The ins and outs of tennis can be tough, especially watching from the sidelines, where you aren’t allowed to talk to your child. There are many different reasons we see parents get frustrated with their children, whether it’s due to their behavior, their commitment or lack thereof, or just their overall game. Not seeing the results you want for your child can be tough, but you have to realize that sometimes it’s tougher on them.
Growing up in a tennis family, I was lucky. My father always knew how to talk to me after my best and worst matches. Some children don’t have that luxury, and sometimes, the “soccer mum” comes out in you, which is okay to be your child’s number one fan.
There are many points to this post that I’d like to touch on, but my main point would be that children feel pressure just like the rest of us. They don’t quite understand how to deal with that emotion, so it comes out in different ways, such as destructive behavior, poor shot-making ability, decreased effort levels, etc. If you aren’t familiar with tennis, sometimes the better option is to speak to your coach and let them know what is happening.
Communication between a coach and a tennis parent is vital, and without it, there are mental and physical barriers your child may never overcome. Speak up and get involved to set your child up for success. Below is a link that I think most tennis parents should read.
https://www.tennismindgame.com/child-tennis-and-you.html
I have also added a link to the best tennis book for any tennis parent, The Tennis Parent’s Bible. If you are looking to help your child along their journey in one of the toughest individual sports, I highly suggest you give this a read!
By Austin Barr, Head Tennis Pro
