Agree it's the kids journey and has to be driven by them. But as Jolly says the younger the kids are the less informed their choices. I wouldnt let a 6 year old create their own diet or we'd be clearing up fast food cartons and sweet wrappers. As they grow up it's my experience that they make their own judgements on what feels best and the coaching becomes structured around what works and what they feel comfortable with. The Spanish have a great philosophy of making the best out of natural abilities and firmly believe in this. My kids all played high level tennis and with their experience it would be foolish to ignore their opinions.
I mean. I think the pandemic is throwing a bit of a wrench in any and all plans coaches my have had. Makes sense to go out and teach him as best you can. Also, in all likelihood just some good bonding time with your family! (How old is your kid btw?)
If you're feeling that you dont agree on the coaching methods then it's time to have a good think whether this coach is for you. With regard to the serve warm up my youngest sons coach who was formerly top 10 nationally also advised a slow rhythmic serve warm up before speeding it up. Perhaps chat with him about it.
It's more like I agree with some of his methods and disagree with some of his other methods. How do you guys feel about going around the coach and teach your kid something that you feel you can do better than the coach?
Its not a good idea from my experience to circumvent the coach - its best that you buy into their teachings and you work with them to reinforce that. If you have something that you feel needs to be worked on tell the coach and then work together on it.
I agree and I am trying to not become that "awful" parent. But you see the coach sees him once a week for private. I am feeding him balls and play with him 3 times a week. The temptation to go ahead and teach is too great to resist.
One hour a week is not a long time to spend with the coach. You could organise a meeting with the coach where you discuss reinforcing what your son has been working on in his indi's. That way you work together and your son gets the benefit of coach led teachings for more than 1 hour per week.
You basically wanted someone else’s time for free to benefit your kid. A true professional knows their values and get paid for their expertise, unpaid works is the exact opposite of being a professional.
No - I've paid quite a lot of money to the coaches my children have had over the years and the majority of them agree that they need to get out and watch the kids play - only one has asked for a contribution to expenses. Just for your information all my kids coaches have competed at an International or at the very least National level so they have a good feel for the current tennis requirements and fees required. Also, lets be clear my kids compete at a performance level and this is not some '10 bob' exercise but a carefully crafted program within a structured academy - oh and that's quite expensive as well with pricing that includes such 'inconvenience'. Who would of thought a professional would want to see the result of their work?
My kid is 6. He is on an accelerated schedule to join his old man's 4.5 weekend doubles game. If he progresses at the same rate as the top juniors in our sectional, he will be able to join our doubles play when he turns 10.
Its for everyone's benefit especially the player. Finances are tough at the moment so I understand that it is contentious and it also depends on how you view your time. It is ironic in many respects as I have given advice from my professional expertise to my kids coaches over the years for nothing - no invoice in the post and certainly no cash transactions. I will always refer the good coaches to fellow parents and I know of coaches who have benefited from my referrals with regular bookings and years of additional revenue - sometimes this goodwill which is what I spoke of earlier is ignored or taken for granted. I was also Tennis Captain or head of the tennis section of my club for 5 years and performed that role for nothing for the benefit of all the tennis stakeholders, coaches included. Its a big club and required a significant investment of my time but I am glad I did it.
Yeah, especially at such a young age I would encourage you to find a coach (the coach you have may already be one) with exp getting juniors to high level. Have a conversation about what you want your kid to get out of tennis (d1, junior Nat, just be good locally, whatever) and then let them tell you their plan/system for someone on that track.
My instruction to him is "teach Federer forehand." I think I am making his life easy by giving specific instructions. Most parents are like make my kid good, make him a winner. Mine is just teach the Federer forehand.
waiting for the parent that says "teach my kid Federer's movement"
Movement essential part of it.
exactly
Hypothetical situation:
The thing about tennis coaching is different coaches will tell you different things. And they all think their method is the right one and everyone else's is wrong. I listen to Chris Lewit's podcast and I am brain washed by him. He is a believer in teaching the complete strokes from the beginning. No pancakes, continental grip for serve from the start and pro-looking full swings from a young age. It will take a little longer to learn but once the kid gets it, you are done. No need to redo it when they are 8.
Quick fix is to have two students play a set with the coach watching. Doesn't take too much time. Pretty easy to observe if what's being practiced is being integrated in a match setting. My kids coach did this and it worked great.
Thanks for that that is really insightful and consistent with what my kids coaches practise, particularly staying on top of them as mini's with grips which are prone to slide round at that age. I also like your philosophy of being flexible to the individual player so that their natural ability can be honed rather than reshaped, unless of course, there is an absolute need to.
They do but as far as I have seen it's a total Frankenstein monster hodge podge type of thing.
Laugh. That sarc does liven things up.
