YOUTH EXCELLENCE TENNIS PROGRAM
An affordable South Florida tennis program for talented young players age 3 to 13
aspiring to become among the best tennis players in the world.

Instructor and Program Director: Andrew S. Rosz

Are you the parent of a gifted young tennis player age 3 to 13?

Does your child truly love the game of tennis?  Does your child already show signs of becoming a tennis champion?  Does your child often speak of becoming one of the best tennis players in the world?  Is your child driven and self-motivated?  As a parent, are you committed to your child's success?  Have you enrolled your child in countless tennis lessons, clinics, academies, and programs only to become frustrated with the inability of most tennis facilities and tennis pros to properly train your child?  Do you live in (or are you willing to travel and/or relocate to) the South Florida area?

If the answer to all of the above questions is "yes," then read on…

I am also known for my "Youth Excellence Tennis Program" which involves teaching world class professional tennis to young children age 3 to 13.  The program is taught as a series of individual private lessons; twice per week for children age seven and older, and once per week for children under seven, and to only one student at a time.  There are no group lessons or clinics.  Each one-hour lesson features myself as instructor and one or more junior assistants to pick up balls, assist in demonstrations, operate video equipment, etc.  As parental on-court participation is mandatory, there are always several people on the court during your child’s lesson; all dedicated to teaching just your child.  Accordingly, my Youth Excellence Tennis Program has been carefully designed to provide the best possible tennis training for young players on the fast track to success.

Although I also offer regular tennis lessons to players of all ages and all levels, students are selectively chosen into my Youth Excellence Tennis Program based upon their potential for improvement.  Quite frankly, you cannot simply rely on your checkbook to get your child into this program.  As most other training facilities and tennis camps will attempt to train anyone who can afford to pay, I admit only those children having the greatest potential for success and teach them skills and techniques of world class professional tennis right from the start.  And since my Youth Excellence Tennis Program provides for substantial discounts as compared to my regular teaching rates, most parents are eager to enroll their child.  But in order for your child to be accepted into my Youth Excellence Tennis Program…

This is what I expect from your child…

• Gifted intelligence…
• An abundance of natural ability…
• An exceptional attention span…
• An even-temper…
• An ability to follow directions…
• Well-mannered and respectful of authority…
• Eager to learn new and better ways of hitting the ball…
• Capable of solving problems and thinking independently…
• Capable of understanding basic cause and effect relationships…
• A child who would rather play tennis than do most anything else…
• A child who is self-driven toward greatness…

And here’s what I expect from the parent…

• To faithfully attend your child’s regularly-scheduled one-hour tennis lesson; twice per week for children age seven and older, and once per week for children under seven…
• To participate in each and every lesson and ask questions…
• To take notes and maintain an activity log of all that is discussed during the lesson…
• To practice with your child at least once or twice per week…
• To provide an atmosphere of love and encouragement for your child; both on and off the court…
• To allow your child to develop at a pace as determined by the instructor…

And here’s what you can expect from me…

• To provide an affordable alternative for families of talented young players…
• To teach your child professional tennis skills right from the start…
• To teach your child to understand why we learn to do things the way we do…
• To teach your child to become both mentally and physically strong…
• To teach your child to hit the ball harder and more accurate than most adults…
• To teach your child to literally destroy opponents his or her own age using picture-perfect technique and proper tennis form…
• To teach your child world class performance tennis strategies…
• To teach your child to become a championship tennis player by age 12…

As I specialize in teaching talented young tennis players, below are answers to some common questions that parents often have about my Youth Excellence Tennis Program for young children…

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What is the best age to get a child started in a program of professional tennis development?

For most children, somewhere between the ages of 8 and 10 is ideal.  While some children may be ready as early as age 6 or 7, and some even as early as age 3 or 4, only after an Evaluation and Assessment Lesson will I be able to tell if your younger child is both mentally and physically ready for my Youth Excellence Tennis Program.

My child has never picked up a tennis racket before. Will you still take him?

If your child shows at least some degree of natural athletic ability (and most children do) then perhaps... but only after an Evaluation and Assessment Lesson will I be able to tell you for sure.  As the "two lessons per week" attendance requirement may be a bit overwhelming for some beginners and parents, I also offer regular weekly tennis lessons to children of all ages and all levels at a much easier pace.  In contrast, attending my Youth Excellence Tennis Program is very much like attending a school that confirms to learning objectives and goals.  An amazing amount of material is discussed during each lesson and each student is expected to practice.  Additionally, students learn professional tennis right from the start.  I don’t teach "beginning" or "junior" tennis to students enrolled in this program.  And I don’t teach them at their pace… I teach them at my pace.  As a reminder, my Youth Excellence Tennis Program is demanding both mentally and physically and at least some tennis experience is usually required.  But rather than discount your beginner before giving him or her a fair chance, your first step as a parent is to schedule your child age 3 to 13 for an Evaluation and Assessment Lesson to see if your child has the aptitude, desire, and ability to warrant acceptance into the program.

Do you accept children older than 13 into your Youth Excellence Tennis Program?

Occasionally… If your older child seems to have an abundance of natural ability and a genuine interest in learning to play great tennis, there is an excellent chance that he or she will be accepted.  If however your child has any previous tennis experience or formal tennis training, there is always the risk that he or she has been taught to do most everything wrong.  And as trying to correct poor technique in older children is often more trouble than it's worth, I’d much rather start with a talented young beginner and teach him or her proper tennis technique right from the start.  And that’s the problem when you enroll your child in a recreational junior tennis program or tennis academy that caters to the masses.  What you often get is an instructor that teaches the kids all the wrong things which invariably leads to developing an abundance of bad habits and poor technique.  So especially for teenagers older than 13, scheduling an introductory Evaluation and Assessment Lesson is your required first step.  During the lesson, I will interview your child and observe how he or she is able to adapt to change.  If all goes well, then space permitting, he or she will be accepted.  And for about a hundred good reasons (and perhaps more), I do teach nor do I endorse the Western Forehand grip.  Accordingly, if your child has been taught to use this grip and the incorrect stroke that usually accompanies the "Western Mentality," then please understand that your child will not be permitted to use the Western Forehand grip if he or she is accepted into my Youth Excellence Tennis Program.  Additionally, the Western Forehand grip is certain to cause irreparable harm to both the child’s arm and shoulder as the years pass.  It’s just a matter of time.  Further, and perhaps most importantly, the Western Forehand grip is simply not the preferred grip in the arena of world class professional tennis at the championship level…

So why do so many teaching pros teach the Western Forehand grip to so many junior players?

Quite simply, because most teaching pros know that most juniors will never make it to the big time and it’s an easy way to teach an "average" junior player to get a higher percentage of balls over the net.  And as most young players are never taught "Racket Pitch Awareness Skills," many teaching pros believe that using a Western Forehand grip will turn an average junior player into a stronger competitor.  This may be true in the short term, but as time goes on, bad habits and a technically-incorrect stroke is almost certain to develop as a result.  And since most teaching pros routinely work with several juniors at a time, it’s simply easier for them to teach the Western Forehand grip uniformly to the group as a whole as compared to taking the time to work with each child individually in teaching them a professional grip and a technically superior stroke.

If my child is selected into your program, what sort of time commitment is required and what it all going to cost?

Teaching a child to become a professional tennis player is hard work and requires an ongoing commitment on behalf of the student, instructor, and parent.  For at least the first year, the parent is required to accompany their child in two regularly-scheduled one-hour lessons per week.  The parent is also encouraged to work with their child during the week to practice the material presented in each lesson.  Thus during each lesson, I will also be teaching you (the parent) how and what to observe when practicing alone with your child so you will always have a clear understanding of your child’s ability and progress.  Additionally, as your child’s understanding of professional tennis develops, so will yours.

As previously mentioned, students enrolled in my Youth Excellence Tennis Program (YETP) receive a substantial discount as compared to my regular professional teaching rates.  Each regularly-scheduled one-hour YETP tennis lesson costs $100.  And that’s all.  There are no contracts.  Each lesson is "pay as you go" and you are never under any commitment to continue.  You can withdraw your child from the program at any time.

Why is your program so affordable?

Because if and when your child ever makes it to the tour, your child will undoubtedly continue to train under my direction for a percentage of his or her tournament winnings.  So when your child makes real money, so do I.  And that’s when it comes full-circle for all the time and effort invested in your child.

Are there any other costs?

You supply your own tennis rackets and other court essentials.  I supply the instruction, training aids, tennis balls, videotaping, and teaching assistants.

Do you offer scholarships?

No.  Since my Youth Excellence Tennis Program is so affordable, and due to the fact that I work with just a limited number of students, no scholarships are offered.

OK, I’m interested. How do I get my child evaluated?

If you are the parent of a child you would like me to consider, please call me at (954) 922-8040 to schedule an Evaluation and Assessment Lesson and interview.  The cost of this Evaluation and Assessment lesson is $150 and lasts about an hour.  I make no promise of accepting your child into my Youth Excellence Tennis Program, but I will give you an honest and objective evaluation of your child’s potential and ability.  If your child shows a strong potential for success, I will tell you.  But if I happen to tell you that this program is not in the best interest of your child, please don’t be too disappointed.  As a reminder, my Youth Excellence Tennis Program is primarily for kids with extraordinary potential for success.

What if my child is not accepted into your program?

If I determine that my Youth Excellence Tennis Program is not appropriate for your child, or if you simply cannot attend the two required one-hour program lessons twice per week, you may still elect to sign your child up for regular weekly tennis lessons at my regular teaching rates of $150 per lesson for "One Child Plus One Parent."  Additionally, on-court parental participation during each regular tennis lesson is optional, however parental attendance is still required for the entire duration of each lesson.  Alternatively, there are numerous other places to send your child to train.  Depending on the size of your budget and your ego, you can always find a tennis camp or training facility willing to train your child.  But keep in mind that most tennis camps and training facilities will accept most any child regardless of their ability to play.  Their only consideration is your ability to pay.  Additionally, most junior group programs, camps, and tennis academies are designed primarily to entertain your child, and not to teach your child to become a great player.  How can they?  Most instructors hired by these facilities are often nothing more than average club players or college students working their way through school.  And since most of the juniors in attendance are just beginning and/or average players as well, you simply can’t teach a promising young child to play great tennis in a group setting.  So don’t be fooled by a name or a camp that promotes itself by claiming that it has turned out one or two great players.  You can bet that these select players were singled out from the crowd early on to receive individual training by the best teaching talent the facility has to offer.  So if your child happens to be singled out as one of the best at a given facility, be prepared to pay… and pay big for the chance at individual instruction from a truly qualified teaching pro.  And such is the reality when you send your kid to a tennis camp or training facility that caters to the masses.  The hard reality is that teaching world class professional tennis to gifted young players is big business and usually involves big dollars.  Indeed, it is not uncommon for training costs to exceed $500,000 to turn a talented young player into a world class competitor.  So when choosing a facility to train your child, always remember that the facility doesn’t teach, people teach… And most instructors hired to work with the masses simply have no clue of what or how to teach a talented young player.

Where are tennis lessons and program lessons held?

In either of two Hollywood, South Florida locations.  Both are hard-court facilities that offer a quiet setting away from the crowds and away from most other recreational players.  Requests for an alternative teaching location are also accommodated whenever possible.  However, there is an additional $100 travel-time charge per lesson to accommodate an alternative teaching location.  Further, it shall be the student's responsibility to secure permission, court time, and to pay the necessary court fees (if any) for an alternative teaching location.

What times are available to schedule tennis lessons and program lessons?

Usually in the afternoons after school on weekdays, and most anytime on weekends.

Are evening lessons also available?

Occasionally, but not on a regular basis.  During evenings and weekends, I usually spend time training my own two children, coaching and training other tour players, attending and participating in both local and professional tournament events, and spending quality time with my family.

Do you offer full-day tennis programs and/or a tennis camp?

No.  Nor do I provide boarding facilities or babysitting services of any kind.  Again, this would involve dealing with the masses, and as previously mentioned, I do not cater to the masses.  Accordingly, at the end of each one-hour lesson, we all leave the courts and go our respective ways.

If my child is selected to train under your direction, when can I expect to see results?

Immediately.  We begin learning the mechanics of proper tennis strokes from day-one.  With each successive lesson, we build on the basics and in as little as only three months, your child will have learned more than a hundred principles of world class technique and proper tennis form.  And after only about a year, your child will have undoubtedly perfected most of the skills and techniques that will enable him or her to compete well above other players in his or her own age group.  And after only two years, when other people see your child play, there will simply be no doubt in anyone’s mind that he or she has been trained by some of the best teaching talent in the world.

If my child is selected into your program, will he or she compete in tournaments?

Not until he or she is about age 12.  As the early childhood years should focus primarily on developing proper tennis form and not on competing, tournament competition for children younger than 12 is seldom productive as most young competitors simply do not have the necessary skills and/or strength to compete effectively.  Only after your child has mastered all the skills presented in my Youth Excellence Tennis Program will he or she be ready to compete against other players.  And this generally occurs around age 12.  And more than likely, he or she will be competing in the fourteen’s and/or sixteen’s as his or her talent will undoubtedly be way past that of a typical 12 year-old.  Also, by the time your child is 12, he or she will already be capable of beating most recreational adult players.

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Some final thoughts to consider before calling to schedule an  Evaluation and Assessment lesson for your child…

As a professional tennis player and instructor for over 30 years, I’ve worked with players of all ages and all levels.  I have also instructed at many prestigious clubs and tennis facilities; both public and private.  I’ve also written several Tennis Books and Training Manuals and for many years, I have worked with the masses like most other teaching pros.  But now, I choose to work with fewer students per day and I never teach more than one student at a time in my Youth Excellence Tennis Program.  This way, I’m able to dedicate myself completely to working with just your child.  But teaching professional tennis to young children is hard work.  And training future champions demands nothing less than 100% from everyone involved.  And since I offer only a limited number of tennis lessons to young players, there are just so many talented young students that I can accommodate.  As a reminder, I prefer to work with only the best so if you think that your child has extraordinary tennis potential, please give me a call at (954) 922-8040.  We’ll schedule an Evaluation and Assessment Lesson for your child and take it from there…

Thanks for reading all this and have a great day.

~Andrew S. Rosz
Master Tennis Instructor and Program Director
Youth Excellence Tennis Program; Hollywood Florida, USA

~Enjoy

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