Tennis Parenting is a tough job

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Permalink Reply by Jewell Fox on June 16, 2009 at 4:58pm

Well I'm glad to see that you've started on this wonderful journey. Welcome to the Elite Club!! I've been on this trip for the past 8 years and I'm still learning everyday and enjoying every minute of it. Let me introduce myself, I am the mother of a young professional from the United States. She started playing tennis at the age of 10 and had a successful junior career and now is trying her way unto the pro tour. What you are going through we all went through and it is not unusual but you have to find the true family/friends that are there for you and your child. We are the most envious parents around because our kids are talented and destin for greatness and most people/other parents cannot handle that. You have to grow beyond this for your child. If your child has the passion, desire and work ethic go for it!!! This opportunity does not come around twice, albeit sometimes once in a lifetime, do not let PEOPLE, control your destiny, YOU DO! Goodluck and feel free to keep in touch. Tennis Parent.

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Permalink Reply by Wesley Watson on Wednesday

Hi Jewell,

Let me introduce myself. My name is Wesley Watson, I am from Johannesburg, South Africa and I am married to my beautiful wife Mari and we have 2 beautiful kids. Abi is 9 and Danny is 8.

Both Abi and Danny play tennis and they are coached 4 times a week by their coach. They have been doing this for 2 years now and have developed very well. Abi is showing a lot of talent for the game and she wants to play as much as possible all the time.

Here my questions then, as a parent I am not sure if there must be any coaching from my side or must I just be a hitting partner? Are tournaments important at this stage? How much emphasis must be put on strength and fitness now?

Sorry for just dropping these on you like this but as you said, the opportunity doesn't come around twice, and we want to learn from others what to do and not to do.

Thank you so much,

Wes

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Permalink Reply by Mark Dalli on Wednesday

I have been in the junior development program for many years. I suggest you hit with them when ever they want you to. Weather they win or lose, try to be the same. You love them and want the best for them, I understand. By being a constant, spending the time is priceless. often I have found the parents involvement can be a distraction and not help the player. Help them love the game and the rest will come. Remember, if they love i,t they will work hard on their own, children don't want to work so this will sneak the work on them....sneaky huh? As a parent of 2 open level players who started at age 4, I must say they have fond memories of playing all over California and having a great time with many players with USA team tennis. They learn social skills and today that is a skill that stands out. Anyway there is my 2 cents.

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Permalink Reply by Jason Lampione on March 12, 2010 at 6:27pm

Dear John Zhao,

My hat comes off to you. Your dedication and passion for the game is unmatched and very greatly appreciated, because I know that many families feel the same excitement and disappoints you experience with your child each match both in victory and defeat. The best method to over-come a hard loss or even a tough match is to always look at it from a positive perspective, and "always" look at every bad out-come and extract the good that comes attatched to it. This will give you and your child a better chance at winning, insofar, that you'll start seeing measurable progress and the effort gained from a newly found positive philosophy that you have developed will pay off more than you can imagine.

Sincerely,

Jason Lampoine

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Permalink Reply by Craig Steinberg on May 12, 2012 at 5:53am

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