Comments on: How To Make My Son A Champion http://www.tennisthoughts.com/2007/12/29/how-to-make-my-son-a-champion/ A Tennis Pro Sharing Tips And Thoughts About Tennis Instruction, Strategy and Mental Game Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:25:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Tomaz http://www.tennisthoughts.com/2007/12/29/how-to-make-my-son-a-champion/comment-page-1/#comment-386 Tomaz Sun, 22 Jun 2008 14:17:22 +0000 http://www.tennisthoughts.com/2007/12/29/how-to-make-my-son-a-champion/#comment-386 Thanks for the kind words, Bong Pata. Your boy is already in the puberty and that's the period where children start becoming adults. It's also the period where they feel they need more independence. So, yes, typically at this age the parent - child (coach - player) relationship doesn't work well. I would suggest you find him a full time coach and offer your advice here and there. Also, always think about this: would you coach your son and someone else's son exactly the same? Would you say the same words? Would you demand the same? Also - try to ask questions when coaching your son so that you show respect for his opinion. If you just tell him what to do, you are implicating that you are more and he is less... Thanks for the kind words, Bong Pata.

Your boy is already in the puberty and that’s the period where children start becoming adults. It’s also the period where they feel they need more independence. So, yes, typically at this age the parent – child (coach – player) relationship doesn’t work well.

I would suggest you find him a full time coach and offer your advice here and there. Also, always think about this: would you coach your son and someone else’s son exactly the same? Would you say the same words? Would you demand the same?

Also – try to ask questions when coaching your son so that you show respect for his opinion. If you just tell him what to do, you are implicating that you are more and he is less…

]]> By: Bong Pata http://www.tennisthoughts.com/2007/12/29/how-to-make-my-son-a-champion/comment-page-1/#comment-385 Bong Pata Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:50:07 +0000 http://www.tennisthoughts.com/2007/12/29/how-to-make-my-son-a-champion/#comment-385 Dear Tomaz, I have 2 children ages 15 ( boy ) & 8 (girl) who are playing tennis. My son started playing tennis when he was 8. I'm not aware how good Jr. tennis players are so i can't compare him to them. But I assure you that he plays good for a 15 yrs old. I'm not speaking for my self, this is the same comments I'm getting from the others. My problem is lately, i'm having problems coaching him. He tends to take it in a wrong way, like an order from a father to son, whenever I am correcting something from his game, he's somehow like revelling on the court. Pls. advice what is the best approach for him to listen. I'm trying my best not to upset him and not to loose my temper at the same time, because it affect his game and training, but most of time its not working. He was with a coach for almost 2 years, ( from 9 - 11 yrs old ) then after that started playing in clubs, right now he's already playing with men and he's getting good results. Is it adviceable for a father to be his son's coach? By the way, thanks for the your write ups and footage of poonky while training it helps me a lot training my daughter. Dear Tomaz,

I have 2 children ages 15 ( boy ) & 8 (girl) who are playing tennis. My son started playing tennis when he was 8. I’m not aware how good Jr. tennis players are so i can’t compare him to them. But I assure you that he plays good for a 15 yrs old. I’m not speaking for my self, this is the same comments I’m getting from the others. My problem is lately, i’m having problems coaching him. He tends to take it in a wrong way, like an order from a father to son, whenever I am correcting something from his game, he’s somehow like revelling on the court. Pls. advice what is the best approach for him to listen. I’m trying my best not to upset him and not to loose my temper at the same time, because it affect his game and training, but most of time its not working. He was with a coach for almost 2 years, ( from 9 – 11 yrs old ) then after that started playing in clubs, right now he’s already playing with men and he’s getting good results. Is it adviceable for a father to be his son’s coach?

By the way, thanks for the your write ups and footage of poonky while training it helps me a lot training my daughter.

]]> By: Oscar http://www.tennisthoughts.com/2007/12/29/how-to-make-my-son-a-champion/comment-page-1/#comment-277 Oscar Fri, 25 Jan 2008 05:08:24 +0000 http://www.tennisthoughts.com/2007/12/29/how-to-make-my-son-a-champion/#comment-277 Tomaz, I do agree with you. I have a 5 years old son, he started playing tennis at the age of three hitting balls in the backyard. The past six months he took some group lessons with a pro. Playing tennis was his choice. We offered him different sports and he chose tennis. One thing I do when we play together is make it fun and show great excitement (jumping up and down and high fives) every time he has a good hit. Usually that keeps my son interested and excited. I always remind my son that trying is failing, just do your best no matter what. It is all good because it is only a game and you should always have fun when playing. Tomaz, I do agree with you. I have a 5 years old son, he started playing tennis at the age of three hitting balls in the backyard.

The past six months he took some group lessons with a pro. Playing tennis was his choice. We offered him different sports and he chose tennis. One thing I do when we play together is make it fun and show great excitement (jumping up and down and high fives) every time he has a good hit. Usually that keeps my son interested and excited.

I always remind my son that trying is failing, just do your best no matter what. It is all good because it is only a game and you should always have fun when playing.

]]> By: Tomaz http://www.tennisthoughts.com/2007/12/29/how-to-make-my-son-a-champion/comment-page-1/#comment-264 Tomaz Wed, 09 Jan 2008 17:19:35 +0000 http://www.tennisthoughts.com/2007/12/29/how-to-make-my-son-a-champion/#comment-264 Hi Saleem, Thanks for sharing your views. Yes, you can expect something else from your children rather than money and fame. What is it? Hi Saleem,

Thanks for sharing your views. Yes, you can expect something else from your children rather than money and fame.

What is it?

]]> By: saleem http://www.tennisthoughts.com/2007/12/29/how-to-make-my-son-a-champion/comment-page-1/#comment-261 saleem Wed, 09 Jan 2008 10:29:24 +0000 http://www.tennisthoughts.com/2007/12/29/how-to-make-my-son-a-champion/#comment-261 I was a national champion of Karate when I was 17yrs. Now I am 46 and have a son (12) and daughter (9), both play tennis from a young age of 6/7. My ambition is to make them a good players in Tennis. I do let them play and enjoy, but some time I expect more from them. They love tennis and play as much as 2hrs week days and 3 hrs weekends with 1 hr of fitness every day. I really appreciate your opinion. But expecting something from your children does not mean making big money or being famous. I am doing my best to guide them at this stage but then it would be their choice when they reach 17. SALEEM I was a national champion of Karate when I was 17yrs. Now I am 46 and have a son (12) and daughter (9), both play tennis from a young age of 6/7. My ambition is to make them a good players in Tennis. I do let them play and enjoy, but some time I expect more from them. They love tennis and play as much as 2hrs week days and 3 hrs weekends with 1 hr of fitness every day. I really appreciate your opinion. But expecting something from your children does not mean making big money or being famous. I am doing my best to guide them at this stage but then it would be their choice when they reach 17.

SALEEM

]]> By: Tomaz http://www.tennisthoughts.com/2007/12/29/how-to-make-my-son-a-champion/comment-page-1/#comment-258 Tomaz Mon, 07 Jan 2008 15:14:16 +0000 http://www.tennisthoughts.com/2007/12/29/how-to-make-my-son-a-champion/#comment-258 Thanks for sharing wild bill. Yes, having children who also love the game of tennis must be quite an experience... Thanks for sharing wild bill.

Yes, having children who also love the game of tennis must be quite an experience…

]]> By: wild bill http://www.tennisthoughts.com/2007/12/29/how-to-make-my-son-a-champion/comment-page-1/#comment-257 wild bill Mon, 07 Jan 2008 14:55:15 +0000 http://www.tennisthoughts.com/2007/12/29/how-to-make-my-son-a-champion/#comment-257 i did not have custody of my sons when they were growing up but i would toss balls to them frequently. as they gained a little skill i would hit balls to them with both of us at half court. they had lessons from a very easy going pro. their mother got them both heavily involved in soccer at a young age so their lateral movements and quickness are unparalled. they did not play volleyball but that would have been great for developing their upper body strength and dexterity (serve). i can tell you right now that your chidren will probably not turn out exactly as you would have hoped in every part of life but if you follow tomas' plan you will have a chance. my boys did not turn out to be world class tennis players but they come to visit me often, remember my birthday, don't hit me up for money unless they have a real emergency. we play doubles togeather frequently. this is reward enough for me as hinted above the selection of a no pressure coach who has experience working with young children is paramount. i wish you a lot of luck. watching a child grow and develop no matter what their interest is constitutes one af life's greatest pleasures. wild bill i did not have custody of my sons when they were growing up but i would toss balls to them frequently. as they gained a little skill i would hit balls to them with both of us at half court. they had lessons from a very easy going pro. their mother got them both heavily involved in soccer at a young age so their lateral movements and quickness are unparalled. they did not play volleyball but that would have been great for developing their upper body strength and dexterity (serve).

i can tell you right now that your chidren will probably not turn out exactly as you would have hoped in every part of life but if you follow tomas’ plan you will have a chance. my boys did not turn out to be world class tennis players but they come to visit me often, remember my birthday, don’t hit me up for money unless they have a real emergency. we play doubles togeather frequently. this is reward enough for me

as hinted above the selection of a no pressure coach who has experience working with young children is paramount.

i wish you a lot of luck. watching a child grow and develop no matter what their interest is constitutes one af life’s greatest pleasures.

wild bill

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