EDUCATION SPORTS CAMPS
Ascot Polo Club uses polo professionals to coach young players
Tennis
coaching in scenic Oxford
How to choose a good sports camp
When a sports camp gets it right, the rewards are endless, with enthusiastic children responding to charismatic coaches
✒ For ambitious tennis players,
the Sutton Tennis Academy in Surrey, whose coaches include British international Josh Goodall, offers professional-standard, non-residential coaching camps. This is not for the hit-and-giggle brigade; aside from four hours of tennis coaching from international coaches, participants undergo an hour’s fi tness and physical conditioning each day on state-of-the- art exercise equipment. For sociable tennis players, former
Scottish international Jonathan Markson offers courses in England and abroad, including the Algarve, Venice and Tunisia. His popular, week-long residential tennis courses in Oxford and at Giggleswick School, Yorkshire, offer an impressive line-up of instructors, including Andy Murray’s fi rst coach, Martin Kilday. London parents fi nd his non-residential weeks in Barnes, west London, great value and an excellent way of using up bottled
Further sports camps
up energy. In Oxford, students from beginners to county players stay in college accommodation and enjoy a full programme of evening events as well as visits to London and local attractions, such as Blenheim Palace. Some summer camps are so
popular that only the most clued- up get the chance to take part. The residential Eton College holiday rowing courses at Dorney Lake, the 2012 Olympic rowing venue, are so heavily oversubscribed that they sell out within days of being advertised each January. These are unique and hugely enjoyable courses which introduce youngsters to rowing and sculling in a fi rst-rate environment that maximises their enjoyment of the sport. Future Matthew Pinsents get a full grounding in water safety and rowing techniques in a variety of different craft including VIIIs and Dragon boats. Most abstruse skill on offer? Learning to scull while performing a headstand. Irresistible! %
, Berkshire, Tel: 01276 858545;
www.polo.co.uk , Stowe School, Bucks, Tel: 01280 818 282 , Tel: 07815-081744;
www.ccmacademy.co.uk , Tel: 020 7603 2422;
www.marksontennis.com
, Email:
enquiries@procoachcricketacademy.com Tel: 01133 200444;
www.procricketcoachingacademy.com
, Tel: 020 8641 6611;
www.suttontennisacademy.com , Herts (four to 12 year olds),
www.thegrove.co.uk
Step 1: Decide which course will suit your off spring and your budget. Are your children future superstars desperate to specialise or games players keen to improve but also to try other activities too? Would you prefer residential evening activities and a social aspect, or the cheaper option of going home at 5pm after an energetic day of tennis? Step 2: Do your research with other parents and children. Veterans of previous courses are a good source of insider knowledge and advice. Step 3: Examine reputation. Sport England’s website gives links to most sports’ governing bodies. Local schools and many sporting clubs run non-residential, all-day camps, open to others for a small fee.
www.sportengland.org Step 4: Ask questions. What is the ratio of pupils to coaches? Research the instructors’ coaching level and charisma quota, not just their playing standard. I once almost lost the will to live while being coached by a monosyllabic former Wimbledon tennis champion (mentioning no names).
School sports camps
Eton College is
involved with Eton Rowing Courses, which utilises the College’s enviable fleet of rowing equipment and facilities. Tel: 01753 671219;
www.etonrowing
courses.co.uk
Marlborough College
runs non-residential and residential multi- sport summer activity camps for families. Parents who stay can enjoy courses including sculpture, choral singing and bridge. Children’s activities include golf, canoeing, ‘young clay- shot’ and kick-boxing. Tel: 01672 892388; www.
mcsummerschool.org.uk
Millfield School,
Somerset, boasts outstanding sports facilities and holds non-residential summer camps for junior tennis players aged seven to 14. Tel: 01458 444320
www.millfieldschool.com
Warwick School runs
non-residential summer holiday hockey courses and multi-sport camps for seven- to 16-year-olds plus two-day courses in synchronised swimming, squash and multi-sports. Tel: 01926 735473;
www.warwickschool.org
Other sports companies using school facilities:
Supercamps at King Edward’s School, Malvern St James School, Sutton High School, Whitgift School and more. www.
supercamps.co.uk
Activate in Bedford, Sevenoaks, Oundle, Taunton and Shrewsbury. www.
activatesport.co.uk
tennis associations run sports courses for established players at independent schools. Information on county association websites.
42 FIRST ELEVEN SUMMER 2010
WWW.FIRSTELEVENMAGAZINE.CO.UK
PHOTO: ASCOT POLO CLUB/JONATHAN MARKSON TENNIS
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