December marks the 12th month of operation for the USTA National Campus, which opened its doors in Lake Nona in the very first days of 2017. In what has been a remarkable beginning for the first-year facility, the USTA looks to continue its formula of success in December and into the new year, notably with local programming and major events.
The first wave of spring programming will begin on Jan. 3, with the session running through March 17. These programs will be available for registration starting in December. All of the programs that have become staples on the courts in Lake Nona will once again be available, with options for players at all levels and for all ages. All available programs can be found at www.ustanationalcampus.com.
The Nemours Family Zone, which features 36- and 60-foot courts designed for beginners, has programs for children as young as 3, during which parents are encouraged to participate, all the way up to intermediate programs designed for kids between the ages of 7 and 10.
Programming for middle school- and high school-age children is available on full-sized courts for players ranging from beginners to those competing on their school teams and USTA-level tournaments. And as is the case with all programming, both after-school and weekend sessions are available.
On the adult side, the popular Tennis 101, Live-Ball and Cardio Tennis programs all return, also with both weekday and weekend options available. Other options include singles and doubles training as well as open social play, which mimics a “pick-up” league and is available at various levels.
Finally, adult camps are back this spring, with three-day options available: Dec. 14-17 (4.0 and above), Jan. 4-7 (3.5 and below) and Jan. 25-28 (4.0 and above), Feb. 1-4 (3.5 and below), and March 22-25 (4.0 and above).
In the events realm, one of the most significant tournaments of 2017 will be hosted in the last week of the year, wrapping up what has been an impressive slate of events featuring juniors, collegians, professionals, and even international senior and wheelchair athletes, among many others. The USTA Winter National Championships begin on Dec. 27 and will feature some of the top junior players from across the country. The event is a Level 1 event. That makes it one of the five prestigious National Championship-level events hosted throughout the year, providing players the opportunity to win a coveted Gold Ball. The USTA National Campus will host both the boys’ and girls’ 16s and 18s divisions, including singles and doubles competition. In total, 512 of the most talented young players in the country will descend on the National Campus for the event. The doubles finals are scheduled for Dec. 31, with singles champions set to be crowned on Jan. 2.
As Central Floridians celebrate the holiday season, the USTA National Campus remains a possible destination for players, family and friends. In fact, Christmas Day will be the only day the campus will be closed in the month of December. In keeping with the spirit of the holiday season, the USTA National Campus Pro Shop will be offering a special promotion throughout December on USTA National Campus gear that can only be found at the Pro Shop. The promotion, which will include a 10% discount on all USTA National Campus merchandise, will begin Dec. 1 and run through the end of the month.
For those who cannot stop by the National Campus in person, the Pro Shop recently launched its website: www.ustaproshop.com. The site features all of the latest National Campus apparel and gifts. These products are available exclusively on this website and in the Pro Shop. Customers also are able to shop for and purchase gear from the top brands in tennis, including Adidas, Babolat, HEAD, Wilson, and more.
