Spring USTA Jr. Team Tennis – Quick Start 8 & Under Division: (L-R, back) Josh Prom, Ethan Sporn, Will Ramberg, Leif Anderson, Cameron Roy, Seth Kemp, Connor Somnis, Skyler Wilson, Jayden Grivette, Dillon Sjogren and Reilly Wahlers. (L-R, middle) Chase Gwash, Adam Dorr, Vaughn Swindlehurst, Hazel Kemp, Louise Ramberg, Halle Lamb, and Chloe Blackburn. (L-R, front) Shelby Sjogren, Hazel Oberholtzer, Malin Anderson, Olivia Works, Molly LaVigne, Abbey Stoddard, Sophie Eliasen and Claire LaVigne. (Not pictured: Levi Sheils, Lucas Sheils, and Tristen Bockovich).
This spring 56 boys and girls, ages 5 – 15, participated in the five-week 2009 USTA Jr. Team Tennis program. Teams, or groups, were organized by matching players of similar age and ability. Players practiced and competed in one of four divisions, QuickStart Tennis 8 & Under Division; QuickStart Tennis 10 & Under Division; 18 & Under Stars Division; and 18 & Under Stripes Division. Forty-two junior players participated in the QuickStart divisions while fourteen participated in the Stars and Stripes divisions.
QuickStart Tennis is an exciting new play format, for kids age 10-and-under, being promoted nationwide by the United States Tennis Association (USTA). This new play format for learning tennis is designed to bring kids into the game by utilizing specialized equipment, shorter court dimensions and modified scoring, all tailored to age and size. It is divided into two different levels, ages 8 and under and ages 10 and under.
For those players eight and younger, the size of the court is 36′ x 18′. The set-up divides a standard size court into several smaller courts, using the standard-size court’s doubles sidelines as baselines. This modification makes it possible to fit more players onto a single court. Racquets are up to 23″ in size, so that every child can easily handle the equipment. The ball, either foam or very low compression, bounces lower and travels slower. The net height is 2’9″, making it easier for each child to rally. For children age 10 and younger, the size of the court is 60′ x 21′ (60′ x 27′ for doubles). The racquets are up to 25″ in size. The low compression ball used travels a little faster and farther than the foam ball, but still has a lower bounce and travels slower than a regulation ball.
Spring USTA Jr. Team Tennis – Stars Division: (L to R, back) Shannon O’Phelan, Audrey Summers and Skye Gubrud. (L to R, kneeling) Will Seaton and Dylan Works. Missing from the picture was: Austen Graham
QuickStart Tennis is fast, easy and fun and it offers a great way for parents to get involved in their child’s activities. Scaling the game down to their size helps make the learning process easier and a lot more fun for the players. More than 1,000 tennis sites, including Grand Marais, have begun implementing the QuickStart Tennis format into their 10-and-under programming and the USTA has made this format an integral part of their co-ed recreation Jr. Team Tennis league and its tournaments.
Spring USTA Jr. Team Tennis – Quick Start 10 & Under Division: (L to R, back) David Blackburn, Riley Somnis, Abby Prom, Jackson Fenner, Alyssa Martinson, and Wellesley Howard-Larsen. (L to R, front) Andy Kern, Isak Terrill, Noah Works, Caleb Phillips, and Sera Gubrud. (Not pictured: Sam O’Phelan, John Ray Mendivil and Natasha Sheils).
The Stars Division (ages 18 & under) included players who were at a beginner to advanced beginner skill level, while the Stripes Division (ages 18 & under) players were at intermediate to advanced skill level.
Each division met twice a week for instruction and game-type activities and drills. The main tennis instructors were John Muus, Paul Muus, Scott Bergstrom and Kathy Bolstad, and ninth grader Molly Zafft assisted with the younger players. All of the junior players received t-shirts, trophies and Dairy Queen treats for participating in the program.
All youth now have an opportunity to sign up and participate in the summer National Junior Tennis League program, which begins June 16th. For more information, contact John Muus at (218) 387-2198 or jcmuus@boreal. org. Registration forms are available at the school offices in Grand Marais or online at www.cookcountytennis.org.
Spring USTA Jr. Team Tennis – Stripes Division: (L-R, back row) Molly Zafft, Collin Berglund, Justin Goldstein and Daniel Ahrendt (L-R, front) Jamie Wick, Sean MacDonell and Pete Summers. Missing from the picture was David Bergstrom.
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