Sport
9 October, 2023
Maryborough ready for scorching summer of tennis
Junior tennis is ready to fire back up from next week, with the Hot Shots and junior sectional programs set to return to the Maryborough Tennis Centre. The program will again be run by Heather and Brian Carr, with Brian to coach the Hot Shots...
Junior tennis is ready to fire back up from next week, with the Hot Shots and junior sectional programs set to return to the Maryborough Tennis Centre.
The program will again be run by Heather and Brian Carr, with Brian to coach the Hot Shots program throughout.
Heather explained that Hot Shots tennis was an important stepping stone for young children to get into tennis, which leads into the junior sectional tournament, which runs over six weeks.
“The junior tennis program has been going for many years at the Maryborough Tennis Centre, and we introduced the Hot Shots program 12 or 13 years ago. It is a program designed for four-to-10-year-olds with low modified balls, smaller racquets and smaller nets,” she said.
“It is an important program to help transition beginner-level child-ren into playing tennis, and getting them to learn by playing. That program helps them transition into our junior competition, which has been successful over the years.”
Heather says a number of initiatives have been taken to ensure the competition continues to be strong, adopting a user-friendly time schedule for families.
“We have modified the time frame as well so it’s user-friendly for families, who don’t have to be there every week. We encourage them to participate over six weeks so it suits people’s lifestyles,” she said.
Heather also believes that helps people from surrounding towns make their way into Maryborough.
“We cater for all the regional towns. As the hard-court competition is not running junior teams, we cater for the likes of Carisbrook, Dunolly, Avoca, Bealiba, Talbot and Natte Yallock, and those kids are coming in to one central spot,” she said.
“It promotes participation and the tennis numbers to support the fringe towns who don’t have their own individual tennis clubs.”
The junior sectional and Hot Shots programs will begin on Saturday, October 14.
Junior sectional participants have a 9.15 am sign-in time for a 9.30 start. The Hot Shots program is a one-hour session suitable for all junior beginners 9.30 to 10.30 am — racquets are supplied.
Along with the youth programs, the Wednesday twilight teams competition will also commence on October 18, running until December 6.
A round-by-round basis with teams of four will see players take part in three sets of doubles in a fast-paced environment, with the night typically lasting from 6 pm to 7.30 pm.
For all enquiries regarding the Hot Shots program, junior sectional program or Wednesday twilight teams competition, interested players can contact Heather Carr on 0400 498 056.