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Tennis Parent Guide
This guide is
designed to be a resource for parents of tennis players entering the competitive arena.
Tournament, classes, private lessons, match play, all of this can be
overwhelming to both the player and the parent. The tennis parent guide is
just that, a guide to make this as enjoyable and successful as possible.
As always you may speak with any of the KRC Tennis Staff to assist in any of
your questions.
Table of Contents
Role
of the Parent
2
“The
top 10 things you can do for your child as a parent”.
2
Role
of the Coach
2
Tournament
Opportunities
4
Non-Elimination
Tournaments (NET)
4
USTA
Satellite Tournaments.
4
USTA
Sanctioned Tournaments.
4
Tournament
Rankings (sectional & regional)
5
Nutrition:
5
Teach
players to select pre-match meals and snacks that are
5
Hydration
5
Post-match
nutrition
5
Tournament
Etiquette
5
Player
Responsibilities
6
Scholarship
Opportunities
6
Internet
Resources
6
-
Selecting
a coach
-
Provide
financial support
-
Instill
self-esteem
-
Provide
proper nutrition
-
Provide
the opportunity to participate in competitive play, or not
-
Keep
sporting results in perspective; avoid placing your player on a pedestal
-
Focus
on performance instead of results
-
Emphasize
that, “Win or lose, I love you just the same”
-
Beware
of overtraining or burnout
-
Growing
children also need time off and rest
-
Avoid
showing negative emotions when courtside
-
Avoid
trying to be your child’s coach
-
Have
respect for his expertise
-
Help
the coach understand your child’s personality and feelings
-
Work
with the coach and your child to develop a competitive schedule
- Treat
your child the same whether he/she wins or loses.
-
Allow
recovery time at home and off the court.
-
If
your child has a tennis pro, don’t try to coach.
-
Ask
the right questions after the match.
-
Be
positive on the sidelines in your body language and comments.
-
Value
fairness, sportsmanship, guts and effort as much as results.
-
Do
not use guilt as a motivator.
-
Have
fun. (Enjoy traveling, seeing new tennis clubs, and meeting new players)
-
Do
not overlook cheating and bad sportsmanship.
-
And
finally, Let them dream big.
Selecting the appropriate
coach for your son or daughter is very important in their tennis development.
Please refer to this basic list of qualities that you may expect from a
tennis coach.
-
Teach and model behavior that
reflects desirable basic values
-
Criticize and compliment based on
performance
-
Set
developmental goals
-
Communicate effectively to the
player and parents
-
Provide skill and technique
instruction
-
Evaluate and improve player
technique
-
Proficient in training and
drilling
-
Develop strategy and tactics
-
Understand basic principles of
sports psychology
-
Explain the basic rules of tennis
Between the ages of 12 and
18, it is very important for players to obtain match play experience.
Kiwanis Jr. Drop-in each Friday is a good example of match experience.
Each player has a different learning curve, but your child’s dedication
will have a direct relation to his or her success in competition.
For example, playing a minimum of 2 days a week would make it difficult
to compete for a USTA ranking. Competitive
play 4-6 times a week would most likely lead to successful performance in
sanctioned events.
- Lowly
to Moderately competitive tournaments
-
2007 Junior Satellite
Tournaments
-
Recommended for Rallyball and
Tournament I players
- Must
hold a current USTA membership card
- http://national.usta.com/Membership/memnew1.asp
- Moderately
competitive tournaments
- Played
in the
Phoenix
region
- Recommended
for Kiwanis NJTL, JVCP, and NJTT players
- Must
hold a current USTA membership card
-
http://national.usta.com/Membership/memnew1.asp
- Highly
competitive tournaments
- Played
at the regional, sectional, and national levels
-
Entry
forms online:
http://www.southwest.usta.com
- May
earn state, sectional, and national rankings
-
See
“Tournament Rankings” section below
- Recommended
for Kiwanis AJTL and NJTT players
*Please
note, sometimes there are penalties for withdrawals or no-shows.
Speak with the tournament director or tournament referee about your
situation.
Must hold a current USTA
membership card
Junior rankings will
be done using a Points Per Round.
Eligible players who
have won at least one USTA sanctioned match will have a standing
Rankings are based on the best 6
tournaments played in the last 12 months.
Final Rankings will
appear in the Southwest Section Yearbook and will include all players who have
accumulated at least 200 points for the year.
Ranked age divisions
include: 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, & 8
years or younger.
Teach players to select pre-match meals and snacks that are:
Familiar to them and known to
settle hunger
High in carbohydrates to supply
energy for muscle reserves, moderate in protein
and low in fat
Quickly digested (not too high in
fiber or fat)
- Examples
of pre-match meals and snacks rich in carbohydrates are pasta, bread,
fresh fruit, granola bars, energy bars and sports drinks.
- Eat
approximately 1 ½ hours prior to match time.
Hydration
Avoid
caffeinated beverages up to a night before match play.
Continually sip water the evening
before a match.
Drink 17-20 oz. 2 hours prior to
match play.
Have at least 2 liters of fluid
courtside during the match.
Sport drinks replenish
carbohydrates and electrolytes.
Examples:
Gatorade and PowerAde
Many
experts suggest mixing a ratio of sport drink to water of 1:1 or 2:1
Begin eating carbohydrates within
30 minutes after a match.
Avoid high-protein and high-fat
foods, as these will contribute to dehydration.
Drink at least 20 oz. per pound of
weight loss within 2 hours of a match.
-
Check-in at tournaments desk 15
minutes prior to match time with your USTA card.
-
Players and parents are not
allowed to communicate during the match.
-
Spectators never make calls, or
help with scoring disputes
-
Do not enter any surrounding
courts to watch the match
-
Spectators may applaud their
player, but not cheer for the opponent’s errors.
-
Winning player brings balls back
to tournament desk and reports the score.
-
Avoid showing negative emotions
when courtside
Pack their own bag
Warm-up correctly
Send in their own entry forms
Develop healthy eating habits
Find out when their next scheduled
match is
Evaluate their own performance
after a match
Parents:
By
gradually giving responsibility to your child, he or she will develop
a
professional demeanor.
Ü
“The Southwest Tennis Foundation would like to
make certain that all parents and players in the Southwest Section are aware of
the availability of scholarship funds for clinics, camps and tournaments and the
process for applying.”
o
http://www.southwest.usta.com/howto/custom.sps?iType=5703&icustompageid=8768
:
www.tempe.gov/tennis
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