The goal is to learn how to conquer the opponent while still having fun.
Approximately 50 area youngsters, generally ranging in age from 5 to 16, have visited the Cherry Hill Health & Racquet Club each week for Tennis Summer Camp since mid-June.
The camp runs through Aug. 31.
According to Coordinator Kevin Schmidt, who is in his third year within the program, the kids acquire many constructive traits for later success.
“It’s going to work on their hand/eye coordination, their foot coordination, their tennis, their confidence, their competiveness,” he explained.
The camp helps them learn to persevere, focus and come back from losses to try conquering their opponents.
“That struggle definitely helps them in the long run,” he explained. “If they’re playing a lot of tennis… They’re getting better, so, therefore, they’re going to feel more comfortable in their tennis game.”
“That helps them mentally because they can get through those struggles and learn how to compete in a positive way,” he added.
In the mornings, the young tennis players will begin with a dynamic warm up and stretching before moving onto drills. Later in the day, they will perform another dynamic warm up, drills, and then play in matches for an hour. From there, they work on their overall fitness and footwork for 30 minutes, which would include leg and arm strength as well as their quickness.
For the last hour, they take a break from tennis with an alternative sport or activity, Schmidt explained.
“We try to still maintain a good relationship with the kids,” he said. “Make sure they have fun.”
Parents can either sign their kids up for half day or full day sessions. Most children bring their own gear, but loaner racquets are available.
To attend from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., the fee is $275 per week. Full day, which runs from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., is $395 per week.
“It’s weekly sign ups,” he said. “You don’t have to commit to a certain amount of weeks.”
The program primarily sees attendance from surrounding areas such as Cherry Hill, Moorestown, Voorhees, Haddonfield and Mt. Laurel.
A special section for kids 10 years of age and younger is run using smaller facilities, age-appropriate racquets and balls that do not bounce as high.
The club has been part of the Cherry Hill community since 1971, with a pro-shop on site, six outdoor tennis courts and an array of other fitness opportunities, including Pilates, yoga, basketball courts and Parisi, which enhances performance in athletics.
According to the club’s website, “Training kids as young as seven, all the way to the pros, the Parisi Speed School improves athletic performance and develops a higher sense of self confidence; a clear advantage in competitive sports and in all aspects of life.”
When summer ends and schools reopen their doors, the club begins hosting tennis group classes. The classes run from the second week of September to the second week of June each year.
Running Mondays through Saturdays, approximately 250 kids join the classes.
Adult classes and private lessons are also held.
“We have any level of tennis players,” Schmidt emphasized.
For more details, visit www.chhrc.com/camp. An information request form is available on the website.
The club’s summer hours are 5:15 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 5:15 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. It is located at 1820 Old Cuthbert Road, Cherry Hill, and directions are available on their website.
To speak with Kevin Schmidt directly with any tennis-related questions, email [email protected] or call (856) 429–1388 ext. 195.
