Bradley University Nike Tennis Camp Peoria, Illinois
Come join the fun and get better at our youth summer tennis camp! Bradley University Nike Tennis Camp offers two weeks of overnight and day camp for kids ages 9-18 and of all ability levels. Our camps combine technical tennis instruction and drilling from a top notch coaching staff, supervised match play, and a variety of evening social activities.
The Bradley University Nike Tennis Camp is a camp for young athletes to come and vastly improve their tennis game, work hard, make new friends and have a lot of fun. Our goal at this summer camp is to give players the opportunity to hit thousands of balls, improve their technique, and be challenged by some of the best players in their peer group. Immerse yourself in tennis, new friends and off court fun activities for a week. Your day is filled with tennis and fun!
Dartfish video analysis offered at this camp! See details tab for more info.
Highlights Include
- 5-6 hours of daily instruction including drilling and match play with a 6:1 student to teacher rati
- Nike Tennis Camp t-shirt and merit based Nike prizes
- Fun off-court evening activities for overnight campers including a pizza night and an indoor climbing wall
- Safe, healthy and fun environment
Bradley University is a top rated academic institution with a rich athletic tradition. Bradley is located in central Illinois, 2.5 hours southwest of Chicago and 3 hours north of St. Louis. Campers will use the Markin Tennis facilities which include six Plexipave acrylic tennis courts and indoor courts are nearby.
Meet your coaching staff
Camp Director
Jesse Plote
In his fourth year as head coach of the men's tennis team at Bradley University, Jesse Plote brings a lot of energy and passion to the court.
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Jesse Plote
Position: Head Coach
Alma Mater: Creighton
Experience: 3 Years
Phone: 309-677-4567
Email: jplote@bradley.edu
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Jesse Plote
Courtesy: Bradley University
Release: 06/16/2009
Jesse Plote took over as men's tennis coach at Bradley University in June 2008 and recently completed his third season as head coach of the Braves in 2010-11.
Inheriting a team which had posted a 21-58 (.266) record in the four seasons prior to his arrival and 5-21 (.192) conference record in that time, Plote has led BU to a 29-42 (.408) mark and 4-12 (.250) Valley record in his first three seasons.
Coming off a 2-18 season in 2007-08, Bradley improved to 8-13 overall and 2-4 in MVC action in Plote's first season in 2008-09. On the heels of a 7-17 season in 2009-10, Plote's 2010-11 squad which featured two sophomores and six freshmen closed out the year with a 14-12 overall record.
The Braves had a six-match win streak early in the spring season, marking the team's longest win streak since 1993-94 and the 14 victories were the most for a BU squad since 1989-90. Freshman Justin Abrams finished the year with 26 singles wins, tying for the second most in school history and fellow freshman Ashton Kalhorn closed out the year with 20 singles wins, giving Bradley a pair of 20-match winners for the first time since 1986-87.
No stranger to the Missouri Valley Conference, Plote graduated from Valley rival Creighton, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration in 2002. He comes to Bradley directly from Lincoln, Neb., where he worked this past year as the head training professional at the Nebraska Tennis Center.
”I am very excited for this opportunity,” Plote said. “Bradley is a great university and I am looking forward to being a part of Bradley Athletics staff.”
Plote has several years experience coaching in the college ranks, including a three-year stint as the men’s and women’s tennis coach at Nebraska-Kearney. He led the men’s tennis teams to three consecutive NCAA Division II tournaments and was a two-time Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Coach of the Year. Plote also earned Intercollegiate Tennis Association North Central Region Coach-of-the-Year honors in 2005-06 after guiding the Lopers to a 16-7 overall record.
In addition to his duties at UNK, Plote served as Director of Tennis for the Kearney Tennis Association. He moved to Kearney after a one-year stint as an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and he also spent one season as an assistant coach with the men’s tennis team at Creighton.
Program
This year, Bradley University is offering two weeks of general overnight and day camp (9:00am-4:00pm) for ages 9-18 and all ability levels. During both weeks, there is a special tournament training component geared towards players competing at the (USTA) tournament level and offers extensive fundamental work, physical conditioning and competitive play with the goal of improving each player's tournament results. Lunch is included for day campers.
Upon arrival, all participants are evaluated by the staff so that their own instructional needs can be addressed throughout the week.
Dartfish video analysis will be used during the camp to analyze and improve your strokes. See your strokes compared to a top playing professional! Your Dartfish Mediabook will be posted to a private player locker on Dartfish.tv and reviewed with you by the staff at camp (click here for an example). You will receive a printout showing key positions with corrective comments. After camp, these Dartfish interactive analyses are available for purchase. For $19.95, the package includes:
- Stroke Analysis: your Dartfish Mediabook contains videos of your strokes, plus side-by-side comparison with a pro, along with comments.
- Pro Stroke Library: one month access to Pro Stroke Library, featuring hundreds of strokes in both real and high speed.
- Camp highlights video: This video of camp activities and friends all set to music will be something everyone will want to have and keep forever.
NOTE: Regardless of whether you purchase the post-camp package, all campers will be filmed at camp, see their mediabook, and go home with a printout.
Check-in and Check-out times
Check In: Overnight Campers 1:30-2:30 p.m. Sunday at the dorms.
Day Campers 2:00-2:30 p.m. at the dorms or 3:00 p.m. at the courts (Day campers depart at 5pm on the first day)
Check Out: 3:00 p.m. Thursday. Graduation will precede Check Out. Parents are invited to attend!
Day Camp Program
Day Camper Hours: 9:00am-4:00pm (except Day 1)
Lunch is provided for all day campers.
Day campers have the option to stay for swimming from 4:00-5:00pm on Monday and Wednesday.
Please note: Day campers should be dropped off and picked up at the Markin Center lobby if it is raining.
Dorms
Overnight Campers will stay on campus enjoying Bradley's modern dorms and dining facilities. Campers will sleep 2-3 per room.
Evening Activities
Evening activities may include Movie night, Tournament Night, Climbing Wall and Swimming.
Weekend Stayovers: There are no weekend stayovers offered at this location.
Designated Airport: Peoria International
Travel
Bradley is within three hours driving distance from Chicago or St. Louis and is also accessible by air. The O’Hare & Midway bus service provides easy transportation between major Chicago airports and the Bradley campus.
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 directly to the General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport, which enjoys daily jet service from Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Minneapolis-St. Paul, and St. Louis and schedule a public shuttle from the airport to camp. For info on shuttles, visit the airport’s ground transportation website at http://www.flypia.com/parking.php
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 may be 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.
Rain Plan
In the case of rain we have indoor courts available for use as needed, and we will also cross train, and do indoor activities such as swimming and climbing wall.
Medical Staff
There is a trainer on call at all times.
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. Our health and release forms do not require a doctor's signature and they will be collected on the first day of camp.
Sample Daily Schedule
- 8:30am Stretching, Camp Meeting at Courts
- 8:45am Tennis Instruction
- 10:00am Break
- 10:15am Tennis Instruction and Drills
- 11:45am Lunch, Rest, Optional Tennis
- 1:15pm Tennis Program, Match Play
- 2:45pm Break
- 3:00pm Tennis Program, Doubles and Drills
- 4:00pm Conclusion of Daily Tennis Program
- 4:15pm Groups or Private Extra Help, Optional Tennis, Swimming
- 5:00pm Rest, Shower, Dinner
- 7:15pm Evening Activity
- 9:00pm Extended Day Campers Depart
- 9:30pm Overnight Campers to Rooms
- 10:15pm Lights Out
Parent of Camper
New Friends
Children were positive about experience and instruction. They also commented that the other campers were very nice and that they made new friends. We will definitely consider coming back next year.
Past Camper
Wishing for More
I absolutely loved the Nike tennis camp! I only wish that the sessions would be longer than 5 days. If camp went for a whole week I would love it even more.
Parent of Camper
A personal experience!
Nick has attended other sports camp. He enjoyed the coach to camper ratio. He felt like he got to know the coaches, and they got to know him. Overall he had a great time and is planning on going back next year.
Parent of Camper
Coaches connecting with kids!
Coach Jesse takes a positive approach and connects well with kids.
Parent of Camper
Attained Goals
My daughter, Ashley, greatly enjoyed the camp and will plan to attend next year. Her serve and slice improved greatly, which is what she wanted to concentrate on, and it has helped her in two subsequent tournaments that she has played in.