The following post is an excerpt from The Tennis Parent’s Bible. Thanks for visiting, Frank Giampaolo
Watching their matches versus charting and video taping
Smart training begins with providing valuable feedback to your child’s coaches. Charting and videotaping actual matches is one of the best ways to assist your child in progressing at the quickest rate.
There are several types of charts a parent can use during an actual match. Later in this book we’ll decipher each type of chart. (Part Four: Parent and Player Accountability) We’ll spend some time reviewing the benefits of each.
Parents keep in mind that the most common learning style is the visual learner. Having your child sit down and review their match performance often provides valuable insight, as well as proof.
Here are a few topics to look for while reviewing the match videos: strengths and weaknesses in stroke production, shot selection, dissecting the opponent, movement, emotional and/or lapses in concentration. Trust me, break out the video camera and begin to document one match every tournament and you will be on the road to discovery.
Expecting Your Child to Win Their First Few Big Events
Remember back as a kid at Halloween; you and your friends were walking into a haunted house for the first time. You didn’t really know what to expect. Your heart was racing, your palms were sweating and you were scared to death, but did your best not to show it. By the fourth or fifth time running through the same haunted house, it wasn’t so scary anymore right?
It’s difficult for even the best competitors to compete at their peak performance levels in this heightened state of arousal.
Explain to your child that these first few larger events are just rehearsals. This approach will de-stress your child. As a matter of fact, if your child’s young enough, don’t even tell them it’s a higher level.
FUN FACT: The number one seed seldom wins in junior competition.
Contact: Frank Giampaolo
FGSA@earthlink.net
MaximizingTennisPotential.com
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