free tennis day

Evan Zhu leads the 4-6 year olds like a flock

It was a perfect day in College Park for the Junior Tennis Champions Center’s 11th annual Free Tennis Day. As a connoisseur of Kids Days, if there is such a thing, I particularly enjoyed this one. This was a Kids Day with a twist. There was no moon bounce and no face painting going on here. This was the real deal.

You’re not just having fun, kids.

You’re being watched. And timed. And measured.

If you’re a tennis parent who even once fantasized about your 4 year old playing college tennis someday, this was your kind of Kids and Parents Day. Mine slept on the ride from Baltimore to the JTCC and woke up on the wrong side of the car seat. She was #48 and she defaulted when she demanded to be carried in from the car. Annabel settled on hitting solo against the wall.

There were over 350 people on hand for the event and at least 125 kids participating. Over the next two weeks, the JTCC’s coaching staff will deliberate over the participant’s performances. 20 of the entrants will receive offers for summer camp scholarships and one will receive a scholarship into the Junior Tennis Champions Center. Remember, this is the same event where today’s Tallahassee Champion Denis Kudla was ‘discovered’ 10 years ago ‘on this very night’, and you begin to understand the allure of this free-for-all event. It’s democracy in action in tennis.

The most unusual part of the day occurred when Slice, the Ms. Pac-Man of the Washington Kastles, was spontaneously attacked by children in an impromptu and slightly-frightening display. By the time the cameras (camera) got there, the little ones had switched to fists from racquets. Slice took it in all stride and has a bright future in elected office. Anyone who can take that kind of feedback at a Town Hall meeting and shake it all off is a lock for Congress.

—Steve Fogleman

Junior Tennis Champions Center Hosts Free Tennis Festival

DC/Baltimore’s Premier Tennis Training Center Hosts Free Tennis Clinic for Local Children

JTCC’s 14th Annual Tennis Festival is May 4

The Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC), the world-class tennis training center in College Park, Md., will host its 14^th annual Tennis Festival on Saturday, May 4 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. The complimentary tennis clinic for children of all skill levels, including those without any previous experience, will provide tennis techniques and tips. Kids ages 5 to 12 are invited to join JTCC’s esteemed coaching staff and junior tennis champions to practice game skills and participate in agility drills. Throughout the clinic, coaches will be noting the skill level of each participant and will invite 20 promising participants to enroll in the first three weeks of JTCC’s training summer camp free of charge.

This might be the best thing you do for your kid all year. There are two schools of thought when it comes to encouraging a sport and both of them come together on May 4. You want to expose your child to the sport you love. And at some point, you want to know how they compare against other youngsters in the game. Come out to College Park and do both. In addition to games and activities for the kids, they’ll also get some complimentary pointers from some of the world’s coaching on staff. So if your child looks like she has the incredible potential required of a junior champion, you might get an expert opinion right on the spot.

Due to the limited number of participant slots available for the JTCC Free Tennis Festival, parents are encouraged to register their children as soon as possible. To register, send child’s name and age as well as the family’s contact information to festival@thetccp.com.

Saturday, May 4, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Junior Tennis Champions Center

5200 Paint Branch Parkway

College Park, MD 20740

RSVP: To reserve your child’s spot, send an email with child’s name and age along with family contact information to festival@thetccp.com.

About Junior Tennis Champions Center

The Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC) is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization and a world-class training program that provides highly motivated young people with the athletic and academic instruction they need to excel on the tennis court and in the classroom. Since its inception in 1999, JTCC has placed all 95 of its graduates at top universities, with graduates earning more than $1.6 million in athletic scholarships.