So, I'm a crazy tennis parent?

BMC9670

Hall of Fame
BMC, just wanted to compliment you too. Good job, that's not easy. Keep it up and don't worry about other parents. Your son will never forget what you are helping him with. The Sport should eventually become secondary to that critical/important relationship between parent-child, yet it seems like you have the right approach. Tennis is "no joke" and you recognize how much work you have to put in to develop a good young tennis player. I salute all the great tennis parents out there, because I know how hard that job is.

Thank you. And I appreciate your POV having done this with your parents. He's only 8, but so far it's been a great thing for our relationship. Not that there aren't moments where I have to get tough, but the times that we laugh are far greater. I hope to keep building that bond that you speak of with your father and develop his game so he'll always have it, whatever he does with it.
 

ga tennis

Hall of Fame
Thank you. And I appreciate your POV having done this with your parents. He's only 8, but so far it's been a great thing for our relationship. Not that there aren't moments where I have to get tough, but the times that we laugh are far greater. I hope to keep building that bond that you speak of with your father and develop his game so he'll always have it, whatever he does with it.

The bond is the best thing about the journey!! What state do you live in BCM9679?
 

goober

Legend
I would like to be a crazy tennis parent. Unfortunately I tried my 2 daughters on it for about 14 lessons and they hate it. Actually they don't like ball sports in general. They like figure skating and dancing so we take them to lessons for that every week. I hoping my youngest son will take an interest in tennis.
 
Thank you. And I appreciate your POV having done this with your parents. He's only 8, but so far it's been a great thing for our relationship. Not that there aren't moments where I have to get tough, but the times that we laugh are far greater. I hope to keep building that bond that you speak of with your father and develop his game so he'll always have it, whatever he does with it.

You're welcome BMC. You sound like you are already well on your way and have it down just right, you are trying to "arm" him with a Tennis background, which will not only give him Tennis options, but more importantly it will greatly expand so many life options. First and foremost, he'll likely be very healthy, fit and someone that loves exercise. Keep it up sir and all the best to you.
 

GRANITECHIEF

Hall of Fame
Similar here, 7 y.o. daughter is sort of luke warm to tennis, although not protesting taking a lesson each weak and starting to hit the sweet spot more. She's mostly into singing.

3 y.o. son already asking for lessons, always wanting to play ping/pong (on wood floor), and generally pumped up for tennis. Of course, he used to sit on Landsdorps basket during his brothers lessons and has been exposed to tennis his whole life.
 

BMC9670

Hall of Fame
The bond is the best thing about the journey!! What state do you live in BCM9679?

We're in PA (near Philadelphia). It's a little tough as there is not a lot of kids his age that play seriously/regularly. Not that he's a prodigy, but there just isn't a lot of interest - it's all baseball, soccer, and football. QS is non-existent much less Green ball tournies. He did play some 10U tournaments this summer, but I wish I could find good kids his age for practice/clinics as he winds up playing with kids in their early teens at our club and it's not great socially. I would love to be in more of a tennis hotbed.

What part of Georgia are you in? (assumed by your screen name)
 

ga tennis

Hall of Fame
We're in PA (near Philadelphia). It's a little tough as there is not a lot of kids his age that play seriously/regularly. Not that he's a prodigy, but there just isn't a lot of interest - it's all baseball, soccer, and football. QS is non-existent much less Green ball tournies. He did play some 10U tournaments this summer, but I wish I could find good kids his age for practice/clinics as he winds up playing with kids in their early teens at our club and it's not great socially. I would love to be in more of a tennis hotbed.

What part of Georgia are you in? (assumed by your screen name)

We live near Macon Georgia.
 

ga tennis

Hall of Fame
Similar here, 7 y.o. daughter is sort of luke warm to tennis, although not protesting taking a lesson each weak and starting to hit the sweet spot more. She's mostly into singing.

3 y.o. son already asking for lessons, always wanting to play ping/pong (on wood floor), and generally pumped up for tennis. Of course, he used to sit on Landsdorps basket during his brothers lessons and has been exposed to tennis his whole life.

How did your son like Landsdorp?
 

GRANITECHIEF

Hall of Fame
He liked him then but now he thinks he's a little outdated with his philosophy on the modern game. He's got a new gig going where he lives with his coach 3 weeks out of the month for the same cost as about 4 1hr lessons with Robert.

But Robert was priceless for teaching a foundation.
 

ga tennis

Hall of Fame
He liked him then but now he thinks he's a little outdated with his philosophy on the modern game. He's got a new gig going where he lives with his coach 3 weeks out of the month for the same cost as about 4 1hr lessons with Robert.

But Robert was priceless for teaching a foundation.

How old is your son?
 

GRANITECHIEF

Hall of Fame
We're in CA, but you might have guessed that since it is well known that Robert teaches in Palos Verdes.

You in Georgia i assume?
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
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.. :)

During this USO, Nav said that the baseline rally really begins only in the 5th shot.

Serve
Return
Shot 3 is done while server is recovering from serve
Shot 4 is done while returner is recovering from return
The real baseline rally starts in Shot 5

So if you can end the point in 4 shots, you win without the rally.
 
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 am with you.
I have an 11 years old daughter.
The other people says I am "too aggresive",in their language means "too crazy"
:neutral:
 
Hhaha. That's going to be in every match. Lots of miscalls and badcalls. Well at least you didn't pull /yank her ear.

Not no more ! :)
I learned a lot also.
Now I tell her it is ok to lose.Be happy.It is only practicing.
Now,she is playing a lot better.
I will try to post some videos .
 

willshot

Semi-Pro
Not no more ! :)
I learned a lot also.
Now I tell her it is ok to lose.Be happy.It is only practicing.
Now,she is playing a lot better.
I will try to post some videos .

I remember playing a 14s nationals 16 years ago and lost to a kid who repeatedly made bad calls. After losing the match, my mom who never ever hits me before..... slaps my head telling me how stupid i was. I thought she was a crazy parent. hehe.

Can't wait to see your videos. chow.
 

ga tennis

Hall of Fame
I yelled a lot at my daughter when she lost her match.
She didn't call out when she supposed to !!!

Try to stay positive!!!!! The one thing you dont want to happen is for her to grow up and resent you!! GOOD LUCK!!! Im jealous of you because you live on a island.
 
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Tennis_Bum

Professional
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?

No, you are not crazy, but it's an intense game though in a way. Because you have so many moving parts and trying to hit a moving ball for a anyone is not easy, especially for a kid. It's tough to get all of these shots right if you don't focus on forms. And if you don't focus on forms then the kid won't be able to hit the shot and then don't have fun. But it's a "pain" to do these drills to the kid because he/she doesn't understand the reasons behind them. To play all-court game, you even have to have more skills then your average baseliner so you even have to work harder and in the process look "more crazy" to the average folks who don't understand the game. It's tough and there is no short, easy way out if you want to do it right.

The bottom line is that you and your kid both enjoy the sports, so the hell with what everyone around thinks.
 
Try to stay positive!!!!! The one thing you dont want to happen is for her to grow up and resent you!! GOOD LUCK!!! Im jealous of you because you live on a island.

I just loaded some video.First time I do this,and my camera is not so good.
The white dress one is my daughter.She is 11,and the other one is 13.They were playing a 14's.
See:

Tiffany tennis 02-oct-2010
www.youtube.com
 
Try to stay positive!!!!! The one thing you dont want to happen is for her to grow up and resent you!! GOOD LUCK!!! Im jealous of you because you live on a island.

Don't be so jealous !:)
I am ready to move back to the States.But not back to NYC.
Some not so small town down south is ok,where there are more tennis actions.
 

Tennis_Bum

Professional
Don't be so jealous !:)
I am ready to move back to the States.But not back to NYC.
Some not so small town down south is ok,where there are more tennis actions.

I can understand why you don't want to be back to NYC. I lived there; I know what you mean. Which island is it that you are on right now?
 
you are only a KRAZY tennis parent if you.......
1. Do not see reality based on your kid's skill level. Lots of parents "think" their kid will make it bigtime but have no idea how tough it is out there.
2. Condone your kid to cheat.
3. Continue to pay for lessons when they are clearly not interested in playing.
4. Give other opponents parents dirty looks during tourny matches.
5. Over excessive bragging to others how their kid "Champed" or "Supered" up.lol
6. Spending over 5k a month on lessons (fed balls)
7. Parents who grab their kids ears and yank them to the car after a loss. Or slap them upside the head. I've seen this.

you are only a KRAZY tennis parent if you.......
....
8 . Put up video snippets online to proudly display your tennis prodigy :)

9] Now I have a trophy daughter or trophy son to go with my trophy wife.
10] I was good at my sport(s), but I was never a world champion. This is my chance.
11] They drag me to the court. Really, they do! It's all them! I'm just a supportive parent, that's all!
12] Their success is my success.
13] I've got to get good ROI on the time and the funds I've devoted to their tennis. At least some Div. I scholarships to good colleges.
14] I grit my teeth, I'm wrinkly from the sun and I'm going gray and bald, but it's all worth it because I can live vicariously through my kids now that they are tennis players like I was!
15] I can coach better than those high-dollar teaching pros.
16] At work, I love talking about how good my kids are at tennis. I get their tournament tee-shirts so I can wear 'em to the office on casual Fridays. Great conversation piece! I still have a Little Mo Regional tee. To my knowledge it's the only Little Mo tee in a men's Large. I scanned it digitally and did an iron-on to one of my undershirts, hahahah. I am cool now. It's official.
17] I think I'm going to quit my job so I can devote more time to my kids' tennis. For income, maybe I can start coaching them along with some others. Yeah, kind of a cult of home-schooled kids coached by me. There's a cash cow right here in the neighborhood. Dollar signs pop up in my eyes every time I go by their house.
18] My wife is about to finish a course on home-schooling.
19] Regular topic at our dinner table: Florida or California?
20] I have tennis elbow from feeding balls and trying to fend off hard shots right at my body. Do you think my kids are taking their aggression out on me physically?
21] The girl who teaches my daughter's 'Supers' clinic is hot. Maybe I can impress her with my tennis acumen. It's not really cheating if it's under the auspices of junior tennis, right?
22] I just got a few sleeveless tops in bright colors and some 'Killer' sunglasses to complete the Nick Bolletieri look.
23] I Dream of Macci. Rick Macci. I want to go to there.
24] We're totally normal, as a family. In fact, next summer, we're going on a family trip to Spain - just the 4 of us. To ogle courts at academies over there.
25] I love tennis and I'm going to give my kids the best chance to make it their identity.
 

Limpinhitter

G.O.A.T.
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?

Around here, tennis parents' reputations are quite due. They're nuts! When I was in juniors (back in the Stone Age), I rode my bike to tournaments. No parents were seen anywhere, unless they were involved in organizing the tournament. A few times, I took the bus to out of town tournaments. Now-a-days, parents act (even though they don't genuinely believe), like their kids are all going to be the next Federer or Graf. God forbid little Dexter should lose a match and bruise his self esteem. AND THE CHEATING! OMG! It's totally out of control!
 
I can understand why you don't want to be back to NYC. I lived there; I know what you mean. Which island is it that you are on right now?

I am in Margarita Island,Venezuela.
I came down here to do windsurfing 15 years ago.
Now I have been living here for 12 years.
Just discovered tennis 7 years ago.
 

willshot

Semi-Pro
I just loaded some video.First time I do this,and my camera is not so good.
The white dress one is my daughter.She is 11,and the other one is 13.They were playing a 14's.
See:

Tiffany tennis 02-oct-2010
www.youtube.com


video is hard to see since your kind of far away. Do you have one during a practice session where its closer?
 
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