Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation  
Tennis Newsletter | March 2014 | VBgov.com/Parks
Volunteers Needed for Beach Blast

 

Beach Blast The 3rd Annual Wayne D. McCoy Beach Blast will be held on Saturday, April 26th at Owl Creek Tennis Center. Want to volunteer? It's not too late! Volunteer spots are available in the following areas:

 

- Playing Partner
- Carnival Game Area
- Court Volunteers 
  (Court Monitors / Scoring / Cheering / Ball Kids)
- Tournament & Festivities
  (Set Up / Break Down / Player Luncheon)
 

The Beach Blast uses the "Unified" format, which pairs players with intellectual disabilities with tennis playing volunteers in a doubles round robin. The event is open to all Special Olympic athletes.

 

In addition to full court match play, short court tennis will also be part of the activities. The short court matches utilize the Special Olympic 42' court format with the red felt tennis ball. This year's sponsors include Virginia Tennis, Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation, The Virginia Beach Tennis Patrons, Virginia Tennis Foundation and Special Olympics of Virginia. For more information on the tournament, please contact info@virginiatennis.com.
Weekly Clinics 

 

Cardio Tennis (all levels) | $15

Tue & Fri | 9-10 am 

  

Men's & Ladies Night Out (3.5 & up) | $21

Tue & Thur | 7:30-9 pm

As some of these clinics fill, please call (757) 385-2695 the day before to reserve your place.

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New to QuickStart Play?

QuickStart Junior classes in the spring will be using the USTA's QuickStart format for ages 10 and under. This innovative format uses age-appropriate equipment with smaller racquets, smaller courts and low compression tennis balls to enable a successful and enjoyable introduction to tennis for younger players. Spring classes offering this format include, Tots, Aces and Futures. Find these classes and more in the Spring Programs & Activities Catalog.
Spots Still Available for Adult Spring Leagues

 

There are still teams in need of players for the Adult Spring Leagues. To see which levels are available, please visit vbtennislife.com and vbtennispatrons.org. Virginia Beach leagues are played at Owl Creek Tennis Center and Lynnhaven Middle School.
Ball Machines Help You Focus on Your Stroke

Tennis Player

After a difficult winter, it's a great time to rent our ball machine to shake the rust out of your game. A ball machine can help you get your game back on track with the consistency of a controlled ball. 

 

Ball Machine Rental Rates:

$19.15 per hour

$3.15 per hour with Individual ($125/yr) or Family ($175/yr) Membership

 

Call the Owl Creek Pro Shop at (757) 385-2695 to schedule your time.
Keep the Kids Active this Spring Break

  

Spring Camp Video We're serving up fun all week long! While on break from school, players of all levels will learn the basic strokes, rules of the game, and proper tennis etiquette. Check out this video to see the camp in action! There will also be a pizza party on the last day of camp. 

 

Camp takes place at Owl Creek Tennis Center from 9 am to noon, April 14-18. Open to ages 5-17. Cost is $140 for the week. You can register online, or in person at Owl Creek Tennis Center or any Virginia Beach Recreation Center.
Pro Tip: Perfecting the Volley
By Owl Creek Staff

For a successful volley, remember the following tips:

 

Prepare early - Keep the racquet in front of your body and the top of the racquet should be just below eye level. You have less time to react when you're closer to the net, so this position allows you to make quicker contact. 
 
Stay balanced - Ideally, you can take a split prior to your opponent making contact with the ball, but make sure you remain balanced so you are able to easily move in any direction to attack the ball. 
 
Follow the ball - As you move into the net, follow your shot and try to stay in front of the ball. This will allow you cut off most angles and defend your opponents two easiest shots - the down the line and the crosscourt. 

Follow these suggestions for a more complete game at the net.
Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation believes all of our diverse citizens have a right to participate in community recreation and we are committed to creating equal access for everyone who may have a challenge or barrier. If you or your child require additional support, we can help. Learn more about our accommodation and inclusion services.
Owl Creek Municipal Tennis Center

Location: 928 S. Birdneck Road, Virginia Beach | Phone: (757) 385-2695

Hours: Monday - Friday: 9am - 9pm | Saturday and Sunday: 9am - 5pm

We welcome your comments and questions. Feel free to email us at fun@VBgov.com.
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Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation is accredited by CAPRA,
the certifying agency of the National Recreation and Park Association.