Adamson's Tennis Academy

A family academy rooted in Kanata

If you spend any time around tennis courts in Ottawa’s west end, you will hear the Adamson name. Adamson’s Tennis Academy is led by United States Professional Tennis Association coach Jonathan Adamson, a former Division I player who has been a fixture in the local scene for nearly three decades. The origin story is refreshingly simple. Jonathan began teaching in Ottawa almost 30 years ago and, together with his family, shaped a program that serves beginners, avid club players, and ambitious teens. Today the academy runs as a true family operation. Erin Adamson manages junior programs and aligns age-appropriate progressions. Longtime academy alum Cole MacPhee works courtside as a pro, and the Adamson sons, Will and Josh, assist after their own standout junior results. The tone is welcoming, the standards are clear, and the message is consistent: learn proper fundamentals, practice with purpose, compete with respect, and let tennis become part of your daily life.

Why the setting matters

Kanata sits on the west side of Ottawa, a suburb known for strong schools, a deep youth sports culture, and easy access to parks. Tennis here is seasonal outdoors, then moves indoors when the cold arrives, which means families must plan with the calendar. In summer, Adamson’s Tennis Academy operates at March Tennis Club, an eight-court outdoor facility with evening lights, a refurbished clubhouse, and plenty of parking. Extended hours and lighting let juniors and working adults train after school or work, which is especially valuable during busy spring and fall terms. When winter hits, the academy pivots into the city’s indoor infrastructure, with Jonathan teaching at the Carleton University Tennis Centre. The result is continuity regardless of temperature or snowfall. That rhythm is central to how families in Ottawa make tennis work year-round, and Adamson’s has refined it into a predictable annual cycle.

Facilities you actually use

At March Tennis Club, players train on eight lighted outdoor courts resurfaced in 2020 and 2021, with LED lighting upgrades completed in 2024. The clubhouse was refreshed in 2021 and 2022, and the grounds include a deck, shaded seating on many courts, scoring tubes, quality windscreens, and a convenient tuck shop with snacks. Parking sits steps from the courts, making quick drop-offs for lessons and camps easy. A member calendar of socials, round robins, and championships keeps the courts busy and the community connected. For families new to the area, this is where friendships form and match play gets scheduled.

From late fall through early spring, the academy uses Carleton University’s indoor facility for lessons. The Carleton Tennis Centre operates long hours during the academic year and offers pay-as-you-play bookings, which gives families flexibility around school and other sports. While Adamson’s is not a brick-and-mortar boarding academy, this arrangement ensures consistent court access and familiar coaching through Ottawa winters. The continuity is practical. Players encounter the same coaching voice in July on outdoor hard courts and in January under a roof, so progress does not stall when the weather turns.

Adamson’s also provides racquet services, including stringing, regripping, and customization, so juniors can keep gear in good working order without trekking across the city. It is a small touch that saves time during tournament season and reduces the number of variables athletes need to juggle.

The coaching team and how they teach

Jonathan Adamson brings playing and coaching credibility, plus a calm, instructive court presence. He competed for Virginia Commonwealth University and Radford University before coaching full time, and his professional credentialing reflects a commitment to ongoing standards. The coaching bench includes academy alum and Registered Nurse Cole MacPhee, who started with Adamson’s as a high schooler and returned full time after earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Junior instructors who came up through the program round out the team and maintain a consistent language from red ball to teenage match play. Erin Adamson, a University of Toronto Human Kinetics graduate and former track and field athlete, manages junior programming and aligns progressions across the week so that classes build on one another.

On court, the philosophy is explicit. Classes focus on technical foundations, tactical choices, fitness appropriate to age, and mental habits such as routines between points and sportsmanship in matches. The academy emphasizes small groups and a low coach-to-player ratio to ensure feedback is specific and timely. For example, after-school classes for ages 7 to 12 run at a 6 to 1 ratio with an eight-week progression that builds from clean contact to basic point patterns. That structure helps beginners avoid compensations and helps intermediates convert practice swings into winning habits.

Key coaching principles you will see in action:

• Keep technique simple. Compact takebacks, clear contact windows, and reliable balance on the split step are reinforced before power or spin are layered in.
• Teach tactics early. Even new players learn basic patterns such as serve plus one, crosscourt consistency to open space, and simple doubles poaching cues.
• Blend fitness into the hour. Age-appropriate footwork ladders, medicine ball work, and short endurance blocks show up in every class rather than in separate sessions.
• Build mental habits. Between-point routines, breathing cues, and pragmatic goal-setting turn nerves into a process players can manage.

Programs you can plug into

The academy’s programs are tuned for school calendars and busy family schedules. As of the 2025 season, the core offerings look like this:

• After School Tennis Classes for ages 7 to 12 run in spring and fall, one 90-minute class per week over eight weeks. Instruction covers forehands, backhands, volleys, serves, rallies, and beginning point play. The posted cost is 480 Canadian dollars per session with a 50 dollar deposit. Families appreciate the predictability and the single weekday commitment.

• Saturday Weekend Tennis Classes provide one-hour blocks across age bands from 6 to 14. Spring, fall, and winter sessions run eight Saturdays, with two shorter summer blocks. The content is concise and age-tuned, with fundamentals for 6 and 7 year olds and more serve and point play for 8 to 9 and 10 to 14 year olds.

• 13 plus High School Training meets once weekly for 90 minutes across eight weeks in spring, summer, and fall. Sessions blend drilling, fitness, and match play, with eight spots per session to keep feedback focused. The cost is 480 Canadian dollars, and minimal experience is required. For students who picked up tennis late, this program creates a supportive on-ramp to competitive school play.

• Summer Camps come in two formats. Half Day Tennis Camps run by age group for two hours a day, four or five days, with a curriculum built around stroke development and rallies. As of 2025, weeks are priced at 200 Canadian dollars for four days and 250 for five days. All Day Tennis and Sports Camps add multisport time for a full-day experience. Camps have been a Kanata summer fixture for more than 25 years, and staff continuity year to year is part of the appeal.

• Private Junior Lessons and Private Adult Lessons are available with Jonathan Adamson and Cole MacPhee, generally May to October, with daytime and some evening or weekend slots. As of 2025, private lessons are posted at 80 Canadian dollars and semi-privates at 120. For targeted technique changes, this is the quickest way to rebuild a serve, change a grip, or tune footwork patterns.

• Adult Clinics and Cardio Tennis round out the ecosystem. Monday night clinics run in four-week blocks with separate beginner and intermediate levels, following Tennis Canada’s self-rating guidance. The series sits at 260 Canadian dollars. Cardio Tennis runs fast-paced one-hour sessions for players at a 2.5 instructional rating or higher, with per-class sign-ups at 25 Canadian dollars. The mix keeps adult players engaged, which benefits leagues and gives juniors role models on adjacent courts.

• School and community outreach under the banner Gym Jam Tennis brings tennis into physical education classes and supports local high school teams. This has served Ottawa schools for over 15 years, providing a steady pipeline of new players who want more after their first exposure.

Program specifics, especially pricing and schedules, can shift with court availability and season. Families should confirm current dates and rates at registration time.

How players are developed

The developmental approach is equal parts structure and tone. Beginners follow a predictable sequence: contact height and spacing, compact takebacks, balance on the split step, and a service motion built on consistent toss placement rather than forced power. Intermediates move toward pattern play. Coaches introduce first-strike choices on serve and return, point construction that matches a player’s physical strengths, and doubles basics such as poaching timing, signals, and communication. Live-ball escalation is used early so that players learn to compete rather than only drill.

Physical development is layered in without overwhelming the session. For juniors, that means footwork patterns with cones and ladders, short intervals to build aerobic base, and light medicine ball work for coordination rather than heavy strength. Older teens add mobility work, basic strength circuits, and recovery habits like dynamic warmups and simple cool-down routines. The message is that fitness supports tennis rather than competing with it for time.

Mental preparation is built in small pieces. Players learn between-point routines, a consistent serve ritual, and how to reset after errors. Coaches encourage goal-setting that focuses on controllable actions such as first-serve percentage, feet set before contact, or crosscourt targets to open space. These habits make tournament days more predictable and transfer directly into school matches and club ladders.

Because groups are small, coaches can adjust for late bloomers and growth spurts. Teens in the high school program get more live-ball time, more contested points, and match play that teaches scoreboard skills such as momentum stops and closing sets. Parents who want an extra push can use private lessons to troubleshoot a specific skill or extend match exposure by pairing camps with weekend classes. It is not a volume-at-any-cost model. It is sensible, repeatable, and tuned for a community that balances school, other sports, and family time.

Alumni and success stories

The most visible examples come from inside the family. Josh Adamson, a finalist at the 2023 Under 14 World Juniors while representing Canada and the 2023 Canadian outdoor Under 14 national singles champion, added a 2024 Under 16 national doubles title. Will Adamson was a 2023 outdoor Under 16 national quarterfinalist and a decorated high school player. Their results signal both a competitive pathway and a culture that still values school tennis and local roots. They also underscore the benefit of consistent coaching over many years. Beyond the family, the academy’s alumni list includes club champions, university club players, and adults who discovered the game through a Monday night clinic and now anchor local league teams. Success is defined broadly but with standards intact.

Culture and community

Adamson’s feels like an anchor of its home club each summer. Parents know the coaches by name, younger siblings hang around the deck and hit on empty courts, and returning alumni often volunteer or jump in to rally during camps. The coaching voice stays consistent from red ball through teenage match play, which creates a shared language. Small groups keep sessions social without losing focus, and the schedule respects school and family commitments. This culture is an underappreciated asset. It produces players who show up on time, help with ball carts, and understand how to carry themselves on court.

The academy also fits neatly into the wider tennis ecosystem. Families who want a day-academy experience with strong fundamentals can make Adamson’s their home base. Players with national ambitions can layer in regional training blocks or travel weeks without abandoning the local structure. For context on different models, compare this family-run approach with the larger high-performance environments at the Oakville Academy of Tennis profile or the boarding-style focus you would find at the Niagara Academy of Tennis overview. Ambitious juniors in Canada may also aim to intersect with the Tennis Canada National Centre Montreal as results build. Adamson’s provides a solid runway to those opportunities while keeping players grounded in their community.

Costs and accessibility

Pricing is published and straightforward. As of the 2025 season, eight-week junior blocks run at 480 Canadian dollars for after-school and high school sessions. Saturday blocks are 320 Canadian dollars in spring and fall, with summer mini-sessions at 170 Canadian dollars each or 300 for both. Half-day camp weeks are 200 or 250 Canadian dollars depending on the number of days. Adult clinics are 260 Canadian dollars for four weeks, Cardio Tennis is 25 Canadian dollars per class, and private lessons start at 80 Canadian dollars. A 50 dollar non-refundable deposit is standard on junior blocks, with balances due on or before the first class. Rain cancellations are communicated by email and rescheduled where possible. Scholarships are not advertised. If financial aid would make a difference, families should ask directly. The academy’s leadership has a long track record with local schools and understands that flexibility can keep promising players on court.

What sets it apart

• A real community base. Eight outdoor courts and a refurbished clubhouse create a lively, practical training environment each summer. Players get used to busy club traffic, which mirrors real match conditions.
• Family-run continuity. The same coaching voice guides players from red ball to high school competition, with alumni returning to coach and mentor.
• Small groups and clear progressions. The posted 6 to 1 ratio for younger after-school classes is a reliable indicator of how the academy protects coaching quality.
• Year-round plan that fits Ottawa. Outdoor seasons at March Tennis Club feed into winter sessions at Carleton University, so momentum is not lost when temperatures drop.
• Practical services. On-site stringing and customization reduce friction for busy families and keep equipment current during competition weeks.

What it is not

Adamson’s is not a residential academy or a full-time professional track with on-site sport science and boarding. It is a day academy built around school calendars and community club life. For juniors targeting national or international travel blocks and daily two-a-days year-round, Adamson’s works best as a strong local foundation before or alongside regional centers and national training opportunities. The academy has relationships in the community to help families map that next step when the time comes.

Future outlook and vision

Adamson’s has leaned into offerings that match the local landscape: eight-week blocks during the school year, compact weekend classes, and an expanded 13 plus high school track that keeps late starters engaged. Expect continued investment in entry points, in-school outreach, and steady coaching consistency. The club facility has already seen LED lighting upgrades and recent resurfacing, which suggests the physical environment will keep improving on the margins families actually notice. Indoors, the Carleton partnership provides a stable winter platform. The vision is not a dramatic reinvention. It is a commitment to the details that produce confident players who love the game and know how to train.

Is it for you

Choose Adamson’s Tennis Academy if you want a family-run program with clear progressions, small groups, and realistic scheduling. It is a strong match for beginners and intermediates who need good habits and plenty of ball striking, teens who want structure and match play without giving up other activities, and adults looking for a reliable clinic night or a high-energy Cardio Tennis hour. It does not offer boarding or a heavy travel calendar. What it does offer is quality coaching in a community setting where kids and parents know the pros by name and improvement shows up week to week on familiar courts.

Bottom line

Adamson’s Tennis Academy delivers exactly what many Ottawa families need from a local tennis program. It anchors the summer at a lively community club, transitions seamlessly indoors for winter, and maintains a consistent coaching voice across age groups. The programs are practical, the standards are clear, and the results range from first forehands to national medals. In a landscape where some academies promise everything and deliver confusion, Adamson’s focuses on what it can control and does it well. For players who want to build real skills without losing the joy of the game, this is a smart place to start and a reliable place to stay as ambitions grow.