Today, Above the Net proudly led the way as our enthusiastic kids took to the courts at the third annual USTA NJTL Leadership Camp 2023, hosted at the Clayton County Tennis Center. Notably, we were credited with the largest attendance, a testament to the passion and dedication of our young athletes and our supportive parents. It was a day that exceeded the usual game of tennis. It was a day of building new friendships, embracing leadership, and instilling life values, all accompanied by the delightful sounds of rackets striking balls.
The day began with warm-up exercises and drills led by experienced coaches from various Southern NJTL Chapters. Their enthusiasm was as contagious as the kids' own excitement. The kids spent a solid two hours on the court practicing forehands, backhands, volleys, and serves. The coaches stressed the importance of foot movement, ball placement, and racket control.
After lunch, the kids got the chance to hear from Mark Eubanks, the proud father of professional tennis player and commentator Chris Eubanks a Georgia Tech Alumni. Mr. Eubanks shared his wisdom, experiences, and a heartfelt message with the kids. His words were a tribute to the dedication and passion required to become a great tennis player. He told the kids that they must put in the time needed to excel in the sport. The kids were captivated by Mr. Eubank's insights, and you could see their eyes light up with the belief that they too could achieve great things in tennis. His words were a reminder that the path to success is often paved with hard work discipline and a never-give-up attitude.
During the last hour of the camp session, the kids were divided into age-appropriate groups. The younger kids got to participate in STEM activities that challenged them to use math equations to determine the rate of speed. The older kids listened to two college students share their experiences on how to leverage social media platforms to showcase their skills to college recruiters. They emphasized the power of self-promotion and how creating engaging videos could catch the attention of tennis coaches and other key figures in the field.
We are immensely grateful to USTA Georgia for sponsoring this outstanding event. It was a day full of tennis adventures, and we can’t wait to do it all over again next year.
Want to learn more about tennis? Please check out our website at www.abovethenettennis.org.
Hope to see you on the tennis court soon.
Wonderful oppty for the kids!!!