Packing List for Kids at Tennis Summer Camp

While your tennis camp will likely send out a packing list for camp attendees prior to the start of each week, having an established set of items for your equipment and personal needs can help remove the stress of daily packing the night before or morning of. As former camp instructors and attendees alike, the team here at Tennis Warehouse has compiled an extensive list of anything you could possibly need while at a tennis camp. For some players and camps, more gear may be more necessary depending on the camp’s intensity and level of play. And for more serious junior players, be sure that they have extra fuel and hydration to keep them going.

Everyday On-Court Checklist:

Racquet

The most obvious equipment need. While most players consistently playing tennis already will be accustomed to always bringing their racquet with them, it’s a good idea for newer players to get in the habit of making sure they bring their frame with them whenever they head to the court. And if your beginner player doesn’t have a racquet already, then check out our junior frames linked below for your future star! You can also learn how to pick the right sized racquet in our junior racquet gear guide.

Shoes

Court shoes will also be one of those non-negotiable items your player will need on courts. Sadly, regular sneakers won’t cut it here. Players need a specific non-marking outsole to use on most courts. Junior shoes can be found linked below, and we have a gear guide to help you pick the right shoes to get you started.

Hat

A good hat goes a long way for keeping one’s face shielded from unwanted sun exposure and can also be a good blocker for sweat, keeping the face dry when drilling or playing out longer points.

Everyday Off-Court Checklist:

Bag or backpack

Having a trusty bag or backpack to carry all your items is incredibly helpful in terms of keeping all your gear together throughout the week and during the day-to-day. A backpack features an easier-to-carry design, but it is typically more limited for how much you can carry with it. Depending on the player and camp, it might make more sense to opt for a racquet bag or a backpack. Backpacks might prove easier for the more novice or beginner player, while a dedicated tennis bag might be better for the junior player looking to hone their game and put in lots of hours on court.

Sunscreen

No matter the weather, the risk of sunburn remains a constant threat. If planning on spending multiple hours a day outside on court, sun protection won’t be just a good idea, it’ll practically be a requirement. UV blockers like lightweight long sleeves or pants can certainly do the trick, but when the heat is too much for those longer items, having a trusted sunscreen on hand will be crucial. Whether you prefer sunscreen sprays or creams, Tennis Warehouse has a plethora of options available for your purposes.

Water bottle

Perhaps the most important item other than your racquet and court shoes, your water bottle will be a necessary piece of the puzzle because keeping yourself hydrated while expending lots of energy is not just a good idea, it’s essential. A good, secure lid, plenty of capacity and a grab handle can probably all go a long way here, making the water bottle more accessible and hopefully less needing of a refill. Consider going for something larger here to have enough water on demand when hitting.

Hydration mix

Beyond just drinking straight up water, hydration mixes and supplements are fantastic options for boosting your electrolyte count, increasing your energy levels and fitness often within the first 15 minutes of being consumed. There are lots of options for electrolytes/supplements, like tablets, drink mixes or even unique drinks of their own design made for sporting purposes. One thing to keep in mind is that if you use a drink mix in a water bottle, you’ll have to clean it out a little more frequently, primarily to prevent the buildup of mold inside.

Snacks

Just as important as staying hydrated with an electrolyte/hydration solution is having enough calories in the tank to maintain consistent cardio. Light, protein-dense snacks like nuts and dried fruit/meat are great for quick pick-me-ups and holdovers until mealtime. Energy-rich foods like bananas, oranges, raisins, and spinach are also great sources for little bursts of energy.

Equipment Backups for Tennis Camp:

Overgrips

During long summer days on the court, things get dirty. As some of our playtesters can attest to during their coaching days, it was very common to see lots of well-loved overgrips, even at the first day of camp. Having extra overgrips on demand will definitely go a long way for most players, and getting in the habit of having these on demand is super helpful because you never want to be in a position where you need an overgrip, only to be unable to find one in your bag. Overgrips are also one of the best camp accessory items and make for really fun prizes for campers as reward for games and point-systems. Fun colors go a long way to make these tennis items beloved by kids.

Dampeners

Vibration dampeners are also a super fun prize item and come in all sorts of fun varieties to make them even more exiting for kids! There are silly animal ones, food-themed options and lots of fun colors and shapes to choose from! Having a bucket of these for kids to try to win or collect makes camp very engaging. Just be sure you have plenty on hand so you don’t run out!

Weather-Dependent Day-to-Day Items for Tennis Camp:

Long sleeves/layers for UV blocking

If the weather is chilly enough and warrants a UV blocker, a good, lightweight long sleeve is a great wardrobe addition for any player looking to stay comfortable on the courts during summer. Great for morning warm-ups and starting off the day in, with the eventual goal of working towards the layer underneath, most likely an athletic tee.

Warm-up jacket for a colder morning

Similar to the UV long sleeves, a warm-up jacket can be a great option for someone looking for an additional layer in the morning that can be easily taken off when you get warm enough. Our favorites tend to be zip-ups, which are super easily taken off or put on.

Drills/Games for Tennis Camp

And to the coaches who’ve made it this far, we’ve made a list of some of our favorite games and drills for developing players.

Warm-Up Games:

4-Square:

A camp favorite, this warm-up game is easy to play and has endless fun to offer. Each player has one “square” from the service boxes that they must defend, but no hard-hits or extreme downward angles are allowed, in the name of preserving the rally. Score points while reigning from “A-square” and pick a point total to play until. If you lose, get in line!

Basketball tennis:

A great drill for starting the day off while the stragglers trickle in. Have a group of players surround the ball basket, and determine the number of bounces needed before they can “shoot” the ball into the basket. Hit one ball high up into the air, and let players try to volley it to each other before aiming to get the ball in the basket. Increase the number of bounces and balls incrementally to make the game more difficult.

Volleyball tennis:

Played with at least teams of three vs. three. Establish a minimum number of “touches” (at least two) that each team must complete before hitting the ball to the other side. No hard hits! Players use volleys to work on their touch and control (as well as teamwork and communication) to “pass” the ball to each other, working together to get the ball back to the other side.

“The Great Wall”

Another drill for volleys, this warm-up game has players line up along the net, and if they miss a volley, they go down to one knee, miss another, both knees, miss another, on their bottoms and miss one more … you’re out!! Last player standing wins. If you make a volley from a “down” position, go back up one corresponding level. Fast-paced fun that teaches kids balance and touch when at the net.

Tennis Drills for Tennis Camp:

Groundstrokes:

Two-ball drill. Up-close feeding where a coach will drop two balls close to each other, with the goal of players to hit both balls over the net and in the court. Teaches kids to drive through the ball during contact. Start at the service line, and work your way back to halfway to the baseline from there. Once players can consistently drive the ball, start mixing up whether they get one ball or two balls, so the motion for driving the ball translates more seamlessly from the two-ball to the single ball. Great for forehand and backhands, designed to increase depth, power, feel upon contact and overall quality of shot.

Volleys:

Bryan Brothers drill. A little harder to pull off but a good goal to work toward. Have players start at opposite ends of the court along the service line, with both players moving sideways toward the middle. The goal is to control the volley to the other player while trying to get to the other end of the service line. Work together to volley your way across the court, and then try to see if you can make it back without the ball dropping. A demanding drill that asks a lot of the players volleying, but it offers lots of chances to improve your hands and intentions when volleying.

Serving:

Serve for prizes! A fun end-of-day or end-of-week challenge is to put some cones or ball cans out in the service boxes and have players serve for prizes, which can be some of the items we mentioned earlier, like dampeners or overgrips.

Tennis Games for Summer Camp:

Around the world

Form two lines on either side of the court. Once you hit a ball, run to the other side of the court. Last player standing wins!

Graveyard

Team game, form two lines, play out a point. If you lose the point, sit down somewhere on the court, ideally out of harm’s way for the most part. If sitting down, you can volley the ball to get back up and alive, but if you miss the volley, the player you hit for has to sit down as well. If you win the point, stay in, for a maximum of three points in a row. If your team is down to one player and wins that specific point, then everyone sitting down gets to get back up and back in line. A fun game for coaches to jump in on with players as well.

Conclusion

When shopping, packing, or prepping for tennis camp, it is often about getting the most out of your approach and setup. How can you maximize your preparedness while also using the least amount of space? Whatever your solution may be, be sure to stock up on the necessary items, give yourself some extra accessories and get ready to hit the courts in style!