The advice from the self-described coaches seems rather biased in favor of the coach (surprise, surprise).
Sssshhhh! Don't give away our "Vast Coaching Conspiracy."
How can any intelligent, objective person NOT be in favor of allowing the kid to play with the T-3000?? If the results are good, he stays with it. If the results are not good, he tries something else.
How is this ridiculous or unfair in any way?
I'm convinced, Deuce. (Not!)
Your attempt at creating a
false dichotomy is pretty pathetic. (To *not* allow a kid to play with a demonstrably inferior frame is -- by your thinking -- "unintelligent".
Nonsense!)
We don't allow idiotic choices for many reasons. (Anyone actively involved in Jr High and High School Education -- even those on the periphery -- know teenagers' brains haven't fully developed yet.)
The prefrontal cortex, home of the so-called executive functions -- setting priorities, organizing thoughts, suppressing impulses, weighing the consequences of one's actions. In other words, the final part of the brain to grow up is the part capable of deciding whether "x" is a good thing to do or not. Our jobs as parents, teachers and coaches is to help teens (with under-developed Stupid Filters") make better/safer/wiser decisions.
As I stated earlier - the coach's job is to get results. So why not allow the kid to use the racquet and see what results it yields, rather than condemn it before you know if he can make it work or not? Is there a problem to giving it a chance? Just because it's different or unusual does not make it inherently wrong or "ridiculous".
#1 ... I don't make very many "hard and fast" rules with my boys when the topic isn't an "essential". I make suggestions. I encourage the boys to think things through....
#2 ... (For me) frame choice isn't an
essential. But I'd make it pretty clear -- through joshing or teasing -- that a kid wanting to play with a T-X000 was making a pretty dumb decision. Two years ago, one of my JV boys was playing with a "Red Head" (The Head Pro. 65 sqaure inches. A great frame ... in its day.) I
encouraged him to try out some more modern frames. A week later he was playing with a frame which, IMO, wouldn't hamper his development as much as the Red Head.
#3 ... I also ask my Tennis Parents to buy Tennis Shoes or Court Shoes for the boys. Cross Trainers have contributed to too many twisted / sprained ankles. (If mom and dad ignore me ... okay. I tried....)
Further, one can even argue that at the high school level, results should not be the 'be all and end all'. Incorporating some FUN into the experience should be encouraged.
My boys have plenty of fun, thanks. Mostly their fun comes from improved results ... as a consequence of following my advice. If a kid wants to fool around with a T-X000, I'd encourage that (on his own time). If his under-developed Stupid Filter has him on my practice courts with it ... that's his choice. (But I'll not take him seriously.)
And maybe even teaching the kids about some of the history of the game. These latter two elements can be achieved by using an old racquet such as this.
(I suspect you're just being a contrarian.) Some "history" is fine. But a boy who insists on using a T-X000 for regular play these days? His Coach would determine he isn't really very serious about the game. His Coach would spend more time and energy working with the boys who demonstrated they wanted to improve. The "T-X000" boy would only be hurting himself.
Those who are so quick to condemn this racquet choice are doing the kid a disservice.
Those who are encouraging the kid to be foolish are not helping him one bit.
- KK