beyond the baseline continued from page 17 Carmo and Developmental Coach Phillip Williamson to provide individualized instruction and teaching to the players. “I see the kids on an individual level, putting together a developmental plan for each of them,” said Williamson. “We essentially come up with a plan, similar to a financial statement, that goes over the four major areas of tennis: Technique, Tactical Abilities, Physical Capabilities and Mental Capabilities. We give every player a report that lays out their pros and cons, and then work from there.” This sort of coaching enables players to work specifically on aspects of their game that need refinement, and ensure that it is done in an efficient and productive manner. Former Grand Slam champion Jim Grabb recently joined the Ross School staff to help players with the mental side of the game. In the last few years, The Ross School has expanded on its already successful academy, building a junior academy and a youth academy, in hopes of developing its own players to enter the main academy. The youth academy is for grades one through four, while the junior academy is for grades five through seven.
“The level of play is increasing at the highest level here, and hopefully, we’re increasing it two-fold by developing players in our younger programs,” said Carmo. “That’s where our focus is right now. We’re recruiting and attracting higher-level players, but want to continue developing at an early level in order to create sort of a feeder program into the top academy.” The teaching and coaching extends beyond the tennis court and the classroom, as there is an entire department dedicated to prepping for college. The department works alongside Carmo, parents and other coaches and teachers to help make the stressful college selection process as
seamless as possible. “We sit down with them and give them all the support they need,” said Carmo. “The key is finding the right school for each individual.” In addition to its location in the Hamptons, the combination of tennis and academics and an emphasis on both are what make The Ross School such an intriguing destination for prospective student athletes. “The location is so nice … right near the ocean,” said Hleb Maslau, tennis pro at The Ross School. “It is very quiet out here, so it’s easy for the kids to focus on academics and tennis. The School is extremely helpful in adapting the schedule to the tennis players, and if they are able to be prepared for that, they will be ready when they go off to college.” The array of international players, both in the program as well as throughout the school’s two campuses, introduces the kids to others of differing backgrounds and cultures. “Getting to interact with the international community and learning other cultures and points of views is awesome,” said Ross School junior Audrix Arce. “The tennis is what captured my attention, but the location is great and it has really become my second home.” The Ross School Tennis Academy continues to grow and expand on its programs and its facilities to ensure its students the best academics and top tennis training. If you find yourself out in the Hamptons this summer, stop by the beautiful Ross School campus to see what it is all about.
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