Finding the right tennis competition for your child (starter guide)
In this video I will be going over when you know your child is ready for their first tennis tournament or competition. How to book them on the correct one. Best ways for you to support them before, during and after the event.
00:00 Finding the right tennis competition for your child (starter guide)
00:35 When is my child ready? - at this point they should be really enjoying the game, playing on a regular basis, and have had time to develop their skills. Able to understand the scoring system and can serve the ball to the start points. If in doubt please speak to your local tennis coach.
01:57 Which tournament is right for my child? - tournament grading system
03:08 How to book your child on - your child will need an account.
Need help creating an account, check out my video on the world tennis number and the LTAs advantage member programme here. (https://youtu.be/OH92i5JF7Zg)
05:22 Best way for you to support before the event - ask them if they would like to play tennis against a family member/ mention to their coach they have a competition soon/ organise a friendly competitive match against a friend so they are more familiar with playing matches. Give them the responsibility to organise their own stuff (depend on age of child, but you will be surprised) - support with a basic list that they can tick off.
07:30 Best way for you to support during the event - give extra time so you are able to arrive at the venue early (this helps to relax your child and so they get more familiar with the environment)/ offer support and let them know where you will be/ give them space to make new friends and interact with others. Remember to show support and encouragement but let them work things out for themselves. Every child is different so make sure to ask if they want you to watch and how close. Remember your own body language and emotions when watching - not easy, watching is more difficult than playing.
09:44 Best way for you to support after the event - tell them how proud you are and how much you enjoyed watching them. Try and keep from offering feedback unless they ask for it. Talk a normal amount in the car on the way home, no talking and your child will think they have done something wrong, lots of talking and it will be frustrating and intrusive for the child.
Related videos
World tennis number and how to get your LTA advantage membership - https://youtu.be/OH92i5JF7Zg
4 obstacles to navigate when making decisions - https://youtu.be/w7RgK2fhnAM
Advice for beginners using LTA website (must watch for new tennis players) - https://youtu.be/dE713yVYFsk
Resource Links
Check out the latest Wilson tennis equipment here: https://exmouthtennis.com/WilsonTennis
Get 10% discount on tenniswarehouse or 5% off tennis-point.co.uk - https://exmouthtennis.com/kit-resources/