Tennis ACES Summer
(After-School Community Enrichment Strategy) Program 2024
Click HERE to Register Now!
(Contact Delaine for discount code if financial assistance is needed: 717-587-7184.)
Have Fun! Be Active! Make Friends!
Tennis Central’s largest program, ACES, is a low-cost summer youth tennis program offered in partnership with the School District of Lancaster (SDOL) for children ages 5 to 18. Our Mission is to provide youth with opportunities to strengthen our community through tennis and education. Each session will include educational components that will build character and confidence, as well as teach life skills. We utilize the sport of tennis to promote academic achievement, health/wellness, and social/emotional skills development. In combination with tennis programs, children learn teamwork, problem-solving, and decision-making. Lessons are designed to engage children in meaningful and fun activities that translate both on and off the tennis court.
Participants will receive an ACES t-shirt and have the opportunity to earn a racquet, earn character awards and possibly a trip to the US Open! Every Friday, we will have Team Challenges where players will experience fun and friendly match play and competitive games.
For questions contact: Jody Wilson jodyswilson@gmail.com or Delaine Mast dmast4@aol.com.
Click Here to Select Your Session!
As a part of the Tennis Central National Junior Tennis and Learning Chapter, all participants (18 & Under) will receive a FREE USTA junior membership when you register. This will provide you and your child with additional information and opportunities to learn and play!
Location Times
McCaskey High School Courts 9:00am-12:00pm All Ages 3 hours/ day! All Ages & Abilities!
McCaskey High School Courts 9:00am-10:30am All Ages Beginner (Red/Orange Ball) & Intermediate (Orange/Green Ball)
McCaskey High School Courts 12:30pm-2:00pm Ages: 15-18 Advanced & High School players (Green/Yellow Ball)
Sessions:
Week 1: June 17-21 Week 4: July 8-12
Week 2: June 24-28 Week 5: July 15-19
Week 3: July 1-5 (no class 7/4) Week 6: July 22-26
Cost: $50/child/week for the 1.5 hour classes
New 3 hour daily class $75/child/week
Financial Assistance is available upon request. Any child on the “free lunch” program can participate at no charge.
Become a Game Changer!!
We often hear the question from parents: “What’s the next upcoming program?” or “How can my child stay involved in tennis after Aces ends?” Did you know Tennis Central offers a year-round tennis and education program for youth of all ages? Start your journey today in our Game Changer Program! Visit this link for all the details: https://tenniscentral.org/game-changers/
How it Works
SDOL provides the use of their tennis courts for the six-week program. Over 500 young players participate during the 6-week sessions to learn to play and also compete.
The youth learn a stroke of the day, followed up with drills & games, followed by Friday, “Match Play Days” where they use their learned skills and character traits to play in healthy competition. Our coaching staff consists of college coaches, college and high school players and USPTA/PTR certified teaching professionals. Our Tennis Central Leadership Team members also assist with coaching. All coaches are Safe Play Approved!
Additional events under this program are available thanks to financial assistance from the community. For example in 2023, a trip to the US Open, in NYC, where 50 of our youth had the opportunity to hit on a court and do the coin flip for the men’s and women’s pro matches that followed our demonstration. We have also taken trips visit colleges and play other NJTL Chapters in College Park, MD and Trenton, NJ. The Stormers (formerly Barnstormers), host a Tennis Central Day at a game and provide a player, from the team, to talk with our kids each summer! We have been fortunate to have All Star, Trayvon Robinson, share his motivational message with our youth!
Terry Raub Character Awards are given out throughout the 6 week program.
These awards were established in honor of, Terry Raub, a man of honesty, who had respect for others, knew how to lead others, was sincere and fair in dealing with both youth and adults. As a high school coach at Penn Manor High School from the mid-1970’s into the late 1980’s, he coached several female players that won the Lancaster-Lebanon League Championship and/or qualified for the PIAA State Championships. Later, he captained several USTA League teams that qualified to play at the National level.
Terry was a tennis enthusiast who gave his time to introduce children to the game of tennis. He often arrived at the tennis courts with a friend or a neighbors’ child. Terry donated some of his time to children’s clinics sponsored by Tennis Central. He often said,” this is my pay back for all the enjoyment tennis has given for many years.”