"Funny" story of league play at a public park

[USERNAME]

Wow if I did this my dad would be all over me like white on rice... I would get my @$$ beat if I acted that stupid.

 

[Annika]

I must say I've been playing at public parks for 35 years now and only a few times have run into mischevious kids. Usually staring them down/hands on hips ends the problems. They know their behavior is unacceptable. However, being a tad too sensitive to noises, I have more problems with other players on other courts. Why do players think they can laugh and joke as if they're sitting in a bar? C'mon, this is tennis!!! They laugh suddenly and loudly right when I'm about to serve. Sheesh! How rude!!!

 

[subban]

Seems you are more a serious player. Some people like to view it as more a social thing to get together with friends and have a good time. I am like that with doubles especially and try to catch up with friends.

 

[Cindysphinx]

I have to deal with a pack of kids when I practice by myself. There is this one awesome court in our neighborhood. Recently resurfaced, some shade in one corner, backboard, just a single fenced court. Ideal for solo practice. Trouble is, there is a kiddie park next door.

When I arrive, there are usually pre-schoolers on the court running around, sitting, or pushing Tonka trucks. I just take the court and start unpacking my stuff. Usually the caretakers will come and get their little charges.

And sometimes not. So I stand there, hands on hips, waiting. If this doesn't attract the attention of the caretaker, then I start negotiating on a loud voice. "OK, I'm going to play tennis now. Do you guys want to watch? How about you go over to that tree on the other side of the fence?" Even this sometimes doesn't bring a caretaker response, so then I just have to wait (or I will bribe the kid to leave by giving them a tennis ball with their age on it).

I have also had toddlers burst onto the court in mid-swing and refuse to leave, insisting on picking up my balls. Who is watching these kids, anyway?

And just think. In a decade they will be trying to take pictures of my butt under my skirt.

 

[cknobman]

And just think. In a decade they will be trying to take pictures of my butt under my skirt.

Only if your hot :wink::grin:

 

[tennis tom]

Have whatever regulatory body controling the court put a conspicuous sign up saying:

"COURT FOR TENNIS ONLY, NO BIKES, SKATEBOARDS, ROLLER-BLADING, OR OTHER ACTIVITIES ALLOWED. NON-MARKING TENNIS SHOES ONLY"

A sign such as this is necessary for legal purposes for prior-notification, so when the cops come, they can do something about it. If the "care-non-takers" complain, have them cited for child-negligence or abuse. They are placing the rug-rat in danger, it could get hit by a ball or a racket.

The worse case of tennis court abuse I've encountered was at lovely neighborhood park. One night some "just kids" lit a tire on fire in the middle of the tennis court leaving the burnt impression on the court for about 20 years before the courts were resurfaced. "Sorry, city of San Francisco is broke, we need to re-gild the gold dome on Schitty Hall first".

 

[Cindysphinx]

There is such a sign. Which is the reason I feel justified in kicking the tots off, however gently.

They aren't bad kids (obviously). Sometimes they are kind of fun. They will stand outside the fence and watch me drop feed. I will ask them whether I should hit the ball hard or soft, high or low. They all shout something different, and then I do what I want. They find it pee-your-pants hilarious when my serves hit the net.

 

[jswinf]

(or I will bribe the kid to leave by giving them a tennis ball with their age on it).

QUOTE]

Make sure you have a Penn 12 for the kid with the mustache.

 

[BegTennis]

I would have definitely said something to them when they started taking up the skirt pics. That's way too personal and probably criminal even if they are just kids.

My friend and I play at a local park with some really nice courts, but of course there are always neighborhood kids hanging around or even creepy looking adults/guys. We've had to leave before because we felt uncomfortable. Just wish all those people could just mind their own business and let us play!

 

[equinox]

my former tennis club is now the local youth night time holiday hangout. padlocks have been bolt cut, sections cut out of the fences, supermarket trolleys pushed inside, left over furniture rearranged, makeshift waterbongs lying around, graffiti. a real mess.

council doesn't give a toss. too busy spending millions building new indoor swimming pool up the road.

 

[fruitytennis1]

At a local highschool(thankfully not ours) some people lit a bunch of fireworks on 3 of their courts. There were a ton of small holes all over

 

[kelawai]

First of all, when you feel uncomfortable with the surrounding. You should stop the Match. And complaint to the person who put you on those courts.

Wearing a short short dress and show the under pants in some non tennis playing or fans territory will draw a big unusual crowds, young and adults. I would say dress appropriately when playing at certain public courts or clubs.

To those parents who think and wants their kid's behave perfectly. You have no idea what you are talking yet. Remember the movie, Ferris Bueller's Days Off. Overall, he is still a good normal kid.

 

[goober]

First of all, when you feel uncomfortable with the surrounding. You should stop the Match. And complaint to the person who put you on those courts.

Wearing a short short dress and show the under pants in some non tennis playing or fans territory will draw a big unusual crowds, young and adults. I would say dress appropriately when playing at certain public courts or clubs.

To those parents who think and wants their kid's behave perfectly. You have no idea what you are talking yet. Remember the movie, Ferris Bueller's Days Off. Overall, he is still a good normal kid.

LOL- really stop the match and complain? I don't think I have seen a USTA match stopped during play for someone to complain about the courts. Besides what good would it do? The home team chooses their courts and there is nothing you can do about it- certainly not on the day of the match. You cannot force a team to change where they play.

Ferris Bueller? Fun movie but it is completely fantasyland. Just because Ferris was a good guy in the movie doesn't mean that people IRL would be just like him or not face consequences for their actions. Ferris in the movie convinces Cameron to take his Dad's Ferrari for a joyride. Not that long ago in my area a some teens took one of their parent's jaguar for a joyride and they lost control of the car and crashed. All of them died. My job as a parent is not to expect perfect behavior, but to teach what I think is right and lay down boundaries and draw lines that should not be crossed.

 

[Annika]

I have to add this. A friend and myself played some singles at our public park last week. A utility truck pulled up and climbed up the pole right over our court to put up some new cameras. The two men had a job to do but we heard clanking the whole time and out of the corner of our eyes we could see them. We could not play on the other courts. So we continued playing.:twisted:

Then they took a lunch break. Pulled the ladder over to other post right over our court and started the procedure all over again.

They were trying to be quiet whlle we played so afterwards we kidded them about it. :???:

 

[kelawai]

LOL- really stop the match and complain? I don't think I have seen a USTA match stopped during play for someone to complain about the courts. Besides what good would it do? The home team chooses their courts and there is nothing you can do about it- certainly not on the day of the match. You cannot force a team to change where they play.

There are many things you and I have not seen yet. How are you going to play when being harassed or disrupted by outsiders while on the court? This isn't soccer or basketball game where fans can shout any names and throw banana into the field.

The home team chooses the courts.

How can a home team chose a court where Visitors get abuses and afraid to play there? Guess the Home team most wins are from play Defaults. Maybe you have not play in many public courts with no court attendant outside your area. Say you as a visitor stranger to some new place . People were rollerblading and kick ball on the court next to you. Are you gonna teach them about court etiquette? I would say again, many things you and I have not seen yet.

About how you expect and teaching your children. I respect and fully agree with that.