What is the end game for college tennis? What's the point?

TimeToPlaySets

TimeToPlaySets

Legend
As a rec player, I understand there is no point of tennis except the enjoyment.
But, I am not training 5 hours a day, either.

As a passionate and moderate obsessed tennis nut, I get that the process is the end goal
I am just wondering if people are in the college tennis game for something beyond that.

Scholarship can't be a valid point, since it costs more than college itself to build a D1 player.
I know guys who spend $40k-$80k a years on junior tennis.
Not playing tennis and paying $250k cash for college is way cheaper than a scholarship.
If you can afford to groom a D1 player, you don't need a scholarship.

Does anyone even care about college tennis as a spectator sport?
Many ATP matches appear empty, so it can't be for the spectator attention aspect like college Football or Basketball.

I am curious what the end game is for making tennis the center of your life from age 8-22
Only to never play again, pretty much, after college ends.
 
I'm no college athlete, but I think the goal for most of the ones I've met have been to play the sport they love for as long as possible. I'm sure some deluded themselves (in a healthy way) into thinking that they have the shot to go pro, when, in actuality, they don't. Of course, I'm not referring to those that actually do have the shot to go pro, just talking about the majority.

Then there's the glory. It doesn't matter if there aren't many spectators. You'd still feel the glory competing at a level that high.
 
TimeToPlaySets said:
A
I am curious what the end game is for making tennis the center of your life from age 8-22
Only to never play again, pretty much, after college ends.
Click to expand...
For some the end game is to leverage tennis to get in a very selective college, e.g. one of those with 8-20% acceptance. Those talented players have to balance sports and academics but they get to play the sport they love while attending a top notch university and making career connections-not a bad deal. While it is true that scholarships earned are usually far less than dollars invested in training, travel, and tournaments, can you place a dollar value on mental toughness, discipline, confidence, poise under pressure, teamwork, and the time management skills earned? Those priceless skills will help players in the marketplace long after they leave the courts.
 
Who says college players have made tennis 'the center of their life'? Where do you get that narrow view? Because of their tennis acumen many players are able to get a college education, make contacts that will forever enhance their lives, and some will even have the chance to travel the world and play professionally. For most college players tennis is a part of their lives, not their whole lives. It makes them more well rounded and thus more valuable to society. And I know many, many former college players who still play tennis regularly at various levels and love it. Take your cynicism somewhere else because clearly you just don't get it.
 
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My son's college experience has been 1000 times better by being part of a team and playing the sport that he loves. He has made lifelong friends and has learned so much, as jcgatennismom says, and has matured so much because of the sport. He tells younger kids to not take this route if you don't love to play -- but for those who really love the sport, what an incredible way to learn these important lessons.
 
TimeToPlaySets said:
As a rec player, I understand there is no point of tennis except the enjoyment.
But, I am not training 5 hours a day, either.

As a passionate and moderate obsessed tennis nut, I get that the process is the end goal
I am just wondering if people are in the college tennis game for something beyond that.

Scholarship can't be a valid point, since it costs more than college itself to build a D1 player.
I know guys who spend $40k-$80k a years on junior tennis.
Not playing tennis and paying $250k cash for college is way cheaper than a scholarship.
If you can afford to groom a D1 player, you don't need a scholarship.

Does anyone even care about college tennis as a spectator sport?
Many ATP matches appear empty, so it can't be for the spectator attention aspect like college Football or Basketball.

I am curious what the end game is for making tennis the center of your life from age 8-22
Only to never play again, pretty much, after college ends.
Click to expand...
How many people play American football after college football career is over? I hope this illustrates how stupid and inane this question is. For decades people have tried to attribute some unique detriment to the lifelong pursuit of tennis excellence. If any of it is true it is not unique to tennis. It can be attributed to all high-level pursuits.
 
MarTennis said:
How many people play American football after college football career is over? I hope this illustrates how stupid and inane this question is. For decades people have tried to attribute some unique detriment to the lifelong pursuit of tennis excellence. If any of it is true it is not unique to tennis. It can be attributed to all high-level pursuits.
Click to expand...
And what's the point of playing college football living with CTE symptoms?

This post seems like a troll to me.

On another note for me college tennis was my motivation to get through college. Immature at the time, it worked for me. Had the best times practicing, competing hanging out and traveling with teammates. Even got a tennis playing trip with my team to Europe during my college tennis time. The great memories and friendships are still there. In the end I still play tennis with a group of guys who are also great friends. In some cases my ongoing tennis has benefited my business career positively as well. My son who also played works in the tennis industry (non-teaching). Seems like the end game has been a good one for my family and me.
 
strike1 said:
My son's college experience has been 1000 times better by being part of a team and playing the sport that he loves. He has made lifelong friends and has learned so much, as jcgatennismom says, and has matured so much because of the sport. He tells younger kids to not take this route if you don't love to play -- but for those who really love the sport, what an incredible way to learn these important lessons.
Click to expand...

We required both my boys to particpate in some activity or sport. My youngest has done competitve dance since he was 5 and my oldest was in tennis, then baseball, then back to tennis at 13. He has played tennis since. We never pushed him and spent relatively little for coaching. He also never really did many national sanctioned juniors tournaments. The last few years it has been just high school tennis. He is looking at a few different colleges now, so roads aren't always filled with gobs of money, all day work on court during the week, and tournaments on weekends. He isn't D1, but is a good player who will play college tennis because he wants to. He loves the sport and enjoys the team aspect of it. Scholarship isn't going to be much, so it was never about the money there or return on investment. As Strike mentioned, my son made friends, learned to compete and other life lessons, and had fun doing it. That was all I could and did hope for as the end game for him participating.
 
As a current college player, I just love being apart of a team and being able to play the sport I love. I guess there is no end game as I plan to be apart of the as long as possibly. College tennis has just been an amazing experience that I was lucky enough to be apart of.
 
For some it's the academic opportunity. For some it's playing the game they love a bit longer. For some it's prep for pros. For some it's the only thing they know, it's essentially their way of life.
 
The OP is just setting everyone up by asking the question the way he does. In terms of tangible benefits (scholarships, etc).

“What do you get by having children? All they do is cost you money and time. Stress, hard work, disappointment. Sure, some kids go on to make millions and give you money. But most kids don’t. So why would anyone bother?”
 
Lots to dissect in your comments. It looks like you are suggesting that tennis isn't worth it for young players, and you don't see the value in college tennis....Since you are asking I will try to give my thoughts:

TimeToPlaySets said:
Scholarship can't be a valid point, since it costs more than college itself to build a D1 player.
I know guys who spend $40k-$80k a years on junior tennis.
Not playing tennis and paying $250k cash for college is way cheaper than a scholarship.
If you can afford to groom a D1 player, you don't need a scholarship.
Click to expand...

You have some interesting observations here. The costs to play tennis are definitely high in the US, and unlike many other sports the players are competing with players around the world for scholarships. This has a lot to do with the decline in US talent at the highest levels since the early 90's, there just aren't as many kids out there competing in tennis. There are many factors besides money, but costs have certainly become one. And for most parents if scholarship is the goal, they push their kids into other sports more affordable. Many of the best players have parents that played, so they are groomed under them.

Keep in mind that for men only 4.5 scholarships are allowed per D-1 team, and at many levels there are no scholarships. Many of the kids competing aren't doing it for the scholarship they are doing it because they love tennis and want to represent the school. latests stats have 65% of scholarships going to International players, so for US parents its definitely not worth it

TimeToPlaySets said:
Does anyone even care about college tennis as a spectator sport?
Many ATP matches appear empty, so it can't be for the spectator attention aspect like college Football or Basketball
Click to expand...

A ton of people do, its why it has its own thread, websites, podcasts and other stuff out there. Just like other sports some schools have tons of student and spectator support, other schools they don't care. But its followed by a lot of people and the matches are fun to watch. And in many cases more exciting then sitting through a grinding ATP 5 set match

Outside of power 5 conferences, I am not sure its entirely accurate that anyone shows up to football or basketball games either. College sports in general are money losers, and many schools try and bank on their football and basketball games bringing in revenue to support their other programs. But these sports are expensive to operate, and most of them break even or are in the red. Outside of the top programs, there is hardly a revenue sport bringing in revenue to support the whole athletic department. So when you see tennis teams and other sports getting cut, its a signal the budget is tight for those schools. Many tennis teams operate on donors and philanthropy to survive. MAC schools are a great group to look at. Driven by their conference commissioner in the 80's (who was a football guys and saw football as the golden goose for the conference, able to one day compete with the Big Ten), all of the schools were put under requirements to upgrade their football programs: stadiums, fields, coaching staffs, scoreboards; etc, etc. This cost was so heavy, with no returns from the games or merchandise, that the schools went broke doing it while trying to budget for more women's programs. What did they all do? Cut their tennis teams....

TimeToPlaySets said:
I am curious what the end game is for making tennis the center of your life from age 8-22
Only to never play again, pretty much, after college ends.
Click to expand...

Its a great sport! People love it, and its a great sport for kids. Its just monopolized and mismanaged at all levels. And many people play tennis their whole life. Other sports literally they never play again....With tennis some don't want to, can't afford it yet, or take a break; but most stay with the game. So never playing again isn't correct comparatively. However, I will say that the options for ex college players are limited and restricted, and the USTA does a horrible job of keeping these players with the sport. Most take on new jobs, or go to grad school, so finding time to play tennis is difficult. When I graduated I was immediately relocated to a city, and had zero time to play. It wasn't that I didn't want to, it was just that I didn't even know what to do and was making the bottom of the salary to even afford joining a club and playing....So it wasn't an option

Hopefully over the next year you get a chance to attend some high level college tennis matches, it may change your opinion
 
ClarkC said:
What is the end game for those of us who spend too much time watching LiveStats and reading about tennis online and posting about it?
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There is a difference.
Your activity is just harmless passive entertainment to pass time until you die.
Being a competitive junior is a job. It's grueling work. It's mental hell. It's also very expensive.
You can't even being to compare the two.
 
jcgatennismom said:
can you place a dollar value on mental toughness, discipline, confidence, poise under pressure, teamwork, and the time management skills earned? Those priceless skills will help players in the marketplace long after they leave the courts.
Click to expand...

This kind of statement is never questioned, and automatically accepted as fact.
I don't really see that these tennis soft skills translate into the world of work.
Tennis is not really applicable to the world of work, for the majority of jobs.
 
JW10S said:
Who says college players have made tennis 'the center of their life'? Where do you get that narrow view?
Click to expand...

These juniors are better than adults who play for 50 years.
You do not get ATP looking strokes without making tennis the center of your life.
What level are you? Do you have any idea how much work it takes to become a nationally ranked player.
Most of the human population simply has no concept of what is involved. None.
 
MarTennis said:
How many people play American football after college football career is over? I hope this illustrates how stupid and inane this question is. For decades people have tried to attribute some unique detriment to the lifelong pursuit of tennis excellence. If any of it is true it is not unique to tennis. It can be attributed to all high-level pursuits.
Click to expand...

Football requires 5% of the work that tennis excellence demands.
Football is mostly genetics and some weight lifting, and learning a few plays
Tennis is a different universe.
 
atatu said:
Actually I think college tennis players are much more likely to play recreational tennis after school than college football players are likely to play recreational football.
Click to expand...

Football is stupid, but one does not devote their entire life to learning footballs.
You do not need to be in a football academy from age 6, and homeschooled, to make it in football.

You think a basketball or football player trains and practices 6 hours a day year round? Not even close.
 
Oh I see where you’re going with this, son. Consider Andrew Luck, Colts QB, graduated Stanford in Architecture. Frank Ryan, Ph.D. Math, Cleveland Browns QB. Football players aren’t the stupid dolts you think they are. QB camps abound.

Sometimes I think TTPS is a contrivance to spur interest.
 
I said football is stupid, not the players.
It is a far less technical sport than tennis.
This is why each football player does not have his own coaching staff, like ATP pros do.
There are no such thing as football academies, like Bolliterri.
Football is like checkers, tennis is like chess.
Tennis takes a devotion that subsumes your entire life.
No other sport is like this.
 
TimeToPlaySets said:
I said football is stupid, not the players.
It is a far less technical sport than tennis.
This is why each football player does not have his own coaching staff, like ATP pros do.
There are no such thing as football academies, like Bolliterri.
Football is like checkers, tennis is like chess.
Tennis takes a devotion that subsumes your entire life.
No other sport is like this.
Click to expand...
Golf ??
 
TimeToPlaySets said:
These juniors are better than adults who play for 50 years.
You do not get ATP looking strokes without making tennis the center of your life.
What level are you? Do you have any idea how much work it takes to become a nationally ranked player.
Most of the human population simply has no concept of what is involved. None.
Click to expand...
On the contrary, I competed internatinally as a junior, played for a National Championship college team, played a little pro tennis, and coach elite players--I know far more than you. Tennis was a part of my life, not my whole life. I did well in school, had an active social life, and had other hobbies. You on the other hand have done none of that and just tap nonsense on a keyboard making inane threads, you don't actually DO anything--this board is the center and most important thing in you sad, cynical life.
 
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TimeToPlaySets said:
I said football is stupid, not the players.
It is a far less technical sport than tennis.
This is why each football player does not have his own coaching staff, like ATP pros do.
There are no such thing as football academies, like Bolliterri.
Football is like checkers, tennis is like chess.
Tennis takes a devotion that subsumes your entire life.
No other sport is like this.
Click to expand...

IMG has a football academy.
 
Are we talking about people who went to college mainly to play tennis, or to get scholarships for their education? There's a difference.

For the latter, they get a free education and an interesting experience on the resume that impresses people and breaks the ice. Shows drive and dedication.

To play - they generally get coaching and equipment free, which is a heck of a lot better than having to pay tons of money for the privilege of playing futures in front of nobody. And if you're good enough, you can always go pro later.
 
TimeToPlaySets said:
Does anyone even care about college tennis as a spectator sport?


Only to never play again, pretty much, after college ends.
Click to expand...

Your premise is wrong.

Im watching the ncaa tournament now and have been all week.

They never play again? What makes your think that?
 
NCAA tournament ?

Is it televised? Is there a stadium?
Can you take a photo of the crowds?

People can name a handful of ATP tennis stars,
but I don't think anyone knows the name of any NCAA winner ever.
 
TimeToPlaySets said:
NCAA tournament ?

Is it televised? Is there a stadium?
Can you take a photo of the crowds?

People can name a handful of ATP tennis stars,
but I don't think anyone knows the name of any NCAA winner ever.
Click to expand...
Just because you know absolutely nothing about college tennis doesn't mean there aren't others who do and enjoy following it. I could probably name the last 10 team and individual winners.
Yes, it is being televised right now (how do you not know that?), the team championships were televised last week and the individual event is going on now, it's being played at the new USTA center in Florida. And since you clearly don't know, college matches are not played in a single stadium, but a row of courts playing all at once. And yes there are spectators in the stands there.

You really need to quit while you're behind...
 
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You can't possibly make the argument that the NCAA championship is a well attended event.
I bet it is family members mostly.

First, there is almost no footage of this online.
2018 does not even exist.

In 2017, there are more people at a local high school basketball game.
Does anyone have a photo of the stands behind the camera ?

 
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TimeToPlaySets said:
NCAA tournament ?

Is it televised? Is there a stadium?
Can you take a photo of the crowds?

People can name a handful of ATP tennis stars,
but I don't think anyone knows the name of any NCAA winner ever.
Click to expand...

Its on tennis channel, just ended for the day. Semi's tomorrow

Have you heard of Steve Johnson, Mackenzie macdonald, sarge sargisian, how about french open champ Mickeal Pernfors?

The tennis is very entertaining, you have been missing out all week. They had team championships last week

I can name like 2-3 soccer players (if you count pele), doesnt make it bad sport, just one i dont know about. Same could be said for non top player tennis.
 
The ignorance is so strong with TTPS. Complete blowhard with zero insight.

And yes, the college tennis on TC has been great to watch. Anyone who claims to be as into tennis as the OP is, would appreciate seeing these guys play. You can learn a lot seeing these players and the top ones end up on the tour as well.

Just an embarrassing post, but this seems to be the usual fare for him.
 
NastyWinners said:
Then pulls a D3 college match to prove his point of no one in the stands lol
Click to expand...

I know..lol. He probably can’t grasp the difference. I kind of like seeing D3 because I play with a guy who just graduated and played #2 on his D2 school. Guys like that you can learn a lot from because they are not at the crazy high level of natural skill thatalot of the D1 players have.
 
And college sports is also good for business contacts after college, like frats and clubs. We’ve meet so many families in tennis, and my son has those connections for the future after tennis.

To a great extent, life is who you surround yourself with.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Yet again, is "contacts" just another unchecked assumption that everyone just nods in agreement?
Has anyone ever verified this? Does anyone know someone who got a job from a tennis teammate?

I know ex-D1 players. They have not used this mythical contact network to get anything.
They are not even living in the same city as one other player from their team.
Tennis has literally zero effect on their adult lives. They want nothing to do with tennis.
 
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JW10S said:
He clearly doesn't know the difference between D1, D2, or D3, he doesn't even know those divisions exist. His ignorance with regard to college tennis is very evident.
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I know a former D3. While they did not spend $80k living at IMG, they dedicated a large part of their childhood towards tennis. They also spent a lot of money on coaching. The bottom tier of D3 is UTR8 or 9. That is 4.5 As a kid, You don't get to 4.5 within a few years of playing without some serious coaching. So my point holds for all tiers. You don't get to even D3 unless you dedicate massive effort towards tennis. All for what ?
 
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