How can I gain a better sense if the Academy would be a good fit for my child?
We have an online tool specifically designed to assist you with this. If you go to our Academy Evaluator and provide basic information, the tool will offer real-time feedback about whether the Academy would be a good fit for your player. You can then request further details as well as speak with the Academy Director to determine if your player would do well in our program.
This is a common struggle for many players and parents, and something we pride ourselves on addressing with each and every individual player at the Academy. Unlike other programs, the Academy is specifically designed to allow the necessary individualized and customized training for every player to advance their game in the most productive way. To accomplish this, the Academy Director and his staff constantly monitor all players and training activities and make continuous adjustments on a daily basis for the benefit of each of the players on court. There is also an open dialogue between parents and the Director so that feedback can be obtained and utilized to enhance training activities for various players. The Academy prides itself on making every possible effort to provide the proper training environment for each player so that they will have the best opportunity to improve.
The Academy is designed for children who are already accomplished tennis players or have a strong desire to become competitive players and demonstrate strong athletic ability. It is not necessary for younger players, and players with limited previous tennis experience to possess all the necessary skills for competition when applying. But they should have good athletic ability and a desire to become a competitive player. If so, the Academy would be an excellent fit for them. If your child has not yet developed a desire for competition and/or has not yet demonstrated strong athletic ability, we encourage you to consider our pre-Academy programs offered at various times during the school year. These programs are designed for younger players requiring additional skills before they would be ready to join the Academy. If you're not sure about your child, contact the Academy Director. He will gladly discuss what would be the best tennis program for your child.
My child has not done well in competition or has not had much competitive experience. How do I know if he/she is a good candidate for the Academy and will enjoy the experience?
Although rankings and competitive success certainly are important, they are not the only items to consider when determining if a player would be a good fit and would enjoy success in the Academy. For our younger players, they may not have begun competitive play. At the same time, it is very common for players who ultimately achieve very strong competitive success in older age groups to sometimes take longer to develop. To be a good candidate for the Academy, the player must first express a strong desire to work hard, improve, and compete. Assuming they have this attitude, if they have reasonably strong athletic skills and the desire and discipline to improve their game, they will have success and will have a great time. We encourage you to submit an application and allow the Academy Director an opportunity to evaluate your child and give honest feedback about their potential for success, and how best to include them in the program.
My child has very unique athletic gifts that requires special attention. Can you work with him/her?
Yes. The Academy Director has worked with a number of athletically gifted players that require special attention and will work with you to design a training program that best fits what the child requires in order to develop their game.
What if my child has worked with other coaches or has trained at other tennis facilities?
We build an individualized training plan based on the current skill level a player has already developed in order to enhance current technical abilities and introduce new skill sets. In this process, we welcome a previous coach's recommendations and suggestions, and in turn will provide similar feedback if a player is planning to return to another coach or tennis facility.
What if my child is uncomfortable making changes to their current skill sets, technical abilities, and/or tactical approaches to their game?
Depending on the length of time the player will be at the Academy, we will recommend a training plan that will provide the most benefit for the player, while providing the player with the most confidence in their game. This is accomplished with the input and consultation of the player and parents. Wherever possible, we seek to enhance the player's current skills without re-building core technique. However, when we do see a need to make modifications we will always speak with the player and parents in advance, educate them on the reasoning for the modifications, and make a final determination on best training course of action. Although many players come to the Academy with strong skill sets, most require more and better technical tools and weapons in order to successfully bring their game to higher levels of competition. Those players who are most eager to expand their game, incorporate new training techniques, and work hard to adjust and improve their current technique are typically the ones who have success at the highest tournament levels.
What is entailed during the evaluation process once an application is submitted?
This depends on whether we know the player and/or have evaluated their skills sets in the past. In some cases the player information submitted is sufficient for us to make a determination about their ability to succeed in the Academy. In other situations, a conversation with the player and/or player's parents as well as an on-court evaluation may be appropriate. This can be a very important part of the evaluation process for both the Academy and the player and parent - as it enables the Academy Director to see first-hand the tennis and athletic skills the player possesses, while getting to know the personality of the player. At the same time, the player and parent have an opportunity to get to know the Academy Director, ask questions, and determine if the Academy is a good fit for them. The Academy Director will contact the parents when a conversation and/or on-court evaluation is appropriate.
What if I do not have the resources to afford the Academy fees?
The Academy does have Scholarship funds available for gifted young athletes that demonstrate strong potential to excel at higher competitive levels. Contact the Academy Director for more information.
Does the Academy use the USTA QuickStart tennis balls and equipment for training and competitive play?
Yes. We find the QuickStart tennis balls and equipment very useful when designing various training activities for our players. And for our younger players, we have practice time with QuickStart equipment so they will be prepared to compete in tournaments utilizing specific balls. However, we do not follow a rigid training plan where all players in certain age groups will only train with certain QuickStart balls. Instead, we determine on a case-by-case basis, what training method and type of equipment will best benefit each player.
My child wants to be with a friend, is this possible?
Our first priority with all players is that they have the greatest opportunity to improve their competitive performance while having a great time in the program. All things being equal with players' opportunities to improve their skills, friends may certainly remain together in similar training groups. However, we cannot guarantee that this will be the case in all circumstances. There are always opportunities for friends to share time together during non-tennis time including; breaks, lunch time, off court training and education, non-tennis activities, and special events.
My child wants to be with children their own age and/or gender, is this possible?
As previously stated, our first priority with all players is that they have the greatest opportunity to improve their competitive performance while having a great time in the program. Similar to requesting to be with friends, we will make every effort to place players with others of similar age and gender. However, we cannot guarantee that we can accomplish this in all circumstances. There are always opportunities for children of similar age and gender to share time together during non-tennis time including; breaks, lunch time, off court training and education, non-tennis activities, and special events.
Players should come dressed to play. This should include comfortable athletic wear to match typical summer weather conditions including; short sleeve shirt, shorts or skirts for girls, and warm-ups for cooler days. For safety reasons all players must have athletic socks and tennis shoes. Any other footwear and bare feet are not allowed on the tennis playing surface. For off court training, running shoes are also strongly recommended. Players should also have a tennis racquet that is appropriately sized to their age, strength and ability. For full day players not purchasing lunch, they should bring a bag lunch. Water is available at the program. Sports drinks and snacks are also available for purchase so that players can stay hydrated and refreshed throughout the day. For days that are forecasted to be very warm and sunny, players should arrive with appropriate sunscreen already applied, plus extra amounts that can be applied during the day. Multiple sets of clothing are also recommended so that players can remain dry and comfortable during the course of the day. Sun visors, hats, and caps are also strongly recommended.
What happens on rain or extreme heat days?
We utilize the college's indoor facilities when necessary to give our players a break from extreme heat, but on-court training will continue. When indoors, we provide tennis education training sessions, fitness training sessions, and related fun activities. As the majority of our customized training needs to happen on court, players may elect to switch training days/sessions when rain interferes with our training schedule.
May I or other visitors watch my child and the other players while training is taking place?
Parents are welcome to visit and observe. However, players can sometimes be distracted by their parents' presence...or other visitors observing training activities. For this reason, we ask that you limit your observation time during the course of the week. We further ask that you contact the Academy Director in advance so that he may suggest the most productive time(s) to visit in order to observe your child. Note, there are events and activities typically scheduled that we invite parents to attend. In this way, parents can observe their child's progress in a comfortable setting while also having an opportunity to engage in learning activities as well as on court and off court training activities with their child.
May outside coaches or other spectators come to observe?
Our first priority is the ongoing training taking place for our players, without interruption or distraction. We also are required at all times to know who is on the facility campus. Thus, we require that all visitors refrain from visiting the Academy unannounced. If you wish to visit the Academy, please contact the Academy Director in advance so that an appropriate time may be scheduled.
Can I add, eliminate, or change training days/sessions before or during the Academy season?
To enable all players to gain the most tennis benefit, the Academy does set limits on the number of players it will accept for each training session. You may add training days/sessions as long as space is available, but spaces fill quickly. Changing training days/sessions is only possible if space allows. Please see the registration information for all policies regarding finances, changing sessions, and cancellations.
Can I change my schedule once the Academy week has commenced?
With activities and staffing plans established in advance, adjusting a player's schedule while the week is in progress is generally not possible. Only in unusual circumstances would adjustments be allowed, with the approval of the Academy Director.
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