Online School: Student athletes take a practical approach & keep on going

I'm a tennis director for adults. I place junior tennis players in the right tennis training academy for both American & international families. Being independent means I don't have to talk about any 1 junior academy. I vet each academy hard (for years actually) and then meet families for academies. I believe it’s as important to vet the best online school program for student athletes. More specifically here, junior tennis players. Student-athletes CAN have a flexible, less stressful & time saving life using the right online school program that suits their lifestyle & sport. And as the the stigma of online school fades off into the sunset, tennis players & student-athletes are taking full advantage of a private online education. Taking this practical approach to an players lifestyle & education let's athletes keep going. It’s certainly time to be having the discussion.

Online school for student athletes gives kids an opportunity to keep going. Flexibility & time saving around busy training and travel schedules alleviates worry for high performance athletes. Online student lets athletes move at a faster pace or pace school studies to their unique schedules. Making sure to satisfy scholastic requirements while being NCAA approved.

I place juniors in the right tennis program after getting to know the family, player & their goals. It works well for the academy too. Because the academy’s looking for the right level of player & character to fit their ideal program. They know when they hear from me, it’s a GO.

Pro Tip: 🌅
Junior Summer Tennis Camps 2023 click here.

Student Athletes: Choose training & school wisely

Sharapova honors the struggles and life of high performance athletes.

The transfer rate from 1 junior academy to another sometimes feels like 1st year college tennis. When the college tennis transfer rates high because a family or college coach didn't do due diligence to figure out if this would be the right ‘fit’ for both. Remember! College coaches need wins to keep their jobs. College tennis is a business.

It's the same for a junior tennis academy. There’s a lot of them out there. Most of them with ridiculous claims🙄. It used to be that junior academies would let anyone in as long as parents could pay. Now I’m not sure that’s the case.

I’m finding post covid that the recreational junior level’s falling out of love with tennis. But the high performance end of junior tennis is getting stronger & more committed. It’s incredible how packed my academies are now. In this moment, end of Summer 2022 I’ve got 3 junior resources jam packed until beginning 2023. Normally by the end of August in front of a new school year, these places go bare bones.

No need to place ads this year because they’re FULL. Good ones are more exclusive because they’re full with their dream talent & level now. Not who has the money to pay. It’s who can help make this academy the most sought after tennis academy on merit, period. Like Bollettieri’s was in the 80’s. When you have the talent of a Daniel Rincon or Carlos Alcaraz you can cherry pick. And it’s been a LONG time since tennis academies could do that.

Kids are committed. And parents are willingly to let kids train away from home so they can train MORE. The obstacle being the player’s education. Well, we’ve learned post covid that online school isn’t for everyone. But for the right student OR junior tennis player training 33 - 35 hrs. a week? Online school is magic for parents, athletes & academies.

Find the right one for your athlete’s lifestyle & work that plan. I don’t understand why academies like Nadal or Equelite need the brick & mortar schools they have on site. With so many kids using their own private online school. And I’d have to imagine that more juniors will use online school, instinctively. I’d go so far as to say as an edge.



Tennis is year round, not seasonal, like high school tennis. Student-athletes I refer to here adjust their life to their sport all year, including their education.

I mentioned NCAA college tennis above. Ask any tennis player what they want from the game and it's likely pro tennis - not college tennis. Since that won't happen for most, (though girls do have an edge) college tennis + scholarship is on the minds of parents as plan B. Where's the ROI on this venture, right?

Regardless how a kid gets plucked from the pack as a real "talent", then groomed & developed, it's A LOT. The student-athlete’s ability & passion are what's important, at 1st. Then it comes down to results! Both on-court & academic results.

Training Center or Private Instruction?

On the topic of junior tennis academies, you'll hear a lot of push back. About them not being worth it. To stick with private training. Yes! If you've found the right coach for your player, who'll train & travel with them, perfect. The personal attention alone is noteworthy. But it’ll still be expensive because it’s 1:1.

The main benefit of junior tennis academies gives your player a pool of top or similar levels to train & spar against each day. That becomes their normal. Hopefully, not only a local pool of players. Because your player is only as good as the local talent they play with each day. So what does your players pool look like? Do they need more?

If your player primarily plays locally with a personal coach how much are they training? What experience does the coach have in high performance tennis? Do they have personal experience training your junior mentally? Where’s your player traveling for tournaments? Who travels with them for support?




A training academy develops, directs and builds their mental chops. Competition alone keeps players highly motivated. Being around other players on the same path, normalizes their life a bit. Let's be honest, it's not an easy path for a kid.

Online school or brick & mortar?

How does your players academics fit into their tennis schedule?

Online school works well for juniors & parents because it works well with training & travel schedules. While giving kids a chance to get ahead and take AP classes if they want.



With a flexible online school kids are anxiety free to train. If you choose the right school your player thrives. They can train anywhere in the world with their education set. The only thing they need is the right curriculum, and internet connection, teacher support, rolling enrollment and flexible payments whatever else is on your list.

Parents thinking of online school programs for your athlete, consider ...

• Does the school offer rolling enrollment?

• What's the curriculum?

• Is there teacher support? Who's grading exams & papers?

• Is the school cognia accredited?

• Is it easy to use?

• Is it NCAA approved?

• Does it offer flexible payment options?

• Does it offer AP classes?

I was late to this life saver. I'm a product of brick & mortar private schools. And I did in fact burn out trying to carry it all. Online school when I was growing up wasn't a thing. In fact, it had an incredibly awkward stigma attached to it. But not today. It’s a smart way to go. Today it’s also a safe way to go.

And if you're the wiser for having your junior player in online school, chime in! What’s the #1 benefit your player likes about online school?

The thing I love is that it gives players an excuse to fly. To go ahead if they choose. And keep doing what they love. Play.