Tennis Academy of the South  ⁿ  Atlanta, GA

Home       News & Events      Locations      FAQ       Join Us       Photo Gallery    Contact      

Frequently Asked Questions about the Tennis Academy of the South

The Academy goal is to develop each individual to their full potential in the game of tennis as well as life. The Academy staff works on two parallel tracks. One is developing a year round training environment for the physical, mental and emotional development of the national, sectional, state and unranked player. The other track is developing life skills through the discipline of training and competition.
 

How is TAS different than other tennis academies?

How are drill sessions structured at your TAS?

How are the juniors grouped?

How much do drills cost, and are there any other fees besides drill session fees to join TAS?

Is there a money back guarantee if my junior joins and then decides to leave?

Can I join the Academy at any time?

Where is your tennis academy located?

How many drill sessions do juniors take?

Do you have to commit to the full 11 week drill sessions?

When do drill sessions take place?

What is included in the annual program fee?

Do you have an inclement weather policy?

Do you provide tournament coaching?
 

Q: How is TAS different than other tennis academies?

1) TAS believes the Academy should mold itself to the individual needs of the student, rather than the student to the Academy.

2) The Academy Director, Gery Groslimond has raised two sons who have played intercollegiate tennis on scholarships. Having coached and parented on a national level, Gery can better equip parents.

3) The Academy staff only motivates students in a positive manner.

4) The Academy offers more in-depth training for mental toughness and off court physical training than other academy.

5) The Academy staff has coached more nationally ranked juniors than any staff in Atlanta.

Q: How are drill sessions structured at your TAS?

TAS will offer 4 drill sessions throughout the school year, 11 weeks in length, and a summer drill program, 8 weeks in length. 

SESSION DATES:

#1 August 11^th – October 26^th 

#2 October 27^th – January 11^th

#3 January 12^th – March 29^th

#4 March 30^th   – June 14^th

#5 June 15^th – August 9^th

Q:  How are the juniors grouped?

All juniors, regardless of program level option, will be placed in groupings by the following method:  1) ranking, 2) head to head matches against other academy juniors, 3) attitude, and 4) yearly commitment.  Juniors will be evaluated every 11 weeks to move up in groupings, based on the above. 

As TAS is a full service tennis academy, the staff will offer 3 levels of training.  The first training program is the “State” level, designed for the junior who wants to obtain a state ranking, play on their high school team, or simply train to see if they want to make tennis their sport.  The junior in this level of training may want to play more tennis, but has other interests that keep them from a full commitment. 

 The second training program is the “Sectional” level, designed for the junior who has made the commitment to strive for a state and sectional ranking and is willing to work at a higher level of intensity.  A junior in this program may not have achieved their desired ranking yet, but is willing to put in the time and effort. The Sectional program is open to all junior’s who are willing to make the commitment to excellence. The staff is asking junior’s in this program to commit to four out of the five training periods in the year.

 The third training program is the “National” level, designed for the junior who has made a total commitment to tennis.  This junior has given up a lot in their life to make tennis a top priority and their goal is a college tennis scholarship and/or play professional tennis.  The staff is asking juniors in this program to commit to training for one year, as the depth and scope of the training cannot be accomplished in a shorter period of time.  The staff will assign a TAS coach to oversee every aspect of training and meet with parents regularly to ensure that their junior is meeting their commitment.     

Q:  How much do drills cost, and are there any other fees besides drill session fees to join TAS?

STATE LEVEL OPTION:

• Juniors sign up for 2 drills per week for 11-weeks. 
• There are 3 make-up drill session pre-set dates a junior may attend.  In order to be eligible for a make-up session a junior must cancel any drill they are not attending 24 hrs. in advance.  If a junior/parent does not cancel a drill session in advance, the junior will forfeit the ability to make-up the drill.  Any drills not attended in the 11-week time period are forfeited.   
• There are weekly make-up sessions due to inclement weather.  Before August 11^th each junior will have a set weekly make-up schedule in place.  If a junior does not attend the set weekly make-up time, the drill is forfeited.  
• Juniors in the State level program can increase their commitment to the Sectional or National level programs at any time and the fee will be pro-rated.
• COST:  $638 pays for 2 drills per week for 11-weeks, with 3 make-up drill times that are set in advance of the session.  The 3 set make-up dates are the only make up times other than the normal re-schedule for inclement weather. Make-up times will be set before August 11^th for each junior, and those times and dates will be their only make-up time. 

 SECTIONAL LEVEL OPTION:

• Juniors sign-up for 3 drills per week, for 11-weeks.
• There are 5 pre-set make-up drill session dates a junior may attend. The 5 make-up dates are set in advance of the session and are the only make-up times allowable.   
• Juniors are expected to attend drills rain or shine.  The staff will go off court with mental imagery programs when there is inclement weather.  The off court training program will be on the TAS website so parents can monitor what the material covers.  Parents are also welcome to attend the off court sessions.    
• Play in 2 tournaments every 11 weeks.
• Junior must commit to writing a pre-tournament goal sheet 1 week in advance of each tournament followed by a post tournament evaluation within 1 week. 
• Attend all mental toughness seminars. 
• COST:  $957 pays for 3 drills per week with 5 pre-set make-up dates. 

 NATIONAL LEVEL OPTION:

• Juniors may only enter this program based on:  1) sectional and national ranking, 2) commitment level, 3) work ethic, and 4) attitude.  .
• Juniors sign up for 4 drills per week, for 11 weeks, and a 5^th day built into the weekly schedule for make-ups.  There are no other make-ups.
• Juniors are expected to attend drills rain or shine.  The staff will go off court with mental imagery programs when there is inclement weather.  The mental training program will be on the TAS website so parents can follow the material.  Parents are also welcome to attend any off court session.
• Juniors must commit to this training program during and through high school tennis.  High school tennis is secondary to developing a tournament player’s game.
• If a junior goes indoors with this program an additional indoor court fee will be required for each indoor session.
• Play 3 tournaments every 11 weeks.
• Must commit to writing a tournament goal sheet 1 week in advance of each tournament, followed by a post-tournament evaluation within 1 week.
• Attend all mental toughness seminars.  Off-court mental toughness training will be held on weekends where juniors are not in tournament competition.
• Each junior will be given a lead pro to be accountable to.  The lead pro will ensure that each aspect of the program is being followed.   The lead pro will communicate a junior’s progress every 5 weeks to the parents of that junior.
• COST:  $1,276 pays for 4 drills weekly / but receives 5 drills weekly.

In addition the Academy has a yearly program fee, which ensures all students receive the necessary benefits of training beyond drill sessions.

Q:  Is there a money back guarantee if my junior joins and then decides to leave?

Yes, the Academy gives a junior 30 days to try out the drill sessions and programming. At the end of 30 days a junior can receive a full refund of the annual program fee (pro-rated from August) and only pay for the number of weekly drill sessions they have attended.

Q:  Can I join the Academy at any time?

Yes, students may join in the middle of a session and their drill session and annual program fee will be pro-rated from August.

Q:  Where is your tennis academy located?

The Academy offers programming at Hudlow Tennis Center in Norcross, Newtown Park in Johns Creek, and Blackburn Tennis Center in Atlanta (Dunwoody).

Q:  How many drill sessions do juniors take?

Juniors take a minimum of 2 drills per week and up to 4 drill sessions per week.

Q:  Do you have to commit to the full 11 week drill sessions?

Yes, however, any new students’ fees are pro-rated from their start date.

Q:  When do drill sessions take place?

TAS drill sessions run Monday through Saturday.  Students’ days and times are based on age, ability and commitment.

Q:  What is included in the annual program fee?

Each junior will be charged an annual program fee of $275 to participate in TAS.  A junior’s membership begins with their initial start date and will be pro-rated after the August 11^th initial start date.  Two or more juniors in a family only pay 1 program fee, and receive all benefits.  The staff has incorporated the annual programming fee for juniors, and their parents, in order to ensure that TAS’ juniors take advantage of competitive/ training aspects of the game.  The benefits of the program fee maximizes TAS’ offering.  The annual program fee gives junior and parent a tremendous value if you simply take advantage of it.  Each junior will receive the following from the annual program fee:  

• Complimentary coaching at 2 Atlanta-based tournaments.  This includes critiquing a junior’s pre-tournament goal sheets, daily warm ups, watching matches, coaching between sets, helping parents cope with the pressure of tournament competition, and critiquing a junior’s post-tournament evaluation.  The TAS website will have all tournament dates, and related information on the homepage.  Additionally, juniors will find all pre-tournament goal sheets and post-tournament evaluations on the homepage.
• TAS will set up match play with other Academy juniors.  Juniors can call the business office at 404-421-2025 and the staff will set up match play with other juniors.  Juniors have a difficult time setting up their own match play.
• Match Play Weekends:  1 match play weekend in the fall, winter and spring where juniors can sign-up for 2 competitive matches on the Saturday and on the Sunday against other Academy juniors.  The match play weekends are great competition without any pressure.  The only additional cost for the match play weekends would be paying for court fees at the site of your play.  Dates and sign-up will be on the Academy website. 
• All TAS juniors will be given a pre-set time to be video taped on their strokes.  Juniors can bring their own mini DVD tape and take the tape home.
• Quarterly off court seminars for parents and juniors for: 1) new parent’s meeting and how to get the most out of the Academy, 2) tournament selection for each ability level, 3) mental toughness training, 4) nutrition for tennis, and 5) how to become a good tennis parent with the pressures of USTA tournaments and high school matches.
• College selection service for tennis scholarships.  The Academy staff will write letters of recommendation to college coaches, meet with parents to discuss the best college fit, call coaches to provide information about each junior, and create videotapes for juniors to send to coaches.
• Access to TAS’ interactive website that has all training for the year, rolling calendar, tournament coaching schedule for each ability level, off court mental toughness training dates, updates on how juniors are doing in tournaments, and any other pertinent information about programming. The TAS website will be the primary information provider for the Tennis Academy of the South  
• Tennis equipment purchasing for all family members at the lowest price possible from Dunlop, Head, Prince, and Wilson.  NOTE:  The money saved on tennis equipment alone pays for the annual program fee. 
• FEE:  $275 the annual program fee is refundable for the 1^st 30 days from a junior’s initial start date with TAS.   

Q:  Do you have an inclement weather policy?

Yes, The Sectional and National level program goes off court for mental imagery training, match preparation training, and physical conditioning. The State level program has weekly inclement weather times posted on their schedule. If the weather looks inclement, juniors call the Academy business line 1 hour in advance of their drill time. The staff will have specific information concerning the drill. If there is no message on the business line pertaining to inclement weather, the drill will be held at the regular time and place.

Q:  Do you provide tournament coaching?

Yes, the staff offers day and overnight coaching at 30 tournaments a year.  Juniors can sign up for tournament coaching online (Members Section of the website).  In addition, TAS has a pre-tournament training program online for members to follow prior to competition.  The online training program takes juniors through a 2 week preparation for tournaments.  The training includes pre-tournament goals, setting up 2 matches per week, preparation of equipment and a physical conditioning program.

© 2007 Tennis Academy of the South. All Rights Reserved.

  Site Map >    Contact >