Tennis parents looking for an academy have a daunting task in choosing a program for their aspiring junior champion. The reason? You’re not always comparing apples and oranges. More and more families are relocating to academies along the Sunbelt of North America, in Florida, Texas, Arizona, and Southern California. Many questions need to be asked. After all, considering whether or not to move an entire family or to send a child to board at an academy are major decisions. Here are some observations from visiting a number of prominent academies across the country.
Research the location thoroughly
It’s just a fact of life that the odds of any child “making it” on the pro tour are slim. Yet, far too many families relocate and then, after a year or two, realize that either the academy or the location wasn’t suitable for the entire family unit. The reasons may be financial or simply that the child’s needs may not match what a specific academy has to offer. Our suggestion is to research a move thoroughly by speaking with parents of children who are currently at the academy and also with parents who were at the academy and left. Families also have to carefully consider how much pressure is placed on a child when an entire family moves based on their tennis dreams. The best relocation decisions appear to be made when they are not exclusively based on tennis. Otherwise, families are looking for an excessive amount of stress.
Coaching by a big name needed?
Many academies feature a big name like Bollettieri, Newcomb, Evert, Macci, Saviano, or Brandi & Solomon. Others like the International Tennis Academy in DelRay Beach, Florida, or the Austin Tennis Academy in Austin, Texas deliver big but don’t have the name on the billboard. Our suggestion in considering whether that big name is essential for you and your child is, again, to ask the right questions. First and foremost is to find out how much time that headliner will spend with your child on-court. The answer will vary dramatically from Academy to academy. Some smaller academies in South Florida such as those directed by Rick Macci or Andy Brandi and Harold Solomon actually feature these very experienced coaches on-court daily at least part of the time with all of the juniors in their programs.
You must also consider the coaching level of the staff, since most of the time your child will rotate from coach to coach during drills and practice sessions. For example, does the academy hire coaches right out of college or do they staff with highly experienced, although lesser-known professionals. Chances are very little. For example, Bollettieri’s academy in Bradenton, Florida, has plenty of both levels of coaching, both experienced and relatively inexperienced. This is not a bad thing, but definitely something to keep in mind. On the other hand, the International Tennis Academy in Delray Beach, Florida has a team of coaches, where every single one of them has at least 10 years of high level junior development experience.
Standards and priorities
Some academies offer a broad social atmosphere, more loosely structured and less regimented. Others are more “military” in environment, very serious and highly scheduled. A parent’s choice of academies will depend on your child’s’ goals and the philosophy of the parents. Some of the smaller programs actually interview the juniors and accept them based on attitude and motivation, along with playing potential. However, many of the larger programs are much less selective in their admittance policies. The result at larger academies is a wider range of motivation. If your child needs more external motivation, consider this point carefully since the cumulative attitude of the group has a big impact on each child.
In addition to tennis, a child’s educational needs is a critical consideration for most families, considering that only a small percentage of those who think they can play pro tennis, actually make it. However, college scholarships for most academy participants are well within reach. Some academies like John Newcomb’s Tennis Ranch in New Braunfels, Texas, have a public school conveniently nearby. Bollettieri’s in Bradenton, Florida, due to its size, have extension schools right on property. In many of the smaller academies you may find that most of the juniors are home-schooled or sign-up for web-based distance learning. Consider the needs of your own child and consider the educational options carefully.
Unique features
Once you answer the basic questions, there are many intangibles that can actually make it or break it for your child. Here are some to consider:
- Character building environment – Some academies I visited make the extra effort to incorporate life-skills and character building on a daily basis. A good example is the Jack Newman’s Austin Tennis Academy in Texas.
- Female coaches – If your future champion is a girl, you will definitely want to ask if the academy has female coaches and speak with them. While not essential for every girl competitor, some will make faster gains with a female mentor nearby.
- Off-court supervision – If your junior is boarding at an academy, off-court supervision, including during off-site tournament travel is an obvious concern. Check out this area diligently.
- Court surfaces – Most of the academies such as Nick Saviano’s program in Sunrise, Florida, offer both hard and clay courts. If at all possible, select an academy that features both surfaces. And, while most academies are in fair weather climates, indoor court options are a plus if available.
- Video analysis – Regular use of video can speed up the improvement of any player. Make sure the academy you choose use the most current technology.
- Ball machines – Some academies use ball machines for regular drilling. Others don’t. If your child is younger and still developing the foundation of their games, ball machines can be helpful tools.
- Cost and extras like private lessons – Our research shows that the cost of academies varies tremendously. In your own search and evaluation, be sure you are comparing apples and apples. In other words, some academies have a one-price structure that includes a certain number of private lessons per week. In other academies, there is an extra charge for all private instruction. Since this can significantly increase the cost of academy, ask the right financial questions in advance. It’s a big financial investment and you don’t want any surprises after you make your move.
Summary
After reading through these discussion points, there is one consideration that, although obvious to many, needs to be remembered. Life at a tennis academy is not for every child or every family. Since the vast majority of juniors will never earn a living on the pro tour, parents should be realistic in their expectations and certainly never place financial pressure on young children. To make the best decisions, think long term and be certain that short-term goals help your tennis-loving junior be happy, secure, and safe in whatever tennis environment they participate.