<p>I had this “life changing experience”… not really. Just a story. So one day, I was with my little cousin who is turning to a junior in high school and saw him play tennis. He’s not even in a team and does not even enter tournaments. He doesn’t have lessons and his mechanics are horrible but he has incredible stamina and spins on his shots. I believe he’s been playing for 3 months tops. Oddly enough, he beat a captain from a local high school, who made fun of him for having such a bad swing and backhand, on the day I was watching him. The reason he is not on the high school team or enters tournaments is because he cannot afford the tennis equipment or lessons and by the looks of his tennis raquet, the grip needs to be changed and his strings needs to be re-stringed and he plays at the local park early morning every day by himself against a wall. Even with no money or no support, I would bet anything he is better than the captain of his high school tennis team. He has no motivation to join the team because he feels uneasy playing tournaments with, quoted from him,“trash looking equipment”. Of course if I had money, I would buy him all the equipment in the world, but I believe tennis is a gift that God has given him and I don’t want to see him give up this gift. I don’t know what to say, I need advice quick. I am just scared that if he gives up tennis, he’ll be involved in gangs or engage in illegal activities because the area he lives in isn’t the best place to live in the world.</p>
<p>Many teens in our area, have jobs to help pay for school supplies, clothes and even contribute to household expenses.
I would advise students not to work a whole lot, but weekly work can be enough to make a difference in their income and also helps build skills for the future
Many community centers that offer lessons or camps also have support for low income families- you might check at your local boys and girls club?</p>
<p>Tell the high school coach about your cousin. Ask the coach for advice and help.</p>
<p>You also might be able to get his some good second hand equipment.</p>
<p>There is a store/chain that sells second hand equipment. (Play it again Sports, I think–google it and look for locations.)</p>
<p>Perhaps he can get a summer job at a tennis facility that has a shop–he can get a discount on it. (If there is one in the area.)</p>
<p>I also second the suggestion of talking to a high school coach, some high schools can provide equipment if needed.</p>
<p>Tell him not to worry about people criticizing his equipment, just go out and beat them.</p>
<p>R, I had a sort of similar experience when D was a high school freshman - she qualified for a national competition, and was given a spot on the roster. But it came very suddenly and she needed equipment, airfare and hotel very quickly. </p>
<p>I worked the phones (she was in class all day and couldn’t do it herself) - I got $500 case from a local sports foundation, with the promise that she would do X number of hours of volunteer work later (the “later” never arrived as the foundation desolved a few months after); I got an equipment dealer to provide some things at a great discount, and, I got a college coach in the region to lend some other things. I also had a problem getting some pieces onto a plane because this was just after 9/11, so got the government affairs director of the airline to intercede. </p>
<p>Therefore, my advice to you is to simply work the phones. There are lots and lots of resources out there and it will take some calls but my guess is you will be able to find what he needs. </p>
<p>I do have a question though - are you sure the issue of the equipment is his ONLY reason for not wanting to be on a team? Perhaps you have already done this but perhaps you should qualify first - for example, ask him “if you had the appropriate equipment would you…” - in my (limited) experience, persons who are passionate and engaged in sport will usually not let the absence of or condition of equipment get in their way - in many cases it will not phase them at all. They will simply do all in their power to get on a team and get as much competition and practice in as possible, and hope that some sort of workable equipment is made available. Forgive me if this is an off course speculation but it seems odd that lack of proper equipment would influence the young man - although, I know absolutely nothing about tennis.</p>
<p>Write letters to Wilson, Dunlop and other equipment manufacturers. A teacher’s support/letter would help. Also post on bulletin boards in affluent areas or at country clubs. You could also call local country clubs. Look in Goodwill and other such stores in affluent areas. Involve the tennis coach at his school.</p>
<p>There are a number of foundations that sponsor tennis programs for disadvanated youth. Try googling your cousin’s city with “tennis”, “foundation”, etc. Here’s a link to one program:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.highbeam.com/library/docfree.asp?DOCID=1G1:13869363&ctrlInfo=Round20%3AMode20c%3ADocG%3AResult&ao=[/url]”>http://www.highbeam.com/library/docfree.asp?DOCID=1G1:13869363&ctrlInfo=Round20%3AMode20c%3ADocG%3AResult&ao=</a></p>