JUNIOR PROGRAMS
The benefits of tennis are many. It’s a sport that adds years to your life—and life to your years. Getting children into the sport at a young age helps them develop physically, mentally and socially. They learn lessons inside the lines of a tennis court that they can apply to life outside as well. Add to those benefits an environment in which they can share everything with friends and teammates and you’ve got the making of a lifelong tennis advocate.
Idaho Tennis Association supports and promotes junior, high school and collegiate competition throughout the state, including the following programs:
GALILEO INTRAMURALS
IdTA is running an afterschool intramural program on Mondays and Wednesdays from April 5-28 for sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade classes at Galileo Math & Science Magnet School in Eagle. This program provides young players the opportunity to join the action and learn proper technique and strokes from qualified tennis instructors. Through a new format called QuickStart Tennis, kids play and learn right away because the courts, racquets, low-compression balls, scoring system and even the net height are just their size. It’s a great way to meet new friends and develop a passion for tennis from the very first swing. Participants play in the gymnasium on a scale that helps them to succeed and perfect skills that can transition to higher levels of lifetime play. For more information, contact Joey Ward at 322-5150, Ext. 207, or e-mail jward@idtennis.com.
DETAILS:
Grades: 6th, 7th, and 8th
Dates: Mondays and Wednesdays, April 5-28
Times: 3:40-4:40 p.m. (right after school)
Location: Galileo gymnasium
Cost: $35/program (8 sessions total)
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR GALILEO INTRAMURALS
JUNIOR TEAM TENNIS
Junior Team Tennis is the largest youth tennis league in the country, helping girls and boys ages 6 to 18 get in the game, get on the court, and have a good time.
The emphasis of Junior Team Tennis is on skill development, fun, teamwork and friendly competition, all with the possibility of advancing to the national championship.
Idaho Tennis Association hosted the “Area Championships” on July 10-12, 2009, in Boise at Boise Racquet and Swim Club. This team tournament was comprised of junior players from across the state in two age divisions (18-&-under and 14-&-under) and two flights per age division (advanced and intermediate).
In 2009, there were four teams in the 14-&-under intermediate group and the five teams in the 18-&-under intermediate group, with over 70 total participants. (Idaho ranked third in the Intermountain Section in Junior Team Tennis participation.)
HOW DO I ACCESS TENNISLINK AND JOIN THE USTA OR RENEW MY MEMBERSHIP?
The fastest way to become involved in local junior tennis activities is to join the USTA and become familiar with TennisLink the USTA’s secure Web-based communications system. Through TennisLink, you can join or renew your annual membership with USTA, create and register for Junior League teams, enter and confirm scores, access team rosters, standings, schedules and scorecards, register for local tournaments and join USTA Team Tennis.
Log in to usta.com/membership and walk through the steps to join the USTA for the first time, or renew your membership. Cost for an adult USTA membership (18 and over) is $42 for one year, $115 for three years, or $168 for five years. A junior membership (under 18) is $19 for one year, $52 for three years, or $76 for five years. Family memberships (two or more members of the same family) are $68 for one year, $184 for three years, or $272 for five years. TennisLink accepts VISA, MasterCard, Discover or American Express.