4. 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
5. 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
6. Implementation
• Adjusted clinic
descriptions and levels
• USTA partnership
• USTA sanctioned
tournaments
• EDUCATION of parents
and players
• QS demonstration video
7. 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
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8. FREEQuickstart Night
Attendance:
135 kids
180 parents
6 courts set up:
3 courts of 36’
2 courts of 60’
1 court Pre QS
10. 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
11. On Court Benefits
• No longer “entertaining” young players
• Improved focus from players
• Lessons more energized – players and pro’s
• Players are playing the game
• Visually better for parents
• Interaction with other courts
• Players per court can be increased
12. 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
13. 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
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14. 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
18. 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)
19. 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
20. 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
21. 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).
22. 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).
23. 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
24. 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.
25. “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
26. 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 - $$$
27. 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.
