Tennis Works Limited

The relationship between parents and coaches can have a huge impact on a young athlete’s experience.

As parents, it’s natural to want the best for your child. But sometimes, too much involvement, pressure or questioning can unintentionally make sport feel more stressful.

Healthy parent–coach communication is built on trust, respect and clear boundaries.

Parents can support their child by:

Trusting the coach’s expertise
Keeping communication open and constructive
Allowing the coach to coach
Focusing on their child’s enjoyment and development
Avoiding putting additional pressure on results

When parents and coaches work together, the young athlete gets the best possible environment to learn, develop confidence and enjoy their sport.

Support the player. Trust the process. Work together.

In this drill, John and Emily work on an important part of match play: changing spin while recovering to the cone and preparing for the next ball.

The player hits with topspin, rallies back to the cone, then changes to a slice before recovering again.

This drill helps develop:

• Topspin and slice control
• Recovery movement and balance
• Footwork and positioning
• The ability to change spin during a rally
• Preparation for the next shot

It’s not just about hitting the ball it’s about hitting, recovering, adapting and being ready for what comes next.

Watch John and Emily put the drill into action!

ocial media can make criticism feel much louder than it really is.

For athletes, coaches and young people in sport, negative comments can quickly become personal especially when you care deeply about your performance.

But remember: not every opinion deserves your attention.

Learning to separate constructive feedback from unnecessary negativity is an important part of developing resilience. Take a step back, avoid reacting emotionally, and focus on the people who genuinely support your development.

Your worth is not determined by likes, comments, views or the opinions of strangers online.

Protect your mindset. Focus on your progress. Control what you can control.

Loneliness in sport can be difficult to recognise.

You can be surrounded by teammates, coaches and supporters and still feel completely alone. The pressure to perform, fear of disappointing others, injury, selection decisions or simply feeling that nobody understands what you are going through can create a very real sense of isolation.

As coaches, parents and sports professionals, we need to look beyond performance. Sometimes the athlete who appears the strongest may be the one who most needs someone to ask, “How are you really doing?”

Creating an environment where athletes feel heard, supported and safe to talk is just as important as developing their physical and technical abilities.

Because sport should build people, not leave them feeling alone.

In this drill, I’m working on movement, control and consistency through a simple but effective rally exercise.

The player rallies back to the cone using two touches, alternating between forehand and backhand. The focus is on controlling the ball, recovering efficiently and being ready for the next shot.

It’s a great way to develop:

Forehand and backhand consistency
Movement and recovery
Ball control and timing
The ability to transition quickly between shots

Simple drills can create strong habits when they are performed with purpose.

Watch the demo and give it a try on court.

What can parents do to inspire their children while avoiding putting pressure on them?

In this fascinating part of the Tennis Works program, Dr. Callum Gowling addresses one of the most difficult challenges for parents: the ability to keep their children motivated through their tennis careers.

Motivation cannot be forced. It only appears when children are confident, enjoy their activities, and have a chance to learn from successes and failures.

As parents, we are not meant to create the atmosphere of pressure. Instead we should enable our children to enjoy their games, show passion for this sport, and feel supported.

Watch this video to get expert insights on motivating young athletes.