Junior Players Improve their Games, Learn about Careers at Camp A.C.E.

July 27, 2012 - PRLog -- Junior tennis players from across USTA Eastern got a chance to improve their games and learn about careers in tennis, as they received coaching from  top tennis executives and two former professional tennis players – Rodney Harmon and Leslie Allen – at the section’s 14th Annual Camp A.C.E.

Camp A.C.E. (Achieving through Coaching and Education), which was held July 22-27 at Ramapo College of New Jersey, is a National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) Regional Leadership camp, which provides world class tennis and fitness instruction, and sessions on playing tennis in college, career choices in tennis, team building, and leadership skills.

“We are very excited to have Rodney, Leslie, and these outstanding tennis executives here this year,” said Linda Mann, Managing Director of Community Tennis Development for USTA Eastern. “The campers are not only improving their skills on court, but also learning what it takes to succeed off the court, in college and their future careers.”

The on-court training was led by Harmon, a former US Open quarterfinalist who coached the US Men’s Tennis Team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The classroom sessions featured a wide range of speakers, including sessions about personal growth led by Dale Caldwell,  a Director at Large on the USTA Board of Directors, and Leslie Allen, a former player on the WTA Tour, and a panel discussion about careers in tennis.

The panel discussion featured D.A. Abrams, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, USTA; Michelle Blake Wilson, Managing Director, Marketing and Communications, USTA Eastern; Jill Fonte, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, USTA Eastern; Ed Neppl, Chief Financial Officer, USTA; Jeff Williams, Publisher, TENNIS Magazine; and Jocelyn Cruz, Tennis Service Representative for USTA Eastern’s New Jersey Region.

In addition to the on-court and panel discussion, the camp included a trip to Columbia University, a New York Sportimes match at Sportime Randall’s Island, and a Jr. Team Tennis tournament.