Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education Center
(indoor programs)

Program Information

The Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education Center (AAYTEC), owned and operated by Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education, offers top-quality, affordable instruction for Beginners through Advanced players with developmental programming that focuses on excellence for youngsters of all levels. Participants must be between the ages of 4 and 18 years old to play. The AAYTEC is the only indoor tennis facility in the country exclusively for kids!

Session Dates for 2007/2008

• Session 1:  September 4 - October 28, 2007
• Session 2:  October 29 - December 23, 2007
• Session 3:  January 2 - February 24, 2008
• Session 4:  February 25 - April 20, 2008 (closed for one week for Annual AAYTE Benefit)
• Session 5:  April 28- June 15, 2008

Contact the Program Office for the exact days and times for each group.

Getting Started

Come to the AATYEC for a placement interview to find out what group best fits your individual needs. Evaluations are done Mondays through Thursdays by appointment.

AAYTC

INDOOR TENNIS CENTER

FALL / WINTER SCHEDULE

Programs & Schedule

High Performance                         M, TU & TH     4:00-5:30

Academy/Tournament Training       M, TU, W & TH     5:30-7:00 (12s & 14s)

                                                   M, TU, W & TH     8:30-10:00 (16s & 18s)

Blue Clinic                                   M, TU, W & TH     8:30-10:00

Blue Clinic                                   SU       3:00-4:30

White Clinic                                M, TU & W     7:00-8:30     

White Clinic                                SA       12:30-2:00

White Clinic                                 SU       3:00-4:30

Red Clinic                                  M, TU, W & TH      4:00-5:30

Red Clinic                                  SA       11:00-12:30

Red Clinic                                  SU       1:30-3:00

Munchkins                                 W       4:00-5:30

Munchkins                                 SA       10:00-11:30

Munchkins                                 SU       1:30-3:00 & 4:30-6:00

Munchkin Reading and Writing Challenge   W, SA & SU     Immediately following clinic

Team Tennis           5:30-7:30     White & Adv. Red

Team Tennis           7:30-9:30     Academy & Blue

Pyramid Ladder Matches       SA       2:00-4:00

Pyramid Ladder Matches       SU       5:30-7:00

Con't. Ed.and Professional Dev.     TH       7:00-8:30

14 weeks of Interclub Matches vs. local clubs

Tournament Board

Private Lessons

Group Description & Registration

The criteria listed below are factors that will be taken into account when evaluating a participant for placement in a group. However, no single factor alone will be determinative. The participant's attributes will be viewed in there totality and no single factor will be weighed more heavily than the others. AAYTE reserves the right to be selective in the evaluation process, furthermore, all evaluation decisions are final and participants will not be re-evaluated. However, if participants consistently display a willingness to work hard, have great attendance and are dominating their current group, the Director of Tennis may promote a participant during the session. Advancement can also be achieved thru successful upward progression thru the pyramid ladders. No player will be promoted without participation in AAYTE Community Service projects or in some manner of AAYTE Volunteer Service. Additionally, participants must maintain a “C” standard scholastic GPA to qualify for advancement.

High Performance - Nationally ranked player, competing in National 16s and 18s. Player must have excellent technique on all shots and be able to put together a strategy during points and matches and be able to tactically carry out that plan. No glaring weaknesses will be permitted of a high performance player; every aspect of their game must be advanced. Players must be in optimal physical condition. High Performance is an indoor season commitment. If a player is not able to commit September thru June, he/she will not be allowed to participate in the group. High Performance Players are role models to younger participants; as such they are expected to participate in Academy clinics a minimum of 2 days per week.

Registration - Selection process, invitations and contracts will be sent out prior to Session I.

Academy - Players dedicated to tournament play and have obtained a high SR ranking. Players should be striving to play national tournaments, zonals and all other high level competitions. Players should have a strong understanding of strategy as well as court awareness. Players must be able to utilize all spins and keep balls in play on a consistent basis while using placement, depth and power. Players must be in excellent physical condition. Academy is an indoor season commitment. If a player is not able to commit September thru June, he/she will not be allowed to participate in the group.

Registration - Is limited to 32 spots, tryouts will take place and players will be selected prior to the start of Session I. Tryout date: August 23, 2007. Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM.

Blue Clinic - Advanced players who have obtained a high district ranking and are actively pursuing a sectional ranking. Players are beginning to understand strategy and developing the tactical skills to carry out that strategy. Blue Clinic players must be able to keep balls in play on a consistent basis with placement and spin. Players must be in good physical condition.

Registration - Is limited to 64 spots per clinic, on a first come first serve basis. Add a third day: choose two days during the week plus a weekend day, based on availability.

Tryout date: August 22, 2007. Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM.

White Clinic - Players must be at a high intermediate level and playing tournaments to obtain a district ranking. Players must be able to keep the ball in play consistently from the baseline, as well as serve from the baseline. Players should be developing different types of spins and beginning to understand how to devise a strategy.

Registration - Is limited to 80 spots per clinic, on a first come first serve basis. Add a third day: choose two days during the week plus a weekend day, based on availability.

Tryout date: August 21, 2007. Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM.

Red Clinic - Players must be at a novice to low intermediate level in ability, ages 8-18.

Registration - Is limited to 40-80 spots per clinic, on a first come first serve basis.

Munchkins - For entry-level player, ages 4-7. Munchkin Reading and Writing Challenge - The reading and writing mentors will introduce to the participants concepts and experiences to strengthen reading and writing skills that will enhance literacy requirements expected in their individual public, parochial and private schools. These experiences will include: Read-a-louds with a comprehension component, shared reading with a specific mental focus, independent reading with evaluation, reading games, book reports, author studies, 100 book challenge and writing exercises to foster reading comprehension. Further information will be sent to you periodically.

We are always seeking parent volunteers to assist, so be on the lookout for parent training sessions.

Registration - Is limited to 32-64 spots per clinic on a first come first serve basis.

Team Tennis - Team competition in a fun and social atmosphere. Every Friday evening 5:30-9:30PM.

Weekly sign-ups for Team Tennis for play Friday evenings. Team Tennis is open to all levels, the only stipulation: player must be able to demonstrate the ability to serve from the baseline and the ball land inside the service box on a consistent basis. White & Advanced Red Team Tennis Time: 5:30 - 7:30 PM and Academy & Blue Team Tennis Time: 7:30 - 9:30 PM. Lance Lee is the AAYTE Staff contact.

This culminates with AAYTE registering teams to play in the local USA Team Tennis playoffs. This is a valuable experience in competition, while in a fun and social atmosphere. Teams can advance from the Local playoffs to District, Sectional, Regional and National events.

Interclub - 14-week match schedule begins November 4, 2007. Information is available at the check-in desk. Alan Blackwell is the AAYTE Staff contact.

Tournament Board - A listing of USTA/MS sanctioned tournaments will be posted monthly. AAYTE interested participant's need to sign-up on-line at the Middle States website, www.middlestates.usta.com. AAYTE will send a staff member to provide coaching with four or more AAYTE participants.

Pyramid Ladder Matches - To encourage participants to participate in additional match play. All participants are encouraged to sign-up for the pyramid matches. An individual participant at the top of their respective pyramid may challenge up into the group above them during the last two weeks of the session. Pyramid matches within participants group may take place at any time during the session. Pick-up detailed Pyramid Ladder Match Rules at the check-in desk. Court time cost: $7.50/player, $15/court, call to register for court time 215 487.9555.

Private Lessons Available - One-on-one lessons will be 30 or 60 minutes. Two, three and four player lessons will be 60 minutes with a pro.

Goodstein Junior Leaders - Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education has implemented an ongoing, year-round program to develop junior leaders (ages 14 to 17). These junior leaders are effective liaisons to the communities, acting as role models for other youngsters and inspiring involvement from parents and business people within their neighborhoods.

The Goodstein Junior Leader Program will help fulfill AAYTE's goal of teaching youngsters valuable life lessons through the lifetime sport of tennis. These young people build self-esteem along with their tennis skills, learn about sportsmanship, develop self-discipline, and experience different levels of social interaction, all in an environment, which encourages leadership development. Lance Lee is the AAYTE Staff contact.

Education - Education does not take a back seat to tennis at AAYTE.  Although we encourage excellence on the tennis court, we also recognize that most of our kids will turn pro in something other than tennis.  Our flagship educational program is the First Serve Life Skills Curriculum which promotes positive values, healthy habits and education through the game of tennis.  The activities emphasize the development of the whole child to help them grow physically, mentally and socially.   

We strive to deliver programs that provide educational enrichment.  Many of these are games-based to insure the kids are having fun as they learn.  Fun activities include Scrabble, Chess and Math Skills challenges.  We also feature Thursday evening sessions on contemporary issues for kids and parents.  Topics include college financing, money & savings, meeting NCAA eligibility requirements, goal setting, mental preparation, etc.

For the more serious and older kids, we provide SAT tutoring and the Goodstein Junior Leader (GJL) program.  See GJL description above.  

We recently qualified as a Supplemental Educational Service (SES) provider under No Child Left Behind.  Children that qualify receive expert tutoring in Reading and Math.

Our library is already organized and full of age-appropriate reading material.  We encourage all of our kids to take books home with them.  To encourage that never-ending supply of books, we ask parents to make a donation of used or new books.  We only ask that they be in good condition. 

Our library and classroom are stocked with 15 computers.  They have access to the internet and are very popular among our kids.  The internet is of course a great resource, and we strive to insure that it is used appropriately.

Cancellation Policy - When the Philadelphia Schools are closed for inclement weather, we are closed. Make up clinics will only be available when AAYTE cancels a scheduled clinic. Make up dates will be scheduled to the best of our abilities. Participants will be notified of the make up date by AAYTE staff.

Pyramid Match Play

Rules

•  Participants ‘x' can challenge anyone to the left on the same line they are listed or the line above.

•  Players reaching the top position can challenge the bottom line of the next highest pyramid board, during the last two weeks of the current session .

•  Match scoring:

Red Clinic - 8-game pro set.

All others - best of three sets; third set a Match Tie-Break (7 pts).

•  All scores reported to the desk at the conclusion of the match.

•  If you lose a challenge, you must accept a challenge from below before you can challenge up.

Scholarships

Scholarships for AAYTEC programs are available to families who show need with approval of the scholarship committee.

Other Services

Strength & Conditioning
The weight room is available for athletes who want to increase their stamina and take their game to a higher level.

Personalized Attention
Special attention is available via one-hour semi-private lessons, scheduled during free time. Lessons are open to all AAYTEC participants. Scholarships for these lessons are available for those children who could not otherwise afford such opportunities.

Contact

J. Chapman