Students in Slammer Tennis World classes hit tennis balls, ate snacks and learned about balance as part of the sixth annual free jamboree last week at Mathews Park in Norwalk.

The players participated in tennis games and also got a lesson in training from Paul Iannacone, the director of training at Norwalk's LA Fitness. Kitty Rodriguez, a seventh grade science teacher at Rippowam Middle School in Stamford, also spoke to the youngsters about the importance of maintaining academic responsibilities.

The free jamboree is a reward offered by Slammer Tennis World coach Marvin ...

Player feedback has been positive for two United States Tennis Association-sanctioned tennis tournaments for junior players hosted by Slammer Tennis World and the Norwalk Recreation and Parks Department.

"l wanted to start with juniors first,” said tournament director Marvin Tyler of Slammer Tennis World, who is trying to bring more tennis tournaments to Norwalk.

“[Players] were happy to have a USTA-sanctioned tennis tournament in Norwalk. The parents that I spoke with were happy to have them here."

Volunteers helped Tyler run the tournaments, which attracted ...

Rebecca Link figured her week in the Nick Bolletieri Academy would be hard. Even though she was braced for the intensity, the 12-year-old Ponus Ridge seventh-grader and Slammer Tennis World student was surprised by the physical demands.

"I was so sore after the first day,'' Rebecca said. "They told me by Thursday I'd be feeling better, and they were right. I was so happy."

Marvin Tyler, Link's coach at Slammer Tennis World, surprised Rebecca with a visit early in the camp. "My player's sitting there with two ice packs on her knees,'' Marvin said. "I told her, 'This is ...

Slammer Tennis World offers two summer tennis camps in Norwalk. The organization offer camps at Mathews Park and Woodward Avenue Park. Both camps offer children three hours of tennis a day Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon.

The Mathews Park summer tennis camp starts on Monday, July 5 and parents can sign up for the full 6 weeks for $500 per student or for the first 3 weeks or the last 3 weeks for $300 per student.

The Woodward Avenue Park summer tennis camp in South Norwalk starts on Monday, July 12. The fee is $500 for six weeks. For $83.33 per ...

"I'm not playing tennis,'' Marvin Tyler recalls telling co-worker Eric Hamilton, who asked Tyler about 15 years ago to replace a player in his foursome at Westport Tennis Club. "I'm a baller (basketball player). He asked me for two years and I always said no."

Tyler finally capitulated, and it changed his life. He now owns Slammer Tennis World and runs programs in Norwalk, Stamford and New Canaan. He instructs players of all ages and abilities, and earned the United State Tennis Association's Community Tennis Association of the Year award in 2008 from the New England Section. ...

Slammer Tennis World and Norwalk Recreation and Parks are conducting tennis programs for all levels of players. There are classes for pee wee, junior and adult tennis players, and programs are available weekdays and weekend at various locations in Norwalk. There are also summer camps available for children.

For more information, log on to www.slammertennisworld.com