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Reflection on the 2011 ATA Summer Camp
“During my resent coaching trip to the Anguilla Tennis
Academy I was overwhelmed with the commitment of the Anguillan tennis
players. The young athletes have
recognized the enormous opportunity to better themselves through the
disciplines of tennis. By working hard
to develop their tennis skills, the children have opened the door to
tennis scholarships. And at the end of
the process this hard work will lead to a better Anguilla."
Lance Lee
Tennis
Director, Arthur Ashe Foundation and Head Tennis Coach of men’s and women’s
tennis at University of Pennsylvania
"I have been involved with the ATA as a visiting coach for nearly five years. To come back each year and see the growth on the court and off, of the young people of the program has been truly inspirational. The children continue to be eager to learn and progress. This is a true testament to the work of Mitchell Lake and his coaching staff. Not only have the participants grown over the past five years, but the program as a whole has grown. My first year we traveled from site to site, finding courts wherever we could. To be able to have a central location at the fantastic facility in blowing point is a tremendous asset to the ATA. Everyone who contributed and had a hand in making the facility come to life, should be extremely proud. I have been to academies all throughout the United States and in several other countries. I would spend my time on the island of Anguilla with the young people and staff of the ATA ahead of any other tennis facility in the world! To the people of Anguilla, thank you for your hospitality and for making me feel like more than a guest each summer. I hope to see you all soon!"
Anthony Horkan, August 18th, 2011
"My experience at the Anguilla Tennis Academy summer Camp was unforgettable. As a member of the Shenandoah University tennis team in Winchester, Virginia, I participated in the camp with the advanced level juniors and young adults. I was truly impressed with the coaches, the students, and the facility. All of the participants in the camp displayed high levels of talent, as well as discipline. It was inspiring to see so many smiles on the faces of the children on the tennis court. The camp consisted of a perfect mix of challenging drills and exciting games. Going into my Senior year in College, I can say that the camp helped to improve my Tennis game mentally and physically. The Anguilla Tennis Academy is not just a facility for Tennis lessons, but also for life lessons. The students have the opportunity to learn about communication, teamwork and unity through Tennis. As the Anguilla Tennis Academy continues to grow, so will Anguilla as a whole. I can't wait to come back to visit the camp and the beautiful country of Anguilla in years to come."
Matt Yonover, Chicago
“This is my 5th summer at the Anguilla Tennis Academy. It is so amazing to see how well the kids have progressed. I am so impress to see what the tennis academy is compared to where it was five (5) years ago. I am so proud to be a part of this organization.”
The ATA
Summer Camp –
A Parent’s Perspective
by Mimi Connor
Riverbanks,
jail, and fruit salad. Palaces, dungeons, and frying pans. What, you ask, do
these have to do with tennis? Plenty, if you are a child enrolled in the
Anguilla Tennis Academy summer camp. Our son Keval, a five-year-old student in
the Peewee class, leaves the house every morning with his water bottle and
junior racquet in hand, determined not to fall in the river, eager to stay on
the bank, and focused on staying out of jail in order to win points and prizes
from his coach. The fruit salad? It is not his morning snack; it is one of the
many drills and games he enjoys as he learns racquet technique and footwork, develops
eye-hand coordination and improves general fitness. As an added bonus, he is
also developing discipline, concentration and listening
skills – essentials he will carry with him off the court and into the classroom.
As far as he’s concerned, however, he’s just happy to tell you he’s hitting more
tennis balls over the net each day and having lots of fun doing it.
Our eleven-year-old daughter Sabrina’s experience with the summer tennis camp reads like a history of the ATA. In 2001 at the age of 4, she attended her first summer camp. At that time there was only the camp (no after school programme) and the venue was the one tennis court (sometimes two courts) at The James Ronald Webster Park. As a parent during those early years I remember many children, few courts and long lines of eager tennis novices tended by a very patient and encouraging team of coaches.
Sabrina remembers trying very hard to get the ball over the net and getting frustrated when she didn’t. She remembers improving with her coaches’ help so that by the end of the international coaches’ week (courts provided by Malliouhana and Carimar, later Temenos), she was winning those much coveted prizes and receiving praises for her efforts. Her great disappointment with the tennis camp was that she’d have to wait a whole year until the next one. She waited, sometimes not so patiently, and attended every summer camp since.
In September 2003, the afterschool tennis programme was launched. Sabrina enrolled and has been training and playing tennis, year-round since – on average three times per week. With the opening of the new facility in Blowing Point in December 2007, class size decreased, the student to coach ratio improved, and the children received more individualized attention. With the new facility, tournaments became a more frequent event on the ATA programme, including family fun days for all ages. What a pleasure it’s been to attend all these activities at such a world-class facility.
Over the years Sabrina advanced through the ranks from Peewee to Intermediate to the Tournament Ready group. She has benefitted from tournament play – both local and international competitions. This summer she and several students in the tournament ready group serve as assistant coaches during the morning camp sessions. She looks forward to greater competition and development of her game during the upcoming school year when she joins the older students in the senior tournament ready group.
This parent is happy knowing that the ATA is helping the children to learn and enjoy the sport of tennis – an activity that will serve them well throughout their lives. In addition to developing the skills necessary to play this wonderful game, the benefits to our children through involvement in the various ATA programmes are many – opportunities for personal growth, advancement and leadership to name a few.
This parent must also confess a personal interest in athletic scholarships that are available for promising young tennis players. Several of our local youngsters who came up through the ranks of the ATA are attending colleges and universities thanks to generous athletic scholarships. They can attest to the fact that with a generous amount discipline, self-motivation and hard work, tennis can provide a path to achieve your goals.
Reflections on the 2010 US Open trip
Mimi Connor, ATA parent of Sabrina Connor
My 2010 US Open experience as an ATA parent
was simply top notch - ACES all the way – from the smooth and roomy JetBlue
flights, to the sophisticated accommodations at Midtown’s Dylan Hotel, culminating,
of course, with the exceptional tennis witnessed at the USTA Billie Jean King
National Tennis Center. I was thrilled
to be there since tennis is my favourite sport, but I am particularly pleased
that my daughter Sabrina was able to be exposed to all that the US Open has to
offer – the world’s best players (including Juniors), the highest levels of
competition, the infectiously motivating environment filled with enthusiastic
fans and sponsors. Our US Open
experience made us more observant, more analytical, and more appreciative of
the opportunities and resources we have right here in Anguilla. Upon our return, Sabrina displayed more
initiative on court and towards her tennis activities in general. She is a more motivated individual today, not
to mention a huge fan of NY-style pizza.
And with that, this ATA parent is quite happy. I am grateful to the ATA and its generous
sponsors for our opportunity to attend such an outstanding, world-class tennis
event.
Traveling to New York City to experience
the 2010 U.S Open was awesome! Every day
of my trip was exciting. Having never
been there before, everything was new to me. It was great to explore a different place and visit
interesting sites such as St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Times Square, Rockefeller
Center and The Empire State Building. I
shopped till I dropped, ate tons of pizza, and was dazzled by all the beautiful
lights and the busy atmosphere. At the
Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, I was thrilled to see so many famous
tennis players that I admire. I was even
lucky enough to meet Gael Mofils, shake hands and get his autograph. But just being able to watch them play,
analyze their techniques and note it to improve my own tennis game was a huge
privilege. Visiting the courts where the
Juniors competed was a special opportunity for me to see players my age and
examine their level of play as well as ask them about rackets, training
strategies and tennis gear. They
motivated me to play better tennis. The whole
experience was simply amazing, and I would do it again in a heart beat! Thank you ATA!
Anguillian / International
Coaches
Marvin Hazell
I've been coaching the peewee group for some time and I just love
it when I get to the court and the kids all come running to me and call
out..."Hiiiii Coachie" (thas wat they call me hehe) and it makes my heart
joyful that they really do enjoy tennis and have so much fun learning. That to
me is my favorite moment...the smiles and laughter from the kids.
(After school program 2006)
Academy Children / Youth
coming soon...
