Almost 200 screaming, energetic and enthusiastic young children descended upon the Anguilla Tennis Academy over the past three weeks for what has been hailed as a smooth and successful Summer Tennis Camp 2008.

The eager children await their certificate

The ATA puts together this summer programme each year and this year marks the thirteenth year of introducing the wonderful game of tennis to the youth of Anguilla. Many parents and guardians took the time out of their busy schedules to ensure that their kids were here to benefit from not just good tennis coaching but the great life lessons that can be learnt from the sport.

Several junior tennis players, who regularly attend the academy’s After School Programme, were on hand to give back to the little ones who were happily engaged in all the activities they were given throughout time they spent on the tennis court. As youth leaders they were able to assist in coaching as well as learning, from a hands-on perspective, how to be better coaches themselves and how to work with, manage and impart knowledge and skills to the kids.

Calyde Hughes coaches the pee wee group

As with previous years, The ATA Summer Camp has once again been assisted by the international community with coaches coming from abroad to help in the teaching and development of Anguilla’s children. This year, Lawrence Douglin, from the UK, and Chris Wade, from Dallas, Texas, were invited to divulge their expertise and the programs afforded to the children were, without question, of high quality. A great thank you is extended to these gentlemen for their great support and dedication to working with the ATA.

By the time week three came around, camp was in full swing. Children moving around the six-court facility like waves rolling onto the beach, dotting everywhere with a rainbow of colours from the variety of T-Shirts they were given as participants. Prizes donated from Wilson, Cable and Wireless and Digicel were flying out as the kids played games and competitions to win them. Prizes were also given to students who exhibited excellent behaviour, good attitude, helpfulness and hard work via a star point system that was put in place. As they did well in those areas they were awarded stars which were tallied at the end of each week.

Overall, Summer Camp 2008 was an astounding success and the Anguilla Tennis Academy hopes to have introduced the game of tennis to many children who would want to continue playing and learning in its After School Programme which will begin once school reopens.

On the very last day of the camp, Friday July 25, all of the campers were given certificates and additional prizes. An end of camp ceremony also occurred in which the Governor of Anguilla Mr. Stanley Reid (Acting), Mitch Lake (founder and President of the ATA) and Jason Allen (ATA Executive Director) spoke to all the children. Shortly thereafter, all of the coaches participated in two competitions in which they hit serves at prizes that, in the event were hit, would be awarded to a child. Also, there was an overhead smash competition, that modeled a sort of a slam dunk contest in basketball, which was quite entertaining for the crowd.

The camp was so successful, it was decided that it should continue throughout the summer. Therefore children can now sign up for two extra weeks of camp from August 18-29. The cost is USD $60 per child per week and the limit is 40 children per group. These last two weeks are special camps in which the children will get individualized instruction in the form of private classes. People can sign up on the website at www.anguillatennis.com.

The large event, of course, would not have been successful without the help of our many sponsors. The ATA would like to thank the following sponsors-

Platinum:
Cerulean Villa, ABC Supplies, Keene Enterprises, Digicel, Social Security Board, National Bank of Anguilla and Caribbean Commercial Bank.

Gold:
Rendezvous Bay Hotel and Villas, Anguilla Development Board, ANGLEC, JW Proctors, Lake’s World, Blondie, Keesha Fleming Group, MAICO, Caribbean Juris Chambers, Caribbean Cable Communications, Webster Dyrud Mitchell and Scotiabank.
Contributed:
Covecastles, Sotheby’s, Savannah Gallery, Island Queen Villa, Ripples, Gorgeous Scilly Cay, Smokey’s, Cuisinart Hotel and Spa, The Anguilla Printers, Cable and Wireless, American Eagle, Arawak Beach Inn, Triple K Car Rental, Highway Rent a Car and Aronel.

THANKS TO ALL OUR WONDERFUL SPONSORS!

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