Category: Youth

The Power of JTT

Walking through Folkes/Stevens Tennis facility at Old Dominion University, you see people of all ages and skill levels playing tennis. Some competitive, some just for fun, while beginners are starting their own new experiences. Underneath it all, making these different areas come together is the business of it all, like the roots of a blossoming tree. As a Teaching Professional and Programmer, my job description is simple — keep people coming through the door for the first time, then keep them coming back to improve and thrive. Simple, but not easy. Junior Team Tennis plays an important role, offering a path for everyone to test themselves, make new friends, allowing our facility to serve as a home base for everyone. While it is a lot of work, running the JTT programs and teaching is an organic partnership, for me, for us.

Why? As a teacher, I want our players to love tennis enough to keep playing. Teaching them, getting to know them, informs and instructs us about their needs as they grow and seek out new challenges. We use that information to expand ourselves into the community and beyond, to meet new potential players and parents looking for something good to be involved with. Running the JTT program amplifies that expansion through being involved in the community, keeping us connected and in touch with our players needs while answering some of the communities needs as well. We learn crucial lessons through running the JTT we couldn’t learn anywhere else, ideas we can bring back to our teaching. Separating JTT from the job of Head Professional is difficult to imagine. One feeds the other. The combination of these roles helps us define the jobs, run the business, so that they do the work that needs doing for the players. JTT increased our business and our success feeds the pipeline for JTT, not just with players, but also volunteers, coaches, and teachers.

It is a mindset, that without running JTT, I’d be missing out on a lot of important ideas and relationships. That mindset, that connection, is required to do both successfully. Every teacher and every program is different. Knowing those differences, the idiosyncrasies, of your situation matters. Running both allows me to know them and put them to work effectively. Not knowing them can be fatal to either. The real question for me is why wouldn’t I do both? It is demanding, but the payoff to our programs, to our business, and to the players is worth it.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Toomy
Head Tennis Professional
Old Dominion University
Folkes-Stevens Indoor Tennis Center
757-683-6591

For more information about running a JTT program to help grow your facility or organization while giving your students a fun, team-based play option, contact Elizabeth Fratt with USTA Mid-Atlantic at fratt@mas.usta.com.

Tennis Starts with Love, and Grows through Inclusion

Autism, also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), refers to a range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. According to the Center for Disease Control, ASD is prevalent in the United States at an estimated 1 in 68 births, meaning more than 3.5 million Americans live with ASD. But what does it mean to live with ASD? What does it look like for those who have no experience with it? And what does tennis have to do with it?

There is no one “right way” to illustrate what ASD may look like for a parent or child. The reality is that ASD manifests itself in a variety of ways with a long list of possible “symptoms” that help with diagnosing an individual. Treatments for children with the disorder involve behavioral therapies designed to improve learning, communication and social skills. However, these treatments often times do not include participation in a physical activity. This is because physical activity may be challenging for individuals with autism for a variety of reasons. A child exhibiting limited motor function, low motivation, difficulty in planning, or difficulty in self-monitoring may find it more difficult to participate in different activities than a child who does not.

But did you know that prevalence of childhood obesity is higher among children with ASD than children who do not have ASD? In the U.S. more than half of all children with ASD are either overweight or at risk (19 percent overweight and 36 percent at-risk). It is not hard to understand why; physical activity involving team sports can present a difficult situation for someone with autism. This is why individual sports, like tennis, are sometimes a more appropriate addition to autism intervention programs than team sports.

Here is a breakdown of exactly what tennis has to offer and why it is a good fit:

  1. Tennis is not just an individual sport, it celebrates being an individual! This means that the player is responsible for every move they make and, since there is no team to depend on, their success is their own. Celebrating a player’s own success easily translates to a player developing more self-confidence and, in turn, higher self-esteem.
  2. Tennis is strategic. You will often hear that tennis is 90 percent mental. That is because there is a lot of strategy involved in playing a match. Especially because there is no one else to lean on during a match, a player has the opportunity to work independently which helps develop a player’s ability to problem solve.
  3. Tennis is social without the pressure to BE social. Because tennis is an individual sport, there is no pressure to work with other players to achieve success on the court. However, tennis allows for players to engage socially without forcing players too far out of their comfort zone. By pairing individual attention with group activities, tennis programs, especially ones specifically for persons with ASD, help with the development of social skills but on the player’s terms.
  4. Tennis helps with focus and hand-eye coordination. To develop the skills to play tennis there is a lot of repetition. Whether it is learning to hit a volley or a forehand, learning how to play tennis requires repeating this skill over and over and over again. For players with ASD, this helps not only with focusing on the task at hand, but it also helps develop hand-eye coordination, which is important both on and off the court.

At this point in the article, I am sure many of you are thinking “this is great, but what does this all cost?” And this is a valid (and very good!) question.

The average U.S. cost of autism over a lifespan is estimated to be $1 million more for a person with an intellectual disability than for a person living without an intellectual disability. What’s more, the national cost of supporting children with autism is estimated to be $61 billion a year with the costs for supporting autistic adults almost tripling that figure at an estimated $175 billion a year. To put those figures into perspective, if you could save $10,000 every single day, it would take you 16,612 years to save 61 billion dollars.

Even though these figures are collective of all persons living with ASD in the U.S., the added cost of living with an intellectual disability is real. That is why USTA MAS offers nonprofit organizations an opportunity to apply for an Inclusion Program Grant. These grants are open to nonprofits that provide tennis programs that cater to the needs of those living with intellectual and/or physical disabilities. Whether the program is completely free or provided at a much lower cost, the goal of the Inclusion Grant is to chip away at that daunting figure stated above. Even though, individually, we do not plan on being around for 16,000 years, we hope that through our Inclusion Program Grant and the work of our partner organizations, tennis programs will be around to support this community for longer.

Helen Li is the Development and Engagement Manager at USTA Mid-Atlantic. She has started learning how to play tennis and recently played in her first USTA League match!

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:

Nike Summer Camp Blog 3.JPG

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

Loudoun Valley TGA

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.

TGA Camp

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!

Smashing Glass Ceilings, One Volley at a Time

This article was published in 2017.

Tennis is one of the few sports in which the earning potential is the same for male and female players. Thanks to the Original Nine, a group of women who broke away from the men’s tour in 1970 in order to take a stand for equal pay, women in tennis top the charts among the highest-earning female athletes according to Forbes Magazine. 

USTA Mid-Atlantic creates a community that fosters social connections and uplifts neighborhoods through tennis. Tennis helps people and communities of the Mid-Atlantic grow stronger, healthier, and more connected. It is a lifetime sport that can be played by anyone, anywhere, and is not limited based on gender. 

Here in the Section, it is our priority to facilitate connection through tennis for ALL, especially youth girls. Young female players in the Mid-Atlantic are participating in tournaments and Junior Team Tennis programs at half the rate of boys the same age. What’s more, according to Project Play’s 2016 report, only one in four youth sport coaches were women, meaning that there is only a 25 percent chance that a young girl entering a sport has a female role model.

With this in mind, USTA Mid-Atlantic emphasizes the importance of bridging the gap between females and sports, especially tennis. We start by exploring the long-term benefits that are associated with participating in sports in general.

  1. Research shows that as little of four hours of exercise a week may reduce a teenage girl’s risk of breast cancer by up to 60 percent.
  2. Participating in tennis builds confidence and leadership skills. Compared to girls who do not play sports, girls who play sports report having higher levels of self-esteem and confidence as well as a more positive body image.
  3. Sports teaches teamwork, goal-setting, the pursuit of excellence in performance and other achievement-oriented behavior – attributes everyone needs to be successful.

To help young girls and women realize the benefits of sport, USTA Mid-Atlantic launched a pilot program geared toward creating empowering spaces where both girls and women can learn and grow with confidence. The program, Girls Rule the CourtSM (GRTC), is a three-part initiative that promotes and develops the growth of female participation in tennis. In addition to providing a comfortable space for young girls to learn the sport, each portion of the model addresses different barriers preventing the growth of female participation, particularly around leadership roles. Last year, GRTC reached 100 young girls through six pilot programs across the Section.

Girls Rule the Court consists of:

  1. Power Play Series
    Studies have shown that girls participate in more vigorous physical activity when generally separated from boys. Using the For Girls by Girls methodology, created by USTA Mid-Atlantic, the Power Play series provides a comfortable space for young girls to learn, enjoy, and fall in love with tennis. Each Power Play also includes a breakout session that addresses positive body image and self-esteem to help further build confidence and leadership skills that are important both on and off the court.
  2. Coach Mentor Pipeline
    To help grow the number of female leaders involved in community sports initiatives, GRTC fosters mentorship opportunities between certified teaching professionals, community leaders and girls ages 13-18. Girls who have gone through the Power Play series are encouraged to volunteer as peer mentors for young girls just starting in the program to further promote a continuing circle of mentorship opportunities and roles for female athletes. Through the GRTC program, volunteers aim to fuse bonds through the commonality of womanhood. Both women and girls have access to USTA coaches trainings that supplement their roles as mentors and leaders.
  3. Conversation Series
    Continuing the conversation and including the community is an impetus for larger change. The GRTC Conversation Series advances the GRTC’S value to empower the entire tennis community through hosting trainings and events geared toward combating negative social trends and the marginalization of women in sport. The series is open to caregivers, high school and college tennis players, tennis coaches or instructors, community leaders and influencers, program implementers, and anyone else interested in breaking down barriers to female participation in sport.

Existing sports culture has already pushed girls out of sport even before they are able to realize the benefits of sports participation. USTA Mid-Atlantic is changing that culture by inspiring organizations to host GRTC programs of their own! Through the creation of a GRTC grant program, USTA Mid-Atlantic is providing financial support for nonprofit or public organizations seeking to implement the GRTC program and create sports havens in their own communities. Are you ready to steer the conversation and make changes? The deadline for the GRTC grant program is March 31, 2017.