Off to the court... again.

Do you ever feel like going to the tennis court has become routine like as waking up in the morning, brushing your teeth or cooking dinner? Has tennis just become another part of your regular part of your weekly schedule? I hope not. I hope you still have the same passion for the game as you did when you first started, but be wary of the day when it becomes a habit instead of a passion.

It doesn’t happen to everyone, but it can happen.  When you have played so long and so much it just becomes another thing you do.  Don’t lose the passion.  Make sure you are on the court because you want to be and there is nowhere else you would rather be (besides maybe with your spouse that should always be first LOL).  We went through this experience with our oldest son after about three years of playing competitive tennis.  He entered the competitive tennis world in a whirlwind when a coach saw him play and recognized his natural talent.  He went from beginner to competitive tennis player overnight, on the court six days a week.

It has always been a point of contention between the players and the coaches about taking “time off” from tennis.  I can’t tell you how many times I have heard that if you want to be good you have to play year round.  If you take time off you are going to fall behind the other players.  I don’t disagree that your game may become a little rusty, your timing may be off, or your fitness may waver, but you won’t forget how to play.  

Our experience has been that when we our kids take short breaks, when they are feeling like they are getting “bored” with tennis or it is becoming a habit, they come back with a greater passion.  This new found passion causes them to practice harder and better.  I believe the short breaks help alleviate a lengthy plateau in their development.

Another great reason to consider a short “time out” is to allow your body to rest and recover.  I don’t care if you are sixteen or sixty, your body can start to feel the effects of year round tennis. 

I know many will not agree with me and I hope you never feel this lack of passion for the wonderful game of tennis.  But if you do don’t let it get the best of you.  Take a break and revive the passion.  You see it is my desire that we all love the game of tennis and want to play it for the rest of our lives.