200 Running Pump Road, Lancaster, PA 17603 | (717)-299-5631 | frontdesk@rcwathleticclub.com
2024 Junior Programs -
Fall Session
September 3rd - November 9th
RCW is proud to offer a comprehensive Junior Tennis Program that provides a structured tennis pathway and positive role models on and off the court. Additionally, our program emphasizes the overall well-being of our players by incorporating activities that promote both physical fitness and mental resilience. This includes guided relaxation exercises and engaging, age-appropriate drills and games. We believe we have the most experienced and passionate coaches who are dedicated not only to growing junior tennis but also to shaping the next generation of future adult players. Tennis is a lifelong sport, and no matter when you start, with consistent effort, you can continue to improve and enjoy the game for a lifetime.
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Lancaster County is home to one of the most vibrant Adult USTA Leagues in the country, offering year-round singles and doubles competition. These leagues provide a great way for adults to stay active, enjoy friendly competition, and build lasting friendships, all contributing to lifelong wellness.
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At RCW, we are committed to fostering a similar environment for young junior players. While many team sports may become impractical or unavailable as athletes age, tennis remains a lifelong option. In our program, players are grouped into teams with others of similar skill levels and progress together through a season of practices and "games." These games can include weekend skills contests, mock point play, team matches, tournaments, and more, depending on the players' age and level.
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3 Ways to Participate:
1. Full Session Registration
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Lowest rate per class
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Players receive end-of-session Progress Report from Coaches
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Includes 2 matchplay dates
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Secured weekly spot
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Requires Junior Membership
2. Daily Member Registration
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Daily member rate
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flexible schedule
3. Daily Nonmember Registration​
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flexible schedule
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Selecting the Right Program for your Child
If you are new to our Junior Programs, or unsure which program would be the best fit for your child, please reach out to our Junior Team at juniors@rcwtennis.com prior to registering your child. In your email, provide your child's name, age, and experience (if any). We can ask a few additional questions in order to determine the best fit for him/her!
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Fall Schedule
Our Fall Session of Junior Tennis will run from September 3rd - November 9th, 2024.
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Holidays
There will be no junior programs held on the following dates:
Labor Day - Monday, September 2nd
*If you registered for a session schedule that would include the holiday(s), please communicate to our Junior Team at juniors@rcwathleticclub.com to schedule a Make-Up class for that holiday.
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NEW! Matchplay Dates
This year, we are programming 2 dates of matchplay for our Orange 3, Green 3, and Yellow 2-4 Players. The cost of these dates have been built into the session registration. This structure is quite similar to other youth sports, where a season of play includes both practices and games. Please add these matchplay dates to your family calendar! Our coaches expect to see all registered players at these "game days", where they learn to apply their skills to matchplay! Specifics on dates can be found in the schedule blocks below.
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Junior Membership
These memberships are $109/year for our 18 and under players. The majority of tennis players in our junior program choose to obtain a membership due to the large number of benefits it provides. In addition, registering at the Full Session Rate is only available to Members. If your child is not currently a Member, but you would like to sign him/her up for the fall session of tennis, please be sure to select and purchase the Junior Membership option on the registration form, in addition to the class selection.
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New Junior / Trial Period
For players that are brand new to RCW Athletic Club, we welcome you to try our junior programs at the member rate for a 30-day trial period. After this period, you may choose to purchase a Junior Membership and one of the Full Session registration options. Otherwise, juniors will begin to pay the member or nonmember daily rate for classes.
To initiate the 30-day trial period for your child and sign him/her up for classes, please email our team at juniors@rcwtennis.com.
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Make Up Policy
Due to the growth in our program, and the importance of keeping our clinics within certain ratios, we will not be offering make-ups/day shifts for those players that sign up at the full session rate.
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Junior Team Contact Information
Texting - (717)-280-5482 - Please save this phone number in your phone. We will use this number to communicate updates about the program and alert you of upcoming activities we think your child will love!
Email - juniors@rcwtennis.com
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Week to Week Registration
If you're unable to commit to the full Fall Session, and would like to register your child week to week instead, please text Jack Bippus at the RCW Junior Tennis Texting Number (717)-280-5482.
Little Aces
(ages 3 & 4)
These players will be introduced to this amazing sport through fun games and activities that work on their hand-eye coordination, sending and receiving skills, agility, balance and quickness. They will also learn various tennis skills such as forehands and backhands, volley, overheads and serves. Most play will take place between the service line and the net.
Tuesdays 5pm-6pm
Thursdays 5pm-6pm
Saturdays 10am-11am
Fall Session Registration
1 class/week $200
2 classes/week $300
3 classes/week $450
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Daily Registration
Daily Member Rate $24/class
Daily Nonmember Rate $34/class
Orange Ball
Level I
(Ages 5-10)
These students may have little to no tennis experience, but will learn quickly! Players at this level will play with low compression orange balls.
Orange Ball Level 1 Players can:
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Demonstrate ready position and Split Step
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Listen and Follow Instructions
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Differentiate between forehand and backhand groundstrokes and volleys
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Demonstrate proper throwing motion
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Send/Receive a tossed and rolled ball
Tuesdays 5pm-6pm
Thursdays 5pm-6pm
Saturdays 10am-11am
Fall Session Registration
1 class/week $200
2 classes/week $300
3 classes/week $450
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Daily Registration
Daily Member Rate $24/class
Daily Nonmember Rate $34/class
Orange Ball
Level II
(Ages 5-10)
These players have received group or private instruction and demonstrate an understanding of stroke production. Level 2 players continue practicing with low-compression orange balls. These players can:
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Successfully hit forehands and backhands when fed a ball
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Recognize and position for different shots from the coach
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Know the basics of serving
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Understand basic tennis vocabulary and the parts of the court
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Practice the ready position and split step
Tuesdays 5pm-6pm
Thursdays 5pm-6pm
Saturdays 10am-11am
Fall Session Registration
1 class/week $200
2 classes/week $300
3 classes/week $450
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Daily Registration
Daily Member Rate $24/class
Daily Nonmember Rate $34/class
Invitational Orange Ball
Level III
Our team of coaches will assess your child's eligibility for the Invitational Orange Ball Level III Program. This evaluation will focus on their matchplay skills, including serve and return ability, rallying consistency, and scorekeeping. To learn more, please contact Jack Bippus directly at Jackbippus@rcwathleticclub.com. If your child is selected for the program, a specific registration link will be provided.
Players in the Orange Ball Level 3 group can:
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Use correct grips on forehands and backhands, with an understanding of the continental grip
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Hit cross-court and down-the-line shots with fed balls from the coach
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Rally six balls consistently with a coach
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Move to balls in all directions
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Serve consistently with minimal double faults
Wednesdays 4:30pm-6pm
Fridays 4:30pm-6pm
Saturdays 11am-12:30pm
Fall Session Registration
1 class/week $360
2 classes/week $510
3 classes/week $735
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Daily Registration
Daily Member Rate $34/class
Daily Nonmember Rate $44/class
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Fall Matchplay Dates:
Sun Oct. 6th 2pm-4pm
Sat Nov. 9th 2:30pm-4:30pm
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Green Ball
Level II
(Ages 10-12)
These players have received group or private instruction and demonstrate a solid understanding of stroke production. They practice and play using low-compression green balls. Players in the Green Ball Level 2 group can:
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Demonstrate the ready position, split step, and preparation for groundstrokes
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Keep score
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Execute down-the-line and cross-court forehands and backhands
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Show basic volley and overhead preparation with the continental grip
Tuesdays 5pm-6:30pm
Thursdays 5pm-6:30pm
Saturdays 11am-12:30pm
Fall Session Registration
1 class/week $300
2 classes/week $450
3 classes/week $675
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Daily Registration
Daily Member Rate $34/class
Daily Nonmember Rate $44/class
Invitational
Green Ball
Level III
Our team of coaches will assess your child's eligibility for the Invitational Green Ball Level III Program. This assessment will be based on their matchplay skills, including serve and return ability, rallying consistency, and scorekeeping. To learn more, please contact Jack Bippus directly at Jackbippus@rcwathleticclub.com. If your child is selected for the program, a specific registration link will be provided.
Players in the Green Ball Level 3 group can:
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Understand and use different grips for groundstrokes, volleys, and serves
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Transition to the net
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Rally with a coach up to 12 shots
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Be match-play ready
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Complete a Volley rally with a coach up to 4 shots
Wednesdays 4:30pm-6pm
Fridays 4:30pm-6pm
Fall Session Registration
1 class/week $360
2 classes/week $510
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Daily Registration
Daily Member Rate $34/class
Daily Nonmember Rate $44/class
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Fall Matchplay Dates:
Sun Oct. 6th 4pm-6pm
Sat Nov. 9th 4:30pm-6:30pm
New to Tennis Ages 11-15
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Little to no experience
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Need basic technique/stroke production
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These students will be taught all the basics to be able to start to play the game. The goal is to have these players returning balls fed by a coach from the opposite baseline, start to understand how to serve and recognize and track balls. Learning to serve properly will be a main focus for these players since they are reaching the age where actual play is the goal.
Thursdays 4pm-5pm
Saturdays 10am-11am
Fall Session Registration
1 class/week $200
2 classes/week $300
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Daily Registration
Daily Member Rate $24/class
Daily Nonmember Rate $34/class
Yellow Ball
Level II
(Ages 13-18)
These players have received basic instruction and possess a foundational understanding of the game. Our coaches will continue to refine their forehand and backhand techniques while incorporating more net skills.
Players in the Yellow Ball Level 2 group can:
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Demonstrate the ready position, split step, and preparation for groundstrokes
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Keep score
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Execute down-the-line and cross-court forehands and backhands
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Show basic volley and overhead preparation with the continental grip
Mondays 4:30pm-6pm
Wednesdays 4:30pm-6pm
Saturdays 11am-12:30pm
Fall Session Registration
1 class/week $360
2 classes/week $510
3 classes/week $735
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Daily Registration
Daily Member Rate $34/class
Daily Nonmember Rate $44/class
Fall Matchplay Dates:
Sun Oct. 6th 4pm-6pm
Sat Nov. 9th 4:30pm-6:30pm
Yellow Ball
Level III
(Ages 13-18)
These players can serve consistently, rally, and play competitive points, but still need to better incorporate net skills. They have started playing competitive matches. Our coaches will focus on enhancing baseline consistency with topspin, improving movement and positioning, and developing the serve into a weapon. Gaining significant improvements in tennis IQ is crucial for advancing to the next level.
Players in the Yellow Ball Level 3 group can:
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Use proper grips
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Rally up to 8 shots with another player
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Self-feed to start a rally
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Monthly match plays expected
Mondays 4:30pm-6pm
Tuesdays 4:30pm-6pm
Wednesdays 5pm-6:30pm
Fall Session Registration
1 class/week $360
2 classes/week $510
3 classes/week $735
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Daily Registration
Daily Member Rate $34/class
Daily Nonmember Rate $44/class
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Fall Matchplay Dates:
Sun Oct. 13th 4pm-6pm
Sun Nov. 10th 4pm-6pm
Yellow Ball
Level IV
(Ages 13-18)
Advanced players regularly compete and aim to excel in high school or college tennis. They can control the tempo and placement of play and have a well-rounded game that includes frequent net play. Tennis is a top priority, with these players training 4-5 days each week.
Players in the Yellow Ball Level 4 group should participate in monthly USTA tournaments at Level 7 or higher. These players can:
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Use proper grips at the net and on serve
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Volley rally with another player
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Rally cross-court with a partner up to 10 shots
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Hit both topspin and slice on groundstrokes
Mondays 4:30pm-6pm
Tuesdays 6pm-7:30pm
Thursdays 4:30pm-6pm
Fall Session Registration
1 class/week $360
2 classes/week $510
3 classes/week $735
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Daily Registration
Daily Member Rate $34/class
Daily Nonmember Rate $44/class
Fall Matchplay Dates:
Sun Oct. 13th 4pm-6pm
Sun Nov. 10th 4pm-6pm
Yellow Ball Invitational
The Yellow Ball Invitational Program is designed for players that are moving beyond the Yellow Ball Level IV program, and working to move into the Elite Program. These players:
-can rally consistency with a minimum of 8 from the baseline with other players
-can slice with direction
-have a defined second serve
-can volley rally back to the baseline up to 5
To learn more, please email Jack Bippus at Jackbippus@rcwathleticclub.com.
Mondays 4:30pm-6pm
Tuesdays 6pm-7:30pm
Thursdays 4:30pm-6pm
Fall Session Registration
1 class/week $360
2 classes/week $510
3 classes/week $735
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Daily Registration
Daily Member Rate $34/class
Daily Nonmember Rate $44/class
Fall Matchplay Dates:
Sun Oct. 13th 4pm-6pm
Sun Nov. 10th 4pm-6pm
Elite
(Ages 12-18)
These players have committed to tennis as their sport of choice, dedicating hours each day to the proper training. They have a UTR rating of 5+. They travel regularly to tournaments in order to compete at a high level. This is an all-encompassing program, as it will focus on every aspect necessary for a full-time tennis player to compete at a high-level. Practices for these players will be focused on each player's needs, as well as mental and physical conditioning for improvement.
Tuesdays 3pm-5pm
Thursdays 3pm-5pm
Fall Session Registration
2 classes/week $800