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TucsonTennis.com |
Tennis Program Fits Kids Perfectly
By Joshua A. Jeffrey
| When Arnold Schwarzenegger was here a few months ago, he noted the sorry state of physical condition most American kids are in today. The
average child comes home from school, plops down in front of the TV (with or without the
Nintendo) and stays there for the afternoon. After dinner it's usually back to the
tube for an evening of sedentary, health-free entertainment. Most of you parents would like to break the sit-and-stare habit your kids have developed. Heck, some of you might like to break it yourselves. And now you can, thanks to the Fort Lowell Tennis Center Tennis Director, Mike Adams. "Tennis is a great sport because it exercises the body and the mind," says Adams. "There's a lot of strategy to the game; shot selection, gamemanship, court positioning." But at the same time, tennis is a game anyone can learn to play. In fact, Adams' Junior classes take tykes as young as 3 years old. The introductory class, Pee Wees, is for kids 3-6, and it features smaller nets, rackets and balls to help kids get acquainted with the sport. The class is five weeks long and each session lasts 45 minutes. The next class up, Tennis Buddies, is for kids 7-11 and it focuses on the different strokes involved in the game. Tennis Buddies classes last an hour. Then there's the Junior Challengers class for kids 12-17. Here beginners and advanced tournament alike can participate in competitive play. These classes are 1 1/2 hours long. Some parents may cringe at the words "junior challengers," but Adams is quick to point out that the entire program is based on fun, not competition. On the courts, the kids are grouped by ability and age, so kids are never forced to play against others who are considerably better or worse tennis players. The whole point of the program is to get kids interested in a sport that they can enjoy for life. According to Adams, that interest begins at an early age and it has to involve a lot of fun. "One of the reasons I started the Pee Wee class was I'd sit here at the park and watch the kids across the field playing T-ball. I realized these kids get into baseball or soccer or some other sport and we lose them before we even get a chance to introduce them to tennis. So I thought, 'why not compete and get them out on the courts at a younger age?'" Adams says. The park he refers to is Fort Lowell Park at Craycroft and Glenn. Adams and his staff teach classes there He credits the staff with the program's popularity. "They're really great. I've seen some great tennis pros in the past who know their stuff but just can't connect with kids. That doesn't happen here. Our people love tennis, and they recognize what we do as a service. They're not snobs about the sport or what they're doing, they want to come out and make it fun for everyone." Fun is only one of the advantages the tennis program offers. "The program allows kids to develop self-esteem. It offers them a realistic challenge and a sense of accomplishment," Adams says. "On top of that, there's a combination of team and individual play you don't get in other sports. Of course, a player's success or failure is dependent on their own concentration and effort and how much they assert themselves, but they also root for the other players on the team." The game's mental aspects allow little kids to do well even through the game is very physical, but the physical training develops reflexes, endurance, explosiveness, and the cardiovascular system. Anyone interested in enrolling in a junior or adult tennis class can call Fort Lowell Tennis Park Tennis Center to receive registration information. Fun Family Friday Nights at Fort Lowell is a hit. Fort Lowell Park Tennis Center offers a fun tennis program for the entire family. Participate together in social recreational doubles scramble league (for all ages and abilities) and fun instructional activities for kids and parents new to the sport. Join them for one free night of fun for the entire family. Get your family into a sport for a lifetime. For questions about any of these events and activities call: 791-2584. |
Read about
Fun Friday Nights At Ft. Lowell Tennis Center
by Tara Wood, The Arizona Star