Junior Development Camp Structure
Junior Development Camp Structure
USTA Southwest Section is providing more opportunities for supplemental training and player/parent education where we can bring talented young tennis players together at not only a local/District level more often, but at a Section level.
These camps - which are targeted towards different age groups and ability levels - will occur multiple times throughout the year in the Greater Phoenix-area.
The idea is to get the best players in our local areas playing against and training with each other more frequently to raise their level of play and to develop a true TEAM SOUTHWEST concept.
These opportunities will be created through our structure of TEAM SOUTHWEST with Early Development Camps (Orange Ball), All-In Camps (Green Ball), Team USA Sectional Camps, Team USA Cross-Sectional Camps, and Top 100 Camps.
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TEAM SOUTHWEST aims:
- Identify young players in local areas
- Talent ID to bring the players together for the next level of development (RTCs)
- Provide a pathway and structure for junior players to follow
- Help in Goal setting
- Provide resources to local coaches in Districts
- Parent and player education
- Create an inclusive structure
- Earned advancement
Regional Training Center camps have been a part of the overall USTA Junior Development plan to target and identify the country's best 9-13 year olds for quite awhile now, and Southwest players and coaches have been a part of this effort, participating in training groups and workshops in Carson, Calif. and had USTA Player Development (national) visit on several occasions to assist with talent identification camps.
The Southwest is now trying to extend this same plan down to an even further, local level in our own markets, incorporating more Early Development Camps and All-In Camps into this process.
The Southwest is now trying to extend this same plan down to an even further, local level in our own markets, incorporating more Early Development Camps and All-In Camps into this process.
EARLY DEVELOPMENT CAMPS (EDC)
With USTA National's assistance, the Southwest Section will be implementing Early Development Camps (EDC) to identify more 8-10 year olds in our local markets.
The EDCs will make use of the 10 and Under format on a 60' court with orange balls. This is step one, the first level of player identification and training at the youngest ages.
These camps will typically have between 16-24 players per camp.
EDC Selection: Players will be selected by the Sections Player Development Manager in conjunction with the Coaches Commission and Local Coaches in each District area.
All-In Camps
All-In Camps are held to give a better transition through the camp pathway and to transition from orange to green to yellow ball. These camps will be half day and played with green balls on 78 foot court with the focus on live ball drilling and point play to work on tactics.
These camps will typically have between 16-24 players per camp.
EDC Selection: Players will be selected by the Sections Player Development Manager in conjunction with the Coaches Commission and Local Coaches in each District area.
Team USA Sectional and Cross Sectional Camp
Team USA camps are the next level of player development. There will be three to four RTC events with the focus on younger age groups usually (9-13 years old).
Up to 18 total players in the 9-13 age groups from the pool of local EDC events as well as from Southwest and national tournament participation are invited.
These camps are all two days, with the Southwest Section having 2 in the section this year, 1 being sectional and the other being cross sectional with Intermountain.
Players will be selected by USTA Southwest Junior Player Development Manager, USTA Southwest Coaches Commission and USTA National Player Development Staff.
Top 100 Camps
These camps are new to the pathway. and are for Boys and Girls in 14, 16, 18 age groups that are top 100 in the nation in their respective age division.
For more information on USTA Southwest Junior Development Camps, please contact nfintnell@southwest.usta.com.
