At two years and three months, Zavier Cilas is already Mr Confidence on the court
Many past and present world tennis champions have been introduced to tennis as toddlers. Rafael Nadal was four, Maria Sharapova was only three when she first started hitting balls, and Martina Hingis was just two. Andre Agassi started by playing with balls tied to his cot. And as they say, you’re never too young to learn.
Palmwoods Tennis Club coach Lucas Kawda believes a child’s years should not determine their readiness to participate in tennis. He sees children of the same age with significant differences in movement skills, height and weight, as well as other physical factors.
The Palmwoods Tennis Club would like to extend its coaching programs to involve toddlers around the ages of three and four years. The aim is not to produce the next world champions, but to develop basic hand-eye co-ordination, movement, balance, spatial awareness and skills of throwing, bouncing, rolling, catching and hitting. Above all the lessons are designed for kids to have fun!
Humans, they say, learn more in the first six years of life than they ever will again. These first few years are crucial to a child’s future intellect, physical fitness and general health. The earlier young children are exposed to new activities, the less frightened they are, and are more willing to try them out. It is important to introduce young children to physical experiences when they are still adventurous and uninhibited.
If you would like your child to be involved in the lessons, please contact coach Lucas Kawka on
5443 5529 or 0404 155 041.
Due to the age of the children, parent involvement would be required in the lessons. The Palmwoods Tennis Club would love to see the tiny tots on the courts.
Lessons for older children are also available. Junior coaching is conducted each afternoon from Monday to Thursday from 3:30 to 6:00 pm with group sessions of 45 mins or one hour depending on the ages of the children.
For other general club enquiries including membership, social tennis and court hire please contact the Secretary on 5450 0802 or email palmwoodstennis@yahoo.com.au
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