7 Ways To Support Your Child's Love for Tennis

Showing support, especially when it comes to the things your kids love, can be challenging for some parents. But it doesn’t have to be.

If your child loves tennis, be the rock beneath their feet and give them the steady footing they’ll need. 

Many of the greatest tennis players today always attribute their success to supportive parents, which proves that being supportive of your kids in their tennis lessons is key to success.

Here are seven ways you can start supporting your child’s love for tennis:

Supporting Your Kids and Their Passion For Tennis

Give Them Sufficient Emotional Support

When times get stressful for your kids, it’s essential to make sure you are there for them as their number one source of emotional support. Things can get tough in tennis, and there will be hard times; you want to be the first person they run to when it happens. 

Make sure you put them first and show them that your love and emotional support are unconditional and not something that wavers depending on how well your child is doing in their tennis lessons.

Let Them Know That Effort Matters More Than Outcome

When they get invested in their kids’ sports, some parents focus solely on whether they win or lose. The outcome suddenly becomes the primary goal. This can lead to your child feeling anxious and pressuring them to win because that's what you want. Worst-case scenarios, the sports they once loved can become something they hate.

Instead of focusing on the outcome, focus on your child's effort to be better at tennis. When you do this, you’re telling them that you appreciate their hard work, which you value most. Teaching them this perception young will help them become respectful tennis players who value sportsmanship.

Encourage Confidence

Children can quickly lose their confidence when learning new things and facing challenges. As they grow, though, they will learn to gain confidence on their own, but it won’t hurt to encourage them when they doubt their tennis skills. Teaching them to be confident in what they can do and how they play tennis will make a big difference.

Share Their Goal

Communicating with your child at this stage is very important. You want to be on the same page as them, so don’t be afraid to ask them why they love tennis, what they want to do with tennis in the long run, and what they need. When they share their goals with you, they also share their passion for tennis. And as parents, you can help them move towards achieving their goals. 

Don’t be afraid to let them know you’re there to help. If your boys feel like they’d play better with a new tennis racket for kids, help them buy their tennis racket. If your girls feel like new tennis outfits will give them a confidence boost on the court and off, go shopping with them and find the perfect one.

Emphasize Healthy Competition

When sharing their goals, ask your child about their expectations during competitions. What they answer will tell you if they’re viewing competition as something healthy or if they’re going about it the wrong way. Knowing this information will help you teach your child about healthy competition and good behavior in terms of game outcomes. Teach them that there shouldn't be ill feelings towards opponents, but instead, just the desire to work harder to do better. 

Foster Independence

True, being there for your kids is important. Supporting them as they play tennis is crucial, but keep it balanced. Don’t overstep and become the overbearing parent who has to speak for their child. Let them become independent in their choices. Set boundaries that will give your child a form of freedom and independence, which will help them develop their sense of responsibility. For example, you can remind them about practice but leave the preparation of their things their sole responsibility. 

Fostering independence will also teach your kids to discern what they think is right or wrong when playing tennis, e.g., a shot they believe was “in” but was called “out,” the better stroke to use to hit the tennis ball, etc.

Ask Your Kids How They Want You To Behave

Again, communication is key. Get involved with your kids and teach them to tell you what they would like. By asking them how they’d like you to behave on the court, before, during, and after matches, you give them this sense of unity: you’re a team.

Before competitions, some kids want parents to help them relax and shake their nerves. During matches, kids will usually ask their parents to keep their emotions in check and stay positive.

After games, some kids will ask for honest feedback on the match or their tennis lesson, if there was an improvement or not. Make sure you read your child’s mood properly, so you say the right things. Also, leave the technical feedback to their coach and focus on attitude.

Final Thoughts

It doesn’t take much to show your kids support. It’s simple but often overlooked because some parents become too hyper focused. You want your kids to become the best version of themselves and become good tennis players. A positive attitude and the proper support will help them achieve that.

At Street Tennis Club, we’re all about showing kids support via our quality tennis apparel and equipment. We hone their love for tennis through great products, so make sure you check out what Street Tennis Club offers here.