The Nike Tennis Camp at Amherst College Amherst, Massachusetts
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The Nike Tennis Camp at Amherst College is one of the most successful summer tennis camps in the United States. This summer camp is designed for tennis players of all levels looking to improve their game and have fun while doing it! Come join the fun on the courts and elevate your game!
Since 1994, Amherst has been the “flagship” for tennis specialty camp programs throughout the country. Amherst’s “state of the art” tennis program uses the latest teaching techniques including detailed stroke breakdown, "live" drilling, coached match play, strategy sessions, and weekly team tournaments. This popular overnight tennis camp location attracts campers from all over the world and there is a Day and Extended Day option available as well. Come as a team or come individually, this is a great way to gear up for your high school team season!
Multi-Week Sport Camp Experience!
International or domestic campers seeking a multi-week sport camp experience, can easily combine any of our individual tennis camp sessions at this location with a weekend stay over to create the right camp program to fit your needs!
NEW & EXCITING CHANGES FOR 2012!
- Lower Cost 9am-5pm Day Camp Option
- Private Lessons: All campers will receive a free private lesson for each week in attendance.
- SAT/ACT Test Prep Option for High School weeks
- 10 & Under Tennis (Quick Start) Mini Camp Option (selected weeks)
- "Night on the Town" (Campers & staff eat at local Amherst restaurants.)
Highlights Include
- Instruction, coaching & training from Professionals, National Championship Coaches, College Players, and Skilled teachers.
- Private Lessons. This year, all campers will receive a free private lesson for each week in attendance.
- 5-6 hours of daily instruction, match play, fitness training with a maximum 5:1 student/teacher ratio... (much of tennis has even lower ratio)
- Fun off-court evening activities for overnight campers including a movie night, team skits, a camp dance, pool party and "Night on the Town"
- Comprehensive post camp player evaluation
- Nike Tennis Camp t-shirt
Amherst College, nestled in the small New England town of Amherst, is located in central Massachusetts. It is approximately 90 miles west of Boston and 165 miles north of New York City. While attending Nike/Amherst, campers will play on the 28 hard and clay courts situated on campus. Indoor courts are also available on campus in the event of rain. The camp has use of the Amherst College athletic fields, swimming pools and gymnasiums for off court training and activities.
Meet your coaching staffMike Gardner
In his 24th year as a Nike Tennis Camp Director, Mike Gardner brings years of experience and dedication to junior tennis development.
Read Full Bio
USPTA Level 1 Certified, Coach Gardner’s experience includes:
• 30 plus years Professional Junior Training Coach.
• Director of Nike/Amherst since its inception in 1994.
• Trained hundreds of top New England and National level players.
• Many of Coach Gardner’s students have earned Division 1 College Scholarships.
• State Championship High School Coach.
• Tennis Director, Orchard Hills Athletic Club in Lancaster, MA
Chris Garner
- Head Men's Coach at Amherst
- Former All-American at University of Georgia
Chris Garner-Tennis Director. Coach Garner, a former All American from the University of Georgia as well as a former world class player, is currently the Men’s Tennis Coach at Amherst College. Under Coach Garner, Amherst College Men’s Tennis won the National Championship in 2011 and reached the NCAA finals in 2009. Coach Garner has successfully coached college tennis at The Ohio State University, and The University of Colorado. As a junior player, Coach Garner was ranked as high as no. 1 in the U.S. Coach Garner brings a “world class” level of training to the Nike National Training Program at Mt. Holyoke.
Program
Amherst offers nine weeks of camp with Overnight and Extended Day (9:00am-9:00pm) and Day (9:00am-5:00pm) options. All sessions are geared towards players of all ages and ability levels. Upon arrival at camp, campers will be grouped accordingly. The week of Aug 5th is a special high school session geared towards players going into or already in high school. The high school session is provided for players currently on their high school team and wanting to move up the ladder or those planning on making the high school team.
QuickStart / 10 and Under Tennis: ( 7/10-7/12 / 7/17-7/19 / 7/24-7/26 )
In addition to the sessions listed above, we will also be offering three 3-day long (Tues-Thurs) sessions of 10 & Under Half Day (9:00am-12:00 noon) camp for kids ages 5-10 who are just learning the sport. We provide a positive introduction to tennis fundamentals and low key match play situations for younger campers. 10 and Under Tennis is tennis sized right for kids. Designed around the same concepts as other youth sports such as soccer and baseball, 10 and Under Tennis is played with slower-moving/lower-bouncing balls and shorter, lighter racquets on smaller courts. Balls are low-compression so they are easier to hit, allowing kids to get to the ball and develop optimal swing patterns. Racquets are sized to smaller hands for better grip and control. Courts are smaller and easier to cover so that kids can focus on developing tactical and technical skills—with more success and less frustration. Full-sized courts can be reconfigured to accommodate up to six 36’ courts—so instead of waiting in line, kids can spend their time playing, learning and having fun.
Upon arrival, all participants are evaluated by the staff so that their own instructional needs can be addressed throughout the week.
Check-In and Check-out times
Check In: Overnight/Extended Day/Day Camp sessions: 1:00pm Sunday at the dorms. Signs will be posted directing you where to go.
Half Day/10 & Under Camp sessions: 9:00am Tuesday at the courts. Signs will be posted directing you where to go.
Check Out: Overnight/Extended Day/Day Camp sessions:11:30am Friday at the dorms. Parents are invited to attend!
Half Day/10 & Under Camp sessions: 12:00 noon Thursday at the courts.
Day Camper Schedule
On Check-in day, Day campers stay until 5:00pm. Extended Day campers stay until 9:00pm.
Monday through Thursday Day campers come from 9:00am-5:00pm and Extended Day campers come from 9:00am to 9:00pm.
Camp ends with graduation at 11:30am on the last day of camp for all campers.
Lunch and dinner are provided for all Extended Day campers. Lunch is provided for all Day campers. Half Day campers leave before lunch.
Dorms
Campers reside in ideally situated dormitories equipped with TV lounges and WiFi. The entire camp resident staff, including the Director, live in the dormitory with the campers, providing safety and security 24 hours a day. Roommates: 2 per room (some triples may be available) based on requests and then by age and gender.
Meals
All meals are included for overnight campers and lunch and dinner are included for extended day campers. Meals will be served at the award winning Valentine cafeteria. This air conditioned venue serves an excellent “all you can eat” variety of health hot and cold meals. Highlights include:
· Full service salad bar including fresh fruits and vegetables
· Large variety pizza bar
· Dessert bar including ice cream “soft serve”, cookies and cakes
· Drinks include juice, milk, soda, athletic drinks, coffee and tea
Off Court Activities
At Nike/Amherst, we take social activities serious. Activities include: Supervised trips to Amherst town center with its fun shops & restaurants, movie night at the local mall, pool and pizza party night, camp dance featuring professional DJ, team skits and “ice breaker” activities.
Weekend Stayovers
Multiple week campers that elect to stay over the weekend will participate in organized “off campus” trips including fun parks, mini golf, bowling and the mall. Campers are supervised by camp staff throughout the entire weekend. Cost: $150/weekend
Designated Airport: Bradley International – Hartford, CT
Travel
Nike Tennis Camp does not provide any transportation to/from camp from airport, train stations or bus depots. If you fly into camp, we recommend that you fly into Bradley International Airport and schedule a shuttle/bus from the airport to camp. Information about shuttle transportation can be found on the airport website: www.bradleyairport.com or massport.com.
If you have a camper arriving by air and is deemed an “unaccompanied minor” by the airlines and must be met by a camp staff or shuttle company employee, there maybe a fee that needs to be paid in advance of camp. You will still have to arrange transportation to/from camp.
Please call 1-800-645-3226 two weeks prior to camp to provide camper’s flight and shuttle information.
If you are international camper requiring transportation assistance at Logan International Airport, please contact Mike Gardner directly at 978-618-9254.
Registration Packet
A detailed camper registration packet containing check in location, health/release forms, emergency contact info, and a list of things to bring will be emailed to all registered campers in the Spring. PLEASE NOTE: Our health and release forms require a doctor's signature and they will be collected on the first day of camp.
Sample Daily Schedule
- 7:45am Wake up by Camp Staff
- 8:00am Breakfast at Valentine
- 8:55am Meet at courts, warm up, stretch, morning demo, stroke breakdown and court assignments
- 9:20am Instruction, drills technique development
- 11:55am Morning wrap up, review, mail call
- 12:10pm Lunch, supervised town trip
- 1:30pm Meet at courts, warm up, stretch, strategy session, match play, sport activity
- 4:55pm Afternoon review, wrap up
- 5:10pm Dinner, free time
- 7:00pm Evening activity
- 9:30pm Free Time
- 9:45pm Lights out campers under the age of 11
- 10:30pm Lights out for all campers.
Parent of Campers
Eager to Return
My girls had a fantastic time! Didn’t want to come home and have asked to come again this summer and stay longer next summer too. Your staff has done a fantastic job of instructing, motivating, and still letting the kids have fun. We love the camp and will be returning again very soon.
Parent of Camper
Pleased and Proud Parent
My son had a great time at camp this summer. Next summer he will be going for 2 weeks and we will be sending his younger brother. We thought it was a great learning experience as well as a great group of tennis pros working with the kids. Jordan seems to be much more focused on the game and driven hard to try and make the Varsity tennis team.
Past Camper
Amazing time!
Amazing 2 weeks, nothing could have been better!
Past Camper
Experience of a lifetime!
Thank you Coach Gardner for the great experience of a lifetime!
Past Camper
Happy Camper
Thank you very much for the experience! I enjoyed every minute of it. The staff was incredible, they were very nice and had so much passion for tennis. I made new friends and I will definitely come back next summer!