Tennis is not only about winning. It is a long journey full of losses, doubts and small steps forward. And that is where character is built... We bring you 10 things every tennis parent should know.
- Competitive tennis is very demanding. And it never gets easier.
- Tennis looks much easier from outside the court.
- Losing is part of the tennis world. Even at the highest level, only one player goes home as the winner each week. Be prepared that your child will lose often.
- If you have never played competitive tennis, you do not really know what happens on the court.
- A crisis will come. Unfair or surprising losses, loss of confidence, injuries, "bad" balls or questionable line calls — all of this is always around the corner. Be patient. Crises are part of the process.
- If you are constantly looking for new coaches, the problem is probably not the coach.
- Even if you have the ideal coach, do everything right and optimize everything, results can never be fully controlled or guaranteed.
- The whole process should feel meaningful and ideally enjoyable for both you and the player. If one of you is unhappy for a long time, it is a sign that something is not set correctly.
- The player should be more motivated than the parent. If not, it is a problem.
- If you feel frustrated, try to imagine how your child feels.