 As a dedicated tennis coach and owner of West Coast Tennis Academy, I constantly strive to motivate your child and others to higher levels of achievement in tennis. Many parents ask, "What kind of future does my child have with tennis?"
The world of tennis provides countless opportunities for personal growth that affect every part of their lives. They learn to:
- Value instruction and accept criticism
- Develop new skills and improve performance
- Share and communicate with a variety of people
- Be a team player
- Set goals and achieve them
- Become self-motivated and self-disciplined
- Appreciate the importance of physical fitness
As your child's tennis skills improve, tennis becomes more fun, challenging, and exciting!
Other doors in the world of tennis begin to open for them:
- Winning in match and tournament play
- High school varsity and junior varsity tennis
- Regional, sectional, and national rankings
- College scholarships (Division I, II, III)
- Professional tennis
- A lifetime sport for recreation and enjoyment
What is Rat Pak Tournament Tours?
WCTA junior players travel as a team to tennis tournaments with coaches.
How did it start?
Many students wanted to play a little more, try a tournament, make high school tennis, and have fun:
The Rat Pak started at sunrise one morning; we were off on a trip to the desert with 6 players. After a long, hot day in the desert sun, the final match lasted over 3 hours long and went into the early evening. On the way home we were all dirty and tired; some kids had won and some had lost, but they all were laughing together and the first Rat Pak was formed. The group grew from its original 6 players in one van to two, 12-passenger vans. These kids started out in novice tournaments and worked their way to Southern California opens, Designated, and Nationals. Many of these players went on to obtain college scholarships or play the professional tour.
 Impact of the Rat Pak and Team
Many students still traveled with the Rat Pak after getting their own driver's license; they liked the comraderie and team feeling the Rat Pak gave them. It gives the kids some independence and without parents there, it takes pressure off during match time. If time allows we might frequent an In n Out on the way home or family fun center to let the kids have some fun. This way kids associate competition with fun. Many other trips were formed such as Disneyland, Knott Soak City, and Universal Studios, where the players could form long-lasting friendships.
What we do:
- Transportation
- Lunch at tournament site
(snacks, breakfast, and dinner not included)
- Coaching
- Team spirit
Why it is important:
- Team
- Togetherness
- Independent
- Friendships with other tennis players
- Group of Tennis Friends will help kids want to play, especially
if other kids from school are doing different sports or no sports
How to sign up and responsibility of Parent
- WCTA students need to talk with Andy Farmer on an upcoming schedule.
- Once they register, the parent must register the student in the tournament.
- Pack a snack and send money for dinner.
- Each tournament has a day fee and minimum requirement.
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