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(ALEX HAVARDANSKY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Steers and Lady Blues campers practice their swing form during Graham tennis camp Tuesday, June 10. Younger campers took the morning sessions while older campers took the afternoon sessions. -
(ALEX HAVARDANSKY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) A Lady Blues camper waits on a ball to swing at Tuesday, June 10 at Graham tennis camp. This camp was about teaching the fundamentals of the sport to students, according to coach Matt Birdwell. -
(ALEX HAVARDANSKY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) A young Steers camper successfully hits the ball with proper form at Graham tennis camp Tuesday, June 10. -
(ALEX HAVARDANSKY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Lady Blues high school players assist campers during tennis camp Tuesday, June 10. The goal of this camp according to coach Matt Birdwell is to inspire interest in the campers for the sport in hopes they return to it in the future.
The Graham Steers and Lady Blues are looking for their next generation of inspired youth to lead their tennis programs. The first step in that was their summer tennis camp which took place this week.
Graham’s tennis camp ran in conjunction with Steers basketball camp from Monday to Wednesday, June 9-11.
The first through fifth grade campers started off each day's worth of sessions from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Meanwhile the sixth through ninth grade campers finished off the day with the 10 a.m. to noon sessions.
However sticking to that schedule proved to be a challenge throughout the week. Mother nature was not being favorable and several amendments had to be made to the schedule.
For the Tuesday, June 10 sessions, both the early morning and afternoon sessions got pushed back past noon due to rain, and on Wednesday, June 11, the first through fifth graders were excused early due to lightning protocol and the sixth through ninth grade session was ultimately canceled.
Despite these setbacks, Graham still made the most of the opportunity introducing kids in the town, both younger and older, to the fundamentals of tennis to create a love for the game and a potential to want to continue playing it as they grow up.
An interesting change in perspective from this camp to other previous camps is coach Matt Birdwell’s mentality on it.
Birdwell believes the fundamentals are something that needs to be continually taught throughout your playing career, whether you're a first grader or a high school player.
“We still go over the basics,” Birdwell said. “My high school kids we go over the basics a lot and make sure they know everything that they’re doing.”
Birdwell hoped he was able to provide interest in the sport with the younger generations to have them come back and play in the future.
