Understanding the Role Parents Play in Junior Tennis Success

The role of parents in junior tennis is an important component of player development, and coaches frequently find themselves searching for the best way to interact with parents and educate them about their role in the development of elite level tennis players. As part of a USTA Sport Science Research Grant, a three-stage study was conducted to better understand this role. At the present time, the first two phases have been completed.

1. Stage I was to evaluate player's perceptions of the role parents play in tennis success.

2. Stage II involved a survey of 300 coaches to ensure the issues raised by the players are indicative of tennis as a whole. 

The information from the first two phases of this study has been organized into two presentations, complete with handouts and exercises. These presentations can be given to the parents of the players you coach to help them understand how they influence athlete development, positively and negatively.