Noozhawk’s ParentNooz Camp Guide is officially here and we made sure to make things easy when planning your child’s summer!
To give parents the tools to help make informed decisions about Summer Camps for their kids in Santa Barbara, Noozhawk has conducted a series of interviews with representatives of local programs for this year’s Summer Camp Guide.
In this interview, Noozhawk spoke with Simon Thibodeau, UCSB Women’s Tennis Head Coach at UC Santa Barbara Athletics to learn more about the summer programs they are offering this year.
UCSB Tennis
Question: What is the name and focus of your camp or program?
Answer: UCSB Tennis Camps. The focus of our camp is ensuring that each camp participant:
– Has a great time in a safe environment.
– Leaves UCSB with improved tennis knowledge and skills.
– Enjoys tennis related drills, games, conditioning and competition, in addition to other fun activities.
– Participates in a focus, goals oriented and fun tennis experience.
– Gets a meaningful “camp experience” in a college environment and makes new friends.
Q: How long have you been running the program? Do you have any professional accreditations or certifications?
A: Blake & Simon have directed the Camps for over 10 years.
Both are the Tennis Head Coaches at UCSB. Both worked with players of all ages and levels, from beginners to professionals on the ATP/WTA tours.
Q: What goals will the participants be working on to achieve?
A: Develop their tennis skills in a global approach.
– Becoming more technically sound to play tennis at a higher level.
– Making better decisions tactically during points play.
– Improving general physical tennis qualities like footwork, agility, core work, endurance, flexibility.
– Developing tennis mental qualities (focus, body language, concentration, feistiness) and work ethic.
Q: How would you best describe the educational aspects of your program?
A: Technical skills of the forehand, backhand, volleys, overhead and serves.
Proper movement skills between shots (positioning and repositioning).
General fitness exercises and techniques to use in their tennis game.
Body language awareness and concentration skills.
Warm up and cool down routine, proper nutrition and healthy habits for tennis players.
General tennis knowledge about junior, college and professional tennis.
Q: Describe the types of activities a child would participate in on a typical day.
A: The July camps go for 3 weeks. Kids can participate for as many weeks as they wish and there are several options to select from for the tennis campers.
Participation:
1/2 day camp: 9-12 PM
Full Day camp: 9-330 PM
Extended Day camp: 9-8 PM
Overnight camp: (staying in the dorms from Sunday night to Friday noon)
Typical Day would look like:
9-9:10am: Warm-up & Activation
9:10-9:20am: Coaches talk, quiz & demonstration
9:20-11am: Drills rotation on 8 courts + 2 fitness stations
11-11:45am: Games & Competitions & Fitness Testing
11:45-1:15am: Lunch Break
1:15-3:30pm: Drills, Competition & Tennis Talks
3:30-5:30pm: Dorms Playroom or Rest time
5:30-6:30pm: Dinner at Cafeteria
6:30-8pm: Activities at the Dorms (Beach Olympics, Movie night, Talent show, Team bonding games)
Campers of the day + campers of the week and different awards, prizes are given during the week.
Q: What is the typical age range for your camps?
A: Kids from 8 to 18 years old
There is also a Tennis Intro Camp offered for the littles ones from Age 5-8 June 26-30, 2023
Q: Do you offer full day and 1/2 day options?
A: Yes, we have different options:
Half Day: $365/week
Full Day: $635/week
Extended Day: $850/week
Overnight Stay: $1300/week
Q: What is your policy regarding background checks and training for staff?
A: All our counselors and coaches need to do a background check.
Most of our counselors are members of our tennis teams or have been developed over the years at our camps.
Q: What is the cost of your camp? Do you offer any scholarships?
A: Yes, we have different options:
Half Day: $365/week
Full Day: $635/week
Extended Day: $850/week
Overnight Stay: $1300/week
We have different discounts for returning participants, UCSB employees, kids with siblings participating in the camps, etc. Contact Blake Muller or Simon Thibodeau for more information.
Q: Is there anything you would like to share about your program that was not already mentioned above?
A: The UCSB Tennis Camps have been very popular in the SB area for many reasons:
– Santa Barbara is a picturesque location for the parents and kids to enjoy a vacation.
– Playing in the new Arnhold Tennis Center makes the experience more fun and unique.
– Head Coaches Blake Muller & Simon Thibodeau run the camps with focus, intensity, the kids improved and have fun. The kids feel they have worked hard and improved during the camps. There is very little waste of time and many valuable coaching feedback to take from the camps.
– There are many options available for the campers in terms of time play. (1/2, full day, overnight)
Participants will enjoy tennis related drills, games and competition, in addition to other fun activities.
– The camps are safe and well-supervised.
Click here to learn more about about UCSB Tennis Camps!