» Juniors

Junior Team Tennis is Back for 2008!

Junior Team Tennis (JTT) is gearing up for another fun, competitive season in 2008. We have registered over forty teams across 5 divisions with players ranging in age from 8-18.

Tengo Hambre with Coach Johnson

A unique aspect of JTT is that divides the players by both age and ability. In this respect, players have the opportunity to compete with others of similar age: 12 and Under; 14 and Under; 18 and Under as well as similar ability: Beginner/intermediate and Advanced. This team aspect of junior tennis provides all players with an opportunity to participate in a format similar to the USTA adult leagues and World Team Tennis.

Through the team concept our juniors mature through support from their peers and coaches while continuing to improve their games. Unlike USTA individual tennis, coaches may actually do their job and coach players on change-overs. Teammates are encouraged to cheer and support the players on the court.

Northern New Mexico strives to provide accessibility to the sport of tennis for our juniors. The local league charges a mere $17.00 per player to participate and provides scholarships to those demonstrating need.

League play begins June 9th in Albuquerque and June 16th in Santa Fe. All teams will converge in Albuquerque on July 14th and 15th for a single elimination play-off tournament. Winners in all five divisions of this tournament will proceed to an August Southwest Sectional tournament in Surprise, Arizona. There they will compete for the right to represent our Southwest Section at the National Tournament in Mobile, Alabama during the month of October.

Last year we had three teams from Northern New Mexico representing the Southwest Section at the National Tournament and we couldn’t be prouder. They were:

14 and Under Advanced division: TCA Double Trouble – Section winner and Dick Johnson’s Tengo Hambre – Wildcard selection.

18 and Under Advanced– Dick Johnson’s Trees.

Stay tuned for further information on who is earning the privilege to advance to Sectionals and on to Nationals in 2008.

We are always looking for support for these fabulous young people. Everything from volunteer coaches, volunteering at the tournament, or to make a monetary donation to assist players in defraying their travel expenses to Sectionals and Nationals please contact:

Kristi Salgado, Junior Recreation Coordinator at kristisalgado@comcast.net or 890-2980

Sue Jollensten, Program Director at sjollensten@comcast.net or 822-1694

Becky Lee, Tennis Service Representative, at lee@southwest.usta.com or 254-9123.

Link to USTA Junior Team Tennis Home page http://www.usta.com/team_tennis

NEW FOR 2008

Northern New Mexico is starting a new local league for young beginning tennis players. This new format is called QuickStart tennis. QuickStart tennis is an exciting new play format for learning tennis, designed to bring kids into the game by utilizing specialized equipment, shorter court dimensions and modified scoring, all tailored to age and size. It is divided into two different levels-- ages 8 and under and ages 10 and under. Please contact Becky Lee, Tennis Service Representative, at lee@southwest.usta.com or 254-9123 for more information

 

 
 
 
 
 
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