Securing the future of the game – growing junior participation

Gary Horvath paid tribute to those that made it happen:

The quiet resurrection of the junior circuit has to be included in this list of events that will shape the game in the years ahead. Junior paddle has seen its rebirth as a result of renewed support for the APTA Junior Nationals, increased programming by teaching professionals, and the creation of the Viking Cup and Viking Junior Tour. This season, over 180 players participated in the Junior Nationals. Patty Hogan, Junior Nationals Tournament Director, was impressed both with the level of enthusiasm and the improvement in the level of play.

This season also marked the first year of the Viking Junior Tour. There have been four junior tournaments held so far this season with over 350 participants. Two more are definitely scheduled and two additional tournaments are tentatively scheduled for this season.

A year after entering the platform tennis industry, Viking sponsored the first Viking Cup. This is a series of 18 tournaments held throughout the country in November. The subtly named Child/Adult event wants to place the emphasis on the junior players. While it is possible for junior players to play with their parents, it is also possible for them to play with other adults. This past season, the events had 206 total participants – an increase from 75 the first year.

David Kjeldsen of Viking, the major sponsor of junior events, said, “I think the participation in junior paddle has doubled in the past three years. We have again reached the point where some of the juniors are starting to play multiple tournaments in a season.” Kjeldsen also agreed strongly with Hogan’s sentiment that the caliber of play has risen dramatically each year. Kjeldsen added, “All of the
juniors are fun to watch. Seeing Peter Hissey and Lauren Cash, two great juniors who can hit backhands out of the wires all day without missing, one knows the future of platform is in good hands.”

The importance of the junior game became more evident to me when I asked myself the question, “How many of the people who I play against learned to play platform tennis as a junior?” Most of my peers learned to play after they were out of college. Hats off to Patty Hogan, Viking, the professionals who run junior programs, the parents who are involved in various ways, and most importantly to the juniors who will ultimately introduce this great sport to the next generation.

Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 4, Issue 4, March 2003