Summer Camps That Make Sense

Whether your camp lasts only one week or runs from June to August, you will be faced with the challenge of trying to make individual changes to each camper which not only benefit their personal games, but which also last beyond the camp.

If you run a one-week camp, you will not be able to make any lasting motor skill changes in any of your campers. It's not scientifically possible.

Yes, you can identify weaknesses and make corrections, some of which the camper may even be able to use during your camp, but the motor skill will not last unless correctly practiced for a number of weeks after the camp.

So what should be the focus of a one-week camp? Your goal should be to analyze each player's style of play; use of strategies and tactics; shot-making skills; stroke skills; and mental toughness.

If you have a player for only five to seven days, your focus should center on properly evaluating these five areas of each player's game, determining improvements and corrections, and leaving them with a way to practice and develop their games in all five of these areas.

If your camps run longer, you have more time to spend on drilling and strokework.

For both short- and long-term camps, the following progression will provide a much more useful and enjoyable camp experience than the “Monday is forehands, Tuesday is backhands...” traditional camp structure.

The article continues with a curriculum appropriate for both short- and long-term camp programs.