As a member of the Head/Penn team for tennis, I was recommending a couple of athletes for the junior team. These kids may receive some rackets, shoes, etc. if they are good enough to warrant this.

The guy that heads up the regional Head/Penn in our area told me that the company is going in a new direction. The kids I was talking about were both around 14 years old. The company wants to recruit "whiz" kids who show potential around the ages of 7 or 8.

This is the problem. We are recruiting the kids, not for the overall benefit of the children's growth, but for the growth of athletic companies that want to get a head start on their marketing. These companies, along with agents, are going after children who are also being guided by their parents to do this. Remember, prior to 18 years of age, it is the parents responsibility to say yes and no in the household.

There was a recent article about a family of a 5 year old tennis player and his family from the U.S., who are moving to France to further this child's tennis game. Folks, the kid may like tennis, but moving a family to France hoping that this kid makes it in the professional world of tennis someday is too much. This kid should be checking out Sesame Street and going to Kindergarten.

For every Tiger Woods, Andre Agassi and Venus and Serena William, there are another 1000 that need to be kids first, and athletes second.

The scruples of sports agents, athletic equipment companies and even parents need to be reviewed at this point. The children? Let them be children and we hope trust the decisions made by those with their best interests at heart. In my opinion, elementary age children should be exploring various sports and other activities. They should not have made life altering decisions by the 5th or 6th grade.

Learn more about this author, Louis Marvin.
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