Dozens of area budding tennis players are converging at Lima’s Collett Street Tennis Courts June 11-22, for the 2018 LATA Summer Tennis Camp.
What was previously a bi-weekly, summer program, this year transformed into a 2 week, daily camp. Organizers involved in making the change hope that switching to a daily format would allow more students to attend the entire program, as well as create an opportunity to reinforce new skills more.
LATA
The Lima Area Tennis Association is sponsoring this camp, which started June 11. **New attendees are welcome anytime during the first 3 sessions, which means all attendees need to register by June 13 to participate.**
Junior sessions are available to athletes ages 9-17, also running Monday-Thursday, with hours of 9:15-11:15 am. A tournament and awards are planned for Friday, June 22.
Students interested in attending the LATA camp need no prior knowledge and don’t even have to own a tennis racket. LATA will lend a racket to any student who needs one for use during the daily sessions.
The Instructors
The camp is taught by Jeff and Andrea Brown, both are affiliated with Westwood Tennis Club. Jeff Brown is the tennis pro at Westwood. Additionally, accomplished tennis athletes from the region are assisting with the daily skills practice. Most of these students are high school students.
LATA’s Joan Collar considers tennis to be a quality, life long sport, that teaches more than just athletic skill. She says tennis athletes also carry positive self confidence and these individuals learn lifelong character skill. LATA fundraises year round so they are able to offer this camp free of charge to the attendees. “We want to do what we can to make give all students the opportunity to try tennis. This is a sport they can take with them the rest of their lives.”
The LATA Tennis Camp is offered in conjunction with the Lima Parks and Recreation Department. Inclement weather delays or cancellations will be announced through the Lima Parks Hotline at 419-221-5229.