photo by flickr user steveritchie
Starting on Monday, April 2, 2012, the City of Myrtle Beach will bring the Junior Development Pathway tennis program to the area for the first time. It has been popular in other cities, introducing children to tennis and teaching it at any level, both recreationally and competitively.
Brad Anderson, the director of the program, wants to break the stereotype that tennis is an elite and expensive sport. He also believes strongly in giving children a challenging environment where there is a structured road to success. That will result in a lower drop-out rate
When parents express interest, Brad sets up a 15 minute meeting with the family to talk about the program, the child’s goals, and to do an assessment to determine class placement. The only equipment required to get started is a pair of tennis shoes and weather-appropriate athletic clothing. The program has racquets for borrowing.
Classes are $9 per lesson for one a week, $7 for two, and $5 for unlimited. Sessions are eight or nine weeks long, depending on the calendar, and run year-round. Classes have a maximum of six students.
Brad has been playing tennis since the age of seven. In college he played at the Division 1 level for Western Illinois University and taught the sport at a day camp for eight years. After getting his masters degree, he got a position as Junior Tennis Director at the Midtown Athletic Club in Chicago.
Parents and adults, there are opportunities for you, as well. There are classes and events. There will be a Meet and Greet, open to the community to introduce them to the program, on Friday April 20, 2012, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Myrtle Beach Tennis Center, located on the campus of Myrtle Beach High School on Robert Grissom Parkway, between 38th and 29th Avenues. There will also be a Rally for the Cure event on Friday, April 27, 2012 from 6 to 8 p.m.
If you’re interested in learning more, you can reach Brad at (843) 918-2441. He was a pleasure to talk too and clearly has a true love for the sport!
Want to read more? Check out the latest on the Myrtle Beach for Families blog.
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