It is a fact that the tennis sport is a long time project and cannot be practiced by yourself. A teacher/coach has to be present all the time, otherwise no development is possible and short cuts do not work. This means that people around your child’s tennis must be paid.
The early stage of the game is simple as it can be learned in small groups of three to four children. But as soon as a decision is made to be more serious about it, parents should be aware that an additional investment is needed.
I would advise to make small steps until your child shows more interest than just to like playing tennis. As junior competitions begin at an early age, you have to start planning during these years 10-12. At first look at the opportunities you have and evaluate which situation is the best for you. Do not sign long term arrangements as you don’t know if you made the right choice. By finding a second student at your child’s age, the cost for the tennis program can be kept down. I don’t advise single lessons as they are much to expensive and don’t bring the results you expect. Don’t forget that years, many years are needed to develop a player. I would stay away from single lessons until the single lesson is used to address small details which need very personal attention.
Here is a way to make a plan: Go to junior tennis tournaments close to where you live. Look for another child and parents with the same desire and see if lessons can be arranged together, or talk to a teacher of your choice if he has a student who harmonizes with your child’s tennis. I did not mention academies, because their teaching method cannot be influenced by you and it is very difficult to make a personal plan for your child as they have to give consideration and equal treatment to all of their students. There are some teachers who work with small groups which are better for concentrating on single players’ needs. For establishing a plan don’t forget to address the daily time schedule necessary to develop a player. If you are still not 100% convinced, three hours a day is not a bad start. But if you want to give your child a real chance, home schooling is a must to allow your tennis plan all the time it needs. Don’t be negative about home schooling, there are home schooling programs which are very good and demanding. I had students who went to an Ivy League College with a home schooling degree, but decided after one year to give tennis a better chance and became professional tennis players. It all depends how serious parents are about the activities of their children.
All this is not easy on parents but it can be done. Most professional players would have never made it without an enormous help from their families.
I mentioned earlier the “opportunity factor” which cannot be disregarded, as it is the foundation of the development of a tennis player. Florida residents have a small advantage with the weather, and there are many tennis schools, academies and tennis teachers active on many tennis courts. Looks like the best opportunity to give your child a chance. Yes and No! Consider how difficult it is to become a professional player and how much knowledge the teacher needs to be able to give your child the quality you want and need. Be choosy, discuss with the intended teacher the plan, the cost and who will be responsible for the program. If this is settled and you feel satisfied, you need a calculator to give yourself an idea of the financial investment you will face not just for 1 year but for the next 4 to 5 years.
An after school program for the first 1 or 2 years ( 2,5 hours a day, max. 3 children) will be in the range of $ 14,000.- a year. A full day program again in a small group will come close to $ 30,000.- for the full 12 months. Don’t be impressed by the schedule academies use for a normal school year which is around 10 months. In tennis you do not have the luxury of a 2 months vacation. The 10,000 hours needed to reach the top is not a joke or exaggeration. It is a proven fact that there are no short cuts. In my many years in the pro and teaching world I never experienced a short cut. The tennis sport requires dedication and willingness to work very hard and a certain amount of money to make it possible.
Does this sound negative? I hope not! It is the reality which we have to accept.
I mention the chance of finding a sponsor. The assumption exists, that if you show “something” on the tennis court, a sponsor could be found easily. Again reality is different. To convince a sponsor to support a young tennis player, the player has to show a very promising quality which has to be above expectation. The day you have reached your goal, agents and sponsors will knock on your door. Be satisfied if the USTA will help you cover some of your travel expenses. There is a very positive side in the effort to reach the goal as many exciting moments occur. Traveling in different countries (added expenses) is a wonderful experience for young people. Meeting new people all the time can be interesting and adds understanding for many different ways of life. After all, tennis playing can be an excellent profession with which you can make quite a bit of money if you become successful. Should this be disregarded? Maybe at the beginning of your planning, but not totally. By the time you decide to embrace the challenge, the cost will become a factor which will need some consideration but should not stop you if it is in your means. Tennis is one of the few sports where an early stage investment must be considered. As by all investments knowledge and supervision is necessary, tennis is governed by the same rules. Good luck!
[tags]top tennis players, tennis programs, tennis expenses, commitment, coaching[/tags]
