The Importance of Parents Providing Feedback to Their Tennis Player
At Our Tennis Journey, we believe tennis development is a team effort — one that includes the coach, the player, and you, the parent. While coaches provide technical, tactical, and emotional guidance on the court, parents hold a unique power: the ability to shape the environment around the player when they’re off the court.
One of the most valuable tools a parent can offer is thoughtful, constructive feedback.
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Why Parent Feedback Matters
1. You see what we don’t.
You’re the one watching matches from the sideline, observing your child’s attitude in the car ride home, and noticing subtle shifts in motivation or mood. Your feedback offers insights we may not catch during training.
2. It shapes confidence.
The words you use, the way you describe their effort, and how you react to wins or losses matter deeply to young players. Encouraging feedback can build resilience, while critical or emotionally charged comments — even unintentional ones — can sometimes do more harm than good.
3. It reinforces learning.
When your feedback aligns with what we’re working on during lessons (like footwork, focus, or fighting spirit), your child is more likely to retain those lessons. You help connect the dots between practice and real life.
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What Kind of Feedback Is Most Helpful?
Focus on Effort and Attitude
Praising things like hard work, staying calm, or trying their best even when losing goes a long way. These habits matter more than winning in the long run.
“I loved how you kept chasing every ball even when you were behind.”
Be Specific, Not Generic
Instead of “Good job,” try something more detailed:
“Your serve looked smoother today!” or
“I noticed you tried to stay positive after missing that shot — that’s not easy to do.”
Avoid Over-Coaching
Leave the technical advice to us. Saying “Keep your eye on the ball” or “You should’ve used topspin” might confuse them — or worse, cause doubt.
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Collaborating with the Coach
If you’ve observed a few things your child could work on — whether during matches or practice — please feel free to bring them to us. We welcome your perspective. We just ask that you keep in mind:
A young player can only absorb two or three focus points over a period of time.
Trying to fix too much at once can be overwhelming. If we narrow in on the most important areas together, the progress will be much more effective — and enjoyable — for your child.
Let’s keep the conversation going and make sure your child is moving forward in a way that’s focused, confident, and supported from all sides.
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Final Thoughts
Feedback is a powerful tool — when it comes from a place of love, understanding, and patience. Your words don’t have to be perfect. Just consistent, kind, and connected to your child’s journey.
At the end of the day, your child doesn’t need a coach at home — they need a parent who believes in them, listens to them, and celebrates the process over the results.
Let’s keep walking this journey together.
