PsychoTennisDad
New User
I wanted to share some hard advice for those parents that are looking for a good coach for their young gladiator junior players getting ready to take the next step. Those that are getting pretty serious, meaning you're graduating from local tournaments and you're having to travel at the sectional and national level. Not all coaches and academies are the same. You don't need to spend a fortune to get great results. But you do need to know what to look for.
I'm not a full time coach but a certified USPTA Pro that has two kids playing in the USTA at the highest levels (National). I do feel qualified to make these recommendations as my son is currently a Bluechip player in the 16's. I won't pretend to take the credit, as he deserves all of it, but I can assure you I've had an impact on his performance and so have his coaches.
How does a parent that's not necessarily a tennis player measure the effectiveness of a good academy? 1) Look at the roster of players they have AND ask how long they have trained there. Really good players get recruited, so it doesn't necessarily mean that they have developed the player. 2) Talk to the coaches and then watch them teach. What information are they giving out? Is it constant, or non existent? Is it specific to the individual or generic to the group? Should be both. Is the instruction complicated or easy to comprehend? Now watch the player is he listening and following instruction? Can the coach effectively communicate to the player?
Most kids are resistant to change. As a parent, if you believe in the coach's approach, you need to convince the kid that in order for them to improve, the coach is going to ask them to make some changes. The kid needs to be open to change or your efforts are wasted. Talk to your kid. It's hard for a new coach to have an impact, as they have to build trust with your kid. So if you do make a change, give the coach a fair chance to make this happen. Six months is typically long enough to figure this out.
First, I personally think jr tennis in America is taught incorrectly. The days of feeding tennis balls from a basket are old and antiquated. If your child is taking feeds from a basket you should take a closer look, as this is a HUGE RED FLAG! I also believe private tennis lessons are a thing of the past. If your child is good enough to have a 20+ ball rally and can execute all of the basics then he shouldn't be fed any balls from a basket. I know this is an extreme concept to grasp. A good coach can simulate any repetitive shot in a live ball drill.
The best coaches all use live ball drills 90+% of the time (with the exception of serving and some times a very specific drill will require hand feeding or baskets but this is not the norm). A great coach is sitting on the side line instructing not feeding. Theiy're giving either instructional information (for example: Transfer your weight through your shots, don't jump up. Follow through etc.), OR strategic information (IE don't hit the ball short to the forehand and come in on an approach). So in essence they're always getting a private lesson because they're always reinforcing instruction under "load," meaning under real hitting conditions not simulated (basket fed). Most coaches don't use this approach because it's VERY HARD and they burn out. Most coaches will typically give up on your kids after a short while when they're not open to change (VERY VERY COMMON). It's funny...you can sit and watch your kid hit a "chicken wing" forehand over and over and the coach doesn't say a word, but then you pay for a private lesson and all he does is try to fix it. But after the lesson and back to the drills, nothing is mentioned about the "chicken wing" If this is happening to you then you need to look elsewhere. Your child is NOT going to improve, no matter how many private lessons you pay for. If your child picks up a bad habit, it's very hard to change that behavior. The older they get, the harder it becomes so coaches just stop trying.
Some kids are coachable, some kids are not. Which do you have? I have one of each and I can tell you what works with one kid doesn't work with the other. You almost have to be a psychologist on the court. A great coach will find a way to break through to a kid. If your child has been at an academy for over a year and has become stagnant, meaning they're not growing as a player, it's time to have a meeting with the coaches. It's rare that a coach will point this out. Ask your self how many parent / coach meetings have you had in the last year? Set one up if you haven't. Remember most coaches teach tennis; they're not business people, so different principals apply. Don't let the fact that they're not planning your Junior schedule deter you from reaching out.
If you have 4-6 kids and your coach is feeding balls, how many balls are they actually hitting if they're waiting in line? If the kids are hitting live ball they're hitting a great many more balls under 'loaded" conditions. A good coach can watch two to three courts and point out issues to up to 8 players on two courts.
If you're shopping for a performance academy, take this into consideration:
1) No more than 3-4 hrs of tennis a day
2) Should incorporate Yoga 2x a week (preventative injury) or other form of stretching.
3) Should incorporate strength and conditioning or cross training (2-3x a week)
4) Match Play (sets, tie-breaks) last 1hr of play 4x5 times a week.
5) Does your coach ever come and watch them play at a tennis tournament? If not then that's a big problem. How do they know what they need to work on? A kid playing a match for points is not the same kid playing match play at practice.
6) Most important: LIVE BALL, LIVE BALL and MORE LIVE BALL ALL THE TIME. If your club doesn't have enough courts for this then look elsewhere. I've seen kids with improper technique do live ball for 4hrs a day and do it wrong the whole time take kids apart that have beautiful technique. ??????????? I've over simplifying here but it's true.
7) Your coaches should know the USTA Jr Tennis Tournaments and schedules very well. They should be providing guidance on which events to play and the frequency. It's very difficult to understand all the gaming that goes on in the USTA and takes years of experience to know how to best take advantage of point system, rankings, tennisrecruiting.net and on and on. You pretty much have to be a psycho.
For parents that don't know: If you think your boy is going to play college tennis and he's in 6th - 9th grade, and he's not in a home school program and in a Tennis academy, think again. Your chances are slim to none. Very few kids can play tennis without professional help and make it to the college level. Don't forget you're also competing against all those foreign kids coming in. You have to be PSYCHO to go down this road! But once you get sucked in, you're sucked in. I've learned to really enjoy the time we spend on the road with the kids. If it's not fun and you're not enjoying it, then you need to step back.
Tournaments: No more than 2 a month. If you play a tournament, you take the next day off for recovery. Matches are hard on the body. Don't play your kids every weekend. You will eventually burn them out.
It's very hard to find a good blend of coaching. I've been at this game for a very long time and we have switched coaches several times now. Cost is a HUGE factor. Knowledge and awareness is a huge factor. A coach or program can only take your kids so far. It's really the KID that needs to drive this. Does he have a strong desire to compete? Is he happy playing? How good is his work ethic on court? My son, for example, doesn't have great technique despite me working on his game constantly and despite having coaches work on his strokes, but he has heart, a strong drive to compete and most important an incredible work ethic! He's also very coachable. He's always striving to improve his game. At 15 this is a rare quality and I've been blessed. But it's a very long road. So get your racket out and go practice.
Also a note to parents: While keeping these principles in mind, don't be afraid of swapping programs if feel your kid's not getting the coaching they deserve and pay for. The parents do have a very important role in all this. After all we're footing the bill. But you need to let the coaches do their job and you need to be very aware of your kid's abilities. You can't blast the coach because the forehand is off if your kid doesn't listen to the instruction. As a parent you need to be aware and make changes accordingly. If you have concerns, don't be afraid to talk to your coaches and let them know how you feel. Most coaches will be the first to point out that it's about the parents, not about the kids, and this is only partially true. Coaches play a big part and teaching styles vary greatly. Have realistic expectations with your kids. Some kids love the game but they're just not all that good. That's great as long as they love the sport and enjoy it. You need to reset your own expectations. Don't live your dreams through your kids. Let them have fun. All you can do is find them a place where they can live up to their full potential.
I'm not a full time coach but a certified USPTA Pro that has two kids playing in the USTA at the highest levels (National). I do feel qualified to make these recommendations as my son is currently a Bluechip player in the 16's. I won't pretend to take the credit, as he deserves all of it, but I can assure you I've had an impact on his performance and so have his coaches.
How does a parent that's not necessarily a tennis player measure the effectiveness of a good academy? 1) Look at the roster of players they have AND ask how long they have trained there. Really good players get recruited, so it doesn't necessarily mean that they have developed the player. 2) Talk to the coaches and then watch them teach. What information are they giving out? Is it constant, or non existent? Is it specific to the individual or generic to the group? Should be both. Is the instruction complicated or easy to comprehend? Now watch the player is he listening and following instruction? Can the coach effectively communicate to the player?
Most kids are resistant to change. As a parent, if you believe in the coach's approach, you need to convince the kid that in order for them to improve, the coach is going to ask them to make some changes. The kid needs to be open to change or your efforts are wasted. Talk to your kid. It's hard for a new coach to have an impact, as they have to build trust with your kid. So if you do make a change, give the coach a fair chance to make this happen. Six months is typically long enough to figure this out.
First, I personally think jr tennis in America is taught incorrectly. The days of feeding tennis balls from a basket are old and antiquated. If your child is taking feeds from a basket you should take a closer look, as this is a HUGE RED FLAG! I also believe private tennis lessons are a thing of the past. If your child is good enough to have a 20+ ball rally and can execute all of the basics then he shouldn't be fed any balls from a basket. I know this is an extreme concept to grasp. A good coach can simulate any repetitive shot in a live ball drill.
The best coaches all use live ball drills 90+% of the time (with the exception of serving and some times a very specific drill will require hand feeding or baskets but this is not the norm). A great coach is sitting on the side line instructing not feeding. Theiy're giving either instructional information (for example: Transfer your weight through your shots, don't jump up. Follow through etc.), OR strategic information (IE don't hit the ball short to the forehand and come in on an approach). So in essence they're always getting a private lesson because they're always reinforcing instruction under "load," meaning under real hitting conditions not simulated (basket fed). Most coaches don't use this approach because it's VERY HARD and they burn out. Most coaches will typically give up on your kids after a short while when they're not open to change (VERY VERY COMMON). It's funny...you can sit and watch your kid hit a "chicken wing" forehand over and over and the coach doesn't say a word, but then you pay for a private lesson and all he does is try to fix it. But after the lesson and back to the drills, nothing is mentioned about the "chicken wing" If this is happening to you then you need to look elsewhere. Your child is NOT going to improve, no matter how many private lessons you pay for. If your child picks up a bad habit, it's very hard to change that behavior. The older they get, the harder it becomes so coaches just stop trying.
Some kids are coachable, some kids are not. Which do you have? I have one of each and I can tell you what works with one kid doesn't work with the other. You almost have to be a psychologist on the court. A great coach will find a way to break through to a kid. If your child has been at an academy for over a year and has become stagnant, meaning they're not growing as a player, it's time to have a meeting with the coaches. It's rare that a coach will point this out. Ask your self how many parent / coach meetings have you had in the last year? Set one up if you haven't. Remember most coaches teach tennis; they're not business people, so different principals apply. Don't let the fact that they're not planning your Junior schedule deter you from reaching out.
If you have 4-6 kids and your coach is feeding balls, how many balls are they actually hitting if they're waiting in line? If the kids are hitting live ball they're hitting a great many more balls under 'loaded" conditions. A good coach can watch two to three courts and point out issues to up to 8 players on two courts.
If you're shopping for a performance academy, take this into consideration:
1) No more than 3-4 hrs of tennis a day
2) Should incorporate Yoga 2x a week (preventative injury) or other form of stretching.
3) Should incorporate strength and conditioning or cross training (2-3x a week)
4) Match Play (sets, tie-breaks) last 1hr of play 4x5 times a week.
5) Does your coach ever come and watch them play at a tennis tournament? If not then that's a big problem. How do they know what they need to work on? A kid playing a match for points is not the same kid playing match play at practice.
6) Most important: LIVE BALL, LIVE BALL and MORE LIVE BALL ALL THE TIME. If your club doesn't have enough courts for this then look elsewhere. I've seen kids with improper technique do live ball for 4hrs a day and do it wrong the whole time take kids apart that have beautiful technique. ??????????? I've over simplifying here but it's true.
7) Your coaches should know the USTA Jr Tennis Tournaments and schedules very well. They should be providing guidance on which events to play and the frequency. It's very difficult to understand all the gaming that goes on in the USTA and takes years of experience to know how to best take advantage of point system, rankings, tennisrecruiting.net and on and on. You pretty much have to be a psycho.
For parents that don't know: If you think your boy is going to play college tennis and he's in 6th - 9th grade, and he's not in a home school program and in a Tennis academy, think again. Your chances are slim to none. Very few kids can play tennis without professional help and make it to the college level. Don't forget you're also competing against all those foreign kids coming in. You have to be PSYCHO to go down this road! But once you get sucked in, you're sucked in. I've learned to really enjoy the time we spend on the road with the kids. If it's not fun and you're not enjoying it, then you need to step back.
Tournaments: No more than 2 a month. If you play a tournament, you take the next day off for recovery. Matches are hard on the body. Don't play your kids every weekend. You will eventually burn them out.
It's very hard to find a good blend of coaching. I've been at this game for a very long time and we have switched coaches several times now. Cost is a HUGE factor. Knowledge and awareness is a huge factor. A coach or program can only take your kids so far. It's really the KID that needs to drive this. Does he have a strong desire to compete? Is he happy playing? How good is his work ethic on court? My son, for example, doesn't have great technique despite me working on his game constantly and despite having coaches work on his strokes, but he has heart, a strong drive to compete and most important an incredible work ethic! He's also very coachable. He's always striving to improve his game. At 15 this is a rare quality and I've been blessed. But it's a very long road. So get your racket out and go practice.
Also a note to parents: While keeping these principles in mind, don't be afraid of swapping programs if feel your kid's not getting the coaching they deserve and pay for. The parents do have a very important role in all this. After all we're footing the bill. But you need to let the coaches do their job and you need to be very aware of your kid's abilities. You can't blast the coach because the forehand is off if your kid doesn't listen to the instruction. As a parent you need to be aware and make changes accordingly. If you have concerns, don't be afraid to talk to your coaches and let them know how you feel. Most coaches will be the first to point out that it's about the parents, not about the kids, and this is only partially true. Coaches play a big part and teaching styles vary greatly. Have realistic expectations with your kids. Some kids love the game but they're just not all that good. That's great as long as they love the sport and enjoy it. You need to reset your own expectations. Don't live your dreams through your kids. Let them have fun. All you can do is find them a place where they can live up to their full potential.
Last edited:
I did it on my phone, so hopefully I didn't add new mistakes!
