#1: A truly co-ed sport
Boys and girls are grouped together in tennis classes, clinics, and camps. Kids can play singles against each other or pair up as doubles partners without having to be separated by gender. Our tennis kids are a mix of middle school girls and boys who've been friends since kindergarten and still play together.
We know college student couples who play recreational tennis together on dates. What a fantastic way to stay active, and it costs less than going to the movies!
#2: A sport for the whole family
Tennis is an opportunity for the whole family to stay connected and play together– it's not just a sport for the young! A match only requires two people, so take your pick. Is it going to be a sibling match, parent-child, parent-parent? We see fathers playing against daughters, mothers playing against fathers, siblings playing as doubles partners, siblings playing against each other, and all kinds of family pairings.
Grab a family member and go for a friendly rally!
#3: Requires kids to bring their whole self to the game
Unless you're Kyrgios, tennis is not typically a couch-to-court sport. To play well and reduce risk of injury, tennis players need to be in relatively decent physical shape. Stretching is a great practice in all sports and especially helps tennis players with all that lunging and reaching for the ball. We follow The Tennis PT on Instagram for tips on stretching, exercises, and injury prevention.
Cardio is important and helps tennis players build the stamina required to keep up with running back and forth across the court.
Mentality is a tricky one, but having a positive mindset is a must. Patience, a little delusional confidence, and a can-do attitude goes a long way in tennis.
#4: Play for free at the park
Thank goodness for parks and recreation. We're still able to find plenty of free public tennis courts in our local neighborhood regions. The kids just grab their racquets, a can of tennis balls, and we meet up with a couple of friends at the courts for some free play once per week. It's a budget-friendly playdate for us. The kids have a blast getting sunshine and exercise without having to lug around a cumbersome amount of equipment.
#5: Fan events are pretty mild and family-friendly
To make tennis more fun and accessible to families, BNP Paribas at Indian Wells hosts a free family day before the official start of the tournament. Family Day offers a full schedule of events and activities just for kids. The US Open also has a 'fan week' with family-friendly aspects. Keep an eye out for Arthur Ashe Kids' Day during fan week for event details.
Minus a couple of incidents in recent news, tennis fans are usually respectful and mild-mannered. From what we've seen, tennis fans attending tournaments just want to have a good time and enjoy an exciting match without too much drama.