QuickStart Tennis10-and-Under Tennis…

Small Courts, Big BusinessBy: Simon GaleJeff Rothstein

QUICKSTART TENNIS

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SMALL COURTSBIG BUSINESS

The Process• Featured in our summer camp

• Extensive off court and on court training for pro staff

• Evaluated the lessons and decided it was the direction we wanted to follow

• USTA training seminar for ALL staff including desk and management

The Facts• May have lost some players whose

parents were skeptical

• Started 2008/2009 season with 175 Quickstart players

• We currently have over 250 Quickstart players

• Approximately 50% were new players

• Increase 30 minute Tots to 60 minutes, therefore increasing revenue using existing customer base

Implementation

• Adjusted clinic descriptions and levels• USTA partnership• USTA sanctioned

tournaments• EDUCATION of parents

and players• QS demonstration video

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Implementation

• Marketing – new website, flyers, articles for release, promotional nights and parent meetings, QS site registration, schools program

• FREE starter pack – racquet, t-shirt, balls.

• Parent week early in the season

FREE Quickstart Night

Attendance:

135 kids180 parents

6 courts set up:3 courts of 36’2 courts of 60’1 court Pre QS

Development Pyramid

Benefits for the club

• We offer a clear path of development for ALL levels of play – lessons to tournaments for ALL levels• Tournament fees • Increased retention rate• Increased per court revenue• Exposure through the USTA• More motivated teaching professionals

On Court Benefits• No longer “entertaining” young players• Improved focus from players• Lessons more energized – players and pro’s• Players are playing the gameplaying the game• Visually better for parents • Interaction with other courtsInteraction with other courts• Players per court can be increasedPlayers per court can be increased

Teaching vs. Entertaining

• Pro’s must want to teach players• Games such as jail are no

longer needed• Teaching technique for

tactics, not technique then years later tactics

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Teaching vs. Entertaining

• Self motivated players = easier lesson for pro

• Always teaching with the focus on getting them to rally situation

• Lessons have a clear purpose for players

A look ahead….

• Clubs must work together to make the program a success• Long process – Belgium it took 15 years to get the

system into all clubs• Dedicated staff led by a director who believes in the

methodology• Parent education critical to programs success

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Future Champions – 60 foot court

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QuickStart Tennis at

Integrating QuickStart Tennis within a 3 Hour Summer Tennis Camp

• Summer camp student ages: 4 – 18 years old

• Camp run with 10 x 1 week increments

• 60+ players per week with approx. 1/3rd being 4-10 years old

• Outdoor camp utilizes tennis courts & a grass field (for physical skill training)

Integrating QuickStart Tennis within a 3 Hour Summer Tennis Camp

• Players divided into 3 groups based on ability level and age – our group names are Federer, Nadal & Roddick

• All 3 groups have the same rotations (physical skill development, stroke skill development & games/competition). The complexity of the skill development and games/competition are changed based on the skills of the players

• Same format can be used in the afternoon session• This format can be successfully used for most tennis camps or

recreational tennis programs with players of any ability

QuickStart Tennis Camp Schedule for 10 & Under Children (Monday – Friday)

• Dynamic warm-up (full camp group activity)

• Physical skill development that is specific to the age group (movement, running, throwing, ball tracking, rope jumping, etc.)

• Physical skill team games reinforcing the skills that were worked on

QuickStart Tennis Camp Schedule for 10 & Under Children (Monday – Thursday)

• Review of what was learned the previous session• New stroke skills development and a series of drills and

practice elements to develop the skills• Four team games (min.) that reinforce the new skills learned.

Each games is 3-4 minutes long• A piece of starburst candy awarded to winners of each team

game. Every player inevitably wins at least one game (& piece of candy).

QuickStart Tennis Camp Schedule for 10 & Under Children (Monday – Thursday)• Games & Competition – exclusively team-oriented games for 8 and under

players, but 9 & 10 year olds may also play some 1 on 1 games or doubles. It is important for players to learn about competition …. winning and losing.

• Make it fun, but follow the rules of the game!• Our version of the French Open - Place a 18 ft. net on the clay or dirt

infield of a baseball field and use a stick to mark the court lines. Use throw down lines to make viewing the lines easier.

• Our version of Wimbledon - Place a 18 ft. net on a grass infield or outfield. Use throw down lines. It is best to play on short or freshly cut grass.

• Kids learn about the differences in playing on various court surfaces • Final team game - Divide the full camp into 2 teams and play a team

game (knock-out) that utilizes balls that are age specific for kids 10 and under. Winning team gets a simple prize (piece of candy).

QuickStart 10 & Under Tennis Camp Schedule for Davis Cup Competition

(Friday)• Dynamic warm-up (full camp group activity)

• Physical skill team games that are specific to the age group (movement, running, throwing, ball tracking, rope jumping, etc.)

• About 15 physical skill team games are played. A point is scored for each team game victory

• Stroke skill team games played including consistency and accuracy for forehand, backhand, serve, volley and overhead shots

• About 10 team stroke skill games played and points scored for each team victory

QuickStart 10 & Under Tennis Camp Schedule for Davis Cup Competition

(Friday)• Games & Competition – primarily team-oriented games for 8 and

under and 10 and under kids, i.e. team singles, knock-out, serving for accuracy, hitting to targets, etc.

• About 8 team games played and points scored for each team victory.

• Final full-camp team game that determines the winner of the Davis Cup Competition. Low compression balls utilized for kids 10 and under. QST kids get an extra out. Winning team gets a simple prize (piece of candy).

• Trophies awarded weekly to “Campers of the Week” and “Most Improved Players” in all 3 player groups.

“Parent & Player Feedback”

• Enjoyed participating in a wide variety of daily activities making the camp fresh & exciting

• Enjoyed the team format. Easy to build friendships and build self-confidence

• Player skills improved quicker than anticipated• Players able to play tennis and rally quicker than using

traditional tennis methods• Learned to enjoy competition and learn how to handle losing• Players achieved a real passion for the game • Enjoyed participating in daily activities with the older players.

This motivated them to work hard

Camp Benefits since QuickStart Tennis Play Format

• Camper interest and focus held longer with QuickStart (easier on students & staff)

• Parents signed up for additional weeks of camp due to player enjoyment and high level of achievement - $$$

• Players sign-up rate for indoor tennis program increased• Many families plan to sign-up their kids for additional weeks of

camp next summer - $$$• Positive word of mouth by parents and players brought in several

new campers - $$$• Can put more players on QuickStart 36 ft courts - $$$• Will add USTA-sanctioned QST Tournaments and round robin

competitions in 2009 - $$$

Suggestions for a Successful QuickStart Program

• Have staff participate in USTA QuickStart training• Utilize all QuickStart age-appropriate components (racquet size, ball

type, court size, net height & scoring system)• Use the appropriate teacher to student ratio/supervision• Find instructors that can relate to the kids and help to make tennis fun• Develop practice plans that maximize the physical skill & tennis skill

development and make the sessions fun • QuickStart is new. Educate parents on its benefits and the age-

appropriate components that are used.• Offer intra-club QuickStart round robin competition to enable the

players to practice the skills that they’ve learned.