Nike Tennis Camp at Williams College - International Programs Williamstown, Massachusetts
Come join the fun this summer and get better at Tennis and English! Our goal at Nike Tennis Camps is to stimulate a passion for tennis -- give campers the opportunity to hit a lot of balls, improve their technique and match play skills, develop their English skills and have a blast while doing it!
This camp program offers the best of all worlds. International campers can enjoy a week of language classes at the beautiful Williston Northampton School before immersing themselves in a one, two or three week Nike Tennis camp at Williams College.
Campers start with a week of language at the beautiful Williston Northamption School. Qualified instructors will help improve campers's accent, grammar and vocabulary (including the latest words and phrases.) In addition to classroom training, campers will have the chance to learn and practice their English when meeting new friends, sightseeing and playing sports. Class size is small and classes are offered Monday through Friday from 9am to 11:30am.
In addition to their language classes, campers can choose up to 3 additional sports to train and practice during this first week. (Campers can choose from basketball, soccer, tennis or golf.) Campers can do a variety of sports each day - or the same one for the whole week. It's up to them.
After their language week, campers will be transported to Williams College where they will start their Nike Tennis Camps. Beginners, intermediate, and tournament players come from all the world to the beautiful 18 court facility to participate in this fun and challenging program. Historically one of the most popular Nike Tennis Camps, each camp session averages 80 campers per session, ages 9-18 and all ability levels. This camp is a great way to improve your game quickly as campers spend 5-6 hours of court time each day and consistent instruction from top notch coaches.
All meals, lodging, activity fees and transportation to and from the airport and camp locations are provided.
International campers looking for a multi-week sport only program can click here to find out more and register for these programs.
Highlights Include
- 2.5 hours of language classes each day during the initial language week followed by fun multi-sport activities each day
- 5-6 hours of daily instruction with low camper to staff ratio and 24 hour supervision during the Nike Tennis Camp
- Every camper receives a Nike Tennis Camp T-shirt
- Experience campus life and create lasting friendships
- Fun off-court evening activities include swimming, camp bbq, ice cream fest and a trip to the Alpine Slide at the Jiminy Peak Ski Resort
The Williston Northampton School is located in Easthamption, MA, in the beautiful Pioneer Valley. Campers will take English classes and enjoy a multi-sport camp experience during their first week on this campus and then move to Williams College where they will finish up their Nike Tennis Camp. The language week is run in partnership with World Sport Camps. All transportation from the airport and to and from the two campuses are included in the multi-camp program price.
The Nike Tennis Camp at Williams College, located in northwestern Massachusetts, is an hour from Albany and three hours from New York City. Over 10,000 junior players have enjoyed the camp program for 35 years. The Chaffee Tennis House complements six championship hard courts with stadium seating and 12 other tournament hard courts immediately adjacent, making this a perfect location for camp. In case of rain, campers will have access to 8 indoor courts.
Williams College is not a sponsor or co-sponsor of the Nike Tennis Camp.
Camp Director
Camp Director, David Johnson, the former national
championship coach of the Williams men’s tennis team,
returns for his 22nd year.
Recently retired after 19 years as the Head Men's Tennis Coach at Williams, Dave Johnson teaches at the College and works in the Dean's Office. For nine consecutive years Dave Johnson led his Williams men's tennis team to at least an appearance in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament and won the NCAA Championship in 1999, 2001, and 2002.
Up until recently Dave Johnson served the Williams College as the men's tennis coach, assistant Dean of the college and part-time lecturer in Art History. Stepping down as the head coach of men's tennis will afford Johnson the opportunity to teach both semesters in Art History now and devote more time to his work in the Dean's Office.
Johnson in 20 seasons at Williams compiled an impressive record of 252-62 (.803) and he won three NCAA titles – 1999, 2001 and 2002. The Ephs under Johnson qualified for 13 NCAA Tournaments out of a possible 14 and they advanced to at least the quarterfinal round in each of the last 11 years. Three of Johnson's teams finished second at the NCAA Championships – 1998, 2000 and 2004 and one finished third (1997) and two more finished fourth (2000 and 2006).
Dave Johnson is the only Eph coach to win three NCAA titles with the same team and 9 of his 13 NCAA teams finished in the top four in the nation.
The Ephs compiled a record of 38-12 (.760) in NCAA Tournament play under Johnson and Josh Lefkowitz '02 was the 2002 NCAA Singles Champion. Lefkowitz was also the ITA National Player of the Year in 2002.
Johnson's Ephs won 11 consecutive NESCAC titles from 1993-2003 and his Ephs have won the last 13 Little Three titles.
Thirty-three Ephs earned All-America honors under Johnson.
In 1998 Johnson was named the national Division III Coach of the Year and in 2001 he was the ITA Northeast Region Coach of the Year and in 2005 he earned NESCAC Coach of the Year honors.
Before assuming duties as an assistant Dean, Johnson previously coached the Eph men's squash team where he fashioned a record of 162-70 (.698) in 15 years frequently guiding Williams to top eight finishes in the nation despite playing against a predominantly Division-I schedule. The Ephs finished fifth at the National Intercollegiate Squash Racquets Association (NISRA) Championships in 2001, their best finish under the new format.
NISRA honored Johnson with its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003. At Williams Johnson was a two-time All-American as a player and coached the Ephs on an interim basis from 1975-77 and then full-time from 1989-2002.
(TNXIWC)
Camp Program
This year we are are offering three weeks of overnight camp for kids ages 9-18 of all skill levels. A special language week can be added prior to any of the Williams Nike tennis sessions.These language sessions offer language classes in the morning and multi-sport training (campers can choose their sport) in the afternoon and evening. At the conclusion of the week, campers are transported to Williams College where they will begin their Nike Tennis Camp program.
Tennis Camp: Three week-long camp sessions will be offered beginning July 7th. Upon arrival at camp, all participants will be evaluated by the staff so that their own instructional needs can be addressed throughout the week. A special high school program will be offered the week of July 21 that includes additional instruction for high school players and also includes an optional SAT prep class which is held in the evening.
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. You will receive a printout showing key positions with corrective comments.
Check-in at Williston Northamption
- Check-in on Sunday from 2-4 pm
- Campers check-out on Sunday between 10-12PM (Campers will be brought over to Wiliams College on Sunday in time for camp check-in between 12:30-2:00pm)
Williams College Camp Check-out and Nike Tennis Graduation: 11:30am Friday (on the last day of your camp program) at the tennis courts
- International campers will stay at camp after Check-out until it is time to depart for their flights back at Boston Logan Airport. Best time to arrange return flights is between 3-6pm.
Weekend Program: Weekend programs are designed to bridge the weekly camp sessions and start after weekly camp check-out on Friday. Between 10-25 campers stay over each weekend. Weekend activities range from River Rafting, to visiting local nearby points of interest, to enjoying the Adventure Park at Jiminy Peak Ski Resort . Weekend campers are supervised by our staff the entire time. Weekends are also the time when multi-week campers do their laundry, catch up with family oversees via skype or email and play tennis in non- competitive games with other campers and staff. Weekends are including in multiple week packages. To add an extra weekend, the cost is $250.
Dorms: Campers will reside at Williston Northampton School for the initial week of their stay int he US. Campers stay two to a room and are matched with an American camper the same age and gender. All camp facilities, meals dorms and playing fields are within walking distance. During the subsquent weeks, Camper will reside in Williams College dormitories and eat meals in the dining hall. The dorms, tennis courts, and dining hall are all walking distance from each other. Campers stay 2 per room. The rooms are assigned according to sex, age and roommate requests.
Transportation: Roundtrip transportation from Logan Airport (or Albany International Airport) to Williston Northamption and to Williams College are provided to all sport and language multi-week campers. Unaccompanied Minor (UM) fees are not included. If a child is an UM, our staff will meet the camper at the gate and on the return will wait with the camper at the gate until the child is able to board the airplane. Travel forms which are located in our registration packages which come out in the Spring, will need to be completed 3 weeks prior to camp in order to be scheduled for pickup at the airport.
Evening Activities at Williston Nothampton School and Williams College: During the evenings, campers will participate in many fun activities which include swimming, a barbeque, tie-dye party, scavenger hunt, capture the flag, ice cream fest, movies, and a trip to the Six Flags.
Designated Airport: Albany, NY or Boston Logan
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. Travel forms will need to be completed 3 weeks prior to camp in order to be scheduled for pickup at the airport.
Sample Daily Schedule
- Language Week at Williston Northampton School (World Camp)
- 9-11:30am (1st period) ESL classes for international campers
- 11:30-12:30 (2nd period) Choose a sport or POOL
- 12:30-1:00 pm Group time - meet in your group - go to Lunch
- 1:00-2:00pm Lunch
- 2:00-4:30 (3rd Period) Choose a sport
- 4:30-5:30pm (4th Period) Choose your sport or POOL
- 6-7pm Dinner
- 7-8:30 pm League Play (basketball, tennis, soccer ) or Evening Activity
- 8:30-10:00pm Shower - group meeting - get ready for bed
Nike Tennis Schedule at Wiliams College Program
- 8:30-8:45am - Meet at courts, stretching
- 8:45-10:00am - First tennis session - drills, exhibitions
- 10:00-10:15am - break and rest
- 10:15-12:00pm - Second tennis session - drills and strategy
- 12:00-1:30pm Lunch, Rest, Optional Tennis
- 1:30-3:00pm - Matchplay
- 3:00- 3:15pm - break
- 3:15-4:00pm - Doubles Drills and matchplay
- 4:00- 5:00pm - Groups or Private Extra Help, Optional Tennis, Swimming
- 5:00 - 7:00pm - Dinner, shower, rest
- 7:15 - 9:30pm - Evening activity
- 10:00pm - lights out
Past Camper
LOVE it!
This is my third year at William College Tennis Camp and I love my time there! Great instructors and campers! Food is good too!