Tennis is one of the most popular sports in the world, with over a billion fans who play or watch the sport with great interest. For those playing tennis, the various benefits are more than obvious, like better metabolism, reduced body fat, lower heart rate, and blood pressure, all of which could greatly benefit your child.
If your child wants to play tennis, the best way to ensure their progression most effectively is to find tennis lessons, especially if you’re a parent of a young tennis player hoping for a scholarship or a professional career in the future. In that case, tennis clubs, such as PlayTGA, are your best bet.
What Age Should My Child Start Playing Tennis?
The ideal age for a child to start taking tennis classes varies depending on their individual development and interest. While most Annapolis tennis coaches suggest the starting age of six, it’s not uncommon to see talented four-year-olds on the tennis court with a racquet in their hands.
Admittedly, most children can’t master the skills for a specific sport until around the age of six, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t begin learning the basic sports skills before that. A tennis instructor who specializes in working with children can help kids learn and improve their skill level to the point needed for more serious tennis lessons, including group tennis lessons and private tennis lessons.
For kids below six years of age, training sessions usually consist of fun and basic coordination skills, with short and playful sessions, while those aged six and up begin introduction into basic tennis skills and strokes (such as forehand and backhand), as well as structured drills and games.
Top Benefits of Kids Tennis Lessons
Physical skills are among the top benefits of kids’ tennis lessons, as the sport activates large muscle groups, which helps improve your child’s motor coordination. Additionally, running, sudden stops and sudden turns also increase your child’s balance, agility, and speed. Not to mention that hitting the ball with a racquet increases hand-eye coordination and develops other skills that would last them for a lifetime.
The increased physical activity has a beneficial effect on heart health in kids, with USTA reporting that playing a tennis game for three hours a week reduces the risk of heart disease by as much as 56%, further showing that tennis players live ten years longer on average than sedentary people.
Tennis also has a social aspect, providing a great way for your kids to make new friends, since the kids in a tennis league or a summer camp usually practice and train together, aiding the development of social skills.
Best Kids Tennis Lessons in Annapolis, MD
PlayTGA has developed a program curriculum that’s specifically designed to develop the next generation of young players’ skills and passion for the game through the use of age-appropriate equipment and courts tailored to the size and ability of young tennis players. If you’re looking for an Annapolis area tennis school, don’t hesitate to contact PlayTGA and ask about tennis classes for your children.