Coastal Quick Tennis: CQT News
Coastal Quick Tennis makes game accessible to youngsters
By GEORGE AUSTIN
Editor, The Spectator
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Thursday, August 5
QuickStart Tennis comes to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2010
NEWPORT, R.I. – QuickStart Tennis, the easiest and most up-to-date method for teaching 5-10 year olds to play, is coming to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. QuickStart camps will be offered in morning or afternoon sessions, and will run Mondays through Thursdays for two hours each.
“We are very pleased to add QuickStart to our lineup of tennis programs,” said Doug Browne, Director of Tennis at the International Tennis Hall of Fame. “QuickStart is a fast and fun way to get kids playing tennis and to keep them playing.”
QuickStart Tennis, a teaching format endorsed by the United States Tennis Association, is an exciting new play format for learning tennis, designed to bring kids into the game by utilizing specialized equipment, shorter court dimensions and modified scoring. There will be two different levels offered-- ages 8 and under and ages 10 and under.
The camps will be conducted by Coastal Quick Tennis, operated by Doug Chapman and Sandy Sweet, both members of the USTA Rhode Island Board of Directors. Mr. Chapman is one of the most successful tennis coaches in Massachusetts scholastic history during his 32-year tenure at Somerset and has been a USTA National Recreation Coaches Workshop Trainer. Mrs. Sweet runs the award-winning South County Community Tennis Association and is also a member of the USTA New England Board of Directors.
“We in Player Development believe that not only does the QuickStart Tennis play format offer our young players a fun, safe and sensible way to start playing the game; it also accelerates skill development and enhances the competitive experience for young children,” said Patrick McEnroe, USTA general manager of player development. “We view the game of tennis as being played in a sequence comprised of three distinct, yet interrelated components: 1) the eyes and mind, 2) followed by the feet, 3) followed by the hands. Eyes and mind refer to ball recognition and shot selection; feet refer to footwork, movement and balance, and hands represent the player’s grips and stroke production. The QuickStart Tennis play format enhances the development of all three competencies.”
For additional information on the QuickStart camps at the International Tennis Hall of Fame, go to www.CQTENNIS.com or email info@cqtennis.com.
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Thursday, August 26
ITF Approves Rule Change for 10-And-Under Tennis
More than 260 delegates, partners and staff attended the International Tennis Federation’s 2010 Annual General Meeting this week, held in Washington, D.C., and hosted by the USTA.
Among the initiatives approved by the ITF membership was a rule change for all 10-and-under competition that will mandate modified courts and the use of slower balls as part of the ITF’s Tennis 10s campaign. The purpose of this change is to increase participation among the 10-and-under age group as part of the wider “Tennis… Play and Stay Initiative.”
The rule will go into effect in January 2012. The use of regular balls and a full-sized court will no longer be permitted in 10-and-under competition, and instead a slower red, orange or green ball must be used on one of three court sizes.
"This is a great step forward for tennis and I thank the ITF AGM for their support of this important initiative," said ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti. "'Tennis 10s' will improve the way we introduce tennis to young players and follows similar changes made in other sports such as ‘mini soccer’ and Little League Baseball."
"We applaud today’s decision and have supported the ITF throughout this process," said Lucy S. Garvin, Chairman of the Board and President, USTA. "We’re very excited about what this change means for the future of tennis."
Tennis 10s is similar to the USTA’s 10 and Under Tennis initiative, which embraces the tools of the QuickStart Tennis play format—with its smaller courts, slower-moving and lower-bouncing balls, and smaller and lighter racquets—to make tennis more accessible for children 10 and under.
Also at the ITF meeting, changes to the rules of Davis Cup and Fed Cup and amendments to the ITF Constitution were passed by the assembly. Included is a change of regulation for the Fed Cup final, similar to the rule for Davis Cup, that requires the final be staged in a capital or major city of the host country with an accessible international airport.
Twelve people were honored with awards for “Services to the Game”: Larisa Savchenko (LAT), Ai Sugiyama (JPN), Dr. Raymond Forde (BAR), Chuka Momah (NGR), Dan Santorum (USA), Henrik Klitvad (DEN), Dr. John Fraser OAM (AUS), David Howman (NZL), Franz Liautaud (HAI), Tian Tian Sun (CHN), Rene Collins (CAN) and Louis Cayer (CAN), a special nomination by the Coaches Commission.
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Friday, August 13
QuickStart Tennis part of the USTA's fan enhancement at 2010 US Open
Wednesday, August 4
QuickStart Tennis Comes to the White House, USTA joins Let's Move Initiative
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President Obama with Sam Querrey and Bob and Mike Bryan at the QuickStart clinic on the South Lawn.
© Max Cook
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But towards the end of the clinic, the morning became even better and offered another once in a lifetime opportunity: They got to meet and shake hands with President Barack Obama.
President Obama, a tennis player himself, greeted the children, who were extremely excited to see him and he told them he came to see their great form.
"It is good to see you guys!" President Obama also called to the children.
The meeting with President Obama capped what was already a tremendously successful afternoon of tennis at the White House on Tuesday, August 3. The clinic, featuring the QuickStart play format, was part of the South Lawn Series, a summer-long series of events that brings local children, sports leagues and community programs to the South Lawn in support of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative to fight childhood obesity.
"It is a thrill to be here on the grounds of the White House to showcase tennis and the QuickStart format. Our new teaching method makes it much easier for younger children to play tennis," said USTA Chairman of the Board and President Lucy S. Garvin. "We know that the First Family (President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha) are four of the 30 million people who play tennis and that is a great thing for us. By continuing to work with great programs such as Let’s Move! and by ensuring access to our sport in all local communities, we will continue to grow this game."
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President Barack Obama talks with kids attending a Let's Move tennis clinic on the South Lawn of the White House, Aug. 3, 2010.
© Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
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On the South Lawn, eight 36’ QuickStart courts were set up with the children rotating from court to court with different coaches to practice different drills and tennis activities – including hitting with Querrey and the Bryans – who were impressed with all the young players and praised the QuickStart play format as a great way for kids to learn.
"I think QuickStart is a great way to start tennis. It is easy for kids to play and pick up a racquet and feel good. With a small racquet in their hand, a soft ball and a ball that really goes through the air, it is good for kids to start like this."
The Bryan brothers, fresh off winning their record-setting 62nd career doubles title at the Farmers Classic in Los Angeles last week, took their doubles game to the QuickStart courts this time. They hit balls with many young doubles teams, with a few players able to hit the foam ball past them.
"Nice shot!" Mike Bryan called to one little girl and flashed her the thumbs up sign. Bob added to another pair of young boys, "You got us!"
Ellie Kimmelman, 11, of Washington, D.C., had a successful doubles match with the Bryans and had the honor of shaking hands with President Obama.
"It was a lot of fun," she said of the clinic. "It was nice to have the brothers here, I have watched them on television for years. I was like hyperventilating (when she saw the President). It was really nice to shake his hand."
Activities at other stations ranged from rallying over the net, to doing drills, and one group stood in a circle and hit the foam ball from person to person to keep it from hitting the ground.
And on another court, Querrey, who captured the singles title at the Farmers Classic last week, bounced koosh balls back and forth on racquets with varying young partners. Playing with one young player, the two moved farther apart, tossing the koosh ball back and forth with their racquets until the ball dropped and then they started again close together.
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President Obama greets young tennis players at the White House.
© Max Cook
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It was Querrey’s first trip to the White House and he enjoyed playing on the small courts with the children. He thinks QuickStart is a great way for children to learn how to play tennis – and wishes he could have learned with smaller equipment.
"Definitely I wish there was QuickStart when I was a kid," he said. "I just started on a regular tennis court trying to hit the ball as hard as I could when I was about two feet tall so it is nice to have a scaled down version.
"The kids got the hang of it (tossing the koosh balls) and they caught on quickly," he added. "It is pretty special (being at the White House). I have never been here before so it is fun to come on the grounds."
The kids all appreciated the great feedback they received from the players and the vote of encouragement for tennis from President Obama, including Alex Miller, 10, of Maryland.
The Bryans and Querrey then played a triples match against a few lucky children with their father, Wayne Bryan, announcing the mini-event. The professionals just squeaked out the first-to-five-points match, winning 5-4. Mike Bryan then asked the young girl on the other team if she was interested in playing mixed doubles at the US Open. However, she declined.
But overall, it was a winning afternoon for the game of tennis as everyone had a tremendous amount of fun and a lot of young talent was on display.
"There is talent here. The kids just have to be exposed at a young age," Mike Bryan said.
Tuesday, April 6
Certified Regional Training Centers ages 8-12, USTA Player Development
One of the goals of USTA Player Development is the establishment of a network of Certified Regional Training Centers to enhance the training and development of our most promising young talent—especially those players ages 8-12. The network is based on a three-way partnership between USTA Player Development, our country’s best coaches and our sections.
A critical component behind the success of this goal is the recruitment and retention of America’s best young athletes, which brings us to the vital importance of the QuickStart Tennis play format and its continued success. USTA Player Development fully supports the QuickStart Tennis Initiative as a play format and as the right way for children ages 6-10 to play and learn the game of tennis. The QuickStart Tennis play format will introduce tennis to players at a young age, allowing them to rally and play right away and develop a bond with tennis that will keep them involved in the sport for life. In turn, that increased level of interest and participation gives us in Player Development a unique opportunity to recruit, retain and develop these promising young athletes.
We in Player Development believe that not only does the QuickStart Tennis play format offer our young players a fun, safe and sensible way to start playing the game; it also accelerates skill development and enhances the competitive experience for young children. We have proudly supported the fine team of QuickStart Tennis innovators working in Community Tennis by spearheading rule changes in 8-and-under and 10-and-under competitive play formats. These rule changes will provide competitive scenarios that include non-elimination play formats to encourage children of all levels to compete in a welcoming environment—one which emphasizes enjoyment and play.
In Player Development, we view the game of tennis as being played in a sequence comprised of three distinct, yet interrelated components:
1) the eyes and mind
2) followed by the feet
3) followed by the hands
Eyes and mind refer to ball recognition and shot selection; feet refer to footwork, movement and balance, and hands represent the player’s grips and stroke production.
The QuickStart Tennis play format enhances the development of all three competencies through the following:
· The smaller court and slower- and lower-bouncing ball give young children the time they need to track the ball and recognize opportunities and choices in their shot selection.
· The slower- and lower-bouncing ball and smaller court also give young players the time to move with balance, recover, change direction and move in all directions on the court. This re-enforces an all-court game and rewards net play.
· The height of the bounce and the age-appropriate weight and length of the racquets enable the players to maintain the appropriate grips and swing paths that re-enforce an all-court game and reduce the risk of injury.
In addition, the undocumented competition, shortened matches and non-elimination play formats such as compass draws, round robins and team play championed by the QuickStart Tennis Initiative make tennis fun and rewarding, contributing to children’s enjoyment of competitive opportunities by reducing the discouraging effects that losing in the first round and finishing last have on many newcomers to our game.
QuickStart Tennis is the ideal play format for players ages 6-10. To ensure its sustained success, we will continue to work actively with Community Tennis to dramatically increase the talent pool of great young American athletes in years to come!
Sincerely, Patrick McEnroe
General Manager - USTA Player Development
