All of us at TennisGate are coaches (mostly with children of their own) who know from experience that there is one factor critical to success: every player must enjoy the game. This may sound trite or obvious, but it's a weekly topic for everyone who works in player development.
Tennis is a very complex and demanding sport where failure and frustration are always present.
The only way to be successful in the long run is to learn and also embrace the learning process. Whether player, coach or parent.
It is frightening to see the functional condition in which some children come to tennis training. But it is even more alarming that parents are completely surprised by this and assess it completely differently. Of course, children who play sports are usually well above average. But their functional weaknesses still urgently need to be remedied if one wants to favour the future and their development.
Set moderate goals
Education and knowledge are the crucial companions to setting goals in moderation. Unrealistic expectations, along with injuries and coaching mistakes, are largely responsible for players ending their careers prematurely and turning their backs on tennis.
If you want to be successful as a club and move safely into the future, then it is important as a club manager to have all the needs of the members in mind - and also to "educate" everyone. Not only the players, but also the parents and ultimately even the whole environment.
First of all, it doesn't matter if you are coaching competitive players or introducing beginners to the sport. As a coach, you have to have fun. Enjoyment of tennis and development is the decisive factor, not only for recreational tennis, but also for competitive tennis.
