Tennis Parents FAQ

Your Child's First Tournament

QUESTION:

When should my child start playing tournaments?

ANSWER:

Above all else, you want your child's first tournament to be an enjoyable experience. No matter what age your child, his or her game should be sufficiently developed to be able to both keep a rally going with consistency and to serve without hitting too many double faults (fewer than seven or eight per match).

It's also important that you enter your child into a tournament that is appropriate to his or her stage of development. Losing 6-0 6-0 in the 1st rd while struggling to win points is a sure way to discourage your child from entering tournaments in the future.

Related FAQ's:

Should my child play in tournaments above his or her age group?
When should my child start tennis lessons with a coach?

Related Articles:

Tennis Parents and The Ugly Parent Syndrome
Tennis Ethics
Raising Big Smiling Tennis Kids (Book Review)

Other Articles by Chris Lewis:

On Court Coaching: Should it be allowed?
Are Tennis Champions Born? Or Made?
Sorry Pete, But That's No Sacrifice
Wimbledon Center Court: What An Experience
A Tribute to Maria Montessori -- An Article on Child Education