Nike Tennis Camp at Williams College Williamstown, Massachusetts
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Come join the fun at this summer camp and get better! Our goal at the Nike Tennis Camp at Williams College is to stimulate the passion for tennis in young players, give them the opportunity to hit a lot of balls, improve their technique and match play skills, and have a blast while doing it!
Beginners, intermediate, and tournament players come from all over to our 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.
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!
Dartfish video analysis offered at this camp! See details tab for more info.
Highlights Include
- 5-6 hours of daily instruction with low camper to staff ratio and 24 hour supervision
- Daily instruction from head men's coach, Dave Johnson, and his experienced staff
- Every camper receives a Nike Tennis Camp T-shirt
- Experience campus life and create lasting friendships
- Fun off-court evening activities for overnight campers including swimming, camp bbq, ice cream fest and a trip to the Alpine Slide at the Jiminy Peak Ski Resort
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.
Meet your coaching staff
Camp Director
Dave Johnson
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.
Program
This year we are are offering five weeks of overnight and extended day (8:30am-9:00pm) camp for kids ages 9-18 of all skill levels. Lunch and dinner are included for Extended Day Campers.
In addition to the general camp sessions, this year we are offering tournament training session during the July 1-6 week of camp. 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. Make sure to note that you would like to participate in this program when you register.
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 $30, 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
• Overnight and Day campers: 12:30-2:00pm Sunday at the dorms.
• Extended Day Campers: 2:00pm Sunday at the dorms.
• Signs will be posted directing you where to go.
• Campers should come dressed to play as we will head straight to the courts after check-in
• Extended Day Campers will depart that evening after dinner and evening activities (9:00pm)
Check-out
• Graduation: 11:30am Friday at the tennis courts (parents encouraged to attend!) In case of rain, graduation will be held at the indoor courts in the Lansing Chapman Rink.
• Check-out: 12:00 noon at the dorms.
Dorms
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.
Evening Activities
During the evenings, campers will participate in activities which may include swimming, a barbeque, tie-dye party, scavenger hunt, capture the flag, ice cream fest, movies, and a trip to the Alpine Slide at the Jiminy Peak Ski Resort.
Weekend Stayovers
We will not hold a two-week session as in the past, but campers are welcome to stay multiple weeks. Multiple week campers that elect to stay on campus over the weekend will participate in organized on and off campus activites. Campers are supervised the entire weekend. Cost: $150/weekend.
Designated Airport: Albany, NY
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 Albany Airport or Bradley International Airport in Hartford (however it is 2 hours away form Williams) and schedule a shuttle/bus from the airport to camp. We recommend Norms Limo Service from the Albany Airport- (413) 663-6284. Information about transportation can be found on the airport website: www.albanyairport.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.
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
- 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
Notable Dedication
Dave Johnson is great and most of the counselors are too. My kids had a really great time and really improved. Dave’s enthusiasm and dedication to the program are what makes this such a great camp.
Parent of Campers
Ready for More!
Both of my kids had a great time and love the game of tennis even more. They will be back next year!
Past Camper
First Timer Approves!
First time camper, had a fabulous experience. You’ll see me next year for certain!
Parent of Camper
Thanks, Coach!
My daughter had a great time there. She said she learned a lot from the coach, got a lot better at tennis and loved meeting all the new people.
Parent of Campers
Consistently great camp!
Dave is an excellent program director and consistently creates a welcoming, positive tennis camp that is not only instructional, but lots of fun. My kids did two weeks if the camp and enthusiastically have requested to participate again next summer.
Past Camper
Can't Get Enough
This is my third year at William College Tennis Camp and I love my time there! Great instructors and campers!