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LAPLACE — John Hebert is a full-time electrical engineer and a part-time tennis coach certified by the United States Professional Tennis Association. He’s played a big role in increasing visibility for tennis in St. Charles Parish and beyond, and he’s extending his love for the sport to youth ages 5 to 18 with recreational tennis clinics.

Clinics will be held on July 12, 16, 19, 23, 26 and 30 at Grand Ridge Tennis Court, located at 500 Willowdale Blvd. in Luling. Each session in the three-week schedule will introduce a specific foundational skill. Hebert said the clinics give children a chance to experience tennis in a group setting as a more affordable alternative to private lessons. The clinics are priced at $180 for each age group, and no experience is required to participate.
Registration is due by end of day Sunday at https://sites.google.com/view/johnheberttennisclinics2/home.

Students are asked to wear comfortable clothes and tennis court shoes. They should bring a hat, sunglasses, water and a towel and use sunscreen before court time. Lessons will involve hand/foot-eye coordination, athletic movements, basic racket skills, score keeping, rules, tennis etiquette, sportsmanship and more.

The clinics are divided into four age groups meeting at a different times on Mondays and Fridays from July 12-30.

• Ages 5 to 6 will be part of the Juniors Red Foam Ball Mini Court Tennis group meeting from 9 to 10 a.m. This age group will utilize a 36-foot court.
• Ages 7 to 8 will join the Juniors Red Felt Ball Mini Court Tennis group from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., utilizing a 36-foot court.
• Ages 9 to 10 will be part of the Juniors Orange Ball Short Court Tennis group meeting from 2 to 3 p.m. They will play on a 60-foot court.
• Ages 11 to 18 will join the Juniors Green Dot Ball Full Court Tennis group from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Additional clinics will be offered throughout the year. Hebert takes a five-pronged approach to teaching tennis. He said the sport is focused not only on the physical skills such as ground strikes and serving, but also fitness, tactics, strategy and mental strength.

Hebert has been playing tennis since he was a teenager, but he started coaching about 15 years ago when his daughter began playing high school tennis. He continued coaching her friends and realized it was something he enjoyed.

“I decided to get certified by the US Tennis Association and became more of a junior coach. I started a league in St. Charles Parish called the Junior Team Tennis League as part of the USTA and it grew to include juniors from all the surrounding parishes,” Hebert said. “Today, it’s the recreational league that we have in St. Charles Parish.”

Hebert went on to become certified by the U.S. Professional Tennis Association. Over the years, he’s taught children as young as 3 years old and adults ages 63 and older.

Hebert offers a variety of practice, lesson and workout options by appointment, including: private individual lessons, private group lessons, private parent-child coaching lessons, private practice sessions with live balls and private workout sessions. Tennis instruction is offered at Grand Ridge Country Club or at the student’s location.

For more information, visit sites.google.com/site/johnheberttennis/, text 504-432-0530 or email LetsPlayTennis@JohnHebertTennis.com.