Tennis lessons WWYD

[felicity]

I'm considering signing up DS for tennis lessons this summer, and curious what others would do. They said there would be a maximum of 8 students per court, they would use spots to indicate where students should stand, and they will instruct how to do ball pickup to try to keep kids socially distant. I'm not sure how this will work in practice, and I'm worried that it will be a lot more close contact than what they are saying because the age range is 5-8, and will they really be good about staying apart? DS is 6.

Masks are not required by players, but they are allowed. I would want DS to wear a mask. The session is late July through August, DC area, from 6-7 pm. Do you think it would be too hot to wear a mask then? Does this seem safe to you otherwise? 8 kids on one side of the court, potentially all unmasked except for DS, seems a little close to me, but maybe not as bad as I'm thinking? 

We've been super cautious throughout all of this with DS in virtual kindergarten and otherwise just being with us or grandparents. I tend to run on the anxious side, so trying to talk myself down a bit and find reasonably safe things for him to do, since we can't go another year doing nothing while waiting for a kids vaccine. He isn't really asking or seeming to miss organized sports, but I think it might be good to get him back to something. FWIW, DH is a tennis player, and tries to teach DS, but he is often resistant to DH's teaching and in the past he enjoyed lessons more. He learns more from DH when willing, but the lessons are more fun and have overall been a positive experience when he did them before. A part of me wants to do the lessons now, but a part of me isn't sure it's worth even a small risk for something he likes but doesn't love. He loves soccer, but we aren't comfortable with that right now. Thoughts? 

[outnumbered]

I would have him do tennis.  My 3 kids wore masks all summer last year.  it is a bit cooler here in MA, but still gets quite hot and humid.  My 11 year old was outside running around all day last summer.  He was fine with his mask.  My middle mountain biked with his friends.  Masks were required.

[orval]

My ds has been back at tennis since last May. He just started Junior Team Tennis with matches against other teams as well. There are no masks on the court. The kids generally aren't that close to each other. I think there were some lists that showed tennis being one of the safest sports during covid.

[cricketwife]

I would do this -- I have done this. My DS (1st grade) has done tennis all school year. He did a tennis "camp" for a week last summer because it was the only safe option available. I've had him doing lessons after school every Friday all year. They are required to wear masks, but I often see him with his under his nose at pickup. I'm fine with that. We are in the south and they are playing hard and I think it's hard with a mask. DS doesn't love tennis. He complains that I make him do it, but the outlet for his energy is so good for him (and me). I've told him when there are safer choices, he can change sports.

[abs]

My DD has also been doing tennis since last May. We took a break in July-September when it was too hot and again in December. Honestly it’s been great and I’m so glad DD has had this. No masks when playing but they are required when not on the court.

8 kids is a bit much though IMO. No necessarily for Covid reasons although that is of course a factor but because it’s a big group for learning. DD has never had more than 3 or 4 kids in her group at one time. It’s a 4:1 ratio.

[CloudBee]

Yes. I think it's very important that we get back to doing things outside. The risk of transmission is so low outside.

We just tapped back into an activity in-person for DS where not all of the kids are masked. He is, we're outside, and I'm fully vaccinated. We are going to be a lot more liberal with outdoor activities this spring/summer. DS (newly 8) adapted amazingly well to isolation. But the spark we've seen in him this week as some activities have picked back up? It's unbelievable.

I would have zero concerns with tennis.

[purplepenguin7]

I would do it without hesitation. The good thing about tennis is that it isn't a contact or group sport. Even if the kids creep a little closer than 6ft, they still won't be on top of each other like soccer, basketball, football, etc (not judging anyone whose kids are doing these sports).

[felicity]

Apr 20, 2021 9:02:11 GMT -5 orval said:

My ds has been back at tennis since last May. He just started Junior Team Tennis with matches against other teams as well. There are no masks on the court. The kids generally aren't that close to each other. I think there were some lists that showed tennis being one of the safest sports during covid.

Oh I definitely agree that tennis is one of the safest sports for playing an actual match. I'm just worried that a class with 8 young beginner kids isn't really the same thing, and it'll be a lot more close contact.

[felicity]

Apr 20, 2021 9:33:26 GMT -5 abs said:

My DD has also been doing tennis since last May. We took a break in July-September when it was too hot and again in December. Honestly it’s been great and I’m so glad DD has had this. No masks when playing but they are required when not on the court.

8 kids is a bit much though IMO. No necessarily for Covid reasons although that is of course a factor but because it’s a big group for learning. DD has never had more than 3 or 4 kids in her group at one time. It’s a 4:1 ratio.

Yeah this is the other part of my hesitation. I might look around and see if there are some other classes that have smaller ratios. This one is through our local sports league, and it fills up fast, so the only problem is if I don't sign up now, we might miss out. In past years our park service has done lessons with smaller ratios, but they don't have summer classes posted yet. Some of our nearby neighborhoods also have lessons on their courts that I think are open to anyone to register.

[nicolewi]

I think it would be fine. I would expect no one else to be wearing masks, if it's like here.

That said, I wouldn't do it, b/c it just sounds like a pain in the butt and if you are stressed at all about watching the unmasked kids, it's not going to be fun. Is it worth it to take a 6 year old to tennis in the heat while still worrying about masking? The logistics of getting ready, packing water, gear, having an early dinner, driving there, stressing about masks, etc...I'd just put it off another year. But that's just me. With four kids I am less than enthusiastic about the cost/benefit ratio of many of the kid activities.

BUT...if it's super convenient, if your kid loves tennis, if your kid really wants to do this, if your kid has a lot of talent...I mean, sure, I really do think it's pretty low-risk overall.

[mrsGreeko]

Any time I read anything on here l feel like it’s an alternate planet.

Yes I think tennis lessons are safe. And no I don’t think a mask is necessary. My DD2 did tennis lessons last summer with no masks. And this year will do tennis team, pretty sure also with no masks.

The risks are pretty minimal outside and tennis is naturally a socially distant sport. I think the actual risk of getting covid from playing is so minimal. Not to mention the risk to kids who contract covid is also minimal. And all adults who want to be vaccinated can be.

[cricketwife]

Apr 20, 2021 9:57:35 GMT -5 felicity said:

Apr 20, 2021 9:33:26 GMT -5 abs said:

My DD has also been doing tennis since last May. We took a break in July-September when it was too hot and again in December. Honestly it’s been great and I’m so glad DD has had this. No masks when playing but they are required when not on the court.

8 kids is a bit much though IMO. No necessarily for Covid reasons although that is of course a factor but because it’s a big group for learning. DD has never had more than 3 or 4 kids in her group at one time. It’s a 4:1 ratio.

Yeah this is the other part of my hesitation. I might look around and see if there are some other classes that have smaller ratios. This one is through our local sports league, and it fills up fast, so the only problem is if I don't sign up now, we might miss out. In past years our park service has done lessons with smaller ratios, but they don't have summer classes posted yet. Some of our nearby neighborhoods also have lessons on their courts that I think are open to anyone to register.

Someone who knows what they're doing can absolutely run a quality program with 8 kids.  But it sounds like you are looking for reasons not to do this.  If you don't want to, that's fine.   That said, I do think we all some some Covid-trauma that we have to get over the first time/first few times that we start to venture into the world again.  Sometimes, we just need to do it. (If it's safe, or course. ) 

[dcn]

I think that is fine. Honestly outdoors the risk is so low.

[aspentosh]

I would do it for sure. I'd have him wear a mask if other kids on the court at the same time, but let him know he could take it down when he's farther away and needs some deep breaths or whatever.

I'm with CloudBee. DD was fairly isolated for months and months. The change since she started back with in-person TaeKwonDo is huge for her personality and happiness. And that's indoors (though all masked).

[twilightmv]

We're considering lessons again this year and we are not covid breezy. We did them a few years ago and I think it's a good socially distanced sport. 

[boiler717]

Tennis is one of the safest Covid sports there is. It was the first one we did (also doing T ball but avoiding soccer for now). My son’s classes have always done a good job being distanced during tennis.

[moonpie]

I would feel comfortable with tennis. In fact, I looked at tennis camp for DD (6) for this summer to help break up long stretches of staying home with me. The time was inconvenient for us so I went with a nature based camp instead.

Tennis sounds like it would be outside and distanced. Dd is attending school in person and they are allowed to play without masks outside. The teachers have done a great job at teaching them to be distant and it carries over to activities we do as a family. I don’t think there would be issues with distancing at those ages.

But at such a young age if you aren’t comfortable with it, I would just find a different activity.

[felicity]

Apr 20, 2021 11:07:12 GMT -5 cricketwife said:

Apr 20, 2021 9:57:35 GMT -5 felicity said:

Yeah this is the other part of my hesitation. I might look around and see if there are some other classes that have smaller ratios. This one is through our local sports league, and it fills up fast, so the only problem is if I don't sign up now, we might miss out. In past years our park service has done lessons with smaller ratios, but they don't have summer classes posted yet. Some of our nearby neighborhoods also have lessons on their courts that I think are open to anyone to register.

Someone who knows what they're doing can absolutely run a quality program with 8 kids.  But it sounds like you are looking for reasons not to do this.  If you don't want to, that's fine.   That said, I do think we all some some Covid-trauma that we have to get over the first time/first few times that we start to venture into the world again.  Sometimes, we just need to do it. (If it's safe, or course. ) 

Yeah I definitely have some Covid trauma I need to get over with going back to doing things. I think I'm going to try and sign him up and just tell myself that realistically the risk is pretty low. 

[penguingrrl]

I think outdoor tennis would be a great covid-safe activity! I let my DD do softball because when they’re playing it’s similarly spaced far apart and her coaches enforce mask wearing in the dugout.

[pugz]

I am very comfortable with all outdoor activities

[ilikedonuts]

I would absolutely be fine with it.

[gastro]

My 10 and 5 year old have been doing tennis pretty much throughout the past year. Both kids wear masks throughout and they touch the balls only with the racket or ball pick up tube. They do four kids to an instructor on one court so very easy to remain socially distanced. They hand sanitize entering and exiting the court. It’s easy to social distance for the younger kids because they are mostly doing drills. Unless they are playing doubles you aren’t ever really crossing into anyone’s airspace by multiples of the six feet distance.

[erbear]

I would for sure do tennis. But I have apprehension about 8 kids one side of the court and no masks. So I don’t think I would do that.

[sdlaura]

I wouldn't think twice about little kids outside playing tennis. But then my kids were in full day camps last summer, are in full time school, and will be in full day camps again this summer. So I think it really comes down to your risk tolerance/understanding of your own anxiety level.

[hermione]

We have been extremely locked down since March of 2020 but I know my kid needs a social and physical outlet. We've signed up for outdoor soccer starting May 1st and she's so excited. She'll be masked and my husband and I are vaccinated. It's a necessary risk at this point for us.

[redpenmama]

I would sign him up. We have done masked outdoor activities last summer/fall and again this spring. I'm comfortable with it and has been great for my kids' mental health.

[dizzycooks]

We have been completely quarantined through Covid and I signed my youngest two up for a tennis clinic. 4 days in a row, 45 minutes each, outdoors. I intend to speak to the coach about them only being paired with each other for drills and they will be wearing masks the whole time. If practice is inside due to rain we will miss. I’m choosing to be ok with this. My oldest just started a running program with a group for a school. She’s the only distance learning kid who returns for it. Again I spoke to the coach, explained my rules and was very clear with my daughter. She wears a mask, she gives lots of space and She is not to go indoors. Day 1 we found out a girl in the team had a parent with Covid. I about had a heart attack. BUT I have to be ok with my kids starting to do a few things. They’ve literally gone no where for 14 months now and summer is short. You do you. Without hesitation, without shame. Make your choice and just do it. No matter why it’ll be ok.