University of North Texas Nike Tennis Camp Denton, Texas
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The University of North Texas Nike Tennis Camp is a summer camp for young athletes to come and greatly improve their tennis game, work hard, make new friends and have a lot of fun. Come join the fun this summer and take your game to the next level.
This junior summer tennis camp focuses on instruction as well as match play, giving each camper a positive learning environment to enhance their skills and enjoy the game. Our goal 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. Our camps combine technical tennis instruction and drilling from a top notch coaching staff, supervised match play, and a variety of evening social activities.
Dartfish video analysis offered at this camp! See details tab for more info.
Highlights Include
- Daily instruction from top teaching pros and players
- Every camper receives a Nike Tennis Camp T-shirt
- Experience campus life and create lasting friendships
- Daily instruction from top teaching pros and players
- Fun off-court evening activities for overnight campers
The campus which is located in Denton, offers a pretty, college-town atmosphere, but is only 40 minutes from Dallas and 25 minutes from the DFW airport.
The camp will use the Waranch Tennis Complex, a state of the art facility that was opened in January of 2006 featuring 12 tennis courts. Overnight campers will stay at Victory Hall, a brand new resident dormitory that is a short walk to the tennis courts.
Meet your coaching staff
Camp Director
Sujay Lama
Head women’s tennis coach, Sujay Lama, is a seasoned camp director with over fifteen years of experience.
Read Full Bio
Sujay Lama, who led the University of Illinois to five NCAA Tournament appearances, took over the reins of the North Texas tennis program on June 14, 2006, and it didn’t take him long to make an impact.
Lama broke through in 2010, his fourth year of coaching the Mean Green, capturing the program’s first Sun Belt Conference Championship, in a win over No. 49 Florida International. The conference championship earned the team an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament appearance, the first ever in school history. After a loss to Tulsa, North Texas finished its historical season with a 17-7 record.
Lama was named Sun Belt Coach of the Year in 2010 for the team’s accomplishments. The Mean Green finished the year ranked 66th nationally, the first time in program history that a Mean Green tennis team has been ranked postseason.
Lama mentored Madura Ranganathan, who received All-Sun Belt Conference honors. She became the first North Texas tennis player to receive all-conference honors since the Mean Green joined the Sun Belt.
The 2009 season saw Lama coach North Texas to its second-best record all-time at 17-6 with a semifinals appearance in the Sun Belt Tournament. Along the way, the Mean Green picked up victories against UTEP, New Mexico State, UCF, Rice, and Troy.
Lama was also named a finalist for the prestigious Giant Steps Award during 2009. In the fall of 2008, the Mean Green tallied individual wins over national contenders such as LSU, Ohio State, Texas, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Baylor, SMU, Rice, and Houston.
Lama led North Texas to a 13-9 record in the spring of 2008, its best record since 1986-87. In 2007, he led the program to its best fall season in history. The Mean Green turned the heads of the nation’s premier programs, notching individual wins over Ohio State, Kentucky, LSU, Oklahoma State, Baylor, Texas Tech and many others in the fall of ‘07.
Lama compiled a dual-meet record of 108-84, including a 57-25 mark in Big Ten play, during his eight-year career as the Illini’s head coach. In addition to leading the school to five NCAA Tournament appearances, his team ranked as high as No. 16 in the nation in the spring of 2004.
North Texas is the third stop in Lama’s collegiate coaching career, also serving as the top assistant at the Univ. of Florida from 1995 to 1998 before taking over at Illinois.
Lama turned the Illinois tennis program around right away, taking the Illini from a ninth-place finish in the Big Ten the year before his arrival to a third-place finish in his first year at the helm. In 2003-04 the Illini went 17-6, posting their best winning percentage since Illinois’ first team went 6-0 in 1975. Additionally, Lama led Illinois to a victory over top-ranked Duke, 4-3, at the UI Atkins Tennis Center in 2003.
Among the other milestones the Illinois women’s tennis program reached under Lama is winning its first-ever NCAA Tournament match in May of 2001.
During Lama’s time at Illinois, he coached the tennis program’s first Big Ten Freshman of the Year, the Rookie of the Year in the Midwest Region, nine All-Big Ten players, four Big Ten Medal of Honor players, 13 ITA Scholar-Athletes and two Academic All-Americans. UI women’s tennis players earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition 42 times under Lama.
While at Florida, he helped lead the Gators to two NCAA titles, three SEC crowns and three undefeated dual-match seasons. Lama was honored for his contribution as the 1997 ITA National Assistant Coach of the Year in the South Region.
Prior to Florida, Lama was the Senior Staff Professional at the Van Der Meer Tennis Center in Hilton Head, S.C., where he worked with the elite player development program (for touring pros and top junior players) from 1992-95. A noted teacher and clinician, Lama has worked at tennis camps across the United States, Europe and Asia. He has earned the highest certification level with the USPTR and the USPTA, and is a USTA Certified High Performance Coach.
He was a traveling coach on the WTA tour for several players including two top twenty ranked Amanda Coetzer (South Africa) and Naoko Sawamatsu (Japan). Lama has coached at 12 grand slam events including Wimbledon, U.S Open, Australian Open and French Open.
In his playing career, Lama was the top-ranked player in Nepal from 1989-91 and reached No. 50 in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) junior world singles rankings. He represented his country in several international tournaments, including the Asian Games in Beijing, China in 1990.
The Nepal native attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, from 1988-92 and was a two-time Volvo Collegiate All-American in singles (1991-92). He also earned Senior Player of the Year honors in the Midwest Region in 1992 and was ranked No. 5 in NCAA Division III singles. Lama dominated the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference the four years he competed at Luther.
He won the league’s singles and doubles titles and took conference MVP honors all four years of his collegiate career, leading his team to four IIAC titles. Lama put together a career singles record of 104-18 and captured two Rolex Midwest Regionals (1989 and 1991), while advancing to the semifinals of the Rolex National Intercollegiate Indoor Championship in 1991. Lama also made three NCAA Tournament apperances. He was inducted into the school’s athletic hall of fame in the fall of 2002.
He earned his bachelor’s degree from Luther College in 1992, earning GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-America honors during his time there. He was the recipient of the U.S./Nepal Educational Foundation Scholarship from 1990-92. Lama has traveled in more than 50 countries and is fluent in English, German, Hindi and Nepalese. He has lived five or more years on three continents (Asia, Europe and North America).
Recently, Lama has lent his time and expertise to a unique venture he calls “Project Nepal”. He has helped raise over $12,000 each year to fund the education of 67 orphanage children in his hometown of Nepal (www.supportprojectnepal.com).
Lama is also currently writing a bi-weekly column for Nepalitimes. His column, Game Point, has been well received in his native country and throughout the world for its insight and expertise on the game of tennis and life.
Lama and his wife, Lynne, reside in Corinth with their 10-year-old daughter, Priya and five-year-old son, Siddhartha.
Program
The North Texas Nike Tennis camp is offering two weeks of overnight and day camp (8:30am-4:00pm) for kids ages 10-18 of all skill levels. This year, in addition to these two general programs (for all ability levels), UNT will offer two High School sessions scheduled for July 22-26 and July 29-Aug 2. This program is designed for high school players (ages 12-18) looking to move up the ladder or make their high school team. Day campers bring their own lunch.
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. (*Only offered at participating locations.)
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 1:30-3:00pm on Sunday at the dorms.
Week 1 & 2 (June 10-14 & June 17-21) Dorm: Traditions Hall
Week 3 & 4 (July 22-26 & July 29-Aug 2) Dorm: Victory Hall
Day Campers 1:30-3:00 on Sunday at Warranch Tennis Complex. (Day Campers will depart that afternoon at 5:00pm.)
Graduation: All Campers - 3:30pm at the Tennis Courts. Parents encouraged to attend!
Check-out: Immediately following graduation.
Day Camper Schedule & Information
Sunday: 3:30-5:00pm.
Monday through Wednesday: 8:30am to 5:00pm.
Thursday: 8:30am to 4:00pm. Graduation at 3:30pm.
A more complete schedule will be given to you upon check-in.
Meals: Lunch is provided for Day campers Mon-Thurs.
Dorms
During the June 10-14 & June 17-21 sessions, campers will stay in the Traditions Hall dorm on campus. During the July 22-26 & July 29-Aug 2 sessions, campers will stay in the Victory Hall dorm on campus. The number of kids in each room depends on the Camp Housing Department for UNT (usually 2 per room, some singles as well). Campers can request roommates, otherwise they will be placed in rooms based on gender and age.
Evening Activities
For OVERNIGHT Campers we have a night session that includes: personal one on one private lessons for 30 minutes each, game court, free hit. Other evening activities may include pizza and movie nights, talent shows, games and free play at courts, karaoke contest, and a camp dance.
Weekend Stayovers: Weekend stayovers are not available at this location
Designated Airport: Dallas/Fort Worth
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 Dallas Fort Worth Airport and schedule a shuttle from the airport to camp. (For a list of shuttles, please visit http://www.dfwairport.com/transport/)
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
We have always planned our camp with "mother nature" in mind, if it were to rain we will always have some sort of activity usually dealing the the mental part of the game. For example, we will have stations where we talk about "College Tennis", "RTP", "Agility", "Mental Toughness" and these are only a few examples of things we have planned.
Medical Staff: 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
- 9:30pm Overnight Campers to Rooms
- 10:15pm Lights Out
Past Camper
Inspiring Instructor
Sujay Lama was an excellent inspiration, not just with tennis but having an overall positive attitude in life. The glass is always half full with him.
Parent of Camper
Loved Personal Attention
My son loved the camp and the personal attention from the coaches.
Past Camper
3 year veteran!
I have gone to the Nike tennis camp at UNT for the past 3 years and love it! Coach Llama is the best!
Past Camper
Amazing time!
Nike tennis camp 2011 was an amazing time and I would definitely recommend it to anyone on any level of tennis. I love the Nike tennis camp experience and all of the energetic and super enthusiastic director and staff. Coach Lama taught me important life lessons while also making my camp experience the best one yet.
Parent of Camper
Thanks!
My son enjoyed every day at camp. Thanks for everything!!!
Past Camper
Nothing Else Compares
I loved the camp, and I cannot wait to come back next time. I have tried other camps, and I think that I enjoyed this the most!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for the great experience!!!