At what age do results matter???

[goran_ace]

Originally Posted by gplracer

Too many wins too young can be a bad thing. Look at Al Parker as an example. He won the double grandslam for juniors at 12.

Not a great example. Al Parker didn't burn out, his career was cut short by a congenital back condition.

http://onlineathens.com/stories/0124...24990016.shtml

[gplracer]

Correct but he stated in his interview from "The Boy Who Fell From Earth" that he stated he had too much success early on. It was hard to keep it going in the later juniors. But you are correct maybe not the best example.

[NLBwell]

Originally Posted by justinmadison

Here are the top 10 boys 18’s from the current USTA bonus point list. 8 of the 10 players had top 100 rankings for boys 12s. I could not find Blake Bazarnik in the top 100 until boys 14s. The only one I could not find at all was Daniel Kosakowski. On tennisrecruiting Daniel has a freshman year recruiting list ranking of 95%. I don’t know why I did not find his ranking.

Do you still believe the statement “if you look at the top ranked 10-12 year olds you know who will NOT be a highly ranked 18”. It will not surprise me if you do. We are all entitled to our own opinion but not to our own facts.

1 Bangoura, Sekou Coker Bradenton FL B12s #4 7/30/2004
2 Sarmiento, Raymond Fontana CA B12s #7 3/4/2004
3 Sock, Jack E. Lincoln NE B12s #1 4/4/2005
4 Fratangelo, Bjorn Pittsburgh PA B12s #3 2/1/2006
5 Kosakowski, Daniel Downey CA
6 Bazarnik, Blake A. Kildeer IL B14s #89 8/9/2006
7 Leslie, Zachary San Diego CA B12s #89 3/4/2004
8 Austin, Gonzales Miami FL B12s #80 4/4/2005
9 Pasha, Nathan Atlanta GA B12s #12 12/2/2004
10 MacMaster, Casey E. Fort Collins CO B12s #29 6/3/2004

Chase Buchanan #1 b12s 3/4/2004
Ryan Harrison #1 b12s 7/30/2004
Evan King #5 b12s 12/2/2004

So, of your top 10 list 4 were top 10 players in the 12s, 2 were 11-30, 2 were 80 or below, and 2 were not ranked (not including the 3 others). So, guessing at about how many players were in and out of the top rankings at that time, about a 1 in 5 chance of being a top 18 year old if you are a top 12 year old; about a 1 in 40 chance if you are in the next 50, about a 1 in 40 chance if you are in the 50 below that; and 1 in some number of hundreds or thousands if you are not ranked.
There will always be a couple of kids who were not ranked as 12 year olds who become among the top in the world. In one sense, that means that the 12 year old rankings are meaningless. However, statistically, it is much more likely (but not actually likely) if a kid is ranked in the 12s.

[ga tennis]

My daughter is soon to be 11. She is working really hard but still does not have the RAGE TO MASTER. I keep telling myself that it will happen soon and she will become obsessed with tennis. Im starting to think that the Rage To Master is not going to ever happen with her. I see some of her tennis friends that you have to drag off the court. I know i should not do social comparisons but its only human nature. So many people tell me that the rage to master comes later with some kids i just wish i knew when. My daughter is very well rounded she loves school and plays soccer as well as basketball. I am coming to the conclusion that maybe MY DREAM of her playing pro tennis might not be her dream. She is SOOOOOO talented and an amazing athlete and tells me she wants to be a pro but i just dont see the love for it.Im starting to think she says she wants to be a pro because she knows thats what i wanna hear. Im still hoping that she gets the Rage but if not im fine with her playing college tennis or doing whatever makes her happy. I just wish i could do something to turn on the rage but i think that its gonna have to come from within. If she gets the rage to master within the next two years imma be sitting courtside at Ashe in a few years watching her crush forehands!

[TennisCoachIN]

gatennis- I use to be an outstanding long distance running and I have a son who is absolutely fanastic. He is so naturally gifted. The problem is he says he wants to be an elite level runner, but doesn't have the drive to do what is necessary. I really really want him to be an elite level runner at 13 he has national level times in the mile and 5k for his age group. However, I have realized that if he truly wants to excel the drive and passion has to come from within himself. I no longer push him or remind him of things he needs to do. He needs to take ownership of his sport or it never is going to happen. I really hope that your daughter gets that rage to master

I have to girls 8 and 12 who play tennis at a pretty good level. They are very passionate about learning. I love this board because I have learned so much useful information and gained such great insight. I'm going to let there desire take their game whatever that may be.

Hang in there. That beast within may or may never awaken for tennis, I sure hope it does for her and my children, but if it doesn't the memories I make running with my son and teaching the girls tennis our priceless and wouldn't have wanted to miss that time for anything in this world.

[maggmaster]

I had no drive as a junior, I had the rage for soccer. When I turned 26 I suddenly got obsessed with tennis. It can happen at any age.

[andfor]

The last 3 posts have been really good. In the end it needs to be owned by the kid. Help them become as good as they can get, but in the Kids own way. Each is different.

Gatennis, trust me from experience, you'll be just as proud watching your daughter play and important H.S. match or if she plays anywhere in college.

Focus on the journey, not the destination.

[ga tennis]

Thanks for the encouraging words!!

[NLBwell]

Remember, John McEnroe loved soccer more than tennis. Andy Roddick played on the high school basketball team. I believe playing multiple sports is good for the tennis player as well as for the kid. Yes, at some point they have to be desiring to hit millions of tennis balls, but it doesn't have to be today.

[gplracer]

My 10 year old son just finished baseball and he is going to do soccer too. Tennis is his main sport.

[KevinB9986]

The info. on these posts probably true. But tennis is crazy. I remember hearing last week where they said that the quarterback of the Redskins hasn't really played that much football. You will never hear that quote about a professional tennis player. Never. I don't care if they are an elite athlete or not.

[npadreman]

youth is wasted on the young... my talented daughter has no idea how to push herself with her training - meanwhile I have hit my ceiling due to the limitations that come with age

I guess the most important reward that any kid (except that 1/1,000,000 who goes pro) can get from tennis is to learn how to live: ie, be in the moment, relish adversity, and trust yourself

[fitmom]

"but if not i'm fine with her playing college tennis"

wish more parents would view playing college tennis as an honorable and desirable goal for juniors instead of a cop-out for those who couldn't make it on the tour. just sayin' . . .

[rptennis]

Originally Posted by ga tennis

My daughter is soon to be 11. She is working really hard but still does not have the RAGE TO MASTER. I keep telling myself that it will happen soon and she will become obsessed with tennis. Im starting to think that the Rage To Master is not going to ever happen with her. I see some of her tennis friends that you have to drag off the court. I know i should not do social comparisons but its only human nature. So many people tell me that the rage to master comes later with some kids i just wish i knew when. My daughter is very well rounded she loves school and plays soccer as well as basketball. I am coming to the conclusion that maybe MY DREAM of her playing pro tennis might not be her dream. She is SOOOOOO talented and an amazing athlete and tells me she wants to be a pro but i just dont see the love for it.Im starting to think she says she wants to be a pro because she knows thats what i wanna hear. Im still hoping that she gets the Rage but if not im fine with her playing college tennis or doing whatever makes her happy. I just wish i could do something to turn on the rage but i think that its gonna have to come from within. If she gets the rage to master within the next two years imma be sitting courtside at Ashe in a few years watching her crush forehands!

GA Tennis

My own situation is similar to yours - both my wife and I played college tennis and my wife was a NCAA champion in singles and doubles. Naturally , we expected our daughter to shine and love tennis. Our daughter not only did not love tennis, she wanted to quit tennis all together In fact, she had real issues competing from age 10 to age 14 - as an example, she was losing matches in the So Cal satellites in the 10s and the 12s.

After age 14, something unexpectedly kicked in and she started to practice better and started to compete better in matches. from age 14 to 18, she was ranked 5th in all of Asia 14U, ranked 200 in ITF 18U, played Fed Cup for 2011 and 2012 for her country and now is on a D1 full scholarship. Given you pedigree in tennis, I think your daughter will find her way in tennis and will shine in her own time. Hang in there!

[ga tennis]

Originally Posted by rptennis

GA Tennis

My own situation is similar to yours - both my wife and I played college tennis and my wife was a NCAA champion in singles and doubles. Naturally , we expected our daughter to shine and love tennis. Our daughter not only did not love tennis, she wanted to quit tennis all together In fact, she had real issues competing from age 10 to age 14 - as an example, she was losing matches in the So Cal satellites in the 10s and the 12s.

After age 14, something unexpectedly kicked in and she started to practice better and started to compete better in matches. from age 14 to 18, she was ranked 5th in all of Asia 14U, ranked 200 in ITF 18U, played Fed Cup for 2011 and 2012 for her country and now is on a D1 full scholarship. Given you pedigree in tennis, I think your daughter will find her way in tennis and will shine in her own time. Hang in there!

WOW!!!! THANKS!!! THAT IS GOOD TO KNOW. YOUR POST GIVES ME HOPE!!