Tennis - Girls

September, 2021

 

Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s):

 

My name is Kirk Rotvold, and I am the Falcon Ridge girls’/boys’ tennis coach.  I’m very pleased your student has chosen tennis as a co-curricular activity.  It’s a life-long sport that teaches sportsmanship, integrity, and athleticism.

 

Practices will be held every afternoon!   Practice starts at 3:20 and runs through 4:50 pm.  Activity buses are available to take students home after practice.      

 

Here’s how to sign your student up for tennis:

 

Your student needs to attend an informational meeting on Thursday, September 9th in the cafeteria at 3:20 p.m.  After the meeting, there will be an optional informal practice at the tennis courts.  All "Home" matches this year should start around 3:40 and SHOULD be completed by 5:20.  Feel free to come to any of our matches. If you ever have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 952-431-0017.  You can also email me at: kirk.rotvold@district196.org

 

Sincerely,

 

Kirk Rotvold

FRMS Tennis Coach

School Counselor

 

 

Masks are NOT required to be worn when indoor sports or personal wellness participants are actively practicing or competing.

 

Masks are NOT required for students, coaches, and spectators at outdoor practices, activities or competitions.

 

Practice will end at 4:50 p.m.  Activity buses should leave at 5:00 or sooner. If parents decide to pick up  players and take them home from practice, they must do so before 5:00.

 

Having good attendance at tennis practices and meets is an important part of being on a team. 

 

If you are ever absent from practice or a match, it is your responsibility to bring a note from your parents or have them email me before you miss a practice or a match.  The only exception is if you are absent from school all day.  If you miss practice or a match without a prior note, you may be dropped lower on the ranking ladder.  For example: as a matter of fairness to those players who are at practice, if you have been challenged or you have made a challenge (and you are not at practice), you automatically forfeit that match.  Of course, you may re-challenge that player at a later date.  Bottom Line:  As a team, we are committed to helping each other grow to be better players.  Having good attendance at tennis practices and meets help us move toward this goal.

 

In Minnesota, the weather can be 85 degrees one week and 32 degrees the next week!  Tennis players should be prepared to play in a variety of weather conditions.   If it’s raining outside at the beginning of practice, the practice will typically be moved indoors to the cafeteria.  Practice may end early if it starts to rain toward the end of practice.   Otherwise, practices will be held outside regardless of the temperature or wind. 

 

Tennis Schedule (All matches start approximately at 3:45 p.m.)

 

Players should bring a tennis racket and a full water bottle to practice each day.

Players should wear good supportive athletic shoes and shorts or long work-out pants with pockets for holding tennis balls.  

 

Usually, about 60% of FRMS Tennis players are new to the sport.  So, we spend time during the first part of our practices working on technique:  serving, stroke mechanics, moving your body on the court, etc.  During the second half of our practice we typically play team games that help practice those skills and techniques.  The games are usually everyone’s favorite part of the practice.  Also, during practices, I use the back tennis courts (sport courts) to have players challenge each other to establish rankings.  My two main goals of the tennis season are to help players develop their tennis skills and to have fun doing it!

 

Unlike some sports (basketball, hockey, etc.), spectators are expected not to make any comments about how the players are playing their match.  Certainly, feel free to yell out, “great serve!” or “nice rally!”.  Other than this, spectators should watch the matches quietly.  If players appear to need help playing the game or calling the scores/points correctly, let one of the coaches know.  At the middle school level, it is common to have players who are just learning to play the game.

 

This year players will have the opportunity to purchase a team t-shirt for $15.  T-shirt orders will be placed on Monday, September 13th.  A pizza party will be held usually the last practice before our last match.  ½ of a large pizza and pop will cost $5  

 

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I have read the above information.  This form must be signed by a parent/guardian and turned in to Mr. Rotvold – office across the hallway from the main office no later than Monday, September 13th.

 

Player's Name___________________________ Home Phone _____________

Parent(s) Name

Printed____________________________________________________________

 

Parent(s) Signature___________________________________________________

 

Parent(s) Cell phone numbers___________________________________________

 

Emergency Contacts: Name(s) and Relationship(s):

Name____________________             Phone # __________________

Name____________________             Phone # __________________

Name____________________             Phone # __________________

 

______ Yes, I would like to order this year’s tennis t-shirt for $15

Size (adult sizing)  XS S   M   L  XL 

 

______No, I do not want to order this year’s tennis t-shirt

 

 

______ Yes, my son/daughter would like to order pizza ($5) for the pizza party.  His/her pizza choice is:   Pepperoni                 Sausage           Cheese

 

______ No, my son/daughter does not want to order pizza for the pizza party.  He/she will bring in his/her own food to eat during the party.