Youth programs

Youth Programs

With the help of more than 600 local volunteers, the Ojai Valley Tennis Club (OVTC), organizes & hosts the annual Ojai Tennis Tournament. Another key objective of the club is to promote interest in physical fitness through tennis among the youth in the Ojai & Ventura area year-round.

OVTC Youth Tennis Program Highlights

The OVTC Youth Tennis Committee conducts & supports programs to introduce the game of tennis to Ojai Valley youth & to encourage their continued participation in the sport. Dozens of local tennis enthusiasts support the youth programs by volunteering as coaches & mentors. We also receive support from business sponsors including Wilson Sporting Goods, the USTA/SCTA, & other local businesses.

Youth Clinics Through the Ojai Parks & Recreation

Each year, OVTC donates funds to the Ojai Recreation Department Youth Tennis Programs for youth tennis scholarships, prizes, & tennis equipment. Libbey Park Tennis Professional Katya Welborn hosts classes, clinics, & private lessons for junior players ages 4-18. You can register to join one of these programs below.

10 & Up (QuickStart) Program

One of our favorite youth tennis programs is “QuickStart.” This program is brought to Ojai & Oak View Elementary schools through a collaboration between OVTC, Ojai & Ventura Unified School Districts. Under the leadership of Coach Philippe Gache, the program has been around since 2012. With the help of several dedicated adult volunteers, the 10 & under tennis program has grown tremendously. During the playing of The Ojai Tennis Tournament, a “QuickStart Tennis Challenge” is held in which interested students from QuickStart elementary schools can challenge each other for prizes & school pride. The event will be held at the Lower Libbey Park courts on the final Sunday of The Ojai.

Jakob Vos Holiday Tennis Challenge

The Annual Jakob Vos Holiday Tennis Challenge has become a year-end tradition held at Ojai’s Libbey Park since 2011. This unique event has 32 teams of adult/junior pairs who participate in “In for Fun” & “In to Win” divisions. This gives parents an opportunity to team up with their kids to play or you can register & we’ll find a partner for you. Registration for this is announced through all our social media channels & website toward the end of each year.

High Performance Clinic

The OVTC also organizes a “High Performance Clinic” in late March. Here local tennis professionals share their expertise with a group of promising young tennis players. Juniors are nominated by coaches to participate & rotate through the eight courts at Libbey Park, receiving instruction from a different coach on each court.

Sportsmanship Awards

During The Ojai Tournament in April, the OVTC presents a Sportsmanship Award to 8 deserving youth players, nominated by local coaches & selected by the Youth Tennis Committee. The selection is based on sportsmanship, motivation, talent, & potential to advance. The prizes include tennis scholarships for summer camps, individual lessons, & group lessons, all donated by Ojai Valley tennis professionals.

Ventura County Junior Tennis Association

The OVTC supports the Ventura County Junior Tennis Association tournaments & provides VCTA Youth Team Tennis programs with trophies, balls & prizes. You can read about their tournaments & register through VCJTA.

Want To Get Involved?

Refer to our ‘Contact Us’ page to reach out to us with questions. The ‘Youth Programs’ option will route your message to our Youth Program committee.

Ojai Valley Tennis Club