As a parent you often wonder “What can I do to help my child be successful today?” And, often the answer is “not much”. In fact, ISYS research has revealed that parents sometimes struggle to understand their role in sport. Furthermore, we have learned from tennis coaches that as many as 33% of tennis parents unintentionally hinder their children’s development, and the coaches ability to coach.
When a parent tries to help their child prior to a match they might actually be doing more harm than good. Players often talk about their parents badgering, pressuring, and just overall nagging them about the things they need to do to be ready. These behaviors, while well meaning, more tension for the player.
Dr. Larry Lauer posts about how parents can help their tennis children succeed while maintaining a healthy perspective. Go to his Tennis Mental Edge blog to read more.