Many kids learn and are exposed to a variety of sports at young ages. From soccer to basketball to football to hockey, as well as a number of other athletic activities, boys and girls are taught a number of different skills as they develop. Tennis gets significantly less “air time” on TV and via the internet, and it is a global sport: champions are often from a variety of different countries and there is nothing about the sport that is purely “American” per se. Because of these factors and others, tennis hasn’t reached the popularity level of the major sports (yet).
Yet, at this particular moment in time, organized sports and leagues are somewhat stuck between being in flux and entering a new type of normal. For kids in particular, it has been especially difficult to fill the void of lost practices, missed games and the health benefits (physical, mental and social) that go along with them.
Enter tennis.
Not only have numerous health studies, medical experts and doctors rated tennis as the safest sport to play right now, there are very clear reasons why kids should play tennis even if it hasn’t been their first choice.
- No “Bench” and No Sitting Out
- Tennis is active. Everyone plays. If you arrive at a tennis court or a facility, it means you’re playing. Coaches coach kids of all levels. In lessons, kids are grouped together based on level and/or age so there is an automatic comfort level. No child should feel out of place or like they don’t “belong” on a tennis court.
- Physical stature means relatively little
- In basketball, a player’s height matters. In football, a player’s strength or mobility matters. In soccer, a player’s flexibility and agility matter. In tennis, all of those physical qualities do matter; but because the sport is such a mental endeavor, no one physical trait stands out demonstrably. If you look at some of the best tennis players to ever play, you see a list of men and women of above average height, average height and below average height. Some players are faster than others. Some players are stronger, and so on. There is not one qualifying or disqualifying thing in tennis.
- Develops positive emotional traits
- Motivation, confidence, independence, focus and work ethic to name a few. Tennis helps the “self-starter” aspect of a kid’s development. To get better in tennis, one must practice. To practice, one must want to practice and make time for it. Because of the independent nature of the sport, the confidence that comes through learning tennis is enormous. Kids really do feel like they are accomplishing something themselves – even if the sport, at times, seems difficult.
- Cross-Training
- Kids who play and compete in other sports – virtually any other sport – can use tennis as a way to cross-train. Tennis provides tremendous physical benefits such as flexibility, speed, agility, balance, eye-hand coordination, core strength, and endurance to name a few.
- Surprise! It actually is a great team sport too
- Most elite-level tennis players and competitors have their fondest memories on teams in college, high school, clubs or leagues. Doubles tennis is also very much considered a “team sport” – just ask the Bryan brothers. As kids progress in school, opportunities to play tennis as part of a team provide lots of fun. Lifetime friendships are often made from playing this individual sport in a team setting. Even tennis professionals will tell you that to be great, you need to have a team anyway: coaches, trainers, nutritionists, friends and family.
Credit to this article goes to Mike @tennis CT in Brewster, New York.
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