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 and what made it special!
Record Participation at the 2024’s Edition
The 2024 Keystone Sports College Tennis Showcase saw an impressive participation, with 125 players representing 11 different countries. This turnout highlights the showcase’s reputation as a top platform for international tennis talent to improve their chances of earning tennis scholarships in the USA. During the showcase, several players received tennis scholarship offers from coaches, and we even had commitments!
The event attracted 169 US college coaches from universities across all NCAA divisions, offering a wide range of opportunities for the participating players. 35 of these coaches were present in Leverkusen, while the rest participated via the Keystone Sports virtual showcase platform. Notably, coaches from some of the best college tennis teams in the US were present to scout talent!
College Prep-Day Activities Preparing for the College Tennis Life
The event kicked off as usual with the College Prep-Day, held the day before the showcase matches. This day consists of both on- and off-court activities and is aiming to give players valuable insights and preparations for college tennis life. Keystone Sports Performance Program‘s two experts, Clive Brewer and Dr. Darren Treasure, were present in Leverkusen and held sessions with the players.
Before the training session with the college coaches, the players had a warm-up session with Clive Brewer, an expert in Athlete Development and Athletic Performance. During the session with Clive, they received feedback and guidance to perform optimally as tennis players.
Following this, there was a training session with three college coaches. Here, players received feedback and advice to help them prepare for the upcoming showcase matches during the weekend. Thereafter, it was time for the off-court Prep-Day activities!
What do coaches look for when recruiting for their college teams? What is it like to play tennis in college? Is it difficult to balance school and tennis? These are some of the questions addressed during presentations and Q&A sessions led by college coaches and experts in collegiate sports, tennis, and admissions. Lastly, Dr. Darren Treasure, professor and expert in sports psychology, gave a presentation on mental performance to the players.
Tennis Showcase Matches on the Courts
Of course, the showcase featured thrilling matches where players got the chance to demonstrate their skills in front of the coaches. Each player was guaranteed three matches and a practice set, playing against others on a similar level. With UTR Sports as an official partner, all matches at the Keystone Sports College Tennis Showcase were UTR verified. This metric is important for college tennis recruiting and for coaches when scouting players.
Still, it’s important to note that coaches look for more than just scores, skills, and technique. They also pay close attention to players’ on-court behavior and personal attributes. Coachability, competitiveness, hard work, and how players respond to different situations are other important factors.
Additionally, college tennis is mainly played as a team sport, which means coaches will watch how you behave as a team player and interact with others on the court.
Arik Zeevy, Head Coach of Stevens University’s Women’s College Team, shared what coaches may look for in potential recruits: “The number one thing we look for is being a team player. Putting the team ahead of yourself.”
In total, 25 tennis matches took place during Prep-Day, and 209 showcase matches occurred over the weekend. These showcase matches were also live-streamed via the Keystone Sports showcase platform, enabling coaches participating virtually to stream the matches in real time and on-demand.
Meeting with College Coaches as an Aspiring Tennis Player
Connecting and engaging with coaches is crucial for building relationships and potentially getting recruited for a college team. The Keystone Sports Tennis Showcase provides an outstanding environment where players and coaches can easily connect and schedule 1-1 meetings.
With Keystone Sports’ virtual platform, players got a similar experience that allowed them to meet with coaches. This direct interaction, both virtually and in person in Leverkusen, provided a unique chance for players to introduce themselves and establish connections with coaches from top college tennis programs. The engagement on the virtual platform was truly impressive, with 98% of the players who showed interest got contacted by the coach.
More Tennis Profiles Sharing Their Experiences
Jasmin Hauska, a Keystone Sports ambassador and former collegiate tennis player, has been an ambassador since 2023. She has been a valuable resource, drawing on her experience playing college tennis. Jasmin received a tennis scholarship and played women’s college tennis for Southwestern College.
During the showcase, she led an engaging Q&A session with players, sharing her experiences as both a player and a student, and answered questions about playing tennis at college level.
The tennis showcase also featured Felix Mischker from Tennis Brothers and Tom Zeuch. Tom, who plays for the University of Indianapolis and is currently ranked number one in Division II, joined Felix to discuss college tennis in a new episode of our Pursue Podcast. Tom shared his thoughts on how this experience is invaluable for players, no matter what path they take:
“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, 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 this renowned college tennis recruiting tradition. The tennis showcase brought together international talent for days filled with top-class tennis, valuable meetings, scholarship offers and networking between tennis enthusiasts.
Keystone Sports extend our warmest thanks to all players, US coaches, families, and dedicated partners participating during these days. Thank you for making this tennis showcase possible as a way to discover future college tennis stars!
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About the author
Paulina Romo
Paulina Romo, SEO Specialist at Keystone Sports, holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration and has a background in equestrian sports, specializing in dressage. Shaped by international experience gained from work and studies in Sweden, South Korea, Germany, and Spain, Paulina brings a diverse blend of marketing skills and perspectives to her role.
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