Is LBTA right for your child?
Sometimes not. Here is what usually goes wrong in junior tennis, what we do about it, and the families we are not the right academy for.
The six we hear most.
“My child has had lessons for two years and doesn't seem to be improving.”
Usually one of two things. Either the class was chosen by birthday rather than by what they can do, so the work is aimed at somebody else in the group. Or nobody ever told you what improving should look like. We place every child by watching them hit, then tell you which group and why. At the end of each session a coach gives you one specific thing your child did, by name.
“The group is too big and my child just stands in line.”
Groups stay small. When one more player enrolls than a group should hold, we open another group on another court rather than stretch the one you are in. Standing in line is a staffing decision, not a fact of tennis.
“They loved it, then they didn't want to go any more.”
Almost always because the sessions stopped containing play. Every child plays points every week here, from the first hour. The technical block is short and the competitive block is not optional — a class that never plays loses people around week four.
“I don't know whether they're actually any good, or what comes next.”
That is fair. Ask their coach and we will tell you what we are seeing and what comes next — most academies leave that vague. Groups re-form through the season as players develop; moving group is not a promotion and not a demotion.
“We travel, and we lose the sessions we paid for.”
Two make-ups a season, any reason at all — travel, illness, a school play. Reply to your coach and we place your child in another group that week. If we cancel a session, the credit returns automatically; you should not have to remember it.
“Is more tennis always better?”
No, and we will say so before we sell you a week. If your child already trains three or more days a week, a full camp week on top is a real jump in load. A sudden jump is harder on a growing body than a steady high one. For those players we usually suggest camp instead of that week's classes rather than as well.
Who LBTA is not for.
Every academy is right for some families and wrong for others. Most will not tell you which you are. These are the five we would rather say out loud than have you discover in week three.
Families who want a guaranteed ranking or a scholarship promise
Nobody can honestly promise either. If that is what you are shopping for, you will find someone willing to say it, and we would rather you knew that is what it is.
Anyone looking for the cheapest hour on a court
We are mid-market, and public-park drop-in tennis is cheaper. What the investment buys is small groups, a coach who knows the plan, and groups formed on the day by someone who has watched the players hit.
A player who wants one-to-one only, forever
We coach privates, and we think a player who never competes in a group stops improving. If you want privates with no group play at all, we will take the booking and tell you honestly what we think it will hold back.
Families who need childcare more than coaching
Camps run 9 to 3 and are genuinely full days, but they are tennis days. If the requirement is supervision, there are better-value options in town and we will point you at them.
A junior who does not want to be there
We are good at rekindling it and bad at manufacturing it. If a child is being sent rather than going, tell us before you enroll and we will talk about how to approach the first few weeks — or whether to wait.
The cheapest way to find out is to come and see.
Every player gets one free start, and you choose. Either a free thirty-minute placement session — a coach watches your child hit and tells you which class fits, or tells you honestly that we are not the right place — or, if you live in Laguna Beach, one free full group class. One or the other, one per player.