Youth tennis classes focus on building sound fundamentals in an active, enjoyable environment. Players work on strokes, movement, rallying, scoring, point play, and basic tactics through a mix of instruction, drills, and games.
The program follows a progression from red to orange to green to yellow ball, using modified balls and court sizes as appropriate to help players develop control and confidence. Because experience levels can vary within a class, activities may be adjusted or players subgrouped to help everyone continue progressing.
Location
Gates Tennis Center - Courts 1 & 2
Registration
Important for Parents/Guardians:
To register your child for any youth program (like swim lessons or youth sports), you’ll need to:
1. Create your account *Note: Due to system constraints, only current students, faculty, and staff may use an MTU email. All others must use or create a different email address to create an account.
2. Add your children as your affiliates (with their date of birth)
3. Register your child through their affiliate profile (profile options in top right corner), not your own, for any program with an age requirement
This ensures accurate participant info and correct age group placement.
Create your accounts early to be ready!
Additional information on how to create your user account can be found here.
Additional information on how to create your child’s affiliate account can be found here.
Registration and payment can be completed online, or at the SDC Ticket Office. A parent or legal guardian is required to sign waiver of liability and concussion awareness forms for all youth classes.
MTU Recreation Programs Cancellation Policy
Designed for young players who are just beginning tennis and developing the skills that come before sustained rallying. Activities include tracking, rolling, tossing and catching, basic racket and ball control, movement, balance, coordination, and agility. Players gradually progress toward hitting moving balls, exchanging simple rallies, serving, and playing introductory points using red balls and appropriately sized courts. Games and play-based activities are used throughout to keep kids active and engaged.Bring a tennis racket if you have one. If not, Gates Tennis Center has demo rackets. Please wear athletic clothing and non-marking tennis shoes.
Session 1:
Saturdays from 2:00 - 2:45pm,
September 19 - October 24
No class 10/10
Registration opens August 31
Registration closes September 17
Cost:
Guest: $72.00
Member: $62.00
Session 2:
Saturdays from 2:00 - 2:45pm, October 31 - December 12
No class 11/21 & 11/28
Registration opens August 31
Registration closes October 29
Guest: $72.00
Member: $62.00
This class is for players progressing from basic racket and ball control toward more consistent rallying and point play. Players work on groundstrokes, volleys, serves, movement, scoring, and court positioning using red and orange balls and appropriately sized courts. Classes also include agility, coordination, throwing and catching, and other general athletic skills. Activities are adapted to players’ experience levels.
Bring a tennis racket if you have one. If not, Gates Tennis Center has demo rackets. Please wear athletic clothing and non-marking tennis shoes. Ideally, the shoes should be tennis specific shoes that are designed for the stop, start, and lateral movement of tennis. Some “cross-trainers” are okay. Running shoes are not recommended because they are not designed for lateral movement.
Session 1:
Saturdays from 2:45 - 3:45pm,
September 19 - October 24
No class 10/10
Registration opens August 31
Registration closes September 17
Cost:
Guest: $96.00
Member: $86.00
Session 2:
Saturdays from 2:45 - 3:45pm, October 31 - December 12
No class 11/21 & 11/28
Registration opens August 31
Registration closes October 29
Cost:
Guest: $96.00
Member: $86.00
Designed for players who are continuing to build rallying, serving, movement, scoring, and point-play skills. Depending on experience level, players may use orange or green-dot balls and appropriately sized courts to help them develop better control, consistency, and confidence. Instruction includes stroke fundamentals, court positioning, movement, and basic strategy, with drills, games, and point play adapted to the group.
Bring a tennis racket if you have one. If not, Gates Tennis Center has demo rackets Please wear athletic clothing and non-marking tennis shoes. Ideally, the shoes should be tennis specific shoes that are designed for the stop, start, and lateral movement of tennis. Some “cross-trainers” are okay. Running shoes are not recommended because they are not designed for lateral movement.
Session 1:
Saturdays from 3:45 - 4:45pm,
September 19 - October 24
No class 10/10
Registration opens August 31
Registration closes September 17
Cost:
Guest: $96.00
Member: $86.00
Session 2:
Saturdays from 3:45 - 4:45pm, October 31 - December 12
No class 11/21 & 11/28
Registration opens August 31
Registration closes October 29
Cost:
Guest: $96.00
Member: $86.00
Designed for middle- and high-school players ranging from newer players to those with more playing experience. Instruction includes stroke development, serving, movement, consistency, court positioning, basic strategy, and singles and doubles play. Drills, games, and point play are adapted to the group, and players may be subgrouped by age and/or experience level when appropriate.
Bring a tennis racket if you have one. If not, Gates Tennis Center has demo rackets. Please wear athletic clothing and non-marking tennis shoes. Ideally, the shoes should be tennis specific shoes that are designed for the stop, start, and lateral movement of tennis. Some “cross-trainers” are okay. Running shoes are not recommended because they are not designed for lateral movement.
Session 1:
Saturdays from 4:45 - 5:45pm,
September 19 - October 24
No class 10/10
Registration opens August 31
Registration closes September 17
Cost:
Guest: $96.00
Member: $86.00
Session 2:
Saturdays from 4:45 - 5:45pm, October 31 - December 12
No class 11/21 & 11/28
Registration opens August 31
Registration closes October 29
Cost:
Guest: $96.00
Member: $86.00
Parking
QUICK LINKS : SDC Lot 22 and Gates Lot 23
The two-hour free parking window for MTU students, members and community patrons using SDC and Gates Tennis Center facilities is now administered through the ParkMobile app.
Parking sessions beyond two hours will be charged $1.50 per hour for the additional time, plus a 45-cent ParkMobile transaction fee.
To start a ParkMobile session, scan the QR code posted on signage in the lot, visit the ParkMobile website, or download the ParkMobile app from the App Store or Google Play. Don’t have a smartphone? You can still start a session by calling 1-800-280-4149 or texting “Park” to 77223.
Have Questions?
Contact Michigan Tech Transportation Services by visiting us on campus in Room 100 of the University’s Administration Building, calling 906-487-1441 or emailing parking@mtu.edu. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. After-hours support is available through Michigan Tech Public Safety at 906-487-2216.
Meet the Instructors
John W. Miller joins the Michigan Tech recreational tennis program with over 25 years working in recreational and club tennis in the Madison, Wisconsin area. Holding an Elite Professional certification with the Racket Sports Professional Association, John brings a broad range of tennis experience to our tennis program. His background includes coaching high school tennis, teaching at Nakoma and Cherokee Country Clubs, at UW Madison, and in the public parks of greater Madison. He was the Tennis Director at Hawks Landing Tennis Club for eight years, he was a program coordinator and instructor in the Greater Madison Tennis Association for over two decades, and he was the USTA Jr Team Tennis Coordinator in Madison for seven years.
John grew up in the Southwest (Texas and New Mexico). He graduated (BA) from the College of William and Mary in 1989, where he was a member of the tennis team. After college, he served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Thailand.
John and his wife Wanida moved to the Houghton area in 2021. Besides tennis, they enjoy biking, snowshoeing, and xc skiing.
John is excited to join the tennis program at Michigan Tech. He looks forward to working with our tennis clients and to the opportunity to grow tennis in the Keweenaw.
Email: jowmille@mtu.edu
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Mike Andrews was named the Head Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach in June 2025. Andrews came to Houghton after one season of leading the tennis programs at Lake Superior State.
Andrews competed collegiately at LSSU from 1991-95 and played in the No. 1 position in both singles and doubles for the Lakers. The Iron Mountain native received a bachelor's degree in recreation management with a minor in business from Lake State.
Andrews is certified by the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) for both tennis and pickleball and brings with him over 25 years of experience in the racquet industry. He has also served as an instructor, collegiate coach, director, and club manager in Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan, including serving as the director at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club in Grosse Pointe, Michigan.
Andrews has been actively involved in community programs and events for Buddy Up for Down Syndrome Athletes, Special Olympics Michigan, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Andrews has been recognized as the USPTA Midwest Professional of the Year and a USTA National Community Service Award winner. He is a former president of the USPTA Midwest Division and has been a guest speaker at multiple conferences and workshops.
His wife, Pam, daughter, Jenay, and two sons, Connor and Jordan, all played collegiate tennis. Pam and Jenay competed at LSSU, Connor at Purdue Fort Wayne, and Jordan at Saint Francis.
Email: miandrew@mtu.edu
