Have you ever wanted to learn how to play tennis or even join the school tennis team? Here are some cool facts about tennis and the school’s team.
Jorge Mas Canosa has a variety of sports to pick from and to play. One of these sports is tennis. Tennis season starts in spring or, to be more specific, around the third week of February.
“Waiting for the tennis season to come around is well worth the wait.”, says Daniel Ramirez, MVP on the team.
When the school actually starts tryouts for the tennis team, the tennis coach, Mr. Benitez, looks at how fast you can move around the court, how fast you can respond to a certain type of hit, and if you can hit the ball over the net. The coach also looks at how many times you show up to practice. If you are not coming to practice often enough, Coach Benitez will pass your spot to the next best person who can play well.
After the coach has made the final decision on who is going to play for the team and who is not, the team is ready to begin practice and also pick out what categories different people can play in and handle well. These categories are as follows:
Singles: This category allows you to play by yourself against another solo player. This category is for both boys and/or girls. We can have a maximum of two boys and two girls in this category.
Doubles: This category allows you to play with a partner against an opponent with a partner as well. This category is for boys and/or girls. We can have a maximum of 4 boys and 4 girls in this category. (4 boys is equivalent to 2 doubles teams)
Mixed Doubles: This category also allows you to play alongside a partner. The only difference is in this category, the teams are based on one boy and girl playing together as partners. We can have a maximum of 2 boys and 2 girls.
“It took me awhile to figure out which category I could play in and do my best.” says Gaby Aquino, one of our more experienced players.
If you cannot handle a certain category, Coach Benitez will find you a better suited category to play in. If you are playing in doubles but cannot get along with your assigned partner, the coach will attempt to put you with a more compatible partner in the same category. If this cannot be done, he will ask another boy or girl from another category if they would like to switch categories and be your new assigned partner.
Our practicing area for the first half of practice takes place at King’s Grant Park. The only issues with this practicing location is that there are only two courts so be prepared for a little waiting before you actually get to play. The other issue is that this park is a public park so it is possible that some people might be there already playing before we get there. “The waiting is like the worst part for me. I hate it with a passion.”, says Lily, my tennis partner.
Our practice spot for the second half of practice takes place at John Ferguson Senior High School. Here, we have six courts all to ourselves with no interference whatsoever. We also have four practice walls to ourselves as well so if you have to do a little waiting, which is nearly impossible, this is the place to do it.“I actually feel better practicing and playing here because we don’t have random people staring at us constantly.”, says Anabeth Aquino.
If you’re in 6th or 7th grade, you can try out for the tennis team next year. We are always looking for fresh talent and interested in seeing everyone try their hardest to compete for a place on the team. Think you have what it takes to play for the tennis team? Then come out and show us what you’ve got!