Parent Resources

Tennis Parenting: What is Right & What is Wrong

The text discusses the challenges faced by tennis coaches who work with junior players and their parents. The author, a coach with firsthand experience as a parent, emphasizes the importance of balancing diplomacy with honesty when dealing with parents. Key points include:

1. Setting Boundaries: Coaches should establish clear rules, such as not allowing parents to coach their children during lessons and discouraging discussion about rankings to avoid pressuring the child.

2. Minimal Tennis Talk: Parents are advised to avoid excessive tennis-related conversations with their children, letting coaches handle the instruction and allowing kids to develop independently.

3. Emotional Detachment: During matches, parents should exhibit minimal emotional reactions to prevent impacting the child’s performance and to maintain a supportive environment.

The overarching theme is that by respecting these guidelines, parents can help create a positive and constructive atmosphere, fostering a lifelong love of tennis in their children.

FULL ARTICLE: Tennis Parenting: What is Right & What is Wrong

Author

  • Gilad Bloom, former Israeli Davis Cup player and two-time Olympian, played on the ATP Tour 1983-1995, reached the fourth round of the U.S. Open in 1990, reached a highest ranking of 61 in singles, was Israel Singles Champion three times. Bloom has been running his own tennis program since 2000 and also was director of tennis at John McEnroe Tennis Academy for two years.

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