YOUTH AND SPORT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22319, 17 January 1936, Page 13

YOUTH AND SPORT

LEARNING OF TENNIS AGE OF 1(1 SOON ENOUGH STRONG HEART IMPORTANT DANGER FROM EARLY STRAIN No. 11. The following is the second of a series of articles giving the views of experts and doctors on the most important branches of sport in relation to the training of children. Less than !£• years ago tennis was not regarded very favourably in schools, and ponsequentlv few boys had the courage to stand up to the ridicule of their companions and make it their chief sport. Uncomplimentary remarks were hurled at boys carrying tennis racquets, and the few schools that had courts found it rather difficult to entice sufficient players for an afternoon's sport. Then came tbe overseas stars. Tennis took on a different atmosphere. Courts sprang up overnight. The sudden growth of ;he game influenced the youthful mind, and boys, with visions of a trip abrofid with a Davis Cup team, went into the sport with a new outlook. Schools placed tennis on their sports programme, and in a few years prodigies seemed to be playing in every suburb. Then youngsters did not adopt the sport until they were in their 'teens, but nowadays there is a tendency for boys and girls of more tender years to throw their heart and soul into a game which is now one of the most strenuous on the sporting calendar. "Strain Must Tell" A well-known Sydney specialist, whose knowledge of tennis is spread over many years, and who realises the strain of a hard match, is definitely opposed to any youngster, no matter how strong, taking up the game before 10 years of age. Tennis, he says, is a sport that requires many things, and two of the most important are a sturdy body and a strong heart. "If a boy or girl happens to show any promise m the sport, he or she is played in match after match, until the strain must tell," he said. "Perhaps the effect of these matches will not appear until later years, but, as sure as the sun rises, that strenuous tennis at a youthful ago will tell its tale." For this reason, he thought that before a child took up tennis seriously there should be a medical examination. Perhaps, after a couple of years' tennis there should be another examination, so that any weakness, although hardly apparent, could be checked before it grew to an uncontrollable state.

If a boy did not take up tennis until about 10 he would be in the vicinity of 13 or 14 before he had sufficient skill for hard matches, and by that time he would be stronger in body and in mind, and would be better able to resist possible weaknesses than a boy four years his junior. To a point Jimmy Willard, wellknown coach and tennis professional, who has been teaching youngsters for some years, agrees with the specialist. But, in his opinion, a few mild games of tennis would not be harmful provided there was somebody at the court in an advisory capacity. On the point of a youngster playing in competitive tennis* Mr. Willard was even more emphatic than the doctor. He said that a boy or girl should be at least 15 years of age before taking an active interest in competitive tennis. The Right Strokes Mr. Willard argued that from the moment a child picked up a racquet it should be taught the correct grip. He had found hundreds of cases where promising boys and girls had had their future prospects ruined simply because in their younger days this had not been done. They would reach a point and would stay there, never rising to great heights in the game. It was here that Mr. Willard sounded a note of warning to parents. In his experience lie had found that many idolising fathers were more intent'on their children winning a game than making a good stroke, llnis he found that when he had altered the styles of some youngsters and in the early stages of coaching they were losing'where they had been winning before, parents were inclined to advise their children to forget what they had been told by the coach. Cruidu to Weakness If they only had patience, lie was sure that the children would do what was expected of them, and in a more workmanlike, and stylish manner. Coaching, of course, could be overdone, but if given correctly lie was sure it would be of untold benefit to the boy ° r Any boy who became exhausted easily should not play the game, said Mr. Willard. in several cases he had advised parents that it would be unwise for that particular boy or girl to pursue tenuis activities without consulting a doctor, and in nine cases out of 10 he had been correct Exhaustion was a definite guide to weakness, especially if a boy or g.H took some little time to rerov^' said. Huxley, who had always looked ill, was a giant in strength both on and off the court, and could pla.v night and day without effort. Still, he was 19 years of age and only built himself up by leading a quiet life. Until a, youngster was 15 years of age, and sometimes even after that age, tennis could be overdone. Rushing from suburb to suburb and playing night tennis without sufficient rest, would lead to one end —a fade-out from the tennis firmament.