At Tiger Tennis Academy, we know that tennis has a positive impact on the physical and mental health of all players, especially our kids. We want each child to have fun and feel good about what they’re learning on the courts. But most importantly, we want your kids to be safe.
In recent months, we have started to offer classes aimed at developing active kids, healthy kids, and happy families through the safety of tennis.
Active Kids
Tennis is a fun way for kids to get moving and away from screens. If your child isn’t really into sports, it’s worth giving tennis a try. Many kids who haven’t shown much of an interest in sports or physical activity have tried a few tennis classes and ended up loving it. Not only do they get to learn something new, but they also meet a fun group of new kids with the potential to form great friendships.
Healthy Kids
Healthy kids are more likely to become healthy adults. Through tennis, kids improve their physical fitness and develop valuable mental skills that contribute to a healthy life. Tennis helps kids become better listeners, develop problem-solving skills, and improve their concentration.
Happy Family
Instructors create an engaging and positive atmosphere where they provide kids with individual attention and feedback that leads to continuous learning and improvement. As kids grow and develop their skills at their own pace, they experience a boost in their self-confidence. And a child who is having fun and feels good about what they’re doing is likely to bring these same happy feelings to their life beyond the tennis court.
The Safety of Tennis
If you’re interested in getting your child started with tennis, you’re probably curious about the safety of the sport. Is it even safe for your child to play tennis right now?
The nature of tennis makes it a safe option for both kids and adults. Coupled with the respect and adherence to safety guidelines that have been put into place, right now, tennis is a great way to be active and learn something new.
Tennis is typically played outdoors and is a non-contact sport. At the same time, the court itself makes social distancing possible. Most tennis courts are almost eighty feet long. And with varying widths for singles and doubles matches, players can easily stay at least six feet away from their playing partner. In our group classes, which are generally five to seven players, there is plenty of space for kids to spread out.
In addition to the physical distance between players on the court, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) has outlined recommendations for playing tennis safely. If you’re curious about what players are doing to keep the sport safe, here are a few tips that USTA has recommended (source):
Cleaning and Sanitizing
• Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before and after playing.
• Try not to touch your face.
• Avoid touching gates, fences, benches, etc.
Masks
• Wear a face mask. (At some Tiger Tennis locations, masks are required while students are on the court.)
Racquets
• Make sure your racquet is clean and sanitized.
• Avoid borrowing someone else’s racquet.
Ball Handling
• During group classes, balls will only be picked up by an instructor.
• Parents are no longer allowed to pick up balls.
• Use your foot or racquet to pick up and return any balls to the basket.
When players follow these recommendations, they keep themselves and those around them safe.
Getting Started with Tennis Safely
Tiger Tennis Academy is where beginners come to play. If your child is new to tennis, then this is the academy for you and your family. Our goal is to encourage kids to become more active, healthy, and happy through tennis. And we teach tennis skills in an engaging and safe environment.
Using the USTA recommendations for players and facilities, we are taking steps to maintain a safe environment for our players. You’ll find our instructors wearing masks, even while on the court. Students are required to bring their own racquets, and proper social distancing is observed at all times. Together, we can make tennis a safe sport for your kids to enjoy.
