JTCC | Champions Program

The Champions Program is offered year-round both as an after-school and full-time program for players ages 10 and older. To be invited to participate in the Champions Program, a player must be a tournament player who wants to play college tennis and has demonstrated a strong work ethic.

Enrollment in the Champions program is by invitation only. Led by JTCC Senior Director of Tennis Vesa Ponkka, the Champions Program has a rigorous curriculum offering comprehensive training with 3-5 practice sessions per week on both hard and clay courts depending on the tournament season.

The most unique aspect of the Champions Program is mentoring. The coach-mentor is responsible for the development of the player on and off the court. A coach-mentor will aid in the player’s tournament schedule, oversee community service participation, and tackle issues of integrity, self-esteem, diet, parental involvement, and time management.

Mentoring and individualized programs stress player responsibility and independence. Intensive daily fitness training is an integral part of the Champions regimen.

Summer Training

There are 11 weeks of summer training beginning in mid-June and concluding in late August. Most Champs attend at least 6 summer camp weeks. Summer sessions consist of drills, match play, fitness, and mental training. Depending on age and skill level, players are assigned to one of two Champions groups: Champions 1 (Monday through Friday from 8 am – 3 am) or Champions 2 (Monday through Friday from 11 am – 6 pm).

Full-Time

Full-time annual tuition includes 11 weeks of summer training. Players train 4-6 hours daily. Tournament coaching at selected Sectional and National tournaments, customized fitness training, mental training with a certified sports psychologist, video analysis, college counseling for juniors and seniors, and after-school tutoring are included in the comprehensive curriculum.

Full-time annual tuition includes complete summer training.

Practice is scheduled both in morning and afternoon sessions permitting students to attend JTCC’s on-site school or to pursue their own individualized school programs. A typical day for a full- time JTCC player includes:

8:00-10:00am School
10:00am-12:00pm Tennis training
12:00-12:30pm Lunch
12:30-2:00pm School
2:00-4:00pm Tennis training
4:00-5:00pm Fitness training
5:00-6:00pm Study Hall

Fitness and Yoga

Fitness training consists of speed and agility drills, strength and endurance training, tennis specific footwork and balance exercises, and dynamic and static stretching for flexibility and injury prevention.

Senior Director of Fitness TC Costello wants students to connect what happens in the gym and on the track with their results on the court.

Players are tested in specific speed, strength, and agility settings to monitor their development throughout the year.

Weekly yoga sessions improve players’ flexibility, strength, and body control.

Mental Performance Training

JTCC provides mental performance training both on and off the court. Each semester, Peter Lee, Senior Adviser Optimal Performance, and the coaches select areas of mental training emphasis for the players in the Champions Program including getting into an optimal performance state, goal setting, effective thinking, attention and focus control, imagery and visualization, stress and energy management. Parents will be invited to attend periodic evening training seminars with students.