D*#@ Basketball!!!

[Chemist]

Originally Posted by lstewart

I can give you a view of what things might be in 10 years. My son is a 17 year old high school junior attending a school that competes in the highest classification in our state. He splits his time between basketball and tennis, and has for the past few years. Tennis is the sport he will play in college, but I think basketball is his favorite. Of course that is probably because he has all his school buddies on the team, and has 1,500 people in the stands screaming at the games he plays in. Tennis is training with dad (who he still can't beat), and playing many many many usta tournaments with maybe 5 or 6 people watching his match. As others have said, basketball is a great supplement to tennis. We train for tennis at night after high school basketball practice, and weekends. We get to hit 5 days per week, only skipping game days. at 5ft 10, he is an average athlete on his basketball team, with 6ft 5 crazy quick kids going in for slams. But when he takes the tennis court, he seldom faces someone as quick as himself. The downside is that he spends less time on tennis that most of the top regional tennis talent, and less time on basketball than the same from that sport. Injuries can also cause problems, such as a missed tennis training session Monday while he was being taken to the hospital to have his eye sewn up from a practice injury. I suspect he would have more interest in tennis if he had good friends to train with, but he is the only serious tennis player at his school. He is enjoying both sports now, and if he does get good enough to play college tennis, all his basketball training will help him as an athlete, toughness, training hard, and in other ways. If a kid wants to play another sport along with tennis, basketball would be high on the list of options. I can also tell you as a former college tennis player, and someone who played most sports growing up, those tennis players that just played tennis were not hard to spot. They had tennis skill, but were not very athletic when we did other activites for fun.

Kalamazoo may be the only USTA national that some matches are played in a stadium with a few hundred seats. But he would get that many or more people cheering for him in every basketball game

[lstewart]

Oh yeah, cheerleaders are not coming out to watch his high school tennis matches. The basketball gyms are usually packed. It's funny.... the student section at the games is pretty roudy and has cheers for each player. When my son hits a 3, they all start chanting "We love ten-nis, we love ten-nis", But it also cool to be really good at tennis on the basketball team. When one of the studs comes in talking about what college is recuiting him and he is all conference, my son can tell them he was all conference as a 10th grader in tennis, and he is being recruited by the same school.

[RollTrackTake]

Let him play basketball and hope he really gets good at it!!! More scholarships available for basketball than tennis. More recognition & prestige at school. I love tennis but to 75% of high school kids it's looked at it as an old-man sport. If your son is that talented at tennis he can easily do both. Most people are right on that it will only help him grow as an athlete. But injuries are more prevalent in b-ball in my experience so be forewarned.

[BMC9670]

Originally Posted by lstewart

Oh yeah, cheerleaders are not coming out to watch his high school tennis matches. The basketball gyms are usually packed. It's funny.... the student section at the games is pretty roudy and has cheers for each player. When my son hits a 3, they all start chanting "We love ten-nis, we love ten-nis", But it also cool to be really good at tennis on the basketball team. When one of the studs comes in talking about what college is recuiting him and he is all conference, my son can tell them he was all conference as a 10th grader in tennis, and he is being recruited by the same school.

True. Even at my son's 5th grade games they play loud music, do pre-game introductions, have half time half-court draw for a prize, and there are at least 50 people watching between family of both teams, other students and some teachers. It's really exciting.

I think my son enjoys the differences. He likes the team dynamic and excitement of basketball, but also enjoys the go-it-alone of tennis....so far.

[Trippisthebest]

Originally Posted by ga tennis

Thats the problem he and my daughter are the only kids that play within 50 miles.And they cant practice together because it turns into ww3.

Lol. My younger brother (who has now quit tennis) could never practice with me because I would always get mad at him for acting poorly or being rude or acting like he doesn't care. He was actually pretty good but he just couldn't play with me.

[Trippisthebest]

Originally Posted by RollTrackTake

Let him play basketball and hope he really gets good at it!!! More scholarships available for basketball than tennis. More recognition & prestige at school. I love tennis but to 75% of high school kids it's looked at it as an old-man sport. If your son is that talented at tennis he can easily do both. Most people are right on that it will only help him grow as an athlete. But injuries are more prevalent in b-ball in my experience so be forewarned.

I'm just going to say this from the knowledge i've gained from the FSU tennis coaches, they say that most of the top tennis talent in my city isn't playing high school tennis. I mean i'm only 13 and am not in high school but now i'm really taking a second thought on high school tennis. I mean to really be the best i think it just takes to much time to be a high school tennis player

[Chemist]

Originally Posted by Trippisthebest

I'm just going to say this from the knowledge i've gained from the FSU tennis coaches, they say that most of the top tennis talent in my city isn't playing high school tennis. I mean i'm only 13 and am not in high school but now i'm really taking a second thought on high school tennis. I mean to really be the best i think it just takes to much time to be a high school tennis player

Most top kids from our Section play high school tennis. When I was reading bio of many D1 college players, most listed their accomplishment in high school competition. My son is a junior. He played 2nd single in his freshman and sophomore years behind one of his friends who was the state champion and is playing for a D1 school with almost full ride. He benefited a lot practicing with that boy. They led their team to the final of the states, the best ever finish in their school history. Even though he was never challenged in his regular season matches, he was having dog fights after the playoff started. He had to learn how to deal with the people cheering for his double faults and unforced errors. The high school experience will surely prepare you for college tennis.

My son will be the only tournament player on his team this year. So, we asked the coach to allow him help coaching and training his teammates. He earned over 15 volunteer hours helping coaching the girls team last fall.

[lstewart]

We saw one instance of a top player in this area not playing high school tennis, mainly due to training many hours at an area academy, and not wanting to do what the high school coach expects of the kids on the team. But most of them do play, and it seems alot of the college recruiters are watching their results in the conference and state tourneys. One of the college coaches talking to my son says the most talented players at his college are not on his team, because they were so burned out from all the hours on the court as a junior, being forced to play, and not enjoying tennis now that they have a choice. He thinks my son playing high school basketball is great, both for the cross training, and not being so focused just on tennis. I do admit though that my son is the only talent on his high school team, and the coach just has him practice with me after I get off work. During tennis season (fall sport here), he practices with the basketball team, and then meets me at the courts when I get in from work. The high school team is wrapping up practice, and we will be out there another 2 hours. Of course he would not do that is there was anyone else for him to practice with that could give him a workout. Basketball coach wants him year round, and the tennis coach is just happy to have him on the team.

[Chemist]

Originally Posted by lstewart

We saw one instance of a top player in this area not playing high school tennis, mainly due to training many hours at an area academy, and not wanting to do what the high school coach expects of the kids on the team. But most of them do play, and it seems alot of the college recruiters are watching their results in the conference and state tourneys. One of the college coaches talking to my son says the most talented players at his college are not on his team, because they were so burned out from all the hours on the court as a junior, being forced to play, and not enjoying tennis now that they have a choice. He thinks my son playing high school basketball is great, both for the cross training, and not being so focused just on tennis. I do admit though that my son is the only talent on his high school team, and the coach just has him practice with me after I get off work. During tennis season (fall sport here), he practices with the basketball team, and then meets me at the courts when I get in from work. The high school team is wrapping up practice, and we will be out there another 2 hours. Of course he would not do that is there was anyone else for him to practice with that could give him a workout. Basketball coach wants him year round, and the tennis coach is just happy to have him on the team.

It's great that your son is able to play both tennis and basketball and this shows how much he loves the game of tennis. I was so surprised to find out that Christian Appleman, Yale tennis assistant coach, actually managed to play 4 years of varsity tennis and basketball for the Nittany Lions.

[lstewart]

Yes Chemist, I think tennis and basketball are a nice combination. John Lucas was an all american in both tennis and basketball back in the 1970's, before going on to a long NBA career. Of course our situation is probably unique, in that my son is playing as much tennis this winter as any of his competitors. Having access to indoor courts, and me as his training partner, he is getting in 5 days per week of hard tennis work, along with all the basketball. Over training can be a risk, as he has had some stress injuries we have to watch for. But it is a nice combination, and it works for him.

[hhollines]

Originally Posted by ga tennis

My 7 year old son has been playing tennis since he could walk. I thought i did everything right with him and his tennis development. I made ALOT of mistakes with my daughter and learned from those mistakes. About a month ago basketball season started and i signed him up because he wants to play EVERY sport. I did not realize that he would go basketball crazy and ONLY wanna practice basketball everyday. Everyday i get home from work and ask him do you wanna go play tennis and he says no daddy i wanna go play basketball. He was really getting good at tennis and i was gonna put him some level4 and 5 12 and under tournaments this summer. I just dont know what to do?? I am not gonna force him to do anything it just kills me that basketball has taken over his love for tennis. He said he was gonna start back tennis after basketball season but thats a month away. Anybody experienced anything like this with their child???

GA, I started playing tennis at the age of 4 and basketball at the age of 5. Turn the clock forward, and I was very good at both sports at the age of 11 but finally I had to chose b/c both sports required a high level of commitment and travel . . . complete conflict (I had tennis coaches begging me to commit full time, and b-ball coaches begging me to commit full time).

I loved both sports but basketball a bit more. I continued to play both and by my senior year of high school, I achieved All-American status as a basketball player with several Div. I scholarships but I also had Div. II tennis scholarships even though it was my 2nd sport.

My advice . . . let the kid decide. It's about "love." If you do what you love, that provides the best path and chance to succeed. I watch so many parents "force" (even though they won't admit it) their little kids to fly around the U.S. playing junior tennis. Just look in the kids eyes and be honest and it will tell you what they love.

And, the good thing, tennis and basketball go hand in hand . . . the footwork is helpful in both sports and to play both a team sport and individual sports helps your mental grow big time. Both are great sports and you can't go wrong unless "you" make the decision for your kid . . . let the kid decide and let the kid follow their dreams . . .

Just my 2 cents . . . what you describe is similar to my experiences growing up.

[ga tennis]

Originally Posted by hhollines

GA, I started playing tennis at the age of 4 and basketball at the age of 5. Turn the clock forward, and I was very good at both sports at the age of 11 but finally I had to chose b/c both sports required a high level of commitment and travel . . . complete conflict (I had tennis coaches begging me to commit full time, and b-ball coaches begging me to commit full time).

I loved both sports but basketball a bit more. I continued to play both and by my senior year of high school, I achieved All-American status as a basketball player with several Div. I scholarships but I also had Div. II tennis scholarships even though it was my 2nd sport.

My advice . . . let the kid decide. It's about "love." If you do what you love, that provides the best path and chance to succeed. I watch so many parents "force" (even though they won't admit it) their little kids to fly around the U.S. playing junior tennis. Just look in the kids eyes and be honest and it will tell you what they love.

And, the good thing, tennis and basketball go hand in hand . . . the footwork is helpful in both sports and to play both a team sport and individual sports helps your mental grow big time. Both are great sports and you can't go wrong unless "you" make the decision for your kid . . . let the kid decide and let the kid follow their dreams . . .

Just my 2 cents . . . what you describe is similar to my experiences growing up.

Thanks ........

[lstewart]

I certainly had no luck getting my sons to play the sports I pushed. I had visions of turning my first son into a tennis star. As soon as he could express an opinion, he had little interest in tennis. So I did not push it. He played all sports growing up, got into golf at 12, played basketball and golf in school, played college golf, and now is a 25 year old scratch golfer. He does enjoy tennis, probably watches it more than I do, and can hit well enough to give me a workout. Had visions of my younger son being a stud golfer, and pushed him. He hated it. Played all sports, and I did not get him interested in tennis until he suffered a fractured vertebre and torn disc as a junior high QB. So now he is the basketball / tennis player. The one I wanted to be a tennis player is a stud golfer, and the one i wanted to be a golfer is a strong tennis and basketball player. So, you just have to expose them to sports, let them find what they like, and then help them get good at that sport or sports. My younger son also played a year of high school baseball as a 9th grader, but I convinced him that being able to be good enough to sit on the bench of every high school team was not necessarily a goal to have.

[MarTennis]

as in Carrrying the ball illegally. Pun intended. Seriously, help him become a very good basketball player. The reward? A highly conditioned athlete. Also, make him concentrate and shoot free throws properly and accurately. Helps with overall concentration.

Require him to play tennis as you prescribe til at least age 12. You da boss. Foster the love of course, but run ya house. If he quits at 12, so be it. My 2 cents.