So, I'm a crazy tennis parent?

[BMC9670]

Anyone else get this feeling from others in the community?

I often get looks and comments from other parents about how I take my son's tennis too seriously. He's 8. I think tennis parents get an undue reputation because to others it seems like we're out there all day every day Mike-Agassi-ing our kids. In reality, he practiced 3-4 times a week for 1 1/2 hours and played 4 tournaments this summer. So, total hours a week are around 8. He loves tennis and had lots of time to do other things.

Now, compare that to other sports and it's no different. His friends that play soccer have camps that last all day for several weeks, play in leagues that have practice 3-4 days a week and play tournaments. His friends that play baseball practice everyday for hours and play tournaments. His friends that play football are practicing 4 days a week in full pads, in August heat, and have games on weekends. Other parents are just as fanatical about their sports.

So, why am I the crazy one? My theory is that tennis has little to no infrastructure. It's usually a parent, a coach, or maybe a isolated clinic/camp. If it's a parent like me, we're always seen at the club, seemingly every day for hours and hours, whereas other sports have the drop-off and out-of-site factor.

Other tennis parents, what do you think?

[Pro_Tour_630]

who cares what others think do what is best for you and you kid.....

wait till you homeschool and be on the courts all day then.........

[mikeler]

If he is on the court 8 hours per week on average, you are not a crazy tennis parent. When I played tennis as a teen, a slow week would be only 8 hours on the court. My parents didn't push me at all, I just loved to play and still do.

[BMC9670]

Originally Posted by Pro_Tour_630

wait till you homeschool and be on the courts all day then.........

Yeah, that's my point. Around here, this is what I seem like to other parents. I don't think they realize the lengths some people go to. I'm trying to develop his interest and love for the game along with the skill and not try and burn him out or get him injured. But, I try and teach him that if your going to do something, you should do it the best you can.

[hound 109]

Originally Posted by BMC9670

Anyone else get this feeling from others in the community?

Oh yeah....I'm one.


I often get looks and comments from other parents about how I take my son's tennis too seriously. He's 8. I think tennis parents get an undue reputation because to others it seems like we're out there all day every day Mike-Agassi-ing our kids.

But they're the ones dragging us out there.


In reality, he practiced 3-4 times a week for 1 1/2 hours and played 4 tournaments this summer. So, total hours a week are around 8. He loves tennis and had lots of time to do other things.

My kid practices or hits about the same numbers & duration, but plays 2 tournaments a month. Since he's buddies with most of the competitors, the tournaments are not only competitive, but recreational (for him).

Now, compare that to other sports and it's no different. His friends that play soccer have camps that last all day for several weeks, play in leagues that have practice 3-4 days a week and play tournaments. His friends that play baseball practice everyday for hours and play tournaments. His friends that play football are practicing 4 days a week in full pads, in August heat, and have games on weekends. Other parents are just as fanatical about their sports.

Agree with all of your points. But most of the baseball / football parents don't pay as much for "lessons" (or drills) & most dont travel to other cities to compete (although some do). The FB & BB parents don't have to do as much or pay as much to put their kids in a position to compete (or excel) as we do. Since we do, then we're perceived as "crazy".

So, why am I the crazy one? My theory is that tennis has little to no infrastructure.

Yep...unless you write a big check for "infrastructure" (aka as an academy)

It's usually a parent, a coach, or maybe a isolated clinic/camp.

Yep.

If it's a parent like me, we're always seen at the club, seemingly every day for hours and hours, whereas other sports have the drop-off and out-of-site factor.

Other tennis parents, what do you think?

I spend more time with my kid now that he plays tennis than when he played baseball or basketball. He's a complete tennis junkie (so he's loving it....) & I enjoy spending time with him (& have always enjoyed watching him compete).

Tennis & Golf, (& gymnastics??) being individual sports will always have parents that will be perceived as "crazy". Probably accurate in some ways for most of us....but also a function of everything that you mentioned & because it's an individual sport.

[jagmeister]

IMO, you're only "crazy" if you are the one pushing the child to play those hours. If the child is the one requesting to play, you are simply making the child happy. As the parent, as long as you are maintaining a healthy balance between tennis and other life activities for the child, you are just being a good parent.

[ga tennis]

Originally Posted by BMC9670

Anyone else get this feeling from others in the community?

I often get looks and comments from other parents about how I take my son's tennis too seriously. He's 8. I think tennis parents get an undue reputation because to others it seems like we're out there all day every day Mike-Agassi-ing our kids. In reality, he practiced 3-4 times a week for 1 1/2 hours and played 4 tournaments this summer. So, total hours a week are around 8. He loves tennis and had lots of time to do other things.

Now, compare that to other sports and it's no different. His friends that play soccer have camps that last all day for several weeks, play in leagues that have practice 3-4 days a week and play tournaments. His friends that play baseball practice everyday for hours and play tournaments. His friends that play football are practicing 4 days a week in full pads, in August heat, and have games on weekends. Other parents are just as fanatical about their sports.

So, why am I the crazy one? My theory is that tennis has little to no infrastructure. It's usually a parent, a coach, or maybe a isolated clinic/camp. If it's a parent like me, we're always seen at the club, seemingly every day for hours and hours, whereas other sports have the drop-off and out-of-site factor.

Other tennis parents, what do you think?

I get talked about alot in my town as well about my daughter playing too much tennis and people say she needs to be a normal 8 year old.I tell them so i need to let her come home from school and watch cartoons and sit around or play video games? My daughter told me that she wants to become a professional tennis player so im doing everything i can to help her reach her goal.If people want to talk bad about me because we are on the court 2 hours a day and they see her jogging thru the neighborhood ohh well let em talk.Keep doing what you are doing as long as your son wants it.

[chalkflewup]

If you're worried about what others think, that's a flag. Don't let it consume you because it can, and it will chew you up and spit you out quicker than a hiccup. It's a great sport, and that's all it is. That's a safe perspective.

[tennisdad65]

I have a 8 yr old son too and we play about the same as you, 4-5 times a week for 1.5 hours each. I would say about 7-8 hours/week max.

I love the fact that tennis for ~8 hours a week cuts down on their xbox or PS2 or TV games.

However, I do not get the crazy parent look in the community. The neighbour's actually compliment me on spending so much time playing with my son. I also used to take the neighbour's kids and my son's classmates for tennis, and they love that the most.

On the other hand, I get the strange comments at the tennis courts. I get the usual.. "Your son and you live out here" comments. I am bringing him up as a classical 1HBH s&v player, and I get a bunch of comments on my training methods like:
s&v is a losing strategy
continental is dead even in the forecourt
eastern FH is outdated.. switch him to western
1HBH is outdated.. switch him immediately to 2HBH
chip and charge is dead...
why do you spend 30 minutes a day on service returns?
why do you spend 30 minutes a day on serve drills?
why do you waste half his time around the net?
serve and service returns are less important in today's baseline game..
those soft balls (currently QuickStart Green 78 ) are useless.. move him to regular balls

My son loves tennis and especially when I arrange a group for him which is every weekend. He loves to play at the courts and show off when people are watching him.

[BMC9670]

Originally Posted by chalkflewup

If you're worried about what others think, that's a flag. Don't let it consume you because it can, and it will chew you up and spit you out quicker than a hiccup. It's a great sport, and that's all it is. That's a safe perspective.

I'm not worried about what people think, but think it's interesting that if you spend time with your kid, teach them a great sport, have an organized practice schedule and lesson plan, people think your obsessive.

[tacoben]

I like to think of it as a "journey" that my daughter and I are undertaking. I like to keep in perspective....that the tennis is my child's choice, and for as long as that is so, then I am happy to tag along. As a parent two years in the junior scene, I must admit that it can breed a certain kind of disfuntionality that you as a parent can only identify. Your investing money and time, which can be consuming. It's also about "pushing" your kids to be the best they can be but also know that there bounderies. If one day she tell me that she doesn't want to do tennis anymore, I will....admittedly, be dissapointed, but that is something I will have to accept.

[BMC9670]

Originally Posted by tennisdad65

I have a 8 yr old son too and we play about the same as you, 4-5 times a week for 1.5 hours each. I would say about 7-8 hours/week max.

I love the fact that tennis for ~8 hours a week cuts down on their xbox or PS2 or TV games.

However, I do not get the crazy parent look in the community. The neighbour's actually compliment me on spending so much time playing with my son. I also used to take the neighbour's kids and my son's classmates for tennis, and they love that the most.

On the other hand, I get the strange comments at the tennis courts. I get the usual.. "Your son and you live out here" comments. I am bringing him up as a classical 1HBH s&v player, and I get a bunch of comments on my training methods like:
s&v is a losing strategy
continental is dead even in the forecourt
eastern FH is outdated.. switch him to western
1HBH is outdated.. switch him immediately to 2HBH
chip and charge is dead...
why do you spend 30 minutes a day on service returns?
why do you spend 30 minutes a day on serve drills?
why do you waste half his time around the net?
serve and service returns are less important in today's baseline game..
those soft balls (currently QuickStart Green 78 ) are useless.. move him to regular balls

My son loves tennis and especially when I arrange a group for him which is every weekend. He loves to play at the courts and show off when people are watching him.

WOW! This is pretty much exactly us! I think what looks over the top to people is that I don't just go out and hit, but have a plan and organize our sessions. We do throwing, catching, footwork, etc. I try to make it like an organized sport as I think it's most productive and keeps it fresh for him.

Funny story about Green 78 balls: We were playing a set with them at the end of our practice one day and some guys began hitting next to us. After a while, one of them came over and offered us a can of balls because he thought ours were dead. (Nice gesture!) When I showed him what they were, he thought it was great how my son was really ripping into them with great form and playing points.

[justinmadison]

I think I might agree with the "switch him to a semi-western forehand" and don't work much on chip and charge.

[chalkflewup]

Semi is the way to go. And all court game is the way to go. Longer to learn but the dividends are huge and it's a fun way to play the game!

[BMC9670]

He started out with an Eastern FH and has naturally moved it toward Semi. I would call it a "strong" Eastern at this point. 2HBH from the baseline is strong. 1H slice backhand is coming along and can get him out of trouble. He's pretty good at net (yes, we do work on volleys and net play). Sounds pretty all-court to me.

[Jeffy005]

Originally Posted by Pro_Tour_630

who cares what others think do what is best for you and you kid.....

wait till you homeschool and be on the courts all day then.........

Lol yeh homeschool is the best way to do if you want your kid to become a pro... lets say he gets homeschooled for 4 hours a day and the rest of his day is all about tennis!!!

[ga tennis]

Originally Posted by BMC9670

He started out with an Eastern FH and has naturally moved it toward Semi. I would call it a "strong" Eastern at this point. 2HBH from the baseline is strong. 1H slice backhand is coming along and can get him out of trouble. He's pretty good at net (yes, we do work on volleys and net play). Sounds pretty all-court to me.

You are doing it right.They should start off with the eastern and progress to the semi western.I see alot of young kids 7,8,9,playing with a western grip.The reason they start using the western grip is because they are having to hit so many balls over their heads.

[Gemini]

I guess I've always thought a tennis parent differently. More along the negatives. I was at Emory U. one Sunday getting ready for a hit and there was a dad coaching his daughter, who I would say was about 14, on an adjacent court. When she would execute a shot "incorrectly", he would somewhat berate her. It was uncomfortable for me to listen to and watch that exchange. That's what I think of when I think "tennis parent".

My family has always had a great relationship through tennis. Though my dad doesn't play, my mom does and that's how I got into it. My uncles (mom's brothers) would play daily and we'd spend time with them on the courts. It got a point where we'd easily spend up to 10 hours a week on court. In all of that time, I never got "tennis parenting" from any of the relatives I would work out with.

That fact that you're dedicated to helping your child become a better player through structure doesn't make you a "tennis parent" by my definition.

[ga tennis]

My mother in law hates it that my daughter plays so much tennis.She is always fussing to my wife that i am trying to live out my dreams through my daughter.It is getting to the point now that she is telling my daughter that i am trying to live out my dreams through her.I guess i am in a way because i played college tennis and tried to play on the next level but i wasnt good enough.I really dont see anything wrong with that as long as she loves tennis as much as me.I am not gonna lie and say that it isnt my dream for her to play professionally but as long as she loves to practice and play whats the problem. I AM A CRAZY TENNIS PARENT!!

[Gemini]

Originally Posted by ga tennis

My mother in law hates it that my daughter plays so much tennis.She is always fussing to my wife that i am trying to live out my dreams through my daughter.It is getting to the point now that she is telling my daughter that i am trying to live out my dreams through her.I guess i am in a way because i played college tennis and tried to play on the next level but i wasnt good enough.I really dont see anything wrong with that as long as she loves tennis as much as me.I am not gonna lie and say that it isnt my dream for her to play professionally but as long as she loves to practice and play whats the problem. I AM A CRAZY TENNIS PARENT!!

The first step is admitting that you have a problem...LOL!