For the fourth straight year, Sedona Racquet Club Director of Tennis Larry Lineberry held a high school tennis camp, with six members in attendance this week, looking to improve at their favorite sport.

“I usually only take up to eight players at this camp,” Lineberry said Wednesday, June 8, as his pupils played a game of tug-of-war, substituting a racquet and tennis ball for the rope. “This way, I can work with them each individually and make sure they’re doing things right.”

The four-day camp took place on the clay courts of SRC, one of the biggest clay court complexes on this side of the Mississippi River.

Lineberry, who is a U.S. Professional Tennis Association master professional, works with the players throughout the four-day camp.

In attendance were Sedona Red Rock High School players Steven Sundberg [16], Ian O’Heir [17] and Jacqueline Schreiber [15].

Also in attendance was 11-year-old Andre Schreiber, who might be the best player of the group on the court this week.

When asked how things were going, Schreiber couldn’t stop talking about how much he enjoyed tennis.

“Yeah, I love tennis,” Schreiber said as he sat down in the shade, taking a break from the mid-June sun. “I learned to finish my stroke this week, and keep my shoulder level.”

“I’m also learning to cope with players like Stevie [Sundberg] and Ian [O’Heir],” Schreiber said with a big smile, revealing without saying words the two older boys might be giving him the business because of his age.

The other five players in the camp didn’t need long to realize the young Schreiber could play, and they continue to respect his ability on the court.

As the group ran off to a big pizza being delivered for lunch, Lineberry said the camp focuses on making technical changes in each player, which will allow them to work on the changes before the season starts.

“We emphasize technical stroke production, footwork and mental preparation. Then we test these points under match play conditions each day,” Lineberry said.

Every day, the group hits the fitness room, working on core elements of their body during the morning session. Then the group hits nearly 1,500 balls while working on their serve.

Lineberry stands nearby, correcting any little mistakes in form and looks to find the best way for each player to find his or her groove.

In the afternoon session after lunch, the young tennis star hopefuls play matches against one another, using their skills already learned beforehand, and a few new tricks they learned during the week from Lineberry.

“This is a good camp for these kids. They have fun, and I like being here teaching them what they need to know,” Lineberry said.