EB Tennis Academy

EB Tennis Academy at a glance

EB Tennis Academy operates inside the Centre Multisports André‑Chagnon in Vaudreuil‑Dorion, a western suburb of Montreal known for its family-friendly neighborhoods and easy transit connections. Founded in 1992 by coach Étienne Bergeron, the academy has grown from local lessons to a selective junior pathway that reaches from first racquet to provincial and national calendars. It is intentionally small and focused. Families who visit notice two things quickly. First, development is clearly mapped. The staff publishes pillars and values, keeps coaching ratios tight through private and semi‑private work, and selects into its performance stream to protect training standards. Second, the academy leverages the infrastructure around it. Four indoor acrylic courts, a 200‑meter track, and multiple strength spaces live under one roof, so the training week remains consistent through the long Quebec winter.

The mission has stayed steady for more than three decades: build resilient, thoughtful competitors who can thrive on hard courts and handle the demands of tournament travel. EB Tennis is not a giant boarding academy. It is a precision program run by a veteran coach who knows the Quebec pathway from the inside and uses the resources of a multisport center to make daily practice efficient and repeatable.

Setting, climate, and why Vaudreuil‑Dorion works

Location shapes tennis. Vaudreuil‑Dorion sits close enough to Montreal for families to commute, but far enough west to feel manageable for school, sport, and work. The Centre Multisports site is a short walk from Vaudreuil train station and minutes from major highways. For older juniors juggling school and practices, that logistics picture matters more than most brochures admit.

Climate matters even more. Winters in Montérégie are cold and snowy, so indoor capacity is not a luxury, it is a requirement. The academy’s year‑round courts and indoor track protect repetitions during the months when outdoor courts disappear under snowbanks. In the summer, the academy can open its footprint to outdoor partners while keeping performance programming anchored at the center. That balance delivers variety in playing environments without sacrificing the continuity of coaching voice and training plan.

Facilities inside Centre Multisports André‑Chagnon

The facility is a meaningful differentiator because it brings so many performance elements into one building. A typical training day can move from court to track to gym without a car ride in between. That convenience keeps the quality of work high and reduces wasted time.

• Courts: Four indoor acrylic hard courts provide a professional-feeling bounce and a neutral, fair pace that rewards clean technique. Players train on the same surface profile they see at major Canadian events, which means practice transfers directly to competition.
• Strength and conditioning: Two on-site gyms and a 200‑meter indoor track make periodization real rather than theoretical. Juniors work acceleration and deceleration mechanics, linear and lateral agility, and strength phases that match tournament calendars. Recovery space and mobility areas are adjacent, so sessions transition quickly.
• Video and data habits: While EB Tennis is decidedly hands-on, staff use video review and simple tracking tools to make changes visible. Technical focuses are recorded, then revisited under fatigue or pressure to confirm that new patterns hold.
• Medical and wellness ecosystem: The building houses sport and health tenants, which streamlines referrals for physiotherapy, manual therapy, and general medical needs. These are not exclusive academy services, but the proximity reduces downtime when aches and pains appear.
• No boarding on site: EB Tennis does not operate dorms or formal academics. Families relocating for a season arrange housing and schooling independently. For many, that tradeoff lowers tuition and raises the amount of individualized coaching they can purchase.

Coaching staff and philosophy

Étienne Bergeron has been a fixture in Quebec tennis for more than thirty years. His resume includes high performance credentials, provincial team roles, and a long list of juniors guided through selection events and national trips. Through those responsibilities and private coaching, he has had coaching involvement with many of the province’s top players, including Félix Auger‑Aliassime, Alexis Galarneau, Françoise Abanda, Taha Baadi, and Nicaise Muamba at various points in their development. Parents should read that list not as name‑dropping, but as evidence that the head coach understands how a player moves from local tournaments to the national schedule.

The academy’s stated values are simple and competitive: Honor, Intensity, Tenacity. Day-to-day work is built on four pillars common to modern high performance tennis: mental, technical, tactical, and physical. What separates EB Tennis is how these pillars are planned across the year and reinforced inside small training environments. Technical changes are made in private or semi‑private settings, then stress-tested in targeted live ball. Tactical themes are layered onto that foundation through small‑sided drills and match play with clear objectives. Fitness work is periodized, not bolted on. Mental skills sessions are part of the operating system rather than a motivational talk twice a year.

Programs

The academy’s pathway is designed to meet players where they are and move them forward deliberately.

• Junior Performant Program, selection only: This is the competitive track for U8 through U18. Players are evaluated before entry to ensure training intensity and peer standards align. The curriculum blends on‑court blocks with physical preparation and regular mental skills sessions. Plans are tailored to competition goals and evolve with results. Weekly hour loads are personalized, with families scheduling an assessment to receive a proposal.
• Individualized junior lessons: Private and semi‑private sessions form the backbone for many players. Coaches focus on specific technical checkpoints, tactical patterns for hard courts, serve mechanics under fatigue, and transition skills. Recent published rates have been around CA$110 per 60‑minute junior private or CA$1,000 for a 10‑hour block. Semi‑privates for two to four players have been listed at CA$120 per 60 minutes, or CA$1,100 for a 10‑hour block, with fees split among participants. Confirm current pricing when you inquire, since facility schedules and rates can change.
• Recreational tennis for children: A winter pathway maps to Tennis Canada’s progressive ball system. Red, Orange, Green, and Yellow Ball groups typically run in nine‑week sessions at 85 minutes per week. Recent pricing has been about CA$425 per session. This track is a strong entry point for new players and a structured option for multi‑sport kids.
• Adult lessons: Although junior development is the core, the staff also coaches adults who want to sharpen skills or return to competition. Adult privates have been posted around CA$120 per hour, with block pricing available. Integrated sessions can give juniors useful live‑ball variety while testing their decision making against different styles.

Training and player development approach

EB Tennis is unapologetically hard‑court centric. The surface rewards clean footwork and first‑strike clarity, so training emphasizes the habits that decide hard‑court matches.

• Technical development: Sessions prioritize repeatable movement into contact and compact, stable shapes at impact. Basket work establishes the pattern, then live‑ball drills add decision making. Serve development is a constant, built under fatigue so that a player’s second hour looks like their first. Transition skills are trained with clear triggers, so players know when to change direction or move forward.
• Tactical growth: Small‑sided games isolate point construction. Players build serve plus one patterns, learn to change direction off the backhand with margin, and practice defending with depth rather than hope. The performance stream adds scouting basics and match plans around provincial events. Coaches hold players accountable for between‑point routines, momentum resets, and match pacing.
• Physical preparation: The presence of a track and gyms in the same building allows genuine periodization. Acceleration, deceleration, and multi‑directional speed are trained with careful progressions. Strength phases are aligned to tournament calendars, with mobility and prehab used to keep athletes on court. Younger athletes work through coordination, rhythm, and movement literacy before significant loading.
• Mental skills: Mindset is built like any other skill. Players learn attention control, routines they can execute at 3‑all, and confidence anchored to process rather than outcome. Mental skills sessions are scheduled, reinforced in practice, and referenced in match debriefs. The result is a shared language that parents will recognize over time.
• Education for families: Parents receive guidance on scheduling, rest, and healthy training loads. The academy is direct about the tradeoffs between large squads and individualized coaching, and it helps families allocate resources where they matter most.

Alumni and pathway perspective

EB Tennis does not market itself as a factory for touring pros. Its strength sits upstream in the development arc where selections, provincial circuits, and first national trips can shape a career. Coach Bergeron’s provincial team experience and contacts help families navigate these decisions with a steady hand. When a player is ready to test up an age group or spend travel dollars on a specific event, the guidance is rooted in decades of experience rather than guesswork.

The academy’s history includes touchpoints with many of Quebec’s best. That track record creates realistic expectations. For a committed U12 to U16, the goal is to build enduring skills, sturdy match habits, and a competitive identity that travels. From there, juniors can pursue CEGEP and university pathways, target national training weeks, or step toward pro experiences with a foundation that holds up.

Culture and community

The culture reflects the building’s DNA. Centre Multisports serves an entire region, and EB Tennis functions as a specialized program within that community. Families cross paths in the corridors by the track, in the gyms, and on the courts. The tone is competitive but not theatrical. Values are posted and enforced. Selection into the Performant stream protects practice intensity, while sessional and recreational options keep the door open for new players.

Community involvement is more than marketing. The academy has a history of partnering on outreach and using grants to widen access, which often translates into better entry points for beginners and a healthier training environment for young athletes. Juniors see a range of ages and levels sharing the same building, which normalizes effort and makes excellence feel accessible.

Costs and accessibility

Transparency is a priority. The facility posts court rental rates, and the academy lists sessional fees when registration opens. As of recent listings, junior private lessons are around CA$110 per hour, with block pricing at about CA$1,000 for 10 hours. Semi‑privates run near CA$120 per hour or CA$1,100 for a block. Recreational winter sessions have been listed around CA$425 for nine weeks at 85 minutes per week. Always confirm current pricing and schedules when you apply.

There is no on‑site boarding or formal academics. For out‑of‑region families, that tends to lower tuition but shifts costs to housing and transport. The location near Vaudreuil station is a practical advantage for older juniors balancing school and training blocks. Families who prefer tight supervision and a campus lifestyle may want to compare boarding models. Those who value individualized attention and community integration will find EB’s setup appealing.

Scholarships and financial aid are limited and typically tied to community programming or specific sessions. The staff is happy to discuss needs and help families map an efficient plan that combines private work, small groups, and targeted tournament blocks.

What makes EB Tennis different

• A veteran head coach with deep provincial team experience: The program benefits from a leader who has guided juniors through Quebec selections, national events, and early professional steps.
• Selective training that protects intensity: Entry into the performance stream is evaluative, which keeps peer standards aligned and makes every rep count.
• Year‑round indoor capacity in one location: Four acrylic courts, an indoor track, and on‑site strength spaces create an ideal environment for periodized development.
• Mindset built into the week: Mental skills are treated as a core pillar, not a seasonal add‑on, and are reinforced in practice plans and match debriefs.
• Community footprint: Operating inside a regional hub expands access points and keeps the program connected to families across levels.

How it compares and complements

Quebec and Ontario families often weigh EB Tennis against larger brands or national centers. For context, the Tennis Canada National Centre offers a centralized high performance environment for a select cohort. EB Tennis complements that landscape by preparing juniors with strong habits and clear routines who can step into national training weeks ready to contribute.

Families looking for a broader school-based structure sometimes explore the National Tennis School Ottawa, which integrates academics in the nation’s capital. Others interested in a big-city private model compare Toronto programs like ACE Academy Toronto Tennis City. EB Tennis is different by design. It is small, selective, and rooted in one building that keeps training dense and efficient. For the right athlete, that focus is a competitive advantage.

Future outlook and vision

The center continues to invest in community sport and fitness, which benefits the academy through stable court supply and improved shared resources. EB Tennis has refined the Performant stream over recent seasons, with more structured mental skills integration and better individual planning for athletes balancing school, multi‑sport commitments, and travel. Expect the academy to continue prioritizing small environments, measurable progress, and tight coordination between technical, tactical, physical, and mental pillars.

On the horizon, the staff plans to grow collaborations with local clubs for summer blocks, expand parent education around scheduling and recovery, and deepen pathways that connect successful U16 athletes to university coaches. The vision is patient and practical. Build complete competitors who can thrive at the next level, whatever that next level looks like for the individual athlete.

Is it for you

Choose EB Tennis if you want a serious, hard‑court based junior pathway led by a coach who has lived the Quebec system from the inside. It suits families who prefer individualized attention over large squads, who value integrated mental and physical preparation, and who can handle their own housing and school arrangements. If your goals include building a robust foundation through U12 to U16, competing in provincial and early national events, and doing it in a facility that keeps your training consistent year‑round, this academy belongs on your shortlist.

If you are still mapping the landscape, visit the center, watch a session, and speak with the staff about an assessment. Ask how technical changes will be tracked, how match habits will be evaluated, and how the calendar will be built around your school and family commitments. Then compare that plan with your options elsewhere. Many families arrive at the same conclusion. For a driven junior who thrives in small, high‑accountability environments, EB Tennis offers clarity, continuity, and the day‑to‑day habits that make progress inevitable.