High School Tennis: To Play or Not To Play
March 30th, 2011 | 
Author: Playing High School Tennis
My daughter made the girls varsity high school tennis team for the 2011 spring season, despite the controversy of whether competitive juniors should only play USTA tournaments. Many coaches feed this debate, feeling high school tennis is a waste of time and not competitive. I disagree with this and I wanted to share our experience.
My daughter loves playing on the tennis team and feels good about representing her school. It’s nice playing for the team and not just as an individual. The high school tennis season here in Florida is 2 months long and there is still plenty of time for USTA tournaments. She committed to attending the two team practices a week and one or two matches a week. She has seen various levels of competition, depending on where she is seeded. The atmosphere is more jovial and relaxed. My daughter plays against girls much older than herself, and the competition is universally good. Other students come out to watch and cheer which is a nice break from the seriousness of USTA tournaments. The high school coaches can instruct the players while playing as well, nice for a player who needs encouragement. High school tennis offers teammates, friendships, and a sense of camaraderie.
My daughter has gained a lot of confidence by playing as a seeded player on the team, helps teammates who are less experienced, and has made new friends. If your child is homeschooled, the state of Florida allows them to play sports for any school they want without attending school there. I would definitely recommend letting your child play high school tennis whether homeschooled or not.
Posted in High School Tennis, Tennis Tips | 
Tags: boys tennis, girls tennis, high school tennis, HS tennis team, junior tennis, junior varsity tennis, varsity tennis
I completely agree that HS tennis is a great supplement to USTA tennis for all the same reasons. I think one of the major factors that influences juniors to avoid HS tennis are personal and “academy” coaches. Each time a student attends a HS practice or match, the personal coach is losing out on lesson hours. It becomes a money issue for coaches. Unfortunately many junior tennis players miss out on the unique experience of team tennis.
As a school teacher, HS coach, and USPTA certified teaching pro, I understand both sides of the coin, however the interest of the child should come first, and I genuinely believe that HS tennis is a GREAT outlet to the pressures of the USTA.