JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT (JD)

Aug. 24, 2020 – May 16, 2021 | 32 weeks | Four eight-week sessions

The JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT (JD) PROGRAM offers tennis instruction and training for players of all levels. Tennis Memphis utilizes the Great Base Tennis curriculum providing programming with a strong emphasis on the fundamentals of the sport of tennis and character development. Our approach encourages students to be independent thinkers and problem solvers, become their own coach through peer teaching, develop leadership skills and teaches them the value of hard work and self-discipline when pursuing goals. Our goal is to build a strong technical and tactical foundation to grow your student’s game, along with providing a complete pathway for future development.

Session 2: Oct. 19 – Dec. 5

READ OUR SAFETY GUIDELINES

How to register

Follow the registration timeline below to reserve your spot.

Register and Pay with Club Automation!

PRIORITY REGISTRATION OPENS THURSDAY, SEPT. 24
Priority registration for Session 2 will be open Sept. 24 through Oct. 2 for students who were enrolled in JD Session 1 (Aug. 24 – Oct. 17).
EARLY REGISTRATION BEGINS SATURDAY, OCT. 3
Early registration for Session 2 will be open Oct. 3 through Oct. 11 for all students who were not enrolled in JD Session 1 (Aug. 24 – Oct. 17).
OPEN REGISTRATION BEGINS ON MONDAY, OCT. 12
Registration will remain open until classes are full.

REGISTRATION PROCESS AND PRIORITY
Students must register and pay for the session in advance of starting the program. JD Groups are scheduled multiple days a week ranging from two days up to four days. Class space is limited, and early registration is recommended. Registrations can be made in person at the tennis center or online.

Students enrolled in the previous session of JD and those that register for ALL class days receive 1st priority; new students that register for ALL class days receive next priority.

  • For students who are unable to sign up for the full program, those students may still have an opportunity to participate if class openings remain. Students enrolled in the previous session of JD and those that register for the next maximum number of class days offered receive priority; the process continues until all available spaces are filled.

If you are not sure or have questions about which group to register your child for, contact our tennis center directors below:

A student is not registered until all forms and payment has been received. The following forms and payment are required when registering for the program.

  1. JD Registration form completed with payment prior to each session
  2. JD Waiver signed
  3. JD Policy signed

Financial assistance is available. Eligibility is determined by completing a Financial Assistance Application and attaching the required documentation.  Financial assistance is intended for youth who are financially unable to afford to participate in the program.  Contact the Tennis Center Director for assistance and application.

REQUIRED STUDENT TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT
ALL JD students are required to have a Pre and Post technical assessments for documenting development purposes. This applies for all competitive students and students who have a basic understanding of the rules, can serve, rally, and keep score. (Exception: does not apply for beginning players).

  • When we have received your completed registration and payment one of our coaches will contact you to schedule an assessment.

For students who are unable to commit to the full program, we provide the option to register for the days that they are able to attend. This option will be available as space permits and is not guaranteed. You will be notified by email on or before Tuesday, Aug. 18 confirming their status in the program.

As each student progresses through the Player Development Learning Pathway outlined in the dropdown sections below, they are introduced to information and skills from the Great Base Tennis Curriculum, a system of systems consisting of 4 courses: Tennis Intelligence Applied, Great Base Initiative, Practice At Home and Building Blocks. Students advance through the Pathway as they develop and  the next phase as they demonstrate knowledge and skills specific to each phase,  students transition to learn and demonstrate skills and knowledge specific to each phase. Curriculum lessons are delivered in segments of four 8-week sessions. Information retention and trajectory for progression is gauged based on each player actively participating in the program.

Tennis Memphis has adopted the GreatBase curriculum for its Junior Development Program. Our coaching team has seen dramatic improvement in our students’ development, progress, tournament results and tennis knowledge since implementing the curriculum 3 years ago. Our appreciation of Steve Smith and the GreatBase curriculum which he has developed having studied tennis teaching masters and methodologies we want to share with you. Steve has been coaching and training coaches for four decades and his students and his students’ students have also had success at every level of competitive tennis. He is on a mission to improve tennis teaching, with an emphasis on youngsters learning the proper fundamentals. He has developed the GreatBase as a way of teaching those fundamentals.

To learn more about the Greatbase and Steve Smith visit https://greatbasetennis.com/. The website features 4 free online courses.

JD CORE PRINCIPLES
  • Fact-based instruction; The dimensions of the court and physical laws dictate stroke production, no coaches opinion or any unique theory.
  • There’s no substitute for a good beginning.
  • Documenting developmenting.
  • Teaching is information transfer.
  • Don’t underestimate the capacity of the student.
  • Peer Teaching. 
  • Train students to become independent thinkers and problem solvers.
  • Train students to become their own coach.