Peter Goodman

A Summer Tennis Camp Where Players Learn, Compete, and Build Confidence

On the first day of camp, you can usually spot the kids who aren’t sure yet. They’re a little quiet, hanging back, still figuring things out.

By Friday, those same players are asking to play extra matches, calling out the score, and cheering for teammates they just met days earlier.

Marek remembers one player like that clearly. He barely spoke at the start of the week and didn’t want to compete. By the end, he was fully engaged, playing matches, and part of the group.

His parents told the coaches they had never seen him that confident in any sport before.

What Makes This Camp Different

What stands out pretty quickly is how intentional the day feels.

Players are active and engaged, but there’s also a clear purpose behind each part of the day. It’s not just about getting through drills. There’s a consistent focus on helping players develop across a few areas at once, from their tennis skills and movement to how they approach the game and interact with others.

Marek explained it this way:

We really focus on full development… tennis skills, athletic skills, and also character. Every day we have a theme like respect, teamwork, effort, responsibility, and sportsmanship. So kids are learning how to compete, but also how to behave and grow as young athletes and people.

You can see that play out in how the day runs. Coaches are reinforcing effort and attitude just as much as technique, and players start to pick up on that quickly. It shapes how they respond after a mistake, work with partners, and carry themselves on court.

It doesn’t feel forced or overly structured. It just becomes part of the environment, and over the course of the week, it starts to stick.

Where Your Child Fits

One of the biggest questions parents have is whether their child will feel comfortable here, given JTCC’s reputation.

The answer is yes.

You’ll have kids stepping on court for the first time, just learning how to make contact. On the next court, players are working through points and getting ready for match play.

Groups are based on age and level, so kids are around others who are at a similar stage. That matters early in the week. It helps them settle in quickly and feel like they belong.

Why Kids Get Hooked

What really pulls kids in is the competition.

It’s not just something that happens at the end. It’s built into the entire week. Players are constantly competing in small ways, whether through points, challenges, or short matches. That steady rhythm keeps them engaged and makes it fun.

At the same time, there’s something bigger they’re building toward.

Early in the week, coaches are watching how players perform. By the end, players are placed into matches or tournaments based on that. Kids pick up on it quickly. By Tuesday or Wednesday, they’re already thinking about where they’ll fall and how they’ll do.

By the time Friday arrives, it feels like everything has been building toward it. There’s more focus, more energy, and a real sense that it matters.

They want to see how they stack up.

Coaches Who Know Your Kid and Keep Them Engaged

What really stands out is how involved the coaches are with the players.

They’re not standing on the sidelines feeding balls and running through drills. They’re on court the entire time, moving, talking, and working directly with the kids. They know who needs encouragement, who needs a push, and when to step in.

Your child isn’t just getting repetitions. They’re getting real attention, with coaches stepping in to give feedback and help them make adjustments as they go.

There’s also a relationship side to it. Coaches bring energy, keep things fun, and make sure kids stay engaged while they’re competing and getting better.

That balance makes a difference. Kids feel supported, stay locked in longer, and get more out of each session.

What You’ll Notice by the End of the Week

By the end of the week, most players leave with a few things that stay with them.

They’ve competed. They’ve made friends. And they’ve figured out things they couldn’t do just a few days earlier.

Sometimes it’s a rally that finally clicks. Sometimes it’s winning a point they didn’t think they could. Sometimes it’s just feeling comfortable stepping on court.

As Marek puts it, the goal is simple:

We want them to leave tired, proud, and excited to come back.

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Questions about the camp?
You can email Marek directly at mslojewski@jtcc.org

Future Champs Camp
JTCC, College Park • Ages 4–18
June 8–August 21

A High-Energy Tennis Camp Where Players Build Confidence and Get Better Fast

If you spend a few minutes around David Loss, you start to understand how he thinks about teaching tennis.

He’s not focused on how a player looks on day one. He’s focused on what changes over the course of the week. Does the hesitant player start asking to play points? Can a beginner suddenly keep a rally going? Does a more advanced player clean up their technique and make better decisions in real match situations?

That perspective shapes how JTCC’s Chantilly Summer Camp is run. It’s designed for players ages 6 to 18, with clearly defined groups so each player, whether just starting out or already competing, gets the right level of instruction, challenge, and structure.

What the Experience Actually Feels Like

A lot of camps say they “teach tennis,” but the difference here shows up in how the three hours are actually spent.

This is not a mix of activities where tennis is just one part of the day. It’s a focused tennis environment. Kids are on court, engaged, and progressing the entire time without it feeling repetitive or overly structured.

David put it simply:

Our focus is going to be on tennis. We know how to make tennis fun for three hours for kids. So it won’t be 30 minutes of tennis at the start of the day and then coloring and pool time. It’s going to be a tennis camp… and kids who go will have a lot of fun and they’ll come out of the week better than they were before.

Here’s what that looks like on court:

• Kids are moving and hitting consistently, not standing around
• Fundamentals are taught in a way that actually carries over
• Drills and games are designed to keep attention high
• Coaches are actively engaged, giving feedback throughout

By the end of the week, that approach adds up. New players can rally. Intermediate players look more comfortable. More advanced players refine details that show up in matches..

How Players Are Grouped (and Why That Matters)

Because the age range is wide, how the camp is structured matters.

Younger and developing players are placed into groups like Baseline Builders, Net Navigators, and Tennis Titans. These are kids who are learning the game, building consistency, and getting more comfortable on court.

Older players, typically 12 and up, move into the Champs group. Many of them are already playing tournaments or school tennis, so the focus shifts toward technical and strategic development, along with match play.

At the same time, the structure is flexible. It’s not strictly age-based. Players are grouped by both age and ability, so a newer older player or a more advanced younger player can still be in the right environment.

The goal is simple. Every player should feel comfortable, but still challenged enough to keep getting better.

Coaching That Feels Active and Personal

One of the biggest differences is how the coaching is delivered.

This is not a camp where kids stand in lines waiting for balls. Coaches are on court, moving, observing, and stepping in at the right moments. Each player has something specific they’re working on, and coaches are constantly adjusting, giving feedback, and reinforcing both what needs attention and what’s going well.

That might mean helping a player correct a small technical issue, encouraging them when they try something new, or guiding them through a situation they’re still figuring out. The feedback is ongoing and individualized, not one-size-fits-all.

That approach keeps kids engaged, but more importantly, it leads to progress they can recognize by the end of the week.

What Kids Notice Most

When you ask players what they enjoyed most, the answer is usually the same.

They feel like they got better.

Over the course of the week, players start to recognize that they can do things they couldn’t do before. A beginner might rally for the first time. A more experienced player might feel more confident in points or more consistent in their shots.

Even younger kids, who may not be able to explain it technically, can still tell that has something has changed. They’re more comfortable, more confident, and more willing to play.

That sense of progress is what sticks, and it’s usually what makes them want to come back.

What Sticks After the Week Ends

For most first-time campers, two things stay with them after the week is over.

They remember how much they improved, and they remember that the experience felt different from what they expected.

As David put it:

They’re going to remember where they started… and how they feel leaving… they learned a lot and picked up a new skill probably faster than they would have guessed… and they’re going to remember the creativity… drills and games they haven’t done before.

That combination matters. It’s not just repetition. It’s learning in a way that feels new, engaging, and rewarding.

That’s usually what brings them back.

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Questions about camp?
You can email David directly at dloss@jtcc.org.

Chantilly Summer Camp
Westfields Marriott in Chantilly, VA • Ages 6–18
June 8–August 21

Where Junior Players Take the Next Step

When you talk to Kevin Johnson about Champs Camp, he doesn’t start with trophies or rankings.

He starts with how players think on the court.

This summer marks his third year leading Potomac Champs Camp at Winston Churchill High School. Kevin is part of the full-time JTCC coaching staff, and his focus is simple. He wants players to understand what they’re doing, why they’re doing it, and how to handle real match situations.

Champs Camp is built for juniors who are ready to take the next step. Some are preparing for high school tennis. Others want to move up the lineup or feel more confident in matches. It’s not beginner tennis, and it’s not a full-time academy program either. It’s for players who are serious about improving and ready to be pushed in the right way.

Kevin sees it as a bridge between lessons and true team or tournament competition. It’s where players learn how to apply their skills in real match situations and start taking ownership of their game.

It starts with understanding the game

Kevin and the coaching staff spend a lot of time helping players recognize situations. Where am I positioned? Where is my opponent? What’s the smart play here?

Instead of focusing only on mechanics, players learn how to make decisions during points. They begin to recognize patterns, construct points with intention, and adjust as matches unfold.

“The main driving point is making sure they understand from a tactical and decision-making standpoint of how they want to operate on the court instead of focusing so much on just the swing.”

Over the course of the week, players start to see the game differently. They move with more purpose and make clearer decisions under pressure.

Structured training that still feels like summer

The days are organized and purposeful, but the atmosphere stays relaxed and positive. Players work hard, but they enjoy being there.

Match play is a regular part of the schedule, not something saved only for the end. Players compete often, learn from those matches, and get feedback they can apply right away.

By midweek, players have settled in. They know each other, they’re competing harder, and the group feels more connected.

A typical day includes:

• Live-ball drills and situational point play
• Singles and doubles matches
• Tactical coaching and decision-making
• Movement, footwork, and fitness
• Competitive games and team challenges

Fridays bring team competition

Fridays have a different energy. Players are divided into teams, and the entire morning revolves around competition. Warm-ups, drills, matches, and fitness all contribute to the team score.

It starts to feel like a high school team environment. Players support each other, compete for something bigger than themselves, and take pride in their effort.

“The returning players are always looking forward to that day because of how engaging it is and how much fun it is competing as a team.”

For many campers, it becomes the highlight of the week.

Commitment, even when conditions aren’t perfect

One morning last summer, the courts were completely soaked from overnight rain. It would have been easy to cancel.

Instead, the coaches adjusted. Players started with fitness on the track. When the courts still weren’t ready, they moved to a nearby field and worked on footwork and shadow swings, focusing on movement and preparation.

It wasn’t what anyone expected, but the players stayed locked in.

“While it wasn’t ideal, they knew it would still make them better. They bought into it and did what they needed to do to get better. That made me very proud.”

Moments like that say a lot about the culture of the camp.

Coaches who know their players

Kevin and the coaching staff stay closely involved throughout the week. They’re watching, giving feedback, and helping players make adjustments.

Players aren’t just going through drills, they understand what they’re working on and why.

Parents are kept informed as well. Conversations happen on court, after sessions, or by email and phone when needed. Players and families know where things stand and what to focus on next.

Confidence that carries beyond the week

Many players arrive unsure of themselves in matches. They may practice regularly but haven’t spent enough time competing in a structured setting.

During the week, something begins to click. Players trust their decisions more, compete more freely, and handle pressure better. They start to see what they’re capable of.

They leave with a clearer sense of their game and what to work on next. That confidence often stays with them long after camp ends, whether they’re trying out for their high school team or playing their next tournament.

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Questions about Potomac Champs Camp?
You can email Kevin directly at kjohnson@jtcc.org.

Potomac Champs Camp
Winston Churchill High School • Ages 12–18
June 8–August 21