Press gets sneak peek at QuickStart

Print the article

This entry was posted on December 17, 2007 9:06 PM and is filed under In the News.

New play format for 10-and-unders aims to make tennis easy and fun

By Liza Horan

Photo by Peter Francesconi

New York—One Saturday last month I got outed by a bunch of six-year-olds. Out-run. Out-skipped. Out-hopped. I'm no kindergarten teacher or babysitter or teaching pro, yet I spent the morning running around a court swinging a mini racquet, chasing foam balls, zig-zagging through cones, and jumping through hoops (literally!). I was one of a handful of journalists—and a gander of very spirited kids—who tried QuickStart, a new play format that makes learning tennis easy and fun for kids aged 10 and under.

The event was a press preview for the national launch of QuickStart in March. The new play format, which had been informally called "36/60," scales down the court and the equipment so kids can build the motor skills used in tennis. One court becomes four mini-courts, regular balls are traded for foam or decompressed balls, and racquets are 17" or 23" inches long.

QuickStart is expected to be offered by 1,100 providers—including Tennis Welcome Centers, park and rec departments, and NJTL programs—in the first year, and is part of the USTA schools curriculum, according to Kirk Anderson, the USTA's Director of Recreational Coaches and Programs. A home kit will be available for purchase so parents can set up a mini-court, making it an accessible, affordable family activity.

"Everything we do is transferable to the driveway or cul-de-sac," Anderson said. "I can see these mini-courts all over, just like basketball goals by the garage door."

While Anderson explained, "We guarantee they'll be rallying on their first day," the format is not about creating the 2020 U.S. Open champion. It's about making the game easy, fun, accessible and affordable to little kids. And, once they develop the skills to play, there's a path to competitive play within the USTA system.

"Our plan is to make tennis the new team sport," said Kurt Kamperman, the USTA's Chief Executive of Community Tennis Development. "We've always had children's programs, but we've never had an integrated way for kids to learn the game and transition to team play. This is going to expose hundreds of thousands of kids to tennis."

QuickStart is a strategic move in the USTA's goal to increase participation. As Kamperman put it: "We're creating a new tennis boom."

For more information, visit Partners.QuickStartTennis.com.

 

What did you think of this article?




Trackbacks
Trackback specific URL for this entry
  • No trackbacks exist for this entry.
Comments
    Display comments as (Linear | Threaded)

    • December 20, 2007 6:12 PM Dave wrote:
      I have 30 yrs as a tennis pro & have been a big fan of age adjusted/scaled equipment for decades (remember Wilson Mr. PeeWee?)

      I further appreciate Kirk Andersons' comments that this major commitment to an easy, fun and QuickStart to tennis will be coupled with pathways to help develop competitive play.

      Now my concerns: Having read a recent ITF newsletter, which discusses USTA QuickStart, and The "Play & Stay Campaign" , which QuickStart is a part of; there is a BIG GREY AREA regarding how competition is introduced. It is clearly stated in Stay & Play that all starting players, regardless of age, should “begin scoring the first time on-court"

      The reason this is concerning reflects numerous sports participation studies, including the 1995 USTA study on new player attrition, which concur the primary reason people quit is due to competition itself!

      Skill difficulty was also listed as a cause of attrition and of course, this would be exacerbated by competition, as those of lower skill would quickly find themselves embarrassed out of the game.

      Certainly our goal is three-fold, and in this order: (1) introduce many people to tennis (2) develop a high retention rate (3) help those players with talent and competitive proclivity develop their potential.

      Some of the federations from other countries seem to place a stronger emphasis on competition as a starting basis for their version. It appears they are more focused upon finding and developing the next generation of pros, and are willing to sacrifice “non-competitors” in their talent quest.

      I think what was more disconcerting was the ITF consensus was apparently reached by coaches based upon empirical “evidence”, rather than by exercise/sport psychologists, applying all previous studies. Although the ITF panel possesses highly regarded sport scientists who have published numerous evidence-based, peer-reviewed studies..NONE seemed to perform a literature search on studies specific to the Play & Stay campaign. Or, if they did, the literature was ignored. I submitted that ITF newsletter to the original author of the 1995 USTA study, who has published over 40 studies on exercise and sport adherence, and the following is a copy/paste from his response:

      “Many of the statements given in the report are conjecture, at best -- pure wishful thinking, at worst. It seems that the goals are not even consistent, as you suggested. Methodologies based on anecdotal "data" are all but useless if reliable effect is being sought. Is there an ongoing research program to test (relative) effects of different methodologies? If not, that should be the primary focus of each and every official in the development business”

      I hope the USTA addresses the pitfalls of competition based activities, and produces an entry system for “all”
      Reply to this
    • December 20, 2007 10:04 PM jun juachon wrote:
      you people would be insane to dislike this. this is exactly what we need for the kids to be involved in tennis.
      Reply to this
    • March 31, 2008 10:32 PM Bill wrote:
      Ii do think we have to be careful to ensure FUN first tennis with starting kids. they love games, so games based approach seems solid...but here is where I agree that a grey area could exist.

      there are now sanctioned tournaments for 10 and 8 and under events...which is in my mind a scary arena to open the door.

      it was not that long ago national 12's were substituted by zonals to ease
      pressure, help develop techniques and cut travel hassle/costs.

      I like the idea of team formats without single elimination...build a social feel with less individual pressure...but keep it a party until kids are really ready for serious competition...then still have parties

      that's my two cents
      Reply to this
    • March 31, 2008 11:18 PM arlene wrote:
      wow...i just looked at tennislink for 8 and under tournaments, and there tons.

      most of them were playing full 3 set match formats..a few with 8 game pro sets...what kind of parent would allow their 7 yr old to play a 2+ hr match!

      the usta should DEFINATELY enforce short formats for the little kids
      Reply to this
    Leave a comment

    Submitted comments will be subject to moderation before being displayed.

     Enter the above security code (required)

     Name

     Email (will not be published)

     Website

    Your comment is 0 characters limited to 3000 characters.



      

    hellotennis.com is a sister site to tenniswire.org

    • Visit www.hellotennis.com for a guide to navigating the game for fans, players and industry insiders
    • Visit www.tenniswire.org for "industry news straight from the sources"

      Copyright . http://BLOG.TENNISWIRE.ORG. All rights reserved.