Upper Dublin Sports Center Serves up Instruction for Local Youngsters

Even in the midst of the winter season, tennis is always in the forefront of activity at the in Ambler.

“These are our busiest months because of the cold weather and the fact that we have eight indoor tennis courts and boy’s tennis season starts in spring,” says Mark Spann, tennis director and co-owner of the club. “So right now it’s a mad panic for a lot of these guys who are now trying to get themselves ready for the tennis season.”

Some of the area’s best talent can be found sharpening their game on the facility’s 15 courts, including six indoor courts and two in what is known as the “bubble.” The center also houses indoor swimming pools, a gymnasium, racquetball courts and equipment for basketball, floor hockey and soccer. Although the center hopes to include classes for such sports in the future, as of right now, instruction revolves around tennis, with sessions for beginners through advanced.

“The training sessions are very dynamic. We have a methodology here that really is a combination of information, innovation and inspiration put together with just the right amount of perspiration,” says Spann. “What we are really phenomenal at is meeting a kid where they are at. We can take any kid from an absolute beginner, someone who has never experienced tennis before, get them excited about the game and teach them tennis at a world class level.”

The UDSC has been in existence in some form since 1968, but came under new management in 2009 when Spann and business partner Victor Urzua took hold of the reins. The two men, who both hold tennis teaching degrees, met twenty years earlier, but reunited to try and create a tennis ‘Mecca,’ according to Spann.  It didn’t take long for the club to receive recognition, as it was named ‘Best in Philly’ for a child to learn the sport by Philadelphia Magazine in 2010.

“Young kids are becoming very successful at playing tennis at a young age,” says Spann. “Tennis is a complicated sport, which is why we try to scale it down to a size where young kids can have some level of success and really get to play tennis quickly.”

To help emphasize their dedication to the younger players, Spann says that all of the courts were repainted to include lines for both full size and 10-and-under playing areas. The sports center also hosts a range of camps in the summer season to help youngsters improve their game when school is out.

“Our summer camp has grown exponentially over the last three years, where a number of kids have almost made us their home for the summer,” says Spann of the 11-week programs.

The summer camps range from highly intensive tennis training, to more relaxed camps that include activities not related to the sport.

“The high performance, hard core camp is for the highly dedicated tennis player,” says Spann. “We’ve had over 130 members of our camp graduate to go on to play Division 1 college tennis. This program attracts the most competitive kids-- kids who want pure tennis."

The UDSC also offers an ‘Ultimate Tennis’ program, which Spann says exposes kids to tennis in the right doses. About 20 percent of the camp includes swimming and other traditional summer camp activities. Finally, the center will introduce a ‘Tennis, Sports, and Exploration’ camp in 2012, geared to younger children.

“The TSE camp exposes children to a lot of the alternatives out there,” says Spann. “One of our coaches, who is actually a scientist, will teach the kids how to make a volcano. We have arts and crafts, we have cooking, and we even teach the kids how to make ice cream. We love being able to stimulate their brains and get them excited.”

Spann says the additional offerings are a part of the center’s greater ambition to be an important cornerstone of the surrounding communities. While the reputation as a top-level tennis facility is the priority, being a fun and educational place for local youngsters is just as important.

“We are very involved in the community. We have a study center, offer tutoring, and have a number of amenities that make kids actually come here to hang out,” says Spann. “We have a lot of young kids that play tennis in the community and to them we’ve become a whole lot more than just a tennis facility.”

For more information on the Upper Dublin Sport Center visit their website at www.upperdublinsportcenter.com.