By Sally Milano, USTA.com
The mission to help identify and develop world-class American players is continuing at three USTA Certified Regional Training Centers in the United States, as facilities in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Oklahoma have signed new three-year agreements to continue their partnerships with USTA Player Development.
Legacy Youth Tennis and Education in Philadelphia, Manchester Athletic Club in Manchester, Mass., and Tucker Tennis Academy in Tulsa, Okla., will remain USTA Certified Regional Training Centers (RTCs) through 2016. This year, there are 12 RTCs nationwide, encompassing 10 of the 17 USTA sections.
As USTA Certified RTCs, these programs will continue to enhance the training and development of junior players in their respective areas of the country.
“Continuing to work collaboratively with Regional Training Centers is incredibly important,” said USTA Player Development General Manager Patrick McEnroe. “These are three of the most prominent junior development programs in the country, and we are very happy to have their partnership for three more years.”
Legacy Youth Tennis and Education is located in Philadelphia’s East Falls neighborhood. Its mission is to prepare young people, especially those from under-resourced families, for success through tennis, education, life skills and leadership development programming. Legacy offers training at six different competitive levels at its indoor-outdoor facility. Jon Glover and Justin O’Neal – former teammates at the University of Florida – are Legacy’s Co-Directors of Player Development.
Manchester Athletic Club is approximately 30 minutes northeast of Boston and is the home of World TeamTennis’ Boston Lobsters. It is the only RTC in New England, and its Tennis Academy program was designed personally by renowned coach Nick Bollettieri. Francisco Montoya is the MAC Tennis Academy director, and one of MAC’s students, Grace Joyce, recently advanced to the quarterfinals of the prestigious Les Petits As 14-and-under tournament in Tarbes, France.
Tucker Tennis Academy is based out of The Grand Health & Racquet Club in Tulsa, focusing on technique, footwork, mental discipline, attitude and physical conditioning. Trent Tucker, a former touring professional, is the Academy’s director. One of Tucker’s trainees, 16-year-old Olivia Hauger, recently advanced to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open Junior Championships.
In addition to continuing their existing programs, the RTCs will host USTA Player Development camps for players ages 10-13 in their respective regions. These players will be selected by the USTA national coaching staff and their respective USTA Section Player Development Manager and Coaching Commission. The Centers will also run 10 and Under Tennis programs and host 10 and Under Tennis tournaments.
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RTCs expand the USTA Player Development program’s collaboration throughout the country by partnering with academies, clubs, tennis centers and coaches that have a proven record of identifying and developing tennis players. Since December 2008, the USTA has named USTA Certified Regional Training Centers in 13 of the 15 USTA sections in the continental U.S., and will host camps in all 17 sections in 2014. Regional Training Centers are an important component of “TEAM USA,” creating a culture of inclusiveness where personal coaches, USTA Sections and USTA Player Development work together to be part of a national movement to create the next wave of world-class American players.
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For more on RTCs, visit the Player Development homepage on USTA.com.
And for more on getting your child started in tennis, or to find a youth tennis facility and program near you, visit YouthTennis.com.