Game, set, match, nap

By Mary Alice Garrett

This story originally appeared October 27, 2005 in The News Journal of Wilmington, Delaware.

WILMINGTON — They’re starting young to learn the lifetime game of tennis. Three—year-olds are standing on tippytoes to return their volleys on Sundays at the Tennis Farm at the Tower Hill School courts.

Tennis instructors say that ideally every tennis player should learn as a child. Those who do have better mechanics, and those who don’t develop bad habits on the court.

Two who exhibit an early aptitude for tennis are Ethan Yu, 3 1/2, and Marcus Curvan, 4. Both are completing a seven-week session of lessons. Already they can hit forehands and backhands. They will be taught to serve at about age 7, said tennis director Chris Schmidt, who learned the sport when he was 2.

Everyone in Ethan’s family, even his grandfather, plays tennis. And taking the lessons was grandfather’s idea.

"It looks like Ethan likes it," said father Lewis Yu, of Brandywine Hundred. "He watches tennis on TV all the time."

Marcus is a high—energy boy with good hand-eye coordination. His mother signed him up for lessons.

"He needs to run and play and burn a lot of energy" said his father Marc Curvan, of Wilmington.

Ethan and Marcus are enrolled in a WhipperSnappers Program for 3- to 6-year-olds. It teaches tennis to youngsters through fun games and interactive drills.

Schmidt said that "biomechanically 3- and 4-year-olds are ready" to learn tennis, but that parents should decide if they are ready developmentally and emotionally.

Last week, two instructors hit tennis balls to 5- and 6-year—olds positioned at midcourt. The instructors kept repeating, "Turn sideways, get your racquet back, remember low to high, keep watching the ball."

After hitting a number of forehand shots, the kids reversed position and prepared to hit two-handed backhanders.

"Watch the ball all the way. Follow all the way through, Alex," Schmidt said to Alex Day, 5, of Wilmington.

Six—year-old Louise Conaty of Wilmington, returned forehands and backhands with ease and always with enthusiasm.

"Yippee," she shouted as she made a good backhand return.

Louise also took lessons at the Tennis Farm during the summer, when attendance numbered 135 children and four adults.

Marissa Glick, 4, also showed real promise as she executed her shots.

She started hitting on a tennis court with her mother at Bethany Beach over the summer.

“She loves taking the lessons," said her father, Dennis Glick, of Jennersville, Pa. "She also plays soccer, but she likes tennis better."

Marissa watches tennis on TV, but only the women.

Schmidt, who’s been teaching tennis for 10 years, has seen some of his young players advance to college tennis teams. The son of a tennis pro and ski instructor, he is also a member of the ski patrol at Big Boulder.

Formerly of Garnet Valley Pa., he now lives in the Poconos.

Helping Schmidt with the younger children were Lenore Moston, 20, and Sarah Poulle, 15.

Assistant Director Moston played tennis for Millersville (Pa.) University. Poulle plays on the tennis team at the Charter School of Wilmington. After taking lessons at the Tennis Farm this summer, she was invited to be an instructor. Moston has worked with youngsters for four years.

"I enjoy them," she said. “They’re cute."

A larger group of 7- to 16- year-olds is enrolled in a Junior Program. They concentrate on developing the fundamental strokes. Intermediate and advanced players take a competitive play program, which includes drop shots, spins, power, placement and strategies.

The juniors began with warm-up exercises — standing on one leg and stretching. After that, Schmidt had them do laps around the tennis courts.

"Don’t sprint, just jog," said Schmidt.

Drills and games followed.