Coaching Juniors During Matches

[10ismom]

Originally Posted by Oz_Rocket

I personally have no problem with this at the U10 or possibly U12 level provided it is fair for all participants. In fact they've just introduced a national U10 teams competition in Australia that does this. They take the best 32 kids in each state, place them in teams of 4 each with a designated coach and play a round robin tournament over 5 weeks to help choose a final team of 4 boys and 4 girls from each state to compete during the second week of the Australian Open.

The format for each tie is 50 minutes of continuous singles, 10 minute break then 50 minutes of continuous doubles. Some kids ground away and barely completed one set during the time while others were beaten 6-1, 4-0. During change of ends the designated team coach (not parents or regular coaches) could take the kids aside and talk them through possible strategies and matchplay.

It worked very well and because the make up of the final team isn't based purely on results, there is no disadvantage to kids who needed little or no coaching because the coaches know who they are and I imagine that actually counts for them.

Sounds like a wonderful idea. We need to incorporate the (fair) coaching opportunities more in the young players' match play here in the US.

[dr. godmode]

No I really hate when kids get illegally coached. The great thing about tennis is that it's just 1 on 1 and you have to get through it all yourself. Coaching during a match can unfairly change the outcome of a match and I have lost because of it. I go through all of my mistakes with my dad after the match and I still learn a lot and it improves my match play.

[Oz_Rocket]

Originally Posted by 10ismom

Sounds like a wonderful idea. We need to incorporate the (fair) coaching opportunities more in the young players' match play here in the US.

I thought it was great idea too. What you are doing is taking the top few hundred U10s in the country and placing them in a very competive but structured environment where their strategic tennis skills can be developed in a fair way.

And while you can play all the practice matches you like and get coached on strategy it just isn't the same as when it is done at a proper tournament played against a large number of high quality opponents. Something that usually you never get a chance to do (and rightly so).

There is a bit more information at:

http://www.tennis.com.au/competitions/super-10s

[NLBwell]

No coaching during matches. It is a chance for kids to stand on their own and not be directed by adults. It will help them grow up to be stronger people. Isn't that the reason we play sports?

[Number1Coach]

Originally Posted by NLBwell

No coaching during matches. It is a chance for kids to stand on their own and not be directed by adults. It will help them grow up to be stronger people. Isn't that the reason we play sports?

Well if that is the rule for sports then what about every other sport ? Football coach, basket ball coach , soccer coach, volley ball coach ,ect.

[TenAll]

That's what makes Tennis different and special. Other sports don't have the kids officiate their own match either.

[Alohajrtennis]

Originally Posted by TenAll

That's what makes Tennis different and special. Other sports don't have the kids officiate their own match either.

It's one of the things, but not the only thing. Its also one of the things that turn what could eventually be exceptional players away from the game at an early age. some kids are just not ready to deal with isolation at a very young age. For under 12's, coaching can sometimes be as simple as a hug and some reassuring words. Yes, they have to transition to real rules sometime, like they have to transition from green to yellow balls.
And there are other sports where kids officiate there own matches, such as golf.

[Rina]

What I would like to see is more coaches coaching during practice matches, as opposed to looking at their phones! So, today two coaches per 3 courts, and kids are playing matches yet nobody is correcting, instructing or criticizing. They do it sometimes, but not a lot, and that is when I think parents aren't getting what they are paying for, nor are the kids getting proper attention. And this is elite training program but not their best group of kids. Maybe that is why?