SRQ Tennis FAQ: Your Questions About Our Sarasota Programs

If you are thinking about junior tennis in Sarasota, you probably have questions before you sign your kid up for anything. This is the SRQ Tennis FAQ. Coach Michael Boothman runs SRQ Tennis here in Sarasota, and these are the questions parents actually ask, with straight answers. No hype, no upsell. Just what you need to make a decision.

If your question is not here, text Coach Michael at 941-239-4703. That is the fastest way to reach him, and he answers it himself.

Programs, ages, and where we coach

What programs does SRQ Tennis offer? Three group tracks plus private lessons and a summer camp. The 10 & Under program at Potter Park is for ages 4 to 10. The Youth Development program at Pineview Park is for ages 11 and up. Private lessons run with Coach Michael directly. Summer Tennis Camp 2026 runs at Stoneybrook Country Club for ages 6 to 16.

How big are the groups? Six players, maximum. That number does not move. Six players per coach means more reps, more feedback, and more real court time for your kid. It is the single biggest reason SRQ Tennis groups feel different from a crowded clinic.

Where do you coach? Public parks, not private clubs. The 10 & Under program is at Potter Park. Youth Development is at Pineview Park. Summer camp is at Stoneybrook. You do not need a club membership to train with us. You can read more about why we coach in Sarasota's public parks.

Schedule and pricing

When do classes meet? The 10 & Under program at Potter Park runs Monday through Thursday, 4:30 to 5:30 PM. Youth Development at Pineview meets Monday and Wednesday, 6:00 to 7:30 PM. Summer camp runs full day 9 AM to 2 PM and half day 9 AM to 12 PM.

How much does it cost? Here are the current numbers. The 10 & Under program is $150 every 4 weeks for one session a week, or $275 every 4 weeks for two sessions a week. A drop in is $40. Youth Development is $225 every 4 weeks for one session a week, or $425 every 4 weeks for two sessions a week. A drop in is $60. Private lessons are $110 an hour, with a 6 lesson package at $570. Summer camp is $425 a week full day, $325 a week half day, with a $399 early bird rate, a $3,400 full summer option, and a 10% sibling discount. For the complete breakdown, see how much SRQ Tennis costs.

Do you offer a trial? Yes. Group classes welcome drop ins, so you can try a single session before you commit to a month. A 10 & Under drop in is $40 and a Youth Development drop in is $60. That is the lowest risk way to see if the program fits your kid.

Policies you should know before you sign up

What is the cancellation policy for private lessons? Cancel 48 or more hours ahead and you get a full refund. Cancel 24 to 47 hours ahead and there is a $75 fee. Same day cancellations and no shows are charged the full session. These are firm, because that court time was held for your player.

What about group classes? Group is a monthly commitment with no makeups. If you need to cancel a membership, we ask for 30 days notice. Drop ins are different. They are welcome any time with no commitment at all.

What happens when it rains? Florida weather is part of the deal. There are no refunds for weather, but when SRQ Tennis cancels a class for weather, we offer a makeup. Players should check for updates 2 hours before class. A quick text to 941-239-4703 confirms it.

How we actually coach

What is your coaching philosophy? SRQ Tennis runs on the Six Pillars. The one parents notice first is Live Ball Is the Method. Most of our court time is real rallies, not balls fired from a machine. Tennis is a game of reading spin, bounce, and angle, and none of that shows up off a basket feed. We also build on Accuracy Inside Representative Conditions, which means placement gets trained inside live, game like situations where it has to hold up. You can read the full Six Pillars coaching philosophy for the whole picture. For the science behind starting kids on the right ball and court size, the USTA youth tennis guidelines are a solid outside reference.

How do you know my kid is improving? We track real numbers. That is the pillar we call Confidence Is Built, Not Given. We do not hand out empty praise. We measure. Last week 6 out of 10 to a target, this week 8 out of 10. That is not a compliment, it is a fact, and facts are what build belief that survives a tight match. We use a player development pyramid with clear gates to show exactly where your kid stands. See how we measure progress.

Who is the coach? Michael Boothman. He is a USPTA Elite Professional with 30 plus years of coaching experience, and he is on court for the sessions himself. You are not handed off to a rotating staff. If you want the longer version, read the story behind SRQ Tennis.

Private lessons and summer camp

When is a private lesson worth it over a group? A private lesson is one on one time with Coach Michael, with video analysis when it helps and a plan built around your player. Groups are where kids learn to read live rallies and compete. Privates are where you fix a specific thing fast. Plenty of families do both: a group for the reps and the competition, a private when there is a clear technical piece to clean up. A 6 lesson package at $570 brings the rate to $95 an hour, which is why most private families buy the package.

What does a day at summer camp look like? Camp runs at Stoneybrook for ages 6 to 16. A full day is 9 AM to 2 PM, a half day is 9 AM to 12 PM. The day mixes live ball training, movement work, point play, and breaks, all grouped by age and level so a 7 year old and a 15 year old are not in the same drill. The early bird rate is $399 a week, the full summer option is $3,400, and siblings get 10% off. Camp runs from June 1 into early August 2026.

Getting started

How do I sign up? Text 941-239-4703, email [email protected], or visit srq.tennis. Tell us your kid's age and what days work, and Coach Michael will point you to the right group. If you are not sure where your player fits, that is normal, and it is exactly the kind of question a quick text sorts out.

My kid has never played. Is that a problem? Not at all. The 10 & Under program is built for beginners on the right ball and court size, and a first session is mostly about contact quality and tracking the ball off the bounce. Every player at SRQ Tennis started somewhere.

Wrap up

That covers what most Sarasota families ask before they start. SRQ Tennis keeps groups to six, coaches in public parks, and tracks real progress with real numbers. If you still have a question, text Coach Michael at 941-239-4703 or check out the programs at srq.tennis. See you on the court.

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Coach Michael Boothman is a USPTA Elite Professional and the founder of SRQ Tennis in Sarasota, Florida. He coaches juniors and adults at Potter Park and Pineview Park. Text 941-239-4703 or email [email protected] to talk about your player.