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The U.S. Open is underway, and if you’re a tennis fan in Indianapolis, you’ll know that The Seymour and Rheta Holt Tennis Center is also on its way in the Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience®, set to open March 2018.
To anticipate the opening, we’re serving up some health benefits to playing tennis, so as your little legends grow up to be U.S. Open or Wimbledon contenders, they can compete in a healthy and happy way. Dr. Jack Groppel, former chairman of the USTA's sports science Committee, is helping us out with this mix of facts and benefits:
- Tennis play offers frequent intervals of short, intense bursts of activity and rest, which helps muscles use oxygen efficiently.
- Playing tennis is a great way to cross-train for those who specialize in other sports. It’s still physically demanding, but fun!
- Developing nutritional habits to eat healthy before and after competing in a match enhances energy production and results in proper recovery methods.
- Tennis players are more apt to manage adversity by learning to adjust to the elements (e.g. wind, sun) and still be able to compete tenaciously.
- If you’re playing a game of doubles, players learn teamwork! Successful doubles play depends on you and your partner’s ability to communicate and play as a cohesive unit.
- Players enhance fine motor control by use of touch shots like angled volleys, drop shots, and lobs.
- By conditioning dynamic balance through hundreds of starts, stops, changes of direction and hitting on the run, tennis player learn to be swift!
- Players enhance foresight by planning and implementing moves and countermoves from anticipating an opponent’s moves.
- Players develop performance rituals before serving or returning to control rhythm of play and dealing with pressure. These skills can transfer to taking exams, conducting a meeting, or making a persuasive presentation!
- Tennis players constantly have to judge the timing between the oncoming ball and contact point, lending themselves to precise hand-eye coordination.
You can read more of Dr. Groppel’s research in his article here. As you and your tiny legends keep a close eye on the U.S. Open, keep a close eye on the sports experience construction with us! Follow on Facebook, Twitter (@TCMIndy), and Instagram (@childrensmuseum) to see photo and video updates!
