Lee County Junior Tennis News
Rec. Coach Workshop, Junior Team Tennis & Ralleyball Served Up
The Lee County Community Tennis Association kicked off spring tennis season with coaches' workshop featuring QuickStart tennis, and junior tennis programs are underway.
Twenty-two (22) participants, several of whom had attended previous Recreational Coaches Workshops (RCW) and were already certified, attended the most recent Lee County Community Tennis Association’s (LCCTA) RCW held at the Paseo tennis facility in Fort Myers on Saturday, March 8. Making this RCW special was the introduction of the USTA’s QuickStart Tennis format, which was officially launched on February 29 with the help of tennis greats Martina Navratilova and Mary Joe Fernandez.
Coaches Learn QuickStart Tennis Techniques
Using equipment appropriate for QuickStart Tennis, USTA National Trainer, Susan Allshouse, demonstrated teaching techniques and put the newly certified and veteran coaches through a number of drills and exercises designed to promote fun learning. Asked about his experience at the RCW, David Bavaria, one of the newly certified coaches, responded, “I thought it was pretty good. It taught a lot about instruction for youth primarily, a lot of good games, a lot about ways to set up courts without actually having courts…a lot of good techniques.”
Corie Williams, a physical education teacher for Kindergarten-through-eighth-grade at Community Christian School in Labelle, said that she planned to introduce QuickStart to about 80 students. She summed up her experience by saying, “I thought it was very educational. I’m not a very avid tennis player so I learned a lot myself.” Asked if she thought the format would be fun for her kids, she responded, “Absolutely!”
LCCTA Seeking More Coaches
In addition to new teaching techniques, RCW participants received literature on the USTA QuickStart program, including teaching manuals and a CD with games and drills. Reaching out to tennis aficionados after the event, LCCTA Executive Director Claudia Hudson announced, "We have coaching positions available throughout Lee County, and we would like to encourage you to consider submitting an application."
Ralleyball & Junior Team Tennis Kickoff
Elements of the QuickStart format are likely to be incorporated into the Ralleyball season that begins today, March 17, at multiple sites in Lee County. Ralleyball players who learn to score, to serve and rally from the baseline will be eligible to play Junior Team Tennis (JTT) this summer. The JTT spring regular season got underway Saturday, March 15 and will conclude on April 19, with the sectional tournament in Orlando on May 3 and 4.
Junior Team Tennis Early Success
All in attendance at the initial Junior Team Tennis match between Judd Park and the consolidated team of Three Oaks /Fort Myers Racquet Club on Saturday experienced JTT at its best. According to Area Tennis Director, Andrea Nelson, “kids, family, and friends had a fantastic time at their first match…Three Oaks /FMRC beat Judd Park 3 -1 taking the #1 and #2 Singles and #1 Doubles. Judd Park won the #2 Doubles. Although there were four official matches, a total of nine matches were played until we all burned out with the last match ending in a double forfeit as both players had run out of gas.”
Register Now
Players can still register for the current Ralleyball and Junior Team Tennis seasons by calling 239-565-5300 or by emailing RalleyballCoordinator@lccta.com.
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