Sat, 26 May 2012 11:03:09 -0800WeeblyThu, 17 May 2012 13:03:08 -0800http://www.euroschooloftennis.com/1/post/2012/05/tennis-safety-tips-for-your-child.htmlTennis is a phenomenal sport for everyone, and it’s never too early to start learning more about this amazing game. As with any sport, though, there are many potential dangers involved, and educating your child about those possible dangers is a great way to help protect them during every practice, match, or quick pick-up game.

The Right Gear

Any good game starts with the right gear, and while your little tennis star may think this one is a no-brainer, it really takes a bit of thought from both of you. Start by thinking about what your son or daughter is wearing before you ever get to the court. Shoes designed for tennis are an absolute must. They can help to support the heel and ensure he or she doesn’t slide when on the court. If the court surface they play on routinely is made from asphalt or concrete, adding heel inserts to minimize back stress could be a good idea.

Shoes, though, aren’t your only foot-related concern. Socks are important, too. Be sure to choose socks that aren’t cotton-based. They’ll absorb moisture and wick it away from the foot more effectively. They can also help to prevent blisters. If blisters or foot pain becomes a problem, you may want to look into padded tennis socks.

The racquet is just as important of a concern. Selecting one that is too heavy or too light could easily cause an injury to the shoulder or elbow. Both the grip size and the right amount of tension in the strings play a role here, too. You may want to chat with your little one’s coach or a pro shop to ensure you get a racquet that is the perfect size and shape for his or her tennis level. Make certain, though, that you take the budding tennis star with you during the purchase process.

A Good Warm-Up

There’s just no substitute for a solid warm-up before your child hits the court. Make sure you arrive early for practice or a match so they can spend five to ten minutes in a warm-up session. In some cases, the coach will help the children warm-up. If not, though, make certain your little one does several minutes of stretching, followed by a few minutes of jogging in place, or some jumping jacks. During the stretching session, they should carefully stretch their arms, wrists, shoulders, and legs, ensuring that each stretch is held for a period of at least 30 seconds.

Avoid Playing Hazards

In some cases, your child won’t actually encounter any problems until they’re actually on the court. Loose balls on the court could potentially cause d a trip and fall accident. Make certain there aren’t any issues that could cause him or her to trip and fall at some point during the match. In the event there is a problem, find a way to solve it or at least make everyone involved aware of it.

The Weather

Teaching your child how to stay safe on the court, though, doesn’t just involve going over tips that help them keep their bodies safe during this physically demanding game. Other outside forces could be at play as well. Tennis is often primarily an outdoor game, and the weather can be a huge factor. Make sure your little one knows not to play in adverse weather conditions of all types. If it’s extremely hot, for example, a fast-paced game like tennis could easily lead to heat stroke. In the extreme cold, muscles tend to be stiffer, and that makes them far more susceptible to problems like tearing and spraining. If it gets too windy, tendonitis can be a problem thanks to the racquets. Thunderstorms present an obvious lightning risk, and even just rain can make the court wet and slippery. Let your child know that tennis is a game best played in good weather.

An Ounce of Prevention

Make certain that your little tennis enthusiast has a bottle of water or a sports drink on hand for breaks in between play. This will help to keep him or her hydrated. If it’s particularly warm, make certain there’s a shady spot to rest between games and sets, and ensure the racquet handle is dry to help avoid blisters. You may also want to train your child to stop playing right away if they feel any sign of pain or discomfort. From torn rotator cuffs to Achilles tendon ruptures, tennis injuries can be quite serious, and playing through the pain is only likely to make the situation worse. Having a first aid kit on-hand to tackle small scrapes or other injuries is also a good idea.

Your child could easily be serving for one of the great championship matches someday, but only if you teach him or her a few safety measures now.

]]>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:54:21 -0800http://www.euroschooloftennis.com/1/post/2012/01/tennis-as-the-most-beneficial-sport-for-your-child.html  As one of the oldest of all racquet sports and an Olympic event since the late 1800s, tennis is a popular sport that is recognized with a certain degree of prestige throughout the world.  Since the beginning of the century with the year 2000, it has become the fastest growing sport with a pace that far exceeds any other popular sport.

  As a sport that is easy to learn coupled with its many benefits to the human body, tennis is often highly recommended as the perfect sport for a child with over 36% of tennis participants being children from the ages of 6 to 17.  Once learned, it is a fun and active sport that keeps the child interested and may even develop into a lifetime adventure of excitement and relaxation.

Health Benefits of Tennis for Children

  Due to the aerobic nature of running and rapidly swinging the racket in a good game of tennis, it provides an excellent cardiovascular workout for your child and strengthens most of the muscles in their body.  There is a consensus among healthcare professionals that playing tennis regularly is good for both physical and mental health.  Because of this they encourage everyone to play tennis as long as they are in proper health that enables them to do so.  For example, the Cleveland Clinic reports:

  In fact, playing tennis on a regular basis produces physical, physiologic and psychologic benefits. These benefits include increased burning of calories, reduction in blood pressure and reduced stress. All of these benefits play a role in reducing a person’s risk of developing heart disease, the number-one killing disease among men and women. 

Tennis can also be crucial in developing excellent eye-hand coordination, responsive reflexes, mobility and flexibility, balance and coordination, and speed and agility It is a form of exercise that will keep your child in great shape through his or her young years and beyond into adulthood if he or she continues to play the game.  Studies indicate that playing tennis can even help your child live a longer, healthier and happier life. 

Introducing your child to tennis can also be instrumental in helping them adjust to a pattern of exercise in their life so that it becomes part of their lifelong routine.  By playing tennis, they will develop a familiarity with exercise activity that can create a perception of working out as fun. Even if they do not continue with tennis

as their sport of choice in latter years, it will have created a comfortable relationship with keeping fit as they encounter other sports or activities.

Other Advantages for Children Playing Tennis

   Tennis is also a sport that is fun for both boys and girls since over 43% of those playing tennis are female.  Its competitive nature allows your child to learn the proper way to deal with the competition of life in a friendly and courteous way with an understanding of fair play.  They will learn to deal with personal achievement and loss that is based on both their own actions and teamwork with a partner in a mature and professional manner.  This will prepare them for many of the situations they may encounter in other aspects of life.  It will also build self-esteem and confidence in your child's character.

  Playing tennis can also be a great source for peace, contentment, relaxation, and an overall sense of well-being for your child. A study conducted by Dr. Joan Finn at Southern California University found that tennis players exhibit more vigor, optimism, and self-esteem while experiencing less anger, depression, confusion, anxiety, and tension than other people. 

  As your child trains for tennis, they will discover how to listen and learn with the ability to apply what they have learned to real life activities and events.  Playing tennis will also help your child increase their capacity to concentrate, focus, and think strategically, which will help them in both education and work related aspects of their life.  Dr. Jim Gavin boasts the benefits of playing tennis by declaring:

  Tennis develops positive personality characteristics. Tennis players had the highest scores in sociability, spontaneity, creativity, competitiveness, adventurousness, mental focus, and assertiveness when compared to golfers, runners, weightlifters, inline skaters, and downhill skiers. 

With so many benefits and advantages for your child, it is not hard to figure out why tennis is growing so fast in popularity.  And as a fun, exciting, and adventurous sport, your child will most likely perceive tennis as something positive in their life.  You can feel good about knowing you are allowing your child to have fun while providing a beneficial gift to their personal development and well-being.  The end result is a joyful child as well as a parent who can feel content that they have found an activity for their child that makes everybody happy.



]]>