Kids get 'QuickStart' in tennis
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Children get a kid-friendly intro to tennis with the QuickStart program.
Structured sports may seem daunting for children, but a program offered at local gyms helps ease kids into tennis.
QuickStart tennis features smaller, less intimidating courts, and is offered to children age 5-10.
Kirby Smith, who runs the QuickStart programs in Ridgeland, Clinton and the Reservoir, said QuickStart "is a scaled down version that involves smaller nets and racquets along with larger foam balls. Other sports, such as t-ball, basketball and soccer have tailored the sport to younger children's abilities.”
The lighter racquets and larger, slower-moving balls allow kids to hit with greater accuracy, making it easier to rally, she said. These changes let beginners start playing almost immediately, allowing them to compete on teams and in matches.
Smith said that although all QuickStart leagues vary to some degree, the one she is running is a parent-coached league.
“The parent-coached leagues allow large numbers of children to get involved, and also lets the parents actively take part in teaching their children as well as learning more about the sport themselves," she said. "The fact that the parents — even the ones with no tennis experience — can be so involved with coaching and interested in what their child is doing makes it even more fun for the kids and parents alike.
"It is a great feeling for parents and coaches to see their child or team leave the court beaming or asking if they can stay longer and play more tennis.”
Smith has been involved with QuickStart since May, and has run three programs so far. She coordinated a small one in Clinton, with 24 children. The program at the Reservoir YMCA had more than 100, and the most recent one was in Ridgeland, where 140 children were involved. She said the program has the potential to revolutionize junior tennis.
Tennis Hall of Famer Martina Navratilova, agreed; she was on hand when the U.S. Tennis Association announced the entrance of Quickstart in February. In an interview, Navratilova said they have been doing this kind of program successfully in Europe for a couple of decades now.
Parents at the Reservoir QuickStart program also had rave reviews. Dominic Jaeger said the tennis program was fun for everyone.
“To my surprise even the younger kids learned to play," Jaeger said. "Kirby had good ideas for drills that the kids loved.”
Another parent, Elizabeth Banks, who had two boys participate, said both her boys enjoyed it immensely.
“The parent coaches were great and giving of their time. Overall it was an enriching and rewarding experience,” she said.
Reveland Wheat, whose grandson participated this summer, said, "not all youngsters can be outstanding on the football field, basketball court or baseball diamond, so they need to be introduced to other sports, like tennis, which involve them in fun, competitive activities for a lifetime, if they choose. They also like having the adults in their lives playing with them."
All agreed that QuickStart was a good exposure to tennis, without being overwhelmed. Smith said there are junior programs going on at Ridgeland now. The sessions last four weeks and there are three different age groups, 7-8, 9-12 and 13 and up. Each group meets once a week for four weeks, and the cost is $60.
To find out more about QuickStart tennis, e-mail Kirby Smith at kirby_789@hotmail.com., or visit: http://consumers.quickstarttennis.com/index.php?page=about.
