Academies

[topspin6060]

I am a junior and absolutely dying to go to an academy in Florida, however the prices are absolutely ridiculous. Any good ones that are less expensive than Saddlebrook and the top tier ones?


I just need suggestions, list anything please.

[10isDad]

I am a junior and absolutely dying to go to an academy in Florida, however the prices are absolutely ridiculous. Any good ones that are less expensive than Saddlebrook and the top tier ones?


I just need suggestions, list anything please.

Try google

[verdasco]

you'll get nothing out of it if your not good.

stick to what you have and build a consistent routine.

[baseline08thrasher]

Wouldn't you rather spend that money to hone your game with a private coach.
Man you could pay a decent private coach to hit with you everyday and get charter schooled, and you would get better results than going to a tennis academy.
Trust me, you would rather pay for a bunch of lessons with a private coach than wait around in lines to do drills all day.
You need to hone your weaknesses, and make your strengths weapons.
In tennis academies you don't get alot of private time, that's why one year wouldn't do you too much good, you would need to go there for like three to four.
You should spend that money focusing on your own game, even though some of those academies have good reputations, they aren't as good as getting a private coach and hitting privately with him or her everyday.
You should go to tennis academies for like a whole summer, to get that good experience with kids and competing, and then go to a coach for the school year and hit with them everyday.
Trust me you would rather have a whole lot of private lessons with a good coach, then wait your turn in line.

[TennisCoachFLA]

Here are 3 less expensive options that I have seen kids get solid results from:

http://www.itausa.com/splash.asp

http://www.extremetennisacademy.com/

http://www.bardmoortennisacademy.com/

[10isDad]

Here are 3 less expensive options

Less expensive?

ITAUSA is anywhere from $35K to 56K per school year for boarding students

Extreme is $900 per week boarding which translates to over $30K per school year.


Academy?

Bardmoor isn't an academy in the same sense as Saddlebrook, etc. It's description is basically an after-school program...but it is cheap.

[TennisCoachFLA]

Less expensive?

ITAUSA is anywhere from $35K to 56K per school year for boarding students

Extreme is $900 per week boarding which translates to over $30K per school year.


Academy?

Bardmoor isn't an academy in the same sense as Saddlebrook, etc. It's description is basically an after-school program...but it is cheap.


Why do posters on this forum argue just to argue....or give advice that the OP did not ask for??

ITA and Extreme offer lots of scholarships and discounts, I know, I have placed 8 kids there in the past 3 years.

Bardmoor is an amazing program, they get a ton out of the time they spend with the kids. Alexandra Cercone and Julia Jones are just two of there great kids. Pretty good for a puny "after school program".

Bardmoor has access to local condos, a swimming pool, great tennis results, nutritional expert, a state of the art fitness center.....hmmmm...pretty much anything an academy would offer. And it is cheaper....oh...thats what the original poster asked about? Gee, imagine that.

[TennisCoachFLA]

Try google

I think he wanted some advice from people who had experience with Florida academies. Not a smart alec answer from someone with nothing to offer on the topic.

[tenniscrazed]

I think he wanted some advice from people who had experience with Florida academies. Not a smart alec answer from someone with nothing to offer on the topic.

You appear to be what I would consider as a "non event". I think the answer was quite good "do research on your own" and "discover" maybe people have reviews on other sites that don't appear here. Nevertheless, I think it is high time that someone advise you that you are coming across as a burnt out coach who is living his /her life (you could be a female), through the kids he/she teaches.

Please for your own sake, as time goes on your true person will come out which may be quite embarrassing.

[tenniscrazed]

You appear to be what I would consider as a "non event". I think the answer was quite good "do research on your own" and "discover" maybe people have reviews on other sites that don't appear here. Nevertheless, I think it is high time that someone advise you that you are coming across as a burnt out coach who is living his /her life (you could be a female), through the kids he/she teaches.

Please for your own sake, as time goes on your true person will come out which may be quite embarrassing.

BTW, I WILL NOT humor you with a reply just some worthy advise, so post over me don't even bother

[tenniscrazed]

I think he wanted some advice from people who had experience with Florida academies. Not a smart alec answer from someone with nothing to offer on the topic.

Have you ever heard of Yelp.com, or eopinions.com or other review sites. Why would you do that? Information is king!!!! Stop being so agro.

[10isDad]

I think he wanted some advice from people who had experience with Florida academies. Not a smart alec answer from someone with nothing to offer on the topic.

My answer wasn't meant to be a smart aleck (which is the proper spelling...and that was being a smart aleck) answer. Try Google. You can find academy names, prices, reviews, etc.

[10isDad]

Why do posters on this forum argue just to argue....or give advice that the OP did not ask for??

The OP asked for "suggestions. list anything". I suggested Google so he could actually do some research.

ITA and Extreme offer lots of scholarships and discounts, I know, I have placed 8 kids there in the past 3 years.

Might have been apropos to say that. By saying they're "less expensive" and only giving links to their sites, which display their prices, wouldn't make the OP think they were cheap.

Bardmoor is an amazing program, they get a ton out of the time they spend with the kids. Alexandra Cercone and Julia Jones are just two of there great kids. Pretty good for a puny "after school program".

Great, glad to hear it. The assumption I would bet most readers would make is that the OP wanted to attend one of the full-day academies, especially since he/she just indicated Florida as a whole, not specifying a certain area. BTW "puny" is your word, not mine.

And it is cheaper....oh...thats what the original poster asked about? Gee, imagine that.

Cheaper, as I stated. Your sarcasm ("Gee, imagine that") is unappreciated and frankly makes me want to inflict bodily harm upon you.

[GameSetNavritilova]

Because Florida is the Academy Capitol, many feel the need to attach "Academy" to the company name. IMG is a lot like Hollywood. If you want to go to Hollywood, you'll be WOWed and you will pay handsomely for it.

[BigTennisFan1]

I think he wanted some advice from people who had experience with Florida academies. Not a smart alec answer from someone with nothing to offer on the topic.

Here you go again: A legitimate question, legitimate answer, and somehow it offends *you* and you take it upon yourself to tear into the person and throw insults. It is sometimes (and in your case, most often) better to say nothing ... I have looked at your posts over the last few months.

You assume the worst in people and hold that as a mirror to them. You, Sir, are in no position to judge whatsoever.

Your venom last January through today (the length of time I have been on this message board) is particularly transparent and particularly aimed at children.

Not to mention your horrid posts about other coaches, and name-calling ... as is the case with this young man legitimately pointing to Google as an answer.

To quote Mr. Welch: "You've done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?"

[BigTennisFan1]

I am a junior and absolutely dying to go to an academy in Florida, however the prices are absolutely ridiculous. Any good ones that are less expensive than Saddlebrook and the top tier ones?


I just need suggestions, list anything please.

Young man, my advice to you is to save your money and spend the week at Saddlebrook or IMG. You get what you pay for.

What I would do, if I were you, is call the Director at the Academy: Tell him you have limited financial resources. Tell him to come for a week is a big commitment to you. Ask him if it will be worth it ... ask him the questions. You need to speak with the Director, and not his assistant, and *not* sales people.

This way, the director will get to know you, your situation ... and you know what, you will get more out of it because these people are professionals and they are also cognisant of how much more it means to you to come than to someone for whom money is not an issue.

You will likely be assigned a better coach ... very likely.

You will be on his radar screen. When you arrive, introduce yourself.

Be honest about your situation. You should also budget 1 hour per day for a private lesson from someone the Director tell you you should work with. maybe 3-4 lessons for the week, which will cost you 200-400 dollars maybe.

If you do this ... you will get a lot out of your week.

Saddlebrook is a closed facility in terms of accommodations and it could be pricey.

IMG has dorms and could be more cost effective for you.

But before you choose, call the director. Dont give up until you speak to Steve Shulla at IMG, as an example. Tell him your situation and then listen.

Be well, hope it works out for you. I admire your drive.

[10isDad]

I am a junior and absolutely dying to go to an academy in Florida, however the prices are absolutely ridiculous.

One thing not entirely clear: are you currently in Florida, thus want to stay? If you're really bound and determined to go to a full-time academy, why limit yourself to Florida? There are great academies throughout the country.

However, unless you receive a scholarship or discount (as TCF pointed out does happen), you're going to be paying a lot of $$$ if you're talking about a full-time academy. Much of that money is to pay for room/board, food, supervision, etc. Big full-time academies are likely to have a lot of employees that all have to be paid. While scholarships/discounts may be available, my guess is there is a limited amount that are going to go the currently most talented (regardless of their income) and the potentially very talented (extremely athletic but still undeveloped) kids.

[TennisDad101]

We too looked at the expensive academies in Florida and Texas. We could not make it work for our daughter and were not impressed with the attention she would get at those places. We decided to look at other options and found this small academy in North Carolina called SCOBEN. They don't have a lot of kids by design, but the coaches are solid and have worked with top players. My daughter is there now and we could not be happier. They stil have a few spots open for year-round stays. Best of luck.....

[GameSetNavritilova]

I'm anti-Academy for numerous reasons but, if you want to walk away feelng like you got your money's worth, then go to IMG.