Choosing a Summer Tennis Camp for Your Teen

By Stephen Daniels

Tennis stars don't just happen: their success is the result of years of hard work that starts at a young age. Teen players who show a natural talent for the sport benefit from coaching at an early age. Not only do they learn the fundamentals of the sport, but coaching and preparation teaches them the concepts of practice and focus they will need to excel at the sport.

If your son or daughter is a budding professional athlete, you might want to consider sending him/her to a tennis summer camp this year. Many young people enjoy going to summer camps that are focused on something that they are passionate about; not only does it ensure that they will be challenged and enjoy themselves every day, but they will also enjoy the camaraderie of being around others their own age with the same interests.

Summer tennis camps can either be overnight or day programs. There is no right choice between the two -- only a choice that is right for you and your teen. Overnight programs will be more immersive experiences, but will require your teen to stay away from home for up to a few weeks. Day programs are frequently less expensive but might offer less individual instruction per day.

If you are thinking about an overnight tennis camp for your son or daughter, you'll want to consider elements outside of the sport. Even the most serious youth player can get burned out from playing tennis for hours every day. Check and see what other types of activities are offered. Do players get to take a break and do other fun activities like hiking, camping or evening social dances? You want the experience to be fun for your teen in addition to improving their game.

Don't be afraid to ask questions of the camp staff. Find out what age groups the students are paired with, and if there will be other players at their age and skill level. If your son or daughter needs extra instruction in certain elements of tennis, make sure the staff know about that and can give them the type of one-on-one attention they need. You can also find out what types of surfaces the facility uses for its courts -- tennis camps for teens can be a great chance to expose younger players to surfaces such as grass and clay for the first time.

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