Bottom Line: Playing High School Tennis
It is important to reiterate that most high school age players are not as devoted as Mark. Others may be just as serious but need to decompress and simply play social tennis for a season or two. If so, I recommend playing their freshman year to get a little famous at their new school and then again their senior year after they have signed their letter of intent to play for their college.
I encourage taking some time to consider all these variables. If your child is more of a “hobbyist”, high school ball is one of the best experiences available. However, if your child is a phenom, a compromise may be in order. It may be best to have a meeting with the coach and/or athletic director and organize a win-win schedule. Often top players and their parents can negotiate a workable schedule with the high school coach.
For elite players considering high school tennis, the following three topics should be addressed (negotiated) prior to committing to the high school season:
1) Skipping most practice session in lieu of their private sessions.
2) Scheduling to only play the tougher rival matches.
3) Playing enough matches in order to qualify for the season-ending state championships.
