Nike Tennis Camp at Furman University Greenville, South Carolina
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This summer tennis camp for kids is a great way to take your game to the next level! A tennis camper favorite, players of all ages and abilities come to this beautiful campus, located at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, five miles south of Greenville, South Carolina.
Steeped in tradition, these youth summer tennis camp sessions are a great way to improve your game in a short period of time, providing players with a chance to play tennis up to 5 hours a day, make new friends, enjoy nightly group activities and great accommodations. Join the fun and get better this summer!
Highlights Include
- Daily instruction from Kelly Jones, former ATP World #1 Doubles Player and professional coach, and his experienced staff
- Safe, healthy and fun environment
- 5-6 hours of daily instruction with low camper to staff ratio and 24 hour supervision
- Fun off-court evening activities for overnight campers
Campers will utilize the 19 outdoor courts and 4 indoor courts which are on campus.
Meet your coaching staff
Camp Director
Kelly Jones
Kelly Jones is entering his second season as the Furman head men's tennis coach.
Jones, a native of San Diego, Calif., is among the top developmental coaches in the United States. Over the last decade, he has coached some of the best professional tennis players in the world, including Mardy Fish, currently the top-ranked American and No. 8 player in the world, and James Blake, who has been ranked as high as fourth world-wide. His other players include two Top 20 performers, John Isner and Xavier Malisse, along with many other Top 100 performers.
Read Full BioPrior to his coaching career, Jones established himself among the top professional tennis players on the ATP. In 1998, he reached the mixed doubles finals at Wimbledon, then won the ATP Tour Singapore singles championship in both 1989 and 1990. Jones attained a #1 doubles ranking on the ATP Tour in October of 1992, then went on to reach the doubles finals at the U.S. Open and the Australian Open that same year. The 1994 World Team Tennis Player of the Year, he also won the doubles championship on the ATP Tour at St. Polten in 1997.
After retiring from professional tennis in 1998, Jones spent six years as a USTA National Coach scouting, recruiting, and developing the nation's best junior tennis players.
During his collegiate career, Jones won NCAA doubles titles in 1984 and 1985, then led Pepperdine to the finals of the NCAA Championship the following year. A four-time All-American, Jones dropped a 3-6, 6-3 7-6 match to Furman's Ned Caswell in the second round of the 1986 NCAA Tournament. Prior to his junior year at Pepperdine, he also competed as a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic team.
Jones is married to Tami Whitlinger-Jones, a former top WTA Tour tennis player. The couple has a 13 year-old daughter, Makenna.
Furman University is one of the nation's premier undergraduate liberal arts colleges. The University offers outstanding academics, opportunities for a broad range of talented students with a passion for learning, a robust visual and performing arts program, and competitive NCAA Division I athletics. Our campus in Greenville, South Carolina, is nationally acclaimed for its beauty, and the residential student body of 2,700 is the ideal size to enhance scholarly activity, personal growth, and leadership development.
Camp Program
(Camp Code: TNXRFM)
This camp offers three weeks of Overnight, Extended Day (8:30am-9:00pm) and Day (8:30am-5:30pm) camp for kids ages 9-18 of all skill levels. We are also offering one week of Day Only Camp (Monday-Friday) from July 22-26.
Tournament Training and High School Sessions:
In addition to the general camp sessions, this year we are offering tournament training and high school sessions during certain weeks of camp. Make sure to note that you would like to participate in these programs when you register.
- The tournament training program is geared towards tournament level and ranked players looking to improve their tournament results, learn winning strategies, and work on mental toughness.
- 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.
Tennis Program
The objectives of our camp are to reach each camper's specific needs for development. Campers will work on drills which develop consistency, placement and accuracy, as well as conditioning exercises to build speed, quickness and endurance. Each session will include team play. All sessions stress the importance of a positive attitude and good sportsmanship.
Upon arrival, all participants are evaluated by the staff so that their own instructional needs can be addressed throughout the week.
Overnight & Day Camp Sessions:
Check-in:
• 1:30-3:00pm on Sunday at dorms (name TBD)
• Campers should come dressed to play as we will head straight to the courts after check-in.
• Day campers will leave that day at 6:45pm.
• Extended day campers will leave that night at 9:30pm.
Check-out
• There is a short awards ceremony at 12:00 noon on Friday. Parents are invited to attend!
• Check-out is at 12:30pm on Friday after the graduation.
Day Only Camp Session (July 22-26):
Check-in:
• 8:15am Monday at the courts
• Campers should come dressed to play as we will head straight to the courts after check-in.
• Day campers will leave that day at 5:30pm
Check-out
• There is a short awards ceremony at 12:00 noon on Friday. Parents are invited to attend!
• Check-out is at 12:30pm on Friday after the graduation.
Extended Day and Day Camper Schedule & Information
• Day Camp runs from 8:30am-5:30pm each day (except first and last day, see above).
• Extended Day Camp runs from 8:30am-9:00pm each day (except first and last day, see above).
• Meals: Lunch and dinner will be provided for Extended Day campers each day. Lunch will be provided for Day campers on Wednesday and Fridays. Day campers should bring a lunch on Mondays, Tuesday and Thursday.
Dorms
Overnight campers will stay in the dorms (name TBD) on campus. Campers stay 2 to a room in the dorms (A/C TBD for 2013). (One triple room available each session, first come first sever basis.) The rooms are assigned according to sex, age and roommate requests.
Evening Activities
Daily camp and evening activities are supervised activities. Some of the evening activities include a movie night, pizza night, fun park night, miniature golfing and swimming.
Weekend Stayovers
Campers can elect to stay over the weekend between sessions 2&3 only. Campers are supervised by camp staff throughout the entire weekend and all meals and housing are included. Cost: $100/night. Private lessons are available with Kelly Jones or staff.
Designated Airport: Greenville/Spartenburg
Travel
If you fly into camp, we recommend that you fly into Greenville Airport. If you are coming to camp by plane/train and would like us to pick you up, please contact Kelly Jones for pick up 864-294-2445. (There will be a small charge for this service.)
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
- 7:15am Wake-up, breakfast at the Furman University dining court
- 9:00am-12:15pm Group sessions broken into three areas personal instruction, drills, and team play.
- 12:30pm-1:45pm Lunch and rest
- 2:00pm-5:15pm Group sessions broken into three areas personal instruction, drills, and team play.
- 5:30pm-7:30pm Dinner and getting ready for evening activities
- 7:45-9:30 Evening Activity (movie night, pizza night, fun park night, miniature golfing)
- 10:00pm Lights Out
Past Camper
Bringing All My Friends
I had only been playing a couple of months before I came. This camp helped me learn a lot of new skills and ways to improve. It was a perfect amount of tennis, and prefect amount of free time. Because of this camp, I never want to quit playing tennis. I'm definitely coming next year, and bringing all of my friends who play tennis!! Thanks for making this camp so great!
Parent of Camper
Kudos to the Coach
Coach Scarpa is unbelievable, so personal and encouraging to the kids. His staff was fantastic. Really can’t think of anything to improve except roller skating was not a hit – but what pleases everyone, especially kids right? Thanks for the great camp and please pass along special thanks to Coach Scarpa – he was seriously my son’s favorite part of camp.
Parent of Camper
Camper's Favorite Place
My daughter has attended Addidas and Nike Camps in the past. This seemed to be one of her favorites. The coach was heavily involved and gave lots of instruction throughout the week. It was a great learning experience and beautiful campus.
Parent of Camper
The Best!
Furman was bar none the best camp my daughter has ever attended.
Parent of Camper
What a great camp!
This was the fouth time Gabrielle was at this camp and while her tennis game has improved, she has met the best friends and had the best weeks of her life. The staff were fantastic and made playing tennis in 100 degree weather fun. What a great camp this is!!!!She is sure to return.
Parent of Camper
Above the Rest
The Nike Furman camp is head and shoulders above any tennis camp that I have ever attended.
Parent of Camper
Improvement All Around
Just a flat out great experience. Andy Jung, his tennis coach, says my son improved in both attitude and play.