince William Parks & Recreation.

The USTA Mid-Atlantic Section Camp Scholarship Program gives dozens of young athletes the unique opportunity to attend a summer camp for one week, free of charge. The Camp Scholarship program is made possible by the USTA Mid-Atlantic Section and tennis camps that donate camp sessions from Nike and adidas. Review information on qualifications for the scholarships and applying.

Whether you are looking to provide your child the opportunity to learn a new sport, or take their current game to the next level, try tennis with USTA Mid-Atlantic this summer to bust brain drain and have some fun.

Lauren Hoffmann is the director of marketing, communications and membership at USTA Mid-Atlantic. She believes Summertime is one of the all-time best summer anthems, and that it isn’t really summer until the song comes on the radio. And yep, she still listens to the radio!

Six At-Home Tennis Activities to Bust Boredom

As a mom of two active little boys, I am a firm believer in getting outside each day to burn off extra energy. We run around the yard, play games, take walks – whatever we can do to get out of the house, move our bodies and have some fun.

I don’t know about you, but we just cannot stay cooped up in the house all day long. On those days when we do, the tranquility of our family room quickly turns into a disaster area with couch cushions strewn about, toys everywhere (and I mean everywhere), boys running room to room racing to see who’s the fastest, and sporting equipment flying. Did I mention that my boys are active?

During the colder months when the temperatures dip too low to go outside for long periods of time, I desperately search for activities we can do inside that are engaging and get my kids moving with as little destruction as possible.

My older son has recently found an affinity for tennis (hooray!) thanks to his recent participation in the TGA afterschool tennis enrichment program. He wants to play all the time. And I couldn’t be happier about it! With equipment sized right, tennis is fun for kids of all ages and skill level and it boasts numerous benefits such as learning lessons in teamwork and sportsmanship as well as building physical strength and endurance.

Considering he is just a very early beginner, I definitely want to keep his interest and give him the chance to have fun with tennis when he wants. That got me thinking: what tennis activities could we do inside at home while we wait for sunnier days and warmer temps more accommodating for time out on our local tennis courts.

So I went right to USTA Mid-Atlantic’s own resident expert on playing tennis in non-traditional spaces (aka our manager of school programs) Alicia von Lossberg. She assured me that, very easily, everyday spaces can turn into the perfect places for tennis fun for you and your children.

She explained that all of the activities are suitable for a basement, playroom or even the garage and that activities range from racquet and ball handling to fitness fun. You don’t even need to have a net! You can get creative with items you likely have on hand at home. Masking tape or painters tape is perfect for marking the perimeter of the “court” on the floor or simply mark a line for where a net would be. You can also use two chairs with tape stretched between them as the net.

This is just the solution I want to have at the ready should we find ourselves indoors but chomping for an activity.

So, the next time you are stuck inside more than you like and you hear “I’m bored,” for the umpteenth time, grab your racquets and foam balls and try these six fun tennis activities at home to break up the monotony and calm the crazy.

Ball balance, tap downs and bump ups are all great activities to practice racquet and ball handling. For ball balance, have your little tennis star try to balance the foam ball on the strings of the racquet while touching the floor with their opposite hand. Tap downs are when you bounce the ball down at waist level and bump ups are when you bounce the ball (carefully) up at eye level without letting the ball hit the ground. Have your child do as many of those as they can. You can even do these activities with your child and see who can do the most in a row or go the longest balancing the ball.

Helpful hint: if this is too hard for them, try a beach ball or balloon for quick success before moving on to the foam ball.

Partner up and practice hand-eye skills. Put some tunes on and partner up with your child or partner your kids up to work on hand-eye coordination. A fan favorite is ball pass where you work together to pass a ball back and forth “catching” it with the racquet. For each catch, keep stepping back a step and see how far apart you can get. Set a record and see who can break it.

Helpful hint: for younger kids, use a bean bag to pass instead.  

Get in a rhythm with “drop, hit, catch” and “toss, hit, catch.” These games are sure to bring a smile to your child’s face and even work their rhythmic pattern skills! Partner up with them and have them gently drop the ball and hit it toward you so that you can catch it – drop, hit, catch, and repeat. Every catch is a point! After six hits, change roles and see who can get the most points. Try toss, hit, catch to work on forehand and backhand skills. Begin about three steps apart from your child and toss the tennis ball to the forehand or backhand side and have them rally the ball back to you to catch it. Toss it six times and switch!

Helpful hint: Give your child a target (like your knees or hat on your head) to keep balls from being hit like home runs.

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Rally over the net. Remember those chairs with the tape (or rope, ribbon, or streamers) stretched between them? Set them up as the net and work with your child to rally the ball over to each other. You can make this activity easier by rolling the ball on the ground or make it harder by switching between forehand and backhand off the bounce. See how long you can rally with each other.

Agility, footwork and speed are all valuable skills for tennis that can be worked on at home. If you are playing in a more open space of the house, a few minutes of jump rope is a great way your child can work on footwork moves. See how long each of you can jump without stopping. Hop scotch is also a great game to work on balance and agility by hopping on one foot and then two. But the best game of all IMO is the “Ball Kid Burst.” Put imagination to action and pretend to be a ball kid dashing to grab the tennis balls for superstars like Rafa and Serena during an intense match. Place a racquet on the floor and then place a pile of tennis balls directly across from the racquet, about 10 to 15 feet away. Get your stopwatch ready and race to grab one ball at a time and place them on racquet. Record the time and see how fast you can get all the tennis balls picked up. Take turns to see who is the fastest. Try this one at the end of play time, when all the foam balls are scattered about. This is a GREAT way to make clean up fun.

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Strategize a new game. Tennis is all about game strategy so work those intellectual skills and have your child invent their own tennis game that can be played indoors. Kids love to make up their own games, and you never know what kind of creative ideas they will come up with that can work a new tennis skill. Just make sure you remember it for next time to add it in the rotation.

Hopefully you found this list to be a handy reference so that on the days when you just can’t get enough outdoor time or make it to the courts, you can still work with your child on their budding tennis skills and love of the game! And speaking of love of tennis, don’t forget, kids 10 and under new to the USTA are eligible for a free junior membership. Find out more and sign up!

What fun tennis activities have you tried with kids? Share them with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Lauren Hoffmann is the director of marketing, communication and membership at USTA Mid-Atlantic. She would write a really clever little line here but she’s a mom and she’s exhausted.

Illustration images are from the USTA Kid’s Tennis Clubs Organizers Playbook. Illustrations are thanks to Skillastics, Inc.

2017 Changes to MAS Junior Tournament Regulations

A few aspects of Mid-Atlantic juniors tournaments have changed in 2017. Please be aware of these changes. We’re looking forward to another great year of junior tennis!

  • Updated MAS Tournament Pathway The youth pathway begins with short duration tournaments, short match formats, and low entry fees. Players then progress to longer competitions, longer match formats, and corresponding reasonable increases in maximum recommended entry fees. ALL PLAYERS SHOULD FAMILIARIZE THEMSELVES WITH THE TOURNAMENT PATHWAY.
  • MAS Tri Champion Series to replace State Championships.
    1. Clay Courts (L5): July 22nd
    2. Hard Courts (L4): August 12th
    3. Indoor Hard Courts (L5): December 26th (Consolations played through second round maximum to guarantee two matches)
    4. For each surface, the section shall offer three sites per age division, distributed regionally throughout the Section
    5. All events will be closed to Mid-Atlantic players.

Players may only compete in one age division and register for ONE site only, but are not required to play in their state of residence. For example, a player from Northern Virginia may opt to play B16s at a site in DC or MD because that is closer to his residence. But, he may ONLY register for one site for this surface.  Results from these events contribute to the Tri-Champion Points Race which determines an overall 2017 Champion per age group.  To win the championship all points must be earned in same age division.

  • BG 12U Challenger Schedule: The will be TWO concurrent 12U Challenger events in each of February, April, November, and December. Each draw will be limited to 32 players using single elimination format and offer a doubles draw of up to 16 teams, single elimination format.  For each month players may only register for one location, and each event will count for equal points.
  • National Hard Court Championship Endorsement: The winners of the June Level 3 USTA/MAS Super 700 Championship draws will automatically be placed as #1 on the endorsement list for the USTA National Hard Court Championship in August for the corresponding age group.  These winners do not need to meet the endorsement requirements of having played in three “super six” events.
  • BG 18s National Team Selection Process: MAS Selection to BG 18s National Team Championships will be as follows: One spot to June MAS BG 18s Super 700 Level 3 Championship winner, one spot to a wildcard selected by coaches’ commission, the remaining 5 spots will be based on the current USTA-MAS Standings List calculated immediately following the June MAS Super 700 Championships. If the winner of the June MAS Super 700 Championship elects not to participate or if a wildcard is not granted, the remaining spot(s) will default to the standing list.

Excess Waist: Tips for Staying Healthy this Holiday

In this article, Dimitris Kollaros of Mount Vernon Athletic Club and Tim Bainton of Blue Chip Tennis share tips for continuing to stay active during the winter so you can stay in tip-top tennis shape. You can read more about MTVAC, including tennis programming, here.

All the temptations of the holidays make it dangerously easy to add inches to the waist. Fruit cakes, rum cakes, eggnog, turkey, ham, roast beef, need we say more? Combining all the butter and sugar with errands, parties, and commitments, the struggle of staying active in the winter  when outdoor courts are frozen solid is real. But all hope of a healthy holiday season is not lost with the right mindset! Here are some tips that you can easily incorporate into your daily routine:

  1. Get Low. Squats are an exercise that can be done anywhere and take up little space. The hard part can be finding time to fit this into a busy holiday schedule. A great way of integrating this into your holiday routine is while you are waiting in line at the store. Whether it’s the grocery store, getting ready to cook that holiday feast, or fitting some in some while standing in line for your hatchimal, squatting rather than just standing will burn extra calories and even work out a part of the body that can be otherwise difficult to isolate: your glutes. Self-conscious of others judging you while in line? Squeeze some in while cooking or washing dishes. Pro Tip: Do these with a friend. Having someone else there will help you both to stay motivated.

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  1. Walk in the Winter Wonderland. Taking the time to get outside and go for a walk in frigid weather might seem like a hard sell. But consider having this intimate and healthy time as a way to catch up with a family member or friend who you have not seen for a long time. A long walk is a great way to not only share stories but also burn calories. Not on great terms with those surrounding you during the holidays? Think of the long walk as a break and chance to some time to yourself. Taking walks is an easy way to stay moving while preparing yourself for the next round of familial chaos that is soon to reveal itself. Pro tip: Have a dog? Bring your furry buddy along with you. Pets need some time away from the noise and chaos, too!

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  1. Pump Up the Cardio with Indoor Tennis. Whether you’re an avid or an amateur who likes the amped up cardio that a good game can provide, you’ll undoubtedly beat the winter fitness blues when you work out on indoor tennis courts. Some fitness clubs like MTVAC offer cardio tennis – a group fitness class that focuses on moves relevant to playing tennis. Not only is this a great workout, but it can hone in on some key skills to improve your tennis game. Check out a clip from a recent MTVAC cardio tennis class!

And if you’re not already a tennis club member, consider signing up and taking advantage of the perks, like tournaments, easy to find partners and social events. We all know we’re more likely to stay fit if fitness is fun! Try a FREE 7-day tennis trial!

  1. Stretch it out. Are there lengths of time where you anticipate sitting for a while? Maybe it is watching your favorite holiday movie or sport? It could be just sitting while wrapping gifts for friends and family. Regardless of what you’re doing, put your legs out and stretch. Stretching is a great way to keep blood flowing and circulating through your body. Toe touches, butterfly stretches, and, for the overly ambitious, the occasional split, will help to make sure your heart stays healthy and happy. Not to mention, increased circulation helps prevent cramping.

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Pro Tip: feeling extra ambitious? Adding planks and pushups to your morning routine is a great way to kickstart blood flow and get you ready for the rounds of meals coming your way.

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  1. Stay hydrated. Even with the heat pumping, the fire going, lots of warm wool clothing, and eggnog, your body is working extra hard to keep itself warm during the winter. This means that your body, more than usual, needs lots of water. Staying hydrated will help combat the dry air that comes hand in hand with cold weather. What’s more, if you are a fan of eggnog, water will help to combat any ill feelings that can come with overindulging during the holidays. Pro Tip: Worried about overeating? Drinking a glass of water prior a large meal will make you feel fuller faster and prevent you from eating too much.

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  1. Seek Refuge from the Weather. No one wants to layer up and run in the snow or play tennis on an icy court. Winter is the time of year when the gym is truly your friend. If the idea of running on treadmill already makes you yawn, think outside your normal routine. Gyms in Alexandria like Mount Vernon Athletic Club offer tons of group fitness classes to keep you on your toes, plus Fitness On Demand makes classes available on your Then there is the personal training route. Working with a personal trainer offers so many benefits, especially when the chilly season forces you to change up your usual workout. A trainer can guide in you in modified or new exercises, help you with your form to make sure you don’t get injured, and change up your gym routine to keep your muscles guessing and the calories burning. Plus, you’ll have a whole new arsenal of workout ideas to pull from even when the weather is perfect.

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Staying strong through the winter is pretty simple, you just have to make health and fitness a priority and get creative!

What tips can you add to the list that help you stay in shape for tennis all through the winter? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter, and Instgram by tagging us.

Dimitris Kollaros is the General Manager and Personal Training Department Head at Mount Vernon Athletic Club. He stays healthy by chasing around his two kids. Tim Bainton is the Executive Director of Blue Chip Tennis, a USTA MAS Mega Provider. To stay healthy during the holidays, he likes to make his fiancée walk the dogs for him.