WESTBORO, Mass. – As part of its ongoing effort to introduce tennis to a new generation of players, USTA New England announced that it has formed a partnership with Skyhawks Sports Academy, Inc., a leader in conducting youth tennis camps.

Skyhawks Sports will team with USTA New England’s Community Tennis Department to create New England-based tennis camps and programs that will feature and implement the QuickStart Tennis format, which is designed to bring kids into the game by utilizing equipment appropriate to size and age, shorter court dimensions and modified scoring.

"Teaming up with Skyhawks Sports Academy is a tremendous opportunity for USTA New England, but more importantly, a tremendous opportunity for children to learn the game of tennis in a safe, structured and fun environment," said Deirdre McCormack, USTA New England’s Director of Community Tennis. "We believe the QuickStart Tennis format is an extraordinarily effective teaching tool, and our partnership with Skyhawks Sports Academy will maximize our ability to deliver that product."

Programs will be held through the following Connecticut organizations: Coventry Parks and Recreation, Enfield Parks and Recreation, Glastonbury Parks and Recreation, Haddam-Killingworth Parks and Recreation, Milford Parks and Recreation, Oxford Parks and Recreation, Rocky Hill Parks and Recreation, Wallingford Parks and Recreation, Winding Trails Inc. (Farmington) and Windsor Recreation and Leisure Services.

In Massachusetts, the following organizations will offer Skyhawks tennis camps: City of Marlborough Recreation, Westborough Community Education, Nashua Parks and Recreation, Millis Recreation Department and Stow Recreation.

For more on the camps or to register, contact Dennis A. Mannone Jr. (MA and NH) at 978-870-0135; or, Sarah Kelley (CT) at 860-344-0101.

USTA New England, one of 17 regional sections that comprise the United States Tennis Association (USTA), is a not-for-profit organization committed to promoting and developing the growth of tennis and increasing participation in New England by offering quality recreational and competitive programs for people of all ages and abilities. USTA New England boasts nearly 33,000 individual members and 650 organizational members. For more information, log on to ustanewengland.com.

Skyhawks Sports Academy (www.skyhawks.com) is committed to providing a safe, fun and skills-focused experience for kids between the ages of 3 and 12. Skyhawks, established in 1979, is a national youth sports camp company with local camps throughout the United States. Skyhawks offers 11 different sports, including soccer, baseball, flag football, basketball, tennis, lacrosse, golf, volleyball, cheerleading, track and field, and a special multi-sport camp where, kids get to sample three different sports.

The Single Sport Athlete vs the Multi Sport Athlete - Pros & Cons

In this day and age, young people are exposed to the glamour and financial rewards of both amateur and professional athletics through television, the internet, and other social media. However, the stark reality is that a very small percentage of young athletes will make it to the collegiate or professional level, regardless of the sport or activity. The lure of fame and fortune, as well as college scholarships, often leads to concentrating on one particular sport rather than diversifying.

Single Sport Athletes

Many of these young athletes are enrolled in specialty camps or programs that offer intensive development, often with personal coaches or advisors. Unfortunately, the interests of the parents or guardians are placed ahead of those of the child. There is absolutely nothing wrong with honing a child’s skills and abilities in one particular sport at an early age, but young athletes should be exposed to multiple sports or activities. This opportunity to make selections and explore different avenues will help the child discover, develop, and grow as a person. The child’s natural ability, skills, and interests will become evident in whatever sport he or she chooses.

Single Sport Athletes

There are also multi sports camps to give kids exposure to a variety of sports. Children who are encouraged to participate in multiple sports, both team and individual, develop lifelong skills that carry over into any professional endeavor. These qualities include honesty, respect, teamwork, integrity, sportsmanship and a strong work ethic. Participation in multiple sports helps young children to develop a decision making process that will be fundamental to a successful career, no matter which direction is taken.

Offer Support, No Matter What

Assuming a child has determined the sport or direction he or she would like to pursue; parents should provide consistent, positive reinforcement regarding that endeavor. One way to offer support is to offer to enroll them in a specialized camp like a volleyball program. Excelling in any sport takes a tremendous amount of time and effort, and often, money. Children with a natural talent will benefit, at an early age, from the coaching and counseling of a seasoned professional or instructor. Young people who have the ability to pursue this type of instruction will often develop much more quickly and become more competitive than their peers.

  Engaging in sports is a great experience for children in general. Children who involve themselves in a youth multi sports camp or activities gain more experience and knowledge that they will take with them for the rest of their lives, whether they do or don’t make it into the world of professional athletics.

In Youth Sports Programs, Attitude Can Be Everything

When a child is starting a youth sports program, the parent, coach and even the child can lose sight of what is most important for the child to form a life-long love of the sport. Attitude is a main ingredient in producing a well-rounded individual athlete and a team that works together for success.      
 
The Attitude of Parents, Coaches, and Kids Greatly Effects their Experience

It is very important that parents continue to have an attitude of support and encouragement while a kid is enrolled in a youth volleyball program. Supporting the child in the sport of his or her own choosing can help the child in the essential learning process. Staying positive and showing a real interest will aid in forming a positive outlook and attitude toward the team and the sport. Encouragement is a necessary ingredient in helping the child continue to have fun as he or she learns and grows to love the sport.
 
The attitude of the coach can set the tone for the whole team. By promoting good sportsmanship and setting an example for the team, a coach can help athletes learn to stay positive in a win or a loss. A coach shouldnt dwell on the negatives, but build on the positives by being supportive about learning new skills. Coaches need give each kid a chance to succeed while teaching valuable life skills through sports programs like youth flag football program.
 
The most important attitude is that of the child. Being built up through the example of the parent and the coach can help the child to have to fun and avoid the burnout that can arise from living with too much pressure. Young athletes need to learn the attitude of teamwork and true sportsmanship. Sports are not always about winning, but about meeting goals and working to grow into a healthy, balanced individual.

With a Focus on Sportsmanship, Everyone Wins
 
The benefit of a good attitude is that it promotes sportsmanship before, during, and after the game.  The child will learn self-respect and respect for others. If children have the support system of their parent, team, and coach, the stage is set for them to have strong self-esteem and to build a life-long love of their sport.

Good Sportsmanship is an Important Trait for Young Athletes to Develop

Two children are trying out for a soccer team that they’ve wanted to be on for as long as they can remember. Both are on the fence when it comes to making the team. They play the same position and are at the same skill level. The coach is having a difficult time deciding which should stay and which should go. He’s noticed that Player One knocked a kid down and didn’t help him back up, cursed when the call didn’t go his way, and neglected to high-five any of the other players when he left the field. Player Two, on the other hand, was very enthusiastic on the sidelines, cheering for kids he didn’t even know. When a call didn’t go his way he brushed it off and focused on the next play, and after the drill was over he congratulated all the other players for a job well done. Guess which player the coach chose for his team? Big surprise, it was Player Two.

The coach in this scenario chose Player Two because he was a good sport. Someone in this young athlete’s life taught him the importance of good sportsmanship. Yet, as exemplified by Player One, not all children are so lucky to have been taught what good sportsmanship means. Good sportsmanship or poor sportsmanship is not something that a child is born with. Like many things, sportsmanship is learned through watching adults (parents and coaches) and other role models. The way that parents and coaches act is going to directly affect how their players act in the future. That means it’s important for everyone to learn more about good sportsmanship and how to help the children in our lives develop it.

Summer Sports Camps can help Promote Good Sportsmanship in Kids

So how do we teach good sportsmanship? One way to help young athletes is to help them take pride in their accomplishments and their improvement. When kids are happy about how they play and improve, they see themselves as winners. At a summer sports camp, children are encouraged to focus on their improvements and the development of others. That way, everyone benefits. When we fail to teach our children good sportsmanship, we’re not doing them any favors.

If you'd like to promote good sportsmanship in your kids, the best place to start is at home. Once you've set a good example for your kids, enrolling them in a summer sports camp or summer football program is a great way to raise their confidence and help them become a team player.

Focusing on Competition Hurts Kids' Ability to Have Fun in Sports

"Maybe my kid will be the best… maybe he/she could get a college scholarship or maybe even go pro." This is the thought that lingers in the back of the mind of many parents and coaches. It is this kind of thinking that leads to the extreme competition in youth sports that we see happening today. If children were allowed to chose, they would probably be playing sports to have fun. Unfortunately, this idea of "fun" is getting lost with so much emphasis on winning.

Focusing too Much on Competition can Lead to Kids Giving Up on Sports

Playing sports or attending a youth sports camp should be a fun and exciting experience for children. It should be an experience that teaches them about problem solving and communication skills as well as sharing emotions and working together to achieve a common goal. In an overly competitive environment children feel pressured to win, which can lead to poor sportsmanship. Not only this, but it can push to the side some of the most important learning experiences. In comparison, playful environments teach children to encourage one another and to promote each others' success.

Children try so hard to make their parents and coaches happy that they sometimes forget why they started playing in the first place. Dropouts start happening when children can’t remember the joy that they once felt from playing. In a study done by the Journal of Park and Recreation Administration they found that ‘Unpleasant experiences in sports can lead to children dropping out and limiting their physical activity, there by increasing their chances of obesity. In contrast sport experiences that promote sportsmanship and fun help encourage children to adopt physical activity as part of their lifestyle.’

Tips on How to Keep the Fun in Youth Sports

The authors of the book Putting Youth Back into Sports gives these helpful tips on ways to promote fun and sportsmanship in youth sports.

• Place less emphasis on the score. Focus on the mastery of skills instead of the outcome of the game. Youth will feel more successful whether or not they are "officially" the winner of the game.

• Be sensitive to each player's skills, personalities, and temperaments. Offer activities that promote team efforts and encourage everyone to play a role in helping the team as a whole.

• Rotate partners in skill building exercises.

• Change games to be developmentally appropriate for the age group of the team.

• Give encouragement and positive feedback to every member of the team.

• Emphasize exploration and experimentation with each of the skills needed for that sport.

• Help youth to see mistakes as learning tools.

• Sometimes just "play" for the fun of it, especially at younger ages.

• Encourage youth to set personal goals to challenge themselves and master skills.

By following these tips during the season or at a summer sports camp, you can help kids maintain their love of sports.

Summer Sports Camps Give Kids Something to Look Forward to Year ‘Round

Going back to school at the end of summer is tough. All the nice weather and outdoor fun slip away into fall. Though summer is ending, it's not too early to start thinking about next year's summer camps. After all, the school sports season is beginning, and summer sports camps are a great way to build on your skills when the season is over.

What do you think you'll do for next year's camp? Time to try something new, or are you more interested in perfecting your game in your current sport? There are plenty of options when looking at summer sports camps.

A Few Options for Next Year's Youth Sports Camps
Baseball

A popular summer sports camps option is a kids baseball camps. These camps offer an environment for kids to develop their skills and prepare for the upcoming season. Not only that, but they are a great way to get out and stay active during the summer months. Sometimes the hardest part about practice is getting out and starting to practice. Participating in a summer sports camp takes care of this part. It's much easier to get up and get outside to practice when you're signed up for a program.

Basketball

Another popular option is youth basketball camps. These camps offer the chance to get involved in basketball or hone your existing skills. An added benefit of practicing basketball outside is that it conditions players to be able to play in harsher environments. Playing indoors in a temperature-controlled arena is a lot easier after practicing outside in the summer sun and heat.

Flag Football

Kids also enjoy flag football camps. These camps give kids a chance to play football in a low-contact environment. The sport of flag football is great for kids who lack some of the size and durability to play football, and it is also popular with parents who don't want their kid playing a full contact sport. Even if your child plays contact football, flag football can be a great way for him or her to develop speed and elusiveness.

It's Not Too Early To Think About Next Year

So don't get too down that the summer is over. Before you know it, it will be time to sign up for summer sports camps.

Regardless of your age, tennis is a great activity and sport. Playing tennis has a variety of benefits for both the mind and body.

Unlike other sports like football or soccer, tennis is a low impact sport. This means you can enjoy playing competitively without worrying about injuries caused by player on player contact. Tennis is also a high intensity sport. This means that it is a great way to develop cardiovascular health.

Also, unlike some sports which need players to bulk up, tennis is a great sport for people who are looking to lose weight. This is because tennis rewards quick, responsive movements, rather than size. Finally, because of the nature of a tennis match, tennis naturally performs as interval training. Interval training is the practice of following short bursts of activity with periods of rest. This type of training is very beneficial to muscle performance.

Tennis Isn't Just a Physical Sport

Tennis offers mental benefits as well as physical benefits. A big factor of tennis is reacting and planning moves on the fly. Whenever your opponent hits the ball to you, you have to quickly judge and determine which volley would put you in the best position. This quick thinking and reacting is very useful in everyday life when a problem pops up. So while you are playing tennis and getting great exercise, you are also developing your reaction time and planning skills.

Tennis can be played and practiced in a number of ways. Matches can be played in a one-on-one setting, or in two-on-two doubles. Practices can be performed with other players in a scrimmage format, or alone with a coach or a ball machine. If you have kids and are looking on developing their tennis skills you can enroll them in a youth tennis campThere are also tennis lessons widely available for people of all ages and skill levels.

So if you're looking to get some great exercise while developing other skills as well, you should look into tennis. Tennis is a great activity no matter whether you are playing casually or competitively. If you have kids that are interested in tennis, tennis summer camps can be a great way to get them out and active in the summertime. Regardless of who you are or how you play, tennis is great fun.

Baseball and Basketball are a part of Everyday Life in America

Baseball and basketball are great parts of American sporting. They draw together millions of fans in arenas and in living rooms across the nation every year. Not only are baseball and basketball excellent sports to watch, but they’re great sports to play. From adults to kids, everyone can enjoy a game of baseball or basketball.

The Youth of America Loves Playing Sports at Camp or at Home

There are a number of reasons for this. The leading reason is that they’re just fun to play. Even if a kid has never played baseball or basketball competitively, there’s a good chance that they’ve played the sports with their friends in a pick-up game some sunny afternoon. There are also youth basketball camps to help kids get out and play in the summertime. Even if they’re not playing an organized game, kids enjoy baseball and basketball just shooting hoops or throwing a ball around.

Another reason they’re so popular is because it’s fun for kids to play and pretend they’re their favorite sports stars. Whether they’re shooting hoops like LeBron James or hitting homers like Ken Griffey Jr., everyone enjoys pretending they’re a sports star. Plus if there is an interest in competition and developing their skills in these sports, then looking up to a professional athlete can give kids a goal to work towards. Every great athlete has an athlete that they admired when they were growing up and starting to play their sport.

Baseball and basketball have very strong high school divisions as well. Even small high schools have baseball and basketball teams. This is in part because there isn’t as much equipment necessary as in sports like football and hockey. Since high school baseball and basketball are so widespread it’s not a bad idea to enroll your children in a baseball camp for kids to get them introduced to the sport early. These camps help kids learn the rules and basics of sports are a young age.

Baseball and Basketball are a Great Part of American Life

Baseball and basketball are a great part of the sporting history in the United States of America, and they will continue to be an important part in the future. So the next time you need an activity, pick up a ball and get outside to enjoy some of America’s greatest sports.

Sports have been a part of human civilization for thousands of years. Researchers have found evidence of sporting competitions ranging back to the Mayan civilization in the first century. For thousands of years sports have been a great way to exercise, and competition leads to the development of skills and abilities. Sports still offer these benefits to this day, which is why a Summer Sports Program is an excellent activity for summer months. Youth sports programs assist the physical, emotional, and social development of kids and are an excellent way to get outside and enjoy the summer months.

How Youth Camps are organized

Youth summer sports camps offer a variety of sports, ranging from team sports like baseball and basketball to individual sports like golf or track. Regardless of the sport, the kids are taught the rules and basics of the game as well as the concepts of fair play and good sportsmanship. The things kids learn at a youth sports program teach them respect for others, and this respect often carries over into their everyday life.

Youth summer sports camps are usually separated into groups by age and skill level. This is important because no parent wants their kids in a camp where they will be victimized by bigger or more experienced players. Additionally, for kids who want to work on their athletic skills, they do not want to be or stifled by are playing with younger or less experienced kids. Regardless of the skill level, youth sports programs are constructed so everyone gets time to learn and time to participate in games.

Every parent is concerned about the safety of their kids, and summer sports camps provide a safe and fun environment in which to learn and spend time outdoors. Multi-sports camps are staffed with experienced councilors, who are adept at both working with kids and teaching their sport.

The level of equipment needed for camps varies by location and sport. Some camps require kids to bring their own equipment, whereas others supply the necessary equipment. It also depends on the sport, because a sport like basketball requires less equipment than a sport like roller hockey.

Look into a Youth Summer Sports Program Today

So if you are looking for an activity for your kids in the summer months, consider a Youth Multi-Sports Camp. With all the benefits offered by youth multi-sports camps, they are an excellent choice for a summer activity.

There’s a lot of pressure for today’s youth to get exercise as well as attention to teach them the skills they need to be successful. Many parents have difficulty finding a creative way to get their kids involved in physical activity, not to mention finding the time to do this in addition to school and other extra-curricular activities. One of the most effective ways to get a child exercising while having fun and learning life skills is by involving the child in a  kids sports camp . Not only are these camps made to help your child grow physically as well as mentally and emotionally, they are often times affordable and flexible.

Many kids sports programs allow the child to choose from a selection of sports. This gives a child the chance to make a decision about which sport they want to be involved in based on their interests and skill levels. A kids sports program will typically include several sports programs to choose from such as soccer, tennis and basketball. Some programs will even offer a multi-sports program, allowing your child to experience a collection of different sports in one program.

Youth sports programs  offer flexible schedules that range from 6 hours a day to after-school programs lasting about 45 minutes a day. This way, a child can fully immerse themselves in the program during the summer months and can continue to stay active while school is in session. A youth sports camp will also give your child the opportunity to have fun while being taught and supervised by trained professionals who know how to give your child the healthiest, safest experience.

Not only will your child improve his or her ability to play a sport, but he or she will also learn life skills while participating in the program. Good sportsmanship and maintaining a positive attitude are focused on as well as skills that will be used all throughout life. These skills include treating others with respect, being persistent and choosing how to think about things.  A youth sports program can also be conducive to a young child’s self-confidence. In this atmosphere, a child is surrounding by positive reinforcement and encouraged to feel like a winner.

It’s easy to see that involving a child in a kids sports camp is a good decision for the growth of the child both physically and mentally. A program like this one will help positively mold your child into the person they will one day become, while allowing them to have fun and remain physically healthy. Participating in a youth sports program is a valuable experience that your child will one day thank you for giving them.