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Kids Need To Be Pushed, Says Tennis Dad And Author. Parents Are Going Too Soft, Overcompensating For Isolated Outrageous Incidents

By Anonymous

Parents of children who play sports often overcompensate for the outrageous behavior of a few and risk sending complacent, obese kids into the real world.

Allowing children to quit after a few rough spots can do as much harm as pushing them too hard, says Keith Kattan, tennis dad and author of “Raising Big Smiling Tennis Kids: A Complete Roadmap for Every Parent and Coach” (Mansion Grove House, http://MansionSelect.com).

Achieving sports proficiency will have its highs – the fun parts, and lows – the parts kids don’t like. “The trick is to maximize the highs,” says Kattan. “Help them ride out the lows through pushing that is deliberate and vigorous, but always with a positive message.”

Kattan says he was motivated to do something when introduced to three overweight kids in his block. The kids had quit sports years ago after their first tennis lesson, complaining that all they did was chase balls.

In “Raising Big Smiling Tennis Kids” Kattan, drawing on more than 10 years of studying the development of junior players, offers tips to parents on when and how much to push kids:
· Push your child to master a skill, not just get a win. Dr Alan Goldberg, a sports psychologist says, “Boys should focus on beating Mr. Peter Potential, competing against themselves, while the girls challenge Ms. Patty Potential.”
· Push when the child has to learn a new, but difficult technique. A tennis kid with a two-handed backhand stroke may need a gentle push to sustain an effort to learn the one-handed backhand.
· Situations that warrant pushing should be few and far between.
· Encourage them to stick with it even if they lack the ability needed at that time. Michael Jordan did not make his high school team, because he just wasn’t good enough at the time. Children suddenly improve upon catching the next growth spurt. Interest level will bounce back.
· Don’t force the child to sign up for the next program when she’s ready to quit the current one. But make her finish this one.
· Develop alternatives from which the child can choose. Doing nothing is not an option.

“Raising Big Smiling Tennis Kids” by Keith Kattan is available at leading online retailers, bookstores as well as direct from publisher’s online store at http://MansionSelect.com

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Raising Big Smiling Tennis Kids

By Anonymous

July 2003 -- Never before has American tennis attracted so many kids to the sport in one year. According to a March 2003 survey by the United States Tennis Association (USTA) kids under 18 made up an astounding two-thirds of the 5.1 million players who took up tennis for the first time last year. The USA Tennis Plan for Growth, the multi-year initiative spearheaded by the USTA has been hugely successful in attracting kids to the sport. Tennis offers kids unparalleled opportunities - world travel, money for college, great career choices. Plus: friendships, character and a lifetime of good health. But too many promising kids are being pushed to chase tennis rankings too early and suffer burnout, injury, poor coaching, money and family problems. Says Keith Kattan, author of the widely acclaimed new book Raising Big Smiling Tennis Kids, “A balanced and long-term roadmap is essential to develop successful, happy and healthy tennis kids. After all your kid has given you one chance to get it right.”

Some feel that, for healthy development, a child should balance a variety of activities. Others believe that to achieve success, the child should be allowed to focus on one thing, in this case - tennis. Announcing the upcoming release of his new book, Kattan observes “You don’t have to choose one parenting philosophy over the other. The trick is to recognize when to encourage your kid to move from a variety of activities to a tennis focus, depending upon your child’s age, tennis proficiency, and level of interest.”

The decision should really be made based on a scientific method rather than at the emotional level. Periodically, as a child gains tournament experience, the parent, the coach, and an athletic trainer, along with the kid, ought to make an honest assessment about the interest and more importantly, the ability at all levels, to start focusing exclusively on tennis. As an avid tennis player, board member of a community tennis association and father of a passionate tennis kid, Kattan draws from over 10 years observing the on and off court development of junior tennis players. Offering practical answers to the myriad questions that parents ask at various stages of the child’s tennis development. How to motivate kids to go back, practice after practice? How to pursue a career in professional tennis?

Kattan presents an inside look into nearly two-dozen tennis organizations, ordered in the way a parent and kid may encounter them. Starting with the USTA; to the NCAA for college tennis scholarships; to professional tennis organizations – the ATP and WTA; and many others along the way. Especially valuable to coaches and parents, is the book’s coverage of player agents, corporate sponsors, and sports marketing companies, the movers and shakers who are invaluable to kids aspiring to become professional tennis players.

‘Raising Big Smiling Tennis Kids: A Complete Roadmap for Every Parent and Coach’ is receiving acclaim from Pam Shriver, the respected CBS/ESPN tennis analyst, Peter Burwash, coach and author of a tennis bestseller, as well as national tennis publications. Andre Christopher, Managing Editor, Tennis Week, stated, “An excellent book for parents who want to get their children into tennis, I wish I’d had this book when I was a kid myself! As someone who has grown up with tennis as part of my life, I could have used a lot of this information.”

Keith Kattan’s 240-page hardcover edition of ‘Raising Big Smiling Tennis Kids’ will be available at premier tennis tournaments in San Diego, Los Angeles, Kalamazoo, Cincinnati, and at the US Open, NY. Also at local tennis pro-shops and clubs, leading online retailers, bookstores, catalogs, and direct from the publisher’s online store at http://www.mansionselect.com.

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The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort Completes Extensive Court Improvement Project

By Anonymous

LONGBOAT KEY, FL April 7, 2004 -- Working closely with The Colony’s Tennis Center staff, Welch Tennis of St. Petersburg, FL, led the Har-Tru court improvement project. Welch completed the comprehensive process of leveling, fortifying, compacting and fine-tuning the 12 soft courts. Particular attention was placed on creating a surface that would not only lessen the impact on the lower body, but would also create ideal playing conditions for players of varying skill levels and styles.

Florida Courts, Inc. of Hudson, FL, completed the resurfacing project on The Colony’s 9 hard courts. The complete repair and resurfacing program consisted of the leveling of the court, mechanical scarification using a hydraulically controlled blade, sand-fortification and dual coating of the top surface.

Both the Har-Tru and hard courts were further revamped with the addition of new nets, fencing, windscreens and herringbone-style line tapes. Upon the completion of final grooming efforts, the courts were tested and determined to be ready for play.

President and General Manager Katherine Klauber Moulton adds, “Tennis is the heart and soul of The Colony and we are very devoted to maintaining the pristine conditions of our facilities. By undertaking an improvement project of this magnitude, we can ensure that our guests will be able to enjoy an unrivaled tennis experience.”

Recognized by Tennis magazine as the No.1 Tennis Resort in the Nation and named “Best for Tennis” in Gourmet magazine’s annual ranking of the world’s top resorts, The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort is a relaxed, comfortable and fashionable all-suite, full-amenity resort conveniently located on the 12 miles of magnificent Gulf Coast beaches of Longboat Key, an island directly adjacent to Sarasota, Florida. Twenty-one courts, daily clinics and private and semi-private lessons led by The Colony’s team of skilled professionals keep tennis enthusiasts on top of their game. For more information about The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort, please call 941-383-6464 or visit the resort’s website at colonybeachresort.com.



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