Reagan Tennis – Summer 2019 and 2019-2020 Tryout Information
Please sign up for messaging for the summer through the Remind application. Text @9gkbcbk to 81010. This grouping will be used to send out additional information than what you may find here; in addition, this will be used to send out weather updates if necessary during tryouts and for messaging if you choose to pursue some summer workouts or lessons with Coach Daniel.
ALL players must submit proper physical, medical history, and online participation paperwork. You may find that paperwork at the following link:
Or copy and paste the link below:
https://www.neisd.net/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=139&ModuleInstanceID=25584&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=60841&PageID=3420
NO player will be allowed to try out for ANY athletic team without submitting the proper forms first. This is non-negotiable. Coach Daniel will send out several times that he will be available to take forms up prior to tryouts through the Remind system.
Varsity Tryouts
These will be conducted at the Reagan High School tennis courts Monday, August 5, 2019, through Wednesday, August 7, 2019 (with that Thursday reserved as a weather make-up or needed extension; otherwise, it will become the first practice day for the new varsity squad). The tryouts will consist of singles (and possibly doubles) match play, best 2 out of 3 sets, no-ad scoring with a super tiebreakers in lieu of the 3rd set (this is the format used for all matches in the fall team tennis season). Play will begin each day by 8:00 a.m. and will try to conclude by 3:00 p.m. each day. Some matches may be moved to Lopez Middle School to speed up the process. There will be a player meeting at 7:45 a.m. on Monday, August 5, 2019, to go over everything at the tryouts. It is recommended that male players have a UTR of at least 4 (preferably 5) and female players have a UTR of at least 3 before entering the varsity tryout.
JV/Developmental Tryouts
All players who do not make the varsity team will be lumped into 7th and 8th periods at the start of the school year (we are going to try to have everyone in 8th period to start). On Monday, August 19, 2019, we will go over the process for the following two weeks for these tryouts. We will be conducting the tryouts during the class time AND after school during those first two weeks of school. Please plan accordingly. At the end of the first 2 weeks, we will divide the players into the 7th and 8th period groupings, with the 8th period being the JV (or JV-A) class and the 7th period being the Developmental or JV-B class.
Please know that there are NO definitive numbers for each level of the program. Coach Daniel makes decisions based upon where the talent divisions fall each year, so the numbers of each level vary per year. General rule of thumb is 10-12 boys and 10-12 girls per grouping. It is possible that Coach Daniel may “cut” players at the end of the 2 week mark. Be sure to put your best foot forward in terms of your work ethic, playing ability, and listening to instruction. It is Coach Daniel’s aim that each player in the program be able to play competitive tennis (though at differing levels); with that aim comes a high expectation from the players—especially in terms of wanting to improve.
To best prepare oneself for the tryout process, Coach Daniel highly recommends that each player practice and play meaningful matches (i.e., matches with a consequence such as one would find in a tournament as opposed to just a simple practice match). It will be quite hot at the start of tryouts in August, and if one does not prepare by playing in that weather over the summer, it will put the player in a difficult spot having to explain his or her lack of conditioning to Coach Daniel. It would be wise to participate in a hitting clinic with a regular practice schedule over the summer AND engage in tournament play. This should be required for all who are attempting the Varsity tryouts. To that end, there are several good programs in San Antonio that Coach Daniel recommends, and you are welcome to ask him further questions about those programs or to explore their information yourself. These programs include Godwin Tennis Academy (Coach Daniel has his own son here, and they have programs for both intermediate and advanced players); San Antonio Tennis Academy (this academy has recently shifted to a sole-focus on advanced players); NEISD’s own Blossom Tennis Center (beginner to higher intermediate); Northside Tennis Center (all levels); Shavano Park Tennis Center; and The Tennis Park at Whispering Oaks. This is not an exhaustive list: there are other programs at the country clubs in San Antonio (Sonterra, Dominion, Fair Oaks, Oak Hills) as well as a few other niche programs in the city.
For this summer, Coach Daniel will also be conducting two-hour sessions for up to 8 players at a time. We will focus on stroke work for the first hour of the session and match play for the second hour; these sessions will mostly be at the Hidden Forest neighborhood tennis courts. Cost for each session will be $25/player, and you will need to contact Coach Daniel prior to the session to reserve your spot. If there is great response for a particular session, Coach Daniel will see about adding a second session that day. These sessions will be conducted on the following days (these dates are subject to change due to changes in weather or family needs—these changes will be send out through Remind):
• June 11, 2019 – 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
• June 12, 2019 – 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
• June 13, 2019 – 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• June 14, 2019 – 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
• June 17, 2019 – 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
• June 18, 2019 – 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
• June 19, 2019 – 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
• June 20, 2019 – 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• June 21, 2019 – 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
• July 1, 2019 – 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
• July 30, 2019 – 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
• July 31, 2019 – 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Please note: signing up for lessons with Coach Daniel will not result in a “guarantee” of any spot. Of course, Coach Daniel has a vested interest in making you a better player; however, the private lesson setting is much different than much of the live-ball practice setting we employ during the year. We will focus on stroke technique and footwork needs, and the eight person sessions will focus on stroke production and match management. Be prepared to work!