Phase 2 Introduces Players to JTCC Pathway
Following on the heels of the three annual sessions of JTCC’s gold standard programs – GEICO Game On! in Washington, DC and Advantage Prince George’s in Prince George’s County that bring tennis to hundreds of youngsters the most motivated players (50 – 70 each year) are identified by JTCC coaches to participate in Phase 2, a free eight-week development program at JTCC.
Phase 2 is the next step in the JTCC pathway. This is where 2017 USTA National Girls’ 14s Hard Court Court Robin Montgomery started. The progression from the participants first exposure to tennis to training and development begins in Phase 2 and JTCC Champs help set the tone by mentoring the youngsters.
Based on their proficiency, Phase 2 participants are assigned to Red, Orange, and Green Ball classes. Weekly 1.5 – hour training sessions are led by JTCC coaches and members of JTCC’s Champs programs who serve as role models for the aspiring young players. The classes focus on development of “ABC’s” (agility, balance, coordination) skills, progression drills using forehands, backhands, volleys, and serves, learning to score, and beginning to play out points.
The final session of Phase 2 is graduation day whereby each player receives a JTCC “Trust Your Training” t-shirt, certificate of achievement and a scholarship to attend one free nine week session of JTCC 10 and under programming.
Meet JTCC Phase 2 Rising Stars
Wongel Lemlem
Wongel Lemlem, 9, attends Stokes ES in Washington, D.C. Wongel progressed from the Fall 2016 GEICO Game On! session graduating from Phase 2 in Winter 2017. A rising star who has progressed from Orange Level 1 to Orange Level 2, Wongel is currently an enthusiastic member of JTCC’s Junior Team Tennis “Friday Night Lights” program.
Maximus Weaver
Maximus Weaver, 13. Maximus has been part of JTCC programming for four years having been identified by the Advantage Prince’s George’s program in 2014. He has progressed from Orange level 1 and now is a focused member of the Green Level 2 class at JTCC. A shy young man off the court, Maximus lets his game speak for itself as soon as he picks up his racquet.
