What I hate about Junior tennis. Kids, read this

[Tennisstringz]

1. Cheating Kids, honestly... Why play this sport if you have to cheat? Tennis is supposed to be a game of honor and competition. Sure, when you cheat, your ranking goes up, but at what price? Everyone will talk about you when you walk on the court. You are a cheater, not a tennis player. The upper echelon of top juniors is full of cheaters. Even ITA and college. That is why American tennis sucks. Guess what? There are line judges at the next level. You can't umpire the match yourself anymore. If you can't beat someone fairly, if your ego would hurt too much if you lose, if mommy or daddy will yell at you if you lose, then don't even dare to step on the court. Or be honest, tell your opponent that if it is close, I am going to call all close balls out.

And parents if you are happy that your kid had to cheat to win, then you are a failure as a parent. If you are in denial, fine. Some people have no moral fiber, so, you need your defense mechanisms. Don't have your kid play this sport if you can't take losing.

2. Getting the superstar early in the draw. Especially when they are playing up and unseeded. Not everyone can train five hours a day and be home schooled. If you're one of the regular kids who needs points to move up the rankings and maybe get a college scholarship... having one of those superstars drawn for the first round is unfortunate for you. That's junior tennis. Spending $80 -$100 to enter, then $400 for a flight, and another $300 for hotels... Just to get squashed down to the consolation bracket and the miniscule points category. You may be a good tennis player, capable of Div 1, but ifnthis happens enough, especially in high school when tourneys mean more, then you are done.

All I can say is, USTA, your points per round ranking system stinks. It rewards players who lucked out and got the worst players in the early rounds. Then it requires backdraw kids to play multiple matches for virtually nothing. Thank goodness for Tennisrecruiting.net. At least that rewards you for quality of opponent and not "luck of the draw."

3. Nowhere to go after all this work. Fine, if you are a superstar, and had the means to get trained to make the 5 Star, blue chip level, you will probably get a scholarship somewhere. But the mjority of hard training kids are three and fourbstar level. Most in the four star level have sacrificed a good portion of their childhood and social life, and their parents have spent enough for privae college tuition on tennis. All this... But scholarships are not there. Especially for boys. For girls who are four stars, this isbwhat you will find... If you are a great student, you will pay for college to go to the most selective schools. Otherwise, you will settle for a tennis scholarship at a school you would not have chosen if not for tennis. If you are an average student, you will probably be passed up for a foreign player.

[tball2day]

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[Misterbill]

Regarding #3, situation is the same in all men's equivalency sports.......meaning all sports except football and basketball.

I am not sure this is as much a secret, as it is a failure on the part of student-athletes and parents to access and understand readily available information

[gavna]

Originally Posted by Misterbill

Regarding #3, situation is the same in all men's equivalency sports.......meaning all sports except football and basketball.

I am not sure this is as much a secret, as it is a failure on the part of student-athletes and parents to access and understand readily available information

Totally right - I have two of my kids play D1 (son and daughter) and thank god both my wife and I also played and had been recruited so we knew the game. But parents just don't do enough research or get with the right folks. My youngest now 14 we are keeping far far away from anything USTA and doing ITF only. It's hard and involves much more travel! Like spending this whole summer in Europe linking up vacation time with tournys - but we are getting to avoid all the crap we went thru twice.

[jigglypuff]

Originally Posted by gavna

Totally right - I have two of my kids play D1 (son and daughter) and thank god both my wife and I also played and had been recruited so we knew the game. But parents just don't do enough research or get with the right folks. My youngest now 14 we are keeping far far away from anything USTA and doing ITF only. It's hard and involves much more travel! Like spending this whole summer in Europe linking up vacation time with tournys - but we are getting to avoid all the crap we went thru twice.

All this for just a D1 scholarship?

[gavna]

Originally Posted by jigglypuff

All this for just a D1 scholarship?

Absolutely not! We do it because he wants to play, I can play senior ITF events at times when he does we all enjoy the competition and the travel. The whole family plays going back to grandparents who had honor of being good enough to play in major events after WW1, WW2 and in the 50's. We just love the game - we put NO pressure on him nor did we with his older brother and sister - what we hate is all the point chasing and politics involved we see here in the states. All of us also have FFT licenses and play in France, Spain and Belgium and if we can stay away from so much of what you read on these boards (and as any of you know who are around JR tennis it's even worse that what gets posted here.).

And If he decides to-play in college fine, if not fine, it helps a ton that we are able to travel due to my work and have the ability to pay for training/coaches...etc.

[Tennisstringz]

Originally Posted by tball2day

Ah, regarding #3, I am guessing junior or senior facing the reality of recruitment, and I understand your pain. Seems a dirty little secret when you find out the truth doesn't it? I see parents/players in shock at this point all the time. If it makes you feel better, virtually no 5 star or blue chip boys get a full ride and hardly a partial scholarship worth much if they go to the school they really want to either. They too have to settle for a school they otherwise wouldn't have chosen except for tennis to get a scholarship. I read the stats one year - two boys took/got a full, total, in the entire class.

This is the dirty little secret that would cost USTA hundreds of thousands

If you are a boy and intelligent, your odds for getting a full ride to a school you actually wanted is about the same as if you played basketball or football. Never believe that tennis will be a means for scholarship. If you are a boy, play for fun only. If you are truly talented, you could go all out and pay thousands of dollars and do the USTA grind. Then your chances of getting a scholarship full ride to a school you like may be slightly higher than if you chose basketball or football.

If you are a girl, and a top ranked player, the odds are that you are an excellent students as well. You will pay to play tennis at a school that you would have gone to anyway like Ivy League or a top private school.

There will be Forty scholarships at schools you might have wanted to go to. Many of these will be given to foreignors. So you branch out and look for any big name college in the US, so now you have another 25 spots. If you don t get those, then you re just settling for anything to play tennis.

This is the reality. In the end, ten years after you ve graduated from follege, you realize your skills are not much better than the high school basketball player that picked up a racket three years ago and plays in the 4.5 league. And you have a worse job than you would ve had if you never played junior tennis.

For about 150 AMERICAN girls or boys per class, a satisfying placement for college tennis will be found. The rest will realize they settled for less, or quit compleyely.

So the message is, play tennis for fun only unless you are gifted and shoot up into the top 100 without effort. Otherwise, just Learn fundamentals as a kid, and enjoy tennis as a 3.5-4.0 league player after you get a job...

[barringer97]

Originally Posted by Tennisstringz

This is the dirty little secret that would cost USTA hundreds of thousands

If you are a boy and intelligent, your odds for getting a full ride to a school you actually wanted is about the same as if you played basketball or football. Never believe that tennis will be a means for scholarship. If you are a boy, play for fun only. If you are truly talented, you could go all out and pay thousands of dollars and do the USTA grind. Then your chances of getting a scholarship full ride to a school you like may be slightly higher than if you chose basketball or football.

If you are a girl, and a top ranked player, the odds are that you are an excellent students as well. You will pay to play tennis at a school that you would have gone to anyway like Ivy League or a top private school.

There will be Forty scholarships at schools you might have wanted to go to. Many of these will be given to foreignors. So you branch out and look for any big name college in the US, so now you have another 25 spots. If you don t get those, then you re just settling for anything to play tennis.

This is the reality. In the end, ten years after you ve graduated from follege, you realize your skills are not much better than the high school basketball player that picked up a racket three years ago and plays in the 4.5 league. And you have a worse job than you would ve had if you never played junior tennis.

For about 150 AMERICAN girls or boys per class, a satisfying placement for college tennis will be found. The rest will realize they settled for less, or quit compleyely.

So the message is, play tennis for fun only unless you are gifted and shoot up into the top 100 without effort. Otherwise, just Learn fundamentals as a kid, and enjoy tennis as a 3.5-4.0 league player after you get a job...

That is completely not true.

I am a parent and I played Division 1 tennis and coached for multiple years (and I'm 6'1" and white).

My child has a MUCH better chance earning a full ride in tennis than in football or basketball...that's for sure.

[tennis5]

Originally Posted by barringer97

That is completely not true.

I am a parent and I played Division 1 tennis and coached for multiple years (and I'm 6'1" and white).

My child has a MUCH better chance earning a full ride in tennis than in football or basketball...that's for sure.

Facts are about full rides in mens college tennis:

1) There are only 4.5 scholarships for the men's team for tennis.

2) There is more scholarship money for football or basketball.

3) Most likely, the scholarship money for tennis will be spent on foreigners than Americans.

4) There is a trend in tennis for men's tennis( sorry, I don't follow womens), and the foreigners are increasing every year.

Folks, your son should play tennis for the love of the game.

There is no return on investment here. You will far outspend on tennis than any money that would come back through scholarships.

[barringer97]

Originally Posted by tennis5

Facts are:

1) There are only 4.5 scholarships for the men's team for tennis.

2_ There is more scholarship money for football or basketball.

3) Most likely, the scholarship money for tennis will be spent on foreigners than Americans.

4) There is a trend in tennis for men's tennis( sorry, I don't follow womens), and the foreigners are increasing every year.

Folks, your son should play tennis for the love of the game.

There is no return on investment here. You will far outspend on tennis than any money that would come back through scholarships.

Yeah, I get it. Still disagree.

first of all, I have a daughter and son.

For my daughter, I think there is a pretty solid chance that I can get her a ride.

But let's talk about my son.

First of all:

There is no freaking way he gets a full ride for basketball. I'm 6'1", my dad is 6'4", my wife's dad is 6'4"...so he could (?) be 6'3"? He is also white.

Not many (none) 6'3" white kids get scholarships for hoops. Not happening.

Football? Maybe (still less likely than Tennis), but I don't want his brain mushed so he isn't playing.

On the other hand, I can give them excellent instruction 4-5 days a week. The cost is up in the air. Obviously, it's free if I'm training them, but my time isn't free to me...but on the other hand, I'm spending time with them.

In general, I agree with what you are saying, but I disagree on how you believe that they have the same odds in other sports. That isn't true. They are both low, but my kids have the advantage of me in the house that other kids just don't.

[Misterbill]

Originally Posted by barringer97

That is completely not true.

I am a parent and I played Division 1 tennis and coached for multiple years (and I'm 6'1" and white).

My child has a MUCH better chance earning a full ride in tennis than in football or basketball...that's for sure.

I agree with you, Barringer.

But no need for anyone to take your word, or my word............or the word of posters who come across as sour grapey or bitter.

All anyone needs to do is check out the College Commitments pages on TRN and cross-check to the players' pages to see if they signed NLIs. This is not 100% accurate, of course, but it gives very good factual data about how many kids at various ranking levels are getting offers, and from which schools.

[tball2day]

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[Tennisstringz]

Originally Posted by barringer97

That is completely not true.

I am a parent and I played Division 1 tennis and coached for multiple years (and I'm 6'1" and white).

My child has a MUCH better chance earning a full ride in tennis than in football or basketball...that's for sure.

You're talking about ten to fifteen years ago? It seemed a bit easier then. Better funded and less foreignors. You got a full ride? Then you were probably from Cali and ranked in the top 50 nationally. Did you get your first choice?

Your child has a much better chance in tennis or football because he has a coach for a parent and he doesn t have to shell out $50 to $100 everytime he wants a lesson. Imagine erasing everytime you hit with your son or everytime he hit in your groups or with a connection you have... Now where is he in his tennis development?

[Tennisstringz]

Originally Posted by Tennisstringz

You're talking about ten to fifteen years ago? It seemed a bit easier then. Better funded and less foreignors. You got a full ride? Then you were probably from Cali and ranked in the top 50 nationally. Did you get your first choice?

Your child has a much better chance in tennis or football because he has a coach for a parent and he doesn t have to shell out $50 to $100 everytime he wants a lesson. Imagine erasing everytime you hit with your son or everytime he hit in your groups or with a connection you have... Now where is he in his tennis development?

i meant in tennis than for football

[10ismom]

Originally Posted by Tennisstringz

You're talking about ten to fifteen years ago? It seemed a bit easier then. Better funded and less foreignors..... Did you get your first choice?Your child has a much better chance in tennis than football because he has a coach for a parent and he doesn t have to shell out $50 to $100 everytime he wants a lesson. Imagine erasing everytime you hit with your son or everytime he hit in your groups or with a connection you have... Now where is he in his tennis development?

Tennisstringz
I agree with the point that it is easier financially for a previous D1 tennis player to teach his own children tennis and maybe better chances to play and obtain college tennis scholarship(s).
Many posters and readers here pay for lessons so you're not alone.
I admired your dedication to your child(ren)'s tennis development and your many posts that certainly will make people think esp if their children are new to tennis. Having said that, we all need to make adjustments. You might think you've done everything (you could have) but when time for recruiting, college options might not be as planned.
Maybe starting with where will your child be happy at and what would work financially for you. The foreign student in another thread has to make some adjustment too. College recruiting/admission is just not easy.

[barringer97]

Originally Posted by Tennisstringz

You're talking about ten to fifteen years ago? It seemed a bit easier then. Better funded and less foreignors. You got a full ride? Then you were probably from Cali and ranked in the top 50 nationally. Did you get your first choice?

Your child has a much better chance in tennis or football because he has a coach for a parent and he doesn t have to shell out $50 to $100 everytime he wants a lesson. Imagine erasing everytime you hit with your son or everytime he hit in your groups or with a connection you have... Now where is he in his tennis development?

Oh I agree, just pointing out my kids have a way better shot in tennis then any other sport because of me.

[Tennisstringz]

Originally Posted by barringer97

That is completely not true.

I am a parent and I played Division 1 tennis and coached for multiple years (and I'm 6'1" and white).

My child has a MUCH better chance earning a full ride in tennis than in football or basketball...that's for sure.

You are 6'1 and white. Could you get your speed to 4,6 in the forty? With much less effort than it would take to develop a 120 mph serve. I could get you a full D1 football scholarship in the MAC as a safety after four years of high school football. Unless you are a wimp.

It doesn't take that much for football. I know our high school sends one a year to D1, and some to d2 or 1aa. Tennis? None yet.

[barringer97]

Originally Posted by Tennisstringz

You are 6'1 and white. Could you get your speed to 4,6 in the forty? With much less effort than it would take to develop a 120 mph serve. I could get you a full D1 football scholarship in the MAC as a safety after four years of high school football. Unless you are a wimp.

It doesn't take that much for football. I know our high school sends one a year to D1, and some to d2 or 1aa. Tennis? None yet.

I disagree, mainly because I have been clocked at 130mph.

I have plenty of friends that could run a 4.6 40 with good size and no one is getting full rides...in fact, not even walk ons.

[gully]

Some knee-jerk responses:

1. Backatcha! You got this straight. I am still astonished at how cheating is basically ignored by the powers-that-be, equivalent to a tacit endorsement of awful behavior. It takes a heckuva mature 13-year old to understand that any penalty for pervasive cheating will come years later, if at all.

2. Well, sxit happens. My kid got some players out of her league, for sure; then, the goal becomes to play the best match possible, and afterwards, to learn as much as you can from the experience of playing someone far better. (And, then, in the backdraw, finding kids to send home.) Someone's gotta play the top seed, and it's not going to be one of the other seeds. The draw and seed system works out fairly enough over time. (Agree with you on TRN's H2H v. USTA's PPR, though.)

3. Kids really have to play for the fun and experience of competing, not for the reward of a scholarship. I am happy my kid got a full at a great school and I am not volunteering to give it back, but I am not really convinced that kids who "work hard" at a sport deserve compensation for it.

A good post. #1 and #3 should be truncated, laminated, and distributed to all parents and players signing up for their first six USTA events.

[Soianka]

1. Yes, cheating is very unfortunate. So is how such nastiness is permitted in the tennis culture amongst parents. It makes the sport a lot less fun for a lot of children.

2. This really is not a bad thing. See it as an opportunity to play a much better player. Chances are the #1 seed isn't going to come to your local club to play a match with you, so take the opportunity to try to play your best and see how you match up. It will help you in the long run to get better if you do not try to avoid playing tough (even unwinnable) matches.

3. Yes, I wonder the same thing. What's the point of all the craziness in junior tennis when the vast majority of 3 and 4 star players seem to end up at schools that they never would have chosen were it not for tennis. I'm thinking of one crazy gossipping (really unpleasant) tennis mom in particular. At this point, does she still think her 4-star 16 year old daughter is going pro? Will all the nuttiness pay off in some way down the road? Doesn't seem so.