How to start playing tennis as a family
As the weather gets warmer families are looking to start new hobbies. This blog post will give tips on how to start playing tennis.
We’ll take a look at:
- Playing tennis as a family
- Learning tennis
- Tennis training
Start playing Tennis as a family
Before you begin shopping for equipment it is first important to determine which family members are serious about trying a new hobby.
Ask questions about why they want to start playing and what they expect to get out of the hobby. During the first few weeks you may be sore, discouraged and unsure of yourself. Be prepared for the emotional aspect of starting something new.
Nobody starts out as a Serena Williams level tennis player but with practice everyone can enjoy the sport.
Playing tennis can be a very fun sport. It’s also a great way to get exercise as a family.
Scheduling
Scheduling in time to play is a huge factor in getting the family on the same page. Perhaps some family members can only play on the weekend. Account for the differences in the schedules before starting.
It may be necessary to play apart most of the month until you can all meet up on a neutral day. If you have enough family members, doubles is a great game to play!
At this time your family members may already have a hobby or extracurricular activity that they are involved in. Discuss those things as well. You want to be able to give a decent amount of time to your new hobby.
Once a week to start is fine. Hopefully you will enjoy it enough to add more time into your schedule to play.
After you have determined who wants to start learning tennis and what your schedules are, it is important to search where you can play tennis.
You may be eager to start tennis training but it will put a damper on your activities if the courts are too far away. Tennis courts that are too far away from your home or require expensive fees to play may make you reconsider.
Equipment
Second, you want to gather your supplies. To save on costs you may want to go to a second hand sports equipment shop in your town. There are also resell sites like Mercari, Poshmark, Facebook marketplace and Craigslist. As always, be cautious about meeting up with people to purchase items.
Children of various ages require different sized racquets. There is the smallest tennis racquet, then the size from 7-18 and 8-10yrs and of course you would need an adult racquet.
There are a lot of options for tennis balls. Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed. Get a basic green tennis ball and I am sure you will all do fine with it. Going into your second year you may find that you would like to try different supplies with special features.
Clothing is important. You should choose clothing that is loose fitting and stretchy. You will be running, perhaps jumping and bending. I started in some jogging shorts and a tee. If it fits into your budget, by all means buy tennis clothes. Just be mindful that they are not 100% necessary for the first few weeks.
I decided to treat my little one to a tennis dress that she had her eye on. It kind of kept her interested in trying. It is so cute!
I have been playing for a while by myself so I treated myself to some special pink tennis equipment. Especially as we are rounding the corner on Mother’s day!
How to start learning Tennis
Now that we have a place to play and our equipment it’s time to learn the rules. Take some time to read up about the sport. There are also some helpful YouTube videos you can watch. I like The Tennis Mom as a resource as well.
If you have younger children who may not be able to read instructions you can learn and then teach them some basics like serving. Remember this is supposed to be a fun family activity. Don’t put tons of pressure on any one family member to make it to Wimbelton.
Remember that it takes time to learn anything new. If you are still practicing serving a month later that is fine at least you will be good at it! Give your body time to get used to the new activity.
How to start Tennis Training
Lessons are a great way to learn proper technique and perhaps even go into some local competitions.
I suggest warming up to the sport on your own for a couple of months. That is the perfect time frame to determine if you would like to continue. It’s also a short enough time for you not to develop bad habits for example, running too close to the net.
If your instructor needs to step in to correct your form or teach a technique differently it should be no problem at this stage.
Search around for a tennis instructor that suits your needs. They should understand what your goals are as a family and be clear about if they can accommodate the entire family or just the adults.
With the popularity of tennis over the last few years it may be difficult to find an instructor. Be mindful that an instructor is very different from a coach. A coach is someone whose goal is to bring you to competition level.
Unless you are very passionate or have discovered a natural ability to play, a coach may not be the best fit for you.
Working with your instructor
Personalities matter. The instructor you choose should have a good personality, in other words you should get along with them.
As previously mentioned this is not a competitive level that we are going into and if that is the goal it is too early to start that level of training. This should be fun! Lessons with your new instructor should be educational.
There will be times when the instructor will ask you to challenge yourself for instance when it is time to learn a new serve. So be prepared for those times. It will make you a strong player. You will be proud that you stepped up to the challenges.
For some reason if things don’t work out it is ok to change or get a new instructor. A general search for your area or word of mouth will help you find the right instructor. When you learn how to start playing tennis there can be a lot of trial and error.
Watch how she works with a new instructor.
Conclusion
In conclusion, hopefully these tips were helpful.
Just to recap some points:
- Determine who wants to try the new hobby
- Set a schedule for everyone
- Find a location
- Get your equipment
- Educate yourself about the rules of the game
- Remember to have fun
- Look into getting formal lessons after a few weeks
I always like to start a new hobby and planning is key! Please leave a comment and let me know if there is anything new you plan on starting this year.
Lyric Spencer says
I love the idea of playing tennis as a family!