🤝 Coach • Player • Parent = best results

Parent Guide

Tennis progress is a team effort. This page explains how learning works, what your child needs from you, and how we keep coach feedback clear and consistent.

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The fastest improvement happens when everyone has a clear role:

Coach Teaches technique, creates the plan, sets the training environment, and gives feedback.
Player Shows effort, listens, tries, asks questions, and practices habits learned in training.
Parent Provides support, routine, and encouragement. Helps the player stay consistent and positive.
Big idea: Coaches coach, players play, parents support. When parents “coach from the sideline,” kids get confused and progress slows.

Learning tennis is like building a house: you don’t see the foundation, but it matters most. Skill growth usually goes:

  • New skill introduced: looks awkward at first.
  • Lots of misses: normal. This is the brain wiring.
  • Consistency appears: rallies get longer.
  • Speed + decision-making: the “game” starts to show up.
Parent superpower: praise effort, attitude, and trying the “new thing,” not just winning.

Do:

  • Cheer effort: “Great hustle,” “Nice focus,” “Love the attitude.”
  • Let coaches coach (even if it looks messy at first).
  • Keep it positive after practice: “What did you learn today?”

Don’t:

  • Give swing tips during or right after sessions.
  • Compare your child to other players.
  • Use “score talk” as the only measure of progress.
Sideline rule: If it would distract a player during a test at school, it probably distracts on court too.

Coaches give feedback in a way that supports confidence and growth. If you have questions, we’re happy to help.

  • Best time: before practice starts or after it ends (not during).
  • Best format: one clear question at a time.
  • Best focus: habits and progression, not just match results.
Helpful question: “What’s one thing we should reinforce at home this week?”

We match kids to the right ball and pace because it accelerates learning. Slower balls help players rally sooner and develop real technique.

  • Red / Orange / Green: building rally skills and control at the right speed.
  • Yellow: full ball, full court, full game.
Moving up: Players progress when they show consistent skills, not just because of age.

If something feels off (placement, confidence, motivation, behavior), we want to know. Here’s the fastest way to fix it:

  • Step 1: Share what you’re seeing (1–2 sentences).
  • Step 2: Ask for the next best action: “What should we focus on this week?”
  • Step 3: Give it 2–3 sessions to measure improvement.
We’re on the same team: the goal is confidence, skill, and love for the game.
© Gem State Tennis Academy · Treasure Valley, Idaho