Junior players(16+) question for you....

[ilpumpero]

My son just aged up from 10s to 12s. He is pretty savvy on the court in terms of shot selection and strategy, he is just not as strong and fast as some of the bigger kids, so he is getting beat pretty good, but his game is improving very rapidly.

Our approach has been to mix open and satellite tournaments...get him into a tournament where he can go 2, 3, or 4 rounds, not just for fun and confidence, but for the increase in the number of matches played. The Catch-22 in tournament play is the more you play, the better you get, but you have to start winning to play more. If he can play 2-3, then 3-4 tournament matches over a weekend, he will improve by leaps and bounds.

Good luck.

[Dashbarr]

I'm 16 myself, and when I had the same problem for a while. Its usually a combination of a jump in skill level differences and lack of match play. I'd suggest having him start to play matches when he has free time with a few people at or around his skill level. Maybe see if he can meet some 13 or 14 year olds to play with him as well, who are a little better. Usually, more practice matches helps kids that age groove into tournaments a little better.

[Mikey Fresh]

I had this issue my first few tournies. It was nerves and tensing up for me. You need to tell him to go out and play his game and to not get affected by the other player. the more he plays the more confortable he will get and the less he will do this

[momtogrif]

Originally Posted by Dashbarr

I'm 16 myself, and when I had the same problem for a while. Its usually a combination of a jump in skill level differences and lack of match play. I'd suggest having him start to play matches when he has free time with a few people at or around his skill level. Maybe see if he can meet some 13 or 14 year olds to play with him as well, who are a little better. Usually, more practice matches helps kids that age groove into tournaments a little better.

We just started doing this with a friend of his who is 13 and has played quite a few national tournaments and has lots of match experience. We try to get them together to play at least once a week. It's funny b/c I used to watch this boy play a year ago and I wondered if my kid would ever be as good as him and now my kid is taking games off of him. They sure do improve quickly at this age! We also have a friend whose daughter wants to go out and play with him and they're very evenly matched so we'll be trying to get him some match play with her.

[CharlieB]

In our country kids can play categories above their age limits. The transition from the 10's to the 12's group was tough because there are bigger and stronger kids. At the 10's age group the strategy that works for most boys is to hit high topspin lobs to the opponent backhand. In the 12's the game plan changes as kids are a bit more mature and have a game plan. What my son does is that in the middle of his age category he starts playing the upper category so he gets a feel of were his level needs to be in order to win. So far, this has played out well. Every year he has finished as #1 in his category in amongst the top 4 in the following one. Every kid is different and copes with stress different, let your kid have fun. It's not the same practicing with his coach and playing matches. Cheers, C.

[raiderhater]

First of all at age 11 results do not really mean anything. It is encouraging that your soon already has a good ability to hit certain shots and sometimes these types of players mature a little bit later and learn to play points better by getting older and having more experience.
With that said I would encourage to play less tournaments, have less lessons, and maybe even continue to play other sports. Let your son decide how much he wants to practice every week and limit the amount of tournaments played. Local and sectional tournaments are all that is needed at this age because they are really not important at all.
I would encourage more hits with his dad and other junior players just for fun. These are the times that your son has to decide if he wants to focus and work on his game without a coach telling him what to do. As a junior, I had very little private lessons compared to other kids but when I practiced I was mentally there because I wanted to improve so badly. It is good to practice on your own because when you are in a tournament match you are on your own and you have to learn to made adjustments to your game in order to defeat opponents.
I averaged probably about 2 lessons a month as a junior and had good success in the juniors and am 18 and going to college now.

[nadalfan1992]

Well this is my suggestions about improving all juniors even though I am bad at tennis.Let them go to three clinic's per week at least two hours per clinic.Also during the clinic practice mostly on the your bad shots but do work even on your best shots.Because I changed uspta pros and they had different styles One wanted me and the others to rip everything forehand, bachand,and serve.Thanks to him I was good player because he wanted me to work on those three things but they were getting in consitant.My current coach Justs wants you to get everything in and go for the winner and doesnt work on your serve my serve now is worse than it was when I started tennis.But anyway back to my opion they should do Three 2 hour clinics per week and 2-3 matches or an hour of match play.

[JoshDragon]

Originally Posted by mozzer

Im 16 and have never had a private lesson. I personally dont think they can help, you either have the natural ability for racket sports or you dont. Remember, just my opinion.
Tournament play is the only way to improve, they wont hit easy feeds to your forehands or backhands like in a lesson...

Private lessons won't make you into a great tennis player, you have to have the natural ability for that but it'll still help improve your game.