Thanks to you all for your supportive comments
Major dilemma here is that I´ve heard enough stories like the one told recently by a former athlete who totally dominated his sport for many years, breaking numerous world records, winning dozens of medals etc.
His dad´s story goes that he had decided when the boy was probably 3 or 4 that one day my son is going to be number one in this sport. In which he himself had no serious backround whatsoever. He started his journey collecting all the material (videotapes, books) ever published...
He, the athlete told me that during his early childhood it never ever even crossed his mind that it would be an option to skip training. He had practised since he was 4 and he just knew there were no option without even thinking about it (he actually said he don´t remember ever even thinking about it).
When other kids went playing together after school, he started his daily 3 hours evening training (second of the day). It was completely normal for him.
He thinks that without his dad´s influence, persuation, pushing or whatever he probably would have just been reading comic books at home after school with friends.
But he thinks his dad did a right thing after seeing that he has athletic potential at the age of 4.
Before age 10 he´d realized that other kids were not like him. They were having fun after school but the influence of his father was so strong that even jealously was not an option. Doing something else than practising was so out of reach.
What was it like, from age 4 to 10, six years, spending 6 hours a day 6 days a week doing something your father had planned? (long repetitive practises, dull IMO compared to great games like tennis). He says it was not fun at all, but not horrible either. It was kind of emotionless, like a routine, just a normal way for him spending his early mornings and afternoons. Something done because it just was meant to be done (which reminds me of this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_g66pGnbdp4 (read the text..."is tennis for you a game or...?)
Before age 14 he´d realized that all those hours of training had been done just because of his old man´s "vision", own need to succeed, not because of his own choice of any kind. But at the same time he realized that he was already one of the best of the world at his age and there was a real possibility to succeed if practising hard another 5 to 7 years.
Which he then decided to do. And that was his first choice (he said that without that realistic possibility to reach the top he´d quit training for sure).
Have to be said that it was endurance sport so future success perhaps easier to predict compared to tennis.
I´ve started hitting also with my 3 years old now. After he insisted. He claims to be Nadal (with an orange shirt), and I´m Fedelel (with white shirt), and I´m losing him (well not him, "Nadal") all the time. After a good shot he always remember to to say he won. Me. He won another medal. Him, not me. He win trophies with those power backhands. Not me.
I´ve never seen a kid who´s so competitive. Which would make him a good candidate. He´s so damn fast with his feet also...
It´s annoying. He´s annoying. In a way I do not like that idea at all. Maybe I actually hate competitive sport? Isn´t that just the most childish form of communicating with each other? Me me me me...
I´ve been thinking for some time now that maybe I should try another path if my kids continue like hitting those yellow balls.
...maybe I coach them to become the best (!) tennis players they could possibly be, without ever attending any official competition whatsoever.
So in 2025 there would be a rumor "there´s a guy living at this mountain..."
