Program Director Rob Dulin believes that tennis has the potential to become a much more popular sport in Prince William County, which is why he founded the Western Prince William Tennis Academy (WPWTA) for children.
He believes that parents want their children to learn to play tennis, because like swimming or bicycling, it is a sport they can participate in throughout their entire lives.
“A lot of it is just introducing them to a new activity, especially here where there are so many tennis courts,” Dulin said.
Dulin’s tennis academy offers four-day camp sessions held at Patriot High School’s tennis courts on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, during the week of July 1st. Camp the week of July 8th is Monday through Thursday mornings.
These dates include Junior Tennis Camp sessions for 8-13-year-old children, and Junior Mini Camp sessions for 4-7 year-olds. In addition, WPWTA is adding three additional weeks in September with registration beginning August 1.
Dulin explains that his camp is ideal for children of practically all skills levels, although most come to the sport with little formal tennis training or experience.
That doesn’t surprise Dulin, who said that tennis has lost popularity in recent decades but believes it is experiencing a renaissance of sorts with the rise of tennis stars such as Roger Federer.
No matter, Dulin is adept at introducing students to new sports in a fun and comprehensive way. He is a physical education teacher at Patriot High School and a member of the USPTA, a professional tennis-teaching organization. Growing up in Montclair, Virginia, he learned to play tennis as a child when the sport was at its peak popularity.
With the skills he learned in his Prince William community, he went on to play tennis at Potomac High School and then at the University of William and Mary. After college, Dulin has coached tennis throughout Northern Virginia and has also coached track at Brentsville District High School.
Now, he hopes the Bristow community will embrace the sport that is often more popular with adults, but easier to learn as a child.
“If you don’t learn it when you’re younger, it’s really hard to pick it up when you’re older,” Dulin said.
In addition, Dulin said many parents find it difficult to teach the sport on their own because they don’t have the ability to keep a game going.
“It can be frustrating teaching kids yourself, always picking up tennis balls,” Dulin said
However, at his academy, tennis students progress through the steps, building upon their skills set.
“Literally, we start up at the net volleying,” Dulin said. “Then, we work on ground strokes, and then we’ll introduce the serve.”
He makes learning tennis exciting by playing group games for which the action does not stop just because someone misses a return.
For instance, during one practice, campers played Living, Breathing, Dying, a game by which each child steps up to hit the tennis ball much like a baseball player at bat. The player is “alive” until he or she misses three times. Everyone gets a few chances and the action of the game is continuous.
At other times, Dulin will divide his campers onto two adjacent courts based upon their skill levels. Grouping players allows students of various ages and abilities to continue improving. It also allows campers to resign for more advanced lessons.
Dulin said he sees major improvement in his tennis students in just a few days' time.
“Some of the kids start out where they can’t contact a ball, and then at the end, we get an honest volley back and forth,” he said.
Parents are also happy with what their children have learned at tennis camp.
“Coach Dulin is a phenomenal coach and teacher,” said mom, Gina Butler,” He’s really good at differentiating skill sets, so the kids are having a wonderful time.”
Lisa Grant agreed.
“We’re thrilled to have this so close to home. My older kids have done his track camp. It’s so positive,” Grant said.
To sign your child up for the Prince William Tennis Academy or to receive more information visit www.westernpwta.com, email Info@WesternPWTA.com or call 703-507-5092.
Support Bristow Beat - Donate Today!