Tennis lessons for ages 5-18 are signing up now . . . All lessons are at Citizens Park Tennis Center.

* Sign-up will be on-going and continuous throughout 2010 and 2011

* All lessons and programming will be $40 per month (prorated for partial months) or $12 per lesson.  Call 706-466-5646 or email tennis@burketennis.com to sign-up.

Get ready for junior team tennis, too:

Junior Team Tennis will start this fall!

QuickStart Tennis scales tennis down to fit kids’ bodies.  When the equipment fits, tennis gets a lot easier and, therefore, a lot more fun.  Here are the immediate benefits of our QuickStart Tennis program:

* Simplified scoring system
* Smaller racquets are perfect for smaller hands, arms and elbows
* Slightly shorter, narrower nets mean more fun and success
* UltraLow and Low compression balls move slower, bounce lower and travel less distance.
* Elementary kids never use fast moving “yellow balls”
* Shorter, narrower courts give smaller legs the ability to cover the entire court, score points and build an all-court game
* No standing around in lines or sitting on a bench – Kids are constantly involved in the fun
* Experienced, trained instructors

Benefits of Team Play:

Children play right away, which we call “play to learn” rather than the old-fashioned “learn to play.”  Kids will learn responsibility, respect, teamwork, perseverance, and sportsmanship while having fun with their friends. Junior players gain confidence in themselves and their tennis.

• Tennis players score higher in vigor, optimism, self-confidence and self-esteem and score lower in depression, anger, confusion, anxiety and tension than other athletes and nonathletes  Source: Dr. Joan Finn and colleagues at Southern Connecticut State University.

• Since tennis requires alertness and tactical thinking, it may generate new connections between nerves in the brain and promote a lifetime of continuing development of the brain.  Source: University of Illinois scientists.

• Tennis outperforms golf and most other sports in developing positive personality characteristics.  Source: Dr. Jim Gavin, author of “The Exercise Habit.”

• Competitive tennis burns more calories than aerobics or cycling, according to studies in caloric expenditures.

• Tennis teaches children how to handle pressure, stay focused and achieve goals.

• Tennis will help your child build a strong, flexible body and the mindset of a winner that will benefit him/her later in life.

• Tennis is also a good sport for kids who are struggling with obesity, high blood pressure & cholesterol.  Your child will burn calories which will help him/her lose weight and maintain a lower level of cholesterol.   Source: American Heart Association

• Tennis, as a physical activity, helps kids sleep better and they are better equipped to handle emotional & physical challenges in and out of the classroom.

• For the moms and dads, adults who participate in tennis 3 hours per week (at moderately vigorous intensity) cut their risk of death in half from any cause.  Source:  Dr. Ralph Paffenbarger, M.D. who studied 10,000+ people over a period of 20 years.

Tennis is a just an affordable, all-around great sport for the young & old.