Ultimate Tennis Camp
Ultimate Tennis Camp (UTC)
was a concept started in 1995 at a small
facility called The Heritage Swim and Tennis
club in Concord, Massachusetts.
The camp was run for two years at that
location before moving to it's present position
at Nagog Woods in Acton.
Concept UTC
begins and ends with one simple premise:
to have fun. Although that seems obvious,
it is not always the case when a beginning or
intermediate level player is practicing hitting
backhands in the hot, summer sun.
Unfortunately, the reality is that for many
players, they become bored.
At UTC, the kids are motivated in two unique ways. First, when players succeed
at an activity by either hitting a cone or making a basket, they receive points. These points are
then used to buy things such as cans of tennis balls, water bottles, soda/juice, etc. Because of
how the camp is structured and handicapped, ALL of the campers
no matter what their level, will earn enough points to make purchases.
The second
motivator is the types of activities that
the kids engage in. For example, in the
UTC game, "Jungle Tennis", kids are divided into
two teams in which they try to hit the ball
back and forth over the net. The point
doesn't end until the ball ceases to
bounce. This is by far the most requested
camp activity.
Why is this exercise so
productive? For those kids who may have difficulty simply making
contact, a week of this can help change that. If the players are
stronger, intermediate players, he or she quickly learns that slugging
the ball hard doesn't always win the point.
Points & Prizes
At the conclusion of camp, players are then given the remainder of their points
in the form of play money called "Marcus Money." Campers can go online and use
those dollars to purchase everything from water bottles and spray fans to
American Girl dolls and Xbox games. A list of the prizes can be found by
clicking here.
Do the kids become better tennis
players? Absolutely. Although kids do not play a full tennis
game, during the line drill exercises, players receive general instruction
on the proper form and technique of all their strokes.
Additionally, when the player has a target, he or she is constantly working
on the accuracy of the shot. Via these instruments, kids improve their
stroke production, increase their precision, and above all, have a great time.
Age and Skill Level
UTC is generally for boys and girls seven and up. As for level, kids are separated onto
different courts relative to their age and skill level, enabling a
younger, less skilled player to have as good a chance to win as an older
participant. Even if your child has never held a racquet before, this is a
fantastic medium in which to start them. Only players holding rankings
in the USTA (United States Tennis Association) are prohibited from
participating due to level restrictions. If you have a child who you feel is too advanced for this
camp and would be interested in more match play, then you may be interested in our Junior Training Camp.
UTC will run during the following weeks of 2009.
Registration will open on February 1st:
June 22-June 26
June 29-July 3
July 6-10 July 13-17
July 20-24
July 27-Jul 31 Aug
3-7 Aug 10-14 Aug 17-21
Cost: $25 annual registration fee
(covers all family members) + $235/week
Time:
10:00am-1:00pm
If you are not paying for the camp in full, then
please send the registration fee plus 50% of the cost.
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