Tennis is great exercise for kids, and a way to build confidence and social skills. RELATED STORIES Tennis Racquet Tech Introduction to Tennis Tennis for Kids Chris Evert Fantasy Tennis Camp Tennis Training Camps RELATED LINKS 20 Supreme Courts Tennis Training Tips Tennis Training Camps Tennis Tournaments Metal Alloy Making Quite a Racket

From concrete schoolyard courts to the celebrated grass of Wimbledon, tennis is played all over the world, and at all levels of competition. For decades, the game has been extremely popular with kids, providing lots of fun, great exercise, and an opportunity to gain all the traditional benefits of athletics by competing as individuals and as parts of a team.

Christopher Louis has been playing sports all his life. After touring the country as a youth soccer player, Louis accepted a football scholarship to Midwestern State University, where he also played on the volleyball and tennis teams. After graduation, Louis pursued modeling and acting careers, and is currently working as a tennis pro in Los Angeles. Here he explains the benefits of youth tennis:

• A great workout.
  Tennis is great for kids because it's a good total body workout and also helps build motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
  
• A great sport.
  Each kid who gets into athletics will be drawn to his or her favorite sport, be it baseball, soccer, hockey and so on. Tennis provides a unique niche for kids seeking a combination of one-on-one and team competition.
  
• A chance to form friendships.
  Tennis can really help kids form new own friendships through school teams, local clubs or junior tournaments. Kids can get to know teammates and opponents and make friends to last a lifetime.
  
• Kids learn teamwork and sportsmanship.
  Playing doubles helps kids learn the value of teamwork. When Louis teaches doubles, he encourages kids to play together without getting angry at one another, and this is a great lesson in sportsmanship.
  
• Practice, practice, practice.
  Sticking with the sport also teaches kids patience, perseverance and the value of hard work. It takes a lot of practice to become a great player, and Louis encourages his students to practice often, whether it be playing with a friend, hitting a ball against a wall, or just serving over and over.

For more information about tennis, check out the following organizations or websites:

United States Tennis Association
www.usta.com/home

Tennis Magazine Online
www.tennis.com/homenew

Tennis Online
www.tennisonline.com

The Tennis Server
www.tennisserver.com

Tennis4U
www.tennis4you.com