This past month (February 17-19, 2017) the SCTA and some of our junior players were invited to participate in a Cross Sectional Training Camp with the Florida, Southern, and Texas sections at the USTA National Campus in Orlando. The players and coaching staff were: Ryan Morgan, Sebastian Gorzny, Kyle Kang, Jiaxi (Jesse) Ma, Leyden Games, Anne Christine Lutkemeyer, Katrina Scott, and coaches Trevor Kronemann and Ginger Helgeson.

We boarded the plane in Los Angeles with eyes wide open (even with 3:30am wake up calls), enthusiastic and energetic about participating in the camp and getting to see the National Campus for the first time. For those that had gone before us, we had an ideal at what was in store, but did not take the experience for granted. We were not disappointed once we arrived:

Day One First out of the gate, Satochi Ochi, led the kids on a dynamic warm-up. That led into a drilling session with the coaches that included mostly transition style play up to the net (Down the Line Approach, Cross- Court Approach, etc.). What to do once you have you have arrived in that area of the court after tranisitioning. This was the theme of the weekend; Transitioning to the Net with success. There was then a presentation by Larry Lauer who works with the USTA players on rituals and court management while on the court. To end the day we played a dual match with our players against the Southern team. During the drilling sessions and match play Jose Higueras, Lorie Riffice, Richard Ashby, Kent Kinnear and Jon Evans were there watching and evaluating the kids.

Day Two: Seemed to come quickly with another dynamic warm-up by Satochi Ochi. We then played a match against the Texas section in the morning session. At the end of the morning session the racket stringer (Sean Prokes) came and discussed with the kids all of the pertinent information on strings, stringing and balancing of rackets. We finished the day under the threat of rain against the host Florida Section; and fortunately finished the matches indoors (something that our juniors hardly ever get to experience). Only seven indoor courts in the state of Florida and six of them are at the National Campus. This opportunity was a privilege considering we were the first group to play on all six courts.

Day Three: Brought more rain, so we got a chance to return to the indoor courts where the coaches from each section ran drills that stayed with the theme of the camp (Transition Tennis) and becoming comfortable up and around the net. We closed with a drill that was invented in Texas (It is called 151). I hear that they have actual leagues that compete in this drill from club to club in the Texas Section. My competitiveness has to say that we dominated the drill beating all three sections. Just maybe, there is something bigger and better about Southern California.

The experience was a success, our first trip to the National Campus forged friendships, taught us lessons, invigorated the mind and put a step in everyone’s passion for this great game.  The future of American Tennis is alive and well. Congratulations to Leyden Games and Katrina Scott for winning the Sportsmanship awards for the camp.