Whether you’re just looking for something fun to do or want to become the next top player, starting to play tennis as soon as possible is almost always a good idea. It’s one of the most accessible sports that anyone can start playing with almost no special equipment or training necessary. However, this also means that there are many ways to play and many different age groups that should start playing as well. In this article, tennis player Marshall Hubsher will take a look at what the best age groups to start playing tennis are, as well as some of the challenges that come with trying to get your child interested in a new sport early on.
The Benefits of Tennis for Children
There may be other sports out there that are more physically challenging to get started at a younger age, but almost no other sport has the same benefits for children as tennis does. Kids who start playing tennis at a young age have an almost endless number of activities they can participate in. For example, children can practice serves and rallies with friends and family, work on their fitness with tennis exercise programs, or even get schooling on the fine art of tennis by taking lessons. What other sports have this level of flexibility?
Is 4 to 6 too Early to Start Playing Tennis?
Generally, the earlier you start playing tennis, the better your chances of becoming a better player. However, if you start too early, you could end up with too many injuries. This is a very common concern for parents, and it’s also one of the first things you should ask your doctor before starting. The challenge with trying to pick an age to start playing tennis is that it’s not a sport that’s consistently challenging to get better at. You may not feel like you’re making any progress when you’re just starting out, but the sport is actually very consistent and will always challenge you in the same way. There is a general guideline that suggests that children should be at least 9 years old before starting to play, but this is only a guideline as there are many factors that will influence when you should start including your child’s age and their ability to get started, explains retired psychiatrist Dr Marshall Hubsher.
The 3 main groups of players for tennis
– Novice players: This is the group of players that you’ll be most similar to if you start playing tennis early. Novice players will be mostly beginners in tennis and will generally have a limited number of tennis skills that they’ve been able to learn. The advantage of being in this group is that you’re starting at a level that almost anyone can get to and can also benefit from beginner tennis programs aimed at Novice players.
– Intermediate players: These are the players that you’ll be most similar to if you start playing tennis as an older child or even as a teenager. Once you get into this group, you’ll start to see the benefits of consistent tennis training, as well as learn a few more advanced techniques.
– Advanced players: This is the group of players that you’ll be most similar to if you start playing tennis really young. They’ll be the best players in the world and will have an almost inhuman amount of skills that they’ve been able to learn.
The most common challenges for beginning players
– Lack of motivation: This is one of the biggest challenges that most beginning players will face. They’ll be very motivated to play and be very excited to learn a new sport, but they’ll also be the least experienced and have the least skills.
– Lack of physical ability: Even if you have the motivation and are very excited to play tennis, you have to have the physical ability to do it. Tennis is an extremely athletic sport that requires a high level of fitness and mobility.
– Lack of coaching: This will always be an issue, but it will be even more of an issue if you start as a young beginner. While a good coach can help almost anyone improve, it’s going to be even more valuable for beginners, adds Marshall Hubsher, member of the 65+ Mixed league.
What age is too late to start playing tennis?
If you’ve already started playing tennis, you may be wondering what age is too late. In this case, there’s not really a specific age that you should stop, but there is a general guideline that suggests that you should stop playing when you’re out of high school. This is because tennis is a very competitive sport, and there’s only room for a few people to be the best at it. When you start playing younger, you may have more motivation and be in a better physical condition, but you also have less experience and skills and are more likely to get hurt. As such, it can be difficult to tell if you’re making progress if you’re younger. When you start playing later, you’ll be heading into a sport that’s more competitive, have more experience and skills, and will be less likely to get injured.
Conclusion
The question of when to start playing tennis is a very personal one and is only really going to be answered by your child. However, there are some general guidelines that can help to get you started. Like any other sport, the best way to get started is to find a friend to practice with, join a tennis club, or simply find a tennis court nearby that you can practice on. Even if you can only find a few minutes to play once a day, it will help you to build the muscles needed for tennis and will also be very motivating for you. Once you’ve gotten the basics under your belt, you can head to your local tennis academy and learn the more advanced techniques required for the highest levels of the sport. With a little dedication and motivation, you can easily beat these age recommendations for starting to play tennis.