Starting Thursday, July 18th, the Russellville Parks and Recreation Department is offering a three-day tennis camp for youth entering the fourth through the 10th grade. The camp, which requires a $50 registration fee, will be held at the Russellville Tennis Courts on Rube Courtington Drive behind the Russellville High School football stadium.
During the first two days of the camp, which will start at 6 p.m. and run until 8 p.m., participants will learn the sound fundamentals of tennis, events coordinator Denese Gault said.
“They’re going to work on technique and form,” Gault said. “They’re going to be taught things like the correct way to hit fronthand, the correct way to hit backhand, volleys at the net, and things like that.
“You can put a racket in anyone’s hand and you can go out there and goof off, but like any sport when you do that it’s probably wrong,” she added. “If you can learn the fundamentals and proper form now, eventually you’ll have those mastered and be pretty good at it.”
The final day of camp, Saturday, July 20th, will begin at 8 a.m. and will feature competition between the participants.
“On Saturday the 20th we’ll do like a little round robin so we can see their skills and how they play each other,” she said. “That’ll start at eight o’clock, but we’re not sure what time that will end exactly. It’ll be one of those things if you lose you can go home.”
Tennis balls and water will be provided. Participants will need to bring their own racket and Gault encourages those individuals to also bring their own refreshments and a snack.
The camp will be instructed by three volunteers—Peyton Parrish, Reece Carson, and Bralynn Vincent—-who all have experience coaching, Gault said. Parrish, Carson, and Vincent are all 2024 graduates of Russellville High School and were members of the Golden Tigers’ boys’ and girls’ tennis teams. Parrish, who has signed a tennis scholarship to the University of North Alabama, helped the RHS girls’ squad to a section championship and a runner-up finish at the state tournament this past season.
“Peyton teaches tennis and she goes to all these camps,” Gault said. “She’s very knowledgeable about tennis.”
Carson and Vincent were members of the Russellville boys team that won sectionals and finished fifth at state. Carson will also be a volunteer coach for the Russellville Middle School football and tennis teams next year.
“The three we’ve got out there teaching are super sweet, very patient, and I really think the kids participating will benefit from this camp,” Gault said.
Gault said the impetus behind the camp really fell with the three volunteers.
“This was kind of impromptu,” Gault said. “I was talking to Reece and Peyton and they were like, ‘Can we do a camp?’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, let’s do a camp.’ It was kind of sudden, but the only way we could fit into all their schedules was to do it (July 18-20).
“(The RHS tennis program) is doing well, and these three don’t want it to go downhill. They’re trying to make sure it keeps going as a good spring sport,” Gault added. “They’re coming back to volunteer their time and get more people involved in it, so that the program will continue to succeed and stay up there like it is. They want to see the Russellville tennis program succeed like it has been doing.”
If the youth camp is successful and has a good turnout, Gault said there may be another camp planned for later in the year.
“I know a lot of people will be on vacation and may not be able to do it right now.” she said. “If it goes well I’d like to pick it up again in the fall and do another camp.”
Gault said she also hopes the camp will also spark more interest in the sport overall.
“I’d like to eventually one day start a league through the (Russellville Parks and Recreation Department),” she said. “Alabama Parks and Recreation does do tennis, but right now there’s just not that much of an interest in this area. I’d like to watch and see tennis grow and gain more of an interest.”
