2012 USTA Jr. Team Tennis QuickStart 10 & Under Division and Stars Division (Grade 5). (L-R, back) Ethan Deneweth, Will Ramberg, Seth Kemp, Leif Anderson, Josh Prom, Ryan Bilben, Vaughn Swindlehurst and Noah Furcht. (L-R, middle) Alyssa Spry, Adam Dorr, Sophie Eliasen, Elsa Lunde, Reilly Wahlers and Luke Johnson. (L-R, front) Jessica MacCudden, Halle Lamb, Saira Smith, Louise Ramberg, Hazel Kemp, Malin Anderson and Silas Sobanja. Not pictured: Riley Tarver, Abbey Stoddard, Emma James, Abbie Crawford, Tate Crawford, Sylvia Berka, Jonathan Huskey, Ole Sorensen, Jayden Grivette and Tristen Bockovich.
This spring 80-plus boys and girls, ages 5 – 16, participated in the 5-week 2012 USTA Junior 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; Stars Division (Grade 5) and Stripes Division (Middle School/High School girls). Fifty-one junior players participated in the QuickStart divisions while 28-plus participated in the Stars and Stripes divisions.
QuickStart Tennis is an exciting new play format for kids ages 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.
2012 USTA Jr.Team Tennis – QuickStart 8 & Under Division: (L-R, back) Tanner Berglund, Anna Heeren, Jacob Dorr, Jonah Schmidt, Anna Hay, Amy Carpenter and Isaac Sandstrom. (L-R, middle) Jack Corwin, Derek Smith, Paul Dorr, Tucker Foley Bakko, Nate Bilben, Brayden Schmidt, Riley Goettl and RaeAnne Silence. (L-R, front) Amery Oberg, Andrew Hallberg, Trinity Rude, Katie Carpenter, Kamryn Johnson, Weston Heeren, Alessandra Duclos and Martine Redshaw. Not pictured: Sienna Deneweth, Jules Deneweth, Ray Dressely, Flynn Callender, Ella Hedstrom, Cayden Zimmer, Greta Roth, Fiona Walton and Charlet Waver.
For players 8 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 inches 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 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.
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. The three new public tennis courts in Grand Marais have narrow QuickStart Tennis lines painted on them, in a light blue color.
2012 USTA Jr. Team Tennis Stripes (MS/HS girls) Division – (L-R, back) Alicia Smith, Lauren Thompson, Alyssa Martinson and Wellesley Howard-Larsen. (L-R, front) Molly Sietsema, Emily Fincel, Marin Hay and Molly Thomas. Not pictured: Brenna Hay, Zoey Anderson, Madysen McKeever and Melanie Smith.
Each division met twice a week for instruction and activities and drills. The main tennis instructors were John Muus, Paul Muus, Scott Bergstrom, and Tim Scannell. Some of the varsity boy players volunteered their services on Wednesdays to help out with the 10 & Under QuickStart Tennis Division and Stars Division. All of the junior players received T-shirts 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 19. For more information, contact John Muus at (218) 387-2198 or jcmuus@boreal.org. Registration forms are available at the MS/HS office, in Grand Marais, or online at www.cookcountytennis.org. Contact Tim Scannell at 218-370-0830 or scannell@boreal.org if you’re interested in the Stars & Stripes (Gr. 7-12) sessions.
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