YOUTH EXCELLENCE TENNIS PROGRAM
An affordable South Florida tennis program for talented young players age 3 to 16
aspiring to become among the best tennis players in the world.

Instructor and Program Director: Andrew S. Rosz

Are you the parent of an aspiring young tennis player age 3 to 16?

Does your child truly love the game of tennis and perhaps already show signs of becoming a tennis champion?  Is your child driven and self-motivated?  Have you enrolled your child in countless tennis lessons, clinics, and academies only to become frustrated with the inability of most tennis facilities to properly train your child?  Are you looking for an affordable way to provide your child with the best individual "one-on-one" world-class tennis training available?  Do you live in (or are you willing to travel to) the South Florida area?

If the answer to one or more of the above questions is "yes," then read on…

Andrew Rosz - 1980's Tour Player

I am also well-known for my "Youth Excellence Tennis Program" which involves teaching world class professional tennis to children age 3 to 16.  The program is taught as a series of individual private lessons; 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 teaching assistants to help with demonstrations, pick up tennis balls, operate video equipment, etc.  As parental attendance is mandatory for every lesson, there are always several people on the court during your child’s tennis lesson; all dedicated to teaching just your child.  Accordingly, my Youth Excellence Tennis Program has been carefully designed to provide the best possible individual tennis training for young players on the fast-track to success.

As most tennis training facilities and tennis camps offer group tennis programs for children of all ages regardless of experience or playing ability, I tend to accept only the most dedicated and enthusiastic students 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 of aspiring young tennis hopefuls 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…

• Above-average intelligence…
• At least some degree 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 thinking independently…
• Capable of understanding basic cause and effect relationships…
• A child who truly enjoys the game of tennis…

And here’s what I expect from the parent…

• To faithfully attend your child’s regularly-scheduled one-hour tennis lesson…
• To be attentive at every lesson and ask questions…
• To take notes of all that is discussed during the lesson…
• 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 tennis 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 from all over the world, 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 most likely yes...   Prior tennis playing experience is not required...  But only after an Evaluation and Assessment Lesson will I be able to tell you if my Youth Excellence Tennis Program is right for you child.  As the technical challenges of learning to become a championship tennis player may not be appropriate for all children, I also offer regular weekly tennis lessons to children of all ages but at a much easier pace.  In contrast, attending my Youth Excellence Tennis Program is very much like attending a school that promotes disciplined learning objectives and goals.  Accordingly, a large amount of technical 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 can be demanding both mentally and physically so your first step as a parent is to schedule an Evaluation and Assessment Lesson to see if your child has the aptitude and desire to warrant acceptance into the program.

Do you accept children older than 16 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 developed many bad habits ands/or learned poor technique.  And as trying to correct poor technique in older children is often frustrating for both instructor and student, 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 a tennis program that offers little with respect to personal attention and technical development and/or an instructor that teaches the kids all the wrong things.  So especially for teenagers older than 16, scheduling an introductory Evaluation and Assessment Lesson is your required first step.  During the lesson, I will interview your child and observe how well he or she is receptive to the changes required in learning advanced tennis skills.  If all goes well, then he or she will be accepted.

My child has been previously taught to use the Western (or Semi-Western) forehand grip.  Your thoughts?

For many good reasons, I do not teach nor do I endorse the Western or Semi-Western forehand grip.  Accordingly, if your child has been taught to use either of these two grips and/or the inefficient loopy stroke that usually accompanies the "Western Mentality," then please understand that your child will not be permitted to use either of these two grips if he or she is accepted into my Youth Excellence Tennis Program.  This is because both the Western and Semi-Western forehand grips encourage the body to move in unnatural ways that the body is simply not designed to move.  These unnatural movements also tend to place more stress and strain on the joints, shoulders, and limbs which is certain to cause physical damage to both the child’s arm and shoulder as the years pass.  It’s just a matter of time.

So why do so many teaching pros teach the Western (and Semi-Western) forehand grip to so many junior players?

Quite simply, both the Western and Semi-Western forehand grips are easier for most tennis coaches to teach, and easier for most young junior players to learn.  This is because neither of these two forehand grips encourage or require the development and use of several important muscle groups.  As a result, most young players who are taught either of these grips never learn "Racket Pitch Awareness Skills;" the single most important tennis skill of all in learning to hit the ball both consistently and with control.  From a physics standpoint, these two grips are the least efficient forehand grips of all; both of which ultimately lead to an abundance of bad habits and a technically-inferior tennis stroke.  To that end, and especially for aspiring young tennis hopefuls, the Western or Semi-Western forehand grip is simply not the grip of choice in learning to become a world class competitor at the championship level.  Alternatively, in the Youth Excellence Tennis Program, all participants are taught to use the more traditional "championship" forehand grip right from the start.  Because paramount to developing a world class tennis stroke is the emphasis on developing fine-tuned precision and skill with the hands and fingers, just like learning a musical instrument.  Indeed, it takes a truly qualified and competent tennis coach to guide a young tennis player through the developmental process of learning to use a championship forehand grip, and most discount tennis instructors simply do not have the knowledge or the skill to steer a promising young tennis hopeful away from all the recreational inefficiencies of the Western or Semi-Western forehand grips and into a technical program of becoming a world class competitor.

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

Teaching your child to become a championship tennis player is hard work and requires an ongoing commitment on behalf of the student, instructor, and parent.  For children enrolled in my Youth Excellence Tennis Program, the parent is required to accompany their child in at least one regularly-scheduled one-hour lesson per week.  The parent is also encouraged to practice with their child to reinforce 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 championship tennis program for young children so affordable?

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

Are there any other costs?

No. You supply your own tennis rackets and other personal 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 choose to 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 Andrew Rosz 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 for learning to play great tennis.  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, you may still elect to sign your child up for regular weekly tennis lessons at my regular teaching rates for "One Child Plus One Parent."  As parental on-court participation during each regular tennis lesson is optional, 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 tennis 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 themselves, 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 tennis champions.  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 "one-on-one" private tennis instruction from a truly qualified teaching pro.  And such is the reality when you send your kid to a tennis camp or name brand 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 tennis hopeful into a world class competitor at many of these facilities.  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 recreational 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 may be an additional 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 in the mornings 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 regional tennis 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 tennis 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 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 your child 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 competitor.  Also, by the time your child is 12, he or she will also be capable of beating many adult players of considerable ability.

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

As a world class tennis player and tennis 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 talented 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 most promising students so if you think that professional tennis training may be appropriate for your child, 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
South Florida Professional Tennis Instruction
Youth Excellence Tennis Program; Hollywood Florida, USA

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