(Apopka, Fla.) – Apopka families who would like their children to learn tennis but need financial support to do so are invited to apply for scholarships for tennis classes that start Aug. 3.

Three scholarships are available from Apopka-based Tennis Galaxy for children ages 7 to 11 who otherwise would be unable to take tennis classes. The deadline to apply is Monday, July 26.

Each scholarship provides a player with six weeks of beginner tennis classes, a new tennis racket and a water bottle, bag and hat. The scholarships are funded by contributions from the Tennis Galaxy community of players and families and by Rock Springs Realty and tennis equipment provider Diadem Sports.

“Involvement in sports like tennis can bring immeasurable value to a child’s life,” said Tennis Galaxy’s founder and director of coaching, Peter Fazekas. “A family’s financial situation shouldn’t prevent them from capturing that benefit for their child. This scholarship program is one cog in the wheel: it puts one sport—tennis--within reach for more kids.”

Fazekas, who is a USPTA Elite Professional certified instructor with USTA Safe Play approval, has been teaching tennis in Apopka since 2005. He and his former playing partner and coaching colleague Ignacio Monsalve—who now is a visiting coach specializing in mental strength—led two special tennis clinics last month to help raise money for the scholarships.

“In my life, tennis has been foundational—teaching me perseverance and helping me stay healthy. I’m glad to help bring the sport to more of the community,” Monsalve said.

The scholarships are part of a pilot program. Tennis Galaxy plans to expand the program to include more scholarships, as well as assistance for transportation and nutrition.

“If we are able help children fall in love with the game, then we want them to be able to stay engaged long-term,” said Kelly Morphy, Tennis Galaxy’s program development consultant.

Applications are due by July 26 for classes that begin Aug. 3. To apply online, visit www.TennisInApopka.com/scholarships. Those without Internet access can apply by phone by calling (407) 476-3611. The application is simple and takes about 10 minutes to complete. Recipients will be notified one week before classes begin.

By Kelly Morphy and Peter Fazekas

Our first proposed headline for this post, “Don’t be a jerk to your child on the court!” did not make it past the editor’s desk. Something about it being unnecessarily brash. To be fair, yes, we agree: there are gentler, kinder ideas for parents who want to become better sports parents.

So here you go: five key things we want every parent to embrace that we have observed during our combined 50 years’ experience leading young people, coaching and parenting:

• Young athletes need opportunities to fail. Out of your view. But with your love.

• Unless you are Coach, you aren’t the coach.

• Your job is to help your kid fall in love with the sport.

• Good people become better winners.

• For darn sake, don’t be cruel.

Young athletes need opportunities to fail. Out of your view. But with your love.

First, kids need space to try things on their own, without a parent watching. Let them train without you on the sideline. If you can’t leave the facility, then go for a walk. They will be less inclined to try to impress you with their talents and more willing to take risk. Trying something new and untested is how they will learn and master new skills. They also will develop more self-reliance, which is one of the greatest gifts that youth sports can offer.

Secondly, when you DO witness them fail, they need your love and admiration. If you don’t send the message that, “I love you even when you fail,” your child is far more likely to give up, not to mention suffer broader self-esteem issues.

Unless you are Coach, you aren’t the coach.

Let go of the need for control. Let go of the need to prove to your child how great you are at their sport. Let go of the idea that you’re the best person to teach a top-spin groundstroke or a bending free kick. Even if you were – or are – a top-ranked player, that’s not your job now. Because now:

Your job is to help your kid fall in love with the sport.

When it comes to their sports development, be your kids’ hitting partner, their playtime buddy, the person who gives them positive feedback and an opportunity to have fun. Interact with them the way you would your own teammate: with respect, positivity and kindness. Trust us – they will latch onto the sport far more passionately if they know they get to have a good time playing it with you.

Good people become better winners.

Although you can name exceptions to this rule, our observation is that before they became winning athletes, most high achievers had become good people.

The Volt Method places the whole person at the top of the hierarchy of coaching priorities. Within a single person, the needs of that whole person supersede the needs of the developing athlete within them. Likewise, the needs of the athlete supersede the needs of the developing sport-specific player. The needs of the player supersede the needs of the developing competitor whose aim is to successfully execute their game and win.

That belief is reflected in our hierarchy of coaching priorities, captured in this chart. This also applies to sports parenting. Coaches and parents alike should recognize the greatest impact we can have on the world is to help create great human beings. And sure, we hope that we also get the chance to develop elite competitors. But there are wonderful little human beings inside all of our students who need our support to achieve their full potential.

To get there, our approach is to recognize that the needs of the whole child supersede the needs of the developing athlete, the player or the competitor within that child.

Borrowing from Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, this means that we first ensure the young athlete is safe, feels secure, has love, develops self-esteem and is put into settings in which they can achieve their potential. We add perseverance, punctuality, integrity and personality as part of the whole-person development.

And here it is: don’t be cruel.

If we are trying to do more than just raise a future college scholarship or retirement ticket—and instead are raising good people, athletes and players—then we absolutely must show kindness to these offspring of ours. Sadly, we too often see parents on the tennis courts and soccer pitches just riding their youngsters way too hard. Please, whatever you do, DON’T BE CRUEL TO YOUR KID ON THE COURT OR PITCH. Be patient. Be supportive. Acknowledge and verbalize the good things they are trying to do and tell them you see the effort.

In sum, being a great sports parent is just being a great parent (or adult role model), isn’t it? Let your child have some space to fail, support them win or lose, let someone else coach them, take on the role of helping them fall in love with the sport, and for their sake … be kind.

About the Authors

Kelly is an enthusiastic health advocate with an extensive background in competitive sports and coaching. She played soccer for the University of San Francisco and for the Guam Women’s National Soccer Team before earning a “C” coaching license from the Asian Football Confederation and then coaching high school and youth soccer on Guam and in Central Florida. A mom of three, she now has fallen in love with tennis and can be found on the courts in Central Florida honing her new skills and occasionally helping to lead youth classes.

Peter is a dynamic tennis instructor who was a multi-sport athlete in his native Hungary, where he earned a Master of Education from the Hungarian University of Physical Education with coaching certifications in six sports, including tennis. He earned an Elite Professional (Professional I) coaching certification from the USPTA in 2000. Since founding Tennis Galaxy in Apopka, Fla. in 2005, Peter has helped improve the lives of hundreds of Central Floridians, but he is most proud of his work to inspire entire families to be more active and to eat healthier. In addition to teaching a full schedule of tennis classes and lessons for learners through elite players, Peter spends part of his days writing a book with Kelly to share his unique coaching approach, The Volt Method.

This isn't fluff. The kids are employing the tenets of the Volt Method: think it, do it, feel it. They didn't develop this ability overnight. They've worked on it systematically as they've progressed through the Tennis Galaxy juniors program.

Each stroke, the players are thinking through -- planning -- their technical execution, then "doing" it, then collecting and processing internal feedback to determine whether to correct the motion or repeat it. All in a matter of fractions of seconds.

It's not easy to maintain this discipline and focus. But working at this level of intensity makes everyone happy, even when it's raining. Smiles all around, afterwards.

College record-holder Lulu Beary teaching beginner through advanced youth players; session begins this week

A former Apopka high school tennis player who went on to set a school record while playing for her college team is now teaching youth players as part of the Tennis Galaxy kids’ program held at the Northwest Recreation Complex in Apopka.

Elizabeth “Lulu” Beary became a state quarterfinalist during her junior year at Apopka High School. She played for four years at Montreat College in North Carolina—including three years in the “line one” position—where she set a record for most wins ever for the women’s team, was recognized as a scholar-athlete and received the “coach’s award.” She graduated this past spring with a Bachelor of Science in Communications.

Beary started coaching for Tennis Galaxy on a visiting basis during her Spring breaks from college. She became a regular assistant coach last month and begins a new session of youth classes this week.

“I love being on the court with the kids, because they’re like sponges,” she said. “Also, they know I’m from here, that I grew up here and that I learned to play tennis on the same courts where they are learning. I hope that inspires them and reminds them they can excel in tennis if they choose to stick with it.”

At the age of nine, Beary became a student of Tennis Galaxy’s founder Peter Fazekas. She continued to train with Fazekas throughout her competitive career, including when she came home from college for summer breaks.

“Lulu is a perfect role model for the kids,” said Fazekas, who has been teaching tennis in Apopka since 2005. “She not only has a great demeanor for leading young players, but she also has a deep understanding of the method we apply to help kids learn how to move, how to connect their thoughts to their actions, how to become more skilled as athletes. And of course, it’s very gratifying to have a former player come back and help develop the next generation of local players.”

Beary, 22, aims to earn a coaching certification from the U.S. Professional Tennis Association.

Program accepting new players

Tennis Galaxy’s youth classes are offered in six-week sessions. Depending on experience level, classes are held once or twice per week, in the afternoons.  Registration is open and class information can be found at www.TennisInApopka or by calling 407-782-5403.

Tennis has been found to be a relatively low-risk activity during the coronavirus outbreak, with proper precautions in place. Accordingly, the Tennis Galaxy team requires kids to store their gear at least six feet from each other, to bring their own water bottles and to bring hand sanitizer and use it during every break. The players also are organized to keep adequate space between them during drills.