How Much Is TOO Much?

As you likely know, we go to TONS of junior tournaments and sometimes our limit of two a month turns into 4 a month...But that's because it is our J-O-B, of course.

But we're just not sure what to think about seeing SO MANY of the very same players at EVERY SINGLE TOURNAMENT! It's not even their J-O-B...or is it? hmm. Furthermore, we can only imagine how much time they spend training and traveling to tournament after tournament after tournament and we can't help but wonder: when do those players have time to be kids???

An even BIGGER issue is how frequently these players are getting injured. According to a study conducted by Loyola University (Young Tennis Players Who Play Only One Sport Are More Prone to Injuries). Please take the time to review this article in its entirety but don't miss these key points:

• Players in the study began playing tennis at an average age of 6, began competing at age 9 and began to specialize at age 10. Players practiced a median of 16 to 20 hours per week, and 93 percent said they competed at least ten months per year.
• Counting singles matches, doubles matches, consolation matches, etc. a player can compete in as many as 10 matches in a tournament. "The heavy match volume takes its toll as the tournament progresses, and a relatively high number of these young tennis players not only sustain injury but are unable to compete any further," Jayanthi said.
• Injuries in young tennis players typically include muscle strains, ankle sprains, hip injuries, knee cap instability, stress fractures in the spine and tendonitis of the wrist and rotator cuff.

Combine that with the growing trend to homeschool kids so they can devote even MORE time to tennis and it seems like a recipe for disaster. I was speechless when a young junior of 8 years old looked me straight in the face and told me she decided to homeschool because she's planning to be a professional tennis player and it is more important for her to train than for her to learn in school!!! WOWOW!

We know many juniors are great tennis players but they're also KIDS.
We're sharing this observation because we're concerned about the increased chance of injury (which will be so very problematic for these players as they age) and the inescapable reality of TENNIS BURNOUT...We think SOOO MUCH tennis is TOOO MUCH for growing kids.
Not judging-just saying. 

As always, the very last thing we want to do is generate any controversy whatsoever.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Junior tennis is a journey, not a destination...
You might as well enjoy it!