Recap of the 10th Anniversary of Keystone Sports College Tennis Showcase
Record Numbers for 2024’s Edition of Europe’s Largest College Tennis Recruiting Event!
The 10th edition of the Keystone Sports College Tennis Showcase has ended, marking a new milestone in bringing together US coaches and top tennis talent from around the world. Here’s a full look back at this year’s tennis showcase!
Record Participation at the 2024 Edition
The 2024 Keystone Sports College Tennis Showcase saw impressive participation, with 125 players representing 11 different countries. This turnout highlights the showcase’s reputation as a top platform for international tennis talent aiming to secure tennis scholarships in the USA. Several players received scholarship offers from coaches during the showcase, with commitments already made!
The event attracted 169 US college coaches from universities across all NCAA divisions, providing extensive opportunities for the players. Thirty-five coaches were present in Leverkusen, with others participating via the Keystone Sports virtual showcase platform. Notably, coaches from some of the US’s best college tennis teams were on-site to scout talent!
Prep-Day Activities Preparing for College Tennis Life
The event started with the College Prep-Day, featuring both on- and off-court activities to prepare players for college tennis life. Keystone Sports Performance Program experts Clive Brewer and Dr. Darren Treasure held sessions with the players in Leverkusen.
Before the training session with college coaches, players participated in a warm-up session with Clive Brewer, expert in Athlete Development and Athletic Performance.
Following this, players engaged in a training session with three college coaches to prepare for the weekend’s matches, receiving crucial feedback and advice to enhance their performance during the showcase matches. Afterwards, off-court Prep-Day activities took place!
What do coaches look for when recruiting for their college teams? What is it like to play tennis in college? Is it challenging to balance academics and tennis? These questions were addressed during presentations and Q&A sessions led by college coaches and university sports experts. Lastly, Dr. Darren Treasure, professor and expert in Sport Psychology, delivered a presentation on mental performance to the players.
Tennis Showcase Matches on the Courts
The showcase featured exciting matches where players demonstrated their skills in front of coaches. Each player competed in three matches and a practice set against opponents of similar levels. With UTR Sports as an official partner, all matches at the Keystone Sports College Tennis Showcase were UTR verified. This is a crucial metric for college tennis recruiting and for coaches when scouting players.
Coaches evaluate more than just scores, skills, and technique; they also observe players’ on-court behaviour and personal attributes. Coachability, competitiveness, work ethic, and reactions to various situations are equally significant factors. College tennis is primarily a team sport, so coaches assess players’ teamwork and interaction skills on the court.
Arik Zeevy, Head Coach of Stevens University’s Women’s College Team, emphasized the importance of being a team player: “The number one thing we look for is being a team player. Putting the team ahead of yourself.”
In total, 25 matches took place on Prep-Day, with an additional 209 showcase matches over the weekend. These matches were live-streamed via the Keystone Sports showcase platform, allowing coaches participating virtually to watch in real-time or on-demand.
Meeting with College Coaches as an Aspiring Tennis Player
Connecting with coaches is vital for building relationships and potentially securing spots on university teams. The Keystone Sports Tennis Showcase offers an ideal environment for players and coaches to connect and schedule one-on-one meetings.
With Keystone Sports’ virtual platform, players had a similar experience that enabled them to meet with coaches. This direct interaction, both virtually and in person in Leverkusen, provided a unique opportunity for players to introduce themselves and establish connections with coaches from top college tennis programmes. The engagement on the virtual platform was truly impressive, with 98% of the players who showed interest were contacted by coaches.
More Tennis Profiles Sharing Their Experiences
Jasmin Hauska, a Keystone Sports ambassador and former collegiate tennis player, shared insights gained from her college tennis experience. Jasmin earned a tennis scholarship and competed in women’s college tennis for Southwestern College.
During the showcase, Jasmin led engaging Q&A sessions, sharing her experiences as both a player and student and answering questions about playing tennis while studying at university in America.
The showcase also featured Felix Mischker from Tennis Brothers and Tom Zeuch. Tom, currently ranked number one in Division II and playing for the University of Indianapolis, discussed college tennis in a new episode of our Pursue Podcast. Tom highlighted the invaluable experience of college tennis, regardless of career paths:
“What I can say pretty much to everyone, is that if you do not compete and play ATP 500 at the age of 17 or 18, I would recommend doing the road of college. Because if you look at these top ten schools like Florida and West Virginia, the recruits are already ATP players.”
Summarizing the 10th Edition of Europe’s Most Renowned Tennis Showcase
The 2024 Keystone Sports College Tennis Showcase celebrated its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of excellence in college tennis recruiting. The event brought together international talent for days filled with top-class tennis, valuable meetings, scholarship opportunities, and networking among tennis enthusiasts.
Keystone Sports extends sincere thanks to all players, US coaches, families, and dedicated partners who made this event a success. Thank you for making this tennis showcase possible as a way to discover future college tennis stars!
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Paulina Romo
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Record-Breaking Success After four exciting days brimming with tennis, networking, and inspiring talks, we are delighted to announce that the 2023 edition of the Keystone Sports College Tennis Showcase is etched into history as the biggest and greatest showcase ever.