USTA NJTL certified group tennis clinics for kids ages 5-12, run year-round at Penn Wynne Park. Built for first-timers, year-round players, and everyone in between.
What NLS Tennis Looks Like
A tennis clinic at NLS is a mix of stroke work, footwork drills, on-court games, and point play. Every session blends real instruction with the kind of fun that keeps a kid wanting to come back. Younger players start with red and orange balls and smaller courts that match their size, then work toward full-court play as they grow. Coaches keep it moving so kids stay engaged the whole way through.
Tennis is a sport a kid can play for life, and that’s part of why we love teaching it. The kid who has never picked up a racket leaves with a foundation. The kid who already plays leaves better than they came in. Clinics are grouped by age and skill so every player is in the right environment to learn, and our coaches meet kids where they are.
SEASON
Year-round
EXPERIENCE
Beginner to Experienced
LOCATIONS
Penn Wynne Park, Ardmore PA
AGES
Boys and Girls, 5 – 12
Why Lower Merion Families Come Back
- A focus on the Fundamentals
Tennis is a sport built on a small number of things done well. The grip, the swing, the footwork, the read on where the ball is going. Our coaches teach those fundamentals as the foundation everything else gets built on, and they make sure kids are having fun while they learn. Tennis only sticks when both pieces are there. - USTA NJTL certified
NLS Tennis is a certified USTA NJTL program. NJTL is the USTA’s National Junior Tennis and Learning network, the country’s official youth tennis development program. That certification means our clinics run inside a framework built by the people who shape junior tennis nationally. - Coaches who know how to teach the game to kids
Teaching tennis to a five-year-old and teaching tennis to a twelve-year-old are two different jobs. Our coaches do both well, and they read every group to know when to push and when to let kids play. Parents tell us the coaching is what brings them back, and we work to keep it that way. - Voted Best Youth Sports Program in Lower Merion
NLS has been serving Main Line families since 2006 and has been voted Best Youth Sports Program in Lower Merion Township multiple years running. That recognition comes from the same parents whose kids play in our programs every week.
What NLS Stands For
- Experienced coaches invested in your kid
Every NLS coach is hired for two things: they know what they’re teaching, and they care about the kids they’re teaching it to. Parents tell us all the time that the coaching is the difference, and we work to keep it that way. - Focus on the fundamentals
A lot of youth programs roll the balls out and let the kids play. We don’t. We believe the fundamentals are the building blocks of a kid’s growth on and off the field, and we strike a real balance between letting kids have fun and teaching them the parts of the game that will serve them for years. - Year-round community
A lot of NLS families stick with us across multiple programs throughout the year. The friendships kids build and the coaches they get to know carry across seasons, which is part of why so many of our families have been with us for years.
Questions Parents Ask
My kid has never picked up a racket. Will they be lost?
No. A lot of the kids in the program are brand new to tennis. Clinics are built to teach the fundamentals from the ground up, and younger and newer players are grouped together so they’re learning at the same pace.
My kid already plays tennis. Will they be challenged?
Yes. Clinics are grouped by age and skill, so experienced players get pushed by the coaches and by other strong players in their group.
What equipment does my kid need?
A tennis racket and athletic clothing for the weather. NLS provides the balls and any other equipment needed at the clinic. If your kid doesn’t have a racket yet or needs a new size, reach out and we can point you in the right direction.
What size racket should my kid use?
Racket size depends on your kid’s age and height. If you’re not sure, send us a quick email at joni@nlsports.org and we’ll help you figure out the right size before the first clinic.
Are the clinics co-ed?
Yes. NLS Tennis clinics are open to boys and girls in the same group.
What if it rains?
Clinics run rain or shine unless it is raining very hard or there is lightning. If a clinic needs to be cancelled or moved, parents are notified directly as far in advance as possible.
What if we have to miss a clinic?
No worries. Miss a week, we’ll catch you the next one. The season is built with enough flexibility that one or two missed sessions doesn’t set a kid back.
Are there scholarships available?
Yes. NLS Grow is our scholarship arm and exists to make sure cost doesn’t keep a kid out of the program. Reach out to Coach Joni directly to ask about scholarship availability for tennis.
Refund and Credit Policy
Refunds:
A refund, minus the credit card processing fee of 3%, will be issued one week before the start of the upcoming session except for documented injuries/illness.
Partial Credits:
A partial credit will be issued 72 hours before the start of each session to be used within one year of purchase. This partial credit will be minus 20% for administrative/processing fees and the cost of the jersey, except for documented injuries.
Once the program has begun, a partial program credit minus items listed above will be issued instead, except for documented injuries.
For any inquiries or to process a refund/credit, please email us at joni@nlsports.org. Thank you for your understanding!
Year-Round Tennis with NLS
USTA NJTL certified group clinics at Penn Wynne Park, coached by people who know how to teach kids the game, in a program that has been voted Best Youth Sports Program in Lower Merion Township by the families who actually play here. Register for the next clinic season and we’ll see you on the court.
Questions? Email Coach Joni at joni@nlsports.org.