History:
A Timeline: Offense Defense Tennis Camp Beginnings to MB Sports Camps
Offense Defense Sports Camps was created in 1969 by the Meshken family. The camp was run out of Curry College. They ran a Tennis, Football and Golf Program up until 1995 when they sold the Tennis and Football Program to separate owners. Mehdi Belhassan had been involved with the camp since 1989 as a Head Pro for tennis, and he decided to purchase the Tennis Program when Mr. Meshken was ready to sell it. (Another family purchased the Football Program). It was at this time that the Offense Defense name took 2 different directions.
Mehdi Belhassan kept running the Tennis Program out of Curry College until 2001, when he decided to move it to Stonehill College. In 2004 he decided to expand the program to include other sports. As Mehdi was a professional tennis player, and an avid sports follower, he accumulated many contacts and close friends in the world of professional sports. He found many other former professional athletes who were interested in coaching under a program that already had such a great reputation, and so he started adding sports. Offense Defense Tennis Camp has grown to include 5 additional sports: Golf, Soccer, Softball, Lacrosse, and Volleyball. All Sports are now under the new name of Mehdi/Maria Belhassan Sports Camps or MB Sports Camps. All sports camps are run as 1 camp under Mehdi and Maria Belhassan ~ however they are directed by professionals, former professionals and high level coaches in each respective sport.
In 2006, Offense Defense Tennis Camp took on a new direction as we partnered up with Nike Sports Camps, title sponsor for the company US Sports Camps. In 2007, the other sports, MB SPORTS CAMPS became a part of the Nike/ US Sports Camps Family as well. We are very proud to be members of the Nike Sports Camp family as we believe that Nike is more than just a name... it is a whole way of thinking. Nike is a company who puts the athlete first, and whose dedication to the athlete is seen in the types of athletes that they sponsor: Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and many more amazing athletes. These athletes represent the company of Nike, and they represent it well. Not only are they the best athtletes in the world, but they are respectable, well mannered, and generous people. These are the values that we would like to instill in our young athletes as well. The mentatlity of US Sports Camps/Nike and MBSC work well together.
Keep in mind however, that we are different than many other Nike Camps... we still own our camps. So campers are getting the benefit of the big name of Nike in a camp that is still very much a "Mom and Pop" sports camp. As the owners, we are completely involved in every aspect of our camp, and you can tell that because the 1-800# still rings to Maria Belhassan's cell phone... even with close to 1,000 different families coming to camp every year!
We are also proud to say that many of the campers from 40 years ago are now sending their children to our camp.... MBSC has truley become a family tradition! We even have employees who work for us, who had been campers for 10 years prior to getting a job. These employees are some of our best, as they know how we like to run our camps more than anyone else!
If you are a passed camper and would like to be added to our MBSC/ Offense Defense Tennis Camp Alumni Mailing List, please CLICK HERE. We will keep you posted on MBSC happenings, and let you know when we try to have an Offense Defense Tennis/ MBSC Reunion!!
What about Football and Golf?
Offense Defense Football Camp was purchased by a separate family and is still in operation. It has also grown to an amazing level and they are running football camps out of several locations. We are in no way affiliated with them.
Offense Defense Golf Camp was sold only last year to new owners. They are still running the camp in the New England area. Our golf program is in no way affiliated with them.