Developing the Junior Tennis Player

Sports can be a life-changing experience for kids. Through my years of working with middle school through college athletes and learning from top coaches, I’ve seen what truly helps young athletes grow.

Here are my top tips for parents to make sure their child’s sports journey is positive, meaningful, and helps develop them into better humans.

Don’t Start Training Too Early

Statistically, early specialization does not work and often leads to burnout. You can start kids playing tennis at a very young age, but that doesn’t mean they should be taking it too seriously.  Keep it fun. Kids under 12 will benefit more from playing like kids, not athletes. They should run, climb, tumble, crawl, hop, jump, throw, roll, spin, fall, and more. This will benefit them greatly by letting them be kids, but also giving them physical skills that will benefit them once they start playing more competitively.

Tip: Around age 12 or later, get them involved in working with a Strength and Conditioning Coach.

Play Multiple Sports

Encourage them to play tennis, but it is up to them to find a love for tennis. Early specialization in only one sport can lead to overuse injuries and burnout. Playing multiple sports creates a better balance mentally and physically, and they can learn skills from other sports or outside perspectives that may give them a competitive edge in their main sport. Plus, they may find love in another sport or realize how much more they love their main sport.

Tip: Even within one sport, add variety—skills, games, cross-training.

Focus on Effort, Not Results

Praise hustle, attitude, and improvement—not just wins or stats. This helps kids develop a growth mindset and reduces performance pressure. They usually know when they make mistakes and don’t need to be reminded or corrected in the moment. Leave that to their coaches.

Tip: Acknowledge how hard they worked and what they did well.

Play with Better Players

Kids develop athletically at different ages. One year can give a kid a significant advantage or disadvantage. If your kid is dominating other players, they need a greater challenge. Put them among the best players, and they will have to improve to meet the demands, and they will have the opportunity to learn from more experienced players and coaches. Players who peak too young end up falling behind at the higher levels. They get so used to being the big fish in a small pond that when they get to an even bigger pond, they get eaten alive.

Tip: A slightly higher level will do. Don’t try to set them up for failure by placing them way above their ability. Talk to their coaches about this first.

Let Professional Coaches Coach

Support your child, help them practice, give advice when asked, but don’t try to be the coach from the sidelines or at home. And definitely don’t try to coach them during competition or when an actual coach is present. Too much advice from multiple sources creates confusion and may be in conflict with their coach’s advice. Kids rarely listen to their parents, no matter how great their advice is. Talk to the coach if you must or want them to communicate a message to your kid.

Tip: Instead of giving your own game plan, ask, “What did your coach say?”

Model a Healthy Attitude Toward Competition

Your reactions shape theirs. If you’re calm, respectful, and encouraging—win or lose—they’ll learn to be the same.

Tip: You are a role model to your kid. Don’t tell them how to act, show them. Your child watches how you talk about opponents, refs, and mistakes.

Travel and Train

Travel is a big part of tennis at all ages, and it can take its toll on the body and mind. Just because you are away from your home training grounds doesn’t mean you can skip your workouts. During travels, set aside time to workout and focus on total body movements, mobility, injury resilience, and recovery.

Tip: Pack a foam roller, resistance bands, and a workout plan, and utilize hotel gyms when able.

Prioritize Rest and Recovery

Kids seem to have unlimited energy. Let them use it, but still treat sleep, nutrition, and downtime as an important part of life. Burnout starts when recovery is ignored.

Tip: Sleep is the ultimate performance enhancer, and it’s free.

Help Them Take Ownership

Let your child pack their bag, manage their schedule, and take responsibility for their training. Ownership builds independence and commitment.

Tip: Let them feel the consequences of being unprepared—it’s a learning moment.

Support Their Passion, Not Yours

No matter what level you want your kid to reach, it is ultimately up to them to want it enough. You cannot force a passion for something. Make sure they love the sport, not that they’re only playing it for you. Pay attention to their motivation and joy. You may still need to stick to it when they don’t feel like it, especially on the days they don’t perform, but make sure that the love for the sport was there in the first place.

Tip: Ask: “Are you still having fun?” or “What do you enjoy most about playing?”

Keep Perspective

Only a small percentage of youth athletes go on to play in college or professionally. But all of them can learn life skills—discipline, resilience, character, and teamwork.

Tip: View tennis as a vehicle for growth, not just achievement.

Avoid the Post-Game Interrogation

After a game, your child may not want to relive every moment. Let them decompress and come to you if they want to talk.

Tip: Instead of, “What happened on that missed shot?” try “I loved watching you play today.”

Be Their Biggest Fan

Your job is to be their biggest fan, not their harshest critic, and hopefully, they will find a love for sports and fitness for the rest of their life.

Share with other parents. What helped you as a young athlete, or have you seen help your kids the most?