.png)
Caroline Huang had never played tennis before 2021. Her daughter Lucy, now 11, had never held a racquet. Like so many New York families coming out of the pandemic, they were searching for a place to work out and stay active.
The West Side Tennis Club was close to home and offered exactly what they needed: outdoor space to move and a summer camp program for Lucy. What started as a way to get the family active again turned into something neither of them saw coming: a year-round tennis life that completely changed how they think about winter in the city.
Winter Training Built Lucy's Foundation
What some parents don't realize about indoor tennis courts is that they give kids something outdoor courts can't during those crucial early months: consistency.
"I think indoor is good for repetition practice," Caroline explains. "In the winter bubble, the ball's trajectory isn't bothered by the wind or anything. So if the ball is predictable, it's easy for kids to build their foundation."
The West Side Tennis Club's bubble, 10 indoor Har-Tru courts that run from October through May, became Lucy's training ground. When her coach introduced a new forehand technique a few weeks back, she practiced it extensively indoors because she could focus entirely on her form without chasing balls blown sideways by wind.
Lucy, who now practices four to five times a week as a high-performance player, puts it simply: "I think I build my technique indoors more than outdoors. Because outdoors, if I have a private lesson on a windy day, the whole lesson I just feel like I'm chasing the ball."
Tennis fundamentals are built on repetition. Same position, same form, over and over. When you're trying to teach a young player proper technique, wind creates an obstacle that undermines every lesson.
Community Happens Year-Round
Young tennis players also make friends through the club's year-round junior programming. Lucy attends junior parties every month or two: an hour and a half of tennis followed by socializing in the lounge with arts and crafts. "There's people from all ages. Some younger people and then some people who are my age."
The bubble keeps everyone playing consistently throughout winter, building skills and community regardless of temperature.
Indoor Skills, Outdoor Performance
Moving from the bubble to The West Side's 38 outdoor courts across multiple surfaces requires some adjustment, but that's where Lucy gets to put her winter training to the test.
"It's like a really big change," Lucy admits. "From playing indoors in a noisy place to just playing where there's a bunch of stuff flying around in the sky and there's sun everywhere."
But Caroline doesn't see this as a drawback anymore. She sees it as preparation. "As a tennis player, in tournaments you have indoor tournaments and you have outdoor tournaments. So it helps to know how to play in different environments."
Lucy agrees. "In the summer outdoors, you can build more physical stuff and become stronger because there's the sun and weather fighting against you."
The club makes the seasonal shift manageable. Even as temperatures drop in late fall, outdoor courts stay available above 32 degrees, letting families choose based on weather and preference.
Advice for Parents Starting Out
When asked what she'd say to parents worried about starting tennis during winter months, Caroline doesn't hesitate.
"In the bubble, you can build your technique and fundamentals. I think it's good for kids, especially for young kids."
She points out something crucial that many parents miss: if the ball is constantly blown around by wind, young players spend more time running after it than actually hitting it. "If you cannot hit the ball, kids will not find the fun in this game. If they can hit the ball, kids will have more interest in this game."
Lucy offers her own advice to those considering winter tennis: "It's easier in the winter because there's no distraction with wind, so you can easily just hit the ball over and just work on your basics first."
Since discovering her passion for tennis, Lucy goes to the US Open every year. She's collected balls signed by professional players like Jannik Sinner and Elena Rybakina. She competes in tournaments. And Caroline plays regularly too, though she admits with a laugh that Lucy now beats both parents easily.
None of it would have happened if they'd waited for perfect weather. Sometimes the best time to start is right now, even when it's cold outside.
