Tennis is one of the most followed and practiced sports around the world, every day there are more children who want to follow in the footsteps of great players like Rafa Nadal or Roger Federer and become the new number 1 of the ATP. But many parents doubt about what is the best age to start playing tennis, either for fear of injury, to provoke bad experiences that make them not like it, etc..
But first of all, we have to explain that tennis has great benefits, both physical and psychological, very important for the personal growth of each boy or girl. Training on a regular basis improves physical condition, develops muscles, attention span, motor coordination and even promotes socialization.
As with most sports, there is no exact age to start tennis, and whether or not a child is ready for tennis lessons depends more on his or her skills, abilities and capabilities than on his or her age.
Many children at the age of 4 already show a fairly advanced motor coordination ability that allows them to start playing tennis, but it is necessary to keep in mind that their attention span is not yet well developed.
At this age, constant distractions turn tennis lessons into a mere game with rackets and balls.
In these classes, although they do not serve to perfect their technique, the little ones will become familiar with the material and the basic ideas of the game. It is best for the child to use rackets, nets and mini tennis balls that are adapted to his or her physical condition. In our blog we talked about tennis equipment for children, including foam balls and smaller nets.
Most experts say that the best age to start playing tennis in a more formal way is 5 or 6 years old. By this age children have already developed their psychomotor skills, coordination and attention and are much better adapted to the demands of the game. Here is a video of a tennis lesson for very young children:
Thanks to this sport the little ones will begin to strengthen their speed, agility and reflexes, while toning all the muscles in their body. To avoid injuries and discomfort, it is best to use junior tennis rackets from 5 to 12 years of age. These rackets are more ergonomic and lighter than adult rackets and allow the child to perform the movements and strokes in a more comfortable way.
Whatever the age of the child, both the parents and the training should be flexible and adapted to the child’s wishes and abilities, leaving aside any kind of psychological pressure or physical overload. At that age, parents should simply aim for their child to have fun and begin to socialize outside the family environment.
Tennis camps for the little ones
If you want to get your child started in tennis but don’t know how to go about it, a summer camp can be a good starting point to get them started with the racquet. Spain or England can be good destinations to combine the sport with language learning, although there are also other options in the United States or France for more experienced children.
Spain
Spain has produced great tennis players and is a country with a great tradition in racquet sports. Here your little one can learn the basics of tennis and start his or her journey with very experienced technicians in teaching children. These are the two different options:
- High Performance Bruguera – Barcelona
- Juan Carlos Ferrero Academy
United Kingdom
what if we mix tennis with learning English in the UK itself? This is one of the possibilities that most appeal to parents, as it can be a great start for children to get a good foundation in English. The different tennis and English camps that you can find in Ertheo are:
- Nike Tennis Camp
- Exsportise
Other countries
For those who prefer other destinations, there are camps in France and the United States, but the two academies we have in these countries are for students with a little more level, they are more advisable for children who have already been playing tennis for a while. In the Gallic country is one of the best schools in Europe, that of the famous coach Patrick Mouratoglou, coach of Serena Williams in her best period. The academy bears his name and its facilities were renovated a few months ago.
On the other hand, for those who prefer to approach the world of sports in the United States, the IMG Academy offers a complete program of languages and sports, with facilities of a magnitude that almost no other school can match.
