NATCHEZ — The National Junior Tennis & Learning camp wasn’t what Henry Harris was expecting, but it was just what he needed.

The Duncan Park tennis director and nine local youth tennis players ventured to Dallas this past weekend to take part in the camp. Harris said he was expecting his athletes to compete, but the camp was structured more toward training.

“The coaches clinic opened my eyes,” Harris said. “It showed me some stuff I was doing repeatedly that I needed to change.”

The athletes also got to see a different type of training than they’re accustomed to at Duncan Park. Harris said very little hitting went on.

Workouts were geared more toward footwork, and included an intense drill that required participants to run the 20-yard dash three times.

“The kids got to see what real tennis players go through daily,” Harris said. “It opened their eyes and showed them that, if you want to be good, this is what it takes.”

Dwain Perkins, who traveled to the camp, said it was a type of training he wasn’t expecting.

“I thought we’d do more hitting than fitness,” Perkins said. “Everything was quick. The heat really had more of an effect on (my tiredness) than the actual drills, though.”

Despite it not being what he expected, Perkins said the drills help him with tennis.

“It helps with your movement on the court back and forth — the same stuff you’d do in a match,” Perkins said. “We also had a football throwing drill to test your arm strength, because it’s the same as a service motion.”

With the camp over, Harris said he’s going to have to adjust how he runs his practices after learning a few new things about the importance of footwork.

“All of my practices are mostly hitting, but they start with footwork before they even hit a ball,” Harris said. “I can understand now why the advanced kids’ footwork is so good. I’m going to have to start putting more emphasis on footwork.”