Tennis Spa Breaks: Mens Sana In Corpore Sano

Are you inspired by the Wimbledon fortnight? If you watch the pristine tennis whites and the army of line judges and ball boys and girls and wish you could improve your tennis, then maybe a tennis course at a dedicated spa is the holiday for you.

We all know that the athleticism on show at Wimbledon is far beyond most of us. Who can compete with the youth and fitness of Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer, or the Williams sisters? However, we can all improve our game, no matter what our level, and the UK is rich in municipal tennis courts which are easily accessible to most.

If you want to hone those backhands and develop a killer volley, then the best - and one of the most enjoyable - ways to do so is through an intensive course. No amount of weekly or monthly lessons can compare to a few days, or even a fortnight, being tutored by experts in a centre which has all the facilities you need on hand. The advantages of a tennis holiday at a specialist spa are several: you get the tuition you need, from experts; and at the end of the day when you want to indulge with a massage or a beauty treatment, the spa can supply those too. Having so many amenities on tap means you get the holiday you want, and with minimum hassle - the spa staff are there to ensure that your needs are catered to.

There is one other huge advantage to this type of spa break. We all know that health and fitness is the key to longevity, but the role of social interaction in wellbeing is becoming more and more prominent. Essentially, loneliness reduces our day-to-day happiness, and over the longer term it is thought that it contributes to a reduced life expectancy. Tennis has always been a social sport - witness the popularity of doubles matches at club level - and this softer benefit should not be overlooked. Whilst your focus may be technique and fitness, tennis also takes care of your mind. The advantage of a tennis break at a spa is that you will spend your time surrounded by like-minded people, helping you make friends without pressure. And, if you have a family, everyone can join in. Tennis is a hugely family-friendly sport, with many spas running courses for children; and what works for adults works for children too. All the intangible benefits which tennis brings - such as discipline, the ability to work in a team, and fitness - apply to children and teenagers.

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Changes at Wimbledon: 1868-2012

The Wimbledon Tennis Championships is the oldest tournament in world and one of the four grand slams, the four biggest events in the sport. The tournament venue has changed much throughout the years and this article looks at some of the key changes.

The Beginnings

The All England Croquet Club was founded in 1868 and tennis was later added with the club being renamed the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. The first Wimbledon Tennis Championships took place in 1877 and consisted of only a men's singles tournament between twenty-two players. At this point the club was situated on Worple Road, near the town centre of Wimbledon. The main court was in the centre of the grounds with the others situated around it. This is where the term 'Centre Court' originally came from, which is the name often used to describe the main stadium at tennis tournaments around the world. Soon after tennis began at the club croquet ceased to be played there and was dropped from the clubs title. It was, though, later added once again for sentimental reasons.

The End of Worple Road

The Wimbledon Championships grew with the addition of the ladies singles and the ladies, men and mixed doubles events and increasing numbers attended the event. In the 1920's it was decided that the Worple Road site was no longer large enough to accommodate the championships and the number of spectators it was attracting. A large part of the reason for this was the popularity of the great French player Suzanne Lenglen, who by the end of her career had won twelve grand slam titles.

The New Venue

The All England Club made the decision to move to a site on Church Road, which had previously been used as a farm. This remains the current site although it has changed much since. The first championships at the new site took place in 1922 with the main show court named Centre Court - as it had been at Worple Road - despite it no longer being in the centre of the grounds. It held 13,500 spectators and the rest of the courts were placed to the south of it.

No. 1 Court

A couple of years after the move it was decided that another large court was required. This was built to the west side of Centre Court, effectively being attached to the same structure. It had a capacity of 3,250, but was gradually expanded over the years and seated 7,500 by the time it was demolished in the 1990's.

The Impact of World War 2

The area of Wimbledon was hit by many bombs during World War 2 and one hit the Centre Court at the All England Club in 1940. Due to this 1,200 seats were out of used by the time the Championships began again after the war, and these weren't repaired until 1947.

The 1970's

The 1970's were highlighted by Bjorn Borg, who was responsible for ever increasing crowds attending the championships. The facilities were improved during this period and courts 14 to 17 were added to the north side of Centre Court, meaning it was more central. A food lawn was created to the north of these four courts which became the main eating area for spectators.

The 1990's

There has been real change at Wimbledon since the mid-1990's and it has been significantly expanded. This has included the demolishment of the old No. 1 Court and the building of a new one in what has become the northern edge of the grounds. The expansion means that Centre Court is once again in the centre, as it was at Worple Road. The earth that had to be removed to build the new 11,000 capacity arena was then used to create a hill to the west side of it. This has become a viewing area from where people can watch a large television screen showing matches. This has become an important feature of the tournament and was nicknamed Henman Hill after the British tennis player Tim Henman due to the atmosphere created on the hill by those watching his matches on the screen. Two other courts were also added as part of this building phase, including Court 18, which has since been made famous for hosting the longest match in tennis history when John Isner beat Nicholas Mahut 70-68 in the fifth set in a match lasting over eleven hours and being played across three days.

The Centre Court Roof

A recent addition to Wimbledon has been the adding of a retractable roof to Centre Court meaning tennis can be played there even during rain. Temperature control systems means it is possible to play on the grass court in these circumstances.

Courts 2 and 3

Courts 2 and 3 used to be adjacent to one another with Court 2 known as the graveyard to the seeds due to the number of upsets that occurred on the court. These have been demolished recently, though, with two new courts having been built. Court 3 is now on the site of the two previous courts with Court 2 built in the south-eastern corner of the grounds

Tennis Safety Tips For Your Child

Tennis is a phenomenal sport for everyone, and it's never too early to start learning more about this amazing game. As with any sport, though, there are many potential dangers involved, and educating your child about those possible dangers is a great way to help protect them during every practice, match, or quick pick-up game.

The Right Gear

Any good game starts with the right gear, and while your little tennis star may think this one is a no-brainer, it really takes a bit of thought from both of you. Start by thinking about what your son or daughter is wearing before you ever get to the court. Shoes designed for tennis are an absolute must. They can help to support the heel and ensure he or she doesn't slide when on the court. If the court surface they play on routinely is made from asphalt or concrete, adding heel inserts to minimize back stress could be a good idea.

Shoes, though, aren't your only foot-related concern. Socks are important, too. Be sure to choose socks that aren't cotton-based. They'll absorb moisture and wick it away from the foot more effectively. They can also help to prevent blisters. If blisters or foot pain becomes a problem, you may want to look into padded tennis socks.

The racquet is just as important of a concern. Selecting one that is too heavy or too light could easily cause an injury to the shoulder or elbow. Both the grip size and the right amount of tension in the strings play a role here, too. You may want to chat with your little one's coach or a pro shop to ensure you get a racquet that is the perfect size and shape for his or her tennis level. Make certain, though, that you take the budding tennis star with you during the purchase process.

A Good Warm-Up

There's just no substitute for a solid warm-up before your child hits the court. Make sure you arrive early for practice or a match so they can spend five to ten minutes in a warm-up session. In some cases, the coach will help the children warm-up. If not, though, make certain your little one does several minutes of stretching, followed by a few minutes of jogging in place, or some jumping jacks. During the stretching session, they should carefully stretch their arms, wrists, shoulders, and legs, ensuring that each stretch is held for a period of at least 30 seconds.

Avoid Playing Hazards

In some cases, your child won't actually encounter any problems until they're actually on the court. Loose balls on the court could potentially cause a trip and fall accident. Make certain there aren't any issues that could cause him or her to trip and fall at some point during the match. In the event there is a problem, find a way to solve it or at least make everyone involved aware of it.

The Weather

Teaching your child how to stay safe on the court, though, doesn't just involve going over tips that help them keep their bodies safe during this physically demanding game. Other outside forces could be at play as well. Tennis is often primarily an outdoor game, and the weather can be a huge factor. Make sure your little one knows not to play in adverse weather conditions of all types. If it's extremely hot, for example, a fast-paced game like tennis could easily lead to heat stroke. In the extreme cold, muscles tend to be stiffer, and that makes them far more susceptible to problems like tearing and spraining. If it gets too windy, tendonitis can be a problem thanks to the racquets. Thunderstorms present an obvious lightning risk, and even just rain can make the court wet and slippery. Let your child know that tennis is a game best played in good weather.

An Ounce of Prevention

Make certain that your little tennis enthusiast has a bottle of water or a sports drink on hand for breaks in between play. This will help to keep him or her hydrated. If it's particularly warm, make certain there's a shady spot to rest between games and sets, and ensure the racquet handle is dry to help avoid blisters. You may also want to train your child to stop playing right away if they feel any sign of pain or discomfort. From torn rotator cuffs to Achilles tendon ruptures, tennis injuries can be quite serious, and playing through the pain is only likely to make the situation worse. Having a first aid kit on-hand to tackle small scrapes or other injuries is also a good idea.

Your child could easily be serving for one of the great championship matches someday, but only if you teach him or her a few safety measures now.

Tennis As the Most Beneficial Sport for Your Child

As one of the oldest of all racquet sports and an Olympic event since the late 1800s, tennis is a popular sport that is recognized with a certain degree of prestige throughout the world. Since the beginning of the century with the year 2000, it has become the fastest growing sport with a pace that far exceeds any other popular sport.

As a sport that is easy to learn coupled with its many benefits to the human body, tennis is often highly recommended as the perfect sport for a child with over 36% of tennis participants being children from the ages of 6 to 17. Once learned, it is a fun and active sport that keeps the child interested and may even develop into a lifetime adventure of excitement and relaxation.

Health Benefits of Tennis for Children

Due to the aerobic nature of running and rapidly swinging the racket in a good game of tennis, it provides an excellent cardiovascular workout for your child and strengthens most of the muscles in their body. There is a consensus among healthcare professionals that playing tennis regularly is good for both physical and mental health. Because of this they encourage everyone to play tennis as long as they are in proper health that enables them to do so. For example, the Cleveland Clinic reports:

In fact, playing tennis on a regular basis produces physical, physiologic and psychologic benefits. These benefits include increased burning of calories, reduction in blood pressure and reduced stress. All of these benefits play a role in reducing a person's risk of developing heart disease, the number-one killing disease among men and women.

Tennis can also be crucial in developing excellent eye-hand coordination, responsive reflexes, mobility and flexibility, balance and coordination, and speed and agility It is a form of exercise that will keep your child in great shape through his or her young years and beyond into adulthood if he or she continues to play the game. Studies indicate that playing tennis can even help your child live a longer, healthier and happier life.

Introducing your child to tennis can also be instrumental in helping them adjust to a pattern of exercise in their life so that it becomes part of their lifelong routine. By playing tennis, they will develop a familiarity with exercise activity that can create a perception of working out as fun. Even if they do not continue with tennis as their sport of choice in latter years, it will have created a comfortable relationship with keeping fit as they encounter other sports or activities.

Other Advantages for Children Playing Tennis

Tennis is also a sport that is fun for both boys and girls since over 43% of those playing tennis are female. Its competitive nature allows your child to learn the proper way to deal with the competition of life in a friendly and courteous way with an understanding of fair play. They will learn to deal with personal achievement and loss that is based on both their own actions and teamwork with a partner in a mature and professional manner. This will prepare them for many of the situations they may encounter in other aspects of life. It will also build self-esteem and confidence in your child's character.

Playing tennis can also be a great source for peace, contentment, relaxation, and an overall sense of well-being for your child. A study conducted by Dr. Joan Finn at Southern California University found that tennis players exhibit more vigor, optimism, and self-esteem while experiencing less anger, depression, confusion, anxiety, and tension than other people.

As your child trains for tennis, they will discover how to listen and learn with the ability to apply what they have learned to real life activities and events. Playing tennis will also help your child increase their capacity to concentrate, focus, and think strategically, which will help them in both education and work related aspects of their life. Dr. Jim Gavin boasts the benefits of playing tennis by declaring:

Tennis develops positive personality characteristics. Tennis players had the highest scores in sociability, spontaneity, creativity, competitiveness, adventurousness, mental focus, and assertiveness when compared to golfers, runners, weightlifters, inline skaters, and downhill skiers.

With so many benefits and advantages for your child, it is not hard to figure out why tennis is growing so fast in popularity. And as a fun, exciting, and adventurous sport, your child will most likely perceive tennis as something positive in their life. You can feel good about knowing you are allowing your child to have fun while providing a beneficial gift to their personal development and well-being. The end result is a joyful child as well as a parent who can feel content that they have found an activity for their child that makes everybody happy.