A new year is an exciting time for junior tennis players. Whether your young athlete is starting a new session of after-school sessions, looking forward to more match play this year, or even picking up tennis for the first time, a new year of tennis can be the perfect opportunity to set fresh goals that will keep them motivated for months to come.
However, as a junior tennis parent, it can be challenging to know where to start on creating goals that will both challenge and encourage your player to progress. Our tennis professionals have coached juniors of all ages, levels and backgrounds, so we asked for their top tips on setting effective goals with young players:
Set Achievable Targets
Achievable objectives are valuable when setting most any goal but can be especially important for young athletes. As they develop their own passion and excitement for the sport, falling short can carry significantly more weight than it will for an established player. One simple approach is to avoid setting results-based goals. For example- rather than specifying a target to win a certain number of tournaments in the new year, set a goal to compete in one to two competitions per month. Within tournaments, consider smaller goals such as holding serve every service game, or experimenting with at least one new shot during each match. This will not only take the focus off winning every competition, but it puts your child in control of the outcomes and will eventually lead to winning results down the road!
Prioritize Fun
In the words of Dale Carnegie, “People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing.” Not surprisingly, the same adage applies for junior tennis! Without fun as a driving force, tennis players can easily get burnt out and lose sight of what drew them to the sport in the first place. As a result, “having fun” is a valuable goal to set with your child. This can be an easy box to check in the earlier stages of the sport, but particularly as they improve or delve into match play and competition, “having fun” can soon take a backseat to winning, having a better shot than an opponent, climbing up the ranking ladder, etcetera. While these are all valuable motivators, fun is essential to keeping tennis enjoyable – both now and for years to come.
Think Long-Term
Tennis is a remarkable pastime for young players and comes with a variety of benefits both on and off the court. From friendships within the tennis community, to improved health and physical activity, it is important to recognize the long-term rewards of the game. As for how it relates to goal setting, remember to think big picture. For instance, encourage your player to compete with a set number of new doubles partners this year. Not only will this improve their doubles experience, but it will simultaneously grow their community and connections within the sport. Similarly, set a goal with your child to complete 30 minutes of physical activity each day. Though most of this will likely be completed on the tennis court, building strong health habits can also translate to a positive outlook on staying active and living a healthy lifestyle long-term.
We hope this blog has given you a better perspective on ways to set effective goals that will keep your young tennis player successful in the year to come. If you have follow-up questions or are looking for specific recommendations, do not hesitate to reach out to your local tennis professional or Director of Tennis for personalized guidance!
Comments