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QuickStart Family Classic

2011 QuickStart Family Classic -- a parent/child event

The inaugural QuickStart Family Classic on February 19, 2011 at the indoor courts at Farmington Country Club in Charlottesville, VA was a huge success. Eighteen parent/child teams "competed" in a format designed to let kids 10 and under learn how to compete without the pressure of winning or losing. The matches were played on 36-foot courts using red foam balls. Adults played with 23-inch racquets. Kids played with right-sized 19/21/23-inch racquets. Four games were played for each round-robin match.

Court assignments were based on age: -- Red courts (age 5), Blue (6-7), and Yellow (8-9). Blue and Yellow courts were divided into two groups -- Apples and Berries (Blue) and Bananas and Mangos (Yellow) -- for the round robin portion of the event and the all-team "fruit vs. fruit" final. The Red court (Carrots) had 5 year-olds who participated in a variety of QuickStart Tennis activities and lots of rallying. After a well-deserved break and some healthy refreshments -- bananas, whole-grain cereal bars, pretzels and bottled water, the kids played "Kid of the Court" while the parents and a few grandparents served as cheerleaders and scorekeepers.

After a group photo, cupcakes with QuickStart-colored red, blue and yellow icing were served to celebrate QuickStart's third birthday. Then, trophies were awarded to each child. Each participant and volunteer received a colorful QuickStart Family Classic t-shirt (expertly hand-crafted by Bob Girard at Hurricane City Tees). The participants also received a GAMMA "goody" backpack with the USTA Parents Guide to 10 and Under Tennis, an autographed copy of Let's Play Tennis! -- a Guide for Parents and Kids and  a copy of the USTA Bounce magazine, which included a photo of local QuickStart kid Alex Fitz-Hugh, who was sick and had to miss the event. Kids also received " Go Bananas for QuickStart! cards and a Go Bananas! bracelet. Everyone had a GREAT TIME!!!

QCV is very grateful to the sponsors who made this wonderful event possible, and especially Patrick Kearns, USPTA, PTR and Head Pro at Farmington Country Club, who is a driving force behind 10 and Under Tennis in our community. It was Patrick who, three years ago, invited USTA/Virginia to put on the area's first QuickStart demonstration on those same indoor courts. It's only fitting that we celebrated the third anniversary of QuickStart's introduction on the Farmington indoor courts. Patrick says he would like for the Family Classic to be an annual event!

And many thanks to QCV Board members and all the volunteers who made this event as successful as could be. They STEP UP for QuickStart! every time. We couldn't do it without you!!!

      

                                

The event photos tell the story . . .


      Court setup was easy for Paul Shepherd, QCV volunteer and PTR-certified Instructor, and Patrick Kearns, using the
      "9-foot clothes line" approach pioneered by Roy Harrill, QCV Treasurer. Court lines can be taped in no time!

  
    Chris Cubbage, USPTA Pro and Director of 4 Star Camps, warmed up the kids and explained the "rules of the road" for kids

 
The kids were all warmed up and ready to go, while Lynda Harrill, QCV QuickStart Tennis Coordinator, finished up telling parents about the USTA's plans for 10 and Under Tennis and the new informal competition formats, as well as the adult "rules of the road" for today's event. Adults were asked to let the kids do most of the playing and "let the kids be kids." No "coaching" allowed. Only positive comments and lots of high fives. Adults were asked not to close the net and not to hit balls out of the air. Adults were told if they got a little too competitive, they would be tapped on the shoulder and gently reminded of the "rules of the road." If a second reminder was needed, they'd be asked to play with their non-dominant hand. A third warning would result in an adult time-out. All the adults behaved beautifully!
             
          All smiles and all ready to have FUN!



                                                                  The competition started on time!


    Zavan was ready to go!           Madelyn had good racquet head speed!     Coach Eberhart caught "coaching" an "unrelated" player!


        Chaney May and Mom had FUN!                  Ilyas, age 5, had a blast with his Mom!                    Colton was all smiles!
 

             The Bananas prepared to play the Mangos                           The Mangos were fired up and ready!

Three-year-old Alex jumped on-court with brother Will. His Mom Kelly fed him a ball and he hit it over the net the first time. Alex quietly said "I didn't know I could do that!" and then proceeded to do it again and again.

Not to be outdone, the latest addition to the Bowman's tennis-loving household, 18-month-old Chloe, jumped on court and grabbed a racquet and ball. She went right for a 23-inch racquet, but we talked her down to a 19-inch. Sister Avery competed on the Yellow court with Dad John, while her other sister Chaney May played on the Blue court with Mom Christina. Brothers Cooper and Bryce were among the spectator group of non-playing parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and siblings. 



                                           A GREAT group of participants!!!



                                     The refreshments, especially the colorful cupcakes, were very popular!

              HAPPY BIRTHDAY QuickStart!!! We can't wait until next year!!!






 

 

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