My 8 yr old son has taken an interest in Tennis so we have bought the rackets and balls and been to the courts many times to smack em back and forth... I have never played tennis until now, but always been athletic, so I can play "catch" if you will.
Looking for advice from those of you with experience:
I am wondering, should I just keep playing with him or should I go with finding him like a high school player "coach" who can actually help him learn the game? He has asked questions that I am not sure about....so maybe I could just go get a book about "Tennis for Dummies"????? Your opinions please.....

get him in some private or group lessons. Group lessons are usually cheaper but they are with other kids that are his age and level.

definately get him some lessons. Tennis is a game where developing your strokes at an early age is nearly as important as the child's athletic ability

Whatever you do, don't pay a high school player to give your son lessons. That is a violation of the amateur status rule for UIL!!!!

If you know any high school players who are giving lessons to kids and being paid, let their coach know immediately. Better that the coach report the violation than another school find out and report them instead.

I will also recommend the group lessons over a private lesson. An 8 year old needs to be around other kids while he is learning the fundamentals. By himself, he will get bored very quickly.

Okay, I understand about the UIL rules, and won't hire a kid to coach him. But is that any different than a kid who competes in Mathematics for UIL and then does Math tutoring for money?

Now back on the subject....I live in Rains county. I guess the place to find group lessons might be at the nearest YMCA?

I would get him in lessons. But I would also go out with him and drop a ball for him to hit and then work your way to where you can toss with 2 bounces and he hits it over the net. Have him stand at the service line so hitting the ball over the net does not become too intimidating. They also have those big foamy balls that you can have him hit and you can work on hitting back and forth with him. Work your way to hitting a regular tennis ball. That is how I started mine.

Talk to the local high school coach for his recommendations. Most good players at the high school level continue with private lessons even during tennis season. Often the local tennis pro at the country club in smaller towns can teach lessons to non members. Also the HS coach can probably provide private or group lessons to kids that are not in high school.

Enter your child in USTA tournaments. He may lose every match he plays, but that is how he will improve. Tennis is truly a sport you improve your skills against a stronger opponent.

You should contact the coach in Grand Saline or Van, I know they both give lessons to kids on weeknights and weekends. Boyd in Grand Saline gives lessons to some top state juniors and there are a few guys in Van who used to be good players who give them.

It is against UIL rules for any student athlete to receive monetary compensation for using the skill they use as a high school athlete. It is referred to as the amateur rule. An amateur is someone who doesn't receive money for using a skill they possess. A professional receives money for using their skill. i.e. If I give someone a tennis lesson then I am a tennis professional. UIL doesn't differentiate between whether or not you are teaching tennis and getting paid or playing tennis and getting paid. Another example outside of athletics would be in the realm of music. If I am a vocal musician and I give voice lesson to someone and am paid then I am a vocal musical professional and I would then not be allowed to enter a singing contest for amateurs.

An earlier post referred to UIL Academic math contestants tutoring math and getting paid. Apple and oranges as far as UIL is concerned. Athletics and academics do not bring the same possiblilty of booster abuse. When's the last time you heard of someone trying to pay a kid "under the table" so he/she would compete on the UIL Math team?

If you are working at a pro shop and are being paid to sell rackets and shoes and giving lessons is part of the job description you may be all right with UIL but you might want to talk with your coach and AD about this and let them contact UIL and get a ruling. If you initiate the inquiry then UIL will most likely be forgiving if it is a violation but if someone else turns you in, then UIL will most likely penalize the school and you. If you are being paid specifically to teach lessons that is a violation and your coach should know that.

This amateur rule has more to do with eliminating ways that "boosters" can pay players than anything else.

You can not teach and get paid money for it if you play high school tennis. It is as simple as that. I had a few friends who taught lessons and got paid with tennis balls, or strings, or stuff like that, that is legal.

i agree, if you start with bad strokes you will get in a habit and it will be hard to break