The degree to which each parent chooses to be involved in a player’s life is unique to their own parent-child relationship, level of tennis knowledge and interest and goals for their child. Some parents may be minimally involved, where the parent just drops the child off at practice and picks him or her up two hours later. Others may be the child’s primary coach, completely involved in every aspect of the child’s athletic life, from nutrition to the amount of sleep and practice. It all depends on the interest and expertise of the parent involved.
With a beginner, the parent needs a basic understanding of how to help the child progress. As the player becomes more competitive, a parent must learn more about meeting the child’s growing needs.
There are five distinct levels of the parent-coach, ranging from the least involved to most involved. These are outlined below to help parents assess where they are and to make the transition toward their desired level, based on their tennis knowledge, commitment and goals for their child.
