Family Health Articles - Health
Game, Set, Match! A good game of tennis does wonders for kids’ self-esteem.
By Lambeth Hochwald
Of all the sports out there, tennis is one of the best for kids. Not only does a child learn to rely on herself during healthy one-on-one competition, she also develops confidence on and off the court.
“Tennis is different from other sports,” says Brian Lutz, owner of Tennis Tip, a New York City-based company that offers tennis lessons nationwide. “On a tennis court, you’re on an island, and you have to figure out a strategy on your own. It helps boost independence.”
Tennis provides a great introduction to hand-eye coordination, and it teaches kids to be quick on their feet. “You have to make decisions about what to do, respond to what your opponent does and then counter that,” says Jack L. Groppel, Ph.D., a master professional in the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA). “Tennis is the epitome of punching and counterpunching, combined with movement/balance skills.”
Many muscle groups benefit in the process. “Tennis uses the entire body,” Groppel continues. “You use the legs to run, the arms to prepare and swing the racquet, and the core [abs and back] to stabilize every action you perform. In fact, studies have shown that the core muscles contract up to 50 percent of their maximum potential on simple strokes like the volley, making tennis an excellent workout.”
The sport is also relatively inexpensive: if you live in a neighborhood that has tennis courts, the cost is basically negligible—all you need is a racquet and balls. For more structured programs, Groppel says, "A child can get involved in Little Tennis [see below], a local park district or the National Junior Tennis League."
To get the ball bouncing with your child, begin with the basics. Take her to a neighborhood tennis court and simply put a racquet in her hand. Get a light volley going and see if the game appeals to her. She’ll tell you if she likes it and wants to take lessons. If she has a good attention span, she can begin playing as young as age five, according to Lutz.
In the end, the biggest benefit of playing tennis comes in the form of social development. “Your child will learn to get along with other people and will get better at dealing with winning and losing,” Lutz says. “This element of self-improvement is key, especially for teens who don’t know where they fit in the world.” Groppel adds that tennis should be enjoyable: “Parents should get out on the court with their children and teach them about the fun of hitting the ball, running down a shot and hitting a return.”
In a sense, tennis simulates the real world, says Groppel. “Your child will learn how to deal with adversity, how to perform at her best, recover from mistakes and crises—then leave it all on the court once she’s done.”
Think your child is an Andre Agassi in the making?
If your child is interested in tennis—or you just want him or her to give it a try—visit the website for Little Tennis, a children’s program designed by the USPTA. Like Little League, this program connects kids to tennis teachers and its website includes links that show you how to find and join a team in your hometown. “Little Tennis is designed to help young children learn the fundamentals of the game and to have fun playing,” Groppel says. “Tennis pros develop and design tennis ‘ladders’ that enable children to learn to compete.” As your child improves, he or she can get involved in junior tournaments.
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