Is it worth the time and money?

[schang70]

Originally Posted by Amir

I need to do some research. What route did you go down? D2? D1?

I went to Vanderbilt then transferred to the University of Florida, both D1 schools in the SEC. Did not end up playing tennis for either schools. Got a great education and had a lot of fun at Florida, but a part of me wished I would've gone the D3 route and played college tennis.

Most D1 tennis players started playing from a very early age like 6 to 8. They are already veterans of the junior circuit with national rankings by the time they are in high school. The gap might be too big to make up for someone who started tennis at age 15. Thus D3 might be a more reasonable goal in this scenario. But you never know, Allen Fox, the legendary coach at Pepperdine started at 16 and became a world class player at the professional level.

[NLBwell]

Half the players in a tournament lose in the first round.

[maggmaster]

That is an excellent point. And if you look at the scores in the first round, about half of them will be lopsided as the finalists plow through the unseeded players.

[Misterbill]

Originally Posted by Amir

You may all see this question al lot, but should I quit tennis? I started in Highschool my ninth grade year and I'm already better than more than half of my team. I go to the best tennis academy in Georgia and practice 3 hours a day. I really want to play for a D1 school but my friend from the tennis academy who is 15 in Georgia and 150 or something in the nation said "It doesn't look like my sport". I'm starting this year to play tournaments and I already lost in the first round of my L4. I'm so confused. It feels like I should quit because Im wasting time and money playing a sport that'll lead me no where. I COULD run cross country and I know I could get a scholarship because I've ran a couple times and the coach said I'd be extremely good. All in all, I'm just asking everyone if I should quit and run cross country or if I actually have a chance playing D1 like unc and those schools. I really don't want the whole "Just work harder" speec because I've gotten it a million times. Thanks

Based on the other thread you just started, I think you should expand the type of school you are shooting for beyond the level of UNC

[barringer97]

It's almost impossible for a guy to get a scholarship in a sport that you have only played a couple of years unless you are playing football.

[TennisCoachIN]

Being realistic obtaining a tennis scholarship starting this late will be very difficult. Focus on improving your game and more importantly your academics.

[sundaypunch]

Originally Posted by schang70

Most D1 tennis players started playing from a very early age like 6 to 8. They are already veterans of the junior circuit with national rankings by the time they are in high school. The gap might be too big to make up for someone who started tennis at age 15. Thus D3 might be a more reasonable goal in this scenario. But you never know, Allen Fox, the legendary coach at Pepperdine started at 16 and became a world class player at the professional level.

This is true. It will be very, very difficult to make a D1 team if you are just taking the sport seriously as a 10th grader. As much time as you are willing to put in now, there are many others that have already been doing that for 5-10 years.

D2 or D3 is a realistic goal, particularly if a scholarship isn't absolutely necessary. If you really love the sport, you can have just as much fun being part of a team at the D3 level.

[klu375]

Originally Posted by barringer97

It's almost impossible for a guy to get a scholarship in a sport that you have only played a couple of years unless you are playing football.

Rowing (if you have the right build and work ethics).

[tennis5]

Originally Posted by klu375

Rowing (if you have the right build and work ethics).

And now high football players are switching into rowing.

[Chemist]

Originally Posted by Amir

You may all see this question al lot, but should I quit tennis? I started in Highschool my ninth grade year and I'm already better than more than half of my team. I go to the best tennis academy in Georgia and practice 3 hours a day. I really want to play for a D1 school but my friend from the tennis academy who is 15 in Georgia and 150 or something in the nation said "It doesn't look like my sport". I'm starting this year to play tournaments and I already lost in the first round of my L4. I'm so confused. It feels like I should quit because Im wasting time and money playing a sport that'll lead me no where. I COULD run cross country and I know I could get a scholarship because I've ran a couple times and the coach said I'd be extremely good. All in all, I'm just asking everyone if I should quit and run cross country or if I actually have a chance playing D1 like unc and those schools. I really don't want the whole "Just work harder" speec because I've gotten it a million times. Thanks

Your friend may be right. You will have a better chance of running for a college. If you really want to play competitive tennis in college, you would need to work hard in the next 2.5 years and then you would have a pretty good chance of playing in a club team.

[Litespeeds]

Work hard and take whatever opportunities that you can get. Don't focus on a tennis scholarship as there are very little out there. Just enjoy the sport and make lots of friends. At the end of the day, it's all about academics that will take you further in life but you will have a wonderful sport that you can enjoy for the rest of your life with the friends you meet along your journey.

If you can't make it onto a D1, D2 or D3 team, there is always a Club Team and you will have much more fun as it is much less demanding in terms of conditioning, practice and travel. This way you can focus more on academics while in college.

[Chemist]

Originally Posted by Litespeeds

Work hard and take whatever opportunities that you can get. Don't focus on a tennis scholarship as there are very little out there. Just enjoy the sport and make lots of friends. At the end of the day, it's all about academics that will take you further in life but you will have a wonderful sport that you can enjoy for the rest of your life with the friends you meet along your journey.

If you can't make it onto a D1, D2 or D3 team, there is always a Club Team and you will have much more fun as it is much less demanding in terms of conditioning, practice and travel. This way you can focus more on academics while in college.

This is exactly what many kids who are practicing and improving tennis game should be thinking...

My older son, a college sophomore, did not start tennis training until he was almost 13. He won a couple of district tournaments (B14 and B16), similar to L4 in Georgia. He played 3rd single for his high school team in his sophomore year, but chose to play 1st double in his junior and senior year. He did not make the college club team. However he still loves tennis, even watched a few AO matches in early morning. I enjoy hitting with him more than his younger brother, who would blow me away....

[tennis5]

Originally Posted by Litespeeds

Work hard and take whatever opportunities that you can get. Don't focus on a tennis scholarship as there are very little out there. Just enjoy the sport and make lots of friends. At the end of the day, it's all about academics that will take you further in life but you will have a wonderful sport that you can enjoy for the rest of your life with the friends you meet along your journey.

If you can't make it onto a D1, D2 or D3 team, there is always a Club Team and you will have much more fun as it is much less demanding in terms of conditioning, practice and travel. This way you can focus more on academics while in college.

Great post. Play tennis for the love of the sport.
Even if you don't get on a D1 team, you will have a sport that you can enjoy, hopefully, into your 70's and make lifelong friends along the way.

[schang70]

Here's another option: www.tennisoncampus.com
I didn't even know that club tennis now have a national championship sponsored by the USTA. This is great for players who want to go to a D1 school but is not good enough to make Varsity. You still get to play tennis in a team environment and opportunity to travel. Though, you will probably have to pay all expenses on our own.

[chalkflewup]

Originally Posted by schang70

Here's another option: www.tennisoncampus.com
I didn't even know that club tennis now have a national championship sponsored by the USTA. This is great for players who want to go to a D1 school but is not good enough to make Varsity. You still get to play tennis in a team environment and opportunity to travel. Though, you will probably have to pay all expenses on our own.

It is very competitive, fun tennis. I have been to the championships twice now and the students have such a great time with it.

[anhuynh16]

Of course myself and no one on this board would like you to quit tennis, but realistically you'd have a MUCH better chance of running XC for a D1 college than playing tennis at one. Especially if you literally just started tennis a year ago. Just my 2cents though...

[corbind]

Amir, follow your heart. You're a young man and you'll kick yourself later if you chose one based on money or other factors. Chose the one that brings you the greatest joy and be realistic in choosing a D2 or D3 school for either sport.

[omega4]

What reasons does your friend give you for saying that tennis "isn't your sport"?

Originally Posted by Amir

You may all see this question al lot, but should I quit tennis? I started in Highschool my ninth grade year and I'm already better than more than half of my team. I go to the best tennis academy in Georgia and practice 3 hours a day. I really want to play for a D1 school but my friend from the tennis academy who is 15 in Georgia and 150 or something in the nation said "It doesn't look like my sport". I'm starting this year to play tournaments and I already lost in the first round of my L4. I'm so confused. It feels like I should quit because Im wasting time and money playing a sport that'll lead me no where. I COULD run cross country and I know I could get a scholarship because I've ran a couple times and the coach said I'd be extremely good. All in all, I'm just asking everyone if I should quit and run cross country or if I actually have a chance playing D1 like unc and those schools. I really don't want the whole "Just work harder" speec because I've gotten it a million times. Thanks

[Woolybugger]

If you only goal is D1 college tennis with scholarship, that's unrealistic. You love tennis and are a hardworker, so just go with your heart and let the chips fall where they may. If D2 or D3, so be it, and be glad and thankful you got there. Just don't narrow your goals solely to a high-D1 school because you'd be setting yourself up to be disappointed.