3 Essential Skills That Tennis Can Teach Your Child
Dhwani Shah
September 25, 2024
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3 min read
“Tennis uses the language of life. Advantage, service, fault, break, love – the basic elements of tennis are those of everyday existence because every match is a life in miniature.” ~ Andre Agassi
Is your child feeling frustrated and crankier than usual? Is she spending most of her day glued to a screen? I am sure it's been difficult to keep your kids engaged at home when all they wish to do is play outdoors with their friends. With the pandemic restraining all outdoor play for kids, most parents are struggling to find ways to channel all the energy and enthusiasm that their little ones have bundled up within them. And with schools and institutions reopening, both parents and children are looking forward to signing their kids up for outdoor activities and classes, especially a sport. Tennis is a great option to not only get their little bodies moving but also offers numerous developmental benefits. Here are some basic skills that tennis imbues in your child:
Simply put, motor skills are those skills that allow us to perform movements. Children use motor skills to perform everyday tasks like crawling, grasping, walking, balancing, and running (do kids ever stop?). Our brain is most malleable in our younger years as it's open to more possibilities, so it is easier to develop and strengthen motor skills during childhood. However, limited physical activity during the pandemic may have impaired kids’ motor skills development. A recent study indicates that childhood motor performance is increased by participation in organized sport. So, you may want to consider tennis to help your kid refine his gross motor skills and fine motor skills.
Gross motor skills are those that involve the movement of the whole body and use larger muscles in our legs, arms and torso. These skills enable kids to perform everyday functions like standing, running, and climbing the stairs. Tennis enhances gross motor skills by conditioning your large muscle groups, through court movement and ball striking skills.
Fine motor skills involve the use of small muscle groups in our hands, wrists and fingers. They allow kids to perform finer activities like writing, holding a pencil, or building their favorite Lego tower. Tennis aids in fine motor skill development through touch shots like angled volleys and drop shots.
Hand eye coordination is the synchronized use of the hands and eyes to perform actions. The eyes understand and judge movement while the hands execute the task, like while performing basic activities like writing or driving. Almost every sport requires hand eye coordination—whether it’s aligning a shot in basketball, hitting a baseball with precision or maintaining balance in gymnastics. The various tennis techniques aid in cultivating strong hand eye coordination by judging the timing between the incoming ball and the accurate point of contact to return the shot.
The importance of social interaction in the emotional and social development of children cannot be undermined. You may have noticed how staying indoors and the lack of interaction with their peers have strongly affected kids’ confidence, creativity and social and emotional intelligence. Tennis allows them to play and interact face-to-face with other kids their age and form friendships. They learn how to communicate with others and grow and mature independently.
Moreover, tennis is a great way to teach them life lessons like planning strategies, thinking on their feet, taking responsibility for their actions, performing under pressure and accepting victories humbly and defeats virtuously.
Playing in teams teaches them the importance of teamwork and collaboration. These essential skills define character and are beneficial not only on court, but support personal, academic and professional growth off court as well.
We've all played a sport at some point in our lives. Engaging in a sport is a great way to socialize, enjoy and relax, and also offers innumerable physical benefits. Tennis helps improve flexibility, agility, speed, and balance. Being active also strengthens muscles, bone structure and density, as well as the cardiovascular system. Tennis keeps your child fit and healthy, which equips their immune system to combat diseases.
Moreover, tennis challenges the brain at every stage and trains it to be alert, critical and sharp.
It teaches kids to calculate their opponent’s next move and plan their own accordingly, thus improving their awareness and reflexes. And of course, getting some fresh air is a foolproof way of keeping the mind and body alive!
In addition to all these significant benefits, probably the most important reason to sign your kid up for tennis is that it's fun! And kids love everything fun.
Tennis is a lifelong sport, and starting at an early age will reap benefits that last a lifetime.
If you are a tennis academy or tennis coach dedicated to the holistic development of your learners, let Classcard help you ‘ace’ the game! Our intuitive and easy-to-use software allows you to schedule classes, manage bookings, track attendance and payments, communicate seamlessly with staff and students, and much more. Get ready to ‘game, set, match’ with Classcard!