Free. There are few words in the English language that hold more power. So in 2001, when seasonal West Tisbury resident Gerald DeBlois quietly announced his desire to build and permanently endow a year-round tennis center dedicated to children and, even more astonishingly, to offer instruction, court time, apparel, and the use of equipment absolutely free of charge, it’s no wonder it created a stir.
Staff at the Island’s existing indoor tennis center expressed concern about competition. Residents near the proposed Oak Bluffs site fretted about traffic. Others objected to its proximity to Goodale Construction Company’s mining and manufacturing operation. But more convincing than the opposition were the voices of parents and children who spoke out passionately: Without the generous offer of a free facility, many Island families would never be able to afford an introduction to this healthy, internationally popular lifetime sport.
Gone were the days of long, flowing skirts and trousers in an elegant game played only on the verdant lawns of Britain’s ruling class. With the rise of American players such as Chris Evert, John McEnroe, Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, and the Williams sisters, tennis had secured a place in the country’s heart. By 2001, hundreds of year-round and part-time Vineyard residents enjoyed tennis at private outdoor courts in the summer and at the indoor Vineyard Tennis Center during the colder months. But an even greater number of families found membership and lesson fees too steep. Their voices were heard, and the Martha’s Vineyard Commission approved construction of the state-of-the-art facility.
In July 2002, Gerald DeBlois’s vision and that of his nonprofit group became a reality. Vineyard Youth Tennis (VYT) opened its clubhouse doors on a sheltered twelve-acre site on Barnes Road near the corner of Edgartown–Vineyard Haven Road and ushered in a new generation of homegrown junior tennis players. Today, as the facility approaches its ten-year anniversary, it is on its way to becoming one of the Island’s most treasured institutions, producing literally thousands of children who wield racquets and attack tennis balls with fervor and skill. Demand for instruction, in fact, has become so strong that it is straining the present four-court capacity. But while VYT Executive Director Scott Smith speaks eagerly about possible expansion, he is just as enthusiastically planning a gala on July 21 to mark the facility’s tenth birthday.
“We’ll host an all-day event, beginning in the morning with an adult component including former pro player Dave Macpherson, coach of the Bryan brothers, the number-one professional doubles team in the world,” Scott says. Following some type of exhibition match, he adds, the afternoon will feature a carnival atmosphere for children, with clowns, magicians, jugglers, refreshments, prizes, and much more. It will, of course, be free for children.
There is much to celebrate at Vineyard Youth Tennis. The program, as far as Scott knows, is unique in the world. Its physical plant rivals that of any exclusive country club, with four soft-surface courts (two protected by an inflated bubble during the colder months), a practice wall, an architect-designed clubhouse, a wraparound porch, a slate patio, a media room, staff offices, and a lush wooded setting. VYT and its year-round schedule, set up in eight-week sessions, present an extraordinary opportunity for Island children to develop both their physical and mental aptitude.
“My daughter started at age five,” says Anne Williamson, an Edgartown resident and Tisbury School third-grade teacher. “Lizzie’s twelve now and hasn’t missed a single session since then. It’s such a gift to have the program here.”
Lizzie, one of VYT’s up-and-coming players, has worked hard enough on her game to be selected for the facility’s Tournament Team, a cadre of children ten to fourteen years old who train year-round to compete off-Island as well to prepare for high school team tennis.
Lizzie explains: “I love playing with kids at my level and better. It helps me improve. We run laps. The coaches push us the hardest. They motivate us but without pressure. The Tournament Team brought us together. We’re like a big, huge family – we rely on each other.”
While the broad mission at the organization, according to Scott, is to make tennis accessible to every Island child from first grade through high school, he admits that during his six-year tenure he has honed his vision. “Initially my goal was to increase the numbers of kids coming through,” he says. “But now quality is more key. The present high school boys’ and girls’ teams won the Eastern Athletic Conference. These were the eight-, nine-, and ten-year-olds that came up through our program and are now fifteen and sixteen.”
Scott’s pride in VYT’s success is evident in his voice, and he still dreams of expanding the program. With the addition of two more courts under a roof during the colder months, more children could attend classes and take advantage of open court time for match play and practice. Future fundraising efforts could achieve this goal, but for now, Scott says he’s focused on sharing his love for the game with as many children as possible. “I treat this as my house,” he explains. “All my time and energy go into this place.”
Nina Bramhall, a VYT tennis professional, points to her boss’s unflagging drive as a critical component of the program’s growth. “Scott’s so dynamic,” she says. “He’s never satisfied with the status quo. He adds new challenges and opportunities all the time. He’s always trying to make VYT better for the kids.”
With twenty-five-plus years in professional tennis instruction, Scott was put through his own paces by the legendary Nick Bollettieri, coach to many of the world’s top tennis players. Scott began his career as an instructor at IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida, where he helped develop such former greats as Andre Agassi and Jim Courier. Nina too has been involved at Bollettieri, both as a frequent participant in the adult program and as a parent to her eighteen-year-old tennis-playing son, who trained there for four years. The third in the VYT coaching triumvirate, Michael Halisky, is a former junior star from Florida and current number-one-ranked player in the thirty-five-and-up age division in New England. Together, they coax, prod, and inspire kids of all ages and levels to discover the sheer pleasure of the game, whether at a recreational or competitive level.
“I look forward to every week,” Lizzie says. “VYT has brought me so much joy and it helps me when I’m having a hard time. I’ve learned breathing rituals to help me through a tough match. I use them in other aspects of life. Coach Mike helps me with my strokes. Scott calms us down and lets us know he’s rooting for us. Nina lets us have fun. Tennis helps me forget everything. I live in the moment of tennis.”
Seventeen-year-old Kent Leonard of Vineyard Haven has been playing at VYT since he was nine. A fixture on courts and at tournaments around the Island, Kent too credits the program with teaching him much more than just the game.
“My favorite thing about tennis is the competition,” he explains, his voice earnest. “I always want to be at the top. I strive for perfection and I’ve found it’s good to have something to work towards. I need a goal.” Kent, now a standout on the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School team, frequently travels off-Island with others from VYT to compete in United States Tennis Association tournaments around New England. “I’ve learned about sportsmanship too,” he continues. “And I’ve learned to have control. Competing can be frustrating but the coaches teach us about sportsmanship. Tennis helps my focus and my mind. I can apply it to any sport or situation.”
Coach Mike (often referred to in the Island tennis community as “Big Mike” due to his stature) came to the program with Scott, a colleague from Florida.
“I love working with kids,” Mike says. As the oldest of eleven in his family, he is no stranger to shepherding children. “I want the kids to have fun, but I also like order and respect. Parents tell me they’re glad I’m firm.”
The reward is in getting to know so many of the Island’s children and in watching them transform. “I love to see the results,” he adds. “We’re human. Results keep us going as teachers. I’ve worked with special-needs children and kids of all ages. We don’t discourage anyone. They find comfort in that. They know that even if they mess up we’ll always encourage them.”
Teaching children how to master a sport also means teaching patience, Mike says. “I tell them that if they think they can succeed, they will, and to never give up. How do you get better? Practice. Keep working.”
Students at VYT learn the game through proven drills, fitness training, and, when court availability permits, match play. The youngest children begin with the United States Tennis Association’s patented QuickStart program, modeled after micro-soccer and tee-ball, aimed at helping less mature players achieve skills more quickly. Smaller courts, smaller racquets, and larger foam or pressureless balls mimic the real game but minimize frustration. Once students achieve a level of mastery, they are encouraged to move up to more advanced lessons. The most avid players are chosen for Future Stars (first- to fifth-graders with exceptional skills) or the Tournament Team. When Scott took the helm, only one or two children were competing in off-Island matches. Today, he estimates that twenty-five Vineyard players hold tournament rankings.
While the facility is funded in perpetuity, parents and the Vineyard community help raise additional monies for the scholarship and activities fund. Donations go toward sending children off-Island to summer tennis camps and toward other special purchases. And while enrollment at VYT is offered first to full-time Island residents in the summer, seasonal families with children are also welcome to participate for a small fee. With all four courts available and sessions running throughout the day, there is room for new participants in the summer.
“Our summer kids help fill in the gaps,” Scott says. “We always have some really strong players who arrive for the season. They bring new competition and fresh blood into the program every year.”
Each fall, the bubble goes up over two of the courts, hoisted by a group of parents and other community volunteers guided by a specific protocol. “It’s like a community barn raising,” explains Lizzie’s mother, Anne. “People are happy to help.”
And each spring, as the temperatures rise and the trees blossom, the volunteers return to take the bubble down, signaling the beginning of another outdoor season. The rhythms of Island life have taken on a new beat in the last ten years, punctuated by the sound of optic green, felt-covered balls ricocheting off the racquets of hundreds of happy children.
