Letters from happy parents...

June 2010

"Dear Coach Krass,
I would like to thank you for a fantastic experience last week at your USF camp. I will cherish it for the rest of my life! I just signed up for the 2 week camp at Lehigh and I can't wait to learn more! I learned so much at the USF Camp and I thank you for creating this camp. You are so much fun and really inspiring. You taught me that if you have a goal in life, there is no reason you cannot achieve it. I came home a new player and person.
I am much more confident in my game and myself. And the other Camp Coaches were amazing too! I had a lot of fun and cannot wait for the Lehigh Camp!
I always love a challenge!"!"

"Dear Coach Krass,
I am finally back in France after my week at your USF Camp. Your camp was an amazing experience and was surely the best camp I did in my life....I really enjoyed it! For a foreigner like me, I learned a lot about College Tennis and what team spirit is all about. The atmosphere with the players, coaches and you was incredible! I'm even being recruited now by several coaches who were at your camp.
Thanks, again, for a great experience!"

September 2009

"My son, Jesse, has attended the College Tennis Academy at Lehigh University for three straight summers in 2007, 2008, and 2009. Each summer Jesse returned with growth in his game that was unparalleled compared to other camps, clinics, programs and showcases he has attended over the years. Not only was the instruction and oversight excellent but having the chance to meet and establish relationships with college coaches was unlike any other experience. The gains in his confidence, mental game, and skills were tremendous. The best part was that Jesse thoroughly enjoyed the intensive tennis focus and meeting kids from all over the country, some of whom he continues to stay in touch with. Over the past three years Jesse has remarked on several occasions how your camp was the best overall tennis experience during his life, and keep in mind he is comparing this to many other camps and clinics throughout the years. "

May 2009

"What your camps do so well is encourage every player - no matter what their level - to be the best they can be. Your knowledge of the game, technical expertise and most of all, the enthusiasm you pass on to the campers is unrivaled."

August 2008

Dear Ed:

I wanted once again to compliment you on running an exemplary program for aspiring college tennis players.

My son attended the first session at Lehigh during the summer of 2008 and he had an unparalleled experience there. In fact, he marks that week as one of the best of his entire life. The coaching staff was superlative, and was generous with time, attention and mentoring. Although my son has been playing tennis for many years and has had the benefit of some wonderful coaches previously, it was during the week at Ed Krass tennis camp that he made a quantum leap in his game both physically and mentally. I would have to also comment on the developmental growth that I observed after his return from your camp. His insights into his mental game and emotional barriers that had interfered with optimal playing were as valuable as any lesson in serve or groundstroke could have been.

Thank you again for a wonderful experience that we all shared via your camp. And also thanks for your ongoing support and encouragement as we finalize our choices for college and tennis.

July 2008

Dear Mr. Krass,

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for giving my daughter Samantha a wonderful experience this past week at Brown. Samantha was thrilled with the program from beginning to end. She found the instruction to be invaluable - incomparable to anything that she has been exposed to over her past five years as a tennis player. She was excited to reiterate all of the strategic tips imparted by you and your coaching staff, chatting for the entire four hour trip home. Likewise, she thoroughly enjoyed learning the "one on one doubles" game, and looks forward to practicing and playing it. She could not believe how her volley improved in just five days!

Thank you for your and your coaches' terrific knowledge, instruction and energy! Samantha hopes to be able to join your camp again next summer.

June 2008

Coach Krass,

My daughter, Renee, attended your college tennis exposure camp last week at USF. She has not stopped talking about her experience since.

When first introduced to your camp, I was skeptical. So many tennis camps proclaim to be the best at what they do and promise an exciting and fulfilling experience. Meanwhile, mom and dad scramble to pay the exorbitant cost only to find that their child learned very little. After several nudges, I took the leap of faith and sent Renee away for a week.

Renee (nka "R - D") is one of those kids that became interested in tennis late in her life, but has devoted herself to the sport ever since. Her tournament experience is non-existent compared to those kids that have been swinging a racquet since birth. Yet her dream is to play college tennis and she is willing to make huge sacrifices to accomplish this task (this dream being second only to one day becoming a great doctor responsible for finding cures to diseases that most of us will never be able to pronounce). Her ranking in Florida is inconsistent with her skill, as is her tennis recruiting status on a website that apparently every coach in the free world reviews to measure a child's recruitability. At least this is what she has been told by several coaches who have come to know her. She has had her share of heartbreaking news that she is not interesting as a recruit because of a number which has been attached to her name.

The minute "R - D" arrived at USF, her eyes lit up and a crooked little smile took up residence on her freckled face. This was going to be a great adventure. And so it was.

From beginning to end, this kid had the time of her life. My two hour ride home was full of intricate details including descriptive tennis drills to the "do's and don'ts" of calling college coaches to personality profiles of the excellent coaching staff that assisted in making your camp an uplifting and incredible experience. You were affectionately described as an "Eveready Bunny" due to your non-stop (positive) energy. Renee bonded with many of the coaches during her short stay and came home overwhelmed with relief because she had been given a chance to work hard and be recognized by many wonderful coaches in our tennis community. With a bit more hard work and some luck, she may realize her dream next year.

So, thanks for putting together such a great program and thanks to those coaches that make the experience unforgettable. I believe it has helped Renee immensely in setting her goals and taking responsibility for her future in tennis and in life.

In the News...

This is an except from the December 2003/January 2004 issue of Tennis Week magazine. The full story can be read on page 63 of the magazine.

Rallying with Crystal Balls: Tennis Week asked some of America's top coaches what's ahead.

Ed Krass, whose College Tennis Exposure Camps have prepared high school players for the next level since 1989, sees a need to bring the past into the future. You can hear his dedication to the mission of improving serve and volley skills when talking about his "one-on-One doubles championships," money tournaments requiring players to serve and volley, and playing "cross-court" tennis.

Kids need to "slow things down and take notes of the right techniques and strategies," says Krass. Too many injuries come from poor technique and players worried only about how hard, not how well, the ball can be hit. Unless coaches correctly teach technique -- the right open stance to allow for "natural" hip rotation, for example -- players will be killed off before age 35.

Krass's vision of the future: "It is kind of ridiculous to go back to the old technology, but we can return to some of the ideas from the old court game."

Read what college coaches are saying about the College Tennis Exposure Camp...

"This camp is an excellent opportunity for junior players to showcase their skills and receive specific feedback from college coaches representing every level of the game."