Nike Tennis Camp at UC Santa Cruz
Improve your game and have serious fun
at Nike Tennis Camps
This Northern California summer tennis camp in Santa Cruz delivers the ideal combination of athletics and fun. UCSC tennis coaches direct the camp, offering match play, drill work, strategy sessions and extra social activities.
Our UC Santa Cruz tennis camp, just south of San Francisco, offers a full day option from 9am-4pm and a half day option from 9am-12pm for campers of all levels to address the technical, tactical, physical, and mental aspects of tennis.
Highlights Include
- Instruction from UC Santa Cruz Tennis Coaches Ross Pytko and Isaiah Pekary
- 5-6 hours tennis training daily
- Campers receive a Nike Tennis Camp t-shirt
- Low camper to coach ratio
- View More Details ⟩
Camp Coaches
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Director Ross Pytko
Ross Pytko became the sixth head coach in UC Santa Cruz men's tennis's storied history in August 2023. Pytko joined the Banana Slugs after five years as an assistant at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Interim Director of Athletics and Recreation Courtnie Prather said "it was of utmost importance to find a partner who possessed a deep understanding of the legacy of our Men's Tennis program, had the necessary experience to continue its growth, and was committed to providing top-notch athletic opportunities for student-athletes in a respectful and educational environment that embodies the NCAA Division III philosophy and UC Santa Cruz's 'Principles of Community'. Ross is a diligent recruiter with a proven track record of success on the court and in the classroom. He is a compassionate leader who is dedicated to the growth and development of student-athletes into champions." Pytko played four years at Boston College, graduating in 2004 with a degree in Psychology. He went on to earn a law degree from Suffolk University in Boston before beginning his coaching career.
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Assistant Director Isaiah Pekary
A Bay Area native, Isaiah Pekary joined the UC Santa Cruz staff in 2024. Coach Pekary gravitated to tennis through the influence of his grandfather, a highly successful player with the US Naval Academy. Pekary competed four years at Biola University, graduating in 2014 with a degree in communications. and was named to the NAIA Academic All-District team for his academic and athletic achievements.
Camp Details
2025 CAMP DATES
- July 14-17
- July 21-24
- July 28-31
CAMP PROGRAM INFORMATION
- Camp Type(s) Offered: Half Day (9:00am-12:00pm) & Full Day (9:00am-4:00pm)
- Gender: Coed
- Age Range: 7-17
- Skill Level: Beginner, Intermediate & Advanced
SKILL LEVELS & GROUP PLACEMENT
Upon arrival, all participants are evaluated by the staff so that their own instructional needs can be addressed throughout the week. Campers are then sorted by ability first, then age per the Camp Director's discretion - adjustments are made as needed during camp.
While there are many ways to define skill levels, the following descriptions are what the Camp Directors at Nike Tennis Camps will use to organize and group camp participants. At the time of registration, please choose the level that best represents your athlete's experience:
Beginner: Players new to the game with little to no formal tennis instruction. They are still learning the fundamentals, focusing on basic skills and rules of the game. Typically play for recreation and have minimal match-play experience.
Intermediate: Players who can serve and sustain rallies with consistency. They are comfortable hitting medium-paced shots but may struggle with all strokes and directional control. Some may have participated in local tournaments and possess a UTR rating or are equivalent to a High School JV player.
Advanced: Players with dependable strokes and solid directional control. They demonstrate a strong competitive spirit, improved court coverage, and are developing strategies for both singles and doubles play. These players frequently compete in tournaments and have a USTA or UTR rating, or are equivalent to a High School Varsity player.
CAMP CHECK-IN/OUT
- Check-In: All campers check-in Monday between 8:30am and 9:00am
- Full Day Campers Check-out: Full day campers check-out daily at 4:00pm
- Half Day Campers Check-out: Half day campers check-out daily at 12:00p
CAMP SCHEDULE
- Full Day Camper Schedule: Monday-Thursday 9:00am-4:00pm
- Half Day Camper Schedule: Monday-Thursday 9:00am-12:00pm
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE FEE?
- Instruction: Daily tennis training, full day and half day sessions
- Supervision: Staff members participate in all activities
- Camp T-shirt & Prizes: All campers receive a Nike Tennis Camps t-shirt and prize
MEALS
- Lunch is not provided. Full day campers are required to bring their own lunch, snacks, and water each day. Half day campers depart before lunch but are encouraged to bring snacks (if needed) and water.
EQUIPMENT, FACILITY & MORE
- Equipment Needed: All campers must bring a tennis racquet, tennis shoes and a water bottle
- Facility: 6-court college tennis facility
- Inclement Weather Plan: In the event of rain, campers will have access to the gym and can watch tennis videos and do off-court conditioning.
- Medical Protocol: Most camps have an athletic trainer on-site to help with illness or injury. In case of an emergency, campers will be transported to the nearest hospital
CUSTOMER PORTAL
To access your completed camp enrollments, Health and Release Forms, Camp Information Packet and pay any outstanding balance you might have please visit: US Sports Camps Customer Portal
PREPARE FOR CAMP: COMPLETE YOUR PRE-CAMP CHECKLIST
To view your customer account, complete your mandatory forms, pay balance dues, and review important camp information, visit Pre-Camp Checklist. All necessary camp information is on this page. If there are any imperative changes prior to camp start, registered campers will be notified via email and this webpage will be updated!
CANCELLATION POLICY
If you need to cancel for any reason up to 24 hours before camp check-in, you will receive a camp credit voucher for the tuition fees paid, valid for one year for any sport and transferable to any immediate family member. Please note that participants who do not attend their registered session (no-shows) or fail to notify USSC at least 24 hours prior to check-in will not receive a voucher or refund.
Refunds are available only if the Cancellation Protection was purchased at the time of registration and the cancellation is made before your payment due date (1st of the month prior to your camp start date).
For information regarding our cancellation policy and all other company policies, please visit USSC Policies.
CHECKLIST OF THINGS TO BRING
Below is a suggested list of clothes, equipment, and personal items. US Sports Camps is NOT responsible for lost or stolen articles or money.
Athletic, on-court tennis clothing
Tennis Racquet(s)
Tennis shoes (no running shoes)
Sweatshirt/warm-up jacket and pants
Water bottle
Sunscreen
Signed Health & Release forms and waivers (forms completed online do not need to be printed and turned in at camp)
NIKE TENNIS CAMP FAQ
For general questions about our tennis camps please see our FAQ page
SWING VISION
Maximize your camp experience with SwingVision, an iPhone app that provides the following benefits when you record your play: watch a full match in 20 minutes with the dead-time automatically removed, view stats like shot placement, court positioning, shot speed, and consistency for each shot type, filter to particular shot or point types and easily create highlight videos of certain points or shots, access video analysis, and stats immediately after you finish recording, all on unlimited cloud storage.
Adult Tennis Camp at UC Santa Cruz
We're excited to also bring you an Adult Nike Tennis Camp at UC Santa Cruz! Click the link for details.
Camp Code: TNXRSC
Camp is open to any and all entrants and only restricted only by age and number of campers.
SECURE YOUR SPOT – CAMPS SELL OUT!
Last year over 650 Sports Camps sold out, leaving 7,000+ campers on the waitlist. Due to high demand, early registration for our first-come-first-serve camps is strongly recommended.
Camp Dates & Prices
*Registration Fees are charged once per camper, per season. Exceptions may apply.
Jul. 14 - Jul. 17, 2025
Nike Tennis Camp at UC Santa Cruz
Nike Tennis Camp at UC Santa Cruz
Jul. 21 - Jul. 24, 2025
Nike Tennis Camp at UC Santa Cruz
Nike Tennis Camp at UC Santa Cruz
Jul. 28 - Jul. 31, 2025
Nike Tennis Camp at UC Santa Cruz
Nike Tennis Camp at UC Santa Cruz