Understanding the Role Parents Play in Junior Tennis Success

The role of parents in junior tennis is an important component of player development, and coaches frequently find themselves searching for the best way to interact with parents and educate them about their role in the development of elite level tennis players.  As part of a USTA Sport Science Research Grant, a three stage study was conducted to better understand this role.  At the present time, the first two phases have been completed.

Stage I was to evaluate player's perceptions of the role parents play in tennis success and

Stage II involved a survey of 300 coaches  to ensure the issues raised by the players are indicative of tennis as a whole.

The information from the first two phases of this study has been organized into two presentations, complete with handouts and exercises.  These presentations can be given to the parents of the players you coach to help them understand how they influence athlete development, positively and negatively.

Link to presentation 1, Parenting My Tennis Champion: Getting Started, and supporting information.

Link to presentation 2, Parenting My Tennis Champion: Developing Talent, and supporting information.

The Progressive Development of a High Performance Player

This brochure has been featured in the High Performance Coaching Newsletter and takes a coach through the three phases of athlete development.  Within each phase, information is presented on the:

• Physical Skills that should be developed and worked on,
• Tactical Skills that should be emphasized,
• Technical Skills that should be emphasized,
• Mental skills that should be developed, and
• Coaching styles and instructional methods that can be employed.

USA Tennis Parents' Guide

• USA Tennis Parents' Guide I
• USA Tennis Parents' Guide II
• Appendix
• Parents' Guide Covers